Oiler fan in Cowtown

You don't pick your team...your team sort of picks you.  I don't remember exactly when I became and Oiler fan.  I know I wasn't born one because they weren't even an NHL team when I was born.  But I don't ever remember cheering for anyone else.  I have vague memories of Stanley Cup hype in the early '80s.  I have a memory of being in the food court at Bower Place Mall in Red Deer (waaaaay before the current renovation when it had a dark, brick, sunken living room feel to it) and seeing Bill Ranford.  My Dad pointed him out and made us walk past him a couple of times to make sure it was really him.  I don't think we said anything to him. 


I remember the '87 Canada Cup when we had Grant Fuhr's game-worn jersey in our house while Dad was arranging a silent auction for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.  In the sixth grade, we had moved to Sherwood Park and the Oilers won their last Stanley Cup.  I carried a 'Go Oilers Go' sign I had crafted (complete with newspaper collage) to school every day for a week.


Now, I have no illusions about my team.  I know they're run by the biggest bunch of idiots this side of the Ford family.  I know that they're forever rebuilding.  I know the joy of landing a first overall draft pick...for three consecutive years. And with every one, the fear that they may pull a Lindros and refuse to play for us.  I love being surprised when they win.  But still, they're my team.


I love being at Rexall Place (for any event) and seeing the words, THIS IS OIL COUNTRY.  But, I don't live in Oil Country - I live in Cowtown.  Home of the Red Mile.  Where Flames burn brightly.
When I moved to Calgary, I knew it would be tough but I proudly put up my Oilers stickers in my new office.  They paled in comparison to the giant Flames logo looking down on me from the flag hung in the office next to mine but up they stayed.  This year, the Flames have actually been exciting to watch.  They're so close to nailing down a playoff spot for the first time in what seems like forever and you can feel the excitement in the city which would be great to be a part of.  But, I just can't bail on my team.


Friends have told me I can cheer for both of them...these friends obviously didn't grow up in Alberta.  So, I will cheer like crazy for my team when the Flames play the Oilers in Edmonton this weekend. Even if an Oiler win means the Flames don't make the playoffs.  And I will anxiously await next season...because next year, we're making the playoffs!  Or, we'll land a great young draft pick.

Holy Hiatus, Batman!

There really are no excuses...well, maybe there are a few.  I haven't had a home computer that functions worth anything for almost 4 years.  I do most of what I need on my phone.  20 years ago we didn't even have a cell phone in our family and now we can do everything we used to do on a desktop computer while standing in line at Safeway.  I've been busy realizing that doing the same thing every day wasn't working and moved my life to a new city.  I've been blessed with two amazing little nephews and would rather spend time with them than do anything else.  I've made new friends, worked hard to keep in touch with old friends and have completely neglected my tiny, opinionated corner of the internet.


I have a new home computer now and I still have a lot of opinions that require more characters than Twitter allows so I think I'll start sharing them again here.  I would love to be able to write every day but that expectation may be a little lofty.  I'll think I'll consider myself successful if I don't go another 6 years without posting.

Thanks, Gramps!

I didn't say "thank-you" to him today. I should have. Grandpa served our country in WWII and I should have told him "thank-you" at the Remembrance Day service today. I should have thanked every single one of the veterans in attendance. We got busy talking and eating and enjoying each other's company and then we left.

I came home and was reading some articles on Remembrance Day activities that took place around the city today and realized that we should have thanked ALL the veterans for sacrificing their lives. Those who didn't perish defending the ideals of democracy witnessed the horrors of war. They lost friends and brothers in front of their eyes. They experienced deplorable living conditions. They lost their youth and were forever changed. They too sacrificed their lives. For us. And for that, I am truly thankful.

Lest We Forget

Remembrance Day is on Wednesday and I've been reading some articles this week about those who oppose the poppy and those who choose not to celebrate Remembrance Day as they do not support war. I, on the other hand, proudly wear my poppy and make a point of travelling out of town to watch my grandpa march in his Legion's service.

I don't support war. I would love to see every Miss America contestant's dream come true and see us achieve world peace. But I do support those who have sacrificed their own lives so that I can have the opportunity to voice my opinion. To choose what I believe. To be free to live the life I want to live. To be free...period.

My grandfather was fortunate enough to survive some pretty nasty battles in Italy. Only recently, as his memory has started to fail him, has he shared some of the tragic events he witnessed. He has lived his entire life carrying horrific memories of war with him so that I don't have to experience the same.

So, on November 11th, at 11:00am, please stop and observe 2 minutes of silence, not in support of war, but in honour of those soldiers who gave their lives for us. Because, you can.

H1N1 Rant

Okay...here it goes. Can't do this on facebook for fear of "starting something" amongst my 'friends'. The Alberta Government started the immunization campaign by saying they would like the high-risk groups to come forward and get immunized but they wouldn't turn anyone away. So, the selfish, red-necked Albertan's came out in droves creating huge line-ups that were impenetrable by those in the high-risk groups.

I got my seasonal flu shot a month ago, at work, because we're considered high-risk as we're providing direct support to kids who are high-risk. I'm at work 8 hours+ per day to pay my taxes to have health care (including immunizations). Because I'm at work for 8 hours, I missed out on the clinics as the lines were too long as they were filled with those who are not considered high-risk.

I don't know if I'm more upset with AHS for not putting a screening process in place or with all the dumb-ass idiots who stood in line taking up space for those most at risk of contracting or passing on H1N1.

Then I read today that the Calgary Flames were able to get vaccines at an AHS private clinic. Really...healthy pro-hockey players are high-risk? I call BS.

This just in (as being reported on Global news as I type) - an AHS employee lost their job after allowing the Flames to queue-jump. Still doesn't change the fact I didn't get immunized and am worried about the kids I work with.

But...Glee just ended with "Don't Stop Believing". I love that song.

Only me...

I got 2.5 hours of sleep last night. Well...to be honest, there may have been another hour in there but it definitely wasn't continuous. I was reading a great book (Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult) until midnightish. Around 2:30am, the power went out. Because my smoke detectors are connected to the wiring, they beep when they go onto battery power. They beep again when the power comes back on. Loudly. Right outside my bedroom door.

The power must have come on and off at least 4 times. Meaning, the beeping pattern happened at least 4 times. The power crew was working on the problem. I know because I could hear them...for 5 hours. Who can't sleep through a blackout in the middle of the night?!? Only me.

Blog Title

I feel the need to explain the blog title. Obviously it comes from the Paul Brandt song and lyric. I was born and raised in Central Alberta. I spent summers travelling through the Rockies, camping in the foothills and driving through farm fields. In 2001, I travelled across this entire great nation of ours. While I enjoyed every province, and the thrill of seeing new things, nothing compared to the thrill of crossing the border back into Alberta. Every time I listen to this song, I feel that same joy. And it's true...I will be bound to Alberta and for Alberta, no matter where I go.