Chatted with my other daughter

 The conclusion is that I had a bad headache and wasn't sleeping well; Ottawa Public Health hasn't recorded any West Nile Virus as of August 2026. I was using this mouth appliance that the dentist prescribed but had to stop because of headaches. I meant to ask her about that and forgot (often happens since I reached the age of 81). Since I have given up the appliance it doesn't really matter. I think I was grinding my teeth for a bit; the earlier dentist noticed it as well. But I seem to have given up grinding my teeth apparently; no one mentioned it. So I guess the appliance worked but has become an archaic symbol of my past. I wonder when all my teeth will fall out. Probably doesn't happen quickly; too bad. I still think these false teeth are a great idea and they look nice. 

My daughter says to go to the doctor if I do not get better soon but I am actually improving nicely.  

My daughter told me that there are tests to distinguish all of these viruses that one can acquire but we do not test for them because the test kits are too expensive for us to afford them all across the country. Even in the ER it is not possible to afford these test kits which would be so very helpful there. In her ER they see more than 18 thousand people a year but they do not get money even for a CT scanner. That seems to be some what limiting when their ER never closes. 

We need to get this economy going so that we can afford all of these items.  

It is at such moments in time that I contemplate if I actually do have autism

 My only real memory that could allude to such a diagnosis stretches back far into the past when I was five years of age and in kindergarten and the school asked that I be tested for my hearing (the teachers apparently thought I could not hear their instructions) but the reality was I did not want to play musical chairs, I did not like sitting on the floor and singing, I came to school to learn. I did love to read and there was in the one corner of that room a whole lot of books so I was slightly disobedient so that I would be put into that corner but they did catch on). My mother and I went to somewhere on the bus (my father ran his own company and I was the fourth child) and I was tested using tuning forks I still remember that. Lovely man that tested my hearing (I still remember him but no idea what his specialty was (he was a doctor of something)); talked to me for a while and then said to my mother she is very quick to learn but puzzles it all out on her own in her mind. I will let the school know she is a quick learner and her hearing is affected by that and needs more challenges not fun so my mother said. So did that make me Autistic? No idea on that but as I watch my youngest grandchild grow up he reminds me of myself; my speech difficulties and my tendency to run everything that I was doing - to be in control. Certainly many of my teachers appreciated that tendency as they could always count on an answer. In those days there was just one class of each age group pretty much and some split classes; I tended to go into the split being in the lower part like 2/3 and 3/4 and then not going to 4 at all but being promoted to Grade 5 and it continued that way until Grade 8. I was just twelve years of age when I went to High School. 

My classmates were years older than me it always felt like. I had already decided that I would take bookkeeping and typing in Grade 9 instead of Latin but none the less the Guidance Teachers insisted on talking to me about that from day one nearly but I persisted and stayed in that class. I did not want to wash baby bottles to go to University as my sister had. I wanted a real job that didn't involve that and so it happened and so I went to University where I was also too young. One can be too young and now I am 81 and it is fascinating but do I actually have autism. No ideas on that but I relish my own time although I love being with my children etc. But I can also be alone writing my books. 

I must let the dogs out; they got upset because a cat came on their porch. They did so well until the cat came on the porch and then they lost it. So they have been  penalized just a little by not being able to look out the window. But a good run will make them feel better. The neighbour's cat is tough and can withstand the barking of caged dogs!

In again, my headache is keeping me from doing any real work on my research day but the dogs are interesting always and they will not always be here (dogs do not last as long as humans) whereas my research will be. Contemplating when I might move and it will be sooner hopefully but probably three or four years. Too bad really. Imagine living in the same house for 50 years or more and I lived 17 years in my last family home and three years in the one before that which I can only vaguely recall. That means for ten years Edward and I lived in other houses. The last 1.5 years was the house that we bought in London area and it was lovely and I hated leaving it behind because my first child came home to that house. We rented for 6 years before buying the house and then rented here for a couple of years. It was visiting some friends in Orleans from Western University that we saw these Carriage Homes and I loved them. Perfect for life without close family; no real entertainment area but lots of family room. Edward did think about moving a few years later up on the hill but he loved this yard and so we stayed and we are still here but he would hate this yard as I can not keep it up the way that he did. 

