Late one summer night....

And, I am finally updating my blog... Its been a crazy almost 2 weeks since my last day of work at MSR for the summer. Here is what has gone on since then:

Saturday June 27, 2009: Aaron and I started on our trek to Alberta. We (mostly Aaron) packed up all my things into our little Optra - there was not room for much more! We started out rather early in the morning for the long journey to Calgary. We arrived in the early afternoon, and luckily had an opportunity to see Shane, who had come in from Banff. We met up for some drinks at Original Joe's which was near our hotel - the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary. That night, we went to an awesome dinner theatre at Jubilations - Sexy Gals in the City! It was awesome, and we had a great time!

Sunday June 28, 2009: We had lunch at Chili's in Calgary before embarking on the small town of Springbrook where the old Penhold Base is located. This town grows in size during the summer... with about 80ish adult staff members, lots of staff cadets and almost 1700 cadets over the 8 or so weeks that we are up and running for the summer. This year, my room is 111 in the Music Training Wing barracks. Fortunately this means that I am on the main floor rather than upstairs.

The first week: Is always a blur! I found out on our first day that I would have two different jobs for the summer. For the first three weeks of the course cadets I would be a music instructor, and for the last three weeks I would have the duty as a course officer. This will make for an interesting and exciting summer. We have lots of new people this year, but still a small contingent of females (there are 9 of us in Music in total, out of almost 30 staff members). The food is the same as last year, and the drinking mess is hardly being used!

The Mess Dinner: We have a mess dinner which is a formal dinner event in our 1As or full tunic/tie etc, or mess kit which is a specific uniform. The evening starts off with cocktails, followed by a formal and ceremonial dinner which honours those who are no longer with us, as we eat, and drink, and toast! It is followed by drinks in the mess - and it was a great evening for all! We must stay until the Commanding Officer leaves, as it is tradition.

Our first weekend here, the staff cadets arrived - these cadets are 16 years of age to 18 years of age, and they are to aid with the way the camp runs for the summer. They go through a week of briefings (lectures of info), and such before their grad parade which is tomorrow morning where they find out their positions for the summer. It is important for them as their wage depends on the position they hold.


The Weather: As many of you may have noticed, we have had interesting weather this week. I have posted a picture of almost every day on facebook of the ominous black clouds which we have seen above. With the exception of last weekend (where there was a Tornado in red deer, and funnel clouds spotted here), its mainly been rain, with some lightening and thunder. We are hoping for sun soon as its cold!

The Roads: When Aaron and I arrived on the first day - our little car had problems because almost all of the roads had been torn up and once that got wet, we are walking in mud! Mud has been the word of the time here, as every day when I go to polish my boots I need to address the mud issues first. They claim all the roads will be paved by July 15, but we are still waiting! It is a mess!!!!


I think thats all for now, its 11:45 pm and I need to be up by 7 to complete my uniform before work starts at 8. Grad parade tomorrow, followed by meetings, team building, and then I have hours of floor duty tomorrow night supervising the cadets as they arrive. I will be on duty tomorrow working 8-5 as normal, and 5-12 (maybe 1) in the morning when we complete bed count. These days we sure earn our wage!

Ivy