Ted 2009

Ted / Dad
Ted on his MXZ - Nice day!	This was a big year for me. As many of you know, I was not happy with many of the changes made to the management structure at the City of Camrose, nor the directions they seemed to be heading. At the same time, we didn’t want to move from our lake property South of Camrose. In mid-January, I noticed an ad for the City Manager position with the City of Wetaskiwin (a city a little smaller than Camrose, and about ½ hour to the West). To make a long story short, two weeks later, I had a four-hour interview with the Wetaskiwin City Council. I was tentatively offered the position the next day (a Saturday); they checked my references on the Monday, and on the Tuesday, their Mayor drove over to buy me lunch and sign the deal. I would start 6 weeks later, on March 15th. As Louise would say “HOLY MOLY!!” What had I done? Six months short of receiving my 30-year service pin, I had pulled the pin on Camrose.
It has been a very good change. I have made some very close friendships in Wetaskiwin already. There are certainly some changes that I would like to see, and we are on course with some of them, but overall, it is a wonderful community, with much more heritage and self pride that I am used to in Camrose. People have been coming up to me all year, telling me that I look so much more relaxed. The job certainly has its stresses, but here I feel I can make a difference.	City Hall - Ready for Christmas You can see my office - top floor windows on the left...
One of our Board Rooms...	Our City Hall, is a heritage building which was originally constructed as a provincial court house in 1907. After a long history as a court house, and then a period of being empty, it was eventually sold to the City for $1.00. It is now fully restored, with modern additions added on the east and west sides. (Under heritage rules, additions can not copy the original. You must be able to tell when you moved from the old “historic” part of the building into the new part.) The additions are modern, but complimentary. They even converted the heating and air conditioning systems to geothermal to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.
The building even has a museum in the basement, with the restored living quarters of the original caretaker, and the Jail Cells. It’s too bad they won’t let me use them for a few special people…(ha ha). I would be happy to give you a tour any time. And did I mention I have the dream office…. After 30 years in the basement, I am in the preverbal corner office on the top floor with full length windows on two sides. Not sure if I deserve it, but it is very nice.	Our Council Chambers all the wood and colours are back to original...

Before I started with Wetaskiwin, I figured I needed a break. Louise couldn’t get away, so I went on a volleyball Holiday to Mexico with friends Bob and Wilf. We had a great week at the Las Brissas resort in Huatulco. I felt a little guilty leaving Louise and Spencer at home – but I got over it…. Click here for my photos of the trip... Once back, I was burned and sore, but rested and ready for the challenges of my new position.	We enjoyed some good VB with the Las Brisas Staff..
We all left home at random times, but ended up accidently meeting in Kenniwick at the Starbucks	As you can guess, I have had a very busy year, trying to get oriented. We had several retirements/recruitments that had to happen right away which also kept us busy. I did manage to get away to the Gorge again this year with my Windsurfing friends, although I paid for it when I got back because of the backlogue. We have been trying to find a different rental in the Gorge with a bit more room. As there can be 12 or more of us, it is a bit of a challenge. We thought we had a good one this spring, but the owner was very fussy; they didn't like all of our vehicles, and I guess we generated too much garbage...Oh, and Harold may have damaged their floor with his leaky cooler. Anyway, we aren't invited back - their loss. In the Fall, we rented two condo's side by side.
That seemed to work pretty well, and we are looking at the same next Spring. It is nice to have a bed for everybody, so no one has to sleep on the floor..... Here are links to my blogs for our spring and fall trips. Remember that you have to read them from the bottom up. The "current" entry is the last day of the trip. As usual, I took lots of photos. Here are the links to all my photos of the Spring and Fall Trips.	A "No Wind Day" at the Gorge

We had some very calm evenings this fall.....

Wake Surfing on my SUP	This summer, our weather didn’t cooperate very well, so we weren’t out on the water as much as usual. We still enjoyed the boat, and did have some great weekends. Both Laura and Spencer invited friends out (different weekends) and were blessed with good weather. I had lots of fun dragging them around behind the boat. There were a few days in the Fall with extremely glassy water. I am having to re-learn how to slalom ski. The new boat has so much power, that waterstarting is quite different. Embarrassing to be having difficulty getting up after 45 years of skiing experience! The boat also doesn't slow down at all when you cut and that that makes a difference too. Still lots of fun, and I was getting the hang of it by the end of the summer. We invested in a new Boat Hoist this year (The old one wan't big enough to hold our new boat - so we converted the old one it into a storage rack for all our surf boards, windsurf boards, kayaks and row boat.) It works great and keeps all the toys organized and off the ground. With the kids both busy, I find it is harder to get out, because I don't have a "Ski Buddy". Apparently Ross, my brother in-law, is in the same boat. He started coming out one day a week for a ski evening. I had a lot of fun, and think he did too. I am looking forward to more ski/boarding evenings next year!!
With both Spencer and Laura working full time over the summer, we didn't get away on a summer holiday for the second year in a row. Having just started a new job, I also didn't want to take too much time off until things were settled. We did enjoy lots of nice evenings. One summer highlight was the August Long weekend, when we took our camper to Pelican Point campground and joined our friends Vern and Rhonda. We had a great weekend of beach volleyball and boarding behind their jet boat. Unfortunately it was the same weekend as the Camrose Big Valley Jamboree, so neither Laura or Spencer were able to join us - although they both had apparently "The Best Weekend Ever" at the BV Jamboree. I hope we can do it again next year!	Wake Boarding...
Not much windsurfing at home this year - just no wind...	Other highlights this year were taking Hans and Sue for their first ride on Skidoo's, and visits visit from my long time friend Doug and his wife Anita from Vancouver on one weekend, then Bob and his Sister Terra on the next weekend. Terra supprised the neighbours showing up on her very loud Harley! Bob had his dog, Belle, with him. She was a Chocolate Lab, and she loved the water. Sadly, Belle passed on this Fall, but she sure had fun in the lake that weekend! We are very lucky to have so many good friends!!
I finally sold my old 1972 Honda 750. I purchased it in 1976, and have been riding it every year since (although I typically wasn't putting on many miles.... While it still runs fine, I just didn’t trust it. I sold it to Byron Reynolds (related to the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin). He tells me that eventually it will probably be donated to the Museum. I hated to see it go, but it should have a good home. If I remember right, I sold it for about what I paid for it... not bad for 34 years of riding...	1972 Honda CB 750k - Sold!
2010 Suzuki V-Strom	Last Fall, (2009), I went to the Camrose Cycle "Demo Days", and tried all of the "Cruiser Bikes". I thought I would love them - I have always admired the styling - but I just didn't like the ride of any of them. They are heavy, didn't corner well, clunky, loud, and while looking stylish, just aren't much fun to ride. I was really disapointed. This spring, I found the Suzuki V-Strom. It isn't a big bike, just a 650, but it is designed as a touring bike (the kind you would drive across South America). Anyway, it is fast, corners well, is lots of fun, gets good gas mileage, and has a riding style similar to my old Honda - sitting upright. I love it! I haven't gone on any long trips yet, but did put on about 5000k this summer, mostly commuting to work.
Unfortunately, with the new job, and the longer commute, I wasn’t able to coach Badminton at the High School this year, but I am still trying to play at the Camrose Club (they usually play Monday nights, and I can hit them on my way home after Council Meetings). Spencer and I played in the Edmonton Beach Volleyball League this summer and he is also playing on our Mixed Volleyball team in Camrose this season. Rhonda and Vern, who organize the team have their daughter Jolee also playing. It's a lot of fun and great to be playing along side of the “kids”. We keep bouncing between division one and division two, so are not doing too badly. I think we are all having a lot of fun.	Louise and I took up Stand Up Paddle Boarding this year!
I had to switch Rotary Clubs and am now with the Wetaskiwin Rotary Club	I am still volunteering some with the Canadian Water and Waste Water Association and also the Canadian Water Network. I was able to attend the International Water Conference in Montreal in September, and also the Canadian Drinking Water Conference in Saskatoon in October. I presented a paper on cold weather maintenance at the IWA conference and one on Water Safety Plans in Saskatoon. I always enjoy seeing old friends and meeting new ones at the conferences. Two very interesting people that I met this year were Alexander from Athens, Greece and Bu from Iqaluit, Nunavut.
This was a bad year for our vehicles. Both of our vans died. I was able to get $300 for my old van through the “retire your ride” program, but my '98 van wasn't old enough. It's always a hard decision. Do you invest more money to keep them going, or cut them loose and bite the bullet to upgrade....We had to “re-invest” in vehicles. We now have a little Toyota Corolla – which saves me a lot of money in gas, commuting to work, and another Grand Caravan – I guess I'm a sucker for punishment – but they work very well for my windsurfers, stand-up paddle boards and my road bikes. I won't be retiring any time soon – as we now have another five years of payments....	Last year's tree was so full that I had to trim it to get it out of the house...this years tree may be the same....

It's now December and I have been with the City of Wetaskiwin for about 9 months. I am really enjoying the new challenge, feel re-energized, and am starting to settle into the position. We have a few new members of Council, and so far, they seem to be working out very well. I am looking forward to working with them.

Wow – what a year. As we near Christmas, and as I set up the Christmas website, I reflect on how many great friends we have and how fortunate we are. I hope you all had a wonderful year as well. See you soon I hope!

Ted

For extra fun - have a look at our Christmas Past !!!