The Next Chapter

Good Morning! I guess we have winter back for awhile. A blanket of the white stuff covers the sidewalks and rooftops once again. Some shovelling for me before I head out to the office today for the second last time. Next week we move to the new “office.”

Why is it so hard to say goodbye to someone? I so miss my Alvin. The nights and mornings are the most difficult. I miss his snuggles and his way. He was the best and I wish that we would have had more time together. One more summer adventure. One more road trip. One more walk around the park. One more visit for him with his best friend Teddy. One more visit with family. So much more I wish for us, for him.

Yesterday I was kept busy with most of the day spent moving photos from my old computer to the external hard drive. I also went through all 42,537 photos and picked out some of Alvin so that I can do some special “In Memoriam” cards for the special ones in his/our lives and also to do a photo book. Did you know that Costco is now working with Shutterfly. That is quite the match. I love Shutterfly.

Later in the afternoon our friends Alyaa and her pup Cookie came over for a visit. Cookie is so busy but she is a good distraction. We had a great visit. Alyaa watched over Alvin when I had to return to the office three days each week. He really loved her and I so appreciate her friendship.

Then I had supper and cleaned up and watched a bit of tv before going to bed. Last night was hard as I felt his loss even more and the guilt creeping back into my mind and soul. Oh my buddy, I miss you so much. He was the best little guy.

Well I have shovelling to do and a few things downstairs so better head down.

I hope that you have a wonderful day. Be safe and take care.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin (my forever Angel)

A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am great, today is Friday and the weekend is ahead of us. We had another choppy but yet not to bad sleep. I always figure if I can get anywhere between 3-4 hours of continuous sleep, I am doing great. So I am pretty great. Earlier we walked outside to a snow rain mix. They were showing on the news (just happened to be on that channel, I normally do not watch the news this early in the day) that the outside cameras were icing up. Do not think that is a great thing but I am hoping that the roads are good this morning.

I have been thinking as of late as I reread THE SECRET that I should just put this out to the world. Thoughts become Things after all! Okay, I am going to say it. Deep breath! Here it is:

I am retiring. This is the goal. When you write something down for others and yourself to see, it makes it feel much more real. So I have done this. My thoughts become things. I am retiring with more than enough money and no mortgage. How about we all do this? Whatever you are dreaming about? Say it aloud or put it in writing for yourself and the Universe to hear and see. Then go in that direction. I will say that is what I did when I retired the first time and moved to Alberta. I kept saying that I was going to buy my own house in Edmonton close to my daughter and son-in-law and I did just that. So it is possible. Everyday and every chance – get those thoughts out there.

Mr. Alvin is quietly waiting for me downstairs so I am going to say goodbye for this Friday. I hope that you have a wonderful day. Be safe. Dream.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! Well this year has not got off to the start that I may have anticipated. Last night we had another set back. I managed to get two out of the three doses of Mr. Alvin’s newest medication which is a liquid to line his tummy to hopefully help him with digestion and aid in bowel movements. The last dose was scheduled for 10:30 last night. I started the process about 10:16 p.m. in hopes that it would not take so long and that we could get to bed in a reasonable time. 10:30 is already very late for us. Anyway, things did not go well. Long story short it was 30 minutes later and I had only managed to get maybe 1/4 of the medicine into him. He had got away from me (we were on the sofa) and was hiding under the kitchen table, I was able to get him out but by this time his anxiety level was over the top and perhaps I should have just left it and we should have gone to bed without the medicine. But I did not and he ran upstairs before I could get to him. The lights were not on in the stairway except for the garland from Christmas (thankfully that was still up). All of a sudden I heard him cry and knew that something was very wrong. I got to him as soon as I could and found him in the bedroom. I can only assume that he had problems getting up the second three steps to the upstairs landing. Perhaps missed landed but he definitely hurt his hind leg(s). Might be the one he had surgery on in July of 2021. I am praying to whomever will listen to me that this is not the case. Surgery again would not be pretty. He seems to be walking but is mood has changed. So different and that is what leads me to believe he may be in pain. I left him downstairs with the baby gate up so that he could not follow me. He has not barked and is quiet. Unlike him. So I will keep an eye on him and see what the day brings. Please keep my boy in your thoughts and prayers with good positive energy coming his way. Thank you.

I need to get back downstairs but just wanted to give a quick note about our last few hours. We did have an okay sleep until 3:45 ……… also he has not pooped only peed. Whether that is good or not, I have no idea at this point. Perhaps the medicine is finally firming things up and then it will be good. Hopefully his leg is okay as well.

Have a good day.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Days 2022 – December 30th

Good Morning ALL! We had a great sleep so why I am still tired? Last night I was home and we were in bed by just after 11:00 p.m. and up at 6:30 a.m. I gave Mr. Alvin his glucosamine chew followed by his breakfast, he had a drink of water and then went outside. It was me who was up twice last night having to go pee, okay I will just say it. Why do we think bodily functions that every living creature on this planet does in some way shape or form? No idea. I guess people think it is gross. Once you have a baby or have a pet – all that goes to the wayside. Cleaning up after them is not pretty. You can be chewing on a mouth full of something and then have to go outside with your dog and pick up poop and it is okay. Not that I do that on a regular basis but I have found myself in that situation. Part of life. So we must get over it. As you know, I say the words “poop” and “pee” quite often and why at age 65 would I stop now. LOL. Anyway we are up and I am dressed with my eyebrows on writing this post.

Last night I was invited over to our friends Norbert & Irene’s house for a visit. This was my first real visit since the loss of their son in November. I had previously stopped by to give my sympathies, to drop off an arrangement, to drop off a card and Christmas baking but not long enough to take off my winter boots, and stay awhile. They are doing incredibly well and I am not sure how I would be in their position. We did speak about their son, Darcy throughout the evening. I let the conversation go where it needed to be. We chatted about so many things including Darcy and the accident leading to his passing. There was a Chinese checker game board out so I knew at some point we would be playing games. After much conversation, Irene asked if I would like to have a game of checkers and I said “yes.” I do not remember the last time that I had played this particular game but it did not take long to figure it out although I am not very good at it. Irene won every round we played. Next she brought out a mind teaser game which was interesting followed by another game which I knew “Connect Four.” I love that game. Cannot remember the last time that I played that game, oh yes, I do now. It was at a games day that we had a work a few years ago. Connect Four was one of the games that we played. Irene still won most of the games (she said that she likes to win and she wins) but I managed to score a win here and there. We kept saying “one more game.” Then it was nearing 11:00 p.m. and I knew that Mr. Alvin would wonder where the heck I was and likely needed to go pee. We said our goodnights with Irene handing me a package which contained a thank you card, a copy of the Eulogy, copy of newspaper clipping, the card from the funeral for their son Darcy. I graciously accepted and was on my way.

The once brightly lit bushes were dark as I left their house. They have their lights on timers. The lights were so beautiful when I approached the house. I forgot to mention that in the previous paragraph, I guess I could have added it but why? This is when I thought of it. LOL. The air was filled with fog as I walked the two minute walk home. Very eerie but the air was warm.

When I arrived home Mr. Alvin had been laying on his bed near the window. I deliberately placed it so he could see outside. Happy to see me, he did let me know that I should have been home with him. I pulled off my boots and we walked to the back door so I could let him outside to pee. Yup, he had to pee. A few minutes later we were upstairs and I was getting ready for bed. A great night.

Earlier in the day – I gave Mr. Alvin a haircut and bath followed by a shower for me. His hair clings to my clothing like flies to honey. He looks oh so handsome.

Well on the agenda for today. Do some laundry. A bit of cleaning. Go for a walk. Shovel the neighbour’s driveway. Relax. COFFEE, oh yes, I need to make some coffee.

Well it is time to head back downstairs. The sky looks so amazing with the sun trying to peek through the fog with the frosted tipped trees lining the horizon with the white tops of the houses and garages. That is the view from my office window. Amazing.

Have an awesome day. I guess tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. No real plans but will have to figure out what my post will be so that I have some kind of idea. Maybe some photo highlights of 2022. It has been quite the year for most of us, actually all of us.

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

Have an awesome Friday.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – December

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? I am doing well. Happy to report that Alvin is settling in well with my daughter and her family. Countdown today is December 7, 2022 with 17 sleeps till Christmas Eve. Have you mailed Christmas cards? Do you mail cards? Contrary to popular belief “people” do love to receive something personalized in the mail other than a bill. Perhaps you have an elderly Aunt and Uncle who live hundreds of miles away. Send them a card and some photos. Nothing says “we are thinking of you” than a lovely card and some pictures. I love receiving cards in the mail. I think that I forgot to mention that I have received three beautiful Christmas cards. One from a friend and her family that live in Quebec, Canada, another from long time friends near Regina, Saskatchewan and the third from other long time friends about two hours outside of Edmonton. I am grateful that they took the time to send cards, letters, notes and photos. So grateful.

This morning is my eye appointment. Appears that it has started to warm up temperature wise overnight which is good because I am walking. Also with the warm up came some snow. My daughter texted me a few minutes ago to let me know that she will not be coming into the city for work this morning but will be working from home. The roads are extremely icy. I am debating whether or not I will need my ice picks on my boots. If the snow is sticky it will provide traction but might be a good idea to wear them all the same. I can always take them off if I do not need them.

Yesterday at my lunch break I slipped over to my neighbours to pick up a couple of baskets for gift wrapping. I had a quick coffee and visit. Then back outside into the cold. It was so cold yesterday. Always great to have a visit and coffee with a friend. Thanks Gillian. After work and supper, I wrapped the gifts in a basket. To be honest it did not quite turn out the way that I had imagine it but rather looks like a large wrapped hard candy. You know the ones, lol. Anyway, it fit nicely under the tree and perhaps the other way it would not. I am officially done. Done. Done. Done. YAY, me and today is December 7, 2022.

Well I suppose it is time to head downstairs. Did I mention yesterday that I figured out why my sleep is not the best? I do miss Alvin but usually we are up and downstairs to the sofa anytime between 3-430 a.m. so we never spend the whole night in the bed. I guess my bed is not quite as comfortable as I once thought. The sofa however is very comfortable. Perhaps I should set the alarm for 430 and then head downstairs to the sofa! Food for thought. Although last night the quality of sleep did improve. All in the life of ……

Time to go and make coffee. Turn on the Christmas tree lights and check out the weather forecast.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! Well I see that I am not the only thing that is “slow” this morning, my computer is, too. I hope that you are having a great morning so far. We have been up and down for hours. I know this is my sad story but it is my truth. Lights out by 10:00, Mr. Alvin had to go outside at 11:00, then 1:30, then 4:30 and then we were up to stay up at 5:30. I feel like, I do not know exactly. Time will tell. I tried to coax him to stay in bed but he was persistent so I then know that he really has to go and he really did. But up and outside that many times is hard on a person, must be hard on him, too, although he can sleep for most of the day, I cannot. Oh well, that is life!

I heard the news that one of my favourite “funny” people “Leslie Jordan” died in a car accident yesterday. How sad that we lost such a beloved character actor. I loved him in “Call me Kat.” He will be missed.

We dropped off a parcel at my friends’ house so that she can print the mailing label and had a visit. Alvin was happy to see Maddie again. After leaving there we were on our way to the park and not quite halfway, someone who shall remain nameless, “ALVIN” turned around and headed for home. I tried but unless I physically pull him, he wanted to go home. Home we went. We were standing on our lawn when I heard a familiar voice and there was our friends Alyaa and Donia. She wanted to tell me the story from her visit today. She had brought Cookie and Donia with her as Donia did not have school. I guess Cookie not able to find a pee pad – pooped on the matt by the bottom of the stairs. She explained how she had washed the matt with dish soap and hung it over the railing on the deck. She was so concerned about the whole situation. I laughed and told her not to worry and that I have lots of pee pads which Alvin does not use. We had a giggle over it all and I advised that I would leave some out and that she is always welcome to bring Cookie with her as she thought she should just leave her at home. I think that Alvin needs to socialize and that an accident, well an accident will happen. So I will place a couple of pads out and also leaving the “pooping bags” in a bag on the table as she was bringing her own. I am so grateful to have someone watching over Alvin that care so much. I have the best support system. All of my friends who have watched Mr. Alvin when I have had to go to the office are amazing. I have a DREAM TEAM for sure.

Well it is almost time to head back downstairs. I need to take him outside once again before I leave for work. It is very frosty on the ground and deck this morning. The air was not too cold.

Sometimes life is all about the “poop.” In always arrives one way or the other!

Have an awesome Tuesday.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. We did have a few snow flurries yesterday and some on the way for today.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Wednesday morning? Wow, does it ever seem as though I just said those very words. The sun is shining brightly and the sky is a mix of clouds and clear blue sky. Kind of a ripple effect happening this morning in the sky. But the sun is shining and for now that is all that matters. Gone is the blanket of snow from yesterday morning that covered the ground. The snow incredibly stayed until late morning. It was pretty cool outside but warmed throughout the day. We went for a walk after work and it was okay. Definitely warmed than our previous walk. The temperatures are to be warming and that means only one thing, I CAN PLANT THE FLOWERS THAT I BOUGHT ON MOTHER’S DAY. Hopefully that means on the weekend. The flowers/plants are doing well as they have a nice southern exposure window and are warm and I have water ready for when they need a drink. My kitchen table has never looked more pretty. The lavender smells amazing even though I am congested with allergies. The begonias, pansies, violas, impatiens are all looking so beautiful. There are another two flowers that I do not remember their names. Pops of colour. Orange, Yellow, Purple, Pink and White. My tomato plants are doing well. I need to start thinking about where to plant all these beauties. Some out front while others in pots.

The buds on the trees are turning into leaves, the most exquisite green and even the grass is turning green. I sure wished that our front lawn was green instead of brown. It definitely needs a boost. Even the backyard is green in more places than not.

Soon we shall be seeing the goslings out and about with their Mamas and Papas. They are so cute. Baby ducks, or ducklings will be hatching soon, I think. Spring turning into summer.

I really need a cup of coffee this morning. Mr. Alvin was up and down all night. Quite possibly he may have an ear infection or his paws are really bothering him. I will check his ears and really wished that I could smell better. Poor guy and poor momma with not much sleep.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

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

Thank you for reading my blog over the last decade plus. I cannot believe I have been writing these posts since April 2010. Time flies.

Lots of changes and more to come, I suspect.

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Despite the rocky start to the New Year, things are starting to get better. Yesterday over my lunch break, I asked a neighbour to come over and check behind the stove to see if you know what was in the you know what! I won’t say because I am not one that takes taking a life no matter what lightly. All life is important for this Earth unfortunately there are some that are short lived. Anyway, K checked behind the stove and it was there, so it was disposed of properly. I felt bad but I also felt a massive sigh of relief and the anxiety that I had been feeling for two days was substantially lifted. I will not say that I was immediately anxiety free, as I was not. Continuing to work upstairs likely helped. After work I took a deep breath and started to empty the dishwasher, put away the clean dishes that filled the kitchen table and wiped the counter completely with disinfectant wipes once again before return any items. The only items on the counter are the electric kettle, food processor, stand mixer and the glass cake container which houses the bananas but I am using it as though they were a cake. They are covered. There are two containers with utensils. That is it. I also folded up some tin foil and placed it at either end of the top of the stove resting against the countertop. I pushed in more foil beside the bottom of the stove as well. It just gives me a bit more peace of mind. After that I started to gather some of the remaining Christmas decorations to put away. I even got brave on my own and went into the basement, not the furnace room but the “family room” and got some empty rubbermaid containers for the ornaments/decorations. In between I gave Mr. Alvin his supper. Every time I have food out I scrub and wipe to ensure there are no crumbs anywhere to be found. The lid from a new tin of Alvin’s dog food well I took it off the can, washed it and the can once emptied into a covered container and place clean items in a bag and put in recycling. NO CRUMBS. It took awhile but I managed to put away most of the Christmas stuff from the main floor. There are still a few things up and out but I think I will leave them until the weekend. I have to decide what things I will bring back up from the basement from my regular ornaments and things. I am again grateful to my neighbour for bringing me coffee yesterday late morning per my request and for her bringing me some today. Tomorrow the new coffee perk arrives and I hope it is early in the day. I will have to keep an eye/ear out for the delivery. My office is at the back of the office so not easy to see the street without getting up and physically going into my bedroom and looking out the window and I am unable to see the porch from there. Oh well.

All things considered it was a good day. Work is a bit on the scary side at the moment being short two people and issues with our computer system. I am happy that once again most of the anxiety has been lifted, erased. Although I am not able to sleep on the sofa in the mornings when we are up at 3 or 4 and 5 but I will in time. Poor Alvin has to make those steps a bit more often than he normally would. I do like having my workspace upstairs for a change but will have to decide if I leave it up here for awhile. Might be a nice change!

Well time to sign off. I hope that you are doing well. Hopefully things in your home are good. I am trying to remain positive and hopeful that this does not happen again. I fully realize that had I had the virus or everyone around me had it – I would have been in a much worse place. I did try and contact a professional but for a time yesterday I was unable to make outgoing calls or take incoming ones. That has now been rectified.

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

Today is a much better day and I am so grateful for my awesome neighbours. I could not have got to this place and I am happy to be here both mentally and physically. Thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am okay, we are okay. Alvin for some reason couldn’t settle down to sleep so we were up and outside at 11:08 p.m. which was only one hour and a bit since we went to bed. Then we settled on the sofa. Do you have sometimes when you just cannot shut off your mind, mine was in overdrive. I kept thinking of random, silly things over and over until I decided that we had to go back upstairs. Plus I just could not get comfortable. So back upstairs we went. As soon as I laid down, I knew that had been the right choice for both of us. Next time we were up was almost 4:00 a.m. (not too bad for a pair of old ones). Then back to the sofa and up at 6:00 a.m. and yes, you guess it, I could not help but to keep hitting the snooze button until 7:03 a.m. (yikes, momma). This is the time of year that I struggle with sleep, I cannot seem to get enough. Now that being said once I am up – I am okay. How many of you have a child, a spouse or an “Alvin” that wakes you up during the night and early morning? I am pretty certain that I am not alone in this. But this is my life. Bed, up, down, up, down, up down and then up. Sometimes I feel like a yo-yo.

I just took a glance out of the office window and noticed that there is lightness to the south which can mean only one thing that it is “later” than I was thinking. Yikes, I have to hustle as it is almost time to go to work. The night sky is slowly dissipating as the sun rises with all the colours of the morning. Beautiful. I definitely need a cup or twelve of coffee this morning. Guess I will be going now as I have a few things to do downstairs before I start to work. The minutes seem to be evaporating.

I hope that you have a wonderful day. Be well and stay safe.

Oh, yesterday we managed to get two short walks in …. Mr. Alvin has only chose to walk just into the park and then home ….. so I have to follow the leader.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! Well here we are at Monday morning once again. I seem to find it difficult to get my butt up off the sofa “or out of bed” on these days more so than others. I read quite late last night and then could not turn off my brain. Also the few times that I got up and also turning off and on the snooze button, I had awoke from an ongoing dreams. Not 100% sure if same one or not but I just kept dreaming or thinking about things. Felt like a dream. Something I could not escape. Kind of scary. So that was my Sunday night and early Monday morning. Needless to say it is fast approaching work time so I will have to make this post short. I apologize for that.

Today is our Civic Election. We elect a Mayor, 12 Councillors and some School Trustees. We also have a question about Daylight Savings Time and whether or not to continue with Equalization payments from the Federal Government. Lots to ponder. The ballot will be a long one for sure and I am hoping that I can walk to the school and get back in a reasonable amount of time. With mask in hand, my drivers license and proof of vaccination (just in case) and my phone (cause who knows what will happen) and me, myself and I.

I hope that you have a great day. If it is your time to VOTE ….. go out and do it. You may not like the way that the majority votes but at least you had your say. Always important.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin