Learning and understanding

Happy holidays…It’s surprising to find that it’s aaltradt Christmas Eve; I expected to be at home!  But iy’s fine.  They are taking good care of me and I don’t have to worry about anything  my sisters will be here next week and i am excited. We are hopeful that this is respite care and u treat it like that  excuse any errors, please as I’m trying text to speech and i have lots of of corrections. A short note but full of good wishes;  take care  Good night

A lovely 5C today.  Partly sunny, then overcast and rain looming… The long range forecast has snow coming.  I’m not looking forward to that at all at all.  It’s the time of year when it gets miserable and the days shrink to dark mornings, dark afternoons and midnight at 4pm… not fun in the least.  Jerry is on his “new” bed — an old pillow that we gave him.  I stopped buying him beds as he will just rip the stuffing out of them and I’d be spending ages picking up the wads of batting.  Don was feeling under the weather today, having difficulty breathing, walking and sleeping last night.  He’s dozed a few times today and is not fully awake at the moment.  He’ll hopefully sleep better tonight. I realized that for the last few nights I haven’t slept too well myself.  I turn off my light to go to sleep by 9:30, will fall asleep for about an hour, and then wake up in pain in my back — there’s pain in my coccyx where I can’t find a comfy spot, and an...

Two days of rain, slippery roads and general sadness in the weather… that led to the need to roll up into a roti and get some extra sleep.  I dozed off on myself yesterday around 5, and woke up after 8, so it’s clear that I needed that nap!  Today I was awake early (pre-am appointment) and by 11 I was out.  I’m more alert now, which is good, but I really needed that extra nap.  While I think I slept well, it seems that I was awake off and on during the night, so that interfered with my rest.  Jerry is on my toes chewing on his new toy.  It’s surprisingly mostly intact, although he’s working on eating the fabric — I don’t understand his attachment to that!  There are several hockey tournaments underway at the moment, plus some “regular” games, and football, so as you can imagine, I have limited TV time!  I’m recording some shows to watch when I have a moment, which will probably be after  the new year, since the tournaments end then — but then...

Another somewhat overcast day, but mild enough that I could leave the door ajar for part of the day.  Not now, though; I’m rolled in a blanket and pretending to be a wrapped roti 😆  Jerry is still happily playing with his toys from yesterday which are still holding their shape, but are beginning to lose the stuffing… He was on my lap until he heard the microwave oven get turned on, and is now in the kitchen, looking hopefully at Don’s plate LOL  There were several hockey games on today, with the Juniors and another tournament in both of which Canada played and (I think) won their opening games.  At least, I assume so, because there was some cheering, followed by some log sawing 🤪 I slept like a log last night, and reluctantly got up this morning because I was warm and cozy!  But I ate lots today.  I’d been dreaming of a scrambled egg-and-ham breakfast, which I made and ate in it entirety.  That, I’ll have you know, was a standard sized meal back in t...

I’ve been reminded that a “green” Christmas is no fun, and we really should have some snow.  I’ll agree that a week of snow, starting last night and ending on New Year’s Day is what would be ideal!  It’s overcast and a bit grey, but milder than one would expect.  My nurse commented that she didn’t feel as cold as she did a couple of days ago, so 😁 Merry Christmas from Jerry, who has his latest sacrifice… it lasted FIVE MINUTES before he chewed off a leg/ear something from the “untearable “ chew toy that can resist all strong chewers.  I’m going to seek a refund from the manufacturer, which swears that its toys won’t rip.  Don is currently working on dinner, and I’m looking forward to it.  It won’t be the full meal, but that’s ok as I can’t do a full plate anyway!  But he insisted  on a traditional meal, so I won’t argue.  We haven’t opened presents yet, just been enjoying the day, relaxing and playing with Jerry’s new toy while it lasts. ...

  This is not my tree; I didn’t have any energy to do anything this year, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.  It was another cold and damp day, where the chill soaked into your bones, making it feel worse than reality.  Don snuck out this afternoon to do something, so Jerry curled into a sulky ball and grumbled that the world is unfair and he’s a neglected puppy who nobody loves and he’s forced to sit on my lap!  Don is back now, so my boys are on the sofa.  I’m going to commandeer the TV soon, and overindulge in sappy sentimentality… beginning with “any time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings!” And proceeding to “🎼 I’m dreaming of a white Christmas 🎶” and “🎶 You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch!”  The order may change, but that’s the plan for tonight!  Of course, by midnight I should be on to “I haven’t missed it!  Of course, the spirits did it all in one night!”  Yes, overindulging is happening tonight! My BFF dropped off some ice cream (a...

Someone sent me this lovely thought, and I decided to share with you all.  I hope you enjoy!  Today is Christmas Adam, for Trinis of a certain generation, and Tibbs’ Eve for my Newfoundland friends!  Gotta love all the various celebrations, don’t you?  We’re somewhat overcast today, and there are murmurs of the S-word overnight tonight, making the whining slow down.  Jerry is lying on my feed, after trying to steal my blanket.  He’s got this habit that I’m unable to break where he likes to chew holes in soft fabrics, so he’s often in trouble.  Don was watching sports, but his recording ended 2 minutes before the end of the (tied) game, so he was quite upset.  Then I pointed out how to check scores online, which only partly comforted him, as he’d missed the last goal (which defeated his team) and he’s trying to figure out how to avoid this in the future.  He’s watching some true crime now, and I’m just waiting (im)patiently for the end of the ...

I apologize for this one, people seem to like my sister’s torture devices (puns) so I’m sharing.  It’s been 🤬 cold 🥶 here the last couple of days, although it’s now officially winter, and Mother Nature seems to think she should exert some cool!  It’s been sunny and pretty, but that’s so misleading as the sun offers ZERO warmth and the cold just goes through to your bones and the wind cuts everything.  Jerry doesn’t like the cold, either.  He burrows under any blanket, throw or sweater that he can find, and curls into a ball.  I don’t blame him.  Don has started wearing his fur-trimmed moccasins around the house, just to keep his feet warmer; he’s watching a Christmas at Graceland special right now, smiling happily at all the country music stars, and especially the reruns of Elvis’s singing.  I enjoy a lot of the old songs too, so I’m happy to listen to it.  He pauses every so often to tell me some trivia from when he saw Elvis perform live a lon...

My sister strikes again.  She said that she couldn’t possibly be expected to suffer alone, and I argued that not only could  she, but she should  since she went out to find this… abomination 😳  I thought I’d share it with you as a form of stress relief from the insanity that I imagine many of you are experiencing as you prepare for the weekend and its festivities.  Jerry is guarding my feet at the moment, as we wait for my support worker to come.  He’s giving small growls every time he hears a door or the wind or any movement in the hallway.  He was on my lap, but changed position after I got a call.  Silly puppy.  Don is OK, relaxing a bit and waiting for his sports  which start as usual at an odd time!  Insert nightly complaint about the cold, chill, ice and general ugh weather.  More whining on the news about no white Christmas here, but the storm damage down East I think more than makes up for it.  I reiterate that I’...

It’s got colder since yesterday, and the weather is even worse, with rain and snow — and sleet — just making things wintry.  I’d honestly prefer warmer and no snow; the news guys were moaning that we might not have a white Christmas as we won’t have the minimum 5cm of snow needed to meet the definition.  Given that there are several dreadfully strong storms battering the East Coast, I’m not sure that’s the biggest problem right now… Jerry is on my feet, rearranging my blanket to suit him, never mind that when I stand up I need to be careful that I don’t trip and fall.  I feel a little bad that I can’t take him on a long walk; he could really use it if only so he doesn’t bark at everyone constantly.  Don seems to have found a treat that he enjoys, so he’s happily stuffing his fact right now.  There’s more sports upcoming, and he’s annoyed that his team has changed the coach and something something, so he’s muttering sadly about that.  At least it keeps him b...

I’m so happy that I didn’t have to go out today.  It was cold, icy, and the roads are slippery with ice.  My support worker slipped on the ice and landed on her tailbone, which is really painful!  I won’t complain, but just know that I remain unthrilled by the cold and I know I’m in the wrong country for the weather I prefer, so I’ll just adopt a martyr-like approach to it!  There’s more ice rain and other such unpleasantries coming, but ‘tis the season… sigh.  Jerry literally did not leave me alone for more than an hour in total today!  I sat to watch a show, which I didn’t get to see in all as Jerry sat to block my view of the screen.  I got up to put away the clean laundry, which gave me about 15 minutes of an empty lap.  Then I sat down again, and he jumped up, rolled on his back and jabbed me in the face with his paws!  Don was a little tired after yesterday’s outing, but it’s all good.  He spent a good couple of hours hunting for a...

 It was lovely, sunny and relatively mild this morning; we’re expecting the weather to do some “interesting” wintry weather stuff upcoming; it is that time of year, but still… it’s got much colder as the sun set (so from about 4pm onwards!)  There are so many pre-Christmas activities underway — multiple tree lightings, craft shows and Christmas markets, Santa Claus parades and so on.  Jerry has been my shadow all day.  He spent the night on my legs, but wanted to play most of the night.  He settled down around 4:30 so I fell asleep after that, and woke up around 10:30, feeling more rested.  Don’s been moaning a bit about the cold and the pain in his leg as a result.  I sympathize, but then I have a half laugh that between the 2 of us, we make half a healthy person who walks easily!  Not the greatest, is it?  But there’s football and hockey this evening, so I’ll be losing myself in a book while he cheers on his teams. As I mentioned, my sleep ...

I was somewhat emotionally overwhelmed yesterday, and took the time to recover my equilibrium a bit.  I’m not fully there yet, but it’s improving.  The weather was more sunny than we expected, and it was a lovely fall day.  Right now, it’s a little overcast, and the temperature is dropping from 9C down to 5C, and it’s supposed to get much colder overnight.  Jerry is hyperactive today, and has been barking most of the day; I have no idea what’s causing that; there’s nobody in the hall where he seems to be directing his barking, nor is it particularly windy, so that’s also not a reason.  He then jumps up on a lap, burrows in, makes himself comfortable and scratches when nobody pays attention to him.  He had to get his training collar this afternoon, which he hates  but that hasn’t helped calm him down.  Don was watching sports until about 2am, then he slept like a log, and was again watching sports for most of the afternoon.  If it keeps him ha...

Another fairly mild day today, with intermittent sunshine between some light clouds.  The forecast calls for frost overnight, and down to just above freezing at dawn.  We’ll see how it goes; I’m less and less inclined to want to go outdoors as it gets colder, and I find it challenging to keep warm now.  Jerry was a naughty dog today.  His long, telescopic legs get him in trouble, and he managed to pull a box of some chocolates off the dining table, and he ate a couple of pieces before I realized what had happened.  He was then sick all over his blanket.  He’s trying to snuggle up and be all affectionate, and at the moment he’s licking Don’s ears and sitting on his shoulder.  Don is walking more easily and says that he feels stronger, which continues to be good news for me.  It takes a load off my shoulders when he’s doing better.  He’s got more sports to watch, and was interested to hear that cricket has been added to the Olympics for next ye...

  Hristos je rođen!  Wishing you a wonderful season full of love. It was a slow day today; I woke up late, and didn’t manage a lot of energy today.  Jerry is in a mood — people are moving around outside and he gets agitated.  I’ve realized that he’s extra protective since the plague, and while he’s still very social with dogs and people he knew from before, he’s more inclined to defend than he was.  He’s been too cut off for too long, and it’s worse that I don’t have the strength to take him out for as long as he’d like. Thankfully I’ve got someone who will take him occasionally for longer than we can, but even with her it’s not quite enough.  Don was as slow as I was today; we caught up on a couple of shows on PVR, but then both dozed off.  Apparently it was a dozy sort of day; and the forecast calls for it to be cold for the next few, so I’ll be breaking out the comforters and blankets to make cozy forts! I’m again working on my crochet project, and ...

I’ve got back my keypad!  😁 Although I write quickly and smoothly with the pencil, I’m faster with the keyboard, and editing is easier (plus I can use spreadsheets and so on). Thanks, P, for collecting it for me!  Jerry had a massive attack of the “ zoomies ” this morning, and was bouncing all over the bed just out of reach, so I couldn’t catch him.  He’s been unsettled a lot today, whining and growling a lot; I think that he was hearing people out in the hallway and on the stairs, and that annoys and upsets him.  Don is good; he had trouble falling asleep last night, but is fine.  Hockey is paused for a day or so, as is football, so I can indulge in an excess of Star Trek  (since I get to control the TV). This, incidentally, is the magazine-worthy room of my friend who dabbles in décor as a hobby (and supplemental income) which I’m sharing as we end this Christmas season. Today we celebrate Epiphany,  also called Tres Reyes, Les Rois or Lewah — all o...

Happy Boxing Day, and start of Kwanzaa. It's a chilly, snowy day here, and we're at home recovering from last week's exertions. Don was watching Junior Hockey for a large part of the afternoon, while Jerry and I took a nap. Then we watched the musical Cinderella. Jerry had fun with his new toy. and playing with Don. My nurse was here early this morning, so I needed a little rest. I'm following my dietician's instructions to "eat by the clock; so I have several small meals during the day.. We're trying to stabilize my weight, and since I don't often feel hungry. Today I had some leftover turkey (that will be for a while still;) and trimmings, and I'm enjoying a cup of tea now. I had some Cheetos earlier, which was probably not the wisest choice, as it makes me feel full with no real benefit. I'll keep trying-I'm due another "meal" this evening. but it's likely to be an Ensure, as I feel stuffed. And I'll avoid Cheetos for a ...

Merry Christmas to all! I hope that today was a good one for all. I had a quiet day: I joined my niece and nephew by video for gift unwrapping; spoke with my father and siblings; talked with other family and friends and ate the turkey dinner Don made. Jerry had a lovely time with his new toy (Note: there is no toy that will resist the chewing of Jerry) Don was happy with the day too, and is now watching a sport game-is there any day free of heavily commercialized teams chasing things? As you can tell, I'm not at all interested in pro sports (or the Olympics or World Cup...) but he'll watch almost any team sport. I just need to get him hooked on cricket now... I love Christmas, the whole Christmas season-contrary to the Grinch! The only thing I was unable to do today was attend Mass in person. I did, though. share in the vigil (Christmas Eve) mass via livestream, and the Christmas Day mass on TV today. I love the Nativity narratives of St. Matthew and St. Luke, and over the year...

Happy Christmas Eve! I hope that you're enjoying the holiday season, and able to spend time with loved ones. I was surprised to learn that one friend spends Christmas Eve alone-I'm surprised since we usually spend time together Christmas Day. Tonight she's home because of the storm, but we've been talking a lot. That gave me pause-so I hope that everyone has company for this season, at least by phone/ video call if not in person. I did some baking today. bread and fruit buns. The buns are cooling now, and the bread is ready to be made into ham and turkey sandwiches this week. Jerry is on my lap, stretched out for petting. It's a little challenging to write, as he keeps trying to push the pen out of my hand or he puts his paw on my iPad and switches apps. Don's watching a football game - although "watching" is a very generous description... nuff said. I had a discussion today with a friend about the discrepancy between income and expenses in TV shows an...

Happy Christmas Adam, aka Tibbs' Eve! It's a fun, fake holiday with roots in Trinidad and Newfoundland. My friend from NL and I realized that they combined well. On Christmas Adam, the baking, pre-Christmas cleaning and gift wrapping are completed, so all homey activities. Tibbs' Eve sees the men heading to the neighbourhood pub to escape house work! Like I said, a fun, fake holiday. There's a huge winter storm affecting the whole continent, with thousands of cancelled flights, hundreds of car accidents, multiple power outages and howling winds. Last night, the wind howled like a convention of banshees.  Jerry didn't like it at all, and tried to burrow under me to hide. Today was windy and wet, where last night's ice began to melt, causing flooding on many streets, and the snow is coming in, so the floods will freeze, leaving a layer of ice under the snow. Dangerous walking conditions, to say the least! Don went out today to buy a few last minute grocery items. ...