Last Half 2022

Good Morning All! How are you this morning? Third day in a row we have been up extra early. Tuesday we were up early to go for a walk before the heat set in, yesterday I went to the office and today we are going to walk as it will be another warm one here in Edmonton.

The sky is extra pretty this morning. There are wisps of dark clouds hovering below the lighter blue sky. The sun is up and slightly covered by the cloud cast. I can hear a dog barking behind us somewhere, that dog is always outside and always barking. I feel for the poor guy or girl. In the background there is the hum of vehicles on the Anthony Henday highway that circles the City of Edmonton.

When I compare work at home to work at the office there is no difference. Perhaps I have become too comfortable getting up a bit later or earlier to go for walks, having a view of my backyard, being here for Alvin, not having the noise of the office. Working from home is so much easier and way less expensive. With the ever increasing costs and no increase to our pay – having to go to the office more often means changing what I buy for food and not buying anything extra. Someone thinks it is a good idea for people to return to the office but really is it? Most offices have staff in open workspaces with perhaps lower dividers to separate them. Noise carries. When you are on the phone it is hard to just speak in a whisper as not to disturb those around you. The commute time is horrible. Then less time at home. We were finally having a great work – life balance. Back to people being sick all of the time. Meetings for the sake of having meetings. It is always easy to say “go back” when you have a door on your office to close when needed. I am sure it will all work out but in the meantime, there are millions of people worldwide that are suffering from the anxiety of returning to work at the office. I know that millions of people have no choice. But if we can help some of those millions to be less stressed, why wouldn’t we?

Well time to go as I want to take Mr. Alvin for a walk. The cool air wafting in through the open office window is divine. I need to clear the above chatter from my mind.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: only 26 days till 65! I was carrying the decorator pillows from the spare bed back to ours and I usually look to see where Alvin is located, this time I was preoccupied and tripped. Luckily I didn’t put my full weight on his paws or anything but I did come very close to hitting the corner of the hallway wall. That would not have been pretty. Oh, my life with Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Sunday morning? Guess what here in Edmonton, well in my neighbourhood last night it did not freeze. Our temperatures remained over 0 therefore no frost on the windshields and most of all the water that is ice in front of my house, is still water. So all of my hard word yesterday remains. Yesterday afternoon after laundry was almost done, Alvin and I headed out for a walk. So many neighbours were out chipping away at the ice. It was like being on the red carpet and stopping to say hello to people on your way inside the theatre. The walk that in good times would take us about 6 minutes ended up being just over one hour. We had so many good conversations but sadly not from the sidewalks as we had to walk on the edge of the street where cars would park. Even that was icy so we were very careful. All the neighbours kept saying “be careful, it is icy” Isn’t that nice that everyone cares about us. I thought so. Quite often times, people do not know many if any people in their neighbourhoods, I can honestly say I know more people than I do not know. Thanks largely in part to Alvin and I walking for all these years. When I was “single” before Alvin joined my family I used to walk every day for a minimum of 2-5 miles and would meet people but then when I adopted Mr. Alvin in 2020, that changed. Our walks became much shorter and were concentrated in our neighbourhood and as we were slower and Mr. Alvin was/is so darn cute, we chatted more along the way. I met some of the most incredible people. People from all walks of life. We have the best neighbors and have made good friends with so many of them. Even though we did not get very far, we exercised our bodies a bit but most of all we exercised our hearts, minds and souls. That is just as important as exercising your body. So it was a great day. Later in the afternoon, I had an actual telephone conversation with one of my girl friends who lives a couple of minutes away. It was great. I have found sadly that I tend to “text” people more than call on the phone. Not something that I ever intended to do but just found that it happened. Likely because I like to keep in touch but I am not much for talking on the phone or at least not on a regular basis. That being said, I just had a 3.5 hour conversation with a dear friend on her birthday. She lives in Regina. Last night after fresh air and accomplishing the items on my to do list, we just watched movies. It was quiet and lovely.

