Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Well we are one week into the second half of this NEW YEAR.

It certainly has been a roller coaster kind of ride thus far.

Who would have thought on New Year’s Eve when everyone is thinking about the New Year – that we would have a worldwide Pandemic?

Not me that is for sure.

This year has been stressful, caused anxiety I would say for most people on the planet.

Of course, certainly some more than others.

 

Children were disrupted in their school  year.

Likely the middle school aged children were the happiness to be away from school.

The little ones and the ones graduating not so much.

Although I believe that most schools did offer some online schooling which was great.

 

Parents losing their jobs or working from home adding to the household stress.

Children and their parents home together, 24 / 7 for months.

Not something we see everyday.

 

Then there are single folks and folks without children.

Some working and others not.

Whether you have a house full or not, we have all given our heads a shake in disbelief as the days pass.

By now most of us that are working from home have settled in, I have for sure.

Alvin loves having me at home and I really enjoy being here with him.

We have somewhat of a routine although I find that I am changing things up a bit here and there.

Which is likely a good thing.

 

Parents with school age children are likely happy that it is summer vacation.

Now they just have to worry about keeping them entertained for the summer months.

Although that is a word when used in this context, I am not fond of.

Children should be learning to do things on their own to some degree.

Bringing forth that imagination and such.

But this is a topic for another day.

Reading …. they should definitely be reading more.

 

This pandemic has given the human race much to ponder and consider.

I believe that we have learned so much and have even more to learn for the future.

The nature world has certainly enjoyed the respite from us pain in the butt, human beings.

 

On this Tuesday, we should pause and be think about things that we can do to make life for all.

Picking up trash.

Keeping your yard and neighbourhood clean.

Planting trees.

Being kind and respectful to yourself, to others and to nature and the environment.

 

Well time to head out on the long tiring commute to my workstation.

It is oh so far …….. away …… so far …… at least six inches ….. oh my!!

 

Enjoying my days and nights with me Alvin.

With kindness and respect,

I/We shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S. thought there was a storm a brewing last night so I carefully placed most of  my potted plants into the garage.

What – no storm!

Oh well, better to be safe than sorry.

AND

I somehow managed to break off the arm on my glasses while doing yoga after work yesterday.

HOW?

 

It is a NEW YEAR

Welcome to Tuesday, a nice bright and feels not too bad out.

I just came back from picking up early morning poo.

It is very cool in the house early in the mornings and part of me wants to cave and turn the heat on.

But another part of me, says NO, just put on warmer socks and a sweater.

It is not me that I worry about it is Mr. Alvin.

I wrap him in a nice warm blanket at night and even now he is laying on his bed beside me and I brought another blanket to cover him.

He is not wriggling out so I think he is cold.

I am going to check out the long range forecast and if it does not warm up during the overnight hours, I will turn the heat back on.

With hopes that it will not be for too long.

Well yesterday I decided to take the afternoon off from work.

I was late leaving at lunch of course, there is always that “phone call.”

After I signed off, we went for a nice walk.

We chatted with our friend P as she was out putzing in her garden.

She has crocuses and pansies blooming in her garden.

So pretty ….. I love both of those flowers.

Not long after returning home, I got together my trash picking up equipment and went on my way.

I filled two big black bags with trash and most of it was from one of the nearby walkways.

I could not believe what people throw in a public place.

Can only imagine their homes.

Anyway, I picked up pieces of a dresser of all things from that walkway.

I also found a blue recycling bin full of “crap.” (not poo)

There was also pieces of metal pipe and other things strewn in one area.

So I left those things as I did not have an empty bag nor was I up to hauling that stuff home.

I did drop off that bag at home and continued down the street with the 1/2 filled second bag.

When I did get home I called the City of Edmonton and asked them to come pick up that garbage.

Unfortunately I was not quite able to finish my route as the wind started to gust and it started to rain.

Home, I went.

At least some of the trash is gone from my neighbourhood.

I will finish the other part another day.

Perhaps on the weekend.

 

We went for another walk later on when the rain stopped.

The sky is clear today and there is a breeze.

 

Well time for me to grab that coffee.

I have a lot of work to do.

Actually I worked for over one hour after our walk from before 5:30 until just after 6:30 p.m.

We are so busy.

One of our group was promoted just before we started to work from home.

She is now gone to her new job.

That leaves her portfolio to be split between the rest of us.

I am not complaining as I am VERY grateful to have a job and to be paid.

I learned yesterday from another friend that she had to take a pay cut.

The pay cut is 20%.

Something tells me that this is just the beginning of what is to come over the next couple of years as the world tries to regain economic stability.

I hope that this finds you and your family well.

I hope that you are able to eat well, pay your bills and that you are safe.

 

Time for coffee.

I hope you have an awesome Tuesday.

Tomorrow my leaking tap gets fixed, I am over the moon grateful for that bit of news.

 

Living with kindness and respect.

I/We remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello, welcome to a cloudy, rainy morning in Edmonton.

There were some breaks in the clouds earlier but now it is raining.

 

Well one more sleep until my sister arrives but I had a surprise phone call last night.

Her son is on his way to work and will be stopping in to break up the drive.

So he will be staying with us tonight.

He will leave in the early morning and then my sister will arrive sometime in the afternoon.

YAY …. so excited.

 

Alvin is not pleased with me at the moment as I put a few drops in one of his ear.

As he does not like me cleaning them …. even by placing a few drops in each ear will help clean them.

ONe more ear to go.

Will have to sneak up on him.

He is so smart seeing me bring the bottle with me into the office.

 

Well this vacation has been great thus far.

Yesterday I cleaned the upstairs and now only have the floors to wash on the main floor.

I wanted to leave that until tomorrow morning so they are freshly clean when my sister arrives.

I do wipe off Alvin’s paws when he comes in from outside …. most of the time but sometimes he runs by me and I just let him go.

He does not like having his paws touched even though I am gentle.

 

At this very moment it feels like all is well with the world.

I wish this to be true.

For one moment if there were no suffering, no death or destruction, no wars only JOY.

Just for one moment worldwide.

That would be so wonderful.

A place to build …. a moment in time.

 

Time to get this day going.

Nice to have a few moments to collect one’s thoughts and just be still.

We should all take a few minutes each and every day to just be … to be just be still.

I am in my office …. with my Alvin …. in my happy space.

 

Happy Friday.

 

 

Kindness and Respect give us hope for a better today.

 

 

Always, Carol & Alvin