Welcome December 2020

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing this fine Friday morning? Some of my work colleagues are going to enjoy this as their last day before vacation returning to work after the NEW YEAR. I wonder how many folks out there that are employed did not take any or much of their 2020 earned vacation? Our immediate area found several staff with vacation days that must be taken before the end of 2020. I will admit that I am a bit envious. By take two weeks starting on Monday the return date is January 4, 2021 and with our office shut down time you end up with three weeks off. How lovely. Oh well, maybe next year. I did enjoy a couple of weeks vacation in August around my birthday and it was great. I am not really “upset.” Just wondering what other things we did in excess during this crazy year of 2020.

1. Many folks started eating to find comfort hence the term “COVID-15” was penned.
2. While others baked banana bread, cinnamon buns and bread like there was never going to be flour and sugar on this earth again. So evident by the bare shelves in the grocery stores.
3. We (not me) hoarded bathroom tissue as if it was more important than food and water. Making it difficult to find any if you ran out. Which I ran into that situation. Luckily I had family and friends that came to the rescue. Definitely something you don’t want to run out of but not necessary to buy in huge bulk.
4. Folks started ordering from online venues such as AMAZON in record high numbers. Really, how much of that stuff did you really need?
5. We saw the increase of businesses delivering food that had been prepped and only required to be cooked such GOOD FOOD and CHEF’s PLATE and others.
6. We saw the increase of online communication platforms (is that the correct language, I’m old so I am guessing here, lol) such as ZOOM and I have forgot the others now. OMG. There are a few.
7. Increase in pet adoption. My hope is that when this is over that these pets remain in the homes and that they are all being well provided for ….
8. Diamond Paintings. I hadn’t realized that this was even a thing before my friends told me. There are a great many websites where you can purchase pictures of anything. They are pre stamped with the picture, and a sticky covering and you match the coloured beads and with this pen like apparatus you pluck the matching coloured bead on the matching number and in the end you have a beautiful picture. I finished one and they finished tons. I started a fall one in late summer and it has been placed in the basement. Somehow I lost interest. Fun but not really my thing. Maybe it is old eyes. Okay that was poor wording.

Well time to go. I did come up with 8 things how about you?

I wish you a great Friday and I look forward to picking out new glasses later today. Not exactly sure how this is going to work but I will let you know tomorrow.

Remember together living with kindness and respect and compassion it will be a better world.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Countdown we are at “13” sleeps until Christmas EVE DAY.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well the sky is overcast this morning in Edmonton.

Alvin and I have been up for a bit now.

Just pondering the situation of the world.

This CORONAVIRUS has made some people into selfish bastards.

Or perhaps just shown their true selves.

I am going to use that word because that is what it seems.

Why else would anyone need to scour their towns and cities and buy up carts full of bathroom tissue.

It started there.

Now people are buying up meat in large quantities, cleaning supplies and all sorts of food items.

Lineups are out the door at grocery stores.

As the shelves become more bare and the stores are not able to keep up with the demand, as more and more people are infected.

Over time of course, this will affect the truck drivers bringing the food items to us.

What about the farmers, the factory workers and so on.

What will happen?

Greed through the ages and in 2020 it is running as rampant as ever.

If you think that it is funny or that you are out to make a profit ….. guess again.

At some point it will come back and bite you in the ass.

This whole thing has made me just plain mad and oh, so disappointed in the human race.

I know that it is not everyone but come on people.

If we stay calm and follow the “rules” set out by our Health Care Providers we will be okay.

Yes, I know that there will be deaths and that is of course very tragic and I could be one.

NO one knows.

But please this is 2020 and we should have learned a lesson or two by now.

 

I will, me, myself and I remain calm in this STORM.

Panic, I will not.

I promise to do the best to help others who cannot help themselves.

Please remember those who live from cheque to cheque.

There are many of us on the planet.

Ranging from young to old.

Buy what you need as you normally would.

 

As the snow gently hits the ground, I am in the realization that I am okay.

Alvin and I have food in the fridge and the pantry.

We have a warm home to live in.

I am grateful to all those who make this all possible for us every day.

Those folks who work in jobs where there is no “staying home” to weather this storm.

The Nurses, the Doctors, the City Employees and the list is long.

We are grateful to you.

Keep safe and in good health.

 

I hope that you have a good Saturday.

Be in good health.

Be KIND AND RESPECTFUL in all that you do most especially at this time.

 

Always, Carol &  Alvin

 

Remember the government, politicians and other leaders cannot do this by themselves, it is up to each one of us to do our part.

We are all human beings and must work together.

 

 

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a sunny bright Friday the 13th of March, 2020.

Last night we celebrated my daughter’s 40th birthday.

She wrote a beautiful thank you to my post from yesterday and this was my response.

“You are so welcome my darling. I am quite certain that I could literally write a book on our first forty years together and I look forward to the next forty. I can imagine me at 103 baking your 80th birthday cake ensuring the icing is perfect but the cake a little crumbly but tasting yummy. Thank you for bringing your family to our house (me and your brother’s) and for the wonderful meal and for our time together. I treasure every second with you all and always look forward to your next visit. Thank you.”

 

I wonder where this year is going to take us.

The panic around the world including here at home with respect to the CORONAVIRUS is at moments overwhelming.

I would say that I am not worried about the virus as much as I am concerned about food for me and Alvin, most especially Alvin.

I have lots of cans of black beans etc. that would keep me going for some time should the shelves become bare.

But Alvin is another story.

I wished that people would calm down as being in a panic mode and crazily purchasing things that you do not require is not helping anyone.

There are folks house bound or do not have a car to scour the city looking for bathroom tissue for example.

I am still in disbelief that people have bought out bathroom tissue.

One friend had to go to 8 places before she was able to purchase bathroom tissue.

I am blessed as a friend of mine picked me up some bathroom tissue yesterday from COSTCO (that should keep us going for awhile).

I am grateful that Alvin does not require to wipe his little bum.

 

Well, I am determined to remain calm and remain in a positive frame of mine.

Last day was a celebration of a life of 40 years thus far, my daughter’s as you know.

I look forward to each and every birthday of hers and ours.

Life is precious.

Remember that each and every day.

Life is precious.

All life is precious.

 

Well we, okay me, slept in, this morning.

I took today off as a vacation day to just have an extra long weekend.

It is almost 10:30 a.m.

I have looked after Alvin’s breakfast much earlier, changed bedding and readied the laundry (next stop), paid some bills and am just finishing this post.

So I guess my last few hours have not all been sleeping.

Anyway, that is okay.

Sometimes we need to sleep in and just be.

Not worrying about what could have been ….

Just be in the moment.

 

I am most grateful to live in a country, in a city that has good overall health practices.

I am grateful to an employer who is concerned for our well being.

I am grateful to have soap and water so that I can wash my hands whenever I wish.

I am grateful to be in good health.

I am grateful that my family and friends are as well.

If you are not feeling well – stay home if you are able.

A self imposed quarantine is a good move.

Better safe.

I understand the momentary crisis that is evolving for cancelled concerts, sporting events, meetings, etc.

But at the end of the day that us get this virus under control sooner rather than later.

I heard that Saskatchewan (our neighbour to the east) is working on a vaccine.

YAY and thanks to our neighbours.

Be safe.

But most of all BE SMART.

Do not just think of yourself ….

Think of EVERYONE ….. this affects possibly EVERYONE on the PLANET to some degree.

 

Have an awesome Friday.

I guess that I had better get out of my pj’s and have some COFFEE.

I can smell that brewing in my mind.

Toast with cheez whiz ….. I think so.

 

Respect and Kindness, always.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin