Monthly Archives: September 2013

Entry 273: Do I Have a Job for You!

Posted on September 29, 2013 by markhal

Do you have what it takes to be a horological conservator? If you do, or if you even know what a horological conservator is, there’s a job opening you should know about. (Hint: It has nothing to do with Stephen … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, horological conservator, job with the queen, Prince George, Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England. Royal Collection Trust Horological Conservation, Windsor Castle | Leave a comment

Entry 272: Murder Most Fowl

Posted on September 25, 2013 by markhal

Have you heard the big news? The U.S. Federal Department of Agriculture has approved four Chinese poultry processors to begin shipping meat to the U.S. I can’t wait! I love Chinese chicken. Sometimes it comes with three nuts, sometimes it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 46-year-old chicken feet, Adam Minter, chicken swallows diamond, Chinese chicken, Colonel Sanders, General Tso’s chicken, Kung Pow Chicken, U.S. Federal Department of Agriculture, USDA | 5 Comments

Entry 271: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Series Finale

Posted on September 22, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Thursday, August 29. Banff. 6:45am MT: Our last breakfast, which is very much like the Last Supper, only with French toast. I haven’t said much about the food on this trip, which has been delicious, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Calgary Airport, Canadian Rockies, Grand Canadian Rockies, Tauck, Tim Hortons, Western Canada | 2 Comments

Entry 270: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Part 8

Posted on September 19, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Wednesday, August 28. Banff. 9:00am MT: We will start our last day with a river float adventure. River floating is a lot like white water rafting in that there is a river involved. It’s not as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Banff, Banff Gondola, Banff National Park, Bow Valley River Rafting, Canadian currency, Canadian Rockies, Grand Canadian Rockies, Great Barrier Reef, mounties, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. RCMP, Sesame Place, Tauck, The Fairmont Banff Springs, toonies and loonies, Western Canada | 1 Comment

Entry 269: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Part 7

Posted on September 17, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Tuesday, August 27. Lake Louise. 5:30am MT: We look out our window to see the famous Lake Louise sunrise. This is so popular that you can even tell the front desk to give you a sunrise … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Banff, Banff National Park, Bow River, Canadian Pacific Railway, Celine Dion, Columbia Ice Field, Fairmont Hotels, Jasper, Lake Louise, Miley Cyrus, Mounted Police. RCMP, The Fairmont Banff Springs, Video Music Awards, Yoho National Park | 1 Comment

Entry 268: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Part 6

Posted on September 15, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Monday, August 26. Jasper to Lake Louise. 11:30am MT: Well, good news and bad news. The good news is that it’s finally cold enough for me to wear my warm clothes. The bad news is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Athabasca Glacier, Canadian Rockies, Columbia Ice Field, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Grand Canadian Rockies, Ice Fields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Lake Louise, Parks Canada, Peyto Lake, Tauck, triple continental divide, Western Canada | 2 Comments

Entry 267: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Part 5

Posted on September 12, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Saturday, August 24. On the Train. 6:30am PT: We slept remarkably well on the train, considering Barbara was in the top bunk and was, initially, nauseous. That alone should have kept me up all night but didn’t. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Canadian Rockies, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Grand Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park, Johnny Carson, Marx Brothers, Parks Canada, Royal BC Museum, Tauck, The Canadian train, train to Jasper, Western Canada | 3 Comments

Entry 266: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Part 4

Posted on September 10, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Friday, August 23. Victoria, BC. 6:30am PT: The weather on this trip so far has been absolutely gorgeous, and that’s becoming a problem. We did not pack for such nice weather. If it doesn’t get cold … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged A Night at the Opera, Canadian Rockies, Empress Hotel, Grand Canadian Rockies, Johnny Carson, Marx Brothers, Royal BC Museum, Tauck, The Canadian train, train to Jasper, Vancouver Island, Western Canada | 1 Comment

Entry 265: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Part 3

Posted on September 8, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Thursday, August 22. Victoria, BC. 9:00am PT: We depart for the “world famous” (according to Greg, the tour guide) Butchart Gardens. I, for one, have never heard of it. What’s the requirement for being world famous … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ammolite, ammonites, Butchart Gardens, Canadian currency, Canadian Rockies, Grand Canadian Rockies, loonies, mounties, Nautical Nellie’s, RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Tauck, toonies, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Western Canada | 1 Comment

Entry 264: What We Did on Our Summer Vacation, Part 2

Posted on September 6, 2013 by markhal

Continued from last post… Tuesday, August 20. 8:00am PT: Breakfast in the hotel, covered by Tauck. Miso soup is on the menu. The breakfast menu. 9:20am PT: We take a cab to Granville Island, which is a combination farmer’s market/crafts fair. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged British Columbia, Canadian Rockies, felting, First Nation, Gassy Jack, Gastown, Grand Canadian Rockies, Granville Island, Stanley Park, Tauck, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Western Canada | 2 Comments