Three weeks later and the flu isn’t fully out of me. A lingering dry cough pops up from time to time… getting on my nerves.
Got a new shower head for my bathroom this week. You know you’re old and boring when shower heads come into your weekly highlights.
The hardest part of seeing Trump running America is when he gives speeches to teenagers. Corrupting the youth of America one speech at a time. He’s such a scumbag. There’s no kinder word to use… plenty of harsher ones but no kinder.
I’ve noticed that CNN has no real concept of time. Anything that has occurred within the last two hours can be described, by CNN, as happening “moments ago”. It’s as if the viewer just missed it. Also, anything that has occurred in the last six hours can be said to have “happened within the last hour”. And, honestly, “Breaking News” can go on for at least three days. Everything is Breaking News on CNN. “Breaking News, a commercial break just occurred… moments ago.”
Shark Week is back on TV this week. It really is a mixed bag of stuff during this week. Some shows are kind of entertaining. None of them are really educational. Even though they all have scientists and experts explaining that these sharks aren’t trying to kill you, this message usually doesn’t come out until the last ten minutes of the program… and the entire show has an undercurrent message that even though the sharks may not be TRYING to kill you… they still might. Shark Week treats the shark species as if there are only three or four actual types of sharks in the world. Great Whites, Tiger, Bull, and Hammerhead. That’s it. I mean the Whale Shark is the biggest fish in the world and gets no mention during Shark Week. The cost of being a filter feeder. And I’m amazed that there were people who (a) actually thought Micheal Phelps was going to get in the ocean next to a Great White Shark, and race it and (b) that there are people who got angry that (a) didn’t occur. Social media really does allow the stupid to show up way too easily.
Popular BBQ
First bought it gained loved one praise,
Such a great little BBQ you’ve got.
Just the right size for you,
And easy for cooking when it’s hot.
Next came the pretty robins,
This is a great place for our chicks.
And so, for six weeks, they moved in
And filled my BBQ up with sticks.
Now the wasps have moved on in,
They find life under the cover is the in thing.
Meaning anytime I’d like a hotdog,
I run the risk of a burning sting.
I guess I need an ugly ‘q,
One that nobody would give a care
Who knew the hardships in my life,
In the simple quest for medium rare.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Making It Up As I Go Along #683
First time writing in about a month. It was a full month at that. First, mom and dad came for a few days before the three of us head out west with the rest of the family.
After that, the three of us fly out to Calgary. I’m not used to flying with people I know anymore. So it’s pretty nice to share the row with the folks.
A night in Calgary and then we picked up the rental car and headed to BC. Day one was probably busier than we should have tried. Lunch at Banff followed by a quick stop at Lake Louise, on the way to spending the night in Revelstoke.
It was just all real busy though. Banff was swarming with people and we probably tried walking more there than we should have. Lake Louise was insane. You had to park fifteen minutes outside the area on the side of the highway and then take a shuttle bus to and from the lake. There just wasn’t enough parking otherwise. And the entire area around the hotel was just overrun with people. It was as if Lake Louise was the busiest mall you’ve ever been in… on Christmas Eve.
Still, I’m glad we went. Lake Louise remains one of my favourite places anywhere. I only wish I could be there at 6:00 in the morning, before the crowds show. Quiet, it is a special place.
From Revelstoke, we have a shorter travel day and only drive for about an hour and a half to get as far as Nakusp for the third night out west. Nakusp is the polar opposite of Lake Louise from a busy point of view. It always seems to be quiet and we have both supper and lunch at a nice restaurant that overlooks the lake and the mountains.
Leaving Nakusp the next day, we have lunch in New Denver while also doing some shopping at the outdoor store there. New Denver is another great quiet village along the lake and nestled into the mountains. And from there, it’s an hour and a half to the sister and family in Castlegar.
For the first three nights, we sleep at a B&B outside of Castlegar. After that it’s around five nights in the house with Edena and the family. Five days of an air mattress is about all I can do now. I’ve just hit that age I guess. The first few nights of it are usually not too bad. And at no time was I really uncomfortable in bed. But it’s the getting in and out that’s becoming trouble at 45. I’m not so limber anymore and, after a while, you start dreaming of a real bed.
Still, the time in Castlegar was enjoyable. Side trips to Nelson, Trail and Rossland. A round of golf and a hike. And a few fairly quiet days just hanging about the house are nice. Plus we are there to see youngest, Claire, graduate from high school.
Canada Day becomes a travel day. Mom, dad and I drive back to Calgary in one shot… stopping long enough for lunch at Fernie and pulling in for a little sight seeing here and there. It’s a long day of driving but it’s nice too. The scenery is pretty spectacular the entire way along.
Back to Calgary, we drop off the car and head back to the hotel where we started a few weeks prior. Get some Vietnamese food for supper (we’re the only white people in the restaurant and it’s quite a good meal). And then get back to the hotel for the night. We were told we could see Canada Day fireworks from the hotel but we’re all pretty exhausted at this point and I’m in bed with the iPad before 10:00.
On July 2, we’re flying back to Ottawa and get groceries and supper as soon as we get back. I’m at work for the 3rd while mom and dad take a few more days in Ottawa to break up the travel.
On the 4th, I begin coughing as I get up for work. By 1:30 that afternoon, I’m done and go home sick. Harley and family are in town for a few days and come to supper that night. I’m feeling pretty lousy but it’s great seeing my former next door neighbours and we have a nice evening with them.
By the 5th and 6th, I’m in rough shape. I take both those nights off work and can barely do anything. I’m freezing on 30 degree days… putting on sweats and a blanket in front of the TV… coughing up a lung and barely able to move without sweat pouring off me.
Still, I muster the energy to drive mom and dad to the airport and then I crash for the better part of the week. I coughed so much that I tore that little flap of skin that connects the tongue to the bottom of your mouth. I had to go straight from the bed to the shower for two straight mornings because I was so wet with a cold sweat. I had to change the bed sheets twice in three days because of that sweating and I barely wanted to eat a thing through all of it. It was the sickest I have been in many years.
Still, I got back to work last block. I probably coughed way more than my poor partner wanted to hear, but I was able to manage to stay through all my shifts this time. I was just thankful the partner was there to man the phones as my voice was near gone and much talking would bring on the coughing.
Even now, the cough isn’t fully gone… though it is much improved. But yesterday was also the first time I felt enough energy to get out for a walk that went more than fifteen minutes. And I have continued to sleep more than I ever have in my adult life. These last four days off, I probably averaged nine hours of sleep per night. My normal night’s sleep, when I’m perfectly healthy, doesn’t usually reach seven hours… so the extra two and three hours per night has shown how beat down that flu got me. I’m just thankful I didn’t get sick until after I got back to Ottawa. Dealing with that while in BC would have been a nightmare.
So things are slowly getting back to normal after the busy times of my vacation and the torture of my flu. Within the next week I’ll have to download and post my vacation photos. And the goal is to post a regular blog entry during my next round of days off.
After that, the three of us fly out to Calgary. I’m not used to flying with people I know anymore. So it’s pretty nice to share the row with the folks.
A night in Calgary and then we picked up the rental car and headed to BC. Day one was probably busier than we should have tried. Lunch at Banff followed by a quick stop at Lake Louise, on the way to spending the night in Revelstoke.
It was just all real busy though. Banff was swarming with people and we probably tried walking more there than we should have. Lake Louise was insane. You had to park fifteen minutes outside the area on the side of the highway and then take a shuttle bus to and from the lake. There just wasn’t enough parking otherwise. And the entire area around the hotel was just overrun with people. It was as if Lake Louise was the busiest mall you’ve ever been in… on Christmas Eve.
Still, I’m glad we went. Lake Louise remains one of my favourite places anywhere. I only wish I could be there at 6:00 in the morning, before the crowds show. Quiet, it is a special place.
From Revelstoke, we have a shorter travel day and only drive for about an hour and a half to get as far as Nakusp for the third night out west. Nakusp is the polar opposite of Lake Louise from a busy point of view. It always seems to be quiet and we have both supper and lunch at a nice restaurant that overlooks the lake and the mountains.
Leaving Nakusp the next day, we have lunch in New Denver while also doing some shopping at the outdoor store there. New Denver is another great quiet village along the lake and nestled into the mountains. And from there, it’s an hour and a half to the sister and family in Castlegar.
For the first three nights, we sleep at a B&B outside of Castlegar. After that it’s around five nights in the house with Edena and the family. Five days of an air mattress is about all I can do now. I’ve just hit that age I guess. The first few nights of it are usually not too bad. And at no time was I really uncomfortable in bed. But it’s the getting in and out that’s becoming trouble at 45. I’m not so limber anymore and, after a while, you start dreaming of a real bed.
Still, the time in Castlegar was enjoyable. Side trips to Nelson, Trail and Rossland. A round of golf and a hike. And a few fairly quiet days just hanging about the house are nice. Plus we are there to see youngest, Claire, graduate from high school.
Canada Day becomes a travel day. Mom, dad and I drive back to Calgary in one shot… stopping long enough for lunch at Fernie and pulling in for a little sight seeing here and there. It’s a long day of driving but it’s nice too. The scenery is pretty spectacular the entire way along.
Back to Calgary, we drop off the car and head back to the hotel where we started a few weeks prior. Get some Vietnamese food for supper (we’re the only white people in the restaurant and it’s quite a good meal). And then get back to the hotel for the night. We were told we could see Canada Day fireworks from the hotel but we’re all pretty exhausted at this point and I’m in bed with the iPad before 10:00.
On July 2, we’re flying back to Ottawa and get groceries and supper as soon as we get back. I’m at work for the 3rd while mom and dad take a few more days in Ottawa to break up the travel.
On the 4th, I begin coughing as I get up for work. By 1:30 that afternoon, I’m done and go home sick. Harley and family are in town for a few days and come to supper that night. I’m feeling pretty lousy but it’s great seeing my former next door neighbours and we have a nice evening with them.
By the 5th and 6th, I’m in rough shape. I take both those nights off work and can barely do anything. I’m freezing on 30 degree days… putting on sweats and a blanket in front of the TV… coughing up a lung and barely able to move without sweat pouring off me.
Still, I muster the energy to drive mom and dad to the airport and then I crash for the better part of the week. I coughed so much that I tore that little flap of skin that connects the tongue to the bottom of your mouth. I had to go straight from the bed to the shower for two straight mornings because I was so wet with a cold sweat. I had to change the bed sheets twice in three days because of that sweating and I barely wanted to eat a thing through all of it. It was the sickest I have been in many years.
Still, I got back to work last block. I probably coughed way more than my poor partner wanted to hear, but I was able to manage to stay through all my shifts this time. I was just thankful the partner was there to man the phones as my voice was near gone and much talking would bring on the coughing.
Even now, the cough isn’t fully gone… though it is much improved. But yesterday was also the first time I felt enough energy to get out for a walk that went more than fifteen minutes. And I have continued to sleep more than I ever have in my adult life. These last four days off, I probably averaged nine hours of sleep per night. My normal night’s sleep, when I’m perfectly healthy, doesn’t usually reach seven hours… so the extra two and three hours per night has shown how beat down that flu got me. I’m just thankful I didn’t get sick until after I got back to Ottawa. Dealing with that while in BC would have been a nightmare.
So things are slowly getting back to normal after the busy times of my vacation and the torture of my flu. Within the next week I’ll have to download and post my vacation photos. And the goal is to post a regular blog entry during my next round of days off.
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