Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are okay! How are you really? Did you wake up on the good side or the other side of the bed this morning? I will be very honest and tell you that I woke up somewhere in between. Alvin was restless and woke me up at 1:30 but I coaxed him to go back to sleep. Then we were up about 4:45 which was okay. So I gave him his glucosamine chew followed by his breakfast. Then outside and then to the sofa where I reset the alarm to 6:45, that is where I went wrong. We should have stayed up but I just could not. I have to get my poop in a group as for the rest of the week I have to work from the office. So getting up extra early is not an option. I had a shower this morning so at least I am good for a couple of days. But still. Even though I do most of the prep work before bed, everything still takes time in the morning. Plus Alvin likes to dilly dally – like this morning. Outside at 6:45, he was sniffing at the fence (there was no one there) and just walk around and we did not have time. I raised my voice and I feel like crap now. I hope he knows that I love him and just did not have patience this morning but it was not his fault. I so wished that I could retire, I am not an early morning person and as I get older, it is getting more difficult to get mobile. Not that I am not able – just do not have the mindset to do so. Sorry for this negative stuff this morning. But it is the truth. I am sure that I am not alone. I just wish that they could have left me to work from home until I am able to retire. What would it have hurt? Okay that is enough of wa-wa-wa for this day.

I just had to get things off my shoulders. The sun is beginning to rise. It is 7:38 so I need to get this show on the road. The air was somewhere in between warm and cool this morning. The grass was wet with dew. What a lovely October we are having thus far. I am excited to have another long weekend.

So I have some things to work out. The only thing no matter what time I go to bed and set the alarm for, the one factor that I can not count on to be consistent is Mr. Alvin. Sometimes he wakes up at midnight, other times at 1:00 or 2:00 or sometimes he may sleep through until 4-5 a.m. That is definitely the hard part. Now I know that I sometimes get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom but I can do that with my eyes closed (no lights even come on) but when he needs to go – we need to go outside and that requires sweater or jacket and shoes and flashlight. I need to be fully awake when this happens. I am fully awake when we go outside.

Oh well, what can you do. I can apologize to Mr. Alvin. I am off work this afternoon as Mr. Alvin has a vet appointment.

I am glad that we are able to walk to the appointment. Never know how many of them that will be. Between weather and Mr. Alvin.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

I managed to get a few more bags of apples chopped and frozen while waiting for my supper to cook last night.

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

I am very grateful that both Mr. Alvin and I are in good health.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: loving the colours of autumn. I wonder when the time will change, our clocks go back one hour……… argh.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Good Morning All,

Well today is my late shift and as always we were up extra early to start (@ 3:54 a.m.).

So of course, after Mr. Alvin had breakfast and made a trip outside with me, of course, we went back to bed.

Usually we hit the sofa for more zzz’s but today as he forgot a chew treat upstairs, we just went back up to “bed.”

We were up again and then to the sofa but I just wanted to sleep.

So finally at 8:30 a.m. – time to rise and shine.

The sun is shining and there is quite a strong breeze.

The trees out of my office window to the south have turned started to turn this beautiful yellow and are twinkling as the sunshine touches them.

So beautiful.

Alvin is laying on his little homemade bed of blankets and towels.

A reminder that it must go into the laundry this weekend.

Always keep clean.

 

So my late shift has me starting work at 11:00 a.m. and working until 7:00 p.m.

Today we have a team meeting at the actual physical office.

We are to meet at 1:30 p.m. and it is scheduled to run until 2:30 p.m.

I will be shocked if it only goes for one hour.

We have not been altogether since March 19, 2020.

I will miss my first 15 minute break of the day as I will be in the car going to the office.

One of my team lives a short drive from me so she offered to pick me up.

I will say that as our team is down a couple of members, will still 8 in the meeting room.

Which to me is a lot.

Other than shopping …. this is the most humans I have been around since March.

My 45 minute or lunch break will fall at 3:00 p.m. so likely that will be pushed forward.

I want to take Alvin for a walk then.

I suppose we could have gone this morning had the Momma been more on the ball and likely still could.

Sometimes it just feels like a lazy morning ….. write …… shower ….. have breakfast and coffee.

Oh well, such as life.

My top ten list of things that I have love about working remotely:

1.  Being home with Alvin
2. Drinking my own perked coffee
3.  No commute to work
4. Sleep in later
5. Can walk at lunch break with Alvin if we choose
6. What I wear to work
7. Just being at home
8. Less distractions
9. More time in evening
10. More time in morning
11. More time to read (just had to add)

 

Actually I think I could do a list of more but will leave it at ten.

If you are working remotely, are you happy or are you missing work?

Personally I love being at home and if possible would love to continue to work from home.

I do miss my coworkers but with technology we do have the ability to see each other via video.

 

Today is also the 12th birthday of one of my closest friend’s daughter.

I cannot believe you are 12 Miss Madeline.

She was just a toddler when I first met her.

WOW, time flies.

 

Just about forgot to mention Alvin’s visit to the vet yesterday.

I was told beforehand that Dr. Karen would be away and that another Vet would be there.

So I was prepared for a new person.

One of the staff showed us to one of the patient rooms and we waited for a few minutes.

I tried to give Alvin some water but no.

He was a bit anxious but settled down.

When the Vet entered the room – I knew things were going to be different.

He was carrying his tools with him.

He said “Hello Alvin.”

But Alvin first.

He squatted down to Alvin’s level.

Said hello as he gave him a little check over while asking me if he was okay.

I told him the reasons for our visit.

He checked his ears and said other than a bit of wax in the outer part there was no redness and they did not smell of infection.

YAY.

As we chatted, he clipped Alvin’s nails.

He was almost finished the first paw before Alvin even noticed.

I could not believe it.

He did not put him up on the examination table ….. the whole visit was done at Alvin’s level with him staying on the floor beside him.

I can not imagine being able to stay squatted in one spot for that amount of time.

Even when Alvin starting to “make some noise” about the nail trim ….. “Greg” just kept on going.

Yes, I could not remember his last name so I asked his name.

He was gentle and kind.

Actually can I have a crush on the Vet, cause I sure do.

He took it all in stride saying that Alvin is all talk and no follow through.

Which was good as I think follow through meant struggling and perhaps getting vicious.

I did mention that usually Alvin is up on the examination table and his reply was “I like to change things up.”

Whoa, that was great.

He checked his anal glands and said they were empty.

I was duly impressed with Dr. Greg.

I love his regular vet Dr. Karen but Dr. Greg, I must say brought a whole new experience to Alvin’s appointments for both of us.

 

 

Well time to hop into the shower and get this day going.

Starting to feel energized.

 

We wish you a great Thursday.

Take Care and Be safe.

We shall continue to live with kindness and respect.

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, a soft easy Tuesday morning here at our house.

We were up not too early.

There has been a bit of rain overnight so my flowers, plants, shrubs, trees and grass had a nice drink.

Alvin is resting on his blue blanket per our regular weekday routine.

I am working on this post.

 

Trying to say something new, something to bring a smile to your face and maybe give you food for thought.

We are all different but yet so much the same.

There is something to learn from every person on this planet.

You just have to be willing to do two things?

1.  Be a teacher – share your expertise / give back
2.  Be a student – be willing to learn / to soak up new things

Each and every day we should be learning and teaching.

Life is a huge classroom.

We all can teach someone something new or a new way of doing and we can all learn.

In fact as we age it is LEARNING that keeps our brain “young.”

So be the teacher and the student.

 

On this Tuesday, I am most grateful to live in a beautiful home with my doggie pal “Alvin.”

I am grateful that we are both in good health.

I am grateful that we live in this beautiful home.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends.

I will say this I have the best friends and family on the planet.

I am grateful to have sight so that I may watch the leaves turn from their beautiful shades of green to yellows, oranges and reds.

I am grateful to have the sense of smell so that I can smell the pretty flowers when Alvin and I are enjoying our walks

I am grateful to be able to hear all sorts of sounds and most especially music.

Thank you.

 

I hope that you all have an awesome Tuesday.

 

Spread kindness with respect to all those you meet everyday.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Wow, can you believe it is Thursday, September 5th, 2019?

Almost one week into September.

