Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing great. Up at 5:15, (well up at 3:00 as both of us had to “go”) for the day. Alvin has had his breakfast and I have made our bed and had a shower. Now time to be creative! I love having the opportunity to write this post every day or most days. This post, this blog is meant to be light and fun although there are days when it can be very dark. Everyone has days where it is difficult to keep that bright light and positive energy and mindset shining. Today is a bright light kind of day. I hope that it is for you as well. There is a full moon. I am not sure how many folks out there have the belief that a full moon can play with people’s behaviors but I tend to lend toward “yes.” When you work with the public – you can definitely see it. The sky was beautiful clear with the moon up front and centre and stars scattered about. Happy Wednesday!

Last night I made the “Hamburger Quiche” for supper minus the ground beef and using the YVES Mexican blend “meatless meat.” It was a nice reminder of home, I mean Regina. Edmonton is home but Saskatchewan will always be my “home, home.” I was born and raised there until my early teenage years and spent most of my adult life in Saskatchewan, so it is home. Back to supper. The Quiche was good and I had peas for a vegetable. I usually do not have ketchup in the house or even use it but I bought the smallest bottle that I could as you just have to have it with this dish. Not sure why.

I was nervous when I opened the front door last night and Alvin was not there. Two second later he bounded down the up stairs. My heart deflated as I realized that I had not put up the baby gate to keep him downstairs when I am not at home. I had forgot. I think that our bed is one of his happy places as he can look out of the window as he no longer can get up on the chairs in the living room. A few years ago I would not have thought twice about preventing him from going upstairs but now in his golden years, I do not want him to slip and or fall and injury himself. Whew. Thank goodness he is okay. I will remember today. I will.

We had a good evening after supper and dishes were done. It was close to 7:30 when I sat down with a cup of tea. That is one thing about working at the office – the commute. Honestly I do not like it. We lose two hours each day commuting. That is two hours that I missing with my Alvin. I do enjoy the conversation with Michelle, my coworker and carpool driver. But I would much rather be at home. I can tell you when we were outside at 3:00 a.m. and I went to take a breath of air and my lungs hurt from the extremely cold air this morning, I just wanted to go back into the house and curl up under the blanket with Alvin. Which we did because it was 3:00 a.m., lol. You know what I mean.

Today and tomorrow at the office and then the long weekend. Remembrance Day, November 11th.

Have a wonderful day everyone! I hope that you are able to “shine brightly” on this day!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: couple of things to do and we will even have some cuddle time before I leave at 7:00. We are leaving earlier because of the snow and ice on some of the streets.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Everyone!

The sky is a patchwork quilt of deep blue and light blue clouds.

It is windy and cool.

Not a great morning to start the repairs on my fence but it is nonetheless the start day.

It has been delayed due to personal matters on the repairman’s side and then time delay this morning as I have a 9:00 a.m. morning.

The start time was to have been 9:00 a.m. but I didn’t think that would work out if I am in a meeting as I have to open the garage door etc.

Anyway with much luck from Mother Nature the work will begin today and hopefully end early tomorrow.

Not a huge job but big enough for sure.

 

Good news on the Alvin front.

Finally the closest to a normal poop that my boy has had since May 13th, 2020.

I will be so glad to get back to our new norm.

That seems to be an ever changing thing these days.

 

I am hopefully that we will get news on the return date to work.

Deep well not that deep in my heart, I am hoping that we will stay home until the end of August, 2020.

There are many people with children and with the schools closed and daycares closed, who looks after the children.

Not everyone has a parent or family members that is able to do this.

Hopefully we then have some more nice weather.

 

Every morning or most mornings Alvin stands by the fence that separates us from Humphrey and his Mom.

He loves his friend, Humphrey the cat.

They usually have a little visit by the fence everyday.

I guess we can all learn a lesson from animals.

Traditionally cats and dogs do not really get along but look at these guys.

They love being together.

Both are excited to see each other.

I can always tell when it has been a few days.

If we have a rainy spell and no one is really outside ….. man, are they happy to see each other.

When Humphrey visits, they both line up at the pantry door wanting a treat.

Everyone that comes to visit knows where the treats are located.

Man and Beast alike.

Too strong of words.

Okay, my daughter, grandpups, Alvin, Humphrey and Teddy to name a few.

That sounds much better.

 

Hey, if you have not heard of “PLUTO LIVING” – please go and check out YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Pluto is the cutest little dog and with help from Mom, well they are the best team to come out of Canada or anywhere in decades.

Great at giving us the news, telling funny stories, giving advice, poetry and so much more.

But most of all bringing us great joy through laughter in these uncertain and sometimes scary times.

Please seek them out you will not be sorry.

Take the time, please.

 

Well it is now time to get to work.

I have such a long, long, long commute.

I think it might be two regular steps, no maybe less from my personal computer and space to my work computer and space.

ARGH, so tough, I know.

No complaints, really.

Alvin is resting comfortably on his little bed that I made with some fluffy towels and two nice blue warm blankets.

Oh, I see the sun shining now that is a great sign.

Still pretty windy and hopefully that does not bring in any storms or hamper the work for today.

 

I wish you a day filled with love and laughter.

I wish you an easy Wednesday.

Perhaps time for a walk.

Enjoy.

 

I will continue to live my life with kindness and respect.

As I am human sometimes I have moments where I may be less than perfect.

But I will always try by best to be a good soul with a warm heart living with kindness and respect to myself and most of all to others.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

I need a haircut as my hair looks nothing like this photo.

I do like this photo of me and I am not a huge fan of photos of me.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and welcome to Wednesday affectionately known as “Hump Day.”

The sun is shining, the sky is that beautiful perfect blue with just the odd wisp of white clouds.

 

Another work day here in just a little bit.

Oh, how I love this commute.

If I went from this computer to my work one it would be not even three steps, closer to 2.5.

How is that for a commute?

I know that I am very blessed to be able to work from home.

Even though there are days, well I should say moments that I could “scream” with my job, I am grateful for it.

I am quite certain that anyone with a job has those days.

I love being here for Alvin.

He follows me around the house from room to room.

I love that I have at a minimum 1.15 hours extra each day to enjoy with Alvin.

That is the difference when working from home.

If I was catching the bus it would 2.5 hours.

So this is a huge time to have at home.

Enjoy this time.

I know that I am.

I have more time to putz in my yard and thankfully it is now spring and soon summer.

I can go for two walks each day with Mr. Alvin.

Just more time to enjoy.

I am loving it.

 

This coming Sunday, I invited the girls over for coffee on the deck (instead of inside the garage).

10:00 a.m.

Hoping the weather would cooperate.

Please no wind and not like the gale force winds at our last coffee get together in the garage.

I was chatting with another friend and she said to enjoy this coming weekend (as I work and she thinks I work too hard) and what would I be doing with my daughter for Mother’s Day.

Whaaaat? I said.

Mother’s Day.

No.

“Yes”, she said.

I ran over to the calendar on the fridge and low and behold “Coffee with Girls @ 10:00 a.m.” and right underneath in fine print “Mother’s Day.”

Yikes.

I cannot believe that all three of us missed that it was Mother’s Day.

Isn’t that a typical Mother thing to do, forget your special Day.

Although everyday should be Mother’s Day.

As I said to my friend just that “Everyday is Mother’s Day for me.”

So after we hung up, I quickly texted the girls.

One of the two just realized the date as her husband mentioned something.

Coffee will be on the deck on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

YAY.

 

Well my friends it is time to grab that cup of coffee and sign onto the computer and get to work.

I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would or could do my job from home.

95%, I can and the remainder we could likely find a way.

 

I wish you a sunny beautiful Wednesday.

Remember to breathe.

Life is always throwing us a curveball or two along the way.

This is just one of those.

So we do the best that we can.

We will get through this.

Hopefully when we do go back to work – we will fit all of our clothes.

I have not tried “button pants” as of late.

Perhaps they will be a thing of the past.

Not sure if that would be a good thing or not.

Okay, yes I am going.

Just so much to say.

Always, happens at the last.

 

Happy Wednesday.

With much kindness and so much respect for you.

I/We remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday, May 1st, 2020.

A bright and sunny one with a bit of a breeze happening.

 

Did you ever think in a million years that you would be working from home?

Did you ever think in a million years that you would be laid off from your job because of a VIRUS?

Did you ever think in a million years that your children that school would be cancelled for basically six months?

Did you ever think in a million years that one VIRUS could basically shut down the planet?

Did you ever think in a million years that the skies would be more clear?

Did you ever think that major car manufacturers would shut down?

Did you ever think and this is a big one that we would be told to “stay at home.”

Well there are likely a lot more questions that are floating through our minds at this time.

I never thought with my job that I would be working from home.

Surprisingly the majority of my job can be done from home.

I wonder as result of this virus how many offices will give their employees the choice to work from home?

Perhaps some will return for only one or two days a week and the rest of the time work from home.

For some employers this may cut down on their overhead and be more profitable.

Not everyone can easily work from home.

Now if you have small children at this time it is difficult.

Or any children as they are all at home now.

For some parents they are trying to both work and teach school to their children.

Online schooling only works for those who have computers.

Unfortunately as much as we would like to think that everyone has one, everyone does not.

Most folks no matter their lot in life – has a cell phone.

You see that all of the time.

 

So on the first day of May, this all has me thinking.

For me, this has turned out to be a blessing in many ways.

No commute and this saves me anywhere from  1.25 hour to 2.5 hours.

That was all dependant on whether I was carpooling or catching the bus.

So much more time at home.

I can start my evenings at 4:00 instead of 4:45 (car) or 5:30 (bus).

That has been wonderful.

The most important blessing is that I have so much more time with Alvin.

His waistline does not think so.

We have been walking twice daily.

With Alvin getting older I really appreciate this time with him.

He has my new schedule down pat and when I am running late he just stands in the doorway and stares at me.

Telling me, you are done ….. shut off the computer or get off the phone.

It is my time now.

Despite the many blessings the downfall has been not seeing family and friends more regularly and going out.

I have not left my immediate neighbourhood except for walking since the early part of March.

No shopping have I done.

We are figuring out how to visit with keeping within the social distancing parameters.

Last Sunday was our first coffee date.  Me and my two young girl friends.

That was amazing.

We will have to do that again very soon.

My daughter came over on Wednesday and we worked through that visit as well.

Now that our friend P is out working in her garden, we can stop for a visit on our walk.

So it is getting easier with this warmer weather.

 

Well time to grab coffee and pick up the poop.

I have so  much work to do and need to get a bit of an early start.

Grateful for a nice bright sunny morning.

 

I wish you a wonderful Friday, May 1st.

May you be surrounded by love and support.

May you spread the kindness and respect to all.

 

Happy Friday.

 

I/We Remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

I cannot get enough of this photo.

Taken only a few weeks ago, I think.

Days running together.

He looks like a puppy not an 11 year old.

Love Me Alvin ……

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Wednesday Morning.

Full moon still glowing this morning as the sun began to rise in the sky.

The sky is clear as the sun begins to rise.

What a beautiful morning …..

 

Alvin and I enjoyed not one but two walks yesterday.

We also bumped into our friends.

Alvin’s best friend Teddy and his little sister Kobi and their Mom.

It was so nice to see them.

The pups were all able to say hello and we Mums kept to the social distancing.

We also chatted with our neighbours out front of our house and yes, we kept to the social distancing.

I will say that I was missing seeing my friends, our friends.

That human contact has been less and less with each week.

I see people walking by our house but that is about it.

I almost feel like sitting on our front porch and greet folks as they walk by.

Might be a bit creepy for folks or perhaps they would join me in the reaching out.

When you are living by yourself with no other adult or children the quiet eventually is too quiet.

I have always enjoyed having white noise in the background.

The television comes on at my morning coffee break.

I am going to turn on some music this morning.

Do a little chair dancing?

Why not?

 

I was thinking as I was getting ready this morning.

What will we be thinking when this is all over?

What will we have learned?

Will we have strengthened our family units?

Will we find children/families that were forgotten and neglected by society/by us?

