I am a lucky guy.  No, a very lucky guy.

A number of years ago, I was asked to participate in a project at work to replace one of one of our largest computer systems.  I was hesitant at first for my own self-absorbed reasons, but in the end, I look at that time as being some of the best days I've had at work.

As a result of this project, I have been fortunate to have been allowed to stay involved to varying degrees and this has allowed me to travel on several occasions to several areas of Canada on the company bill for conferences - I am eternally appreciative of that.

This year, the conference is being hosted in Calgary, Alberta and once again, I have been approved to attend.  It pays to not only be a nerd, but to be a nerd who is interested.  

It is because of this approval and a healthy Vacation bank that I am excited to say that I will be taking an extra nine days, arriving in town early and will promptly rent a car and drive directly into the mountains of Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta.  

I haven`t been to the area since I was a kid where I made the cross-country trek with my parents by car, but there`s one thing this dumb kid learned on that drive.  Canada is beautiful.  But in that beauty, places like Banff and Jasper stand head and shoulders above the rest.  

Picturesque mountaintops sit above aqua blue lakes, ponds and streams.  Animals (many of them extremely dangerous) are everywhere, to the extent that the authorities are parked on the road to guide cars around them because this is their land, not ours.

On April 25th, I will have my feet on the ground in Banff for the first time since I was 16 and if the weather cooperates, I hope to bring home shots that will stick with me forever.

My next blog posts will be of that trip.  If anyone reads this and has specific places that must be seen, please feel free to contact me at maxwellg@rogers.com.