Good Morning ALL! We did it, today is Friday, January 14, 2022. Alvin and I had a good day although it is quite possible that he may not entirely be on board with that thought. I worked in the morning and took the afternoon off as Alvin had his regular vet appointment and I had the booster vaccine appointment. Alvin’s appointment was for 3:00 p.m. and my booster appointment was for 3:10 p.m. With the Pandemic our vet now has us wait in one of the two exam rooms until they are ready and then they escort the pet, Alvin to the back larger exam / surgery area. I made sure that we left home in plenty of time, we left at 2:30 and as soon as we left the house it started to snow, the wet stuff. We walked slowly and had no issues. The section of sidewalk leading toward the strip mall where the vet clinic is located and alongside the condominiums / apartments had been “sanded” with small pieces of gravel. We were about halfway down this long section of sidewalk with Alvin walking along the edge in the snow and ice and me walking in the middle on the gravel. He crossed over and not long later he wanted to turn around for home, I had to do some convincing to get him to come with me. But finally we were at the clinic. We always have to call when we arrive so that they can come and let us in, new policy for patients. Once inside I went over a few things – my appointment and that my son-in-law was going to pick up Alvin’s food but I was going to pay for it. We were fifteen minutes early so we were placed in one of the two small exam rooms where we sat and waited. Alvin was anxious more so than usual, not sure why. I decided as it was quite warm inside to take my winter coat and scarf off as well as his sweater so we would not overheat. I placed Alvin’s harness back on and we waited. I did my best to keep him less anxious. We seemed to be waiting forever but I think that they had a surgery in the back and that patient was coming out of anesthetic. As we were getting close to my appointment time, I called the Pharmasave to let them know and was told it was okay. A few minutes later Alvin was on his way to the back and I was out the door and onto my appointment. There was no one in the Pharmasave except for me and the Pharmacist. He is so nice. Very kind. I had to complete a list of questions before having the booster. I found out that if you were over 65 and immune compromised, then you had a full dosage of the vaccine and if under 65 and not immune compromised, then half dose. I got the half dose. He is so gentle, I did not feel anything. The Pharmacist allowed me to leave after 5 minutes as I was going to the Vet and if anything happened, I was close by.
Upon my return, I saw the staff and Alvin in the hallway, apparently he was missing his Momma and had been quite anxious, more so than usual.
I spoke to the Vet and poor boy had a bit of yeast infection once again in the usual ear. Not bad infection and she almost missed it as she said there was no smell which usually eludes to something wrong and then requires further investigation. So more meds for the boy.
We, er, I paid for the bill including his food and we were on our way. Thankfully the snow had almost stopped falling and we got home safe and sound. No slips on the ice.
We had a nice quiet evening. Now it is morning.
I wish you a great Friday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. be care out there, it is icy. Froze overnight. Also I feel good except for my arm is a bit sore.
Good Morning ALL! I hope that this finds you well. Both Alvin and I had a great sleep. He woke up at first about 3:45 and then back to the sofa until 6:40 a.m., how wonderful. We then got up and he had his breakfast. I wasn’t quite ready to get up so we laid back down for a few minutes as I pondered my day. I forgot that yesterday was May 1st, how crazy is that. Guess what, I was having my coffee yesterday morning when the “phone rang” and I saw that it was the Pharmacist from Pharmasave. He was calling to see if I could go in at 11:30 a.m. to receive the vaccine. I said yes, of course and thanked him. The call came in at 10:22 a.m. After that I quickly drank some coffee and went to prepare to leave the house. I had a winning lotto ticket to cash in so I wanted to leave the house a bit early and go to the convenience store in the same strip mall. I am so grateful to Alvin’s Vet Dr. Karen for hooking me up with the Pharmacist Dr. W., and to think everything is all in the same mall. A quick walk. The convenience store was renovating and looking good thus far. It sure was windy yesterday and we ended up with some rain later in the day, actually evening. I was at the Pharmasave a bit early and decided to pick up a few items that I needed and plus it helps him out. Showing my gratitude to him for scheduling me so quickly for the vaccine. I had asked him about the vaccines as I had heard him say that he was only taking names now for the next batch that is coming in. Apparently he receives 100 at a time. He gave all those vaccines out in a three day period. Busy man. I asked him if he gets paid to give out the vaccines and he said yes which is great as I know his business has been suffering throughout the pandemic much the same as others. This is a small pharmacy not like a Shoppers Drug Mart. I had to complete a two page form going over a multitude of things from name and health number and date of birth to if you had any symptoms to allergies and more. Once I filled out the form which was basically giving a quick history and releasing him from any further liability, I waited for a few minutes. The whole time that I was there people were in and out. It was a real assembly line. Everyone was masked of course and physically distanced. When it was my turn, he called me into this little room. He excused himself as the phone rang and in a few minutes he was back and advising me of the possible side effects and so on. I listened and then he asked which arm. I had decided on my right arm as it is not my writing arm (not sure if that mattered or not). My jacket was off and I pushed off my sleeve and was ready. Next thing I know he was readying the shot and into my arm. Painless, really. He was so gentle despite the fact that they basically throw the needle at your arm. I remember him beforehand telling me to relax my arm and to hold it a certain way which I am thinking now really helped the process. Once done he grabbed a bandaid and I checked to ensure it was latex free as I am allergic. He said yes, it was as he had read that I mentioned about being allergic to latex/elastoplast. He then advised that I could go and wait until 11:50 which was 15 minutes later. Both the chairs that he had set up against a partial wall were full so he asked me to go around so I made sure that I did not go close to the two women in the chairs. Dr. W. then called the one that had just filled out her paperwork in for her vaccine and I took her chair. A few minutes later he gave me a card that said that I had received the Moderna vaccine on May 1st, 2021 and that the next one was scheduled for August 21, 2021. Fifteen minutes later I was on my way. Thanking this kind man as I left the pharmacy. Today he has extended his hours so that he can give out the remaining vaccines. I received the Moderna vaccine in case you were wondering.
I was happy that I had bought the items in his store and I will continue to give him as much business as possible. A few minutes later I was at home warming up a cup of coffee in the microwave as I had unplugged the coffee pot before leaving and it was barely warm by this point. Oh and beforehand I of course let Mr. Alvin out for a pee. He was happy to see me and I him.
Oh, almost forgot when I texted my daughter to tell her that I was getting the vaccine – she told me that her husband, my son-in-law was getting his as well. How strange is that we were both getting ours on the same day and around the same time. Now just my daughter to have hers.
A couple of loads of laundry later, I decided to go for a walk with Alvin. The sky has been clouding over and then clearing for most of the morning and now in the early afternoon. Thinking that we had better get going before it rained. It was quite windy and there were several folks out walking likely having the same idea as me. I am always amazed at how cool Alvin is around the geese. The couple that have been hanging around our park are always together somewhere as we walk through and Alvin usually stops and takes a look and continues on. He does not bark or even go toward them, just gives him a look and we keep going. I love how chill he is around them. I think that stems from his youth when we used to go for walks before I was working and we would literally plunk ourselves down on the sidewalk / grass by the water in one of two parks in our neighbourhood and watch the geese and ducks. I would hold him in my arms and he would just watch them literally for hours. Usually it was me that wanted to get up and go not Alvin. He has always enjoyed watching them. When we approached his best friend Teddy’s house, I could not say no to him so up the driveway and the steps and ringing the doorbell. I could hear the pups and some movement. All of a sudden Kobi was up looking out the porch window. Then I could hear both Teddy and Kobi and next thing I knew it, Walter was opening the door. He said that Iris had just popped out to the store but would be home soon and asked us to go in. In we went. This is the only place outside our house and the vet and the odd retail shop that we go. Always, physically distancing. Now we have all had our first vaccines. Walter and I visited until Iris came home. She invited me for tea and I graciously accepted. I told her about our Friday night and as I had mentioned to Walter about receiving my first vaccine. We had a great visit. Then home to finish the laundry and feed Alvin and to make my special pasta dinner. My daughter had picked me up some lentil pasta and this was the first time I have eaten it and cooked with it. It was awesome. I made a simple sauce to add to the cooked pasta of caramelized onions (because why not) with black pepper in olive oil, once down I poured the onions into a bowl and then added to the pan some halved grape tomatoes, salt and pepper and greek spice and once cooked down I added some minced garlic (several cloves). Once done, I added the onions and let them mingle together. I added some pasta water to the onions/tomatoes and garlic and then added the drained pasta to this pan to mix. Then into a bowl. On top of my seving I threw some shredded parmesan cheese and more black pepper. OMG, it was so good. Simple and did not take much time. That was supper. Leftovers for tonight and likely tomorrow. I will make some roasted broccoli to put on top tonight for more veg.
Last night we had a quiet evening. Watched a couple of movies before going to bed.
I was thinking of how a house/home is like us. The roof is the top of our heads. The windows are our eyes looking out and within. The kitchen is liken to our heart. The bathrooms are our kidneys. The basement is the bottom half of us with the furnace which would be our lungs and the floor would be our feet. Another way to look at our homes.
Well time to hit the shower and get refreshed. It is cloudy outside.
I hope that this finds you well and that you are enjoying your Sunday. I cannot wait for a cup of coffee this morning. Just because.
I love to share photos giving us all an opportunity to go places we may have never been before …… I love the elephant. Elephants and Dragonflies are my favourites (please do not tell Mr. Alvin).
Have an awesome day.
Remembering to always live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience for all.
My New Life @ 51 