Night Sky

Two more storms last night, more rubber shoes for Elizabeth! ~





This is a picture after the storm, moving away.

C'ya

Zap Bang Wallop

Crack! Boom!

“That’s it!” Elizabeth exclaimed and heads for the closet. “What are you doing?” I ask. “Putting on my sandals. I hate thunderstorms.” I look at her feet, “And the sandals will protect you?” “Yes, the rubber soles could save my life. You should put yours on.” Well no, a doubtful expression on my face.

I realize Elizabeth has had more than her fair share of close climate encounters and once lived in a place that was hit several times by lightning. I feel we are pretty safe here though.
She’s eyeing the maple tree outside. I know the bathroom and kitchen are off limits for now. Sigh.

“You know that’s a myth, about the rubber soles?”

“Yes, my sandals will not prevent me from being hit by lightning. But, years ago a neighbor of mine was struck. The lightning came through the kitchen sink faucet from the lake and he had his hand on the counter. It shot up his arm, down his whole body to his running shoe. Huge scar.
The hospital said the rubber sole shoe saved him. Probably sleeps in them now. So, myth or not, these sandals give me comfort and I’m not taking any chances. You shouldn’t either. Damn! I hate thunderstorms.”

(At least she is in an awareness state of mind because of her belief I thought.)

***

Elizabeth was beginning to remind me of my Mom. When I was young we used to have a small add on to the kitchen in the old house. Often we would put our bikes in there, especially if it was storming. When the thunder and lightning came, my mother would run out and put towels over the handle bars. I’m convinced she thought she was hiding the metal from nature and the storm.

I watch my wife as she changes the placemats on the dining room table. “Are those the non-conductive mats, Honey?” Big smiles right across my face!

Uh oh, Makes a beeline for the door!

C’ya

It just goes to show

A number of years ago I was living in a second floor apartment, then I finally got the opportunity to move to the ground floor. Have you ever experienced the difficulty of doing a move when your health is impaired? So I needed help.

Anyway I asked around if anyone could recommend a mover and I got these guys. I was never so impressed in my life at the job they did for me on that occasion. They were so thorough and affordable I would recommend them to anyone. On the upstairs move they even placed everything in exactly the same position downstairs, that the object had previously occupied, including a bag of garbage that I had set to one side, now that is thorough.

***
Going to a different area, the move this time definitely required the movers and a truck. Isn’t it amazing just how much stuff one acquires in a short time.

Below is an email the wife sent to her friend for it says it all, boy were they having a chuckle!

“Hi,
Just got the computers set up and we're back online....:)....Wow....what a week.....

Eric's physiotherapist was able to help me last Wednesday morning for 3 hours and between the 2 of us, we filled her van twice and our truck and took the computers and fragile stuff over to the new apt. Initially we were a bit concerned about the movers because they said there was no top on their truck (they had tarps) but fortunately it was a sunny day.
Eric had used them before for moving from an upstairs apt. to downstairs. They arrived at noon.

I smiled when I saw their truck, said to Eric, who was still indoors at the time, 'You're going to love this'. LOL





Talk about a redneck truck!



The guys worked extremely hard for the next 3 hours...they had blankets and tie-downs and were more careful and efficient than any movers I've ever seen....absolutely wonderful. Cost.....$200. We had gotten prices previously of $400 from other movers.

Been pacing ourselves with the unpacking....perhaps 1/2 unpacked....Eric is getting his exercise walking from the east wing to the west wing.. This place is so huge!....LOL:) “

Just goes to show, it’s that the job got done. ~ Never mind the how!

C’ya

A New Start

Well it seems like I have dallied long enough. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to make a new start, including the banner. As you can see I have reverted back to my other banner which depicts where we now live, and along with that a few pictures to share.

This park which is adjacent to Fairy lake, is right across the street from where we now live. We now have a place to go for walks and beautiful scenery right on the doorstep, what more could one ask. (clickable thumbnails)



A nice variation on tree colors on our street.



A shot of Fairy lake.



A very nice memorial park setting.



A similar memorial setting.



Now where would we be without some Canada geese!

C'ya

Quietly Sad

Today I am a little sad, and I think it’s time to slow the train down a little.

This month has been a whale of a time with so many things going on. The pace has been enough to take ones breath away, that’s quite a mouthful coming from someone with COPD.

For us personally, we had our move to our new place to live, a move that wasn’t lacking in it’s pressures. It has however also brought already so many pleasures.

Last week though, Elizabeth had to go in and do some nuclear stress tests for the heart, which was not easy. We are still hard at it getting sorted out, meantime real life carries on.

Today the weather decided to add to the burden, we reached temperatures of 28c with the humidex taking us up to a balmy 34c, a very uncomfortable setting when trying to get some sleep.

Tonight I paid a visit to “The Shameless writing circle“, of which I am a member. I was dumbfounded to read that Seamus is closing his blog down and moving on to other things in life. This is such a terrible loss and is already felt by many who have enjoyed all that has transpired within the circle. I for one always found it such an excellent blog to visit and always came away having learned something new.
I know a number of you go to the writing circle, so will be able to read for yourselves.

I am going to miss Seamus and his presentations and sincerely hope he will at least leave everything in place for others to go along and enjoy. I will keep my Lion and think of Seamus each time I log in here.

C'ya

Rip Van Winkle

Well it’s been a long time since I was able to get in here and post anything. I never thought that the simple task of moving would upset the applecart this much.

Having not put pen to paper in so long is much like being lost in a maze. I now know what it feels like to have done a Rip van winkle, for it sure seems almost that long.

When I first thought about what to write on coming back, all kinds of stuff came to mind about the move, amongst which were a couple of funny items. Then real life things started to snowball and ideas vanished into the mist of time before I had the energy to make notes on anything. As a consequence things don’t always seem quite as funny the second time around.

This last month has been such a full slate but hopefully, things are on the up from here on. ~ This is not much of a new post back, but it is a start and I will leave you with the thoughts of better things to come shortly. I thank all who have kept an eye out for me, I will try and be here more frequently from now on. I just hope the pen will wake up.

C’ya

Good Moves

Just got back online though I’m still waiting for my head to catch up. Sure missed you all and many thanks to those who kept checking in and offering encouragement through the turmoil. It will take a few days however, to get the old pen warmed up and ready to roll, bear with me.

Moving on

When we leave ~ this place
we once called home,
It will be with a bitter taste.
Even though, a long time ago,
some times were good.

Good memories though, we will retain,
Those of the birds, the wildlife,
The folks, no longer with us.
Pleasant thoughts and dreams. ~
Yet, ~ even those will fade in time.

Eric Valentine Mar 25/08