Shingles

So, I have had a rash for a little over a week. I finally went to the hospital to get it checked out. They said it was Shingles. There is nothing they can do for it and It is not contageous. I just have to put up with it for the next three or so weeks. I also don't have any time off. I have to work 12 days straight until I get a day off, and they are long days, but at least I will be able to pay my bills. I am hoping to save lots for Alberta this year. Tori is driving out with me, and Bobbie-Jo (her friend) wants to come. We are making the drive in four days, and Tori wants to spend a whole day at the mall in Edmonton.

Blue Mountain

I started working at Blue Mountain (a hill, they call a Mountain) I am actually enjoying it. I never thought I would like housekeeping, but the job is not that bad. I have not had to clean a really bad room (condoms, food everywhere...)yet so that is good. The people I work with are part of that. It is fun because we all are silly while cleaning. Most of the time I will be working alone, but so far I have been getting the jobs with other people (getting the renovated rooms ready for guests.) Well I cant think of anything else to say at the moment.

New Job

I start my new job tomorrow (well the orientation) I think there is almost two weeks of orientation, but we are paid for that as far as I know. I am glad to be getting out of the house, but the job is not something I am used to. I will be cleaning condos for Blue Mountain (the big ski resort here). At least I will have it on my resume for if there is nothing else to do in Alberta for the winter other than working at JPL. Well, I am off to bed now.

So far

So far I have not found a job. I have applied everywhere that I can think of. I was sort of offered a part time job at a clothing store (not me at all), but I was waiting until today to call them back and let them know. SO this morning I recieved a call from Blue mountain about the application that I sent in. I have an interview on Monday to be a room attendant (I would clean the condos at the ski club). It is not my dream job, but the pay is good enough, and the job is just cleaning, so... As for other news...I started watching the first season of Prison Break (because Alec has it) and it is amazing. I do not know why I have not watched it before now. I am watching it with Tori though, so I have to wait until she gets home from school and work before we can watch any more. Tori also convinced me to read the Twilight books (which I never thought I would) They were actually pretty good. I am going to see the movie on the advanced showing with Tori. I am glad I waited till now to read the books though, otherwise I would have had to wait for a long time to see the movie (I don't know if I made any sense right there, so ask me to clarify if I did not.) It has finally snowed here, and I am so excited. I took the dogs for a run in the woods while it was snowing, then I shoveled the driveway, then made snow angels (or tried to while Darcy (one of my dogs) thought it was a game and tried to jump on me. Then me, Connor, Tori and the dogs played in the backyard in the snow. (Well, Tori was shoveling the deck and the rest of us were playing in the snow. One thing that I have not really done is work on my second book. I think that the book is going too fast, too soon, so I need to read through all of it, and put in more description, and more plot. I am really being lazy and not getting to that. I also just had the power cord to my laptop die, but thankfully moms works on mine, so I can at least charge my laptop enough to use. Well, I am going to go make supper (or at least start (Tori has to work soon so it should be ready for her. Caitlin

Job Search

I am now looking for a job, as I quit at the Thoroughbred place. Things were just not going well, combined with the long drive... I have dropped my resume off at several places, so hopefully something will turn up. I trust that God will send me the right job at the right time, and I just need to be a bit more patient and trusting. On a better note, last Sunday, Tori, Connor, Sam R and I went for a trail ride. It was good to be on a horse again. I would really love to get a job where I can do a lot of riding. That is one of the many reasons that I love my job in Alberta. I have to go clean my room, work on my next book, and do my laundry, so that is all for this post.

