Last Half 2022

Good Morning ALL! We had a good sleep last night although we went to bed quite late for us at almost 11:00 p.m. I had texted my daughter earlier in the day to find out that she had packed her bag for a sleepover and was coming over after work. We had discussed her coming to help me set up the Christmas Tree but had not confirmed. I totally forgot and what a great surprise on a Friday. Work is going well, I am caught up in mail and was able to return all the calls before signing off last night which was great. After work I decided to sign into my RBC account and see if the mortgage renewal documents had updated for me to sign. Not there! I was mortified as that meant just one thing. Yes, I would have to call the 1-800 number to seek assistance. ARGH. Dreaded that but I wanted to get it signed, sealed and delivered so that I had the interest rate locked before the next increase. I spoke to a pleasant representative and for some reason the document had not uploaded to my account. He told me my options were to send me an email with the document to sign or to go to the branch and have them print the documents for me to sign and they would upload to my account. I told him that was not an option for me. I told him that I could not get to the branch which was not totally the truth but I so badly wanted to complete this transaction online, without having to walk over to the branch. With the sidewalks freshly snow covered and icy, just not something I wanted to do. Also the person from the night before told me that sending such sensitive documents to your personal email is not a good thing to do. Besides should a multi-billion dollar business have the tech support to ensure that when they told you something that could be completed online, that you should be able to do this? I mean really. So disappointing and made me want to call and lodge a complaint. Even the night before I had to speak to two people in order to renew my mortgage and to be able to access my account. I was dumbfounded to learn that the tech support went from a script and did not even have access to a model of the screens that I was looking at, I mean really, so disappointing. Not the tech’s fault but come on RBC, step up to the plate, it is 2022. Give your staff the tools to do their job. Your process is not working. Back to last night, the rep (he) said that he could upload the document by a secure email and send to me. So that is what we did. He told me that it would take about ten minutes or so to do. I waited “semi patiently” for more than ten minutes on the other end of the phone, on speaker while Mr. Alvin waiting in the hallway for his supper. Finally he came back and said that he had good news. I am not sure how this happened but the interest rate was actually lower that what I had negotiated the night before which in turn brought down my bi-weekly payment amount. SCORE. Immediately I felt better. He sent me an access code via my cell phone to enter into the email that he had sent to me. This rep stayed on the line until I entered the code and went over the document to confirm everything was correct before signing the renewal. So nice. I will say this – RBC has amazing customer support. They just need the “tools” to make their jobs easier. So with that, I was able to put the dreaded “mortgage renewal” to bed and not have to worry about doing it or how much I was going to have to pay. Definitely bi-weekly is the route to go as it saved me a lot of money from the previous monthly payment amount. After we were done, I raced downstairs to feed Mr. Alvin. I had taken a couple of minutes before the phone call and packed up my workstation. My daughter had taken some earned time and left work early to go and run some errands. I ended up with time to get some things done and to order pizza for our supper. Everything worked out perfectly. YAY.

Last night we ate pizza and put up the Christmas Tree. I did not decorate it and will do that today. I did however, set up most of the other decorations and will put the finishing touches on all of that over the course of today.

We woke up at 4:00 a.m., Mr. Alvin and I to blowing snow. I checked the weather forecast and we are to have snow until about 3:00 p.m.

Alvin is downstairs curled up on the sofa with his sister watching YouTube videos while I write this post. I made coffee before coming upstairs to write this post so I am enjoying the odd sip here and there while I write. Also I have decided to order a new computer. I was looking over the new iMac 24 and it seems like the right fit for me. It is time. This girl has been good to me but I need something new. I need a computer that when I type the words it actually keeps up to my fingers, to do all of the updates, so that I can hold my phone up to the computer and it will automatically upload my photos from the phone to the computer. It is time. Next purchase.

Time to get going and get dressed and finish decorating and also do some laundry. I am grateful to have my beautiful daughter with me and Alvin. Looks like perhaps after Alvin’s appointment on the 21st that he may go and stay with them for a bit. Still thinking about it. Amanda thinks he will be okay and her Momma on the other hand thinks it may be too much for them. We all know how the Alvin is, lol.

Have a great day.

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

Always, Carol, Alvin & Amanda.

PS: love having my babies with me. Just need Steven, Aspen and Milo to complete the picture.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 29th day pf April, 2019.

Wow, second last day of April 2019.

This morning the sunrise is crazy beautiful as it rises there are some puffy dark blue clouds that appear to be suspended from the clear blue sky above.

Looks like someone just added them with a paint brush.

Oh so pretty.

 

I was thinking this morning as I was getting ready for the day about how much we all take for granted our lives.

We take for granted our health, our family and friends.

