2024 - Fires, Flights, and even Fancy

Chez Strauss could tell stories of this past year! Mostly tame ones, with the hosting of multiple guests over the months, the replacement of the upper balcony in a month long saga, and the drama of not one but two (count 'em, TWO) fires in the river valley nearby. Apparently our survival instincts are not so strong as to overwhelm a good sleep, as the first time we were only awoken by the firetruck and crew arriving on the scene.

Calmer and far more welcome were the visits of Alex, Andrew's sister, to complete practicums for her nursing program in hospitals in the city. When not working hard to ensure top marks, Alex proved to be a challenge for Andrew in classic video games (something Mary has yet to accomplish). Her funny stories brightened up the household and she spoiled the cats with extra love.

While guests mostly came to us, we did make it out for some exceptional aurora viewing in the spring as well as a visit to Jasper. Visiting midweek meant beautiful private hikes.

Mary was diagnosed with dermatomyositis and has been trialing different medications to help manage it. Unfortunately sun and heat are triggers, so Mary's new UV safe wardrobe is slowing her transition to complete vampire. Canada Day involved a long wait in the ER until an ultrasound revealed it was time to part ways with an angry appendix. Andrew sent video of the dappled view of the fireworks--scaring the cats--before Mary was wheeled into the ward to await a morning removal. 

BBQ sourdough Hawaiin

While the timing was luckily good professionally for Mary, we had agreed to turn the office into a guest room for a couple weeks starting the day after the surgery! Andrew was incredibly patient and took on all hosting and care duties with the enthusiasm of a chef keen to cook for more people (at least until the heat wave made the oven off limits). Sadly new symptoms flared in July/ August during the heat and smoke and it took a while to tame them, so the scheduled plan to hike the Burgess Shale at Yoho National Park was cancelled (for 2024 anyways). 

Andrew's work conference took him to Las Vegas in late August, contrary to the Geneva Convention. 

Trying to stay safe while many drop safety measures is hard. Fortunately there is a thriving community protecting themselves and their families from COVID and other diseases. Mary was perhaps most saddened by her appendix removal for having to miss some of the private bookings at the nearby outdoor pool. Over the year multiple dress rehearsals were attended at the Winspear (plus one at the Jubilee for the Nutcracker) as well as a Christmas gathering at Fort Edmonton.  

Happily not cancelled was mum and Bob visiting and attending the symphony in the park with us. We were also thrilled to attend a surprise wedding in a friend's backyard.

Mary made it to Montana to visit her uncle who has hopefully beaten cancer a second time. He graciously showed off the beauty of the surrounding area, with golden larches alighting the mountains. Mum and Bob drove across the border again for a happily hospital-free visit with John and Gina.

Visiting loved ones who are not taking precautions has become easier. We took the priviliged step of purchasing a Pluslife to be able to achieve PCR level testing of visitors at home. A small Friendsgiving and then a Taskmaster party (Andrew as the Taskmaster) were safely held unmasked, both full of laughter and absurdity. Andrew received multiple poems to his moustache, only to shave it off shortly afterwards (soup season).

Andrew's folks moved back to Edmonton after a few decades away, and will be joining us for Christmas dinner. We are hoping Mary's mum recovers soon to visit! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Chez McStrauss! May your bellies and Pokedexes be full.

don't listen to the maniacs, they were fed!

Bonus pictures:

balcony views are a real treat!

2023 Reflections

2023 did not start with a bang, but the bonk to the head in December 2022 meant that Mary took some time to recover from her concussion while Andrew started back to (paid) work at his old company. His popularity and hard work were quickly recognized so he interviewed and moved IT teams to the infrastructure side. Due to Canadian regulations he is not a systems engineer like counterparts down south, but Mary is advised there is technical work when the guys aren't sending memes on Teams. 

The new role included some adventures. Andrew shared many romantic moments with his coworkers, including cigars on a sunset cruise on a yacht, watching a sea turtle lay their eggs on the beach, and drinks strolling outside in Miami. While Montana is not the first choice for many tourists, Andrew yet again enjoyed beautiful sunset vistas on a local tour. Andrew promises Mary that Russ is too short to be his type and not to worry.

The Alberta summer was defined by the wildfires and their smoke. According to Climate Justice Edmonton, the smoke even had the rude timing to impact weekends moreso than weekdays. We luckily had built air filters for COVID safety and acquired another quiet computer fan Corsi to help with the smoke. Mary has built a portable filter for her work trips that also came in handy for a friend's bachelorette getaway for laughs and relaxing soaks in the mountains. 

The one Jasper camping trip starting with a smoky drive, but weather reports showed decent air in the mountains. It was very hot for June and time was spent splashing in the river cooling off and skipping river rocks. Alas the fires became worse, displacing many in a scary time. A smaller impact for us vacationers was the closing of the Yellowhead highway, so the drive back took the longer scenic route through the Icefields Parkway. 

The spare bedroom/ office was great for hosting. We welcomed friends from the Maritimes who needed a safe place to crash. It was lovely to host and get time with them, for all it felt short and flew by. They graciously spoiled the cats as sitters when we drove to Saskatchewan to visit Andrew's family.

We had a wonderful summer road trip to see family in Saskatchewan. Mary joined for her first tours in the Moose Jaw tunnels. The cool underground was a welcome reprieve from the heat wave, with an educational bonus. Many long overdue hugs were had. 

Andrew's niece Holly returned with us to Edmonton. There was some swimming (but not enough!), walks for ice cream, fires for roasting, and some Sailor Moon for goofy fun. Raspberries were picked and jammed as has become tradition. Unfortunately some jam went into the wrong bag for Holly's first plane flight home, but Andrew swiftly shipped more out for summer sweetness.

The summer was full from hosting, traveling, to wedding season (and even a little lawn bowling). Andrew's sister stayed in the fall for lab work for courses and we hope to see her again soon.

Mary unfortunately had a second September autoimmune manifestation. It is hopefully not heat triggered, though a weekend biking around the city for ice cream, farmer's markets, and the Fancy Ladies Bike ride preceded it. Andrew's culinary inclination and patient humour was a loving match for Mary's inability to operate. There is no diagnosis yet (but it's not lupus!), but care is progressing and the health care system experience has been very different from what those in overwhelmed ER's might see. The rheumatologist does not have an exact answer (autoimmune and maybe something connective tissue?), but did provide meds in case of another flare and a referral to the next specialist in the diagnosis process. Having the answer to "Why is Mary tired all the time?" is a relief. 

Friendsgiving

Thanks to a friend, we re-downloaded Pokemon Go. It has prompted many walks together around the neighborhood and served as relaxing gentle exercise. Mary regularly takes lunch walks with friend who work/ live in Oliver, so hopes to pull ahead of Andrew soon. Marches and protests also double as excellent Pokemon time!

Andrew continues to work hard on the townhouse. Hopefully 2024 will bring more of the 'fun work' with smaller projects more focused on aesthetics and comfort. Now that cats are recognized as the ecoterrorists that they are, Mary and Andrew could not let them roam outside to the river valley to murder birds (or be eaten by coyotes). Andrew constructed a catio on the upper balcony for them to enjoy some sunshine and chitter at birds. With the warm start to winter they still go out daily (though admittedly not always for very long).

Bübi had a chipped canine addressed and we got to experience the joy of a dosed toddler uncoordinatedly moving through the house before going the appointment. Unfortunately, he caught an infection and after was in daily for hydration and care. It worsened and our vet had us take him to the animal hospital for around the clock support. While a scary time, we found joy and laughter from his shaved tummy and drunken hunts for treats in a cone. The hospital stay did the trick and while his kidneys took a little damage, for now he is back to being an energetic goof asking for play and pats.

