Big Blue Barn West

Home Improvement Contractors

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:27:00 +0000

Home Improvement Contractors

These words scare me to death.

Some (or most) of you know that I live in a converted barn. A really old (think heritage old) barn. It was built 125 some years ago and housed horses and cows for the farmstead. Then it morphed into a veterinary clinic for said animals plus others and then into a house and an apartment at one point and then back to a single family dwelling where it changed hands over and over again until....

This poor old place sat empty for 4 years after being abused by an alcoholic owner. It needed so much love and attention that no-one in their right mind wanted it.

That's where I came in.

I walked through this place with my mother and we both agreed that this labour of love was something I could take on and accomplish having had some experience in that area with a previous old house.

I've spent over 20 years renovating and restoring this old barn.

When I bought it I had no idea that there was no insulation between the inside where I sat shivering in our -40C winters and the outside which I seemed to be trying to heat as well. I learned how to tear down plaster and lathe so that I could touch the outer wall (shiplap btw) and install insulation and put up a plastic barrier and then drywall, mud, sand, and finish up with a slap or two of paint of my choice and colour. Keep in mind that there is over 3000 square feet to this barn and that's a lot of work. Thinking back I believe it took me about two years to do it all including the hip roof ceiling on the third floors.

Moving forward there has been much work - all done by myself with help from others. I've turned this run-down old barn into a thing of beauty again and I'm - almost - done after 20 some years. I've just got a living room floor to strip and sand and varnish and that's probably it.

Now here's where my rant comes in.

I've had to hire someone 3 times to do things I just can't do. That includes putting on a new roof, installing a new furnace, and hiring someone to completely renovate the kitchen because I couldn't lift a cast iron sink I knew would look great in there but weighs 170lbs.

Let's start with the roof. I regretfully hired COOPER ROOFING out of Red Deer, Alberta. They promised me they had a crew that specialized in barn roofs. I can't tell everyone enough times - DO NOT HIRE COOPER ROOFING IF YOU NEED A NEW ROOF!!

The old roof - even with the hail damage - was a better roof than what I ended up with. I had so much water damage and condensation damage from their 'professionals' that I had to have my dining room ceiling redone because of it.

After eight years of fighting the continual damage we had someone else put on a new roof. Eight years!! And the new roofers gave me a long list of what Cooper Roofing had and had NOT done.

They didn't replace any boards with holes in them on the roof and just covered over any vents that were there - leaving a hole with a shingle over top of it.

Their nail gun was obviously put on maximum pressure as the whole roof is pierced from it.

There wasn't one speck of felt paper put down underneath the shingles so our 30 year shingle warranty was immediately void.

They 'high nailed' which means they didn't put nails in the proper places on the shingles.

I had shingles sliding off of the roof starting in the sixth year. These shingles revealed that they either weren't nailed on at all or had one to three nails in them. Most shingles require four at the minimum and should have six.

The ice dam protection we paid for wasn't installed.

The list goes on and on.

And here's something else I learned that everyone should be aware of if you want to try and do something about a fiasco like this.

You know that five year warranty they give you? Don't count on it.

Someone from COOPER ROOFING was here multiple times a year for those five years. When the shingles started sliding off the roof in the sixth year they suddenly didn't have any record of all the problems we had experienced, just a thing saying they had installed a roof. Even though one of the owners had been here twice to look at the damage their installation was causing - they had no record of it whatsoever.

I had to call a local handyman to come and put shingles on the bald spots on the roof between thunderstorms. I was frantic that I would have more water damage inside the house I have spent so many years restoring.

COOPER ROOFING showed up weeks after I had called them begging for help and that was because the insurance company decided to send a roofing inspector around to see if the roof had been installed correctly in the first place. BTW - that inspector never went on the roof and the insurance company turned a blind eye.

COOPER ROOFING also turned a blind eye and said too bad so sad - you're five year warranty is up.

Now there is where you should be paying attention.

When I checked with two different lawyers they both told me the same thing.

I should have ignored the warranty and immediately started action as there's a two year limit to any action being taken against someone who does this kind of crap to you. That two year limit is from the time you know something is wrong until the time you start action against them.

I had called COOPER ROOFING the day after the roof was installed because I could see a problem. I should have started action right then and there according to the laws of our land.

We are now paying for a new roof without using insurance coverage - so every single cent is coming right out of the lining of our pockets. And this is after COOPER ROOFING put on a new roof eight years ago. A roof that is expected to last about 20 years. It's a contractual job being done that we shouldn't have to think or fret or stress about for the next 15 years at least. Then we start looking at the shingles and evaluating them. Not the next day. And not have to replace the mess in eight years.

Seriously??

Okay - that's the rant for today.

Tomorrow I'm going to rant about AIR CENTRAL who installed a new furnace for us in November of 2015. They've turned my beautiful heritage barn into a steampunk barn - but that's for tomorrow.

For today - remember. If you are thinking of replacing your roof this spring - DO NOT GET COOPER ROOFING TO DO IT!! You'll regret every single shingle and nail they put on.

Don't you just love social media!!

Wow! Where have I been?

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:15:00 +0000

Yesterday I was suddenly taken back to the blogging world by a link to an old friend's blog. I was told she had just lost her husband and I wanted to try and leave some words of comfort for her. In doing that I started to read her last posts and then saw links to so many online friends that I had made over my years of blogging - and I suddenly realized how much I missed everyone and their blogging posts.

Strange how life takes you away from something that had occupied you for so long and had created so many happy times as well.

But that's me. I get caught up in life and trying to accomplish too much at once and my mind wanders away and I forget. In fact I've forgotten more things than I know. I'm reminded of this almost daily by The Man and it surprises me every single time. Isn't that life?

All this being said - I did want to say how my heart ached reading past posts of my blogging friends around 3am this morning. I realized how much everyone meant to me and looking in the mirror I wondered 'what on earth is wrong with you Aims!'

Life - the grueling part of every single day that drives me crazy! I'm one of those people who can't deal with stress and it shows. I'm also one of those people that is driven by my past - and that shows too! Perhaps being here and talking about it all will help. I believe it really helped me before but then that life thing got in the way.

Patience. Huh! That's one thing I'm discovering I have very little of as time races by. How about you? Anyone else finding the same thing? I thought as we grew older we grew more resilient and calm. I'm not discovering that at all. In fact - as I come up to my leap into the next decade later on this year, I'm not so happy about it. Indeed I'm quite angry about this aging business. I refuse to believe that I'm going to be ?! old!! I've always said - I think I'm 22 - and I'm trying hard to believe that thinking you are young keeps you young. The jury is still out on that one I think.

Back to this life interfering business. The Big Blue Barn is almost done with renovations. I discovered that I'm not so happy climbing up a ladder and trying to paint the outside of the barn around the third floor level and up. So I hired someone. After last year's fiasco with a 'painter' who just made a mess of everything and then me trying to fix his messes - I caved. Something I rarely do.
And - I hired someone to do all the heavy work in the kitchen renovations after I realized I just couldn't do it myself. Sure The Man would have helped but getting time away from his work and his studying is something that is hard to do. So - hire away and pay out the money and be happy with it.
Of course I'm still waiting for them to show up and tear apart the kitchen for the remodeling - but while the weather is 'sort of' good I have to be patient with this man's other outdoor work. There's that word again - 'Patient'. Bah humbug!

My studio has been 'Aims free' for some time now and I need to get back there and create. I have 3 shows this Christmas season to do and I'm not ready for them at all. Somehow I have to fit that into the last renos and get it all done. Last winter my brother and I did 7 shows and it wore me right out. So this year we decided to only do 3. I hope I picked the best ones to do but you can never tell.

And what am I doing in my studio these days? Metalsmithing, jewelry, creating pretty things to glamour us all up with I think - or hope - take your pick. And this year I'm hoping to get my website up and full of pics of those creations. We'll see. That's taking time from The Man again and believe me - it's hard to do.

I've also had many requests over my absent years to finish the story about my past experiences. I need to do that. Not only for me but for all those patient readers who have sent in their requests for the ending of the story. Let me work on that....

Right - that's me for now just putting down thoughts and letting you know I'm thinking of you all - even those who no longer blog...I know how that happens so easily.

Hopefully I'll be back --- well --- that's the plan for now.

Prisoners in a Land of Snow and Cold

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 23:58:00 +0000

I used to love living here on the dry prairies of central Alberta, Canada.

My Mother used to write to me and tell me how they called it the "Parklands", and when I first arrived I could easily understand that one word.

The landscapes of Alberta take your breath away no matter where you look. Here, undulating fields of barley, wheat, corn and canola stretch to the horizons and you can watch their progress so easily from winter through to harvest and back again. It's truly a beautiful progress. It entraps me!

I love to see the farmers out in the fields in the spring, plowing and fertilizing and seeding. Their huge machines tear at the soil, working deep into it, begging it for succor while their masters beg their machines not to break down and the sky for the perfect recipes of sun and rain.

Then as the summer comes so does the growth of the seed and we watch as the heads pop from the soil and the plants reach for the sun and stretch and grow. Here then again is reason to beg the sky to leave us be and farmers pay exorbitant sums to eager hands for wind, hail and tornado insurance. And every year it is paid out as the winds get fiercer and we are pelted with ice in the middle of hot summer days as the clouds swirl in circles above our heads.

I was once caught in the middle of a 'plowing tornado'. I huddled in my little thirteen foot trailer and looked out the window at my brother across the lawn in his house and we talked to each other on the phone - afraid to severe the connection in case something happened to me. Sometimes we couldn't see each other and all we had were each others voices and his anchored me in that terrible storm like it always has. When it ended there were his wetsuits spread across the next field and garbage and hailstones piled over a foot deep in a drift up against his building. But we had survived and that is what mattered!

Then as the nights start to get colder and the leaves start to change colour, the air is suddenly filled with the sweet aroma of ripened canola and it is bright yellow. Everywhere you look the fields stretch for miles and it is an incredible sight to see. It always catches me without my camera and I swear that I will have it the next time I go back in a day or two. But by then it is too late. The farmers have already harvested the sweet and beautiful crop and the fields lay bare and there is nothing to see. I lay my camera back down on the passenger's seat and drive sadly on, always wishing I had remembered to bring it earlier. I do that every single year even though I can see that it is ripening before my very eyes and I know that they will be harvesting soon! Silly old me.

Then comes the harvest of the rest of the crops and the air is full of dust and chaff and it continues for a month if not longer and driving is a hazard and so is breathing! The farmers work 24 hours straight trying to get their crops in while the weather is good; before the rains, before the snow, before they plan to go south for six months. Whatever their plans are - I don't know. And what is left are huge bales of hay or straw - sitting like sentinels out on the fields. They too are a beautiful sight with the lone hawks sitting on them waiting for a stray mouse in the early morning light or the late evening sun. The hawks are like the farmers, they too head south eventually to warmer hunting grounds. And all we are left with are the hay bales. Some farmers move them in under cover or wrap them in white plastic which almost look like some kind of an abomination. I can't imagine how much more it costs to put plastic wrap over your hay than to just bale it but I suppose they have their reasons. Sometimes you see long snakes of them in the fields where farmers have gathered them and lined them up head to toe and side by side. I myself prefer the old fashioned way that is very rare now where instead of bales they make what look like 'bread loaves' and then they tarp them. But you don't see that very often any more. Those were the older farmers. The new farmers do things differently and have bigger machines to do them for them. No wonder they complain they aren't making any money at farming. The cost of their equipment boggles the brain!

And then comes winter. Oh dear God! When I first arrived I came from southern Ontario where you didn't need a little thing called a 'block heater'. My car froze solid when I parked it at my parent's farm and the temperatures plummeted to -40C for six weeks! At first I thought that was a fluke of the weather. Now it happens all the time and it feels like we are prisoners trapped here at the whim of Mother Nature. The forecast shows we are to have snow today with a low of -24C/-11F. Tomorrow we can look forward to a high of -19C/-2F with a low of -31C/-24F and then on Sunday we will have a High of -28C/-18F and a low of -32C/-26F! Of course just on time for all those on holiday to go back to work, the temperatures will rise to a lovely -14C/7F for those who want to go out for lunch and then plummet again for those who have to work late to only -17C/2F, not bad considering!

The cold started early November as I remember sitting in the hospital on the 23rd floor and looking out at the curls of vapor rising from chimneys from every building far below and feeling the chill emanating from the plate glass windows that stretched across each room giving marvelous vistas of the Rockies and keeping out the -40C chill. That weather continued on into the Christmas shopping season, giving the vendors fits as people didn't want to venture out in the cold and in all reality, who in their right mind would if they didn't have to? And it hasn't been until just this week that we've been given a break and we've seen the weather come up into a single digit - still below freezing in this area - and now again back to -31C. I can tell you riding in a car on frozen roads after surgery is no fun at all! It doesn't matter how luxurious that car may be or how careful a driver you may have - the frozen roads will get to you every single time! Mark my words on that!

Still - for one who feels she has a zipper in her back, I don't want to venture out in the cold and feel it seep into that wound. Even bundled up I ventured out once and it was -30C and I was only out for one little 5 minute walk and it did me in for two days. I couldn't leave my chair and heating pad nor could I sleep comfortably. Those kind of temps eat at your bones and gnaw at your brain. And I mean seriously gnaw at your brain. I don't know how those scientists live at the stations on Antarctica! Or how anyone could have trekked to the North Pole, or even live much farther north then we do where these temps go on forever.

People make a joke about Canadian Snowbirds, but you can see why. I look out my studio window and watch the snow blow past and cuddle up to one of the many little heaters we have stashed around this big old barn - and we have two furnaces for central heating as well! If you are lucky enough to be retired and have the money and means to leave and head South, then by all means - do so! Our regulations require that you must reside in Canada for six months plus one day - so many Snowbirds drive South then fly home for a short period so that they may extend their stay South longer. Why you ask? We've had snow - blizzards on the 24th of May! That's the first long weekend of our 'summer' so to speak - so many of us are out 'camping' - and often in canvas tents. Waking up to snow is not a lot of fun. Believe me, I've done it. I've peeled my frozen sleeping bag off of the canvas floor, listening to the ice particles as they rip and tear. Marvelous fun as you shiver in your flannel pajamas! Then crawling back into it later that night is never much fun as it never dries out and you can never really warm it up. The trick is to take rocks from around your fire and to wrap them in old sweaters that you bring along solely for that purpose. You only hope that while you sleep you don't slowly knock them out of the sweater and burn yourself on the hot rocks. It's nasty. Believe me.

I've seen snow here every single month of the year. It's crazy! Simple crazy!

So why do I live here? I often ask myself that lately. In fact we asked ourselves that every day we were in New Zealand. Do we have to live in Canada anymore? Can we move to New Zealand? Please?

But really. Why do I still live here where the cold is making me crazy and I am trapped in my home for months of the year? If I don't have a reason to go outside - I don't. I'm lucky that way. Being on a disability pension I don't - have to - go outside. And it's a good thing 'The Barn' is so big and I can wander the vastness like a huge ship I guess. But I'm not answering the question. Why do I live here? Why do I not move to some place warmer?

Firstly. My brother lives a 40 minute drive away. That keeps me tethered here, like a balloon on the wind. Just bobbing along. Now he's talking about moving, but not about moving somewhere that involves me. Oh well.

Secondly. The Man works a 40 minute drive away. Not that that would keep us here forever as he would change his workplace in a heartbeat.

Thirdly. There are NO SNAKES here!! Now to me that is VERY IMPORTANT!! It is TOO COLD here for snakes! Isn't that marvelous! Of course New Zealand doesn't have any snakes and oh how I would love to live in New Zealand! They don't have any bears either and we have bears! Oh my goodness do we have bears! And bears terrify me so I don't go where the bears are - but my brother lives close to where they are and that scares me on a regular basis. Of course when I go to my brother's for the summer season, then I am close to where those bears are too.....hmmmmm. BTW - we have Grizzly bears, and Black bears...Such Fun! Oh! We have Cougars too! Groan......

Fourth. I don't know if I have a fourth. The Man still works and that keeps us here for a while. Maybe that's all there is to it. Neither of us want to move back to southern Ontario. We both came from there and we don't want to go back. There are too many people there and not as much space. You can't see to the horizon as you can here. You can't drive for an hour and all of a sudden see The Rocky Mountains of Canada loom suddenly into view.

Yet there is this biting cold and all this snow. And all this snow is going to make for incredible flooding this year again. Which is going to change the rafting season once more.

Wow. I wonder what spring will bring.

The End of 2013

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 13:50:00 +0000

You know - at one time I honestly thought I'd never live long enough to see the end of 2013.

When I was young I swore I'd never live this long. I thought I had some strange weird disease that was going to kill me off before this year - turns out I'm a Celiac, and I control that via my diet. Otherwise I would be dead according to a doctor back in 1992. He gave me a 70% chance of survival back then.

But this year - this one was an extremely tough one for me. But I've overcome nearly most of what ails me do to wonderful surgeons and wonderful friends and loved ones and I am humbled because of them.

The New Year has rung in already for some of my loved ones.

First off in New Zealand for my dearest of dear ones. Michelle/Mickle's Pickle - who has gone through her own incredible journey - battling breast cancer alone and coming out the other side looking incredible gorgeous and like a warrior to me. When my own journey got very hard I thought of my Mickle who faced her days with determination and just got on with it - and she gave me the strength to get on with mine then, no matter how hard it might be.

Also in New Zealand is Fiona who is also battling her own new journey on her own. You go girl! I know you can. (sorry girl - I can't find a link to you!)

Over in the UK. is my dear friend Karen who rocks my world on almost a daily basis with our jewelry making attempts! She too has encouraged me to 'get on' and her 'poor luvvie's' have helped no end when I just felt I couldn't go any farther! Her world has turned into 2014 as well by now........

Hard to believe for me. I truly never thought I'd see it!

This past year I swore would be my last when I lost the ability to walk due to a cyst in my spinal column. The pain was so bad that I threatened the doctors that I would end my life if they wouldn't do anything. Even that wasn't enough to move them. I wasn't scheduled to see a neurosurgeon until August of 2014! I was in a wheelchair by this time and I finally parked myself in an Emergency and told them I wasn't moving until they did something.

I tell you - it's time to take your own health into your own hands and insist that they do something about it. I told the doctor who was 'looking after me in emergency' to quit being a doctor and look at me like I was her sister - well okay her Mother or okay - her Grandmother then - (she was really young) - and did she want her 'whatever' to be in this much pain and would she be willing to send her home knowing she would continue to suffer and only get worse? I dug in my heels and refused to move without seeing a neurosurgeon. Unfortunately it wasn't at a hospital that had any on staff but that didn't matter to me, my plan had been just to get admitted to any hospital at all.

So they shipped me off for Xrays and upstairs to a bed and after that it was a matter of contacting the neurosurgeons. Then when a doctor would come into the room and introduce himself/herself - I always asked for their first names and then I always talked to them on a first name basis. That way it made for an even playing ground and I wouldn't let them intimidate me or over-talk me. I made them talk to me in layman's terms so that I could understand everything. I also told them if I agreed with what they were doing or not as I had already been through so many trials and errors I felt it was useless going through the same stuff again and again and it wasn't until they noticed that my kidneys were failing and had been for some time (my ankles and knees were HUGE!) that they whisked me off to the hospital with the neurosurgeons and into surgery!

Now I am recovering from that emergency surgery that happened 3 days before my birthday so I got the gift of walking on my birthday! Best birthday present ever!!

Of course when I was sent home I immediately forgot the doctor's orders of no bending, twisting, or lifting and did it all at once without thinking. Now according to my doctors I have put my back into the place it was before the surgery and they won't know if I will need to have the same thing done again until I see them in clinic in February. Bah! That's what anti-inflammitories are for aren't they! And isn't that what everyone does? They immediately forget and do exactly what they aren't supposed to do? It's an automatic response when something falls right beside you that you especially don't want falling! Oh well! Onwards and upwards!

At least I can walk. I am more than grateful to those skillful hands of that wonderful young surgeon! He even apologized profusely for nicking my spinal cord - but the only thing that has changed is my sense of smell. It has only increased 100%, and believe me - that's not a good thing. Especially in a hospital!

Thankfully all the surgery is behind me now and I have good drugs to maintain me through the healing process. Like everywhere the problem is the lack of doctors. Our healthcare system needs more doctors. It's a terrible shame that the love of money draws a good doctor away from places that are in such desperate need of them. Yet we look at the places they go to where they become multimillionaires, and their healthcare system is horrifying! I would be bankrupt if I lived in the United States! And I just feel so sorry for them for all the upheaval and tumult that the country is going through over their healthcare. Baby steps, and growing pains. Nobody likes change. Especially when it is brought about by someone else. It's too bad, our system works fairly well and mostly we are very happy with it, we just need more doctors and less politicians who like to poke their fingers in without scrubbing up first.

Healthcare the world-wide is in desperate need of more doctors and more care-givers. I was blessed with some of the finest doctors and nurses I have ever had look after me for the three weeks I was in the hospital(s). Even on the days I did not want to get out of that bed and go have a shower - the one little nurse who kept at me would later wrap me in towels and dry my hair and then comb it out and put it in a little pony tail and then fuss over me like I was a little girl. Her patience and kindness amazed me! All of them did! I know it's hard to be a care-giver day in and day out and on the neurosurgery unit I think my heart would be breaking all the time. And they did it with smiles on their faces no matter what time of the day they were working. Bless them!

Now - here it is, almost 6am on New Year's Day and I am yammering away like Lucy Goosey! As the cyst grew in my spine I lost the ability to find the words I needed to speak with or to type with, so now that I have that back again I am almost like a kid with a new toy sometimes - you can't shut me up!

That may be a good thing. I have vowed (once again I know) to take up The Wailings to those of you who know I have been writing it all these years, and to seriously make an effort this year and to finish it. With that in mind I hope to put a bit of my writing here in this blog for you. As I recall, and quite vividly, as that is what stopped me in the first place, I was at the place where The Beater had come into my life and I was trying to put into words the relationship and the beatings that took place. At the time of my writing back then it was impossible for me to do that. I'm hoping now that with my new back - and OH YES - I DO blame (The Beater) my back on him - not completely - but I do blame him so much for the damage to my back! But now that I have a new one - I'm hoping that I can now write about the damage he did to it!

What say you? Do you think I shall overcome? I do! I know I am far stronger than that Lilly-livered thing of my past!

Oh yes! I've got my words back!

And welcome 2014! I think you and I have a date for destiny!

Time For Another Rant

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:48:00 +0000

I've come to realize that the world is a messy place. I don't mean this beautiful blue ball floating through time and space, but its inhabitants. And messy isn't really the word I want here (some help here Rachel) - but there are so many that are cruel and insidious. Who love to take the joy out of someone's simple pleasures in life. Who - because they have no way of leaving a beautiful statement of their life, must therefore leave a smear, a stink, a black mark, putrid-ness and decay.

I know everyone is wondering what has happened to make me suddenly post such statements, so let me explain.

The other day I was reading comments that some of you have left here, and I was sickened by the SPAM I discovered.

At first I thought it was just a few that had managed to sneak in and lay some foul smelling eggs in my little hen house. But since Blogger has so helpfully come up with more options and tricks, I soon discovered that in my absence the coop was almost full to the brim with their crap!

There were almost 6000 SPAM comments stinking up the Big Blue Barn!

Not only was I dismayed, but I must confess that I was also ashamed that I had left the door open for the vermin to waltz right in and squat. I had left my defences wide open with my refusal to set the guards at the gate.

Yes - I hate word verification.

Why is that?

It seems so long ago and far away, but at one time I faithfully read a large number of blogs every morning. That adds up to a lot of time. And as a good blogger, I wanted to leave a comment to let the writers know that I had been there and appreciated their words and thoughts and pictures. I'd dash off a (hopefully) thoughtful comment and hit enter with glee - only to be stopped by a word verification!
Arghhhhhh! And while I could hear the music from Jeopardy start up, I fumbled with my fingers and squinted at blurry numbers while the clock ticked on behind me. Inevitably I would forget a capital or mistake a 3 for an E or an 8 and I'd have to start all over again. Sometimes, in utter frustration, I'd try to make out the mumbling that was supposed to help me figure out the words and numbers but apparently I don't speak that language and comment moderation left me feeling cheated. I wanted to see my comment pop right up there - an instant gratification to assure me that it would be seen and perhaps commented on. But honestly? I knew that I would forget to go back and check on what the author thought of my comment, and eventually the need to appease would fade from my memory.

So it is with great sadness and a lot of anger that I have hired the guards and they now patrol the gate to the Big Blue Barn.

And to you 6000 SPAMMERS out there who want to smear your stink and foulness across the land - can you see this finger?

To All My Friends

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:48:00 +0000

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, and my loving family for less grey hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with ageing.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ....... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.   But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not   break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?   But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.   A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning grey, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore..   I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free.   I like the person I have become.. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

Hello Hello Hello!

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:59:00 +0000

It seems like ages and ages - and looking back it really is - since I wrote anything or even visited someone here in blogland. I feel rather miserable about it all as well. I know it only takes a few lines to reach out and put a smile on someone's face, and that being said I've also grown rather rubbish at emails as well.

They call it Brain Fog - or Fibro Fog - a side effect of Fibromyalgia. Ho Hum. Add to that the morphine patch I now need to wear and sometimes my brain is really confused and feels heavy. Like the top of my head weighs at least a ton and I envision a cartoon image of myself with my body bent over and the top of my head huge and resting on the ground. I agree totally - it's an odd image!

Never mind though. I've got plenty of audio books to help me keep my brain working and paying attention to something. Otherwise it does have a tendency to wander off and I find myself all in a blather about absolutely nothing and I can't even remember why!

Enough of that.

What I would love is to hear from everyone on how YOU are doing!

I feel as if I've missed so much of my friend's lives...and I really have. All of you live so far away but you are still in my heart.

So take as much space as you want and fill me in on what has been happening and how you are feeling. If you don't want everyone to know - then just email me! I agree there are some things that you just don't want the whole world to know - but it's okay to share with a friend.

I truly hope that I'll be able to get here more and do some more writing. And - I need to tell you about our wonderful trip to New Zealand!

xoxox
aims

Please Help and Sign This Petition for Gluten Free Labelling!

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:38:00 +0000

I know this seems strange - making my way back into the blogosphere by asking for signatures on a petition which is near and dear to me.

I know I've been extremely quiet during the last year - hardly a word out of me or a visit to all my blogging friends.

Instead, I have the nerve to jump right back into the world of blogging without even a wave or 'hello!' or a show and tell!

Nope.

What I'm doing is asking you to sign the petition for Gluten-Free labeling on the White House Website.

In 1992 I was diagnosed as a celiac. It was the summer I had lost 50 pounds without even trying. The summer where the doctor told my mother that my chances for dying from this disease were good.
I was fading away - quickly - with nothing ahead of me but incredible pain and the view of my bathroom.

That doctor saved my life that day and got me started on a gluten-free diet which is what I will always be on until I die.

Now, twenty years later, I am still struggling with making sure my diet is totally gluten-free and I can't always do that because of the lack of a labeling law that forces food manufactures to honestly declare what is in their product and put it on their labels.

Sounds simple doesn't it? But it isn't. There are many ways that manufacturers can get around this by 'omitting' certain factors and turning their heads and crossing their fingers behind their backs.
Paul Seelig received an 11 year prison sentence after he was caught selling regular bread as 'gluten-free'. And I was one of many who stood on a chair a cheered!

Being a Celiac doesn't just mean that if I eat gluten then I'm just going to have a really sore tummy, incredible stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Like any disease the effects and symptoms are endless with more being discovered all the time
.
So when I read my Celiac.com newsletter this morning and discovered that there is a petition for 'Gluten-Free' labeling on the White House Website, I jumped on it.

But I'm just one person with one vote and at present this petition needs 15,310 votes to reach the 25,000 petitions it needs by November 1, 2012.

So please help. It only takes one minute. That's one minute that could keep so many people from unknowingly ingesting what to them is poison.

Thank you.

Petition for Gluten-Free Labeling on White House Website

By Gryphon Myers
Published 10/8/2012
Gluten-Free Food Ingredient Labeling Regulations
Rating:

Gryphon Myers

Gryphon Myers recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, research emphasis in art, society and technology. He is a lifelong vegetarian, an organic, local and GMO-free food enthusiast and a high fructose corn syrup abstainer. He currently lives in Northern California.
View all articles by Gryphon Myers

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Celiac.com 10/08/2012 - Since 2004 when Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, sufferers of celiac disease have awaited some sort of finalized action from the FDA to set a rule for gluten-free labeling. The FDA proposed a gluten-free food labeling rule in 2007 and since then, there have been multiple open comment periods for it, but as of yet, there has been no finalized action to control gluten-free labeling in food products. In an effort to expedite this process, “Jennifer I” of Sebastopol, CA started a petition on the White House's official website.
Part of the concern driving this petition stems from the fact that for many, the gluten-free diet is one of necessity, not of choice. 'Gluten-free' has become something of a new marketing buzzword, as the diet's popularity has grown dramatically in recent years. This makes labeling more important than ever: companies seeking to cash in on a growing market may be tempted to cut corners and label products as gluten-free, when in fact they are not.
Supposedly, the FDA will be finalizing their rule sometime this year. Whether or not they stick to that time frame, this petition is a quick and easy way of putting more pressure on the federal government to finalize a gluten-free labeling rule.
Source:

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I'm Home Again - Tired - But Home Again

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:43:00 +0000

We are home once more from our trip to the North Island of New Zealand!

When they say that 'words cannot describe' - it's true. There are no words that can accurately describe the beauty that is New Zealand.

Once I've got over my jet-lag though - I'll try.

Believe me when I say that neither of us wanted to leave. No matter how much we love The Big Blue Barn and no matter how much I love my brother David - I would have stayed. In a split second. I even begged the scanners and security people to find something wrong so that I would have to be detained.

That's the way it is.

Later, when I get my breath back, I'll also tell you of our meeting in Wellington with my very dear to my heart Michelle from Mickle's Pickle and then to meet her later again that week in Tauranga at her parent's place. What a wonderful and joyful week that was! If you are reading this dear Mickle - know that I love you!

I'll be back soon with tales from New Zealand.

Just Another (Snowy) Day In The Life….

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:18:00 +0000

Truly – I try NOT to complain – but really? It has snowed here nearly every day for the past week.

On one hand – there’s going to be great water for rafting! I’m talking BIG water!!

On the other hand – well……..It looks pretty – and it makes picking up after the dogs much easier! Still ----- it weighs on you.

My girlfriend in Ontario is talking 26C! for the last week! And what are we getting?

THIS!

Pretty isn’t it? (that’s the neighbours back yard)

And since I was feeling – um – beaten – I took another looking a bit northward and into the snow…..

SIGH

But look on the bright side! Because it’s always snowing here, I finally got my dining room finished except for hanging pictures etc.

And now that the dining room is finished and it’s still snowing, I can’t work outside painting trim…..so I’m back to working on my jewellery. I even took a weekend course on metalsmithing and had a fabulous time and met some fabulous people! Because of it I signed up for a week long course in July with Christi Friesen working with polymer clay and mixed media. I can hardly wait! It might not even be snowing then – but I’m not going to bet the barn on it!'

Now – back to real life (as if taking courses to improve myself is just playing – it sure felt like it though!)

There is one month left before whitewater rafting starts at Otter Rafting Adventures. My brother is already hard at work and he keeps telling me to take it easy and just work on my jewellery. Sounds good doesn’t it! Our new guides arrive around the long weekend we get in May – the 24th to be exact. My brother is having them do all the hard work it needs to revert from a pottery studio into a rafting center.

And what am I going to be doing for the next month?

The Man told me on Monday morning that he had booked us a month in New Zealand!!

GASP!!

He also rented a campervan so we are touring around the North Island and we are going to meet up with Mickle and Zebby Cat, and also visit with her parents! {Sorry Fiona! We hope to do the South Island in the future.} We leave on the 29th of April and come back on the 26th of May!

DOUBLE GASP!

(drats – where’s my puffer?)

I don’t care that I will be taking all my pills with me so that I can get around and do things. I swear I’m not going to let anything stop me! I hear they have a great Class 5 whitewater rafting adventure. If everything goes right – I’m in there! Just to say I did it!

What we are going to do is black water rafting which involves wetsuits and inner tubes, and a helmet with a light on it so that you can see the glow worms in the underground caverns that you ‘drift?’ through. It sounds wonderful! There’s water! and there’s adventure! That puts a smile on my face!

I know I’ve been terrible about posting for some time now, and it’s going to be at least another month of silence while we make our way around New Zealand in search of hobbits and friends. But when I get back I promise pictures! Maybe not right away because – you know – rafting is starting up again for my brother’s business and I’m a part of that.

But when I can – I will post pictures so we all can share in the adventure!

Have a wonderful life while I am away! I promise I will!

Into The Fray Once More

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:27:00 +0000

I sat here struggling over the title of this post and after much thought I’ve left it because that’s how it feels.

On Monday I saw my first Robin of the year! It was sitting on the same branch it sat on last year when I first saw it. It’s recognizable voice was heard across the miles as I excitably called my brother and chirruped “there’s the first Robin of the year!”, and right on cue it whistled once more for my brother. “I hear it!” he told me and I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was smiling too.

“You know what this means don’t you?” I asked him shaking my head. “We’re going to have another huge snowstorm in the next couple of days”.

And it never fails.

The Robins appear and the temperature usually drops substantially by about 10 degrees and the snow starts and doesn’t stop. I always worry that the Robins will freeze or go very hungry. I could be wrong though. Maybe worms make good popsicles but I’m going to give trying that a pass. How do you find worms under 5 inches of snow? Besides, the ground is still frozen and I doubt the Robin’s little beaks could dig down through it to find a worm straying from it’s hole.

The snow started yesterday afternoon and it is scheduled (that cracks me up) to stop snowing sometime this afternoon. At present I see only a flake or two floating around but that will change. In a little while I’ll glance out the windows again and there will be nothing but a wall of white and little Robins huddled in front of tiny fires – their wings flapping to keep it going.

So yes, here we go again – into the fray

These pictures were taken at 7:30am. They are not black and whites – I just used the ‘Early morning Alberta, Canada’ theme on my camera.

Give it another hour and this is what it looks like -

Living in the Land of Winter

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:13:00 +0000

When I was young I lived in Northern Ontario in a place called Sudbury. They mined nickel there, and the city became famous for the gigantic replica nickel they built from the sweat of the men who lived in the shadow of the stacks.

The winters were long and bleak, and when it snowed it covered the cars and the snowplows left unknown lumps on the side of the streets. If you were lucky you spent an hour uncovering a vehicle and found it was really yours.

In that land of snow and ice I was an ice princess. Back then our front lawn ended in a ditch of flowing water that swelled incredibly in the spring and froze solidly during the winter. This was my own private skating rink and I was an ice princess as I skated back and forth between our driveway and the next.

The city workers would have to come around on a regular basis and shoot steam through the culverts that ran underneath each driveway to keep the water running. From there they followed the ditch which turned into a small stream as it wound around behind the houses 2 doors up. They battled that thing with everything they had, turning a smooth skating rink into huge blocks of ice which they piled haphazardly and with contempt on the side of the stream. The heat from the steam made the bottoms of the chunks slippery and they constantly slid down the banks and piled one atop the other or spread apart as if they were curling rocks.

It was here that I really became the Ice Princess. The blocks of ice were my castle and I moved among them, pretending I was climbing the grand staircase or giving orders to the maids. It kept me busy. Sometimes I was so busy dreaming of my gowns and a knight in a shining ice cape, that I didn't notice the passing of the time until I heard my mother call from far away. I could always hear the hint of fear in her voice as she called, but back then it was a safer world to play in unattended and in the dark.

*******************

After weeks of a dry but desperately cold winter, we finally received some warmer temperatures, and of course with that comes snow. And did it snow! I pretended I wasn't worried about The Man driving 40 minutes through the whiteouts and over roads the police had already closed a couple of times as they cleaned up car parts and people. I pretended I wasn't worried at all as I watched the snow mount up on the deck railings and plastered itself against the windows like it was supposed to live there.

When our housemate Sam came in - his trusty four by four steed bringing him home safe and sound, I pretended that the snow that was halfway up his boots was just a skiff! And when The Man finally came through the door and brushed himself off with the broom I sent up a small but very grateful 'Thank You' prayer.

Only then did I venture out myself to take the following pics -

When morning came, all you could see of the sidewalk lights were the very top squares. I wish I had taken a picture of it to complete this set. Not to worry. There is still plenty of time for us to enjoy another couple of snowstorms before our winter is done.

Of course Alberta has had one of its famous chinooks and there are big patches of brown grass showing through the snow now. It is NOT a pretty sight. Everything is dirty looking once more and I didn't think there was any way I could make that look pretty enough to photograph.

Come Have A Look

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:02:00 +0000

I’m trying out Wattpad with a repost of one of my own favourites. For those who haven’t read it before, it’s The Day I Taught Angelina Jolie How To Knit.

Inside My Washing Machine

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:55:00 +0000

I know – I know – Sounds weird doesn’t it? But I spent one whole week cleaning inside my washing machine.

Now for those of you who get queasy cleaning drains clogged with hair etc. – maybe you should avert your eyes. It was similar but different. Read on.

When I came home from my brother’s at the beginning of November, I decided it was time to do a major clean through this big old barn. Let’s face it – two men – alone – for five months? What do you think!

The Man is a very clean and tidy person. That being said he has tunnel vision – for computers. Everyday dirt and grime build-up doesn’t show up in his world.

As for Sam our housemate? Hmmm. Love him – but…………… he’s different.

The guys (probably out of sheer guilt) decided to get me a gal to come in and clean – or help me clean – depends on the day. I almost felt sorry for her those first few weeks. I’m sure she thought a lot of things, but mostly – ugh!

While she attacked the bottom floor bathroom, I started in the laundry room. And for some unknown reason (to me anyway) I started cleaning the washing machine. Inside.

I remembered that the sounds of the machine as it went into its final spin didn’t sound like a machine that was draining properly. Looking inside I could see that most of the little holes in the main tub were plugged! No wonder the water wasn’t draining out. A lot of it was remaining in the tub!

Being the resourceful person I am, I dashed off to the top floor (puffing madly by the time I got there) and searched out one of my grandmother’s crochet hooks. Dashing back down to the first floor (not so puffy this time) I attacked those holes, pulling out fibre and hair and grunge! It was gross! Believe me!

I spent at least 3 days before I broke and begged Sam to take the machine apart so I could get at those holes easier. This is what we found………….(look away if you don’t want to fall into the trap I did)

As you can see from the holes, I had poked quite a bit of ? with my crochet hook but it just wasn’t enough. I had to take the drum over to the self-serve car-wash and blast away at it for almost an hour. It cost me $22!

What you see around the base of the spindle was like cement. We chipped away at that with putty knives to get it off! It was quite an adventure to have on my first days back from my summer at my brother’s.

What was it? I’m not sure but I do know a number of guides have washed their wetsuits in that machine. I believe a lot of it is the silt from the river mixed with the calcium etc. in our drinking water and sprinkled with dog hair (and Sam hair-Sam sheds a lot!)

So go ahead – have a look inside your washing machine. Is it pristine like it really should be or does something else lurk in there……?

I think I lost January Somewhere

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:33:00 +0000

Has anyone seen it??

Last night The Man bought me a new Android phone. Now I don't do technology all that well. What I have instead are 2 appointment calendars, some headphones on a cord, and a MP3 player that I only know how to turn on, select my audio book of choice, and then turn it off again. I NEVER touch the remote on the tv! And when a technician comes around and tries to explain something to me I always say 'Talk to The Man'. That or 'Back away from my noggin if you know what's good for you! It may go off at any moment!!'

I only mention the phone because he was inputting my appointments for me. When I happened to see yesterdays date I was astounded! Where did it go? What happened to January? Glancing through my calendars I see that my January went with all the doctor appointments I had. If you are like me and can only tell the day of the week (not necessarily the month) by your next appointment - then there is something sadly wrong.

I'm beginning to wonder how many hours my backside has warmed those uncomfortable seats you get to sit on in a waiting room of any kind. Where do they find those chairs to begin with? Now I have to buy different pants to fit the shape my buttocks have taken on.

Let's get back to that phone again. I'm telling you right now that I'm probably never going to learn how to use most of it. And if anyone catches me texting - just shoot me! Ack - digression!
What I keep meaning to say is that nearly all of January has been filled with doctor appointments. Don't you wish you had my life?

Uh - No - you don't. Believe me.

At present we are once again waiting for an appointment with a specialist. As we all know, here in Canada it can take an awful long time to get in to see one. Where they used to say up to a nine month wait, now they are saying a year's wait. Most of us have learned to be patient or forget about it altogether. That way when the call finally comes that you DO have an appointment - then it's time to bring out the cake (and the ice cream of course)!

But this time around is supposedly very different! This time they believe they know what has been causing all the pain and everything else. Three years of plodding along, smiling and 'Keeping my chin up' have been hard, but I've done it. I believe I've paid my dues many a time and now I just want to get the results from the latest round of tests and deal with it all.

I'm looking for anyone who has any of the following:

Porphyria

Lupus

Fibermyalgia

Celiac Disease

If anyone has either one of these diseases I'd appreciate contact and an exchange of knowledge, or support, or just a pat on the head in passing.

As it stands at present, tests have shown that I have all four of these diseases. That in itself is a little unusual and some of the diseases have the same symptoms, so we await the last round of tests for more positive results.

It is not the end of the world certainly but my doctor has once more asked me if I have my Living Will completed. A gal couldn't be having more fun I tell you! And if they can get rid of the pain that has taken over my body for over 3 years, I'll be a happy camper.

So if I say I've forgotten - I truly have. My short term memory stinks. Reeks even! It could be a number of things (obviously) but it could just be a result of the pain medication. In fact, we have found out that some of the pain medication was a trigger and causing me more pain! Even food can be a pain trigger - Hello smoothies! Do you know - I've never had a smoothie until this forgettable month!

I could go on and on - (snore) but I'm going to call a halt to this post right here. Any info or whatever will be gratefully appreciated. I promise!

Now I have to go answer that phone - (I think).

The Joy of Not Doing Any Christmas Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:16:00 +0000

That almost sounds strange doesn't it? Not doing ANY Christmas shopping?

Well it's true.

A couple of months ago I came up with the idea of taking what money we would have spent on Christmas presents and donating it to those in need - like Somalia, Uganda, World Wildlife Fund, Pakistan, Child Sight Foundation, Global Animal Foundation, etc. etc. The list of those in need is absolutely endless!

And we are not on it.

I brought my suggestion to everyone in my immediate circle of family and friends and they have all agreed to go with my proposal.

So instead of going crazy battling shoppers and worrying that we have everyone on our list covered, we are spending our time searching out foundations that we would love to support.

We do have one restriction. We want foundations that actually use the money donated for what the foundation is all about instead of for paying themselves an 'administration fee'.

And that's it.

Come Christmas day we are all going to arrive at my nephew's house WITHOUT gaily wrapped packages. Instead we will be arriving with items for a pot-luck supper. The Man is going to deep-fry a turkey, my brother is bringing Trifle, I really like brussel sprouts done in yogurt and garlic, Byron is bringing cranberries and probably more cranberries, and my nephew promised to dust the house in flour to make it look festive (and to tease Byron and I as we are both Celiacs and that might do us in).

Once our meal is over with (and the dishes done) we are going to sit down with our lists and explain who we have chosen and why. Our lists can be as long as we want or as short as we want. It doesn't matter at all.

And then comes that moment I'm really excited about. It is seeing my selected foundations up on the computer screen and clicking SEND. It's knowing that I'm going to be giving a far more valuable gift to more than one person this year and that my gift is going to make a difference. Perhaps it will be food or drinking water, or even the gift of a smile for a child. Perhaps it's keeping an animal from being euthanized or providing shelter for the homeless along with a good hot meal. And perhaps I can only give $5 or $10 dollars to a selected few or to many, but it will be done with joy.

Each donation I am able to give is going to be wrapped with love from my heart. You don't need to put a bow on that.

I Don't Know What To Think -

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:15:00 +0000

Truly.

My mind wanders here and there - higgily piggily. I've thought of a million blog posts? No - surely I exaggerate! A thousand? Bah! Perhaps around 100? That's probably more like it but I don't remember.

Words come but mostly they go. Memories - especially recent ones, evaporate into the ether and I can't find them when I turn around. They aren't under the ottoman or behind the drapes. They aren't under my chair or behind my monitor. But certainly - most certainly - they are NOT in my brain anymore.

I often wonder about the pathways in that gray matter that resides between my ears. Is it like a maze? Or perhaps it's more like one of those games where the little shiny gray ball goes in one end and you have to tilt it and jiggle it around corners and down blind alleys, until finally, finally it pops out the other end. You've done it!

Except it's still just a shiny gray ball.

Words and memories disappear instantly. But some of them - especially the words, are caught by those around me and they pop them in their own mouths and finish my sentences.

It helps. But my frustration levels grow exponentially with each word or thought lost on the wind.

My brain is melting slowly. It used to be so slowly that I thought I was like everyone else. Those of us who walk around with words stuck to the tip of our tongues. A turn of the head with a question - 'What was I saying?'

But now - now it is something different. Now I look vaguely around me, searching the floor for the words and memories that surely must have fallen there the last time I was in the room. I've even asked the woman who helps me clean, 'Did you happen to see any words or memories on the Swiffer cloth before you threw it out? Were there any stray letters wrapped up in old dust bunnies when you swept under my bed?' Or - horrors upon horrors - perhaps they were sucked up by the vacuum and I will never see them again for sure! Not unless, of course, I switch to a Dirt Devil and I can rummage through the dust and hair myself and shake out the letters before I replace the little gray cup. Then I have to try and arrange the letters into words or elusive memories and I waste another day. Another lifetime.

Of course I don't know when I started to notice this. How could I? It would have been a short-term memory and I can't seem to keep those in between my ears. I think I noticed a couple of concerned looks that were instantly covered when I turned to search the face. 'Am I missing something?' The quick dissembling and reassembling could of been my first clue - but I don't remember really. Truly I don't. But it was there.

When those actions became something of the norm I knew something was amiss - I think I did anyway. My brother's darling face - the slight sorrow - the kind eyes - the turn of the head. Now I accept it as the norm when he seems to be the one speaking - finishing my sentences, popping in words. He admitted as much the other day. Funny thing is - he couldn't remember when it started either. How odd is that? Not really I think, because everyone around me seems to be doing the same thing - putting in a much needed word here and there for me - or just finishing the sentence. I didn't know I had so many speaking voices. I should have done something with that - acting or ventriloquism.

Did you notice that? I wrote tranquillism for ventriloquism and sat here stumped for a while - searching - using my hands to form something of what I was trying to say. It's little things like that. They may be small - uneventful for you really. But when your day is filled with these they do become extremely annoying. Yet it is still just another day.

I know of a doctor who swears that you wouldn't know you were losing words or memories if you actually were. I call bullshit on that! Who wouldn't recognize the frustration and the searching if it was happening to you? Surely this change in your lifestyle would be something of a flag just out of your line of sight? Anyone? Hello??

What I do remember and still say is that I have always had a love of words and I have clung to my memories good or bad and loved making them! I know this. I. Know. This. Each day is precious. I know that too. Sometimes people say, 'It's only words.' But that's not true. It's a memory as well that goes along with them. It's the physical movement of your lips and throat and a pathway in your brain that has opened and waits.

Still, my thoughts and words continue to run higgily piggily. Bouncing off the gray matter. Beating it down. Ricocheting off bone and leaving dents behind. I'm here! I'm here.

Ah well.

Now - what was I saying?

It Snowed Here Today!

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:33:00 +0000

Snow - not again! Ugh.

Makes going back to the Big Blue Barn that much easier!

Believe it Or Not!

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:37:00 +0000

I'm almost back!

However! I'm still at my brother's although Otter Rafting Adventures has been put to bed for the winter season and Otter Pottery is slowly making its way into the building.

I'm following doctor's orders and doing what 'I' want to do.

And that is taking it easy and working on forgetting the kind of summer(?) we had this past rafting season. I keep telling myself - "Look on the bright side! It's over!"

You know - it mostly works too!

At present I am spending my days with my brother - our hands covered with clay as we play at making beads. It's fun! It makes me happy! It makes my brother happy too and that means so much to me there are not sufficient words to cover all of these emotions.

But! I'll be back sooner than later. I must go back to my big blue barn at sometime. The Man would like me to come home sometime too although he told me to stay another week. Just coz! Ya gotta love a man like that!

I'll be back with pics of what I've been working on these past months that I haven't been here!

And - BTW - I've missed you too!

Hey - How's Life?

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Precious!

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:24:00 +0000

I was wondering today if carpal tunnel surgery would actually change your life line if you saw a palm reader. Perhaps that’s a strange idea but when you see the scars you might wonder too.

So here I am with 7 weeks behind me from the first time I knew that knife was cutting into my palm. My right wrist looks pretty good and it has been incredible to feel and see the difference each day makes.

Surgery March 15/11

I’m still not picking up heavy loads with the right hand nor can I put pressure right on that scar. Eeeeek!

Now take a look at my left wrist -

Surgery April 26/11

It looks (kinda) neat, doesn’t it? You can see a bit of swelling just to the bottom left of the scar. It has been just 6 days from surgery.

As each surgeon is different – and boy was I lucky to get the plastic surgeon I did! – each surgeon has different techniques.

My girlfriend in Ontario had to keep her hand in a brace for 23 out of 24 hours of the day. She did exercises during that 1 hour.

My surgeon wrapped my hand in a tight tensor bandage over the gauze and I left that on for 48 hours. Then I changed that to a bandage and I will wash, then put polysporin on the scar and a bandage over that until I get the stitches out 14 days from the surgery.

Even before I got up off the table, my surgeon had me making a fist and opening it over and over again. He told me the best thing I could do was to exercise it in this manner – and – type!

Today everything works wonderfully and any pains in the site can be controlled with ibuprofen. Eventually I’ll be right back to normal – no numbness or pins and needles and strength once more in my hands. How I look forward to that!

As for the surgery part? It took my surgeon 5 minutes for the surgery and an intern took almost as long to sew me up. I was in and out within 20 minutes.

The worst part? Probably the needle they put in your wrist to freeze everything. But you all know how I’ve been practising with needles in my back – hip – and knee. They do say practise, practise, practise!

And when I go to get the stitches removed, my doctor checks his work by shaking my hand.

How perfect!

Snow Daze!

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:50:00 +0000

Yesterday I tried to capture what kind of day we were having here in central Alberta. Please remember the date is – April 14, 2011.

These first set of pictures were taken around 7:40am

These next set of pictures were taken around 10:55am

The following were taken around 1:30pm. As you can see – some of the snow has melted as the temperature rose a few degrees.

And lastly – pictures from around 4:10pm.

Forecast for today?

Currently –6C with thundershowers this afternoon followed by snow this evening and for the next two days.

We Call It – The Grimm Ride!

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:24:00 +0000

Last weekend we spent out at Otterville (as we call it) helping my brother (the Otter) with various jobs. This is what we do in the two months before white water rafting begins.

During a much needed break we enjoyed the slightly warmer weather and played with our housemate’s dogs – well – Sam played with his dog Grimm while little Gypsy tried to get in our trailer.

Always ready to try something new, Sam attached his helmet camera to Grimm’s harness.

It’s quite a ride – please enjoy!

Sunrise or Sunset?

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Sometimes you just have to open your mind and really ‘see’ what is streaming in to your brain through your eyes.

There are so many beautiful things that we take for granted because we have ‘seen’ them an umpteen millionth time. Yet if we really pay attention then suddenly the beauty that is before you can take your breath away.

I have windows that face east and west and I am blessed with the beauty of each sunrise and sunset. Either one comes to me shining through trees – an image that I can’t describe to do it justice.

I let these colours inspire me and I came up with this wrap bracelet. These are the colours I see before the sunrise and sunset turn to that rosy colour and then on into darker copper…….

(Please click to enlarge – it does make everything look that much nicer!)

$26

Taking The Time

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Sometimes you must take the time to be happy – to force yourself to shrug off that dark cloud that sits on your shoulder and put a smile on your face.

I looked in the mirror the other day and wondered who the person was with the ‘frowning face’? You know the type – the people whose line of their mouth carries on down towards their chin – a permanent extended frown. The biggest upside down smile you can imagine.

I know I didn’t look like this before I took on the battle of the permanent pain thing these last couple of years. So I’ve set myself a goal – to turn that frown upside down. I’m just going to add that onto my goal list and work on it.

I find it odd that I have this upside down smile because I work hard at being in a happy mood every day. However sometimes the body is more powerful than the mind, but I’m not going to give up on my mind (again)!

Way back when beating Aims seemed to be the best game around for 3 decades, I always smiled to cover up the pain, both physical and emotional. I am not the only person who did/does that either.

These days I go every Friday to the hospital and get my bladder injected. There are three of us who have made friends and who cheer each other on. One comes from quite a distance away and with her illness can’t drive so her husband usually brings her. One day I met a beautiful woman who had driven my friend. Not only was she very pretty, but more importantly I felt a kindness that surrounded me when I spoke with her – like wings or a big blanket. She made my day with her smiles and good wishes.

When she didn’t drive my friend the next time I learned that she has breast cancer. My heart sank and that instant fear all us women feel for each other took over. Now this morning I have learned that her partner is a Beater. I wanted to cry. I wanted to go defend her with such anger that I’m afraid of what I might do.

The BASTARD!

I hear she is safe – hidden away from him for a week. I’m hoping she isn’t thinking that a week will change him. I’m hoping she knows she has to keep running, she has to keep strong for herself twice over!

How angry this makes me! I often don’t understand how people can do this. Where is compassion? Where is love?

This wonderful woman took the time out from the horror of her life and made a couple of us gals feel better. I think her wings are made of gold.

Please take the time today to smile at a stranger and to read some of these stories. We all need support and a smile from a stranger.

It’s time to make a change.