This morning the sky is blue but not the sunny light blue and it is not filled with clouds either. Just that blue waiting for the sun to start shining kind of blue. I hope you understand my mish mash of an explanation. Thankfully it is warm outside. The temperatures are to remain warm for this week and we will definitely be happy about that.

Well time to get dressed (still in my pj’s) and head downstairs. I did bring up the towels that were in the dryer and clothing that was drying in the basement and put it all away before sitting down to do this post. I so enjoy on the weekends, just slowly starting. I guess at this point in my life, I have earned that right. Is that a right? Whatever it may be, I am enjoying it. I am so grateful to be here and now. I am grateful that both Alvin and I can run up and down the stairs (okay, maybe not run, as such). I am grateful for each and every day we have together.

I wish you an awesome Sunday. Today, I have to finish gathering up items to do my taxes. Sounds like fun, not really but needs to be done. We will try and get another walk in ……

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning All! Well Happy New YEAR and Welcome to 2022. WOW. It is hard to believe. It is late already as Miss Cookie had us up at 2:00, then Alvin woke up at 4:00 and then again at 7:00 for breakfast. So chopped up sleep but that is okay. We do not have plans for this first day of January 2022 other than to bask in the gratitude that we have in being alive, in good health and good food to eat.

Did you have a quiet or loud New Year’s Eve? Funny story – about 7:00 p.m., I was outside picking up poop when I heard a loud noise, I looked up to see a large jet passenger plane. It was all lit up but at the angle it was flying over my house, I could not make out the airline. Of course, it was dark by this time. It was so low I could see the wings and all the lights and even the windows in the plane. Too low for sure. It was not making a straight descent but appeared to be circling back to the airport which is southwest of my home. We are in the flight path of the Edmonton International Airport and there are always planes flying overhead but never this low. I ran into the house to call my friend, she had heard a loud noise but did not think anything of it. This morning I have not had the time as yet to check the news to see if there was a plane in distress last night. Also, I figured if I did not hear any other loud noises or sirens, the plane must have made it back to the airport. I sure hope so. It was unnerving.

When I called my friend ended up chatting for quite awhile. I had planned to call my sister and brothers earlier in the evening and then watch a movie or perhaps one of the New Year’s Eve shows but plans changed. After our chat, I called my sister and my younger brother. I will call my older of the brothers today. I also called my daughter and son-in-law. Everyone was surprised when I said “Happy New YEAR” before midnight but most of us are long in bed before the stroke of midnight. As it turned out we did not go to bed until just before 11:00 and it was quite some time after that when the lights went out and then more time until Cookie settled down. She had a night which translated to “us all having a night.” Today is a new day. Soon Cookie shall be home with her family. They come home Monday night. It will be quiet without her for sure.

Yesterday while we were chilling as we have done for most of this past week, Cookie on her chair and Alvin and I on the sofa, Alvin was making a coughing sound in his sleep. Cookie jumped up off the chair and walked over to the sofa, went up on her hind legs and sniffed and licked Alvin’s face. She clearly was concerned. It was so sweet. Afterwards, she walked around the living room and on her way back to the sofa, she stopped and checked him out once again. I have never seen one of the dogs do that. She clearly was concerned for him. Of course, I was keeping an eye on Mr. Alvin, as well.

Well I suppose I should get going as it is getting on. I forgot to bring up my phone as I was carrying up pee pads. It must be past 10:00 a.m. already.

Alvin is laying outside the office and Cookie is scouring the upstairs for something. She is very snoopy or inquisitive and curious. I just heard a noise coming from the guest room and went to find Cookie into things. Alvin is giving her the what for at this moment. Not doing anything – just following her around. She just went to nip at him. I told her “no” and she listened for now. She is busy girl.

I ended up not having pancakes yesterday but this morning it is pancakes. I have milk to use before the expiry date so will make up a batch. Love pancakes.

The temperature is supposed to warm up by later this afternoon and then tomorrow start getting cold again.

I watched the FRIENDS REUNION in between phone calls last night.

Happy New Year’s Day.

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

Always, Carol, Alvin and Cookie

Christmas Morning 2020

Good Morning ALL. Happy Christmas one and all. The air is warm outside. The house is quiet as my fingers clack away on the keyboard. Alvin is stretched out on the carpet in the hallway just outside the office door. My daughter, son-in-law and pups are snoozing in “the master suite” (okay perhaps not what you would consider to be a master suite but for me a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom, is pretty master, lol). What a glorious Christmas we are having. The family arrived in the later part of the afternoon on Christmas Eve, that would have been yesterday. We make some snacks, ate some snacks and ate more snacks and more snacks and then decided to open gifts. We always have enough food to feed about 20 people and there are three of us. Likely we should have gone for a walk but it is Christmas and who thinks of exercise when there are presents under the tree and food all over the place. Even before we sat down to open gifts, actually not long after the kids and grandpups arrived – we heard some rustling in the living room. We were busy snacking in the kitchen. Amanda went into the living room and there was the Alvin getting a headstart opening his gifts. He had found one of his gifts that was way back under the tree, without causing disarray to the other gifts or knocking over the tree – he pulled the gift back out onto the middle of the living room and was beginning to tear apart the tissue paper that covered his gift. How he knew that was his gift we will never know. My son-in-law joked that perhaps he knew how to read. What a guy. After we had some goodies, we settled in to watch the Christmas movie “ELF” which is another little story. Steven wanted to watch the movie which I happen to have on DVD in my massive Christmas movie collection. When the kids gave me the new television just before Christmas – we decided to disconnect the DVD player and put it in the basement. We would have had to hook it up which is not a big deal when the light bulb came on and I checked my PVR recordings and voile, I had recorded it. So no need to bring up the DVD player. We chatted and watched the movie. Drank coffee and eggnog. Throughout the movie, someone was whining so much. Not loud but clearly not happy. When the movie was over and we started preparing to open gifts, guess who was the first one to the tree? Three guesses and the first two don’t count. Mr. Alvin. He was so excited. I think with all of the gift opening that we have been doing and the parcels from our friend Val, he is beginning to put two and two together. He definitely understood about the gifts. I will note that he has been going to tree over the past few weeks once I wrapped gifts and we remember when he pulled my son-in-law’s stocking from under the tree and started to open his gifts. Note to self for next year. I made sure that I safely tucked all gifts with food related items and the stockings in a basket in the basement landing until time to open. We certainly were entertained by Alvin. He was frustrated with me at times. What can you do? He, me, we were all super spoiled. The perfect year to be spoiled. I received clothes, books, special pens, several items from my favourite store “Bath & Bodyworks”, chocolates and more chocolates and more chocolates, a hand held blender with more gadgets than I know what to do with and more. Definitely crazy spoiled. My son-in-law received from my daughter one of those projectors for indoors so we did some star gazing for part of the evening. A great night. Merry Christmas.

Well time to head back downstairs and have some coffee. I am going to call my sister and chat. It is beginning to get light outside. Hopefully the sun will shine. We definitely need a walk or two, today.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope that Santa was good to you. Not sure that me and Alvin deserved all the lovely gifts that we received but we are grateful to all those folks who showered us with them this year. We are grateful to have all of you in our lives. Truly, we are blessed.

Have an awesome day. Be safe, go for a walk. We will continue to live our lives with kindness, respect and compassion for all.

Merry Christmas 2020.

Love, Always from Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning Everyone!

Happy Friday.

We had a great meeting yesterday at the office.

It was the first time since March 19, 2020 that our team had physically been all together.

I will say that surprisingly for us, it was very emotional.

I had read somewhere that coworkers that were reunited after many months found themselves emotional.

I can only imagine how families that have been apart for all this time must feel.

When they come together or if they remain apart.

Definitely while this pandemic has had a physical effect on a great many people, I guess all of us really, we do not often think of the emotional role it has played.

Whether you worked on the front lines or were at home working …. we have all FELT the effects of this global pandemic.

It is most likely that we will be feeling the effects for a very long time even once it has gone.

Myself and the team were all reminded of how much we genuinely care for each other and by how much we “have each other’s backs” so to speak.

Our current team is all women.

I am glad that I work with such a great group of women.

We may not always agree on everything but we do agree on one thing and that is the well being of each other.

In the beginning I was hesitant and kind of miffed that we had to go to the office.

But after my coworker picked me up and we started to talk about things, I felt like we were both in the same place.

It was a massive relief once I spoke to and saw in person the rest of the team to see we were all feeling the same.

The meeting was so worth it and I am glad that I took that step and went.

The phones last night were interesting.

I had calls that ran the gamut.

 

Well the weekend is ahead.

The sky is clear and the sun is shining.

We did not get any rain last night so my poor plants need a drink.

I will give them water.

 

Wishing you a great day and weekend ahead.

Always worth treating all with kindness and respect.

I do believe that what goes around – comes around.

You reap what you sow.

 

Living my life with kindness and respect.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning,

Wow, August 1st, 2020.

The sun is shining brightly with a picture perfect sky.

There is a cool breeze.

When we were out on the deck a few minutes ago it was glorious.

I/We could have stayed there until it gets too hot.

But alas we had to come into the house as there are things to do.

Last night I worked till 5:58 so that I could finish all of my work including returning phone calls.

I do not like to go on vacation and leave work to do.

That is one advantage if you will of working from home.

If I had been at the office …. there would have been things left to do.

So I am grateful to be at home for that among many other reasons.

I am officially on vacation and do not work again until August 17, 2020.

Two glorious weeks to dibble and dabble around the house.

I have a list, well actually not yet as it is only in my head at this time.

But so that I do not forget anything I will write things down on paper.

My office “workspace” will return upstairs at some point today.

I was thinking of rearranging things up here as well to better accommodate working from home.

I have more a iMac computer for home and then a laptop and monitor for work.

Two desks from IKEA line one of the office walls.

Not wide but they run from the doorway to the window.

At the moment my MAC is by the window but as I will be spending more time on the work computer, perhaps there would be more room the other way around.

Actually I like working from the kitchen table but it is not practical long term.

Okay, vacation mode ….

Looks like we are going to have some hot days for the weekend at least or that is all I managed to see on the weather channel before going to bed last night.

I celebrated my last day of work by ordering pizza from my favourite pizza place “Royal Pizza” in a neighbouring community.

With the pizza I had one of the alcoholic beverages that my friend had given me to try.

To finish the celebration – I had a buster bar from Dairy Queen from the box that my son-in-law had surprised me with at the beginning of the week.

I actually could sit by the office window now in my sleeveless nightgown with the wind ever so wonderfully touching my shoulders with it’s cool touch.

Mmm, nice.

Alvin has left the office and is in the hallway.

I turned the fan on in the bedroom as next stop is a shower.

Man, I need one it has been a few days.

My hair looks like something out of a monster flick.

The Monster from Beyond.

We also found out on Friday that we are not going back to the office until the NEW YEAR.

They have asked us to complete a survey about our time at home and the ups and downs.

I did not have time to complete the survey as I was busy trying to get my work done before vacation.

Instead at lunchtime I replied to our CEO’s email and let him know my thoughts.

Truly I love being at home.

At first, it took some adjustments, of course.

That was a major change.

But now being at home with Alvin and no commuting.

The extra 1.5 hours or more extra that I have at home is great.

Now granted some of that time and more I work but that is not going to be a forever deal.

Well time to head to the shower.

I think today will be a slow one.

Shower, change bedding, do some laundry, well better have some coffee and some breakfast.

Move the computers around before it gets too hot or NOT.

I have time ….. a nice luxury.

We will see where this day takes us.

 

For all of you that read my blog daily or whenever you have time, I really appreciate your time.

I hope that sometimes I make you giggle, laugh or smile.

Perhaps give you cause to rethink something.

Maybe an idea.

Or maybe just a little distraction from your everyday life.

We all have our down in the dump moments leading sometimes into days.

We all have our joy to the rafters moments leading possibly into days.

