!"#" $%
& !!'(
INTRODUCING: Laura Lynell DURSTLING (I answer to both)
JOB POSITION: Timetabling Assistant, Examinations and Timetabling
STARTED IN R.O: November 18, 2008 (that was a good day
)
IN WHAT POSITION: Same
BIRTHPLACE: Westlock, Alberta
INTERESTS: reading (I gave up my TV/cable for it; the list of topics is long – curiosity should have
been my middle name), belly dancing, dancing, music, hula-hooping, nature (even though I do not
have a green thumb or own a pet), connecting with friends and family, finding the funny and absurd,
being silly for the sake of it, just about anything that looks fun and playful.
FAVOURITE SEASONS AND WHY: I enjoy all the seasons although the start of spring is becoming
my least favourite as I have now been given the gift of allergies (I am a late bloomer, lol). Nature is an
amazing cyclical process that is routinely similar and never the same. A friend told me a Russian
saying: “Nature knows no bad weather.” I have taken it to heart and now look for the beauty and
wonder in all expressions.
FAVOURITE FOODS: Wow! There is not enough room to list all the foods that are my favourites. I
love food, lol. Diet to me is DIE with a T. My late blooming allergies have now prevented me from
eating certain foods – those containing nickel (the list is weird), but occasionally I will not refuse those
because they taste GOOD. Food is a big part of life and life is meant to be enjoyed and savoured.
FAVOURITE MOVIES/TV SHOWS: I don’t watch much TV but I do enjoy most things done by Joss
Whedon. I enjoy science fiction and fantasy, chick flicks, action movies, dramas, documentaries…
really the list is long. What I don’t generally enjoy are gory horror movies. I have a friend who loves to
take me to them (horror movies) as I hide in my coat or his shoulder as he giggles gleefully. Le sigh…
the things I do for friends.
FAVOURITE ANIMAL AND WHY: Dragons; they are mythical and fantastical. Baby animals always
tug at my heart strings and I love the majesty of horses, wolves, cats, raptors and elephants.
PERSONS YOU ADMIRE AND WHY: I admire people who are compassionate, kind, and strong in
the face of adversity – the constant or the spectacular. I have been given many amazing examples of
this in my life; the one closest to my heart is my mom. There are not enough pages in the world or
words in my heart to describe her. I have been blessed with knowing the perfection of imperfection
from her.
I just realized that I sound like quite the Pollyanna… so what else to know about me…. There is
another side…. The dark side and it likes to play too. I have a saying that I give my family and friends.
“I smile because you are my ________ (fill in the relationship). I laugh because there is NOTHING you
can do about it. Whahahahahahah”
Stop by for a giggle I love to give and receive.
1
H
HA
AP
PP
PY
YB
BIIR
RTTH
HD
DA
AY
Y TTO
OY
YO
OU
U…
… IIN
N JJU
ULLY
Y..
th
th
th
th
th
Ne Chi Lin Ko – July 6 ; Denise Boyle – 12 ; Susan Brune – 16 ; Iris Galenza – 18 ; Edith Diep – 20 (on
rd
th
th
th
mat leave); Sarah Meins – 23 ; Michaela Kleinsasser – 25 ; Carol Poulin – 26 ; Maureen Winchester – 29 ;
th
Lucia Nawara – 30
ANNOUNCEMENT – FROM INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Finally someone is “escaping” from the basement! Yes, it’s true – one of
our very own dungeon dwellers is retiring!
Although we are sad to see Kam Kong go, we know he’s going to enjoy
retirement – just look at the smile on his face already!
After receiving his Masters Degree at the University of Victoria, Kam came
to the U of A to continue his Graduate Studies. In September of 1972 he
became a Research/Teaching Assistant in the Department of Computing
Science, then moved on to become a Programmer Analyst in Chemistry
before he “landed” in the RO in 1990. Shortly, Kam will begin a new phase
that we hope will include much more time spent getting his tan from
the sun rather than from a computer monitor.
So be sure to drop by the dungeon and say your farewells before he
leaves. There will not be an office retirement party per Kam’s request.
2
GIVEAWAY
20 year old TV (Sony), in good condition, works well. You just have to come and pick it up. Please contact Galyna
Glozhyk @ 492-7831.
