What a wonderful morning I had today! A friend stopped over early in the morning and we went for a nearly 5km walk around the lake. It was perfect weather for the walk: a little overcast, a bit breezy, maybe even a little bit too chilly, but better than being too warm. It was fun watching the geese and ducks, the turtle that poked its head out of the lake long enough for us to have a good look at it, the squirrels and the beautiful pelicans flying majestically overhead. There were a few canoes out on the lake and watching people paddling is always fun as the varying levels of skill become apparent. An excellent walk followed by a good visit equals a nearly perfect start to any day!!
While I was with my friend, my husband was at the Delta Hotel to encourage our Egyptian friends who were being welcomed into Canadian Citizenship at a ceremony this morning. Although I was unable to be there, he took a couple of excellent pictures of their family and we are going to go and share in their late evening feast tonight. Since it is Ramadan, we will be eating closer to 10pm. I am looking forward to feasting together as it has been about six months since our last opportunity to get together. My husband is going to be VERY tired for work tomorrow, but this is a special occasion and we want to participate in welcoming our friends into our country as fellow citizens as well as friends.
Today is pay day, but after driving to the bank to ensure my husband's wages had been deposited, I realized it was getting to be well past my lunch time. I know my blood sugar was a bit too low as I started getting kind of lightheaded and faint. Fortunately there is a restaurant near the bank...Swiss Chalet, but o well, it is food, right? I got myself in there pronto, grateful that the staff there is so quick to bring the food out from the kitchen and ordered myself their new taco plate. It was the wierdest "taco" arrangement I have ever eaten but it was rather delicious!! Surprise, surprise! I have confined myself to their chicken caesar salads for years, but this was a pleasant change of pace.
The plate came with two teensy tortilla wraps rather than tacos and on top of each one was a mound of taco herbed pulled chicken, with a spoonful of coleslaw on top. Okay...interesting.... I sprung for the yam fries and there was just the right amount to constitute 2 carb units. Along with the tiny tortilla wraps I estimate I was just over my usual limit for lunchtime carb intake, so that isn't bad for a restaurant meal. I think most people would be extremely disappointed by the small portion size of both items, but for me it was perfect. There was a nice slice of lime to squeeze over the tortillas and enough left in it to squeeze the rest of the juice into my diet cola. On the side was the typical garlic and paprika aioli for the yam fries, but there was also a bowl of the old fashioned Swiss Chalet chicken dipping sauce, surprisingly okay with the yam fries....okay, okay, I MUST have been ravenous, but there you go.... For such a bizarre mixture of foodstuffs, it was actually very tasty as a whole. Sometime I will order it again, just to see if it is really as tasty as it seemed or if my low blood sugar was responsible for my total enjoyment of the rather odd little meal.
After eating I was soon feeling better of course, but decided I needed another bit of a walk to wear off the deep fried component of the yams! hohoho..... So, since the restaurant is beside a mall, I left my car parked where it was and headed into the mall for a good walk around. In the process I found a grocery store where I was able to shop for some of the handful of items I needed and also a mens's store that had 100% cotton men's summer slacks on clearance. My husband bought a couple of pair of pants a couple of weeks ago, but they are quite heavy material and I don't think they will be suitable for the really hot weather, such as we might experience in NYC in a couple of weeks. (have I used the word "couple" enough for ya'?? haha)
So, I had a good walk around the mall several times while doing that bit of shopping. Then I drove back to my community grocery store for the items I couldn't get at the mall store, before heading back home.
Now I have had a break and a short sit down. It is time to iron the laundry I did yesterday. There is a rerun of a tv show this afternoon, one that I missed recording when the power went out during our trip to Calgary last week. So, I will move the ironing operation downstairs to the living room and enjoy the "company" while I wield the iron.
Tonight I am going to prepare a VERY light dinner so that my husand and I can thoroughly enjoy the "end of a Ramadan day" of feasting tonight.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Now, This is More Like It!
Today is a glorious sort of day! Although it is just as warm as it was yesterday, there is a slight breeze that makes walking outside much more enjoyable. A few small thunderhead clouds are forming to the west, so MAYBE we will finally get some of the rain that has been predicted daily for the past 3 days and hasn't materialized. Wow, we surely do need the moisture!
I had a lovely walk downtown this morning to get my hair cut. There were no other clients scheduled while I was at the shop, so my stylist and I had the conversational run of the place. It never ceases to amaze me how many deep conversations it is possible to have in someone else's work place when there is no danger of other employees overhearing. We had quite a time of spiritual sharing.
After my wonderful chicken shawarma salad for lunch, I wandered around Cornwall Centre, picking up a few personal odds and ends, going to the post office and rejoicing as I looked in all the stores filled with clothing I don't need to purchase! Then I took in the mid week Farmers' Market beside the park downtown before wandering back home again.
I am doing my laundry now and getting a few more home chores done. I enjoyed having company last evening and looking forward to an out of town guest passing through for a visit on Saturday morning.
So far this week has been very positive and busy. My husband is settled back into work and enjoying it all the more for having had such a wonderful break in the mountains! Mom and Dad have recovered from our visit and are in good spirits, looking forward to our time together next month.
I had a lovely walk downtown this morning to get my hair cut. There were no other clients scheduled while I was at the shop, so my stylist and I had the conversational run of the place. It never ceases to amaze me how many deep conversations it is possible to have in someone else's work place when there is no danger of other employees overhearing. We had quite a time of spiritual sharing.
After my wonderful chicken shawarma salad for lunch, I wandered around Cornwall Centre, picking up a few personal odds and ends, going to the post office and rejoicing as I looked in all the stores filled with clothing I don't need to purchase! Then I took in the mid week Farmers' Market beside the park downtown before wandering back home again.
I am doing my laundry now and getting a few more home chores done. I enjoyed having company last evening and looking forward to an out of town guest passing through for a visit on Saturday morning.
So far this week has been very positive and busy. My husband is settled back into work and enjoying it all the more for having had such a wonderful break in the mountains! Mom and Dad have recovered from our visit and are in good spirits, looking forward to our time together next month.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
A Hot Day Today
It is a hot weather day.
It is a breezeless, humid, blazing hot weather day.
It is a why did I choose today to wash and dry several loads of laundry, knowing full well using the laundry appliances would add more hot air to our all ready too hot suite, hot weather day.
It is a why did I decide to make myself wear a polyester blouse and skinny jeans just because I wanted to get a second wearing out of them, instead of wearing a cotton sun dress that would have been more weather appropriate, hot weather day.
It is an I am grateful I raced around the city early this morning running errands before being outside in the heat became too uncomfortable, hot weather day.
It is a why did I agree to having company this evening when I know darned well I will be too sweaty, tired and overheated to carry on a decent conversation, hot weather day.
It is hot.
Hot, hot, hot.
The forecast rain has not materialized and the forecast for rain tomorrow has been cancelled.
It is hot.
Hot, hot, hot.
Hot, I tell you.....
It is a breezeless, humid, blazing hot weather day.
It is a why did I choose today to wash and dry several loads of laundry, knowing full well using the laundry appliances would add more hot air to our all ready too hot suite, hot weather day.
It is a why did I decide to make myself wear a polyester blouse and skinny jeans just because I wanted to get a second wearing out of them, instead of wearing a cotton sun dress that would have been more weather appropriate, hot weather day.
It is an I am grateful I raced around the city early this morning running errands before being outside in the heat became too uncomfortable, hot weather day.
It is a why did I agree to having company this evening when I know darned well I will be too sweaty, tired and overheated to carry on a decent conversation, hot weather day.
It is hot.
Hot, hot, hot.
The forecast rain has not materialized and the forecast for rain tomorrow has been cancelled.
It is hot.
Hot, hot, hot.
Hot, I tell you.....
Monday, May 28, 2018
Apology Accepted
This morning the phone rang at 7:25am. Fortunately I was all ready up and my husband was more or less awake. The call display indicated the call was coming from my parents' facility and for a brief moment I panicked, wondering which one of them had been taken to hospital THIS time. I mean at that time of the morning what else could it be, right???
Deep breath before picking up the phone to answer.
My parents are both just fine. The call was from the facility manager in regard to the note I left her about all the things disappearing from our room during our stay last week. She felt terrible about what happened and called right before her shift started so she could get it taken care of right away. She explained when the small items had been taken from our room and profusely and very sincerely apologized. I accepted it and we agreed together that next time I need to visit my parents I will try staying there one more time. Over and out! Water under the bridge now as far as I am concerned.
It was interesting that once again, despite my questioning why, she refused to say why she needed to take those items from my suite. My husband and I are fairly certain, based on past experience with any number of such situations, that either she herself or one of her friends or family, perhaps another staff member, is in desperate need of a temporary place to stay and has been tucked away, perhaps without permission from the "higher ups", in another of the presently empty suites in the seniors' facility. It could be someone escaping abuse or some similar scenario. Since we have been involved through our ministry with so many people in those sorts of circumstances over the past 30 or so years, we are fairly certain our "discernment antennae" are picking up that kind of vibe.
So, next month I will give the place one more try and hope for the best. Second chances should accompany an apology and subsequent forgiveness whenever possible.
Deep breath before picking up the phone to answer.
My parents are both just fine. The call was from the facility manager in regard to the note I left her about all the things disappearing from our room during our stay last week. She felt terrible about what happened and called right before her shift started so she could get it taken care of right away. She explained when the small items had been taken from our room and profusely and very sincerely apologized. I accepted it and we agreed together that next time I need to visit my parents I will try staying there one more time. Over and out! Water under the bridge now as far as I am concerned.
It was interesting that once again, despite my questioning why, she refused to say why she needed to take those items from my suite. My husband and I are fairly certain, based on past experience with any number of such situations, that either she herself or one of her friends or family, perhaps another staff member, is in desperate need of a temporary place to stay and has been tucked away, perhaps without permission from the "higher ups", in another of the presently empty suites in the seniors' facility. It could be someone escaping abuse or some similar scenario. Since we have been involved through our ministry with so many people in those sorts of circumstances over the past 30 or so years, we are fairly certain our "discernment antennae" are picking up that kind of vibe.
So, next month I will give the place one more try and hope for the best. Second chances should accompany an apology and subsequent forgiveness whenever possible.
Lots Accomplished On a Hot Day
Today was a good day! While my husband enjoyed his final day out of the office by watching another episode or two of his favourite Expanse tv show, I got some banking, grocery shopping and other errands accomplished. After the better part of a week of nearly complete inactivity, at least in comparison to what I am used to, today felt like a return to healthy living!!
My husband wanted desperately to have a "date" today, but some of the things we wanted to do are not open/operating on Mondays, so we settled on the idea of trying a new restaurant for lunch. hahahaha What a fiasco that turned out to be. hahaha We found the address for the restaurant and drove an awfully long way to get to it, but when we reached that address the restaurant was nowhere to be found! There wasn't even a building that looked like it could have previously been occupied by a restaurant and then changed over to another business. Just wierd!! We decided our online map provider must have made a terrible mistake and headed off to the Lancaster for one of the best burgers I have eaten in a long time....and it has been a very long time because I so rarely order them now due to carb, fat and sodium content. My husband's chicken salad sandwich was equally amazing and was SO HUGE, he brought nearly half of it home and finished eating it for dinner tonight.
After lunch we came home and did some more research on the restaurant we tried to go to originally. Eventually found some more information about its location and discovered it is actually part of a seniors' housing complex, although it is open to the general public. Hmmmm....interesting.....that could explain the reasonably low prices...... We remember driving past that complex because it has a very odd name, but we know there was no signage to indicate to anyone outside the building that there is a public restaurant in there. Well, that is okay...something for another day, plus the Lancaster never lets us down foodwise. We discovered they carry a particularly delicious brand of Earl Grey tea that we both enjoyed.
My husband spent the rest of the afternoon sitting at his sewing machine in our cool basement, thoroughly enjoying himself as he put a big new zipper into his tent flap. What a job, but he executed it perfectly. Right now the tent is set up on our back deck so that he could spray some silicon onto the zipper without the odor penetrating the inside of our suite. I can hardly believe he had enough energy to do that, PLUS some writing on an article he has had in the works for awhile now. Today has given me hope that once the day comes that he is out from under the stress of his present job he will recover his health to some extent without it taking months and months to accomplish.
After having to keep most of the suite windows closed today to deflect the heat outside, it feels wonderful to have them all open to cool the place down before bedtime. The sky is pink and bubble bum blue as the sun is starting to set. I love being able to see so much of the sunset from our windows, even though we don't face directly west. We get to see a fair amount of the sunrise each morning as well....not because we are up that early each day on purpose to see it, but because we usually just happen to be up closing the windows against morning heat and goose wars about the time the sunrise is at its most beautiful.
I enjoy productive days like today!!
My husband wanted desperately to have a "date" today, but some of the things we wanted to do are not open/operating on Mondays, so we settled on the idea of trying a new restaurant for lunch. hahahaha What a fiasco that turned out to be. hahaha We found the address for the restaurant and drove an awfully long way to get to it, but when we reached that address the restaurant was nowhere to be found! There wasn't even a building that looked like it could have previously been occupied by a restaurant and then changed over to another business. Just wierd!! We decided our online map provider must have made a terrible mistake and headed off to the Lancaster for one of the best burgers I have eaten in a long time....and it has been a very long time because I so rarely order them now due to carb, fat and sodium content. My husband's chicken salad sandwich was equally amazing and was SO HUGE, he brought nearly half of it home and finished eating it for dinner tonight.
After lunch we came home and did some more research on the restaurant we tried to go to originally. Eventually found some more information about its location and discovered it is actually part of a seniors' housing complex, although it is open to the general public. Hmmmm....interesting.....that could explain the reasonably low prices...... We remember driving past that complex because it has a very odd name, but we know there was no signage to indicate to anyone outside the building that there is a public restaurant in there. Well, that is okay...something for another day, plus the Lancaster never lets us down foodwise. We discovered they carry a particularly delicious brand of Earl Grey tea that we both enjoyed.
My husband spent the rest of the afternoon sitting at his sewing machine in our cool basement, thoroughly enjoying himself as he put a big new zipper into his tent flap. What a job, but he executed it perfectly. Right now the tent is set up on our back deck so that he could spray some silicon onto the zipper without the odor penetrating the inside of our suite. I can hardly believe he had enough energy to do that, PLUS some writing on an article he has had in the works for awhile now. Today has given me hope that once the day comes that he is out from under the stress of his present job he will recover his health to some extent without it taking months and months to accomplish.
After having to keep most of the suite windows closed today to deflect the heat outside, it feels wonderful to have them all open to cool the place down before bedtime. The sky is pink and bubble bum blue as the sun is starting to set. I love being able to see so much of the sunset from our windows, even though we don't face directly west. We get to see a fair amount of the sunrise each morning as well....not because we are up that early each day on purpose to see it, but because we usually just happen to be up closing the windows against morning heat and goose wars about the time the sunrise is at its most beautiful.
I enjoy productive days like today!!
Sunday, May 27, 2018
The Final Sunday Concert of My "May Music Month"
Today I had the glorious privilege of listening to the music of a young pianist from Cupar SK by the name of Rene Czmeres. Oh how I enjoyed it. Ms. Czmeres is a gr. 12 student and is presently pursuing her gr. 10 RCM piano examination.
The standout pieces were:
--Haydn's Sonata in G Minor
--Debussy's extremely entertaining General Levine, Eccentric
--her teacher Brenda Ziolkowski's own Fantasy On an Archaic Legend#1
The composition by Brenda Ziolkowski was particularly interesting. While it is a modern composition that in some aspects reminded me of composer John Cage, it was also quite melodic and such fun to watch as it entailed the pianist having to lean over the top of the keyboard of the grand piano to pluck some of the strings on the board inside. It was a wonderful experience to hear and see. Ms. Czmeres certainly is capable of catching and expressing the fun of both the Ziolkowski and Debussy compositions. Listening to the Hayden played properly, without giving in to the temptation to "cheat" by using the foot pedals to help sustain some of the phrases, was a great treat.
Thus endeth my month of May musical treats. Recital season is drawing to an end. They have certainly filled my otherwise long and draggy Sundays very happily. So, now that I am home and finished spouting off about all the fun, it is time to make dinner. Cooking again....poop...I want to go back to Calgary and eat in restaurants! hahaha
The standout pieces were:
--Haydn's Sonata in G Minor
--Debussy's extremely entertaining General Levine, Eccentric
--her teacher Brenda Ziolkowski's own Fantasy On an Archaic Legend#1
The composition by Brenda Ziolkowski was particularly interesting. While it is a modern composition that in some aspects reminded me of composer John Cage, it was also quite melodic and such fun to watch as it entailed the pianist having to lean over the top of the keyboard of the grand piano to pluck some of the strings on the board inside. It was a wonderful experience to hear and see. Ms. Czmeres certainly is capable of catching and expressing the fun of both the Ziolkowski and Debussy compositions. Listening to the Hayden played properly, without giving in to the temptation to "cheat" by using the foot pedals to help sustain some of the phrases, was a great treat.
Thus endeth my month of May musical treats. Recital season is drawing to an end. They have certainly filled my otherwise long and draggy Sundays very happily. So, now that I am home and finished spouting off about all the fun, it is time to make dinner. Cooking again....poop...I want to go back to Calgary and eat in restaurants! hahaha
Saturday, May 26, 2018
TV Recording Made Easy!
Shortly after we returned home this afternoon I turned on the tv, remembering just how many programmes I had set up to record while we were away. I felt a mixture of excitement to see how a couple of my favourite series were going to end and silliness for recording so many programmes.
Well, the local weather while we were gone made the entire process incredibly easy! The second afternoon we were away there was a brief but intense electrical storm. The storm took out our tv capabilities completely. Not one of the programmes set to record actually recorded because the whole system went down, the tv signal was lost completely and we were not home to discover that and reset everything.
WOW! Talk about no worries about how we were going to find the time to watch all those tv shows! The weather and our rather "difficult" tv set up through SaskTel took away any problems with finding sufficient time to see so many recordings. hahahahaha
This is when the internet can be a wonderful thing. Between being able to watch the unrecorded episodes of some of the shows online and/or read the synopses, we aren't actually going to miss out on the most important details!
We never know what is going to happen around here in our absence, that is for sure! hahahahaha
Speaking of electrical storms, another one is brewing outside as I write this. The sky is dark grey with orange tints, fork lightning is about 10 km away and the wind is starting to howl. I am glad I sneaked out a little while ago with my trusty shovel and nabbed several shovels full of rich, black dirt that was dumped in the marked landscaping materials spot in our parking lot at some point in the past week. I used it to fill the gap along one side of our house most prone to basement flooding, where the soil and grass have completely pulled away from the foundation due to the lack of moisture to date. I am hoping no one noticed my invasion into that pile of dirt and that the lawn maintenance crew will not notice my handiwork, but I have been waiting since April for that dirt pile to show up so I can staunch the flow once again into our basement.
Wow, here comes the storm. Better go and close some windows and shut down the computer!
Well, the local weather while we were gone made the entire process incredibly easy! The second afternoon we were away there was a brief but intense electrical storm. The storm took out our tv capabilities completely. Not one of the programmes set to record actually recorded because the whole system went down, the tv signal was lost completely and we were not home to discover that and reset everything.
WOW! Talk about no worries about how we were going to find the time to watch all those tv shows! The weather and our rather "difficult" tv set up through SaskTel took away any problems with finding sufficient time to see so many recordings. hahahahaha
This is when the internet can be a wonderful thing. Between being able to watch the unrecorded episodes of some of the shows online and/or read the synopses, we aren't actually going to miss out on the most important details!
We never know what is going to happen around here in our absence, that is for sure! hahahahaha
Speaking of electrical storms, another one is brewing outside as I write this. The sky is dark grey with orange tints, fork lightning is about 10 km away and the wind is starting to howl. I am glad I sneaked out a little while ago with my trusty shovel and nabbed several shovels full of rich, black dirt that was dumped in the marked landscaping materials spot in our parking lot at some point in the past week. I used it to fill the gap along one side of our house most prone to basement flooding, where the soil and grass have completely pulled away from the foundation due to the lack of moisture to date. I am hoping no one noticed my invasion into that pile of dirt and that the lawn maintenance crew will not notice my handiwork, but I have been waiting since April for that dirt pile to show up so I can staunch the flow once again into our basement.
Wow, here comes the storm. Better go and close some windows and shut down the computer!
It's Good To Be Home Again....I Guess.....hahaha!
Back this afternoon from a week in warm, sunny southern Alberta. Back to hot, humid, rain showery weather here in Regina, but we REALLY need the moisture, so hope we get lots more of it. Fortunately there haven't been enough extended periods of rain for the basement here to leak....yay! (There HAS been an extended period of me not being here to scoop up the goose poop on the back lawn, so unpacking the car today was a mite tricky!! As soon as it dries up sufficiently I will be busy with my wee shovel!)
Once again we drove only as far as Medicine Hat on the first day out. We got away rather late as my husband had to finish up a few things for the office before he could leave, but it was a pleasant drive to the cute little Home Inn. The wonderful thing about travelling west on the Trans Canada in SK on the Monday of a long weekend is that until you clear the border into Alberta, there aren't many more cars and campers on the highway than there are at any other time. This time the dogs that were staying at our hotel with their people were nowhere near our room and we didn't hear any barking. YAY! After a quick dinner at Cheesecake's, because it was the closest restaurant to our hotel that was open on the long weekend Monday and the highlight of which was sharing a slice of turtle cheesecake, we went right back to the hotel and were asleep before 8:30pm!
We slept in a little bit on day two and meandered into Cochrane just before noon, looking for lunch before heading off to the Franciscan retreat centre to drop my husband and all his camping gear off with his friar friend who was going with him to the mountains. What a lovely lunch we had! We found ourselves in downtown Cochrane parked in front of a nice restaurant called The Fence and Post, just a couple of doors to the east of the famous MacKay's Ice Cream parlor. What marvellous and creative meals we had. My husband's lamb/pork meatballs were slathered in the most delicious tomato cheese sauce on a bed of home made gnocci. My satay beef with arugula salad was fantastic. The focaccia bread was so fresh and the REAL beef was sliced paper thin. There was just enough satay sauce to taste without it overwhelming the flavour of the beef and the shredded carrot garnish on the sandwich was such a lovely Asian touch. My husband was so full after his meal he didn't even have room for any iced cream from MacKay's!! That is shocking to me! (He was able to get some from the highway vendor at Tompkins this afternoon on the way home. YAY!)
By 1am I had my husband and his gear delivered to the retreat centre and all the "stuff" stowed in the friar's car. I headed back into Calgary and got myself and all my own "stuff" checked into the guest room at my parents' facility by mid afternoon and thus began our 4 days of visiting and running their errands together. The visit went amazingly well, despite it being so difficult to see them both failing, even more so than when I was there last month. I suspect the transit bus ride Mom and I took together at that time will turn out to be her last one into the downtown area. She just can't muster up the physical energy any more. She can still ride it a few blocks to the doctor and other medical services and her bank, but I believe that will be about all she will be able to manage, and not for much longer I am guessing. Sigh.... Dad has taken to eating very little, even of meals he truly enjoys and he is sleeping again most of the time between meals. He forced himself to come with us to run errands the day after I arrived. We were gone for 2 hours, then went to his favourite Chinese restaurant for lunch, making it 3 full hours that he was gone from the suite. When we got back he went to bed and barely got up for the next 36 hours, he was SO exhausted. BUT he was thrilled to have a chance to get out and about! None of us are sorry he did the errands tour with mom and I.
My stay in the facility presented a few small challenges this time and I am still sorting out how I feel about them: the day after I arrived the manager asked me if I needed to keep the iron and kitchen kettle, or could she take them...for some reason she didn't want to explain to me. Since I had all ready ironed my clothes, was told that the iron would still be in the building and all I had to do was ask if I needed it again, and also that I decided it would be easier to boil water in a pot or pan than in the not very useful automatic kettle, I agreed she could take them. The fact that she wouldn't tell me why seemed rather odd, and it seemed even odder when, yesterday for no reason she nearly fell over herself thanking me for the umpteenth time for letting them leave my room, but o well....these people are not in the hotel business, the guest room is a relatively inexpensive place for the convenience of the guests of the residents who are the priority of the facility. You never know what is going to be available in your room from one visit to the next, but it has never been a huge issue. However, when my husband arrived home from his wonderful mountain retreat trip yesterday afternoon, he desperately needed the iron for his "city clothes". So, off I went to enquire about getting it back for an hour. The day time office manager had left for home all ready and the night gal had no idea where the iron could be nor why it would have been removed from my room. She checked the housekeeping rooms and there was no sign of it. She confirmed that there were no other guests in the place and that if a resident was in need of an iron and kettle, the facility guest room iron and kettle would not be allowed to be used by the tenants. She was at a complete loss as to why I would not be in possession of them. Fortunately mom had not yet gone downstairs for the evening meal, so I borrowed her iron...no harm done. However, later that evening I went to get my husband a clean towel from the bathroom supply and noticed that the blow dryer was also missing. I know it had not been taken when the office manager took the iron and kettle. I don't know when it disappeared. I searched and searched, just in case I had unthinkingly moved it for some reason, but it wasn't anywhere in the suite. A tube of provided shampoo and a razor proved to be missing from the guest basket as well, although they had been there earlier in the day. I am afraid that rather upset me. I went back to see the night manager and asked if she would know anything about that, even though I was sure she wouldn't and of course she didn't and was as mystified as myself as to why someone would have entered my suite and taken them. It had to be staff as I kept my door locked every time I left the suite. So, this morning, when we checked out at 6am for the trip home, I returned the guest suite keys along with a note for the weekday manager to read when she returns on Monday. It explains why we will not again stay there in the facility guest room. (and yes it was politely written) My husband and I are both horrified to know that staff entered our suite without asking permission and removed items without letting us know...items that are supposed to be included in the accommodation cost. I was ticked off about the iron and kettle, but didn't want to make an issue of it because we had other options, but to have someone enter my suite and make off with more things I needed to use and without either asking or even informing me...wow...NOT COOL!!! We both went through all our own personal items to make certain nothing of ours had also disappeared. Fortunately nothing else was missing. In the note I wrote I said I wanted to write the note to let the managers know that the blow dryer and other small items had gone missing without our knowledge and that we had not stolen them and did not appreciate being put in a position where we could be accused of same. So, that was the only glitch in the whole week, but I wasn't going to leave without letting the managers know that we thought it was inappropriate for such things to happen to paying guests.