Will more people continue to work from home?

Will the way we shop, socialize, work and play change forever?

Will we find that we have started new businesses from home?

Will we have become more creative?

Will we learn to be more patient?

Will things go back to the way they were?

Will they find a medicine or a cure to treat this virus?

Will this happen again?

Will this end?

 

There are so many questions.

Are there answers?

Perhaps.

Not likely today or tomorrow or even in two weeks or a month.

 

I hope that this finds you well.

I wish for you and your family no worries and that you go to bed with food in your bellies.

Take time to learn something new.

Maybe read that book that never gets read.

Take time to be still.

 

Time to grab my coffee and get to work.

I have such a long commute.

Between this computer and the laptop ….. oh, miles and miles.

Sense of humour, I have.

 

Happy Wednesday.

I/We remain, with kindness and respect,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Welcome back.

Good Friday Morning to You ALL.

The sky is beginning to lighten earlier with each passing day.

Some of my neighbours are still required to go to work.

Both of them work in the Health Field in different professions and are not nurses or doctors.

I am happy that we made it through another week.

It kind of was a long week in many regards but today is the day before the weekend.

We can let our hair down.

We can do some laundry and some cleaning.

Maybe get out for walks if you have been unable to during the week.

 

I was listening to a Doctor speak on a NEWS SPECIAL last night.

He made some good points:

Get plenty of sleep.

Exercise,

Eat healthy,

Hydrate (drink lots of water),

Try to lessen or reduce the amount of stress with perhaps the help of music and meditation.

Stay at home as much as possible.

Important to not touch your eyes and face.

Keep your hands clean.

Clean the door knobs, window and kitchen cupboard handles and bathroom taps at least once daily.

These are all common sense, everyday things we should all be doing most of the time, anyway.

Keep in mind, this will pass.

It may take some time but I believe it will leave.

 

In our modern age we have not had such a “well broadcasted” virus hitting virtually every country on this planet.

So we should learn from one and another.

Incorporate those measures that have been tried before us and work.

It will be a long haul and we could potentially lose a great many souls if we do not learn from each other.

I wish that the LEADERS of country would listen to each other.

Listening has and will always remain the best weapon we have against any “enemy.”

I do not like to use those words but at this point it is appropriate.

 

Well time to go and grab and mug of coffee and get this work day going.

I want to start a bit early with hopes of getting caught up before the end of this work day.

Unfortunately as time goes on here, I think we will become more busy.

 

Take care of yourselves.

Don’t forget those who need our help.

A Senior, someone with mobility issues, a family who struggles in the best of times……

We can always help.

 

You could place a couple of cans of soup in a bag with a note.

The note could read “Is there anything that you need or that I can help you with.”

Please sign the note and maybe give your phone number if you feel comfortable (if you don’t know them well).

Knock and leave the bag on the porch or on the door knob (if there is one).

There are so many ways we can help each other.

 

I appreciate your help in these unknown times.

 

Wishing you a wonderful day.

I will be back tomorrow.

Remember “kindness and respect.”

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. I counted the steps from my bed to my office.

“TEN.”

What a long commute, I have these days.

Laughing …. please laugh.

Thought for the day…..

Good Friday morning and welcome to the 5th day of April, 2013.

Wow, the forecast was correct.

We received a fresh blanket of the white stuff overnight.

I do love the way the earth looks covered in white.

But I am happy to know that soon the ground will be covered with green grass and beautiful flowers.

It is that time of year when the weather can be very unpredictable.

By next weekend it is supposed to be in the plus double digits.

Always something to look forward to with the weather.

Here in Alberta it changes constantly.

It is never boring.

I wonder what it would be like to live in such a place that the weather was virtually the same everyday.

Whether it was in the tropics or at one of the poles.

Interesting.

So I hope that you have a safe commute to work or school.

I hope that if you are at home that you are still sleeping and enjoying your dreams.

If you are at home and are getting up to do your job from home ….. have a cup of coffee for me ….

Take care.

Have a great day and weekend.

Special Hello to:  my friend Lisa who celebrates her birthday tomorrow.

 

Always, Carol and Alvin