Good Morning! The sun is shining and it is snowing. What a sight. The time changed today and the best news for today is that it is my darling daughter’s BIRTHDAY. We celebrated yesterday and had such a great time. First of all, I had Miss Aspen, Milo (Mi-Mi) and Miss Betty Ann here for a few hours while the kids went to see some friends in from out of town. The pups were in perfect behaviour. No grrr action between Milo and Betty Ann. We had a nice few hours just hanging out and snuggling. So great to have them here. Still hard to believe that it has been three weeks since my buddy Alvin left us. He is with me everyday and everywhere I go. I hold him in my heart and mind. Happy Birthday Amanda. Despite the time change, it is looking to be a great day.
We had “chicken fingers which are really homemade deep fried chicken nuggets” with homemade honey mustard dip, potato salad, peas and corn. Steven likes corn and we girls like the peas. I seldom eat deep fried anything but once or twice a year, I make this meal usually for the kids birthdays. For dessert I made a fruit pizza which in the pan transferring to the fridge felt like it weighed ten pounds. Not really but was heavy. Needless to say the kids took lots of leftovers home and I have leftovers for a few days. I love leftovers. We definitely missed Alvin at the party. Seemed strange to have three pups all of similar colour and no black & white one. No Alvin. He loved a good party and especially if there was something for him to open.
Well I have a busy Sunday planned. More laundry to do. I need to work on transferring more photos from the old computer to the external hard drive. NEED COFFEE now. I have to go through the box that I brought from work and see what needs to go to the new office. Minimal room. Vacuum upstairs and stairs. Some other photo work to do as well. Lots to do.
Happy Birthday Amanda, I hope that you have a wonderful day.
Have a wonderful day. Oh, the 95th OSCARS are on tonight. I think I may try and watch some of the awards. Would nice to see Michelle and Jamie Lee win.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning! Another overcast morning. I cannot believe that my Alvin has been gone for three weeks. I think that I shall always miss him. He is everywhere in the house. Last night I washed some of his harnesses that I found in the closet. Some no longer would fit him. They are washed and clean and perhaps someday will find another home. Every day I go through the bouquets of flowers and plants that we received and make sure they have fresh water and remove the ones that have passed. Surprisingly, there are some cut flowers that are still doing well. I am so grateful to all those friends and neighbours for the most beautiful flowers. Alvin would have loved them. He really did love flowers and always had his nose in the flower pots in the spring and summer. He was always watching me while I watered the plants in the house and sometimes wanted me to bring them down so that he could see them. Yes, he did. Very curious he was.
Last night I started the preparations for his sister’s Birthday party. She turns 43 tomorrow and Alvin was 13 in January. Lots of the number 3 and 4 combinations, if you are into numerology. Just thought that looked cool. I will keep the decorations for her party a bit on the low key side because we are mourning our beloved Alvin and I just do not feel that it would be right. The house will be full of celebration for a birthday and also celebration of a life well lived. I know that we will be talking about him tonight. He loved a good party especially when there were gifts for him to open, even if they were not for him. To Alvin it was all about opening the gift. Now if there was food inside, he was wanting the food for sure but at the end of the day, he loved to open gifts. At Christmas, he seemed to have started Miss Aspen to be interested in opening a gift, so perhaps he has passed his talents to her. That would be nice. I guess we shall see over time.
This morning, I have a list of things to do. Last night I boiled the eggs and potatoes so I will cut them up for the salad. I may have to put the chicken in cold water for awhile as last night it was still frozen solid. I guess my freezer works good. Shovelling is on the list. Also making the fruit pizza which has a few steps so that takes a bit of time. I put up some Happy Birthday Balloons (I know, they are helium ones that I keep reusing each year and two are from my 65th Birthday but they do not say a year). Not sure my daughter would appreciate a birthday balloon that said Happy 65th Birthday, lol. I may have the chicken cut up and ready to go. I just received a text from daughter that she sent last night and they have a slight change in their plans and won’t be here until around 2:30 so that gives me a bit more time to get things done. I washed my clothes last night so that is off the plate for today. Towels and bedding can wait until tomorrow. I have lots of towels so I could easily do them once every two weeks. There is shovelling on the list. Did I mention that already? If I have time I will vacuum upstairs otherwise that is for tomorrow. I am excited to see Miss Aspen, Mi-Mi and Miss Betty Ann this afternoon for a few hours before Amanda & Steven come for the party.
So the office. Yesterday I left the house at 7:05 and walked to the bus stop to catch public transportation for the first time since pre pandemic. Yes, I was a little bit anxious but just making sure that I had the right one and good thing that I asked because one of the two that I was supposed to be able to catch would have meant a further walk for me so glad that I asked the driver. The bus was on time and I waited for a few minutes because I left early to ensure that I did not miss the bus. The bus ride was less than 5 minutes (for real) and then I walked to the new office. The walk took just under 10 minutes. When I got to the office, I realized that the front door had a FOB entry and not key and it was cold and snowing and I was cold from being outside waiting and walking. I walked around the building as it is small and did not see the other entrance due in part to my glasses being fogged over so I pulled out my cell phone and texted the gal that I carpool with as she was going to the office for further training. I think I mentioned that we will end up working together after all as she will be in a different position. Anyway, she texted our Manager and then I remembered that I had our Director’s phone number so I texted her, she texted me and then called me. She said that the other entrance had a key entry and did I have a key. I said yes to the key but did not see the other door and I did know there was one but just in the moment did not see it. She stayed on the line while I walked and located the door and let myself into a dark building as I was the first one to arrive. Yes, I am always early. Habit of mine. I thanked her and then started to remove my coat etc and settle in. I picked one of the desks, the one closest to the door, lol. Then I set about setting up the Keurig coffee machine so that I could have coffee. It was awhile later after I was enjoying some coffee that another staff arrived followed by the Manager and later another staff. The Manager for our Systems arrived to get us set up and the movers with filing cabinets etc. I even managed to get some work done. The best part of all was that I got home at 4:31 p.m. I made sure that I was out the door at 4:00 as I wanted to see what time the bus arrived. I ended up waiting for a few minutes so now I know that I don’t have to rush rush out the door, just in case. Another new chapter ……. the office is not and sparkly like the downtown one but it does possess a kind of 80’s charm.
Time for me to head downstairs and put on some coffee. It is 7:53 now and I was up just after 7:00 and awake much earlier but chose to lay in bed and just mull over life with constant thoughts of Alvin. Doesn’t seem fair to him or to me that he had to leave what seems like way too soon.
Have a wonderful Saturday.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning! The sky is overcast this morning and we had a light dusting of snow overnight or early this morning, I am not quite certain. It all seems so surreal as I am no longer turning on the bedroom light, grabbing some sock, my phone and then picking up Alvin to carry him downstairs where I would grab my coat and boots which were at the back door and then head outside with him. Once we were done outside then back into the house where I would wipe off his paws and then of course, off with the coat and boots and then head to the sofa for more sleep. Sometimes the boots would come off first and then wipe his paws, depends if he got away on me. It was our routine for many years. So between the two seniors we usually were up a minimum of twice per night but only once did we head downstairs. Now when I get up during the night if I do, I walk to the bathroom in the dark and back to bed in the dark. I know the path quite well. Now when get up during the work week, I get ready first and write this post before heading downstairs. Really feels strange. The first time I open the blinds is when I go downstairs. No longer am I snuggling up to Mr. Alvin under our red blanket on the sofa. The last time I slept on the sofa was with Alvin. I expect to see him when I wake up beside me and keep checking for him when I come upstairs and always when I sit on the sofa as he would always be right beside me. We were/are creatures of habit and routine. We had a routine for many years. Every time that I eat a banana or some food that he loved, I apologize to him as I feel guilty that I am eating and he is not. Our lives are complicated and in death even more so. Our relationships are our feelings with each other. My best buddy is gone and unfortunately there is no amount of missing him, loving him or guilt that will return him to me and I have to learn to live with this change. Yes, change. We are always having to live with things being different. Sometimes our lives are different each and every day and as humans we are not equipped so much with dealing with change as we are creatures mainly set up for routine and habit.
Yesterday a friend reached out in the morning while I was having some coffee to see if she could stop by and drop off something for me. I was only having coffee anyway so I invited her to come for coffee and we ended up visiting for well over two hours. We had a good chat. There were tears and hugs and gentle reminders. My friend Jami gave me a “wooden rainbow bridge with both human and dog figures” so beautiful. I had never seen one before and it is so beautiful. Another thoughtful and kind gesture. I am reminded by just how much Alvin was loved and I guess me, too. So on those days when I feel lonely and the house feels empty without him by myself, I will think of all the love that has and will continue to surround me and Alvin. I am so glad that I have his ashes back home. He still follows me around the house. Well only during the day and at night. He has a special place where he can look out the window during the day and at night he watches over me from my beside the bed. I want to keep him safe and do not wish any accidents. After Jami left, my friend Gillian picked me up for a trip to Costco and then to Save-On for groceries. I so appreciate my friends. She always makes me smile. Shopping is a welcome distraction from the every day. Once back home, we chatted for awhile before she left and I put all of the groceries away. It was way later than I thought by that time so I spent about one hour copying and pasting photos from the old computer to the external hard drive. It is quite the exercise but it needs to be done and I will spend some time today working on the photos as well.
Supper is always strange for me. I think that is when I feel the most as food was Alvin’s thing. He was a foodie and loved to eat and loved to sit beside me on the sofa and watch me, hoping that he could have a little something. For a long time he was able to have some vegetables and fruit so I always ate raw vegetables with my supper and shared a bit with him. It was our routine and it made both of us so happy. Now, there is no paw being raised and no beautiful brown eyes starring at me waiting for me to give him a piece of a carrot or broccoli or cauliflower or whatever …… that makes me sad. Yes, he had manners. I always have thought that having manners was so important to have whether you were human or a pup for that matter. I taught him how to raise his paw which was our “ask nice.” Oh, how I miss him.
Last night two sister friends of mine whose parents live in the neighbourhood came to pay their respects. They brought with them, their little dog named Rio. Rio and Alvin were friends. He sniffed around the house looking for Alvin. Rio turned 11 in December. Susana and Malena gave me a beautiful frame with a charm memento attached and a most thoughtful card. We drank tea and we girls chatted.
I am so grateful to live in this amazing neighbourhood where we support each other. So many wonderful friends. I am truly blessed. Today our friend Alyaa is stopping by for tea. She looked after Alvin most of the time when I returned to the office three times each week starting in October. She truly loved Alvin. She will be coming later this afternoon.
Well I had better head downstairs and put on the coffee. While the coffee is perking, I will grab the laundry that is drying in the basement and then put it away. Once the coffee is ready, I will start working on the photos. I still have several thousands to move and I want to get them done as soon as possible. I must remember to leave my phone and volume turned on as some friends mentioned about calling/texting today.
As I look out of the office window, I see that it is now snowing.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Well we are doing okay here in Edmonton at this house. I had four hours straight sleep last night and it has made all the difference in the world. Alvin well he is getting better, I think. I have to keep that outlook on the positive side. Somedays, like yesterday, I admit, not so easy. I appreciate all the love and support that I have in this world. We all know that sometimes you just need to vent. When you live by yourself, that venting or speaking aloud manifests with talking to oneself or perhaps writing on paper or on a blog if you happen to have one. Anyway that you can put your thoughts out to the Universe is a good thing. Keeping them all inside is definitely not a great idea. I suppose that I never thought in a million years that at age 65, I would be in the situation. I always dreamed of having my own house and from a young age thought it would be filled with the perfect partner and children and grandchildren. Likely a pup or two or maybe a cat. Like most people thinking by age 65, I would be retired and living that dream. Well things do not always work out that way. I made some unusual choices later and perhaps even earlier in my life and I suppose they brought me to this place. Am I bitter and sorry, hell no. Am I perhaps a bit nervous about how to start this next chapter, absolutely. But you have to be brave and pick yourself up and figure it out. No one can help you make your choices. Of course, people can pose ideas and perhaps offer advice but at the end of the day it is up to you and should be up to you.
It is snowing outside this morning. My Alvin, my buddy. I sure hope that he gets well soon. I would jump in a snowbank to have him back the way he was before all of this …… really.
It is almost time to head downstairs so that we can go outside before I leave for work. Yes, today is a go to the office day. Not sure why but the higher ups insist upon it.
Have an awesome Wednesday.
For some reason near the end of the day, I figured that baking some chocolate chip cookies was a good thing and would be a happy distraction from my world. I guess I would say it worked. I took a few over for Sonja & Steve and have a container to take to work and have some for treats at home.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee. Cause a world without coffee is not tasty.
Always, Carol & Alvin
Grateful to have good health, a beautiful home, income to live our lives, a ride to work and wonderful and supportive family and friends.
Good Morning ALL! Another kind of cold morning out there. It has been snowing off and on throughout the night and early morning hours. We did not have a great night. Bed at 9:15 p.m. and then just as I laid down and turned off the lights, Mr. Alvin began to pant, on with the lights and back downstairs as I realized that he had to poop. Outside, after more than one day with no blood in his poop and poop starting to look like good poop, we were back to blood and not good poop. How many times can I put poop in one sentence. Lots. Let me tell you. After he was done, as it was not even 10:00 p.m., I carried the boy back upstairs to bed. We are starting to spend more time on the sofa than in our bed. After that we were back downstairs in less than two hours, I wrote down the time (which is downstairs on the kitchen cupboard) every single time we got up which was four times not including the time we got up just after 5:30, and I gave him breakfast and back outside. Back in the house, I set the alarm for 7:00 which gave me another hour of sleep. Did not really feel like it. I am exhausted. So hard to concentrate or even straight when you have not had much sleep. I did call the Vet yesterday and spoke to the Vet Assistant. I had told her because at the time, he was doing so much better. No blood and his poop was beginning to look like poop should. Instructions were to continue to give him the Prednisdone for two weeks after no blood/poop and then every other day for a week until the pills are gone. Now she also said that perhaps he will need to be on them for the rest of his life. ARGH. It seems like it has been forever since he was on this medication but has it been one week or two? Good thing that I write things down. I will have to call back and see what to do. I am worried about leaving Alvin when I got to the office this week which is starting tomorrow. Too long days for him and I am sure that having to hold it in does not help matters. Oh, how it would be great to have him back in good pooping order and me being able to work from home all of the time. I guess I need to get going on things but it is so difficult when you are not getting proper sleep. I know. Procrastinating. Maybe but I am scared to be honest. Our future is uncertain. I know all of the things that I need and should be doing but I cannot get my head wrapped around any of it. The days are counting off and I am running out of time. So I need to be doing more but I feel stuck and tired. Okay this is not the positive outlook that I need to be having but it is how I feel after yet another night of literally no sleep.
Time to head downstairs and put on some coffee. I am surprised that Alvin has not started to bark yet. Perhaps he is tired as well.
Fingers crossed that he gets better soon. I feel so badly for him. He must be in pain from all of this. I will need to buy another package or three of chicken tomorrow when I go to the office. Thank goodness there is a SaveOn nearby the office. There is one close to my home as well.
I hope that you have a good day.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
I am grateful for my life, Alvin and my home. Just a few things that I would like to change.
Good Morning ALL! Today is Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
Yesterday we went to the vet for Alvin’s appointment to see if we could figure out what is causing his poop not to be in a group, so to speak. After a rectal exam and going over his file (yuck, poor Alvin – although I did not hear him cry, so that was good), the vet proclaimed there is a good possibility that it is “IBS” aka Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Now that does not sound very good. I know several people who have that and it is not much fun at all. I took a deep breath and asked “what next.” She said that she wanted to put him on a very low dose of prednisone to clear up the inflammation. To add to the liver disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and more. He had extensive tests done last summer when they found out he had liver disease. Anyway, I asked what some of the side effects are of prednisone and she said that he may pee often. I told her that I have to go to the office on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Her suggestion was that I give it to him at night (with supper) and hopefully that will help. Well we were in bed just before 10:00 p.m., up at Midnight and outside, back to the sofa and then up at 2:00 and outside (thank goodness it is warm out) and then at 4:00. I changed the alarm from 6:00 to 6:30 and at 6:15 he wanted to get up. I fed him his breakfast which is rice, pumpkin, his wet food and some chicken and Metamucil. Then outside and it was snowing. The warm wet fluffy flakes. The kind that I like until I have to shovel them. Oh well. It is warm so they will not stay long. I also noticed when going to bed last night that there is some ice out by the low point in the sidewalk that needs to be cleared. A task for today. I forgot to tell you that we walked to the vet. The sidewalks from our house to the walkway were brutal and then it was okay. Twice along the way, Alvin stopped and wanted to go home. I am not sure if he realized where we were going, I think so. Likely had a good idea why. Anyway, I managed to get him there and wondered about going home. When we arrived at the vet, I was checking texts and going to call them to advise we had arrived when I noticed a message from our friend Arlene. She let me know that she would come and get us. I am, we are so blessed to have such amazing, supportive and caring friends and neighbours. She is all of these things and more. Breath of relief. I actually felt better when I heard the IBS instead of something else. Not the best news but not the worst either by far. This is treatable and hopefully we can get his poop back to normal and try to put him back on his “real food” diet. I have a lot of his hard food that he has not been able to eat for awhile. Our story is a bit out of order but it is early morning and when the thoughts come to me, I write them down. After we got home, I quickly wiped off his paws to remove any of the salt (pet friendly) that may have got into his pads. I had wore my ice picks to the vet and was grateful. I definitely needed them.
I was glad that we had some downtime before I started work yesterday. Drank a bit more coffee and just chilled with my boy.
Although our lives have been up and down like a rollercoaster as of the last while, I am over the moon grateful that perhaps we have closure on this health concern and can get back to our life. Lots coming up but as long as Alvin is doing okay, I can get through anything. Dreaming of winning the lottery and retiring in this house with my boy at my side. Sleeping in when we have a crazy night. Walking whenever we chose. Writing more and going through my photos. That is my dream.
Time to get back downstairs. I am building up the muscles in my left arm. Will have to work on the other one otherwise the muscles are going to be off balanced, lol. Wonder if it is still snowing?
I hope that you have a great Tuesday. I know that this day working from home with Alvin at my side is going to be GREAT. I love being at home with Alvin. He is the best.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee. Thank goodness for coffee and I have lots.
Always, Carol & Alvin
I am grateful for my life with Alvin. I am grateful for this beautiful home that we share. I am grateful to be surrounded by the most amazing, caring, loving, supportive people. Thank you for this day.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this winter morning? It was snowing outside earlier. So nice to have these warmer temperatures but with them comes moisture, meaning freezing rain or SNOW! Well this has been a trying morning thus far. It took me 40 minutes to get likely about 1/2 of Alvin’s medication into him and the rest landed on the sofa or in his fur. So always cleanup after the medicine. This was the least amount that he has ever taken. What a guy! Not sure what else I can do? Thankfully he does not have much left to take. Hopefully there is enough to at least coat his stomach. I don’t know. He will be eating breakfast in a few minutes which is 30 minutes after he had the medication. I am praying to whomever may listen to please make him well. Between the demands to go into the office and Alvin’s health, I am super frustrated. Not the best way to start the work week. Okay, I have vented time too “let it go.” Best line ever and from an animated movie, no less. I know the words were from the song in the movie “Frozen.”
On this Monday, I am grateful to be working from home. I am grateful that we have good food to eat. I am grateful to be surrounded by supportive family and friends. I am grateful to be employed. I am grateful to be living this life.
Is my life perfect? Well, no. Is it pretty great for the most part, well YES! So I will get over these moments this morning and get on with the day. Alvin needs to have breakfast. I will need to finish this post first. I will work and do the best job that I can. I will be a good human being. The best that I can be in any given moment.
This will be short. We did have a great weekend in between the medication episodes. I wonder what he is doing downstairs as I left him. Just needed to put some space and time between him. Yesterday, my friend Signe came for coffee & visit in the morning. It was nice to see her – feels like a long time.
Take a deep breath and have a great day. That is what I am doing.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Looking forward to the coffee this morning.
Always, Carol & Alvin
P.S. even though we have our moments, I love Alvin with all my heart. Always trying to do the best for him. Just in case you had other thoughts!
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am doing great. Up early so that I do not need to rush to finish the preparations for the second Christmas party that I am hosting tonight. Still really dark outside and I feel like it is still night. Not many lights on in the neighborhood but that is okay. I have lots to do and I would like to have some downtime before the guests start to arrive around 6ots to do and I would like to have some downtime before the guests start to arrive around 6:30 p.m. There are seven of my coworkers who have said that they are coming for sure. I guess time will tell. That number includes me. So a good number. We will have fun.
Countdown to Christmas: Saturday, December 17, 2022 which is exactly 7 sleeps till Christmas Eve Day. That is when my Alvin is coming home as well. Aspen and Milo will stay with us while Mom & Dad go to the Hobb’s side of the family for their Christmas celebration. I cannot wait. Alvin continues to surprise me with the updates from my daughter. He sure seems to have settled in – oh, dear, maybe he has forgotten me, possible?
I have changed my bedding, dusted the wall pictures/paintings upstairs, sprayed the toilets to clean when I am finished this post, and a couple of other little things. Might as well clean upstairs first and then it is done. Not much to do – a quick vacuum after cleaning the bathroom toilets and sinks and a bit of dusting and upstairs is done. Helps to keep on top of things for sure. Last night after work I took all of my winter coats out of the front closet and brought them upstairs to the office closet and moved my winter boots to the far right side leaving lots of room for all the coats and boots. I don’t like having a lot of boots sitting at the entranceway. I am shuffling and putting away all of my gadgets from the top of the kitchen counter (most of them, not all) so that we have room for food and refreshments and dishes and glasses. Garbage already emptied last night. I did quite a lot after work last night as I worked until almost 8:00 p.m. Whew!
We had some snow last night so I went out to shovel the deck and out front. Once back in the house, I was just taking a minute before going to shovel the driveway when the wind got up and the visibility was very low. It all happened so quickly. So I left the driveway until today. When I shovelled the deck I was just in a long cardigan and was not cold. The air felt so warm. It was strange. Weather!
Time to go and finish up here and then I can go and put on some coffee and have a little coffee break once the coffee has perked.
Have an awesome day.
I may not be posting early tomorrow! Depends on how late my guests stay!
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am well, confused, scared and wishing that I had not seen something. I found something on the kitchen floor this morning at 3:30 a.m. – something that was not there, I am sure when we went to bed. Something dark, hard, round but not round but reminds me of something that I absolutely do not like. I was not going to mention this but I cannot get it out of my head. That does not help anything. Why, me. Why, my house? I hope that I am wrong and it was just some piece of something that I did not see. I guess time will tell. I have not slept since 3:30 a.m. I am tired.
This morning’s post will be short. It is cold outside and snowing. I am tired. Working from home today which is good, I suppose. I sure hope that only Alvin and I are the only live creatures in my house now and forever. People and pups and cats can come to visit but nothing else. Stay away from my house.
Definitely needing coffee this morning.
Okay, pull up my big girls pants and go back downstairs. Everything will be okay. It will be okay.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: I wished it was a piece of a coffee bean on the floor. Oh, how I wish.
Good Morning ALL! I hope that this post finds you doing well. Hard to believe today is Monday, November 28, 2022. Almost the end of November 2022. Where has the time gone? Almost time to start the countdown to Christmas. Do not want to start too early, lol.
Yesterday I borrowed my neighbour’s car and went shopping to the nearby strip mall where I went to Shoppers Drug Mart and Bone & Biscuit and Save-On-Foods. The first place that I went to at Shoppers was the Post Office to mail a small parcel and Christmas Cards, what did I find, CLOSED sign. I was grateful to find out from a clerk who happened to be walking past that the Post Office would open at Noon. This was about 10:45 am, so that was okay. I had some things that I wanted to pick up at Shoppers so I consulted my list on my phone. Sometimes I bring a paper list but this time it was more efficient to have the phone so that I could delete the items that I bought without carrying a pen. After that I headed to the Bone & Biscuit to pick up Christmas gifts, possibly a new sweater and harness for Mr. Alvin, only to find that it was closed until noon. What is this new business, lol? So I took my purchases and placed them in the car and was off to the grocery store which I knew for a fact that it was open. When I arrived inside the store I grabbed a cart and consulted my list. There were a number of customers in the store but it was not too bad. The cashier was young, friendly and I really appreciated the way that he packed my groceries. I almost forgot to drop off the batteries that I had placed in the bags provided (they were in with my bags that I had brought to the store). Old batteries dropped off. Another items off my list but in hindsight I forgot to grab more bags! OH well, next time. I checked over the receipt to ensure that nothing was charged incorrectly as he had initially charged the wrong price for a non-food item that I had picked up for a gift. Who knew that I would find something that was requested on my pick for Secret Santa. Loaded up the car and then back to Shoppers to mail the parcel and Christmas cards including one to Sweden to my longtime “pen pal” Ingrid. No lineup, how wonderful. Then I was off to Bone & Biscuit where I checked my list for the items that I wanted to purchase for Mr. Alvin, Aspen and Milo for Christmas. I found a sweater, new leash and toy for Alvin and then a toy each for my grandpups. Success. I even received 10% off my purchase due to the points that I had accumulated. Then back to the car, loaded up and on my way home.
Once I was home, I unloaded the car with a few trips and then returned the car keys to my friend. She was down with something and had been resting on the sofa. Poor girl. Her boyfriend was relaxing on the sofa, just having a quiet lazy day. He drives long distance trucking. Alvin was enjoying sniffing around the bags. I had to put the bag up that had his Christmas present in it. They must put something inside those items or else just the scent from the store lingering, I do not know because I semi hid the bag in the spare room behind a large rubbermaid which is containing other Christmas presents and he keeps going in and sniffing. He cannot get to the bag with his gifts but he sure knows something is in there. Funny. I unpacked and as I was putting the groceries away, I realized that one item was not there. I looked back over everything and not there. So I texted my friend to see if I could borrow her car once again and before you know it, I was on my way, back to the store. ARGH. Back at the store, a young man who had just come back from bringing cards into the store, came back to Customer Service and asked if “he could help me,” I said yes and explained the situation. He said that he remembered one of the cashiers had a list of the items that were left at cash and had returned them to their places in the store. He just had to find the list. He found the list and then another clerk came to Customer Service. They were able to secure another item for me and then I was on my way. YAY. Normally, I would have not bothered but this item was almost $10.00. Too much money to throw away. After I put everything away, I got Mr. Alvin into his harness and sweater (not new ones, although I did try them on and they fit perfect) and we went for a walk. I was so fast trying them on that I think he will forget what they looked like, lol. We enjoyed a walk. Then back home. I decided to bring up the ladder and change the light bulbs and clean the light fixture by the back door. Could not get it down so I texted another neighbor’s son to see if he could come and help me, he said yes. In the meantime, I replaced a bulb in another fixture. I am so blessed and was happy to get these chores done and for the help. I e transferred him some money for helping me as this was the second weekend in a row, I reached out to him. I cleaned out and rearranged the back cabinet / pantry before starting supper. After supper it was a quiet evening.
Whoops time is slipping away and is almost time to start work. I have the coffee ready to plug in.
Have a great Monday. Stay warm.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.
My New Life @ 51 