The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Alvin and I are well. He missed me yesterday and I missed him. I am so grateful to my neighbour for taking such great care of him and she will pop in and check on him again today. I am off to the office for the second time this week. I am so grateful that this is only once in awhile. It is great working from home. No commute, not having to spend money on transportation especially when the costs of utilities and food and almost everything else has skyrocketed. I love being home for my Alvin as well, he needs someone here to ensure he is well hydrated and then can get outside to go pee. Yesterday at the office was okay. There were parts that were enjoyable and others that were not. The first session was not. That is all that I am going to say.

We were “let” go early as they felt our day had been long enough and that was unexpected and wonderful. I think more people even though most enjoyed seeing their coworkers – they were not comfortable to be in large groups at the office in confined spaces. There are some people that have had to work throughout these past two years at our office but they were in groups of 3-4 people. Easier to ensure safety during he pandemic.

Today we do our large mailout. Folding papers and stuffing envelopes.

Yesterday when I got home, Mr. Alvin was so happy to see me that he even jumped up when I bent down to give him a little pat that he kissed him. So sweet. Once I had my computer (laptop) hooked up once again and did a couple of things in the house, we got ready and went for a walk. I wore my Sketchers and all went well until our return home when we went down the wrong side of the sidewalk. We had walked down to the next corner and crossed the street where the sidewalk is more dry. Coming home we had made the loop in the crescent and should have crossed back but we did not and it looked like snow but was really partially melted and more wet than dry, more thawed than frozen and my feet got soaked. I laughed it off because what else can you do. We just carried on. Luckily for Alvin he can just get dried off with a towel and me, sock change. It was so warm outside. So beautiful and sunny. This whole week is supposed to be nice and I believe it is supposed to carry on next week as well. Time is chugging on here and it is now about twenty minutes until Amanda is coming to pick me up. My daughter is dropping me off at the office this morning. It will be nice to visit with her on the way to work. I enjoyed my chat with my coworker Michelle who picked me up yesterday morning. I am blessed. So glad that spring is close at hand.

Well other than that, life is rolling along and life is good. I hope that you are well and Happy Wednesday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I managed to score some Girl Guide cookies from a coworker yesterday. She is doing a fundraiser for her children. I also bought some coffee beans which are on order. Nice to be able to help out some children with their fundraisers and for their extra-curricular activities. I guess I spelled that correctly as spellcheck did not tell me anything different. Bye for now.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Oh Happy Days and Good Morn to YOU ALL.

The sunrise is spectacular.

I can see the sun coming up.

It is so beautiful as the rise is filled with delicate shades of pinks and oranges.

The SKY is blue beyond the rise so we are off to a great start on this Thursday, April 2, 2020.

 

Today was my Grandpa Jim’s birthday he was born in 1909 and passed in 1973 months before his 65th birthday.

We will remember him forever.

 

Well here we are in April.

Starting our second quarter of the year.

How did that happen?

I guess we have been busy.

Yes, we have.

 

I hope that this finds you well this morning.

I am running late because of course we were up at 3:00 a.m. (glucosamine for Alvin) and then up at 5:00 a.m.(Alvin’s breakfast).

I put the microwave timer on until 6:15 a.m. which should give us lots of time but somehow I am a bit pokey this morning.

Oh well.

My office …. is close by.

The most important thing is the coffee is brewing and with one quick trip downstairs and back up to the office, I will be ready to go.

There is maybe okay there is two steps between my home computer and the work laptop.

I have two desks from IKEA that line one wall.

So one desk by the window has my personal computer and the other by the door is work.

I am lucky to have such a great set up.

Also I am lucky that my daughter is bringing me a more suitable office chair.

The one I have is not meant to sit on for hours on end.

I have more padding than the chair I currently am sitting upon.

We looked through the online catalog for STAPLES, and we found one that I like.

It is actually a GAMING CHAIR that is black with a bit of bright green.

So my daughter ordered the chair as her husband, my son-in-law also likes the chair and I will get his black comfy chair.

I really like his chair ….. I think it will work perfectly in my office.

Now I will have two chairs.

Excited to have the new chair.

My daughter will drop it off at lunch today.

YAY, Momma.

 

Time to go and grab that coffee.

It takes a few minutes to get signed onto the laptop.

Well we are almost done the second full week of working from home.

Actually it has gone pretty smoothly for the most part.

 

Live in kindness and with respect.

Have an awesome Thursday.

Take care and be safe.

Stay home as much as you can.

The sooner we FOLLOW instructions the sooner we will kick this VIRUS gone.

 

We/I remain in kindness and respect

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Welcome to a Winter Wonderland.

We have lots of snow.

Blanketing the earth and rooftops all over.

So in no apparent order, I offer some photos to bright your day.

The last ones are of the snow that is blanketing everything in sight.

We had almost bare streets and sidewalks.

Now not so much.

Other areas in the province have/are receiving more than Edmonton.

I am grateful that we had a walk yesterday before all of the snow.

 

These are my flowers / plants.

Spring has sprung in my kitchen.

I never thought that I particularly had a green thumb but looking at these photos, I am thinking that perhaps I have one.

The sharp pinks of the Geranium with all of its flowers and some on the side of the plant that you cannot see in these photos.

The Spider plant with baby spiders hanging down the back of the shelves.

The Tropical plant at the end or it looks that way.

Even the Poinsettia survived since November/December, 2019.

The darker snow photos were from last night before bed and the last three are from this morning looking out of our bedroom window.

 

So on this Tuesday as I have to grab some coffee and head to work shortly.

I have such a long commute these days.

ARGH, yes I do.

Ten steps from my bed to the laptop.

 

Special Happy Birthday shout out to my friend from just outside Regina, Saskatchewan.

P, have a wonderful day.

 

I have a copy of the Optimist Creed hanging on my bulletin board.

Google it and read ….. so good.

I cannot remember the name of the lad that wrote this piece but it is appropriate for anytime in our lives.

 

 

Promise Yourself,

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

 

Last line:

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

 

Happy Tuesday.

Be safe.

Practice Social Distancing.

Watching Pluto Living videos.

Breathe.

 

With Kindness and Respect,

I, We remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to Day TWO of working at home for me.

Well actually I was pleasantly surprised and most happy that everything went well.

I was able to do my work (there are a couple of jobs that we are not able to do at this time from home but that is okay).

We are able to take phone calls as we have a new phone system that we have had for a little while now.

With this phone system we are able to download their APP and set up on our cell/mobile phones.

So it is okay.

Phone calls are not my favourite thing to do but that is okay …

Our clients need to have multiple ways of contacting us and even more so since our office has closed to the public.

 

Yesterday one of our friends and her daughter came to take Alvin for a walk in the early afternoon.

I got him dressed including his jacket as the wind was cool.

He seemed like he was happy to be going out.

I watched from the living room window as they went down the steps and tried to go onto the public sidewalk.

They were on the sidewalk and Alvin was still half way down the sidewalk looking back at the house.

He has separation issues, clearly.

After a few minutes they walked back to the house, Alvin stood on the porch and whined.

I opened the door and his walk was over.

I felt bad as they were really excited to take him for a walk.

He knows them both really well as we see them all the time.

Anyway what can you do.

We did go for a nice walk after work.

4:05 p.m. the computer was off and I was downstairs and few minutes later we were out the door.

Sure is nice not having the commute.

 

The sky is clear as the sun begins to rise.

I can smell the coffee perking and am excited to have a mug of my freshly brewed from beans coffee.

It is a good thing that today marks the beginning of the weekend.

I am pooped, all of this has been slightly exhausted.

 

Alvin was supposed to have his regular vet appointment tomorrow however, they want to close to all non-essential visits for Saturdays (weekends) and during the week.

As Alvin goes in regular and needs to have his anal glands checked out, we have an appointment today at 4:30 p.m.

I will pick up another bag of his food and his glucosamine chews.

 

Well it is almost 7:30 a.m. and 1/2 hour till I officially start work although I will start a bit early.

Getting set up ….. and all.

 

Please keep an eye on any seniors or friends/family/neighbours that have mobility issues …. checking with them daily by phone, text or even if you set up a way to say hello

by going to their house, ringing the doorbell or knocking and they come to the window and wave or thumbs up.

Something ….

We need to keep an eye on each other.

Another new phrase “social distancing.”

Perhaps it is not new but I had not heard it before recently.

 

Be safe …..

Treat others and yourself with Kindness and Respect.

 

Watch some old movies for fun.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

I got the first day of spring mixed up.

It would appear that spring officially came upon us YESTERDAY.

Oh my ……

I saw a bunny with a brown tail and ears.

That is the best sign ever.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All.

Well today is my first day of working from home.

We left work yesterday during early afternoon hours with laptops in tow.

I managed with a tinge of assistance from a co-worker on line to get set up.

I moved my office around and set up the laptop (which I have not really worked on before).

Set up the  mouse and I am so glad that I brought home my keyboard, that was a good move.

Thank you to a fellow coworker who had decided to take hers home.

It was so much easier setting things up.

My office looks strange with my APPLE on one end and the laptop on the other.

Shortly I will turn on the laptop and start the day ….. my work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Still almost one hour but I want to do my timesheet and have everything open before 8:00 AM.

Poor Mr. Alvin is definitely wondering what is going on.

I think he noticed that I did not put on much makeup other than some eyebrow gel stuff and some lip care.

I think he definitely noticed that I did not put on my dress clothes and I know he noticed that I put on my work socks.

I did that just to throw him off.

He is just so smart.

I am kind of anxious to see what happens when I am on the phone (work) …. we have been hooked up through an APP for our phone.

This should be interesting.

Alvin does not like it when I am on the phone.

Hopefully after the day he settles into me working from home.

Much different than a weekend.

 

Yesterday my daughter picked me up some fruit, vegetables and bread.

She also picked me up a bag of CHICAGO popcorn (one with the cheese and caramel popcorn).

This was a treat for me, how sweet of a girl do I have.

 

The streets are still busy here or at least they were yesterday.

Our street has had cars zipping by all morning.

I wonder if this will change.

 

Well I am anxious to go and get my coffee and get started.

It will be much different working on a laptop small screen compared to our big computer screen at work.

Likely a bit slower going back and forth between windows but at least we are working.

Our clients will be happy about that.

I think some of them figure that with the doors closed to the public that we are not working.

But we are ….. we certainly are ….

We are all in this together.

 

Well time to go and get things going.

Starting to get light out there.

 

Be kind and respectful to all you encounter.

Remember to check on your elderly neighbours and those that are not able to get out and about.

If someone has a pet and they are sick, help out.

Make sure they have food for their pets.

If they have a dog …. take the dog for a walk.

Help where you can.

Be grateful you are well and are able to do so.

 

From an eternally grateful human being,

I remain as Always, Carol with her trusty friend Alvin

 

My geranium is blooming like crazy.

Outside the bunnies are beginning to turn brown.

Spring is official tomorrow.

Forgot to mention that I saw a coyote downtown on my my to work yesterday morning.

My daughter says there are many of them downtown due to the River Valley being close by.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All,

As we ALL enter into new territory.

I understand some of us are nervous, scared and anxious about our future.

This is the time that each and every community must come together and ensure that everyone is watched over and looked after.

If you have an elderly neighbour or someone who is housebound check to make sure that they have food and everything that they need to stay healthy.

If you have a neighbour who does not have a car – ask if they need anything when you go to the store for groceries and other items.

This is the time that will test us all.

 

Some folks are working from home, some folks have been instructed to stay at home as they are non-essential employees and so on.

I will be working from home as soon as we have been set up.

That will be something new.

The whole office landscape has changed overnight.

 

Over the past few days schools have closed and possibly until the fall and daycares have closed.

Airports closed and flights reduced, and only four in Canada will take international flights,

Cities have closed all their public venues.

Our buses are down to the Saturday schedule starting today.

That means very reduced times.

For those people that must go to work it will not be easy.

I know people that do not have vehicles and rely on the city transit.

But for every service that has closed, I, we understand.

This virus must be stopped.

 

Please ensure that you check in on your loved ones, friends, and neighbours daily.

Even a quick text or email or phone call.

Let us make certain that everyone is okay.

We will stop this virus and life will continue.

Will things be different, I think so.

 

Take care.

I am catching a ride to work with my neighbour again today.

I have one bus ticket left and hopefully do not have to wait for a long time tonight to get home to Alvin.

I know that Alvin will be happy to have me at home.

I will be happy to be home with him.

 

Another note:  make sure that you get some fresh air every day.

A walk will do wonders.

 

Be safe, be careful, be healthy, be strong.

Most of all be kind and respectful.

These are what is necessary to get through this crisis.

 

Take care ……

 

Always, Carol & Alvin