I lost phone, internet, and T.V. when I returned the cable boxes so I've been bored out of my mind for 2 days. I even went to bed at 9 P.M. each night because I was bored. I can't believe I missed those things so much.
Cogeco set me up today with those services so I'm one happy camper. They do do things a little differently than my old cable company and will charge me every month (starting next year) for the cable boxes on the T.V.'s so I'll buy them when I get home from Florida. It doesn't make sense to rent them.
Any way, I'm back on the internet using a card table instead of a desk because the new desk I purchased won't be here until near the end of August. No problem. The rest of the apartment is coming along fine but my bed hasn't come today as promised so I might be sleeping in the spare room again. No problem. If that's all that upsets me then I'm pretty lucky. Oh, Oh, I just looked at my bill and it says delivery will be between 5 P.M. and 9:30 P.M. Can that be true??? Awfully late for a senior building.
I arrange the potted plants in a grouping on the balcony so that they look really pretty and I can see most of them each time I walk into the livingroom. Once the pictures are all up on the walls it will seem even more like home to me. This is home now.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Another Scare
I scare easily. Yesterday, I took a small load to the apartment and enjoyed walking around my new home once more. One of the things I took down needed to go into the bathroom but, when I went in there, I saw that the toilet seat was up. My heart dropped because I'm there every day and no male has been with me in at least a week.
Heart thumping and wondering what the heck I'd gotten myself into by moving into an apartment where the superintendent had a master key to get in, I walked into the kitchen to put away a few things. I opened one of the cupboard doors and noticed, through my worried eyes, that they were the new ones. My kitchen had the replacement cupboard doors I'd been promised! That's why someone had been in the apartment!
The white doors are on but the brown framing hasn't been resurfaced so I don't know when that will be done. I would have assumed it should be done before putting on the doors but it looks nice just the way it is so I'm happy. Maybe it will just be painted white but I don't care either way.
I don't like the idea of strangers in the apartment but I guess that's the way it has to be when something is being repaired. I'm very glad I had Don put a safety latch on the front door, though, that I can use when I'm in the apartment alone.
My house looks so empty and unloved with almost all of my stuff gone. It doesn't look like home any more. 3 more days and it won't be!
Heart thumping and wondering what the heck I'd gotten myself into by moving into an apartment where the superintendent had a master key to get in, I walked into the kitchen to put away a few things. I opened one of the cupboard doors and noticed, through my worried eyes, that they were the new ones. My kitchen had the replacement cupboard doors I'd been promised! That's why someone had been in the apartment!
The white doors are on but the brown framing hasn't been resurfaced so I don't know when that will be done. I would have assumed it should be done before putting on the doors but it looks nice just the way it is so I'm happy. Maybe it will just be painted white but I don't care either way.
I don't like the idea of strangers in the apartment but I guess that's the way it has to be when something is being repaired. I'm very glad I had Don put a safety latch on the front door, though, that I can use when I'm in the apartment alone.
My house looks so empty and unloved with almost all of my stuff gone. It doesn't look like home any more. 3 more days and it won't be!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Baby's Gone
My baby girl (49 years old but she's still my baby) left for home today after a wonderful and very busy 10 day visit. Kim worked half days so she could spend more time with Shelley and Jake and she planned one heck of a whirlwind itinerary.
Much of the time was spent among the cousins and that always makes me very happy...that my girls and their cousins are close, and that the next generation down is also close. My kids were taught from the beginning that a close and loving family is one of the most important things you can achieve in your life. Their cousins were taught the same thing and it's made for a better life for all of us.
Shelley got to say goodbye to her childhood home...it will belong to another family in just 8 days but I'm hoping they'll let me back in for a look in a year or so to see what changes they make. All of my girls took mementos of their father. I keep wondering what he'd think of the direction my life has taken since he passed away and I have to believe he's surprised at how well I've managed. At least I think I've managed well.
When all my grandchildren were about 4-5 months old I had their pictures taken by a photographer but space is limited in the apartment so I'm making their mothers take the pictures home. I couldn't find Nicole's picture today for Shelley so it must be in another pile somewhere. I'll find it and take it down to Florida in October. Both Cindy and Kim are taking the loads of old photos because you just can't dispose of stuff like that. Most aren't even in albums because I got a little overwhelmed with the backlog in 1989. My photo taking days ended not too long after that.
Today was an easy day. I took a few items to the apartment, froze some pork tenderloins in baggies, hung 2 pictures, and tidied up a bit. I met another lady who has lived in the building for 6 years and she absolutely loves it there. She also had some nice words for the superintendent. I feel so fortunate to have landed in this nice building. It's as though it was meant to be.
Now I'm tired and need a nap. I had another sleepless night (wide awake at 2:30 A.M.) and I know a nap will screw up tonight's sleep but I'm too tired to care. I hope my snoring doesn't keep me awake. LOL!
Much of the time was spent among the cousins and that always makes me very happy...that my girls and their cousins are close, and that the next generation down is also close. My kids were taught from the beginning that a close and loving family is one of the most important things you can achieve in your life. Their cousins were taught the same thing and it's made for a better life for all of us.
Shelley got to say goodbye to her childhood home...it will belong to another family in just 8 days but I'm hoping they'll let me back in for a look in a year or so to see what changes they make. All of my girls took mementos of their father. I keep wondering what he'd think of the direction my life has taken since he passed away and I have to believe he's surprised at how well I've managed. At least I think I've managed well.
When all my grandchildren were about 4-5 months old I had their pictures taken by a photographer but space is limited in the apartment so I'm making their mothers take the pictures home. I couldn't find Nicole's picture today for Shelley so it must be in another pile somewhere. I'll find it and take it down to Florida in October. Both Cindy and Kim are taking the loads of old photos because you just can't dispose of stuff like that. Most aren't even in albums because I got a little overwhelmed with the backlog in 1989. My photo taking days ended not too long after that.
Today was an easy day. I took a few items to the apartment, froze some pork tenderloins in baggies, hung 2 pictures, and tidied up a bit. I met another lady who has lived in the building for 6 years and she absolutely loves it there. She also had some nice words for the superintendent. I feel so fortunate to have landed in this nice building. It's as though it was meant to be.
Now I'm tired and need a nap. I had another sleepless night (wide awake at 2:30 A.M.) and I know a nap will screw up tonight's sleep but I'm too tired to care. I hope my snoring doesn't keep me awake. LOL!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Down to the Wire
There's so little left in the house to take to the apartment but I seem to have hit a wall. I'm simply exhausted and having trouble forcing myself to take even 1 more little box to the car for transport. I think I've been working so hard this past month on sheer will power and determination and now that it's almost done I'm sort of giving in to my mind and body telling me to stop and rest. But there's still stuff to be done.
My garden has really suffered and hasn't been weeded since I got the apartment. I'm almost embarrassed about it because it's always looked so pretty. But I just don't have enough energy left after toting boxloads out to the car and into the apartment every day. The grass gets cut because I have a service that does it, thank heavens, or it would be 3' high by now. It will be heaven to be completely moved and settled and that's only a week away. I hope I survive it.
My garden has really suffered and hasn't been weeded since I got the apartment. I'm almost embarrassed about it because it's always looked so pretty. But I just don't have enough energy left after toting boxloads out to the car and into the apartment every day. The grass gets cut because I have a service that does it, thank heavens, or it would be 3' high by now. It will be heaven to be completely moved and settled and that's only a week away. I hope I survive it.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Countdown
I am now into the last full week of living in this house and I'm still thrilled to death that I'm moving. This time next Monday, the house will be empty of everything I'm taking except the few large items the movers will take to the apartment that day and I will have spent my last night here.
I remember when we bought this house on August 28, 1968. It had always been a dream of mine to own my own house because that represented security to me. There has been a lifetime of memories made in this house...the good, the bad, and the ugly...but I know I'll walk away feeling that the time has come to leave and live a simpler life.
Donna is going with me today to take a small load (nothing much left here now) and then we'll go for lunch. Life goes on, doesn't it? It's funny how I feel more at home now in the apartment than I do here. This doesn't feel like where I live any more and that's a good thing. It would be terrible if I'd been forced to leave against my will and I know that happens with a lot of seniors. Cindy said it best...I'm leaving on my own terms and I'm looking forward to a different home where I don't have so many daunting responsibilities in maintaining it.
I remember when we bought this house on August 28, 1968. It had always been a dream of mine to own my own house because that represented security to me. There has been a lifetime of memories made in this house...the good, the bad, and the ugly...but I know I'll walk away feeling that the time has come to leave and live a simpler life.
Donna is going with me today to take a small load (nothing much left here now) and then we'll go for lunch. Life goes on, doesn't it? It's funny how I feel more at home now in the apartment than I do here. This doesn't feel like where I live any more and that's a good thing. It would be terrible if I'd been forced to leave against my will and I know that happens with a lot of seniors. Cindy said it best...I'm leaving on my own terms and I'm looking forward to a different home where I don't have so many daunting responsibilities in maintaining it.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Driving Blind
The torrential rain that blasted through the Niagara region yesterday caught me right on the QEW coming home from the casino. My first inkling that something was up was when I exited the casino at 7:30 P.M. to a black sky that darkened the streets so badly I had a hard time seeing to drive. In the dark, I see haloes around headlights so I don't usually drive at night.
Anyway, the sky was ominously black but you could see light where the heavy cloud mass sort of ended and that was the direction I was going. I foolishly thought I might be able to get home (an hour away) before it rained too hard but it hit like gangbusters once I got out on the highway. The rain came down so hard that I couldn't make out the car lane lines and had to stay close behind the car in front of me...hoping they could see better than I did.
Not only was visibility near zero but there were very deep puddles building up and I worried about hydroplaning. I decided to stay on the highway as long as the car in front of me did instead of looking for an off ramp. I was afraid if I got off the highway I still wouldn't be able to see and also wouldn't have any idea where to go.
The rain abated every once in a while only to come back with a vengeance, blinding all of us drivers again and again. It was a wicked hour on the road going very slowly before I got to the Linc and knew I'd make it home. The clouds were still black and the rainfall still heavy when I reached the house but I was so darned relieved to not have ended up smeared on the highway.
There was a lot of tree damage in the city, mainly large old trees with heavy limbs that just couldn't withstand the vicious winds. I lost one little limb off my relatively young tree in the front yard but that was all. No basement water damage, thank heavens! A neighbor up the street must have had their basement flooded because the whole foundation of their house was dug up today...I presume to put waterproofing against it. I'm so glad mine was done a few years back because I'd have had a nervous breakdown if my basement flooded now.
The one good thing about the storm is that the heat dropped to a liveable 25C (80F) today and I hope we don't see any more mid 30C days this summer.
Anyway, the sky was ominously black but you could see light where the heavy cloud mass sort of ended and that was the direction I was going. I foolishly thought I might be able to get home (an hour away) before it rained too hard but it hit like gangbusters once I got out on the highway. The rain came down so hard that I couldn't make out the car lane lines and had to stay close behind the car in front of me...hoping they could see better than I did.
Not only was visibility near zero but there were very deep puddles building up and I worried about hydroplaning. I decided to stay on the highway as long as the car in front of me did instead of looking for an off ramp. I was afraid if I got off the highway I still wouldn't be able to see and also wouldn't have any idea where to go.
The rain abated every once in a while only to come back with a vengeance, blinding all of us drivers again and again. It was a wicked hour on the road going very slowly before I got to the Linc and knew I'd make it home. The clouds were still black and the rainfall still heavy when I reached the house but I was so darned relieved to not have ended up smeared on the highway.
There was a lot of tree damage in the city, mainly large old trees with heavy limbs that just couldn't withstand the vicious winds. I lost one little limb off my relatively young tree in the front yard but that was all. No basement water damage, thank heavens! A neighbor up the street must have had their basement flooded because the whole foundation of their house was dug up today...I presume to put waterproofing against it. I'm so glad mine was done a few years back because I'd have had a nervous breakdown if my basement flooded now.
The one good thing about the storm is that the heat dropped to a liveable 25C (80F) today and I hope we don't see any more mid 30C days this summer.
Concrete Walls
It never occurred to me that hanging curtain rods in an apartment would be a problem but they have concrete walls which means it isn't easy to nail or screw in brackets. I'd expected Kim and Shelley to do this as an easy job but Kim informed me about the concrete walls and I realized it wasn't something they could do. So I called in my new handyman, Lorne. His wife babysits my greatgrandsons and, since I've lost my old handyman to illness, Nick told me her husband would do odd jobs.
Lorne wasn't too fussy about having to drill into concrete but he felt sorry for me and said he'd do it. It took him about an hour to put up 2 rods so it was a more difficult job than Kim and Shelley could have done. I hung curtains on the bedroom window and the dining area window and now my apartment looks even more homey. I'm thrilled.
Every time I hire someone to do odd jobs like this, I think of how much Dennis did around the house that I just took for granted. I guess I never fully appreciated it.
Anyway, Lorne said he'd come back and put up the spare bedroom blind and ceiling fan when I get them. He'll also hang pictures for me if the inside walls are concrete. I did hang a picture already in the bathroom and had no trouble hammering in a nail so maybe the rest of the walls will be okay for me to handle.
All in good time!
Lorne wasn't too fussy about having to drill into concrete but he felt sorry for me and said he'd do it. It took him about an hour to put up 2 rods so it was a more difficult job than Kim and Shelley could have done. I hung curtains on the bedroom window and the dining area window and now my apartment looks even more homey. I'm thrilled.
Every time I hire someone to do odd jobs like this, I think of how much Dennis did around the house that I just took for granted. I guess I never fully appreciated it.
Anyway, Lorne said he'd come back and put up the spare bedroom blind and ceiling fan when I get them. He'll also hang pictures for me if the inside walls are concrete. I did hang a picture already in the bathroom and had no trouble hammering in a nail so maybe the rest of the walls will be okay for me to handle.
All in good time!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Saw Something New
Maybe this has been around for a while but it was my first sighting.
Yesterday, Shelley and I were sitting on a park bench on the main street of Niagara-on-the-Lake, people watching and taking a respite from walking in the brutal heat when a person walked by with pants hanging down below their bum. I pointed it out to Shelley because I always think it looks so stupid but this one was a little different.
What I saw was a fat person with their pants under the bum but the bum was pretty huge. I looked up and saw an almost shaved head. Of course, I thought it was a man but it was actually a woman. I assume it was a gay woman doing her best to look really, really male by wearing her pants like some men or boys do.
I don't care that she was gay. What I'm shocked about is that a gay woman would be so desperate to emulate a male that she would wear her pants under her butt. Is it testosterone that pushes some males to wear their pants in this way as an aggressive demonstration or is it just pure ignorance and stupidity?
I see a lot of lesbians who wear male attire and shave their heads in order to diminish anything feminine about themselves but wearing pants under their behind doesn't make sense to me. If they're attempting to look masculine, wouldn't it make more sense to look like a male that's higher up on the evolutionary scale?
And I'm still wondering how the heck these people keep their pants from falling down around their ankles. It's a fashion statement that they'll remember with embarrassment 10 years from now.
Yesterday, Shelley and I were sitting on a park bench on the main street of Niagara-on-the-Lake, people watching and taking a respite from walking in the brutal heat when a person walked by with pants hanging down below their bum. I pointed it out to Shelley because I always think it looks so stupid but this one was a little different.
What I saw was a fat person with their pants under the bum but the bum was pretty huge. I looked up and saw an almost shaved head. Of course, I thought it was a man but it was actually a woman. I assume it was a gay woman doing her best to look really, really male by wearing her pants like some men or boys do.
I don't care that she was gay. What I'm shocked about is that a gay woman would be so desperate to emulate a male that she would wear her pants under her butt. Is it testosterone that pushes some males to wear their pants in this way as an aggressive demonstration or is it just pure ignorance and stupidity?
I see a lot of lesbians who wear male attire and shave their heads in order to diminish anything feminine about themselves but wearing pants under their behind doesn't make sense to me. If they're attempting to look masculine, wouldn't it make more sense to look like a male that's higher up on the evolutionary scale?
And I'm still wondering how the heck these people keep their pants from falling down around their ankles. It's a fashion statement that they'll remember with embarrassment 10 years from now.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Jake and Elvis
I don't know why I didn't know before that my grandson, Jake, is an Elvis fan. I knew he was a Star Wars fan.
The other day he spotted my Elvis doll that I'd planned on taking back to Florida to put on Ebay and expressed great joy...much to his mother's disapproval. I offered him the doll and he was thrilled to have it. Yesterday we were clearing out my sewing room and he was equally joyful about the Elvis beaded curtain that was on the closet door. I offered it to him but his mother loudly disapproved so he declined. But I was happy to see that he was able to persuade her he had to have it and it will be on it's way to his house in Florida. I told him I want to sleep in his room when I visit there!
You know that someone is very special when he even has new fans more than 30 years after he died. Elvis was one of a kind and a true star.
I'm discovering that my Jake appreciates nostalgia and will probably end up an astute collector when he's an adult. I'll do my best to educate him with the little that I know and have learned over the years. What fun!
The other day he spotted my Elvis doll that I'd planned on taking back to Florida to put on Ebay and expressed great joy...much to his mother's disapproval. I offered him the doll and he was thrilled to have it. Yesterday we were clearing out my sewing room and he was equally joyful about the Elvis beaded curtain that was on the closet door. I offered it to him but his mother loudly disapproved so he declined. But I was happy to see that he was able to persuade her he had to have it and it will be on it's way to his house in Florida. I told him I want to sleep in his room when I visit there!
You know that someone is very special when he even has new fans more than 30 years after he died. Elvis was one of a kind and a true star.
I'm discovering that my Jake appreciates nostalgia and will probably end up an astute collector when he's an adult. I'll do my best to educate him with the little that I know and have learned over the years. What fun!
Diana?
Britain's royal couple, William and Kate, are expecting their baby at any moment now and people are excited about what they'll name it. My choice for a girl's name is Diana, after William's mother who was so loved by the people...not so loved by the royal family!
I'm not a royal family fan. We just don't need them but I do like William and his little devil brother, Harry. They seem more everyday, probably because their mother was normal. The royal family always appears to be stiff and unapproachable...but they're no better than the rest of us.
William and Kate are a beautiful couple and I hope their newborn is a happy, healthy child, not too influenced by his or her grandparents. Queen Elizabeth detested Diana who gave of herself, not standing back like the rest of the royal family. She involved herself in charity work which made us view her as a lovable, approachable woman. She really was a wonderful person who died much too young in a very suspicious auto accident. I, for one, will always wonder if she was murdered.
So, it is fitting that William's baby girl (if it's a girl) be named after her belated grandmother, Diana. In an interview on T.V. this morning, some British dignitary said he didn't think the name would be used because it would ruffle too many feathers. I say, "BULLCRAP"!. I hope William has more backbone than that! I guess we'll see soon.
I'm not a royal family fan. We just don't need them but I do like William and his little devil brother, Harry. They seem more everyday, probably because their mother was normal. The royal family always appears to be stiff and unapproachable...but they're no better than the rest of us.
William and Kate are a beautiful couple and I hope their newborn is a happy, healthy child, not too influenced by his or her grandparents. Queen Elizabeth detested Diana who gave of herself, not standing back like the rest of the royal family. She involved herself in charity work which made us view her as a lovable, approachable woman. She really was a wonderful person who died much too young in a very suspicious auto accident. I, for one, will always wonder if she was murdered.
So, it is fitting that William's baby girl (if it's a girl) be named after her belated grandmother, Diana. In an interview on T.V. this morning, some British dignitary said he didn't think the name would be used because it would ruffle too many feathers. I say, "BULLCRAP"!. I hope William has more backbone than that! I guess we'll see soon.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Am I Getting Old?
I joke about being an old gal but I really don't believe it until I look in a mirror or work too hard. Today I got another blast of reality from my daughters. Kim, Shelley, Aeron, and Jake worked like demons this afternoon helping me sort, bag, and cart all my craft stuff to the apartment. It was truly a daunting task...even they looked like dragged out, half dead people by the time we were finished. We're having another heat wave with temps in the 30'sC all week. That's mid 90'sF and the heat just drains all the energy from you, especially if you're carting heavy loads anywhere.
Anyway, they kept telling me to rest and that they'd do all the work. Kim was honest enough to say she didn't want me having a heart attack...I think she was worried that if I did they'd have to carry all my stuff out of the apartment right after carting it in. No, I know they worry about me and it wasn't too hard for me to follow their orders. I rested often while they probably toted a ton of craft supplies, fabric, and yarn to the spare bedroom in the apartment. It's all piled there now waiting for me to go there and organize it, making it neat and making space to put in a single bed, too. I've already told Mary that, when she visits, she might have to sleep on top of a huge pile of monk's cloth. LOL! I was only half kidding. When Kim saw how much monk's cloth I have (to make afghans) she asked me how long I plan to live! I do have a lot...an awful lot.
Actually, Shelley brought up some of those storage bags you vacuum the air out of and it is really amazing how it minimizes whatever fabric items you store in them. My monk's cloth doesn't look too massive now but the rest of the craft items are taking up a scary amount of space. Some may have to go but I'll find that out when I start organizing it all. That will be fun!
Tonight, I'll hike my tired, sore body up the stairs to bed early and know that tomorrow all the aches and pains will be gone. I'm lucky that way. The bad part of tomorrow is that we're all going to Niagara on the Lake and Niagara Falls and the weather forecast is for 33C...almost 100F. The heat wave lasts until Sunday when normal summer weather arrives for a while. I can't wait!
Anyway, they kept telling me to rest and that they'd do all the work. Kim was honest enough to say she didn't want me having a heart attack...I think she was worried that if I did they'd have to carry all my stuff out of the apartment right after carting it in. No, I know they worry about me and it wasn't too hard for me to follow their orders. I rested often while they probably toted a ton of craft supplies, fabric, and yarn to the spare bedroom in the apartment. It's all piled there now waiting for me to go there and organize it, making it neat and making space to put in a single bed, too. I've already told Mary that, when she visits, she might have to sleep on top of a huge pile of monk's cloth. LOL! I was only half kidding. When Kim saw how much monk's cloth I have (to make afghans) she asked me how long I plan to live! I do have a lot...an awful lot.
Actually, Shelley brought up some of those storage bags you vacuum the air out of and it is really amazing how it minimizes whatever fabric items you store in them. My monk's cloth doesn't look too massive now but the rest of the craft items are taking up a scary amount of space. Some may have to go but I'll find that out when I start organizing it all. That will be fun!
Tonight, I'll hike my tired, sore body up the stairs to bed early and know that tomorrow all the aches and pains will be gone. I'm lucky that way. The bad part of tomorrow is that we're all going to Niagara on the Lake and Niagara Falls and the weather forecast is for 33C...almost 100F. The heat wave lasts until Sunday when normal summer weather arrives for a while. I can't wait!
Monday, July 15, 2013
Difference of Opinion
This morning, Lisette and I carried on some interesting (to me, at least) dialogue on Facebook regarding who you should accept into your circle of friends. Lisette is deeply passionate about civil rights and I know that her future endeavours to bring peace, harmony, and acceptance to her fellow man will only help the human race. I'm very proud of her. But she has no tolerance of intolerance and tends to shut out anyone she sees as perpetuating racism and sexism. I have a slight difference of opinion.
Many of the people I care for have a different philosophy than mine but they also possess an awful lot of the positive characteristics that I adhere to. I told Lisette that my primary need in a friend is one who is honest and kind. If they hold personal views on racism or sexism or any other kind of "ism" that doesn't coincide with my own I can handle that as long as they don't try to convert me. I, in turn, only let my own views be known but don't try to convert others to my way of thinking.
I don't think I've ever been racist but I certainly was sexist, believing wholeheartedly in my early years that men should earn more for the same job as a woman and also be the head of the household. I've evolved over the years and now have completely different beliefs. In my almost 73 years, I've evolved and I've seen how society as a whole has evolved. It will always be a continuing process until the day we fragile human beings reach the point where there is no more prejudice. But it sure as hell isn't going to happen in my lifetime or even my greatgrandchildren's lifetime...but it will happen.
In the meantime, because all of us are flawed in one way or another, I plan to look for the good in all the other damaged people and accept the ones who aren't dangerously psycho. We're all part and parcel of our upbringing and social conditioning and it's going to take a long time for our belief system to change...but it will change.
Lisette, go forth and effect change for the better. You will always be a good influence on your fellow man!
Many of the people I care for have a different philosophy than mine but they also possess an awful lot of the positive characteristics that I adhere to. I told Lisette that my primary need in a friend is one who is honest and kind. If they hold personal views on racism or sexism or any other kind of "ism" that doesn't coincide with my own I can handle that as long as they don't try to convert me. I, in turn, only let my own views be known but don't try to convert others to my way of thinking.
I don't think I've ever been racist but I certainly was sexist, believing wholeheartedly in my early years that men should earn more for the same job as a woman and also be the head of the household. I've evolved over the years and now have completely different beliefs. In my almost 73 years, I've evolved and I've seen how society as a whole has evolved. It will always be a continuing process until the day we fragile human beings reach the point where there is no more prejudice. But it sure as hell isn't going to happen in my lifetime or even my greatgrandchildren's lifetime...but it will happen.
In the meantime, because all of us are flawed in one way or another, I plan to look for the good in all the other damaged people and accept the ones who aren't dangerously psycho. We're all part and parcel of our upbringing and social conditioning and it's going to take a long time for our belief system to change...but it will change.
Lisette, go forth and effect change for the better. You will always be a good influence on your fellow man!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Sometimes The System Doesn't Work
George Zimmerman has been legally declared innocent of the act of murdering Trayvon Martin. It's unbelievable that he wasn't at least found guilty of manslaughter but what's done is done. This is one (more) time the judicial system didn't work and a murderer has been set free never to have to face the consequences of shooting and killing a 17 year old young man.
We, the people, know that the judicial system is seriously flawed and that true justice is often not seen. It's so disheartening to see how this particular trial has ended, though. A young boy had his life taken from him by an over-zealous cop-wannabe and it's all ended as though the boy was at fault. How can that be?
I just don't understand how a jury could find Zimmerman innocent when, from the very beginning of the incident, he ignored police orders not to approach Martin. There has been no justice here.
We, the people, know that the judicial system is seriously flawed and that true justice is often not seen. It's so disheartening to see how this particular trial has ended, though. A young boy had his life taken from him by an over-zealous cop-wannabe and it's all ended as though the boy was at fault. How can that be?
I just don't understand how a jury could find Zimmerman innocent when, from the very beginning of the incident, he ignored police orders not to approach Martin. There has been no justice here.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Sweating It Off
I got weighed at the doctor's office last week and meant to weigh myself on my own scale when I got home but it slipped my mind. I wish I had done it because I'm sure I'm sweating off a lot of blubber with this move and I'd like the scale to verify that for me. Not knowing if my scale and the doctor's is synchronized, it doesn't make much sense to test it now.
I don't like being sweaty because I associate it with being dirty. Ever since I got the key to my apartment and began toting boxes down there, I have been sweaty and it's not a pleasant feeling. My hair was freshly washed this morning but now it's all wet and stringy at my neck. Ick!
But I think some of the fat cells are escaping with the sweat because my clothes are getting a bit looser. Sometimes good things come from unpleasant beginnings.
I don't like being sweaty because I associate it with being dirty. Ever since I got the key to my apartment and began toting boxes down there, I have been sweaty and it's not a pleasant feeling. My hair was freshly washed this morning but now it's all wet and stringy at my neck. Ick!
But I think some of the fat cells are escaping with the sweat because my clothes are getting a bit looser. Sometimes good things come from unpleasant beginnings.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Slimming
So many of us have a lifelong struggle to keep our weight down and, unfortunately, most of us don't win the battle. I have a Facebook friend who I haven't seen in a couple of years and she, too, was trying to lose weight but seemed to be on the yoyo diet...losing, gaining, losing, gaining. Christie posted a photo of herself today and she looks drop dead gorgeous. It looks like she's finally found the secret because I've never seen her this slim and you have to know it makes her happy to have succeeded.
Now I have very little willpower so my weight is my own fault. I do try to eat properly most of the time but then I will eat a whole pile of junk food and ruin it all. The dietitian I saw wasn't as concerned with what I ate as she was with my level of activity...or should I say inactivity. I nodded in agreement to every suggestion she made about food but when she suggested an hours walk every day I couldn't be a hypocrite. I know I'm lazy and going for a walk every day would bore me. I know that's ridiculous but that's just the way it is for me.
If I'd eaten properly all my life, normal daily activity would probably be enough to keep my weight down but once you've packed the blubber on daily activity isn't enough to take it off. It was the effects of depression that put it on but I haven't suffered from depression in years so that's no excuse today. Luckily, I'm an old gal now and a beautiful body would look silly on me so I don't have to aspire to that extent. I've said it before and here it is again, I would just like to feel comfortable in my body and be able to easily find clothes that look nice on me.
On the bright side, the last time I was weighed it appeared I'd lost about 5+ pounds just by eating a little more sensibly. I've been working like a dog this past month packing and carting stuff to the apartment and my clothes feel a little looser so maybe that can be counted as exercise. Once I'm moved in I plan to vegetate for a month, though.
I doubt any woman is satisfied with their weight. We're too deeply conditioned by models and movie stars who seem to stay perfect all the time and we just can't compare with them. But being in perfect shape is all a matter of one's own preconception so we might even be at our best and not even know it. Since I once thought of myself as skinny, I must have been perfect some time along the way and I certainly wasn't aware of it.
I suppose it's too much to ask that we be content with ourselves at any weight because there is also a health factor. I just don't think that being skin and bones is healthy but neither is being 50+ pounds overweight so somewhere in the middle should be what we strive for. The "comfortable" spot!
Now I have very little willpower so my weight is my own fault. I do try to eat properly most of the time but then I will eat a whole pile of junk food and ruin it all. The dietitian I saw wasn't as concerned with what I ate as she was with my level of activity...or should I say inactivity. I nodded in agreement to every suggestion she made about food but when she suggested an hours walk every day I couldn't be a hypocrite. I know I'm lazy and going for a walk every day would bore me. I know that's ridiculous but that's just the way it is for me.
If I'd eaten properly all my life, normal daily activity would probably be enough to keep my weight down but once you've packed the blubber on daily activity isn't enough to take it off. It was the effects of depression that put it on but I haven't suffered from depression in years so that's no excuse today. Luckily, I'm an old gal now and a beautiful body would look silly on me so I don't have to aspire to that extent. I've said it before and here it is again, I would just like to feel comfortable in my body and be able to easily find clothes that look nice on me.
On the bright side, the last time I was weighed it appeared I'd lost about 5+ pounds just by eating a little more sensibly. I've been working like a dog this past month packing and carting stuff to the apartment and my clothes feel a little looser so maybe that can be counted as exercise. Once I'm moved in I plan to vegetate for a month, though.
I doubt any woman is satisfied with their weight. We're too deeply conditioned by models and movie stars who seem to stay perfect all the time and we just can't compare with them. But being in perfect shape is all a matter of one's own preconception so we might even be at our best and not even know it. Since I once thought of myself as skinny, I must have been perfect some time along the way and I certainly wasn't aware of it.
I suppose it's too much to ask that we be content with ourselves at any weight because there is also a health factor. I just don't think that being skin and bones is healthy but neither is being 50+ pounds overweight so somewhere in the middle should be what we strive for. The "comfortable" spot!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Got a Scare
I brought the mail in today and saw a letter from the insurance company that covers my car and house. A few weeks ago I'd cancelled the house insurance as of August 1st but was careful to say that I wasn't cancelling the car insurance. When I opened the letter, I saw I'd be getting a refund for the house insurance AND the car insurance...this scared the beejeezus out of me because Grey Power offers me the best rate.
I called them to find out what was going on and found out that the refund on the car insurance was because I was moving from a big city to a small town. I guess it makes no difference that the city and town are attached to each other and you can't tell where one ends and the other begins. I don't much care as long as I get the discounted price which will amount to about $350 per year. What a nice surprise!
Also, today, I bought a really cool area rug from Ikea for in front of the sofa. It's a shaggy blend of taupe and beige and not at all what I'd planned on getting but it's so darned cute. I like it a lot but it's too heavy for me to carry in to see how it looks in front of the sofa so I'll have to wait until one of my family shows up.
The process of selling the house and moving into the apartment still continues to run fairly smoothly but I'm still not counting on anything until I see that deposit into my bank account. I've never forgotten how Don and Mary lost their sale the very day it was to go through and how devastating it was for them. In my case, I'd still move into the apartment but put the house in the hands of a realtor. We've had 2 houses on my street sell within just a few days of listing in the this year alone so I know it would sell. And my house is the cutest!
Any way, time is going fast and there are lots of things happening in the next week. Cindy and I are going out to get a dining set for me; Shelley and Jake are arriving Saturday; I'm having a family pizza party on Sunday....and Kim has tons of activities planned for the 10 days that Shelley and Jake are here! Life is good!
I called them to find out what was going on and found out that the refund on the car insurance was because I was moving from a big city to a small town. I guess it makes no difference that the city and town are attached to each other and you can't tell where one ends and the other begins. I don't much care as long as I get the discounted price which will amount to about $350 per year. What a nice surprise!
Also, today, I bought a really cool area rug from Ikea for in front of the sofa. It's a shaggy blend of taupe and beige and not at all what I'd planned on getting but it's so darned cute. I like it a lot but it's too heavy for me to carry in to see how it looks in front of the sofa so I'll have to wait until one of my family shows up.
The process of selling the house and moving into the apartment still continues to run fairly smoothly but I'm still not counting on anything until I see that deposit into my bank account. I've never forgotten how Don and Mary lost their sale the very day it was to go through and how devastating it was for them. In my case, I'd still move into the apartment but put the house in the hands of a realtor. We've had 2 houses on my street sell within just a few days of listing in the this year alone so I know it would sell. And my house is the cutest!
Any way, time is going fast and there are lots of things happening in the next week. Cindy and I are going out to get a dining set for me; Shelley and Jake are arriving Saturday; I'm having a family pizza party on Sunday....and Kim has tons of activities planned for the 10 days that Shelley and Jake are here! Life is good!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Maybe He Was Right
Dennis used to say that one day I would bring home a load of stuff and the house would sink right into the ground. That was his way of saying I bought too much. He'd never tell me I couldn't but he'd quietly let me know I was possibly overdoing it. After carting boxload after boxload of stuff to the Salvation Army, roadside for garbage pick-up, and to the apartment, I'm finally getting the idea that maybe he knew what he was talking about.
I understand that all the mess crowding out my living space is stuff that used to be shut away in closets and drawers but it really seems that I've accumulated way too much over the years. It was easy to get rid of a lot but there's just too much I want to keep. Sooner or later, in the next few weeks, I'm definitely going to have to give up some of the treasured stuff and I'm not looking forward to that.
I've seen retirement homes where the retiree has only one room to hold his/her treasures of a lifetime and it's kind of sad to see how crowded it is. Every personal treasure has a meaning for us and discarding it is like cutting off a limb. A little trinket might hold a memory too special to let go. A piece of furniture might have come from a long dead but dearly loved relative. A yellowed letter might have been written to us by someone very special. These are the possessions most difficult to toss away.
I've been storing old photographs and Dennis' award plaques for years just because they would be impossible to throw away but my girls have kindly offered to take them for me. It's a proper rite of passage.
My new chest of drawers is being delivered to the apartment today and I'll also stop at a store to look at desks. The one I had already bought won't be available until the end of September and that's just too late for me so I cancelled the order. It's so freeing to know I'll have the money coming in Aug. 1st for the house and don't have to count my pennies when shopping for these few pieces of furniture. I could never go wild and overspend, though, because it's not in my nature.
And so, today, another load leaves my house for the apartment. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to see some empty spaces here.
I understand that all the mess crowding out my living space is stuff that used to be shut away in closets and drawers but it really seems that I've accumulated way too much over the years. It was easy to get rid of a lot but there's just too much I want to keep. Sooner or later, in the next few weeks, I'm definitely going to have to give up some of the treasured stuff and I'm not looking forward to that.
I've seen retirement homes where the retiree has only one room to hold his/her treasures of a lifetime and it's kind of sad to see how crowded it is. Every personal treasure has a meaning for us and discarding it is like cutting off a limb. A little trinket might hold a memory too special to let go. A piece of furniture might have come from a long dead but dearly loved relative. A yellowed letter might have been written to us by someone very special. These are the possessions most difficult to toss away.
I've been storing old photographs and Dennis' award plaques for years just because they would be impossible to throw away but my girls have kindly offered to take them for me. It's a proper rite of passage.
My new chest of drawers is being delivered to the apartment today and I'll also stop at a store to look at desks. The one I had already bought won't be available until the end of September and that's just too late for me so I cancelled the order. It's so freeing to know I'll have the money coming in Aug. 1st for the house and don't have to count my pennies when shopping for these few pieces of furniture. I could never go wild and overspend, though, because it's not in my nature.
And so, today, another load leaves my house for the apartment. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to see some empty spaces here.
Tuesday, July 09, 2013
Toronto Drowned Out
Poor Toronto got deluged with intense, prolonged rainfall yesterday right at dinnertime which ruined the homeward bound trips of thousands of people. As bad as it was to see this, and knowing it affected my Cindy and Valerie, I was still grateful that the drowning rainfall missed my city. The house has not been paid for yet and I would have had a nervous breakdown if I'd been flooded out.
I don't ever remember flooding rainfalls like we've had in southern Ontario in the recent past. The weather patterns seem to have changed drastically from when I was a little girl. In the 1940's and 1950's, we had hot summers and cold, snowy winters with little variation but these days there seems to be all kinds of surprises from the weatherman. It isn't unusual any more to need the air conditioning one day and a heater the next, even in Florida.
I talked to Cindy this morning and she's inventorying the damage to the merchandise in the warehouse where she works in Toronto. Apparently it's severe. The news is filled with photos of submerged go-trains and highways and people abandoning their cars for fear of drowning in the rising water. The subways must be ruined. It's almost like what happened in New Jersey but we're so far inland it's something no-one would ever have expected could happen.
Ottawa may be the capital city but Toronto is really the hub of Ontario business and I'm sure this storm will have a devastating effect on our economy for a short period in any case.
In the mean time, I'm ever thankful that my city was spared and my house isn't waterlogged.
I don't ever remember flooding rainfalls like we've had in southern Ontario in the recent past. The weather patterns seem to have changed drastically from when I was a little girl. In the 1940's and 1950's, we had hot summers and cold, snowy winters with little variation but these days there seems to be all kinds of surprises from the weatherman. It isn't unusual any more to need the air conditioning one day and a heater the next, even in Florida.
I talked to Cindy this morning and she's inventorying the damage to the merchandise in the warehouse where she works in Toronto. Apparently it's severe. The news is filled with photos of submerged go-trains and highways and people abandoning their cars for fear of drowning in the rising water. The subways must be ruined. It's almost like what happened in New Jersey but we're so far inland it's something no-one would ever have expected could happen.
Ottawa may be the capital city but Toronto is really the hub of Ontario business and I'm sure this storm will have a devastating effect on our economy for a short period in any case.
In the mean time, I'm ever thankful that my city was spared and my house isn't waterlogged.
Monday, July 08, 2013
Zimmerman/Martin
George Zimmerman's trial is ongoing and I'm wondering how there can be any doubt as to who was at fault in the death of his victim, 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was armed and on security patrol at a housing complex when he spotted young Trayvon walking along minding his own business. Zimmerman, who had no authority to accost or arrest Martin called the police with concerns that maybe the boy was in intruder and he was told to keep his distance and not approach the boy. Ignoring police, Zimmerman did approach the boy and a scuffle broke out. In the scuffle, Zimmerman shot and killed Martin who was unarmed and who had every right to be walking through the complex while visiting family.
To me, this is an open and shut case where Zimmerman disregarded the police and tried to subdue the boy, shooting and killing him in the process. I believe he tried to physically stop the boy who resisted and then shot him because he resisted.
To put any blame on the victim is abhorrent but I'm sure that's what Zimmerman's lawyers will attempt to do. Zimmerman is not necessarily an evil person but he made a big mistake by going against police orders when he accosted Martin. He had no right to even touch the boy let alone draw his gun on him. Was it racially motivated? Probably not. Zimmerman simply abused his very limited authority and it resulted in the death of a young man. I'd have more respect for Zimmerman if he'd accepted responsibility for his poor judgement instead of blaming his victim.
Nothing will ever bring back the young man who had his whole life ahead of him but Zimmerman was an armed vigilante who did wrong and should receive a severe penalty as consequences for his unwarranted actions.
To me, this is an open and shut case where Zimmerman disregarded the police and tried to subdue the boy, shooting and killing him in the process. I believe he tried to physically stop the boy who resisted and then shot him because he resisted.
To put any blame on the victim is abhorrent but I'm sure that's what Zimmerman's lawyers will attempt to do. Zimmerman is not necessarily an evil person but he made a big mistake by going against police orders when he accosted Martin. He had no right to even touch the boy let alone draw his gun on him. Was it racially motivated? Probably not. Zimmerman simply abused his very limited authority and it resulted in the death of a young man. I'd have more respect for Zimmerman if he'd accepted responsibility for his poor judgement instead of blaming his victim.
Nothing will ever bring back the young man who had his whole life ahead of him but Zimmerman was an armed vigilante who did wrong and should receive a severe penalty as consequences for his unwarranted actions.
Saturday, July 06, 2013
Moving In
I have to say it's fun moving my stuff into the apartment but the more stuff that goes in, the more I'm wondering about running out of space. Again, it's only the spare room that worries me because it's very small. I told Mary she might have to sleep on top of my craft supplies when she visits.
Nick, Kim, and Nolan met me at the apartment at 6 P.M. and, bless their hearts, they're the ones who emptied my car and carried everything up for me while I looked after Nolan. The balcony makes me a little nervous about having the little ones there so I'll have to see about putting a latch on the patio door screen.
The painting was complete and the apartment looks so sparkly clean and fresh...I love it more every time I see it! Cindy is coming over at 11 A.M. to help load up the car with more boxes to take down and Don will bring the air conditioner when he gets off work at 12:30. Cindy and I will wash the cupboards (which already look very clean) and put away dishes. I'm only taking what I need and leaving the rest behind. Maybe that will leave some room in the kitchen cupboards for some of my craft stuff???
I took an Advil P.M. last night and slept for 7 glorious hours. How nice! Now it's time for me to stop playing on the computer and do some more packing. I love it!
Nick, Kim, and Nolan met me at the apartment at 6 P.M. and, bless their hearts, they're the ones who emptied my car and carried everything up for me while I looked after Nolan. The balcony makes me a little nervous about having the little ones there so I'll have to see about putting a latch on the patio door screen.
The painting was complete and the apartment looks so sparkly clean and fresh...I love it more every time I see it! Cindy is coming over at 11 A.M. to help load up the car with more boxes to take down and Don will bring the air conditioner when he gets off work at 12:30. Cindy and I will wash the cupboards (which already look very clean) and put away dishes. I'm only taking what I need and leaving the rest behind. Maybe that will leave some room in the kitchen cupboards for some of my craft stuff???
I took an Advil P.M. last night and slept for 7 glorious hours. How nice! Now it's time for me to stop playing on the computer and do some more packing. I love it!
Friday, July 05, 2013
My Thursday
I had about an hour's sleep Wednesday night...wide awake most of the night trying to organize the move in my mind. Today was the day I got the keys to the apartment!
Mary arrived a little after 11 A.M. for her overnight visit and we drank coffee and yakked until leaving to pick up Faye at 1 P.M. I'd already loaded up the car with a few boxes of clothes, not wanting to give us anything too heavy to cart in to the apartment. Sorin, the superintendant, was right there ready to show me my parking space, storage locker, and hand me a heck of a pile of keys. He had to show me how to disable one of the elevators for the moving men, too. I sure hope I remember all this stuff.
His wife was in my apartment still painting when we got there and it's a lovely shade of very light beige which suits me fine. I'd been inside twice but still had missed the number of closets and room size so it was interesting to see how much closet space I had but how small my 2nd bedroom/craft room actually was. It will all work out some way, some how. The little dining area was even smaller than I remembered but my 50" desk will fit in perfectly. The parquet floors were not as dark as I remembered, too, and I liked them better. All in all, I'm even happier about how the place looks than I was before.
Mary, Faye, and I left for the casino where we spent about 6 hours gambling...Mary won about $160, I won $25, and Faye lost $20. Great day!
We dropped Faye off at home and then Mary and I came to my house to drink gin & tonic and gab. We did this until 4 A.M. I don't know how I'm surviving on so little sleep but I'm sure to crash one day soon and sleep for 24 hours. And then I was up at 8 A.M. this morning feeling quite rested.
This is such a happy time for me, a drastic change in living conditions that will free me to drop a lot of responsibilities off my shoulders. Life is good!
Mary arrived a little after 11 A.M. for her overnight visit and we drank coffee and yakked until leaving to pick up Faye at 1 P.M. I'd already loaded up the car with a few boxes of clothes, not wanting to give us anything too heavy to cart in to the apartment. Sorin, the superintendant, was right there ready to show me my parking space, storage locker, and hand me a heck of a pile of keys. He had to show me how to disable one of the elevators for the moving men, too. I sure hope I remember all this stuff.
His wife was in my apartment still painting when we got there and it's a lovely shade of very light beige which suits me fine. I'd been inside twice but still had missed the number of closets and room size so it was interesting to see how much closet space I had but how small my 2nd bedroom/craft room actually was. It will all work out some way, some how. The little dining area was even smaller than I remembered but my 50" desk will fit in perfectly. The parquet floors were not as dark as I remembered, too, and I liked them better. All in all, I'm even happier about how the place looks than I was before.
Mary, Faye, and I left for the casino where we spent about 6 hours gambling...Mary won about $160, I won $25, and Faye lost $20. Great day!
We dropped Faye off at home and then Mary and I came to my house to drink gin & tonic and gab. We did this until 4 A.M. I don't know how I'm surviving on so little sleep but I'm sure to crash one day soon and sleep for 24 hours. And then I was up at 8 A.M. this morning feeling quite rested.
This is such a happy time for me, a drastic change in living conditions that will free me to drop a lot of responsibilities off my shoulders. Life is good!
