Visit Vermillion - Arnica & Jason New House

March 19, 2005. Kerry and I went to Vermillion to visit Arnica & Jason. We left at 9:00AM. The town of Vermillion is approximately 57 km west of Lloydminster. I will tell you a little about the town: The founders of the town took its name from the Vermillion River on which it is located. Shortly after 1800 Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company built two posts on the north side of the North Saskatchewan River. These posts were known as Paint Creek House (Fort Vermillion) and were abandoned in 1816. All of these names refer to the oxidized iron which gave the clay banks along the river a reddish colour. (The original post office was named Breage, after the town Breage in Cornwall, England.) Arnica & Jason bought a beautiful house in Vermillion. As she said, a 'barn' like red house. It is a character house they put a lot of effort on. I am happy for them. We played with Hamisch, Maggie and Vega. We talked about the wedding. As I am one of Arnica's bridesmaid, we had lots to talk about the ceremony, decoration and dress. So exciting! We left Vermillion around 4:00PM and stopped a little bit in Vegreville. This little town is the center of Alberta's Ukrainian culture. This town of 5300 has one other claim to fame: the world's largest known Easter EGG! We kid you not. This nine metre(!) high egg, decorated in traditional Ukrainian style, was built in 1975 to commemorate the centennial of the formation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta (although I personally can't see the connection). Unfortunately, it was too cold for pictures. We then arrived in Edmonton at 5:30PM. We then watched a DVD: 'The Incredibles'. I LOVED IT!

Edmonton - Darlene & Dennis B-Day Celebration

March 18, 2005. Kerry left work at noon and pick me up around 1:30PM. Cold and windy weather but the road condition was good. We stopped in Red Deer and bought some tea at Glenn's (Chai and Provance Rooibos). We arrived in Edmonton at 4:00PM and head to Sherwood Park where Darlene was waiting for us. At 6:30Pm we went to 'East Side Mario's' restaurant (http://www.primerestaurants.com/eastsidemarios/) to celebrate Dennis B-Day on March 16th, and Darlene's B-Day on March 19th. We had a delicious meal (Thanks Kerry) and then decided to watch a movie. We watched Flight of the Phoenix (2004). A movie about a C-119 cargo plane full of oil workers crashed in Mongolia's Gobi Desert during a sandstorm, the survivors attempt to build a new plane from the parts they find in the wreckage to escape. The plane was piloted by Captain Frank Towns, an employee of oil company Geodel, whose job it is to go to remote oil rigs and shut them down when their productivity has decreased. Having accomplished his job with one such rig, his plane crashes with all of the employees aboard on the way back to Beijing. Very interesting. A Dennis type of movie. Kerry and I wanted to watch 'The Incredibles', but it was a Dennis B-day celebration day so we all watched the action movie!

Talisman Centre - Running Room

Last day at Talisman Centre....
Elvira and I joined together the Talisman Centre taking advantage of the Corporate Membership Program. The sole intention is to promote self-well-being through exercise and good diet. Nothing extreme or crazy. Talisman Centre offers a series of drop-in-classes and it is the most affordable centre in town. (See: http://www.talismancentre.com/daily.html)
I will go now perhaps once a week or when work and personal life allows me to. But neverthless, we will keep exercising. Our favorite classes are: Power Cycle w/ instructor Tanya, Aqua Fit w/ instructor
Also, Elvira and I are planning to join the Running-Room half-marathon clinic. Two years ago, we completed the 10km clinic and now the half-marathon will be a real challange! It will prepare us for the Corporate Challange this year. Last year, my timing was not as good as the previous year. So this year, I want to achieve a better time. Perhaps finish the 10k in less than 50 minutes!