The Next Chapter

Good Morning. How are you this morning? I am okay. I tossed and turned a lot, thinking of a certain someone. Oh, how I miss my Alvin. Seems like it has been forever since he snuggled beside me on the sofa and in bed and that we walked together. Whenever I walk now it feels like something is missing. Someone is missing. I miss you Buddy.

I am feeling better this morning compared to yesterday morning. Off to work I go today.

The time change always seems to wreak havoc with my sleep patterns and those of so many. I remember it taking Alvin a good couple of weeks to get back in our routine after the time changed. So in time, (lol), I will be back to normal, whatever the heck that may be. At this point, my life is anything but normal. Everything seems to be changing or at least it feels like it. I guess with Alvin passing and the changes at work, that is enough to throw even the most positive feeling person into a tailspin. Spinning is where I am at …… just hope that it stops soon. I am trying.

My daughter launched a book (journal type for writing) on Amazon which is pretty cool. Her artwork as always is beautiful. She is so talented. Wishing her all the best in this endeavour.

Well this is going to be short. I had some technical difficulties. You see with this new computer not only are the mouse and keyboard wireless they are battery “less” as well. You have to charge them. I found that out the hard way.

Have a good day.

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

Forgiveness is my word for the day. It is likely one of the hardest things to do. Especially when it is to yourself.

Always, Carol & Alvin (my forever Angel).

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Both Alvin and I are well, very well. We are happy to be in good health. Alvin had a good 13th birthday yesterday. It was quiet but he had fun. I did not have an actual gift for him and I know how much he enjoys opening them so I wrapped up some of his food in a little tupperware container and with a card set it in front of him. I took a video of him opening his gift from beginning to end it was just short of two minutes which is pretty quick. When you consider that he uses his mouth to open it and goes back and forth between his two front paws to hold the package and to stabilize himself. He is so darn cute. Always brings a smile to my face when opening a gift. I can thank my friend Val who for many years has sent us gifts a few times each year with always a special parcel for Alvin. That is where he learned to do this. Yes, I have a pup who can open presents. He is certainly talented.

I am so happy to report that our temperatures are warming up and perhaps over the next couple of days we may even get outside for a walk. Sure would be great. We both miss those daily walks. Our bodies miss them, as well.

This morning I was wrote in my journal and realized that I have been doing for 4692 days. If memory serves me correctly, that is the day that I am on. I write down Day ….., then the date, record what is happening in my life and list what I am grateful for …. I believe it is so important to verbalize and write these down. If you are in a constant state of gratitude then you are living a good life. I am so grateful that both Alvin and I are in good health, for our beautiful home, for family and friends, for me working from home, for good food, for clean drinking water, for each day that we can get out of bed and have our toes/paws reach the floor. The list is endless. Try it!

To my cousin J, I have been trying to reply to your comment from the other day about the hair cut and cannot find it to reply to. I remember that you did a great job cutting my hair when we were kids (teenagers). We had some pretty great adventures you and me. Pretty great. Definitely ones for the journal.

Well time to start signing off as almost time to start work, a few minutes away.

I wish you a wonderful day. Hopefully nice weather so that we all can go for a walk.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. two of my LOVES: Alvin and flowers.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 19th day of November, 2017.

The sun is shining from behind a light cloud.

Alvin is barking as he tries to pick up his chew treat from the office floor.

What a morning!

Oh, me Alvin.

What a boy you are.

 

My neighbour came for a mug of coffee.

It is a thing we do.

We share the costs of some items as we are both single.

It works.

Always nice to have good neighbours.

 

I love writing on this blog and in my journal every day.

It allows me to look back to see weather, what was going on in the world and with us.

Sometimes we forget or actually most times we forget the little things, the good, the great little things that happen along the way only remembering the bad.

So this way I can see what was going on and be even more grateful for all that I have and for who I am.

I truly am surrounded by some of the best people on the planet.

So as our weather has been all over the place, thought would check and see the weather on this day for the past few years.

Today is supposed to be plus 3 celsius and then minus 20 something tomorrow.

What a change.

ARGH.

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Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 19th day of November, 2016.

Sky is overcast at just after 8:00 a.m. and there is a light dusting of snow covering the ground.

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Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 19th day of November, 2015.

Another morning waking up to brown/green ground.

YAY …. for the 19th of November that is great.

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Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 19th day of November, 2014.

Our weather is still mild here in Edmonton which has been great.

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Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 19th day of November, 2013.

I think it is going to be the winter of SO MUCH snow.

We almost had sunshine for a bit earlier yesterday,  and then it started to snow once again.

More shovelling.

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Well time to finish my chores before my friend comes at 1:00 p.m. to take apart my clothes dryer.

He is pretty sure he knows what is wrong and will take out the broken part and then get the new part.

Feeling so grateful to have generous, talented friends.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Just going to vacuum upstairs and then take Mr. Alvin for a walk.

Then home and wash the main floor before the dryer appointment.

YAY, Sunday.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are blessed to have good friends (and family, of course).

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Friday June 16, 2017 and it is the 55 day until my 60th Birthday.

I want these 60 days leading up to my 60th Birthday to be extra special, and that is the reason for sharing my thoughts about life.

To be honest, most of my life I have learned things the hard way.

Not much has been handed to me or has come particularly easily but that is okay.

I know that each lesson, each hard knock, each step backward, each stumble has made me grow and be the person that I am today.

Now please do not misunderstand ….. my life has been pretty amazing for the most part.

I am not perfect.

That I know for sure.

I like each, and every person on this planet has moments of sheer greatness and moments of not so greatness.

That is life.

I always start each and every morning writing in a “Gratitude Journal” which has ended up being a combination GJ and Diary.

But it is so good for the soul and for your very being to write things down.

It seems to release thoughts, and make them real.

 

So my day starts like this:

Alvin kicks at the blankets ….. jumps off the bed …….  stands by the closed bedroom door and sometime lets out a small bark to let me know that he is ready to get up.

The only kicker is: it is usually anywhere between 3:30 – 4:30 a.m.

Now, this would not be so bad if I worked from home or was retired but I am neither.

So I coax him to remain in bed until closer to 4:00 or a bit later …..make the bed and then we then head downstairs ….. his water dish in tow.

Turning on lights as we go and when I reach the pantry …. I grab his glucosamine (for his joint health), and then his food.

He eats and has a drink of water before heading outside.

Depending on the time I set the timer on the microwave for some extra zzz’s on the sofa.

Usually we have time for some.

This is my favourite part of the day as Alvin lays his head on the pillow right beside me and we snuggle.

I love it.

What a wonderful way to begin the day.

After that ….. write in the journal ….. eat breakfast …… shower and get ready and then write my blog before heading back downstairs to grab my lunch, shoes, jacket and stuff and say my good-byes to me Alvin

before heading out the door.

It is a busy time.

But we are on a schedule …. so that helps.

So that is our morning routine ….. then it is on the bus to work for about one hour ……

 

WOW, cannot believe I am turning 60.

 

Always, Carol

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 3rd day of May, 2017.

The SUN is rising in the eastern sky and the view from my south facing window is gorgeous.

Blue sky with high lights of sun beams.

How lucky am I?

Very…….

 

Well today I wrote my “3286” entry in my Gratitude Journal.

That translates to approximately 9 years in a row of writing every morning.

I pretty much have been writing every morning for decades but this is all about GRATITUDE.

It is an awesome way to begin each day.

Also this is my 7th year of writing this blog.

Cannot believe how quickly the time is flying by.

This past January was 7 years since I adopted Mr. Alvin.

My daughter turned 37 years in March.

I will be 60 in August.

I have worked at my office job here for 5 years last November.

So many milestones.I am one lucky woman.

 

If you sometimes think that you have not accomplished anything or are just feeling lowly …. sit down and make a list.

I guarantee that you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Well it is time for me to leave and Alvin needs to go outside.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Special Hello to: my friend “V” ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 17th of November, 2016.

Dark outside but no added snow overnight which is good.

Yesterday was about +2 degrees celsius.

We are enjoying this weather before winter hits/arrives.

Even the bunnies are white.

So it goes without saying that it is not the snow that drives the turning of their coats from brown to white.

The man-made lakes/ponds in our nearby parks have started to freeze over.

There was still some “running” water last night.

 

I was reminded yesterday at our staff meeting which was off-site of the reasons I journal and write this blog.

Mainly it is because it is something that I love to do and the other reason is it helps me to destress.

Most of my life I have tried to see the silver lining in every situation.

Now sometimes it may take me a bit of time to reach that positive end but eventually I do.

It is like most things in life if you find the pot of gold too early then you missed the journey learning along the way.

Does that make sense?

In every moment there is something to learn giving us cause to grow.

Being positive does not mean being “happy” in every second of every day but it does mean that you are on the plus side more often

than not.

Makes sense?

There are days when getting my “tongue” wrapped around what I am thinking in my mind are two different things.

It is so funny that what I am thinking sounds so intelligent and meaningful but by the time it reaches my tongue or fingertips it has been transposed to

some degree.

 

Well on this note it is almost time to finish getting ready and head out for the bus.

I will get Alvin’s results tonight at the Vet (from his laser light therapy) as I need to stop and pick up food and toothpaste for him.

His ride said that he was nervous and had anxiety.

Will be interesting to get the results tonight.

I will share tomorrow.

 

Happy Thursday Everyone.

Try to find the silver lining in your day.

Keep a journal, writing down what you are grateful for is so beneficial.

 

Special Hello to: EVERYONE

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 13th day of November, 2015.

This has been the most unusual morning ever in our house.

We, I slept okay …. at least got some sleep.

The past couple of mornings I have been coaxing Alvin to stay in bed until the alarm goes off at 5:00.

So far so good.

As you know there has been an unwanted “guest” in our house.

Still not caught so heaven only knows where it is at this point.

For some reason I feel safe upstairs ….

So this morning when we went downstairs, just after turning on all of the lights on the main floor, I donned my trusty winter boots.

Bravely I opened the bathroom door and said to Alvin …. “please check for me” and he knew.

He just walked in and sniffed about and turn to me as if to say “it is okay, Momma” and ” I am hungry, already.”

He is my HERO.

So I scooped out some food from the container that is now in the bathroom because a trap is set on the floor of the pantry.

Took the bowl back to the front door where his water bowl is now located.

When he was done – I went outside with Alvin.

I just cannot be in the house without him at my side.

Once back in, with my trusty winter boots on I made my oatmeal, grabbed a glass of water with lemon and a banana and we went upstairs to the office.

Kind of feels like camping.

Our whole schedule has changed.

But maybe that is a good thing.

So I wrote in my journal upstairs before I ate because I cannot sit at the table.

Then checked Facebook … now writing my blog and lastly I will put on my face and get dressed.

I know it is crazy …. but this is my current reality.

For me, even to be in the house is a move in the right direction.

I even made a simple supper last night ….. veggie burger in the oven ….. grabbed a bun …. mustard and cheese … and veggies … done.

I hope that this change is not long term.

Just want my life back.

Well almost time to go and get ready ……

I hope that you have a great Friday.

When there is no choice there is always change.

This is my thought as of now.

Happy Friday the 13th ….. almost mid November now.

Special Hello to: all those celebrating a birthday in November …. Happy Birthday.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 22nd day of April, 2015.

I hope that this finds you in excellent spirits.

It is about 5:47 a.m. here in Edmonton as I key these words.

Alvin is standing near the office doorway just starring at me.

Not sure if he is trying to tell me something or just being himself.

We are back to our routine …..

When I write in my daily gratitude journal he now joins me on my lap.

I love having him near me as I write in my journal.

I am on Day 2050 in the book.

Which is just over 5.5 years.

Not the same book, of course.

Each morning I do a couple of lines from the previous days.

Highlights you could call them.

Followed by a list of what I am grateful for ……

Followed by thank you for all of the people that were/are sick and for their healing.

Well Mr. Alvin is moaning out in the hall.

Sounds like an attention thing …. I think he is feeling okay.

Sure did not block his appetite this morning ….

Back to the writing ….. I actually starting keeping a journal when I was about 13-14.

Someone gave me a diary as a gift and that started it all.

Of course, even in school I did love to write….

My first poem was for Valentine’s Day when I was 7 to my Grandparents.

Somehow by writing things down it is my way of recording my history.

I think it helps me through each day and every situation.

Making it real ….

Well it is almost time here to head downstairs to make the final touches on getting ready to leave for work.

My life has been my life.

Full of interesting details …. I should say.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Write your life down ….. now it feels like a life.

Perhaps it should be a book ……

Special Hello to: my family and friends …. who are always supportive …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day……

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 10th day of December, 2014.

One day closer to Christmas ….. only 14 actual sleeps until Christmas Eve Day.

How did that happen?

We are experiencing such wonderful spring like weather here in Edmonton.

I do know what that can bring but we are grateful all the same to have some warmer temperatures this time of year.

Plus is always better than minus.

Well at least always in temperatures and school grades.

I always try to have a sense of humour in everything that I do ….

Sometimes people do not necessarily understand it but I do.

This is the time of year that we begin reflecting on the year gone by.

I always think wow did all of that really happen.

Most years I could write a book on my life, perhaps I should.

There were babies born, people passing, people getting ill, people getting better, changes at both my jobs, reconnecting with old friends, coffee dates, our first wedding jewellery made, and so much more.

Perhaps that does not really sound too exciting but when you have the details involved and lived it – trust me it was.

I am so grateful to live my life and know that it just keeps getting better and better.

There are moments of clarity and moments of fog.

But there are moments.

Moments to live and to live those moments is the most precious gift of all.

So on this Wednesday I am grateful for my life.

Every morning I write in my journal of the previous day’s events, my thoughts on said events and write down the first ten things I am grateful for at that moment and then give thanks for healing family and friends.

It is a great way to begin the day.

Well time to go to work.

Have a great one.

Remember there will always be moments of clarity and ones that are foggy.

Things are not always crystal clear and that is okay.

Special Hello to: my nephew in the hospital who everyday gets better and better.

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 10th day of March, 2014.

Clocks turned back Saturday night / Sunday morning so my body still feels in limbo.

So grateful that Mr. Alvin seems to have adjusted this time more easily as he did not “attempt” to get by before the alarm went off.

Our weather is springlike with warm temperatures melting the snow.

Spring is on the way.

Hurray ….. so happy for that.

I was just thinking if I turned back the clock ten years where would I be?  What would I be doing?

So that would be March 10, 2004.

Well I would be in my apartment back in Regina.

It would be two days until my daughter’s 24th birthday.

It would be her second year living away from home. (She moved here to Edmonton).

I would be wanting to see her.

I would be working for the Insurance Company.

Likely yearning for spring.

It is funny when you think back how much you really do not remember in the moment.

I have kept a journal for years so I can look back  and find out what my days were like and how I was feeling.

So zip forward ten years to present time.

I retired from the Insurance Company after almost thirty years and moved to Edmonton.

Now I am living back in the same city as my daughter (so happy for that).

I am living in my very first house (very different from living in an apartment).

I have a dog.

I now work two jobs.

So very different from ten years ago.

I do know one thing for sure and that is that life is meant to be lived and changing things up every so often is a good thing.

Sometimes I think living in an apartment with no responsibilities and working at a job that I was super comfortable in, would be nice.

Then again, having my own house, living close to my daughter and having Alvin, and my dog is fantastic.

Perhaps working two jobs ….. I might change that …… who knows.

FORWARD TEN YEARS …. no idea what changes might be …… have to think on that ….

I hope that you have a great week.

Wish me luck in the mouse catching department.

Today is the day ……

Special Hello to: family – I have the best.

Always, Carol and Alvin