Close to the official day of FALL or Autumn.

I remain home with the boy.

After 26 hours without diarrhea (which was what the Vet had wanted) and while I was on the phone with the Vet’s Assistant; the only time that I had left him alone outside he had D.

I was glad that I had decided to check once I was off the phone.

We had a pretty quiet evening.

I knew that he really wanted to go for a walk but cleaning up D is not fun and not easy to do.

So we had a quiet evening.

He had his bland diet and was not happy when I had a vegetable stir fry with his fav vegetables but they have to be eaten.

I feel so badly for him and he is being so strong and shows little frustration with it all.

After that phone call (at 5:00 p.m.) and my find in the yard; I called the clinic back once again and asked to have his Dr. call me back.

When she was finished with her patients she called back.

I explained what happened and was told …. it has only been a short time on the medication …. we have to give it time to work.

Dr. K said that if there was no change meaning he had not had a regular bowel movement – it would be back to have blood work done to get to the bottom of things.

Bedtime went per norm.

Keeping the time close to our regular time.

He woke up at 2:08 a.m. ….. not sure why.

Seemed like he wanted to go downstairs and possibly outside, so down we went.

I grabbed my sweater and flip flops and out we went.

He just stood and breathed in the night air.

No signs of distress, I attempted to coax him to come down to the grass but to no avail.

So back into the house.

This time I decided to just crash on the sofa.

No point going back upstairs.

I do not remember if it was 5 something or closer to 6 when we woke up and went back outside.

Only peed.

Back into the house and then had his first meal of the day and his meds.

I am thankful that I purchased two packages of chicken on Sunday and froze one (as yesterday I had to cook the second one).

After that …. outside….

Nothing ….

Back to the sofa for bit more sleep.

Up around 7:45 or so and decided to get dressed and go for a walk.

He had been sitting in his chair and was watching the children out on their way to school.

Other pups out for walks.

So I decided that it would be worth the fresh air for both of us although we have been spending quite a lot of time outside.

So dressed and ready and out the door.

The coolness of the morning air felt so refreshing on our faces as we strolled down the sidewalk toward the park.

We were not at the park for more than a couple of minutes and he took the pooping stance.

I held my breath.

Then without further …. out came D, this time no gas, no flying through the air.

I guess that is an improvement.

I cleaned it up as good as I could …. thankfully I had taken paper towel and several extra bags.

Just after I had wiped his bum with paper towel … a young boy on a bike came over to where we were and said “I like your dog, is it a he or a she.”

I replied “he and his name is Alvin.”

We had a nice conversation ….. I told him that Alvin was not feeling well but not catchy for him.

He said that he had a cat and wanted to pet Alvin.

Which he gently did.

We chatted about school …. he was going into grade 5.

When I asked which school he was attending …. he said the name that I had not heard of and pointed to the south.

Then he said …. no it is ….. and mentioned that he has moved a few times and forgot.

Poor little guy.

It was nice.

We continued for a couple of minutes together him on his bike and us walking.

He said “thank you I enjoyed our chat.”

Wow, from a grade five boy …. must be an old soul.

I was glad to have some conversation not about diarrhea.

 

Well I guess we are back to it.

I need coffee ….. and in less than one hour it will be time for Alvin’s second small meal of the day.

I sure hope that by the end of this day things are different and that the poop is good.

Never so much talk of poop in my life ….

 

I am grateful for the sunshine as it has made our time at home in and out of the house much easier.

Feeling a bit frustrated but trying to be patient and keep positive thoughts rattling round my brain.

We never know what is coming round the corner, do we?

I guess all we can do is our best …. be kind and respectful …..

Patience ….. having patience is important.

 

As I laid on the sofa earlier, the blinds were open enough to see our front tree.

I noted how many of the leaves had already started to turn yellow.

In that moment I was watching the leaves and branches sway gently in the breeze.

It seemed as though time had stood still for just that one moment in time.

In that moment life was perfection.

Alvin was laying in his chair … in his happy place.

I was taking in the view.

Life was perfect.

 

Wishing you all a happy Thursday.

Time for coffee, I think.

 

Being kind and respectful to yourself is just as important as it is to be toward others.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin