Remind me never to rollerblade past 6 pm.  Apparently, this is when all the seniors decide to take walks and fill up the paths with their scooters, walkers and the like.  My bad.  I forgot all seniors go for walks after 6 pm just before they go to bed at 8.

So today I decided to break out my new rollerblades and head to the trails in the River Valley.  (Note:  I would have written 'river bottom' but I have been consistently teased by fellow Edmontonians who don't understand that we called our river valley the river bottom in Lethbridge.)  Not even half an hour into my journey I was already huffing and puffing and ready to pass out.  I tried to rationalize that it was the heat, allergies and that I was dehydrated but really, who am I kidding.  I haven't had any kind of cardiovascular exercise in months.  I took a few breathers and managed to continue for an hour or so, watching the older folks in their 50's who are in much better shape than I pass me on their bikes.  The trails are endless!  I knew about the trails that ran by Kinsmen and Victoria Park but I didn't know they continue further west from there.  I'm going to have to go out tomorrow again and see how far they go.  Hats off to my friends Jodie and Tyson who are both doing biking/running marathons this summer.  I could learn something from you. 

Despite an amazing comeback to force a seventh game the Oilers' Stanley Cup drive came to a disappointing end last night.  The tone of game seven was set from the beginning of the first period with Carolina winning the face-off and outplaying the Oilers to score less than two minutes in regulation time.  The Oilers looked lethargic from the beginning.  This was cemented in the second period by a second goal by Kaberle for Carolina.  The Oilers couldn't seem to get anything going performing terribly on powerplays including blowing a five on three in the second period that was shut out by Carolina's tremendous penalty-killing unit.  Edmonton blew a lot of great chances by passing the puck around instead of taking the shot when the opportunity arose.  Evidently, Carolina was the better team but we can take solace knowing that the key players for Carolina including Eric Staal and Cam Ward are Canadian boys.  As for the Oilers?  Noone thought they'd make it this far.  From 8th seeded these playoffs to a seventh game in the Stanley Cup finals they were constantly the underdog.  We're still proud of you boys.  Hats off to Markkanen for admirably stepping in for Roloson after his injury in game one.  Also, congrats to Cam Ward for winning the Conn Smythe trophy.  You're the first rookie goalie to win the trophy since Ron Hextall in 1987!

My apologies to those who wanted to attend my concert but I never told them about it.  I grew less and less enthused about it as it was approaching, only because I was expecting a poor turnout.  Of course, this isn't an excuse for me not posting information about my recital because that wouldn't make any sense, I'd only be exacerbating the situation further by failing to let people know about it.  It was a good recital but certainly not the best I've had.  I will have more in the fall when peoples' schedules are a little more open for that sort of thing.  My Masters graduation recital is next year so I will be pulling all sorts of limbs of people to attend.  It will be a show you won't want to miss!

 

My sister convocated from medical school on friday.  I am extremely proud of her.  Not just for her accomplishment but for all the hard work she put into it.  Not only was she able to focus and study when she needed to, she managed to balance her life so she could have fun and socialize as well:  a balance I have yet to achieve with my own career.  I'm extremely masochistic sometimes; I think I enjoy being unbalanced.  (Note:  unbalanced according to my work ethic/ play time, not psychologically.  Any psychological imbalances are entirely unintentional ).  I'm a great procrastinator and as deadlines approach, I scramble and put in 30 hours of work over two days or something.  This habit has got to stop.

 

My parents left today (they were visiting all week-end) and I think I'm going to go for a walk so I don't feel as gross as I do right now.  I just came back from a huge brunch with my parents at the Delta hotel on Calgary Trail.  (Another note:  this is the KING of all brunches.. it's huge!).  Time to go exercise.

 

Ciao.

So last Monday I helped my sister and bro-in-law move out of their condo in south Edmonton.  My sister begins her residency in London Ontario at Western for the next five years or so and they took possession of their house in London on June 2 and had to vacate their condo June 1.  Mike rented the largest U-Haul I had ever seen (they have lots of stuff) and left on Wednesday for the long drive.  The beneficial aspect of this move was the fact that Andrea and Mike didn't want to take their BBQ with them and offered it to me for $40.  Sold!!  I am now the proud owner of a BBQ on my patio and have already made good use of it.  Those of you who visit will be treated to the many grilled delicacies that can be created on this glorious contraption.  Man loves fire, especially when man can control fire and cook using said fire.  MMMMMMmmmm.