2021

Good Morning All! How are you doing this morning? Feeling refreshed after a nice shower. Alvin was barking but has quieten down now. It is dark as night outside at this moment. It would appear that nothing has changed since the question of “Adopting Daylight Savings Time” in Alberta has reached a stalemate. So we shall see what happens. I thought this election that maybe people would want to change ….. meaning no setting the clocks forward and back. For me, I find it takes so long to adjust to the time change. Having the sunrise rise at 8:25 or 9:27 a.m., really what difference does a hour make. I would rather have the time at the end of the day. Perhaps we should ask our neighbours in Saskatchewan what they think? Actually I lived in Saskatchewan for most of my life and I loved it. Not having to change the clocks, remembering to change the clocks. I also remember that whenever I wanted to call my family in Alberta, I would have to think is it “fall back” or “spring forward” and calculate the time. A pain really. Anyway “time” will tell. Have to go with the majority. I think even if it is 51 to 49, you go with the majority of votes, right!

Someone has started to miss me again.

I noticed that most of my neighbours leaves are on the ground making a beautiful patchwork quilt of leaves. Looks so pretty. My yard has remained with only a few. I guess that big wind yesterday was blowing in my direction, lol. Anyway I love the leaves. The rich colours. I also love walking through them and the crunching beneath my feet as I go. Just like a little child.

Are you thinking about Christmas yet? It will be another different one. I hope that folks decide to keep things simple this year. I wonder about the increasing cost of food and other things. What does 2022 look like? So many questions.

Time to go. It is later than I thought. Always enjoy a cup of coffee in the mornings.

Have a wonderful day. It is Wednesday.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, love, laughter and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! Well here we are at Monday morning once again. I seem to find it difficult to get my butt up off the sofa “or out of bed” on these days more so than others. I read quite late last night and then could not turn off my brain. Also the few times that I got up and also turning off and on the snooze button, I had awoke from an ongoing dreams. Not 100% sure if same one or not but I just kept dreaming or thinking about things. Felt like a dream. Something I could not escape. Kind of scary. So that was my Sunday night and early Monday morning. Needless to say it is fast approaching work time so I will have to make this post short. I apologize for that.

Today is our Civic Election. We elect a Mayor, 12 Councillors and some School Trustees. We also have a question about Daylight Savings Time and whether or not to continue with Equalization payments from the Federal Government. Lots to ponder. The ballot will be a long one for sure and I am hoping that I can walk to the school and get back in a reasonable amount of time. With mask in hand, my drivers license and proof of vaccination (just in case) and my phone (cause who knows what will happen) and me, myself and I.

I hope that you have a great day. If it is your time to VOTE ….. go out and do it. You may not like the way that the majority votes but at least you had your say. Always important.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, love, laughter and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this smoky cloudy morning? My thoughts are going to the people and all the animals living in the areas affected by the wildfires/fires. I cannot imagine. Here in Edmonton it is smoky and yesterday I had to close the windows as the smell of smoke was begin to affect my breathing. I am praying for rain for BC with no wind or lightning.

Does it not always seem to happen that when things all go wrong it is all at once.

My venting ….. as Alvin is barking downstairs and I decided to write this post on my computer upstairs just for a change to feel somewhat normal. Although our lives are not normal at the moment.

So yesterday I had been wearing two very delicate gold bracelets and noticed one was missing. I searched high and low but it is gone. Somewhere in the house or outside. I have a feeling it fell off outside and went down in between the cracks on the deck.

I ran to the mailbox to pick up the mail which I have not done in a long time. There was a package for me. I was so excited. When I opened the package, I found the earrings that I had ordered from Fifth Avenue that had been on backorder. I gingerly unwrapped them to find that the posts were bent on the ends and the backs were on so tight that I barely got one off. Definitely cannot wear them. Damaged before even the opportunity to wear them. Makes me so sad and a little mad.

Going back to the a/c servicing that was supposed to be on Wednesday that we had patiently waited for and then did not show up. When I called the company yesterday morning, I found out that the person I spoke with when they were late showing up – had cancelled the appointment and scheduled it for Saturday when they come to check out the hot water tank. The hot water tank was positioned in a way that blocks off access to the sump pump.

Alvin barking and whining downstairs.

It is not often if at all that I spend my whole post with negative thoughts. I apologize but I just had to get them out. Just seems that everything is going to hell in a handbasket.

Then Alvin has surgery next Friday.

Too much and I am feeling a bit frazzled.

Please forgive this venting as I am well aware in a better state of mind that I am very blessed. I live in a great house/home, I have a yard, I am employed, I am in good health, I have incredible family and friends and so much more. But sometimes life gets the better of us and I am afraid I am at that point. Deep breaths, I know.

I have a headache from the smoke and from someone’s barking. I know he just has anxiety from me not being in his sight but …… oh, I wish.

Okay, I have to go now.

I will be back tomorrow and I will be in a better frame of mind, I promise.

Trying to life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, love and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you today? I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my nephew in Calgary and one of my long time friends in Regina. They both celebrated birthdays yesterday and guess who forgot to send them birthday wishes. Happy Birthday to you both. May 2021 be filled with good health, great joy, much love and laughter and abundance.

Turnaround in our weather. Thankfully the temperatures are going up (warmer). One or so weeks of this frigid weather is enough for us. Tomorrow I am hosting a birthday party for one of my Edmonton friends in our garage. We will have heaters thanks to another Edmonton girlfriend. I can honestly say that I have never hosted a birthday party in a garage. I have hosted on the deck, in the house, in basements, on the beach, at McDonalds, in a park and so on but never ever in a garage. After work today, I am going to move around and organize seating and a table for us. Hang up some decorations. The Birthday Banner. The guest list is the three of us friends which includes the birthday girl. I must add Alvin to the list as he will NOT stay quiet in the nice warm house. He has to be attached to me all of the time. I have this perfect patio set that is made to resemble wicker but it is not. There is a small “loveseat” and two comfy chairs. They all have nice cushions which I just remembered will need to be brought out of their storage bags. I also have a small table that comes with the set and then a large round table. So I will move the large round table into the middle of the garage or close to the middle. Place the seating six feet apart. Make sure that everyone has a spot to set their coffee/tea drinks on and we are set to go. Set up should not take too long. Just some rearranging and we are good to go. In the morning, I will take the cupcakes (made from scratch, I might add) and some other treats to the garage along with a butler of coffee. The gift. Party time. I am so excited to spend good quality in person time with two of my best girl friends ever. They are amazing human beings and I am more than proud to call them my friends.

Well I guess it is time to head on back downstairs. Put on the coffee and start work in a few minutes. YAY it is Friday. It has been a strange week. Alvin seems to have a dislike for the headset that I put on so when I am on the phone which is often he barks. I even let him sniff the headset but to no avail, he still barks. When I was using the phone app, I could get up and take the phone with me, I cannot do that with the headset, as it is not cordless. So it has been frustrating. Sometimes he has to go out and other times not. What a guy.

Okay, it is Friday. Today is going to be quiet and a great day. Looks like it may be nice enough for us to take some semblance of a walk at noon today. I am so grateful. I think he needs to get out for longer than bathroom breaks.

Living with kindness, respect, compassion and learning to be more patience. Learning. Learning, Learning.

Always, Carol & Alvin