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The Novia Cafe

I'm back from Regina, where I had some Civil 3D training to take care of.  I had a great time.  The weather was unusually warm, something I'm sure helped fuel the Roughriders fever sweeping the city (not that they need much help with that).  Saskatchewan plays Montreal for the 97th Grey Cup on Sunday.  The game will be held in Calgary, where there is now an acute shortage of watermelons.  The Riders fans carve them into helmets and wear them at Riders games.  So, if you're new to Calgary and see greem painted people with watermelons on their heads wandering around, it's OK.  They're just Riders fans.

When I visit Regina, I alwasy like to stop in at the Novia Cafe for lunch.  The Novia has been in continuous operation since June of 1918.  Going inside is going back to the world of a 1950s coffee shop.

The food is good and simple with no fear of cholesterol: burgers, soup, sandwiches, desserts, milkshakes and lots of coffee.  The decor is original.  They aren't trying to create an atmosphere here; it's authentic age.

 I was here last year when they celebrated their 90th birthday.  Cake for everybody!

 

So, when you're in Regina, check out the Novia.  It's on 12th Ave, between Scarth and Cornwall Streets in the heart of downtown.

Sunday

It's Sunday, and I'm sitting in the Calgary airport waiting for a connection to Regina.  I go to Regina a few times a year, and even though it's not a big place, I can always find something new to write about.  I'll be there for a few days, so I'm sure I'll have something for you.  Stay tuned!

Why Does It Always Snow in Alberta?

A couple of weeks ago I was over in Alberta, just east of Edmonton in Strathcona County.  Now, Alberts is a nice place, but whenever I go there it snows.  This time it only snowed a bit, just to show me it could.  This story's not about snow, anyway, but it sets the stage for what I do want to talk about, which is ice.  Specifically, the ice you find in arenas.  You see, where I was staying was right next to this amazing facility called Millennium Place.

It's a multi-sport and fitness complex.  Lot's of ice for hockey, public skating, and lessons.  Plus a lot more.  The Edmonton Oilers held their training camps here from 2000 - 2004.  In 2007, they held the Western Canada Summer Games at Millennium Place.

Check out the facilities!

• Shell Edu-tainment Centre features an unique climbing wall and a permanent climbing structure with a variety of slides, interactive games, ridem toys and more
• spacious rooms for creative crafts and discovery activities
• twin arena and leisure ice, open all year round
• twin sport fields
• Petro Canada Fitness and Wellness Centre has the newest equipment
• leisure wave pool with 0-depth entry
• old fashion steam tractor water play structure
• whirlpool, sauna and steam room
• lazy river with spiraling vortex
• 10-lane, 25-meter competition pool
• indoor track that is three lanes, 235 metres long (6.8 laps = 1 mile) and features a unique incline

If you are ever in the Sherwood Park area of Strathcona County AB, be sure to stop by the Millennium Place.  I just sat and enjoyed watching a hockey practice.  Watching the ice was sure a lot more fun than watching the snow.

Digging the Hard Way

I was in Aruba a few weeks ago and came across these guys digging a ditch for some new water pipe.  Not a machine in sight!  I went over to offer support, knowing what fun they were having.  My first earthwork job was a summer one I had in high school, digging graves in a local cemetery.  That's a big hole when you just have a pick and shovel!  Anyway, these guys were in pretty good spirits, considering it was about 104 degrees in the shade that day.  Now, that's hard work!

Boredom on a Plane

I spend a fair amount of time in airplanes and airports.  I was having a coffee on my last flight, and because I had nothing better to do, started reading the ingredients list for the "non dairy" creamer I had just put in my coffee.  What's in this stuff, anyway?  Chalk?  Powdered feldspar?  Sawdust?  No, according to the ingredients list, milk is the main ingredient of this "non dairy" creamer.  I guess it only counts as milk if it's a liquid.