Maggie Stuff

I thought Mom would like to know that Maggie has really been enjoying her new toy. We had to do a little surgery the other night.

And this is how we abuse our dog :)

Professional Development Week

So last week I attended PDW in Edmonton, which is a conference for pharmacy students that allows us to hear from a lot of great speakers regarding pharmacy issues. This year the theme was empowering the patient through empowering pharmacists and focused on the changes that we as a profession need to make in the future so that we're seen and appreciated for doing more than pouring pills from a big bottle into a little bottle (the "lick stick and pour" method). Interesting topics included drug-induced nutritional deficiencies, melding comtemporary Chinese medicine with Western medicine and the pharmacists' role in diabetes.

But it wasn't all conferences and learning. We also had a few social nights. Two galas with dinner, a night out at a cowboy bar where the high balls cost only a quarter (!!), and a night at the waterpark in West Edmonton Mall. There was also a hypnotist who was there the first night and I was one of the volunteers he was able to hypnotise!! I'm still trying to track down his name so that I can get a copy of the video. If anyone knows, let me know!

Here are a few pics :)

Sarah


The hypnotist told us we were the most relaxed we'd ever been and that the person next to us was our teddy bear. Seriously, I was hypnotized!!

How could I forget!!?? Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod were our keynotes speakers. For those of you who've always wondered, yes, they are married.

More snowshoeing

On Sunday we went up to Mt. Seymour with Duane and Theresa for a short stroll partly up the mountain. It was too windy to go to the summit, so we played around in the snow for a while instead.
The trees are all covered in snow and ice, it's pretty cool.
Alpine meadows are cool in the winter, you can walk around just about wherever you want. Despite the fact that there are several feet of snow we were able to walk on the crust on the surface.
I like breaking trail.
Duane's snowshoe broke, so we headed toward one of the summits (the lowest of the three).
It was pretty windy, some of the gusts carried clouds of snow around.
The 1st summit (the lowest).
Duane climbing a tree. I don't want to hear any immature comments about the shape.
This is my solo walk with Maggie on Mt. Cypress. We were mostly off trail so it was nice and quiet.
Maggie loved it.
Maggie again.
It's not easy to get her to pose.
It was impossibly beautiful up there. I took loads of pictures.

It was a winter wonderland, the nice thing about winter is that walking is an end in itself, I don't feel the need to summit anything or reach any particular goal.
It was this pretty in all directions.
Sarah had to wreck a tree.
The snowshoes are the best thing to happen to us in the winter... It opens up whole new playgrounds for us.

Rémi

Snowshoeing!

Sarah and I got some snowshoes for Christmas, so we're starting to go out and play in the mountains (weather permitting... and as long as the avalanche risk is low...) I've been twice now, and both times it was pretty cloudy, but dry, so nothing to complain of.

Christmas in Ontario

Ho ho ho! And happy new year!!

Remi and I decided to head home for Christmas this year, for the first time in two years. Remi's gone already *tear* but I'm still here maxing and relaxing in Southampton with my parents. The trip has been great. We started in TO for a couple days, one party, one turkey dinner, presents (!!) and a few gallons of bubbly ;) Then we headed to the cottage (chez Masson) near Parry Sound for a couple of days. It was also great! Very relaxing. We took Megan and Julien's dog Fionn with us and Maggie is also home, so it was a doggy good time. Lots of walks and lots of sleeping ;)

After the cottage, Ann and Alain drove us to Collingwood where we met my parents and headed to Southampton for a few days. Remi left on the 30th to head back to Vancouver. I'm here until the 5th. At my parents' place we had another turkey dinner and more present exchange! Presents to note are Remi's snowshoes, a necklace from Africa from Ann, a webcam from my parents (which was greatly needed), and the Die Hard series. We also have taken quite a few walks to the beach. The other little doggy you see is Kristin's puppy Chloe. She's a sweet little boxer-lab cross and I LOVE HER. I'm actually plotting to steal her ;) I babysat a couple of days ago and there are some pictures there also of my day with Chloe and Maggie.

We hope everyone also did well this Christmas, had lots of family time and a good new year's eve! :)

Here are a few pictures from the trip!

Sarah