Our jobs and our homes.

Usually it is not until we lose something or someone, that we realize this.

How precious every aspect of our lives is …..

When you can swing your legs off the bed and touch the floor and stand up.

Be grateful.

When you can turn on the tap and have clean healthy water to drink and use.

Be grateful.

When you can walk for exercise and enjoyment.

Be grateful.

Every time you make a mortgage payment on your home.

Be grateful.

Every time you pay your taxes be grateful as that money goes for health care, roads and more.

Every moment of every day is a blessing.

A blessing that we can breathe clean air.

A blessing that we are surrounded by family and friends.

A blessing that we have homes and a bed to sleep in at night.

A blessing that we have jobs to make that mortgage payment and to buy food.

A blessing that we are alive.

So on those days when you are feeling woe is me; remember.

Life is a blessing.

Be grateful.

Yes, I know perhaps there will be days that are less than perfection.

But at least we have those days.

Please do not spend your precious moments walling in self pity or complaining about someone or something.

Spend your time being grateful.

Life will always be better if you spend it in a state of gratitude.

 

Have an awesome Monday.

The sky is blue.

The clouds are delightful.

I am alive.

I have my buddy Alvin at my side.

Thank you.

I am most gratefully for all that I have and that I saw my kids yesterday afternoon.

Thank you.

 

Special Hello to: you and you and you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 2nd day of October, 2018.

Well here we are October 2018.

My how the time flies.

No snow on the ground this morning which is always a good thing.

On our way home from a walk last night it started to snow.

Luckily they all melted upon touchdown.

 

Yesterday I read something about budgeting.

You know how they say do not spend more than 30% of your income on rent/mortgage.

You know how they say to save 10% of your earnings.

The new thing now was “budget for food.”

One said $200.00 per person per month including the extras like hygiene products and toiletries.

I am pretty sure that I spend over $200.00.

A few years ago when money was a lot tighter than now, I spent $50.00 per week, maximum.

It was not easy to buy fresh fruit and veggies on that budget.

Some items were just out of my league.

Both of those items have increased substantially since that time.

So I have decided as we just started October, that I am going to be super mindful of what I spend.

I am going to keep the $200.00 monthly amount in my head and see if I can do it.

It will be hard as I have to pick up laundry soap soon.

I spent $30.25 last night at the grocery store, so now I am down to $169.75 (did not even use a calculator).

Thankfully the $200.00 does not include Alvin.

I will keep posting on my progress.

Will see how I do.

I quite honestly do not know how large families do it.

If you are budget conscience and have some tips, please let me know.

Also I guess it depends if that report came out of the U.S. or Canada?

 

Well almost time to leave for work.

 

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk with the leaves and the geese.

Love FALL.

So nice to see the water fountain still going.

I love the sound.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who budget and are successful.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 16th day of January, 2018.

Well yesterday turned out to be a bit on the colder side, especially with the wind.

Tomorrow is to be about ZERO …..

Still so much better than the minus 30 windchill of last week.

 

Last night as I was watching Alvin outside …. I was thinking about a commercial that I had seen earlier in the evening.

The commercial was about the stress that people are under at this time of year due to DEBT.

Mainly credit card balances from Christmas gifts and the holidays.

It hit me like a ton of bricks, I have no CONSUMER DEBT.

I do not have to worry about trying to come up with the money to pay off a credit card.

Everything in my house from the sofa down to the cutlery is paid in full.

I do not OWE any money.

So on those odd occasions when I am feeling like I would like to go shopping – just because I think I need to or actually more like want to….

I will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that I am DEBT FREE.

Funny how things come out of nowhere …. the Universe was just telling me how lucky I am.

I feel like I could jump up into the air and click my heels together or break into the song “HAPPY.”

I feel like I lost a ton of weight.

I look at it this way – I purchase what we need and not what I want.

After all so much of what we have is not really what we need.

I am creative when it comes to gift giving.

It feels great not to be drowning in credit card and loan payments.

So on this day, I am very proud of myself.

I am very grateful to be where I am.

I am grateful for the support of my family and friends along the way.

I am grateful to be navigating life in a positive manner.

I hope that you all have a great Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to: all those folks who are wondering what to do ….. learn about your money.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day or perhaps a revelation ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 5th day of September, 2016.

Perhaps by now some of you may have noticed that I have not written on this blog since the last day of August.

My daughter noticed that I had not written on my blog for the first couple of days and asked if something was wrong?

I told her no.

But that was not one hundred percent accurate.

There are times in one’s life when the mere gravity of words and actions by those around you just makes you feel incompetent and makes you question

the things you do.

I am not saying it was a huge matter but it was enough to give me cause to pause.

Sometimes you just need to take a step back in order to go forward.

Or at the very least stop doing some of the things that you always do, and reflect.

Or sometimes it is just something you need to do for you.

It can be just as simple as that.

I just knew that I had to take a break, and that there was no way of explaining this to you.

I do apologize for that.

 

I had questions.

Was I really doing something that I truly loved or just doing something because I had been telling myself, and others for several decades

that “I am a writer.”

But was I?

Am I?

 

For as long as I can remember I loved books, I loved words. I loved the sounds of words.

They could take you near or far.

In my case it was the far that appealed to me the most.

I could imagine a new life, a different life.

I loved to read.

I loved to write.

Or perhaps it was the mere essence of the feeling that I got at the end of it all.

I do not know.

But questioning things ….. that is where I am at.

Can I write?

Sure I can.

But am I good enough that is another question.

Good enough compared to who, to what?

I had wanted to be a published author but at fifty-nine that honour still eludes me.

Perhaps there is a part of me that believes that I am not really good enough or smart enough to go the distance.

Short term projects; I can do and have done.

So this is part of the dilemma.

The other of the self-doubt is that I feel that I have worked very hard my whole life and somehow I feel unaccomplished.

But why?

Really, I should not.

I left my home of thirty years to start over in a new place.

I finally in my 50’s was able to buy my first house, and yes I have a mortgage.

After a lifetime of work I took a couple of years off for a mini retirement.

After which I found a job ( into my 50’s which is not easy these days ).

I adopted my first dog when in my 50’s.

I have made many many life choices and changes after the age of 50.

But perhaps the biggest thing of all is the fact that back home many of my friends are now settling into retirement or at least close.

Life is full of choices and we do the best that we can.

This was and is my choice for good or bad.

But sometimes we just would like things to have gone a different way.

 

I have tried to remain positive but sometimes that is just impossible.

So it is a combination of writing and life choices that brings me to this point.

I will continue to write not because I have to but because I want to.

 

Perhaps this does not truly or in full explain what is really in my heart but it will give you an idea of where I am at …..

Alvin in his cuteness, well he is Alvin and he just looks at me as if to say “Come on snap out of it.”

I say to him, “Yes dear one, I shall.”

 

Thank you for making the choice to read my blog.

I am so thankful for you.

Life evolves …..

 

Special Hello to: YOU

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 12th day of September, 2013.

Another gorgeous morning albeit it is only beginning to get light and it is 6:40 a.m.  🙂

That’s okay we are entering my most favourite season of all – FALL.

Now on another unrelated topic……. ( I am over 50 and it is okay for me to veer like this, LOL)

Wow, it is so funny how one can get caught up in the moment and forget that at that moment everything does not revolve about you.

Yes, I know it’s true.

Even though most days I think that it does (LOL, really laughing out loud).

Sometimes,  I get caught in a moment of frustration or something and momentarily lose my “positive energy.”

Now usually I do not let this reflect on “whomever” is around me but then I might retell the story later and that is not good.

I do try and put a positive “fun” spin on it and usually at my expense.

But I do try and keep my days and nights – well you know the waking time fun and positive.

I like most people have my moments of self-doubt and frustration over things …. usually it is money.

They say it cannot bring you happiness but on the other hand without it sometimes it is hard to be happy, too.

I should perhaps explain this a bit further.

Making sure that the bills are paid on time doesn’t necessarily define or not one’s happiness level but it is the stress that can disturb your positive energy flow.

Don’t you think that as long as you can bring the flow of money into your life and that you are healthy and can pay your bills in full and on time and … and perhaps have a bit to play with ….. that is good.

I hope that this is making some sense.

I will admit that most of my life no matter how things were  (health or finances or relationships), I always found the silver lining …. so basically I am a happy person.

I have always been grateful for what I have …. a roof over my head and food in my belly….

I was always grateful to go to school when I was a kid.

Anyway on this topic I could go on and on.

I guess at the end of it all ….. I would say:

I am a single over fifty lady who lives with her BF Alvin ( I do have human friends, LOL), I work two jobs, I have my own home and mortgage, I am in good health, I have great family and friends, I like to think that I am creative, I love to write and am working on a story and make jewellery with my daughter, love to have a cup of coffee with my friends,  and I love to live my life.  Somedays I falter slightly when things go awry but for the most part I am one happy lady.

So if any of this makes sense and hits home and helps I am grateful.

I hope that you have a great great Thursday….

Special Hello to: all those pet owners out there ….. HELLO

Always, Carol and Alvin

Sometimes there are rainbows hidden in the most “un” obvious places.

Roses are my rainbow.

Grandma Stella these are for you … from my garden.