#24 WATCHING MY WIFE SAVOR HER ICE CREAM

There are a few things that are really enjoyable and some that we get cravings for (like ice cream). My wife is a fanatic for a good bowl of chocolate ice cream.

I remember when we first got married and we would go to my parents house for dinner and spend the evening. After sitting and visiting for a while my dad would invite Nancy into the kitchen to help dish ice cream. after scooping a couple small bowls for my mom and I, they would fill their bowls to overflowing, with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, bananas, strawberries, nuts and whatever else they could find that might be a nice garnish. They would eat their ice cream in the kitchen, this was their way of sneaking it so no one would know how much ice cream they were having.

There was one time when we were living in Drumheller, Alberta and my wife was pregnant. It was late one evening, around 11:00pm and my wife had the "dreaded craving attack" for ice cream, not just any ice cream, but Schwans Original ice cream. Being the diligent supportive husband, I left the house in search of any place that would sell Schwans ice cream.
After being snubbed at all the stores in town (most of which were convenience stores), I decided to buy her a couple fudgesicles as back up, after all, you don't want to face the wrath of a pregnant woman with cravings!!! As I was headed home I happened to drive by the Schwans warehouse. I pulled over, got out and went to the building to see if they had a sign that said what hours they were open, go figure...no sign. It was then that I noticed someone in the yard. I called out to the gentleman, who was the night stocker for the trucks, and asked when they opened and if they sold ice cream at the front. He told me no, only truck delivery and I knew my area of town didn't have delivery for another 4 days. He asked why I was so desperate for ice cream, so I was telling him that my wife was having cravings because she was pregnant.

As soon as I said "PREGNANT" he told me "say no more, I understand, what flavor do you need?" and he went and got me ice cream for my wife, gave it to me and told me don't worry about paying for it. It was a life saver for me.

When we lived in Bremerton, Washington, my wife found a new favorite in a place called Cold Stone Creamery. She spent many a moment with her friends having ice cream with all the fixin's.

Since we have moved back to Lethbridge, Alberta, my wife has had to find a new ice cream place. In her searching for a new favorite place, she has found Marble Slab Creamery. Her favorite ice cream treat right now is... Chocolate Swiss ice cream with lots of Brownies and Caramel sauce mixed into it. When she gets the craving we go for a drive and my granddaughter knows exactly where the ice cream shop is too. Do you think the women in this house love ice cream...haha.

Watching my wife savor her ice cream makes me happy.

#23 SPENDING TIME WITH MY GRANDSONS AT THE RINK

As I had posted a while back, my family has spent many hour in the hockey rink in all different capacities. This past Christmas we decided to purchase Hockey Canada jerseys for my grandsons that live in the USA. There is always a lot of talk about the kids and there jerseys when they wear them. It is awesome that people immediately look at you as someone who has been in higher caliber hockey, with better skills, training and knowledge of the game.

It is a pleasure to see the boys all playing together and enjoying their time in the rink. When my kids were younger they were all rink rats, they loved being at the rink, the atmosphere, the friends, the hockey family, watching the zamboni and being able to stand at the gate after the junior game and hopefully get a free hockey stick from their favorite player and get it signed.

When the grandkids have ice time it is so enjoyable to watch them grow and learn the game. Seeing the excitement in them as they master a skill reminds me of the many times my own children would learn a new move or shot and being so thrilled. I wish many years of fun and friendships created by their time at the rink.

Spending time with my grandsons at the rink makes me happy.

#22 WATCHING MY GRANDDAUGHTERS REACTION TO DEER

I know my last post was about deer. This one is as well but my about the excitement my granddaughter showed when saw the deer. We were doing some work at the shop when I noticed the deer. It started out as 3 deer wandered over to an open area. After a short time there was 9 deer together, one was a 5 point buck.

I went inside and got Charley-Taylor and took her outside to see the deer. We walked across the street and over to a house where a doe and fawn were in the trees eating leaves. We were standing about 7 feet away from them. Charley was in awe as we watched the 2 deer eat. She was so excited being close to them. It is amazing to see the reactions of children when something excites them.

We went across the main road over by the open area and got close to the other deer. By this time there was 12 deer in the area. I told Charley that we needed to walk very quietly, so she tip-toed as we got closer and finally got to a spot and kneeled down on the sidewalk and watched. Charley kept saying "nice deer, come here deer" she so wanted to go over and pet them. By the time we got ready to leave there was 15 deer in all.

Watching my grand daughters reaction to deer makes me happy.

#21 SEEING WILDLIFE UP CLOSE

The other day I left the house early in the morning for a meeting. As I pulled out of the driveway I noticed movement across the street. I pulled up to the corner and across in the neighbor's yard was a deer. I took out my phone, loaded up the camera and proceeded to take pictures. 

 

I followed the deer for about three blocks as he wandered down the street and into other yards along the way until he took off into a back alley.

It is always cool to see deer in the area. We don't live on the outskirts of town. We are about four kilometers from any area where you would think the deer would live, but they frequent the area.

One evening, aroumd 11:00 PM, I was in the kitchen and saw movement in our front yard. I looked closer and realized there was four deer in my yard eating leaves from my trees. I watched for about fifteen minutes as they went from yard to yard down the street until they disappeared from site. Another time I was driving down the street and five deer trotted out of the kids play park and across the street between the houses and into the back yards like they have been doing it forever, the gentleman at the bus stop just watched them as though it was an everyday occurrence.

Seeing wildlife up close makes me happy.

#20 THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU PUT ON A JACKET YOU HAVEN'T WORN SINCE LAST FALL AND YOU FIND A $20 BILL IN THE POCKET

Well fall has definitely arrived in our part of the country, We always have nice weather in the spring and fall. It is always late in the season before we get snow that stays. This year has been no different. In the last couple of weeks I have started to wear my fall jacket as the weather has been cooler during the day.

So let me ask you this.

Have you ever put on a jacket that you haven't worn for about 6 months?

Of course you have.

Have you ever put your hand in the pocket and feel something that has been there since the last time you used that jacket?

Of course you have.

Have you ever been shocked when you pull the stuff out of your pocket and realize it is a 20 dollar bill?

I have, and that is an awesome feeling.

It is great to find things that you have forgotten or that you didn't even realize were there. It is always exciting to find money.....especially when it is somthing extra that has not already been allocated to bills or groceries or other expenses.

Now the question is, what do I do with it?

I have decided to take my wife to the movies and it wont even be money out of our budget.... I'll even let her choose.

That moment when you put on a jacket you haven't worn since last fall and you find a $20 bill in the pocket makes me happy.

#19 A FABULOUS STEAK DINNER

As I said in a previous post, my wife and I have been trying different restaurants. Tonight we both had a black Angus steak dinner. It was an amazingly well cooked steak seasoned to perfection. The veggies were also exquisite, a squash with a nice sauce and mashed potatoes. We were both so pleased with our meals that I think we found our new favorite restaurant.

A fabulous steak dinner makes me happy.

#18 VISITING HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP

On Saturday my wife and I took our granddaughter with us and visited Head-smashed-in Buffalo Jump.

What an amazing piece of history to learn about. The tactics that were learned by the Blackfoot Indians through tracking and watching the buffalo, then using what they had learned of their behavior to create a stampede and direct the buffalo over the cliff. This tactic had been used by the natives for over 5800 years in the western plains to bring food and supplies to the tribe.

This area is the most well preserved buffalo jump locations that have ever been discovered.  I recommend a tour of this facility to anyone interested in history.

Visiting Head-smashed-in Buffalo Jump makes me happy.

#17 HAVING A RELIABLE VEHICLE

This summer my wife and I finally purchased a newer vehicle, the newest vehicle we have ever had since, well ever. It is awesome to actually enjoy getting into my truck, feeling safe and comfortable and having fun driving it. This is definitely the classiest vehicle we have ever had and it is really good looking too. It has been a dream come true to have a new vehicle.
I love it.

Having a reliable vehicle makes me happy.

#16 50's STYLE SODA SHOPS

You know the cool diners from the 1950's (for those of you who are old enough), you know, like the one Fonzie used to frequent on Happy Days.

Well, on the way home from Calgary, my wife and I took a little detour to Black Diamond, a little town in southern Alberta where my dad grew up.

We stopped at Marv's Classic Soda Shop and had probably the best home cooked hamburger ever. It is a very cool little diner.

 The decor is very retro with lots of posters and items from the 50's. There is a big jukebox against the wall.

As well as the small selector boxes on the table in each booth. The staff is even dressed in typical soda shop attire.

 My wife andI had a great meal and and enjoyed our little excursion. We are exploring new places and trying new food and restaurants  all the time.

Spending some time in this soda shop brought back some great memories for me.

50's style soda shops make me happy.

#15 SPENDING TIME WITH MY WIFE

Today we are driving to Calgary. My wife is driving,  allowing me time to post on the blog. It is a beautiful day, the weather is nice, the sun is shining and thank goodness there is no snow. I enjoy the time that we get to spend together, we get to talk and visit without the interruption of others. We always have fun teasing and joking together and sometimes we get into fits of laughter. These times always remind me to enjoy what we have together. My wife is the love of my life and means everything to me.

Spending time with my wife makes me happy.

#14 SCUBA DIVING

I have had my scuba license for about 25 years. I have done dives in many different locations, from cold water lakes in northern Alberta, to warm water ocean dives in the Caribbean. Each place has its own unique discoveries that make them fun.

Diving is a different world

When you get in a wet suit

And put on scuba tanks

Don't forget your mask and fins 

Boat ride to a reef...thanks

The ocean is a different world

When you are underwater

Scuba diving's so much fun

With your son or daughter

Dive from boats or from the shore

Or any way you like

Swimming in the deep blue sea

Just like riding a bike

Seeing all the types of coral

Octopus, eels and fish

The colors are so amazing
Like nothing you could wish

Troy Hudkins     November 2014

Scuba diving makes me happy.

#13 THE DINOSAUR MUSEUM

We toured through the Royal Tyrrell Museum a couple of days back. It is always very interesting to see the impressive beasts and how they would have lived and survived millions of years ago. The one thing I thought was very cool this time is the one display that I looked at that was discovered by Shawn Funk, a very good friend of mine.

Imagine having this as part of your legacy. This will never die, for generations to come, children will be told "your great-great-grandfather Shawn Funk uncovered this dinosaur while he was digging at work".

To my good friend, thank you for creating this legacy and sharing this discovery with the world.

The dinosaur museum makes me happy.

#12 GOING THROUGH THE TELEPHONE MUSEUM

This morning  I went with my wife, my mother and my wife's aunt to the telephone museum. It is amazing to see the history behind the telephone. The way technology has changed over the years is mind boggling. I had the pleasure of being a switchboard operator for a few minutes (definitely a job that I wouldn't want to do). Looking through telephone books from 1959 and 1960 I did find listings for both sets of my grandparents and also my mom and dad's first listing after they were married. How cool is that.

Going through the telephone museum makes me happy.

#11 HOME COOKED MEALS

There is something about a home cooked meal that is very satisfying. The smell that wafts through the air while the meals are cooking send my desire to eat into overdrive. Smothering butter over the mashed potatoes, letting cheez whiz melt on the steamed broccoli and cauliflower, the way the meat juice trickle on your plate, all these things create such a masterpiece on the dinner plate. After eating such a wonderful meal and cleaning up, it is always nice to sit and relax on the couch and visit with family. The home cooked meal is so much better than any restaurant meal can ever be.

Home cooked meals make me happy,

#10 GOING ON A ROAD TRIP TO SEE MY PARENTS

While we all have our own families and are so wrapped up in our lives, it is nice to take a few days from the busy schedule to make the road trip to see my parents. As the years go by and my parents grow older, it makes me cherish the moments that we have together. My parents are very special to me,  they have taught me so much and have raised me with good traits and respect for those around me. Thank you Mom and Dad.

Going on a road trip to see my parents makes me happy.

#9 AIRPLANE RIDES

Riding in an airplane is fun. It amazes me when you look out the window and down to the earth and see all the farmers fields in different colors, separated in distinct shapes. Seeing the vehicles on the road and knowing it is taking them 5 hours to get to the same place it is taking you a 45 minute trip. I have flown in small 2 seater airplanes, 6 seater bush planes, 14 seater float planes, turbo prop and jet planes. My favorite airplane to ride on is the one that is taking me on a trip to a faraway land. Airplanes have made travel easier for long distances and it sure takes the stress away from driving on the busy roads, you can lay your head back and relax.

Airplanes make me happy.

#8 BIRTHDAYS

People, animals, even places have birthdays. I like to look at my birthday as a celebration of having another year of life, to enjoy my family and friends. Each year that goes by we gain knowledge even though we may not think of it that way. I heard someone say once that you grow and learn life until you are 25 and every year after that is experience. So I am 25 with 29 years experience. I look forward to many more years of experience to come. Happy birthday to everyone who is celebrating today.

