Back in the Saddle

I’m back in the saddle, or at least on the horse. The saddle may have to come later.

It was my intent to post something much sooner. I said at the outset of creating this blog that it was my goal to post daily, or close to it. It seems I lied. My post frequency has been closer to weekly, or certainly that’s what it seems anyway. ‘Things’ just get in the way. Poor reason/excuse I know. I haven’t even posted photos for the Weekly Photo Challenge lately (to be honest I’m not even sure what the topic is.

The summer has been proceeding at a pace unforeseen or unexpected to me. In many ways it’s just been a spring and summer that has taken on a schedule that I don’t like. I’ve done numerous trips, by car and within 1000 km (~600 mi.). Some have been for pleasure and a few have been to see or support loved ones in need. That being said, I appreciate that I shouldn’t lament the reasons, and I don’t, it’s the time away from my castle and my ‘stuff’ that I lament. That and my apparent inability to manage my time effectively when I am at home.

One thing you do get is to see a bunch of interesting stuff when you’re on the road. This gent was operating the espresso machine at a coffee shop on the road called “Deadwood Junction and Tarnished Turkey Cappuccino Bar”, one of my favourite haunts while en route to Kelowna or back home from a visit to my grandson.

You can see it hasn’t been all bad. It’s just that since I retired last year I often feel overwhelmed and under capable to handle my various stresses, most or all self inflicted. Plain and simple I see my world as full of these opportunities and things I want do, and certainly there’s no shortage of things I should do. There’s always cutting the lawn, doing dishes or the laundry, shopping, cooking, washing or maintaining vehicles etc. etc.. Never mind the fun stuff like camping or seeing my grandson.

Woe is me, my life is sooo tough isn’t it. Just smack me upside the head.

Like camping was such a hardship. While I didn’t post much I did do some journaling, and what a view. The photo doesn’t do it justice, albeit this was with my phone.

Early retirement has provided me with challenges I didn’t see coming. Many people have asked me since I retired “What do you do?”, or “How do you stay busy?”. I just laugh. Life is so full, how do I get to do everything I want to, that’s the question.

So if you have any time management tips, or ways you think may help me in my time of need please let me know. I’d love to hear. In the meantime I’ll mount up and ride into the sunset of my golden years……

By the Fire

I sit by the fire wondering, what’s my next move. Stay or go, stay or go?

Shall I stay here, outside, and gaze into the flames, pondering life and other things as deep. Or, should I leave the warmth and camaraderie of the campfire and set up inside the trailer? Take my book and find my place on the couch, or move directly to bed to continue reading there?

The flames hold a certain allure to be sure but the cheesecake and the comforts of home also have their appeal.

I, or we, have been camping for a few days now. I have been here alone for part of it while my wife had joined me for the weekend. I expect to remain, alone, for at least a few more days.

It’s much like my solitary journeys, this camping alone. I’ve taken solo trips, one man vacations as it were, and find them a mixture of loneliness and singular opportunities to learn things about oneself.

Others may scoff. You shouldn’t take vacations apart, it’s not good, you shouldn’t need to, it’s a sign of marital discord, the list goes on. Perhaps those reasons are true, and in some cases I’m sure they often are, but there are likely as many reasons why they are not. I look at those professing those opinions and wonder, are they better off? Are they happier? Do they have the key? You see these are some of the questions I ponder.

Another Nomination – Dragon’s Loyalty Award

Well blow me over, knock me down with a feather, I don’t know what other mis-quotes I can use but I’ve been nominated for another award, this time the (love the graphic):

Dragon’s Loyalty Award.

Dragon’s Loyalty Award

While I truly appreciate the attention of Jaie at Kukileaf I’m unable to fulfill the requirements of the nomination at this time and will have to decline. I am pleased with the attention and intent though and feel that I’m in honored company.

Thanks again.

Thankful Out LOUD

Reblogged from Cast Light:

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Wake up - life is blooming with gifts to be opened and shared, with gratitude. Be grateful and express it early and often. A simple and sincere "thank you" is like giving someone a fragrant bouquet of flowers. Every single day, we have dozens of opportunities to express thanks - the coffee shop cashier, a co-worker, a sister, a friend.

Read more… 89 more words

Couldn't have said it better.

Give Thanks

We must give thanks, have gratitude for those things we have and the blessings we receive.

No, this is not some sort of obscure prayer but a mantra we should choose to follow. It’s not lip service to a pie in the sky lifestyle but a way of life we should all follow. It’s the way things should be.

This has been brought home once again by my experiences here at the hospital. I could say I always follow this credo, but that wouldn’t be true. I TRY to be cognizant of the blessings I have and grateful for my good fortune but there are times, such as I have now, when we lament our turns of fate. We will cry “how can I deal with this”, or “my life is so poor” but we haven’t far to look, really, to see those less fortunate than ourselves.

I’m at the hospital, visiting my seriously ill sister, and yet when I enter the building I can see those many other souls whose lot in life is one of missing limbs, significantly damaged bodies or minds, and perhaps the tribulations of ongoing pain.

Are they better off, or worse than I, or does it matter? We each have our challenges, but we only need look around to see those with less.

My mother tells me a quote:

“I complained I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet”

I haven’t found the source of the quote, and would be happy to give credit were due, but have not seen a definitive author. The point is that if we look around we can always see someone less fortunate.

The opposite of that is that there is something good in every aspect of our lives and we only need recognize it, it’s there but for our attention.

So, give thanks and be grateful for those things big and small in your life. If we look there are so many. It may be a beautiful bird, or the scent of a flower. Notice and appreciate.
Cheers

Escape

While “Escape” is the photo challenge of the week I don’t feel prepared to post the appropriate photos at this time, I may later. I do however feel a desire to escape.

The photo challenge description states:

“Depending on your current mood and headspace, or time in your life, this word can evoke different emotions and conjure a variety of images.”

This is so true, your emotions and moods do change, and at this time my mood is one of lethargy, and low motivation, and to grab my camera, escape, and seek out that perfect shot just isn’t a high priority. My heart just isn’t in it.

Perhaps that is the best time to escape though, an opportunity to get out and clear my head, to think of something else and have a change of focus. And why, you might wonder? Well, I am spending the bulk of my day in the hospital with my seriously ill sister and supporting my mother during this trying time.

I’m a bit surprised as to the effect this exercise is having really. Of course I knew it would be tiring but the rapidity with which the debilitating emotions took hold surprised me. It’s a more draining than I first envisioned and that caught me unawares.

We will soldier on though, we will do what must be done. Sis is moving forward, and even though they are baby steps she is taking they are steps in the right direction. She has many praying for her and the results of prayer and the Doctors efforts are bearing fruit.

Stay strong Brenda, feel the love. Escape your bonds and come back to us.

Another Day

Today is another day and the day has begun as the last couple of days have here, here being in Edmonton, Alberta. The coffee is brewing and the mush (porridge) is awaiting our lips.

We are here for reasons not desirable, reasons undesirable in fact, reasons no one wants to have, that of coming to see a family member that is critically ill in the hospital. In this case it’s my sister who had surgery last Friday, and, as a result of post surgery complications has reached what the doctor has determined is “a life threatening” condition.

At this time she is holding, perhaps gaining some ground, but still in a tenuous place. She’s a fighter though and we have the belief she will pull through, pull through to share another day.

Super Sweet Blogging Award

Wow, what an honour, I’ve been nominated for the “Super Sweet Blogging Award. How cool is that?

When I logged in and saw the comment from Kukileaf saying she nominated me for this award I was very surprised, and pleased. Thank you again. I have been nominated for other awards but it’s always nice to be recognized.

To accept the award I have to do five things:

1. Thank the nominator for nominating me. For sure, thanks!
2. Answer the 5 Super Sweet questions
3. Include the Super Sweet logo in this post. You’ll see it below.
4. Nominate a baker’s dozen other bloggers for this award. I wasn’t sure what a “baker’s dozen” is, had to look it up. LOL
5. Notify my nominees on their blogs

1. Thanks 

Thank you kukileaf, I hope I can live up to the honour.

2. Here are the Super Sweet questions:

1. Cookies or Cake??? - What? I have to pick? Well I’d probably say cookies. I do like my cake but cookies are fast, easily munched with one hand, and can be transported more easily.
2. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate, definately chocolate!
3. Favorite Sweet Treat? Probably one of my wife’s chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Her Mom’s were yummy too, all in a league by themselves.
4. When Do You Crave Sweets?  Mostly at night, the worst time of course.
5. Sweet Nickname?  Not sure if this is mine, or the cookies. A cookie nickname would be just “munchies”. Mine has just been “Ski” for a number of years.

3. Super Sweet Logo

Super Sweet Blogging Award

4. Now for my 13 nominees:

• Morning Story and Dilbert
• Cast-Light
• A Word in Your Ear
• The Very Best Top Ten
• Veraiconica’s Blog
• Frames & Focus
• 400 Days ’til 40
• Herself First
• Kathy’s Retirement Blog
• Feet First Book
• Life Made Beautiful
• Intentional Jane
• 365 Days of Purpleness

5. On to notify my nominees.

There are a lot of great blogs out there, making the choice was a challenge. In the end I looked for those that exhibited some optimism and a general positive feeling. Good for all of you!

Still walkin’

Well my plan never came together as I first imagined. That plan, of my morning schedule, got kiboshed right out of the gate with the cancelation of my round of golf. That’s ok though, I’ve recovered with a long walk and some refreshments part way.

Is it True Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

Is it true that absence makes the heart grow fonder? I sure hope so, I want you to be as find of me as possible, and I’ve been absent for a bit.

It’s been a while since I’ve written. I have missed it, I won’t lie, and there are no excuses, my bad.

You know how sometimes you just never seem to make it to the things you like? Despite your desires things just don’t transpire like you want. It’s kinda like that, and that sounds suspiciously ‘excuse-like’ doesn’t it.

I could talk about the weather (gorgeous), or life with my grandson Madden in it (blessed), or the potentially rich life of a retiree (outstanding), but I won’t. I’ve said enough on that.

I’ll post a couple photos instead, way easier.

Life is pretty good if we can appreciate it.