NIFTY HIGHLIGHTS:
--I discovered, to my delight, that the chef at Hanni's restaurant does know how to properly prepare water chilled chicken and I enjoyed the most marvellous pollo alla portofino!
--a birthday lunch in my honour from my mother. We had wonderful steak sandwiches and a rather decent reisling at The Villa one day. ( located next to Sunterra Market in the little strip mall at the corner of 17th Ave. and Sirocco Drive SW) My said she felt like she was "really living it up" by being able to get out for a special time away from the suite instead of feeling stuck indoors because of dad sleeping all the time. I am trying to get her more involved in the activities presented at the facility and with the other women there, but she is having such a hard time with her hearing, that really isn't fun for her either. Sigh...
--Dad's excitement over a new walker he has just ordered. The fellow who sizes clients for amazing fold up walkers was most helpful in getting the head of Dad's home care workers to approve the change of walker. It will be lighter and a bit narrower, easily folded (and lifted into taxis...perfect for dad).
--not having to return to the retreat centre in rush hour traffic to pick my husband up again after his trip. Friend friar delivered him right to my parents' building. Thank you friend friar. Thank you Lord!
--listening to the stories of the mountain trip the guys enjoyed. They slept in every morning, they confined their hikes to valley bottoms and short scrambles, as well as all ready established hiking trails to the Spray Lake tarns and the Karst Springs. Waiting now for them to get their photos collected from their iPhones and sent to each other so I can see the scenery they spent their week enjoying.
--dinner with my husband last evening at Jurree Thai at the corner of 14th Street and 16th Avenue NW. My husband's order of red curry was HUGE and he brought sufficient home in a take away box to have for his dinner tonight here at home. I planned to try something new there, truly I did, but the call of the fish in garlic and pepper sauce was too strong to ignore. YUM!!
--playing several games of Yahtzee with my parents one evening. Although Dad is nearly blind now, he put on his special light that the CNIB gave him and was able to see the dots on the dice and the blanks on the score cards well enough to enjoy the games.
--the consistently great weather...sunshine and warmth and light breezes and sunshine and more sunshine. It made my walking out to restaurants for dinner in the evenings a treat. Not getting much exercise this week has made me feel rather stodgy (and FAT!!!) and I am looking forward to a walk tomorrow! One evening I ate the most fabulous HOT vindaloo at a nearby Masala Bhavan restaurant (strip mall at 37th street and Richards Road SW), but I ate the whole thing so took the longest possible route to walk home and walk it off! hahaha
--a long and happy phone call with my son, The Grandson, mid-week. We were all delighted to hear from him. He is very good to his grandparents and I am glad, because they were so good to him when he was growing up.
Yes, it was a good week. I felt relaxed and far away from all the stresses of day to day life. Now we have two days together here at home before my husband returns to work on Tuesday. He went through his "HOURS OF WORK" spreadsheet with the office manager last week and discovered he still has about a week's worth of days off he needs to take before the end of this year. That is GREAT news! hahaha IF he can pull himself away some time from all the duties calling so loudly it will be great news! hahaha
It was good for me to take a complete break from emails, blogging, phone calls etc. There is no WiFi connection at my parents' facility any more, so I got busy doing other things. Now I am happy to get back to reading my favourite online newsfeeds, researching this and that and the other thing exactly when I feel like it and catching up on some tv programmes I recorded last week. Yup, there is another round of boxing there for us to enjoy! hahaha
Have a fab weekend everybody!!
Once again we drove only as far as Medicine Hat on the first day out. We got away rather late as my husband had to finish up a few things for the office before he could leave, but it was a pleasant drive to the cute little Home Inn. The wonderful thing about travelling west on the Trans Canada in SK on the Monday of a long weekend is that until you clear the border into Alberta, there aren't many more cars and campers on the highway than there are at any other time. This time the dogs that were staying at our hotel with their people were nowhere near our room and we didn't hear any barking. YAY! After a quick dinner at Cheesecake's, because it was the closest restaurant to our hotel that was open on the long weekend Monday and the highlight of which was sharing a slice of turtle cheesecake, we went right back to the hotel and were asleep before 8:30pm!
We slept in a little bit on day two and meandered into Cochrane just before noon, looking for lunch before heading off to the Franciscan retreat centre to drop my husband and all his camping gear off with his friar friend who was going with him to the mountains. What a lovely lunch we had! We found ourselves in downtown Cochrane parked in front of a nice restaurant called The Fence and Post, just a couple of doors to the east of the famous MacKay's Ice Cream parlor. What marvellous and creative meals we had. My husband's lamb/pork meatballs were slathered in the most delicious tomato cheese sauce on a bed of home made gnocci. My satay beef with arugula salad was fantastic. The focaccia bread was so fresh and the REAL beef was sliced paper thin. There was just enough satay sauce to taste without it overwhelming the flavour of the beef and the shredded carrot garnish on the sandwich was such a lovely Asian touch. My husband was so full after his meal he didn't even have room for any iced cream from MacKay's!! That is shocking to me! (He was able to get some from the highway vendor at Tompkins this afternoon on the way home. YAY!)
By 1am I had my husband and his gear delivered to the retreat centre and all the "stuff" stowed in the friar's car. I headed back into Calgary and got myself and all my own "stuff" checked into the guest room at my parents' facility by mid afternoon and thus began our 4 days of visiting and running their errands together. The visit went amazingly well, despite it being so difficult to see them both failing, even more so than when I was there last month. I suspect the transit bus ride Mom and I took together at that time will turn out to be her last one into the downtown area. She just can't muster up the physical energy any more. She can still ride it a few blocks to the doctor and other medical services and her bank, but I believe that will be about all she will be able to manage, and not for much longer I am guessing. Sigh.... Dad has taken to eating very little, even of meals he truly enjoys and he is sleeping again most of the time between meals. He forced himself to come with us to run errands the day after I arrived. We were gone for 2 hours, then went to his favourite Chinese restaurant for lunch, making it 3 full hours that he was gone from the suite. When we got back he went to bed and barely got up for the next 36 hours, he was SO exhausted. BUT he was thrilled to have a chance to get out and about! None of us are sorry he did the errands tour with mom and I.
My stay in the facility presented a few small challenges this time and I am still sorting out how I feel about them: the day after I arrived the manager asked me if I needed to keep the iron and kitchen kettle, or could she take them...for some reason she didn't want to explain to me. Since I had all ready ironed my clothes, was told that the iron would still be in the building and all I had to do was ask if I needed it again, and also that I decided it would be easier to boil water in a pot or pan than in the not very useful automatic kettle, I agreed she could take them. The fact that she wouldn't tell me why seemed rather odd, and it seemed even odder when, yesterday for no reason she nearly fell over herself thanking me for the umpteenth time for letting them leave my room, but o well....these people are not in the hotel business, the guest room is a relatively inexpensive place for the convenience of the guests of the residents who are the priority of the facility. You never know what is going to be available in your room from one visit to the next, but it has never been a huge issue. However, when my husband arrived home from his wonderful mountain retreat trip yesterday afternoon, he desperately needed the iron for his "city clothes". So, off I went to enquire about getting it back for an hour. The day time office manager had left for home all ready and the night gal had no idea where the iron could be nor why it would have been removed from my room. She checked the housekeeping rooms and there was no sign of it. She confirmed that there were no other guests in the place and that if a resident was in need of an iron and kettle, the facility guest room iron and kettle would not be allowed to be used by the tenants. She was at a complete loss as to why I would not be in possession of them. Fortunately mom had not yet gone downstairs for the evening meal, so I borrowed her iron...no harm done. However, later that evening I went to get my husband a clean towel from the bathroom supply and noticed that the blow dryer was also missing. I know it had not been taken when the office manager took the iron and kettle. I don't know when it disappeared. I searched and searched, just in case I had unthinkingly moved it for some reason, but it wasn't anywhere in the suite. A tube of provided shampoo and a razor proved to be missing from the guest basket as well, although they had been there earlier in the day. I am afraid that rather upset me. I went back to see the night manager and asked if she would know anything about that, even though I was sure she wouldn't and of course she didn't and was as mystified as myself as to why someone would have entered my suite and taken them. It had to be staff as I kept my door locked every time I left the suite. So, this morning, when we checked out at 6am for the trip home, I returned the guest suite keys along with a note for the weekday manager to read when she returns on Monday. It explains why we will not again stay there in the facility guest room. (and yes it was politely written) My husband and I are both horrified to know that staff entered our suite without asking permission and removed items without letting us know...items that are supposed to be included in the accommodation cost. I was ticked off about the iron and kettle, but didn't want to make an issue of it because we had other options, but to have someone enter my suite and make off with more things I needed to use and without either asking or even informing me...wow...NOT COOL!!! We both went through all our own personal items to make certain nothing of ours had also disappeared. Fortunately nothing else was missing. In the note I wrote I said I wanted to write the note to let the managers know that the blow dryer and other small items had gone missing without our knowledge and that we had not stolen them and did not appreciate being put in a position where we could be accused of same. So, that was the only glitch in the whole week, but I wasn't going to leave without letting the managers know that we thought it was inappropriate for such things to happen to paying guests.
NIFTY HIGHLIGHTS:
--I discovered, to my delight, that the chef at Hanni's restaurant does know how to properly prepare water chilled chicken and I enjoyed the most marvellous pollo alla portofino!
--a birthday lunch in my honour from my mother. We had wonderful steak sandwiches and a rather decent reisling at The Villa one day. ( located next to Sunterra Market in the little strip mall at the corner of 17th Ave. and Sirocco Drive SW) My said she felt like she was "really living it up" by being able to get out for a special time away from the suite instead of feeling stuck indoors because of dad sleeping all the time. I am trying to get her more involved in the activities presented at the facility and with the other women there, but she is having such a hard time with her hearing, that really isn't fun for her either. Sigh...
--Dad's excitement over a new walker he has just ordered. The fellow who sizes clients for amazing fold up walkers was most helpful in getting the head of Dad's home care workers to approve the change of walker. It will be lighter and a bit narrower, easily folded (and lifted into taxis...perfect for dad).
--not having to return to the retreat centre in rush hour traffic to pick my husband up again after his trip. Friend friar delivered him right to my parents' building. Thank you friend friar. Thank you Lord!
--listening to the stories of the mountain trip the guys enjoyed. They slept in every morning, they confined their hikes to valley bottoms and short scrambles, as well as all ready established hiking trails to the Spray Lake tarns and the Karst Springs. Waiting now for them to get their photos collected from their iPhones and sent to each other so I can see the scenery they spent their week enjoying.
--dinner with my husband last evening at Jurree Thai at the corner of 14th Street and 16th Avenue NW. My husband's order of red curry was HUGE and he brought sufficient home in a take away box to have for his dinner tonight here at home. I planned to try something new there, truly I did, but the call of the fish in garlic and pepper sauce was too strong to ignore. YUM!!
--playing several games of Yahtzee with my parents one evening. Although Dad is nearly blind now, he put on his special light that the CNIB gave him and was able to see the dots on the dice and the blanks on the score cards well enough to enjoy the games.
--the consistently great weather...sunshine and warmth and light breezes and sunshine and more sunshine. It made my walking out to restaurants for dinner in the evenings a treat. Not getting much exercise this week has made me feel rather stodgy (and FAT!!!) and I am looking forward to a walk tomorrow! One evening I ate the most fabulous HOT vindaloo at a nearby Masala Bhavan restaurant (strip mall at 37th street and Richards Road SW), but I ate the whole thing so took the longest possible route to walk home and walk it off! hahaha
--a long and happy phone call with my son, The Grandson, mid-week. We were all delighted to hear from him. He is very good to his grandparents and I am glad, because they were so good to him when he was growing up.
Yes, it was a good week. I felt relaxed and far away from all the stresses of day to day life. Now we have two days together here at home before my husband returns to work on Tuesday. He went through his "HOURS OF WORK" spreadsheet with the office manager last week and discovered he still has about a week's worth of days off he needs to take before the end of this year. That is GREAT news! hahaha IF he can pull himself away some time from all the duties calling so loudly it will be great news! hahaha
It was good for me to take a complete break from emails, blogging, phone calls etc. There is no WiFi connection at my parents' facility any more, so I got busy doing other things. Now I am happy to get back to reading my favourite online newsfeeds, researching this and that and the other thing exactly when I feel like it and catching up on some tv programmes I recorded last week. Yup, there is another round of boxing there for us to enjoy! hahaha
Have a fab weekend everybody!!
Monday, May 21, 2018
VERY Proud of My Husband
Recently an updated list of duties for all the office staff was published and has been seen by various clergy members here. Yesterday my husband received phone calls from two of the priests who were shocked that the job description for my husband’s position is longer than anyone else’s. His list of duties goes on and on.
Yup, he really has THAT MANY responsibilities. There actually is a reason it sometimes takes longer than he wants to answer emails and phone messages in response to some of the less pressing issues. It certainly isn’t because he wants to have to set some things aside for longer than the other person is hoping, that’s for sure. Prioritizing is a huge and sometimes difficult and disappointing part of the job.
He has been managing remarkably well. Starting in July, on top of his all ready overloaded schedule, he is taking on Sunday service duties in two rural parishes.
He has pushed through all this work in the midst of chronic illness and the usual changes that accompany the natural aging process. He is into his second year of working past his retirement age.
I am extremely proud of him!
YAY husband!!!!
Yup, he really has THAT MANY responsibilities. There actually is a reason it sometimes takes longer than he wants to answer emails and phone messages in response to some of the less pressing issues. It certainly isn’t because he wants to have to set some things aside for longer than the other person is hoping, that’s for sure. Prioritizing is a huge and sometimes difficult and disappointing part of the job.
He has been managing remarkably well. Starting in July, on top of his all ready overloaded schedule, he is taking on Sunday service duties in two rural parishes.
He has pushed through all this work in the midst of chronic illness and the usual changes that accompany the natural aging process. He is into his second year of working past his retirement age.
I am extremely proud of him!
YAY husband!!!!
Sunday, May 20, 2018
More Sun, More Fun!
This has been a wonderful weekend, partly because it has been really busy and people-filled.
This morning's combined Pentecost service at the Cathedral went very well and it was packed out with congregants...very nice and very encouraging for all the clergy involved. HOPEFULLY it will start breaking down the walls that have been erected over the last nearly 100 years that have made the various parishes in the city distrustful of each other. I am so proud of my particular little congregation who have apparently made a decision to spend the summer months visiting, as a parish, churches of other denominations to seek some ideas that will spark more creativity as we strive to grow our wee group into something more viable and more praiseworthy toward God. I really hope I am going to be available for some of those visits because, having been a member in decades past of nearly every denomination represented in the city, I may be able to interpret some of the "church speak" that is particular to each of them. The times they are achangin'. It could be very good indeed....Lord willing......
We had a marvellous visit with my husband's young cousin today. She enjoyed the service and it was nice to have such a lovely and encouraging one to take her to for her first visit to an Anglican church. It was fun discussing some of the differences in the service between the Anglican church and Roman Catholic church that she attends.
Lunch at Original Joe's was particularly good today, bonus.
After lunch and goodbyes to our cousin, my husband and I picked up his grocery list for his week of camping and spent a couple of happy hours shopping for all those things. It was a lot of fun comparing the various products and prices. I find I have a lot more patience for that sort of thing when I am not under a pressure deadline. We had all afternoon to complete the task. Since there is nothing open to do in Medicine Hat tomorrow night when we arrive there, my husband decided to avoid doing into the office tonight and will work from the hotel tomorrow night after we get settled in.
Now my husband is dealing with an overly long phone call in regard to some work issues and then he will start the serious packing up for his trip. I am getting my little suitcase filled with all manner of things. Since I won't have any internet service between Tuesday and Saturday I have loaded up all kinds of books to read and hopefully there will be a few tv channels in the guest room in Calgary that I can watch a few programmes on in the evenings. It is going to be very wierd being off line! But it is good practise for NYC as we will not be dragging along lap tops and iPads on that trip either.
Well, guess it is time to make dinner. The camp groceries are purchased and awaiting packing, the other camping gear is ready to be loaded, our clothes are hanging up to be put into the suitcases, the weather report for our destinations over the coming week has been perused more than once and we feel prepared....for a change....hahaha.
Onward and upward!
This morning's combined Pentecost service at the Cathedral went very well and it was packed out with congregants...very nice and very encouraging for all the clergy involved. HOPEFULLY it will start breaking down the walls that have been erected over the last nearly 100 years that have made the various parishes in the city distrustful of each other. I am so proud of my particular little congregation who have apparently made a decision to spend the summer months visiting, as a parish, churches of other denominations to seek some ideas that will spark more creativity as we strive to grow our wee group into something more viable and more praiseworthy toward God. I really hope I am going to be available for some of those visits because, having been a member in decades past of nearly every denomination represented in the city, I may be able to interpret some of the "church speak" that is particular to each of them. The times they are achangin'. It could be very good indeed....Lord willing......
We had a marvellous visit with my husband's young cousin today. She enjoyed the service and it was nice to have such a lovely and encouraging one to take her to for her first visit to an Anglican church. It was fun discussing some of the differences in the service between the Anglican church and Roman Catholic church that she attends.
Lunch at Original Joe's was particularly good today, bonus.
After lunch and goodbyes to our cousin, my husband and I picked up his grocery list for his week of camping and spent a couple of happy hours shopping for all those things. It was a lot of fun comparing the various products and prices. I find I have a lot more patience for that sort of thing when I am not under a pressure deadline. We had all afternoon to complete the task. Since there is nothing open to do in Medicine Hat tomorrow night when we arrive there, my husband decided to avoid doing into the office tonight and will work from the hotel tomorrow night after we get settled in.
Now my husband is dealing with an overly long phone call in regard to some work issues and then he will start the serious packing up for his trip. I am getting my little suitcase filled with all manner of things. Since I won't have any internet service between Tuesday and Saturday I have loaded up all kinds of books to read and hopefully there will be a few tv channels in the guest room in Calgary that I can watch a few programmes on in the evenings. It is going to be very wierd being off line! But it is good practise for NYC as we will not be dragging along lap tops and iPads on that trip either.
Well, guess it is time to make dinner. The camp groceries are purchased and awaiting packing, the other camping gear is ready to be loaded, our clothes are hanging up to be put into the suitcases, the weather report for our destinations over the coming week has been perused more than once and we feel prepared....for a change....hahaha.
Onward and upward!
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Such a Perfect Day (Insert Smiley Face Here)
Today encompassed all the good things in life that I most enjoy!
The weather was wonderfully warm without being too suffocatingly hot. There was a light breeze rather than howling prairie winds.
The sky was a sunshiny, beautiful, late spring blue.
The trees have suddenly leafed out and the bright white apple blossoms are vying for attention with the deep pink plum blossoms on their respective trees.
PERFECT!
After my husband left for work I spent a relaxing morning watching The Royal Wedding of Britain's Prince Harry to Meaghan Markle on tv. I enjoyed it more than any other royal wedding I have watched previously. I replayed the clips of the stiff, starch, disapproving faces of the older royals during the singing of "Stand By Me" by a black gospel choir. Their expressions were absolutely hilarious! Same during the preaching of the sermon by the head of the American Episcopal Church, Michael Curry. Just seeing those faces would have made the entire viewing experience worth my time. hahahahahahaha The music was incredible, particularly the classical pieces being played before the wedding and during the signing of the register. What a lovely way to spend the morning.
I got to the bank around noon to pay the one utility bill that always comes later than the others. So happy it is paid now before we leave for Alberta. It is always wonderful to come home to find a mail box empty of bills owing.
After lunch I picked my husband up from work and we attended briefly the 80th birthday of a former parishioner. That was a lot of fun as we knew so many of the other guests to visit with.
Then we raced home for a lovely visit with friends from out of town who contacted us at 11pm last evening to find out if we could be available for a couple of hours for what turned out to be a fantastic visit together. They are very special friends that have hung in with us through thick and thin, and us with them through some of their very trying life circumstances. It was great to get together.
As they were leaving my husband announced he was feeling ravenous and didn't want to wait for me to cook dinner, so he decided we would go to India Palace to eat. I love the place and the food, but enough is enough all ready. Next time he wants to go out to eat I will be better prepared with some other ideas. Tonight he took me by surprise and I couldn't think of anywhere else I really wanted to go. Next time.....although the meal was as wonderful as ever. There was a tomato/eggplant dish we have not had there before that was particularly delicious.
After we got home we watched a boxing match on tv and now we are at our respective computers so I can post this blog entry and my husband can finish printing off his list of required groceries for his week in the mountains. We will shop for those groceries either tomorrow evening here, or wait until we get to Medicine Hat the next day and shop there.
Praying for the predicted weather for next week to be at least somewhat close to reality as it will be a perfect week for being in the mountains and for running my parents around the city to all their appointments.
Today was pretty nice in every way!
Tomorrow morning there is a Pentecost service at the Anglican Cathedral here. The other Anglican churches are closing their doors for the morning and we are combining at the Cathedral for a joint service....apparently for the first time since the 1920's. Hmmmm....no wonder all our city parishes are so out of touch with each other! Guess the desperation that accompanies the realization that we are actually dying out as a denomination here is beginning to propel us to try working together at long last! I am thrilled about that. Hopefully it is not going to be a case of too little too late.
My husband's young cousin is going to be in the city tomorrow and will join us for church and then for lunch together. That will be fun. She is a bright young woman who enjoys being an occupational therapist in a very small prairie town. I admire the way she understands and accepts the culture and people after being raised in a larger city. I want to be like her!! So looking forward to seeing her. It has been about a year since our last visit.
Many good things going on this weekend for us. Hoping that my sister in law and her husband are able to get their RV all packed up so they can leave in a couple of days for their long awaited trip to the Yukon Territories. They will be gone for at least a month and we all ready can hardly wait to hear the stories of their adventures when they return.
The weather was wonderfully warm without being too suffocatingly hot. There was a light breeze rather than howling prairie winds.
The sky was a sunshiny, beautiful, late spring blue.
The trees have suddenly leafed out and the bright white apple blossoms are vying for attention with the deep pink plum blossoms on their respective trees.
PERFECT!
After my husband left for work I spent a relaxing morning watching The Royal Wedding of Britain's Prince Harry to Meaghan Markle on tv. I enjoyed it more than any other royal wedding I have watched previously. I replayed the clips of the stiff, starch, disapproving faces of the older royals during the singing of "Stand By Me" by a black gospel choir. Their expressions were absolutely hilarious! Same during the preaching of the sermon by the head of the American Episcopal Church, Michael Curry. Just seeing those faces would have made the entire viewing experience worth my time. hahahahahahaha The music was incredible, particularly the classical pieces being played before the wedding and during the signing of the register. What a lovely way to spend the morning.
I got to the bank around noon to pay the one utility bill that always comes later than the others. So happy it is paid now before we leave for Alberta. It is always wonderful to come home to find a mail box empty of bills owing.
After lunch I picked my husband up from work and we attended briefly the 80th birthday of a former parishioner. That was a lot of fun as we knew so many of the other guests to visit with.
Then we raced home for a lovely visit with friends from out of town who contacted us at 11pm last evening to find out if we could be available for a couple of hours for what turned out to be a fantastic visit together. They are very special friends that have hung in with us through thick and thin, and us with them through some of their very trying life circumstances. It was great to get together.
As they were leaving my husband announced he was feeling ravenous and didn't want to wait for me to cook dinner, so he decided we would go to India Palace to eat. I love the place and the food, but enough is enough all ready. Next time he wants to go out to eat I will be better prepared with some other ideas. Tonight he took me by surprise and I couldn't think of anywhere else I really wanted to go. Next time.....although the meal was as wonderful as ever. There was a tomato/eggplant dish we have not had there before that was particularly delicious.
After we got home we watched a boxing match on tv and now we are at our respective computers so I can post this blog entry and my husband can finish printing off his list of required groceries for his week in the mountains. We will shop for those groceries either tomorrow evening here, or wait until we get to Medicine Hat the next day and shop there.
Praying for the predicted weather for next week to be at least somewhat close to reality as it will be a perfect week for being in the mountains and for running my parents around the city to all their appointments.
Today was pretty nice in every way!
Tomorrow morning there is a Pentecost service at the Anglican Cathedral here. The other Anglican churches are closing their doors for the morning and we are combining at the Cathedral for a joint service....apparently for the first time since the 1920's. Hmmmm....no wonder all our city parishes are so out of touch with each other! Guess the desperation that accompanies the realization that we are actually dying out as a denomination here is beginning to propel us to try working together at long last! I am thrilled about that. Hopefully it is not going to be a case of too little too late.
My husband's young cousin is going to be in the city tomorrow and will join us for church and then for lunch together. That will be fun. She is a bright young woman who enjoys being an occupational therapist in a very small prairie town. I admire the way she understands and accepts the culture and people after being raised in a larger city. I want to be like her!! So looking forward to seeing her. It has been about a year since our last visit.
Many good things going on this weekend for us. Hoping that my sister in law and her husband are able to get their RV all packed up so they can leave in a couple of days for their long awaited trip to the Yukon Territories. They will be gone for at least a month and we all ready can hardly wait to hear the stories of their adventures when they return.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Bleachy Clean!
About the dumbest purchase I ever made was one of a dozen brilliant white dish washing cloths that I found in the Bay about a year ago. Sigh...they looked SO pretty there in a wicker basket in the store display. All thought of how quickly they would be stained by my husband's tea wipe ups and my liberal use of tomato sauces when cooking completely forgotten as I gazed on their immaculate beauty. Sigh again.....
So, this afternoon, for the umpteenth time in the past year, I have just put them all into the washing machine after a nearly 5 hour soaking in a bowl of straight bleach! At least this time I managed to transfer the bowl of bleachy water and cloths from the kitchen sink to the washing machine downstairs without slopping any of the bleach onto my clothing! Sigh of relief!!
In another 45 minutes, when they come out of the dryer, the clothes will look clean and almost sparkly once again and that will be just fine until the first time or two that each of them is used to wipe up stains from countertops or food covered dishes.
Next time I need to purchase dish washing cloths I will try to use my brain in choosing the colour!!
