Seanna Collins's blog

Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap!

Yesterday, Shane and I had a wonderful day golfing in the 2009 Sun Safe Golf Challenge at the Sturgeon Golf and Country Club. What a terrific tournament, a beautiful day, a gorgeous course and it was nice to see so many familiar faces. Congrats to Dr. Barry Lycka, Lyle Best of Quickcard and all their staff and volunteers for such a great day ... and for inviting us. Both Shane and I struggled on the course but it wasn't about our score, it was about having fun and spreading the word about skin cancer. A special thanks to all the businesses who joined 104.9 EZ ROCK by sponsoring a hole. If you were there thanks for supporting this very important cause.

For .. I mean .. Four .. I mean ... Fore!

It's that time of the year - golf tournaments galore .. and that's fine with me. Shane and I are participating in one tomorrow for the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation at Sturgeon Golf and Country Club. I've never played the course before so I'm excited and of course to support a great cause. Shane is also in the Realty Executive Golf Tournament Friday supporting the Edmonton Food Bank (www.EdmontonFoodBank.com or 780.231.9401) and also Friday, EZ ROCK supports the Employabilities Golf Tournament at the Links in Spruce Grove. (www.employabilities.ab.ca/golf) ... and I just got word of another tournament that needs your support. Its the Give the Gift of Life Golf Classic in support of organ and tissue donation awareness with the Kidney Foundation of Canada. It sounds like a greta day - breakfast, 18 holes, cart, banquet, hole events and gifts/prizes. If you can swing Monday off, go to www.kidney.ab.ca or call 451-6900 and register. If you support a certain charity, they could be having a tournament this summer and even if you're just a beginner, the Texas scramble format is perfect. Big Brothers Big Sisters is also having a tournament this August at Cougar Creek. There are so many ... hope to see you at one soon.

Jasper welcomes your pets!

It was a very busy weekend ... woke up bright and early Saturday morning to go to recycling sales. OK, some people call them yard sales, garage sales and even junk sales but to me, it's a way to recycle other people's treasures. Wedgewood Heights held their annual community garage sale event and advertised over 100 homes having sales. I was in heaven! Got some great deals on stuff I don't really need but .... I get caught up at these things. How can you not? Traffic was a nightmare in Wedgewood so thanks to the community for doing this every year - it turns the quiet streets into a parking lot. By the time we got home it was time to head over to my Sister-in-Laws to see her new motorhome - a palace on wheels! WOW - impressive.

Sunday I went to a wedding shower - you know your getting old when your friends kids are getting married - Little Kim gets hitched in a month. It was a wonderful gathering - lots of great nibbles, Sangria's and fun. In fact, we had a riot with an Iron Chef type competition. We broke up into groups of four and had to create something using cream cheese. Kim had to taste and judge each item .. my team didn't win although I thought our dip was pretty good. I must admit, the winning stuffed mushroom caps were pretty tasty as well. Seeing all the fantastic gifts makes me want to get married again!

A Room with a spectacular VIEW!

There are so many wonderful places to stay once you get to Jasper even if you're on a tight budget.  There are motels, hotels, B&B's, campgrounds, lodges, resorts, chalets and cabins that will take care of all your needs.  In fact, there are over 100 places to stay including private accomodations. I've stayed at a number of places that have all been excellent, very welcoming and very memorable. One of my favorite places to stay though is the Jasper Park Lodge. After returning to Edmonton back in 1987, I needed to getaway for a weekend, so my husband and I spoiled ourselves and stayed at the JPL for the first time.  It was over the holidays adn I'll always remember that weekend.  Driving into the grounds for the first time - the Christmas lights, the decorations in the Main Lodge, swimming outside enjoying the fabulous view of the snow covered mountains - it's a picture I'll never forget. So every year since, we have made our way to the Lodge at least once a year for some R&R and some very special treatment.  In a word, majestic! Everything is first class - staff is wonderful , courteous, professional, and takes care of your needs instantly. I guess when you work in paradise it's not to hard to be happy.

Is it really named after George Clooney's Aunt?

