Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! Here we are at Saturday, October 22, 2022. Our weather has been great and we are very grateful. Last night we were up a few times. It was about 10:00 p.m. when we crawled into bed and I read for a few minutes before turning out the lights. I heard Alvin moving about just after 1:00 a.m., he wanted to go downstairs, so down we went and then outside. The early morning air was cool but not cold. Back into the house and to the sofa to finish out our Friday night sleep. Mr. Alvin was up once again at 4:15 a.m., once again I donned my sweater and puffy vest over my pj’s, slid my sock covered feet into my outdoor shoes and requested Siri to turn on the flashlight as we headed outside. I was surprised to see wet snow coming down. The snow rain mix melted as it touched upon the ground. We both were a bit wet before we were back into the warm dry house. He pooped and peed each time. Thank goodness we have a comfy sofa as we were back there again. I felt too early to feed him breakfast at 4:15 a.m. I guess it was about 6:45 a.m. when we were up once again, this time, breakfast time. Back outside. Same result. So happy it had stopped with the wet snow. There was no trace that we had had snow. For all those people lucky enough to remain sleeping – you would have no idea, it even happened. Truthfully it did, lol. After the third time outside in less than 8 hours, I decided it was too early for me to thrust my tired body up for the day so once again we found ourselves snuggling under our “red” blanket. I think the red blanket was a purchase from Bath & Body Works many years ago when I first was employed at the store at West Edmonton Mall. I miss that store. The smells, the customers, the staff …..

Okay, so now it is the weekend. I have to finish the laundry. Washed clothing yesterday. Towels and bedding on the list today. Clean the bathroom and floors. Have a shower. Go for a walk. The sky is overcast and I hope for some “dry time” for us to head outdoors. We had a great walk yesterday. While walking, a woman was behind us and Alvin of course, stopped and wanted to wait until we were close to each other. She smiled and said that he was a cute dog in her strong Scottish accent. Oh, how I love that accent. We ended up walking together. Chatted about many things. Her dog, her grandchildren, my return to work, how Alvin was making out with that change and so much more. We were past Pauline’s house when we came to the crook in the path, she turned left and we turned right. I had been thinking that Teddy and Kobi were at the house with Auntie Janine as their parents were off to the mountains for a wedding. A few minutes later, we found ourselves, walking up their driveway and up the front steps with me ringing the doorbell. Kobi was first to the door, well actually she was up on the stool and looking out of the window. I could see her excitement to see us. I called out to Janine that it was us. A couple of minutes later the door opened. Teddy and Kobi gave us a lovely greeting and then we were in the house. I was grateful to Janine for the visit after we just “dropped in” but I had no idea really that we were going there. But we did. Janine is Iris’s sister. We met several years ago and have become friends. She lives in a small town in Saskatchewan about four hours away from Edmonton. It was nice to have a visit with her and the pups. Then we were on our way and back to get some work done. I had been afraid that I left the coffee perk plugged in but breathed a sigh of relief to see it was unplugged when we arrived home.

I am still trying to figure out what we should do about Alvin’s ears. The idea of surgery actually frightens me due to his age and because it is his ears. The vet even said that she has not performed this particular surgery in quite some time and will need to refresh herself with the procedure. Not very reassuring but I guess that happens. I do not know what to do. Yesterday I was doing some research in the hopes it may help me make a decision and I found that pumpkin actually contributes to yeast infections. So perhaps his having pumpkin daily to help with his pooping, is actually causing more yeast infections. I do not know. Perhaps the vet did not even know this. I had been giving it twice a day with his food. His Doctor said a tablespoon daily so I broke it up into twice with his breakfast and supper.

I watched a great movie on Netflix last night. It was called “The School of Good and Evil.” Figured should be watching some Halloween movies, not that it was particularly about Halloween but it fit into the genre. Tonight I am invited to Signe’s house along with Gillian to watch a Halloween movie. Signe’s daughter Madeline will come and stay with Alvin (she volunteered, how nice). It was not very long ago and she was actually scared of him. She had, had a bad encounter with another neighbour’s dog, well actually her Mom did but she witnessed it. Anyway, all is well now. I am happy about that.

Time to get the floor cleaned upstairs. I have moved plants around as my spider plants need some more sunlight, more than what they were getting in my bedroom. Changed the bedding and put out clean towels in each upstairs bathroom. I need to have a shower as well and want to do that after I clean the floor and then downstairs to have COFFEE and get some other items checked off that drat “TO DO LIST.” I have a parcel almost ready to go taking advantage of the “free mailing Tuesdays” in October.

I just heard Mr. Alvin groan so I better get this show on the road.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: please keep us in good health, please help our employers increase our time working from home and also please bring prices down. thank you.

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! Well almost noon. What a morning already! I am grateful that I booked today off. Poor Mr. Alvin. We are just back from the vet where once again he is suffering from ear infections. One ear was way worse than the other. I have a difficult time keeping them clean as he does not like me poking around or touching them. So another round of meds which will keep them okay for a month. I spoke to the vet about our options. There are two different surgeries that can be performed. One is where they remove his eardrums and ear canals and he would not be able to hear but he would no longer suffer from these nasty yeast infections. She does not perform this surgery. The other she can do and it would mean leaving the eardrums intact but opening up the ear canals so that the yeast cannot grow and he would still have hearing. I think the second option is the better of the two, for sure. Cannot imagine having my hearing taken away like that but she also thinks that his hearing is compromised now. The idea of another surgery with him turning 14 in January, scares me but I am not sure that we have an option at this point. I just want him to have a good quality of life. Yesterday he was panting and work was driving me over the edge and I was raising my voice to him. I feel incredibly guilty and overwhelmed. My poor boy. I just hope he has forgiven my bad reaction to the situation. It is difficult when you are alone. Anyway for now, he has medicine in both ears and it will get rid of the yeast infection soon. I think his paws are bothering him as well.

I do have a beautiful story to share. Earlier this morning I noticed a little girl waiting on the sidewalk across the street from our house. Clearly she was waiting for the school bus which never came. It was cold out there earlier. My neighbor (whom I borrowed her car to take Alvin to vet) had popped in to grab a cup of coffee as she had run out. Sonja said that the girl was waiting for the bus which is always late. I decided to check on her so I opened the door and called out to her to check on her, I think that I scared her. She then started walking away from where she was standing which appeared to be toward home, when an older child came out. I should have asked what school she went to and then called them but I did not think of that. I watched them from my window when a dark blue Toyota Rav4 pulled up and a woman got out. Poor kid was scared not because the woman was trying to hurt her but because of the attention and she was cold. The woman talked to her for a few minutes and the older child came back out. The woman walked back to her car and grabbed her cell phone and then after speaking to the older child, she made a call. Likely the school. Nice to see good samaritans. This woman stood outside chatting with the kids for over 30 minutes closer to 45 minutes. At one point she grabbed a kleenex out of her car for the little girl. After awhile, the little girl got into the car while she waited outside with the older child (early teens, I think). The girl must have been frozen. She had a good warm coat on but her face and hands would have been cold and she was carrying a heavy backpack. Near the end, just a few minutes before a school bus showed up, the woman and the older child, a boy got into the car. They must have been cold. My neighbor told me earlier that the bus is always late. So this bus driver for whatever reason makes these children late for school everyday and nothing has been done. This is deplorable. Hopefully now, they will do something about the driver. This kindly woman who was just driving by put my faith back in humanity. She took almost one hour out of her day to help strangers, two children. She had a smile on her face and appeared to be trying to keep the children in good spirits. I am grateful to her for helping. Doing something that I should have done. Not that I did not want to help but I thought that the bus would have showed up sooner than it did.

Well, I made another pot of coffee as I just need one. It has been quite the week. I am beat. We will just relax on the sofa for awhile and then go for a walk. I hope that you are having a good day.

The sun is shining now which is great so it is warming up now.

Thank you Universe for good people in my neighbourhood.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: wow, how could I have forgotten this. Yesterday Alvin and I received a package from our friend Val in Regina. So many treats. We are truly spoiled. Alvin was so excited when I went to the mailbox and came back with a box. There were homemade treats for him which he opened. There were three kinds of buns/scones, mini loaves, biscottis and so many other sweet treats. I also had a package of some items that I had ordered from RICKIS. Just needed some clothes. I was happy to see that they all fit. I guess time to do some laundry, too. Coffee first. I think that Alvin just wants to have a nap. Poor boy.