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
Musings
As I enter the final month living in this house Dennis and I bought almost 45 years ago, my mind drifts back to memories built here. I wanted a house of my own so badly but Dennis had almost always lived in homes his family owned so it was no big deal to him. He allowed me to push him into an immense mortgage ($13,000) plus down payment debt of $5,000 to his father and $1,000 to his sister, Joyce. I felt weighed down by such a huge financial liability, too, but my desperation to own my own home overrode it all.
The day we moved in the previous owners didn't have all of their possessions out until early evening so we sat and waited with a borrowed truck filled to overflowing with our own possessions. Frank had to go to work so we emptied his car of our stuff, too...I don't remember where we put it but I do remember the truck being loaded so high we looked like refugees fleeing a famine.
Dennis worked hard to take care of the house and do all the renovations that were created in my mind. He was always satisfied with the status quo but I needed to regularly re-feather my nest. I could never understand why he did the work reluctantly, not enjoying it like I did. Of course, it was him doing all the physical labor.
Kim's first boyfriend arrived at our door one day. He popped his head in and said, "Hi, Pops", to Dennis. He was lucky to get out of the house alive. Cindy and Shelley did pagan dances in the backyard, strumming on the bottom of a kiddie pool. We had yearly family Xmas eve parties where the whole family filled this little house from wall to wall. Dennis made turkey soup out of the leftovers every boxing day and some of those family members made the trip back to eat with us. We lived through many "boyfriends", some we liked and some we didn't. The girls and I convinced Dennis we needed a dog and so Corky came to live with us. We never had much money but we survived because our needs were met...Dennis was never out of work, thank heavens. Kim, Cindy, and Shelley all prepared for their weddings in this house. After a few years of trying, Kim and Brian informed us that Nicholas was on the way and we cried. Dennis taught Nicole to say "bullfeathers". He also fed all the grandchildren ice-cream out of coffee mugs...smart! Aeron was our first granddaughter and Dennis joyfully gave her a very expensive doll for her first Xmas. She dragged it around by the hair.
Dennis passed away in this house.
In time, the greatgrandchildren came through the door and a toy area was created for them. Life in this house has always been about family.
And now it's time for me to move on to something smaller and needs less looking after. I think Dennis would be proud of how I've managed, probably a little surprised, but I know he'd be wishing me well. This month will be one of emptying the house but some things will be left behind to help the new owners get their start. They are a little family of 2 parents and a little 9 year old girl. I wish them well, too.
The day we moved in the previous owners didn't have all of their possessions out until early evening so we sat and waited with a borrowed truck filled to overflowing with our own possessions. Frank had to go to work so we emptied his car of our stuff, too...I don't remember where we put it but I do remember the truck being loaded so high we looked like refugees fleeing a famine.
Dennis worked hard to take care of the house and do all the renovations that were created in my mind. He was always satisfied with the status quo but I needed to regularly re-feather my nest. I could never understand why he did the work reluctantly, not enjoying it like I did. Of course, it was him doing all the physical labor.
Kim's first boyfriend arrived at our door one day. He popped his head in and said, "Hi, Pops", to Dennis. He was lucky to get out of the house alive. Cindy and Shelley did pagan dances in the backyard, strumming on the bottom of a kiddie pool. We had yearly family Xmas eve parties where the whole family filled this little house from wall to wall. Dennis made turkey soup out of the leftovers every boxing day and some of those family members made the trip back to eat with us. We lived through many "boyfriends", some we liked and some we didn't. The girls and I convinced Dennis we needed a dog and so Corky came to live with us. We never had much money but we survived because our needs were met...Dennis was never out of work, thank heavens. Kim, Cindy, and Shelley all prepared for their weddings in this house. After a few years of trying, Kim and Brian informed us that Nicholas was on the way and we cried. Dennis taught Nicole to say "bullfeathers". He also fed all the grandchildren ice-cream out of coffee mugs...smart! Aeron was our first granddaughter and Dennis joyfully gave her a very expensive doll for her first Xmas. She dragged it around by the hair.
Dennis passed away in this house.
In time, the greatgrandchildren came through the door and a toy area was created for them. Life in this house has always been about family.
And now it's time for me to move on to something smaller and needs less looking after. I think Dennis would be proud of how I've managed, probably a little surprised, but I know he'd be wishing me well. This month will be one of emptying the house but some things will be left behind to help the new owners get their start. They are a little family of 2 parents and a little 9 year old girl. I wish them well, too.
Monday, July 01, 2013
Easy Crockpot Beef Barley Soup
Ingredients:
5 cups of water
1 cup of barley
1 lb. stewing beef
1 onion, chopped medium
2 cups cut up carrots
2 heaping tbs. beef bouillon
2 tbs. Bohio all seasoning
1 tbs. Monterey steak sauce spice
2 tbs. pepper
In the final hour of cooking, add a large bag of frozen mixed vegetables. Using bags of frozen vegetables is a good thing if you live alone because they're always readily available and end up being cheaper than if you bought each vegetable fresh.
I used to make this same recipe using noodles until I found out how high the pasta was in carbohydrates. Apparently the carbs in barley are "good carbs" and I prefer it made this way rather than using pasta, anyway.
Happy Canada Day!
Canadians aren't the most patriotic people in the world, probably because we don't revere our politicians. We know better. But most of us do love our country and wouldn't move elsewhere if our lives depended on it.
Canada is beautiful, clean and safe for the most part. Even those of us who live in a large city don't have far to go to be out in the countryside as long as we have transportation. I remember being shocked to hear a schoolteacher once say that many of her students never get to see farmland unless it's on a school trip. One of the pleasures in my life is to just hop in the car and take a drive out and away from the city...in my case, I can be out of the city in about 10 minutes.
I love the States but do feel safer once I cross the border back into Canada. This is mainly because of the lax gun laws in the States where too darned many people carry guns. There is still crime here but not as rampant as in the large cities in the U.S.
Today, my Canada Day, I'll celebrate quietly and just appreciate my good fortune in being born in this great country. My thanks to my ancestors who chose to make Canada their home.
Canada is beautiful, clean and safe for the most part. Even those of us who live in a large city don't have far to go to be out in the countryside as long as we have transportation. I remember being shocked to hear a schoolteacher once say that many of her students never get to see farmland unless it's on a school trip. One of the pleasures in my life is to just hop in the car and take a drive out and away from the city...in my case, I can be out of the city in about 10 minutes.
I love the States but do feel safer once I cross the border back into Canada. This is mainly because of the lax gun laws in the States where too darned many people carry guns. There is still crime here but not as rampant as in the large cities in the U.S.
Today, my Canada Day, I'll celebrate quietly and just appreciate my good fortune in being born in this great country. My thanks to my ancestors who chose to make Canada their home.
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