Yay Albertans!

[hguenthe]

Hi ladies,

It is so cool to hear how many of you are or have been from my ole' stomping grounds. I am still an Alberta girl at heart!

Grew up my formative years in Red Deer until grade 10 and then in Edmonton for years. Was in Wetaskiwin for the last couple of years before moving to the US.

So other than a handful of years out of my life, I have lived in Alberta and loved it. Now if they just had the ocean nearby and warmer weather, I could live there forever but sadly, must admit that the location & weather down here suits me so much better that other than visiting family, don't feel a need to return.

Coming back to visit and attend a friend's wedding in October

[echogirl]

I left because of the weather as well. There were too many -30 degree winters. Vancouver much more mild but still not perfect!!

[Amikasmom]

Tell me about the weather, there is hardly been any hot days here! Well today is, so thats good finally! DH has a job that *might* be up for grabs in Autralia..could you imagine, or I mean could I? Holy I've never been somewhere that far from home, but if it sounds too good, we might just take it Living in Alberta is ok, I just wish the weather was better too. I grew up in a secluded town in the North, Millet (by wetaskawin) and Rocky mountain House, and Edmonton, and now Innisfail, by Red Deer.
Glad there are a few from this area! A big shout out!! LOL!!!

[Heidi2008]

Wow, I didn't know you were from Alberta!? I was born in Calgary...moved from Alberta to Ontario when I was 5yrs old cause work was slow for my dad & my mom's a nurse, so she can relocate really easily. We've lived here ever since but I go back to visit every 2-3 years.

[donitab]

Heather - a few days in San Antonio might just make you wish for a little Alberta weather -lol - if the weather stays like it has been! Can't wait to see you!

[echogirl]

No way...I love San Antonio weather...your river walk is amazing! The heat...awesome!
Nichole..I would move to Australia in a second!!!
Heidi have you been to the Stampede recently?

[hguenthe]

Doris - my sister thought the same thing and now lives in Vancouver as well. I could never handle all the dreary rainy days there. I am much easier to live with where there is lots of sun!! sun = happy Heather

Nichole - I know all those places you have been. We used to do a fair bit of camping around Alberta as summer vacations and when living in Wetaskiwin, would go to Millet for dinner on the way home from working in Edmonton fairly often. I would definitely jump on a chance to go to Australia! you & your family are still young and the adventures are fun. Sometimes those unexpected opportunities are the best things to happen! and if not, it is always a wonderful learning experience and there is always home to go back to. There is always skype and email and lots of ways to make home not feel so far away and adventures that you just can't get in Alberta.

I know I am so happy that the chance we got to move down here happened and it came completely out of the blue. I was expecting a call from Mike between flights home to say he landed fine & was flabbergasted when he asked how I felt about moving to the US. That was Friday and by Monday afternoon, we had an agreed on contract & plans to move within a month.

Hehe, San Antonio weather.. after Atlanta lately, I am not sure any hotter will matter as my body has become very accustomed to sweating like crazy... not glowing, full blown sweating! 23 days till the crop... looking forward to meeting everyone going!

Cool Heidi, I knew you were in Ontario but didn't realize you had been an Albertan too. My best friend growing up in Red Deer & next door neighbor, his family also moved from Alberta to Ontario when the job market went crazy out there and Alberta was still slow. How the times have changed but I hear Alberta is now slowing down again too

[echogirl]

Oh Heather I hear you about the sun! The winters here can get so so very dreary. Rain rain and then more rain. But really it' the funniest thing, because it can rain for weeks (really weeks I say) and then BAM a gorgeous sunny day out of nowhere. So for that day you do everything-you go skiing or hiking, then lunch on Granville island and then an evening walk at Spanish Banks and then I think Vancouver is awesome. Why does everyone live here! (completely forgetting that it's been raining for the last month!!) LOL
I so envy you living in sunshine each and every day!

