Okay, so I've been putting off blogging for about a week now, because the task of catching up on my trip to Regina for Mike's grad, the moving excursion and my trip and settling in up here in Dawson Creek is pretty daunting. But, alas, I am finally sitting down to do it. So, here is the condensed version of the L'Heureux's exciting summer.
Going waaay back (at least it seems like a year ago), I left for Regina on July 7th. It was sooo awesome to be back with Mike again, and we enjoyed a weekend together, before he began his last week of training and before his family arrived for the celebration. On the saturday, we enjoyed a bbq at the home of one of his facilitators, where I was able to meet the rest of his troop, teachers, and their families. I, however, was the only crazy person who arrived 10 days before the graduation :) While at the bbq, Mike and his troopmates engaged in a East vs. West football game (the west won of course!). Above, you will see the two teams in a huddle. (My computer is only showing the pics as scrambled letters, so hopefully they are there somewhere).
Continuing on....On Sunday, Mike and I had a visit from our friends Kim and Todd from Saskatoon. They met us for brunch and for a tour of the RCMP museum, where we behaved like tourists posing with the bear and dressing up like mounties.
We also got to see Jenn, Matthew and Bronson later on in the day as they too were near Regina for a wedding. It was really neat to get to have the three couples hanging out together again, as this hasn't happened since Jenn and Matt's wedding! It was also nice to get to see Jenn for the third time this summer. Mike hadn't seen our godson since he was 3 weeks old, so it was really exciting for him as well, and I think Bronson liked him since he kept on grabbing his nose!
During the week I was a little bored, as Mike's family was not scheduled to arrive until Wednesday and I had to spend Sunday, monday and tuesday night alone, since Mike was in class still. I attempted to be brave to save money by scheduling 3 nights in the hostel, which was nice and clean, but after spending sunday night there with a strange woman in my room and not feeling safe leaving my humungous suitcase in the room while I went out, I decided to see if I could wrangle the Regina Inn where we were staying later to give me the RCMP rate for a few extra days, which they did thankfully. Unfortunately I still got charged the two nights at the hostel, but it was much more enjoyable to have my own room and the hotel was super nice. So, after my escape from the hostel (where i did meet some really nice french speaking tourists from France and Belgium) I spend monday shopping downtown, took a limo ride (same fare as a taxi), and then went to the Royal Saskatchewan museum on Tuesday, and then for a walk around the park there, where there is a pretty lake, fountain, and view of the parliament buildings. And, I am proud to say that I walked back, with my trusty free map of Regina in hand. I even saw some cute ducks.
Tuesday night was back to Depot to meet Mike for the sunset parade, which is a special drill performance that you can only see on Tuesday nights in July and August. They ahve special troops that train just for it, and it includes a marching band and cannon firing. It was nice to sit and watch with Mike on the lawn, especially nice for him as he was not allowed to touch the grass (or the sidewalk for that matter) for the length of his stay at depot. Mike tried to capture the cannon firing, but it didn't quite work. I did however, get a picture of myself with Safety Bear.
Depot is a really neat place. It has a small beautiful chapel with stained glass windows, that is the oldest building in Regina.
Thankfully, Mike's family had all arrived by Wednesday, so I was able to hang out with them until Friday. We also got to enjoy Mike's troop's passout ceremony on Thursday, which is a drill ceremony they do in the drill hall. On Friday, we picked Mike up from Depot to take him to the hotel, as he had officially completed his classes at Depot. We celebrated by going out to the Keg for a lovely dinner. On Saturday we toured around Regina, going to the Science center and to the Imax. The exhibit at the Science center included replicas of Egyptian art and tombs built entirely out of lego (any guys dream).
On Sunday and Monday, the true grad celebrations began. Sunday was the chapel ceremony, luncheon, family workshop,and another trip to the museum. Monday was a day full of ceremonies, including a morning swearing in ceremony, where the cadets swear three oaths, remove their cadet lapels, and get their diplomas, a final sergeant major's parade (where everyone melted in the heat,) then the official badge presentation ceremony where they put on their full Red Serge. There are many different combos of the mountie uniform, but this is when they wear what you think of when you see a mountie (Stetson, breeches, high browns...). Later in the evening, there is a dinner celebration with the heads of the RCMP and their wives, who all live at Depot, and in this case they wear the Red Serge jackets, but black italian style boots and straight leg pants, without the straps and everything on the jacket. I will post these pics if Mike lets me later on. The dinner was delicious, although quite ironic as it was catered by the chef at our hotel. Also incredible is the fact that the head table, which includes the high up ppl in the RCMP, have to do this dinner twice a week, every wednesday and monday night as a new troop grads each week. No wonder they left right away after we ate. I wonder if the wives get a new dress for each dinner?
This is the best I can do for now for pics of him and his troop, as you can't really make any of their faces out here, but this is Mike marching, and then the whole group is their final Seargeant Major's parade, where they are being inspected one last time, and where you get to hear the new cadets being yelled at for dressing/standing/breathing wrong. I thought I'd feel bad for them but it was really quite funny.
Well, that is the end of the grad story. It was really an amazing trip and so cool to meet his troopmates and see them all fulfilling their dreams. Now we are settling into Dawson Creek, and Mike is at work on his 3rd set of shifts. We can both say, though, that actually being here and working as a police officer, is so much different than what you think and feel when you are at Depot marching in polished boots and Red Serge. His boots are still pretty shiny and he still can't stand having his hair too long, but he's definitely getting to know the area and the "regulars" as I will call them. Tonight we are going to see the fireworks at the Rodeo and Fall Fair which started yesterday, and soon we hope to make a trip in to GRand Prairie, and hopefully in September to Edmonton to do our winter shopping.
The weather here is much warmer than I expected, though, and we have already explored two swimming holes; Swan Lake, and the Kiskatinaw River. The former is full of algae and kind of gross, but the river was fun, although a little too shallow, but I sill enjoyed it as it was a hot day.
I've already picked out my favourite neighbourhoods, and hopefully by next spring we will be able to buy our first house. Rent here is ridiculous (between Victoria and Vancouver prices) but houses for sale aren't too bad, so we don't want to rent for long. Also, can you believe that cereal is 10.77 a box? Anyone who would like to send me a box of Honey Bunches of Oats can feel free! But, for now we are eating puffed wheat. Haha.
More of our Dawson Creek adventures to come.
