Santa Pics, Banana Girl & Christmas Tradition time again, and Rich and myself have to go and get our picture taken with Santa. It started years ago in Saskatoon, and you can't break tradition. I was heading out of town on Friday, and we arranged to meet at his work (in the mall), and then get our pics taken, and I could hit the highway easily from the mall. I arrived just before 11 AM when the Santa castle opened up. We took a look, and the line up was already huge. Rich was like "I can't wait in line for that ... I just got to work". So I decided to wait in line, and call him when we would be close. It was about 45 minutes, and he came back. We got the pictures taken, and then went out the other side to pay for them, and this is where the commotion started.

There was a guy at the both complaining about the Santa pictures of his kid taken 2 weeks ago. Apparently the cuff of Santa's sleeve was showing as he was holding the baby, and this guy thought it wrecked the pictures. It was green, and really wasn't a big deal, but he was raising hell of it. He went on and on. The girls working the booth told him there was nothing they could do. When you get your picture taken, the show you on the computer, and ask it your are satisfied with it. It is company policy to not print the photos unless you give the OK. His girlfriend was the one who did the photos, and he said "Well my girlfriend isn't as smart as everyone else I guess". He kept going, and the girls told him he could call the head office of the company, but they would tell him the same thing. This had been going on for a few minutes now, and he was getting more belligerent. He even turned around and was like "Isn't this stupid, look at this photo, wouldn't you be mad". I looked right at him and said "Nope".

They asked him to call the office, as they couldn't doing anything, and now things started to escalate. He got angry and started to get insulting. He started calling them "bitches", and was getting really rude. He was like "It's my kids first Christmas, and his pictures with Santa are ruined". The one girl replied ... "Well if it was that important, maybe you should have been here for you child's first Santa pictures". Rich and I looked at each other and were like "YEAH! ... go girl!". One left to go call security, and he was even threatening, "I guess no one else is getting to buy pictures, cuz I'm not leaving until I get my money back". The fight was on, and they said they were now going to refuse to deal with him, because he was being so rude. He said something rude and something about them not having real jobs. I had had enough, and stepped in. "Well I have a real job ... and you are wasting _my_ time ... so MOVE IT ALONG!". He was ready for a fight, and turned his head around ... directly into my chest, then looked up to see the big guy staring him down. The punk changed his tune and cowarded back a bit and sheepishly said "well go ahead then ... if they'll help you".

Rich bought the photos, and security had showed up by this time, so we left. Before I went to hit the highway, I went back and talked with the girls. I left my card and cell number with them, and if they had any issues with the mall of their company they could pass along my information, and they thanked me. Security had come back at this point, and I told them that the guy was being obnoxious, and they girls were perfectly within their rights. They thanked me as well. For god's sake ... it's Christmas, kids are around, and you are calling Santa's elves "bitches"??!?!?! What a loser.

Along the drive back to Moose Jaw, I could feel my brain start healing from all of the scars over the last year. I left the laptop in Calgary, and had no internet anyways. I arrived around 8:00 P.M. and was bombarded by my sister's dog Georgia. She's a pug / beagle cross (puggle), and she is the most hyper active dog I have ever met. She's really like the dog from snatch that eats everything. I watched her destroy several toys over the vacation. And eat some strange stuff. Mom looked well, and Diana has been drunk for weeks (lol). She was at the bar, and phoned later in the night. I declined joining her, as I was tired from traveling. I was ready to relax, not go out. I talked with mom about all sorts of things catching up, and went to bed. The dog woke me up jumping all over me. Not fun ... and I was not used to it. I decided it was time Georgia learned to be zen. So I spent the next few days teaching her to just chill. We bonded pretty good, and by the last day before I left she was very open about joining me wherever I lay down, and just sleeping on me. Funny dog.

I did some shopping, and watched some movies Saturday. I met my sister and Dolly, and Jana down at the Casino for some drinks later in the night. We wet to the park afterwards. It was packed, and I felt like an old man. I recognized a couple of people, but didn't really "know" anyone. I did run into a couple of friends from high school near the end of the night, and chatted for a bit. I was getting tired, and went and found the girls. Dolly had left with Scott, and Jana was leaving. My sister said she was staying. I reminded her we were going to Regina in the morning. She assured me it was fine, so I offered Jana a ride home. She was like, you don't have to do that, I was like it's no problem. "But it's all the way to South hill". I started laughing. MJ is only 30,000 people. It takes me longer to drive to Rich's house in Calgary, than from Moose Jaw into Regina. So a 5 minute round trip to South Hill and back to Mom's house is not a problem. Small town mentality ... I'm just not used to it anymore. lol. So I pulled into the wrong drive way, and she was getting out, and said "Thanks Andy". "Anytime" Then she says to me "Do you remember my name?". I was like "I know who you are Jana". Then she says to me "Well most people forget my name, and I have to remind them ... you know ... it rhymes with banana?". It was the funniest thing I heard in weeks. Totally made me laugh. The funny Banana Girl. Diana and Dolly had a good laugh over it too.

Sunday we drove to Regina and took Grandma K out for brunch. We chatted, and had a good time with her. 85 years old, and still looks great! We drove back in the afternoon, and I had my plans changed on me Sunday night, and ended up keeping it low key. Diana was hanging with Dolly again I think. Xmas eve I did some last minute shopping, and then wrapped some gifts. Ted was working all day, but came over for diner that night. Meal was FANTASTIC, and I'm sooooooo full. Diana had been baking as well, and I scooped some cookies (triple chocolate somethings ... mmmmmmmmmmmm). We did the gifts and hung out. It was really really awesome. Later that night (midnight). Heath called me as he was in town now, and was finally free. He had been looking after his nieces and nephews because Matt's wife was sick, and the triplets were still really small, and should be around that. I picked him up and we went over to Kevin and Breann's house. We talked for hours, and had coffees and told the good old stories. At 4:30 I was like "I gotta go." I dropped Heath off at home, and made it back to the house just as Diana and mom were leaving for Regina. Diana was flying to Nova Scotia at 7 AM, so they had to leave. We said the goodbyes, and hugs. Then I went to bed. I drove back to Calgary later on Christmas day. I had a stop over at AJ and Kym's place and gave the kids their silly string (what a blast!). Then relaxed at home. Fell asleep during Ben-Hur. Today I have been feeling ill, and did nothing but sleep and watch TV, and play some poker. So A merry Christmas to everyone, and Happy New Year!  ¶ 12:47:00 AM 0 comments

  Travels, Work & Holidays December has been more hectic than I ever remember. Typically December is when the IT stuff slows down, and I get to catch up. Not so in 2007 as it comes to a close. I have already travelled out of town 3 times, and I am leaving again tomorrow. I am looking forward to next week where I can finally catch up (I really need to catch up on the whole year ... I can do it in 3 days ;).

I went to Edmonton with AJ. We stayed over in Leduc, which is our new plan from now on. It was a real productive day at the L&Y Edmonton office, meeting some new staff, and getting close to the pulse of end users is always nice. I got some great ideas and feedback from Suzi, and Kevin just finished putting her ideas into motion. Then I was back for < class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Banff. Rich and I travelled together. We stayed at the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort. We had a few (_alot_) of cocktails before diner. We were definitely the fun drunk guys at all of our respective tables (Me, Rich, John, Craig, Scott). I brought my bottle of port with me as usual, and was willing to share. Great meal, and good fun at the table I was at (Kevin Brown, Jess + BF, Crystal + husband and others). For the first time I did not close down the event with AJ and Rich and the usual suspects. I was so far gone, I had to go back to my room at about 11:30. I did manage to pick up some spaghetti, and a HUGE bottle of ice tea before, and they were my savior. I watched Eastern Promises, and passed out. It was a great weekend. But it was the coldest day of the year.

So then I was back in town for < class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">AJ and Ian.Thom dropped us off at the Airport in his new Jeep. The flight was alright. It went quick going down, but my knees started to lock up somewhat. We ran in Ron's wife Christine at the airport waiting for luggage ... and I didn't recognize her. We felt like asses. Sorry. We found our hotel downtown near crescent st, and AJ picked up some drinks and snackies. We settled in and headed down to Thursday's. Good eats ... GREAT ONION SOUP!. Then it was off to the Downtown for some fun and games. The bouncers outside were entertaining trying to convince us which club to hit up. The beer was glowing green, I forgot that highballs are served with the coke on the side, the bar was dead, the girls were alright. Volley Ball girl was good for a dance. The waitress was the hottest girl in the place. And the funniest thing ever was her explaining to me and AJ about the peep show place next door outside when having a smoke. The amateur session (impromptu) was interesting. We eventually head back to home base. I opted for the couch, but was too tired / lazy to pull out the couch. The knees paid for that the next day.

We met with Serge and Brigitte at Jevco. Always great to see them. Business plans got changed on us, but it was not vindictive. Just not what we planned. Life goes on, and Serge took us out later. We snacked on soup and poutine at Winstons, which filled us up too much before diner with them. Weinsteins and Gavino's was a great restaurant. The platter was insanely huge. Sausages and peppers, I even at Octopus. Which I didn't even mind much. It was seared, and spicy ... pretty cool. We went clubbing again, and Chantal from Ottawa was a sweetheart. AJ disappeared walking Serge back to his car, and I was left at the table alone for quite a while. The night was fun. We headed back to sleep. I pulled out the bed this time. Bigger mistake. My back paid in the worst way. I could barely move next day. We headed to Brossard and met with Marine Expert. Cool people. We went for lunch at Vinnie Gambini's. Another great Italian meal. The lasagna was massive, and sooooo good. I couldn't even finish it. At the end of the day Guy dropped us off at the airport, and we waited around for our flight. We ran into Christine at the Airport again. She didn't notice us, so when we called out her name, we totally redeemed ourselves. the snow storm hit, flight was delayed, and the head winds made a long flight, loose a couple of hours for time change, and we end up in Calgary at 1:45 AM. the trip was 3 days, but seemed like a week.

So now I've been back for < week. Had the Fortress Xmas party at Gregg's on the weekend. In between travels I have tried to keep up on the work front, and there's so much happening. Co-lo moves, hard disks fail, programming, research, meetings, help, on and on. Maybe it's just because I'm so intermittent this year. But I am so ready for a break. I'm not even taking the laptop with me when I leave.

I'm heading back to the homeland (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) tomorrow. Right after Rich and I get our pictures taken with Santa. Then the drive home. Meeting up with Diana when she's back from her concert deal. Saturday is unplanned, Sunday is a trip to Regina to see Grandma. Monday is Christmas Eve, and that's when we are celebrating. Diana is flying back to Nova Scotia early morning on the 25th, and I am going to drive back to Calgary. So it's all planned out. That way I am back for a few days of peace and quiet catch up, instead of sitting around in MJ twiddling thumbs. So a very Merry Christmas to all, and I'll probably catch up with you in the new Year.  ¶ 12:26:00 AM 0 comments