Canadian Buffoon's Exhausted Vacation - Update 09/01 - New TR link!

[pkondz]

I knew you wouldn't disappoint

Couldn’t have that!

Well, we wouldn't want that!

Nope. I’d never hear the end of it.

 

[Steppesister]

Okay, I tried. I really did. I went 4 pages back to try to find my own replies and yours but they must be buried or I must be blind. Suffice to say, hope you are well. I had my first shot a couple days ago and had to call in sick today. The "free" $200+ vaccine. At least I got the certificate and a day in bed. Anyway, just trying to catch up while I have a bit of down time. Hugs.

 

[vamassey1]

But... that's it for now. No idea when I'll be writing again.
Heh... December 2021??

I'm hoping it will be much sooner.

Yes they are.
We went to Starbucks (drive through) today and brought
them with us. The girl at the window took one look and
started "oohing"
She gave us a "pupaccino". (cup of whipped cream.)

I love this! Makes me almost want pups again.

I took a peek and it ended in 2010.
Pretty sure I stopped watching it in the 90s, though.

I think it was in the 90s for me too. After Danielle came it was really hard to watch much TV. She watches old episodes on YouTube. I did watch the link you posted. Very strange.

Wasn't ideal.
But we didn't want to turn around and go home.
The rest of the couple days we were out there, it cleared up and dried up.

I'm happy to hear the weather and conditions improved.

Well, Kay may have let out an involuntary squeal.

I would have been a lot more verbal.

We got some nice areas up here.

Yes you do!

I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of it, but...
I did have the thought and... couldn't think of a reason not to,

I've never thought about it and I love peanut butter cups.

It's both humbling... and troubling.

Very.

over extended myself.
I was running 10-12K and figured I was ready to do a half marathon (21K)...
I wasn't.
At around 14K, I started to really struggle. I pushed it to 15K and then... my body didn't give me an option, but just stopped.
Basically, my hip kinda... stopped working. It still bothers me, but... at least I can move now. I wasn't able to run for several weeks.

Oh dear. I hope your body heals. I was worried it was you back too.

 

[pkondz]

Okay, I tried. I really did. I went 4 pages back to try to find my own replies and yours but they must be buried or I must be blind.

That's odd... your comments are just one page back here and my replies back to you are over here, also one page back.

I had my first shot a couple days ago and had to call in sick today.

Lucky/unlucky. Lucky that you got a shot. I'm going to have to wait months before I can get mine.
But unlucky that you felt unwell after it.
How are you feeling now?

The "free" $200+ vaccine.

I'm not sure I understand...
You have "free" in parenthesis.
Did you have to pay for the shot?????

At least I got the certificate and a day in bed.

Both pretty nice "rewards".

 

[pkondz]

I'm hoping it will be much sooner.

Me too!

I love this! Makes me almost want pups again.

"Almost"... there's that whole first couple years of
puppyness where they're cute as heck, but...
the house training!!!

I think it was in the 90s for me too. After Danielle came it was really hard to watch much TV. She watches old episodes on YouTube.

Yup. Kids make watching TV a challenge.
And she watches on YouTube...
There wasn't a YouTube... or an internet as we know it back then!
(Unsolved Mysteries first airing 1987, WWW invented 1989.)

I did watch the link you posted. Very strange.

Right??

I'm happy to hear the weather and conditions improved.

So was I!

I would have been a lot more verbal.

I would've paid to have seen that!

I've never thought about it and I love peanut butter cups.

You're welcome.

Oh dear. I hope your body heals. I was worried it was you back too.

Actually...
When I started running, my back was hurting from it.
But as I continued, I gradually noticed that my back
hurt less all the time.
Unexpected and welcome development.

 

[vamassey1]

"Almost"... there's that whole first couple years of
puppyness where they're cute as heck, but...
the house training!!!

And the destruction to everything they can chew.

There wasn't a YouTube... or an internet as we know it back then!
(Unsolved Mysteries first airing 1987, WWW invented 1989.)

No Youtube when she was born but she watches the old episodes on Youtube now.

I would've paid to have seen that!

More like heard it. I can be very loud.

Actually...
When I started running, my back was hurting from it.
But as I continued, I gradually noticed that my back
hurt less all the time.
Unexpected and welcome development.

I've been told that walking is good for the back too. Sounds like you're building mussels to help support your back.

 

[pkondz]

And the destruction to everything they can chew.

We've been pretty fortunate in that department, actually.
Not too many chewed up losses.

More like heard it. I can be very loud.

I've been told that walking is good for the back too. Sounds like you're building mussels to help support your back.

Excellent! And in the summer, if it gets hot enough, I can have steamed mussels!!!

 

[franandaj]

Well, hello there.
Long time no read.

Or write.

Right?

Hello there! I wish I had found this sooner, but at least I did. I haven't found the DIS to be so much fun lately since not many of my friends seem to be posting....Yay pkondz!

