October 31, 2009 - Halloween

Don't leave alcohol near your pumpkins or this could happen!!!
Well, for once in many years, the weather is going to cooperative for the little tricker treaters tonight.
One day to get further with the website reconstruction and then off to Red Deer on Sunday for an all day seminar with the wife's new business. And then on Monday, a trip down south to fetch my pick up truck which finally will be on the road, so a weekend of fun and adventure, then back to work on Tuesday after i drop off the truck so it can get it's vehicle inspection. The task list just doesn't seem to end and that is only part of it! Task lists are good to have so long as you actually get things done and just don't cross off today's date and put in tomorrows!

October 30, 2009 - Paths

Paths! The high road or the low road. Go to the right or to the left. Life is full of paths! I was thinking about this tonight. If you chose some paths, you cannot easily reverse things once they are put into motion. If you marry one person, you go down a new path. Now if you would have married someone else, you would be on an entirely different path. If you choose one profession, you go down that path and if you would have chosen something different, you would be on an entirely different path. If you were to change professions, then you would lose senority, holiday time, etc. What about where you live? If you were to move to another city, you would be on a new path there also! Life is about paths and picking them! There is much to choose from! I guess the trick is to pick the best one for yourself and cross your fingers that you made the right choice!

October 29, 2009 - ZZZZZZZZZ

Time for a little midnight shopping? I like sailing through the quiet of the night. No hussle and bussle, making work a lot more relaxed. I think back on my trip to Alaska. I parked in the middle of the hwy, could see for miles ahead of me and behind me. There was no one around at all. I got out of my car for a walk to stretch. There is just something about being totally alone that is so unique. Well, old man winter is getting closer all the time now. My buddy Bill cancelled out on tomorrow's photo shoot walk so either i go alone or postpone the adventure to another day! Still deciding.

October 28, 2009 - Back on the Road Again?

Trying to win the rat race! Well, the first step towards getting on the road again is to have a vehicle on the road. I am putting both the hobo car and the pick up truck on at the same time. Just have to go south of the city to retrieve them.
Everything is one step at a time. Sure itching for a good road trip as i relive the past adventures on the website as i update each trip and have been moving them to the new domain named website. It will likely take me all winter to complete plus i have been dreaming up many additions to add to it. I hope to make it a very useful website in many ways to keep folk returning time and time again.

October 27, 2009 - Tweaking and Catch Up!

Who knows what is peeking around the corner? Well, i need to keep on tweaking and go through my list of things to do, before i head off to work. I usually make up a daily task list and also highlight the events coming right up. Another day of adventure! But first i need to spend about 7 or 8 hrs horizontal recharging my batteries.

October 26, 2009 - Return From the Pass

That was one busy weekend!!! Just a constant go go go for 3 days it seems! It just had to rain as we were leaving, but that was only in the local area so we drove out of it. One chore after another to get accomplished, but oh, does it feel great to sit down again! Isn't it good to be back home again in the big city? It sure feels good to get some things done and to get back on track once more! My two vehicles will be on the road soon. I have been trying to decide what to do with a few properties whether to hold or to sell them. Always decisions to make. Sometimes, it is better to go with the flow and see what happens since some things are really beyond your control. We can only do the possible. The impossible is left in someone else's hands. Spent the evening doing updating the next journey of the past to Palm Springs, Ca. I have been trying to get one adventure done every weekend as i update the website. I have been finding a lot of new friends who are world travellers so i have been thinking about adding a special webpage for all of their links for everyone to enjoy! There sure is a lot of the world out there to discover! Back to work tomorrow already! It is a good thing that i don't start til just after 5pm! Still a lot of computer catching up to do!

October 25, 2009 - Another Trip to the Pass

This is going to be one busy weekend with too much to do... oh well, they can't all be nice ones! We have to make a quick trip to the pass and do the usual stop on the way down. In a little over a week, i will be back and running with both of my vehicles so i am pleased about that. We started out late and had to make a stopover on the way down. That left us arriving around 7pm with not much of the evening left and laundry to do to get the one house back up to snuff! Kicked back and watched a movie as supper was in the oven around 10pm! Whew, another late night! This was a weekend trying to beat the clock. Funny, but have you noticed that the clock always seems to win?

October 24, 2009 - Happy 5 Year Anniversary!

My 5 year anniversary today! Wahoooo... Well, here are some photos from the tour yesterday! How often does a person try and explore their own city??? I took over 250 photos in about 3 hours! Had a great 5yr anniversary dinner and now the salon business keys were turned in on the same night! 5 is the number of change! Two major milestones today! And a change to what i wonder as the days wear on... Onward and see!

October 23, 2009 - Photoshoot Day Part 2 Now

Looking out the window. Almost like viewing a painting! Today, is the day of the second photoshoot so charging up the camera battery and raring to go! On my shift i met a fellow who was living out of his van and wanting to head west to Vancouver where the winters are warmer.

Sounded like a good plan.

October 22, 2009 - Wild Skies Tonight

The cloud formations were really interesting with a nice sundown. Glad that i had my trusty camera handy. What will today bring? Almost 6am as i start this post. I get home around 2:30am so i had better put do a noseplant in the pillow soon! One of those very hectic days when so much is going on. Made it through okay... I was walking home from work about 2am when i heard a bit of noise coming from around some garbage pile. A skunk walked away with it's tail up pointing at me. Luckily, i wasn't about to go chasing it so all was fine! Whew! There was no foul odor in the area to let me know that it was lurking about either!

October 21, 2009 - Moving Right Along!

Moving right along, watching the waterfalls here. Lundbreck Falls, a few miles west of the town of Lundbreck, Alberta on hwy 3. Life sometimes can do that too especially when you have a number of irons in the fire going. Trying listing several properies at the same time, get a number of business deals going as well...put some plans in the works and watch things move right along! Well, having done that, i am watching to see what comes of it all. To be it is very interesting to watch changes of life take place and to see how it all develops, many times right out of the blue! Hey, life is really a lot about changes. Take a look back to see where you were and where you are now. Back then i am sure you would never imagine where life had taken you. And if you have nothing happen, you must be sitting on the sidelines just watching and growing old. LOL! So what do you do then? Change your daily routine diliberately! Do things and go places that you would not normally do. See what happens!

October 20, 2009 - Website Work On the Way!

Here is my bro inlaw after Thanksgiving dinner catching his nap. I think the sleeping chemical in the turkey did him in. This is where i needed to be in the wee hours of the morning. It takes a lot of time to redo websites. Somebody needs to get some shut eye... I had been up to around 3:30 am trying to finish the unpublished adventure from back in 1999 when my cousin Gary came up to visit from Ohio. I have been doing some email flipping with an old timer and we were thinking, with 1 in 8 homes in foreclosure in the U.S., where do all the people go to? That is a LOT of displaced people out there!

October 19, 2009 - Google AdSense

Climbing the stairs to sucess! I had an email discussion going on between a friend about this Google Adsense program. I did run some ads on my website in the past with zero results. I checked on my account to find just over $5 sitting there. Then i went on youtube, my favorite place to find information on every topic out there it seems. I watched some videos and decided to reinstall the code and to give it a try. I already added code to this blog. So my website www.thewanderinghobo.com now has about 6 pages of code. I am using the search bar as well to define each page as the website takes on a different look. Next i will decide whether to move the old website onto the new domain or not. Starting to plan a major road trip and to have an extra stream of income that works 24 7 would be great! Well, if anyone wants a home based business that works well if you are a go getter, email me thewanderinghobo@yahoo.com The other half is doing very well with that one... and she would be taking it around the country as we would go on a mega road trip with it. What a great way to begin retirement! All i have to do, is to keep lining up the ducks everyday. Exciting times ahead after a long lull of nothing much in the way of trips.

October 18, 2009 - Sunday Rest Day

Mr. Autumn walking along the path. This was kind of a leafless autumn. The snow and cold came too fast and the colors are just not there anymore. A bit depressing but the white snow did lend a bit to getting some interesting photos regardless. Ever wondered about how some people tend to get good photos? Typically, you would want your model to be wearing red for one thing. The next is imagine the photo being divided into 3 vertical and 3 horizontal lines. Place the subject in where one of the 4 corners intersect like in this photo! It just works! Another down day at hand. Well, more for the other half than myself today. I just don't have the money in the bank for a few days to get rolling again. What is it with a dependancy on $$$? No choice. Everything seems to have a price. That is life!

October 17, 2009 - Still More Photos

At the end of Prince's Island Park is this great scene. I guess with the little remainder of the snowfall along with the not so great autumn scenes, it still makes for an interesting photo. So if you have trouble affording to go to a new area, try taking a tour of what is in your own backyard. In this trip, i was able to discover some new places that i had never been before. I realize that i do live in a very scenic area. Hoping to make another 4 hr tour next Thursday and cover some of the places that i wasn't able to cover yesterday!

I think also that we tend to get in a repetitious rut sometimes and a walking tour like this helps break the routine giving you a great time outdoors being a part of what is going on around you.

October 16, 2009 - Video Post

This is the Calgary Ctrain going over the bridge to the downtown area.

October 16, 2009 - Some of the Photos

The bridge to Prince's Island. Some of the ground is still white covered from the snow dumps.

This cow bench can be found on 3rd St. S.W. near Prince's Island Park.

A quick trip down 8th Ave. S.W. and past these famous Calgary figures. The autumn leaves where really a flat looking color due to the cold weather and recent snowfall.

It was a 4 hour tour that started at the top of the Centre St. bridge that went downtown and then to the 14th St. bridge and over the Bow River to the 10th St. bridge and home after that! 184 photos and some video clips!

October 16, 2009 - Photo Shoot Day

Well, that is the plan. My buddy is unable to attend so i can do this trip solo. Either that or i wait til next week sometime. It was usually me postponing the trip, first waiting for the leaves to turn more vibrant colors, then came Thanksgiving Weekend with the snowfalls as well. Now that is starting to melt away, then he gets behind in his stuff! I am itching to get some use out of the new camera, maybe take a few video clips as well. I think that i would easily fill both of the SD cards!

I heard that the kid in the runaway balloon wasn't onboard so that was good news for him, his family and all those concerned!

October 15, 2009 - Rolling Right Along

My flying saucer photo. Just reading about a 6 yr old boy in Colorado who boarded a flying saucer balloon that is out of control and rescuers are trying to figure out how to save him.

Funny, just have one down day and then bounce right up again the next. Sometimes taking that day to regroup is all a person needs.

I placed an ad on Kijiji to try and get the corporation moving right along. http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-housing-real-estate-services-New-Investors-3-Properties-For-under-150-000-each-W0QQAdIdZ162235477 Trying to help some new investors get out of the wannabe stage and into the taking Action stage!

Snow is melting outside, but not fast enough. I wonder what the 5 day forecast is for around here? hmmmm...

6 more days left before i have to head off to work again! Planning a photo shoot tomorrow with a Facebook buddy to try and get some autumn photos, only i guess it will include the early winter photos as well. That should be a fun day getting me out of the apartment looking for that special shot to take.

October 14, 2009 - Another Day of Snow Here

Gazooks! The snow was coming down again today! I was hoping that the snow would keep up! (If it kept up, it would not come down!) haha This is just too early to see snow hanging around. Tomorrow, we are to get some plus 17 weather so that might melt a lot of it. On vacation this week so i do not have to drive in the stuff which is nice. More time to get caught up on things and to try and figure the best course to take. Always reevaluating and recalculating things that are in a constant change right now. Ever have those times when it is hard to get motivated? Everything seems like it is at a standstill? I'm going through one of those time periods right now. Cash flow is all tied up so it is hard to create a goal to achieve and get the motivation back. It is like trying to create a win win when all you have to work with is more of a lose lose. One can get stuck in a rut as all that is left to do is to play the game of waiting. Waiting for life to bring some better days so you can snap out of it.

October 13, 2009 - Linda Goes to Work

...And i get to go to play! Well, i was up to 7am playing on the computer as Linda woke up to get ready for work. I looked outside and there was a white blanket of the white stuff that fell either in the wee hours or early morning while i was asleep. I wanted to go and take some autumn photos and now it looks like they would be winter ones as well... Too soon for winter here! I guess it is one of those early dumps letting you know what will be on the way. We are suppose to get a mild winter according to the farmer's almanac. (or wishful thinking?)

October 12, 2009 - Time to Move On

And now it is Monday and time to pack up and move on. We can only reflect on the weekend and how fast it went by. All a memory now. We had to make a stopover in Pincher Creek to see my realtor to relist the Blairmore house and one in Stavely on the way home. I begin my vacation week as Linda begins her new job this week.

October 11, 2009 - Thanksgiving Day

Dinner time... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Everyone else returns to the Blairmore house and i pick up my new SD card and continue to look for new photos to take.

We start off heading for a walk to downtown Blairmore, Alberta in the heart of the Crowsnest Pass. My SD card for the camera became full. I had to hunt another one down to continue taking pictures and videos this weekend.

October 10, 2009 - Back to the Pass

We finally arrive at the Blairmore house where the Thanksgiving dinner will be held on Sunday. Amber, my stepdaughter and her fiancee made some lasagna. We sat around had fun visiting and watched some movies.

Nash takes a picture at Lundbreck Falls, Alberta. Below, you can see the road to the mountains is very white. Lots of snow in the NW quadrant of Canada and the USA lately. This is hwy 3, the hwy to the Crowsnest Pass.

The rug rats conk out as we go through the area where there are no interesting stops to make. Nash was hungry and i had nothing extra onboard. They started out with food from McDonalds so i had no idea that he would need more food before we finish our 2.5hr trip.

We make a stopover in Stavely to pick up an air bed and to drop off a box.

I decided to make this trip a Wandering Hobo one as i toured the kids around as we made our way down to the Crowsnest Pass for the Thanksgiving Weekend. (Canada) I knew that once the dinner was over, their parents would be in too big of a hurry to enjoy the sights. I wanted the trip to be very memorable for the kids.

Our first stopover on the journey is a little touristy town called Nanton, Alberta. There is a museum on the side of the road which makes for a photo stop. Nash has his cell phone camera with him so he was able to take some of his own photos as well. I told the kids to put their hands over their heads and pretend that plane is roaring just above them!

From the last trip there, i found two deer in the backyard of the Coleman Hideout. Wonder if i will find them back again. That was about as close as i could get to this deer lying down. It jumped up and took off as i tried to get a closer up shot. Have to get up in about 7 or 8 hrs and pack the car. This trip will be different as i am taking the sister inlaws kids along with me. It has been a long time since i have travelled with little ones! I will have to have the car packed so that i do not get distracted. Already have a list to follow... Onward!

October 9, 2009 - Mosaic Photo

Thanks for this one from my stepson's fiancee! Before and After! Sweet! And Bizarre as well! Today was the last day of the week and the day picked to do the running around. Had to get the turkey for another weekend in the pass coming right up where we will be celebrating the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend. Why is it when you are in a hurry that the stale green lights turn red in front of you and don't even give you enough distance to run the amber light even??? Sometimes life feels like that to. No matter which direction you attempt to head in, a roadblock gets placed in front of you! I always take it as don't go there. Find a direction with an open door! A lady i knew told me to always go with the flow! It easier to swim that way!

October 8, 2009 - Playing Catch Up

My Pincher Creek realtors want me to become one and join their team! That might just be a lot of fun! Not wild about the course for it that costs around $5,500.00. Do i have the passion for it? I know that i am a fix, stage and flip investor. That is where the passion lies in that area. Well, it was a day of playing catch up. Bills to pay. Plans to make for tomorrow. I try to do all the running around in a single day if i can. Weather is cold here. Very windy with some snow falling as well... Too early for that to happen! Where is the indian summer??? Where?

October 7, 2009 - A Trip to the South End

A trip south to see my accountant as he is finished. Well, the good news is that i do not owe the gov't money, but the bad news is that i owe my accountant money to tell me that and to file my return! I was able to get some questions answered to help continue with a good strategy. Today was a long day added to my 9 hr shift!

October 6, 2009 - Roadtrip to the Pass

Heading back to Calgary, i make a stop at the Stavely place to get some chores done. The temperature was rising the further i went north. Then after being home for a bit, it dropped like a rock! Stormy looking clouds rolled in but no rain or snow... Snow? Too early for it but it doesn't know that so it keeps on trying to snow.

October 5, 2009 - Roadtrip to the Pass

Well, now it is quiet and we get to sleep in. Pondering whether to relist this house or to keep it. Sell, sell, sell says my contractor... Everyone has gone home and we were taking some relaxing r and r time. Linda gets to stay right through the week whereas i have to return to work. Still some touch up tasks to complete. One is painting the shed in the back and now i fear the weather will stay cold making me have to put it off til next year or let a new owner look after it! Well, relisting and trying to sell it off. Then onto another project. The estate house across the street has been dropping their price a lot lately. Maybe i can grab it if this one sells and do a fix, stage and flip with it? Too bad i don't have the funds nor a few partners to try and grab it now.

October 4, 2009 - Roadtrip to the Pass

Weather was rainy and a bit snowy. I had to move some stuff out of the basement to the garage for my renters. My stepdaughter and her fiancee wanted to move in immediately leaving no time to go through the stuff in the house to pack it out. Nice of them to pack while i was not there so that i could not find anything.... ugh! This nice house has given me lots of grief since a year or so after i bought it and is not the fun place that it was suppose to be or started out to be. I also have the neighbor on one side building some rock mess on my concrete block fence thinking that it is on his property! Surveyor certificate says otherwise! Leaving that for another day! It took me around 5 years to find it in the first place. Well, we will see what happens to this place in 2010. Had to stay with the guys there while the gals were at the other house in the area for the 50th birthday celebration.

October 3, 2009 - Roadtrip to the Pass

I have never seen so many cars at the Coleman Hideout before at once, but then again, this is a big event!


If you climb the hill behind the house, you come to this awesome view of the Crowsnest Pass. Off for a 2 1/2 hr road trip... not too long, but always nice to visit the weekender home. Linda gets to stay in the area all week and i get to return home. Oh well.
Oh well indeed, nothing further heard about anyone wanting to purchase the salon... RATS!!! I guess it will end up being handed over to the landlord instead of catching up on the bills with the sale. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose... it is called RISK.
Well, how about some good news, my Canon SD 1200 Power Shot camera arrived on Friday while i was at work. Will read the manual on the way and will get some autumn photos this weekend. It will sure feel nice to get on the road... again!