The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Wow, another Saturday morning! How are you this morning! I hope that you slept well. Alvin did again wake up at like midnight and a couple of times after that but I coaxed him to stay in bed and then he slept until 4:00 a.m. I went outside with him as it was still dark and I wanted to ensure that he had no problems getting down to the grass area of our backyard. Thankfully one deck of the deck is actually lower (isn’t life great, the actual deck is level but because the backyard is graded on such a slope, one end is close to the grass when he jumps off). So happy to see that beautiful powder blue filling the sky with that sun shining so magnificently. We are off to a great start.

Yesterday we lost a great Canadian, Pluto the cutest four-legged pup. She and her Mom Nancie created PLUTOVERSE (PLUTO LIVING). Nancie posted so many videos over the Pandemic of Pluto giving us advice and sharing their lives with the world. Pluto is now known worldwide. She had the best advice, sense of humour, told the best stories. She brought so much joy to us all. Pluto had the cutest laugh and wore the hippest apparel. I was very sad to learn that Pluto had passed away.

To Nancie, Pluto’s Mom: Oh my goodness Nancie, so sorry to hear that your beloved Pluto has passed. I think it is safe to say that we all felt like she was part of each of our families. We will miss her and “her” unique view of the world. You and Pluto will stay in our hearts forever. The sheer joy and laughter you brought to us, to the world, when most of our skies were cloudy and grey. Please accept my deepest sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your beloved Pluto.

Yesterday we went on two walks and although neither were our regular full ones, it was still great to get outside. On the walk after work, we chatted with two neighbours on the way to the park. One neighbour I had not seen in awhile due to their household having COVID twice in since March. I still cannot believe how many people I know are coming down with COVID in the last couple of months. Seems odd why now? Maybe not when I think about it, a vast many people are back to work and not everyone is wearing a mask. I get the mask thing. Not my favourite thing to do but in large crowds, I still wear one and will likely do so for the rest of my life. Pre COVID, I remember people wearing blue masks on the bus (public transportation) going back to my first times catching the bus in Edmonton. So nothing new. I know that in the larger cities in China they were wearing masks for years mainly due to the pollution. Although I am not sure how much they actually helped but even if it gives the wearer a “false” sense of security – that may be enough. You know if we keep telling ourselves the same thing over and over again – that we can convince our brain that it is true. Now is the time to start telling myself all of the time that I have more than enough money to retire, pay off my mortgage and get on with the next chapter of my life.

Talk about being all over the place. That is what lack of or reduced sleep will do to one. That was my week. We had what was supposed to be a 30 minute meeting yesterday which turned into 1.5 hours. I was chatty Carol. Wishing now that I would have kept my mouth closed but I did not. Sometimes being vocal or having the need to share is not a great thing. I just keep rolling the conversations over and over in my head and just gag. Not that I said bad things but just maybe too much. You know those times when you have been in a meeting or with someone that does not seem to “shut up” well I feel that was me yesterday. Although honestly I did not talk continuously but almost. I did tell everyone that I had literally no sleep Thursday night and that I was sorry. Here I go again. I am sorry. Done. I wrote my feelings down – so walk away.

This morning I am invited to Gillian’s for coffee along with our friend Signe. I am excited to get out of the house on my own. I won’t be leaving Alvin for long, only a couple of hours. Good for me and good for him. I love my boy but 24/7 is not healthy for any relationship. So I may just start to go for the odd walk by myself in the evenings. Alvin just cannot walk as far as I can. So will see. Just a thought. Also I can walk to the grocery store and pick up a couple of things. I also am planning to go outside and pick up trash in the neighbourhood today if time allows, I would like to trim our tree and rake the front lawn. So those are things that I will be doing on my own.

Life, is always about some kind of balance. Never even, but if we are happy, joyful, content and in good health – then whatever that balance is – works.

Well time to get cleaned up for my coffee date with the girls. I have gathered up the laundry and changed the bedding on our bed. So at least started some of my chores.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I have Miss Pluto in my head and will try to live up to her positive, unique view of the world instead of the direction that I have been finding myself going lately. Even with little or no sleep, I will remain positive, happy and ready to do what needs to be done. To give Mr. Alvin or to continue to give him the best life I can with whatever time he has left. It may be years or not, I do not know. Even Alvin cannot live forever, I know that.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Everyone!

The sky is a patchwork quilt of deep blue and light blue clouds.

It is windy and cool.

Not a great morning to start the repairs on my fence but it is nonetheless the start day.

It has been delayed due to personal matters on the repairman’s side and then time delay this morning as I have a 9:00 a.m. morning.

The start time was to have been 9:00 a.m. but I didn’t think that would work out if I am in a meeting as I have to open the garage door etc.

Anyway with much luck from Mother Nature the work will begin today and hopefully end early tomorrow.

Not a huge job but big enough for sure.

 

Good news on the Alvin front.

Finally the closest to a normal poop that my boy has had since May 13th, 2020.

I will be so glad to get back to our new norm.

That seems to be an ever changing thing these days.

 

I am hopefully that we will get news on the return date to work.

Deep well not that deep in my heart, I am hoping that we will stay home until the end of August, 2020.

There are many people with children and with the schools closed and daycares closed, who looks after the children.

Not everyone has a parent or family members that is able to do this.

Hopefully we then have some more nice weather.

 

Every morning or most mornings Alvin stands by the fence that separates us from Humphrey and his Mom.

He loves his friend, Humphrey the cat.

They usually have a little visit by the fence everyday.

I guess we can all learn a lesson from animals.

Traditionally cats and dogs do not really get along but look at these guys.

They love being together.

Both are excited to see each other.

I can always tell when it has been a few days.

If we have a rainy spell and no one is really outside ….. man, are they happy to see each other.

When Humphrey visits, they both line up at the pantry door wanting a treat.

Everyone that comes to visit knows where the treats are located.

Man and Beast alike.

Too strong of words.

Okay, my daughter, grandpups, Alvin, Humphrey and Teddy to name a few.

That sounds much better.

 

Hey, if you have not heard of “PLUTO LIVING” – please go and check out YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Pluto is the cutest little dog and with help from Mom, well they are the best team to come out of Canada or anywhere in decades.

Great at giving us the news, telling funny stories, giving advice, poetry and so much more.

But most of all bringing us great joy through laughter in these uncertain and sometimes scary times.

Please seek them out you will not be sorry.

Take the time, please.

 

Well it is now time to get to work.

I have such a long, long, long commute.

I think it might be two regular steps, no maybe less from my personal computer and space to my work computer and space.

ARGH, so tough, I know.

No complaints, really.

Alvin is resting comfortably on his little bed that I made with some fluffy towels and two nice blue warm blankets.

Oh, I see the sun shining now that is a great sign.

Still pretty windy and hopefully that does not bring in any storms or hamper the work for today.

 

I wish you a day filled with love and laughter.

I wish you an easy Wednesday.

Perhaps time for a walk.

Enjoy.

 

I will continue to live my life with kindness and respect.

As I am human sometimes I have moments where I may be less than perfect.

But I will always try by best to be a good soul with a warm heart living with kindness and respect to myself and most of all to others.

 

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

I need a haircut as my hair looks nothing like this photo.

I do like this photo of me and I am not a huge fan of photos of me.

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Holy Smoke, it is Saturday, May 2nd, 2020.

The sun is shining and the geese were flying over honking away.

We were up at 5:30 a.m.

Alvin had his breakfast and backyard break.

Then as I just could not stay up at 5:30 we hit the sofa for some extra zzzz’s.

Next thing I know the I look out the window (view from the sofa) to see BRIGHT sunlight coming back at me.

Both Alvin and I got up right away.

I checked out the clock on the microwave and it was 8:09 a.m.

ARGH,  the plan was to get up at 7:00 a.m.

Oh well, I guess that is how much sleep I required.

It seems like around 8:00 is when my body naturally wants to get up these days.

If given the opportunity.

So I have an extra long list today.

How is your Saturday/Sunday list?

Do you like to keep Sundays quiet?

I sure do, if possible.

 

List for Saturday:

Laundry

Hook up the garden hose and wash down the deck.

Clean the bathroom fans (yup, I was going to do that already and did not)

Change the lightbulb in the upstairs hallway (need ladder to do that, that is why I left until the weekend)

Walking of course

Cleaning the bathrooms

Some budget work (check out the TELUS bill as it seemed a bit high even with the movie or two that I rented)

Steam clean the floors

Change bedding

Bring out the deck furniture

Dusting of course

Make energy bites (might need them).

 

I think that may be all.

Some can wait until tomorrow but I think that Teddy may be over for a visit tomorrow.

The outdoor stuff will be done today as it is supposed to be 20 degrees celsius, the warmest day thus far.

Of course, something else may pop up.

I was thinking if I have the time to do some work, work.

I know that I should not but sometimes that extra time can save you from added work week stress/anxiety.

 

Anyway, we had a couple of wonderful walks yesterday.

We saw our friend P on our noon walk.

 

Have you checked our Pluto Living?

Our new Canadian treasure.

Pluto and her Mom are great.

Pluto gives out the perspectives from the four-legged to we, two-leggeds during this time of crisis, this pandemic.

I could listen to Pluto talk all day long.

She has good advice and makes us smile and laugh.

You can find her on Facebook, YouTube and  Instagram.

 

I know during this time when we many of us are away from our regular routines that it has been stressful.

But at the same time it has been amazing.

For me, I no longer have a commute to work.

I am home with Alvin and this extra time with him has been a godsend.

I can “leave work” at my regular time off and we on our way walking within a few minutes.

Depends if Alvin gets under the kitchen table before I can get his harness on.

That is a whole other story.

Work has been up and down for me.

I feel that I really should not complain.

I have my job, I am safe at home with Alvin.

I have friends and family who bring me food and necessities.

 

For singles working from home with no smaller humans to distract them, it is quiet.

Those single moms and dads with small children who can no longer go to daycare.

Those single moms and dads with school age children, now having to teach them and work from the same space.

To those moms and dads who are both working from home and teaching their children.

Or those where one spouse is working from home and the other is not, financial stress is a real big deal.

Add to that possibly teaching children.

Even going to the grocery store is not a pleasant experience.

 

For all those folks who remain working whether you are “frontline” or deemed to be an essential services who now have children at home.

How do you look after them, teach them?

Coming home after an extra long shift?

So tired.

Dealing with the fear of the virus.

Dealing with being away from their families in some cases.

 

On the other side.

For those families at home together.

More breakfasts, lunches and dinners together.

There have been more board games together.

More movies watched.

More popcorn popped.

That time together is precious.

 

There are so many variations of circumstances to who/what is affected by this pandemic.

I hope that you and your family are safe.

I am grateful to those who must work outside their home.

Be safe and we appreciate what you do.

 

We will get through this someday and get to the other side.

What that other side may look like, who knows.

Life may change somewhat but that is not a bad thing.

Embrace change that is what I am always told.

Change = Growth?

 

Wishing you all a great Saturday.

I guess my list is not going away anytime soon.

Get out of these p.j.’s and finish changing our bedding.

Sign off from this post.

Get the first load of laundry on.

I will say that having the choice completely as to what to wear when working has been wonderful.

Unfortunately wearing anything that buttons up, well I will need to start trying on some things.

To see how much damage has been done.

We are walking twice a day but ….

Okay am I stalling?

Nope.

 

With kindness and a deep respect for all …

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Mr. Alvin (who is napping on his little bed beside me, cute).

 

P.S. need to get that coffee perking, SOON.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to the weekend.

Well this Saturday morning is not quite as beautiful weather wise as Friday.

The sky is overcast and it is lightly snowing.

When we were first up at 4:00 a.m., the snow had already started.

 

How are you doing today?

Me, to be honest going into yesterday I was actually feeling pretty great.

I had a productive day.

We received notice about government decisions that will add a new layer of work with deadlines.

So life goes on.

I am not complaining but this VIRUS affects everyone to some degree.

You may have been laid off from your job.

You may qualify for Employment Insurance Benefits.

You may qualify for other Federal Government Benefits.

You may be on a fixed income.

You may be working from work.

You may have the virus.

Family member might have the virus and you are worried.

You may be self-isolating after an out of country trip.

You may have money invested and see the market downturn.

You might be older or have a comprised immune system and be worried about your health.

You may not be able to get out for groceries and when you do the shelves are empty.

You may just be worried.

You may be what is deemed to be an essential service such as Health Care Workers, Utilities and such.

You may be in Health Care and working alongside people with the virus and worried for you and your family.

You may persons in charge of watching over the populations trying your best to make things right.

Whether a scientist, world leader, doctor, nurse or parent.

We are all in this together.

 

It is snowing a bit harder now.

I wish that I could wave a magic wand and make it better for all my fellow human beings.

For now Alvin and I are doing okay.

He definitely has set into the routine as at the times that I should be leaving the “office” for breaks and after work, he jumped up and stared at me.

I ended up working later as I wanted to finish returning phone calls.

He was not happy.

Even Alvin knows to self care.

I can learn from him.

Anyway, we had two wonderful walks last night.

My neighbours worked on draining more of the water and chipped more ice from our side of the street.

So grateful for them.

We had supper.

I worked for a bit in the evening.

Watched PICARD.

I was not surprised by the turn of events as when the show started I noticed something I had noticed but not paid close attention.

Well it came to fruition during the episode.

I do not wish to release that bit of information for those who may not have seen the show yet.

 

Well I shall be going.

There be laundry to do.

I was thinking that I should be cleaning the light fixtures.

Bedding to change.

After the bedding is changed and the first load of laundry has been started, it will be time for COFFEE and TOAST.

 

We will be okay.

There will be moments.

For sure.

Did you watch PLUTO Living yet?

Oh you must.

The cutest little four-legged (don’t tell Alvin I said that).

Remember to laugh.

Try not to be worried.

We will prevail.

We will get through this.

Things will be different, I would imagine.

But different is not always bad.

So I have found out.

Change seems to be happening on a regular basis.

As this world of ours evolves.

 

Have a great Saturday.

Take some time to relax.

Have a cup of coffee or tea or your favourite beverage.

Hugs from a distance.

Go for a walk.

Do something unexpected for someone.

Do something expected for you.

Be kind and respectful.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning and Welcome to a bright almost sun filled morning sky as the sun begins to rise in the east.

I absolutely love sunrises.

The palest of pinks and oranges and yellows.

So delicate as they fill the horizon.

Looks like another beautiful day on the way.

 

Alvin and I are doing well.

I cannot believe, well yes I can, actually.

How wonderful the people are that I have surrounded myself with …. they are the best.

I have the best siblings, daughter and son-in-law and friends.

Everyone has been so great.

My friends that live nearby have been so great checking to see if I need anything from the grocery store.

My family checks on me and I on them.

Likely not enough.

I am working from home so that fills a good chunk of the day.

 

We had a great walk yesterday after work.

Humphrey spent the day with us.

His Mom took him to the Vet for a 3:30 p.m. appointment and they were able to fix him up.

Humphrey will be on antibiotics for a bit but he was happy when it was all over.

Thank goodness.

 

A friend picked me up more groceries yesterday and another dropped off some eggs.

We chatted as we social distanced ourselves from each other.

No hugs at this time.

 

Another friend down the street called to see how Alvin and I were doing.

They are older than me and they still worry about us.

I worry about them but they are well and that is great news.

 

I can smell the coffee perking and I am happy to have freshly ground coffee beans.

I am so grateful for that little PLUTO video, noticed it was called PLUTO LIVING.

Please google it.

PLUTO is this little dog and he speaks with kind words for us all.

I am not certain who does the voice, perhaps his Momma but it is so well done.

A reminder to us all.

Look after your friends and neighbours and family.

The seniors really our help at this time, egads I am in some circles considered to be a senior.

But I am doing great.

Check in on folks.

If you know of someone struggling and you can give them even a couple of cans of beans or veggies or a loaf of bread of some bathroom tissue, do it.

If we all did this we could feed a nation.

We can all share something of what we have whether it be inspiration, kind gestures, food goods, something.

 

Well I am getting close to time to head downstairs and grab some coffee.

THe smell is increDible …. as if wafts up the stairs.

My Alvin is adjusting to this all ….

He knows when his blankets are close to the computer by the window I am writing my post.

Then when I move them he knows I am working.

He has really been great through all of this.

He does sometimes jump up from a nap when my cell phone rings (work line).

 

I hope that you are getting some exercise and fresh air.

Even when we are self isolating it is good to go for a walk.

Just stay away from folks.

You can still say HELLO from a distance.

Eat right.

It is hard to stay away from the comfort food.

A little here and there is okay.

 

Have a great Thursday.

I hope that you and your family are doing well.

Be kind to each other.

We need each other at this time and always.

This too, shall pass.

We are strong.

Support each other.

With kindness and respect.

 

With only kindness and respect to you,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. please remember to laugh…..