EEEEEEK!!!! IT'S FREAKY NOT BEING IN MY CHAIR IN PORT

 Like the title says....it took me a while not to be too freaked out as I drove out of our little town and onto the ferry and off the Island.  I haven't been anywhere for over a year and a half and I am somewhat agoraphobic!  But it didn't take long to crank up the tunes, as Cookie said, Led Zeppelin at their best and enjoy the ride.  It felt so good to be driving again.

I didn't get out of the truck on the ferry except for a quick run upstairs for a sandwich and bottle of water.  I read and snoozed, at least tried to.  The car right beside me, a porche no less, didn't disable his alarm and it kept going off.  It was so loud and I couldn't shut the window because it was too hot.  Grrrr. (shovel list little bald dudes too young to own a porche!)

I love it at Myles and April's.  I plant myself on the prime spot in the house, the far end of the couch, and basically don't move from there.  Plus if I did try to move Leeloo, their little pom, would go crazy.  hahaha!  But we were good friends by the end of the trip.  Aryn was there as I arrived and man, it was sooooo good to see my girls.  It's pretty much been over a year since I saw them.  Definitely not normal. Aryn couldn't stay.  So hugs and quick convo and she had to go.

I had a wonderful couple of days with April.  She showed me how she does her animation work and it's crazy computer and art combo stuff.  How she does it is beyond me!  So complicated!  We had Greek take out the first night, amazing Indian food the last night and she made the most delicious dinner in between.  That girl can cook.  She puts horseradish in mashed potatoes and its unbelievably delicious.

I left yesterday for Kamloops.  When I am not doing it all the time I really enjoy the trip.  I just basically mosied along, although I accidentally did hit 145 klicks at one point.  That is 90 miles per hour for my lovely American friends.  I put the brakes on and knocked it off.  I made a leisurely stop in Merritt for a coffee and a pee break.  I missed Wrangler.  I used to always stop behind Walmart in a field and let him have a run at this point.

It was so awesome to see everybody, especially the kids.  They are so amazing, both of them. I will post pics of them after the camping.  I do love them.  And it is so much fun to watch them play and interact.  Ainsley made cupcakes, her own made up recipe, iced them with her own made up icing and they were delicious!  Maybe a titch chewy but that is okay!  After a delicious dinner we watched an exciting hockey game and then off to bed.

Today Kathy, Jo and I went to McCraken pub for lunch.  Their food is apparently delicious.  Kathy and I decided to share a southwest salad in a crispy taco bowl...our fave.  The menu said greens, black beans, corn, two kinds of cheese, pico de Gallo, choice of taco beef, grilled chicken or shrimp.  Southwestern sauce, salsa, sour cream and guac is extra.  

When it came, it was divided into two glass bowls, no taco shell in sight.  Each bowl had five black beans and about four (mine had one) piece of corn, a drizzle of sauce, and dried up chicken pieces (she didn't give us a choice...shovel list) and nothing else.  We demanded a taco bowl, but when it came it was chewy and flaccid.  Holy Crow!!!!  It was truly the worst restaurant meal I have ever received, and it was twenty bucks!  When I told her how awful it was, as she brought the bill, she immediately offered to comp the dish.  I totally agreed to that. Very disappointing!  So we came home and I ate a raw wiener... much tastier!

Tomorrow I am going to hook up with Anne.  We are going to have a picnic somewhere and go for a drive.  Then she is making us spaghetti for dinner.  I do believe there is going to be some serious talking in our very near future!  She and I can talk for hours and hours and hours and hours!  LOL!!!

So I shall take pics and I shall post again as soon as possible.  I am pretty sure I will be without internet from Wed to Sunday.  So I shall post on Tuesday night before taking off.  I am going to take some pics between now and then.  Stay safe and noodle. TTYL

"If you don't risk the bad meal, you'll never get the magical one."  Anthony Bordaine

LITTLE MISS LEELOO

LEELOO SITTING ON A CRANE AT THE QUAY

NERVOUS (SHOVEL LIST)

 I leave for Vancouver next Monday the 21st.  I have made a reservation on the one o'clock ferry.  And I think my agoraphobia is raising it's ugly head just a little.

