A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! We are doing well. Alvin has an appointment this morning at 10:00 a.m. to get to the bottom of things. Okay perhaps that is a bit of a pun! I am working on bringing back my old positive self. She has been gone for awhile. I will continue to put out my gratitude to the Universe and keep my thoughts positive as much as possible. There are some things that you cannot change so why bother! You can only change yourself not others. So that is what I am going to do. I am grateful for our good health (good poop this morning). I am grateful for our beautiful home which is cradled inside a wonderful loving and support neighbourhood. I am grateful to be surrounded by amazing people, some family and some friends that are like family. I am grateful to have Mr. Alvin in my life, he is good company. I am grateful to be employed at a time when so many others are struggling. I am grateful for the sunrise each and every morning and the sunrise each night. I am grateful for the blue sky, the wind, the snow, the trees and all of nature. I am grateful for the continued warm beautiful weather.

I booked the morning off to take Alvin to the vet for his appointment.

We had a great Sunday. Quiet but wonderful. We had a nice walk. Did some laundry, cleaning and made a big pasta supper.

Time to head downstairs and make some coffee. I want to have a mug or so before we have to leave. I wish you a wonderful Monday.

Continuing to life this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilites and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? Alvin and I are great. There was no frost last night so the ground feels softer this morning and not wet or slippery. I am working from home today and took a day off tomorrow so life is great. There is nothing like being able to work from home. This morning we were up at 2:00 and outside and then up at 5:30 when Alvin had breakfast which is his new time when I work at the office. My head told me to stay up but I just wanted so badly to lay back down under the comfy blanket on the sofa. My heart won out. When the alarm went off at 6:45, I kept clicking the SNOOZE button, my old friend for a couple of times so then the time is 7:03 a.m. and I do not like to rush. Things were going good until we went outside which was pretty much right away. Outside Mr. Alvin was sniffing like crazy. He could definitely smell some creature under the deck. It was difficult to convince him to come in the house but finally I succeeded. Then I raced upstairs brushed my teeth, washed my face and threw on my eyebrows. Located some pants, underwear, a top, sweater and socks and threw them on. The jewelry is minimal a couple of rings and then into the office to do this post and to send some money to my carpool gal. Whew. I did manage to prepare the coffee so that I can just plug the pot in when we go back downstairs. Why, oh, why did I not stay up at 5:30 a.m. I think that for Alvin’s sake and for my own, that we are going to need to stay up at that time and make it our time. Otherwise it will be hard on the boy especially. He needs routine and I don’t want to feed him at so many different times. Not good for his constitution.

It feels so wonderful to be working from home. I LOVE IT. Does anyone hear me? I love working from home. Just wanted to throw that out to the UNIVERSE. It is so wonderful. Good for me and for Alvin. Yes, it is.

Just one quick story before we head back downstairs. On our after work walk, we met up with this woman and her beautiful “husky” dog a few minutes after leaving the house. When she saw us coming down the sidewalk she pulled him/her closer to her and walked off the sidewalk onto the street. I said thank you and Alvin appeared to “want to say hello.” We ended up chatting for several minutes and I found out that her pup’s name is ASPEN. Same as my grandpup. She is 11 years old. We share pooping stories, stories of what to do in the winter time with a senior dog. Such a great conversation. Her pup did not act like 11 and in fact, she said that Aspen acts more like 3 or 4 years of age. That is so wonderful. After a bit we said our goodbyes after more formal introductions. Aspen is I believe an Alaskan Husky. So beautiful. Love her eyes. Blue, I think. Then we walked to the park. Alvin tried to come home a few times but I convinced him to stay on track and keep on our walk. A few minutes later we were turned around and on our way home when we saw some old friends. We stopped to chat. The fellow I do not remember his name and the pup is Caulder. A big dog but so friendly and he was focused on the walk for sure. I found out that our friend had gone home to Newfoundland where he was able to work remotely for five months and be with family, how wonderful is that. He remains working from home. This duo is so wonderful and I had missed our chats over the last year or so. Good to know that they are okay and doing great.

Time to fly. Have a wonderful Thursday.

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

ALLways, Carol & Alvin

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! Well almost noon. What a morning already! I am grateful that I booked today off. Poor Mr. Alvin. We are just back from the vet where once again he is suffering from ear infections. One ear was way worse than the other. I have a difficult time keeping them clean as he does not like me poking around or touching them. So another round of meds which will keep them okay for a month. I spoke to the vet about our options. There are two different surgeries that can be performed. One is where they remove his eardrums and ear canals and he would not be able to hear but he would no longer suffer from these nasty yeast infections. She does not perform this surgery. The other she can do and it would mean leaving the eardrums intact but opening up the ear canals so that the yeast cannot grow and he would still have hearing. I think the second option is the better of the two, for sure. Cannot imagine having my hearing taken away like that but she also thinks that his hearing is compromised now. The idea of another surgery with him turning 14 in January, scares me but I am not sure that we have an option at this point. I just want him to have a good quality of life. Yesterday he was panting and work was driving me over the edge and I was raising my voice to him. I feel incredibly guilty and overwhelmed. My poor boy. I just hope he has forgiven my bad reaction to the situation. It is difficult when you are alone. Anyway for now, he has medicine in both ears and it will get rid of the yeast infection soon. I think his paws are bothering him as well.

I do have a beautiful story to share. Earlier this morning I noticed a little girl waiting on the sidewalk across the street from our house. Clearly she was waiting for the school bus which never came. It was cold out there earlier. My neighbor (whom I borrowed her car to take Alvin to vet) had popped in to grab a cup of coffee as she had run out. Sonja said that the girl was waiting for the bus which is always late. I decided to check on her so I opened the door and called out to her to check on her, I think that I scared her. She then started walking away from where she was standing which appeared to be toward home, when an older child came out. I should have asked what school she went to and then called them but I did not think of that. I watched them from my window when a dark blue Toyota Rav4 pulled up and a woman got out. Poor kid was scared not because the woman was trying to hurt her but because of the attention and she was cold. The woman talked to her for a few minutes and the older child came back out. The woman walked back to her car and grabbed her cell phone and then after speaking to the older child, she made a call. Likely the school. Nice to see good samaritans. This woman stood outside chatting with the kids for over 30 minutes closer to 45 minutes. At one point she grabbed a kleenex out of her car for the little girl. After awhile, the little girl got into the car while she waited outside with the older child (early teens, I think). The girl must have been frozen. She had a good warm coat on but her face and hands would have been cold and she was carrying a heavy backpack. Near the end, just a few minutes before a school bus showed up, the woman and the older child, a boy got into the car. They must have been cold. My neighbor told me earlier that the bus is always late. So this bus driver for whatever reason makes these children late for school everyday and nothing has been done. This is deplorable. Hopefully now, they will do something about the driver. This kindly woman who was just driving by put my faith back in humanity. She took almost one hour out of her day to help strangers, two children. She had a smile on her face and appeared to be trying to keep the children in good spirits. I am grateful to her for helping. Doing something that I should have done. Not that I did not want to help but I thought that the bus would have showed up sooner than it did.

Well, I made another pot of coffee as I just need one. It has been quite the week. I am beat. We will just relax on the sofa for awhile and then go for a walk. I hope that you are having a good day.

The sun is shining now which is great so it is warming up now.

Thank you Universe for good people in my neighbourhood.

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

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: wow, how could I have forgotten this. Yesterday Alvin and I received a package from our friend Val in Regina. So many treats. We are truly spoiled. Alvin was so excited when I went to the mailbox and came back with a box. There were homemade treats for him which he opened. There were three kinds of buns/scones, mini loaves, biscottis and so many other sweet treats. I also had a package of some items that I had ordered from RICKIS. Just needed some clothes. I was happy to see that they all fit. I guess time to do some laundry, too. Coffee first. I think that Alvin just wants to have a nap. Poor boy.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter.

Good Morning All. Welcome to Thursday, November 12, 2020. Mr. Alvin is trying to get my attention at the doorway, so I better stop and see what he needs. False alarm. I guess he is the boy who cried wolf OR perhaps it could be that he is terribly spoiled. Nevertheless, all is well and he is laying on his bed in the office waiting impatiently for me to finish something that I have only just started. Patience is not something Alvin has much of, I would say. The sky is slowly beginning to lighten as the sun is thinking about rising to the east. Yesterday was cool but bright and sunny for the most part. I managed to finish my Christmas cards and letters, wrapped the parcel to be mailed next week with the cards, called a close family friend on his birthday, enjoyed a walk with Alvin (in his new coat). His new coat is so luxurious and warm but again he is not so great with the changes and he stood trembling after I put on his coat. I managed to get him out of the house but he did not wish to walk down the steps so I carried him off the steps. He managed to get down the one step on the sidewalk to the flat sidewalk area. It was slow going for the first while as he did not want to walk in the coat. I could see why as it covered most of his body from the top and in front came down quite a bit. We managed to get as far as the park which I thought was great and then he seemed to be okay for a bit and then just as we were about to turn around and head for home, we saw our friend Pauline and her grandpup Georgie. She hadn’t recognized us at first all bundled up. Funny how the Universe picks up on things as I had planned to call her after our walk. So we walked and talked. Alvin for the most part was okay, there were a couple of times that he stopped and did not wish to go further. I had to wipe his paws a couple of times to warm them up. But I found that it was not nearly as cold out as I had thought. Well this last while certainly has been chalked full of changes for Mr. Alvin. He conquered his fears of new coats, yay, buddy. He has moved and is waiting outside the office in the hallway. Patiently, not likely.

Another work day for me. Then tomorrow is Friday. Wow, the weeks are flying by and soon it will be December. I guess for most people they will be glad to see 2020 go but me I do not want wish any time away ….. good or bad as we only have this time, and once it is gone, it is gone. So no matter what is happening we have to make the best of things and carry on. There will always be something not pleasant going on in the world and around us. Most times things are good but there are always blips. Keep the faith, listen when the health professionals tell us not to or to do something, laugh everyday and be kind and respectful. That is how it is.

From our house to yours, Happy Thursday as we continue this journey called life with faith, kindness and respect for all.

As Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad. May you be soaring with the Angels.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 13th day of October, 2018.

The sky is cloudy and there is no bright sunshine to be found.

Hopefully as the day progresses, it will shine.

That would be wonderful.

 

We are up and at it rather later than usual.

We were up first of all at 4:00 a.m. – Alvin went outside and had breakfast.

I was not about to stay up at that hour.

So back to the sofa and after a couple of times up and back to the sofa we were up just after 9:00 a.m.

I was having the most interesting dream and oddly enough each time I returned to the sofa I fell back to the dream state and picked up where I left off.

Dream done and I do not remember anything other than one of the female characters from a television show that I watch was front and centre.

Not sure why.

She died in a recent episode.

The things we dream.

 

Well we are up and I decided before I wrote this blog to set up the printer/scanner machine that my daughter returned to me.

So I got it hooked up except for getting the cords safely tucked away through the hole in the top of the desk.

In order to do this, I had to take the drawer out.

Now you see where I am going with this.

Well after a few minutes of sheer frustration the drawer has been set down on the table in my office to be dealt with later.

Sometimes you just have to leave something and go back to it.

I only wanted to get things back to order ….. well apparently the universe has a different plan or my “greater” self.

Oh well.

 

I am not going to start my day feeling desperate and frustrated.

Or at least not keep that feeling going for a long period of time.

Alvin is resting his own self on the blue blanket.

There is laundry to do, breakfast to have and coffee.

Walks, floors to wash and many other things.

So time to get this day going.

