| Spencer |
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Spencer enjoyed another great year. He finished his third year of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, and is now half way through his final year.
He has been working very hard at school and getting great marks, but he is also having a lot of fun! He is on the University Ski Club Executive, which means that he not only has a hand in organizing all of their ski trips, but is also organizing and helping out with events on campus,
contacting business owners to discuss various kinds of sponsorships, and working with the hotel owners to work through problems associated with their events and parties.
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Of course he also gets great rates on the trips, and must attend all of the Ski Club parties at various clubs around Calgary. Tough job.
The Club organizes five major ski trips each year. Lake Louise, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Fernie, and Kimberley. They usually have between 120 and 150 people on the trip. All I have seen are facebook photos, but it appears that they have a lot of fun. On these trips, they basically take over the hotels they stay at - so even if they make some noise, there is really no one to complain - and the hotel managers appreciate the business.
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Party time! |
This year, he is sharing a house which is literally across the street from the University, with a group of Nurses. Spencer gets the basement to himself, which gives him a bedroom, washroom and family room. I think he is enjoying being away from campus. He even gets to park his car in the garage, which is a real bonus.
Spencer's girlfriend, Tara, finished her Dental Assistant program in the summer, and is now working full time in Calgary - so they get to see each other quite a bit. They also car pool when they come home for weekends and holidays. |
During the summer, Spencer had planned to go back to work with Precision Drilling, and was offered a position. Unfortunately Precision didn't have much work going on last summer, so to fill the time, Spencer started working with Tara's dad on their farm. He was fixing fences and doing a lot of work around the farm. When Precision still didn't have any work, Tara's dad was able to get him a job with an oilfield servicing company that manages a well site near Ferintosh. Tara's dad also works with the company.
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University of Calgary Ski Club
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Spencer and Tara - Snowboarding
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I think Spencer enjoyed the summer working part time as a farmer, and most of the time with the Oilfield Company doing basic cleanup around the site, as well as taking samples and doing inspections of the equipment.
Tara's family (especially Tara's Grandmother) seems to have adopted him, and seem to enjoy having him around. (Tara says maybe not....)
Between poor weather at the start of the summer, his Job and Tara, we didn't get out on the water as much this summer, although as the weather got better in August, we got out more and more.
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This summer, Wake Surfing was the main focus for Spencer. I don't think he was on his Wakeboard more than two or three times. We orgainzed a "Bladder" in the back of the boat, so we can now add about 700 pounds quite easily, which makes the wave much more surfable.
Spencer, and his cousin Graham, (who came out a few times with his dad Ross), are getting to be pretty good. Both are regularly making 360 degree spins while still riding the wave. (Spencer did four in a row!)!
Laura, and I have no trouble staying up behind the boat, and I can sometimes cross the wake and surf both sides of the wave, but neither of us can keep up with Spencer.
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Spencer showing off on the wave |
Teaching Tara |
Tara is a good sport, and has been learning as well. We have had many nice evenings and afternoons enjoying the water, wake surfing, wakeboarding, and water skiing.
Tara, who is so quiet when you meet her, is starting to become part of the family. She likes to poke fun at me - not sure how I feel about that.. :<).
Last spring, Spencer was involved in a car accident in Calgary when a young girl ran a stop light and tee boned him. Fortunately she hit his truck just ahead of the driver's door, so while it wrote off his truck, he wasn't hurt too badly - just bruises and sore muscles.
Of course even though he was not at fault, and the girls insurance company paid him out for his truck, it wasn't even close to enough to replace the truck. Somehow all of that meant that I had to sell him my car - (for less than what I owed on it), and then buy another car.
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I think Spencer is enjoying my old Corolla. While not a sports car, it is a five speed, and gets way better gas mileage than his old truck.
Not sure if he is lucky or jynxed, but as I write this, he is dealing with another accident, as a contractor backed into his car the other day while it was parked in front of his house. The guy dropped off a card at the door, and seems to be willing to work with Spencer to get it fixed, but it is still a hastle - and nothing is ever as good once repaired as it was originally.
At the end of June, Spencer and Tara came with us to Kicking Horse Resort to attend Amy's Wedding. It was a very nice weekend, on Spencers favorite ski hill....
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Spencer on a trail ride in Banff..... |
Tara, Spencer, and Boo the Grizzly Bear
at Kicking Horse, BC while attending Amy's Wedding
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It's hard to believe that Spencer will be graduating in the spring.
We are not sure of his plans. I believe he is going to be looking for work and staying in Calgary for now, although I have also heard thoughts of travelling, and even of going back to school for another degree, (this time on his nickle ... I hope).
No matter what he decides, I am very confident that he will be fine. Louise an I are very proud of the responsible young man that he is.
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Spencer (and Tara) wish you all a
Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year!
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Spencer, Tara, Marc, Fallon, David and Laura at the farm.
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Spencer and Tara - One year together.
(Now a year and a half).
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Spencer turned 21 last March 14th. |
Spencer and Tara - Wakesuring - together....
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Spencer the diplomat....
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| For extra fun - have a
look at our Christmas Past !!! |
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