Today started with lunch and some great conversation with friends. I met up with my friends Colleen, Pat, her husband Trent, and their daughter Becky. We had a wonderful lunch and spent a couple of hours catching up. Lots of laughs, lots of stories, and just an all-around fun time.
After lunch, I got to spend a little time hanging out with Gizmo, my friend Lorraine's dog. Gizmo is a pretty good host and seemed happy to have visitors.
Later in the day, I headed to my first Canadian Football League game, the Calgary Stampeders versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I was excited to experience Canadian football for the first time, but I was not prepared for the weather.
I had on an undershirt, an Under Armour ColdGear shirt, and a T-shirt. That should have been more than enough to keep me warm. The wind was so strong and the temperature so chilly that I ended up buying a sweatshirt at the stadium. Even with all those layers, I was still cold. By late in the fourth quarter, I was actually shivering.
Apparently, nobody told Alberta that it is supposed to be summer.
The game itself was a lot of fun. We left with about seven minutes remaining. Calgary had just scored to take the lead, and it looked like they might pull out the win. Unfortunately for the hometown fans, Winnipeg kicked a last-second field goal to win 30-28. It was an exciting finish, even if it did not end the way the Calgary fans wanted.
As if one stressful sporting event was not enough, I also watched the entire Knicks game.
What a roller coaster.
The Knicks built a 14-point lead, only to watch San Antonio go on a 14-0 run. San Antonio eventually took the lead, then the Knicks regained it. The game was tied late when Jalen Brunson was fouled. He made his first free throw but missed the second.
San Antonio raced down the court with a chance to win, but they did not score. They grabbed the rebound on their missed shot, but time expired before they could get another attempt off. The Knicks escaped with the victory and now lead the series 2-0 heading home for the next two games.
I think between the football game and the Knicks game, my blood pressure got more exercise than I did.
On the way to the retreat center, we were treated to some absolutely beautiful mountain views and a spectacular sunset. The mountains seemed to glow as the sun got lower in the sky, and the colors kept changing every few minutes. The combination of the sunset and the Rocky Mountains made for a perfect ending to the day.
After all the excitement, we arrived at the Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, where I will be spending the next couple of days. It should be a nice change of pace after weeks of driving, sightseeing, sports, and constantly checking the weather forecast.
Although knowing this trip, there is probably a hailstorm, a mountain goat, and a surprise detour waiting for me somewhere tomorrow.
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