Map of World - Click a place Brad's been

November 2015 - Illuminati Wedding, Mystery Package, New Car and Intro to Winter

November was a month a little more off the beaten path during my times in Calgary.  Went to a high end wedding at a secret club, received a mystery package from NZ, spontaneously bought a car and gave a skiing lesson to an ESLer as she began to experience Calgary Winter.

ADIT Team on a site visit.  The comparison has been made!

Kevin and Tiffany's Wedding and "Illuminati" Reception at the Calgary Golf and Country Club (the oldest private golf club in Calgary).  Hidden right next to the Elbow River, which I have rafted by many times, I was beside myself to see the size of land it occupies when we arrived.  At the entrance to the club they asked us to leave our cell phones outside.  What secrecy...

A beautiful night, great four course meal with delicious wine and champagne.  Congrats Kevin and Tiffany and thank you for the invite.

Mr. and Ms. Kevin S

Nice ride away from the church


Dad dancing with the Bride

A few good men

































Long forgotten Stuff in NZ.  A mystery to me as I had forgotten what still remained in NZ arrived at my house after sitting in the storage of a Canadian friend's house in Auckland for 4 years.  Thank you some much Curtis and Kaylene for storing it and bringing it up to Canada in piece meal over the years.

Two  bags full sir

This was the light one

Dive stuff, clothes, a Hammock! etc.





















For a date night I thought I would Buy a Car, then go for dinner and some Blues!

Turned on my computer at work in the morning, saw this beautiful RSX Type S with low km "supposedly" in mint condition and I was hooked.  That night four of us (3 engineers and a date) went to check it out in the dark. I bought it.  To be fair I had been looking for a few months at cars just not this type and this sporty, but I figured it was a good deal so I jumped on it putting my faith in the Older English Chef owner.

After the purchase we trimmed two people out of the group and headed to "the Coupe" a vegetarian restaurant with the most expensive "specialty of the night" drinks (never order a mixed drink with brandy as one of the ingredients).  Oh and be sure to ask the price, or at least look it up even if it is a date!  $13 for this pink drink in the photos.

2002 RSX Type S, 200 hp, heated leather seats, bose stereo,
fog lights, winter and summer tires on rims, etc.

Veggie wok

A lentil curry, rice and salad


Legendary Gammy Winning Canadian Don Ray Johnson at Mikey's Juke Joint (Best Blues Bar in Calgary).



Young grasshopper, before you can master the slopes of the ski fields you must first master the slopes of the drive way... and the flat ice of the community skating rink...

Wax on

Wax off

When do I get to go skiing?

Fly on the ice young grass hopper

"Isn't it kind of cold to be
skateboarding?"



Finally at the end of the month as the ski hills began to open we ventured out to Norquay Mountain and a night at Hidden Ridge Resort (and their hot pools).

Early enough in the morning 7 ish am
to catch a full moon

Strong blowing winds were no match for the RSX



One of the only mountains open during the week this early
in the season had only a few runs open which was perfect 
for beginner and someone who had not skied in years.

Good stretch albondiga

The calm before the storm atop the only chair lift open
Jessy on the bunny hill (can't remember what they call it these days).

What, Make a pizza???


Taking the magic carpet back up the beginner slope and a little play-by-play on the skiing classes.

Side Story - Unable to turn right at the top of the mountain Jessy headed straight down sitting on the back of her skies too scared to adhere to the advice of everyone on the hill "Fall on your side!".  Like a bullet she made it to the bottom in seconds, me trailing the whole way unable to catch up and wipe her out before she killed herself and someone else.  Whoa.

So you're saying you want to go
back to the Magic Carpet hill.


A little showing of my skills for those who weren't sure I could handle more than the magic carpet.

My work here is done



Great spot on Tunnel Mountain rd.

Gimme some more of that good Full Moon stuff

Hot pools

Frozen hair

Perfect location

Beautiful room and fire place

Awwww











































Other Stuff


You're adit on my mind.  Not a lot of points though.

