Bonanza!

It's over! I have emerged relatively unscathed from my four months as a deskbot. I do miss the great people, but searching a database all day I do not miss. Instead, I'm elated to have had four days of training at the Hansard office, just south of the Legislative building. It is--how shall I put this?--freakin' awesome. So totally freakin' awesome. It just might be the greatest job I've ever had. Working with words and language, listening to the hilarious rantings of provincial politicians, observing archaic ceremony and tradition...it's brilliant. I just have to hope that I passed my transcription test on Friday, and then I'll have some more training/orientation this coming week. I only wish it were full time!

Apart from vast improvements on the employment front, we've had some wicked good times recently. Last weekend, Marky the Slice and Nicky B drove all the way from Calgree to hang out with our bad selves (and Mark's brother, who was in town for a pool tournament). The boys and I rocked out the video games, including guitar hero


and lots of Wii action.
Oh, yes, there is a Wii in our house now. Jimmy carefully saved up every gift certificate and monetary gift he received at Christmas, and put them all together to buy his dream machine. The Wii is a wonderful thing, particularly since you can create little animated effigies of yourself and your friends who actually perform the onscreen actions as you play. Here's me


and here's Jimmy.
If you're interested in seeing the "Mii" we made of you, let us know. We've pretty much done one for everyone we know.

Anyway, the guys had some hardcore gaming time interspersed with excellent Reginan dining. We had to hit the classic '80s relic on Albert Street, but we all paid for it afterwards. Here's Nick's picture to demonstrate:

And as those who know Mark the Slice will agree, gambling is a must when he's in town. We hit Casino Regina, which is built in a gorgeous old train station with many of the architectural features and historical elements preserved. Jimmy and I hit the nickel slots (and lost the entire $5 we put in) while Nick and Mark schooled the poker room. We spent some time betting on virtual horses and, as is becoming tradition, scored the royal flush on the Kenny Rogers Gambler slot machine. On the way out, Mark casually threw down $10 on one roll at the craps table, and walked away with $100. He and Nick absolutely took the casino for a ride.


Nick and James and I also took in a Regina Pats vs. Moose Jaw Warriors hockey game. James and I have been to a couple of Pats games, and they rock the block. First of all, it's cheap. $15 for tickets, and--wait for it--$0 for parking! And $0 for programs! It was so cheap, we even bought a 50/50 ticket--three for $2! Woo. They didn't make a fuss when we brought thermoses of hot chocolate. They have soft pretzels and mini doughnuts. And between periods, they had people in giant hamster balls

(just like Atlaspheres on American Gladiator)

sliding all over the ice. Hilarity. Also, the arena is tiny, so there are basically no bad seats. You get a great view and great audio. Crunch! Slam! And when you yell at the players, they can actually hear you. It's the good stuff. There's lots of checking and fighting, and not a lot of real hockey. Right up my alley. It was a great time, although I think all three of us were wiped by that point.

We had the great times, and Nick and Mark very generously took our poor selves out for dinner, and breakfast, and lunch. We lived like kings!


Now, swim against the chronological tide with me if you will.

You may recall from such posts as that last one that we scored a free trip to Edmonton with our church folk. The highlight was, of course, hanging with Michael and Terri. We had a wicked time hanging out in our old house which looks more beautiful than ever. I do miss that place. Terri made me a gorgeous chocolate martnini

Michael shared some of his marvelous port,

and we played Scrabble (Onyx edititon--oooooo!) 'til all hours of the night.

So, we pretty much rock.

Next time, I might make it back to the Christmas photos which, I promise you, are legendary.

It's like this

We did some stuff. It was awesome. Perhaps there will be periodic reacaps. In the meantime, though, it's time for me to forge ahead.
We drove to Edmonton last weekend in a van full of church folks. We attended the Breakforth conference, which was weird, scary, uplifting, offensive, inspiring, fun, intriguing, and hectic. The highlights were a) getting to know our fellow passengers better, b) watching Gilmore Girls in the van with my buddy Janelle, and c) partying with Michael and Terri in our lovely little house. They are not only the fun times and wonderful people; they are also the world's greatest tenants, and have actually improved the condition of the house since moving in. Wow. They're among the scads of people who are currently engaged to be married, and they're fabulous together. Our late-night escapades made us exhausted during our conferences sessions, but were completely worth it.
I also dug into the storage room and found my sweaters, which I missed terribly.



I'm currently working on processing provincial exams (be very afraid for the future of the English language, by the way) and have only 10 days left at my current job. On the 20th, I start training at my dream job--transcribing and editing the Hansard at the Saskatchewan Legislature. I am unbelievably excited about this. Too bad it's only part time.


Jimmy is rocking the set as the little vicar who could. We're wishin' and hopin' and prayin' and all that to stay here in Regina. Good Shep is indeed the good stuff.
So, I didn't disappear from the blogosphere entirely; I'll definitely be back with more detail once I'm settling in at Hansard and need to practice my typing!