Kearl Oil Sands Project

I am now working in Northern Alberta 1 1/2 hours north of Fort MacMurray. Being awqay from home sucks! But I will do what I have to do until I find something that will bring me home.

Below are some shots of some of the large equipment where I work.

6, SIX, VI

On February 18th, my little Katie turned six years old! I am not sure if all parents feel the way I do, but over the last little while the reality that my kids are growing up (and growing up fast) has really set in.

Six years ago, we were in the hospital holding a precious little baby and I was feeling the emotions of a father holding his first brand new baby! It is a feeling I will never ever forget as long as I live!!

Yet all of a sudden we have moved, had another child, changed careers. When did it all happen. How does time pass by so fast?

John Lennon said"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Now my little Katie is growning and getting smarter by the second. She lives a life of innocence, yet she is maturing a little more every day. I wish she could stay young forever, oh well I guess we all grow up.

This is why we need to spend as much time as we can with our children, because before you know it, they will be grown up, the innocence will disappear, and all that you will have is memories.

I love you Katie!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

This is me and my wonderful wife. The first picture is of us in May 2002. This picture was taken a couple months after we started dating. Our lives haven't always been perfect, but I still love my wife today just as much, if not more, as I ever have. She is a wonderful partner and I think we complement each others strengths and weaknesses well and that is what makes us such a great pair. I love having Shelly in my life and thank God that I have her and that we are together, happy, healthy and that we are blessed with four wonderful children.

Just for today, I am thankful for what I have right now and do not want anything more or less in my life. I am exactly where I am suppose to be, and Grateful and Thankful for the path God has chosen for me!

The Pancake Thief

After Breakfast one morning, we had all ate way too much and thought we would just be lazy and watch TV for a bit before we cleaned up the breakfast dishes. We put in a movie and were enjoying the show, when.....

The Pancake Thief showed up!!!!!!

A pancake thief has terrible problems......

You cannot make her stop.

She will go to any lengths to get what she wants.

And no matter what you say to her, she just laughs it off and continues on her way!!

The Interview Trip

Well I haven't been around for a while, just been busy with stuff.

This past Tuesday, I flew up to Fort McMurray. I left Birch Hills at 8:00 am went for breakfast with my buddy Chris Downie in S'toon. My plane was late leaving S'toon and there was a time change, so i got into Fort MC at 3:00pm. I had to wait at the airport until 5:40 before my ride showed up to take me to the camp I was destine for. When the bus was leaving the city of Fort McMurray I was in dumbfounded by the stream of traffic that was arriving back into the city. All these vehicles were of course the vehicles returning back to Fort Mc from the Tar Sand projects North of the city. It is a double lane highway and the traffic was non stop in both lanes for probably about 20-30 km and every third vehicle was a bus of some sort. If it wasn't a greyhound type bus then it was a school bus or a short bus. It was a 2 1/2 hr drive to the camp which is located North East of Fort McKay. I was pooped by the end of the day.

When I arrived at the Wapasu camp I was in aaawwwww!!!! The Wapasu Lodge is an approx. 5000 man camp. That is like the population of Melfort, Saskatchewan in one camp.

Above is a camp similar to Wapasu. Wapasu is larger than the camp above. Below are two pictures I took quickly before I left. I wish I would have walked around the camp more and took other photos.

I had my interview on Wednesday. I feel it went rather well. The potential schedule is not a schedule that I desire (15/6), but it may have to do for the interim.

Anyways, the ride back from the Wapasu lodge was interesting as well, as the way up was after dark so there wasn't a whole lot to see. we drove past a couple other projects that are underway and the highway goes right past Syncrude. Very cool to see, are in the photo reminds me of the up grader in Lloydminster, but about 5 times the size.

So, I got back to Fort McMurray airport right on schedule, one hour before take off. I took my bag to the luggage check in and sat down for a quick coffee before the flight. I was barely done my coffee when the first call for security check-in was called. I went through security ( I am gonna by special clothes for flying that do not require a belt or have any metal on them!) and got seated in the WestJet boarding area. I no sooner got seated, when I heard over the PA system a boarding call for a Transwest Flight that was bound for Saskatoon then Prince Albert. Have you ever been so mad your sure you can taste blood? Well I was, cause my flight went to Edmonton, then to Calgary, then to Saskatoon, and from there I had to drive home to Birch Hills. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Oh well that will teach me to look around more and try and plan my trips better. Well that's it for the interview trip. Stay tuned for the upcoming sequel.

Super de Duper Bowl

Go Steelers Go!

And for those of you who will be cheering for the opposition ...... Well my little friend from Pittsburgh is relaying the message!

Innocence

Some days I wish everything could be butterflies and rainbows! However this is not the case! Life hands over all kinds of ups, downs, and arounds. I watch my kids get up every morning and live life day after day with very little worries, or cares. They don't yet realize what is in store for them in regards to relationships, finances, death, careers, and all the other troubles that arise while growing up. But on the flip side to that coin, their little minds are not as spoiled and influenced by media, peers, or, society.

It's a shame that our minds have become so warped, and we have trouble seeing past all these other influences. When I spend time with my kids, I need to get back to being at their level. This will make the time spent together more valuable, not only to the little hearts that will be excited that daddy is playing with them, but also daddy will have a break from his worries in life and will strengthen the bond between him and his kids!

Just for today I want to be a kid again and not have the worries I have now!