WANTED
Please visit www.thebreastcancersite.com. Number of clicks to fund free mammograms is DOWN this year. Rae
Beaumont
NEW BUSINESSES
Karla Wright is now a Tupperware consultant. Anyone wanting more information about hosting a party,
ordering Tupperware, and any other questions at all about the business can email her at
[email protected].
Ivy Stephens writes: My daughter is just starting up a part time career in selling the products mentioned below.
I am assisting Jenny to get things moving with her new business. If you have time, check out great bargains and
shopping at leisure. If anyone wants to see the catalogs, I have them at my desk along with order forms if you are
interested in purchasing anything. The best news is that everything is delivered right to your door.
!
$ !
"""(
+
" "
"
"
-
"
%
(
!"
&
!
'
#$
( )
(
"
*
!
,
!
.
$ !
!
/ 012
(
(
FOR SALE
Handsome chocolate brown COUCH, "Brooklyn" from Urban Barn
$400.00; 7’ wide, 33.5” high at the highest spot, 37” in depth; used for about 2 years. Has lived with cats (for
those with allergies) but has been well cleaned and taken care of. No stains or discoloring.
Modern in style. Microfibre. Good-looking. Comfortable. I will send photos to anyone who is interested.
Email [email protected]
Large Vari-Kennel (for up to 100 lb critters). $40. Please contact Ada Schmude @ 492-3644.
3
A
AD
DM
MIIN
NIIS
STTR
RA
ATTIIV
VE
ES
SY
YS
STTE
EM
MS
S
Terri Cook is the successful candidate for the Executive Assistant to the VP and University Registrar position.
Congratulations, Terri!
S
SP
PE
EC
CIIA
ALL R
RE
EG
GIIS
STTR
RA
ATTIIO
ON
NS
S
Special Registrations would like to wish Diana Shields all the very best for her and her expanding family;
Diana will be beginning her maternity leave in July. We would also like to extend a warm welcome to Susan
Oliver who will be starting in our unit beginning July 5. Susan will be covering Diana'
s maternity leave. Kat
McLeod
If you'
re looking for a good book to read this summer, look no further! Here are Tonia Ness’ summer reading
recommendations:
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters -- This is a modern gothic story set in England after World War 2. It will
haunt you and leave you chilled, even on hot summer nights.
Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner -- Winner of CBC'
s Canada Reads 2010, a truly Canadian tale of adventure and
modern day pirates.
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka -- I borrowed this from Rita Early and after I read it I
bought my own copy so I could reread it over and over again. Don'
t let the book'
s cover fool you: This is a
hilarious, sweet story of a Ukrainian family in England going through some interesting times!
The Memory Keeper'
s Daughter by Kim Edwards -- A good read, it may stir up emotions and ideas about our
society'
s treatment of people with special needs.
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips -- A funny, silly, quick read about the Greek gods living in modern-day
London, and the adventures that ensue.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman -- One of my faves! A humourous account of good and evil
trying to thwart the apocalypse.
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood -- You may need to start with Oryx and Crake to get the full picture of
this book, but don'
t let that stop you: this is a breathtaking and thrilling story about life after the Waterless Flood
and how various groups survive together.
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley -- I reread this again just a few weeks ago and it'
s still one of the
best books I'
ve ever read. It'
s a retelling of the Arthurian Legend from the point of view of the women in the story.
It'
s a big book but a wonderful read.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee -- I recommend this one always. It'
s my absolute favourite.
Matilda, The BFG, The Fantastic Mr Fox, by Roald Dahl -- You can get through one of these in a day and they'
re
so much fun.
And here'
s what she'
ll be reading this summer:
Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
IIN
NTTE
ER
RN
NA
ATTIIO
ON
NA
ALL A
AD
DM
MIIS
SS
SIIO
ON
NS
S
Congratulations to Christina Ren (Student Intern) for being selected for Exchange with the University of Sheffield
this Fall Term 2010. http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ Christina has been helping new international students this
summer with their transition to the U of A and is now increasing her international experience by going on
exchange herself. Best wishes, safe travels, and don'
t forget to send a postcard! Jennifer Nicholls
4
R
RE
EC
CO
OR
RD
DS
S
HOLIDAY REVIEW: Bonny Scotland
It snowed heavily on May 4, 2010, the day before my daughter Selene and I drove to Calgary, where we caught
our direct flight to Glasgow, Scotland. We saw vehicles off the road; however, thankfully the highway was clear.
Our flight, scheduled to depart at 15:25, was delayed until 21:10 due to the closure of Glasgow airport
because of the volcanic ash. Our consolation was a $10 voucher as we hunkered down for a long wait. When we
boarded the Thomas Cook plane, we could not believe how narrow the aisle was and how tight and
uncomfortable the seating. Our next delay was in Immigration at Glasgow airport when three incoming planes –
Calgary, Dubai, Manchester – landed about the same time. We were so tired at this point as I don’t know of
anyone who sleeps well on a flight. Watching “Fame” caused me to doze off, but that was about it.
We took a cab to the Heritage Hotel, a bed and breakfast place, with 45 spiral stairs to get to our very
large room. This is an older building; the windows were raised, the birds singing. Any defect I saw in the room,
Selene termed “whimsical.” We were allowed one room key, which had to be left at reception no matter how
many times we went in and out, as there was a £30 fine if it was lost. Our view was gardens with stone walls and
a playground of a primary school. Vegetation was a vivid green. The following morning we were served a very
generous breakfast: besides cold cereal, fruit, yogurt, cheese, we also got the traditional Scottish hot breakfast of
sausage, bacon, potato scones, tomatoes, mushrooms, and beans, with a generous rack of toast. We soon
learned what to leave out for the remaining 3 days we were there! The hotel is located near Byres Road and kitty
korner to the beautiful Botanic Gardens (rhododendrons were my favourites) where I spent time relaxing, people
watching, or enjoying a bagged late lunch. Reading was impossible with all the distractions. We also had good
access to a subway station that took us to the city centre where we caught the Hop On Hop Off double decker
bus at George Square. A tour guide pointed out the highlights of the city, with a story or two to entertain us. I felt
transported back in time, from the New World to the Old, surrounded by the intricate and awesome architecture
with varying colours of stone buildings towering around us, and with an abundance of tall statues for good
measure.
We visited the University of Glasgow (the only structure that made me think of the RO) with its ancient
and modern structures, some still under construction. At the Necropolis we joined a tour group already underway,
and listened to the tales of men and women whose resting places sported particularly grand headstones and
monuments. This site is on a very steep hill so by the time we got to the top, we had a panoramic view of
Glasgow. I wanted to hear more about the three Buchanan sisters of Bellfield who left £4 million (today’s worth)
to charity after the last one died. The tour guide thought they deserve to have their monument restored, at a cost
of £30,000.
I really enjoyed the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens, and the exhibits which portrayed dire times and
poverty. A sign caught my eye, “What is good and what is bad about drinking.” Apparently water was unsanitary,
people got sick and died, so some preferred the hard stuff. A wagon, on display, had a photo of the inebriated
being picked off the street. There was a glass case that had a pair of Carol Burnett’s heels, next to a golden boot
of Elton John’s. Nearby was a green costume Lulu (singer) wore. So much to see.
Another fascinating place was The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum where we saw paintings or old
art, as I like to call it, by the European Masters. Loved it!
Two pubs we went to in Glasgow, and not in one day, were The Ark where we had fish and chips, and
O’Neil’s, where I enjoyed a lovely Shepherd’s Pie with my Guinness. As I did on my trip to Ireland in 2006, I lifted
my glass and drank to Rita Earley’s health.
We noticed a lot of charity shops along Byres Road, which were fun to poke around in. I got the book by
Sir Walter Scott called “Rob Roy”, a character we heard a lot about in a future tour.
After four days, we took a 1 ½ hour bus trip to Edinburgh, a stunning city with the Edinburgh Castle
prominent on a huge hill which overlooks a beautiful park and garden and faces an impressive line of shopping
venues on Princes Street. We saw many young homeless, huddled under a blanket. We checked into a B&B at
Broughton Place, which has 37 stairs to get to our room, pretty but tiny with sloped ceilings. The bathroom was
the smallest and the hot water ran out before my shower did. At this place, we had a choice of three hot
breakfasts and were there long enough so that I could try each, twice if I liked it. To the traditional hot breakfast
of Glasgow, added was blood pudding; and the other two choices were waffles, maple syrup and eggs; or kippers
and oat cakes, which had to be requested one day early. I loved the kippers. Freddie, the owner, proved to be a
terrific cook.
The traffic seemed more hectic in this city. You had to be very careful crossing streets, making sure you
paid attention to how the painted white signs on the road in front of you read, “Look to the right,” “Look to the left,”
or “Look both ways.” Hardly anyone adheres to the traffic lights; I couldn’t get over how people crossed anytime
they pleased. I almost developed a nervous twitch crossing the streets, making that last step to the other side a
5
quick hop, after nearly getting mowed down by a bus. Yikes! There was also a lot of construction in the downtown
area due to expansion of trams, which will take about three years to complete.
We took the Hop On Hop Off bus tours here as well; however, had head phones for commentary. The
narrow streets reminded me of Ireland. We visited the Palace of Holyrood House, where the Queen resides when
she comes to the city, and took an audio tour. Ostentatious; beautiful gardens. Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious
Chinese food buffet at Jimmy Chung’s, advertised in the tour guide. Later in the day we went to Hector’s, a pub
Rita recommended, meeting with the lady who shared the plane seat with us and her sister from Edinburgh. This
was the day we learned that Gordon Brown resigned as Prime Minister, which caused a lot of talk amongst the
locals.
We also toured Edinburgh Castle with its many museums, Royal Scots, room of memorial books of fallen
soldiers during past and present wars in the National War Museum, including Afghanistan. We were there as the
cannon was fired at its daily time of 1 p.m. The castle wall provided an incredible view of the city.
Through the highly recommended Rabbi Tours, we took a one day trip to Loch Lomond, The Highlands,
and Stirling Castle (had a panoramic view of Forth Valley and saw the tall monument of William Wallace), with a
group of eight and Ross, our driver and fun tour guide. We travelled with a young German couple whose last
name was MacGregor, a dad and daughter, and a man and his brother-in-law all from the States. We had lunch
at Aberfoyle and later stopped at Inversnaid and Loch Katrine, in weather which was the coldest and wettest of
our two week stay. On our way back, the driver played tunes his grandmother “made” him listen to. The only one
I recognized was “Donald, Where’s Yer Troosers.”
The next day we travelled by bus along the east coast to St Andrews, known as the university city and for
its famous golf course. On the way we got off at Anstruther, a fishing village, and checked out their lifesaving
boat exhibit and boats on the waterfront. In the ruins of an old cathedral in St Andrews, I captured a good photo
of two seagulls scrapping at my feet over something they found in the grass. Their bills were locked and wings
outstretched. Before we left, we shared a delicious pizza, and fish and chips, sitting at a square surrounded by
crows and seagulls.
Back in Edinburgh, we walked to the Royal Botanic Gardens and toured Queen Mother’s Memorial
Garden, where, unfortunately, the plants were mostly not in bloom. The rest of the gardens and hedges made up
for that. We got an all day bus pass for £3 and went to the Edinburgh Zoo where we watched the Penguin Walk,
looking so cute in their little tuxes. Also entertaining were the monkeys and the zebras. When a young zebra was
provoked, other members of the family showed protection by surrounding it, and running and running in a close
pack. I felt every animal had spacious cages and grounds. There was another steep hill that crept up on us,
because at the top was another great view of the city. After the zoo, we stopped at a Victorian house on Georgian
St at Charlotte Square where the rooms were in keeping with the period. When we boarded a bus, I was
surprised to see a dog sitting in the front seat. Dogs are allowed on the bus, but at the driver’s discretion. I
overheard someone say that some driver’s allow only one baby carriage on the bus at a time, not like the few we
can see on ours.
For supper we enjoyed a delicious meal at Bella Italia, spaghetti with beef & pork meatballs, and a lovely
cream cheese and fruit cake. Mmm. To still take advantage of the day pass, we caught a bus at random to the
east end where it left the city, I suppose like travelling from Edmonton to Sherwood Park and back, but we
couldn’t help feeling nervous going into the unknown country side on a nearly empty bus. The main reason for
this night travel was because I wanted to see what Edinburgh Castle looked like when it got dark; however, there
was no special lighting, not like the Parliament Bldgs in Victoria.
On a Sunday, I went to mass at St Mary’s Cathedral where they still have an altar railing in front for
communion. A visiting priest involved in missions in Sudan gave a fascinating talk about their work. The churches
we visited in both cities are massive, with beautiful stained glass windows, and many statues. Some were in the
middle of choir practice.
Another art gallery in Edinburgh I highly recommend is the National Museum. On our last evening here
we went to a pub called Conan Doyle, next to the cathedral, for Quiz Night, but found the Scottish brogue of the
host very difficult to understand. I found that the ladies in Scotland were much easier on the ear then the men.
When we returned to Glasgow, we stayed at 27 Clifton House. It was actually very close to the first B&B
that we stayed at, old but which was newly renovated inside, and took 43 stairs to get to our very large room,
which had the most modern and beautiful bathroom. We spent the final two days in Glasgow just in our locale
visiting the University of Glasgow and the Botanic Gardens once again. We ate at the Wee Curry Restaurant for
the second time, stopped into Tesco’s for their Scampi salads and yummy sandwiches, and Gregg’s, a bakery,
for their bridie.
On our return to the B&B’s at the end of each day, my heart lifted at the sight of freshly made beds and
tray of tea/coffee/cookies as I nursed my very sore feet. We walked our legs off on cobblestone or cracked
sidewalks, going up and down steep inclines.
There were no problems on the flight home although a group from Denmark groaned about their cancellation.
6
We flew in a roomier plane, were very tired, finding the drive home from Calgary making me question whether a direct
flight from Calgary is the best way to go. It was sad to say farewell to Bonny Scotland but I hope to see her again.
There is too much I didn’t see or do. Next time I would take an alarm clock, facecloth, and especially a pedometer.
Maureen Winchester
S
STTU
UD
DE
EN
NTT A
AW
WA
AR
RD
DS
S
RESTAURANT REVIEW:
The Wildflower Grill
10009 –107 Street NW (in the Matrix Hotel) Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.wildfloweredmonton.com/
Set six days of the week as a fine dining establishment the Wildflower Grill dresses down on Sundays for what is
absolutely the best brunch in Edmonton. With items such as the Brioche French Toast (scrumptious) and the
'
DeConstructed'Seafood Frittata the Wildflower manages to put a new twist on the traditional brunch. Also worth
trying is their coffee (French press) and teas (loose leaf) which are refreshing compared to the plain coffee-from-thepot and bag teas found in other restaurants. The restaurant has a great upper-end ambiance and superb service;
perfect for a meal with someone you want to impress. Dishes range from $12 - $15 during brunch and inflate
substantially for dinner. Garrick Burron
S
SP
PE
EC
CIIA
ALL TTH
HA
AN
NK
KS
S TTO
O::
"Thank you very much" to the Production Unit staff who kindly helped us pull Retention Project files on the
afternoon of June 25th when PeopleSoft was unavailable. File Clerks
A Convocation Thank You: I want to send a huge shout-out to my ticket assignment and parchment pulling
helpers. So, to Brett Buchanan, Brenda Bennett, Jessica Cobb, Bernice Gartner, Constance Roshko,
Sylvia Currie, Christina Wright and Kelly Park – THANK YOU! Without your help, there would have been a lot
of students without a parchment to pick up or a seat to sit in! You all made my life a whole lot less stressful (yes,
that was me being less stressed out). Thank you so much for pitching in and helping to get things done! Carolyn
Kauffman
7
TTH
HE
EM
ME
E "Pet Talk – How have your pets made a difference to your life? Any new pets?
Any unusual pets? What makes them so endearing to you?"
We have two cats, Samwise Catji and Francesca Catciatore, as well as two bunnies, Asparagus (Gus)
Bunnington and Sophie Hopsburg. Someday I'
ll write a novel about how curious and bewitching they are, and all
of the adventures they have daily. There are times when I feel as if I'
m living in a soap opera, and I love it! Tonia
Ness
Gee, how have my animals made a difference in my life? Well, two (Samson and Holly) of my three dogs are
wonderful and I love them to death. However, last October my husband brought home a puppy (Pris The
Terrible), so we were severely sleep deprived until December, when I decided to start getting up at 4:30AM to
walk them, in shifts, in the cold and dark. (Not as much fun as it sounds.) Since joining us, Pris has broken the
glass in a sliding door, eaten too many pairs of socks, underwear, and other clothes items to mention, we are
waiting for her to finish pulling up the last of the lino in our kitchen (she'
s made pretty good progress), she'
s killed
and eaten about a dozen sparrows, and last week she '
ate'a PSP. So in addition to the monstrous vet bills, going
broke cooking dog food, and the damage control costs, we buy too many treats and toys to afford to license any
of them and Chad and I have not had a vacation together since we started owning dogs! Really though, life
wouldn'
t be the same without them. I come home every day to a chorus of what sounds like a pack of rabid
orangutans, and get mauled as soon as I step into the house. (The Dog Whisperer would not be impressed!)
The dogs have been to visit people in the Glenrose, Rosedale, Dickensfield and we take them to Elk Island to
chase buffalo for fun. Anyone want a dog? I'
ve got a three-for-the-price-of-one special this month!!! ;) Susan
Brune
My cat Boomerang has made a huge difference in my life. For example, cleaning has never been my strong
suit. I had a little vacuum from Sears which just barely generated enough suction to get spilled popcorn off the
carpet. Then I got my cat. He has a beautiful, long coat. Soon, so did my apartment. His hair is absolutely
everywhere. It was only a short time before I got a new vacuum. It'
s a Hoover bagless upright which is designed
to "not lose suction". It does an excellent job pulling cat hair off of things. Eventually, I hope to get a Dyson, as
they'
re far better than my lowly Hoover. But even so, without Boomerang I would have a boring vacuum, and my
apartment would be a lot fuzzier. Regular vacuuming is now unavoidable.
A feline companion has had other related effects on my life. I used to have a mostly black wardrobe, and
I hated folding or hanging clothes. Like many men, I had clothes in three places: Clean clothes were in the closet
(usually in a hamper); worn but not yet dirty clothes were kept on the floor at the foot of the bed; dirty clothes
were in another hamper. Enter the tenacity of long, orange cat hair. It simply is no longer tenable to maintain a
black wardrobe, nor to store it on the floor. Boomerang feels that floor-clothing is bed-clothing, and is happy (and
adorable) sleeping in it. However, after a few such naps, it becomes nigh impossible to remove the hair;
sometimes even laundering fails! So, again thanks to Boomerang I have developed the unusual habit of washing
my clothes and then hanging them in the closet. (You can'
t put them in the hamper in the closet, because
sometimes Boomerang manages to sneak in and bed down in the hamper!!) And, of course, I buy much more
colourful clothing nowadays, and constantly experiment to see what colour combinations look best covered in
orange and white fur. I feel that if I get the combination just right, I may eventually be able to revert to my old
laundry/organization system.
I also credit my cat with reminding me how to care for hair... I started shaving my head years ago, and
had all but forgotten the stress relief possible from the act of brushing. Now, I brush Boomerang. As an added
bonus, I know an elderly lady who can spin my cat'
s hair into yarn. I hope someday to be able to knit him a
sweater made of his own fur. Then I can shave him year-round and put the sweater on him to keep him warm.
I'
m certain this must be good for the environment as well.
The discovery that my cat enjoys discovering random objects and then eating them, vomiting on them, or
scratching them, has made me into a much neater person. I now put away all my toys, electronics, books, and so
on. I'
m even working on ways to hang especially precious possessions from the ceiling.
Most importantly, Boomerang has become best of friends with my girlfriend'
s cats. While she doesn'
t
realize that I learnt the life skills detailed above from Boomerang, she does know (as does any cat companion)
that cats are excellent judges of character. The fact that our cats have bonded, and that her cats accept both me
and Boomerang, has surely given her vital insight into my character.
In summary, my cat has made me a better person. Boomerang has made me cleaner, neater, tidier, and
better-dressed. He let my girlfriend know that I might be worth getting to know, for which I will be eternally
grateful. Thanks to Boomerang, I have a lower stress level, and my feet are always warm at night (he sleeps on
them). Markian Hlynka
8
I have a 5 year old Pit Bull, named Katrina, who was found living on the streets of Louisiana after Hurricane
Katrina. I love her more than I would have ever imagined and she'
s the sweetest dog ever, despite being a "killer
breed" and we'
re fostering another 3 year old Pit Bull named Otto (2 killers in the same house since
November??? My days are surely numbered!!). Otto was in a car accident before he came to us and we lovingly
refer to him as Tripod, since he had to have a leg amputated. He was SEVERELY abused as a pup and his ribcage feels like a topographical map of The Rockies and he hates me. Actually, he doesn'
t hate me; he is terrified
of me because I'
m a guy. He'
s fearful of all men. When he'
s with my wife, though, he lets me play with him and
he'
s getting better everyday. Both these dogs have taught me about patience and compassion and unconditional
love. Pit Bulls rock and I defy anyone to tell me how dangerous they are when Kate is smiling up at you and
wiggling her butt so hard that she can'
t even stand up straight! Gregory Wagner
I have a cat named Roxy who only has one tooth - the bottom left fang. She'
s been like that since she was
about 2 and a half years old, due to a nasty dental infection. She'
s now almost 6, and having a lack of teeth has
not slowed her down one bit. In fact we'
ve caught her eating the dog'
s food! Kirsten Helm
Pets enrich people'
s lives because they offer unconditional love and companionship. If anyone has any doubt
about how beneficial interactions with animals can be, just tag along with a pet therapy animal when they
are visiting a hospital or assisted living facility - they brighten everyone'
s day. Kat McLeod
My dog Rufus certainly encourages me to exercise! I tell you, not only is he in my face, staring at me
with those big, sad, brown eyes (which is his way of saying, oh woe is me, woe is me), but he also gets a pouty
lip. When I'
ve stopped laughing at his pathetic attempt of guilting me into a run, we'
ll head out to Terwillegar Park
for a run. On our runs together, we talk about stuff. I discuss HR related matters, and he discusses his favourite
places for taking a nap. One of his favourite things to do when we'
re out on a run together, is when he'
s in the
lead, and usually when I'
m least suspecting it, he'
ll stop directly in front of me. I guess he finds it funny that I
nearly kill myself trying to avoid him each time. He'
s such a practical joker. What makes him so endearing to me
though, are those big brown eyes, they get me every time. Carl Devost
My pets have always been best friends to me. They know when you are feeling down and come to show their
support and love. Nothing turns a bad day around better than a fuzzy cuddle. Anon
My pets, two cats and two dogs, continually make a difference in my life. Who else greets you at the door as
well as a dog?? And my dogs force me to get exercise by taking them for walks everyday. I would be lost without
them! Bobbi Schiestel
9
\
%
$
!
&
"
"
$
$
$
!
(
"
'
$
#
)*
,
$
.
# $
&
#
%!
#
+
#
$
#
#
/*
are often filled with excellent local products. On the Alberta Farmers’ Market Association website
you can find the
in your region, as well as information about the $
at those markets.
You can also
. For a great listing of information on local farms around the province go to the
. Search by product type, order a free guide, or whatever it is you need to
0
find local farms in Alberta.
Or
' (
&
•
!)
has a list of restaurants across the province that serves local fare.
$
$
1233
/
5
/
'42
"
/
'
6
7 !!
• 8
$
$
13
'
#
9
$
$
$
•
)
)
)
$
•
*
8
$
#
$
;333 $
)*
6
$
$
6
+
:33
)*
7
<
#
:33
0
• .
)
# #
10
H
HIID
DD
DE
EN
NG
GE
EM
MS
S
Diamond in the rough:
Stylus
10538 102 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.stylusfinepens.com/
Experts in fine pens, Stylus is absolutely the best place in downtown Edmonton to find that perfect writing tool.
Whether it be a fountain tip or a ball tip, Stylus will have something that intrigues you. This is not your Staples
variety pens though, the cheapest I'
ve seen is $50, so be prepared. Garrick Burron
FFA
AV
VO
OU
UR
RIITTE
ER
RE
EC
CIIP
PE
E
As I love food this is my favourite recipe:
Search and collect any foods that make you feel good,
Add the spice of adventure,
Add the wonder of friends and loved ones,
Add the intention of love and sharing,
Sprinkle in the gift of giving
Once this has been mixed together…
Enjoy, savour, appreciate and go for more as many times as you can.
EDITOR: Maureen
Winchester
REPORTERS:
John Back
Garrick Burron
Christina Caputo
Mary Jean MacKenzie
Kat McLeod
Judith Odhuno-Were
Candace Ramjohn
Toby-Anne Reimer
Bobbi Schiestel
Anne Vimtrup
ARTWORK: Ami Tanaka
11