Stuffed potatoes and stir fry

What the hell?

It blows me away that I can pack a motorbike for 6 months
on the road yet struggle to pack a car for one night!

Just a marshmellow

Wow!

At Julio Barrio get this dessert!!!

smoked salmon salad rolls

Man, is this a sign the world is running out of food or
poor management at Superstore???

Anniversary tree



October 2015 - The Trap, Snakes and Spiders, Flames and Halloween with a Stag

October 2015 a fun month.  An Intro to the Trap and Gill, tour of Telus Spark Science Centre, Oilers vs Flames Hockey game, Pumpkin Carving, and 2 Halloween Nights including a Stag/Bachelor Party with the Dukes of Hazard.

German Zombie and a Lovely Witch

The Atlantic Trap and Gill - a quick shout out to my local pub within stumbling distance to the house.  Having changed owners and names 4 times in 10 years I think we have a winner now as a long standing pub moved locations to this the Studio 82 location.  They should be around for ever - It's a Newfoundland pub!

Recommendation: FISH AND CHIPS. Grilled fish and potatoes flown in from Prince Edward Island!

They have to call it Alantic instead
of Newfoundland by law as the
government doesn't want to promote
drinking.  Ridiculous!

Live Celtic bands every Friday and Saturday night

And some times you see a naked
Beer Gut.


Telus Spark which is the new Science Centre in Calgary after they stopped using the Planetarium.  We joined an adults only pre-Halloween evening to face some fears and check out the science of it all.

Obviously later my tower went higher...

Fear of Spiders setting in

Spiders are easy for me, but...
Not snakes, yuck!

I didn't love this one either, but I did
do it.  During Jessy's turn they lifted
the coffin in the air and spun her!


Flames Nights - Special Thanks to Ryan B. for both nights at the Flames games especially the Oilers!!!

Hey guys, the seats are over here...
(Myron, Chris, Vic)

Oh Harvey the Hound, the Flames
mascot, always hitting on chicks.

Look at this!  Melts in your mouth.

Ryan and Blaire

Go Oil!  5-2 Oiler win.






























Bonny Bday and Pumpkin Carving one week before Halloween hit.

"Next to the day I was born"
(inside the card)

Bonny over the moon with her new curling gloves

Using the "Pumpkin Master" carving
kit we went to work

You can toast the brains (seeds) in the oven with soya sauce

Finished Jack-o-Lanterns
(Bonnys, Brads, Jessys)






























Cowboys Halloween - October 30 we went to a place I knew would have lots of costumes the night before Halloween as I had a stag party of an old engineering friend of my, Kevin S, on Halloween Night, October 31.



Filling up the dance floor

Sheep - Must be a New Zealander

I always enjoy the baby/mama costume

Wonder woman and friends
Speaker Dancing

Princess Jasmine has seen better days.
A very interesting train ride home.




A rental General Lee

Bo and Luke Duke

Dukes of Hazard - Car2Go Edition

At Aussie Rules for the Stag Party

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice

Kev taking the General Lee for a spin

Finishing the night off





































































Other Stuff

The Wok Story:  Guy was asking $8 on kijiji for a brand new
wok.  I offered $5 and would pick it up.  He settled on $5.50
and delivered to me.  Bless him for being a hard saleman.
Wok retails at London drugs for $26, we are happy with it.
Mom and Son sorting out back issues

Thanksgiving Dinner for Pescatarians

Elliot's new baby fresh from Japan.  300hp all wheel drive
The only disadvantage - You can't see shit when turning
LEFT AT A SET OF LIGHTS!

This guy maximising his tree house

Thank god I have this photo for
study purposes.  I still don't get it.

Argentina Rugby makes the final 4 of the World Cup

If you guessed $500 for these shoes
you can't buy them.
Bullshit Prada sneakers for $600+