My coffee ☕ let's me know

I read, I think, and as I do this I also sip away on my coffee ☕, I realized this morning that as I sip on my coffee I can tell just how absorbed I am in what I'm doing by the temperature of my coffee I sip. The colder it is, the more I'm concentrating on what I'm doing, reading or writing. 

This morning I woke early Surprise lol, I have a couple good sleep in's, then back to 3:30am wake up 😄 I'm used to it now, nice to have a sleep in, but this early time is good too. When I woke today my thoughts went to the castle playhouse I'm building for Colton, the last bits will be finished soon, and a sign, plaque, coat of arms? I looked at a few possibilitys yesterday, and those came to mind this morning as I lay awake.

Sleeping on a thought doesn't mean I'll have a decision in the morning, just that I give the idea a little time, and for me anyway that helps with the process, helps me create the best idea for what I was looking for. I can't say it works easy every time, but mulling it around in my thoughts helps me get to what satisfies my "Ahhh! That's just Right" kind of feeling. 

So this morning I've thought less about it now I'm awake, and later today I'll think about it as the day goes, I want to come up with something that says "Colton's Castle" who knows, it might be just that simple 😆

I look in my cup, empty now, I smile, off for coffee ☕ #2 now. All the time thinking. Even when I'm not paying attention, I'm thinking. In the background we think, or our brain continues on a problem subconsciously, that's why when we say something like "I can remember, but I'll remember in the middle of the night" our brain keeps going, what you want from it will come if given time, and relaxation. 

I've found forcing myself to get something done, finished, completed is the best way to feel afterwards that it's not right, worse it's terrible the way it turned out. But on the other hand, it's done! And sometimes that's what I what so I push. Today most of what I wanted to get done on Colton's Castle will be done, I'll be getting the final bits of finishing done, and if the weather permits a little more stain, and some black 🖤 for... now what's the word? There I go, I can't think of the word I need here, I snicker a little, I'll get it, I'll just leave this and continue, come back to it later when my brain remembers. 

This castle fort playhouse has been fun to make, and yesterday I saw just how fun it will be for Colton, as well as Chase, they will play together here, with friends creating memories that will last a lifetime. 

Contrast, that's the word I was looking for 😄, funny how our brains work hey! 

I saw this yesterday, they were both committed to staining the playhouse, along with Ciara, was nice to sit back fo a moment after staining the afternoon away, and watch the 3 of them with their brushes all committed to giving their all for the castle. I have to admit Colton covered the most area, well at least he was everywhere 🤣😂 Chase concentrated on his area, Ciara also concentrated on her side of the castle, but Colton he was into every place he could go. Was a really good show, made me very happy to see them all together.

We are looking at our leave time now as it's getting closer to the time we plan to go. As that time gets closer always, OH yeah, we want to do this, we have to do that, got to go here, get that! You know, the last few weeks, become days, then hours, then bye bye 👋

I saw Wendy with her calendar out the other day, saying "let me write this down, we have so much going on" that told me we are getting close to our end of our visit here. 

Took a sip, the new coffee ☕ is just warm now, funny how fast that happens when busy. 

6am now, WOW that 21/2 hours went fast! 

We, Ciara and I talked yesterday about a vigil on the anniversary of Chris's accident, still hard to call it an "accident". We are thinking we'll invite friends, and family, see if we can maybe draw some attention to the fact that nothing has been done, that the person that committed this crime is free to do as he wants, while we have lost our Son, Fiancé, Father, Brother, Cousin, Friend. And Chris, he lost his life! 

News media may be interested, I'm sure nothing happens if we do nothing, so this may just shake loose something that can help bring about change, as this is something that needs to change, people need to be accountable for their actions, the driver, the passenger, the police, the prosecutor, the courts, the lawyers, and our laws all need to change how we handle crimes like this. 

It was Thursday October 13th, 5:30 pm approximately the time this crime took place. 

This year it'll be Friday the 13th of October, we'll be across from the Circle K on 76th avenue on the corner of Resources Rd. Remembering our son Chris Browning. 

Please join us if you can, many people could make a change in how we as a society deal with crimes like this. 

I'm thinking of starting at the police station, and make my way there, maybe slow, very slow driving just like our justice system works, slow or not at all like in this case. 

I've been thinking about what to doo, subconsciously and consciously for a long time now, what would make a difference? 

I'm not sure this would, but just maybe it'll do something that changes how this crime is not being handled. No charges. I'll say that again, No Charges! 

The procecuter gets off, the police get off, and the criminal gets off!  The victim and his families get no justice. This needs to change, if we want to change the behavior of people that drive the streets in Canada. 

Hmm sounds like a speech! 

My thoughts for this morning, coffee ☕ is almost cold now, rain is steady now, I lay my head back in this recliner and think, again LoL. Well not really laughing out loud, just more a snicker. Wondering if anything will change what the courts, lawyers, prosecutors, cops do? 

When we leave here we will go towards Edmonton, the head prosecutor for the province is there, I'm going to go see her, see if I can get her to understand this is wrong, and that something has to change. That's not my last stop, I'll find a way to change how this kind of crime is delt with in our country. 

My subconscious is always working on this, trying to figure out a way to get this resolved. Change needs to happen here. 

That's my early morning this morning, for today the castle might have to wait for anymore stain till next year if the rains keep coming, but that's ok, most of it has a coat on it now. I hear Polly up now, the day has started, Polly says "it's too early, still dark out". I say "cloudy out, so 6:45 still dark"  still she's back to bed 💤😴

Feeling like a home day today, unless the rains quit, well maybe a visit with Colton and Ciara, that be nice too 🤗❤️

Coffee ☕ is cold now 🤒 still tastes good 👍

Love our life, ❤️🤗 even without justice!

Sunday morning, rainy afternoon yesterday 😁

     Chase's Birthday at the motorcycle track

Was a really good day again yesterday, what can I say I'm fortunate to have the best days often! Some say it's attitude, some personality, some even think it's having your head in the clouds, me I just think I'm fortunate to have a good outlook on life. I think we are all able to do this, free world, in this country anyway, so make your choice, and run with it. That's how I see it anyway.

Today I'm going to empty the sewer, sounds like a job nobody wants hey, well somebody has to do it, and here that's me. Polly does the cooking & cleaning mostly in here, I do the outside stuff, and sewer is part of that.

Oh! Thanks for breakfast today Polly, bacon 🥓 and eggs 🍳 today 😀 Mmm.

Maintaining our home is different than a regular home 🏠, the roof has tendency to have cracks form in the seals that join the roof with the sides and the other joints all around the skylight and other things that stick through the roof. So this has to be checked out at least once a year, I usually go up twice or more, check it out. I resealed the only crack I found a week ago while the weather was still warm, so I'm confident that no leaks as we approach the fall. 

Also many other things come up as we travel that have to be attended to, some you can schedule, and others you attend to as they come up. This year I got the wheel bearings serviced in Port Alberni before we left, that gives me confidence that no wheel bearing problem as we travel this fall, along with other maintenance done, so far feeling very confident in our trailer & truck. 

I couldn't finish this blog yesterday, as was a fairly busy day, until a nap came to me LoL, then I took the time on a Sunday to relax full. We had a visit with Ciara & Colton, saw Chase and his friend for awhile as we were coming into the house playing basketball 🏀. A visit with Colton always entertaining, he was in fine form yesterday. After we left Ciara sent a video of Colton with whiskers drawn on his face, sounding like a cat, was so funny 🤣🤣

We had a visit with Wendy and Jack when we got home, and a small repair on Jack's squirter for his wipers, did I nap again? 😆 then later we went out for dinner, no cooking last night. Was a very nice day, a movie last night recommended by Netflix was not too bad "The Black Book" .

Today a bit more on the castle for Colton, be almost finished this week all going well. I hope to get the stain on and be done by the end of the week. Has been a really fun time building this, along with Colton's help LoL. Steve helped last week one day, that gave me a little push. Once I got the windows in that really got it looking like what I had envisioned.

Funny how you build love into a project like this, it's something you don't really pay to much attention to, until you get close to the end. ❤️

3 more weeks we plan to stay in GP, the end of our visit is coming soon, so we start to plan things that we haven't done yet that we want to, and a day to protest the lack of charges against Christopher's killer would be something I'd want to do, just not sure if I should. I've thought of it lots, just not sure I really want to. 

I'm thinking a day just to be together with friends and family and remember him would likely be more what I'd rather do, something positive! I've not yet planned anything for October 13th, the day he was run down, but I've committed to be here for that day. I'll go to where it happened for sure, I'll remember him in the best of ways, looking forward to our many visits with Ciara and her children, our grandchildren as time goes forward.

