Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning,

Another beautiful morning.

Alvin and I headed out for out walk just a tad earlier than usual.

Today is my late start.

I start at 11:00 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.

I join three coworkers on our after hours phone line from 4:00 till 7:00 p.m.

Thankfully the high for today is to be 25 degrees celsius.

The house remains a bit warm from yesterday but I have the windows open and some of the fans going to circulate the cool air.

 

I wanted to mention something.

One of my friends and coworkers from many years ago in Regina, lost her husband, he passed suddenly.

He was far too young and she is far too young to be a widow.

Their three children are adults but not older.

I knew her husband and he was a sweet and all round good man and human being.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

My thoughts and heart goes out to his family.

 

Yesterday I was chatting with a current coworker trying to get caught up with changes that occured during my vacation.

We have very busy jobs and often put in extra time to keep our heads above water.

Not just for ourselves but for our team and our clients.

In a time where businesses are laying off employees due to the downturn in the economy and employees in turn, having to pick up the extra work.

It is more important than ever for us to look after our physical and mental selves.

If we do not …. no one else will.

In reflection and from a comment that was made, I have decided that although I like my job and always 150% everyday – that adding hours to some days is not the answer.

I am and have always been a hard worker, I don’t waste time, I seldom chat with coworkers – my head is always down working.

So I will continue to give it my all during the hours for which I was hired and will take my breaks.

Life is too short.

When we pass on …. is your employer going to acknowledge all that extra time you put into the job?

Really is anyone going to care that you worked late to get the work done?

Will your clients notice that you worked on a the weekends and until late in the evenings?

I do not think so.

At the end of the day, I want to and will continue to do the best job that I can do within the confines of the hours that I work.

I want to enjoy my remaining time on this planet.

I have a dream to write a book and be published.

I want to spend time with my friends and family whenever I can.

I want to read books and live my life.

I want to be healthy in body, mind and soul.

I have to let go and realize that sometimes you cannot get everything done.

 

Well it is time for coffee and I want to run to the vet and pick up food for the boy.

I start at 11:00 this morning so have some time to do that.

 

Living each day to the best of my ability.

Trying to be the best human being that I can.

Being respectful and kind to the world.

This is me.

This is who I am.

This is who I will continue to be.

 

Have an awesome Wednesday.

Enjoy that cup of coffee chatting with a neighbour over the fence.

Enjoy that walk with your pup in the early morning.

Enjoy that piece of chocolate cake.

Enjoy your life.

We only have one go at it ….. enjoy it.

 

I/We shall remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Well today would be Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

Today is EARTH DAY.

It is overcast here in Edmonton.

Yesterday started out gloomy but ended up bright, sunny and +18 degrees celsius.

I am starting work a bit later today as I was requested to attend a meeting before my later shift schedule began.

So we slept in.

Actually surprise to end all surprises, Mr. Alvin slept in until 6:23 a.m.

I think that may have been the latest in years.

Usually he is up anywhere between 3:30 and 4:45 a.m.

It was nice.

 

I have been thinking about this EARTH DAY.

Listening to the reports on the weather channel of how different the environment whether on land or water is reacting to the COVID-19.

Meaning that with no humans on the beaches and in areas where they normally snorquel by the thousands daily, marine life has returned.

They even found algae where there has been none for decades.

You hear of clear skies in other countries where there is massive manufacturing done when those factories were closed due to the virus.

Just so many wonderful stories.

 

I am sad and disappointed that we have to have a worldwide pandemic in order for the environment to do better and in some cases thrive.

Tells us something.

I guess it will be up to us to listen and to take action.

Definitely less manufacturing.

Perhaps this is the time we need to think about all those trinkets and baubles and such.

Are these things that we actually need to live our lives?

No.

Most of us have houses filled with things that we do not use in our daily lives.

They are ornamental.

There to look good.

Not in our homes and lives to ensure that we live a happy, healthy life.

Not necessary.

With the ever increasing population on this planet, it is something we definitely should think about.

There needs to be less manufacturing.

Food for thought.

 

On this Earth Day, well actually yesterday, I turned off the heat in my house.

It was quite cool in here this morning but I just put on socks and long sleeves and long pants.

There is always a sweater should I need another layer.

The snow has almost melted in the front and back yards.

I have some plants in my back raised flower/shrub bed that are green.

There are blades of green grass in our yards.

On this Earth Day it takes on a whole new meaning.

See what happens when we step back and stay home.

I know that we cannot all continue this indefinitely but we have helped the environment in ways that we do not even realize.

Please ensure that you turn off lights when you are not in the room.

If you do not need the heat, turn off the heat at the thermostat (not the furnace – because that is a whole other story).

Walk more and drive your car less.

Use glass instead of plastic.

We can do this …..

 

I hope that you are all safe, healthy and enjoying some laughter along the way.

Be kind and respectful to all including yourself.

Have an awesome EARTH DAY.

 

Living with kindness and respect,

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. my Hello Fresh BOX arrived yesterday and I am excited to try my first meal tonight.

I will keep you posted as to the quality of the ingredients etc.

Still waiting for my STEEPED TEA order to arrive.  Says in TRANSIT and was supposed to be delivered Monday, then yesterday.

 

 

 

It is a NEW YEAR.

Happy Friday Everyone!

The sun is rising and is more subtle color wise and vibrancy wise.

But beautiful all the same.

Happy today is Friday.

Today is also the day that I work the late shift.

Once every couple of weeks or so the staff or some of the staff are assigned to work from 11:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m.

It is from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. (our office closes at 4:00 p.m. and that is when we have the phones answered by a security company).

So today some of us staff are manny the calls from the public from 4-7 p.m.

Being on the phones is my least favourite part of my job.

Now that we are using our cell phones it is a bit more challenging as at the office I had a headset which made speaking and using the computer easier.

Oh well, I am grateful to have a job and being paid.

I am grateful to have NO commute and to be at home with Alvin.

This is time with him that I would not have had, had I been working at the office.

So grateful for our time together.

I am not certain what the temperature is at the moment.

Perhaps we will have time before I start work at 11:00 a.m. to go for a walk.

Time will tell.

We have five minutes less than three hours.

My daughter brought a chair for me yesterday.

It is way more comfortable than my current one.

That should make my days of sitting easier.

When we went for a walk after work my lower back was giving me a lot of pain so I think that I had better start doing some stretches.

It was a bit brisk but a very enjoyable walk.

Odd how the pain went away when I got home and was not walking.

Definitely not getting as much exercise as in a regular day.

Even at the office I would get up multiple times during the day to pick up letters from the printer.

So have to be careful.

I am going to start including stretches and other exercises into my days.

Likely a good idea for all of us who are sitting most of our days.

I then sit in the evening as well.

So happy to have had some time with my daughter.

Mr. Alvin is resting on his bed beside me in the office.

I will say that it is not nearly as bright out this morning and I think that they did forecast snow for today.

I will check the temperature and I think we may sneak out for a walk in a little bit.

A walk before I sit all day would be a great idea.

 

I know that so many of us are staying home and practicing the social distancing but how many folks are not.

Please unless you absolutely have to go out …. stay home.

I think of all my friends who are in Healthcare, work in grocery stores, fire fighters, police, custodians, and all those jobs that provide essentials to our well being.

So grateful for them all.

Please be safe.

The sooner everyone listens and pays attention to what our health care and government leaders are instructing us to do, the sooner the VIRUS will be gone.

Take care.

 

Well time to get dressed and have some breakfast.

Check the weather.

Clean up the poop.

Yes, someone has to watch after Mr. Alvin.

I have to do some shovelling but will see how much time I have …..

 

Be safe.

Live your lives in kindness and with respect.

We got this.

You got this.

 

I/We remain,

Always, Carol & Alvin