The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this rainy Saturday morning? Perhaps the sun is beaming down upon you? Not at the moment here. It was raining when we were up earlier and we were up early. I decided to go to bed a bit early and read so when the lights went out it was likely about 10:00. Mr. Alvin was up at Midnight and I took him outside. We settled on the sofa and he was up on the hour after that starting about 2:00 a.m., very restless. Last night before bed, he seemed like his old self. Not quite as anxious and not whiny. Perhaps this cooler weather is playing havoc with his paws. I can imagine arthritis is not much fun. He seems to be okay this morning. I was wide awake at 6:00 so stayed up for a bit doing a few things and then decided to come back upstairs and just rest on the bed. We both fell asleep until a little while ago. Okay not such good sleep routine, our patterns are definitely bordering on the “off” side but it is what it is. If we don’t get 8 hours or close to it, we lay back down. Sometimes it is funny how a couple of solid hours of sleep can make or break the day. Anyway, all is well.

The trees are really coming out. Th leaves I mean, so green and beautiful. The grass with this added moisture is starting to turn green. Our poor grass/lawn out front has finally got some patches that are alive and not dead/dormant. Looks like the sun may shine after all. The clouds are breaking up and I see some clear patches.

Well you are likely wondering how we did yesterday with me going to the office. In addition to Gillian coming over at noon, our neighbour Sonja popped by about 3:00 p.m.. He ate, drank water and went outside at noon and did the same at 3:00 p.m. The girls did notice that he was a bit more anxious than usual. I can see that. Going into work is against our routine and as we get older, as dogs get older, routine plays a very important role. So I get that. He was having an off week. Hopefully he will continue to feel his old self. Oh my gosh, I pray for his old self. Anxiety and all. So the office. One of our group had hurt her knee and is unable to do much walking so we were down another body and our Manager was ill and did not attend the office. So no meeting. We did our mailouts as per schedule and then worked on mail etc. Our cubicles and desks are set up in squares with two desks and staff facing each other with dividers in between. The group that are the most vocal are all together, the gal that I came to work with faces one of them and then I am in another group where there is no one at present. My back faces them. So two of us found it very distracting. But I get that they wanted to catch up and some are more chatty than others of us. Not to say that I do not like to talk because that is so far from the truth. But at work, I like to do my job and not “visit.” With these low rise dividers and open air, it can get loud. We are not the only ones on this floor and it can get very loud and distracting at times. So I just tried to tune out the noise and get some work done. I did manage to get a few days worth of mail completed which was great. I still have more to do but getting closer to being current. Although where I am at is acceptable in our job. I am one of those old school bodies that just needs to have everything done and I do not like having things undone. Anyway, it was nice to see the team in person but other than that, I would have liked to have been at home at my kitchen table. I did notice that my chair did not feel comfortable and the lights were annoying. I am very grateful that for the most part I can continue to work from home. I am very grateful for that.

So today, I am thinking of working on the basement. I started going through things during the last two weekends and need to finish before the garage sale in June. It would appear that the forecast is not looking great for planting my flowers, tomatoes and oregano. So will keep inside for another week. My kitchen table looks amazing.

My girl friends are coming for coffee tomorrow morning. So I will pull the leaves out on each end and push the plants to the far end so we have room for our coffee. It will look like we are in a flower garden. How lovely! Today I want to bake something. I am thinking of a banana loaf with pumpkin? Not sure.

So a few things to do. Working on that book in my head. I do have lots of notes and stories already written down so really it would be just a matter of putting them together. So I am getting my mind wrapped about that. I think we need some good stories. We have stories about dogs and people but how many about an older woman and a dog. Not many. I have often joked that there should be a movie about Mr. Alvin as he is just so charming, sociable and magnetic. He has had that effect on people since I brought him home. Just something about him and his name always brings a smile to people’s faces. No one forgets his name. I am and will all remains Alvin’s Mum and I am good with that.

Okay, time for coffee and I definitely need that this morning.

Have an awesome day. Hug your family and pets if you have them. If you are on your own, look in the mirror and say “hello you awesome human being.” Be kind to yourself and to all living creatures.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. sometimes a mirror is a good friend …… look at your reflection ….. you are your own best friend. We need to treat ourselves like we are our own best friend. Start with you and see what a difference your other relationships will be. Love thyself and then you will love others.

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.

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are up and at it. Mr. Alvin is having a “fit” downstairs as I hastily try to write this post midst the barking and whining. Not sure why some mornings he is better than others but that is the way that it is. I left the light on for the stairs so he knows that I am up here and I have called down to him but nothing seems to make him feel less anxious. Life in my house. I am trying. It seems whenever I get confident that things are turning around this happens. Oh well, he is fine. In good health, has a belly full of food, I just heard him take a drink of water (yup all the way up here) and he went outside at 5:00 a.m., and he is loved. So I think he is good. Just a bit on the anxious side.