Good to see that the trade agreement is moving along and plans to sign it on Friday. I am not really keeping up with it. The machinations around trade agreements are many and so many people to keep happy. Liquor back on the shelves does not affect me; I never buy any; I do not drink other than the occasional glass of wine at my children's homes on special days.  I do think the Prime Minister is doing an excellent job although I did vote Conservative as I normally do. Minister LeBlanc has been fabulous through all of this; he has never once lost that smile on his face. He is such a perfect pick for this job. I do give ex-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau high marks for buying and then building the pipeline even if I do disagree on  all the new charges against the government he created. My own party needs to shape up and get a platform - whining is just boring. Get out there and help the young get jobs what else are you doing this summer? A three month paid vacation is ridiculous. I am not surprised to see disagreement but Prime Minister Carney is a conservative and head of the liberal party and he is winning. So get in line and support all these projects as much as you can. Canada needs to grow to be that country that the Fathers of Confederation dreamed and created - they did all that hard work of keeping Canada together and growing it at the same time. They didn't do it by whining. Sure they disagreed but when the work needed to be done they were in there doing it. 

 

A weird three days

 I woke up Monday with a headache and since I am prone to migraines I just thought it was that but I certainly felt well otherwise. I had a dental appointment and last year I had flu and had to cancel which I thought was wise because that is infectious to other people. But then when I rebooked I didn't get the checkup by the dentist as the dentist was away. So I thought I better go to the dentist appointment in spite of the headache. I really wasn't solid on my feet but I am also 81 so just went. I guess I could have just booked a checkup last year after the dentist wasn't there; no idea on that whether that can happen if you do not have a cleaning. A mystery for sure but not a problem. No one made the suggestion and I never thought about it. Being 80 has its drawbacks. 

Dentist visit on Monday all accomplished and back home again (one small filling) and I slept for an hour and the dogs slept on the floor by the couch where I slept. They are such sweet hearts. Then over the next day or so I had the headache and slept on and off. I had heard that West Nile Virus was around in the area so I looked it up and that was what it said, exhaustion and headache.  But fortunately West Nile Virus is not passed from human to human only mosquitoes to human. 

Then last night three raccoons appeared  in the front yard (three yearlings I would say) and I blew my whistle once again and they all went up the tree. The bird feeder is in the tree so then they tried to get into that but the birds empty it in the day so nothing in it. Strange to see but they weren't young of the year and probably their first year on their own. Thought about calling to see if the city picks them up but it was evening. The dogs finally scared them away barking at them through the window. 

Hoping that waking up this middle of the night doesn't mean the West Nile Virus is back; we will see. Back to bed at 4:00 a.m.

Must add to this when I do my Bible readings.  Up again and read my Bible Readings but only accomplished one chapter. My mind wandered too  much and I like to take in what I am reading. Thank you God for all the wonders of the earth and sky. We are blessed as a people to receive so much from You. In return you only ask that we love you with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and love our neighbour as ourself. 

I am looking forward to my quiet time once again to work on my books. Perhaps the Postal boxes will be ready soon as I can then put a note on my door asking people to not disturb me because I am writing thank you. 

The air conditioner technician came yesterday and made a couple of repairs (superficial) as the air conditioner is working perfectly. This is a new service I think for Enercare and like the electrician that they sent, this technician was also excellent. My oldest daughter and I have now lived in this house for 48 years and four months (Edward for just under 43 years). We were not the first to live on the street; the five Carriage Homes before us coming into the street were all occupied and we bought this one and the Gosselin family bought the next later in the year. They only just sold their house last year. A lovely family and they actually had seven children same as were in my family so I was used to a lot of children in the area right next door for sure. I started to work not long after we moved here (marking papers initially for the professor that I was going to do my Masters with actually but a little surprise changed that, then proofreading and copyediting for NRC first and then for local printers since I was part of the first group of people fired by Prime Minister Mulroney as he downsized the government). I got another job right away continuing proofreading and copyediting at home for the most part (and I also did the volunteer secretary at Edward's United Church (in 1979 (the fall) which he volunteered me to do that until they finally hired someone (they did offer me the job but I declined as I was already working 40 hours a week and needed less work not more)).  

I suppose if I do not feel better by the end of the week I should make a doctor's appointment although like the dentist I also hate going to doctors. Lovely people and nothing to do with them; I just find it exhausting to go to those appointments. Maybe all of my teeth will fall out and as far as doctors are concerned I appear to be reasonably healthy and do not require care beyond the one year visit and blood work. One appointment a year would work as I could get over that and not have to do it again for another year! I am definitely good for not heavy use of the medical profession. 

Still tired today and the headache is still there so I shall have a nap now that the dogs are fed and had two runs so ready for a nap as well. 

