Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 1st day of February, 2016.

Today is the Birthday of one of my dear friends that lives down the street.

Alvin and I want to WISH “S” the very best day.

She is one of these folks that tells it like it is, would give you the shirt off of her back and is never afraid to help.

She is fierce and kind and we love her …. Happy Birthday to Our Friend.

 

FRIENDS …..

Sometimes you do not realize the depth of a Friendship until it is tested.

Sometimes a Friend is someone you know very well, and sometimes it is someone that you just know.

Sometimes a Friend will listen and other times they will talk, tell you things and give advice and support you.

Sometimes a Friend is just there beside you quietly holding your hand or giving you a hug.

Sometimes a Friend is Family.

Sometimes Family are your Friends.

Sometimes you have more Friends than you realize.

Sometimes you wish for more.

Sometimes you realize that Friends are not just those people that you confide in, that you laugh with, that you cry with … they are the ones that LISTEN when you speak, WEEP when you cry and THINK of you when you are in need.

I do have, and always have had some of the most amazing people on this planet surrounding me.

I realize that without their Friendship I would not be in this place.

I am truly blessed.

Today, tell your Friends how much you appreciate them.

Not just for the things they do for you but for being there in the good times as well as the bad.

For listening and for thinking.

For laughing and for playing.

For crying and for joy.

They are our FRIENDS.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: all my FRIENDS … I love you all.  Thank you.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 25th day of January, 2016.

Wow, it is going to be a gorgeous day here in Edmonton ….. minus 3 degrees celsius in the afternoon.

We will be experiencing plus temperatures as the week progresses.

With this warm weather there is a forecast of sunny skies, I sure hope so.

This has been an odd winter with so many overcast skies.

 

I had the best visit with my daughter and grand-puppies …. we had pancakes, chatted, and all went for a nice walk.

I miss our walks …. when she lived three blocks away …. we would walk together all the time.

I miss having her close by but then I know that things change ….

It is okay.

 

 

 

Have you ever had an incredible high and not from drugs?

You know when you had great news or something unexpectedly went in your favour.

AND

In a blink of an eye or in less than one hour it all came crashing down by some bad news.

I am not sure how the law of averages works but really ….. I am always amazed at how things came turn out great and then short time later something goes wrong.

I am pretty much a positive person and I believe that things will work out.

But this weekend I had the above ….. incredible high ….. incredible low.

WHY.

Not sure …..

What do you do?

Jump for Joy and then Scream and Cry.

Yup, we do.

 

All I can say is February will be the best month of the New Year.

 

Well I guess it is time to put on the last touches before leaving for work.

Was that a weekend?

I guess so.

Glad for nice weather.

Have a wonderful day.

Special Hello to: all those people who had a crazy weekend, good and bad.

Always, Carol  and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 13th day of January, 2016.

Today marks the 51st Birthday of my youngest brother “T.”

Happy Happy Birthday Little Brother.

I cannot believe he is 51 ….. seems like only yesterday he was a baby.

He was the sweetest little guy you could ever imagine and has grown to be a sensitive lovely man.

The baby in this photo turned 51 today…January 13, 2016

Well mid week ….. weather nice ….. temperature mild ….. feeling good ….. life is great.

 

Last night before bed I decided to pull a book from my “library” and read one of my favourite authors.

His name is Alexander McCall Smith, he is from Scotland.

I believe that I have almost every book he has ever published.

I love the charm and wit of his stories.

They take me from wherever I am to the far reaches of the global.

My favourite series is the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

If you have a chance to read these books, I believe there are 7 in the series, please do so.

They will make you laugh and sometimes cry.

Anyway I read the first chapter in one of his books before turning off the light.

Next thing I woke up to go to the bathroom and saw that it was 4:55 a.m. – which is time for us to get out of bed.

WOW, I did not even wake up at all during the night.

Slept right through.

I might doze on the bus ride to work, though……

The night went quickly.

 

Well here we are almost time to grab my lunch, give Alvin some fresh water and get the outer garb on and head out to the bus stop.

I hope that you have a great Wednesday.

Take time to read a book …… always time well spent.

 

Special Hello to: my baby brother …. Happy Birthday.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 20th day of November, 2015.

It is a beautiful morning outside.

Did you see my added note from yesterday?

About 30 minutes after I went out with Alvin it started to snow!!