I haven't driven a vehicle further than about four kilometres, about once  a month, if that, for almost two years now.  And as Monday draws nearer I find my stomach getting tighter.  I have not been away from home except for a couple of quick visits to Victoria or Tofino and Nanaimo, and I wasn't alone.  I hate to admit this out loud.  I tend to be a tough broad and vulnerable feelings are pretty alien.  I don't like this feeling.  The saving grace here is that I one hundred per cent KNOW that the moment I get going that will all go away.  The trick is to leave tons of time and just mosey!

This week has been list oriented.  Ahhhh fer jeez!  I like lists as an organizational tool, but as a task master?  Not so much!!!! (shovel list)

First thing on that list was to make reservations for the ferry home.  I made one a way ago for the trip over but when I heard the travel ban was lifted I hopped onto the computer to make a rezzo for coming home, only to find that I clearly wasn't the only one!  So many people were doing the same thing and crashed the site.  Grrrrr!  (shovel list). And it stayed crashed past my bedtime.

So I did what any sane person would do.  I woke up at two in the morning, tried the site and it was back up and running.  I promptly made the reservation.

I researched Assured Loading.  Bill and I used to always get books of ten to use, we used the ferry so often back then.  It seemed to make sense now to at least look into it.  If you live on the Island you do need a get out of jail card to pull fast when needed.

Tickets right now without a reservation are 58.00 plus 15 per passenger over 12.  With a rezzo the ticket is 17 bucks to reserve and 75 dollars at the booth.  A reloadable assured loading card of ten is 1,600 dollars plus tax!!!!!  That puts a trip at 160 per trip!!!!  The card is good for two years.  Tooooo much!  But then I start thinking....what if I get a call that one of my kids is dying and I have to get over there to see them before they go off on that mortal coil?  Ahhhhhhh....I can't even think about that awful scenario without tearing up!!!!  What to do? What to do?  Good old Scarlett O'Harra set the example....I will think about it tomorrow.

So back to the list.  I made the list at the beginning of the week....in the middle of the night I might add, and now it has grown to THREE lists.  Things I MUST do before leaving.  It is huge.  One divided into two shopping lists...one for here now and one for Kamloops before leaving for the camping trip, and finally a list for all the endless crap I have to pack and take. And I know me...I will leave it all til Sunday.  Well, no I haven't but.....Those lists are staring at me, even now as I sit here.  (shovel list again)

Well I bit the bullet and wrote a very direct, not so nice email to the guy who I had hired to build my patio.  What a flake! Remember he got hold of me full of apologies and asked if he could still do it and he would start in a week.  I was happy!!!and agreed. That was in the middle of May.  Have I heard from him since? No.  Has he answered my subsequent emails? No.  Has he responded to left messages on the phone? No.  So I wrote to him and told him to not bother.  I told him that I was pretty sure that he would get half way finished and disappear, leaving a mess.  And that I was DONE chasing him.  I am so disappointed.  Now I have to weed the two gardens each side of the front steps and keep weeding them.  Grrrrrrr.  They look terrible and will keep looking terrible.  (another shovel list)

I just reread what I have written here and I see it has turned into a shovel list wallow.  Time to stop writing.  Plus I have the next item on the todo list hollering at me!  (shovel list).  Take care people, stay safe, noodle if you don't have the second shot yet and hug an oldster if you do.  TTYL

"The idea of 'Ten Commandments' is a deeply compelling one.  It combines two impulses that are ingrained in our nature as human beings:  making lists of ten things, and telling other people how to behave."  -Sean Carroll.   oh if only I could keep my lists down to ten things and I was telling OTHERS what to do, not myself!!!