Yesterday one of my friends who lives close by popped in for a visit and coffee and a game of JENGA. We chatted about life and work and it was over two hours later and we had not had a game of JENGA. She had to leave a bit later so we managed to score a couple of games of JENGA. I was also happy that she won both games. My friend seems to think that I am really good at this game and that she can never “win” against me. I personally don’t care if I win or lose, it is playing the game and being surrounded by good company. So I was very happy when she won both games. Happy for her and happy for me. Isn’t that the way life should be. Doesn’t matter if you win or lose!

My youngest brother called during our visit so I called him back after our company went home. It was so nice to hear his voice. He is a good kid, a great younger brother and he is 56. So not really a kid but he will always be that little one that I looked after when he was a baby and a small child. He lives in Calgary which is approximately 3 hours from here. It all depends on what area of the City you live in as to how long the drive can be. Anyway, his family are doing well and he is doing well and that is all that matters. We chatted about life, about family, about his job and a multitude of things before saying goodbye until next time. It was a reminder that I need to speak to my sister and catch up. Life seems to always get in the way and before you know it ….. significant time has passed.

Alvin and I went for a walk after the phone call with my brother and were so happily surprised to see our friend Pauline outside in the yard. She finished up what she was doing and joined us for a walk. We went on a different route that our normal one and ended up home almost one hour later. We slowly walked about letting Alvin take the lead. I had a sweater on under my coat and was actually hot by the time we got home. It was not hot according to the temperature check but there was no wind and the air felt warm. The walk was most enjoyable.

Okay, I can no longer retain my composure with someone squeaking downstairs so I shall go. Wishing you a wonderful day. A friend of mine “C” has a birthday today. Happy Birthday to you. We used to carpool before the Pandemic and I have not seen her since starting to work from home. Just the way things worked out. I miss our drives to and from work.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience (really working on that this morning), love, laughter, understanding and gratitude.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? I am well. Bed late and up late but that is okay because it is a rainy morning so it will be a stay at home putz around kind of day. I am definitely good with that. Do some laundry, dust some things, figure out Christmas gifts and whatever else I get my hands and mind into. Hang out with the Alvin.

Last night I packed up some fruit and mini chocolate Halloween decorated cupcakes and left for my friend’s house at 7:24 p.m. I could tell Alvin was thinking okay she is putting on her coat and not mine. She is saying some things that I don’t quite understand but I heard her says Signe and Gillian’s names. He just sat on the sofa. I struggled in the darkness finding the right key to lock the door but finally after two attempts I found it on the third. You see all my keys look the same except for the mailbox one. Anyway soon I was on my way down the steps and as I walked down to the public sidewalk out front I checked back over my shoulder and did not see Alvin on the sofa but saw his little face pressed up as close to the window as he could with having the blinds in the way. Ah, my poor boy. I always dislike leaving him alone but I do need to spend some time with human beings from time to time. Checking both ways before I crossed our busy street. There are always so many cars parked along the sides that you do not always see a car zooming down the street. By the way, not many people adhere to the maximum of 40 kilometers. Another story for another day. Finally I am almost at the party. Really the walk might be 3 minutes max. As I approached my friend’s home I saw pumpkins on the steps and decorations on their front lawn. They always do such a good job decorating for Halloween. I cannot wait. My decorations are interior not exterior. I rang the doorbell multiple times as the inside door was partially open and I wanted to play the part of a prankster. She was laughing as she opened the door to let me in. Our third partner in crime had not arrived as yet. I was happy to see her and her daughter. A few minutes later the doorbell rang and our friend arrived. We unpacked our treats for the party and got to filling up plates which was a reminder that even though my supper was fairly light – it should have been nothing. There was so much to nibble on. Once everyone was ready and we had chatted for a few minutes we settled in and started to watch the new Halloween Movie – Halloween Kills. We all noticed how it went between the last movie and present time. As the movie progressed we were all surprised by the “campiness” of the storyline and actions. I will admit that this genre of film is not my favourite or even something that I would typically watch but I did it for my friend. Spending time with the girls is way more important than whether or not I love a certain movie type. Disappointingly the movie did not improve before it ended. Perhaps this was how it was meant to be, I do not know but my friend who loves and waits with patiently to watch them, was sadly disappointed. I will say this though our commentary was better than the movie and we had the best visit. So perhaps it was not a waste of anyone’s time. We always need to seek out the positive in every situation and that was it for last night. We had the best visit. Talking about our lives and offering support to each other if required. Doing what friends do. One of the girls came up with the hashtag “GoldenGirlsForLife” and that describes us fully. Even though at this stage of the game, they are far from being Golden Girls in the sense of age but they are “Golden” in the sense that they are amazing friends. So we ate and talked and watched the movie and ate some more. I stayed a bit later than usual and definitely past my usual bedtime but it was so worth spending the extra time with the girls. I was home just before midnight. I think that Alvin was worried that I wasn’t coming home. He kept at my side after that and even this morning while I am upstairs he is not happy that we are apart.

So it is time to get that pot of coffee on to perk. Pop in that first load of laundry. Have some breakfast in a bit. Snuggle with the boy. Do some dusting. Just think about how blessed I am to be where I am in life. Sometimes when I look back over the last 64 years I am amazed that things turned out the way this way. Not the way that I had planned but in a way much better. I zigged and zagged down the life’s path and finally ended up here and could not be happier. Well perhaps if groceries were cheaper because why should a small bag of grapes be $10.00 and an apple be $2.00. I amaze at folks who can feed a large family these days.

Have an awesome Saturday. I hope that the sun is shining where you are OR if it is raining that it is a light rain. Be well my friends, we well. Spread the kindness, joy and respect to everyone you see today.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

Sure am glad that we had a nice walk in yesterday. Not great for Alvin to walk in the rain.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Tuesday the 8th day of January, 2019.

Brrr, it be COLD out there.

Poor Mr. Alvin wasted no time going outside to do his thing and back into the house.

I really did not even need to call him this morning.

This is the COLDEST morning this winter so far.

Make sure that you dress warm and have mitts, scarf and warm socks in addition to your coat and boots.

Always be prepared.

 

I was thinking of how people communicate.

In my “travels” I came across a young woman who is a non-verbal due to medical reasons.

That does not stop her from TALKING or getting her thoughts across to others.

Cell phones are a great tool for someone who has the ability to use their hands and fingers; but just not able to speak.

I still remain one of the three folks on this earth who do not have a cell phone.

Actually I think it is down to two; as I forgot that Kathie-Lee Gifford now has one.

We all communicate in one way shape or form.

As long as we are able ….. how wonderful.

 

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

I am on my way out to pick up poop from my No. 1 little pooper.

We all poop.

Just glad that I do not have to pick up mine.

Okay, perhaps this is not the topic for this place but I actually love that word.

Poop.

Just giggle and laugh.

Poop.

Just poop.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “V” who makes me laugh and works so hard, thank you for being my friend. (PS will get that info to you tonight).

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 26th day of August, 2016.

Yes, Alvin it really is Friday.

I am sure by now most people are wondering if it really is true.

I was so certain that Wednesday was Thursday so added an extra day to my week.

Maybe not physically but mentally.

After all it is the mental condition that drives everything.

How you feel, if you can feel, what to do or not to do, to be or not to be.

Yes, of course physicality plays a role but the old adage “mind over matter,” holds true forever.

Until we evolve into something totally different it will always be mental over physical.

It is the way that people get through horrible physical tragedy.

Okay perhaps this is getting just a tad serious and it started out just talking about it being Friday.

Man, can I ever stray from the path.

I am always happy for the weekends but not because I do not like my job but because I get to spend more time with Alvin.

He is my sunshine for sure.

Not to leave out my amazing daughter or my great son-in-law or my grand-puppy Elton they are my never ending rainbow.

Speaking of rainbows last night when we were out for a walk we bumped into a lady walking with her dog.

We found out in about ten seconds his name was Noah and he was cute.

An older boy ….. the boys got along ….. Alvin and Noah…..there were a few barks ….. lots of sniffing.

The lady was smitten with Alvin.

She thought he was the cutest …… so I made sure that I gave Noah lots of compliments, fair is fair.

Well we continued to chat and walk.

We ended up walking in the rain …. just a nice rain not downpour.

A rainbow came out.

We both remarked.

After we parted ways and on our direct path to our house we saw the beginning and ending of the rainbow it was crystal clear.

The first one that I have seen all summer that I saw the start and end.

So beautiful..

Oh, I hear the geese honking away.

Well Mr. Alvin needs to go outside and I need to grab my Quinoa salad that I made for our office potluck.

I hope that you have an amazing day.

Happy Friday.

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

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day….

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 18th day of August, 2014.

It seems really quiet as I can easily hear my fingers pounding away on the keyboard.

It helps with the window not being open at this moment.

Alvin is curled up on our bed all comfy and cozy.

The rest of the family is getting ready for work.

I am already dressed and stuff.

Wow, another weekend come and gone.

It was great.

I, we got the house ship shape.

The weather was great.

Everyone had some nice walks.

The kids took a fun road trip to a close by nature sanctuary …. I do not remember the name.

I am grateful that the temperatures have cooler down for this week’s forecast.

I always enjoy this time of year ….. moderate temperatures and still green grass, trees and flowers.

The roses are not as full as earlier but still smell so beautiful.

My roses are doing pretty good ….. I have some deep pink ones blooming at this time.

For today, my plan is to make certain that only positive helpful thoughts turn into the words that pass by my lips.

I think that for the most part we speak without thinking it through all the way.

Most times it is okay but sometimes words can be hurtful without meaning to be so.

So let us practice …. practice makes perfect.

Sounds like the family is almost ready to go to work.

I would love to stay at home with Alvin, Elton and Penny but alas that is not so.

Have a great day everyone.

Remember concentrate on what you are about to say.

Special Hello to: hey sister ……

Always, Carol and Alvin