Happy as a Clam

Sitting in my little Florida trailer this morning, I smiled as I realized just how happy and content I am at this stage of my life. In any person's book, that is a goal worth reaching, especially when most of my adult life was spent battling depression.

There aren't many hard demands on my time or pressures to succeed so that is a huge reason for my serenity. Retirement can often be just what we choose to make of it, either being busy or just taking it easy. We usually don't have those options when we're in the work world and raising a family.

I thought how little we actually need in order to be happy. We certainly don't need extravagant trappings such as monster homes or expensive cars. We don't need fame or fortune to feel content with our lot in life.

There are only two of my possessions that I overly treasure...my computer and my car. They could be considered extravagances but I'd be truly lost without them. They both give me access to the world at large and my own world would shrink disastrously without them.

I guess the secret of being happy is to know that you have all that is necessary and anything extra is nice but you could do without it. I have a loving family and friends, a roof over my head, and frozen soup in the fridge. Life is good.

I Had a Nightmare

The other night I had a nightmare about my #1 grandson. Now, I rarely have nightmares but mainly have pleasant dreams each night about everyday life with people I love. This nightmare woke me up crying.

I've said before that, although I can't direct my ESP, I do trust my instincts and this dream seemed like a call for help. So I e-mailed my grandson and my daughter to find out if anything was wrong at home. Apparently there wasn't but, by reading between the lines, I determined that the possibility had existed.

My grandson lost his coveted job last year and has since gained employment in a different field. I worried that he wasn't completely happy with his new job but it seems I was wrong. He's received a nice promotion recently so maybe there's a good future for him there. My belief is that he wasn't secure enough in his own mind until he received his promotion. Losing a job can also result in losing your self confidence and that's what happened to my boy.

I adore this boy. There's no other word for it. He's just too wonderful for words and I swear I'm not prejudiced. I want his world to be perfect...now maybe I'm being unrealistic but that's how I feel. Anyway, I now feel reassured that all is well back home and I can continue having my pleasant dreams.

Taking Charge

My daughter, Shelley, is having a series of cortizone shots to her back and she is receiving a sedative each time to help with the discomfort. After her first shot, she said they'd sedated her very well and she'd sailed through the experience with no problems.

A friend here in the park has the identical problem with her back that Shelley has and she told me last week that she'd be receiving the cortizone shots as well. I told her about Shelley's pleasant experience in order to calm her fears. Well, her experience a couple of days ago didn't go as well as my daughter's did.

Carole was not given a sedative and she was too compliant to demand one. She said the pain was inhuman and she wasn't even allowed a moment to recover her senses before being urged off the table and sent into the change room. The nurse was abrupt and unsympathetic to a patient who was in severe pain.

When she came to tell me about this yesterday, I told her to call the clinic and tell them exactly what her experience had been and to say that she wouldn't accept the second shot (due next week) if she wasn't sedated.

I'm so disgusted that this lady was put in a position of pain by medical personnel when it could so easily have been avoided. So many times we don't know what to expect with any medical procedure but we always believe that all efforts to eliminate pain will be used. Well, apparently not so!

It is so important to take charge of your own body and ask questions. It is equally important to make reasonable demands of our doctors and nurses. Not all of them should be in the medical field and not all of them give a hoot about us.

My friend was forced to undergo a horrifically painful procedure by someone who should lose their licence. Carole won't make the same mistake again.

The big lesson here is to *take charge* because your priorities might not be their's.

Need to Beg

I've never seen more beggars on the streets than I do in Florida and it always leaves me wondering if there is ever any true need to resort to begging. Most beggars look like drunks inbetween binges and that explains their need but what about the neater beggars?

There is welfare, food banks, and shelters provided by every municipality but is it enough? We hear stories about beggars who make more money in a day than the average working person makes. We hear stories about beggars living in houses most of us can't afford to live in. Some of these stories are no doubt true but still, is it ever really a necessity of life to need to beg for food?

I never give money to beggars but feel a sense of guilt as I pass them by, wondering if they will go hungry because of my cold heart. There's no way I'd hand over hard earned money to pay for a beggar's next beer and that's the thought I console myself with.

I wish a government funded researcher would find out just how many of these beggars are in true need and how many are bogus. I also wonder why beggars are always asking for money and not jobs...especially the neat ones.

There probably never will be a time when I hand cash to a beggar but I'm leaning toward buying them a meal. My heart is softening.

What am I Missing?

I suppose I've always been an agnostic, not quite believing but continuing to have hope in a higher power. So many of my friends are true believers and I see how their faith gives them strength and I wonder why I can't somehow find that same trust and belief. It's not something that can be forced, though, so I go through life carrying my burdens alone.

Yesterday I drove into the small town near my trailer park where I watched a procession of church people (the church bus drove ahead of the procession) marching in some sort of pilgrimage. The lead person was carrying a bulky wooden cross which symbolized something significant to these people. All were solemn faced but not with stress but determination and comfort.

Almost everyone seemed to be Mexican and I know that a lot of the Mexican population in that town is very poor but they have this deep faith that helps them overcome adversity in their lives. I watched the procession, not understanding what it was actually for, and felt a sense of missing something important in my life. The quiet little parade touched my heart in a strange way.

There is so much about religion, particularly organized religion, that I can't accept for reasons of logic but I will always wonder what I'm missing.

Cindy's 50!

Today is my #2 daughter's (Cindy) 50th birthday. It really does seem like a million years ago that I gave birth to her. We do pack a lot of living into 50 years, don't we?

Cindy's birth was a hard one because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. No-one told me this until after, though, that both of our lives were in danger because of this. Those were the days when they told you nothing and wouldn't allow your husband to stay with you during labor.

Cindy was a beautiful baby...Faye said she looked like an Eskimo but she did not! She weighed 9 lbs. 7 1/2 oz at birth and had a nice head of black hair. She was a good baby, too, and seldom cried.

I can tell you that I still see ghosts of that tiny baby when I look at Cindy now...the vision seems to stay with a mother forever. She's still beautiful today and doesn't look 50 but, in my eyes, she'll always be a sweet and loving little girl.

Happy birthday, my girl!

Clearing Clutter

My trailer is 34' long with a 20'x 10' Florida room so there's no room for clutter. But I sell on Ebay and need to store stock and packaging plus I love my crafts and need room for them, too.

The other day I began to purge really unnecessary things, mainly crafts I'd never get around to doing and it's made a visual difference. There's so much more I can remove and it will be done shortly but it's already looking airier.

I brought down 5 boxloads of items to sell on Ebay and have already shrunk that volume down to 3 boxes by selling it off. It's pretty cluttered around my computer with things I'm selling but I've made the decision to take unsold items to the Salvation Army so, by the end of the winter, there shouldn't be much of any stock left in this trailer.

I've been watching "hoarders" on T.V. and I don't believe I ever got to that point but I did have a lot of stuff...you know, stuff we think we'll need one day so we hang on to it way too long. It's true that it's hard to part with some things because of an emotional or economical attachment but I found it empowering when I cleared my house of flea market stock last summer. There seems to be more air to breathe!

My sister-in-law, Faye, used to look at the masses of flea market stock I had stored in my basement at home and say, "I hope I die first so I don't have to help clear this mess up". Well, hopefully I cleared enough up last summer so we can both live to a ripe old age and not have to worry.

I'm neat and sort of organized so I do keep my clutter in it's place but any huge volume of goods is still too much for small spaces. I've gotten myself into the frame of mind that purging is euphoric so let's hope I don't go too far and start throwing out the necessary stuff. I've got a long way to go before that happens, though.

Fat & Fat

My greatgrandson, Nolan, has tree trunk fat legs and lots of cellulite and it looks fabulous on him. I have tree trunk fat legs and lots of cellulite and it looks icky on me. Why, I ask?

In my teens I was a slim little thing and always felt terribly skinny...I guess we're never happy with our image. But, between skinny and fat, there must have been a time when I was perfect and I completely missed it! I have no memory of ever being perfect. Why are we so hard on ourselves?

It's true that I'm not very body conscious these days but that must come with age. I've become such a fatalist and feel that people just have to take me as I am and that's probably a healthy attitude. I have lots of friends so I must be on the right track somehow. Of course, there's no man in my life but I'm quite happy with that.

It's very disconcerting to watch many celebrity women age so gracelessly. Boob jobs, face lifts, tummy tucks and butt lifts help for a short while but soon the women begin to look like aliens. It's no secret that the world favors the young and it must be very difficult for beautiful women to let it go. Not ever having been a celebrity myself, it really wasn't hard for me to see the wrinkles and grey hair emerge. Maybe I've always had the attitude that what you see is what you get, like it or not.

I'm just curious about that fat and cellulite, though.

One Law For All

The following is a newspaper article on events involving the invasion and destruction of a Caledonia home.

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OPP initially suspected couple after their home was ransacked
November 20, 2009 Barbara Brown(Nov 20, 2009)
OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino acknowledges a Caledonia couple are no longer suspected by police of ransacking their own home and spraypainting their walls with vile epithets and racial slurs.
David Brown, 42, and Dana Chatwell, 45, returned to their Argyle Street South home in the early hours on Dec. 17, 2006, to find their furniture overturned and electronics and computer equipment smashed. Even their teenage son's cherished guitar and amplifier were trashed.
During testimony earlier this week, Brown, whose home borders the former Douglas Creek Estates site that was occupied by native protesters in February that year, described being stunned by the destruction and hatred levelled at him and his wife.
He said their walls were covered with obscene graffiti, the mildest of which stated, "go home," and other slurs calling the homeowners "Pigs," "White Trash" and "Racists."
"I was scared to death," Brown said. "I walked in and everything we owned was just demolished."
The couple has filed a $7-million lawsuit against the Ontario government and OPP, claiming the province and its agents have a hands-off policy when it comes to native protesters and ignored even serious unlawful conduct because of the political sensitivities surrounding aboriginal land claims.
The plaintiffs claim they lived under siege for more than a month in April 2006, trapped inside a lawless zone between the occupied land and the native barricades on Argyle Street.
Since the barricades came down on May 23, 2006, they claim the police have continued to ignore acts of harassment, intimidation, threats to burn down their house and nuisances and trespasses on their property committed by the protesters.
After their home was ransacked, police came and took photos of the damage, but it soon became clear to Brown and Chatwell that the OPP considered them suspects.
Brown developed a stomach bug Wednesday and is under doctor's instructions to rest in bed. His cross-examination by Crown counsel David Feliciant is not expected to resume until Monday at the earliest.
The trial continued yesterday with a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Michael Bordin, reading into the record testimony from earlier pre-trial proceedings from Fantino and the OPP's regional director of operations, Superintendent John Cain.
In examination for discovery, Cain acknowledged the OPP actively investigated Brown and Chatwell for the vandalism after receiving information from an OPP Aboriginal Relations Team member that pointed to them as possible suspects.
The couple's lawyer, John Evans, asked the officer, "Did any interviews of any First Nations people take place with respect to the break-in and vandalism?"
Cain replied, "I'm not aware of any First Nations people being interviewed as suspects."
In January, Fantino acknowledged the OPP no longer consider Brown and Chatwell to be suspects.
"I believe that was the outcome of the investigation," Fantino said.
The commissioner said the matter remains under investigation and no other suspects have been questioned or apprehended.
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I can only hope this couple wins a huge lawsuit against the OPP, the Ontario government, and the Canadian government. Maybe this will spur the leaders of our country to have the decency to govern ALL of it's citizens with one law.

This couple was treated so shamelessly by their own country's officials. Where is the fairness in allowing natives to commit crimes without punishment simply because they are "natives"? The way our governments are handling situations like this is making a mockery of the laws of the land and, sorely, making natives an abomination to the rest of us.

We need to find out who issues the "hands off natives" orders and throw them in jail or throw them out of the country.

This and That

I've been mainly busy listing stuff on Ebay since I got back to the trailer. It seems to take hours to do the simplest thing on this slow dial up internet and it wears my patience. It actually took me 5 hours to list 12 items today...most of it waiting for a page to load. I use the wait time to go to the bathroom, eat, drink, watch T.V., do some housework, etc. I can't use the telephone, though, because it's dial up!

My friend, Sheila, had to drive her niece to the airport this morning so Sylvia and I went with her...5:45 A.M...and we stopped for breakfast on the way home. We never let one of our friends go to the airport in the dark alone so that's why Sylvia and I went along. We're retired...we can sleep anytime.

We played Bingo tonight and 2 new friends sat with us. They are two ladies who live in Sun City on the gulf side full time but they came over to our park for a little getaway. They'd heard how many activities we have in the park and decided to give us a try. They've had a great time and will come back, I'm sure.

We tried all our good luck rituals...rubbing Donnie's belly, setting our own good luck charms in place, etc. Arlene came over and molested my little Buddha in order for her to win a game and it worked. She came back for more rubbing later on.

We have fun at Bingo. The good luck rituals are just to give us a laugh and no-one takes them seriously. And Donnie likes his belly rubbed! I'll bet our new ladies wondered what kind of people we were when we called Donnie over and he obediently came and stuck out his belly for us. I think the rest of the Bingo players know us well enough to know we're really nice, honorable people. At least, I hope so.

Back From Miami

Here I am, back from a week in Miami looking after my daughter, Shelley, who had to fly to the States from Bolivia for treatment for severe back pain. It was a wonderful trip in that I got to spend more time with my youngest daughter than I've had in a long, long time. It was a sad trip in that she was mostly in severe pain from deteriorating discs and we're hoping the doctors can help her.

Shelley's pain was so severe that she had to be heavily medicated and wasn't able to drive for the first few days. New medication cleared her mind but she's still never completely out of pain. Treatment starts tomorrow when she'll receive the first of 3 cortizone shots to her spine, each spaced approximately 3 weeks apart. I'll return to Miami when she receives the next 2 shots but John is with her for this first one.

Miami is beautiful but the drivers are the most aggressive I've ever come across. No-one stops for red lights until the cross traffic gets close. I was always worried about being rear ended when I stopped for a red light because tail gating is an art in Miami. So is speeding like race car drivers.

We stayed at Shelley's inlaws' home while they were out of the country but they're due back in tomorrow so that's why I thought it best to come back to my trailer. They're lovely people who treat their guests like royalty but I didn't want to be a house guest for the next 6-7 weeks. It's a 5 hour drive for me to Miami and I can do it with my eyes closed so it's best for me to make the trip a few times instead of hanging around there doing not much of anything.

We shopped a bit while I was there but Shelley can't stay on her feet for long without discomfort. I feel so bad for her because she must be getting bored. The computer and T.V. are her main activities but the constant pain just wears her down so she naps often. The new meds allow her to drive but I'll still need to be there for her injections because she'll be sedated and unable to drive when she gets them. I'm assuming they're not pleasant to receive.

Shelley is quite worried that her insurance provider will insist she return to Bolivia between shots and that would be very inconvenient. It's an 8 hour flight that anyone with back pain wouldn't want to experience if they could avoid it.

I always thought that it would be me that my girls had to take care of so it's a little disconcerting to find my youngest daughter having health problems that won't be eliminated in the near future. A friend of mine just told me about her own daughter's extremely serious health problems so a bad back isn't the worst thing to happen. It's all relative, isn't it?

I'm glad to be back at the park and into my regular activities but a part of my heart is still in Miami with my baby girl. The love of her life flies in to be with her today, though, so I know she's in good hands.

Can American Muslims Be Trusted?

Any trust the moderate Muslims living in America have garnered over the years has taken a beating because of the massacre yesterday at Fort Hood. If a well educated Muslim military psychiatrist can go berserk and cruelly murder 13 innocent American soldiers, his fellow soldiers, then how can we ever trust the Muslims?

This man earned his living working for the U.S. military but strenuously objected to their presence in Muslim countries. Why didn't he just quit and work somewhere else? And why consider the senseless murder of his fellow soldiers acceptable?

What, in the Muslim religion, pushes their followers to kill their own countrymen? It seems their commitment to their religion is vastly stronger than their commitment to their home country. Even diehard anti-government fanatics don't commit mass murder of innocents like this because they have the decency to honor human life over whatever religion they happen to follow.

The actions of this man will have a dire effect on the lives of moderate Muslims no matter what their occupation. They will be less trusted through no fault of their own simply because of the questionable reputation of their religion.

Someone at the military base where he worked must have seen signs that this man was irrational and dangerous. Was it "political correctness" that caused them to ignore the signs?

One more instance of the devastation caused by religion.

Park Activities

This is Audrey. She's one of the ladies who came to my first coffee morning of the season and she's wearing a hat she made for her granddaughter. It was one of the things we had a good laugh over on Monday morning because the hat didn't turn out to be sized properly.

We won't tell the rest of our coffee attendees but we did a lot of bitching that morning. The only rule for our Monday mornings is that there is no bitching allowed and we all broke the rule. We bitched about park policy. We bitched about government health care. We bitched about illegal aliens. And we bitched about Audrey's hat. She's made 2 of them and the first one actually looks like a pot holder.

Along with the bitching was a whole lot of laughter (much of it thanks to the hats) so the morning was still a success.

Today I worked the sausage lunch at the clubhouse but the attendees to that was very small because it's so early in the season. Donnie still provided an excellent lunch, though...roast chicken dinner, salads, sandwiches, pies, etc., just as usual. When you think of us oldsters living in a trailer park, you might think we're underprivileged but you'd really be wrong.

Tonight I'm playing card games with Sylvia and Joann. Life is almost back to normal here in the park.

Please Worry Me

How many times have I told my family to keep me informed even about the bad things that happen? I don't want anything kept from me because it makes me worry unnecessarily. I am a Mom, a Gramma, and a Greatgramma so I have a right to worry about my loved ones.

Yesterday I discovered that my youngest daughter is coming back to the States from Bolivia because she needs some sort of treatment for the dislocated ribs she's had for 5 years. No-one ever told me she'd had dislocated ribs and this isn't right.

I sort of remember her giving me hell for not telling her quickly enough about her sister's car accident. Hmmm!

Families are supposed to know the good and bad of whatever is going on in the family. That's how we are able to take care of each other and send loving thoughts. It's not right to shock me with the news that my precious youngest daughter suffered dislocated ribs 5 years ago and never told me until now.

When I say, "Keep me informed!", I mean it!

Hard Time Acclimatizing

I don't know why but I'm having a difficult time getting used to Florida weather this year. It was unbelievably hot and humid when I arrived and it was in that weather that I weeded and cleaned the yard so maybe I overdid it. In any case, I can't stand being out in the heat and sunshine for long right now.

This morning I went out for breakfast with a couple of friends and then we hit Walmart and Target for a short shopping trip. I had almost zero interest in going to these stores but still bought a few things. Where has my shopping zeal gone??

When we got back to the park I sat out on the patio reading for a while but, again, the heat finally drove me back inside the trailer. The humidity is much less and the temps have dropped to 89 degrees today but tomorrow or Tuesday we should begin to have excellent Florida weather in the low 80's. If I can't tolerate that then I'll begin to worry about myself.

Usually on Sunday evenings we have an ice cream social but the people who run it won't arrive until Tuesday so no ice cream tonight! My favorite show "Cops" will be on for 2 hours tonight so I guess I'll just settle my butt on the sofa for the evening.

I really think I worked too hard in terrible heat the first few days I got here and that's what's bothering me. I came here for a rest and I'm determined to do just that...after I get everything settled in my little Florida home, of course, but now I'll do it at a more leisurely pace.

Oh, Florida

Florida is unique. It's one of the only places in the world that we old folk can go shopping at Walmart and find the majority of the shoppers are older than ourselves.

It also seems as though a large percentage of the cars on the road have collision damage. That could be because of the visiting seniors or the many drunken drivers. I followed one up the road this morning who was weaving back and forth from the shoulder and over the center line...too bad I don't have a cell phone or I would have reported him/her.

There are a lot of Spanish people in Florida so you see lots of the most beautiful tans. You also see lots of 20+ year old cars because they don't have road salt to rust them. These old cars are huge and I have no idea how anyone can put them into a parking spot.

I love Florida and have been coming here to the same place for 11 years now so it feels like another home to me. Prices for most items...clothing, linens, gas...are cheaper than back home, even with our slightly devalued dollar.

It's still too hot for comfort because of the humidity but that's supposed to end in a few days. Then it will be mainly a winter of sun and warmth. I'm a lucky lady.

Next Year I'm Hiring More Help

One of the ladies came by today and asked who I'd hired to do the weeding and cleaning outside. "I did it myself.", I said but she looked dubious because I really have accomplished a lot in just a couple of days. I'm actually a lazy person but I'm also an impatient person so that's why I was able to get a lot done in a short period of time. My sore body tells me that maybe I should hire someone to at least weed and cut the grass next year, though. My excuse is that old people deserve all the help they can get.

On top of all the yard work, I even listed 17 items on Ebay (2 already have bids) so I'm kind of impressed with my ability to get things done. Listing on Ebay might not sound like much but I'm on AOL dial-up here and the slowness is nerve wracking. I have to adopt a special attitude so I don't tear my hair out waiting for a page to load.

This will be the last year that I have a lot of things to list on Ebay because I don't have my flea market to raid for merchandise. I've got a lot of Nascar programs that I bought last year but have no idea how to list them...I'll have to do research first to understand what it is that I have.

The couple I hired to clean the inside of the trailer and powerwash the outside did a great job so I'll get a price from them for doing the bit of gardening for next year. It can't be much and it might help me extend my lifespan.

The park looks so good since the new owners took over and our lot rent increase for the year will only be $15 per month. That's better than the $45 increase we'd all feared. This will make the difference between many people having to sell their trailers or being able to enjoy the Florida winter.

My close buddies haven't arrived yet but lots of casual friends have been dropping by. They're a friendly bunch here. One couple strolled by hand in hand as they usually do. The husband had serious heart trouble 2 years ago and we were all amazed that he recovered enough to make it down here last winter. Now here he is this year, looking healthy and happy. Life is full of surprises, many of them very pleasant ones.

The weather has been bad...way too hot and terribly humid so that made my outside work even more difficult. Apparently we're suffering record breaking high temperatures for this time of year but next week looks perfect...low to mid 80's. That's worth coming to Florida!

I miss a lot of people, though, especially my new greatgrandson because he'll have changed so much by the time I get back home in April. It's selfish of me to think only of myself by wintering so far away from home but they know I'd race back home if I was really needed there. In the meantime, I'm so very happy to be here in the warmth but it could be just a bit cooler, please.

Florida is Hot

Okay, I have no right to complain about the heat when not too long ago I was squawking about the cold. But it's hot AND humid here. I've got a garden around my trailer that is 3 feet overgrown with weeds and they look terrible. Hot or not, I had to bite the bullet and start weeding today.

It was kind of nice, though, because I was constantly interrupted by old friends stopping by. I can't stress enough how terrific these people are and how much happiness they bring to my life.

We've had a bit of rain at night so, with the temperatures in the 90's, that makes for humid days. My garden is slowly cleaning up and tomorrow I start planting the geraniums I brought down. Some geraniums and even impatiens from last year are still alive...spindly, but fully capable of lush renewal.

I haven't cleaned the Florida room yet because, in my opinion, the garden comes first. Once weeds are pulled, flowers planted, and grass (weeds) mown, then I'll do the small bit of cleaning needed in the Florida room. This has always been my routine and it works for me.

Tomorrow is Bingo, too. My closest buddies haven't arrived yet but there's never any shortage of friendly people to sit with. Wish me luck!

More Waterproofing Problems...Maybe

A new crew came in to work on waterproofing my basement this morning. Funny, they didn't know how much was supposed to be covered. Sigh!

They had to refill what was dug out yesterday because it hadn't been dug out close enough to the fence. Now they're starting all over again digging it out. They'll be back tomorrow to complete the job. Sigh!

I guess poor Kim will have to check it out and pay them when it's done because I'm out of here at 6:30 A.M. So sorry, Kimmie. Big sigh!

Pedophiles...Why?

Another child abused, murdered, and disposed of like garbage. How can our society keep going on and not putting an end to inhuman behaviour like this? What happens to an innocent baby that makes them grow into the kind of person who could commit such a a horrendous crime? I just don't understand how anyone could do this to a child.

There are prostitutes for the taking so why do pedophiles go after innocent children? What damaged part of their minds make them believe they have the right to defile a precious child and often take their young lives? How can we ever understand this?

My grandmother used to say that hell was what we're living here on earth and, when something like this happens, it really makes me wonder if she might have been right.

Not Happy

At 9 A.M. I phoned Basement Technologies and asked if anyone was coming to waterproof my basement today. A lady called back shortly after and promised they'd be here on Monday. I told her, "Sorry, I'm leaving on Sunday so can I have my refund back?". She said to just leave it with her and she'd see if someone could do the job today. Hmmm!

I contracted with Basement Technologies back near the end of September and they promised the job would be done on October 19th. They knew I was leaving on the 25th and promised faithfully that I had no worry. Well, it's now the 23rd and I have worry.

I understand delays. I don't understand delays over 2 days. This makes me feel that a company is not planning their business well.

We'll see.

Update: BT phoned back and said they were sending someone to work within the hour. 3 hours later I phoned them back saying no-one had come and was promised they were on their way. I told them that if no-one was here by 2 P.M. I was coming down to their office for my down payment refund. Andy, cute as a bug's ear, showed up at 1:30 and started work, promising the fill-in would be done Saturday morning. I told him sweetly that if the work wasn't completed by tomorrow I was going to hunt him down. Needless to say, no further payment would be made until the work was done and, if it wasn't finished tomorrow, they could damn well wait until spring for their money.

We'll see.

No Waterproofing Yet

The hours are ticking away and tomorow is the last day the waterproofing people have to do their job. I'm pretty well packed and ready to leave on Sunday so, other than cleaning house, I don't have too much else to do than worry if it will get done.

The air conditioning people did come and disconnect the air conditioner so that's one less thing to worry about but now I'm wondering where it will sit all winter if the waterproofing is done. It can't go back to it's original spot because the soil will be piled high to allow for settling.

I suppose I will always find something to worry about even if all the stars were aligned...this might be because there's a possibility I'm half Jewish. I know it's considered racist to say things like this but I'd be very happy if I were half Jewish because it would give me some sort of solid heritage. Is it racist if there's no mean spirit behind it?

If my basement doesn't get waterproofed tomorrow I'll write another blog and give the name and address of the offending company. All 15 of my steady readers can boycott them. LOL!

Wish me luck.

Why Americans Need Obama's Health Care Plan

On the news this morning was an article about a severely handicapped man who needs constant and expensive health care. He is insured by Guardian Insurance which is about to cut off his coverage. In their own words, plans like his are "dogs" that would save the company money if they were eliminated.

To be honest, if he lived in Canada, he probably would have to live in a nursing home to receive the care he presently receives at his home but I'm assuming he pays hefty insurance premiums for this privilege. To be referred to as a "dog" by the company he pays for his coverage is not only insulting but dehumanizing.

Maybe I'm being unrealistic but I believe health care and education should not be profit making enterprises. People working in these fields deserve a decent and fair salary but no-one should receive outrageous profits when it comes to keeping the public healthy or our children educated. Am I expecting a Utopian society? Hell, yes! That should be what we human beings strive for, shouldn't it?

Most Americans will never need intensive home care or prolonged hospital care but, if they do, they shouldn't have to worry about their health coverage being cut off by greedy insurance companies they've paid premiums to for years. It's as though the insurance companies are saying, "Okay, we'll take your money every month and cover your medical care as long as we still are able to make a huge profit off you.".

Obama is the first president to have the courage to go up against the powerful medical lobbies and demand better care for the Americans he was elected to represent. I am so proud of this man and what he stands for. I'm hoping that his strong voice in this matter will help all Americans understand that their present health insurance is a major rip off for them and they deserve better.

No-one should be faced with the possibility of losing their home to pay for medical care. Worse still, to needlessly die just because they don't have enough money. Every American should thank their lucky stars that a man like Obama was finally elected as president of their country.

Mixed Signals

So yesterday the workers were supposed to come and waterproof the side of the house but, did they? No. Someone neglected to have the airconditioning people come to move the airconditioner away from the wall so, when the diggers showed up at 4 P.M. (yes, 4 P.M.), they couldn't start work.

I'm used to delays and difficulty finding people to do work around this house but this time it's a little worrisome because I'm leaving for Florida on Sunday. I'd like to make sure the work is finished and checked before I leave otherwise I'll have to put the burden on Kim to take care of things and I hate to do that.

Of course we also have more rain on the horizon, Thursday through Monday, so nature isn't giving me a break, either. I guess I'll just have to be thankful that the roof is done. I don't mind delays too much but I really don't like it when time starts to run out because that's when I start to panic.

It's a beautiful sunny fall morning and I've left a message with Basement Technologies to call me back about when they'll start work. They have about one hour before I'm gone for the day. Hmmm!

Update: They called back and said the air conditioner would be disconnected late this afternoon and the waterproofing would be done Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. We'll see.

Walking Away

My sister told me yesterday that she's resigned from the church she attended for 42 years. Her reasons are numerous but one that struck me the saddest was that some of the parishioners were rude and abrupt with her. It got me thinking about how it makes you feel when someone is callous enough to be snippy instead of polite.

Sharon was hurt enough that she gave up a church she'd felt at home in since she was a teenager. She also gave up her position as a choir member and that had been a great pleasure to her over the years.

Sometimes people just don't care or understand how a few curt words to someone can be the straw that breaks the camel's back...the words that chase that person away forever. When you cut someone short or give clipped answers to questions, then the person on the receiving end feels worthless. Another thing that happened to Sharon is that, when she tried to help with preparing bags of donated food for distribution, she was turned away and told she wasn't needed. This is such a shame. Volunteers should always be made to feel helpful.

Sharon is the big loser here. Her absence from the church will be noted for a short time and then forgotten but she'll never forget. I suggested she take a short hiatus and then try going back again but it probably depends on how deeply she's hurt. I think it always depends on just that. How many times and in how many ways can you tolerate rudeness before you walk away for good? It affects us all differently.

I hope Sharon is able to come to terms with what happened, forgive the rude people and embrace the nice ones who happen to be the majority. We can't let a choice few irritating people control what we do in our lives so it's best to ignore them and continue on our way.

My pet peeve? People who keep cutting me off as I'm trying to explain something. I have more pet peeves but that's the last one that irritated me so much I wanted to spit. My husband often used to do that and I'd hesitate, waiting for him to stop talking, and then say "Can I speak now?". Sometimes he let me but when he didn't, I just walked away. Walking away from an argument brings your blood pressure down.

I advocate walking away but be very careful about whther your intention is to walk away "for a while" or "permanently" because sometimes you can't just walk back.

The Heene Family

We all watched with horror the other day as a man made balloon raced across the sky, supposedly with a 6 year old boy in the undercarriage. Law enforcement and who knows how many other agencies tearassed across the countryside trying to save the child they thought was inside but it appears this was a hoax perpetrated by publicity seeking parents.

Watching the antics of the father in particular made it apparent from the beginning that something wasn't right here. If it's true that these parents made this all up and needlessly endangered the people trying to save their son then they should be tossed in jail. Bad enough the event wasted law enforcement time but they are setting a terrible example as parents who would concoct a plan like this and involve their own children.

One only has to observe the behaviour of these young boys to see that they haven't been receiving proper parenting. The family was on the T.V. program, "Wife Swap", and the father and children acted like wild animals. Maybe Child Services should be taking a close look at this family to see if the boys are living in a dangerous environment.

The father seems to be positively manic and out of control so what does that say about the atmosphere in that household? The fact that the 6 year old spilled the beans saying they did it "for the show" could make an unstable father react in an unpredictable way. I hope the family is being carefully monitored.

This weird family made the headlines and maybe it's that publicity which will draw attention to the need for child welfare to step in and help these children.

Sunny and Cold

Now that the roofers and eavestroughers have finished their work on miserably damp and cold days, the sun is shining brightly. It's supposed to shine for almost a week now but I don't care, I'm leaving for Florida warmth and sunshine anyway.

I've already made arrangements for someone to powerwash the trailer and patio and also to clean inside before I get there. My husband used to do the powerwashing and he would have severely frowned on me hiring someone to clean but now I make my own decisions. There's no way I can go up a ladder (step 2 scares me) so I have to hire someone to do that. Hiring a cleaner makes perfect sense to me because I get to the trailer too late in the day to clean it properly before bedtime. If I stayed another night in a motel in order to have a whole day to clean it myself, the motel cost would almost cover hiring someone to do it for me. Pure logic.

Trailers that have sat unused in the Florida summer heat and humidity need to be cleaned quickly. Mine will have mold on the window sills under the windows so they especially need a thorough cleaning immediately. I have a bug man who sprays every 2 months during the summer (every month during the winter) but critters will still find their way in so all shelving needs to be scrubbed before groceries can be stored or dishes and cutlery unwrapped. Trailer windows will still allow dust inside even when they're closed because the frames aren't too solid. I cover all the furniture with sheets in the spring and take fresh bedding down with me in the fall.

By having someone clean the trailer before I get there, it leaves me free to start in weeding and transplanting and it doesn't take too long before the place looks lived in again. The weeds are all in sand and easy to pull out but they do get enormous. I have the noisiest lawn mower in existence but, since the lawn only needs cutting about once a month during the winter, there's not much sense in buying a new one.

When I return to my northern home, there is no urgency to have it all cleaned in one day because brick houses are more substantially built than tin can trailers. With luck, it will look almost the same as I left it, just dustier.

I keep in contact with a lot of my Florida friends by e-mail and Facebook over the summer and know a lot of them have already arrived back at the park. Sadly, a few have passed away this past summer but that's to be expected in a senior park. It doesn't make it any easier to take, though.

Anyway, today is a gorgeous fall day here in Canada so I'm going out to finish off the backyard work for the winter. I've decided to let a lot of the annuals die off in the garden rather than pull them out because they will fertilize the soil. I've already emptied the deck rail pots of soil so that I can refill them with fresh soil in the spring. The last big job is to put the large patio table on it's side on the deck and lash it to the railing. It used to bother me to close up the yard for the winter but now I can restart a garden as soon as I get to Florida.

There's also the realization that the time is running out when I'll have a house and garden to winterize. In a few years I'll be living in an apartment and not have to do much work at all before I leave for Florida. Will I be happier? We'll see.

Roof is Done

I'm not sure about this new roof because it looks old. I checked them out on the internet and now know that the shingles used are self sealing once the heat of the sun hits them but I wonder if that won't be until next summer. Roofers always work in the winter so I guess there's nothing to worry about...but it still looks like an old roof right now.

The poor roofers had terrible conditions to work in yesterday. It was bitter cold for this time of the year and there was a bit of rain drizzle mixed in with flurries. The last time we had the roof done it was on a warm summer day and the roofers were singing. No singing this time, though. It's a dangerous job, too, because they have to clamber all over sometimes highly pitched roofs. It's not a job I'd ever want to do myself.

This morning the eavestrough people showed up (pictures show work in progress) and their working conditions are much the same as yesterday. It's cold, windy, with rain/snow showers on the horizon. I think I'm enjoying this work being done because it's as close as I'll ever get to building my own house. I've always thought it would be so much fun to design your home and have it built to your specific needs. This will never happen for me so I'll just enjoy what I can do.

Next major job will be done on Monday when the basement on the side of the house will be waterproofed. It looks like I'm hunkering down for a cold winter but I'm really just hoping to get all of this work done so I can escape to Florida.

Life is good.

New Roof

7 A.M. and still dark outside. The roofers arrived and my car was still in the driveway so I had to scurry outside and move it. They immediately set up and started to remove the old roof and eavestrough, 2 weeks late but there's been a lot of rain holding up their other jobs so I'm not complaining.

The old roof was only 12 years old, guaranteed for 20 years by a company that has since gone out of business so there goes my guarantee. I noticed last year that there was a lot of black grit on the front porch but thought it had been knocked out of the eavestrough by wind or horrid squirrels so I ignored it. Then this summer a friend of my daughter told me my shingles were disintegrating and I took a closer look. Yup, brown patches among the black shingles!

Being a wary, senior consumer, I got roofer names from neighbors and took a few phone numbers out of the phone book, making sure they were insured and bonded and had a nice big ad (I figured that fly by night roofers wouldn't pay the big bucks for a large ad). Only one roofer showed up to give me an estimate but it matched what my neighbor said the roof would cost so I signed the contract. The job would be done by September 30th. Well, roofers can't work in the rain so it's 2 weeks late but they're here and they appear to be doing a nice neat job of dismantling the old roof.

I'm proud of myself for handling some of the major jobs that have sprung up since my husband passed away. Dennis would have been the one hiring roofers or furnace people if he was still here. He'd know exactly what was needed and how much it should cost. I know nothing but I always get informed opinions from friends or family before I sign on the dotted line.

When you own a house things have to be kept in repair or the house will decay around you. I happen to believe strongly in preventative maintenance, too, and that means I have to keep ahead of impending trouble. The roof isn't horrible but it did need replacing soon and my line of thought is that having a new roof will be a good selling feature when I do sell the house in a few years.

The eavestrough, soffit and faschia (not sure I spelled those right) are being replaced, too, because they're simply old and crappy looking. The house should look pretty good when all is done and I will never again have to worry about the darned roof because I'll be out of here before it needs doing again.

Next Monday the side of the house is being waterproofed so there's a lot of expensive repairwork being done this fall. My line of credit is taking a beating but it will all be worth it when the house is sold. In the meantime, I get to enjoy the brand new roof and dry basement. Seems logical to me.

Muslim Teen Becomes Christian

We often hear about so called "honor killings" so the fact that a young woman fears her Muslim family will murder her for becoming a Christian shouldn't be taken lightly. People who commit honor killings seem to have a deeply felt belief that, by killing the person who has somehow dishonored them, their honor is restored. What they don't take into account is that no-one has the right to take another's life, no matter what personal insult is perceived. Surely the Muslim religion doesn't condone murdering your own child but people tend to rationalize they have the right to do wrong.

Some non Muslims will look upon this case as further proof that Muslims are barbarians, mostly because that religion is little understood by the rest of us. All we can do to prevent these primitive practices from happening is to make certain immigrants know they must follow the laws of our country regardless of their religion. We should also pay close attention to precedent and protect anyone threatened with honor killing.

The young girl is not spouting nonsense because there are solid grounds for her fears. If the courts ignore the truth that some communities in the country, because of religious or social conditioning, accept the concept of honor killing then they should be held responsible if this girl loses her life.

I wonder how long it will take for human beings of all religions to learn that one's life is one's own and not to be taken away for any reason. One of the reasons I've refrained from following any religious course is that they seem to talk out of both sides of their mouth, preaching good while committing sins. Can there possibly be a clause in any religion that preaches respect and sanctity of life EXCEPT if you don't approve of someone's actions?

The girl in this case is 17 years old and should be allowed by her family to choose her own religion. Their disapproval can be understood but "honor killing" will never be understood or accepted by a decent society.

Thanksgiving

This has been one of the nicest Thanksgiving weekends in my memory. I had a lovely family dinner on Sunday at my nephew, Dwayne's, farm and then another family dinner on Monday at my grandson, Nick's, home.

Time spent with family is so pleasurable, especially when all the family members get along with each other. I can't even imagine what it's like for feuding families. Family dinners are a good way for various factions of a family to renew acquaintances or even to get to know each other better. Yesterday we had 2 babies, Nolan (3 months) and Aislin (2 months), and it made the day just a little nicer having babies to share it with.

When I'm in the midst of enjoying a family get-together, a part of my mind always slips away and feels a little sad for people who have no family close by. A large part of our identity and life purpose comes from the place we occupy in our family so I think it must be icy cold to be truly alone. At least it would be for me.

Matthew saved yesterday's turkey bones for me to bring home and make soup. Smart boy. It's simmering on the stove right now and the tantalizing smells are filling the house. It's a Thanksgiving that keeps on giving even days later.

Autumn

I wanted to take a day trip up north this fall to see the foliage but it doesn't look like I'll have time to do it. I will get to Simcoe on Sunday and that should give me the chance to see some lovely fall colors, though.

Just driving around town today I felt joyous looking at the lovely display already showing up here. The maple tree in my front yard is half way through it's change but the maple trees in the backyard must get a bit more protection from the cooler temperatures so they've barely started their's.

I do love spring with it's rebirthing of plants and flowers but fall is probably more spectacular. I live on an escarpment so when I'm in the lower city in October, the whole side of what we locals call our mountain is like candy to the eye. The vast range of colors in many shades of green, orange, red, and yellow is nature at it's best. One year I visited Vermont the first week of October and saw colors there I'd never seen anywhere else. The mountainsides were so lovely they brought tears to your eyes.

People who live in the concrete jungles of an inner city and never have the chance to take a drive into the countryside in autumn are missing something precious. Instead of spending thousands of dollars busing inner city children to view sports events, they might do better for the children's souls if they just bused them out into the countryside. The beauty of nature gives us a respect for the land we live in and a sense of our being a part of it.

Today is a perfect fall day. There is a crispness in the air and the sun is shining. Kim and I went to Costco this morning to get food stuff for Thanksgiving dinner on Monday. She's also going to a poker party at her cousin's house tonight so she picked them up a lovely fall plant arrangement. Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, good food, and the opportunity to appreciate autumn colors.

My House is Googled

You can now find houses and streets in my city on Google. I looked my house up and darned if it wasn't there looking pretty neat...except for the recycling boxes out on the street. Why did they have to take their pictures on garbage day?

I don't know how this works but I certainly hope they put in new pictures now and then.

Fall Garden Cleanup

Today was sunny and almost warm with no rain so I decided to do some garden cleanup in preparation for winter. Par for the course with me is that I begin one job only to be tempted away by another and that's why my garden cleanup is patchy.

I started out pulling out flowers from the potted plants, then veered off to pull them out of the hanging plants. One yank too many and it broke apart and hit the patio...big mess I'll clean up later. Then I wandered out to the garden on the front side of the house to dig out a hosta I wanted to save from the guys who were going to be digging up that spot to waterproof the basement. That darned hosta has only been in there a couple of years but it's grown roots to China so I had a rough time with it. In the end I cut it in half and transplanted the halves in the backyard garden where I can dig them up again in the spring.

Halfway into the transplant job, I decided to move some of the landscaping stones out of that area, too, but wore myself out before I finished the job. As a change of pace, I wandered into the backyard again and pulled out some more potted plants for a few moments until I noticed some overgrown bushes so I got out the garden snips and cut them back.

This reminded me that the clematis out front needed cutting back, too, so off I went again. That didn't take long so I went into the backyard again and put lawn chairs and little tables into the toolshed. I'd planned to strap up the large patio table but I was just too tired. I still have 2 weeks to get this stuff done so I don't know why I wear myself out trying to do it all in one day. It really does get harder for me every year and I may have to bribe a grandson to help me next time.

I came into the house, washed up and considered a nap but then I remembered I needed to do some grocery shopping for Thanksgiving. I'd also had nothing to eat all day...bad, I know...and it was mid afternoon so I first stopped at Wendy's for the $3.99 special (5 nuggets, baked potato, and Diet Coke)...not the best choice, I know.

I really think I jump from one thing to another because I have a low boredom tolerance. For whatever reason, my garden is still not closed up for the winter but it will get done within the next two weeks.

Church

I seldom go to church, usually just for a wedding or funeral but there are still things about a church service that confuse me. I listened to a comedian joking about how he never knew when it was time to stand up or sit down during a service and that's one of the big things I can't figure out. Why do we stand during some songs but sit during others?

Why does a church leader wear funny robes or collars? What is in the water a baby is baptized with and why is the baptism necessary since children are born perfect? Why do the wafers taste like cardboard and why should we eat them (I spit mine into a tissue)?

Why do most religions frown on parishioners marrying someone of another religion? Why is it a rule that priests remain unmarried? Why do some church leaders preach hatred against other religions, countries, or individuals? Why are some churches so ornate and expensive?

And the big question...why do some people who are deeply religious commit every sin imaginable?

When I was a little child, I was sent to Sunday school where I tormented the teachers with questions. Their only reply was, "You just have to believe.". Why did they have no answers for a curious child who was just trying to understand. To this day I'm still trying to understand.

Happy 90th, Vida!

It's quite a feat these days to live to the ripe old age of 90 but our Aunt Vida did just that yesterday. Faye, Donna and I took her out for lunch at our favorite pasta restaurant, La Spaghett, and we all enjoyed the meal immensely. Vida took most of her's home with her, though, and it's almost as good when it's reheated.

We came back to my place after so that Donna could learn how to prepare her new monk's cloth. I'm so pleased that she likes this new craft enough to carry on with it through the winter. Her plans are to make a Xmas afghan first and then start making afghans for herself and family later on. Faye is also ready to start another one as a gift for our niece-in-law, Rochelle.

I brought out all the table runners I'd made over the past few years and gave my favorite one to Vida. I'm not quite sure what to do with these things because I have made so many. I've given a lot away but people will only take so much. Not everyone loves Swedish weaving as much as I do!

Faye took Vida home early but Donna and I kept working on our present projects and yakked the afternoon away. It's such an enjoyable way to spend the day and I'll resume doing it every week when I return in April if Faye and Donna are still interested.

I'm getting worried about all the rain in the forecast because my roof still hasn't been done and I'm leaving for Florida on the 25th, rain or shine or unfinished roof. They can't do it in the rain and the only clear days ahead seem to be the week before I leave and, unfortunately (or fortunately), that's when the men are coming to dig up the side of the house and waterproof it. Both groups can't operate at the same time. I plan ahead but still have problems. Go figure!

This morning I have to have some blood tests and then go to the dentist for a cleaning...not the most pleasant day to look forward to, but necessary. The wind is howling and it's raining again so I'd really rather stay home but you gotta do what you gotta do, I guess.

I finally got in touch with the people who are going to clean the trailer before I get there. They'll powerwash it and the patio, then put sealer on the rubber roof. They're very nice and efficient people so I'm looking forward to moving right into my spiffy clean trailer when I get to Florida. That leaves me free to clean up the garden weeds (which pull out easily because they're in sand) and plant flowers. I'm so lucky to be able to garden all year round.

Now if it would only stop raining here I could put my Canadian garden to bed for the winter. That's a day's work and I can just see me trying to do it while people are tearing up the roof and digging up the foundation. This isn't how I'd planned it!

More Stuff Gone

I read once that when people start giving away their possessions it means they're about to commit suicide so I hope no-one thinks that's what I'm up to. All summer I've cleared out a massive amount of possessions in an attempt to unclutter my world but it's all been for my own peace of mind.

Yesterday my grandson and 3 of his friends came over to get my basement fridge and a very good leather recliner that was uncomfortable for me to sit in. The head rest is at the worst possible spot and it pops my head forward so I never sit in it. My grandson is keeping the chair and the fridge went to his brother-in-law. I'm so happy to have it all cleared out of the house.

With all the flea market stock gone, I now have a great area in the basement for my little jewelry business and my sewing room is now a sewing room again. The fridge had been in the laundryroom so now my laundryroom is spacious. The recliner had sat unused in a corner of the computer room so now my computer room is more spacious, too.

This has been a landmark year for me because it was the year I finally took the steps to rid myself of unwanted and unneeded possessions. I was amazed at just how much stuff I'd accumulated over the years and how much of it was useless to me. A large part was the flea market stock but a generous part were things that I'd just neglected to toss out because "I just might need them one day".

I'm a veteran yard saler and it shocks the life out me when I walk up to an advertised yard sale to find a little table with few dozen items on it. Is it possible this household is so neat and organized that they only have a tiny tableful of excess possessions? I can't relate to people like this. Yet.

The boys had to really struggle to get the old fridge up and out so there's a bit of touchup needed on the walls and railing. No big deal and something I can look after next year. I'm just glad to have the fridge gone and no-one hurt removing it. As a matter of fact, each unnecessary item that left the house this year made me just a little bit happier. It's been a productive year in the very best way.

Gay Couple Divorcing

Gays have struggled and demonstrated for years to gain the right to legally marry so you'd think that once they won the right they'd be extremely dedicated and committed couples. Not necessarily so.

Like any couple, sometimes the reasons to get married don't stand up to the passage of time or the reality of the commitment. Couples in love and lust are often not understanding that life also hands us the odd assortment of difficulties to deal with. There has been more than one disillusioned husband or wife who sadly discovered previously unknown flaws in their mate that drastically turned them off.

Long engagements give you the chance to learn as much as possible about your potential lifelong companion because it's hard to hide those sometimes icky flaws for an extended period of time. Of course, when in love or lust, we do tend to ignore the flaws and foolishly believe we can change our mate. Rarely happens!

I don't understand why the press is making such a fuss over this gay couple coming to the conclusion they don't want to be married anymore. I'd bet that many of the news people wasting precious air time discussing this are into their second, third, or even fourth marriages.

Faye's Afghan

This is the Swedish weaving afghan that Faye just finished making for her daughter-in-law's relatives in Ireland. The colors represent the relative's favorite team (football or soccer or something). Faye started this afghan ages ago but she's been too busy all summer to work on it very often. She really polished it off in the last couple of weeks because her son and daughter-in-law were going to Ireland and could take it over with them.

These afghans cost about $30.00 U.S. to make but they take weeks or months to complete so few people would make them to sell. It gives us a nice warm feeling to put so much of our time into making them and then giving them to people we care about.

I know the Irish relatives will be very appreciative of Faye's kind gift.

Why aren't I Bored?

I live alone and the only person I have to clean up after is me so my housework doesn't take up much of my time. I cook only rarely and that's usually a big pot of soup so cooking doesn't take up much of my time, either. I don't work and I seldom labor in the garden. Just what keeps me from being bored?

There so many projects that I either have on the go or am planning to do. There are countless numbers of things that interest me and brand new things of interest that I discover every day. My family and friends fill spaces just about every day (and every single day of the winter in Florida). I don't worry about much of anything because I'm a fatalist. I just hope nothing bad happens that will break my heart.

There is never a day that I don't have plans. Sometimes it's just to catch up on neglected housework or gardening but there is never a time when I sit alone wondering what to do with myself. There are always those semi-planned "projects" I could start, too.

Retirement and old age doesn't have to mean vegetating until you die. This time of of your life brings you a freedom that was impossible in your youth because you were tied down then with commitments...paying for a house, raising kids, saving for your retirement. People are living longer these days and many are choosing to retire earlier to enjoy the fruits of their youthful labors. They are the smart ones.

When my husband asked if he could afford to retire, I told him that we'd need less income and live better but he didn't believe me at first. It turned out to be true, though. To begin with, you stop having to put money aside for your retirement. You use less gas in the car. You don't have to buy as many clothes. Your income is lower so you pay less income tax. Seniors get all kinds of discounts...movies, restaurants, theme parks, etc.

My husband also used to say that if he'd known he was going to live so long he would have taken better care of himself. Even though I've never taken good care of myself physically, I have to admit that's very true. It's even more important to be in good health when you're a senior than at any other time of your life. We don't recover from illnesses or injuries as easily as we did when we were young and immobility is disastrous for a senior.

We also need to keep our minds active or we, ourselves, become boring. Some use puzzles or read books regularly but that's not for me. I prefer to do research on the computer and play card games with friends. It doesn't matter what venue you choose so long as it's not just sitting in front of the T.V. all day long, the trick is to keep on learning and not stagnate.

When I was a teenager, I hadn't learned to enjoy my own company and so was bored unless with kids my own age. When I was in my 20's and 30's, I was bored because my life wasn't exciting enough for me. In my 40's and 50's, I began to grow up and learned to follow my own interests instead of those others thought I should pursue. By the time I toddled into my 60's, I'd discovered how to be happy and stay happy. All it took was following my own lead, keeping what was interesting and passing by what wasn't.

My personal interests might be bland to some but they're perfect for me. Boredom will finally catch up to me when I'm ill and feeble but, until that day, I've got fun plans.

Overnight at the Casino

Mary got another one of her free rooms at the casino hotel so she, Faye and I took advantage of it. People like us who love going to the casino anyway consider ourselves lucky when we get these freebies. The room was lovely...2 huge bedrooms/1 bathroom with free indoor parking. The casino hotel was full so we were put up in the Hilton which was right across the road from the casino.

We decided to try the old casino first because none of us had been there since it was remodelled a few years ago. We spent a couple of hours there before going to our hotel and getting rid of our luggage. Then it was on to Fallsview Casino where I was destined to lose most of my money. But I had a great time doing it.

We went our separate ways in the casino as usual and met up again at 6 P.M. for our freebie dinner. We really lucked out this time because I had coupons for dinner for 2, one for September and one for October, so we'd also be able to use them for breakfast the next morning. I have to say that the buffet meals in the casino diningroom are excellent so we were not only looking forward to playing the slots but also to filling our faces.

We met up again at 9:30, ostensibly to have a glass of wine but didn't feel like it so had a bottle of water instead. Faye had already gone to bed but Mary and I are veteran gamblers so we just went back to the slots. I finally had had enough at 11:30 so went back to the room still holding a bit of my gambling money. Mary came in shortly after with all of her gambling money. She's so lucky.

We all sat up half the night drinking wine or brandy and yakking. Mary and I finally went to bed at 3:30 and we all slept in till 9:30...enough sleep but we were all still tired for the rest of the day.

After another huge meal, breakfast at the casino, we drove across the border and hit a few stores for a few hours. Then back across the border and headed towards home. We stopped at a Tim's for lunch/supper (we do tend to eat a lot, don't we?) and then finally went home.

I love these mini vacations. This one encompassed some things I enjoy the most...the company of good friends, gambling, and cross border shopping. It was great!

By the way, I went to bed at 6:30 P.M. and crawled back out this morning at 6:30 A.M. Having fun can be hard work.