We all have little things and big things.

Good and bad and inbetween.

To be human is to experience everything that runs the gamut from one extreme to the other.

I hope that you are able to find your best space somewhere in in the middle.

Life is only as perfect as you make it.

Life is only as you react to those moments that run the extremes.

So on this first day of my birth month and being on vacation, I am over the moon happy.

Great feeling to know that at the very least we will be home until the New Year.

Merry Christmas.

So happy for Alvin …..

I started working from home on March 19, 2020 and if I go back to work in January 2021 – that is almost one whole year.

So happy that I have had this time with the boy and am keeping my fingers crossed that we will continue past January 2021 working from home.

There will be a couple of days each month that I will take turns with my coworkers and go to the office but hey that is not a problem.

FOR SURE.

 

Okay I am rambling …. thoughts just pouring onto the page.

Time for that shower.

I can start to feel a change in the temperature.

Time to close blinds again.

 

I hope that you all have a great Saturday.

See you tomorrow morning.

Living with kindness and respect for this Earth and its inhabitants.

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Some of the cuteness that surrounds me

Mr. Alvin and Neighbours Humphrey and Bogart

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Monday morning.

The sun is shining brightly here in Edmonton.

Alvin and I were up early and then back to the sofa for extra zzz’s.

Back to work tomorrow.

Well moving one desk over tomorrow morning.

 

We had a great Easter weekend.

Yesterday one of my girl friends brought me a turkey dinner plate with apple pie for dessert.

I am blessed.

She also dropped off some homemade turkey soup.

How lucky am I?

 

I pretty much completed everything on my TO DO LIST.

Today I want to trim the fur on Alvin’s paws a little.

His ears need to be cleaned.

I will give him a bath at some point soon.

Submitting a Steeped Tea order later this afternoon.

Garbage goes out tonight.

 

I rented the latest JUMANJI movie last night.

It was funny and made me jump a couple of times.

I do like Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black.

Also good to laugh these days.

 

I should be calling family and friends but honestly phoning is not one of my favourite things to do.

Most especially since part of my work is being on the phone.

Anyway, that has to be set aside and I need to reach out and contact family and friends.

We have been texting and sending emails but that is not quite the same.

So if you are like me, reach out today or tomorrow and call someone.

 

I hope that you all are having a great Easter weekend.

I am blessed that we have an extra long weekend.

Sending good thoughts your way.

 

With kindness and respect,

I/We, remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time

Hello, it is Saturday, the day after …

I had a great 62nd Birthday.

Spent the day with Alvin and Humphrey.

Alvin and I had an early morning walk.

We pretty much lazed around the whole day long.

Listened to music and watched some television.

Sort of had a nap ….

My daughter came for supper and sweet treat.

My co-worker, the baker dropped off the sweet treats (photos coming).

Invited her for coffee …. we three girls had a great visit.

Here are some photos from my BIRTHDAY DAY.

The boys lazing around.

Nothing like mug of coffee and BISCOTTI

Humphrey in his favourite spot on the stairs.

Looks like I have a spot or two to repair … he did not chip the paint.

THE CUPCAKES

The green ones are:  Vanilla cupcakes with KEY LIME ICING and chocolate ornaments

The others are: Chocolate cupcakes with umbrellas and Teddy bears relaxing on the sand chocolate icing.

Only tried the Key Lime iced one and it was DELICIOUS.

This morning at another birthday bash I will have a chocolate one.

A friend and neighbour dropped by later in the evening with a lovely gift of shower gel, body lotion and a pumpkin apple candle ( I love that fragrance).

Snapped some photos of the boys.

A great day.

Now today one of my young friends is hosting a party for me.

We take turns.

I am taking some of the above cupcakes.

Special Special TREAT.

Humphrey is already in the house.

Teddy is coming this morning.

Almost time to hop into the shower and get dressed for the party.

Might have time to brew a mug of coffee before I leave ….

Lots of time.

Well it was a great BIRTHDAY.

Lots of birthday wishes via Facebook, phone calls from my siblings, a visit from my daughter and friends.

Hung out with two of my favourite fur boys: Alvin and Humphrey.

Does not get better than that.

 

Well time to fly.

Happy Happy Saturday.

 

 

A day filled with kindness and respect is a great day.

 

Always, Carol, Alvin and Humphrey.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 28th day of July, 2018.

The sun is shining brightly and there remains a bit of coolness from the night air.

I have the windows open so that we can cool off the house.

It is already begin to warm up.

Today is to be a warm one and tomorrow even more so.

I love the weekends.

Time at home with Alvin.

Time to fuss with my flowers and garden.

Time to do things around the house.

Having your one house is wonderful.

I will admit that sometimes having everything to do myself – can be a bit much but at the end of the day – it is all worthwhile.

I LOVE my house.

 

We are preparing for our company.

Plans changed and everyone is staying here.

Have lots to do so that it is all done as they arrive Tuesday evening and I work Wednesday.

It will be great to see everyone.

Following the company will be my mini vacation with my daughter …. just a few days but I am so excited to get away.

 

Alvin has his regular Vet appointment for nails and such this morning.

Followed by a hair cut and bath by his Momma.

Laundry to finish.

Bedding.

Grass to cut.

The list is long but that is okay …. it will get done.

I have two days, I have the weekend.

 

Life is life.

Plans change.

I have found that much better to go with the flow than to stew too much.

Oh, do not get me wrong, I still can stew with the best of them.

But it is usually short lived.

Just like work.

I plan to get this and that done and ten minutes into it – I have a million phone calls, an unexpected meeting or unexpected clients arrive at the office and need to see me.

That is life.

Right.

 

Have an awesome day.

Just enjoying life.

I hope that you are as well.

 

Well time to fly.

Have an awesome Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: my sister – just three sleeps – the countdown is on.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 4th day of February, 2018.

This is what happens when you are home for a week, suddenly it is February 4th.

WOW, Hello February.

We may not be off to the best of starts but alas we have started the month and that is what counts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY NIECE “M” who is 21 years old today.

WOW, I cannot believe it.  Have a wonderful day.

I was able to get to the Doctor yesterday and am happy to report that I am on the mend.

No bladder infection (did I just write that for the world to see), no chest congestion, blood pressure and such all A-OKAY.

Doctor even said I was his easiest patient.

I am thinking he meant best prepared.

I only had to wait for about one hour so that was not bad.

The only thing was I was in a room filled with SICK people, coughing and sneezing.

Some folks freely coughing and sneezing into the air with no respect for those around them.

No masks …… I tried to cover my mouth and nose as to hopefully keep those germs away from me.

I am feeling better and do not wish to go through this again anytime soon.

In Saskatchewan, when visiting a medical clinic you are asked if you have a cough, cold or flu and if so, you are required to wear a mask.

What a GREAT IDEA?

I had thought of that while at home but did not have one to wear.

I should have asked them for one.

Next time, I will.

I plan to bring up this idea to Alberta Health Service.

 

After seeing the Doctor, I went to the grocery store where I called and booked a taxi.

Worked out perfectly, I was able to take my time and not having to rush.

Taxi was pretty much on time.

The driver was nice and carried my groceries to the house for me.

I tipped him “well.”

 

The sky is bright with the sun that is rising in the east.

It is cold but warming up.

Thank goodness.

 

Just a few things to do around the house to prepare for work tomorrow.

Wow, it seems like forever since I have been to work.

 

Alvin is going to wonder what happened or not.

I like to think that he will miss me as he usually follows me wherever I go around the house.

Even yesterday when we were out back and I was shovelling.

I was only out for a few minutes but he was cold and rightly so.

So I let him into the house and he cried for me.

Ah, poor baby.

That was it for the shovelling.

 

Well I guess I should get this show on the road.

I am so grateful to family and friends for their phone calls, emails, FB messages during my “sick time” at home.

Still cannot believe that I was home for a whole week.

 

Special Hello to: all my family and friends, thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin