Wow what a day

Woke up every couple of hours last night.  Is it time to get up.  Heck no time for more sleep. Finally around 8:30 I rolled myself out of bed.    Am I ready for this day?  Well you gonna do this you gonna do this.  Now which way do I walk .  Okay let head to the forks and the river.  

I have good intentions I go down to the desk ask if a bus does go down town or do I have to change buses.  They say it is easy and the price is 2.65.  Okay my good intentions are I am going to take the bus down town.  Look at all the things I have circled on a map.  Enjoy my day there and then take the bus back.

Ha that didn't last long.  I start walking towards the bus stop and then say to myself well walk to the next stop as it is better then waiting for a bus.  It is a beautiful day anyways.  Enjoy the bit of a walk to the next stop.  Well the thing is I never did stop at that bus stop.i just kept walking.  Something I do when I am enjoying the day.  No ups and downs and the weather is great for walking.  Not too hot and sticky, not going to rain.so the dumb, dumb in me just kept walking.

I knew were I was going and if I head in the wrong direction have a map in my purse to put me back in the right place.  Well as long as I don't go off the map that I have.

I turn off portage street and go on Broadway.  I decided I stay on highway 1 it will get me to my first stop.  I love looking down the smaller cross roads.  They are all tree lined with huge elm trees.  Makes a canopy over the street.  Old growth and old houses.  Just spectacular.  You never really notice this kind of ambiance when you are driving in a car or riding a bus.  You can look at things and not worry about traffic behind you. A bus you don't see much as someone else is always in the way of what you want to look at.

Anyways yes I am still walking.  Been doing this for about an hour.  One foot in front of the other.  At least it is not up and down hills like I do at home or larger hills like I did in San Francisco.  That was a walk and a half.  I finally come the the legislation building.  Wow!!!  Very impressive.  Stone Mason's must have been very busy to build this.  There are carvings in the stone.  A dome in the centre with a golden boy on the top.  I took a walk inside.  Have to go through a security check before you can go wandering around. Then you walk inside.  Looks brass and stone and marble.  Just beautiful. The stairway up to the second floor.  It is defiantly a grand stairway.  Two Buffalo on each side of the stairway..  You walk to the back and there is a tables set in a circle around an opening.  You look down through the opening and see a star on the floor.  You look up and see a painted dome above.  As you wander around the building you notice all the stonework, the statues and the workmanship to put this building together.

I finally leave the building and head further down Broadway towards the river.  Construction and traffic, but what I also notice is allot of food trucks.  Parked every few feet selling something different.  Ooooo! Yum!  Yep still walking towards the river.  I come across Carlton street.  There is suppose to be a burned cathedral on that street.  I am not sure where but if I walk a little ways down might see it.  Well I did see an older church.  Don't think it was the cathedral but the church was something nice to take a picture of. Decide to head back to Broadway and keep going.  At the end of Broadway I come to the train station.  One of the hubs of the area.  I walk through the station and out the other side.  I see the museum of huma right.  Now there is a modern building.  To me looks like an ice cream cone.  Different layers piled on top of others and a tower on top.i like the building but was not interested in going inside..  Walk a little further down the path and come to a walking bridge that goes over the red river and into the French quarter.  I could walk along the river walk on this side or I can venture a little into the French quarter or I could turn around and head over to the forks market, which is where I wanted to go.  Well the market was were I went.   I got a couple of pictures of the church top in the French quarter but didn't venture much further.  Was getting too far away from to hotel as it was.  So back over the bridge I went.  There is an outcropping on this bridge.  It is a resteraunt over the water.  That is different. Walked through the waterfront park over to the market.

The forks market.  Boy are there allot of interesting things in there.  From food to articians to clothing.three floors of it and a tower you can climb stairs to get up or an elevator for those who are tired.  You really want to know I took the stairs.  Not too high but did give you a birds eye view of the area.  I met up with Brenda Marshall a few times walking around.  She told me about the river cruise that was very interesting.  You get to all the interesting sites from the water.  I never thought of going out on a mini cruise and it sounded interesting.  Well my feet and back were starting to tell me tails and I knew if I sat down I would probably not get back up again.  So a pass on the cruise or lunch for that matter.  Just keep me going and start heading back the other way.

I was even a bigger dummy and said no to a ride back to the hotel.  Well my mind was set on walking and I was going to finish it.  I headed up Assiniboine street. Heading back towards the legislation building.  Walking around the back of the building.  There are allot of memorial statues and other statues around the back lawn.  I made my way around the back of the building and then headed over to portage street and back towards the hotel.  I saw the bay building.  All five story building.  I didn't go in but was kinda wondering if they use all the floors anymore or just two like they do in other towns.  I guess not curious enough though as I kept walking.

Hour later I am back at the hotel and in my swimsuit and down to the hot tub.  Oooo that felt so good.  Didn't do much for the blister I got but yes it did relieve some of the tightness in my back.  A little floating around and a little soaking in the tub.  I was in there for about an hour between both pools.  Had to go back up to the room eventually though.

I had just sat down on the bed checking Facebook and my mail and a text comes in. A few of us are going out to the Olive Garden for supper.  Around seven want to come.  Okay it is a phone number no name.  I write back sure interested in a bite to eat and by the way who am I going out to dinner with. Jan was in the building.

I got myself off the be dandy down to the lobby to meet up with some other ladies.  Jan was down at the desk.  I got my big hug from her and we chatted a bit.  I went to sit with some other ladies sitting in the lobby.  They were putting together flowers for decorations.  So I fluffed up a couple of them .  There was going to be a big group heading out for dinner, but we're not going out till 8 when the reservation was.  Jan said a little late for her to be eating so she was heading out to eat now.  I decided to go along with her and keep her company.  We caught up from the last time we were together.  I found out things that were going on in Ontario.  I gave her My sister in laws info so she could text her and maybe get her out a few more times with some other events going on.  So Ivy you may have an email for you to answer.  You are going to meet so many wonderful ladies in Ontario.

We sat and talked in the resteraunt for at least an hour or so.  Well Jan did most of the talking, but I put my two cents in once in while.  It was abreast catching up.

Now my last problem.  Will I be able to roll myself out of bed tomorrow or am I gonna be gimped up and not able to move.    Well I am gonna push myself to get up and get moving.  Maybe even be on time up to get to have breakie with everyone else.  Or am I just going to eat my muffin in my room and roll out of my room when I am ready.  Registration is tomorrow so stick around the hotel to get that done.  I would like to go down to the zoo, but could I walk anymore for a long time.  Yep my problem and I guess I am to deal with it.

Yay!!!  Big time red hatting fun coming up tomorrow.

Well I am in the air again. Heading on another adventure

I got my red hat on and my purple clothes.  Bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Well I guess I can't say I am bright eyed.  I got up this morning at 6 o'clock.  Lovely.  I am not a morning person.  Never have been and probably never will be.  I don't drink coffee so no caffeine to get me going in the morning.  That is kinda a minus.  I am hooked on caffeine though.  It is just in the form of pop.  Being early in the morning have not drank any of that either.  So this hour and a half trip from Calgary to Winnipeg I might just dose off or I may have to get myself some caffeine.

I left mission this morning at 7:30 am.  Got to the airport in Abbotsford with a half hour to spare on getting on the plane.  So not too bad a wait. That hour flight was uneventful. But we did fly over mount baker. Had to get my camera out and take a picture. So now they flew into the US air space.  I did not have my pass port.  Oh oh I got to the US without it. Well not in trouble.  Made it to Calgary with a bit of time to spare.  Not enough time to eat though.  Starting to get the hunger growls.  Great and won't get anything until I get to Winnipeg.  Well guess I am going to have to suffer with cookies and a pop.  Yay I got some pop.  Caffeine here we come.  And I got two packages of cookies as well.  At least they are not as dry as the bits and bites they give out.  Aw!  Another sip of caffeine.  Should be almost bright eyed here when I get off the plane. Well I think I did nap a bit though.

Flying into Calgary.  It is a bit nippy in this part of the woods.  They say it is only 3 degrees here.  Good I brought my coat for a reason.  I won't be outside the terminal anyways so why would I need it right now. When we got back on another plane heading for Winnipeg they said if you brought along coats you will not need them.  It is a balmy 18 degrees there.  That is the first time to hear that.  Winnipeg is warmer then Calgary.  Cloud rolling below me on the way into Calgary and on the way out they are disappearing.  Light clouds though so it looks misty below.  You can make out the fields and rivers and such though.

  I love flying and sitting by the window. Something I can not do if I am flying with my hubby.  He has to have the window and then goes to sleep. As the world goes by you see so much of the changing landscape.  From mountains to flat prairies and back to rolling land again.you look at the cloud formations and daydream ablout what they may be.  I think if you could only walk out on those fluffy puffs of cotton and roll around in the softness.  But hey that is just my daydreaming.  Step onto those clouds and you gonna be making a straight beeline for the ground.  I still say though wouldn't it be fun to just play around on the cottony softness.  You fall down you would not hurt yourself.  Okay I will stop.  You probably think I am nuts now.  But yeah I am nuts.  I take off in planes to go on my red hat adventures.  On my own to meet up with some of the most gracious ladies around.  It gets my happy on and I need all the happy I can get.

Well clouds are rolling in again so will not see much for a bit.  Oooo!  These look like,e fierce ones.  Dark and all clumped together.  There must be a storm brewing below in Saskatchewan.  At least I think that is where we are now.  I have no live map on my chair.  So can not see where we are.  Clouds are getting thicker, but once in a while it opens up to see a river or a lake.  Well I guess I will not be seeing anything more out the window except big thick dark clouds.

So where am I going you say.  A red hat convention of course.  It is in Winnipeg.  Being put on by the traveling red hatters.  I have never met these ladies before.  So some more hugs on the way for me. I will be seeing a few ladies I have met before from Ontario so I will not feel all alone, but am still this shy insicure person who when meeting new people am very quiet.  I try but I just can not get the habit of making conversation.  Weird some people can talk to anyone and everyone.  Me I just sit back and watch and listen.  Sometimes afraid to put in my two cents as I may be butting into something I was not suppose to but in too.  Well anyways ladies are getting to know me and except me for what I am.

Well there is not too much more going on in this flight.  So maybe I will put my head back see if I can get a little shut eye.  Another thing I am not able to do but if I am tired enough I can do it.  And since my eyes are getting s little droopy here and a headache is creating in behind my eyes I better put my head down for a while and see whether a snooze will help a little.

Talk again soon when I am at the hotel tonight.  I have tonight and tomorrow where I am playing on my own and checking out the sites of Winnipeg.  I know a mall is across the road so I can get eats, but I would like to find the zoo tomorrow and wander around and look at the animals.  Maybe find the old part of Winnipeg and look at the buildings.  I think there is a part of town that has some older buildings.

Look and see when I get there.

Well now at the hotel.  The boob tube is going and I am typing away.  Catching up on what I missed for the day and send a note off to tell family I made it to were I was going.  Sitting snuggle in my room.  I had a bit of a mishap at the hotel. Some reason my credit card was not working.  Oh boy did that put worry on me.  Had to start making some phone calls to see what was going on.  I was afraid I could not get into my room cause my card would not go through.  I sat in the lobby talking to company.  Well at least sitting with phone to my ear listening to lovely elevator music worrying that I would be back at the airport because I had not room sleeping on a bench.  All sorts of scenarios were going through my mind.  Finally got through to creditors company and low and behold it was because of a stupid little mistake on my part.  Not calling the credit card company before I left and telling them I would be somewhere else. I think it is time to start making lists before I go.  That was a scary situatation for me.  No where to go and loosing my reservation and in a town where I know no one.everyone I know is two provinces away.  Well live and learn.  Make a dang list of what you need to do and don't leave the list somewhere you will forget.  I paticularly do not like a situation like that.  So yes make the list.  Getting too old to keep so much in my head all the time. Especially when I am prone to getting foggy once in while.

So anyways after my stress went down. I unpack a bit.  Just to get the clothes that would wrinkle out of suitcase.  Then I too a little wander down the street.  I found the Olive Garden, red lobster and a and w just down the street.  So at least there is food close by.  I wander a little bit further and crossed the road which brought me to the mall.  Not too far to walk.  Well at least for me anyways.  Wandered through the mall.  Pretty well the same as any other mall.  Stores all the same.  Maybe a few different items in it but you in one mall it is a different design but pretty well the same stores.  In the end found the food court finally had a bite to eat.  Stopped at the Tim Hortons and got a couple of muffins to enjoy in the morning and my caffiene.  Yes a bottle of pop.  I left the mall and headed a bit the other way from the hotel.  Not seeing much that way.  So headed back into the hotel.  Wandered a little and found the restaraunt and the pool.  Nice pool.  Maybe a dip will be in order tomorrow.  Who knows.

I am thinking of either a trip down town to the forks and pioneer area or out to the zoo which is the other way.  This all depends on the weather and whether I will get lost at my wanderings.  Will have to see.

So now I am veggin on the bed watching tv and have my feet up.  Hopefully resting my back and hope the twinges will come out of it.

So will write again tomorrow. Tell you all how lost I got

Hi all. Missed the last couple of nights but did put pictures on Facebook you want to take a boo

I am a bit on the tired side tonight a may not write too much,  then again I may just blab on for all it is worth.

I am having a great time.

Two days ago I kinda took a chillaxing day.  My sister had a few errands to get finished around her place and since I figured I would be on the road the next couple of days better to just relax and enjoy the day.  Took a morning walk to get out the kinks from sitting on the plane the whole day before.  Ankles sure did not like the sitting all day.  I was out for about an hour walking around tavistock.  Enjoying the sun and getting a little pinkish.  Well at least I didn't burn.  That is usually what happens.  Some of the happy pills I am on make my skin just a little sensitive.  After the walk sat out on back porch for while until sun started to get a little too warm.  I am not really an outdoor person.  Enjoy for a little while then just like to sit on the couch and do something.  You know knit, crochet or read.  I may have even dozed off for a bit.  Too much of that nice warm sun all at once.  It got pretty hot that day and if you are not use to the heat it will drain me pretty fast.  So between a nap or two I was enjoying a mushy book.  Always can get into those.  My sister is real good to me.  I do love the farmer sausage from Krugs in tavistock.  I always try to have some when I am home.  It is not made like that in BC.  No really good type of farmer sausage you can get there.  It is like I go to Alberta to get green shoelace licorice. Not sold in BC either and it is something I like. Well enough about my likes.  I could go on with a few that are sold around here you can not get in another province.

I thank my sis for thinking about me and frying some up for me.

That night we headed over to visit a couple of cousins I have not seeming in years.  Had a very nice visit with them and caught up on a bit of gossip on the family.  She made a very yummies chocolate chip cookie in a cast iron skillet.  Boy warm and a little bit of icecream with it and just finished off the day on a high note.

Made it to bed a little later then wanted to and slept not too bad that night.  Still thought about the drive I was going to make the next day.  How to get there without driving too busy a road.  How to miss most of the cities so I didn't get lost and such.  Mind was racing part of the night.

Up in the morning and still wanted to sleep, but can't lay in bed all day.  Places to be and things to do or I don't get were I am suppose to get or be.

I had lunch with my sisters red hat group.  What a lovely group of ladies.  They go out once a month to enjoy a meal together and catch up on what is going on with them.  It was such a lovely time with them.  We then headed back to tavistock. We're she gave me a few directions to get places and then I was on my way.  Down the road and seeing some of southern Ontario.

I drove cross country.  Headed out of tavistock and went to Punkydoodle corner.  Oops already went wrong.  Was suppose to turn before I got there.  Well I did see punkydoodles.  I guess maybe I just wanted to see the place.  Yep that's my excuses and I am sticking to it.  Followed the road down past Woodstock and found another road I was suppose to take to go east towards Brandford and Hamilton. With trying to stay at the outskirts of those towns and not make wrong turns.  In Brandford I must have made a wrong round about someplace cause I ended up on the other side of where I wanted to be a on the other side of the 403. Abig highway I didn't want to be on.  So instead of turning around I just decided to keep going with the sun to my back and see where it would lead me.  You know eventually I did get back across 403 and on the south side of it and heading east again on the road I had originally wanted.  I was more interested in the old houses around here.  Beautiful brick houses with the woodwork along the eaves.  Just marvolous to see.  Couldn't stop to take pictures because every time I slowed down to look some dang driver would come barreling up behind me to want me to go faster.

Anyways I did make it to Niagara Falls in an almost good time.  A trip that should have taken maybe a couple of hours took me an hour or so longer.  But hey I was enjoying myself so who cares.  Now next problem.  Finding my hotel.  No GPS just my iPad to tell me where I am.  Well it wasn't that bad.  Found the road I was looking for and made the right turn and hotel was right there.  Well at least something went as easy as pie.  Not like two days ago when I was trying to get out of kitchener from the airport.  I missed one turn so decided to go through kitchener and kept going. Ended up going a bit of a long way around kitchener because I missed another turn.  But you know eventually it all worked out with a couple of left turns I made it back to the road I needed.

So after checking into the hotel went for a walk down to the falls.  Oh oh down hill.  You know I have to walk back up afterwards.very quiet down there.  Thought about going up the tower and looking from there.  Not selling any tickets.  Well that's. A bummer.   So walked rest of way down to the water.  So much water going over.  Just a wonder to see.  I stirolled along the walkway.  Took a few pictures and enjoyed the walk.  Headed back up the hil along the tourist trap road.  So many places of haunted houses.  Mirror houses ripleys believe it or not, but no food really opened.  No souvenir shops opened. I guess. It really isn't tourist season yet.  Well the casinos where opened but if I set foot in there I would probably loose $20 in no time.  Found a conviniance store and bought a sandwich.  I guess it had to do..  Back to the room and was out like a light in not time. Problem was I was awake at 2:30 thinking it was later and the clock was wrong.  Nope I was wrong   Went back to sleep after a while and woke at 7:30.  Gaul can I not get a good night sleep but I wouldn't go back to sleep for the life of me. So got myself out of bed grudgingly and got myself ready to go

Checked out and then hoped in the car.  Took one more drive down along the falls.  Sun shining and a beautiful day.  What a day to just tour and see some countryside.  I headed north to Niagara on the lake.  Oh my have you ever seen so many mansions in one place.  Just such beauties.  And mixed in with them are old heritage homes.  You know those beautiful brick or stone house made at the turn of the century.  Just beautiful.  I know I am say just beautiful allot, but I am really enjoying this drive.  Oops missed my turn again.  I think it may be a good thing.  I saw Fort George and down town Niagara on the lake.  Loved seeing the town but the fort was closed.  Oh well.  Once turned around and heading west I ignored getting on the huge highway for as long as I could.  Saw so many wineries.  You could stop at each have a sip and be so out of it by the time you hit the last one.  All the oak trees along the side of the road.  They would be so wonderful to see in full leaf in the summer.

All things had to come to an end.  Coming close to Hamilton and had to get onto a road I dreaded.  Expressway.  But it was the only way I was going to get to where I needed to be..  100 Kim's and hour.  Far cry from the 60 I was puttering along at enjoying myself.  Truck, trucks and more trucks. Speeding by and I just kept myself tucked in behind a truck and followed him until he had the Gaul to turn off on me.  What was he thinking.  I had him as my buffer of not seeing all the traffic on the road.  Well all things come to an end.  I took he 403 to the 401 and just kept on agoin until I got to were I was suppose to be.  Ten lanes of highway.  Oh brother.  Then finally down to six lanes and then four.  That has to close to where I get off.

Bloor street ahead.  Yeas that is where I get off.it doesn't look right.  Hope I am right.  I will go a little further and if not then I wonder what I do.  Oh thank goodness there is the hotel.  I did it right.  Okay so proud of myself.  First time driving through Toronto.  I am growing up I think. Or maybe it is I gots to do what I gots to do.  Well almost.  A two hour drive took me about four hours with my piddling along.  But hey it was worth it.

Unpacked my bag to get wrinkles out of my dress.  Layed down for a bit but didn't sleep.  Thought I would but still eluding me.went down to the lobby and waited to see if anyone else was around.  In walks Bev and there is Jan. And the eleanor.  Hugs all around.  So good to see them again.then a few more ladies show up.  Ladies from Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta,, BC, Maine and Connecticut.   We all sat around the lobby and talked.  Got to know each other all over again.  Got our registration in when the table was ready.  Took our goodies back to our rooms.  Grabbed a jacket and we hopped into a couple of cars and went to the keg to enjoy a meal.  More laughs and giggles. Just love these ladies. Two Michigan ladies joined in the fun.

Back to the hotel where I begged off on a little more talking in the lobby.  I had a long day and figured before I conk out on them I go to my room and then if I conk out at least I will be in my bed. You know as you can see I have not conked out yet as I am still here watching a movie and writing about my last couple of days.  Well one thing to say.  This is gonna be one heck of a weekend.  I am still the quiet one but they except me as I am and I am gonna have a great time.  I think I better see if I can shut my eyes now and get a little snooze time.  Or I am gonna ware myself out.  That will not be good.  So talk to you again tomorrow.  That is if I am not playing too much

Hi all. Well in Ontario and no mishaps

Very long day today.  Up way too dang early for me.  5:45 in the morning.  I guess I got ta do what I got ta do.    I want to red hat I has to get myself out of bed and get me butt in gear.  Then plane will leave without me if I don't.  No plane waits for no one they says.  

So I crawl myself out from under the nice warm covers and my two cuddly dogs and get myself ready to face the world.  Well at least the world of airports.heading for a family visit and then a convention of the most beautiful ladies around (red hatters) and more family visiting and then depression sinks in and I have to head home from playing.  Will be so short and then I have to grow up again and face the world like an adult, but first I have to get myself out of bed.  

Well after a little breakie and the dogs have their stroll I start once again checking and rechecking that I think I got everything.  Well I guess if I don't will probably have to buy it.  Plus a bit of bling and maybe that hat I see and well you know.

I get my ride to the airport still wondering if I am missing anything.  The line up has already started.  I got myself into a fast line though.  Had already checked in and just had to get my boarding pass.  So yeah get to bypass most of the line and check my bag in and I am off to the races.  No line up at security so a breeze going through there as well.  No buzzers for me.  Great I didn't wear that underwire bra or the rhinestone shirt or they would have been checking.  I am learning.

So ten minutes till the plane loads.  Yeah yeah had to check my Facebook.  I think I am addicted.  I could just sit quietly and wait for them to call to board.  No got to check Facebook.  Get myself on line through the airport wifi.  Easy Peasy.   What else can I look at.  Oops they are boarding.  Stuff everything back in my bag and go stand in line to walk on plane.

Aw!!  Window seat.  Never get those when I am with someone else.  I can watch the world go by.  I don't know about you but it just facinates me to just look out the window and look down at the countryside so far below.  Where the water is, looking high on the mountaintops.  The fields and the crop circles.  I think I might have taken a little nap in there too.  It was an awful short flight.

Of in Calgary and an hour wait for my next flight.  Time for a snack and a bathroom break.  The downside at sitting at the window.  You either have to crawl over two other people to get to the washroom or ya gotta hold.

Next flight.  Dumb me.  I got to my seat.  All settled in and then I get told that I am in the wrong seat.  I pull out my ticket and say see this is my seat. You want to know what was dumb.  I was looking at the gate number.  The gate number was 16a and guess where I was sitting.  Oops in 16a.  Should have been sitting in 22a.  Grab my stuff and make a beeline for the back of the plane.  Dumb dumb. Seat 22a.  All settled in again and feeling like an well you know.

Well Westject does one thing right.  If you have the westjet app you can have wifi on the plane.  You still have to pay for Internet service but you can watch a movie or tv show while on your flight.  Wow something I didn't need to pay for.  I paid for my luggage to go on.  That's a new one on me.  It use to be for extra baggage not your first bag.  Guezz!  You pay for food oh but I did get some dry pretzels and a drink of pop for free.  My are those not the perks to flying.

Well since I get to watch a movie for free I sure as heck am going to watch one. Between looking out the window.  Not sure if I got most of the movie but I did watch it.  Had some giggles out of it too.

After three and half hours on plane I finally make it to my destination.  Pee break time again.  Then wait for the luggage to come out.  Yeah mine didn't take to long to appear.  At least a plus there.  Next stop is the car rental.  I got that on airmiles so all paid for and they still want to put a hold on my credit card for $500.  So now when I go to the hotel there will be another hold on my card poof card is done.  Not gonna be much spending at this convention.  No bling for me.  Aw!

Okay next adventure.  Finding my sunglasses in my bag.  I am reaching through the bag to find them.  Nope that isn't them, nope neither is that.  I know I put them in there.  Pull this out pull that out..  Got allot out of the bag and yes there they are. Right where I put them.  Go figure.  Hmm they said there was still cool weather and some snow around here.  It don't seem that cold. In fact the airconditioner is on in the car.  Now how do I turn that off.  And this radio channel sucks as well.  I think I spent and good 20 minutes in the parking lot looking for things and then figuring out what the gadgets do on the car.

Finally on the road and heading in the direction I am suppose to be.    Heading out of this city to get to my sisters place.  Hmm I know there is a turn up here I have to make.  Oh I think it was right back there.  No I am not turning around I can get there from this way as well.  Music blaring and I am a driving.  This does not look right.  I think I might have done something wrong.  No I still do not need to turn around I will just go this way and I know I will get to the highway I am suppose to be on.  A couple of round a outs and yes up ahead.  There is the highway I need.  Shit luck I thinks.

Heading down the highway.  Enjoying the tunes blaring away and yes I am going in the right direction.  Well a tour that was suppose to take three quarters of an hour took an hour and half.  But hey I did some touring and saw a little of the city I really didn't want to see.  You know just checking out my old haunts.  I use to live there many many years ago.  Did I say many!

Well I did make it.  Thank the Angels for that.  I wasn't lost at all.  No not me just touring.  I did get to where I wanted to be, just a little in a round about way.

So that's my adventure for today.  I am going to catch up on some sleep now.  Talk to you tomorrow

Another adventure is soon underway.

My golly I have not been awhile since I was on here.  Last I was on here was to think about doing some herstory.  That went over real well when I posted it on Facebook.  So now just do it for myself.  I am curious I ask questions .  It is my inquiring mind liking to know info why some thing clicks.  So I collect info from newspaper articles and such and keep the info to where sometime I may write something on it.  If I do write on herstory it will just be on my blog.  As I said before I am not in it to make any money just to talk about what I find interesting.  Okay letting it go for now.  

Since I last wrote.  I have now become queen of our group.  I am known as Queen Iwanna for now.  But queen is just a figurehead for me.  All the ladies in our group have input into what we do and where we go.  They are a fun group of ladies to pal around with a get a few giggles and fun. I was voted in as Queen from my vice queen position after the past queen moved to another part of the province.  

We have done so many wonderful things this past year.  Things I would have never done if I had not found these ladies to play with.  We have done pole dancing, belly dancing, done many different types of crafts,  went out to many dinners, traveled to Washington state were we have enjoyed visiting with Red hatters there,  and yes food is always involved.    We all love to eat.

So I had my sights set on going to the international convention in San Antonio.  I had my regidpstration in and hotel room booked.  Then the dollar went way down on Canadian dollar and I had to rethink some plans.  Cancelling my convention in San Antonio.  Bummer!!!    I guess it is all for the best though.  It opened up another opportunity to go to another convention a little closer to home.  Well I guess not much closer but it is in Canada.  Will be heading to Winnipeg in September.  It is the first convention this group is going to have so will see what plans they come up with.  Looks like a great time though and I will get to see some of the ladies I have met at other conventions.  That is one of the best parts.  To get together with friends I have made over the past few years.  I am still the quiet one but these ladies can pull off the shell once in while and bring on the giggles.

Tomorrow will be the start of another adventure for me.  I am heading for Ontario.  Fly out in the morning and spend a week there.  That dang snow better be gone.  I am not a fan of driving around in it.  Some pictures show it gone others show it is still there.  I really don't want to be red hatting in my long johns.  But if push comes to shove I guess I gotta do what I gotta do.

First I will enjoy visiting with some family.  Need my family time once in while.  It feels so good.  Then there will a little me time.  I have decided again to be a bit of a tourist.  Gonna check out some of Ontario, which will bring in the falls and touring some back roads and seeing some country on my way to a convention.  I sure as heck am not going to drive through Toronto to get there.  That highway is just a little much for me so it will be a round about way to get there.  I was to a convention put on by these ladies a couple of years ago.  Had such a great time I decided to go again.  This time I will know a few more ladies which will make it even a better time.  Yep food will be involved as well.  Along with dressing in my finest and hoping that dress still fits.  Oh yes and the bling too.

While I am away the red hat society will celebrate a birthday.  They will be 18 this year.  Legal to do whatever they want.  Well they have always did what they wanted but now are legal to do it.  So there will be some big parties going on this year.  So if you see red hatters out and about having a great time wish them a happy birthday. I may be on a plane back home that day.  So was thinking get my kazoo out dawn my red hat and blast happy birthday on the plane home.  Then again it is just a thought

I am ready to start a herstory now

So this will be a once in while writing of info I come across and lovely stories of ladies I have met.

Now I am going to say first off for all you school marms out there that I am not a professional writer.  I do not profess to say that I can spell or do the right type of punctuation.  My school days are long gone now and anyways I was just a dork in school.  So if you see something wrong the blame will be on me as I am a little older and just do not care about the right way to write things. I do try and once in a while spell checker will help and put something totally different then what I was trying to spell in the first place.  I just hope that I get my point across that I am writing about.  Without it sound way out there.

To be axact I really don't give much of a %#*{€about anything anymore.  I am too old to care anymore.  It is the age I am at.  I say what I want and I think what I want and I do what I want.  Well within reason and when hubby gets involved.  Then I am just a perfect little angle he expects of me.  HA!!! I do still have some values but I really do want to do what I want to do.  Just have to get out of chickenshit mode and just go do it.  What is life for anyways except to do what you want to do when you want to do it.

So now getting on with today's writing I have had allot of feedback.  Allot good, some great and a couple that got to be down right nasty.  I was told by someone that if the red hat society wanted a herstory written of any kind that they would do it themselves.  That I should contact hatquarters and talk to Emily Yost before I start anything.  Also mentioned that ladies do not want their herstory brought to light, it is in the past and should stay that way.  She had also put a few more nasty comments on my Facebook comment so that after getting a bit of info from other ladies, I copied and just deleted the post.

So for your saying enough is enough I did contact hatquarters just to mention that I would be delving into my latest obsession.  I got a very lovely note back from Emily saying it sounds like a great idea and we are all sisters here.

I started on this obsession as I am a bit of a newbe to the red hat society.  I joined a small group in my home town by answering a newspaper article about wanting to get to meet other ladies in the area and have some fun on the side.  Well that article sat on my desks for a few weeks before I decided what the heck and called her up.  For being a chickenshit that was the best phone all I ever made.  If I would have hummed and hawed and kept thinking about it I would have never called and would still be sitting on my duff at home wondering what the heck to do with the rest of my life.  I had never heard of the red hat society let alone knew there was anytype of group that would except you in so beautifully with open arms and love.

So now I have been a member for three years.  Standing proud and happily paying my dues.  Loving every minute of it and not wanting to look back at the life I had before that day.

I got to wondering about the past conventions.  There is regional ones, national ones and international ones.  Then there is the little groups that get together here and there to enjoy each other's company.  There are so many ladies involved in this movement.  I started reading the book that Sue Ellen wrote.  Then I started into newspaper articles about the red hat society.  This then got me thinking, besides the basic facts that you read in all this.  What about all the conventions that have gone on before I joined.  How about the ladies behind the scenes.  Has there been ladies that have been to all international conventions.  Well I can set you straight on that because I have found out that info. 

Here is a little trivia for you. There is five ladies that have been at all the international conventions since the first one in Chicago in 2002.  These ladies of course are Sue Ellen, Linda Murphy, and  Debra Granich.  There is also Marcy LaSalle and Carol Lewis who have been at every international convention.  These two ladies  where the first to start up in their home states after reading that first article.  Their chapters are now 15 years young.  This is something that just fascinates me to no end.  I thank Marcy for telling me about that little tidbit.

So now I should get on to tell you about these writings I am going to be doing.  It will be about all of you ladies.    The ladies that make up the red hat society.  I have had a great response so far from some of you who would like to share your stories and the fun and laughter you have shares through the years being a member.  It can be short and to the point or long and about all your years.  Memories of being a gutsy gal going to your first event.  First time meeting up with someone of the red hat society.  One big one here.  Putting on that first red hat and feeling so silly, or being so proud of being able to wear that red hat.  Oh I can come up with so many ideas to write about.

I went to my first red hat regional convention in Sacramento. It was called over the rainbow and the theme was the wizard of Oz.  I signed up to go not knowing what the heck to expect.  I just so wanted to go and see what all the hubbub was about.  I was scared to no end.  Did not know anyone and thought I would be traveling by myself.  Something I never thought I would do in my life.  I then got word that there was other ladies in the area that where planning to fo as well.  The ambassador for this area called me up one day.  Told me what flights they were going to be on and that she would be happy to give me a lift down to the airport.  I was on my way.  First convention and I was starting to meet up with ladies in the area.  Traveled with five other ladies to Sacramento and they took me under their wings and helped me to fly.  I had the best time of my life and have not looked back.

I will get more into my adventures later.  Some of you may have already read some of them on my Facebook page and this blog.  Right now though I would love to hear about your love of the red hat society. Items of fun laughter and love given back to you by the red hat society.  Stories of being a gutsy gal.  Memories of convention.  If you do not mind sharing your herstory with me I would just love it.  I would love to share your stories on my blog.  But I can keep them private not using any names if you wish it,or if you wish I will not write about them at all.

I will say here.  I am not doing this to make any money off of.  I just like to here stories and get to lnow all of you better.  You see I am a very quiet person.  Never say too many words when I am out with anyone.  I do watch and I so listen.  Well that is when I put in my hearing aids so I can listen.  I am a gatherer.  Take in all the info and just love to share it with others.  For not talking much I do write allot.  You can see me blabbing in Facebook and my blog over and over again.  I guess I like to talk with my fingers.  I can talk a mile a minute in here but get me face to face Nd I am as quiet as a church mouse.

So let's get started.  If you would love to share your love of the red hat society please give me a shout.  On my email of Brenda_lowe@telus.net or message me on my face oil page.  I am already in the process of two stories that are going to be shared with me.  One from a Canadian red hatter and her first convention in the Maritines.  Another will be in the works after that on her past year of enjoyment.

The red hat society is such a beautiful thing, please let me spread the word on our love laughter and fun.  I would love to hear your herstory and I believe there are allot of other newbies out there who would love to hear these stories as well.  If nothing else just to know that there is a life after 50 that can be so full instead of thinking the rocking chair is all they have.  For me it was the thought of a wheel chair, but for now I am living my life to the fullest and staving off that wheelchair they say I will be in in a few year as best I can.  I keep fighting the fight I have with my body everyday and keep the good times rolling.

Thank you for listening to me.  Hope to hear from many of you out there. I society is full of so many beautiful ladies from all over the world.  I have met so many of you all ready.  Some just in passing and others who have embraced me into their love.  Then there are the many Facebook friends I have not met as yet but hope too at an event or get together.

Well fun is over and I now have another memory to hold onto

First off I am going to say a very huge thank you to Carol Conrad and the members of her team for putting on such a wonderful event.  I have never had so much fun in three days of being with all these ladies.  Enjoying laughter and giggles and maybe a dribble or two. Oooops!  From the opening to the very end.  Had so much fun.  Then there is my roomie for the week.  Darlyne Wagner.  With her I had double the fun and always had a partner in crime if I was trying to do something sill.  She went right along with it.  I don't understand how she could put up with some of the sill antics I did for the weekend, but she did.  It was soooo much fun.  Oh I guess I said that already. But I cannot express enough how I feel right now.

To all the ladies that came up to me and commented on my blog and the stories I wrote about my travel to and from.  You all just realized I am a very quiet person.  I can blab a mile a minute on Facebook and my blog but when I am face to face I am just not a talker.  I am trying to get over it but it is a dang hard thing to do.  So I hope I did not offend anyone because I did not say very much.  I do love all your comments and the love you are all bringing to me.  I can write it down but just do not seem to have the words in person.  So thank you all that came up to me and said how much you enjoyed reading my blog.  I will be keeping this up as I go to other things red hating. So keep in touch. I love the feedback and comments.

This blog was started when I started red hating.  You see I am a living ailment here and things are slowly getting worse.  I am fighting it off as much as I can, but sometimes it wants to take over my life. I am not going to let it and I keep pushing forward.  So some days I am down and others I am doing much better.  My motto is I am not living with this it is living with me and if I had a choice I would evict it right out of my body so I can be a normal person.  But I know that is not going to happen so I will keep pushing and working hard to keep it in the background and have all the fun I can.  So my other thing is another motto of shoulda, coulda, woulda.  Well instead of that I am gonna do it and get on with it.  Not worry if I am doing something wrong.  This is where red hating comes in.

First off I craft in order to keep myself active.  If I am not active I will seize up and not be moving at all.  Now what to do with these crafts afterward.  Well that are not going to sit in my house anymore.  So I donate them out to red hat events to give away as gifties.  I ask first if someone is interested and if they are I make something that is appropriate for their event.  I have made knitted and crocheted shawls and afghan.  I have quilted items and I have done a few woodworking items as well.  Some of my items are very popular with the ladies.

Second of all I want to travel and see places.  Red hating is giving me a chance to see places I have never seen before.  Later in life I may not be able to do too much traveling so want to get in as much as I can.  So far I have been to New Orleans, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Edmonton, Oshawa and Reno.  When I get to these places I am not alone.  There are so many red hat ladies I can join up with and have a blast of a time.  I can behave my self or I can be a little silly.  No one seems to care which way I am.  The kid will come out and play once in while.  When she does watch out!!

The third is so many friendship I am making.  I have met some very beautiful ladies inside and out.  They take you under their wing and love you like you are a long lost friend.  That took a little time to get use to.  Being the quiet person I am that has built a shell around herself to protect herself from the negativity that has happened in the past. And a bit that is still happening.

So now I am doing this woulda, shoulda, coulda  theme in my life.  I want to do this and by Gaul I am gonna do this.  The first time I drove by myself to get to the airport in Bellingham to go to Reno.  I traveled there by myself, got on a plane and landed in Reno not knowing anyone.  I got to the hotel on my own did allot more at that convention then I thought I would ever do.  My first convention was in Sacramento, but I traveled with other ladies to that one.  They welcomed me into their group and showed me the ropes and pulled me out of my shell.  It mad been ages since I had felt that way and had so much fun.  So I signed up for another and that was Reno.  I talked to myself so many times about the fact I was crazy to go on my own.  What the heck am I thinking.  I talked myself out of it so many times,  then one days I said to myself.  Okay stop the idiotisy and just do it.  Well it was a big worry for me, but I did it and I loved every minute of it.  The next convention was Las Vegas.  I did not go alone on this one. I took my son with me.  You know what.  He just realized from that time on that there is a different side of me that he has never seen before.  We had a great time together and played the whole time.  

I have blossomed over the two and half years I have been red hatting.  I am also getting to be much more braver in what I want to do.  I have now been to an international convention and to top it all off I can dress silly or very regal the way I did when I was a child.

Oh now speaking of child in my latest travel I found something I have not had since I was a child.  I use to ride my bike into the nearest five and ten cent store to get this and you know what I found it in my travels this past weekend.  Okay gonna sound silly but I just loved eating this.  Green Shoestring licoric. okay don't laugh.  I lived out in the country on a dairy farm.  Never got out much and anytime I got to go to the store that is what I would buy.  And yes I bought some and yes I ate the whole bag in one sitting.  Okay laugh all you want.  I had a very quiet life here.

Now the biggest adventure I had went by this last weekend. I signed up for a convention in Edmonton. I asked carol if it was okay to make a giftie and she said yes.  Well I spend four months working on a quilt for her event.  I had the time of my life designing what I was going to make.  Gathering material together and then putting it all together.  Doing this between going to work and keeping a the rest of my life in order. I had so much fun making it. It was a labour of love.  Now I had a thought.  It was big and how was I going to get it there. Well I guess I could drive there.  WHAT!  By myself.  Oh here comes the doubts again.  I went back and forth on this for so long.  Then finally said. Drive.  It can't be that bad.  You drive across town everyday to go to work you can sure a heck drive to Edmonton.  You have done it before with your hubbie.  Only he was driving and usually kept driving.  If I did this alone or with someone I could stop when I wanted to.  See things I want to see. And do whatever I want.  Well I started planning. Got reservation to hotels along the way.  Planned on things I wanted to do and see. And started getting excited about this.  At one time I had two people going with me, then it went down to one and then it was just me again.  As they had other obligations to attend to.

Sunday rolled around.  Got myself out of bed and packed up the car, took car of my dogs for the last time, hoped in my car and started driving.  Once on the road all doubts disappeared and I was enjoying myself.  No one asking when the next town was, not one asking what road to take.  No one passing someplace you thought would be nice to get out and stretch,  and last but not least could pee when I wanted to instead of waiting till we got gas.  My tunes blaring away and not sitting in silence.  Sorry I and making a few dibs here I shouldn't be.  But I was not affraid and I was enjoying myself.  I looked for the first time at the scenery around me and said this is beautiful.  Never really noticed this before. Whenever we had traveled before.  I wonder why?  Well anyways I was doing this for me.  You know what I did it.  And I am so proud that I did.  I will do it again in a heartbeat.  It was so much fun and I could en joy my own company. I saw some pretty wonderful things we had just drove by before.  Such beauty out there.  Take the time and enjoy it.  It may not be here again.  I enjoyed a break in the hotsprings that made me sleepy on the drive to Edmonton and I also took the tram to the top of a mountain and saw a whole lot more of the world from the top.  The sun was shining and not a cloud in the sky.  You could see for miles

Now getting into Edmonton I started to worry a little.  What road do I take.  Is it up here close or do I have to drive allot in traffic.  I lost a couple of fingernails on that part of the trip.  The fingernails I didn't have to worry about.  I got there no problem at all.  And the nails they will grow back.  A day before everyone else was to arrive.  Well that day I scouted out around the area.  Walked my butt off.  Found were the pirate dinner was. Where to find food to eat.  What was in the area.  I picked up allot of Edmonton dirt on my saddled feet.  I even the next day walked to west Edmonton mall. Now that was a long!! Walk, but I did it. I met up with some ladies having dinner there and smart little me got a ride back to the hotel.  Worked out rather well on my part.  I would have walked back if had to but hey who can turn down such a generous offer.

That day my roomie came in.  I was sitting down in the lobby waiting for her and talking with Carli when she came in.  So we sat a little langer and talked then and hour later finally got her up to the room and settled.  As we came back down to the lobby we stopped and talked to a couple of ladies who she met on the plane.  We ended up going to the dinner theatre with them and having a great time.

From there Thursday night was the pirate meal. Easy to get there as I had scooped out the are the day before.  So I drove over there easy easy.   We got there a little late and ended up at a table by ourselves but was soon filled with other ladies to talk to.  No one walked the plank.

Then next day was regidpstration and a trip out on the paddle wheeler.  Very beautiful day and the sun was shining with out a could in the sky.  In fact the weather was great all weekend..  We traveled down the river and turned and came back up River.  The meal was great and we where back in time to get ready for the nights events.  The gala dinner.  Dress casual, fancy or in a costume.  

The next day we headed for the market.  Lots of food a few crafts and bling.  We headed over to the mall in downtown afterwards and started our shopping there.  I found some great tops .  My closet is gonna be fuller when I get home.  Hopped on the bus and got back to hotel with time to check out vendors and then head to room to change for dinner.  Costume night for the two of us.  I was octoberfest and Darlyne was in East Indian outfit.  She looked great.another night of great meal and lots of door prizes and just sitting around and talking.  The dance floor was opened and many shook a leg.  We sat at one of the tables and talked with anyone who happened to stop by for a chat.  Didn't get back to our room until late that night.  Straight to bed as pj breakfast next morning

A few ladies got a kick out of my pjs a few others may have thought otherwise. It don't bother me one way or the other.  I wear what I wear.  It wasn't provocative so like it or lump it.  We had out breakfast and then had our goodbyes.  So sad to say goodbye but all good things have to come to an end.

That afternoon we had a snack/lunch with a couple of ladies. We then went our separate ways and Darlyne was out with her son for the afternoon.  A little time to piddle around.  I went down to the mall for a bit and then it closed on me.  The door where I parked my car was closed and had to wonder a little to get to were my car was.  Did find it thank goodness.  I headed back towards hotel and stopped for a burger.  I could have met some ladies at red lobster but was just too pooped to pop.  So went back to room, might have nodded off for awhile and then started playing on my tablet.

Next morning Darlyne was out of there early.  Miss her already.  We where together most of the time in Edmonton.  Had a great time with her.  

I got up and packed down the rest of my stuff.  Gonna be on the road again. In a little while.  Had a bite to eat and then checked out headed back towards Jasper.  This time though I went down through the park.  Such a glorious place to drive.  The scenery is breathtaking.  My only thing is you are suppose to see wild life.  I did not see any.  I saw two squirrels and a bear on the way to Edmonton but on the way away from Edmonton did not see anything.  Do I scare animals that much.  Everyone else said they saw animals.  What is wrong with me.

I stopped at the ice fields.  But was getting a little late and I had to be at a hotel in Golden.  They said the tour was and hour and half.  Hopefully next time I am through.  Yeah that is the woulda, coulda, shoulda saying.  So I missed out on it.  I guess too many stops along to way just to look.  I did see allot though.  I stopped at saskachewan River and looked in the gift shop for something to snack on.. I found green shoestring licoric.  I just love that stuff.  You can never find it anymore.  I ate the whole bag in one sitting.

Got into golden later then thought. Into my room and sat watching tv for a little while.  Took a dip in the pool and off to bed.  I had an early morning the next day and started driving.  After a great breakfast included with the hotel.  Along highway 1 till I got to sicamus.  There I turned to highway 97 and down through the Okanagan.  I stopped to look at the house boats and a stop at a place called lag barn outside of Armstrong.  Interesting place with all sorts of statues around and delicious food.  I bought a strawberry pie to take home.  The rest of the Okanagan was just driving a looking.  Not too many places to stop and just relax for awhile.  Since I was asked when I was getting home I just headed straight through to home.  The twisty road of highway 3 through the manning park and then back to highway 1.

Got some gas when I was back in Mission and headed up the hill towards home

Thanks all for the great time.  This gusty gal is getting gutsier all the time.  Loved meeting some new friends and meeting up with old friends again.  Until next time.   Remember there is the I coulda done it and there are the I will do it.  Well I am trying hard to be in the I will do it.  But well you know this gutsy gal is trying real hard to do it.  Thanks for listening.  Catcha all when I write again