Duh.......
So, this afternoon, for the umpteenth time in the past year, I have just put them all into the washing machine after a nearly 5 hour soaking in a bowl of straight bleach! At least this time I managed to transfer the bowl of bleachy water and cloths from the kitchen sink to the washing machine downstairs without slopping any of the bleach onto my clothing! Sigh of relief!!
In another 45 minutes, when they come out of the dryer, the clothes will look clean and almost sparkly once again and that will be just fine until the first time or two that each of them is used to wipe up stains from countertops or food covered dishes.
Next time I need to purchase dish washing cloths I will try to use my brain in choosing the colour!!
Duh.......
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Quote For the Evening
“...And right action is freedom
From past and future also.
For most of us, this is the aim
Never to be realized;
Who are only undefeated
Because we have gone on trying....
—T.S. Eliot, “The Savages”
From past and future also.
For most of us, this is the aim
Never to be realized;
Who are only undefeated
Because we have gone on trying....
—T.S. Eliot, “The Savages”
And Now For My Next Trick
Is there any better way to ensure wakefulness first thing in the morning than scaring yourself half to death?
Nope!
This morning after breakfast, as I was coming around the end of the dining room table, wiping up toast crumbs, the rubber edging on the bottom side of my left slipper caught itself in the carpet somehow so that as I tried to step forward with my left foot, it didn't budge. The momentum of my right foot, assuming it would be moving itself immediately after my left foot, pushed me sideways very quickly and as my left ankle rolled over I found myself falling toward the open door into the kitchen at an alarming rate of speed. Noooooooo......
Fortunately I was just close enough to the edge of the wall beside the door frame to catch it with with the side of my knee, upper arm, wrist and a couple of ribs. The impact certainly stopped the downward movement as I careened backward into the china cabinet. In the end, I was still standing upright! Miracle of miracles! Thank you Lord!!!
It would appear I have no injuries, apart from some rather sore leg muscles and a new numb spot that has started up beside my ankle hardware that wasn't there previously. I certainly twisted the tendons that are up against those pins and plates and screws!!
How fortunate am I, right? Another couple of inches into the door frame when I started falling and I would have landed on the kitchen floor, likely in a heap of broken bones once again.
The quickness of the event and the hard impact of hitting the china cabinet shook me up rather badly. I actually felt faint and had to have my husband's help getting upstairs to lie down for a few minutes until the world stopped spinning from the realization of what could have happened.
Just blogging about it right now is making me feel kind of dizzy! The constant stream of thoughts all beginning with "what if....." are kind of ruining my morning!
Now, if I can refrain from thinking about it any more today, lay the incident aside as being something that took all of three seconds to occur and get on with my laundry, the day will be as good and as promising as it was before I lost my balance.
Wow...what a great reminder to be even more careful when I am walking, particularly outside and climbing stairs, than I all ready am being!! If simply walking inside on the carpet going snail's pace can create such a dire possibility, then.........
Okay, my attention has been caught!!
Nope!
This morning after breakfast, as I was coming around the end of the dining room table, wiping up toast crumbs, the rubber edging on the bottom side of my left slipper caught itself in the carpet somehow so that as I tried to step forward with my left foot, it didn't budge. The momentum of my right foot, assuming it would be moving itself immediately after my left foot, pushed me sideways very quickly and as my left ankle rolled over I found myself falling toward the open door into the kitchen at an alarming rate of speed. Noooooooo......
Fortunately I was just close enough to the edge of the wall beside the door frame to catch it with with the side of my knee, upper arm, wrist and a couple of ribs. The impact certainly stopped the downward movement as I careened backward into the china cabinet. In the end, I was still standing upright! Miracle of miracles! Thank you Lord!!!
It would appear I have no injuries, apart from some rather sore leg muscles and a new numb spot that has started up beside my ankle hardware that wasn't there previously. I certainly twisted the tendons that are up against those pins and plates and screws!!
How fortunate am I, right? Another couple of inches into the door frame when I started falling and I would have landed on the kitchen floor, likely in a heap of broken bones once again.
The quickness of the event and the hard impact of hitting the china cabinet shook me up rather badly. I actually felt faint and had to have my husband's help getting upstairs to lie down for a few minutes until the world stopped spinning from the realization of what could have happened.
Just blogging about it right now is making me feel kind of dizzy! The constant stream of thoughts all beginning with "what if....." are kind of ruining my morning!
Now, if I can refrain from thinking about it any more today, lay the incident aside as being something that took all of three seconds to occur and get on with my laundry, the day will be as good and as promising as it was before I lost my balance.
Wow...what a great reminder to be even more careful when I am walking, particularly outside and climbing stairs, than I all ready am being!! If simply walking inside on the carpet going snail's pace can create such a dire possibility, then.........
Okay, my attention has been caught!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Kaboom!
First thunderstorm of the spring happened tonight! There was, unfortunately, very little rain...at least thus far...but wow, what a spectacular light show and house shaking thunder! I really enjoy a good storm!! We may have more lightning and thunder overnight and tomorrow...yay....at least it will be "yay" until our basement starts leaking! hahaha
The Emotional Transition Time Is Pretty Much Complete
Wow, we have had good sleeps now for three nights in a row! We really have turned the corner on getting a grip about upcoming changes in our lives. It feels good!! My husband went off to work cheerily this morning, feeling organized and prepared for his meetings. It suddenly dawned on him that he only has two more weeks of work before his annual holidays and there is a retreat week in between the two work weeks. He has been in such need of a decent break for so many months and here it finally is! Thank you Lord for this upcoming time of freedom and temporary release!
I drove my husband to work this morning because he had so many things to carry. As soon as I dropped him off I decided it was too nice a morning to waste at home, so I did the shopping for the foods and drinks I require when I am in Calgary while my husband is hiking in the mountains. It was such fun getting to the stores early and avoiding the morning crowds. Makes me feel like I am getting away with something for some reason, haha. I've been home for a half hour and it isn't even 9:15am yet.
I got a good work out carrying the grocery bags in from the car. Our parking lot is being cleaned this morning, so all the residents in our court had to move their cars to the side streets to avoid being towed. I had to park more than a block away, so it was a good workout for my arms to carry the heavy bags. There are six residents who are at home, but couldn't be bothered to move their cars because they know darned well the threat of towing is an empty one. I wish our management company would just once carry through and tow the cars away. As the years have gone by here, fewer and fewer tenants are bothering to comply with the orders to move vehicles for the sake of parking lot cleaning and painting. It really hampers the cleaning contractors and the maintenance staff and it isn't fair to them. Blogging about it helps control the OCD and now that I have expressed my feelings about people who don't obey the rules and yet don't suffer any worse consequences than a VERY dusty vehicle post lot cleaning, I can let it go. hahaha Oooh, the games I have to play with my own feeble mind, eh? hahaha
Well, better start preparing my wardrobe for the trip to Alberta. I have laundry all over the place to be sorted and washed. The weather is looking fairly decent for our trip at this point. Should be able to wear capri pants and summer dresses most of the week.
I am so relieved my husband appears to be making a decision to only do day hikes out of the retreat centre where he will be staying. His friend suggested it some time ago and I am all for it. Not staying out in the bush overnight will eliminate the carrying of a heavy pack and will greatly reduce the amount of outdoor gear he has to take in the first place. The threat of grizzly bears has increased this year and so day hikes closer to the retreat centre that do not require overnight sleeps outdoors will keep the guys farther away from the areas that are closed due to bear activity. To me, this can only be a good thing for my guys AND the bears!
Got great news from a friend here this morning about her son being able to attend the school he wants to attend in September. How well I remember those stressful school years with my own son, even though he graduated nearly 20 years ago now. I remember the decision process he and we went through every June at the end of term as to where he would go the next school year: public school or private school?? In our own town or to another town? Every June was fraught with anxiety about school choice, for one reason and another. AAAARGH! Remembering it even now gives me an upset stomach!
Off to get some work done around this place!!
I drove my husband to work this morning because he had so many things to carry. As soon as I dropped him off I decided it was too nice a morning to waste at home, so I did the shopping for the foods and drinks I require when I am in Calgary while my husband is hiking in the mountains. It was such fun getting to the stores early and avoiding the morning crowds. Makes me feel like I am getting away with something for some reason, haha. I've been home for a half hour and it isn't even 9:15am yet.
I got a good work out carrying the grocery bags in from the car. Our parking lot is being cleaned this morning, so all the residents in our court had to move their cars to the side streets to avoid being towed. I had to park more than a block away, so it was a good workout for my arms to carry the heavy bags. There are six residents who are at home, but couldn't be bothered to move their cars because they know darned well the threat of towing is an empty one. I wish our management company would just once carry through and tow the cars away. As the years have gone by here, fewer and fewer tenants are bothering to comply with the orders to move vehicles for the sake of parking lot cleaning and painting. It really hampers the cleaning contractors and the maintenance staff and it isn't fair to them. Blogging about it helps control the OCD and now that I have expressed my feelings about people who don't obey the rules and yet don't suffer any worse consequences than a VERY dusty vehicle post lot cleaning, I can let it go. hahaha Oooh, the games I have to play with my own feeble mind, eh? hahaha
Well, better start preparing my wardrobe for the trip to Alberta. I have laundry all over the place to be sorted and washed. The weather is looking fairly decent for our trip at this point. Should be able to wear capri pants and summer dresses most of the week.
I am so relieved my husband appears to be making a decision to only do day hikes out of the retreat centre where he will be staying. His friend suggested it some time ago and I am all for it. Not staying out in the bush overnight will eliminate the carrying of a heavy pack and will greatly reduce the amount of outdoor gear he has to take in the first place. The threat of grizzly bears has increased this year and so day hikes closer to the retreat centre that do not require overnight sleeps outdoors will keep the guys farther away from the areas that are closed due to bear activity. To me, this can only be a good thing for my guys AND the bears!
Got great news from a friend here this morning about her son being able to attend the school he wants to attend in September. How well I remember those stressful school years with my own son, even though he graduated nearly 20 years ago now. I remember the decision process he and we went through every June at the end of term as to where he would go the next school year: public school or private school?? In our own town or to another town? Every June was fraught with anxiety about school choice, for one reason and another. AAAARGH! Remembering it even now gives me an upset stomach!
Off to get some work done around this place!!
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Making Up for Lost Restaurant Time, teehee!!
It has been a happy day around here. My husband felt great and accomplished many of his outstanding at home tasks and personal communications. Me too!!
He did insist on taking me out for lunch but I let him pick the place as he is needing to wrap his mind around a more fat free diet than he has been having in recent weeks. He chose Angkor Wat and enjoyed a low fat vegetarian stir fry with steamed rice while I had a wonderful Thai chicken salad. He enjoyed having peas in his lunch and I had oodles of delicious steamed chicken on my salad. The sweet Thai dressing mostly ended up on the bottom of the salad plate, so I didn't eat too much of it and I really enjoyed the bit of ground peanut on top of the lettuce and tomatoes. The shreds of fennel and cilantro gave the whole salad a nice grounding to balance out the sweetness of the dressing. We enjoyed our meal and my husband was so proud of himself for being able to choose and enjoy a meal with less fat than the fish and chips at Knotted Thistle that I know he would have originally preferred. hahaha
After a busy afternoon around here, he announced he would like to go to India Palace for buffet. Okaaaaaay then! Who am I to argue. right? Once again he stayed away from the thick yogurt and cream sauces and focused on the salads and veggie dishes with some of the bassa fish for protein. He only had a half slice of naan and actually ate and enjoyed a piece of tandoori chicken instead of his more favourite fatty goat meat in its rich, creamy gravy. For dessert he had about two tablespoons of rice pudding, a tablespoon of carrot halwa and half a gulab jamin ball, with most of the sauce shaken off onto his plate. WOW! He is being very serious about this change of diet. He didn't order any beer at either meal because regular weekly intake of alcohol to the diet also bumps up the triglycerides, so he will have his bottle of beer once or twice a month on a day off. He has all ready started creating a schedule for meal and alcohol "cheats" on a monthly basis. One week will be a bottle of beer or a glass or wine and one week will be a fattier food treat. I am so thrilled that even this slight dropping of the cholesterol, even with his MAJOR cheating of the past couple of months, has encouraged him so greatly to carry on with better eating habits. I am so very proud of him!
For myself, I can hardly believe it, but I actually drove right past Le Macaron after we left Angkor Wat after lunch. It would have been so very easy to stop in long enough to grab a cookie of some kind as it is a rare occurrence now that we are out at the east side shopping malls. BUT, I didn't do it. Instead, we stopped at Oliv and purchased a bottle of white balsamic vinegar. It will be a nice complement to our usual fabulous South African vinegars from Rozendaal.
So, a happy day of eating. Although we ate at two different restaurants in one day, we didn't gorge ourselves, we were wise in our choices and thank you Lord, we were able to resist several of the usual temptations. YIPPEE!
