2021

Good Morning All! A bright sunny, bit on cool side morning but there are no rain clouds in sight. i decided that we should try and go for a walk and see if there are any problems for Alvin. When i went to get his harness he immediately ran under the table but instead of hiding there he ran under and to the back door. There the boy was wagging his tail and didn’t fuss when I put on the harness. With the grass so wet i carried him down the steps and to the public sidewalk. Not quite sure why I thought that was necessary as a few doors down he was checking out a bush on a neighbour’s lawn. Then he was wet. That is why there is a towel at the front door. The walk was great with no signs of distress. Thank goodness as over the weekend he was not himself.

We were almost at the park when we had to stop at a friends so he could sniff on the power box. it was there I noticed an empty liquor bottle on their lawn with some cigarette butts on the sidewalk. Further down on the sidewalk more butts and a lighter. Someone was partying and didn’t care where they took the party. As we got closer to the park, I noticed something off. Yes, likely the party people had tipped over the large cement glower pot that sat near the entrance to the park spilling dirt and flowers everywhere. Why oh why, don’t people have regard for other’s property? I would think they don’t treat their property respectfully either. Disappointing.

Well human brings what can you say.

Time to get to work. Alvin has a vet appointment today so will take the afternoon off from work.

Have a great day.

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

Always Carol&Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and today would be TUESDAY, the 7th day of January 2020.

As I was getting ready this morning …. washing my face and applying moisturizer followed by a wee bit of makeup.

I was thinking “there really isn’t a magic pill for life.”

Every year people spend millions and billions of dollars collectively on face creams, diets and fads hoping to wipe away time.

It does not happen like that.

There are a great many entrepreneurs on this earth and they have made a lot of money attempting to “find that magic pill.”

If you are fortunate to have good genes plus doing basic hygiene such as washing your face and applying some moisture; it may appear that you have slowed down time.

Perhaps you have done just that.

But human beings are vain creatures.

If you think about it planet wide we spend billions and likely trillions of dollars on makeup and entertainment.

Not every person on this planet can go out and buy the newest make from SMASHBOX or URBAN DECAY or CLINIQUE.

Not every person on this planet can go to a music concert.

Does not matter whether you live in Canada, the United States, China or Africa.

At the end of the day it is all of the “stuff” that we are using in an attempt to turn back the hands of time that fills our lakes, rivers, oceans and landfills.

Cosmetic containers and half used or old makeup are only a few of the items that are cluttering up and destroying our planet.

We certainly need to give our heads a shake and although this industry does employ a great many people; does that offset the damage it is doing to the environment.

I know that the oil & gas industry, pharmaceuticals and the list goes on, does more harm than good to the environment.

But perhaps it is worth taking a moment to consider.

Also did you know or even think about all of the companies that still test on animals?

Are you kidding me?

In this day and age, this should not and must not happen.

Educate yourself when you purchase something that makes you feel good.

At the end of the day for that feeling is it worth it?

I am working on it everyday.

Read.

 

Well it is time to head on downstairs.

The poop awaits.

 

Have an awesome day.

Keep it simple.

We can always do better.

I am nowhere near perfect but I am trying always to do better than yesterday.

Sending my prayers and positive energy and thoughts to the animals and people of the Continent of Australia.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 12th day of April, 2015.

It is a peaceful, quiet, partially overcast morning here in Edmonton.

I am so enjoying being at home on the weekend.

This is my first real weekend at home without working at the store.

I do miss my friends ….

Yesterday I had a full day.

Started out by taking Mr. Alvin to the Vet for his regular six month appointment.

He does not like having his nails done.

Poor guy ….. he was not happy.

The rest of the visit was great.

He loved the treat ….. silly boy.

Also he was so happy to see his Jenn as she only works some Saturdays.

After arriving back home I changed and had a nice cup of coffee before hitting the streets.

Hitting the streets near my home to clean up the trash.

It always amazes me the amount of trash that is strewn about.

I so wished that I would have had my camera with me yesterday so that you could see.

The worst spot was in the walkway between our neighbourhood and a busy artery.

It was literally covered in MacDonald’s bags, coffee and drink cups from Dairy Queen, StarBucks and various places.

There was also broken “beer” bottles and other glass, food containers, plastic bags wrapped around the branches of the rose bushes.

That is the other thing about cleaning this spot as it is lined with rose bushes, the sidewalk in between and then grass on the other side.

The Styrofoam packing pieces had been broken and there were small pieces everywhere …. down to the small round ones.

I did my very best to pick them up … finding that picking them up with leaves kept them from sticking to my “disposable latex” gloves.

There were a great many children and adults that walked by during my 1.5 hours there and I made sure that they all had a lesson in picking up the trash and what it does to the environment.  Example being the bits of styrofoam that are ingested by birds and wildlife and even some of our pets.  Birds and animals then feel as though they are full as it tricks the stomach (cannot be digested), and they eventually starve to death.  How horrible is that!  It was not my intention to give everyone a lecture but I felt that I must.  People just get so wrapped up in their own little worlds that they forget the damage that is being done.  We are “killing” this beautiful planet that we call home.  It is time.  Time for everyone to smarten up.

As it took longer than I had planned the other half of the neighbourhood will have to wait until next Saturday.

It was the weirdest thing as I was only about six houses from home when the wind got up and blew dirt and trash from down the street from the other direction.

I could hardly hold on to the garbage bag.

Thank goodness I was close to home.

Well that was an experience.

I filled three bags of garbage and carried them home to my garage.

YIKES.

Once home I completely changed, brushed the dirt from my teeth and cleaned up.

Put on a pot of coffee and made a snack.

GLAD TO BE INSIDE as it started to rain and the wind blew and blew.

The balance of the day I spent doing laundry and odds and ends.

Even though the garbage makes me a bit “mad” and so sad I am so grateful that I am now home on the weekends so that I can keep the neighbourhood clean.

Perhaps I shall organize another neighbourhood cleanup.

Also I want to do some teaching ……

No wonder the planet is in such bad shape ….. it starts at home ….. in your neighbourhood.

If we cannot keep it clean how can we ever keep the planet clean.

The planet is our neighbourhood.

So on this Sunday I am so grateful ….. grateful to be at home.

Alvin is curled up on the bed dreaming away, and I love it.

I wish you a peaceful, happy Sunday.

Special Hello to: my friend “P” who is recovering from cancer surgery and treatment and is on the road to being well.

Always, Carol and Alvin