I have started to go outside with Mr. Alvin now as once there is snow on the ground … always good to pick up the “poop”  …..

So now it is up at 5:00 a.m. and no going back to the sofa.

We have not done that since last Wednesday, Remembrance Day which is the day our “rouge friend” arrived.

I have only seen him when he ran out of the pantry when I opened the door.

Oh, well this is my life for a few more days … hopefully day is the day.

He was not “caught” this morning.

We had breakfast in the office again.

Which I am beginning to enjoy.

Strangely enough.

It is always amazing how change can hit out of the blue.

It is all about how you handle it.

I think in this case I am doing quite well.

So happy to have my partner in crime and protector of Momma, Mr. Alvin.

He does help me feel safe and not alone.

Don’t cry for me, Argentina as I did not mean that I feel “ALL ALONE.”

Just that he is here and is good company and I am not alone.

Some company is always good.

So how is your Friday thus far?

Mine is great.

I cannot believe it is Friday?

Where did the week go?

Where did the month go?

Wasn’t it just Halloween a couple of days ago?

I just put up my tree … yes, almost one month ago.

WOW.

Well time to go and hit the shower.

Doing things in reverse now.

Which is a nice change.

Good for Alvin, too.

We all get into a routine …. a rut.

Make small changes …. ones that you control always feel better.

Although the “visitor” was definitely not my choice …..  sort of laughing out loud.

I hope that you have an awesome, wonderful, amazing Friday filled with a bit of change, lots of laughter, and above all a loving environment.

Special Hello to: Hi Sister …. I am doing well.  We are going to see Johnny tomorrow….

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 17th day of January, 2015.

YAY, it is Saturday and I am going to have coffee with my girl friends at 12:30 ….

In 100 minutes we will be laughing and sipping on coffee….

I love spending time with these ladies ….

They make me laugh and laugh and laugh.

We talk about everything ….

We sometimes tear up …… sometimes life brings on something difficult.

But we get through it together.

I am so blessed to have the best support system on the planet.

Between a daughter, a sister and many girl friends I have all the best women to hear me when I need to be heard.

Now not to leave out the men in my life as they truly play an important role.

I have brothers, NEPHEWS and “man friends.”

So anything I need whether to laugh or cry I am truly covered.

Just incredible.

Oh, I better not forget “me Alvin” …. the most important guy in my life.

He gives me “love” everyday of my life.

So I had better go and get ready here.

Had a lazy morning …. slept in until late ….. had nice breakfast with my daughter ….

YAY for ME AND SATURDAY.

Special Hello to: all my friends and family all over the world you rock …. thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Always, Carol and Alvin

P.S.  Guess who is having a birthday / anniversary on Monday?  Mr. Alvin has been in our family for five years now and we celebrate his birthday on that date.  As you know, he was adopted so his real birthdate is a mystery.  We are celebrating his sixth year birth on Monday.

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 5th day of September 2014.

Thoughts of Joan ..

Yesterday we lost one of our comedic legends and all time entrepreneurs.

There seemed to be nothing this woman could not do.

She was 81 and still going strong.

She made us laugh.

She made us cry.

She made us wish we could laugh or cry.

She gave us hope ….

She made us realize that no matter your lot in life you could do it all.

She did not have an easy life by any means but she lived I think a great life.

She designed beautiful jewellery for us to wear.

She was an inspiration when I decided to make jewellery.

She was an inspiration to women everywhere.

Every time she was on the Shopping Channel I would tape each airing so that I could watch them later.

I did not want to miss her jokes, her jewellery ….. that incredible wit and timing ….

I hold in my possession some of the watches and other jewellery she made; treasured reminders of a great lady.

She even designed stuff to make it appear you had more hair.

She most recently designed a clothing line.

Always crazy busy ….

This lady was on television and graced the stage.

She always had an opinion about who wore what and many other things.

But we loved her because she said what most would not.

We loved her because when most people were retiring or retired she was still full of energy and going strong.

She had that light ….. that star quality ….

I wished that her light could have burned a bit longer but she leaves behind a great legacy that we shall treasure and remember always.

I know that I will.

 

To her family and friends … she was the best.

You could just tell that her daughter Melissa and grandson Cooper were the bright lights of her life.

Joan Rivers now rests amongst the stars near our beloved Robin Williams.

The glow in the heavens is so bright ……

 

 

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Story Line by line – December 18, 2013

Chapter Five:

December 1, 2013

As we lay there sleeping wrapped in the big white fluffy blankets, I dream of childhood and Christmas; my favourite time of year, and there was one in particular.

December 2, 2013

When we moved into the new two story house on the farm my bedroom was on the main floor just off of the living room ……. I had a birds eye view of the Christmas tree ….  this one year I wanted to wait and watch for Santa ….. pretending to be asleep …. once  I heard noises figuring it was Santa I waited for him to leave ……  slowly opened the bedroom door and getting down on my hands and knees  crawled out toward the tree ….. only to be stopped dead in my tracks by my Mom’s voice “GET BACK TO BED” ….. I had been so quiet …… 

December 3, 2013

My favourite Christmas was 2005  …..  the log cabin in the mountains …. the clear night sky …… the stars shining so brightly …… the food …… the stone fireplace ….. love and laughter ….. feather comforters …… coffee by the fireplace ….. the best place in the world.

December 4, 2013

Kids singing Christmas Carols …… Grandma playing the organ in church ….. our Charlie Brown Christmas tree …… turkey cooking at Grandma’s house ….. snow falling …… baby crying …… sister smiling …… dog barking ….. opening presents . driving to Grandma and Grandpa’s house ….. the trees out front of their house all light up ….. it is Christmas once again.

December 5, 2013

Oh, how I feel alive and happy …… as each scene plays out ….. there is another one just as wonderful as the last …… people and places ……. my heart is full ……

December 6, 2013

Ah, my great nephew, I remember that day so well …… then skipping years ahead to when Alvin came to live with me …… this movie just seems to go on forever …. I wonder when it will end ….. movie, is it?

December 7, 2013

Movie, what …. am I dreaming …… asleep …… awake …… in a coma …… my mind is swirling and then before me is a crystal clear thought ….. YOU ARE REMEMBERING YOUR LIFE ….. 

December 8, 2013

Truly I am going crazy, please someone help me wake up from this wild dream …. HELP ME, HELP Me …….

December 9, 2013

This whole ordeal has seemed to go on forever ….. I do not know what to do …..  just when I think that I may have an answer ……. it all comes tumbling down …… such as life, I guess but why now ……. or did I just bump my head!

December 10, 2013

“Did I bump my head?” I think to myself as Alvin snuggles in closer to me as if to comfort me in my time of uncertainty.

December 11, 2013

As I lay under the warmest most comfortable blanket ever, I begin to devise a plan – I will get home – somehow – someday I will escape and be free.

December 12, 2013

Home, what a wonderful thought ….. I realize how much I miss my house, the flowers in my yard, my Christmas tree ……. whoa ….. what did I think ….. was it spring, was it summer or winter when this first happened and I realize maybe now for the first time that I have literally no idea how long we have been gone ….. a day, a month, years!!!

December 13, 2013

All of a sudden I hear this small gurgling slightly roaring sound coming from my stomach ….. guess it has been awhile since I ate anything …… Alvin, too must be starving  ….. suddenly a banana, some fresh carrots, a piece of chocolate cake, and a cup of coffee are sitting on a table in front of us….a FEAST.

December 14, 2013

Well no matter if this is real or a figment of my imagination …  we are going to eat  ….. mmm, as I peel the banana Alvin goes crazy as he absolutely loves banana ….. carrots …. we love carrots and for me my favourite habit …. COFFEE.

December 15, 2013

Yes, hot coffee …. it warms my throat as I quickly take a sip and trying to hold onto the taste reminding me of home …. Alvin is happy as we finish the last bite of banana and continues crunching away on the carrots and for this time we have no worries.

December 16, 2013

As we enjoy our treats I cannot help but to think of home ….. what are my friends and family doing ….. who is looking after our house ….. is there snow to shovel or grass to mow … I do not even know what time of year it is ….. oh …..

December 17, 2013

I just feel like crying even though Alvin is here I am all alone …. no one to discuss things with ….. no shoulder to cry on ….. as the tears well up in my eyes the feelings just explode inside my body, and my heart  hurts …. where are they ….. please let us come home …. I just want to go home…… please, help us find our way home……..

December 18, 2013

Through the tears and the feelings of being alone, the despair, and, of not knowing which direction to turn, whether to shout or to continue to cry ….. I feel that warmth once again, and a light although dim begins to shine on me.