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).