Today starts a new week and Christmas is just ahead.

Saturday morning I got up 5am, and looked up a YouTube video Doug, a friend at work had made. He made it a few years ago after his son died in a car accident. Was a very heartfelt video, and I watched it twice as he spoke at first to explain why he made the video, and then he sang a song he wrote that he hopes will help some.  You can take a listen at  Know one knows

Also went to a video I have watched before, made as a man I knew was going through the last days of his life. He started out thinking he was going to have a possibility of a cure for his lung disease, and as it goes on he realises the disease is terminal. Was a good morning for me to have some introspection.

Saturday afternoon we went to Courtenay for Claudette's Birthday celebration, she didn't expect us, and had a plan to go to the legion in Comox. We had a fun time in the afternoon at the Legion with C&A, and then back to their place for a couple of Margaritas. Later we went out to dinner at a Chinese buffet restaurant, Claudette had arranged this already, as she celebrates with her friend Cindy who has her B Day on the same day. Many of their friends were there, and more kept coming. Full is how we felt when we left, and back to C&A's place to have cake Polly had made for Claudette. Cake was a hit, but the candle was a fun time, made a huge flame to start, then opened up to a candelabra.... Was fun to watch Claudette and Polly as the flames came and the candle opened, then as we all sung Happy B Day, the smoke detector went off, and what a laugh we all had.

No one had much jump left after the big dinner, so a few ate a piece of cake, and then a smooth transition toward the door, as we all were tired, and would make our way to bed. Food does slow us all down. Not as I had expected, but we did enjoy a few laughs with everyone, and had a good visit with Ron and Barb as we were seated across from them at dinner. Got a few likes from people during the night about the blog written, and pictures of our trip to San Francisco.

Bed Early, and up at 5am, and so was Americo, which surprised me. Then not long after Polly gets up, and we realised that they had a plan to go to PA that day for celebration of her B day with family, so we left early and enjoyed a relaxed trip down the old highway to Parksville before we joined the rush on the Island Highway. Was a nice day to travel, we stopped a few times and checked out a few campsite possibility's for the future, looks like we would like the Qualicum Bay Native site sometime this spring/summer.

This week I am Dayshift as a trade with another worker made my week days rather than afternoons, and for this I will be able to enjoy the Ladysmith Lightup, which I do like. Dinner this time will be at the Legion as I see they have a Cabbage roll and Perogie dinner, and would like to support our Legion, and try something different this year, we usually go to the Spaghetti Dinner at the Eagles.

Work has been better this last week, the boss has left us alone, and stayed out of our way most of the week. Makes life just a little better. Looking forward to this week, and hope all goes well, and he stays in the office.

A Funeral, and a Birthday today.

The weekend is here and Wahoo, at least that is how I used to think. I now need the rest to make it through another week. I think there is a correlation between plans for future retirement, and my working now. Seams that the more I ready and plan for the future, the less I desire working now. I still like to work, just wanting to get on with the plan we have developed.

November 15th today, Yesterday Polly and I went to a funeral for her friend Betty. Was a surprise when we found out about Betty's passing, I went to check my e-mail last week, and there was a note from Chris on FB, that Betty had and aneurism, and died.  I was surprised, and when I told Polly she was shocked. Isn't that the way it goes, you can't help but be shocked, as the unexpected just hits you face first.

We had a plan to be in Port Alberni already as we were to celebrate Polly's Mom, Memere's Birthday as she turns 96 tomorrow.

We traveled the highway early with less traffic than we usually have, and made it to PA in an hour, much faster than usual. Strait to the funeral at the All Saints Church. Was a packed house, as Betty was a friendly person, and still working, so her connections were many. We made it in early before the many that came. Was long for me as usual, things have to be said. Hard bench, and my back screaming, well I just thought at least I'm still here and alive. Betty was a beautiful person, she will be missed by many. Before it started, Chris a friend sat with us, and I had time to catch up with her, was nice, Lois also sat with us, was nice to see her, she said she liked all the pictures from our trip. Adel came and snuck in close to Polly, and they had a yak while we waited for things to proceed.

When the ceremony ended we all filed over to the hall next door, and were greeted in by Betty's children, and husband Walter. I noticed how we all look around for people we know, and can connect with, sit with talk with. As you age don't things change. I talked with Chris about how we used to go to parties, and dances, and she said now more funerals. A little food, a little coffee, we all talk about Betty, and in a more fun way we remember the good times, and reconnect with people we haven't seen for many years.

I saw Cindy in the entrance, a person I haven't  talked with for awhile, she was talking with Sandy, someone I haven't seen for awhile either. Boy did Sandy ever look good. Cindy and I started to talk, and Sandy left for the hall, and Cindy and I had such a good talk. Her son and mine are fiends, and there was just lots to share. Was nice to connect. Cindy had cancer, and is finished the treatment for now, and started back to work part time, she looked good. I found out where Ted, her son and family were living, and will make time for a visit when we are in town sometime soon. Ted just moved back, as he works in Alberta, like many from BC did when no work here, but now they are moving back. Cindy did a good job of raising her kids I told her, she came back with how Chris was so nice, I did a good job too. I did my best, now as I look back, life was good and still is.

Polly tells me as we were about to leave that we had an invite to her friend Chris's Moms hose for a drink after with the family. We went, and had a few good laughs about the old days when Chris and Polly were growing up, and all the antics that happen in our younger years. Was a real fun time, and I got to know them all just a little better.

We did talk much about travel, as we all had trailers, and where they went, and what they saw, and how to camp here and there. Which route to take, and what to watch out for. I guess this will be our next turn in life, we will learn all about how to do this traveling efficiently, and once we get good at it we may then loose interest? I don't know but I see a pattern here... LOL

Later in the evening we go to the casino to celebrate Polly's Mom, Memere's 96th Birthday...  Wow, 96 years seems like a long time to live, and I tell her as I congratulate her that 100 will be soon, she say I hope so. Some live long, and some go before they have finished what they want to do. Polly and I talk about what we want to do before we run out of options, and we agree, lets do what we want now, before we are finished.

Was an interesting evening, family gather at the table, Memere get cards and presents and makes a announcement when she finishes opening, just how much she appreciates this, "Thank you all for doing this for me!" she says. We all see the earnestness she has in her face. Dinner and cake Polly made, and then Memere gets down to business... Let's go gamble! LOL she still has it, that juice that keeps us going in life. Love it!

Dan and I help her to the 1st machine, and she doesn't do so well, but later she hits a good jackpot, and makes over $300.00 so she is happy, she loves to play the machines. I gamble, Polly Gambles, and we all have a turn at winning through the night, Polly makes almost $200, I make about $80, and we all put most of it back in. but we had fun, and Memere will be talking about the big win for awhile. 

Was a real nice night all in all, and this morning when I write, I still think how things work out, for reasons we don't get, some live long and some just don't. Hope I make it long... and fun, and interesting.

Fall cleaning, outside of our trailer & dumping the sewage

Not a job we want to do, but has to be done. I went to the web first to find out where the closest place to dump was, I found     Don's Camping List of Non-Park Sani dumps 

 Good list of Sani dumps all over BC, and other links to all over North America.

This place was recomended in Ladysmith called "Wash me on Ludlow", 

Bosco and I went for a walk there Sunday and got the low down before I went down with the truck and trailer. I talked with the manager, and another trailer owner that was dumping then. Looked easy enough, and had a good place to wash off the top of the trailer.  

I went down Monday with the truck, but left Bosco at home. If you wash dumping is free. The dump station was on the outside of the building, with lots of clearance above and around it. I got the instruction on how the place worked from the manager, she said change could be used, but if I ran out I could use my credit card. You have to pay to put water in your tank to flush the black water out, so not really free, but was not too bad for all I did was about $15. Dumping was easy, and took my time and did a good job of flushing it all out.

Now pull out and into the wash bay. There are stairs to an upper walkway for washing the top of the trailer, this was much easier than getting up on the ladder, and safer too, as a railing for protection. The sprayer was short, but I made it 1/2 way across the roof, so had to pull out and turn around to do the other side. All in all a good place to clean up after a trip.

All winter maintenance done, got the water system filled with anti-freeze the week before and ready for the cold to set in. I put a heater with a fan inside, and am told I only need the fan, but will leave the heat on as trailer is close to our home, so not a problem. I like it dry and warm, never know when we may want to camp close to home!

Can hardly wait to pull it out again and use it. Spring will come soon.

Rememberance Day

Today we had an opportunity to remember all those people that worked toward freedom in our world. I wok early as usual, but having worked late, had to get back to sleep till just before 8am. Polly brought me a coffee, and scared me as she thought I was awake, but I was right out and wok to her close to my face saying "Here is your coffee dear". I sat up after awhile, and Bosco came over and we had our usual talk, and pet. He was quiet as per usual. TV now on and news had the Remberance Day ceremonies on from back east. Was a good show till the broadcaster asked a younger vet "what did it feel like knowing you left others behind overseas... What a question. He started to try to answer, and I turned it off. How do you answer that, gezzz.  

I got up and opened the blinds, and it was a beauty day out, "Yes" I said allowed, I will go to the cenotaph today, I want to be there and see and hear the service. Polly said she has a sore back, and won't  go, I understand, not fun standing with a sore back. I like the service, it makes me think. We all need to be present on this day, and think about how lucky we are having the freedom to choose what we read, what we think, and what we say and do. Today is a great day to thank those that have fallen for our freedoms.

I drove a short distance as I was later than usual, but the traffic was slow so I pulled off at the old gas station close to town, and walked the rest of the way. As I approached the mass of people surrounding the cenotaph 6 planes flew over in formation, I had the camera, but chose to look and take it in rather than get a shot. Wow was that ever nice, Ottawa only had 2 jets, I felt privileged to have 6 beauty older airplanes fly over our small town.

Things got under way as soon as I got into the crowd, and very soon we were all observing the silence. It was so quiet, there was some traffic going by, but mostly I noticed the quiet from the crowd. I stayed in one place with the sun at my back, and a young family beside me with children than didn't really understand what was going on, but they behaved, and they were there. Many people of different ages, and different people, all in one place remembering in their own way. Was powerful.

Soon the quiet was over, and the speeches started and people listened intently, and I'm sure we all thought of what was given for us to be able to gather here today. We listened as people told us of men who went overseas, and never made it home. We heard again In Flanders Fields, and I never get tired of hearing this.

Once the speaking was over, and the wreaths were laid, people started to leave. Charlie a friend from Ladysmith Camera Club came over, and we had a good talk. Was a great day to be outside, and talk and remember.  I told Charlie how much I liked last Saturdays group talk on Nikon cameras, and how I had been trying out a few of the things we studied.

Yes today was one of the real good ones. Now we have a date with friends Americo and Claudette in Lantzville, at the pub for a late lunch, and a good yak. We always have fun when we get together, and today was no different. We were later than they thought we would be, and they were hungry, Americo had to replace food with beer till we arrived, but hugs and kisses, and off we went with our laughing, and stories as we haven't seen each other for awhile, and many things just had to be shared.  The part I didn't want shared was that I had got tickets for us to see Headly in May for Polly's Birthday. Claudette said "how much do I owe you for the tickets?" Oh well, "Happy Birthday Polly" I said, and all was well. We ate, talked, joked, and just had so much fun again, as we always do. Then as we left they had some chanterelle mushrooms for us, and we were off for a walk to the beach, and showed them someplace they hadn't been before. Yep, was a nice day for all of us.  

On the way home we stopped in at Wal-Mart and got a few things, I got some pictures for the weekend as Memere my mother-in-law turns 96, and I told her I would show her pictures from our trip. She likes the printed pictures, so I got 170 pics and she will love to look and hear of our experiences. Next 2 weekends planned, and soon the month will be over, and we will be close to Christmas. Man the year sure went fast.

Halloween is over now, what's next?

We stayed in this Halloween, Polly did buy a bag of candy, but as per usual no children came to the door. Darn we said as we tore the bag open and worked on it ourselves while we watched the weekend marathon of James Bond movies. Was nice to stay in on Saturday, as was another tough week for me. I did make a trip outside to rake up the leaves, and tidy up the front of the trailer, and put the BBQ inside the trailer for storage over the winter. Something done. 

 Weather changed Sunday as we helped put up lights for Ladysmith's Light Up, as soon as we went outside Polly and I knew the winter coolness was in the air. We dressed with extra coats and toques ready for what came. Oh and it did, 1 hour after we started putting the lights on the trees the rain started, it was cold, and windy, but our small 4 person crew kept working and finished our area by 12:30. Soaked and cold we all walked to the 49th where we started, and said bye to our crew, and home we went for a shower before we drove to the senior center for a nice lunch in appreciation for our efforts.

 Was a nice lunch, and sat with people we got to know better, Cliff we knew from  past meeting when we joined the newcomers club when we first moved here. Our talk was around making Ladysmith and attractor for tourists, started with the visitor center, and went to hotels, and trains, and movies... Was a fun conversation. In the end Polly and I were left with Cliff talking about retiring, and travel.  We learned from Cliff what to do, where to go and not, and Polly filled him in on our trip back east, and to Yellowstone. I realise Polly has some of our trips as the best in her opinion, and she tells of them with much exuberance. Love Polly! She has much gusto when she sets to tell about our past trips, and future plans.

We now head out to make a trip to Nanaimo for a movie possibly, and take back a pair of pants I thought fit, but didn't. Got to lose a little more around the girth... LOL   Pant return went ok, Movie we decided to opt out of, and went for a drive down Hammond Bay rd in the pouring rain. Was a good day to stay in the truck, and see all from out the window, dry and warm. We took a turn up Nottingham Dr. and checked out all the roads to the right, all the way up to Canterbury Crescent, and views of Departure Bay, and off to the open water.  Was a nice way to spend  time talking about what we liked about this area, and what we didn't. Always we are planning what's next, and today we knew this wasn't for us. Our plan is more around getting rid of things so we can travel with no anchors.

Back home after getting a few groceries for the week, and Polly decides she wants to just stay in bed the rest of the day, so we do. Bosco was happy to see us, and we all cuddled up in bed and watched some more TV, Watched some of the last game of the world series baseball, and some of what we had recorded. Was a nice way to spend Sunday. Dinner was a cut up what we had in the fridge, and put on plate kinda dinner..  I cooked today! LOL

Now a new week starts, and I feel just a little more rested and ready to continue with what comes.

Life is good, when you consider the alternative!

LOL a friend coined that one, and I often remember. Thanks Gary.