Birthdays make me happy.

#7 PLAYING HOCKEY

Hockey is an excellent sport, it teaches you skills and finesse, how to have soft hands (until you get in a scrap), how to be a team player, to have drive and desire as an individual and how to be an ambassador for the game and your home city. Growing up in a small northern town, there was not a lot of things to do in the winter. We used to skate down the frozen ditches and shovel the ice on the lake and start a game of shinny hockey. This is where my love for the game started. My first pair of skates I used for hockey tryouts was my dads size 10 generic brand skates. I had to stuff paper in the toe of the skates as I was only a size 8 at the time. The first year I learned to skate well and my love for the game grew. Through the years I have made many friends and met a lot of highly respected people that have helped shape the person I have become. As my children grew, I coached hockey (for over 25 years) and there have even been players from my teams that have grown into excellent young men who have joined the NHL. I have been involved in all aspects of hockey, from making ice and running the zamboni to mascot to music man to broadcasting live video and play by play over the internet. Hockey has been a very large part of my life and even though it is relaxing to not run so much for practices, games and out of town trips, I definitely miss it.

Playing hockey makes me happy.

#6 SUNSETS

Sunsets are amazing. They have a special aura that sends out happiness.

When the sun starts going down the colors in the sky change so subtly.

But watch closely as it happens, it doesn't take too long to go down.

It is an amazing site to see.

I would encourage everyone to watch a sunset with someone special.

Sunsets make me happy.

#5 PIZZA

Pizza is a feel good food. There are so many different kinds of pizza...and all of them are good. I like homestyle pizzas from small shops that make a lot of things from scratch and put a good serving of toppings on it, not the big pizza chains who are sparse with the toppings. My favorite pizza is a Canadian with ground beef added or a Donair pizza. Pizza is a food that is a great meal no matter what day it is and you can serve it for any occasion. The best place to buy pizza is LOCAL'S PIZZA in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Pizza makes me happy.

#4 Seattle / Bremerton Ferry Ride

In 2001 I moved my family to Bremerton, Washington. It was a great adventure for us. We enjoyed the weather, meeting new people and making new friends. As we learned about the area and the activities that were nearby, we started taking the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle where we spent the day walking around Pioneer Square and and through Pike Place Market. This became our date day on a regular basis. Touring around was great, but my favorite part of the day was riding the ferry. There is just something relaxing and calming about being on the water. For anyone that hasn't taken a ferry ride, I suggest you try it. Enjoy the scenery, the sea lions, the waves, the ocean air and the purr of the boats engines as it motors through the water transporting vehicles and passengers to their destination.

The Seattle / Bremerton ferry ride makes me happy.

#3 Laughing

Laughing is one of those things that always makes you feel happy. Remember when you were young and you were arguing with you brother or sister or your mom or dad never let you do something that made you mad. Walking around with a scowl on your face and being upset at the world. Then out of the blue someone starts joking around or teasing you and trying to make you laugh. You start snickering while trying to still be mad, but to no avail. Soon enough you start laughing and the anger dissipates leaving you feeling happy. There are also the times when someone does something really funny and you start laughing uncontrollably, you know...the time when you are laughing so much that your stomach starts to ache, or when you are laughing so hard that your eyes tear up and it gets hard to breath. Even the moments when you stop laughing and calm down, then you look across the table at someone and start laughing again. Laughing is the sort of thing that eases tension in a room or gets people interacting with each other. We could all use more laughter in our lives.

Laughing makes me happy.

#2 The Smell Of Freshly Popped Popcorn

Whether you are just relaxing watching TV, working around the house, or walking by the theater in the mall, when there is freshly popped popcorn around the aroma seems to waft through the air and set off sensors in your brain that spark the craving for some popcorn. The aroma lingers and waits to catch you in the nose. It is the one smell that always finds me no matter where I am. When I make popcorn, there is always someone who comes by and says "that popcorn smell delicious, I could smell it all the way down the hall".

The smell of freshly popped popcorn makes me happy.

#1 Waking Up In The Morning

Waking up has become something I really appreciate. Being able to enjoy life and all the little moments that make it worth living. It is always special knowing that there is a new day to begin another adventure, to watch the day unfold ...no... to help the day unfold in the way that you want it to. It gives me pleasure in knowing that I can write my own story, create my own adventures and experiences and to be able to watch my family and grandchildren grow and learn around me.

Waking up in the morning makes me happy.