New Year’s Eve Edmonton-Style

For the past 5 New-Year’s Eves I have been in Southern Alberta. A couple of these were at The Farm, but most of them were in Calgary; usually with various relatives. While I enjoy spending time with my family, I needed a change for this year. This year I celebrated like a true Edmontonian; Edmonton-Style.

Also; I just bought my first camera phone. Because I did not want to carry around my true camera, the photos are lower quality, but not too-too bad for a cell-phone if you ask me.
I had dinner with friends (a good NYE activity), and then headed over to the ‘tute for the big YSA party. There was dancing, ping-pong, and even karaoke.


But the city was calling me. I was able to convince a few hearty folk to join me in celebrating downtown.



There were some bad apples (darn punk kids) on the LRT, but for the most part everyone we saw was friendly, good-natured, and really having a good time. We got downtown just in time to catch Captain Tractor on the main stage. To be honest that in itself would have made the evening worthwhile.



There were great music to bad had everywhere, whether on the square, at CBC centre stage, or in City Hall. I’m not sure there is anywhere else in the world that has a party like this inside City Hall.



Getting closer to midnight everyone (thousands of people) crowded into Churchill Square for the final minutes. I am not usually a fan of big crowds, but this one was amazing. In spite of the cold, all these people gathering together. The air grew warmer with the shear numbers.



And then... 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Happy New Year! The sound was gloriously deafening. And then the fireworks, which last for 13 solid minutes, drew actual “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd. I don’t think I’d ever experienced that before. I think the best word for the fireworks is “resplendent”.



I really love this City.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Screw the GST

Christmas in HP AB

Edmonton set a record today for the most simultaneous blog posts. I forgot about it, but I offer my belated support with two posts today.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. In spite of not gaining any weight (I was sick for much of the last week), I had a great Christmas in good ol’ High Prairie.

When I got there on Saturday, I was greeted by Sisters and their families already there. This is the first I’ve seen Amy since she started showing. She looks happy doesn’t she?


That evening Amy continued to keep us in on the traditional Gingerbread house. It really was most fun for my niece and nephew.



On Sunday I was greeted by the sort of sunrise that you can only get in the far north. The photo doesn’t do it justice.



Also, my parents like to take pictures of their posterity on Sundays. Here we are.





On Monday, it was nice enough to play outside. My nephew helped build a snowman (Although the peanut eye was problematic)


And we all helped build the Quintse, even me; I have proof.



Christmas morning was fun too. Though the kids were excited, probably the most excited face seen that morning was this one. It’s okay Randy; I don’t hold it against you that you are a Flames fan.



And then I got sick and forgot to take pictures. Eventually it was time for me to take that lonesome highway back home. (And I do consider Edmonton as my home now – more on that in the next post). Don’t worry; I did pull over to take this picture.


Coming up Next: New Year’s Eve from my cell-phone.

The world just spins faster than me