West Nile Virus

 I think I had West Nile Virus; I felt exhausted for two days and a headache but not sick or anything. I just thought I had overdone it. But I think in retrospect I had West Nile Virus. There are a lot of mosquitoes in our back yard this year. West Nile Virus is not transmissible from human to human. But the winter is coming; how I love the winter my most favourite season of all the year. 

The water is higher everywhere this year and particularly at Petrie. Nice for kayaking and I am sure the animals are appreciating the higher water and the swimmers as the higher the water the likely the cleaner it will be as it doesn't collect in small pools and breed mosquitoes. 

No new matches yesterday; I was still recovering but feel absolutely fine today. Fortunately West Nile Virus does not pass from human to human but I never had it before although I have noted the mention that West Nile Virus is here in the area this summer. 

Today cleaning the main floor and I am having a maintenance check on our air conditioner plus I shall learn about new air conditioners as this one is 32 years old which was a surprise. I do not want to change it going into the winter but will contemplate that for the spring. It is running perfectly although I do not use it until I have to turn it on when my daughter is here to keep the air free of pollutants in the house. Then I run it all summer (wearing a heavy jacket in the house although we keep it at 25 degrees celsius and it mostly dehumidifies as opposed to running for a long time for just cooling). It mostly only ever turns on to dehumidify. The house is small and it is a good sized air conditioner for 1400 square feet. I find it too cold actually. We actually had air conditioning in our house when I was a child in the 50s. My father installed it  as it was being installed in businesses by his company then and he thought it would be interesting to try it out in our house. 

Good news as President Trump and Prime Minister Carney have come to a tentative agreement to be completed in three days. Then the work of CUSMA discussions to come. The Prime Minister has been very busy. Although not a Liberal voter in general (my one mistake of voting for Justin Trudeau has long ago been rectified). But I have to admit that Prime Minister Carney has done a great job with our trade diversifying it around the world which is good for our economy. The Churchill Falls plans are excellent and also a project supported by the Prime Minister. 

Today I have to complete the dusting upstairs as I simply was too tired to do it yesterday. I slept on and off all day but did accomplish scrubbing the upstairs bathroom, vacuuming both floors actually although will do the main floor again today just to catch anything I missed so will be quick. Then finish off the cleaning of the main floor and done for another week. Back to research tomorrow. 

Rainy today so the dogs will be mostly inside. They miss their family. I am family but they love them so very much. 

Solitaire puzzles next.  

Thinking of costs

 I have not thought about it for a while because Edward being ill was expensive and he was in the hospital a number of times and once for four weeks. But myself I only go to a doctor once a year and the optometrist I have changed to every 16 months and usually one set of blood tests per year. So in total I pay a huge amount for my medical insurance and really do not use very much but one never knows for sure and the system has to support itself. It is interesting how our medical system works really. We have OHIP in Ontario and I  have medical insurance I pay for and then I also pay income tax which includes a medical tax in Ontario based on the amount you earn so that helps to support OHIP with transfer payments coming back from the Federal government to the provinces. Then my private medical insurance gets paid out to the members who use it (including me like my $24 return for a retinal scan which was 90%). I could have bought new glasses but passed on that this time as these glasses suit me and I only use them when I am on a computer. I carry a magnifying glass so that I can read the best buy dates on the groceries hence didn't bother going from 2x to 2.25x.  It is co-operative our medical care; not sure one would really call it socialist. After all if we do not need the care then the insurance is just paid by me to make sure that if I ever did then it would be covered without putting a strain on my children. So I do like our medical system. But then I am not waiting for any surgeries or care; Edward certainly received care when he needed it but it is more specialized items that one ends up waiting for due to availability of surgical suites/surgeons/etc. The ERs are busy for sure but they were when I was younger actually even as a child. I cut my leg when I was about six years of age and had to go into the ER on a weekend which included a holiday in the summer. I can remember waiting for quite a while for the stitches; triage stopped the bleeding but no room for the stitching for a bit. To save a trip back to that busy ER my godmother who was a nurse took the stitches out. I think medicine is much smoother now in terms of necessary visits. Luckily for me I seldom go anywhere so do not appear to catch anything and I get my Flu Shot and COVID shot (2x) every year. Again there is a cost to these shots and it is covered by OHIP which comes out of my taxes. The one extra I carry is international medical insurance although I have virtually no interest in travel but it is set up just in case I need to do that. Edward loved traveling and I discovered after traveling so much that I really didn't care for it and seldom go anywhere.