More cuties

It's free to go to the alpaca farm and cuddle for as long as you want on Saturdays and Sundays!  They have a gift shop that sells fleece, handspun yarn from their animals [I bought 2 skeins], and handmade and loom made goodies like hats, scarves, mittens, and wraps.  We got lost on the way there so only had about 30 minutes but we plan to go back.  It's only about an hour from Sacramento if you take the freeway or about two hours if you take the back road, or three if you take the back roads, make a few stops, and get lost.

The owners of the farm were the first alpaca farm in the area when they started 15 years ago.  Now there are others but Retiredice alpacas is the only place that allows visitors and offers items for sale.

That little lady on the left is deaf.  Alapacas born deaf express a recessive gene that also gives them blue eyes.  SCIENCE!  The deaf alpaca has a 2 week old baby that was running all over the place.  It was the CUTEST THING EVER.  

Alpacas are the cutest

B and I drove to an alpaca farm that I've been looking forward to visiting for about a year.  I love knitting with alpaca yarn and seeing and petting the animals was awesome.  The farm we went to is Retiredice alpacas and they have over 60 animals including 13 babies there!  

It's true

Sometimes when I say the word "parkade" I get blank or questioning looks.  That's what we call indoor parking lots in Canada.  At least there's the universal P in a circle for International visitors so they know where to park.

There was a record snowfall for March while we were there.  That was fun!  I stayed inside.

We even got to sing happy birthday, though not for the person I thought we'd be singing for!  B's sister J got a bit lost while driving to Calgary so her parents surprised her with an early

 birthday gift, a GPS, to get home safely.  Before we started in to the cake I took a photo and asked everyone to look natural.  This is what I got.

B and I met up with my friend Danielle who drove from Edmonton to meet us for brunch.  It was really nice to see you Danielle!  I was telling B's Mom that it doesn't feel like D and I haven't seen eachother in so long because we chat or email online a few times a week.  

Before the big snowfall we went for a walk along the river near B's parents house.

Chilly!

I'm in Calgary and I'm cold!

Yes, that is steam coming out of my ears and money falling out of my pockets

Ugh!  I am so tired of Bank of America.  

The other day B and I were trying to book airline tickets on the air canada website. B had left his B of A card at work so I was trying to buy them with mine.  I clicked the purchase button and a message popped up saying my purchase was denied due to insufficient funds.  B decided [was sent] to get his card at work to try buying the tickets.  While he was away I got a call from the bank saying there was a fraudulent purchase they needed to discuss with me.  That got resolved and after hanging up the phone I tried to purchase the tickets again.  At the end of the purchase page there was a "verified by visa" password that I had to enter as well as my social security number.  I don't have either of those so I had to call the $#%$#%'n bank AGAIN.  I talked to one useless woman who asked me how on earth I got a bank account without a social security number.  After I explained the policies of THE BANK THAT SHE WORKED FOR she transfered me to another department that specialised in California accounts.  There, I was told that I could not get a verified by visa password without a social security number and if I wanted to buy the airline tickets I would have to call the airline directly.  

By then Brad was home and he tried to buy the tickets and got the same fraud message as I did.  A few minutes later he got the same phonecall and had to go through several departments to have his card reinstated.  An hour and a half later we finally had the tickets.

Then, today we were looking at our bank statement online and noticed two 10$ charges under the label "International".  I called the bank AGAIN and asked what the charges were and the lady working said they were 3% charges from our airline ticket purchases because Air Canada is based in Canada.  So, even though the tickets were purchased in US currency, leaving from a US airport we have to pay an additional 3% for some unknown reason.  This has happened to other US residents and you can read about it here

I also found that bank of America has partnered with Air Canada to have a Bank of America aeroplan points credit cards. I wonder if they charge those cardholders the 3% fee.

Free throw!

We went bowling on Saturday and the bowling balls were so heavy.  During one of my bowls I swung my arm back and the ball just fell out of my hand because I couldn't hold onto it.  At least I didn't split my pants like someone else on my team.

It's been sooooooooo nice here lately and it's even better now with the time change!  This week I went out and about on my bike, for coffee and lunch with friends and read in the backyard.  It's still too soggy in the garden to think about weeding.  That's Jen and I at the new Naked Lounge in midtown.  It is really cool there but they stole my money with their overpriced drinks.