As Seth says: “It’s not Toronto.” He has said this to me many times as part of a conversation that starts with: “So how do you like Edmonton?” Yet Edmonton is something else entirely. And it is great at being Edmonton.

Today was a typical day in many ways. Here’s how it went.

Dropped the twins at TT, then came home to do some organizing around the house. Checked on the roofer (will he come before the snow flies?) and the landscaper (can you also take out the choke cherry tree in the backyard?) and dealt with the water in the basement (long story).

On my way back out, I dropped off some dry-cleaning, then hit AMA to sign up before the Jasper road trip. At AMA, I bought the form for the inspection of the van required to get Alberta plates. You see, I have to buy a form ($9.45), then take the form to an inspector who will make sure the van meet Alberta requirements and then I take the green form the inspector gives me back to the AMA Registry office within 14 days and I get the plates. (Actually, it’s only one plate.)

So, by now it’s 1:00 pm and I head downtown to a meeting with some TT leaders about the school web site which I have volunteered to do some work on. It’s such a small world, though because the marketing guy used to do work for Epcor and know many of LA’s staff.

Rushing off to pick up the kids from school, I arrive a few minutes late which causes both Ben and Ella some consternation. To placate, I offer a visit to the YMCA which is enthusiastically accepted. Turns out the YMCA offers a program called After School Mania. Get this, I can drop the kids there from 4:00 to 5:30 pm and they play, supervised, in the gym with other kids. Meanwhile, I go upstairs and work out. And this is a free drop in program for members – and we’re all members.

As of it can get better than that, Ruth is the young woman supervising the program. She takes a shine to Ben and Ella and we strike up a conversation after. She works Wednesdays and Thursdays AND her sister’s friend is the president of BBYO and she takes our number so the friend can call Maddy and invite her to an event.

Finally, we head to the TBO to decorate the Sukkah. Several very creative craft stations await us including:

• stringing fall berries using needle and thread;
• ironing leaves between wax paper;
• making pine cone birds;
• paper wind socks; and
• newspaper lulavs.

The kids were mesmerized. That is, until they ran out of cheese pizza. Benny lost it at that point and the evening was showing signs of needing to be wound down.

Home and in bed by 8:30 pm. And now I tackle the mountain of laundry. (Sigh.)

The days can be long, but the weeks are flying by.