Sun's just coming up now, Polly is up. She did go back to sleep 😴 lucky Polly 🤗

Another bright sunny day!

I understand now why people love it here even with the long winter 🥶 lot's of sun 🌞

South is our next destination 🌞🌴☀️

Love this Life, all of it 🤗❤️

Looking at the clock, 6:30am. now what?

Starting to sleep a little later now, taking some malintonin helps, and staying up till at least 10pm helps too, along with limiting the nap in the afternoon, which sometimes I just have to take. Funny thinking back, I always enjoyed a nap as I was most often working long hours and physically hard work, so a nap became my recharge during the day when I could. 

After dinner often, on weekend afternoons a nap was always good, and recharge was needed. Now as I get where I need less sleep, I see a nap as detrimental, even if I really like the recharge, it makes me sleep less during the night, so up early and with the daylight coming later all the time, I'm going to have to change my ways to make life work better for me. 

Food intake also a problem, I've been used to eating heavy dinner all my life, now I'm thinking I'll have to eat less at dinner to make it so I don't get tired so early. I know that's a battle with me, I love my big scrumptious dinner, with desert! Mmm 😋. I'm thinking can I change this?  I hope so, I've been trying to eat less after dinner now, but is really hard to do as I sit down to watch a movie or some kinda TV after dinner, a snack always my go to, so paying attention to what I do will be a new job for me, rather than autopilot eating after dinner. 

Just starting to get light out now, was a cool night, be a sunny day though. Castle playhouse is in my sights now, soon be all buttoned up, ready for Colton, watching him play will be my reward. That makes me smile now, he's so full of energy and watching him brings me so many emotions, happy, loving, sad, I smile alot watching him, and when he and I play, it's so fun. Brings back memories, and creates new ones. 

Was Chases birthday yesterday, 13 years old now, Polly & I went over to Ciaras had a visit, gave him a present, a hug, we gave him a hand made leather journal, Chase said he liked it, we hope he uses it, is a good time for him to write his thoughts. All he wants for his birthday is to go ride his motorcycle. We got the info on where the motorcycle pit was. This weekend we are going to go there and watch him ride for awhile, close to where we took Colton last weekend for a little rock throwing in the river. Magoos landing is the boat launch and parking lot by the bridge that crosses the Wapiti river. 

I'm learning a few of these places that people go here for different sports, Magoos is where many boaters go to launch, and travel up and down the river. Jet boats are a big thing here, very fast, and loud, not everyone loves them. I can see them being fun though, I'm more the quiet boater though, on the river watching the wildlife, and maybe a fishing 🎣 rod in hand, for sure a camera. 

Thinking of this I still have Christopher's camera, I used it when we went to Africa, I'll talk with Ciara about it today. I'm not sure I'll use it again, so maybe she'll want to have it back? I do like a camera, I always had one with me on my walks in the past, but with cell phone's cameras getting so darn good now, and so accessable I don't see the use much more. 

Pollys up now, we are both on our phones now, I snicker, is how life is now, phone is our entertainment, and information now, so much happens through our phone's. Banking, shopping, communication, information, photos, gee most everything happens through our phone's now. I wonder what next, what other forms of information and communication will come next? 

Colder out at night now, Monday I filled up the two propane tanks we had on our trailer, be awhile before they empty, but still hoping to leave here on the 15th of October and head towards Edmonton area. Then Red dear, then Calgary before we push over the boarder in November. Hopefully the weather holds back till then. Always in the back of our mind, as we know weather can make things easier or not so easy. 

A Walk is in order now, sun's coming up, be a real nice day for a walk to start with. 

Polly's mixer for her morning concoction she's been making, pineapple, ginger, lemon, cinnamon and milk. 

Ok off I go now, time to walk. I know it's cold out there, but I'ma going anyway 😁

Loving our life here in Grande Prairie 🤗❤️

I saw this Note to Self and thought 🤔

Although this ends with "No need to look any further" I have a different thought about what my purpose in life is. I always believed my purpose was to take steps to be self sufficient, no drag on others, provided for myself and my family as I was starting out. After this is taken care of, I've raised my family, then I can choose what else I want to do in life. 

Polly and I do that in our travels now, no apologies to others for our choices, we can and do much with what's left of our lives, as we believe it's our last harah! 

Life's not about pleasing others, although we can if we choose. Life's more about pleasing yourself. If the choice is to take a friend to dinner, or take a drive, or travel a distance, if we can afford it, and we want to, we do it. 

I remember a friend telling me to examine the word "Responsibility" it's the Ability to Respond, I've thought of that many times since, and as we go through life that sums up much. Our minds ability to respond to what comes our way, also to make plans for our future. 

I'm lucky I do believe, there is a saying "Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity" 

When Polly and I made the decision to travel as we have we had a plan, maybe a little rag-tag, but a plan. Our plan changes as we go, as we think of or develop thoughts of what, where and who we want to enjoy as we travel. We do like to get in the truck and drive, trailer on and highway ahead of us. 

Giving as we travel is natural to us, we have much love and sharing that with others is part of who we are. Our purpose is not in question, or thought of often, as we have fulfilled our purpose, we went forth and multiplied, we raised our children best we could, we have grandchildren now that we enjoy as we continue our lives. We communicate with them as often as we can, we love them unconditionally. 

We still move on, another town, another country, another group of friends, we move forward enjoying the moment as much as we can. At the same time we use our pension and savings to carry us through to the end of life! 

How's that sound for purpose? Do what you Love, and don't be a drag on society! How's that for a purpose? Simplicity is as simple as that. 

Some have a list of what you should do! I like a list of what I don't have to do to follow.

I don't have to watch the News

I don't have to go to bed early 😄 but I choose to, well my body does.

I don't have to sleep late, I'd like to but I don't.

I don't, gee I like the other way!

I like to walk around

I like to talk with people

I like to hug my wife 🤗

I like to hug my children 🤗

I love to hug my grandchildren 🤗 that's better

I love to write here and now 😊

I love to build something that is beautiful ❤️

I love to have a drink and a chinwag with a friend ♥️

I love to watch a soppy movie with Polly❤️

I love talking with Polly, unless she says "I was thinking 🤔" then I know this can go many ways 😆❤️

I love seeing things work out ❤️

I love helping someone figure something out ❤️

I love every moment in life so much 💖

Have I fulfilled my purpose? 

Does it matter to others?

Just do what moves you and the rest is ok! 

Deep hey! 

Another saying I like is "Today is the first day of the rest of your life!" And today I'm writing, early in the morning, as I drink my second coffee ☕☕ and think of my purpose. 

Today I'll talk with Polly in the morning, plan our day. Listen to her plan, as sometimes it's different than mine, after we are on the same page I or we will drive over and and visit with Ciara our daughter-in-law and Colton. Then my focus will be to get the second level of a castle up, and hopefully get some more help from my grandson 😊.  How's that for purpose! 

Dinner with our friends Jack and Wendy will be arranged, I'm lucky I don't usually have to think too much about that, Polly and Wendy have that plan. Is it their purpose? They are both much more than dinner makers! ❤️ 

Such is Life, just don't be a drag on society! Take care of yourself, plan ahead, live for today, Life is ❤️

Love our life ❤️🤗

Sunday is a great day to write.

Yesterday was a really good day, we had planned to go for brunch with our granddaughter Taylor and her boyfriend Brett, also Brett's Niece Kylie. We had agreed to go to Smitty's restaurant in GP as Taylor thought be good, from memories of the Smitty's in Port Alberni, funny how those early memories affect our decisions later in life. 

The Smitty's here was new, Brett being from here told us of the past one, where it was and that it was shutdown after a flood here about 10 years ago, I learned that he had a long history here as he's lived here his whole life. He knew the business that used to be where the Smitty's is now, was a bar or club. 

We learned much about Brett yesterday, he lived most of his life in Clairmont, a small area north of GP. Polly and I had visited there one day to look at a trailer, so we knew of the area, made for some interesting conversation about the trailer park, as they had lived in that park when Brett was really young, they called it 69 trailer park as if you go on the map and look it's roads are shaped like 69. LoL, made for some interesting conversation, so interesting that the group of people next to us were laughing at our conversation, was a fun morning being with them, and just getting to know Brett a little better. 

Taylor has been with Brett since moving here, well I'm not really sure the actual dates, but been awhile. They just moved into their apartment, outta Taylor's father's house. Was nice to see them starting out on their own. The apartment they got was on the second or third floor, so up and down stairs, not great, but a nice view from there. They have two dogs so need a place that accepts dogs, not to many places do. 

Their place is about 1/2 way between where we are staying and Ciaras place, so is convenient to stop in, will do a little more of that over the next while. 

I'm starting to get a little more comfortable driving around GP, it's laid out north south, east west with Bear creek crossing on an angle in the middle of it. Main roads are getting more familiar, as well as the big black building, (214 place) in the center of town, it's the one place that when you see it from a distance, you know exactly where you are, like seeing a mountain, or a cell tower. I use these things to get my direction. 

We left the restaurant with hugs and goodbyes, and off we went to get a couple pallets on our way home, my new favorite thing, as building the playhouse for Colton has been my focus the last week or more. Only got one pallet, but that's ok, will use it and get the second floor completed this coming week. Looking forward to creating the final looks of the castle, should be fun. I put some OSB on the second floor on Friday, makes it much better to walk on, firm and solid. 

No Smokey air outside this morning so far, was really bad here yesterday. Hard to believe this year, so many fires, and many still burning as heavy rains haven't come in yet. I'm looking at the forecast often right now, planning towards our leave time, always look forward to that time, thinking what will the weather bring. 

Coffee ☕☕ finished, cereal finished, off for a walk I'm thinking. Polly was up early today too, be a nice day I'm sure. Sunday usually is, Oh yeah, Sunday usually means Football 🏈, Seahawks play today I think, yep 1pm eastern time. 11am Alberta time.  

Polly has a plan to clean the seats in the truck, as I replaced the seat bottom on the driver's seat yesterday, it was coming apart on the side, so all the seats looking dirty now that the one bottoms new. We have planned to do this for awhile now, today's the day I guess.

Our life, love it ❤️🤗

Looking up at the clock it's 4:50am 😳

       

        The pen left from Polly signing a card

Sunday morning again, seems like often I wakeup early, especially on Sunday Morning. I am used to the sound of the truck's on the highway now, but still, every once in awhile I hear one that sounds really heavy go by, huge truck's, huge loads here. 

Coffee ☕ not as good as usual this morning, I'm not sure why, I guess I was just up too early LoL. Today is our Anniversary, 29 year's WOW, time can fly when we are having 😊🎉

I've heard the saying "So much water under the bridge" funny when I hear that I think of a story a workmate a good friend told me one time as we were planting trees, he said "I ditched some trees this one time, trying to get the amount per day the foreman wanted, I threw a box of trees in the river. Then later as I was talking with the foreman on the bridge down the road, here comes the trees floating down the river! I was sure glad his back was turned!"  

Isn't it funny how a few words bring thoughts to your mind, something that relates, yet not exactly what you're thinking. Well water under the bridge may be a reminder of him and the story, but today I'm thinking of Polly and I and how much life we've been through together. Our start, our marriage, our working, our kids, our grandchildren, our dogs, our travels, our friends, our lives, geezz so much water, yet all the memories are still with us.

Even this blog, had a start, I can remember that, Polly said "I was thinking" always dangerous words when Polly says them😂😅😆🤣 I never know what will come next. "I was thinking we should write a blog when we start our travels" Polly & I came up with the name Brent and Paulette's Excellent RV Adventures (I always loved the movie Ted & Bill's Excellent Adventure) and here we are. 

Many blogs written, Polly used to look over all I wrote, I typed on my laptop to start, now I write on my phone & post sometimes Polly sees it, sometimes not. Today I'll show her for sure. I think the blog was a good idea, gives us a way of sharing our travels, and our lives, with many, not that we're really interesting, just normal, kinda people, and not, hmm 🤔 I'm thinking now, what are we? When I start out with a what we are not, it kinda bugged me. 

We are people living our lives a little different that the norm! Excellent 👍, happy, loving, enjoying every moment as we travel and visit many people in many places, always learning a little more of life as we go. That's what we are. 

Today we can look back and see our path, oh yeah Google has that all mapped out for us, we are tracked even when we don't know it, goggle watches all of us 😳. (I have a friend that's always aware of this, he watches on FB, but never posts lol, he will see this) I'm not afraid of the powers that be tracking me, us, someday they can track me into my grave, and it won't matter. 

That's only 766 days they have us tracked we've been at this for 7 years already 😄

365 x 7 = 2555 days and counting! I wonder how many more we have 😊

We are living our life knowing it's our last harah, we started our life's together like it was a party 🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈 and here we are still partying, well kinda, we didn't go dancing last night. Saturday night fever was not in the Stars, we talked about it, remembered the fun in our past, we had a wonderful dinner with very good friends, and laughed, met one of their friends who is going through a really tough time in her life. We learned a little more about life again. Live for today.

Today we give each other cards, that's our celebration, usually go out to dinner, but this year we have an invite to dinner next door at Jack & Wendy's son and daughter-in-laws place, I'm sure this will be fun, they have two little children, always fun with kid's 🤗♥️ OH, and with adults that have the kid still in them hey Jack! 🎉🎈😊

Polly and I are a couple of sops, we cry at movies together, we are both emotional, about many things, stuff others may think kinda silly, but that's us. Polly likes to cry at wedding dress shows, and I am always writing and crying at times, you can message someone, and they never know you shed a tear, for me that's good, I don't want people to see me crying. I've even cried a bit while writing this.

Today I'll give Polly a big hug, a kiss or three, we always like to give 3 kisses at a time,

😘😘😘

Funny, I don't know when that started, but it's our way, 3 kisses before we go to sleep, 3 kisses good bye, 3 kisses just because, sometimes 3 kisses isn't enough, so 3 kisses x 3 times is needed. Is a ritual that started, and we like it so we continue. 

A ritual, remember I said how words can bring memories, well when I think of ritual, I remember a time when we brought our grandchildren to the cabin, and we usually went to the beach during their time there, but this time we couldn't, the weather was raining, and windy, so we had to skip the usual beach trip. Our grandson decided to make a little sailboat outta a piece of foam and sticks he found on the float, and as he was sailing it I asked what he was up to. He said "we always make a boat and sail it at the beach, so I thought I'd make one here" hugh, I said why? 

Well he said "It's tradition" I was surprised. Another word moment I'll never forget 🤗♥️

Ritual reminds me of tradition! 

Today we have both, it's traditional to celebrate our Anniversary, and the ritual will be different. I'm thinking that we will likely be here, Wendy & Jack's, in Grande Prairie many times over the next few years, visiting them, and our daughter-in-law and our grandchildren, building tradition, and living our ritual time with our family and friends. 

Coffee ☕☕#2 is better, I guess I had early morning mouth LoL. Truck's are pulling out steady now, they all have a place to be, oil and gas production never stops, it's a continuous flow of traffic along with the Oil & Gas. A tradition or a ritual? 😄 definitely needed!

I sigh now, funny how writing can change as I write, it changes how I feel as I go, today like most will be happy, fun, sunny, warm, interesting, loving, productive, comfortable, and fun! Oh yeah, I said fun already 😄😆

Don't ever forget the fun, I'm thinking that's our motto, "enjoy the fun in our lives" and we are, every moment ❤️ Every Moment ❤️

Loving our life we are 🤗♥️

Messaging? What can a message do?

        Started the playhouse for Colton

I have a few friends and family I message daily, my way of keeping in touch with a few that are important in my life, some I or rather we call intermittently, and have fun good conversations with, and some just a message every once in awhile. Even a small message is good, just let people know you are there, and are interested in what's up. Some it happens in a FB post, a comment or a message. 

I know how important it can be as not that long ago I would get a message from my son Chris in the morning, was always looking forward to this! I haven't thought of it for a long time now, but I did just now. I miss the messages, I miss his comedy, although I have a good relationship with his fiance Ciara, and his son Colton, and sometimes Chase. Still I miss him, just not as intense as before. 

This morning a good little visit as I typed here with Steven my nephew, him and Chris talked alot too. Was nice to visit with him, it helps. Even with all this time passed, I still cry when I think of it, sometimes it's just a feeling, and sometimes a real ass cry. Today a mix, had a few sobs, then continue with life, a walk is in order now, that also helps. When I walk I think, sometimes maybe too much lol. Sun's up now, so off I go, walking and thinking of the future, what's next! 

Today I'll get a few more pallets for Colton's play house 🏠, I'm enjoying the thought of it as much as I will building it. I'm going to get a small hammer for him today, he wants to be involved. Forward we go, not forgetting, just moving on, making new memories. 

I love our life even with the pains 🤗♥️

That first swig of coffee ☕ in the morning Mmm good!

Every morning I wakeup, think for awhile, then bathroom to pee, give my face a wash, next make the coffee ☕. Today one more step comes, I stop on the way outta the bathroom and turn up the thermostat to warm up our home. Fall 🍁 has definitely arrived, and quickly, from smoke and warm weather to rain overnight, and cool weather not just in the night, but during the day. 

I love being in shorts most all the time, but now going to have to start putting on pants 👖 again, brr 🥶. I knew it would come, I just thought we would have a few more weeks of the nice warm days we had been having, but I took a good look at the map of our content yesterday, and WOW, we are really far north.

My Brother-in-law Danny did say "always a snowfall in September," I'm hoping we make it outta here before too much snow.

My early morning routine will change, but coffee ☕ always my go to, is Mmm good first thing in the morning. Warm and tasty, I put a spoon of honey in it, as I just don't like it completely black. I can hear the pot on as it heats, the cools before it heats again, I'm tuned into this sound, as if I don't turn it off after my second cup, then Polly has burnt tasting coffee when she gets up. 

Another glug, and maybe now I can think LoL, I do have much to do here in Grande Prairie, but so far we have had a real fun weekend, great dinners, and family over, with Colton the star as his performance keeps us laughing and darn busy chasing him around. I have to say he sure has our heart's, such a busy and wonderful child. Reminds me of his father, and of me. He really goes for what he wants, whatever his mission, he goes after it with gusto!

We have a little rain forecast today, but I'm planning on starting on his fort/playhouse castle in their backyard. I looked at the area with a tape measure yesterday, looking like a 8' x 7' building, about 4' tall to the first floor, then an upper floor that the slide and climbing wall will go up to. Just now I'm imagining how he will be as I build it, will he help? Will he teach me what he wants? I saw him on Sunday here, in and out of the gazebo, he likes the curtain that hangs down, how it touches his head, I will try to make that in his doorway. 

I've been planning this for awhile now, not sure it will look exactly the same, but I do want a covered area he can play in outside, a place he can be where his mom can watch him, but he is able to create and play outside on his own or better yet, with friends. Also with me as he does like to be with Polly and I, following around, helping him get up, and down, and watch him play as he goes in that park down the road. That parks nice, but Mom hasn't always got time to go there, so this be a nice place for him to be right outside the door.

The fort will be his though, his little domain. Mmm, last glug of my first cup ☕, now go for my second ☕.  

Just got a message from Ciara, kids up and getting ready for school, feels nice reading that they are up, as Chase has a friend Carson staying with them now, so be two of them going to school today from their home. 

I'm sure Colton would like to go too, but a few more years before he will be going, I'm sure that's going to go by fast! As we will likely only see them once or maybe twice a year, it will go by really fast. The talking and seeing each other on the phone only does so much, but much better than writing letters. 

I'm looking forward to going south this year again, also sad as missing everyone here and on the island. Can't have it all, but I'm always trying to. 😊

A walk this morning will help with my back, I find if I walk my back seems to feel better, most every day my backs sore, but the walking helps, so this morning another 40 minutes of walking will get me warmed up for a little playhouse construction 😁

Feeling pretty darn comfortable here in this chair, stomach just growls, not going to feed it till after the walk. I hear the trucks outside, is a busy day I'm sure, everyone back to full work schedule. I sometimes think as I walk about how I'm fortunate to have made it this long, to be retired and collecting pensions while everyone is working all around me. I remember thinking as I worked, one day I'd have more time, able to do what I want, not have to go to work. Here I am, and dam it's good 👍

Polly's up now, LoL she has a mission again, cookie's, she made some dough up yesterday, and outta the fridge it comes, the scooper is on the counter 😁 gee I sure am a lucky man!

I think I'll do a few things here in the trailer before I go for my walk, I have a list I keep adding to, just for times like this, stuff I want done but not a rush, like clean the screen in the bathroom fan. Big job for this retired guy, lol 😆

Love this life! 🤗❤️

Labour Day weekend, another long weekend?

Labour Day is a celebration of the fruit's of our Labour? Harvest? Is it to celebrate labour, the people that work for a living? Which is most of us! Or is it about Organized Labour, Union's in general?

I'm not sure so I go look it up. 

Google says;

In 1882, American labour leader Peter J. McGuire witnessed one of these labour festivals in Toronto. Inspired, he returned to New York and organized the first American "labor day" on 5 September of the same year.

Then this from the Canadian Encyclopedia;

I learned,

Labour Day has its roots in an 1872 printers’ strike in Toronto. Fighting for a nine-hour work day, the strikers’ victory was a major milestone in the changing relations between Canadian workers and their government.

 

Nine Hour Movement

In a time when the news of labour "strife" is dominated by disputes between millionaire athletes and billionaire owners, history provides a useful perspective on a period when working people had to fight to work less than 12 hours a day. The "Nine Hour Movement" began in Hamilton, Ontario, and then spread to Toronto, where its demands were taken up by the Toronto Typographical Union.

I'm thinking about now and all the people not working and getting paid somehow, some on the street, and some find themselves in comfortable homes living off other's Labour as they make statements of the lazy, or unproductive, those that are barely making it with the costs of living now!

I remember going to Scotland years ago, learning where organized labour started, and how. Was from the beginning of group's that made something that was specialized like hats, and leather good's, and many others that only so many people could do. There was the start of people organized and grouping together to demand a better price for their product or pay for their service. 

We've come a long way, and here we are organized labour watching as job's that used to be here in Canada and USA are exported, or people are imported here as business always looking for the lowest price for labour. 

Why? Because us the consumers always wants the cheeper price for what we want to buy, or services we want to have. 

I like to go to the reason this happens, see what's really going on. I'm not a great thinker, but I do like to understand why things happen, what drives this here world 🌍

Today on the weekend we celebrate Labour, I'm thinking we have almost come full circle! We now have imported people to our country to do the jobs here our own people in our country will not do like pick fruit, serve in tim Hortons, clean our hotels, fight our fires, just to name a few. If you started to put together a list I'm sure you & I would be surprised at just how many jobs business have through our government brought in people to do jobs here with labour from there that do not have any citizenship or even rights here in Canada's wealthy country. 

I can't really imagine what the future will bring for our youth that are just starting out, our grandchildren, I can't see them even having enough $$$ to ever afford a home of their own, a sticks & bricks home. When I started out a home was affordable, $25,000. Was my first home. Now looking it'll be more like $300,000. Or more to get what we would call a starter home in a small town like Port Alberni, and even more in others places, $1,000,000. Is the new price for a 20-30 year old home in many places across this country. 

How will labour organization's demand enough for the labour their membership needs to pay for a home? Even with 2 people working in a home at good paying jobs, the cost of living is very different that when I started out. How will our society survive if we continue to bring labour in that really doesn't give back to our society, rather they take the $$ they make home to their country, how does that better our country?

Maybe a rant here, but I guess I'm just saying how, how can we continue this way? 

I've said many times I'm glad I lived when I did, as we did have it all. I'm hopeful for our youth, and their children. I'm also unsure how this can continue. 

Polly & I have a pension, some we got from government taking a portion from our wages, some I got from Union taking from my wages. I'm glad now we have these pensions, there are many that have none, or very little. As for the people coming from other countries to work here, it's a gift to them to do whatever job they can, rather than starve where they come from. I don't begrudge them a living, just believe that if you work here, be better if you lived here. I'm sure they would if they could, but business and government along with us wanting the cheeper deal, keep them working for less, less that we that live here expect for our labour. 

So this weekend I think we can thank the labour leaders & ourselves (I stood on a few picket lines) for giving us decent wages and working conditions. Also the labourers that come here, and do what our people won't, along with all the others that work in other countries that have poor wages and poor working conditions that produce so we can shop at the dollar stores for cheap goods, and get cheap clothes along with expensive runners that are made on cheap labour. 

Always my reminder when I purchase, where is it made? 

How come it's so cheap?

                    Made in Canada 😳

I was surprised to see this on the bottom of these crates in Walmart, Made in Canada! 

My thought was made where, and by who? What were the working conditions? How much was the pay? I'm sure they weren't in an organized union. 

Happy Labour Day Weekend to all, let's hope our grandchildren will be able to have as good a life as us, and hope others from other countries can make it here and enjoy our good life too, they are working for it, without the benefits 🙁

Polly just thanked me for the coffee ☕ ☕ I made this morning, she said "Your hired! You made just the right amount of coffee!" 

Gee, I got a job 😁 WOW 

I wonder what the wages are? 

Will I need a union? 🤔

What kinda benefits are there? 😁

Will I have to pay taxes? 🙄

 

I love this life 🤗❤️