Dave (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} raptortheangel) wrote,@ 2009-04-27 21:44:00 |
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Awesome Weekend
Waiting...
...for the first train carrying passengers to arrive at the new McKernan/Belgravia LRT station. More on that in a bit.
Thursday evening: Went to Metro with a good part of the Development department, had food, had drinks, and played pool and chatted with my co-workers.
Friday evening, Jenn and I went for food and drinks with her old crew from her previous job at the Atlantic Trap & Gill. Food was pretty good, and I get along pretty well with lots of those guys.
Saturday morning, we woke up at about 8:30 and remembered that the SLRT grand opening that happening that morning, and that I was going to go down and take photos. Jenn was going out shopping anyway, so she dropped me off at the new McKernan/Belgravia station, and I snapped a bunch of photos of the first train rolling in and the Mayor unveiling the station plaque.
I boarded the train and apparently got on the car that was supposed to be for media and dignitaries, but I think they let it slide because of the camera. We rode the train down the new track (the smoothest track they've built yet) to the new South Campus station, where we were met by a pipe band, activity tents, and where several speeches were made, and where I took a bunch more photos.
Residents await the opening of McKernan/Belgravia station
The first train approaches!
Arrival!
Mayor Mandel looks cold...
The plaque is unveiled
A sign of the times
Greeted by the ETS Pipe Band at South Campus
Mr. Mandel explains his vision for LRT in Edmonton...
...and still looks cold
Rona Ambrose BSes about the Conservative Government
Hey Rona, where's the federal support on the Port Alberta initiative?
MLA Gene Zwozdesky unveils the plaque
That cameraman in the front was a total jerk...even blocked the view of a lot of the media photogs.
I guess it was rather chilly that day
The turnout was pretty good
See if you can spot Linda Duncan
The media
Station shots
Glu-Lam beams are an amazing choice of construction material
Looking toward the next extension, opening next year
ETS' refurbished GE locomtive
It may be old and small and cute, but it practically built the SLRT line
The buttons on the new LRT cars are neat
The second ever passenger service train arrives!
Full set is here.
Jenn met up with me at the station, having come back from her shopping trip...with a Nintendo DS. We went for lunch at Mucho Burrito downtown and it was pretty good. The service was excellent. Apparently they're opening another one closer to my work, too. There's lots of great food choices opening up nearby.
We went to Future Shop after and I bought Final Fantasy Tactics A2 for DS (but have yet to play it). We then went to London Drugs to look for something else, and there I was tempted by a 75-300mm lens for $300 which I bought on the spot. More toys!
That evening, we went to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner, and I had the vegetarian lasagna, and it was really good.
Then we went out to the Leonard Cohen concert.
And oh boy, it was AMAZING.
Probably one of the best shows I've ever seen.
The man is just amazing, and the band just as much so. They were spectacular, all of them. I won't forget that concert any time soon. I was so thankful I emailed our CEO this morning to thank him for the tickets, and told him what a great perk they are.
The whole day was just fantastic, and everything worked out so well timing-wise, from getting up in the morning, arriving in time for the ceremonies and to take pictures, to catching the LRT to and from the concert and the bus back home. It was just overall an amazing day.
Sunday was less exciting, but I cleaned up the kitchen pretty good. I wanted to do that since we found a sowbug and a carpet beetle the other day (which is odd since we lack carpet), and was worried that the source of them would be behind the fridge or the stove. But all clear, they must've been just stray bugs, and not even the kind we're that worried about.
On that note, it's been six months since we moved into the new place, and so far no bedbugs to be had. I think it's safe to say at this point that we're all clear. It's also been two years since Jenn moved in with me, and almost three years that we've been together. And it's still going so great. I love her so much, and I love how much time we spend together. She helped make this weekend so wonderful. <3
Waiting...
...for the first train carrying passengers to arrive at the new McKernan/Belgravia LRT station. More on that in a bit.
Thursday evening: Went to Metro with a good part of the Development department, had food, had drinks, and played pool and chatted with my co-workers.
Friday evening, Jenn and I went for food and drinks with her old crew from her previous job at the Atlantic Trap & Gill. Food was pretty good, and I get along pretty well with lots of those guys.
Saturday morning, we woke up at about 8:30 and remembered that the SLRT grand opening that happening that morning, and that I was going to go down and take photos. Jenn was going out shopping anyway, so she dropped me off at the new McKernan/Belgravia station, and I snapped a bunch of photos of the first train rolling in and the Mayor unveiling the station plaque.
I boarded the train and apparently got on the car that was supposed to be for media and dignitaries, but I think they let it slide because of the camera. We rode the train down the new track (the smoothest track they've built yet) to the new South Campus station, where we were met by a pipe band, activity tents, and where several speeches were made, and where I took a bunch more photos.
Residents await the opening of McKernan/Belgravia station
The first train approaches!
Arrival!
Mayor Mandel looks cold...
The plaque is unveiled
A sign of the times
Greeted by the ETS Pipe Band at South Campus
Mr. Mandel explains his vision for LRT in Edmonton...
...and still looks cold
Rona Ambrose BSes about the Conservative Government
Hey Rona, where's the federal support on the Port Alberta initiative?
MLA Gene Zwozdesky unveils the plaque
That cameraman in the front was a total jerk...even blocked the view of a lot of the media photogs.
I guess it was rather chilly that day
The turnout was pretty good
See if you can spot Linda Duncan
The media
Station shots
Glu-Lam beams are an amazing choice of construction material
Looking toward the next extension, opening next year
ETS' refurbished GE locomtive
It may be old and small and cute, but it practically built the SLRT line
The buttons on the new LRT cars are neat
The second ever passenger service train arrives!
Full set is here.
Jenn met up with me at the station, having come back from her shopping trip...with a Nintendo DS. We went for lunch at Mucho Burrito downtown and it was pretty good. The service was excellent. Apparently they're opening another one closer to my work, too. There's lots of great food choices opening up nearby.
We went to Future Shop after and I bought Final Fantasy Tactics A2 for DS (but have yet to play it). We then went to London Drugs to look for something else, and there I was tempted by a 75-300mm lens for $300 which I bought on the spot. More toys!
That evening, we went to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner, and I had the vegetarian lasagna, and it was really good.
Then we went out to the Leonard Cohen concert.
And oh boy, it was AMAZING.
Probably one of the best shows I've ever seen.
The man is just amazing, and the band just as much so. They were spectacular, all of them. I won't forget that concert any time soon. I was so thankful I emailed our CEO this morning to thank him for the tickets, and told him what a great perk they are.
The whole day was just fantastic, and everything worked out so well timing-wise, from getting up in the morning, arriving in time for the ceremonies and to take pictures, to catching the LRT to and from the concert and the bus back home. It was just overall an amazing day.
Sunday was less exciting, but I cleaned up the kitchen pretty good. I wanted to do that since we found a sowbug and a carpet beetle the other day (which is odd since we lack carpet), and was worried that the source of them would be behind the fridge or the stove. But all clear, they must've been just stray bugs, and not even the kind we're that worried about.
On that note, it's been six months since we moved into the new place, and so far no bedbugs to be had. I think it's safe to say at this point that we're all clear. It's also been two years since Jenn moved in with me, and almost three years that we've been together. And it's still going so great. I love her so much, and I love how much time we spend together. She helped make this weekend so wonderful. <3