Esme and Andrew have been very sweet while Mary and Bübi keep having health adventures. They are always quick to offer cuddles or conversation.

Happy Holidays! We hope to see more folks in the New Year. 

Bonus views:

Smoke!

2022 Highlights - Pandemic in Style

Staying home has become more luxurious in some big ways! This year had no exotic getaways, but some big changes. (And Andrew did try downhill skiing for the first time in Fairmont in January.) 

 

In the spring we welcomed Inigo (Bubi, lil man, punk, etc.). Andrew taking a break from waged work was a big boon as kittens have lots of energy! Unfortunately our little tiger has had ongoing health issues, so both of us being home has been helpful.

 

Mary was thrilled to be recruited to a new role in May. She has been enjoying her team at the non-profit and grateful to be working for a decent cause. The switch gave time for a road trip to Kelowna. We hiked in snow to a waterfall, sipped wine overlooking the lake, and hiked some more on a perfect day full of wildflowers in bloom.

vegan calamari - A+

mandatory vacation mini golf

A friend catsat while we were away, but we realized that it would be nice to have a furry friend for Bubi. After a failed foster trial (aggressive, but cute) we successfully welcomed Esme (Esmerelda Weatherwax). She is an excellent companion--loving to cuddle, play, and scream when not given enough attention or food.

 

still learning to share spaces

Summer weekends were busy! We were fortunate that our Jasper camping trip coincided with friends and their kids exploring the park. We shared giggles over the fire and enjoyed a short hike with their family. A fun river float down the Bow and good company reminded us Calgary is alright sometimes. 

 

However, the love of the Oliver neighbourhood is real. When an adjacent town home went up for sale we had to look. Mary fell in love with the river valley views and Andrew fell into labour, becoming a full time renovator extraordinaire, gutting/rebuilding the kitchen and so much more.

Summer excursions included bike rides around the city to get scoops of the best vegan ice cream. It felt appropriate to toast the new home with cones! The balcony views are a treat all on their own.

Mary has maintained her most time-invested hobby: physiotherapy. Receiving, not providing. Injuries of note: a bike lane spinout, a cross-country ski concussion and whiplash, and various inexplicable bruises. Fortunately a new, low(er) impact sport has been identified:

Lawn bowling!

Fun for the whole family

 

The club is located at the Alberta Legislature Grounds, a perfect short weekend stroll away. We've introduced a handful of friends to the sport and are always happy to host the curious. Debate Alumni sweated through a hot summer introduction on the green and will hopefully be lured back (this time with freezies and more cooled drinks).

 

                                               

 

 

 

Andrew is returning to work in the new year at his old company. This luckily means mostly WFH. For now, we have many leftovers to eat and naps to catch up on. Mary's concussion ensures lots of rest and quiet time for this cozy holiday season. It was a simpler Christmas than planned, but ended up perfect with the good company (including a friend who joined for dinner).

 

 

Meowy Christmas!

 

 

Best wishes for a fabulous New Year! We look forward to seeing everyone as the days bring more sunshine.

 

 

2021 Highlights

 Another year in the pandemic has meant another year of wilderness adventures. We have been very lucky to be WFH for the majority of the pandemic, so scheduling trips outside has been important for sanity and to touch grass.

Mum and Bob were able to come join us for one of our trips to Jasper. The Wilcox Pass trail still had snow and we were able to cool off from the heat with snowballs and some butt-bogganing down the heights just hiked.

Before realizing sliding down was more fun

First camping trip to Banff was during a smoky heat wave.
Fortunately there are some good spots to dip into the water and cool off!

Campfire popcorn experiment - success!

The heat waves this summer were intense, especially in a shared office without AC. We booked a few nights in a hotel at the end of June to sleep comfortably. Mary was thrilled that the hotel had a pool and enjoyed getting some private swimming in as she hasn't renewed her gym membership for pool access for safety.

Mary has continued to volunteer at Prairie Urban Farm in the season. It provides good exercise and sunshine as well as delicious fresh produce. The Food Bank has been the winter volunteering location of choice the past couple of years.

Jasper flowers at Edith Cavell meadows

Our big trip this year was to Vancouver and Haida Gwaii. Andrew had not been to Vancouver since he was little, so Mary played tour guide. The mobi bikes (rentals around the city) worked well so all travel was on foot, bike, or transit in true Vancouver style. Cycling around Stanley Park after visiting the aquarium (otter time is always cute) worked up appetites for tasty vegan restaurant fare. Visiting the archeological museum at UBC was a good introduction for some of the history and culture of Haida Gwaii. There were also many sci-fi filming locations nostalgically appreciated!

We took a 4 day tour with Moresby Explorers that we would not hesitate to recommend to anyone who is comfortable with the occasional pee in (very beautiful) forests. Our tour took us to watchmen sites that brought ancient and modern stories to light on the ever changing archipelago. We saw bioluminescent plankton in quiet water reflecting the stars, had an impromptu mycology tour and successful hunt, saw the artwork of totems returning to the earth, and laughed often over excellent meals.

View from our rustic stay at Rose Harbour

Few poles remain standing - these are a
protected UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hot springs island was an important addition after
short wood fire heated showers at Rose Harbour

Urchin and a new poet friend who shared their art in performances by the fire (small world - we share a friend)

In October we moved a whole block. There have been many beautiful sunsets enjoyed and the double balconies will be welcome for summer hosting. While it has been nice to be able to work in different rooms with the extra space, Andrew gave his notice and will be taking some time off to start the New Year. Mary is looking forward to being fed many tasty meals. Andrew has mastered aquafaba meringues and mousse just in time for the holidays.

Merry Christmas! We hope your holidays are safe and cozy and look forward to seeing more people in a less crazy time.

Attenbro's Galapagos

 There are only so many photos one should take or share from vacation... Fortunately we were joined on our adventure by a local expert to reflect upon the scenery. 

Galapagos is known for the odd birds that make the islands their homes. Penguins and frigates abound, but it is the boobies that adorn t-shirts and amass in numbers. 

We also encountered a variety of reptiles happy to sun themselves in the warmth of the equator. They are a ways removed from their mainland kin, snorting salt and swimming or climbing trees for flowers.

While the birds may thrive, it comes with a cost.

These islands are often associated with Darwin's expedition. It has been a long time since adventurers braved volcano heat and extended voyages with minimal fresh water. 

Our predictions for the rest of the year were a bit off. I think this poor fella's training may have to continue for an event in 2021 (2024)?

The Galapagos is highly rated as a destination for elderly couples. They come to the mangroves from around the world. The majesty and beauty of nature. We sailed on the appropriately named 'Beagle' and took pangas to excursions.

While the equator gives lots of sun, ocean currents from the deep ensure that the water is very cold. We still went in for snorkeling at least once a day and often twice. Thank goodness for the buoyancy of salt water and suits to make it easy to swim alongside various critters.

There were sharks, rainbow fish, eels, and corrals. Occasionally playful sea lions would take a break from nap time to cool off in the water as well. The sea turtles were absolutely gorgeous show stoppers every time.

Our last full day on the islands brought excellent luck - a giant dolphin pod! The bell rang on deck and everyone rushed to get into swim suits and onto pangas. Sunscreen was too slow, there were dolphins to see! We'd been fortunate to see a dolphin pod on an earlier day, but we'd been returning from and island so merely motored alongside. This time, we got to swim near as well. We'd drop out, the dolphins would overtake, then we'd get back in the pangas to motor ahead and jump in the water once more. Mary was incredibly fortunate and ended up going a slightly different direction than most. She was on top of multiple mums and babies and estimated 3-4 dozen pass by while she was in the water.

It's hard to be as graceful with fake flippers.

Gratuitous there were lots of photo dump now:

The Beagle's tourists + guide

The Beagle itself