WE;LL AFTER ALL THAT.......

 I spoke too soon.  I honestly thought that I would be settling into a beautiful senior establishment, very reminiscent of a cruise ship life...which sounded like Utopia to me.  Still does.  But alas it isn't going to happen.

I can't go into detail on why I can't live my dream right now.  Something else cropped up and has become more important.  I truly would not have been able to be happy in utopia knowing it wasn't the right move.  So pivot pivot pivot!!!

Ange is moving to Chilliwack to be with her family.  Such a good move for her.  She needed these last three years to learn to live without Pat but now she is ready to venture forth.  But....not quite yet!

I have hired Ange to help until April and she and I are going to purge this house.  Because my arms and back are so bad I would have had to have help and I prefer her.  She is absolutely the best.  

The house is full of stuff I have no where to put.  So it gets piled up in corners and I can never find anything and it is downright depressing.  I have had to stop watching Hoarders because I relate to it too much.  I can honestly say there are no rats and mice or bugs....but it is genuinely a hoarders mess.  I used to use the upstairs guest room to 'temporarily' park stuff and when guests were coming I would move it all to my room...again temporarily.  But with Monte in there now I can't do that anymore.  You know, against my inner warnings, I think I will take a pic of the bedroom mess.  Before and after.   I will post them below.   I am clearing it out today.  You figure out which is before and which is after!!!

April and Myles are on their way to Victoria, via Harbour Air.  I am having a heart palpitating time at the moment.  My first husband taught me to never go up in a sea plane...they crash and are dangerous.  So I never have and never will.  So I am kind of holding my breath til I see the news at noon and there is no report of a plane crash.  I personally would not survive if something happened to those two kids.  See?  It's all about me!!!  LOL!!!!

So that being said, talking about me me me, I have decided I must get dressed in the morning.  The other  afternoon there was a knock at the door.  I was foolishly thinking it was my pills so I dashed to the door.  It wasn't until after that I got thinking about the look on the guy's face and it wasn't my guy, it was  Ange's pill deliverer.  He is a wee tad odd....on the spectrum somewhere a little, but that expression on his face alerted me to pursue my exploration of why,  a bit further.  Then I realized my hair was crazy, my shirt was black and white stripes with food stains down the front and I had on a pair of short plaid sleep shorts that were totally ripped from bottom to waist on the left side.  Geeez!!!!  I looked like a straight off the boat refugee.  Enough to discombobulate a not quite right delivery boy.

So there you have it.  A big life pivot that I am still kind of sad about but also realize it was totally necessary.  I will get over it!!!!  That is a choice!! (to quote Monte..his mantra). TFL and TTYL

IT IS WAY BETTER NOW.  I FOUND PLACES FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING.  I STILL HAVE A BIT OF TWEEKING TO DO...MY BACK QUIT JUST ABOUT AT THE END.  SO I SHALL TAKE A PIC OF THE FINISHED ROOM AND POST IT NEXT POST.

REACTIONS

 It's funny the reactions I am getting to my moving news.  First of all I am a little taken aback by how many people even give a hoot how or where I live.

  It kind of amazes me that people I feel know me well can't trust that I know myself well enough to know if this is the right time in my life to make a senior establishment home.  It's kind of like the people that think Monte is taking advantage of me, freeloading.  Jeez!  I am not stupid.  I think I would know if that was the case and I would do something about it.  How is it people always know what is best for you...and none of those people have even ever visited me here?

Now when Bill was alive we moved five times before he died, buying each time.  And finding the house, negotiating and completing the purchases was on me.  He kind of stayed out of it.  Every single purchase was a successful move.  There was never a whisper that the move was maybe not in our best interest.  It reminds me of my life before I hooked up with Bill.  People constantly were telling me how to live my life.  The minute Bill entered my life it stopped.

Since being alone, this next sale of my house and move will be my fourth and last house I sell.  I made fifty thousand on each of those sales and on this house I stand to make 175,000.  In total in ten years through buying and selling I have netted 325,000.  It isn't a fortune but it isn't losing anything either.  But this time it isn't the money driving this boat.

I am so ready to not spend my nighttime wakies thinking, planning and worrying about this stupid house and all the repairs and nitpicking things that need to be taken care of.  I won't be laying there making my next shopping list that accommodates the two of us and our separate diets.  I won't have to worry about the next huge insurance bills, house and vehicles.  I am just tired of doing all that and bored to hell with it all.  I want to go live in a cruise ship atmosphere.  And fortunately for me  my favourite group of people to spend my time with are the aging boomers.  They have stories to tell, they are smart and experienced just because they are old.  Consequently they understand verbal shorthand.  I love it!!!!

Now my kids are another thing.  Aryn just responded to my last post...that was the first she heard of this move and she was so excited for me!  No censure there.  And April has been a godsend.  She judiciously asked all the 'make sure' questions then gladly jumped on board.  She even had the grace to tell me that her best friend told her she was happy that I was so willing to take this pretty major decision on myself and not land it on my kids.  She was saying that so many of their friend group are worrying and stressing over their senior parents and how they resist talking about it, never mind doing it.  Kevin doesn't know yet but he won't care.

Kerry's awesome sister Wendy is a big draw for this place for me.  I have always truly liked and enjoyed her.  She is a true hoot!!!  She made a very astute comment.  She said people wait too long to move into these senior establishments.  She said if only they would not wait until they are ninety and just waiting to die.  Come in much younger and enjoy the freedom living and take advantage of all the entertainment they bring in and provide (games, music, plays, tours etc) and learn new things (painting, pottery, crafts).  She was saying you could be super busy or relax in your gorgeous suite staring at amazing views out your window.  And this particular building is right in the busiest hub of Lonsdale...all kinds of restaurants and shopping and the library and Jack Lonsdale Pub...a North Van iconic stop!!!!

Now it is time to spend my money, not make it!  And I know that even though Monte and I will super miss each other, we both are feeling very happy with our new lifestyle coming up.  I know there will be worries and we are setting up a check up on each other system to assuage some of that.  I just wish I had a 'Pat' nearby to keep an eye.  This is going to be the hardest part of this move.  I think I will get the girls to give him a weekly call too just to let him know we are all here and ready to help him if necessary.

Okay enough.  Today we go see another mobile home and Ange and I are going to sit down and make out a timeline and plan for decluttering this house.  I foresee many important lists coming up!!!  TFL and TTYL

I apologize for the totally self centred post but I want to thank you all for reading this blog.  You folks are better than any therapist could ever be.  And on a final note think of all the stories that are going to arise out of living in a senior residence!!!!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!!

 I feel like I am so spoiled in my life.  I have been truly blessed.  And another blessing has come my way....again!!

A little while back I posted that I was getting that five year itch to move again.  I love moving.  But this time I am not able to do it all by myself.  I am just not steady enough or strong enough.  So stupidly annoying.  I have always moved myself with help from family and my friend Anne.

I think it is time for Monte to be on his own.  There is such a stigma attached to 'living with mommy'.  And it's kind of raising its ugly head.  He isn't so happy here with me.  He has expressed that he would rather be on his own.  And I feel he is well enough to be on his own.  So that is going to happen, sooner than later.

We have enlisted a lovely real estate lady and we have started looking for a mobile home for Monte.  We have already gone to see the perfect one but as it turns out it is in an over 55 park.  In fact the vast majority of them around here are for over 55 yr olds.  I can't imagine why...lol!!!!

Fortunately for me I have a large enough line of credit sitting empty, thank you to my Arny!!! to buy the trailer outright and pay the loc out when I sell the house.  I probably won't do that til spring.  Prices in town here are on the way up apparently.  All the Island from Nanaimo to Comox are all well over the one million mark.  We are the last cheap house spot left.  I feel like our town is the fat kid that gets picked last!  The busiest buy/sell months they have had in the last few years have been Nov. Dec. and it is just getting busier.  So a good time to sell.

In the meantime I have looked into a beautiful senior building in the heart of North Vancouver.  I actually wanted a studio, the smaller the better, but they are very hard to find in these buildings.  So apparently what they call a junior suite, a very small one bedroom, is available.  And if I have to I will rent one before I get the house sold.  The building is beautiful and it includes a 100/mth dollar parking  space, (if I keep the car), a driver that will take you anywhere on the north shore, a shuttle for tours, three meals per day, a grand piano on the premises, lovely outdoor spaces, and all kinds of entertainment, games and exercise classes.

But the best thing of all is Kerry's sister Wendy.  She lost her husband a few years ago and moved into this place.  She and her husband are the couple we ran into on one of our lengthy cruises and let me tell you, we had the best cruise out of the forty ish that we have done.  Wendy is hands down one of the most fun crazy people I have ever known.  I have a feeling she and I will set the building on fire!!!!

The next thing on my list was Ange.  This will be hard on her.  She can't afford to take much with her to her sister in law in Chilliwack.  She will bunk in there until she finds an apartment.  She is on disability and has two cats.

So I came up with an idea that would help me hugely and possibly her as well.  Instead of advertising and finding someone who could help me with the house clearing and packing,  I would hire her if she wanted to.  And she did!  Thank goodness!!!  I really can't do it myself and this girl is a dynamo and she and I work so well together.  We learned that when we made a gingerbread house!  She is one of those magical people that just knows what to do  instinctively...reminds me a lot of my sister!  I am so lucky.

I made a plan to execute this massive undertaking and I have already taken step number one!  I ordered, and it came today, a pack of coloured sticky name tag labels.  As we clean, sort and pack we shall put a different coloured sticker on Monte's trailer destination, my new place, estate sale with price on it, and diabetes pick up.  The garage will be filled with haul away trash that I will hire someone to do.

The biggest issue will be finding someone to paint.  My front door, the big bedroom downstairs and a brown leak spot on my living room ceiling need painting.   Everything else I have someone I already know who can do whatever it is.

I am going to be honest here.  My bedroom, the laundry room, the end of the dining room past the table on the floor and the deck all look like a hoarders house.  I was watching that show last week and relating to it all too well.  The difference between me and those hoarders is I just have nowhere to put stuff and I LOVE throwing things out.  It's the easiest part of this job!

I am now day one of no pills.  They were supposed to have been delivered three days ago.  I guess I will have to chase them down.  I hate this.  Our health system so totally sucks.

 That is it for today.  If you all need anything let me know.  I am getting rid of pretty much everything!!!  I am allowing myself ten boxes plus bedding and clothes.  That is it!!!!!  Just think.  I will have my own bathroom again.  Not that Ange ever was a problem.  She simply wasn't.  It was everyone else.  We even had one visitor who clearly (we could hear) didn't wash her hands!!!!!!  Ewwwww. (shovel list)  TFL and TTYL

PILL TIME...SHOVEL LIST TO THE POWER OF INFINITY!!!

 I think I have mentioned before that I get sick tummy and anxious when it is time to get my prescription refilled.  It involves lab tests and a visit to the doctor.  And then for whatever reason, like I have said before as well, doctors are like mechanics.  It is like they don't earn their right to be in that profession unless they find some surprise ailment to treat.  I hate it!!!

I thought I had another one month refill.   One of a short three months prescription. (shovel list).  I have been on the same pills, same dosage same everything for twenty years.  Give me an effing year prescription with no refills.  In this day and age it is simply ridiculous to try to see a phantom doctor every three months. And I was wrong.  No refills left.

I went to the pharmacist and begged him for an emergency week of extra pills.  He very kindly delivered it to me the next day.  He is the nicest person on the planet. So far.

So yesterday was the day to get to the clinic and get the doc to send in a refill prescription, hopefully a longer one.  The doc I have been seeing for the last two years is gone now.  Did her time in Butt F**k BC and headed off to Vancouver to work, of course.  Got her debt half paid for the two year penance.  So clinic line up it is.  

Our hours are 9 to 11am or 5 to 7 pm.  I went at four to make sure I got into the accepted line up.  The line of chairs in the hall was full with one chair at the very end still empty.  I asked the peeps sitting there what time did they all get there to make sure they got seen.  Three o'clock.  THREE!!!!  Dang it!!!!  But I sat down hopefully.  At ten after five the MO came out and told everybody the doctor got called away and there would be no clinic today.  Are you kidding?  Sigh.

I talked with her before I left.  She said when you are down to the last month of pills you have to start coming to the clinic, two hours before clinic time and try to see the dr.  And many many days the clinic is closed.  She said the clinic was closing now til the end of the month and start trying in Feb.  Don't go to the hospital...unless it is life or death, they will kick you to the curb.  There was a woman there who had an extreme sinus infection and was so sick she could barely sit up.  She went to the hospital and they booted her.  Told her to go to the clinic.

I asked the MO about prescription renewals.   She said to talk to the pharmacist and see if he will give me a month of pills.  And starting in Feb. start coming into the clinic and trying again.  But be sure to phone first to find out if they are open.  I think when I go see the pharmacist I am going to open with asking for his educated opinion on what would happen if I just stopped taking all those pills?  Then after he tells me I would be dead in two weeks he will be in more of a mind to give me a month's worth.

On a happier crazy note...I got on the scale yesterday expecting to have gained some weight.  I wasn't overly careful through the season and trip so guess my immense surprise to find I have lost twenty pounds.  How I don't know. 

 Possibly I am dying and haven't had it discovered and confirmed yet.  I do get tired easily and I have a spot in the middle of my right back, lung level, that hurts.  You never know.  But losing that weight should help my blood pressure. 

 I really would like to know what my blood pressure is but...well I need to see the doctor.  I think our medical system right now is purposely made this way by the powers that be to kill a bunch of us off.  Then it would be cheaper to run the massive business of health care.

Monte, bless him, texted me a rather hurtful (to me but he was puzzled by my reaction) text yesterday.  By the time I had finished reacting, all by text, I think he was finally getting it and he felt bad, which actually wasn't my intention.  I just wanted him to be aware.

Anyway when he came home a little later he had two bunches of star gazers...absolutely beautiful!  They are one of my most fave flowers.  I love getting flowers and that just made everything better.  I will put a pic of them at the bottom.

Well I am actually hungry.  Scrambled eggs time.  Have a great week or few days til next time.  TFL and TTYL

OTHER THAN THE VERY FIRST FULL DAY HOME...I HAVE KEPT UP WITH MY RESOS

Well I am sitting in my new 'spot in the house' my bed.  The tv in the living room isn't working and the pvr in my bedroom isn't working.  Monte spent an hour on the phone with effing pathetic Telus  whilst I was away.  They were working when he hung up with them.  I really really, to the power of infinity, HATE HATE HATE optic tv.  It totally sucks.  I want a cable I screw into the wall. (super huge shovel list) 

It is ten pm and I am sipping sleepy time tea with lemon honey and ginger (from a massive jar of it from Costco).  Six carbs. Gotta count them.  My blood sugar very quickly hit the low fives as soon as I started eating right.  Gotta try to keep it there.  I did get an extra week of pills from the awesomest pharmacist in the whole world but I still have to go to a doctor and go to the lab.  Grrrrr.......

I have kept up with my resolution to spend at least two hours every day on something or other.  I drag my red rolly chair around with me from task to task.  Today Ange brought up a load of cat littler boxes, due to the weight of cat litter the boxes are super strong and not too huge.

We attacked my big massive pantry cupboard.  It should be a linen cupboard.  We filled six or eight boxes with 2024-2025 due date dry goods.  Brownie mixes, a whole cardboard box of Betty Crocker scalloped potatoes and instant mashed potatoes.  About eight cake mixes.  All kinds of bags of beans and soup mix beans.  Oatmeal, cornmeal, cassava flour (what the hell was I thinking?) all kinds of puddings, wafer crumbs for pie crusts...some of it was dated 2022.  I used to cook a lot for my once a month dinner parties for twelve, then covid hit.  Anyway Monte shall take it all to the Sally Ann.

I also made curried chicken and a massive salad for dinner.  It was so good!  I found two...not one, but two massive club house unopened spice containers of curry powder.  So I used that.  It was really good.  The curry flavour reminded me of Mom's curry.

I talked to the girls today.  Long convos with each.  We are getting ready for the women's retreat, coming up Feb. 7.  This year it is in Chilliwack.

April went shopping prexmas at super store.  If you buy more than 250 bucks or something like that, they give you a box of groceries or something for free.  She came home with a giant frozen turkey!  It barely fit into their tiny fridge freezer.  She had the brilliant idea to take it to the retreat, I will bring my turkey roaster and a crock pot full of stuffing and cranberry jelly and soft fresh white bread (or sourdough) and cook the thing the first night and debone it for sammiches.  mmmmmmm. There will be about 18 ladies there!  We are all looking so forward to this retreat.  We haven't had one since covid and it is time.

Well I shall sign off here...I need to research food banks in this town before I get too tired.  My sleepy time tea is probably mostly psychological but I choose to believe the valerian root in it will actually make me sleepy.  So goodnight folks..TFL & TTYL

ALL THE CAT LITTER BOXES FULL OF FOOD

ATTACHED AT THE HIP

MONTE SNUCK A PIC OF US SLEEPING

HOMEWARD BOUND

 I was just texting Graeme that it is time to go home.  I am missing the people and the animals in my house!  I don't even care if it's a crap show.  I feel it is time to be home.

I need my prescription renewed.  I get sick stomach from worry every single time it is renewal time. (shovel list).  I don't understand why it is so complicated.  Well actually I guess I do.

You have to get an A1c, wait a day, then battle your way to a working available doctor.  Our clinic keeps shutting for periods of time.  My awesome new pharmacist will give me pills but one week at a time.  Doesn't cut it.  I guess I will head over to him tomorrow and ask for an extra week to give me time to get into a doctor.  I feel like just tossing them all and take my chances with high blood sugar and high blood pressure.  If it's my time to go then I go.  My bucket list is complete at this point.

I had a wonderful relaxing time at Cookie's and Brian's.  It is so clean (everything is NOT covered with dog hair) and organized and peaceful.  I loved it.  It was like being in a respite.  Cookie is the most thoughtful amazing hostess. We talked ourselves silly, ate great food and we went shopping and out for lunch.  And Brian not only told great stories but he did something else that had Cook and I laughing so hard I couldn't quit!  I can't tell you what he did though.  teehee

So now I am sitting on Ape's comfy couch typing up a storm.  My ferry is at 1.  Next post will be from home!!!!  TFL and TTYL

I DIDN'T GET EVEN ONE PIC OF BRIAN OR COOKIE EXCEPT THIS ONE.  THIS WAS BRIAN DRAWN BY MAXEN, COOKIE'S GRANDSON, WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER.  SO HERE IS THE ONLY PIC I GOT!!!

A BOX OF HARMONY DONUTS.  THAT WON'T MEAN ANYTHING TO SOME...EVERYTHING TO OTHERS!!! I TOOKA BOX TO COOK'S

BESTEST SNACK EVER...BOURSIN AND CRACKERS

GRAEME AND LEELOO

RESOLUTIONS

 Usually when people talk about their New Year's resolutions, I am like 'ho hum'.  I react very much the same way I do when people start talking about horses or their pets.  (me included, I bore myself silly talking about Floppy).  But I am sitting on the couch in April and Myles's place and I had a brain wave involving a resolution I just might make this year.

And no, it isn't about diet, or blood sugar, or exercise.  That is the usual go to resolution so you can see why I find it ho hum boring.  No, I came to the realization, probably ten years ago, that I am waaaaaay too attached to my big old comfy chair.  I spend many many hours in that ratty duct taped thing in a day.  I often sit there and think about all the things that NEED doing in that stupid little crap box and then guilt and shame set in.  So I get out of the chair, walk to my bedroom, leave my bedroom, go to the kitchen and eat something illicit then walk back to my chair, sink into its welcoming warmth and comfort and think, 'tomorrow'.  There is a lot of Scarlett O'Hara in me.

The only way I am going to be able to stop the guilt and shame is to get off my bubble butt and get to it.  And I know myself well.  It has to be measured in time allotments.  And here is my 2025 resolution:

I shall spend two hours a day working on my room or the closets or the laundry room or the storage sheds or the deck...and I won't stop my two hours per day until that project is done.  I will drag my red rolly chair around with me.  Due to certain bone issues I need to have a chair handy to sit for two minutes out of every ten to straighten out my hip and tailbone.  I am very lucky that it only takes two minutes.  So I work til I can't then sit til I can.

And I am going to make Ange my police person.  Poor Ange.  I am going to ask her to nag me and check my progress on the current project.  Then if I skip a day, no matter the excuse, give me hell and nag the heck out of me.  I need a moderator.

On another note last night April and I went to a Winners.  I have not been shopping in a brick and mortar in a very long time.  Grocery stores don't count but I haven't really even been in them for the last year.  Delivery is the anti shoppers best friend.  And I actually really enjoyed the shopping trip!  I did buy a few things but had to keep my very limited budget in mind.

After shopping we went to an awesome ramen place on Lonsdale.  I love ramen and pho etc...and the ramen last nite was truly awesome.  Then...get this, we went to a Mexican cantina and drank margaritas!  We shared a flight of them, lime, guava (my fave), mango and strawberry.  What a fun time we had.  April is a lot of fun and easy to go out with.  I super enjoyed our evening.

And now it is almost 10:30 in the morning.  Graeme will be here at 11 and I am sitting on the couch in my very ugly pjs.  Gotta go get dressed!  (not that he hasn't seen me in ugly pjs before...in fact probably 80% of the time I spend with him) 

Have a great day and TFL and TTYL

MARGARITAVILLE!!!  JUST SAYING HERE....WHEN I LOOK AT  PICS OF ME, I JUST DON'T LOOK LIKE I DO IN MY MIND'S EYE.  SOOO DIFFERENT.  (SHOVEL LIST)

COMPLIMENTARY TACO CHIPS AND SALSAS

 

I'M FULL

AS USUAL PICS IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES,  (SHOVEL FREAKING LIST). APRIL'S AWESOME OSSO BUCO

HER BEAUTIFUL TABLE SETTING.  SHE EVEN PUT TWINKLE LIGHTS ON THE TABLE!!!

CUTTIN' UP THEM THERE APPLES

SHE MADE THE MOST DELICIOUS CRANBERRY PROSECO 

 DRINK.  THOSE ARE DOLLAR STORE GLASSES!!!!

ONE DAY WE PAINTED LITTLE HOUSES.  THIS ONE WAS MINE

HAHAHA!!!  CAN YOU TELL WHICH ONE THE ARTIST IN THE HOUSE PAINTED!?

 Egads!!!  I have forgotten completely what it is like to be hungry!!!!  Both my daughters are amazing cooks.  And I do mean amazing!!!

Let's see...the turkey dinner at Arnie's was outstanding.  Everything was perfect, from the traditional (and I love traditions) green bean casserole, to the candied yams, cranberry sauce with ring dints on it from the can, and the stuffing and turkey. And the crowning glory?.... the fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy. Ohhhhh I could do it all over right now.

And now at April's...more amazing food.  She made the most beautiful New Years Eve dinner.  All day she nursed an amazing osso buco in the oven.  Then she and Myles set the most beautiful table.  I will put pics below.  It was so cozy and stunning and perfect.  I spent some time in the afternoon peeling and cutting up apples for an apple crisp.  What a fantastic dinner!

Due to having to work Aryn was not able to deal with the turkey carcass so I brought it to April's and she made a massive pot of amazing turkey soup.  It was totally delicious.

Yesterday I went with her to Safeway which is pretty much next door to her complex.  I took a stroll through the place and oh so wish we had a Safeway in Port.  I love Safeway.  It has always been my go to store.  They even had frozen buns!  Myles makes monkey bread with them!!!

I think today we are going to go to a Winners.  I haven't been in a Winners in forever.  We will see how Myles is feeling.  He is so much better now.

Tomorrow Graeme is coming up here and meeting us here at April's.  April will then take the three or four of us over to Queen's Cross Pub for lunch.  It should be fun.  It will be so good to see him again.  Then the next day I shall pack a small bag, leave my suitcase here and head over to Cookie's!  I can't wait.  We have a lot to catch up on.  I super hope she is willing to make subjit and roti!!!!!!

Well thats it for now.  I shall probably do a post at Cook's.  TFL andTTYL