It Caught Up...

I could barely sit through the end of the US Open yesterday. No, not because it's golf, I like golf. I don't know if it was the night out with Jen or the fact that I had travelled recently, but I just couldn't keep my eyes open for too long. I battled the idea of going to sleep with getting into the shower and that worked for a while, but around 8pm, I was out for the count. I think I woke up once and it was dark out. The alarm clock in my room isn't plugged in, so I had no idea what time it was either. Oh well, up bright and early with the sun this morning.

Saturday was quite good. Mom and I decided to get out and she showed me around to pick up some things. I wanted to find something to get my laptop working again, so I can use pictures and video and what not. No one has seen any of my photos yet, so my AC Adapter is like my number one (or two, you know a job) priority. We took a trip into town and looked around a couple stores so I could find a UK to US plug adapter. Well, I'm beginning to think they don't exist although I think I found one on eBay, which I did purchase, but I want it now! Staples, Office Depot & Future Shop were all pretty much useless. I did find a Universal AC Adapter with several different plugs and cords for $149.99 at Future Shop, but that was a little excessive in the price department. After a wee bit of looking, Mom and I went for lunch.

The city as a whole hadn't really changed a great deal since I've been gone. A few new buildings here and there and some buildings changed owners and shops, but overall, it still looks like the Calgary that I'd left behind. For the most part. I can still remember a great deal about being here in the first place and I can pretty much remember where most of the important things are, so that's alright. It wasn't until I headed over to Jen's place where I saw some of the biggest changes.

After a bite to eat and some time back at home, my Mom dropped me back in town at the Chinook train station. Already, the train system has changed... the line has been extended further to the Northwest and South of the city, as expected... fares are now up to $2 for 90 minutes of travelling within the city... and well... I suppose that's it. It wasn't cleaner, the voice over the intercom was the same, just said the stops a tad differently and the people are still generally freaky on the train.

From Chinook, I had to head North into the City Centre to get to the Sunnyside stop, just on the other side of the downtown core. The graffitti had changed down the line going into town, there is a Jesus sign after the 39th Avenue stop (that I always had contempt for) that had changed and then once we reached the Stampede station stops, then the changes were quite mad. Where there was a run-down house and a couple other rubbish buildings, there now laid a GIANT CASINO! I mean, this thing is huge... where the hell did it come from!?! Well, I think I know where Kelly and I are gonna hang out now. I don't think it's quite open yet, but my goodness, the Stampede won't be a rodeo feature for too much longer if there's gonna be that much gambling goin' on. Once I passed that, there was a great big condo complex being built in the Stampede ground parking lot. Now, I think, I'm not sure, but my friend Julie might have bought her condo there. I didn't think it was quite that close to the grounds, but I think this is the one. It looks like it's gonna be a good place, except during Flames games (if they start playing again) and the Stampede. The traffic and noise is gonna be horrendous around there. I'm hoping that she got it fairly cheaply and that there is double-paned glass throughout her place.

Those were the two biggest changes that I noticed and since this was sort of my neighbourhood when I lived in downtown Calgary, they did concern me a little more than most.

Something I had been forgetting to mention thus far and this is why I wish I had my laptop working, was that the rain was awful on Friday and Saturday. The rivers began to overflow all over the area and houses and neighbourhoods either had flood warnings or were even evacuated for a while. When the train left the downtown core and over the Bow River, I could see the river overflow its banks and start taking up a lot of the pathways. The river was really moving as well, it was a mini-natural disaster and in some ways, it's kinda fascinating.

Anyways, passed the river and headed over to Jen's place. To no surprise, she wasn't even close to being ready go out drinking at all. We were supposed to see her friend's Rock-a-billy band, but they had ended up playing throughout the week and either decided or had it scheduled for them not to play Saturday night. Oh well, no worries, there was beer to be had.

I met Jen outside her place as she was giving me directions on the phone. She was nice enough to greet me in her pink SpongeBob Squarepants pajamas. Yeah, no shame from that girl. Well, the tattoos and what not probably mean that she has little shame as it is... like pink pajamas is really gonna hurt her self-esteem. She really hadn't changed too much from the last time I saw her. I won't be mean and pick out the little changes, but in essence, she was the same. She did show me a new tattoo and all, but that's about all I'll go into. :)

Inside her place, I met her housemate, Donna, her dog, Costas, and two cats... errrr... Missy and ..... uhhh... I can't remember. Oh well, it was a full house in there.

Nevertheless... we went drinking! Yeah, man, get to the important part, eh? Once Jen was FINALLY ready to get out, we headed out into Calgary. Unfortunately, the indecision bug bit us both on where to finally go, as we passed the overflowing Bow River again on the walk into town. That's a lot of water.

We eventually made it to the Drum & Monkey in my old neighbourhood of Victoria Park. This was the little pub that I sort of frequented before I moved out of the area to go to England. My old apartment was about a block away. Unfortunately, I didn't go see the ol' brick box of a building, but I digress. The Drum & Monkey is a great little pub. You can take Canadian Tire money on Tuesday nights and buy beer. How great is that? The tunes were awesome in there that night as well... some White Stripes, Bloc Party and a couple other bands that reminded me of being back in Colchester. In there, I was back to drinking Keith's and Jen found the Big Rock beer, Grasshopper. Mmmmm... Grasshopper. A lovely wheat ale with a slice of lemon. It goes down a treat.

The big surprise in there was when Kerri-Rae, a waitress at Earl's that I fancied walked in with a small party. I don't know if she saw me, but I definitely saw her. I didn't really have the nerve to go say hi, which I don't know why, but I was also entertaining Jen for the time being, so I thought it would be rude to go over and chat for what could be a little while. You never know, right? She looked well. I really should have gone over and said hi. Ah well... if she's about, I'll probably see her around again.

Well, a few drinks in there and another beer & martini in another bar on 17th Avenue pretty much did it for Jen. I was still alright, but I think she wanted to get back... we stopped at a liquor store along the way home for another 12 Keith's as well. We barely made it through the first beer before crashing out.

Poor Jen... she couldn't hold her alcohol in the morning. Unlike me, the now-conditioned drinker, I was fresh as a daisy in the morning. She made several trips to the toilet, instead of going to church in the morning... ha ha ha... she did pray to a God though... the porcelain one. Wicked!

Father's Day was also somewhat of a non-event. I offered to take my Dad (and Mom, again) to lunch yesterday... somewhat declined. I did manage to buy my Dad a smoothie at Orange Julius in the Chinook Mall... but he wouldn't let me pay for his hot dog. And then in the evening, he complained (rather jokingly) to my sister that no one cared... "Oi!" was my response.

Well, this entry has taken long enough... and there's no pictures! Blimey. I'll probably chime in again soon.