[hguenthe]

Hehe, well.. this spring/summer has been anything but sunshine everyday.. we have seen a LOT of rain too.. jokes have been that Atlanta does droughts funny because of all the rain we got especially early on in spring. The sun is usually out everyday but then it hides and downpours for awhile and reappears just in time for lovely sunsets.

[dugarner]

Can't say I'm from Canada, only been there once. But I have a friend who lives in Grande Prairie, and I googled grand prairie red deer to see how far apart they are---and found this:

Speed Tour of Red Deer, AB on Vimeo

There's also a speedy video of the guy making the drive from Grande Prairie to Red Deer in 5 1/2 hours, the video is 9 minutes. Couldn't sit and watch it, but it looks interesting!

[DesignerDigitals]

Just to throw in my two cents, my grandfather moved down from Winnipeg, Manitoba. We still have a ton of cousins there but have not seen then for years.

[hguenthe]

that was funny to watch.. zoom... red light... zoom... red light... about what I remember of driving in Red Deer... lights always seemed to be timed weird

[hguenthe]

Hehe, cool Randy. Mike is a Winnipeg born

[echogirl]

So is my Hubbie (from Winnipeg). It's a great place to be from!

[DesignerDigitals]

Originally Posted by echogirl

So is my Hubbie (from Winnipeg). It's a great place to be from!

And a little town outside of there, Selkirk. Funny thing, when my grandfather and all his brothers came down in the 30's they all changed their last name - to different ones! You would think that they would all choose the same last name.

[echogirl]

Originally Posted by rpertiet

And a little town outside of there, Selkirk. Funny thing, when my grandfather and all his brothers came down in the 30's they all changed their last name - to different ones! You would think that they would all choose the same last name.

That's hilarious! I wonder why they all changed their names?

[DesignerDigitals]

Originally Posted by echogirl

That's hilarious! I wonder why they all changed their names?

I guess to Americanize the name. My grandfather went from Zelisko to Martin, uncles went to Edwards and Stephens.

[hguenthe]

Originally Posted by rpertiet

And a little town outside of there, Selkirk. Funny thing, when my grandfather and all his brothers came down in the 30's they all changed their last name - to different ones! You would think that they would all choose the same last name.

So I knew that town sounded familiar for some reason so I asked Mike... hopefully your family is from the other part of town but Mike associates Selkirk with the insane asylum

[DesignerDigitals]

Originally Posted by hguenthe

So I knew that town sounded familiar for some reason so I asked Mike... hopefully your family is from the other part of town but Mike associates Selkirk with the insane asylum

Busted...

[Heidi2008]

Originally Posted by echogirl

Heidi have you been to the Stampede recently?

Doris: I haven't been in the last 5yrs....just with being in college & they getting pregnant & married. Plus, my DH & I have been travelling once a year to places we've never been before.

I did use to go every 2nd year, for about 10yrs. I have a friend there & her bday is July 9th, so right smack in the middle of Stampede. She came to visit me the years I didn't go there. Stampede is such a great time! It was the best party ever the last time the Calgary Flames made it to the Stanley Cup Finals!

[janedee]

Wow! Who would have thought so many here would be from or spent time living in Alberta! I lived in Edmonton for 14 years - spent all my teen and early adult years there, then after I married we moved to Ontario for 10 and now we've been in BC for 16! I have a friend that still lives in Millet - she's the local hair stylist!

[maureenreynolds]

Surprising how many Albertans there are here. Alberta means Ian and Sylvia to me.

But Doris, I'd happily live in Vancouver, and yes, I could take the winters. I lived in the north of England for 7 yrs, and ds lives in Seattle. He loves the weather. fwiw, he's the only one of my children born in England.

[Sierra25]

An Albertan here - southern Alberta. I've lived here most of my life except 2 years in Vancouver. I understand about the rain...... Grew up around Calgary so I've been to the Stampede several times but I'm further south now. The weather is great right now!