Hiking, Fondue, a busy life and -186!!!

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since my last blog. Time seems to just disappear at my fingertips these days.

I'll start with recent events and then think back to the past month and see what I can recall ;)

Well.. as you can see, I am -186! That's only 14lbs away from being -200!!! I am in shock but at the same time I am grateful and I feel so lucky! My life has changed fairly significantly over the past year (even over the past month!).

Lauren and I went to Banff last weekend. We decided to go on a hike at Johnston Canyon..

On the way to Banff, we stopped at Canmore at the Summit Cafe and had breakfast! YUM!

We thought the hike was a total of 6K round trip but discovered when we arrived to the very busy tourist attraction that not only was 6K just one-way to the Ink Pots, but the volume of people (and rudeness of the tourists) made the trail less than peaceful! We took about 40 minutes to hike 2K (including stopping to view the falls and take photos) and made it up past the upper falls beyond the end of the interpretive trail.

It was a hot hot hot day and an exhausting uphill hike. I decided that I wouldn't make it the rest of the way to the Ink Pots which was an additional 3k each way. I was just exhausted. It was amazing that I made it as far as I did! Considering the fact that a year ago I would have complained about walking a block much less 6K uphill.. This for me was a Huge victory!!!!!!

We hiked back through the crowds and although my knees were a bit sore from the descent, I felt fantastic. Tired and somewhat down on myself for not going the full distance to the Ink Pots but I was able to rationalize that 1) We planned for a 6K hike, not a 12K hike and we DID 6K. 2) I wouldn't have done this at all a year ago so the fact that I was hiking in the first place is amazing.

After the hike we went to the hotel in Banff to check in. We were hoping to get changed and head off to the Hot Springs to relax our newly worked muscles but the hotel room wasn't ready so we just went ahead to the Hot Springs. We only stayed there for about 20 mins.. It felt like longer.. It was just too hot. I love the hot springs in the winter when the snow is drifting down and the water is hot and steamy.. THAT is an experience to be had! Also, for the record, this was the FIRST time I have ever been to the hot springs where I was able to walk up to the front door from the parking lot. In the past I was always dropped off at the door!!

After the hot springs we went to the hotel and finally checked in. We really wanted to go to Grizzly House for dinner so we called and the reservations were for 8:30pm!! We had a good 3 hours to kill so Lauren set the alarm and we both fell fast asleep! (by the way, the beds were so firm but for some reason they were still comfortable).

We woke up with plenty of time to spare to get ready. We got ready to go to dinner and left about an hour early so that we could browse the shops on the way to dinner. (sometime between the first attempt to check in to the hotel and leaving the next day, I lost my prescription sunglasses :()

We ended up arriving at the Grizzly House almost 30 minutes early. The weather was a bit drizzly and the power kept flickering in the shops. We were anxious to eat as well after a long day.

The Grizzly House was incredible! We ordered the 4 course Fondue dinner which included Salad, cheese fondue, meat/seafood fondue and chocolate fondue. We ordered our cheese fondue and they allowed us to replace the traditional bread chunks with steamed vegetables for dipping (DELICIOUS!!!)

I ordered the seafood combo with lobster, shrimp and scallops and Lauren ordered the Alberta special which included Beef, Bison, Elk and Venison. We had both a hot rock and hot oil for cooking. I thought the hot rock was incredible and much more flavorful than the hot oil!

After the meat course, we enjoyed ourselves snapping pics of each other. The chocolate fondue came last and we were given wafer cookies and various fruits to dip into the Toblerone chocolate!

I am a fondue lover but this experience was by far the BEST fondue dinner I have ever had!!! Also, I am a new hot rock lover!!! Sounds kinky lol!

We were at dinner until almost 11pm. We asked about their Halloween and New Years functions and got a laminated place mat to bring home. (you'd have to see it to understand lol)

We had to be back at the hotel before 11 because they lock the doors after that time and you have to buzz to get in (annoying) so to avoid that, we rushed to Safeway and then made it to the hotel with 5 minutes to spare.

We crashed hard that night and were up at a decent time for breakfast. The hotel offered a buffet but it was less than impressive. We ended up checking out shortly after 9 and then after a good 45minutes of searching for my lost sunglasses (including calling and/or visiting all the places we were at the day before), we were on our way back to Calgary.

We stopped in Canmore again on the way back.. I bought a pair of clip on sunglasses to tide me over until I got a replacement pair. We also stopped at Beamers for a coffee.

When we got to Calgary we went straight to Eau Claire Market to take in the Taste of Calgary festival.

We also ended up meeting Debbie and Michael and my dad and step mom since they just got into town at the same time. We all hung out there, ate and got sunburned lol!

Lauren, Debbie and I also went to an open casting call for a Mexican western movie that is being filmed here.. The casting lady made a comment about how I photographed really well. HUGE compliment!

All in all it was a fantastic weekend. We went to the Farmer's Market on Sunday and got a ton of great produce and local goodies. Spent more money than perhaps I should have but hell, that's what a market is for!

Aside from this weekend, I have been busy with my new contract I am working. So far I am extremely frustrated with it since I haven't been able to deliver what they were looking for (huge communication issues with my contact from Minnesota!)

I am still considering joining the Christmas choir and Meet Market Adventures has yet to get back to me about re booking the horseback riding trip I paid for in May! That is driving me nuts!!!!

I am having a big 1 year and under 300lbs celebration on September 6th. It will be an outdoor picnic style party and I am excited about it. I have booked the site and I can't wait. It will be nice to see who can make it and even if only my closest friends show up, it will be great!

Also, in Eau Claire we came across a booth for Breast Cancer Awareness and it reminded me about the CIBC run for the cure!! So I decided to join the 5K walk and created a team (we're up to 4 members so far). I am shamelessly soliciting donations so if you want to sponsor me online, click on:

https://www.cibcrunforthecure.com/html/personal_page.asp?track=2749300&languageid=1

Thanks in advance.. and by the way, this is yet one more example of something I wouldn't have dreamed of a year ago.

LIFE IS GOOD!