He did insist on taking me out for lunch but I let him pick the place as he is needing to wrap his mind around a more fat free diet than he has been having in recent weeks. He chose Angkor Wat and enjoyed a low fat vegetarian stir fry with steamed rice while I had a wonderful Thai chicken salad. He enjoyed having peas in his lunch and I had oodles of delicious steamed chicken on my salad. The sweet Thai dressing mostly ended up on the bottom of the salad plate, so I didn't eat too much of it and I really enjoyed the bit of ground peanut on top of the lettuce and tomatoes. The shreds of fennel and cilantro gave the whole salad a nice grounding to balance out the sweetness of the dressing. We enjoyed our meal and my husband was so proud of himself for being able to choose and enjoy a meal with less fat than the fish and chips at Knotted Thistle that I know he would have originally preferred. hahaha
After a busy afternoon around here, he announced he would like to go to India Palace for buffet. Okaaaaaay then! Who am I to argue. right? Once again he stayed away from the thick yogurt and cream sauces and focused on the salads and veggie dishes with some of the bassa fish for protein. He only had a half slice of naan and actually ate and enjoyed a piece of tandoori chicken instead of his more favourite fatty goat meat in its rich, creamy gravy. For dessert he had about two tablespoons of rice pudding, a tablespoon of carrot halwa and half a gulab jamin ball, with most of the sauce shaken off onto his plate. WOW! He is being very serious about this change of diet. He didn't order any beer at either meal because regular weekly intake of alcohol to the diet also bumps up the triglycerides, so he will have his bottle of beer once or twice a month on a day off. He has all ready started creating a schedule for meal and alcohol "cheats" on a monthly basis. One week will be a bottle of beer or a glass or wine and one week will be a fattier food treat. I am so thrilled that even this slight dropping of the cholesterol, even with his MAJOR cheating of the past couple of months, has encouraged him so greatly to carry on with better eating habits. I am so very proud of him!
For myself, I can hardly believe it, but I actually drove right past Le Macaron after we left Angkor Wat after lunch. It would have been so very easy to stop in long enough to grab a cookie of some kind as it is a rare occurrence now that we are out at the east side shopping malls. BUT, I didn't do it. Instead, we stopped at Oliv and purchased a bottle of white balsamic vinegar. It will be a nice complement to our usual fabulous South African vinegars from Rozendaal.
So, a happy day of eating. Although we ate at two different restaurants in one day, we didn't gorge ourselves, we were wise in our choices and thank you Lord, we were able to resist several of the usual temptations. YIPPEE!
Such a Difference From One Day To the Next
Today is going SO well!
We slept in. We had a relaxed breakfast. My husband is feeling so much better that he has planned out various mountain hiking routes for his upcoming retreat and emailed all the info to the friend who is accompanying him. He has done some writing for his next article and now he is re-caulking the bathtub to stop the leaks where the tub surround has pulled away from the bathtub. (Yes, that is up to the property management maintenance staff, but we would like it done properly rather than with only enthusiasm, teehee.)
What a difference from yesterday.
A little sleep, a little releasing of the tension, a little more attention paid to the love and care God has shown us throughout our life together.....Yup, today is vastly more happy than yesterday was!
We slept in. We had a relaxed breakfast. My husband is feeling so much better that he has planned out various mountain hiking routes for his upcoming retreat and emailed all the info to the friend who is accompanying him. He has done some writing for his next article and now he is re-caulking the bathtub to stop the leaks where the tub surround has pulled away from the bathtub. (Yes, that is up to the property management maintenance staff, but we would like it done properly rather than with only enthusiasm, teehee.)
What a difference from yesterday.
A little sleep, a little releasing of the tension, a little more attention paid to the love and care God has shown us throughout our life together.....Yup, today is vastly more happy than yesterday was!
Whew! Glad That’s Over!!
We assume we will have a few more skirmishes with uncertainty and fear about the future as we face a change of plans that is being forced on us rather unexpectedly. However, last night’s excellent sleep, followed by a deliberate time of prayer and praise upon awakening, has begun our day on a positive note.
My husband is feeling well, so that removes most of my own stress right there. Yay! We have a few plans for the day, but they are flexible and the only thing I must do is spend an hour serving food at the Qu’Appelle House annual visitors’ tea later this afternoon.
Today will be a happier day.
My husband is feeling well, so that removes most of my own stress right there. Yay! We have a few plans for the day, but they are flexible and the only thing I must do is spend an hour serving food at the Qu’Appelle House annual visitors’ tea later this afternoon.
Today will be a happier day.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Limbo Land...Waiting For the Other Shoe to Drop
That pretty much describes how I felt all afternoon. Thank goodness I am over that feeling before going to sleep tonight!
My Mothers' Day lunch didn't happen after all. About the time we were going to leave, my husband came downstairs looking like death warmed over and asked if it would be possible to go out for dinner instead. It took some prodding, but he finally admitted to me he had not been feeling well the entire morning. When he first woke up he took his daily vitamins but somehow managed to take a double dose of Vitamin B12. Instead of having a few minutes of flushed face and body warmth, his face had become so red he said he looked like he was going to explode and his body overheated so badly that when he started to do his exercises he nearly fainted. The overdose of Vitamin B12 dropped his blood pressure. All this was going on before he came to wake me up. I had no idea what had happened.
He also confessed he had been far more worried about his doctor's appointment and the test results he got than he had expected to be. Going to the breakfast had been a stress because he had five issues the Bishop had not yet solved that had to be solved before the fellow left later this morning on his sabbatical trip. My husband was worried that with all the people and commotion, he would miss getting the Bishop's attention long enough to solve the work related issues. Of course that did not happen. The Bishop was glad to talk to his Executive ArchDeacon and do what needed to be done. If my husband is severely overworked, how much more so the Bishop? There had been no time whatsoever previously to deal with these five problems, but the Bishop stepped away from the festivities long enough to do what had to be done. It all turned out just fine. We came home to some issues in regard to the upcoming retreat week that my husband had to solve right away and that was also an unexpected stress. By the time noon arrived his stomach was churning and he knew he wouldn't be able to eat anyway. The poor man...he needs this retreat week desperately and I am so grateful he gets it. Then he only has one more week of work before his annual holidays.
So, everything worked out just fine today for him, but we both spent the afternoon laying around doing nothing, feeling exhausted and trying to discuss our somewhat unknown and murky future plans. Wow, we have been fairly secure in life for the past few years and we both forgot just how trying it is to know changes have to come in a few months' time, but not have any idea what those changes will be. I suspect that having in our 60's to face it once again, is making the whole process more difficult.
My husband then suggested we go out for dinner instead, but I took one look at his exhausted, stomach clutching self and declined his invitation. A heavy restaurant meal and having to dress up for being out in public was the last thing he needed in my opinion, so we ate a very light dinner here. He cooked himself a batch of green tea and soba noodles with a light tomato sauce and it settled his stomach right down. I knew just how truly terrible he had been feeling all day when he opted to stay home tonight instead of going to the next lecture in a series that he has been enjoying and looking forward to for the past week.
What a relief that at about 8pm, my husband said he was feeling much better and suggested that we go for a short walk to get some air and take advantage of the breezeless, nearly insect free, warmth outside. It was lovely to get out and just wander about the neighbourhood. We dawdled along to the grocery store and picked up a couple of items, then took the longest possible route back home, enjoying the beginning of the sunset, chatting about relaxing topics, meandering about under the big trees along the route and forgetting everything but our immediate surroundings. It was absolutely lovely. We so rarely go for walks without a goal destination in mind. I really enjoyed it. We came home feeling positive and encouraged once again.
We realized that in the midst of our misery this afternoon, neither of us had bothered to suggest praying together, or to speak encouragement to each other, or to remind each other of previous acts of God that have given us hope and direction in the past. Well...DUH!!! We were certainly enjoying feeling sorry for ourselves! That isn't going to happen again for awhile! It never ceases to amaze me how quickly an attitude of "pity me!!" can arise and push the reality of God's creative and loving movement in our lives right out of our minds. Good grief! After all these years and all our experiences with God you would think we would know better! EEK!
Tomorrow is going to be a better day! We can't let ourselves sink to such lows two days in a row. Ridiculous!!!
Lord, we are trusting you to keep our minds where they belong: in the safety of thoughts about and conversations with you!!!
My Mothers' Day lunch didn't happen after all. About the time we were going to leave, my husband came downstairs looking like death warmed over and asked if it would be possible to go out for dinner instead. It took some prodding, but he finally admitted to me he had not been feeling well the entire morning. When he first woke up he took his daily vitamins but somehow managed to take a double dose of Vitamin B12. Instead of having a few minutes of flushed face and body warmth, his face had become so red he said he looked like he was going to explode and his body overheated so badly that when he started to do his exercises he nearly fainted. The overdose of Vitamin B12 dropped his blood pressure. All this was going on before he came to wake me up. I had no idea what had happened.
He also confessed he had been far more worried about his doctor's appointment and the test results he got than he had expected to be. Going to the breakfast had been a stress because he had five issues the Bishop had not yet solved that had to be solved before the fellow left later this morning on his sabbatical trip. My husband was worried that with all the people and commotion, he would miss getting the Bishop's attention long enough to solve the work related issues. Of course that did not happen. The Bishop was glad to talk to his Executive ArchDeacon and do what needed to be done. If my husband is severely overworked, how much more so the Bishop? There had been no time whatsoever previously to deal with these five problems, but the Bishop stepped away from the festivities long enough to do what had to be done. It all turned out just fine. We came home to some issues in regard to the upcoming retreat week that my husband had to solve right away and that was also an unexpected stress. By the time noon arrived his stomach was churning and he knew he wouldn't be able to eat anyway. The poor man...he needs this retreat week desperately and I am so grateful he gets it. Then he only has one more week of work before his annual holidays.
So, everything worked out just fine today for him, but we both spent the afternoon laying around doing nothing, feeling exhausted and trying to discuss our somewhat unknown and murky future plans. Wow, we have been fairly secure in life for the past few years and we both forgot just how trying it is to know changes have to come in a few months' time, but not have any idea what those changes will be. I suspect that having in our 60's to face it once again, is making the whole process more difficult.
My husband then suggested we go out for dinner instead, but I took one look at his exhausted, stomach clutching self and declined his invitation. A heavy restaurant meal and having to dress up for being out in public was the last thing he needed in my opinion, so we ate a very light dinner here. He cooked himself a batch of green tea and soba noodles with a light tomato sauce and it settled his stomach right down. I knew just how truly terrible he had been feeling all day when he opted to stay home tonight instead of going to the next lecture in a series that he has been enjoying and looking forward to for the past week.
What a relief that at about 8pm, my husband said he was feeling much better and suggested that we go for a short walk to get some air and take advantage of the breezeless, nearly insect free, warmth outside. It was lovely to get out and just wander about the neighbourhood. We dawdled along to the grocery store and picked up a couple of items, then took the longest possible route back home, enjoying the beginning of the sunset, chatting about relaxing topics, meandering about under the big trees along the route and forgetting everything but our immediate surroundings. It was absolutely lovely. We so rarely go for walks without a goal destination in mind. I really enjoyed it. We came home feeling positive and encouraged once again.
We realized that in the midst of our misery this afternoon, neither of us had bothered to suggest praying together, or to speak encouragement to each other, or to remind each other of previous acts of God that have given us hope and direction in the past. Well...DUH!!! We were certainly enjoying feeling sorry for ourselves! That isn't going to happen again for awhile! It never ceases to amaze me how quickly an attitude of "pity me!!" can arise and push the reality of God's creative and loving movement in our lives right out of our minds. Good grief! After all these years and all our experiences with God you would think we would know better! EEK!
Tomorrow is going to be a better day! We can't let ourselves sink to such lows two days in a row. Ridiculous!!!
Lord, we are trusting you to keep our minds where they belong: in the safety of thoughts about and conversations with you!!!
Off in a Cloud of Dust!
My husband's day off is flying past at light speed it seems! It is just after 10:30am and we have all ready been to the Synod office for a special breakfast of farewell for our Bishop and his wife, who are embarking on a cross Canada journey of prayer, praise and fund raising for several worthy causes as they cycle coast to coast for the next 4 months of the Bishop's sabbatical; attended my husband's doctor's appointment where he found out that despite his BLATANT dietary cheating of the past month, magically his very high triglycerides and cholesterol numbers have dropped sufficiently to warrant his trying harder for another 3 months with less cheating to see if he can live without medications to control them; we have been back to the Synod office to get in on the last minutes of the breakfast party, photo ops, gift giving and final expressions of farewell not only to the Bishop, but to one of our exchange workers from England who will be on her way home again next week; over to the computer sales store to pick up a new cable so my husband can watch his new Expanse season 1 in high definition through his computer.
Now we are home again and my husband is happily puttering away with the computer cable. I suspect he will be spending time watching another episode before he takes me out for the Mothers' Day lunch we were too tired to bother with yesterday. After two miserable nights of poor sleep, we both did absolutely nothing yesterday afternoon after church and spent then and the evening zonked out either asleep in our chairs, or watching boxing on tv through bleary eyes. We slept so well last night that my husband barely heard his alarm at 7am and I didn't hear it at all. He had to wake me up to go to the breakfast.
I am trying to figure out where I would like to go for my lunch out today. So many choices, even with half the restaurants in the city closed on Mondays now. Hmmmm....do I want Indian food, a big salad, soup, pub grub.....hmmmmmm, this bears thinking about!
My son called at 10:30pm yesterday, 12:30am for him. I was shocked to hear from him as he presently has no girlfriend to tell him about such card company contrived "events" as Mothers' Day. Apparently he was finishing up a work project on his computer and as he went to send the file to his employer, an advertising banner popped up that reminded him. hahahahaha We had a lovely chat and he gave us some good advice about cell phone plans for our week across the border, some cross border banking tips, etc. Very, very helpful. It is unreal how excited he is that we are coming to visit. I think he is a bit lonely again since the break up. Perfect time to visit.....
Oh the joy of spring: sunshine and warmth and reduced winds for a few days. I LOVE it!!!!
I am going to be in serious prayer each day for our Bishop and his wife. He has been training for nearly 2 years to do this coast to coast cycle. She has taken special driving lessons to be able to handle the truck and trailer rig she will be taking as she follows him across Canada. I am praying not only for their safety, but for a good strengthening of their marriage, because there is going to be considerable stress of all kinds for a journey like this. I am praying for successful fund raising as well. It is a journey of prayer for direction for our diocese, for healing and reconciliation between Canadians of all kinds, but the fundraising will be specifically for Indigenous ministries and Habitat for Humanity, with some going to our own diocesan Living the Mission programme for providing better support for our refugee programmes and bringing in more teachers and instructors over this next year to help our congregations as they face amalgamation and the need to finally learn more about how to share their faith with those who do not believe. It is a huge undertaking for these two dear friends. I have all ready informed my husband that if he ever has the chance to take the sabbatical he is presently eligible for, we will NOT being doing such a thing! hahahaha I am safe...he has no interest in the kind of intense physical training our bishop has just gone through! hahaha He also knows what would happen to our marriage if I found myself camping in a trailer for 4 months!
I think I will read some of the news feeds I subscribe to while I think about where to go for my Mothers' Day lunch celebration!
Now we are home again and my husband is happily puttering away with the computer cable. I suspect he will be spending time watching another episode before he takes me out for the Mothers' Day lunch we were too tired to bother with yesterday. After two miserable nights of poor sleep, we both did absolutely nothing yesterday afternoon after church and spent then and the evening zonked out either asleep in our chairs, or watching boxing on tv through bleary eyes. We slept so well last night that my husband barely heard his alarm at 7am and I didn't hear it at all. He had to wake me up to go to the breakfast.
I am trying to figure out where I would like to go for my lunch out today. So many choices, even with half the restaurants in the city closed on Mondays now. Hmmmm....do I want Indian food, a big salad, soup, pub grub.....hmmmmmm, this bears thinking about!
My son called at 10:30pm yesterday, 12:30am for him. I was shocked to hear from him as he presently has no girlfriend to tell him about such card company contrived "events" as Mothers' Day. Apparently he was finishing up a work project on his computer and as he went to send the file to his employer, an advertising banner popped up that reminded him. hahahahaha We had a lovely chat and he gave us some good advice about cell phone plans for our week across the border, some cross border banking tips, etc. Very, very helpful. It is unreal how excited he is that we are coming to visit. I think he is a bit lonely again since the break up. Perfect time to visit.....
Oh the joy of spring: sunshine and warmth and reduced winds for a few days. I LOVE it!!!!
I am going to be in serious prayer each day for our Bishop and his wife. He has been training for nearly 2 years to do this coast to coast cycle. She has taken special driving lessons to be able to handle the truck and trailer rig she will be taking as she follows him across Canada. I am praying not only for their safety, but for a good strengthening of their marriage, because there is going to be considerable stress of all kinds for a journey like this. I am praying for successful fund raising as well. It is a journey of prayer for direction for our diocese, for healing and reconciliation between Canadians of all kinds, but the fundraising will be specifically for Indigenous ministries and Habitat for Humanity, with some going to our own diocesan Living the Mission programme for providing better support for our refugee programmes and bringing in more teachers and instructors over this next year to help our congregations as they face amalgamation and the need to finally learn more about how to share their faith with those who do not believe. It is a huge undertaking for these two dear friends. I have all ready informed my husband that if he ever has the chance to take the sabbatical he is presently eligible for, we will NOT being doing such a thing! hahahaha I am safe...he has no interest in the kind of intense physical training our bishop has just gone through! hahaha He also knows what would happen to our marriage if I found myself camping in a trailer for 4 months!
I think I will read some of the news feeds I subscribe to while I think about where to go for my Mothers' Day lunch celebration!
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Tan Lines All Ready
This morning as I was getting dressed, I happened to look down at my feet and noticed there are all ready lines of tan on the strips of bare skin not covered by my sandal straps. Wow! If the sun’s rays are this strong so early in the spring season that my feet are tanned after only a few walks around town, I better get my knee length summer skirts and dresses ready to wear. It is only a few weeks before our trip to NYC, where it could be much hotter, so I hope I can get more tan on my legs by then. I want to wear mostly dresses there. Bring on the sunshine!
And So the Changes Begin
Soon the changes in our lives will begin. In July my husband will once again take on the responsibility of preaching and presiding commitments on two Sundays each month at two rural parishes. This commitment will expand in September if he and the congregations get on well together.
Back he goes to a two point rural parish. Back he goes to the driving commitment no matter the weather. Back he goes to taking on even more work, on top of all ready struggling with trying to do the office work of two to three full time people all by himself. Back he goes to losing an office day on the weeks he has the Sunday commitment.
Typically, things generally have to get worse before they get better, right?
To say I have been disappointed things have to be this way is an understatement, but they do have to be this way. I accept that and will continue to deal with this new reality the same way I have dealt with every other change we have experienced in life that has been equally unexpected: spend two or three weeks with my mind racing too badly to sleep at night, telling God every potentially negative thing I can personally foresee about the change of circumstance, being crabby all day, then capitulating to the will of God with complete trust and assurance that he will bring as much good as he always does into our lives through the changes. I am just at that turning point and am looking forward to sleeping through the night once again!
Early this morning I experienced the first positive thoughts and feelings since the decision was made. My husband has been desperately missing the preaching and teaching aspect of his ministry since giving up his last parish two years ago. Not having that has made him feel he is “fudging” on his call to ministry. He is excited to get started and I have not seen him this excited in awhile. If he is willing to take on the possibility of having to be slithering about on snowy, icy highways again this winter, then so be it.
There are giant changes in the works for our diocese over the next year or so. We are facing possible church amalgamations and downsizing. Taking on these parishes may work to his advantage as far as being able to remain employed and keep us living here in the city for the foreseeable future.
It is possible God has one last big adventure for us as we hit the so called “Golden Years”, and that possibility is what is causing the first stirrings of excitement in my soul. As long as we are waiting on God for the next step in life there exists the possibility that any sort of fabulous, incredibly amazing thing could happen, like it has so many times before.
I love this feeling of moving from “ O dear Lord...more changes???? Not again! Please, I can’t handle any more changes and adventures. Not right now, okay?”, to “Another change is coming Lord?? Yippee! What cool thing are you going to get us involved with this time?”
O happy transition from “Ok, here are the potential problems with this new change and this is how we could solve them...or this way...or that way....hmmmm....”, to “Ok Lord, not sure how the details are going to work out, but looking forward to seeing how YOU solve the potential problems!”
That is how the pattern develops for me each time changes occur. Since I am embroiled in the process once again, I am delighted to find myself transitioning from the worries about the changes to the excitement of realizing once again the God has prepared more jogs in the road as we continue our journey with him.
Who knows what is coming? God does. What a relief!
Back he goes to a two point rural parish. Back he goes to the driving commitment no matter the weather. Back he goes to taking on even more work, on top of all ready struggling with trying to do the office work of two to three full time people all by himself. Back he goes to losing an office day on the weeks he has the Sunday commitment.
Typically, things generally have to get worse before they get better, right?
To say I have been disappointed things have to be this way is an understatement, but they do have to be this way. I accept that and will continue to deal with this new reality the same way I have dealt with every other change we have experienced in life that has been equally unexpected: spend two or three weeks with my mind racing too badly to sleep at night, telling God every potentially negative thing I can personally foresee about the change of circumstance, being crabby all day, then capitulating to the will of God with complete trust and assurance that he will bring as much good as he always does into our lives through the changes. I am just at that turning point and am looking forward to sleeping through the night once again!
Early this morning I experienced the first positive thoughts and feelings since the decision was made. My husband has been desperately missing the preaching and teaching aspect of his ministry since giving up his last parish two years ago. Not having that has made him feel he is “fudging” on his call to ministry. He is excited to get started and I have not seen him this excited in awhile. If he is willing to take on the possibility of having to be slithering about on snowy, icy highways again this winter, then so be it.
There are giant changes in the works for our diocese over the next year or so. We are facing possible church amalgamations and downsizing. Taking on these parishes may work to his advantage as far as being able to remain employed and keep us living here in the city for the foreseeable future.
It is possible God has one last big adventure for us as we hit the so called “Golden Years”, and that possibility is what is causing the first stirrings of excitement in my soul. As long as we are waiting on God for the next step in life there exists the possibility that any sort of fabulous, incredibly amazing thing could happen, like it has so many times before.
I love this feeling of moving from “ O dear Lord...more changes???? Not again! Please, I can’t handle any more changes and adventures. Not right now, okay?”, to “Another change is coming Lord?? Yippee! What cool thing are you going to get us involved with this time?”
O happy transition from “Ok, here are the potential problems with this new change and this is how we could solve them...or this way...or that way....hmmmm....”, to “Ok Lord, not sure how the details are going to work out, but looking forward to seeing how YOU solve the potential problems!”
That is how the pattern develops for me each time changes occur. Since I am embroiled in the process once again, I am delighted to find myself transitioning from the worries about the changes to the excitement of realizing once again the God has prepared more jogs in the road as we continue our journey with him.
Who knows what is coming? God does. What a relief!
Saturday, May 12, 2018
At Least It Is Warm Enough To Walk Outside With a Jacket On
Supposedly we are on the way to +20C today with a bit of a chilly wind blowing.
Since I got so much housework done yesterday, I got going at a decent time this morning and took the bus to Cornwall Centre where I found the shower curtain liner I need, plus a new travel sized blow dryer with a retractable cord! YES! I am so tired of trying not to wrap blow dryer cords around hair brushes and hand mirrors also in the storage basket for those sorts of things. I just bought a new blow dryer about three months ago, but last week I tripped while carrying it and it smashed down hard on the bathroom floor. Something inside near the motor broke and when I tried turning it on to see if it would still work, the hot smell that preceded the outpouring of smoke certainly let me know the poor thing is no longer useable. Sigh...clumsy, clumsy, clumsy!!!!
I finished my purchasing and lots of window shopping just after 11am, so then I enjoyed my chicken shawarma salad from Zam Zam Wraps. I don't add any sauce or cheese to it, but the nicely warm banana peppers and a couple of pickled turnips give the whole plate of veggies a nice flavour. The chicken shawarma is always delicious!
Then it was time for the walk home. I forgot that the Farmers' Market is in full swing again on Saturday mornings just a block away from Cornwall, so when I spotted it I took a wander past the booths on my way home. I found a home baked apple pie that has no corn starch or other corn products in it, so I purchased it for my husband. Since on Monday he is likely to receive news of his triglycerides still being too high, when he goes to his doctor's appointment, I am cutting the pie into pieces before he gets home from work today, and freezing the pieces in one serving sized dishes to be doled out only occasionally! I will leave one piece for him to have tonight or tomorrow and be able to enjoy it before he has to start cutting back on his fat intake more severely once again. He has been cheating FAR too much over the past 3 months and he knows it, so it won't be a shock to get the news.
I am glad I had a warm spring jacket on for my walk home. Although the sky is only overcast, no rain, the wind has kept the air temperature rather cool again today. It is warmer than the past two days have been, but still, that wind is NOT carrying spring with it.
Now I am going to go and get that pie cut up, my new shower curtain liner hung and start making some turkey vegetable soup to take to my parents on my next trip west.
Since I got so much housework done yesterday, I got going at a decent time this morning and took the bus to Cornwall Centre where I found the shower curtain liner I need, plus a new travel sized blow dryer with a retractable cord! YES! I am so tired of trying not to wrap blow dryer cords around hair brushes and hand mirrors also in the storage basket for those sorts of things. I just bought a new blow dryer about three months ago, but last week I tripped while carrying it and it smashed down hard on the bathroom floor. Something inside near the motor broke and when I tried turning it on to see if it would still work, the hot smell that preceded the outpouring of smoke certainly let me know the poor thing is no longer useable. Sigh...clumsy, clumsy, clumsy!!!!
I finished my purchasing and lots of window shopping just after 11am, so then I enjoyed my chicken shawarma salad from Zam Zam Wraps. I don't add any sauce or cheese to it, but the nicely warm banana peppers and a couple of pickled turnips give the whole plate of veggies a nice flavour. The chicken shawarma is always delicious!
Then it was time for the walk home. I forgot that the Farmers' Market is in full swing again on Saturday mornings just a block away from Cornwall, so when I spotted it I took a wander past the booths on my way home. I found a home baked apple pie that has no corn starch or other corn products in it, so I purchased it for my husband. Since on Monday he is likely to receive news of his triglycerides still being too high, when he goes to his doctor's appointment, I am cutting the pie into pieces before he gets home from work today, and freezing the pieces in one serving sized dishes to be doled out only occasionally! I will leave one piece for him to have tonight or tomorrow and be able to enjoy it before he has to start cutting back on his fat intake more severely once again. He has been cheating FAR too much over the past 3 months and he knows it, so it won't be a shock to get the news.
I am glad I had a warm spring jacket on for my walk home. Although the sky is only overcast, no rain, the wind has kept the air temperature rather cool again today. It is warmer than the past two days have been, but still, that wind is NOT carrying spring with it.
Now I am going to go and get that pie cut up, my new shower curtain liner hung and start making some turkey vegetable soup to take to my parents on my next trip west.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Why Are Such Simple Accomplishments So Satisfying??
My plan for the next two days was to clean this suite. It has been 2 weeks since it had a proper cleaning and since my husband will be spending his Saturday at an all day committee meeting, I thought these would be perfect days to take my time, do half the cleaning one day and half the next.
Weeeell, I got started before 8am, so had the entire downstairs done by just after 11am. I enjoyed a break and some lunch, then decided to add the stairwell and upstairs hallway into the day's roster to make tomorrow's work easier and somehow that morphed into cleaning the bathroom as well.
By then it was mid afternoon and I was tired, so I sat down for a bit of tv watching. My husband actually came home on time tonight instead of being 2 hours late, so I made us a decent dinner, then walked over to the grocery store for some eggs and milk, just to get in a bit more exercise after a rather heavy meal.
My husband was completely ensconced in a binge watching session of Season One of the Expanse tv show when I returned from the store and I didn't feel like just sitting around with a book or playing video games, so I just spent the last couple of hours cleaning the rest of the upstairs rooms.
I FEEL GREAT!!
At dinner I found out my husband needs the car tomorrow, so my plans to drive to the mall to seek out a new shower curtain liner went by the boards. I decided instead that if the weather is at least a bit nicer than it has been the past couple of days, I will walk up to Cornwall Center and check out the possibility of getting a decent liner at the Bay. That will be even more fun than driving to a mall, plus perhaps I will treat myself to a salad from Zam's for lunch. (Ok, ok, there is no "perhaps" about it! I WILL treat myself to a salad from Zam's for lunch! You know me so well...hohoho!!)
It took me all day, in fits and starts, to clean this place and I feel wonderful about getting all that exercise. I certainly eat less when I am so busy and not sitting around reading or watching tv. (or blogging, right?)
I am looking forward to tomorrow now much more than I was before. Then before I know it, it will be Sunday again and I am going to hear another piano student do a short recital. My husband has a serious committment most of the day at a church, so I am free to go and do my own thing. The bus runs just at the right time for me to go to hear the young pianist.
This weekend has perked up for activities and good exercise.
Happy, happy, joy, joy!!
Weeeell, I got started before 8am, so had the entire downstairs done by just after 11am. I enjoyed a break and some lunch, then decided to add the stairwell and upstairs hallway into the day's roster to make tomorrow's work easier and somehow that morphed into cleaning the bathroom as well.
By then it was mid afternoon and I was tired, so I sat down for a bit of tv watching. My husband actually came home on time tonight instead of being 2 hours late, so I made us a decent dinner, then walked over to the grocery store for some eggs and milk, just to get in a bit more exercise after a rather heavy meal.
My husband was completely ensconced in a binge watching session of Season One of the Expanse tv show when I returned from the store and I didn't feel like just sitting around with a book or playing video games, so I just spent the last couple of hours cleaning the rest of the upstairs rooms.
I FEEL GREAT!!
At dinner I found out my husband needs the car tomorrow, so my plans to drive to the mall to seek out a new shower curtain liner went by the boards. I decided instead that if the weather is at least a bit nicer than it has been the past couple of days, I will walk up to Cornwall Center and check out the possibility of getting a decent liner at the Bay. That will be even more fun than driving to a mall, plus perhaps I will treat myself to a salad from Zam's for lunch. (Ok, ok, there is no "perhaps" about it! I WILL treat myself to a salad from Zam's for lunch! You know me so well...hohoho!!)
It took me all day, in fits and starts, to clean this place and I feel wonderful about getting all that exercise. I certainly eat less when I am so busy and not sitting around reading or watching tv. (or blogging, right?)
I am looking forward to tomorrow now much more than I was before. Then before I know it, it will be Sunday again and I am going to hear another piano student do a short recital. My husband has a serious committment most of the day at a church, so I am free to go and do my own thing. The bus runs just at the right time for me to go to hear the young pianist.
This weekend has perked up for activities and good exercise.
Happy, happy, joy, joy!!
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Another Wildlife Near Tragedy
This afternoon as I was driving home from some errands, the car driving in front of me suddenly screeched to a halt. I am so grateful that there was sufficient distance between us for me to manage to stop as well without running into the back of that vehicle.
The reason the driver slammed on the brakes is that a mama squirrel chose that moment to race out across the road carrying one of her new babies in her mouth! It was fascinating to see her holding the little one, its wee bushy tail wagging up and down as she ran pell mell for a tall, leafy tree on the other side of the street.
O how relieved I am that the driver was able to stop in time. If that mama and baby had been hit my heart would have broken all over again. Dear God, please protect that little family of squirrels and keep them from running across the road at such dangerous times! Thank you, Amen!!
The reason the driver slammed on the brakes is that a mama squirrel chose that moment to race out across the road carrying one of her new babies in her mouth! It was fascinating to see her holding the little one, its wee bushy tail wagging up and down as she ran pell mell for a tall, leafy tree on the other side of the street.
O how relieved I am that the driver was able to stop in time. If that mama and baby had been hit my heart would have broken all over again. Dear God, please protect that little family of squirrels and keep them from running across the road at such dangerous times! Thank you, Amen!!
Another Retail Corporation is Growing
I just read an online news article that says Canadian Tire is now preparing the paperwork to purchase Helly Hansen clothing manufacturing. Wow...that puts Canadian Tire, Atmosphere, Mark's, SportChek and now Helly Hansen under the same retail umbrella. That makes me very sad.
Unforunately these huge retail conglomerates follow the same policy as some of our more provincial retail corporations such as SGI: bulk sales, quickest selling merchandise will be all that appears on the shelves so that very little excess product will be sitting around. Quality be damned. No real serving of niche markets. It is understandable for the corporations with a financial bottom line, but difficult for some of what may soon be "former" regular customers like me. (Add in the fact that twice in two weeks when we have been visiting some of these outlets we have been tailed our entire visit by eager young men attempting to sell us credit cards that will give us a "first purchase" discount, plus a new card to use to gain Canadian Tire "money" that can now be spent at all the aforementioned retailers. The young men are simply doing their jobs and I suspect are being paid according to how many cards they are able to get the customers to apply for, but I am TIRED OF IT PEOPLE! TIRED OF IT I SAY! These sneak attacks that last for my entire visit to these stores is sending me elsewhere to shop!)
It means that for those of us not wanting to buy whatever the best sellers are for those items now being carried will be forced to purchase from the smaller, niche market retailers who have to put their prices up to cover a smaller product line with less sales, but who are still paying big bucks for retail space rentals and taxes. I hope that one bonus of this situation is that the smaller niche market stores will see an upswing in paying customers. However, what I really think will happen is that more people will flee to the formerly dreaded WalMart type outlets for cheaper, non-sportswear related outfits. Again, quality be damned.
If I want to continue to wear every day clothing items that are not related to sports or fitness, but are not going to fall apart after a few washings, I am going to have to start paying more money to get what I want.
See, it is REALLY good that I spent so much money on a new wardrobe after I lost all that weight, right? I HAVE tons of clothes that will last me for several years. Even my present footwear should last for a few more year. There was method to my madness, right?
So, buy away Canadian Tire bigwigs. Enjoy expanding your empire. As far as your clothing market, I won't need to make use of it, thank you anyway.
Unforunately these huge retail conglomerates follow the same policy as some of our more provincial retail corporations such as SGI: bulk sales, quickest selling merchandise will be all that appears on the shelves so that very little excess product will be sitting around. Quality be damned. No real serving of niche markets. It is understandable for the corporations with a financial bottom line, but difficult for some of what may soon be "former" regular customers like me. (Add in the fact that twice in two weeks when we have been visiting some of these outlets we have been tailed our entire visit by eager young men attempting to sell us credit cards that will give us a "first purchase" discount, plus a new card to use to gain Canadian Tire "money" that can now be spent at all the aforementioned retailers. The young men are simply doing their jobs and I suspect are being paid according to how many cards they are able to get the customers to apply for, but I am TIRED OF IT PEOPLE! TIRED OF IT I SAY! These sneak attacks that last for my entire visit to these stores is sending me elsewhere to shop!)
It means that for those of us not wanting to buy whatever the best sellers are for those items now being carried will be forced to purchase from the smaller, niche market retailers who have to put their prices up to cover a smaller product line with less sales, but who are still paying big bucks for retail space rentals and taxes. I hope that one bonus of this situation is that the smaller niche market stores will see an upswing in paying customers. However, what I really think will happen is that more people will flee to the formerly dreaded WalMart type outlets for cheaper, non-sportswear related outfits. Again, quality be damned.
If I want to continue to wear every day clothing items that are not related to sports or fitness, but are not going to fall apart after a few washings, I am going to have to start paying more money to get what I want.
See, it is REALLY good that I spent so much money on a new wardrobe after I lost all that weight, right? I HAVE tons of clothes that will last me for several years. Even my present footwear should last for a few more year. There was method to my madness, right?
So, buy away Canadian Tire bigwigs. Enjoy expanding your empire. As far as your clothing market, I won't need to make use of it, thank you anyway.
Goosey Goose Gander, Whither Do Ye Wander.....
....on the roof and on the lawn and out to meet thy Maker....sigh....
Yup, one of the big geese managed to get itself run over by a vehicle last evening, right in front of our place. I felt so badly when I looked out the window and saw its remains out in the street. Fortunately, a little while later, a city crew truck arrived to remove the carcass from the road. As much as those big poop machines annoy me every year with their mess and noise, they are magnificent creatures and it makes me very unhappy when they wander out into the street and get hit.
O Lord, protect those big, dumb birds from their stupidity about roads and cars. Poor big, dumb, beautiful birds.....
Another chilly day out our way. The sky is once again cloudy and grey, but there is no desperately needed rain in the forecast. At the moment it is about 8am and it is only +5C, with a forecast high of only +13C. O how nice it would be to get our late spring storm over with so the winds could warm and the air be filled with the scent of new tree and flower blossoms. The few drops that constituted our first rain a couple of nights ago was at least enough to green up the grass.
My husband and I had a chat this morning about some of his summer ministry plans....good plans, but plans that will add a bunch more stress and work into his life for the next few months. Sigh.....I thought the idea we were going for was to lessen the stress and work load, but first he is going to have to go in the exact opposite direction. 'Twas ever thus.....
I was looking at him the other day when we were shopping. What I saw was a rapidly aging middle aged man shuffling down the aisle in a store, peering at something on the shelves from out in the centre of the aisle and looking so dithery....it broke my heart. In my mind, I was taking a picture and filing it under "Home Care Clients I Have Known". Mind you, I am looking and acting pretty ancient myself lately. It is a sad and confusing time of life, having to accept the reality of aging and what may be coming next.
Well, we have our two upcoming trips to look forward to! Although the 4 days with my parents may be very difficult to get through, I am still looking forward to a break away from the daily routine. Knowing that our son cancelled his trip to Paris, leaving him with more days off to visit and tour us around NYC when we get there, has brought a whole new element of excitement to that trip.
Guess I had better get about my day.......
Yup, one of the big geese managed to get itself run over by a vehicle last evening, right in front of our place. I felt so badly when I looked out the window and saw its remains out in the street. Fortunately, a little while later, a city crew truck arrived to remove the carcass from the road. As much as those big poop machines annoy me every year with their mess and noise, they are magnificent creatures and it makes me very unhappy when they wander out into the street and get hit.
O Lord, protect those big, dumb birds from their stupidity about roads and cars. Poor big, dumb, beautiful birds.....
Another chilly day out our way. The sky is once again cloudy and grey, but there is no desperately needed rain in the forecast. At the moment it is about 8am and it is only +5C, with a forecast high of only +13C. O how nice it would be to get our late spring storm over with so the winds could warm and the air be filled with the scent of new tree and flower blossoms. The few drops that constituted our first rain a couple of nights ago was at least enough to green up the grass.
My husband and I had a chat this morning about some of his summer ministry plans....good plans, but plans that will add a bunch more stress and work into his life for the next few months. Sigh.....I thought the idea we were going for was to lessen the stress and work load, but first he is going to have to go in the exact opposite direction. 'Twas ever thus.....
I was looking at him the other day when we were shopping. What I saw was a rapidly aging middle aged man shuffling down the aisle in a store, peering at something on the shelves from out in the centre of the aisle and looking so dithery....it broke my heart. In my mind, I was taking a picture and filing it under "Home Care Clients I Have Known". Mind you, I am looking and acting pretty ancient myself lately. It is a sad and confusing time of life, having to accept the reality of aging and what may be coming next.
Well, we have our two upcoming trips to look forward to! Although the 4 days with my parents may be very difficult to get through, I am still looking forward to a break away from the daily routine. Knowing that our son cancelled his trip to Paris, leaving him with more days off to visit and tour us around NYC when we get there, has brought a whole new element of excitement to that trip.
Guess I had better get about my day.......
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