I KNOW THIS KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A GIANT OLD TURD, BUT IT IS A GNARLY COOL LOG END

MONTE WITH AN AMAZING GIANT HAMBURGER AT ROAR.  BUT THE REAL STAR OF HIS DINNER WERE THOSE POTATOES ON HIS PLATE

SORRY, YOU PROLLY HAVE ALREADY SEEN THIS...SITTING BY THE RIVER IN PORT

THE LOG

THIS IS A DRIFTWOOD COVERED VW.....GRAEME IS DRIVING IT....KIND OF CREEPY IN A FANTASTIC WAY

A TWOFER TODAY

First I want to mention the comments on the previous post.  Thank you for your thoughts and Pat for sharing your sad experience.  I know you loved Dusty more than anything in the world and you gave him a wonderful ending.  We are having Wrangler cremated and they are doing his paw prints.  He will have a special spot on our mantel along with his picture and those prints.  And Sharri thank you for your wonderful words and comfort.  Everybody has been so supportive and understanding.  Losing a pet is just so freaking traumatic.

 I missed doing a post on Thur/Fri. We were a little involved putting Wrangler to sleep.  It was painful and he didn't go easily.  They even sedated him and it just made him fight it harder.  Jeez!  I know we did the right thing but I still felt like I was betraying his trust somehow.  Those big eyes, boring into mine, asking what the hell was going on.  I can't get the image out of my mind.  It's like a stab in the heart.

On Saturday (I am writing this on Monday) we hopped into the van and headed up to Tofino to see Graeme.  We stopped at the store and bought him a few treats and had a wonderful trip up.  It was so awesome to see him.  It has been way too long.

We took a drive to Uky.  It was great to see that town again.  I actually prefer it to Tofino.  When we got back Graeme took us for a magical walk through the woods to the most amazing peaceful incredible little spot on the inlet.  There is a wooden deck there and comfy chairs.  So we just sat in that beautiful place and soaked it up.  It was amazing.  I will put pics below.  We saw fish jumping, an eagle flying, an amazing gnarly log in the grasses, a huge fuchsia, beautiful stumps.....it was truly the highlight of the trip...other than seeing Graeme!

The Zed hotel where he works has opened a fantastic restaurant called Roar with a very unusual menu.  We had dinner there and it was spectacular.  The food, the drink, the ambience was a perfect end to the day.  The trip home was quiet and, as usual, beautiful.  We live in such an amazing spot on this planet.

Pat called us last week to say that his connections in Nova Scotia were shipping one pound cooked lobsters to Port.  Would we like some?  They were only 15 bucks each, including transport.  Yes!!! we said.  So Friday evening we got six one pound lobsters delivered!

We immediately shelled two of them.  Monte's fave thing to do with lobsters is to make lobster rolls...which he promptly did and ecstatically ate!  I like mine bare naked.  They were divine!!!!!  We ate the rest last night!  And this can be a monthly thing if we wish!  Sigh.  Sometimes life is good.

Well I finally received my invite to make an appointment for my second shot.  There wasn't much choice for dates.  It was either July 10/11 or into August.  So I picked the 11th.  I should be back from Kamloops by then.  That is at the  12th week from my first shot so that should be good.  Til then I will be 33% protected.  Better than nothing.

This is going to be a busy week.  I have mountains of laundry to do, packing for the trip, cleaning the spare room (oh god, shovel list, I have nowhere to put stuff), cleaning out the jeep, clean the house and leave it ready for Millie.  We are camping up at Tunqua again, a spot that can get pretty cold.  It can also get really hot.  So I have to find my winter coats and my tank tops.

  I think I will stop at Costco in Kamloops and get wieners, buns, potato salad, fruit and just eat that for the weekend.  Kathy has very generously offered to have me eat with them but I don't want to be totally dependant on them.  And I am taking my camp stove.  I am going to buy those big bottles of Starbucks cold brew and heat my morning coffee that way.  It's so good and so much less mess.  I need to get me a water jug too.

Well I had better sign off.  Next thing you know I am going to be making lists here!  Hahaha!!!  Today both Monte and I have appointments at the lab for bloodwork.  I think we are going to wait until this afternoon.  Monday mornings are not a good time to go....two hour waits sometimes.  

