1096 Emails

Suddenly realized that I have 1096 Emails in my Inbox that need to be filed, answered more fully or otherwise dealt with and do not see too many blocks of time right now that will clear my mailbox. So apologies to anyone waiting for a more in depth reply from me. 

Church Service has added more hymns which I rather like. I do miss singing the hymns for sure but in reality I was missing the entire service so that COVID-19 has brought me my dearest wish which was to have an online Church Service. I would wish that we did not have COVID-19 but since we have been afflicted with it at least some good has come out of it and perhaps there will eventually be a list of achievements because we are so afflicted. However, the drawbacks will always far exceed any benefits. Twenty thousand Canadians have died now from COVID-19 and that is a sad milestone to have reached. We are now completing our 11th month although individual areas (including my own) are now into an entire years of COVID-19 cases. 

Vaccine problems will probably plague us for some time yet and it is unlikely that we will be able to come out of lockdown mid February because of the presence of variants although they do not appear to have gotten out into the general population but opening up would likely expose all of us to that variant unfortunately so likely we are locked down until April at least. By then there would have perhaps been 10 million people vaccinated primarily those in the front lines and those most in danger of hospitalization/death because of COVID-19. But I think we will be wearing masks until Spring 2022. It will seem strange to no longer wear a mask but I am thinking that if I have a cold in the future that I may well wear a mask whenever I am out and about with a cold. It seems the right thing to do in reality to avoid spreading germs. 

A new week is ahead of us and we enter into February. Our January calendar had us out at least three times a week or more (I am generally the one out and about to the grocery stores and pharmacy) but that included medical visits and physiotherapy/massage visits for Edward. I am hoping that February will be less  with most of the visits online except for the physio/massage for Edward and my trips for groceries/pharmacy items. 

Another bright sunny day again and it was minus 20 degrees celsius first thing this morning when I awoke. We are into the midst of our winter and soon with February coming we will see the heavier snows that take us into March when with luck we might get a little melting and then all that melting in April and May. Spring will come and we can be outside more in the fresh air.

Disruption of routine

Is disruption of your routine a bonus or a disaster? Never really sure on that. My day used to begin always with playing my daily Microsoft Solitaire Games. It woke up my arthritis fingers and my mind. Overall it is a great morning exercise in my opinion. Start slowly; open the mind and work the fingers. There are other morning happenings but as old age continues to take its toll on some so the morning items do change (no longer doing 45 minutes of exercise before breakfast!). I generally do my calisthenics just before lunch these days. Having to help Edward move about has cut into my exercise times. But it is wonderful these days to wake up to daylight as gradually we turn our thoughts and calendars towards summer. Although we are in mid winter that signals a return to spring not being that far away these days.

Our vaccine troubles appear to be doubling in size these days. It will be a while before sufficient vaccine comes to Canada. The Conservatives blame the Liberals and I tend to place the blame squarely on the Conservatives who long ago allowed the production of such vital items to disappear from our Canadian business scene arguing that it could be done cheaper elsewhere. Obviously that was one of the worst assumptions in history and one that Canadians will pay for for a very long time as we try to redo our basic industrial needs which are going to cost more but what is happening now is hugely expensive. Not giving the Liberals a miss on this either though. They should have planned right away last spring to support home grown research to produce a vaccine in Canada with Canadian ingenuity and materials. All the other parties are just mouthing platitudes as they could have been in there putting pressure on the government to better support home industries. 

Another Saturday, the last day of the week and it has been a difficult week for me. But I tend to be optomistic about the next week always. Tomorrow I start the new week with my Church Service which always brightens up my time here on earth. It is wonderful to have that hour to spend with God and listen to the teachings that have been imparted to my family through the generations. 

Another beautiful sunny but cold day

Minus 19 celsius this morning and it is a cool one for sure. Out for groceries a little later and a pickup at the Pharmacy for my husband. 

Still nothing much accomplished on my projects - will soon be three newsletters behind. 

I think I can see a light at the end of the tunnel though and may just get into some of that work early in February.

Dentist today

Off to the dentist today and was quite shocked to keep my boots on and my coat with me but it is probably the safer way to do it for sure during COVID-19. I bought a new rechargeable toothbrush a couple of months ago and was really pleased with the result. Gums in good shape and the amount of scaling was reduced. I like to manually brush once a day and electric toothbrush the other time of the day. 

We are now paperless which is handy as the information comes to our inboxes (although I wondered where Ed's was but a quick call verified that it was in his email account). Must remember to think outside of the box on these things as it doesn't matter who pays for it the email from his account will always go to him. I must be getting older or just tired from the busyness as I do all the driving and also have to help Ed to stand from sitting. Managing his walker is a big task as well and I think we might get a third one that just stays in the car to save all that work of hauling it back into the house and cleaning it each time. It does perhaps sound a bit excessive but I do need to think of my ability to manage as well. I have been trying to minimize some of my tasks and there is less strain on me and the weight belt helps a great deal. Glad my daughter had that excellent idea.

Other than that we filled up the tank with gasoline for the first time this year. We are filling the tank about every two and a half months these days. Our trips are few and far between and mostly curbside pickups although I continue to shop for groceries on my own at the Metro, Superstore and Farm Boy. Two of them do offer curbside pickup but I do rather like to pick out what I want. Plus I get to see where everything is from. We like to buy Canadian these days if we are producing it hydroponically otherwise we are buying from somewhere else as nothing is going to grow under all that snow without special aids!

The winter is moving onward. As the days lengthen the amount of snow continues to increase with our heaviest snows generally in late February into March and even April. Although April does tend to be lighter in terms of amount of snow. I am still not missing going out. Perhaps it is my age although I have always enjoyed being at home and not shopping for long periods of time. I like a quick in and out of the stores.

Cleaning did not quite make it

Well this is day three of the cleaning cycle but I am still on the main floor. I have decided that I will do Monday, Tuesday and Thursday giving me Wednesday off and that sounds like a practical idea. Must get back to finishing the sections where the robot can not go and then some dusting and a bathroom to scrub. Cleaning is a never ending cycle and we got behind these past two months having to help Edward so much.

We made cream of potato soup today and it was quite delicious - no salt actually as Ed can not have too much salt so restrict it from everywhere so that the bit he gets from food is all that he gets; no extra. Next time I will do six potatoes instead of four potatoes but otherwise the soup was delicious just could have had more potato!

Another snow fall and it is building up in the backyard. Likely there is a metre out there now as it does drift in somewhat plus we have had quite a bit of snow and no melting. 

Still not getting anything done other than caring for Ed but I am wearing a weight belt now when I have to help him up and that is working well. I never thought of doing that but my daughter suggested it and she was right. Should have been doing it all along. He outweighs me by fourty pounds so it is a strain especially on my legs to lift him (plus my back). I was wondering if there was something wrong with my back earlier in the year. If there is; it is managing to get through this although pretty tired and sore at the end of the day. But he is getting stronger. He bikes every morning and does his physio exercises every afternoon plus he is walking around the house about every hour which is helping him quite a bit (he is using his walker all the time).

Longest time away in a month or so

 We had a medical appointment and then followed it up with a trip to the grocery store today and we were gone from home for nearly three hours. That is amazing. It felt like a long trip.

Cleaning and trying for one floor a day

 Cleaning and trying for one floor a day so all done by Wednesday hopefully.

New Glasses

I always enjoy getting new glasses; the shiny new lenses and the slight uptick in magnification as I age has been quite pleasant. I went back to Distance glasses and Reading glasses about four years ago because I was forever tripping into things. I wore bifocals from the age of 34 years on and I have worn glasses since I was eighteen months old. So I have had a lot of new pairs of glasses through the years. Those tiny little glasses that I first had I can still see through them although they are only good for distance now; they do not serve as reading glasses aside from being too small anyway!

Off to Church first thing and it is great just to go down to the basement and turn on YouTube. I can enjoy that for a very long time. 

Ed also has new glasses but he needs to have cataract surgery and then new glasses will be a bonus for him. His vision is pretty fuzzy and he gave up driving last May because of that plus his health was poor. He simply hasn't driven since. I am back into the driving routine again after eight months of driving. I like to drive but I can see a value now in not owning a car and just using taxis when you need to go someplace. By the time I am 80 I do not plan on driving. 

Sunny Saturday

A beautiful sunny day today although it was minus 18 degrees celsius when I woke up. It will be a cold one today. The moisture is sucked out of the snow and it hardens into a hard mass. The backyard is getting deeper in snow now with our heaviest snows to come in February and March. 

Still no work has been done. The days pass quickly but Ed does seem somewhat stronger these days. It is sort of two days ahead and then one day drop back just a little and then repeat the two days moving ahead. An appointment now for his eye cataract surgery assessment in late April - I was surprised to have that come so early. I really thought it would be a long wait. It is something for him to hold onto as he really is not seeing very well. 

Sunday tomorrow and my bulletin is in my email. My week starts off so very beautifully with the Sunday Service. I will miss it if they stop sending it once life goes back to normal.

The Bible Readings have been a breath of fresh air

 Micah 4:3

He [the Lord] will settle arguments
between distant
   and powerful nations.
They will pound their swords
and their spears
   into rakes and shovels;
they will never again make war
   or attack one another.

or from the Revised King James Version (Catholic edition)

He [the Lord] shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off;

and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;

The dawn today is a bright light shinning through the trees newly covered with fresh white snow. The light expanding across the skies. A new hope for tomorrow as we face the rigours of lockdown during the pandemic today. 

Amos 5: 24 - What the Lord Demands

24:  But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 

I feel the winds of God today

 One of my favourite hymns comes to mind today.

I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest,
and brave another cruise.

It is the wind of God that dries
my vain regretful tears,
until with braver thoughts shall rise
the purer, brighter years;
if cast on shores of selfish ease
or pleasure I should be,
O let me feel your freshening breeze,
and I’ll put back to sea.

If ever I forget your love
and how that love was shown,
lift high the blood-red flag above;
it bears your name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way,
you will not let me drift;
I feel the winds of God today,
today my sail I lift.

 It is exciting to have a new President in the United States. He will still be an America Firster for sure but he will be a kinder President than the last.  He will see the North American countries as equal partners living and striving together on the huge piece of land that we all occupy.

Care of Husband

 These days have been very busy as the care of my husband dominates my hours. He is now set up to eventually have a PSW coming in every day for a short time just to give me a break mid day. One of these days I hope to get back to doing some of my family stories.

Snow Snow and more Snow

We did finally get our snow.  Lots and lots of white heavy snowman building snow. It was so nice to see the plow come and clear the laneway including after the graders went through and filled the laneway. There is another stack there now which the plow removed. 

Church today and it was an interesting sermon. Talked about Samuel living with Eli's family and God giving him directions and then moved to Rosa Parks who really set in motion the modern Civil Rights Movement in the United States. As a child I was absolutely horrified when I saw the police set dogs on people protesting. The image of that is forever burned in my memory. I didn't know that anyone would do that to men women and children just sitting quietly. I didn't know about racial issues then and had no idea that was why these people were protesting and having dogs lunging at them. What a frightening sight for a child really. 

We haven't gone anywhere since the optometrist appointment and purchasing new glasses all at the same place and time. My news was pretty good; my cataracts are still small enough although was advised to wear sunglasses regularly. I am not a sun worshipper and actually abhor lying in the sun at the beach. I do not always wear them when I am outside in the hot sun though and will do that. Ed has not been able to drive the last eight months and it would appear part of the problem is very large cataracts which will have to be removed. He is referred for that but given the present circumstances he will not likely get that elective surgery for another six to eighteen months since there is already likely a huge backlog. We will not go anywhere except for me doing my grocery run Monday or Tuesday. I haven't quite decided. We have to go to ParaMed to have bandages changed on Tuesday so might do the groceries then. Trying to absolutely minimize our trips out because we are in lockdown. 

Enjoying the I-Robot

We did have two robot vacuum cleaners in the past but I never really got into using them. I am enjoying this new I-Robot. I can run it from my phone app and when it gets stuck I get a message which is very handy. I am working out timing schedules now to figure out how to best utilize this back saving device. I still have to do vacuuming of some items but the continuous vacuuming for several hours could become a thing of the past and instead I will continue to do my beneficial exercises in the time that I save. 

Taking stock

At 75 years and nearly four months of age I decided to take stock today. My time is no longer my own; I spend all of my waking hours for the most part (and in the night on occasion although my daughter covers that well as she is a night hawk) looking after my husband. I have not accomplished any of my own work since November. That will be the case for quite a while I rather think.

I do have a nervous disorder which manifests itself on occasion and have had a couple of small events the past couple of months. They do tend to take up my time as well as I recover. I have not been on medication for over 45 years now for that nervous disorder (originally thought to be multiple sclerosis but never actually tested to affirm). Since I have lived to this age without complications I tend to think that I probably do not have that but rather it was extreme exhaustion following the birth of my first child from which it took me a while to recover plus a known weakness in my nervous system but not as severe as multiple sclerosis. My hemoglobin was only 28 after she was born and it was a few years before my system recovered from that rather low level. The ob said that I should probably stick to one child given my history but eight years later we did have our second child whom we love dearly and luckily I did not have a massive bleeding event when she was born (the first was thought to be placenta prevaria). 

Looking backwards I have dealt with a lot of exhaustion but these days I am still moving along although I credit much of that to my heavy exercise schedule and an excellent diet. I also had some really good medical opinions (some people found my case rather curious and queried me about parts of it) when I was working at the hospital for ten years which I have followed to the letter. 

So taking stock I can foresee that the next few years will likely be spent caring for my husband and little else.  But I will try to work in some of my Genealogy work as time passes.

Finally an eye appointment

Have been waiting for our eye appointment as one arm of one pair of my reading glasses fell off and I just didn't have a kit to fix that unfortunately. So that will get fixed tomorrow. I still have one pair of reading glasses but they never leave my desk so was feeling short-handed without the second pair that I can just toss into my bag or bring around the house whenever I feel that I need them. 

Ed has been having trouble with his eyes so will be good to have them checked out.

I-Robot

We had a couple of I-Robot vacuums a few years back but gave them away. Now with my doing so much care for my husband I decided it was time to do the I-Robot again. I did have one thought; whatever it bangs into we will get rid of :) but seriously it is time to really continue downsizing. 

No Curfew it appears but increased restrictions. I wished that the government had started in late September when the medical profession started to mention that it was needed. The second wave was coming but hesitation created a huge second wave which we are still living with as the number of patients in the hospital continue to increase.

Is a curfew in our future?

Talk of a curfew for Ontario like the one in Quebec. I am not sure that anything will work at the moment. People are just not willing to take precautions to protect the vulnerable. It is a shame really and one day they will be old and no guarantees that their old age will be smooth going. But I suspect they think only in the moment and no where else. 

When religion walked out of people's lives this self determination walked in that said it is all about me. When I see someone say that not wearing a mask reflects on my body; my way I think it is one of the most ludicrous stupid things I have ever heard. Whatever is the world coming to; an end! This world can not survive a bunch of selfish people thinking only of their own creature comfort and nothing else.

And a new week begins

The Bible Reading for today is taken from Psalms (the reading from the Canadian Bible Society) and it is an interesting one to begin this new week.

Psalm 29

The Voice of the Lord in a Storm

......

Pray that our Lord will make us strong and give us peace. 

I have quoted only the last line because it spoke to me at a time when violence walked the streets of Washington DC just a few short days ago. It takes strength to accept change and this verse reminds that the Lord makes us strong enough to accept what people have voted for and promises us peace when we fall back on that strength of character and gives us peace. Lies about the election by the current president are a sin and blemish to the American people because they stoke discontent. I pray that God be with our neighbours to the south and give them peace.

A beautiful sunny day today

 Looking out the window it is a beautiful sunny day and of course minus 10 degrees celsius. We do not have enough snow cover to protect the in ground plants or even the grass for that matter. It will be a destructive winter until our snow cover increases. Since our laneway is plowed by someone else than us I do not care how much it snows this year and probably for all the rest of the years of my life. 

One turns on the television each day with a bit of trepidation wondering what more has happened in the hours since I last watched the news. I see President Trump is still in the White House although banned from Twitter; that is perhaps lucky as otherwise he might have had a few words to say to our Prime Minister who has blamed President Trump for the violence we watched on Wednesday (amazing how many days ago that is now) including the murder of one of the Capitol Police. The faces of all of those people parading through Congress are everywhere. There is one thing about media these days; you can not escape it but then you never really could in the long run. It just took longer. When someone decides that they are more perfect than everyone else and have the right to make decisions unilaterally even if they have been elected as a leader they still must be the servant of the people. That is what democracy demands of its representatives. In general most people who win elections are happy to do their best and not be looking at their own interests all the time. When they are not thus interested we have had this textbook lesson in what that looks like and how it ends. Mother Nature is likely responsible for the downfall of the Trump family and if only she could speak she could tell us why but perhaps just looking around us we can see that answer.

The Lockdown continues and we are at day 13

 Beautiful sunny day outside and it is cold. Not a bad time for a lockdown if you have to have one. As Edward gains strength I will hopefully find some spare time to answer emails as I now have over 1000 emails in my Inbox that need to be filed, answered or just reviewed. A task for one of these days. I have almost given up on any new research but I still have the two missing newsletters in the back of my mind. Hopefully next week will see a start on them.

The best way to leave would be to resign immediately

 I have to admit if a politician really is devoted to their country and they commit such a shameful act as to incite people to attack the Capitol Building (The People's House) then they would resign immediately. One of the police force in the building has now died from his injuries; this is really both a murder and treason committed against the property of the United States and hence against the American people. But if all of this has been in their own interest then likely they will hang in there until the last minute and one wonders how much more abuse will they pile on to what they have already done.

Scenes of Violence

I really can not believe the scenes that I watched on the Television today coming from Washington, DC. Just two more weeks and a new President and Vice-President will be at the helm of the great Republic to the south of us. Hopefully we have seen the last of such happenings. It reminded me of the scenes from the history books describing how Hitler came to power in Germany. God protect America from this evil.

Covid-19 Vaccine

 I remember the huge vaccination clinics when I was a child in school. Smallpox in particular involved these very long lines of students all waiting patiently in line for their turn. Run ever so perfectly by Public Health and I rather thought that was going to happen with the Covid-19 vaccinations. Whatever is happening? Public Health is perfectly capable of managing huge vaccination clinics.

Time moves much too quickly

 I am still trying to find a little time to myself these days. There is so much to do; I do not get upset at that but it would be nice to feel all caught up.

Epiphany and the Church is also in lockdown

 A very small number of people at Church today in person and I attended as usual on You Tube. Epiphany was what my father called "Old Christmas" but he mostly called it Epiphany because that is the proper name of the Feast Day twelve days after Christmas so the 6th of January. Celebrated on the Sunday which is three days earlier but most appropriately to do so. 

During the Prayers for the People I used to remember my parents but Doug has replaced them when I remember those who have died. I prayed for my husband who is ill and I do believe these days he is becoming stronger. Just a few things to throw off and he will be doing better. 

Tomorrow begins a busy week as we are out almost every day for one thing or another (mostly medical appointments) including groceries Monday and Friday. But our time out will be brief and cautious. 

Pincombe and Blake Newsletters

As of today I am now behind in two newsletters. Hopefully I will be able to do catchup on those two this month. Last month was just too hectic and until mid-month I probably will not have much spare time but hopefully after that.

And the new year is well in now

Day 2 of the New Year and the second week of our lockdown continues. People are losing interest in a lockdown for sure. It is hard to follow the rules when you are young; the discipline of my generation has certainly not shown up abundantly now either as people head for the sunny south - can not imagine why as I loathe spending a lot of time in the sun. When you can have the long dark evenings why would you trade that for bright sunshine! Plus the winter snow is so beautiful and last night we had a decent snowfall so perhaps winter has truly come to stay with all the beauty of our surroundings covered with a thick layer of white perfection. I do love the winter although would rather be inside these days as my arthritis definitely doesn't like the cold weather.

I have high hopes on accomplishing a lot today. We will see ow the time passes.

New Years Day 2021

 Seventh day of lockdown, one week accomplished and perhaps our lockdown will end after 28 days so 1/4 of the way there. I just have one purchase that I want to make once the lockdown is over. A new set of curtains for one end of our kitchen. There is a blind on that window and I would prefer to have curtains. They are so much easier to manage than a blind and the blind we currently have is quite wide and has this annoying habit of making a squawking noise when you try to raise it. Not that I am prone to raising it; I actually prefer to have my windows covered somewhat - I find the sun very strong particularly coming in that window. I am never a sun worshipper at the best of times normally hiding under a towel on the beach. 

I do not generally make New Years Resolutions. Not because I can not keep them but rather I could never quite see the point in saving a resolution for that one day. I tend to make resolutions as I move through life and if I have resolved to do something then I generally do do that.

Already my Sunday Bulletin is in my inbox. Christmas just didn't let me really get at the services; that generally happens as I am busy doing everything that needs to be done to keep a family celebration on time and coordinated. I tend to do my prayers in the morning when I am quiet and alone. Although I miss going to Church I haven't been doing that for quite a while anyways. Once I discovered that I could tithe using PAR I have scarcely been back. I love going to Church but current events have completely changed my mind on how Church should be organized and managed. It is all about Doing What Jesus Would Do not a social club. I am not a very sociable person; although I try to be as polite as possible. But that isn't being sociable that is just following the rules your mother established at a young age and which you scrupulously followed in order not to annoy your mother! 

Coming from a family of seven children with two parents I just never got into the idea of being sociable. Although four of my girl friends were invited to my wedding I would not really describe any of them as girl friends in terms of a social interaction. They were just girls that I had known in some cases for many many years that my mother felt were my girl friends and hence they were invited. I actually had not expected any of them to come as their boy friends were not invited because I couldn't remember last names at the time and just never got around to asking them before the invitations were sent. But my husband was inviting his boy friends and my mother felt I should invite girl friends so there it was. When our daughter married I had absolutely no part in the arrangements other than going with them to see the location for the marriage and reception. I really enjoyed that. But on the other hand my mother really enjoyed planning my wedding and I let her do the entire event. I would have been happy to elope!

After marriage my husband did invite people over, occasionally he got me to invite people that he wanted to come, and I was a most gracious hostess and even cooked meals for guests but my heart wasn't in it. Making friends was the last thing in the world that I really wanted to do but my husband enjoyed having people around so I did help with that. I am a good helper for sure and we are married 54 and a half years now. I always wondered if we got along because I just wasn't invested in anything outside of marriage and then our children came along. When I thought about people outside of our home it tended to be my parents, my siblings, my aunts and my uncles and their children. Now at the grand age of 75 years I am busy looking after Ed as his medical issues mount. Hopefully he will plateau soon and can have some fun out of life for a while. 

All thoughts on New Years Day 2021 and now I must do some housework; it has definitely got left behind the last couple of weeks.