Learning and understanding

It was a beautiful day today, and in the sun it was comfortable until the breeze blew… in the shade it was distinctly chilly, so I’m very glad I had my (Belgian) shawl.  Jerry was extremely annoyed that I was out without him, and barked when I was getting dressed, when I was leaving, and when I returned he sniffed at me disapprovingly then jumped on my lap and refused to get off for well over an hour!  He’s gone to cuddle Don for a moment, so I’m typing frantically!  Don is still feeling miserable, although he’s a little better today again.  He somehow manages to wake up to watch sports (and records them on the PVR to delete them the next day)  I’m sneaking in my cozy mysteries between games. I’m enjoying being able to get decent sleep at night, I hope that this stays for a while!  I am always tempted in the morning to stay in bed longer, but I’m really working on maintaining a sleep schedule.  My appetite is fairly decent, although my sister-friend wi...

Come come away, hail to the day, this is our land’s great morning; birds in the trees waft in the breeze, songs of our nation’s dawning.  🎶  Happy 47th Republic Day to Trinidad & Tobago.  I remember learning this ( Our Nation’s Dawning) , and God Bless Our Nation for the first one way back in primary school.  Any other Trinis remember these?  I’ve been playing them this afternoon and getting all patriotic and nostalgic at the same time.  Memories can be lovely.  Jerry is in a ball on Don’s feet, sulking because I’m typing and he can’t get back on my lap (he’s been here all afternoon).  Don is still not feeling well and now produces sound effects of groans when he walks.  I’d really like it if he could recover, it’s been almost 3 weeks now that he’s been out of sorts for different reasons! I’m waiting impatiently for my support worker to come so I can head out to the barbecue to which I was invited.  I’m already over 2 hours late, an...

Rainy days today and upcoming.  It’s cool, but somewhat humid and rain off and on throughout the day.  Jerry was glued to me all night last night and during the day today… The few minutes that he wasn’t on me, he was on Don.  He seems to think that something is happening that doesn’t involve him, and is guarding us both vigorously.  Don was happy watching sports again — mostly baseball, as the Canadian football games are mainly on weekends and his NFL teams don’t seem to be active just yet.  It’ll get more intense in a couple of weeks, as the CFL gets ready for the Grey Cup and the NFL ramps up and the NHL starts the pre-game season.  Just too many games for my interest, so I’ll be working on other hobbies while he’s glued to various games. I went to bed last night before 9pm, fell asleep before 10, woke up at 2, and was in that half-awake doze until nearly 5, and finally slept until 8.  I tried to stay in bed a little longer in hopes of regaining some...

It’s Thursday, so of course, it’s pouring rain!  That is definitely the trend this summer.  It was overcast when I woke up this morning, but it cleared up during the day, and for a while I thought we’d buck the trend, but no.  It began around 3:30 this afternoon, as I was nodding off while trying to crochet, unsuccessfully, I might add!  Here is the position that I held for most of the day… Jerry is extra snuggly for who knows what reason, and as soon as I sit down, he’s on my lap and refuses to move.  I try to throw him off, he just wriggles around and shifts his weight and stays where he is.  He’s now lying on Don’s legs and watching me with what seems like disappointment, while I ignore him.  After a couple of days running errands, it’s no surprise that Don was wiped out last night and a little slow this morning.  He’s fine, though, and has managed to catch up on what feels like a dozen sports — they all blend together for me, so I have no idea...

More great weather today, loads of sunshine few puffy white clouds and a cooling breeze.  In some good news from the fire zone, apparently the winds have died down somewhat and the skies are clearer allowing the airborne fighters to resume water bombing, as the smoke was too thick for them to fly for the last couple of days.  Here’s hoping for some rain soon to help bring things under control!  Don was out today running a long-delayed errand, and he left Jerry at home with me.  Jerry disapproved, loudly, of his departure, then planted himself on my lap and sulked until Don got home almost 3 hours later.  I couldn’t do anything, as he stayed so close to me that I was in danger of tripping over him!  He also complained that he couldn’t get any of the pickle that I was eating (I don’t know whether that’s allowed or not for dogs, but I decided to err on the side of caution!) and my legs have now taken on the shape of a little schnoodle curled into a ball… Don’s...

One cute little dog ruling the dog park!  He got taken for a long walk and some sunning, and he was absolutely thrilled to be out bossing all the other dogs he encountered.  He was welcomed back by several dogs and their humans who were happy to see him after a long break.  He came back looking very proud of himself and is now curled up taking a nap and recharging for romping later.  We all agree that he’s a bit spoiled, and he’s clearly sucking up all the petting he gets.  Silly boy.  It’s very humid today, so I feel sluggish and not inclined to eat.  But I know the old warning, “if you don’t eat in the heat, you’ll get sick” (it doesn’t rhyme, but that’s fine; it makes the point.)  I did eat — I ordered some chicken nuggets from Wendy’s, and those were 2 servings.  Don had a chicken sandwich combo, which he said was just ok, but at least we managed to eat something today.  I admit that this heat — more so the humidity — saps my energy ...

 Here is the tiny dictator in his lap pose… arms fully extended so his tummy is well-exposed and if I don’t respond quickly enough, I’ll get slapped by one of those long legs!  He’s leaping around without problems, except when he decides he wants to milk sympathy and then — puppy dog eyes and nose butting.  He’s due for his grooming in a week or so.  I had an early appointment today and another one in the mid-afternoon, so I took advantage of the timing and had a short nap for about an hour which helped me feel refreshed.  Tomorrow is a very early start, as we’ll be out of the house by 7:30, so an early night is in the cards tonight.  Alarm set already!  Jerry has been getting into all kinds of mischief today, which I understand.  He’s getting spring fever, and sadly I don’t have the energy to take him for an outing that will reduce his fidgets.  I’ll be walking him this week, with the intent of reinforcing my ability to do longer walks. ...

I woke up this morning to find the windows coated with ice… The promised ice rain did arrive during the night, and it was rattling hard when I was getting ready to head to the train.  Don suggested that we leave early as he wasn’t sure what the roads would be like, but it was easier than he expected, so I got to the station quickly, and he returned home without incident, so I was very relieved.  On the train, I’m warm and well-fed, but the weather is dreadful.  We had ice rain for a while, then thunderstorms, and it’s pouring rain with flashes of lightning still.  Add to that, there are power outages in the towns we’re passing, so the train signals aren’t working as well as expected, so we’ve stopped and slowed down a few times.  We’re running late, and I’ll update on our progress as we go.  I left behind an annoyed little puppy who let me know that he disapproved of my departure, and also left some treats for Don… although I just remembered that I forgot t...

My life as a dog bed… everyone should have a purpose in their life, and one of mine is to provide a comfortable place for a small black dog who has loads of personality.  Anyone who says that dogs can’t communicate has spent no meaningful time with them, and I’d give them a side eye… I actually trust Jerry’s judgment of people — if he doesn’t like someone, they’re probably untrustworthy.  But like many pet owners, I am cautious of him around new people and small children; I know that he’s not the biting type, but accidents happen, and I don’t want to be responsible for any injuries.  I mention this because the support worker managed to get into the building without calling and just showed up at the door… he did not  approve of a stranger just walking into his house!  It’s all good; he just was loud in his objections and then went into the other room to wait for her to leave.  She was a bit flustered — apparently she didn’t notice the “Beware of Dog” sign on...

It’s a lovely sunny Saturday, warmer than it has been, but still chilly.  The clocks go forward tomorrow, and spring will inch closer… That’s all great, except that I woke up with a sore throat yesterday which persists.  No fever, cough or congestion, it’s just the irritation in my throat and a chill that refuses to go away so I can’t get warm.  I’ve been wrapped up in a blanket and a sweater, even though the weather is improving, because I feel miserable.  Jerry has been napping on my lap all day when he’s not stalking and shaking the remains of his latest toy.  He and the remnant are both on my toes while I get a chance to update this.  Don is currently stuffing his face with breakfast sausages (left over from this morning) in sandwiches and a butter-pecan cake with some ice cream.  I had a small jolt of energy a couple of days ago and baked; there’s now crumbs on the dish… At least he enjoyed it!  I’m not quite able to manage a full sized adult...

The weather is relatively mild, although there’s a wind that pops up and cuts badly.  There’s a storm forecast either on the weekend or at the start of the week — because it’s March, and unpredictable weather is the hallmark of this month!  Jerry is a little hyper today, and has been leaping around and barking at everything  exacerbated by the fact that the building is repainting the stairwells and he can hear people moving around which drives him nuts, so he passes along his annoyance.  I had some extra energy today, so I roasted a chicken and some potatoes, so we’ve got meals for a few days now.  Don enjoyed his meal, and I had a small plateful, so that was good.  We’ve got an appointment with the new family doctor next week, as his first proper encounter with us, and I’ve just got to get Don to go do his blood tests so the doctor will have his (mine were done at the hospital when I went in this week.). I’m not wild about doing blood tests or doctor visit...

Oh, how cold it’s getting.  As happens every year, there are complaints that there’s not enough snow, it’s not cold enough, and then the chill settles in… but the canal isn’t open yet, so outdoor ice skating isn’t available yet.  (I don’t indulge, personally, so I am curled up under some awesome blankets.)  Jerry still refuses to wear boots so his little paws get cold fast and he hops along on 3 legs, sometimes trying to manage on 2.  If he’s forced to get dressed, he refuses to move… silly little boy.  Don is “watching” NFL and flipping over to 3 other channels, so I’m not entirely sure what he’s following.  I’m not paying attention to any of it, so I’m not the most reliable witness in this. I’ve been watching the series Great Greek Myths  on Prime.  It’s partially animated, partially using images of sculptures, paintings, and other artworks to illustrate the tales.  I’ve always loved the Greek myths, and I’d spent a lot of time reading and ...

As enjoyable as mall/shopping trips are, they require a day to recover. I learnt, during my visit home recently, that I can push that and do activities for several days in succession, but the resultant crash is longer. Today I relaxed, mostly with a small dog on my lap. He tried, still unsuccessfully, to mooch cookies from me. Don is glued, as usual, to sports; the gentle snores from the sofa are clearly only a sign of his intense concentration, not that he's asleep! Exciting news! Ok, not that dramatic. Last night I was on Facebook, and saw a post pop up on my timeline from one of my groups. It was a photo of my great-great-grandmother; it was a cropped version of a photo that hangs in the living room of my late grandmother's house. Imagine my surprise on seeing that. I sent a PM to the poster, asking "Huh?" (I can't write accents; just fill in the details..) Five minutes later, I've met a distant cousin who knew my grandmother and her daughters, and who...

The first trip to a mall for the year was accomplished. My iPad's Smart Keyboard opted to not behave, requiring a trip to the oddly named Genius Bar. It's being replaced-yay extended warranty!-and it was great to be out with my friend window shopping. Don and Jerry stayed home, and since I got back I've been under guard-my lap became a dog bed for a while, but he's moved over to Don. There's a hockey game underway, and Jerry is monitoring for when he needs to block the screen... Don is "watching" the game, so I'm amusing myself. Apart from the keyboard, which had required an appointment. we had no urgent business. We wandered the mall admiring the window displays and wondering how some stores stay open! As much as I enjoy exploring stores, there are some kinds of merchandise that are of no interest to me-nor many others, judging by where shoppers congregate. I also did an unconscious comparison with mall stores in Trinidad. There, stores are on average...

Do you know that it's Tuesday? I had to check my phone, because I didn't know what day it was. I know it's past Boxing Day, but days all blend together for me. I differentiate by appointments, both social and medical, for which my phone will send alerts the night before. I don't know what I did, but my back has resumed causing me pain. We'd done quite well, no pain and reduced medication for weeks, but this morning when I woke up and began to stretch there was a stabbing pain that has stayed all day. Now it feels like a toothache in my spine, and it's draining, annoying, painful and a misery. Jerry has spent most of the day curled up on my lap, just snuggling and petting me on my tummy. Good little boy! Don was having a great time on the phone with his nephews and son - he (like many of the men I know) tends to keep phone calls brief, generally under 3 minutes, but I giggled as he topped half an hour on one call. I'm also happy (but don't tell him) that ...

A gift from our very dear friend for the season.  He’s absolutely brilliant at doing floral arrangements and wreaths, and his products are utterly stunning, as you can see.  I always am disappointed after seeing his work to go into a store and see some lacklustre arrangements; I immediately call and ask him to improve on their offerings, please and thanks!  It would be great if he lived closer!  The Small People came to wake me this morning, as usual, and dragged me down for breakfast with them.  Don called for help with walking Jerry, as he’s lost access to his emergency spot on the balcony while they work on it.  Poor guy was stressed out this morning.  It’s one of those days when they needed extra help.  For myself, I just continued with my crochet project, which seems to be as far from completion as when I started!!  I fell asleep on myself this afternoon, and was out for a couple of hours.  That’s unusual for me.  It’s a good s...

Ok, someone left the fridge door open and turned on a strong turbine.  It was distinctly chilly and very windy today.  His tiny bossiness’ walks were shortened tremendously because I was too cold to stand out.  We were out today doing groceries, (Don driving) and when we got home my entire left side was aflame.  Between my back and my leg, there wasn’t much of me that was not in pain.  I took a nice, hot shower (give thanks for the shower chair!) begged for muscle rub to be applied to my back, iced my leg, and had a cup of tea (and a danish) and am now relaxing.  Jerry spent as much time as he could cuddled up to me or curled on my lap but I’ve now been replaced by Don’s blanket, which Jerry is using as a nest and Don isn’t getting much cover on the sofa.  As you can guess, since he drove to and from the supermarket, that he’s feeling improved over a few weeks ago when he was lying down looking pale and in constant pain.  I’m very grateful for his...

To my amazing and awesome readers:  Thank you!!  After my request last night, I got no fewer than 15 recommendations for books.   Way to show off blog power! 🔋  That’s wonderful, and I’ll be occupied for a while as I follow up on the recommendations.  I also expect to fall into a few rabbit holes as I go, so… send search parties if I vanish for any length of time 😂  Jerry enjoyed his walks today, having a wonderful time barking at people, meeting new dogs and sniffing new scents.  We actually did a little longer this afternoon in an effort to tire him out a bit more.  I’d like to take him back to the dog park, but there are some new owners there who are like overprotective helicopter parents who shriek with horror when their dogs start to play instead of just sniffing each other.  It’s a little frustrating that they don’t understand play stances and running — why take your dog to an off-leash park if you don’t want them to run?  I’ll s...