Sorry for the rambling, diary entry like post today.  I shall post this weeks challenges and Sharri I totally appreciate your participation!  Two pounds a week is perfect!!!  My scale's battery is always dead...stupid thing.  So take care people, stay safe, continue to noodle and take an oldster to lunch.  TTYL

41.  Eat healthy for two months.  Okay.  Can do.

42.  Give up alcohol for one month.  I like the way she suggest the alcohol for one month and healthy food for two.  I think it should be the other way around but oh well.  The alcohol is easy for me but the food?  Not so much.

"Some days you are the bug.  Somedays you are the windshield."   Price Cobb

THE FUSCHA

SO BEAUTIFUL

MMMMMMMM.......

A SAD TIME AND A DECISION

 Well it is now time to decide how Wrangler is going to cross that rainbow bridge.  I am leaning towards taking him to the vet for the final moment.  I had really wanted to keep him home and comfy in familiar surroundings but there are some obstacles.  

He is pretty much needing to be carried up the stairs from going outside.  Monte does that but Monte isn't always available.  I can't lift him.  He is just too heavy and I have recently become a weenie.  

He has become confused and he is quite blind and now deaf.  I don't think he is very happy.  Now that he has completely quit eating we can't gracefully get medication into him so his pain level has ramped up again.

So now it's decision time.  I am leaning toward calling the vet and making that final appointment and taking him in.  I don't think he would really mind that much.  His dignity is taking a real hit right now and his pain level is not cool to see.  I think it is time.  The final obstacle to all of this is the vet.  They are so insanely busy I am not sure they can even accommodate us.  And this being Port, it's not like there is ANY choice in vets.  Anyway, when Monte gets up we will have the discussion and come to a decision.

  This is going to be insanely difficult.  That dog was my saving heart grace for the year Monte was off the rails and I was separated from him.  Wrangler was his dog who's care I took over.  It was such a huge comfort to me to have Wrangler, a surrogate Monte in a little way.  Man I can't even think about this without crying, never mind holding his paw while it happens.  And it's going to kill Monte.  We went through this together with Parker, a dog we were not particularly attached to and it almost killed us.  (I think that had more to do with the fact it was Bill's dog and we had just gone through that with Bill).  Anyway, this is about Wrangler and we will just have to buck up and get through it.

On a different note, we went to Coombs again yesterday.  I needed some beets and they have such a lovely produce market there.  But...they were only selling them in massive bags for twelve bucks.  I want beets but not that many!  So we had a latte at the Billy Gruff Bistro, cruised through the main market, bought a few things and headed back.  It is such a perfect distance away.  Far enough to feel like you have been somewhere, but really only 20-30 minutes...easy peasy.

We then got ourselves home.  I don't like to leave Wrangler for too long.  He falls down on the slippery floor and then can't get up.  He is okay on the carpet, his feet can get purchase but on the kitchen floor his feet just slide and he can't get up.  So far it has only happened a couple of times and we were home.

Two exciting things are happening to help lighten things up.  Tomorrow at two o'clock I am finally getting my hair done.  I gave in and made an appointment with someone here.  I went to her just before the pandemic and she was okay.  She is no Annie but something is better than nothing.

And Thursday or Friday we have six one pound lobsters arriving from Nova Scotia.  Pat has rellies who live there, that is where he is from originally, and they are arranging to send cooked lobsters to Port, flying then trucked.  They were 15 dollars each which is a darn sight cheaper than frozen ones at Save-on.  We are pretty stoked about it!  No carbs in lobsters, or wospers as April used to call them when she was three.  We were going to head to Tofino on Saturday but unless Wrangler has been tended to that can't happen.

Well I have nothing else to report.  Here are this weeks challenges:

39.  Colour a page in an adult colouring book.  If you don't have one, don't go get one.  It will end up in your get rid of pile in a few months when you can forget about how much you paid for it.  Just get a piece of paper out of your printer, draw a picture, the more horrible it is the better.  More interesting.  And colour it and hang it on the fridge for a week. I dare you!

40.  This next one is ridiculous but I am putting it here anyway.  Lose fifteen pounds.  Okay, I don't even need to say anything.  Just go find five things to eliminate from your life ( and that can include a toxic person)

Okay that's all I got.  Stay safe, noodle, oldster TTYL

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” – Khalil Gibran

BUSY FUN WEEK

 It has been a busy fun week.  Unfortunately we found a new restaurant (to us) that we went to THREE times!  Three!  This is not good!  But they make the best homemade food you will ever eat!

Their greek salad is beyond compare and the pirogies?  Holy kamole!!!!  For dinner you get three.  They are the size of your hand!  And this is the first time I have tasted a pirogie that had flavour.  They were full of potato, cheese, caramelized onions, bacon and spices.  You got three with all the trimmings.  On the side they served, fried together,  cabbage, onion and Granny Smiths and a touch of apple cider vinegar.  OMG!!!

They also make an incredible French onion soup and a carbonara pasta.  The reason I mention all this is to lure you people to Port Alberni into my spare bedroom.  We will take you to Solda's for a spectacular dinner!

We also made two, two!, not one, but two trips to Coombs!  What a place that market is.  Jeez we came home with sugarless bbq sauce, horseradish, anchovies, cheeses, bread and baking, Asian condiments plus plus plus.  We stopped at the Bistro and shared an incredible grilled cheese and latte.  Just so much fun.

A couple of days ago I was busy in the kitchen when there was a knocking at the door.  I went down and opened it to find a box on the stoop and standing a polite six feet back was Heather and her beautiful daughter!!!  Heather is a friend of my niece Jeni who now lives in Alta.  I knew Heather from Bamfield days and reacquainted when I first moved here.  She had stopped to deliver donuts...those famous Port Alberni donuts and to say hi!  What a wonderful surprise visit.  As soon as we are shot up we shall be getting together and I can start those piano lessons with her children.  In this people starved climate, the visit was even more extra special!

I am back sleeping out in the living room in my chair to stay close to Wrangler.  When I am in my bedroom, where I actually prefer to be, he comes in and out and in and out.  When I sleep out in the living room he settles down right under the back of my chair, stinky boy.  The things we do for animals. (I frigging refuse to refer to them as 'fur babies'.  Such a stupid phrase). He won't eat anymore.  He is drinking normally so if he is like Jesus, or was it Bhudda, he can go forty days without food.  Sigh.  I hope he reaches enlightenment before he goes.

We got the van going!!!  And it only cost a couple hundred bucks!  Its at 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan and if you want a comfy ride, get a Dodge Caravan.  I don't know how they do it but their vans are unbelievably comfortable!!!!  I am debating about using it or the jeep for the camping trip coming up.  I just don't want to get halfway to Kamloops and have it crap out on me.  I am not sure I trust it just yet.

Well that is it for the Friday post that I am two days late on.  This morning Monte is getting up early and we are doing errands.  Errands like post office, papers I need to send to Arnie and rats for Monte's snake Smooch.  Yeah. Rats.  Don't even go there with me.  That snake was supposed to be itty bitty and eat crickets.  She is now BIG and eats rats.  Dead ones.  But you know he really loves that snake.  So I guess it's worth it.  The things we do for our kids (Monte I actually AM tempted to call my fur baby.  You should see his beard!)

Okay peeps...no Covid talk.  Sick and tired of stupid covid.  Take care, stay safe, noodle, visit with an oldster and TTYL

"I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific."  Bob Moawab 

THIS IS DEF THE CHARTER I WANT TO GO WITH...HAHAHAHA!!!!

A KFC!!!  WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE!!!!  I THOUGHT WE WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT STILL LOVED KFC BUT THE PLACE WAS PACKED RIGHT OUT THE DOOR.

BILLY GOAT GRUFF

BIG DADDY...RULES THE ROOF

WENT THROUGH THE CARWASH, THOUGHT THIS WAS PRETTY. IT'S LIKE CAMO SUDS.

OOPS!!! FORGOT THE CHALLENGE...(LIKE DOES ANYONE REALLY CARE? LOL!!)

 I totally forgot to put the challenges in the last post. So I shall put them here!

I absolutely love the next two challenges and I challenge each and every one of you to DO IT!!!!

37.  Do something kind for someone and pay it forward.  eg:  The other day Monte and I were going through Starbucks drive thru.  Monte gets coffee there almost every day.  It was a loooong line up.  It was finally our turn and he handed his card to the gal and said, " pay for the people behind me please". I went 'What?!!"  Then I remembered that this is something he does every now and then.  Just nice.

38.  Compliment a stranger.  I love this one.  I will never forget the time my sissy and I were in the quilt store in Kamloops.  The lady that worked there told me she loved my outfit.  She said that it was all matched and looked good!  I had on a lacy tank, denim long sleeved collared shirt, jeans and moccasins.  I was amazed!  I swear I walked out of there two inches higher and with a swelled heart.  I have never forgotten that!

There.  Two more.  Two good ones.  I will do a proper post tomorrow!

Stay safe, noodle, have a convo with an elder. TTYL

SO, ON A LIGHTER NOTE

 I thought I would try to lighten up the post today.  Between covid crap and the poor First Nations' lost children coming to white man's attention, it has been a heavy week.

I could, just could, write a whole post about my foolish and unnecessary mistakes and accidents.  Between my massive and growing stomach, my really wobbly weak ankles, my stupid need for speed and my bad bad eyesight, a lot of shitty stuff happens to me, and it is all my own doing.

For example:  I have left the tank lid from the turlett leaning on the wall alongside it.  I was innocently sitting there contemplating life when I realized that the broken turlett (thanks Monte) seat had shifted to the left.  So I lifted a wee tad, pushed the seat to centre it under me and somehow whacked the lid.  Now let me tell you...they are HEAVY!!!  It fell towards me and landed right smack on my foot, damn near breaking that top bone.  It hurt like HELL!!!  And it made me really really mad!  I don't know which was worse, the mad or the pain.

Nothing really major happens, just those time consuming picky ass things that drive you nuts.  I get really impatient with myself.  I think if I slowed down a little it would help but as I have mentioned before, my mom, my sister and my two daughters and myself, are all incapable of slowing down.  It is genetic I swear.

I remember looking after mom and dad's log house and grounds years ago.  My friend Anne, def not the self admitted swiftest came out and stayed with me.  We needed to go out to the chicken/goat yard and pull mustard weed.  Now as you probably know, Kamloops dirt is dry and like cement.  You have a choice in weed pulling.  Work super duper hard and pull them out of cement like dirt.....or.....water overnight and pull them out of awful mud where they are still stubborn and super hard to pull but you end up covered in mud as opposed to dust.

Early in the morning before it got too hot out, she and I pulled on inadequate garden gloves and set to. In half an hour I had cleared my half of the yard.  Anne?  Not so much.  hahaha!!!  She had pulled about ten mustard weeds!  I still razz her about that.  I have sincerely tried to slow down but it just gives me nervous stomach.  I think we have a built in speed setting and it just isn't wise to go against it.

Another problem I have is I can't stay clean.  No matter how hard I try, how many aprons I go through, using a spoon now instead of a fork, I still end up with food all over my chest, either my bare chest or my shirt.  It even happens when I hold my plate right under my chin with the edge of the plate cutting off my air, pushed on my throat.  How does the food fall out of a spoon, zing around the edge of the plate shoved into my throat and bounce down my chest and shirt and into my lap.  Jeez!!!!  I have had to move so many shirts from the nice clean side of the shelf to the 'wear only when gardening'.  Haha!!  I do NOT garden.

Well that's if for today.  I need to go call Monte.  We are taking the Jeep in for a lube job and then off to the swimming hole.  I am NOT swimming.  The water is freezing still.  I shall sit on the bench and watch all the nutballs freezing their bits off. 

So stay safe, we are almost there now, keep on noodling and help an old lady across the street, especially the ones with bad eyesight and wobbly ankles!  TTYL

"Everything is funny, as long as it is happening to someone else."   Will Rogers

(like the time my sister bit the dust.....twice.  Hahahaha!!  Sorry Kathy but it was funny!)