(mass exodus of readers ensues...)

I'm still here!

But a new year is dawning and while the troubles
of the last year are not behind us,
nor will they be for a while yet…


There is hope.

Sure, you live in Canada!

So, for your entertainment, or perhaps, unfortunately,
to add to your ennui, is a semi-brief recap of 2020
for pkondz, your semi-gracious
(but mostly atrocious) host.

You did a heck of a lot more than I did! I've been thinking of doing a "what I did last year" post.

(Hah! I am going to go out on a limb here,
and say that “they” might have been just a teensy
bit off in their forecast.
Then again, the nameless, faceless “them” often are.)

Yeah.....about that.....

Earlier in the year, pre-Covid
(and isn’t it hard to remember
a time that wasn’t Covid?)

Oh, I remember those times really well! This just feels like one long bad day where I get some sleep inbetween the light and the dark.

I took a familiarization flight in a Cessna
where I even got to take the controls.
I quickly learned that I can’t fly a plane at all
and it's a lot harder than I thought it would be.

I never would have thought flying was easy. I won't even add it to my list of things to try.

(And how strange is it to see two
strangers sitting close to each
other without even wearing masks???)

How two people can be in such a small space if they don't live in the same household!

...or staying at home and searching for new recipes.

Been doing a lot of that, but what I noticed in that picture is what a nice cooktop that you have! What brand is it?

We were inundated with information,
graphs, bar charts and maps for months...
And it's still on-going.

I saw that one too and was amazed at the number of states where you could own a kangaroo!

And while traffic numbers are down, globally,
most of us had days where we were overwhelmed
due to excessive workload.

So a lot of planes were getting lost?

Well, I did go camping with my youngest DD, Kay.

That's very adventurous of you!

Eventually (just a few seconds, really)
the pig ambled off and she got out.

That's a huge pig! And I do mean the pig! But Kay has really grown into a lovely young woman. How long ago was it that you brought her here?

We found our campsite and...
it was a wee bit on the boggy side.

I'd be turning around and going home.

The boater admonished us and asked
if we had bells or horns to sound.
I hung my head and replied that we didn't.

Only on the return journey southward
did we find out that in actuality he was
required to sound his horn and that we
had the right of way!

The nerve of some people!

As we got closer, we spotted an
abandoned dock on the island
and had a picnic on it.

Nice! Our picnics are in the car under a shady tree. After we go through the drive through.

We waded in and got as far as
about mid-thigh.
The water temperature, still early
in the year, was probably around 45F/7C.
Also... when we waded out...
we each found we'd picked up
an unwanted passenger.
One leach each.

Sooooo gross.

Ewwww!

And another small project was
replacing the gate.
I think it turned out well enough.

Darn border closures. I have a gate that needs fixing. The contractor just can't get it not to sag, and then it's hard to operate the deadbolt.

Later, the kids tried jumping
from the rocks and while they
liked the lower (8-10ft) jumping
off point, Kay tried the higher (20ft)
spot but said it knocked the breath
out of her.

I remember when I was on the swim team. There were two pools at the college where we practiced. One was an Olympic sized pool that was 25 yards wide and 50 meters long. But the other pool was the diving pool and it was also Olympic Caliber. It was about 12 ft deep and there were two one meter diving boards on either side. In the middle was a diving platform that had two levels. There was a stairway in the back that had a door that could be locked. Occasionally they would leave the door open and after our swim team workout we (being between 13-17 years old) would gleefully run up to the 5 meter platform and jump off doing cannonballs and the like.

Most of the time, even if the 5 meter platform was left open, rarely would the 10 meter be opened up. However, I remember ONE. TIME. it was open and I went up there with everyone else because until I hit my late 20s/early 30s I had no fear. This may have been the first thing that nicked away at that lack of fear. I hit the water with so much force that when you described Kay's reaction, I literally felt my chest compress and that memory came back to me instantly. I never did that again, and I may have even lost some of my zeal for the 5M platform.

I returned to camp and dinner.

I assume that sentence was supposed to read, "I returned to camp and subsequently cooked dinner." The above sentence implies that someone prepared it for you.

mmmm… Want one?
Yes. Yes, you do.

OMG! Reese's peanut butter cups in a S'more Brilliant!

It was a very solemn
and humbling experience,
and I'm glad we went to
witness it.

Sounds like a nice experience. I've heard of that project for the Indian women.

I'd read about a seasonal outdoor
restaurant called Jennifer's Picnic.
They specialized in Wiener Schnitzel,
so how could I say no?

It's just not possible! Did they use veal?

Oh. I also had a camel kabob.
Never had camel before.
Tasted alright.

Hmmmm.....not sure if I'd try it. Maybe a bite of someone else's.

(Among the other exotic foods
that they have had: alligator, rabbit,
bison, sturgeon and kangaroo.)
Not quite what you'd expect from
a small town food truck!

Wow! No, not what I would expect.

And that was about it as
far as excursions in 2020 went.

As I said up front. Much more than I have done.

It wasn't all fun and games this year.
We managed to avoid
any covid exposures.

I'm glad you have been able to avoid it. We have too. Then again, we only see the mailman and the gardener, and the occasional drive through employee!

I called the pool company that
installed it and they sent someone
out to look at it.
I was informed that they didn't use
that system anymore and to "fix" it
they would have to replace it at a
cost of about $2,000.

That's just a smidge more than I
wanted to pay.

That's kind of like when our refrigerator wasn't cooling this past summer and they told me it needed a new compressor, only $3,250. As you said just a smidge more than I wanted to pay. I thought about buying 4-5 refrigerators and putting them in the "refrigerator", but we bit the bullet.

Also this year, I decided to
take up jogging.
I used the C25K app.
(Couch to 5K)
I started out by running for
60 seconds.

60 seconds is a looong time.

After that you walk for 90 seconds...
And then they make you run again!
You alternate for 20 minutes.

I thought I was going to die.

I would have died. But I have shin splints.

Now I run 5K just for the fun of it.

I'm proud of you!

And the Van Gogh exhibition
came to Winnipeg.

We saw that and thought it sounded fun, was it also in London? I somehow don't think an exhibition in Winnipeg would have made the LA or US news.

Halloween was a bust.
We normally get around 120 kids,
but this year we got 12.

Our porch light is burnt out. We didn't get any.

Christmas was quiet as well.
With the city under lock down,
we didn't have my folks over
or go to their place for the first
time in years.
I know I'm not alone in that this year.

Well we are "abandoned" for either Christmas or Thanksgiving every other year, so we are not unaccustomed to spending holidays with just the two of us. But it's really depressing that we don't have the option of Disney to help us get over it.

Here's to a better, healthier,
happier new year in 2021.

Cheers!

Did you see it?

I think so.....he likes the beach? I thought he might have been paying his respects in the graveyard, but I think that was just a glitch in the picture.

 

[franandaj]

We can't.
I signed up and (with her permission)
used @franandaj address in California.
When they got the medals, they were
kind enough to mail them up here.

Well.....it wasn't that simple. You didn't mention the part about my house "eating them" and taking over a week to locate them.....

 

[tundra1]

​

You found Mr. Toad! Did you give him a wild ride?


It wasn't all fun and games this year.
We managed to avoid
any covid exposures.
(We did have a couple of close
calls, but no one caught it... yet.
As I write this, we're waiting on
Elle's test to come back.
ETA: Just found out it was negative. Phew!)

I am glad you are all safe and sound. I got my second vaccine this week. I was fine afterwards. My arm hurt a bit more this time, if that counts as a side effect. My daughter had it over Christmas. She still can't taste or smell much, but her energy is back.

(Unfortunately, I got injured and while
I can still run 5K, I am not running 10Ks
like I was a few months ago.)

It sounds like a hip flexor problem and plantar fasciitis.

My recommendation (even though I am only an ER nurse) is to get new shoes with better support to prevent you from rotating your foot while you run, and an orthotic insert to better support your arch. The orthotics you can get at Walgreens / CVS or the Canadian equivalent. You can go to a running store to find out what shoes will work best for you. They can analyze your gait and video tape your stride, and then recommend what type of shoes you need. (You don't need to buy them from that store if you don't want to, but at least you will know what shoe style is best for you.)

You can also strengthen the plantar area by rolling a tennis ball under your foot twice a day, and practice picking up things with your toes when your foot is not hurting too bad.

Or, you can go to an orthopedist for the same advice, and a shot of cortisone!

It's Bambi! Where is Thumper?


And the Van Gogh exhibition
came to Winnipeg.
I took my folks (and Kay)
to go see it.
It's a dynamic display of
his works that are constantly
changing as you watch.
The paintings are projected
on the walls and the floor.

That exhibit is amazing. I wish they had something like that around here!

And by the way…

Did you see it?

Third time's a charm!

 

[pkondz]

Hello there! I wish I had found this sooner, but at least I did.

Yes you did! Hi, Alison!

I haven't found the DIS to be so much fun lately since not many of my friends seem to be posting....Yay pkondz!

Happy to be of service.
Except... now I have nothing else
to write about.
Well... maybe this:


In November of 2019, I decided to take a break
from drinking sodas/pops of any kind.
At the time, I was probably drinking close to a Coke a day.
This is the first Coke (or any pop) I had in over a year.
Happy New Year!

I won't say what I'm trying to give up this year...
I have my doubts I'll be able to stick to it. We'll see.

I'm still here!

Your extreme fortitude is noted!

Sure, you live in Canada!

Hmmm... I have a feeling I know what you're referring to...

You did a heck of a lot more than I did! I've been thinking of doing a "what I did last year" post.

I think you (kinda) did.

Oh, I remember those times really well! This just feels like one long bad day where I get some sleep inbetween the light and the dark.

2020 was such a strange year.
On the one hand, it seemed to drag on forever...
But on the other hand, it was like: "So yesterday was March 20th, so that makes today... November."

I never would have thought flying was easy. I won't even add it to my list of things to try.

It helps to have an instructor along
to keep you from killing yourself.

We had a guy up here who did that.
(Well, he didn't die, but...)

A small plane took off from St. Andrews airport.
(A small airport located 14 miles NE of Winnipeg airport.)
The pilot radioed that he was going to land... but then
(I believe after an attempt or two... but I could be wrong about that.)
said that he needed a longer runway.
Which is extremely puzzling as the runways there are all
about 3,000'... more than long enough.
Anyway, he landed at Winnipeg instead (11,000').
Turns out he had never flown before... except on his computer.

How two people can be in such a small space if they don't live in the same household!

We made out afterwards.
It was a requirement.

Been doing a lot of that, but what I noticed in that picture is what a nice cooktop that you have! What brand is it?

Thanks! It's a Wolf.
I insisted on it when we built the house.

I saw that one too and was amazed at the number of states where you could own a kangaroo!

Who knew??

So a lot of planes were getting lost?

No, that part of my job diminished.
But I do a lot more than just looking for
lost aircraft. That's probably... 1% of my job.

That's very adventurous of you!

Was fun, too.

That's a huge pig! And I do mean the pig!

You must be a city girl!
They get a lot bigger than that.

But Kay has really grown into a lovely young woman. How long ago was it that you brought her here?

She really has. I'm quite proud of her.
That photo was taken on June 10th.

I'd be turning around and going home.

Once we were able to find some relatively
dry spots for the tents, it was okay.

Nice! Our picnics are in the car under a shady tree. After we go through the drive through.

We'll be going out and doing that today.
And the picnic will be in the car as eating
frozen food lacks a certain amount of appeal.

Ewwww!

Correct.

Darn border closures. I have a gate that needs fixing. The contractor just can't get it not to sag, and then it's hard to operate the deadbolt.

So... you're saying you want me
to come down and fix your gate.

I remember when I was on the swim team. There were two pools at the college where we practiced. One was an Olympic sized pool that was 25 yards wide and 50 meters long. But the other pool was the diving pool and it was also Olympic Caliber. It was about 12 ft deep and there were two one meter diving boards on either side. In the middle was a diving platform that had two levels. There was a stairway in the back that had a door that could be locked. Occasionally they would leave the door open and after our swim team workout we (being between 13-17 years old) would gleefully run up to the 5 meter platform and jump off doing cannonballs and the like.

We have that exact set-up at our Pan Am pool.
When I was a kid, the platforms were always available.

Most of the time, even if the 5 meter platform was left open, rarely would the 10 meter be opened up. However, I remember ONE. TIME. it was open and I went up there with everyone else because until I hit my late 20s/early 30s I had no fear. This may have been the first thing that nicked away at that lack of fear. I hit the water with so much force that when you described Kay's reaction, I literally felt my chest compress and that memory came back to me instantly. I never did that again, and I may have even lost some of my zeal for the 5M platform.

I jumped from the 10M once.

Once.

That was enough.

Jumping from that height was... unnerving.

I assume that sentence was supposed to read, "I returned to camp and subsequently cooked dinner." The above sentence implies that someone prepared it for you.

Correct... ish.
I think we probably just roasted Smokies
(Thicker wieners) over the fire with some chips.
I would've set it all up, but everyone cooked their
own Smokie themselves.

OMG! Reese's peanut butter cups in a S'more Brilliant!

Thank you.
For more camping ideas, please call for your brochure.

Sounds like a nice experience. I've heard of that project for the Indian women.

Not sure if I'd call it "nice"...
But I am definitely glad we got to experience it.

It's just not possible! Did they use veal?

Yes!
They had veal and chicken schnitzel.
I had veal and I'm pretty sure Kay had chicken.

Hmmmm.....not sure if I'd try it. Maybe a bite of someone else's.

I wouldn't bother again.
Nothing spectacular.

As I said up front. Much more than I have done.

Mostly at the kids' urging.
"Dad, want to go camping?"
Me: "Okay."

I'm glad you have been able to avoid it. We have too. Then again, we only see the mailman and the gardener, and the occasional drive through employee!

It's affected us a couple times.
Twice now, Elle has come home
from school and had to get a Covid test
because she has a symptom and one of
her kids had it.
And because she has a symptom and been exposed,
that means that I can't work until the test result comes back.

That's kind of like when our refrigerator wasn't cooling this past summer and they told me it needed a new compressor, only $3,250. As you said just a smidge more than I wanted to pay. I thought about buying 4-5 refrigerators and putting them in the "refrigerator", but we bit the bullet.

Stuff should be free.
Except stuff you want to sell, of course.

I would have died. But I have shin splints.

I was pretty worried about my shins at the start.
But they never were an issue. Instead it was the
other side of the leg with the Achilles.
(And then the hip.)

I'm proud of you!

Thank you!

We saw that and thought it sounded fun, was it also in London? I somehow don't think an exhibition in Winnipeg would have made the LA or US news.

I don't know if it was in London.
It was in Toronto. That I know.

Our porch light is burnt out. We didn't get any.

And probably wouldn't have mattered
if your light was on or off.

Well we are "abandoned" for either Christmas or Thanksgiving every other year, so we are not unaccustomed to spending holidays with just the two of us. But it's really depressing that we don't have the option of Disney to help us get over it.

Cheers!

Cheers!

I think so.....he likes the beach? I thought he might have been paying his respects in the graveyard, but I think that was just a glitch in the picture.

I didn't see anything in the graveyard?

Well.....it wasn't that simple. You didn't mention the part about my house "eating them" and taking over a week to locate them.....

But we got it straightened out in the end.
Thanks again for helping us with that!

 

[pkondz]

You found Mr. Toad! Did you give him a wild ride?

I guess we did. We brought him back to our campsite.
Which would've been a lifetime trip for him!

I am glad you are all safe and sound. I got my second vaccine this week. I was fine afterwards. My arm hurt a bit more this time, if that counts as a side effect.

Sorry about the arm... but very happy for you to have gotten both shots!

My daughter had it over Christmas. She still can't taste or smell much, but her energy is back.

I'm sorry to hear that.
I hope she'll fully recover, and soon.

It sounds like a hip flexor problem and plantar fasciitis.

My recommendation (even though I am only an ER nurse) is to get new shoes with better support to prevent you from rotating your foot while you run, and an orthotic insert to better support your arch. The orthotics you can get at Walgreens / CVS or the Canadian equivalent. You can go to a running store to find out what shoes will work best for you. They can analyze your gait and video tape your stride, and then recommend what type of shoes you need. (You don't need to buy them from that store if you don't want to, but at least you will know what shoe style is best for you.)

You can also strengthen the plantar area by rolling a tennis ball under your foot twice a day, and practice picking up things with your toes when your foot is not hurting too bad.

Or, you can go to an orthopedist for the same advice, and a shot of cortisone!

Oh, no.
While the hip flexor is probable, the plantar fasciitis is not.
The pain isn't in my foot, it's my Achilles.
Here:
The pain goes...


But thank you so much for the medical advice!
I really appreciate it.

It's Bambi! Where is Thumper?

Funny you should ask...
I've never seen so many rabbits
as I have this year while running.

That exhibit is amazing. I wish they had something like that around here!

It was pretty cool!

Third time's a charm!

 

[TheLittleKatie]

Hey Pedro-Pierre

Loved hearing about your year in the (covid)-life! Looks like you still managed to have some really fun times

Those kayaking photos are so beautiful with Kay paddling up ahead of you, I really want to do that now! I've done it once before in France when I was a teenager and I capsized.

Also, is it normal to have a pool in Winnipeg?! I always thought of it as a cold climate? We're a cold place and no one has a pool it looks like a really nice patio you have there though!

And GO YOU on your couch to 5k training!! That's great, I know a few people who have taken the pandemic as an opportunity to start running (Jamie and I are not those people ) A great use of your locked-down time!!

Did you see it?

Ha this was so annoying to see tacked on the end. Naturally I had to go back and stare intently at every single picture, and I still didn't see it now I need to scroll through the next few pages and see if anyone else spotted it!

 

[TheLittleKatie]

Ha this was so annoying to see tacked on the end. Naturally I had to go back and stare intently at every single picture, and I still didn't see it now I need to scroll through the next few pages and see if anyone else spotted it!

what the actual heck you need superhuman vision to spot that

 

[pkondz]

Hey Pedro-Pierre

This is what I like about you, Katie. Your absolute dedication to sticking with something.
I can't wait for my next name.

Loved hearing about your year in the (covid)-life! Looks like you still managed to have some really fun times

Managed a few.

Those kayaking photos are so beautiful with Kay paddling up ahead of you, I really want to do that now!

It was really nice. Enjoyed that very much.

I've done it once before in France when I was a teenager and I capsized.

Whoops!
I did that once in a canoe with my cousin. I leaned over one side and he thought he would too.... <sploosh!>

Also, is it normal to have a pool in Winnipeg?! I always thought of it as a cold climate?

Define "normal". Not everyone has one, of course, but... there's probably 5-6 in our area of about 70 homes.
It is a cold climate... in winter. In summer, our highs are around 30C. We generally swim in it starting around June and I close it up in September. I could open it sooner and leave it open later, but... usually earlier the girls were busy with school and it might be too cool still. Later, they're back in school and the weather starts to cool off. We do have a heater (everyone does) for those cool days.

We're a cold place and no one has a pool

No one?
Hmmm... your average highs in July/August are only 23C. That is a bit cool if that's your hottest.
Plus climate is quite a bit different. You get about 1,630 hours of sunlight a year, we get 2,190.

But... Google "number of sunny days in london england"... you won't believe how much sun you get!!!

it looks like a really nice patio you have there though!

Thanks!

And GO YOU on your couch to 5k training!! That's great, I know a few people who have taken the pandemic as an opportunity to start running (Jamie and I are not those people ) A great use of your locked-down time!!

Thanks!
I actually started pre-Covid. Just decided that it was time.

Ha this was so annoying to see tacked on the end. Naturally I had to go back and stare intently at every single picture, and I still didn't see it now I need to scroll through the next few pages and see if anyone else spotted it!

Some had.

what the actual heck you need superhuman vision to spot that

 

[franandaj]

Yes you did! Hi, Alison!

Happy to be of service.
Except... now I have nothing else
to write about.

Well I was thinking....you posted some pictures from some of your runs, and some of them looked a little like it does here where I live. Well if I wasn't in an asphalt jungle with no trees and grass and fields, well that aren't manicured and cared for by weekly gardeners.

And then you said something about a picnic, but staying in the car, which leads me to believe that it may be a wee bit colder there than it is here. Its 68°F and sunny.

I know you people in the Northern regions have weather related challenges that we would not understand. Like Su-Lynn's hubby built a mudroom. Why you want a room for mud is beyond me. I would think you wanted the mud outside. I have a potting room, but I use it for cat food.

But I was thinking you could probably write a very amusing chapter about your northern struggles and cold weather. I remember you posting something about "why do I live where the air hurts my face?" I'm not sure that I have experienced this phenomenon. The few times I have experienced snow, it was always something that you drive to, and then leave. Once you related a story of trying to shovel yourself out of your driveway in the middle of the night. Perhaps you could share a "Day in the life" of what us sunny state dwellers have never even imagined. I'm sure you could make it humorous enough that even seasoned snow veterans would find it funny!

Well... maybe this:

In November of 2019, I decided to take a break
from drinking sodas/pops of any kind.
At the time, I was probably drinking close to a Coke a day.
This is the first Coke (or any pop) I had in over a year.
Happy New Year!

At the time, I was probably drinking close to a Coke a day.

Ha! Do you know how many bottles Fran goes through in a day! You're not even close to becoming an addict!

I never drink my "own" soda, but I will occasionally drink off of hers, not often though. Back when I didn't carry a refillable bottle of water with me 24/7, I would order Iced Tea at drive thrus. I haven't had an Iced Tea in forever now.

I won't say what I'm trying to give up this year...
I have my doubts I'll be able to stick to it. We'll see.

I don’t even bother. Life is too short to deny one's self things you like.

Hmmm... I have a feeling I know what you're referring to...

To be spoken of here, it can not.

I think you (kinda) did.

Kinda. That was the "what I'm not doing" update. I'm working on the "things I (and Fran) actually did" update. I'm up to June.

2020 was such a strange year.
On the one hand, it seemed to drag on forever...
But on the other hand, it was like: "So yesterday was March 20th, so that makes today... November."

I have milestones each month to help me get by.

The 1st - I can start looking for rents
The 6th - my SW credit card starts a new billing cycle and I switch purchases to that card
The second Wednesday - Fran's Social Security check hits the bank account
The 15th - when all the major CC payments come due
The 20th - when I can give Fran my prescriptions to refill
The 25th - when our little oil royalty check hits the bank
The last day of the month - when the bigger oil royalty check comes in

Unfortunately with so many Americans switching to EVs, and the other half not commuting to work, there were several months last year when we didn't get any distributions.

But each of these moments are things I look towards and the cycle keeps repeating and another month has gone by.

We had a guy up here who did that.
(Well, he didn't die, but...)

A small plane took off from St. Andrews airport.
(A small airport located 14 miles NE of Winnipeg airport.)
The pilot radioed that he was going to land... but then
(I believe after an attempt or two... but I could be wrong about that.)
said that he needed a longer runway.
Which is extremely puzzling as the runways there are all
about 3,000'... more than long enough.
Anyway, he landed at Winnipeg instead (11,000').
Turns out he had never flown before... except on his computer.

That's kinda......nuts

Thanks! It's a Wolf.
I insisted on it when we built the house.

Huh. Never heard of it. Looks nice though. I like my viking. It looks similar.

No, that part of my job diminished.
But I do a lot more than just looking for
lost aircraft. That's probably... 1% of my job.

I'm not sure i would ever understand your job.

You must be a city girl!
They get a lot bigger than that.

You've seen my neighborhood, I've always lived in places similar to that (although not always as nice and big houses), at least pavement and traffic wise.

Once we were able to find some relatively
dry spots for the tents, it was okay.

I guess I'm just becoming too old and fuddy duddy to be up for camping.

We'll be going out and doing that today.
And the picnic will be in the car as eating
frozen food lacks a certain amount of appeal.

If it were ice cream it would be OK, or a frozen Margarita.

So... you're saying you want me
to come down and fix your gate.

Are you asking about the actual gate or does gate have another meaning?

We have that exact set-up at our Pan Am pool.
When I was a kid, the platforms were always available.

Is Pan Am the name of the pool complex or is that a type of pool set up?

I jumped from the 10M once.

Once.

That was enough.

Same for me.

Correct... ish.
I think we probably just roasted Smokies
(Thicker wieners) over the fire with some chips.
I would've set it all up, but everyone cooked their
own Smokie themselves.

Are the Smokies made by Oscar Meyer? If so, those are one of Fran's favorite snacks/lunches.

Thank you.
For more camping ideas, please call for your brochure.

I think I'd be more likely to make S'mores over my fire pit in the backyard.

Yes!
They had veal and chicken schnitzel.
I had veal and I'm pretty sure Kay had chicken.

I usually make pork since its more easily available than veal.

Mostly at the kids' urging.
"Dad, want to go camping?"
Me: "Okay."

My kids don't ask for much except food and cuddles, occasionally to go outside.

It's affected us a couple times.
Twice now, Elle has come home
from school and had to get a Covid test
because she has a symptom and one of
her kids had it.
And because she has a symptom and been exposed,
that means that I can't work until the test result comes back.

Ugh, see that's why I'm happy we mostly stay at home. Not really anyone to interact with.

I was pretty worried about my shins at the start.
But they never were an issue. Instead it was the
other side of the leg with the Achilles.
(And then the hip.)

Sucks getting old. But it beats the alternative!

I don't know if it was in London.
It was in Toronto. That I know.

OK, maybe I heard about it in Toronto. Wherever it was we couldn't go.

I didn't see anything in the graveyard?

There was a little blip behind the tombstone in the front of the graveyard. I blew it up and could see an identifiable Martian, but there was something, probably a weed.

But we got it straightened out in the end.
Thanks again for helping us with that!

Glad to be of service!

 

[pkondz]

Well I was thinking....you posted some pictures from some of your runs, and some of them looked a little like it does here where I live. Well if I wasn't in an asphalt jungle with no trees and grass and fields, well that aren't manicured and cared for by weekly gardeners.

Yes... exactly the same, then.

And then you said something about a picnic, but staying in the car, which leads me to believe that it may be a wee bit colder there than it is here. Its 68°F and sunny.

It's colder here, for sure. But! It's been a very mild winter this year. (So far! Fingers crossed.)
Right now it's a very warm (for us at this time of year) 30F.
Supposed to hit 33F tomorrow!

Unheard of!

I know you people in the Northern regions have weather related challenges that we would not understand. Like Su-Lynn's hubby built a mudroom. Why you want a room for mud is beyond me. I would think you wanted the mud outside. I have a potting room, but I use it for cat food.

A mud room isn't really meant for mud, per se.
It's just a room where you can hang up your coat
and take off your shoes/boots so you don't track in... well, mud would be an extreme.
More likely snow or just wetness.

But I was thinking you could probably write a very amusing chapter about your northern struggles and cold weather.

Hmmm... I dunno...

I remember you posting something about "why do I live where the air hurts my face?" I'm not sure that I have experienced this phenomenon.

You haven't lived until you've had that happen!

Okay... maybe you don't really need to have that happen to you.

The few times I have experienced snow, it was always something that you drive to, and then leave. Once you related a story of trying to shovel yourself out of your driveway in the middle of the night. Perhaps you could share a "Day in the life" of what us sunny state dwellers have never even imagined. I'm sure you could make it humorous enough that even seasoned snow veterans would find it funny!

I honestly don't know.
I guess there'd be things that would be foreign to you, but to me they're just... life.
I'm not sure... I'd have to give it some thought.
I'm not sure (also) if anyone else would be interested?

Ha! Do you know how many bottles Fran goes through in a day! You're not even close to becoming an addict!

I'll guess.... 4L? (2 "big" bottles?)

Back when I didn't carry a refillable bottle of water with me 24/7, I would order Iced Tea at drive thrus. I haven't had an Iced Tea in forever now.

I've been drinking more ice tea lately.
But... my ice tea differs a great deal from yours.

I don’t even bother. Life is too short to deny one's self things you like.

I get that. But... it's just something I like to challenge myself with, I guess.

To be spoken of here, it can not.

Nope!

Kinda. That was the "what I'm not doing" update. I'm working on the "things I (and Fran) actually did" update. I'm up to June.

Ah!
Well, in that case, I'm looking forward to it.

The 6th - my SW credit card starts a new billing cycle and I switch purchases to that card

Can you elaborate on that?

The 1st - I can start looking for rents
The 6th - my SW credit card starts a new billing cycle and I switch purchases to that card
The second Wednesday - Fran's Social Security check hits the bank account
The 15th - when all the major CC payments come due
The 20th - when I can give Fran my prescriptions to refill
The 25th - when our little oil royalty check hits the bank
The last day of the month - when the bigger oil royalty check comes in

All of the months milestones, all laid out.
As a shift worker, my milestones are more... "Am I working tomorrow?"

Unfortunately with so many Americans switching to EVs, and the other half not commuting to work, there were several months last year when we didn't get any distributions.

Huh. Good point.

That's kinda......nuts

Very. He's lucky he didn't kill himself... and others.

I'm not sure i would ever understand your job.

That's okay... even my own family don't know what I do.

I guess I'm just becoming too old and fuddy duddy to be up for camping.

Nah.
A lot of people just don't enjoy it.
I mean... it's not as nice as a 5 star hotel.
And you do have to do set up and tear down and all the packing and unpacking and...

Now I'm wondering why I do it!

If it were ice cream it would be OK, or a frozen Margarita.

Nope.
You most likely won't want to eat frozen foods outdoors when it's cold out.
Especially ice cream with a metal spoon!

Are you asking about the actual gate or does gate have another meaning?

Is Pan Am the name of the pool complex or is that a type of pool set up?

It's the name of the pool complex.
It was built for the Pan Am games of 1967.
If you're not familiar, heres a link: Pan American Games - Wikipedia
We've hosted it twice. 1967 and 1999.
It's only been held in North America 4 times.
Chicago (1959)
Winnipeg (1969)
Indianapolis (1987)
Winnipeg (1999)
Toronto (2015)

Are the Smokies made by Oscar Meyer? If so, those are one of Fran's favorite snacks/lunches.

I'm not sure. I'd have to look next time I'm at the store.
But... probably not.
Most likely they're Schneiders.

I think I'd be more likely to make S'mores over my fire pit in the backyard.

We did them there too.

I usually make pork since its more easily available than veal.

Makes sense.
I don't know where I'd even find veal.

My kids don't ask for much except food and cuddles, occasionally to go outside.

Mine have asked for... more.

Ugh, see that's why I'm happy we mostly stay at home. Not really anyone to interact with.

Oh, I completely get that.

Sucks getting old. But it beats the alternative!

There was a little blip behind the tombstone in the front of the graveyard. I blew it up and could see an identifiable Martian, but there was something, probably a weed.

Ah.
Nope. Just a weed I guess.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I found your COVID year adventures and enjoyed reading along!
Camping, hiking, and kayaking are the best activities during a pandemic
I wish I would have embraced these type of activities more this past year instead of TV watching!
I usually walk 3-4 miles a day mostly indoors for at least 6 months a year because you know Minnesota! The pandemic put a screeching halt to that. I use the skywalk system here in town and just couldn’t do it with the mask on, so I have really missed it!
Walking circles around my living room/wood stove just doesn’t do it!
I‘m glad you fixed your pool without paying mega bucks!
We have a hot tub here and my husband loves it and has done many fixes on his own, which otherwise, we were told would cost so much, it would be worth getting a new one!
Could you come here and update our deck, lol! We have a very large deck and it needs some love right about now!
Take care and stay well!!

 

[pkondz]

I found your COVID year adventures and enjoyed reading along!

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Camping, hiking, and kayaking are the best activities during a pandemic

Can't complain.
And... solitary (well, with immediate family) enough to not worry about covid.

I wish I would have embraced these type of activities more this past year instead of TV watching!

Oh, I watched plenty of TV too.
It's not all camping and kayaking!

I usually walk 3-4 miles a day mostly indoors for at least 6 months a year because you know Minnesota! The pandemic put a screeching halt to that. I use the skywalk system here in town and just couldn’t do it with the mask on, so I have really missed it!

I've been lucky enough this past year (and this one too), that the weather has been mild enough that I can still run outside.
As long as it doesn't go below, oh... -4F or so, I'm good.

I‘m glad you fixed your pool without paying mega bucks!

Well... haven't done it yet.
I'm constantly putting it off.
It's like... If I can't do it, then it'll cost me big $$.
But if I don't do it, then I've at least probably saved money!

We have a hot tub here and my husband loves it and has done many fixes on his own, which otherwise, we were told would cost so much, it would be worth getting a new one!

Nice!
Did he just pick it up on his own? Or did he do things like that for work?

Could you come here and update our deck, lol! We have a very large deck and it needs some love right about now!

Sure!
Might be a while before I can get there, though.

Take care and stay well!!

You too, Caroline!

 

[tundra1]

Oh, no.
While the hip flexor is probable, the plantar fasciitis is not.
The pain isn't in my foot, it's my Achilles.
Here:
The pain goes...
View attachment 549209

But thank you so much for the medical advice!
I really appreciate it.

Sorry, I missed the mark on that one! Skip the cortisone shot! You still need better shoes. Also, stay away from antibiotics like Cipro or Levaquin. That family of antibiotics is famous for causing Achilles tendon issues. Compression socks might help until it gets warmer outside.

I hope you are back to running soon!