CASINOS OF WINNIPEG

October 24-27 @ Fort Rouge Curling Club.
The Casino's of Winnipeg is the next Grand Slam event on the world curling tour. Our team was informed on Sunday October 19Th that there was a spot available for us if we were so inclined to play. I'd like to think that under different circumstances we would have played, but due to the circumstances we politely declined.
I have been asked to spare in this event just yesterday. I am still awaiting a confirmation and details before I fill you in.
I'd like to point out that on Friday October 17 my Skip's boyfriend underwent surgery. Sunday morning I received the call with results from the surgery. Again, out of respect I can't get into detail, but will say that another complication has occurred and as a result...more waiting.
I don't know where that leaves our team and our season. I have a really good idea, but of coures don't want to assume. I'm saying prayers and wishing for the best for both of my friends.

I have booked my flight for Saskatoon to play in the Colonial Square Spiel with Heather Rankin and crew. I'm excited, but also nervous. I haven't had much opportunity to get out and practise as there is no ice available or made in my area. I booked a sheet yesterday in Beausejour and threw rocks for an hour. I do enjoy practising myself, however I haven't had a chance to really get out there consistently during the week and am still trying to shake off the cobwebs.
The Casinos this weekend will be the same and that I will have to play like it's the end of the season in order to perform at the caliber these elite teams are at. No pressure.

On another note it was my birthday on the weekend. Yep, look at me I'm 35 (would have loved to say 33 as it rhymed). Saturday I went into Winnipeg with my Mom and sister Jacquelyn to have a pedicure. That was Jacquelyn's gift to me and a broom bag for my trips to play with Heather Rankin. :) I've never had a pedicure and what a LOVELY experience that was. I was a little nauseous from seeing the instruments they had to use. I was fortunate not to need the 'Cheese Grater', as I called it, that my sister needed. It shaves the dead skin off your feet. The lovely lady working on my feet was also fortunate that while she was sanding and buffing the soles of my feet, that my leg was extended completely other wise I most definitely would have kicked her. I'm ticklish.
After going to Atkins curling supplies and getting myself a broom bag, gripper, gloves, and broom heads we did some running around and trying on clothes. It was a good time.
We got home at about 8pm and after a moment or two of relaxing heading over to a buddies place to play some board games with friends. Again a good time.
Sunday evening the family had dinner, sang Happy Birthday to me and we feasted on home made cupcakes. YEAH!
I received some really great gifts and a ton of Happy Birthday wishes. Do I feel any different? No...well not in the best of shape as I'd hope to be(others would disagree), but nothing out of the ordinary.
You know, when things go badly in your life or things change to certain extremes they say that's when you know who your true friends are. I adore my friends and would do anything for them. I've got some friends that have really come out of the woodwork recently and I really appreciate them and look forward to keeping communications alive with them. I have friends who I considered to be my best friends who I know that I don't have to talk to for long periods of time to simply pick up where we left off the next time I see or speak with them. But I really do miss them. They know who they are, and if they don't they should. I really missed them this weekend. Cheers to you!

SEMI FINALISTS!! AT THE ATKINS LADIES CURLING CLASSIC - CHARLESWOOD CC

Well, again I was not to sure what to expect this weekend, but was pleasantly surprised once again. We had our skipper on board and we also had a 'super' spare, Colleen, playing third for us. After finishing first in our pool through the round robin play and also finishing first in our shoot out for our pool that put us straight into the Semi- Final round by passing the quarter finals.

The competition was tough as expected, but reading the ice was even tougher. It was lightening fast. If you clocked the rock from the back line to stop, a draw was easily running at 30-35 seconds! That's QUICK!
Overall I felt I played alright. I did find the transition from throwing a peel with my first rock to having to draw with my second rock a challenge and less consistent than I would have preferred, I'd end up placing them behind the T-line. Boo.

I'm generally pretty hard on myself, but at the same time I never stopped trying to conquer the beast so to speak. I don't give up until the very last rock has come to a complete stop.

I'm really happy how well the team gelled this weekend. I was very impressed with Ainsley as she did come out and play one game, with a completely new delivery. She is normally a toe-tucker, but due to her injury she isn't able to do that any more and has been working on a flat foot delivery now. She did extremely well in my opinion for such a quick and sudden switch.

I was also very excited to play with Joelle. I played two games with her in Selkirk, but this weekend was different. What an incredible person she is. Not only does she call a fantastic game of curling, but she is the true definition of a skip. After the first end of our very first game there was no doubt in my mind that I had the utmost faith and confidence in her. This was, in theory, her first spiel this season and she did a great job! I'm very impressed and I cannot wait to get out there again with her.
We had Colleen who had played with Joelle previously for eight years stepping in at third for Ainsley. Perhaps because these two have had so much experience together it made that transition easy. The chemistry out there between the four of us was remarkable. Colleen has a wonderful personality on the ice and I really enjoyed playing with her. Communication was phenomenal.
Overall it was yet another successful weekend for this team and as well bitter sweet. With all of the positives that came of this weekend such as, spending time with the girls as a team, getting to know Nixon (Joelle's Chocolate Lab who kept me company while I stayed at her house over the weekend), sharing some laughs and some drinks with these girls, and sharing a couple of chuckles with Pat over the phone, it indicated the end of a great weekend and the beginning of the unknown.
So on another note, it's my 35Th birthday this Sunday coming up. Can you believe it? I'm going to be 35. It's funny where you imagine you'll be in your life when you reach a certain age. I imagined I'd be married with kids by now. I know things happen for a reason and although I'm not doing what I believed I'd be doing at this point in my life I am extremely happy and content at what I have accomplished and achieved. I'm happy to be healthy, to be reacquainted with my family and reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. I have been blessed with many wonderful experiences and that I am sincerely thankful for.

OUR NEXT EVENT:

We were supposed to be playing next weekend in Beausejour, but would be without our skipper and have decided as a team to sit this one out. This upcoming Friday will probably be the longest day I will know as I will have my new friends consuming my thoughts and prayers. All my thoughts and prayers I am extending out to two extraordinary people this week. Dig deep, and stay strong.

Atkins Curling Supplies Womens Classic

Bonspiel #2. Here we go again this weekend at our second spiel of the season. I'm looking forward to it quite honestly. Joelle will be back for her first full spiel and it will be nice to have this time with her. I enjoyed the last two games with her in the previous spiel and appreciated her knowledge of the game and her great attitude out on the ice. I can see why she is as recognized as she is in Manitoba not just on the ice, but off of it as well. She's a lovely lady.
I believe our third will be sitting out Friday and Saturday due to her injury, but will attempt to play Sunday and Monday. So we have a spare for Friday and Saturday. The rest of the long weekend is yet to be determined.
Our First round robin game is a go, Friday @ 9pm. Again I'm looking forward to getting on the ice and focusing on my game. Competition is going to be tough which I expect, therefore I will need to keep focused and get'er done! I'll be posting how we do after the weekend, but you can click on the logo above to follow the games.

Wish us luck!

RESULTS - McMillan Insurance Ladies Curling Classic

Happy Monday everyone!

Well I didn't know what to expect going into the weekend with a spare at skip and a brand new team to boot. Firstly I'm happy to report that we qualified and reached the semi-finals. Not bad for our first spiel and not bad considering the circumstances. I'd also like to make a point of applauding the efforts of Tracy Lavery who stepped in to skip our team this weekend. She threw extraordinarily well and is an absolute delight to play with. I predict good things to come to her in the future and would gladly play with her again.

The competition here in Manitoba is very different from in Ottawa. I grew up here and curled in Juniors but have been away for awhile. This was an eye opener for me quite honestly. The competition is relentless and fierce. I like it, but you have to be able to keep up or you will go down in flames. The intensity of competition is also one of which will either teach you patience and perseverance, or completely crush you under the weight and pressure. There is no half way here. You play to win or you go home. There is no mercy what so ever.

I certainly wasn't expecting that it would be a cake walk, but seeing these teams and all there gear ,heavily decorated with the sponsors of there choice, are out for blood. I applaud them and I applaud Manitoba in general for being so supportive to the competitors of this sport. I know how difficult it is to get that added support.

Our next spiel is The Atkins Curling Supply Ladies Classic starting this Friday October 10-13. http://www.mts.net/~kenb/atkinsclassic/sched.html

Our skip will be joining us for this spiel this weekend and I do look forward to playing with her. We are however without our third Ainsley and in need of yet another spare. Unfortunately during our qualifying game this weekend she injured herself badly enough that she could not play out the game.

It does seem that this group is really being put to the test on all levels. Myself included. After next weekend I am not certain what will happen with this team. The 17th of October is a crucial date in that it will determine the fate of this team and curling season. I guess for now all we can do as a team is keep plugging away and take one game at a time.

For me, my focus will be on staying focused and staying positive. Making one shot at a time, and stay strong mentally.

One brush at a time.

McMillan Insurance Ladies Curling Classic

Here is the schedule/draw for our first spiel of the season. We are without our skipper but have a wonderful lady filling in for us.

Our first game is at 6:30 PM Friday October 3. We play a team out of the states. Dependant on what happens, if we win we play Saturday at 11:30 am and if we lose we play Saturday at 9:00 AM.

Here is a link to the draw if you care to keep track of how we're doing. I am assuming that this will continue to be updated as the weekend progresses.

http://www.mancurltour.ca/Draws/McMillan%20Womens.htm
http://www.curlmanitoba.org/events.php?txtCalendarMonth=10&txtCalendarYear=2008

This last link should take you to the site with Live updates and scores per end.

Camping at Tomahawk Resort

This past weekend I went camping in Ontario to a resort by the name of Tomahawk Resort. http://www.tomahawkresort.com/ It was a beautiful place and had the weather been warmer I'm sure it would have made it even more special. I dabbled with my photography skills and played with the scenery. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

I was playing around with the program on my computer and this picture I turned to a Chalk and Charcoal print.
This picture at the end of the dock with a Watercolour effect.

A slight tilt, no affects.

This was the beach, and no I didn't go swimming as it was WAY to chilly.

Random scenery shots.

And last but not least, random fall shots of the leaves turning colours.