My Salute to Jasper continues today with the story of Rosemary's Rock which we passed on our way from Maligne Lake back to the townsite. This stately stone sits in the rushing water of Maligne River which joins Maligne Lake to eventually the Athabasca River. Our tour guide Dieter told his version of how the rock got it's name. I sure hope I remember it correctly. The rock, in my opinion, should have been called Marilyn's Rock as the story has it that Marilyn Monroe climbed on top of the rock when she was in Jasper back in the early 50's filming the movie "River of No Return". As she attempted to jump off, she twisted her ankle and that was basically the start of her addiction to pain killers. I can't recall if Marilyn jumping off the rock was part of the movie or a little something she did on her own time. But regardless of Marilyn's claim to fame with it, it's called Rosemary's Rock ... because jazz singer Rosemary Clooney also made a trip to Jasper and climbed the rock ... so it was named after her. If you know it differently, please let me know. Of course Rosemary is George Clooney's aunt.

We're going up there .. on THAT?

On my blog yesterday I talked about my first visit to Maligne Lake in Jasper. If you've never been, put it on your bucket list. We did a tour which took us to the Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake in the morning and after lunch it was off to the Jasper Tramway for the afternoon atop Whistler's Mountain. I have to admit, I was a little nervous as I'm not great with heights but once we took off and climbed higher and higher, my fear was replaced with being in awe over the views. In order to really appreciate the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, I highly recommend a ride on the Jasper Tramway. It takes only about seven minutes to get to whisk you up to 2277 metres above Sea level! It's Canada's longest and highest guided aerial tramway tour which overlooks six mountain ranges, incredible views include Mt Robson, (highest peak in the Canadian Rockies), glacier lakes, Athabasca and Miette rivers and Jasper townsite.

Maligne Lake ... heaven in Alberta!

I was treated to a wonderful day trip on my last journey to Jasper. There are many tour companies that will take you to any of the Jasper landmarks and the guides are very knowledgable. Dieter was our tour guide from the Jasper Adventure Centre ... he took great care of us and had some very interesting stories.

Our morning started at Maligne Canyon - it's one of the most amazing canyons in the Canadian Rockies, with sheer limestone cliffs that plunge to depths of over 50 metres. You can hike across six bridges and have a picnic if you want as well. I'm told that in July and August, the parking lot is packed so arrive early. In the winter, you can take a guided Canyon Tour across the floor of the frozen canyon.

JASPER - a piece of PARADISE!

I hope you had a great weekend - luckily we didn't get the snow that Calgary got .. well, the moisture would have been good I suppose.  I spent the weekend in Jasper - we didn't get any snow at all. I never know how badly I need a getaway until I escape the city.  When was the last time you took a trip to Jasper? Maybe it was back in the winter to do some skiing, last summer to do some hiking or maybe you just drove through Jasper on your way to BC.  My husband and I try to go at least three or four times a year. When I tell friends we are going for the weekend, I always get the "just for the weekend - isn't that a long way to drive for a weekend" comment.  I used to think that way as well especially after growing up in Calgary where a trip to the mountains took less than an hour. But our thoughts changed a few tears ago when we realized that even a weekend getaway to the mountains was so relaxing and so therapeutic. Even the almost four hour drive seems like it flies by now - we discuss issues that we need to, plan our weekend, plan our future. We use the time to have a conversation which can be rare at times as we are both so busy.

Another busy weekend in Edmonton!

Just looking over all the things taking place this weekend - let's just hope the weather cooperates. Tomorrow Cheryl is heading off the the Crystal Kids 10th Annual Car and Bike Show and Shine - Street Dance and BBQ fundraising event from NOON to 11PM at the Sherbrooke Community Hall. This will be great family event. She mentioned heading downtown for the Downtown Farmers Market as well - it goes every Saturday rain or shone on 104th Street just north of Jasper from 9AM-3PM.

Also tomorrow, it's the Freedom Run for the Alberta Diabetes Foundation is tomorrow at Broadmoor Lake Park in Sherwood Park and the 2009 Spring Sprint for the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada is tomorrow at Hawrelak Park - rain or shine.

It's easy ... 1-888-2-DONATE!

We had a few laughs this morning on Shane's behalf ... he pulled the short straw to have his blood type tested to see if his blood type matched his personality. It turns out he's A+ and his type of blood only matched his personality a touch ... that according to me and Cheryl anyway. See Cheryl's blog for full descriptions of blood types and personalities. The big summer push is on to donate blood ... with so many people getting ready to take holidays, the stock-piling needs to be done now so if you can donate, please do - it's easy.

Approximately every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. In fact, according to a recent poll, 52 per cent of Canadians say they, or a family member, have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment.