Last day of work :(

Today was my last official day of work at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.  The internship is over.  It makes me quite sad to think that this time next week I will no longer be in Saskatchewan, but I have had such a wonderful time here these past four months.  Words cannot describe how much I learned and experienced!

I fly out of Regina next Tuesday morning.  Hopefully I will make it out here again in the near future!

Meandering in Moose Jaw

Alyssa and I took a jaunt over to Moose Jaw on the weekend - she wanted me to see it before I leave Saskatchewan next week.  (insert sad face)

The trip was absolutely lovely.  I think Moose Jaw is quite possibly one of my new favourite little towns.  It was like being transported back to the 1950's, with its beautiful downtown architecture and mid-century storefront signs.  I loved it!

We ended up taking one of the Tunnels of Moose Jaw tours, The Chicago Connection.  Did you know that Moose Jaw was referred to as "Little Chicago" in the 1920's and 30's because of its connection to prohibition and gangsters?  Most notably, Al Capone made Moose Jaw one of his most important bootlegging stops during his heyday of prohibition booze smuggling.  The tour guides took us through an 'old' speak-easy and the underground tunnels where Capone's bootleggers conducted their operations.  I thought it was a hoot and a half!  There's also another tour offered called Passages to Freedom, all about the Chinese immigrants who worked on the railroads at the turn of the last century.  Both tours sounded really cool, and I'd definitely recommend them if you're in town!

After the tour we had some lunch at Nit's Thai Food, which came highly recommended and didn't disappoint in the flavour department.  (Best pad thai I've had in a LONG time!)  Then we headed through the park to Moose Jaw's museum and art gallery.  I always enjoy going through small, local museums and seeing what sorts of things they like to put on display in order to showcase their histories.  Moose Jaw was no exception, and I learned a lot about this part of Saskatchewan and its colourful past. 

And what better way to finish off the day than with a trip to the local fudge factory and gift emporium?

Me with Mac the Moose (Biggest. Moose. EVER.)

Tunnels of Moose Jaw - The Chicago Connection Tour

Where the Chicago Connection tour starts - head up the stairs for some fun!

Where the Passages to Freedom tour starts - head down to the Chinese laundry to start your adventure!

Some of the really fun nostalgia-style signage in downtown Moose Jaw.

Nit's for lunch - great movie-house signage, great pad thai!

If only I could actually DRIVE the getaway car...

Lunar Eclipse

I woke up early this morning to watch the lunar eclipse scheduled (I say scheduled as if we here on Earth somehow have any effect on it whatsoever).  It was -13 below, but considering how cold it's been lately, it was actually not too bad.  However, I was the ONLY person out in the park this morning, other than the guy walking his dog.

Well, it was AWESOME.  By the time I got outside the moon was already moving through into a partial eclipse, but I spent the last half hour watching it move into full eclipse.  I only had my dinky point-and-shoot digital camera with me (curses for leaving all my good equipment in Ontario!) so the photos I got are terrible.  But it was really cool to watch nonetheless.

Fun little tidbits

More cowboy boots than you can shake a stick at (found at Cowtown in Regina).

One of the funniest ads this season from across the street.

My cross-stitch project template.  Can anybody figure out what it is yet?  :)

Why do actions speak louder than words?

I feel this Baha'i quote is most timely, given the current state of world affairs:

"Let those who meet you know, without your proclaiming the fact, that you are indeed a Baha'i. 

Put into practice the teachings of Baha'u'llah, that of kindness to all nations.  Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.

...

What profit is there is agreeing that universal friendship is good, and talking of the solidarity of the human race as a grand ideal?  Unless these thoughts are translated into the world of action, they are useless.

The wrong of the world continues to exist just because people talk only of their ideals, and do not strive to put them into practice.  If actions took the place of words, the world's misery would very soon be changed into comfort.

A man who does great good, and talks not of it, is on the way to perfection.

The man who has accomplished a small good and magnifies it in his speech is worth very little.

If I love you, I need not continually speak of my love - you will know without any words.  On the other hand if I love you not, that you will also know - and you would not believe me, were I to tell you in a thousand words, that I loved you.

People make such profession of goodness, multiplying fine words because they wish to be thought greater and better than their fellows, seeking fame in the eyes of the world.  Those who do the most good use fewest words concerning their actions.

The children of God do the works without boasting, obeying His laws.

My hope for you is that you will ever avoid tyranny and oppression; that you will work without ceasing till justice reigns in every land, that you will keep your hearts pure and your hands free from unrighteousness.

This is what the near approach to God requires from you, and this is what I expect of you.

The power and value of true thought depend upon its manifestation in action."

- Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks

The Saskatchewan Swing-Step?

I went and visited a friend of mine in Wyoming last year at Christmastime, and he taught me what is lovingly referred to there as "the Wyoming Shuffle" - a preferred walking style for when it's snowy, icy, and generally super-slippery outside. 

Well, I have taken that shuffle and I have made it my own.  I have reworked it and am now doing what I like to call "the Saskatchewan Swing-Step".  Or "the Regina Processional"; I haven't really decided yet.  It's a combination glide/shuffle/stomp/swing/occasional two-step to avoid icy, angled driveways.  It ain't all that pretty, but it gets me where I need to go without ending up sliding on my butt.  (Which, coincidentally, is looking fabulous due to all this strenuous Swing-Stepping to and from work! I knew there had to be an upside to walking in the winter...)

Dinosaurs! Dinosaurs! DINOSAURS!!!

Here's a little visual tour of my work trip last week - I headed to the T-Rex Discovery Centre in Eastend to help dismantle and move the Tylosaurus, Omaciw (pronounced O-mawch-ee-oh; it means "hunter" in Cree) to the museum in Swiftcurrent for exhibit.

Out at the T-Rex Discovery Centre! FINALLY!

A giant, terrifying mural inside the Discovery Centre.

Heeeeeeeeere's Omaciw!!

Omaciw on display with some of the text panels.

Wrapping the text panels so they don't get damaged in transit.

Getting ready to dismantle the behemoth.

Dismantling in progress.

The T-Rex Discovery Centre.

A beautiful moonrise as we pack up and get ready to leave.

Unpacking Omaciw in Swiftcurrent.

Setting him back up on the stands was way easier than taking him apart!

Putting Omaciw back together.

Making sure the stands are tight!

Taking a quick break to discuss how to get the head remounted.

A whole lot of ladders were needed to get Omaciw's head on straight.

The finished product, ready to strike terror into passersby!

So if you're in the area, be sure to check out the T-Rex Discovery Centre in Eastend for more totally awesome dinosaur exhibits, and get to Swiftcurrent to visit Omaciw!