Another Weekend Arrives

Saturday morning at Carbutt ... and it's good to be indoors this morning, what with the extreme windchill outdoors.  Regardless of the day, my early morning routine remains the same: several cups of energizing coffee while I listen to CBC on the radio and look at photos on Flickriver.  Oh, and I give several milk bones to Holly: her early morning treats.

Today, I'll help Marg a bit while she finishes cleaning her old place on Civic.  The new buyer takes possession on the 28th so Margaret is trying to get everything ready for the handover.  Moving is not easy: there's a lot of work and stress associated with it.  But, Marg has the right attitude: just take things one step at a time.  After the 28th, we'll concentrate on organizing our stuff here at Carbutt.  I'm sure that will go on for months.  I've still got stuff that I haven't unpacked from my move here nearly two years ago!  Sometimes, I even forget what I have in some of those unpacked boxes.  Over time, it will all be done.

Just noticed my coffee cup is empty again.  Talk to you later ...

Changed My Mind

I decided to get my throat checked out after all at the walk-in clinic.  Strep throat, with a viral infection.  So, no antibiotic required for that; just lots of gargling in my near future.  But I did need more antibiotics for a relapse in my eye infection.  At least, now, I know.  So, unless I come down with viral pneumonia, that's all I'll write about my plague of cold-related infections for this winter.

I also went to Best Buy and picked up the 2 TB LaCie external hard drive that Mike recommended for backing up my aging desktop computer.  I'll get that going later this evening.  I also have to reinstall my new wireless printer because MTS installed a new mega-router when they hooked up Marg's HD cable system.  New router and network means the recently installed printer must be set up again.  Sometimes, all this new technology is a bit of a pain.  Makes me tired thinking about it.  I think I'll go have a nap.

Somewhat Better Now

Time and sleep seemed to be all I needed today.  I decided not to go to the doctor when I began to feel better after my last post.  I'd rather avoid more antibiotics, if possible.  My throat felt better later in the morning.  A couple of long naps during the day helped to boost my energy levels a little.  I don't ever remember having so many colds before in my life.

Unfortunately, I was unable to help Margaret pack up more stuff at her former home, to take to the thrift store.  She managed to take a couple of loads there by herself, plus a load or two to her new home, here with me.  I think she said she also bagged about ten bags of garbage for curb pickup also.  She has managed to avoid my colds so far.

Sick of Colds

It's been a rough couple of months for me and my colds.  It seems I'm in an endless cycle of colds and cold-related infections.  Maybe, my immune system needs a boost.  Maybe, too, at my age, my immune system is weakening?  In any case, I'll be going back to my neighbouring walk-in clinic this morning to get checked out again.  The latest?  Possibly a strep throat infection.  We'll see what the doctor says.

On a happier note, Margaret moved in with me on Tuesday.  While organizing our stuff, we are now revisiting all our 'old stuff' and seeing what else we can get rid of by taking it to the thrift store.  We've already taken one load there with my Escape and Goodwill came with a truck and took some of Marg's old furniture.  Some of Marg's friends also took away some larger items.  I, of course, being a bit of a 'pack rat', have a lot more small items to take to the Sally Ann.  It amazes me how many things I've collected over the years and no longer need or use.  Maybe, my unwanted stuff will find a good home somewhere else.

Yesterday, MTS hooked up Margaret's home theatre system and 50" plasma screen in the front room and installed a better router system for the home computers.  The movers kindly took away my old Sony 26" antique TV.  It weighed a ton and was extremely hard to move: it was literally a real back breaker.  Good riddance to it!  We still have two old, smaller TVs for the bedroom and the basement exercise area but they are still quite manageable.  We'll likely replace the bedroom TV with a cheap 32" flat screen so Marg can watch HD TV there when she wants.  It's hard to keep pace with our continually improving technology these days.  It's kind of funny but, with all the channels we have, I still mostly just watch the news and Food TV.

And the beat goes on ...

Busy Times

We missed the Wingfield show in Carman because of poor highway conditions but kept busy anyways.  Lots of needed stuff to pack at Margaret's old place and lots of unneeded stuff to pack up, from both her place and my place, and take to the Sally Ann thrift store today.  In fact, we took a full load to the Sally Ann in my Ford Escape this afternoon.  Margaret was glad to see that the City had picked up her old couch and spare bed from the curb on Friday, despite the stormy weather.

Things are slowly coming together for the movers arrival on Tuesday.  By that afternoon, all that will have to be done at Margaret's place is a final cleaning for the new buyer who takes possession on Friday.  I guess we'll spend most of the week here at Carbutt, organizing everything.  It really feels good to finally see everything happening.  Happiness is ...

New Beginnings

Marsha Petrie Sue once said "the secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.  Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be".  Related to this thought, Claude Thomas Bissell said "risk more than others think is safe.  Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical.  Expect more than others think is possible".

These thoughts seem especially relevant to me today because, early next week, Margaret will be moving into 43 Carbutt with me.  We reconnected last March, after a 30 year gap, and have grown closer and closer ever since.  Our past seven months together have been truly fantastic and, as we now will begin to share our home together, I expect our lives will become even richer.  Happiness is ...

Positive Thinking

A positive thinker does not refuse to recognize the negative, he refuses to dwell on it (Norman V. Peale).  The greatest mistake one can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.

Today will take a lot of positive thinking on my part.  We had an overnight blizzard.  Happily, the winds are dying down now and my driveway won't require too much shoveling, thanks to the NW wind direction.  I'm smiling a little now, thinking that if I still lived near Carman, it would be a much different story; strong NW winds there invariable would involve a major snow removal problem!  I feel somewhat sorry for the current owners.

Speaking of Carman, Margaret and I planned to drive out there this evening to attend a Wingfield concert.  That's up in the air right now.  Hopefully, the highway conditions will improve during the day and we'll be able to make it.  We'll see ...

Another Good Weekend

Saturday found us enjoying the sunny, brisk weather at Beaudry Park with the dogs.  And, on Sunday, we went to Holy Trinity Anglican Church downtown in the morning (we drove through about 20 light-controlled intersections, hitting only two red lights ... now, that's clear sailing!).  We chatted with Mike and Tasha (and KT!) after the service.  My favorite grand-daughter gets cuter every day, if that's possible.  After church we did some grocery shopping at La Grotta, our favorite Italian deli (but, alas, they were out of buffalo mozzarella!, so no cabrese salad for lunch!).  In the evening, we took in another show at Celebrations Dinner Theatre.  Happiness is ...

Been Busy

I know.  That's no excuse for not keeping up my blog.  Maybe, I'll get back into the groove soon.  I'm certainly feeling better the past few days as the antibiotics I got have knocked out my eye infection and are starting to reduce my bronchitis problem.

Socially, I've been busy.  Over the past two weeks, I've been to my grand-son Matt's 5th birthday party, had dinner at Saucer's with Marg, been to Marg's sister's for dinner, and, last night, had a Valentine's dinner with Marg at one of Winnipeg's finer restaurants, Sidney's at the Forks.  And, tomorrow, Marg and I are going to Celebrations Dinner Theatre for another viewing of 'Mugs and Molls'.

Physically, I've not had much exercise lately, beyond housework, because of the cold weather and my series of colds.  But, today, Marg and I plan to walk the dogs out at Beaudry Provincial Park because the milder weather has finally returned.

The latest good news is that Marg has sold her house and will be moving in with me on the 22nd.  Needless to say, we're both excited and happy about that.

Already Feeling Better

Antibiotics are great!  After only one day of using them, I'm already feeling better.  Happiness is ...

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, the airways that carry airflow from the trachea into the lungs.  After going to a walk-in clinic this morning, I learned that I have it.  Now equipped with antibiotics for my lungs and eyes, I hopefully am going to end this disease.  I've had a series of colds since Christmas and, last night, I resolved to seek medical attention.  Enough is enough!

Snowmageddon

Winter snow storms seem to be the norm almost everywhere these days.  New words to describe them are seen every day: snowmageddon, snowpocalypse, and so on.  But, for a change, we're enjoying a mild spell, here in Winnipeg.  I guess it's finally our turn for a bit of nice winter weather.

Now, if only I could escape this cycle of colds I've been having since Christmas, I'd be really happy.