Injuries

As most of you know, I am very accident prone.  Last Thursday, I was putting a halter on one of the foals (he is at least 400 pounds, and taller than me), and he pulled his head away really fast.  I felt something go in my arm, and it has been sore ever since.  I kept working as I did not think that it was a big deal, and I am kind of scared of my boss.  (She can be your best friend one minute, then your worst nightmare the next).  Anyways, I have been taking Traumeel, and it seems to be working as my arm mostly feels better.  It was really bothering me this morning, so I went to get tylenol from my car.  After I got it, I went to shut the car door, and somehow whacked myself in the head.  I now have a lump on my head, along with the sore arm.  At least I have a short week this week.  I worked all day Monday, then I have my short day Tuesday, then I work Wednesday, then I am off Thursday to go to Guelph (Campus Author Recognition reception), then I work Friday and Saturday.  Hopefully I feel better for next week.  I am still looking for a job that is closer to home if anyone knows of anything.  Thats all for now.

This Week

Well, this has been an interesting week.  My breathing (asthma) has gotten worse since I have started working on a Thoroughbred farm.  I believe that it is because there are 5 barns (there will be one more when the track closes).  So, since there are more stalls, there is more dust (which I am allergic to).  Also, the way they dump the shavings does not help.  There is a bucket on one of the tractors, they fill it with shavings and dump it in the aisle, then we shovel the shavings into the stalls.  So as you can imagine there is a lot of dust.  Also, I am working with everything that I am allergic to.  (Horses, dust, mold, hay...)  Anyways, this is going somewhere.  I was given a new puffer, so I was on two puffs of my normal puffer, and one puff of the new puffer in the morning, one puff of the new puffer at night, and my ventolin when I need it.  On Sunday, I started feeling sick (dizzy, nauseous, hot, headachy)  I thought it was just because the church was really hot, and it passed after a little while.  Then, on Monday, and Tuesday I still felt sick.  I thought that was a reaction to the new puffer, but it appears not.  I called in sick on Wednesday, and went to the doctor.  (Not my normal doctor)  She told me that the nausea and the hard breathing was asthma problems, and she could not explain the dizziness, so today I had to go and get blood tests.  I have been having these same sort of episodes for a few years, usually a year apart, and it can last for a day, or for a week or more.  I hope the blood tests show something.  I am looking for a new job as this one (with my allergies, and the dust there) is bad for my health and it is a long drive.  I can apply at Wal-Mart (which is close (would save on gas))  or Amforlord ranch, which has just got new owners.  I called both places, and I have to go on Sunday to see the farm, and I can drop off an application at Wal-Mart at any time.  Please pray so I know what to do, and that I recover my health.  

Back in Ontario

Well, as most of you know, I am back in Ontario.  I have been back for almost two weeks.  My first Saturday back, I was calling for job interviews, and one barn told me to show up on Monday and start working.  I did.  I have worked there for a week and 4 days.  It is a Thoroughbred training centre (Buttigieg Training Centre)  I work Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7 am to 4 pm,  and on Tuesdays I work 7 am to 1 pm.  I have Sundays off.  It is a busy day, but I am kind of glad, because it is good money.  I am still looking for a job closer to home though, as it is a 45 minute drive to where I work now.  Well, that's about it for now.

Kenora

Well, we have made it to Ontario in only two days.  We crossed Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in two days.  Now we are on the long part of the trip.  Tommorow we will go between Wawa and Sault Ste Marie.  Then we will (hopefully) be home Thursday night.  We are staying at moms friends house for tonight (yay, no crappy motels)  Well I am off to look at pictures.  Bye

Long Drive

Yesterday (Monday), we drove from Jasper, Alberta to Yorkton Saskatchewan.  We were on the road from 07:45 to 21:30.  Dad did all the driving.  He said that it felt good to do a marathon drive again.  I just decided to read the book that he brought.  (It was 296 pages)  It is about a man who wanted to climb Mt. Everest and almost died.  it was pretty good.  We stayed at a really crappy motel (those of you who are travelling, never stay at the Redwood Motel).  It was too much money, the bathroom door would not shut, the pillows were lumpy, the room smelled like cigarette smoke, and the cable did not work.  They did have wireless internet though, so I could blog this and keep up with all of you.  We are on to Kenora tonight, so I will try to keep you updated.