 

Sometimes you just have to walk away.

I will come back and fix it later, the drawer that is.

I know that I can figure it out.

It is safe for now.

Perhaps I have to empty it.

 

Well my friends – have an awesome Saturday.

Never, never let a drawer get in the way of having a great day.

 

Happy Saturday.

 

Special Hello to: my fellow bloggers …. keep writing.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 7th day of July, 2017.

WOW, we’re having a heat wave ….. not a tropical heat wave …. a Western Canadian HEAT WAVE.

Oh my goodness, I love summer but sometimes the higher temperatures play havoc with my essence.

I will say thank the Universe for the nightly breezes ….. making the higher temperatures more bearable.

I can only imagine Alvin and all the fur babies of the world.

How do they survive the heat?

This is nothing compared to other locations across the planet.

I do feel for Alvin ……

When I arrived home last night at almost 6:00 p.m. (don’t get me started on that one), it was 80 degrees F. in the house.

It cooled off quite quickly after I opened the windows.

Thank goodness for that breeze ……

 

Our public transportation at this point in time is CRAZY.

Insane for us ….. I cannot compare to any other place.

Part of this is due to summer construction.

It is the only time of year that we can do all those outdoor road and sidewalk projects.

It definitely plays with the traffic flow.

One day the buses run relatively on time and the next day they are over 1/2 hour late.

Now when it is time to get home, it is hot and you have that Mr. Alvin waiting to go outside to PEE and to eat his supper ….. being late is not an option.

Although what can you do when you rely on the buses.

So last night I waited downtown for almost 1/2 hour.

Two buses stopped to say they were FULL …..

Finally the third one had room for us.

It would not have been so bad but I had to stop at the Vet for Alvin’s food and glucosamine chews.

Anyway got home safe and “sound.”

Happy that today is Friday …… another hot one …. even hotter than the last few days.

 

Special Hello to: my friend “M” who is visiting our fair city.

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 6th day of February, 2017.

It is COLD, COLD out there this morning in Edmonton.

Double digits below – 26 degrees celsius.

Poor Mr. Alvin had to take two runs at it to get outside.

He did his business very quickly.

Poor little guy.

I am grateful to have a warm coat, mitts, scarf and boots for the cold walk to the bus.

 

What a great weekend.

Yesterday we just spent inside except for some shovelling and I had to watch Alvin as it was so cold and he could only be outside for a minute or so.

Did some cleaning and watched a couple of movies.

I watched “Mother’s Day” with Julia Roberts, Jennifer Anniston, Kate Hudson and so many great actors.

I laughed and I cried.

It was a good movie.

Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

 

Well it is almost time to hit the road ….. the cold ….. argh.

There are times these these when I wished that I was retired.

Oh well, it is all good.

 

Thank you Universe for a great weekend.

I had time with my girl, an outing, time with my boy, did some cleaning and laundry and made some jewellery and I RELAXED.

Perfect.

 

Have a great Monday.

Special Hello to: my sister ….. shall we SKYPE soon …..

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 13th day of October, 2016.

Seems like night when I look out the window and see nothing but darkness.

Oh, I guess I can see the reflection of someone’s tail lights as they are “warming” up the truck.

Yesterday was so nice.

Alvin and I enjoyed our walk so much.

I recently found out that all of the fountains in our neighbour are still on and going strong.

We still have a bit of snow remaining on people’s lawns and rooftops.

Back to last night.

Got home from work, Alvin did his routine, I got changed and we went for a walk.

Dropped off a container at my friend’s house.

Came home returned a phone call and made another one.

Submitted a tea party on the computer and was just emailing a friend when the doorbell rang.

It was my friend “P” who has the most beautiful English garden.

Always thinking of Mr. Alvin – she had a couple of treats with her for him.

She is travelling with her husband next week back to England to see her family and was wondering if I had some jewellery.

It was so off guard ….. but I had some pieces for sale.

She purchased several necklaces and a couple of rings.

We had a nice visit while she was trying on necklaces.

After she left I had supper which was about 7:30 p.m. ( my baked potato was well done ).

Crazy busy night but full of great surprises.

I am very grateful for surprises.

So they are forecasting snow flurries for this afternoon.

I hope that Mother Nature finds it in her heart to keep those flurries down to a minimum.

We can only hope.

Much too early for winter …..

It would be nice for the weather to be good for Halloween.

Well almost time to get this trolley on the road.

Now I am referring to myself as a trolley …. okay truly am getting old.

Yikes.

I hope that you all have an awesome day chalked full of wonderful surprises.

Thank you Universe for sweet surprises.

Special Hello to: my sister …. soon, very soon.  Perhaps Sunday??

Always, Carol and Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 9th day of January, 2016.

Kind of rolls off your tongue …. Saturday the 9th day of January, 2016….. with a bit of a ring to it.

It is quiet here in my house at 8:27 a.m.

Looking out the office window the sky looks like dark and looming as it is overcast.

No sight of a sunrise.

None to be found.

We were up earlier at 5:40 a.m. (which is even late for Mr. Alvin) for Alvin’s breakfast.

It just did not seem like the time to be getting up to start this day.

I love just laying in bed … pondering things ….. dozing off …. waking up and then the “light comes on” and it feels like it is time to get up.

Alvin felt that way because when I made the move to get up a few minutes ago …. he literally did a couple of little jump hops before jumping off the bed.

A shower will be welcome this morning …. they help get the day going.

With no hint of sunshine it feels like bedtime not time to get up.

I find in the winter time it is hard to get going early in the morning or even at this time when the sky is overcast.

We have not had much sunshine this winter …..

 

My daughter will be coming in a couple of hours or so and that does make me want to get up and get going.

I have lots to do before her arrival.

I guess the lights in the house will mimic sunshine for now.

The warmth of the shower will feel somewhat like the warmth of the sun.

I will trick the energy into my body.

 

Perhaps wherever you are there is sunshine and the above is not an issue.

I hope there is sunshine where you are this very moment.

But for me and the one million plus people living in Edmonton …. lights and showers will have to do.

 

Have a Happy Saturday.

Be kind …. be respectful ….

Let’s show the Universe that the people of Earth are caring, compassionate and kind.

Let’s show the Universe that we deserve this beautiful planet.

Let’s show the Universe that we can.

 

Special Hello to: my fellow people of Earth …. have a great day.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 7th day of January, 2016.

The past couple of days I have been home sick and am going to work today.

Still not feeling 100% but have to get back to work.

 

How has the world been the past couple of days?

I know that shots were fired in my daughter’s neighbourhood the day before last.

They are okay – thank goodness.

 

This whole mixed up world.

What is happening?

Why are we where we are?

Is anyone asking this question?

Does anyone care?

Is it because of man’s never ending need to be the most powerful / the richest?

Is it because we cannot stand to see someone else with more than us?

Is it because we never completely found compassion for one another?

Is it because we are never satisfied?

The list of questions could go on and on and I have to go to work but perhaps you see my point.

 

I have always tried to be kind and 98% of the time successful, I believe.

Is this a male / female thing?

I do not know.

But something has to change before we destroy ourselves and this beautiful gem in the universe.

Just feeling a little sad this morning ….. perhaps because I am not at my best …. it has me in reflection mode.

But I hope that one by one we can see the light and change things before it is too late.

Please go out of your way to be kind …. to help each other …..

Forget thinking that someone else will stop and help that person in need ….. it has to be you.

You are that person….

You must stop.

If we continue to pass by …. then we will not have learned perhaps the most important lesson of all …..

Compassion for those in need.

To help each other ….. to have community.

Without compassion there is no love.

Without compassion there is no kindness.

Without compassion there is …..

 

I hope that you have a wonderful day ….

Everything starts with you and me.

Special Hello to: my family and friends.

Always, Carol and Alvin