A different kind of Christmas...

This year my family celebrated Christmas a little differently than we usually do. For one, we weren't together. That was my fault. I had to stay behind this year to work. Don't worry, I had SOME fun. The rest of the family flew down to Costa Rica for another Christmas in the sun and the first one at our new place down south. Anyway, my story first.

I did manage to get down to the 5th Annual Robley Hockey Tournament in Nanton on the 22nd. Always a good time. Sunday I was back in the office, Monday too, but then I was able to pick grandma Tenove up from the bus station in downtown Calgary and head out to my aunt Sandy's for Christmas Eve and Day...and finally leave work behind...almost. I had a couple of sick wells that kept me busy through the whole holiday. I was on the phone for hours almost every day. And even though it kind of wrecks your free time, it was pretty exciting to be involved in that and actually be able to contribute to the process. Anyway, Christmas day with my grandma, aunt, uncle, and cousins was very nice.

Early early Boxing Day I reset my CRV's trip odometer and got on the road to my favorite place that is basically in Saskatchewan...Paradise Valley. Had dinner with the Laird family that night (the WHOLE family). I did not too bad trying to remember about 40 names. Got to drive a skidoo for the first time too. Hockey in town the next morning, a couple dinners to fill me up again, and I was on the road back to Edmonton on the evening of the 27th. Had to catch a plane to Grande Prairie that night for the pre-spud meeting (a drilling rig start up safety meeting). Luckily it was only one day so after rocking my well presentation and leading the crews through a team building game I flew back to Edmonton. Grandma was already home so I spent the evening visiting with her. Saturday morning...well...on the road AGAIN. Drove down to Nanton for a family dinner with the Hornecker side. Weird to have dinner at my parents place with none of my immediate family around. Great food, some quick Xbox, and then back up to Calgary to take Reece to a Flames game.

Geez...where am I now? Ah, Sunday Dec 30. Matt and Jacob came down to Calgary to pick me up but we ended up taking my vehicle to have the extra room. Out to Golden we went. Met up with Brendan, Luke, and Ang and snowboarded the 31st. Hill was okay but a bit skiied out. Didn't matter, a few beers that night and the pain would be gone. Warren and his crew were in town too so we all met up at the Roadhouse downtown to celebrate the new year. Some people didn't quite make it to midnight (not alcohol related) and some people only stuck around for another 5 minutes after we cheered in the new year (probably alcohol related). I pulled some energy out of somewhere but managed to stick around until the very end. Only problem was I didn't have an easy way to get back to my motel so I spent the night on a friends floor. Pretty comfortable but apparently I got stepped on quite a few times during the night. Meh...didn't wake me up. Tuesday was a relax/recovery day before driving back home. Just as we came into town my vehicle passed the 2000km mark since Boxing Day. Yup, quality time in the Honda. That's pretty much the end. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

My brothers, being my brothers, had to out do me for distance covered during the holidays. Two days ago they were supposed to fly from Costa Rica to Miami, Florida, switch planes and continue to Calgary. Somehow that second flight got cancelled and the airline was scrambling to find another way home. The solution was to fly to Denver Friday night and then on Sunday, fly to Seattle, then to Vancouver, then home. Somehow UA managed to screw that one up too. Friday night I got another call. Jeff and the bros (and Gill) were still in good spirits but now they were being routed through Dallas, back up to Vancouver, and had to stay in Vancouver Saturday night. What a gong show. They should finally be back in Calgary in a couple of hours. I hope they get some free airline tickets or something for losing a whole weekend. I'm sure Jeff'll tell the story in more detail on Facebook or something.

I need some breakfast...and coffee. Here's to a Great 0-8!