Long Day's

So, we wanted to get as much done as we could while dad was here.  Yesterday (Saturday) we drove up to Edith Cavell.  We hiked for about four hours, and got to the first meadow (about a 6 km round trip)  We thougth about going farther, but we could see storm clouds coming in, and we had been warned that the rest was pretty steep.  Then, we went to town, and dropped off bottles at the bottle depot.  After that, we drove up to Maligne lake/canyon, and Medicine lake.  I slept good last night.  This morning, we went to Horseshoe lake, Valley of the five lakes, the museum, and toured around town.

Charm

As most of you know, I have had a rabbit named Charm for the past nine and a bit years.  Many of you remember holding him, watching him, hearing about him.  Some of you remember me bringing him to church, us moving him across the country (New Brunswick to Ontario).  He outlived our other rabbit, but today I got the call.  I had just finished hiking the Edith Cavell meadow hike, and mom called.  She said she had a question for dad, so I gave him the phone and went to drop off the bottle at the depot.  When I got back in the car, dad said, "Charm died two hours ago"  He had a good long life for a dwarf rabbit.  Our other rabbit died at seven, so Charm outlived her by two and a half years.  He was not afraid of the dogs, and was friends with our evil cat.  He let me give him bath's, and run free outide, not caring to run away.  He was the best rabbit you could ask for.  All I wish was that I had been there (one more week and I would have been)Here are some pics of him.

Dad's Visit

So, as most of you know, my dad flew out to Alberta so we could drive home together.  He got in yesterday, I picked him up, and we went out for supper.  Then we did a little touring in town, and came up to the Lodge.  Today, I had to work (my last day :(  Dad had been planning to go for a ride, so he came for the hour and a half ride.  We had two other riders, a woman from New Brunswick, and a woman from England.  It was a pretty fun ride, and I finally made a tip.  (I have not made one since I got back from the backcountry).  The women wanted pictures with us and our emails.  Then in the afternoon, we were not very busy (it was kind of rainy), Alex and I got to go to town and do laundry (for the back country lodge).  We spent sixty four dollars on laundry.  (It was Dave's money).  Then we got Ice Cream, and saw dad, so Alex whistled to get his attention.  He came over and we talked for a while.  Then I went back to work, and then pretty much left.  It was a good last day.  Tommorow we are going to hike the Edith Cavell Meadow, so there should be new pics then.  Goodnight.

Fun Ride

I finally got to go for a fun ride.  It was amazing.  I rode Timmy, Sabrina had Ace, and Eric had Baldy.  I wish i could ride like that every day.  No pics though, if I go again, I will bring my camera.

Year end Staff party

Last night was the year end staff party.  Last year, we had it ina JPl (Jasper Park lodge) building, but this year, we decided to have a BBQ in the barn.  It was a blast.  There was steak, chicken, salads, pie, ice cream...then we all stood around and goofed off for about two hours.  Sabrina was showing us her gymnastics, and Eric was doing ninja stunts.  It was so much fun.  Dave is camera shy, so the challenge was to get a picture of him.  As you can tell, I got a few.  In one of the pictures, Sabrina stole his hat (big no no in cowboy world)  In one of the other pictures, Sabrina, Brad and Eric were pretending to be gangster.

More pics of Shovel Pass trip

Shovel Pass 2008

For those of you who have not read my stories of Jasper 2007, Shovel Pass Lodge is a bunch of cabins in a valley on a mountain. My boss owns the cabins, and leads riding trips, and pack trips up to the cabins. If you are a hiker, and do not want to carry your big bag with you, we will pack it up, and you only need to bring a day pack. If you want to ride up, you can ride up, and have your stuff packed up. I went last year and had a blast. So I decided that I would go again. The last time I went, I went with a pack trip, there were no riding guests, so we did not get to ride anywhere. This time, we had two riding guests, so we went to Watchtower. It was a pretty amazing ride. On the way back, we dropped of the two riders, as they wanted to do some hiking. Dave ponied Red Eye back, I rode Rocky, Rita (the cook)rode Beaver, and Johnny was loose. It was my job to herd him down the mountain. It was a blast. Dave left to go back to the trailhead after that (to get ready for the staff BBQ), and Eric came up with another rider. On the way back down today, Eric led the ride, and I brought up the rear. It was a lot of fun, but there were a few scary parts. I am going to shower now (have not showered since thursday)

Nutcase

Yesterday, on our two hour ride, we had fourteen guests, so Dave sent three guides.  It started out with me in the front, Sabrina in the middle and Alex at the end.  About fifteen minutes into the ride, Sabrina comes up to trade places, becuase her horse needs more front guiding experience.  I went to the middle.  About ten minutes later, Alex wants to trade with me.  I did not know why, but I did it.  I soon found out why.  The woman on Redeye was crazy.  Redeye is one of our best horses because he never eats on the trail.  He was eating like crazy on this ride.  Alex had tightened the lead rope so that he could not get his head down to eat, but the woman had loosened it.  She claimed that she did not believe in animal cruelty (this is not cruel at all).  She complained the wholed ride, then about forty five minutes from the end, I told her that we were going either tighten the lead rope or she could walk.  She wanted to walk.  So, she had to walk behind the ride.  She walked really slow (she was 60) so I called and asked Dave what to do.  He said that the middle guide had to go and stay with her.  Sabrina gave me a "thanks a lot" look, so I said that she could backguide, and I would go with crazy lady.  The whole way back, she talked about PETA, animal cruelty Reiki, spiritual connections with animals.  She said that she had done Reiki on Redeye and told him that he could eat grass, because there was none in the field.  She said she could tell that our horses were unhappy, and that the basic needs were not enough.  She caused so much trouble.  I was so mad at her.  Thankfully Redeye does not seem to eat on the trails (I guess it was just with her).  She even thought that it was mean to ride horses, and only came cause her grandchildren really wanted to go.  She also told me that she made a huge mess of her room so that she could show her grandchildren how clean the housekeepers can make it.  

Edith Cavell

We also went to the Edith Cavell Glacier on the same night as Edge of the world.  We hiked the small hike to the lake, it was pretty neat.  Here are the pics from there.

Edge of the World

So, Sabrina, Jamie and I decided that we should see everything that there is to see in Jasper.  We are going after work, as we are not seeing them on our days off.  So last night, we went to The Edge of The World.  It is a little path off of Marmot Basin.  It was so pretty.  The view was better than the Tramway.  The pictures above are from this point.  

Stupid dog owners

On Thursday, we had a fifteen person ride for our two hour trail.  We had three guides (Carly, Sabrina and myself).  That makes eighteen horses in total.  We were about forty five minutes into the ride, when I moved up to go on the backguiding trail.  My horse (Rocky) stepped on a log, and then he spooked, hopping, spinning, crowhopping.  I looked to the right and saw that the other horses were doing it as well.  Some were even fully rearing.  I thought "I am in big trouble for spooking all these horses"  Then movement on my left caught my attention.  There was an elk running towards us.  And there was a big husky standind there with his tongue hanging out.  As soon as he saw the horses, he ran back into the woods.  So, what happened?  The owner let his dog off leash (illegal in a national park), and the dog chased the elk right into the middle of our ride.  Thankfully only one little girl fell off, she was fine, and all fifteen guests got back on and finished the ride.  We radioed in to the stables, and she called security on the dog (this is not the first time we have seen the husky).  Security called Parks, and they came down just as we were starting the trail again.  I told him what happened, and they are on the lookout for the dog and owner.  Carly said that she saw the owner come and leash the dog, and walk away, not even caring what just happened.  The moral of this story is to keep your dog on a leash when there are wild animals, other people, and horses in the area.  

On another note, I had to ride a different horse yesterday (Friday) as Rocky was taken to the back country because they needed more horses.  They had a bunch of guests riding in , so they took Baldy, Redeye, and Rocky.  I rode Copper, who is an okay horse to ride, but has no ground manners.  he breaks ropes, spooks at everything...

Today is my day off, so I went to church, did my laundry, and am now going to watch a movie.

Edmonton

Today, Sabrina and I went to Edmonton.  We got up at 05:40 and were on the road at 06:00.  It was a fun day.  I bought the Rambo Complete Collector`s set (with the new one and special features).  I bought a Monty Roberts book, and a halter for my horse here (The halters at work keep breaking (some of the horses are spazzy) and Rocky`s halter does not fit properly, so Sabrina and I both bought our horses new halter (she got green, I got red).  On the way back, we were laughing so hard that I was crying and I could not breathe.  We were making silly comments, and talking about horse names (Dave is naming his foals from this year, and they have to start with U (Canadian Horse Breed).  We came up with the silliest names.  I am now going to watch a movie and go to bed.  I am very tired (Last night, one of the girls in the cabin started screaming, and crying at the top of her lungs (at 01:30)  It was very annoying.  She was drunk, and apparently homesick.  Thats it, Bye

Black Bear

This time I did see a bear!  Jamie and I were on the evening ride tonight, and we saw mule deer, elk, coyotes, and a bear.  We were about halfway done, when my horse Rocky pricked his ears up, and stopped, Jamie came up on Chank (Canadian Hank, shortened to Chank).  I managed to get Rocky going, and I was just saying that there had to be something as all the horses were paying attention, and one of the guests said..."there is a bear"  There was a black bear about twenty feet away, on a hill.  It looked like a young one.  It just watched us, and the horses watched it.  I have seen bears before, so it was not that big of a deal for me, but Jamie was excited (she is from Australia).  Then after all that we had seen, we did not get a tip at all!!  And they were from the U.S  (Usually they tip more).  Gas prices are definately affecting tips this year.  

Bear

No, I did not see a bear.  Tonight, Sabrina came running into the cabin, calling my name.  I came out of the bathroom , and she said, put on shoes we need to go to the stables right now.  I put on sneakers, and Alex caught up with us.  She told us that we were going because there had been a bear sighting by the barn, and the wardens were coming to tranq it.  The tranq gun sounds really loud, like a real gun, so we had to be there in case the horses freaked (broke the fence and got loose).  We ran over, and talked to the wardens, and they went into the woods to look for it.  We waited about twenty minutes, and nothing happened, so we left.  As of now (fourty minutes later) there still has not been a shot.  We think that this is the same bear that has been spooking Lex, and causing him to throw guests.  

P.S  Today was a easy and relaxing day.  I slept in, did my laundry, watched a movie, had a nap...I have to work tommorow though, as I traded with Maria so she could have three days off and go to Edmonton with her family.

Friday

Today Brad and I were the guides on the 10:30 ride.  He was in the front, and I was in the back.  We had barely gotten to the end of the white fence, and one of the horses started to freak out.  He was full out bucking, his head down, spinning, leaping.  The woman managed to stay on for most of it, then fell off.  Lex (the horse) took off.  I turned around to see that Rocket was running towards the grass in the same direction as Lex.  I jumped off Rocky, radioed the barn, asked the women who were off if they were okay, then caught the horses.  Sabrina and Carly came up to help.  Carly held Rocky, Rambo, Sally and Rocket (Lex was by now tied to a tree).  Sabrina and I talked with the women.  Two of them had jumped off, and the one on Lex, had of course been thrown.  The one on Lex got on Sally to finish the ride, and the one on Rocket decided not to finish the ride.  The rest of the ride went well, and we even got ten dollars tip each.  Lex is now going to the backcountry, as this was the second time in two weeks that he threw someone.  We think he smelled a bear that has been running around the area both times.  All in all, it was an exciting day.  

Rainy

Today was a fun day.  It rained almost all day.  It started after Sabrina and I came back from the hour and a half ride.  We were glad that we had missed it.  About ten minutes after we got back, there was a radio call from Carly and Maria's ride.  One of the horses had spooked and someone had fallen off.  Sabrina went out on Hayes to where they were while Ange (photographer) and I went in her truck so we could drive the person back.  When we got there, neither the woman nor her husband wanted to continue.  They went back in the truck, I jumped on Lex, and Sabrina jumped on Lefty and ponied (led behind her) Hayes.  When we got back, we were soaking wet.  We had a half hour lunch, then came back.  There were two people booked for the one thirty ride so I volunteered to take them.  It rained the whole ride, but they were fun, and said they were glad that they came.  Dave came back from the back country lodge, and since it was raining, said two of us could go home.  Sabrina wanted to go, and suggested that I go as well, as I was soaked.  So now I am back.  I am going to Hinton tonight, as I needed to buy some underwear and socks, and was going to go on my day off, but Maria has Fri/Sat off (she was going to her sisters in Edson), so she said she would help pay for gas if I could drop her off (half way), so I figured why not.  Then Carly and Jamie said they would come to, so that helps for gas.  I am off to watch Sharpe's Challenge now.

Work

Today was my first day back at work here in Jasper.  It was a lot of fun.  The guys seem pretty cool to work with.  I went on the hour and a half ride with Sabrina, and we made ten dollars each in tips.  I rode Rocky (I think he is going to be my guide horse again).  I remembered the trail, and I remember all the horses.  After lunch, I was on the two o'clock, two hour ride.  There was supposed to be twenty one people, so we were going to to do it in two groups.  The first group was thirteen (three diff families from Scotland, they all came over to Canada together to vacation).  So we went, me in the lead, Maria in the middle and Eric at the end.  Brad's ride caught up with us, as only two other people showed up.  It was a pretty good ride, the kids from Scotland were so cute, and they kept me talking for the whole two hours.  Then when work was done, I came back to my room and watched Sharpe's Mission, then went to the bank to cash a cheque (that finally arrived).  Sabrina and Jamie came with me as they needed to go to their banks.  I came back, finished Sharpes Mission, wrote this blog and am now going to bed.  Good night

Jasper

I have been in Jasper since Monday, but have not had the internet.  The weather has been great for us, hot but not too hot, rainy at night, clear skies.  We got here Monday night, went to Hinton on Tuesday, then Jasper.  Today we were planning on going to B.C, but the road was closed due to a mudslide.  So we went back, and I took them riding (we were planning on riding on thursday).  I got Rocky, Tori got Sox, and Natasha got Ace.  We did the hour and fifteen minute ride.  Natasha got on pretty well (due to her knee, we thought it would be harder.)  We went to the hot springs after that.  It was very helpful, and Natasha said that her leg felt better.  I was the only one out of the three of us that actually went in the cold pool.  We did not last very long in the very hot pool, but the warm pool was nice.  We all felt like pudding after a while.  When we were done there, we went to the Bean (staff cafeteria) and had supper for $2.50.  We then went to the movie theatre and saw Kung Fu Panda, it was pretty funny.  The movies here are $8 an adult, $6 youth (Tori passes for one).  The snacks are $4 for a large popcorn, so Tori can get a movie and a snack for what a ticket costs back home.  We might be going to watch Karoke tonight with Sabrina (my roommate).  We are going to try B.C tommorow, and hopefully we can get through.  

Calgary

I am now in Calgary, Alberta.  At Kaylee's house.  We drove from Strathmore to Calgary, met Kaylee, went to  the Zoo, saw baby gorrilla.  It was really hot, and we were sweating like crazy.  Then we went shopping, Tori and I bought Cowboy hat's, and western shirts.  I bought a new cell, so if you know me, email me and I will give you the number.  We are finally going to be in Jasper!!!  These pics are from Drumheller.