tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-256890122024-03-23T13:58:30.339-04:00S2T: Stinkypaw's<br><br>"<i><b>There is great need for a sarcasm font.</b></i>"
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<br>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.comBlogger1369125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-49051475419054485902023-06-20T19:31:00.000-04:002023-06-20T19:31:44.197-04:00More Rocks!<p> Here are some of my latest rocks... Truly enjoying this...<br /><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiJThLO4R7A4FbVrrQOOAFhH7Dy6y154_6qOlEymqLauaRMNu8jRBkqR3doB5CUKSLKiBnJ_7JtSungw8m02r5H7mi5OhVX2k80Nbmg20TN9TNeCAIF1FlKzEdgJcbGfOa6esSBaJScVpXX86J8QWojmnqYcHkuT35Aw6uxUxjkrU7xex34E-wg/s1600/Roche%20%2316_20230601.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiJThLO4R7A4FbVrrQOOAFhH7Dy6y154_6qOlEymqLauaRMNu8jRBkqR3doB5CUKSLKiBnJ_7JtSungw8m02r5H7mi5OhVX2k80Nbmg20TN9TNeCAIF1FlKzEdgJcbGfOa6esSBaJScVpXX86J8QWojmnqYcHkuT35Aw6uxUxjkrU7xex34E-wg/s320/Roche%20%2316_20230601.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oddly shaped fish..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXhL-_QippV_touhBe-w-4QzMUQiVw62I7D6Ypyls2YNtYKZQ7GF1Y5EiEpPUumNMZ-CXpOYa5VDCwo5lUTwwEBmROppppanlH9TpIWQyz9DLSuzH4GsH3YqDzMeRR42Wiev8XyfbWGUk8I8cnY9kOtz5D3swRtvFUx7JTP_RjgPiPzae81wfhg/s1600/Roche%20%2314_20230601.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXhL-_QippV_touhBe-w-4QzMUQiVw62I7D6Ypyls2YNtYKZQ7GF1Y5EiEpPUumNMZ-CXpOYa5VDCwo5lUTwwEBmROppppanlH9TpIWQyz9DLSuzH4GsH3YqDzMeRR42Wiev8XyfbWGUk8I8cnY9kOtz5D3swRtvFUx7JTP_RjgPiPzae81wfhg/s320/Roche%20%2314_20230601.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A celebratory elephant...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-R4u9fpl7s2UCaDuD9HSBws2x5vtwBuTdRQjaHVL6oCGuY1tnPlcZf_2kT3NE6jVPuF7VN7ituIQMPYYWQNtYHFHcVl-b5hHW_kdXgtp-jO_Q7VlqEpKe2fNi8qkJbf4_3srKQEsCYOPNi9JH0wtnD2vEORi5-z68lTx9Lbv0ym2PmBk5-nrfg/s1600/Roche%20%2313_20230601.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-R4u9fpl7s2UCaDuD9HSBws2x5vtwBuTdRQjaHVL6oCGuY1tnPlcZf_2kT3NE6jVPuF7VN7ituIQMPYYWQNtYHFHcVl-b5hHW_kdXgtp-jO_Q7VlqEpKe2fNi8qkJbf4_3srKQEsCYOPNi9JH0wtnD2vEORi5-z68lTx9Lbv0ym2PmBk5-nrfg/s320/Roche%20%2313_20230601.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 3 colors ice cream cone...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was really happy last week after I've hidden this one by the foot of a trailer and then saw it posted on the Bacefook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3526648390940933&set=g.395017607634543" target="_blank">aROCHEmoiunSOURIRE</a> - after hiding about a dozen of them, to see one as posted by the <i>lucky</i> person who found it... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68f02dIHLyRb7Ef2JY4cX9IVKuZTi75sg_ZeYini5G9QF_tsY1Tt-xjOR0aO5eNPEOMl_Wr475_1cjBN16n92dH5VzETlfTqfRne0sD1DT_AF4P4WJaYK7fiDcSzgUAb6s02Cwv1x29WTpFrXuOh6-L2V4ak84J951bVbeDwJ2zyEQtgYRO1VAA/s4000/Roche%20%2315%20-%20th%C3%A8me%2029%20camping_20230601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68f02dIHLyRb7Ef2JY4cX9IVKuZTi75sg_ZeYini5G9QF_tsY1Tt-xjOR0aO5eNPEOMl_Wr475_1cjBN16n92dH5VzETlfTqfRne0sD1DT_AF4P4WJaYK7fiDcSzgUAb6s02Cwv1x29WTpFrXuOh6-L2V4ak84J951bVbeDwJ2zyEQtgYRO1VAA/s320/Roche%20%2315%20-%20th%C3%A8me%2029%20camping_20230601.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Last month, when being treated by my osteo I had mentioned this activity of mine, and she was really curious, so this morning when I went for (yet, another!) treatment I gave her this cutie...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7qpm5dEEMX8Nwq83OUuEDg9_1OnWUzrqUFzefN2IJsnlsCEttZaeIyo_qvtgr1aMNnGivZeujstu489XjBwsZdnjVU8Wwm5IrGPaIGu7BnY0kfgZbC17S8tg2Hf3LB-c_zk06L9BXFT5iyq2MjR0DIyCML-CUdG9MFnAj1PezyOupf2kFWElaA/s1600/Roche%20%2322_20230618_171217527_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7qpm5dEEMX8Nwq83OUuEDg9_1OnWUzrqUFzefN2IJsnlsCEttZaeIyo_qvtgr1aMNnGivZeujstu489XjBwsZdnjVU8Wwm5IrGPaIGu7BnY0kfgZbC17S8tg2Hf3LB-c_zk06L9BXFT5iyq2MjR0DIyCML-CUdG9MFnAj1PezyOupf2kFWElaA/s320/Roche%20%2322_20230618_171217527_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />According to her, it looked good enough to eat! ah! On my walk back home, I picked up a few other rocks and painted some more... I'm liking the smaller rocks, a loonie or twonie size. I've made a few that I'm not even sure if I want to hide them, there are just too darn cute...<br /><br />Look at this one, I just love it!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU0ihKYSUPkYWu7ndTDeB2nAs6UKj71HNReX4k5hHLRlFuPSBD0IbQyuoPrSQmRw9hKs7ODMpyzw2_snL3sHSJRpiy7Q8YWh_54-gQ4Xvd_HlPYx2QTGuSU3dp4FA5LhPjySiw5PH_1Mz-EKfd6NTOSZWfnbheJNjYlzO3U4N8B2tPAnstylbag/s4096/Roche%20%2321_20230613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU0ihKYSUPkYWu7ndTDeB2nAs6UKj71HNReX4k5hHLRlFuPSBD0IbQyuoPrSQmRw9hKs7ODMpyzw2_snL3sHSJRpiy7Q8YWh_54-gQ4Xvd_HlPYx2QTGuSU3dp4FA5LhPjySiw5PH_1Mz-EKfd6NTOSZWfnbheJNjYlzO3U4N8B2tPAnstylbag/s320/Roche%20%2321_20230613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>... this cute panda face...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRtTlZPBNEwgUjlQmi55lXsiv5QjlhiTuzTHHHCPQuWg6zzaRZOlyF96MdM8VCHASgV9UITwSzlb8FWBuVJiCm7VSI0jk5Ms2IeyKZd3Cmc67NsGYsSCU-lWSSZjMmKF2uIdasE7ANth-IXlMpaPXwZDEtZa7tgc-12tkib4Yayqd62Io42K12A/s2067/Roche%20%2324_20230620_153534212_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2067" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRtTlZPBNEwgUjlQmi55lXsiv5QjlhiTuzTHHHCPQuWg6zzaRZOlyF96MdM8VCHASgV9UITwSzlb8FWBuVJiCm7VSI0jk5Ms2IeyKZd3Cmc67NsGYsSCU-lWSSZjMmKF2uIdasE7ANth-IXlMpaPXwZDEtZa7tgc-12tkib4Yayqd62Io42K12A/s320/Roche%20%2324_20230620_153534212_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br />Or even this Blue m&m's that I did last night... just too cute!! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLJfFBh9HA4ErNrfusWsxPGzAb5CWKHfq8DRZ0-IykQ_srgJCgl32DWyWhgn5Q-ytONjJUxUbHyW2PqhmOrwRapFYnd26qEVGiurDRdVipSYwoMpqTwrkHctSfep_vb0DcCJgn1bZFPCGIwWz1j4_IMj6y0-EsNO465t9wVYLrFjE9OQSZz16Dg/s2226/Roche%20%2325_20230620_184320963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2226" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLJfFBh9HA4ErNrfusWsxPGzAb5CWKHfq8DRZ0-IykQ_srgJCgl32DWyWhgn5Q-ytONjJUxUbHyW2PqhmOrwRapFYnd26qEVGiurDRdVipSYwoMpqTwrkHctSfep_vb0DcCJgn1bZFPCGIwWz1j4_IMj6y0-EsNO465t9wVYLrFjE9OQSZz16Dg/s320/Roche%20%2325_20230620_184320963.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />When I picked up that rock, with that chip on the side, I knew what it was going to be! I love how it turned out. <br /><br />When I see rocks their shape talk to me... as if! Ah! No, but in reality I let the shape inspire me that's for sure!stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-71897799945819572122023-05-31T01:13:00.026-04:002023-05-31T16:51:26.641-04:00I'm Back!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTk7O0PQG795gmUOzVDPVXvOXZB2-rEWvQp2Hjzg-tqk7C-uv_vuk5gh-IM7ijHJbMJLDTwlj8Yam4h150R_bP12-DRbKSVBfZTEx-dVvdU6V3501phTxaVVIkQcCkzRKDsF-9Tz5NSfai7H-wBzYRzT4teW0AFX0KpcGHIPcM0r0czZ_fuA/s643/805c46140750071ebd4baf80bd3fe6cd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="643" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTk7O0PQG795gmUOzVDPVXvOXZB2-rEWvQp2Hjzg-tqk7C-uv_vuk5gh-IM7ijHJbMJLDTwlj8Yam4h150R_bP12-DRbKSVBfZTEx-dVvdU6V3501phTxaVVIkQcCkzRKDsF-9Tz5NSfai7H-wBzYRzT4teW0AFX0KpcGHIPcM0r0czZ_fuA/s320/805c46140750071ebd4baf80bd3fe6cd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <br />Well, hello world! It's been a while and since life is slowly but surely getting back to normal (as normal as it can given who is writing!) and things are finally setting down, I thought I'd write some more...<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I kept writing postcards all the while, but in the past few weeks, since April actually I've also slowed down my participation in different games, etc. but kept on sending out my "officials".<br /><br />You'll be happy to read that our renovations came to an end, after 18 long weeks of patience and <i>muchos dineros </i>BUT we are very happy with the end results. This is now home! <div><br /></div><div>My office, generally referred to as "the Cave" by the Husband shows that I live there. Despite very little efforts on my part, to be honest, it's a mess in there but it is MY MESS and I love it! I can work when I need to, and do my artsy stuff when I want. <p></p><p>We have, for the very first time, a nice patio set, and the room to actually enjoy it! Check it out! It went from this, with two camping folding chairs... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgm4QDwjCkOV0mD2tcxRKjQnmeg-QrgJhIgXwP4owic4zm4w6Xg8OtjQF8wk_ha8qC8Yg3g6xSQmfrCFCLD0ik51aP-yrF1aQrEayZCqXkjfsie4V065Ip3qO4LAKYAraH8PDUKeXd0Qd-r9FckKnywj5UdJFk4CxO2S4hLZWeBywFupb3NI/s4000/IMG16_20220710_114847814_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgm4QDwjCkOV0mD2tcxRKjQnmeg-QrgJhIgXwP4owic4zm4w6Xg8OtjQF8wk_ha8qC8Yg3g6xSQmfrCFCLD0ik51aP-yrF1aQrEayZCqXkjfsie4V065Ip3qO4LAKYAraH8PDUKeXd0Qd-r9FckKnywj5UdJFk4CxO2S4hLZWeBywFupb3NI/s320/IMG16_20220710_114847814_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />to this, after delivery of our new patio furniture... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxXacXOK2AYZ_CQB9I3jFtYC0KW8YBMZbTJtQoiUVaOW0PQbyK-cWI1qwsKxdvGP-gNQuavllOGo9kAEy3eUKYfG-hr-8nitRamWdOmLEgmqj_628mHXkW50Uo4ghOYrYEuFxfr4YAe2Ib_mNOGtEmmFZIeKfsy4iLMKBJ4WtpZ1Fhzq4jog/s4000/IMG_20230515_122245910_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxXacXOK2AYZ_CQB9I3jFtYC0KW8YBMZbTJtQoiUVaOW0PQbyK-cWI1qwsKxdvGP-gNQuavllOGo9kAEy3eUKYfG-hr-8nitRamWdOmLEgmqj_628mHXkW50Uo4ghOYrYEuFxfr4YAe2Ib_mNOGtEmmFZIeKfsy4iLMKBJ4WtpZ1Fhzq4jog/s320/IMG_20230515_122245910_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a> <br /><br />I've taken out my sewing machine and the left over material I had bought in Hawai'i years ago, and made a few cushions... <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JjH6xX155eYdD7UrijnS8ZEAGToUxlXdglNY_RhDugqeVInsl9fTOBWs9Eyjqnv3HOBMy9P_CbvPpPNBREScJtmXVmTDiPfqRbI85dOpplOcJOn-P7F83RHvEl7P4IN96aurY3aZQWo_orkdJpU155QI0yTjiKlXHLum_QINNF6LUWLckkY/s4000/IMG_20230523_145616708_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JjH6xX155eYdD7UrijnS8ZEAGToUxlXdglNY_RhDugqeVInsl9fTOBWs9Eyjqnv3HOBMy9P_CbvPpPNBREScJtmXVmTDiPfqRbI85dOpplOcJOn-P7F83RHvEl7P4IN96aurY3aZQWo_orkdJpU155QI0yTjiKlXHLum_QINNF6LUWLckkY/s320/IMG_20230523_145616708_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Isn't it inviting, to relax with a cold drink and shoot the shit? I would think so! I love it!<br /><br />One day, as we were heading to DeSerres in Boisbriand for me to look at different supplies for watercolor painting, I found a painted rock on the ground as I got out of the car. It was so pretty. Don't you think? <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc7V41HbXhXOfCR1lVwPAGW4ZdbEAoAum0KmhgvCvEJBKLZTOrrezNogFrdIjrc3goxgxYtDFnBgmWe5iDg0Qi2W3cxRZB7_Hatz2J8RG7Zl2xGxkzzvqPE2It2KsptLVJqJBbfwTymR-6ujInscgsVzWxrmJpyyZP_qagtC8H0zd_p7zcEk/s4000/Roche%20trouv%C3%A9e_20230410_175254247_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc7V41HbXhXOfCR1lVwPAGW4ZdbEAoAum0KmhgvCvEJBKLZTOrrezNogFrdIjrc3goxgxYtDFnBgmWe5iDg0Qi2W3cxRZB7_Hatz2J8RG7Zl2xGxkzzvqPE2It2KsptLVJqJBbfwTymR-6ujInscgsVzWxrmJpyyZP_qagtC8H0zd_p7zcEk/s320/Roche%20trouv%C3%A9e_20230410_175254247_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />I'd been talking with a friend about doing that for a while, and finding this rock brought that idea forward especially since on the back of it also said: "Keep, Hide or Replace Me. Please publish a picture on Facebook in the group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/395017607634543" target="_blank">aROCHEmoiunSOURIRE</a>" I kept it for a while and posted it in the group. That started a new thing for me... being on the look out for rocks! I started with an odd shaped one, mid April.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiReHFyyQc7KDjSVhFgGTKPLYYct3F0QmVtGf11gaViy9Hv9EfmkPVGDGAWgqIok2MAdsQ4G3nawWpSNL__2YvQVB4PWBassfmYdDv-M10mBdCbRR00oNOfhVnHHUyBR9UqtwQjHGdcewZmXkkXm9LNx5ZrCCsceiIsL-mnihlT2dnPkgnlws/s4096/InCollage_20230416_roche%20%231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiReHFyyQc7KDjSVhFgGTKPLYYct3F0QmVtGf11gaViy9Hv9EfmkPVGDGAWgqIok2MAdsQ4G3nawWpSNL__2YvQVB4PWBassfmYdDv-M10mBdCbRR00oNOfhVnHHUyBR9UqtwQjHGdcewZmXkkXm9LNx5ZrCCsceiIsL-mnihlT2dnPkgnlws/s320/InCollage_20230416_roche%20%231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I quickly realized that painting on a rock is not at all like painting on paper, so I got myself some acrylic paint pens. That makes a big difference in the details. <br /><br /><div>I left it in front of a mail box down the street and was happy to see it gone by the time I walked back. <br /><br />Then I painted this fish...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI03yf2rF6IExiX00LgOc5q-ZgncWcAdjElI3RnGAVof4BnELHpBAfwi8kNMFFK6XVVfgLFQbJW9ExeUtklfV4VI2sVnH2IOEj1wYMVjjZrcWrvXfyPI8KIalGaq1QEa_-7nLKnxx9zTIxz_dbNQgGpAw3axcwxstjAz5MxiLzL4u8L7KZwqY/s4096/InCollage_20230419_roche%20%232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI03yf2rF6IExiX00LgOc5q-ZgncWcAdjElI3RnGAVof4BnELHpBAfwi8kNMFFK6XVVfgLFQbJW9ExeUtklfV4VI2sVnH2IOEj1wYMVjjZrcWrvXfyPI8KIalGaq1QEa_-7nLKnxx9zTIxz_dbNQgGpAw3axcwxstjAz5MxiLzL4u8L7KZwqY/s320/InCollage_20230419_roche%20%232.jpg" width="320" /></a>which I left on a stop sign post by the grocery store we go to. Hubby had to go back the next day and told me there was no stone left!<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>I'm attracted to smaller rocks, but they are harder to paint on and to stick the ID for the group on them is barely possible. So I 'try' to get bigger rocks... like this one, which I loved how it turned out. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_8sF4XJTNu9l4EP4dVoUlV-_Gj0UlJdbd4NgANMe7UItUD0f8bbYuGUhunPPtI7C4pRzhLCGzHU92Y3zMMxyX7fEAqPln6MQxWHNmrIYYcpOHCZ_lT7tQqmJG1JiMKEfGu8NAPc_ZhWseMAwkkcaWNovL3k4qFLfRMjruNnhkzHktcVFVDk/s4096/InCollage_20230424_roche%20%233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_8sF4XJTNu9l4EP4dVoUlV-_Gj0UlJdbd4NgANMe7UItUD0f8bbYuGUhunPPtI7C4pRzhLCGzHU92Y3zMMxyX7fEAqPln6MQxWHNmrIYYcpOHCZ_lT7tQqmJG1JiMKEfGu8NAPc_ZhWseMAwkkcaWNovL3k4qFLfRMjruNnhkzHktcVFVDk/s320/InCollage_20230424_roche%20%233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I had found the perfect spot to hide it, on a trail near home. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgjd9JRDnrPyuLofBM_3PJRhexvvBVVUsdCkJDHv2C46AEKkOpJF22BF-eS-W9fmfqi2OU3U8XmM0s1Z6-knpRak_oBBDMS2dfVyLVmSYP8PA1WfDCPWu5HBA78xSMHUmZm315-jGCQZV72b0ZwKlW-_zCcezGy__v2DEMS2Uf6iXzvfHLU8/s4000/Cache%20roche%20%233_20230512_163303577_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgjd9JRDnrPyuLofBM_3PJRhexvvBVVUsdCkJDHv2C46AEKkOpJF22BF-eS-W9fmfqi2OU3U8XmM0s1Z6-knpRak_oBBDMS2dfVyLVmSYP8PA1WfDCPWu5HBA78xSMHUmZm315-jGCQZV72b0ZwKlW-_zCcezGy__v2DEMS2Uf6iXzvfHLU8/s320/Cache%20roche%20%233_20230512_163303577_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">By the time we walked that trail again, the owl had flown away!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The group had a theme for the month: a little house, so I painted this little one and also left it at the stop sign post on our way in the grocery and when we walked back it was no longer there... <br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CMyeWsbAFxskeOY-B2S1nSLgGMyLNm-Ewq2fV47PbFzx3EfyTPeF4X3RZ7ALhmnV_jB4-lC3xsJICajkQpI2eUURHbjAERUsgt3V8leX5WN0rfwJk7W7e9MnOkv4wL6jLDm1zYLG1eTSYMDhXH52JN7uXx2RngmzdEwrqV-ZD27vP6i0pYw/s4096/InCollage_20230427_roche%20%234%20-%20th%C3%A9matique%2027%20maison.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CMyeWsbAFxskeOY-B2S1nSLgGMyLNm-Ewq2fV47PbFzx3EfyTPeF4X3RZ7ALhmnV_jB4-lC3xsJICajkQpI2eUURHbjAERUsgt3V8leX5WN0rfwJk7W7e9MnOkv4wL6jLDm1zYLG1eTSYMDhXH52JN7uXx2RngmzdEwrqV-ZD27vP6i0pYw/s320/InCollage_20230427_roche%20%234%20-%20th%C3%A9matique%2027%20maison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I've been painting rocks, and hiding them in the area... Here are some of them...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NsZuiFSJdVOys_tNkMzakBxG6n1tgfiKg4IqS_gkGs1UxF1abCMBdumI3MLn1GdWAo7k_mf92kIqWt9AHVm-DExnR4mZAeg1Ee-ux1i2D50sVb6YmlhagA9ZxzWXF3eJGlpxpFkdt5tLbUcpgmC1AOyQyR8mf3Eebby31QosMmZPXo9N_io/s4096/InCollage_20230506_roche%20%235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NsZuiFSJdVOys_tNkMzakBxG6n1tgfiKg4IqS_gkGs1UxF1abCMBdumI3MLn1GdWAo7k_mf92kIqWt9AHVm-DExnR4mZAeg1Ee-ux1i2D50sVb6YmlhagA9ZxzWXF3eJGlpxpFkdt5tLbUcpgmC1AOyQyR8mf3Eebby31QosMmZPXo9N_io/s320/InCollage_20230506_roche%20%235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Was hidden at Première Moisson on chemin Gascon.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzEN9aXcxM9hszsiwL6KeJdWHjxY9LOk5P0Qmy4Om8Sx_fPAPsQr0Vl05NFV-YR__gq-rEuP6jv2ktb79wVQdu0AJI5oh2kD2b9FXDNuu5c2LtFzdfqNMILXl45gqrRdipJKdNusg5t89-bjbPtDxOre0IalbFsN0iOG_l1rvu5xxue2eUBA/s4096/InCollage_20230517_roche%20%236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzEN9aXcxM9hszsiwL6KeJdWHjxY9LOk5P0Qmy4Om8Sx_fPAPsQr0Vl05NFV-YR__gq-rEuP6jv2ktb79wVQdu0AJI5oh2kD2b9FXDNuu5c2LtFzdfqNMILXl45gqrRdipJKdNusg5t89-bjbPtDxOre0IalbFsN0iOG_l1rvu5xxue2eUBA/s320/InCollage_20230517_roche%20%236.jpg" width="320" /></a> hidden... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3XtHr9uEfyEGyJe2cPZeIuKPob4qR7zqpjDx4H8M_Qj6wVS2uYxraTXL0qBg_CIL5qmZ-7A_s3qu1RVWoIB2hEyHOckVVCHR8SzA1M1trKd5MWtEzJSqbFqkLqy_GiIfYJ8rbKHUBG6OFs22iM9f9hdijwixtCbEI0UfjKLaNR-zH4RuS28/s4000/IMG_20230530_165212290.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3XtHr9uEfyEGyJe2cPZeIuKPob4qR7zqpjDx4H8M_Qj6wVS2uYxraTXL0qBg_CIL5qmZ-7A_s3qu1RVWoIB2hEyHOckVVCHR8SzA1M1trKd5MWtEzJSqbFqkLqy_GiIfYJ8rbKHUBG6OFs22iM9f9hdijwixtCbEI0UfjKLaNR-zH4RuS28/s320/IMG_20230530_165212290.jpg" width="180" /></a><br /><br /><br />and these two...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKyyLTPE6p1cdiYotMACIwwilLmZQK3hN-O7vWGFb1rSBpFvUQcKcMy1HCx-VNsyATW5ZKxJNu9g42azzywIOtvR25nnpnx500GqMw22wMTZKoDfguye2i6cTgQe0xDc7n3Obp6HETZUHFNvQkyDTQCYMTQwSTwBEI20xzoRLA1oe1s5BgUU/s4096/InCollage_20230525_roche%20%237%20et%20%238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKyyLTPE6p1cdiYotMACIwwilLmZQK3hN-O7vWGFb1rSBpFvUQcKcMy1HCx-VNsyATW5ZKxJNu9g42azzywIOtvR25nnpnx500GqMw22wMTZKoDfguye2i6cTgQe0xDc7n3Obp6HETZUHFNvQkyDTQCYMTQwSTwBEI20xzoRLA1oe1s5BgUU/s320/InCollage_20230525_roche%20%237%20et%20%238.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />and finally this little one, left on steps leading to a trail<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc__WWdXVxQCIHVU6wUaJXXPANDegoZpzWhwUeGSusB-38kSk0MQih2VM9D8XTYzdkBviDQohzxD-BRsaxUkUyreBsyc61eaRCmxK4O9CrY3Oc_a1tQlvkbSttCsCmDPTCnWr-pSUGPHj7DfkV6o3Py7mug_-QVOzc2BPaNvj_I5piDSqCrEc/s4096/InCollage_20230530_roche%20%2310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc__WWdXVxQCIHVU6wUaJXXPANDegoZpzWhwUeGSusB-38kSk0MQih2VM9D8XTYzdkBviDQohzxD-BRsaxUkUyreBsyc61eaRCmxK4O9CrY3Oc_a1tQlvkbSttCsCmDPTCnWr-pSUGPHj7DfkV6o3Py7mug_-QVOzc2BPaNvj_I5piDSqCrEc/s320/InCollage_20230530_roche%20%2310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the moment I have a few drying from the varnish coat I gave them and today on my walk to the mailbox I actually picked up two more (blank ones). I know I'm no artist and I'm enjoying doing this. It does calm the brain, so that's always a good thing!<br /><br />While doing all this I also started watching some tutorials and took on watercolor painting. That is something totally new to me and I'm loving it even if it can be frustrating at times, but I see my evolution... slowly but surely, I think.<br /><br />Ok this will conclude this post for today, and I'll be seeing you around!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">TTFN</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /></div></div>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-36605678839333174572023-01-09T00:23:00.004-05:002023-01-09T00:23:45.828-05:00Popular Renovations Chronicle _ Year 2023<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">O</span>ver a month since my last post and we even completed yet another orbit of the sun! Wishing you all a very healthy, peaceful, happy and wealthy new year! May this New Year, a Rabbit one, be fluffy and cute and with only little turds! 🐇<br /><br />The <i>main</i> work has been completed, a little before Christmas. Is it done? No, there are many (small) issues to be fixed yet. <u style="font-weight: bold;">But</u> the bulk of it all is complete and after cleaning (again!) and putting lots of things away, we can now use our brand new and oh so beautiful kitchen. The work that was done is beyond our expectations. <br /><br />This was the kitchen the day we were moving in:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ivSqwURMIMDKK64mI4p0ELq8NqoEUr14I1DPIdUP12WEcn4YzEF1Fkg576Z99ZJECTlqsn4gwXiOCf6l6_J2UPxdPf_NHBQ-Spcw6qrOl0-N9Dspco5ztRRDsQ5-I3Uzi0yIHAf9iznAmToH8aEBZ9is-YUWs_MoWLyEtUQkBU3L_dweOZc/s712/Kitchen%20B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ivSqwURMIMDKK64mI4p0ELq8NqoEUr14I1DPIdUP12WEcn4YzEF1Fkg576Z99ZJECTlqsn4gwXiOCf6l6_J2UPxdPf_NHBQ-Spcw6qrOl0-N9Dspco5ztRRDsQ5-I3Uzi0yIHAf9iznAmToH8aEBZ9is-YUWs_MoWLyEtUQkBU3L_dweOZc/s320/Kitchen%20B4.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br />This is the kitchen, post renovations:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkIUovcRLUBEMDQPGXRqHCC7sZSgaSJMwZTcJM3n-QRieKGP75SSujbhMetRCKv3JCIE6z7kXt8yJFhjvUy_gjwHgfdeWRibjznR8EMt79X0DGpclvfS9dN_jRDAoOXtdh5YRHM-Sqb80LZexwmIP--q4sGkeMVcmlEc-T-wXqdMSVV1j-F4/s912/Kitchen%20After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="912" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkIUovcRLUBEMDQPGXRqHCC7sZSgaSJMwZTcJM3n-QRieKGP75SSujbhMetRCKv3JCIE6z7kXt8yJFhjvUy_gjwHgfdeWRibjznR8EMt79X0DGpclvfS9dN_jRDAoOXtdh5YRHM-Sqb80LZexwmIP--q4sGkeMVcmlEc-T-wXqdMSVV1j-F4/s320/Kitchen%20After.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Can you see the difference? Night and day, really!! We have more cabinets, a bigger island, quartz, and now we can cook and store our shit away!<br /><br />The other room where we had major work done was the main bathroom:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7KAt2VTsuHyLsQ4H7QGOS5reiyosHj1FFvLg_ZltqBi3slM21dCIvxNkEBoe62mUjqJqN4KjEJzIt1v_UVtz6koseiJFQWaVJONWyXC6xL0Bb2T_8FfNhNhDQ6sZkMa2iqhFuhbFr2JEACIPjAwzhxwh4Ipd8fpNA_6lUygrBxs16wQS5no/s1029/Bathroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1029" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7KAt2VTsuHyLsQ4H7QGOS5reiyosHj1FFvLg_ZltqBi3slM21dCIvxNkEBoe62mUjqJqN4KjEJzIt1v_UVtz6koseiJFQWaVJONWyXC6xL0Bb2T_8FfNhNhDQ6sZkMa2iqhFuhbFr2JEACIPjAwzhxwh4Ipd8fpNA_6lUygrBxs16wQS5no/s320/Bathroom1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnVb4Uh7cT8XB0EeFnT8U8J339FJVXmkray--glQj8QvtfmTy_tpdhmbUlJnKMsjVjy1_xL988GlYkphAfOcM3VmdvPizVm1-yA-uotwloxrAra1USQ3vr7Vha_6hT5KpV0a-2wt1NgyC2STy68RqZ65S-nJ5IHT0XLJJy7OJiLhVaQNDbKw/s842/Bathroom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="842" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnVb4Uh7cT8XB0EeFnT8U8J339FJVXmkray--glQj8QvtfmTy_tpdhmbUlJnKMsjVjy1_xL988GlYkphAfOcM3VmdvPizVm1-yA-uotwloxrAra1USQ3vr7Vha_6hT5KpV0a-2wt1NgyC2STy68RqZ65S-nJ5IHT0XLJJy7OJiLhVaQNDbKw/s320/Bathroom2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFEQxbcVa4QA63czIG8hkpWCN-C6-au1Ca19wF6DGXGRT070OhZT0mRCocoG5k0VsrqcmRNrXWMgY1EGPdi_sVMPW6BaDE9RTBYSw1fRQadOU40J4I3UZ1M0IyuxwFCa64tY-LPNqD0T3LZJIz1_KQG-qvLYAhOKb_DJw7zbp42Uj-moIiRs/s891/Bathroom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="891" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFEQxbcVa4QA63czIG8hkpWCN-C6-au1Ca19wF6DGXGRT070OhZT0mRCocoG5k0VsrqcmRNrXWMgY1EGPdi_sVMPW6BaDE9RTBYSw1fRQadOU40J4I3UZ1M0IyuxwFCa64tY-LPNqD0T3LZJIz1_KQG-qvLYAhOKb_DJw7zbp42Uj-moIiRs/s320/Bathroom3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Haven't taken a bath yet in the new tub, but I will say that having a toilet back on the top floor is very, very nice and oh so practical! Especially in the middle of the night!<br /><br />Tomorrow some wallpapering is schedule to happen for the entrance and the water room... As for the last <i>issues</i> Dog knows when those will be addressed, I'm not holding my breath on those, but I will withhold final payment. 😉 <br /><br />I think they were off still last week, so I'm hoping to hear from them this coming week, if not then <b>they will</b> hear from me! We were supposed to have a man come in during the Holidays to fix part of the flooring in the basement, but he never called or anything. Either he forgot or just didn't want to come back. Since it was "extra" I'm not upset as we also needed the time off to crash, clean and unpack (again!) at our pace. It was nice not to have to get up freakin' early to open the door to workers banging their way through the house. The day we removed that blue carpet clingy thingy they had put all over the ground floor and stairs felt so darn good. Even if the (original) floor is damaged (marks, dings, etc. did I mention animals lived here before?!) it was nice to actually walk from one floor to the other without hearing the crunching of little pieces of dirt, wall or whatever else and this even if we'd vacuumed. I don't think I ever vacuumed in my life as much as I've done in this house so far! Washing the floors, walls even (that fuckin' dust of demolition, sanding and wood cutting gets on everything and goes everywhere!) and actually having them stay "clean" for more than a weekend has been nice! <br /><br />We were/are both tired not to say exhausted from it all. Managing our stress and life was/is a bit much at times, but we managed to keep it together. We are thankful for how everything went overall because it wasn't a small job. We basically had work in every room but one. We love the designer's vision and how he made everything coherent from his choice of colors and textures. We like how he respected our <i>style</i> and work with that. We love the painter's work and how he repainted (the bathroom completely!) and other areas without bitching about it or overcharging us... We were lucky with the amazing contractor we had and his team (plumber and electrician). Those men and one gal were super nice, efficient and did nice work all the while remaining helpful.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55NOGbUulioouiLn9Mp_A_jdkUIB5ps58YjPLbR9vCMi1VpQCOLFchnSTcMwsV1_mLOMRSu0DXItl0-sfj4tdmS4gJDFxOV3Szp8VtHVPuMtH5-whjS9NjaQTgQVD4wtZi9kJs7lMFDm8NBxUnpGT-7dVnu5IcrJ9SR6XPWuUm50VEPgvb7Q/s4000/IMG_20221219_162218810_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55NOGbUulioouiLn9Mp_A_jdkUIB5ps58YjPLbR9vCMi1VpQCOLFchnSTcMwsV1_mLOMRSu0DXItl0-sfj4tdmS4gJDFxOV3Szp8VtHVPuMtH5-whjS9NjaQTgQVD4wtZi9kJs7lMFDm8NBxUnpGT-7dVnu5IcrJ9SR6XPWuUm50VEPgvb7Q/s320/IMG_20221219_162218810_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />The one woman was the electrician. That is her on top of the ladder in the stairs while installing the light fixture in the staircase, after one man tipped over and fell (<i>nothing broken, thankfully</i>)... That gal was fearless. She got shit done. She managed to pass wires in the basement's ceiling from one corner to the other side of the house without making any new holes! It may seem like it's not much, but it not only save time from not having to redo gyprock on the ceiling (then plaster, sanding, etc.), but the amount of dust we were spared from... that was no joke! For that I'm VERY grateful!<br /><br />I actually moved back to my office last Tuesday, to Hubby's delight. We really don't share well! I'm slowly getting settled in my <i>new</i> space. I'm setup as far as work is concerned, but for my craft I'm still <i>working</i> on it. All in due time. No rush, at least not for that!<br /><br />So there you have it, the latest news on our Popular Renovations Chronicle! <br /><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">Take care, stay safe and watch out for morons!</blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;">They're everywhere! </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;"> </blockquote><br /><br />stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-73302024735923545972022-12-03T18:17:00.001-05:002022-12-03T18:17:19.584-05:00Day Toomany - Popular Renovations Chronicle<p> Twelve days since my last post... time just flies when having fun or not, it keeps on going. Construction being what it is, whatever traces are left from the pandemic and add to that our impatience to get things done, we find ourselves frustrated, tired and VERY short fused... mostly with each other. I had been told renovations can be hard on a couple, and I can now confirm that is true. Granted I start with barely any fuse on a good day, so adding stress and all this shit and well, things do get heated at times. Moving on.<br /><br />People have been <i>bugging</i> me (<i>yeah bugging!</i>) about how long it is taking me to unpack, to get things organized and since I don't control much into this whole process except how often I write checks or transfer funds really, it has been taking its toll on me. Anyone who (<i>has the pleasure to</i>) knows me, knows that I'm organized and like things in their place. This <i>experience</i> has been anything but... Yes we have to keep our eyes on the prize. We will have a beautiful home once it all done, but in the meantime it's a big fuckin' mess, really.<br /><br />That being said, I do see that things are nice, what is done is beautiful, but with big projects like this we are bound to have things go wrong, like missing pieces, wrong measurements, etc. Besides the bookcase in the basement and my office, things are not completed. Here are some pictures to give you an idea...<br /><br />Our walkin closet in the entry way, is missing a top on some drawer, no biggy. Still managed to fill it out and have all our shoes, boots, etc. in one spot and by the front door!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUmRHG9C1gp_fbssrZpidSMTFsFCFyli0ToxQ6uZTBl6XkxW-rn8KwtlFT6H_s_9BsYCOfCpR0_LjNI7esatwJS5ZMKRC4OkZMR-UB5rcKfqQrVoPLLb8zRPIbA27i8zuP0BFP0nD5TsHBw8x4BlCnn5gQRb_YCACKhXAvit8SqbmRoFKaZE/s4000/IMG_20221203_125030829_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUmRHG9C1gp_fbssrZpidSMTFsFCFyli0ToxQ6uZTBl6XkxW-rn8KwtlFT6H_s_9BsYCOfCpR0_LjNI7esatwJS5ZMKRC4OkZMR-UB5rcKfqQrVoPLLb8zRPIbA27i8zuP0BFP0nD5TsHBw8x4BlCnn5gQRb_YCACKhXAvit8SqbmRoFKaZE/s320/IMG_20221203_125030829_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />Then on to the kitchen... We had chosen a quartz top which we were told was backordered, soooo we selected another one and it's not coming in before December 16th... so our kitchen, water room and bathroom have no counters... which means no sink nor faucets... The plumber was kind enough to 'lend' us an old sink and faucet on a piece of plywood so that we don't have to use the garage's sink when brushing our teeth or washing our hands or even doing the dishes...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xILnx-KLwZ8ndq7HM1Ma0ET0Vch0fVmxwx6w-6mMqGLdeHyn3-N6kKMLlgJXnysfaT6sXdl-eSuyC9hX2o8Xmw5IN2dLWtUx2uy8jPjMmz6KJCB7DFRxJloMwr3NXJqFBIxvTc53ePUwW6TvVUhHDZfiALONhUieZjpjmfsFa_xkggaKOCs/s4000/IMG_20221203_125011248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xILnx-KLwZ8ndq7HM1Ma0ET0Vch0fVmxwx6w-6mMqGLdeHyn3-N6kKMLlgJXnysfaT6sXdl-eSuyC9hX2o8Xmw5IN2dLWtUx2uy8jPjMmz6KJCB7DFRxJloMwr3NXJqFBIxvTc53ePUwW6TvVUhHDZfiALONhUieZjpjmfsFa_xkggaKOCs/s320/IMG_20221203_125011248.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />As you can see, I've been unpacking anyway, storing things away and trying to figure out where things will go... But no counter top means no workspace to prepare food or to stack things on while emptying a box... Fun I tell you!<br /><br />In our bedroom the walkin is done, but also missing a pole, so still have clothes in Hubby's office, until I can hang the longer garments.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5KFH1DdnXRe3rhLgeEI2jxojjL95HFuECkAlwoEaCFrFU7MZ_JQGuthT9lsDL2lChcUWnVNg9BQpMBvS3Wn1GPuRRgfcLqyNSs0S7HYses5FIxGMKx6ul5f4wBxcjW2-M576f7_U41CohDIw17xUWtNu7x53uai8h_mpae-cs1cJq8SAevs/s4000/IMG_20221203_125138881_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5KFH1DdnXRe3rhLgeEI2jxojjL95HFuECkAlwoEaCFrFU7MZ_JQGuthT9lsDL2lChcUWnVNg9BQpMBvS3Wn1GPuRRgfcLqyNSs0S7HYses5FIxGMKx6ul5f4wBxcjW2-M576f7_U41CohDIw17xUWtNu7x53uai8h_mpae-cs1cJq8SAevs/s320/IMG_20221203_125138881_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />To think that starting on Monday, the painter is coming back to finish painting the basement and all the closets, that I will have to empty, again, I feel like rolling myself into a ball in a corner, suck on my thumb and cry a little... La madame est fatiguée!<br /><br />At least my office is done, well mostly, the electrician still has to install some lighting underneath the top cabinets, and now I have the <i>pleasure </i>to unpack it all. Between work and craft, there is a LOT of shit... <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnB8WNc95M_hQ7E0M5du0jkzoq_dQ0El6hutDNF6Ohqy5NJ8TJbpMBO5fSQxT6Xd5jk8m4losWdqPKzZwGOP-5DrFlCLdBWF02PebvfKApsktPirXvzIjlr5lwLzq3EfUjlpZSXEGFpuXhbmXABr945dHlC8ohz6Yi7bR1zebQ04K-l9o3k0/s4000/IMG_20221203_141131394_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnB8WNc95M_hQ7E0M5du0jkzoq_dQ0El6hutDNF6Ohqy5NJ8TJbpMBO5fSQxT6Xd5jk8m4losWdqPKzZwGOP-5DrFlCLdBWF02PebvfKApsktPirXvzIjlr5lwLzq3EfUjlpZSXEGFpuXhbmXABr945dHlC8ohz6Yi7bR1zebQ04K-l9o3k0/s320/IMG_20221203_141131394_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />But it will be so pretty and so organized once all set up, can't wait to get back to my crafts! Work well... it is that, work! ;-)<br /><br />And lastly our most <i>damaged</i> room, after the kitchen, our bathroom; still bath less and toilet less - but thank Dog we can shower - is in serious need of a complete repaint job...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCyZ17fYwMPGijB8LTcVYB7XLuCmsGLkG9hS_G5jQB1PTEBnAL8LW1VzRg3i19tOs_THHfWqi2iN3Sb7vK3MgZPzOfVXuqNv9M1s5VDE1CVI-VOhzykYaalS5b9oZiDzA9Gsq-jhPP9AHmGYNHEXLC8afrM05k5L2tpCC2cDvQidp8en87bs/s4000/IMG_20221203_125203497_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCyZ17fYwMPGijB8LTcVYB7XLuCmsGLkG9hS_G5jQB1PTEBnAL8LW1VzRg3i19tOs_THHfWqi2iN3Sb7vK3MgZPzOfVXuqNv9M1s5VDE1CVI-VOhzykYaalS5b9oZiDzA9Gsq-jhPP9AHmGYNHEXLC8afrM05k5L2tpCC2cDvQidp8en87bs/s320/IMG_20221203_125203497_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />So after the quartz has been installed (mid-December if everything goes well!), the contractor will come back to install the backsplash in the kitchen, finish up little things here and there, have the plumber come back to install all the sinks, faucets, tub and toilet and the electrician to install lights in the bathroom, kitchen, office and finish up the connection of every electrical outlets now being wires in a hole on different walls... and that does not even include the carpenter's visit to finish what was left unfinished because of missing pieces... or the gal to install the wall paper... Yep things are progressing nicely! ...just saying!</div>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-20985440249657135372022-11-21T20:14:00.007-05:002022-11-21T20:16:31.435-05:00Day Fifteen - Popular Renovations Chronicle<p>A few days went by and things are slowly, but surely, getting more completed. This morning a cute guy came by to measure everything for the quartz countertops. If only the men who came in and out of this place lately could be like that one... he was clean, cute, polite and fast! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVqilgV_I51yD9GiRi_RnOoLOl42QnqTJx9-O_R39K9n9XgXMUu6nY93KqFiaoZDaoPi6zcl4zzqzchKv8AtyzNgdzyeT4AoKvfDZdz33YdIGNOGUup7fqDn2NQAo7rw0ze10hXP6A2m8TZl7KZhE3sBR--jmFWsbglagsVpAQz7lxTSIwvI/s318/download.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVqilgV_I51yD9GiRi_RnOoLOl42QnqTJx9-O_R39K9n9XgXMUu6nY93KqFiaoZDaoPi6zcl4zzqzchKv8AtyzNgdzyeT4AoKvfDZdz33YdIGNOGUup7fqDn2NQAo7rw0ze10hXP6A2m8TZl7KZhE3sBR--jmFWsbglagsVpAQz7lxTSIwvI/s1600/download.jpg" width="318" /></a>Overall I'd say the work is progressing fine. We are both tired to not have our <i>refuge</i> to ourselves. Not only do many people come in our bubble but they leave it dirty, and we both hate that. We are also both tired of having to get up early, as neither one of us are early birds. It's been rough. I told a friend today that I'm a night owl, and don't do well with early birds, and if this keeps up I will turn into a bird of prey!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuaV8RlYoTN33jttx8qY4r8TjTsosTQJpkqlbGG4ADmhviFuMinBCJYBIZiix8w-wwbBVa4_IGwE3jH6JUSoVAvXl52ZULuxsyWRz6ppkqyp4qN63H_jIaV8C-x3vvjZPT6ZJFDV9Sju1Dc34Z-3i9GPQ6YHGV4W06Gmj-hOb-962WWxbn-w/s300/Its-Too-Loud-1-280x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="280" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuaV8RlYoTN33jttx8qY4r8TjTsosTQJpkqlbGG4ADmhviFuMinBCJYBIZiix8w-wwbBVa4_IGwE3jH6JUSoVAvXl52ZULuxsyWRz6ppkqyp4qN63H_jIaV8C-x3vvjZPT6ZJFDV9Sju1Dc34Z-3i9GPQ6YHGV4W06Gmj-hOb-962WWxbn-w/w196-h210/Its-Too-Loud-1-280x300.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br />At times I feel like telling them to stop with the noise, the banging and all... but I keep reminding myself it's for our comfort in the long run, and it will end. ...eventually! Hubby is really not a happy camper, as we are basically camping in our home... He's been cooking using either our slow cooker or our air fryer in the garage. At first it was on a folding table, but the last few days, it's been on top of our new kitchen sink box... It is getting old really fast... <br /><br />BUT, I'm happy to say that one thing is completely done! Check it out:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczPxY6SdzIS6mqLzXiDO54TMQf7AVw1v-gOOnOKLx1Qfnai9V9gzXzn1mCtYNH0E3oIhZvHKRqYt8UCEx7wl8RdgA0SFqIx6PljJhF55Pvka_FlPUFanHZy7H_rEbAWUyp7rhWVOB2aTKnQc0lxoJtb6kHLdHlOT1dOrwADAIWWPK05gRQkk/s4000/IMG_20221121_185420051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczPxY6SdzIS6mqLzXiDO54TMQf7AVw1v-gOOnOKLx1Qfnai9V9gzXzn1mCtYNH0E3oIhZvHKRqYt8UCEx7wl8RdgA0SFqIx6PljJhF55Pvka_FlPUFanHZy7H_rEbAWUyp7rhWVOB2aTKnQc0lxoJtb6kHLdHlOT1dOrwADAIWWPK05gRQkk/s320/IMG_20221121_185420051.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /> Our new bookcase is the basement! I love it! I had it made deep to be able to contain all my scrapbooking albums, photo albums, our books, and the bottom section will be for our games and such. Starting to fill it up as soon as I can find the right boxes!<br /><br />Now, if you'll excuse me, boxes are calling my name to be unpacked!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">Tourlou!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-57445998035598502622022-11-17T19:28:00.002-05:002022-11-17T19:28:55.172-05:00Day Eleven - Popular Renovations Chronicle<p>I think I'm too tired to do my daily report... things are moving along. I see the progress and just now I finished vacuuming part of the ground floor because there was just too much saw dust for us at the moment... This guy is a real fuckin' messy worker... and he's like a virus spreading around the whole freaking house... I have my doubts he will be <u>all</u> done by end of day tomorrow... but time will tell...<br /><br />Here is what our kitchen looks like at the moment...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TbY51fqluxDwVl8yYpJ9Yh9DzQGhPqx-OvCfFMECBYDbptdi68JCrJ7COt8xjHisyWdWYOqaASVYuSO9yrtseJWMkWFqK-lA1QKnwyqUD920vMn81Q_oc3zlsUAaky8MSNEG747OrkVCwFtFOl2P8E9KLXW8UUl8yjOfdn5nRv91qGCJ8Lc/s4000/IMG_20221117_190959917_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TbY51fqluxDwVl8yYpJ9Yh9DzQGhPqx-OvCfFMECBYDbptdi68JCrJ7COt8xjHisyWdWYOqaASVYuSO9yrtseJWMkWFqK-lA1QKnwyqUD920vMn81Q_oc3zlsUAaky8MSNEG747OrkVCwFtFOl2P8E9KLXW8UUl8yjOfdn5nRv91qGCJ8Lc/s320/IMG_20221117_190959917_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I (I should say we, really!) will have so much storage!!! (<i>doing a butt happy dance in my chair</i>) and part of my new and improved office... it will give me so much more space to create!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb7NjUnu3w3W9A-kWymltEv-k-9pwrnxXJpxMPp5UJFNBJjdWnQv8yskQKIxOY9oTmcY6lzC6P_cZKHmEb2KkbEqlVstWnByf6kdMae08Po0rvg9J7PDI25YF4oQa3OIDXV7bevazxTqIg0C6o1tjrWy8reU6zQrRlEwDIciaWcHk_wUbDmk/s4000/IMG_20221117_190854154_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb7NjUnu3w3W9A-kWymltEv-k-9pwrnxXJpxMPp5UJFNBJjdWnQv8yskQKIxOY9oTmcY6lzC6P_cZKHmEb2KkbEqlVstWnByf6kdMae08Po0rvg9J7PDI25YF4oQa3OIDXV7bevazxTqIg0C6o1tjrWy8reU6zQrRlEwDIciaWcHk_wUbDmk/s320/IMG_20221117_190854154_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />There is still lots to do, so many little adjustments... before everything is mounted and done... and I'm not even talking about the guys having to return to finish the tiling in the kitchen, re-installing our appliances... and me washing and FINALLY unpacking boxes! <div><br /></div><div>I'm hoping to be done before Christmas... 😟😫😭</div>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-26878184963997274452022-11-16T19:55:00.000-05:002022-11-16T19:55:09.759-05:00Day Ten - Popular Renovations Chronicle<p> Another day completed and things are progressing... It started slow this morning since we were hit with a nice snow storm today. Supposedly traffic was a nightmare so the worker (and his teenage son) arrived later. I was a bit taken aback when I saw the "team" especially since I was told they would be done in three days. When they arrived, Senior walked around with all the plans and told his son to unpack certain things. He's quite chatty actually, but man, he can <i>rock 'n roll </i>from what I can see at end of their first day. He works all over the place, spends some time in the kitchen, then goes to the basement to work some, then goes into the bathroom, then into the laundry room, a bit in my office... it's weird, but things are getting installed, and that's the main thing!<br /><br />Here's a peek at the bathroom, when he installed some cabinets above the (future) tub...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuy9caw-Cvjshaj3ERB5tqdt2K69GZstxMSesPcQ02khE1cpJXQpXhFtoLfvxfnaRgHggf62SY0qIKU0JNkFxLieimxvt_nphVJtr6oiiQ7il0D2daD8IHLzc4Gs9xQKdUzHtpWXtz2snRpDCFMP5v2FGb-9IJaJxA4g4tO1KOmZwLOZIgLs/s4000/IMG_20221116_173646339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuy9caw-Cvjshaj3ERB5tqdt2K69GZstxMSesPcQ02khE1cpJXQpXhFtoLfvxfnaRgHggf62SY0qIKU0JNkFxLieimxvt_nphVJtr6oiiQ7il0D2daD8IHLzc4Gs9xQKdUzHtpWXtz2snRpDCFMP5v2FGb-9IJaJxA4g4tO1KOmZwLOZIgLs/s320/IMG_20221116_173646339.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />I have to say that even if he seems to be quite productive, he's not a clean worker... There is wrapping paper and cardboard all over. When he was done for the day, he left his tools, on the floor, right where he was, put on his coat and left. Since he's supposed to be here for three days only, I'm hoping he will clean up after himself by the time he's done. Time will tell. There are (already!) things that need to be corrected, but nothing too major just yet. <br /><br />This is it for today's Chronicle. Stay warm and see you tomorrow! stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-60957218060066615132022-11-15T15:24:00.008-05:002022-11-15T15:28:30.097-05:00Day Nine - Popular Renovations Chronicles<p> And so another week started in the <i>Popular Renovations. </i> Actually, last night we felt an earthquake, a 3.7 magnitude, and in the area of... Terrebonne! <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mV5JTgO9QuazXFdqSqeeGCPtjS_92vgyQ81yS2hHM12qE6d1IQBqws1ZFioziq6bQKn_u_Y2kyk0OKKd1upFxKhD-gZIv6V72y7jLrszi9__f5K-7qUrck1NeRLD6STdd8zU9waDEQHgmXMgjyEmUQRyoFYgAFcsA2CAEsoAhMBN-qReVZU/s449/earthquake-1-6153134-1668482220565.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="449" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mV5JTgO9QuazXFdqSqeeGCPtjS_92vgyQ81yS2hHM12qE6d1IQBqws1ZFioziq6bQKn_u_Y2kyk0OKKd1upFxKhD-gZIv6V72y7jLrszi9__f5K-7qUrck1NeRLD6STdd8zU9waDEQHgmXMgjyEmUQRyoFYgAFcsA2CAEsoAhMBN-qReVZU/s320/earthquake-1-6153134-1668482220565.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Talk about some weird luck, if after all the renovations we were to be hit by an earthquake. If you're curious, listen to this seismologist with Natural Resources Canada:<br /><a href="https://omny.fm/shows/cjad-800/did-you-feel-the-earthquake" target="_blank">https://omny.fm/shows/cjad-800/did-you-feel-the-earthquake</a> It was a small one, but we sure heard and felt the house shake!<br /><br />Today, was delivery of all cabinets, etc. We went from somewhat livable to this...<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaDfU2Dt0T1hrmDUxz0ISFke6VqSr2AGvCxeJHZWsDDp-BoyDF4hUrzTDbubtE_dR2c0Qat4bO9kiSd0XIsK8ZE9chA7Vf95LDREgFzF9Sc2WQIpsT0iqrDb2Dbz3lus84IcWnGIfFI--uTcYc2RwBDt19A9jS9rjFtHUcrr21xjD08phuJM/s1280/Day%209_Kitchen%20Living%20Room.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaDfU2Dt0T1hrmDUxz0ISFke6VqSr2AGvCxeJHZWsDDp-BoyDF4hUrzTDbubtE_dR2c0Qat4bO9kiSd0XIsK8ZE9chA7Vf95LDREgFzF9Sc2WQIpsT0iqrDb2Dbz3lus84IcWnGIfFI--uTcYc2RwBDt19A9jS9rjFtHUcrr21xjD08phuJM/s320/Day%209_Kitchen%20Living%20Room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is for the Kitchen... alone...</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDKN3FZzDKHxc42mAO6FWyAi9I1YsJtL36pTJxc1-mwu1NdBUjfqhuivvOqqvcvFk1gKWRIXf5_5HuS7aobb3pkFwhySg8eEjCkVzlUbgrf5ZqoQFfQnVtyuCnxJD8cXnaOjzVlah2lIyTM2-ZCwYdZVRx6LW6zHctV2MSp1T1rSOhbS2Sj8/s4000/Day%209_20221115_Office.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDKN3FZzDKHxc42mAO6FWyAi9I1YsJtL36pTJxc1-mwu1NdBUjfqhuivvOqqvcvFk1gKWRIXf5_5HuS7aobb3pkFwhySg8eEjCkVzlUbgrf5ZqoQFfQnVtyuCnxJD8cXnaOjzVlah2lIyTM2-ZCwYdZVRx6LW6zHctV2MSp1T1rSOhbS2Sj8/s320/Day%209_20221115_Office.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is for my office...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gqPYQou1ydccG-YKhIChIOOemW-61Xf_5vbGNEjjApAzeHYh1j2hAiv-RHGPhqn2KqdnUoK0HMHEPDvaOLrv7slyA5d8NBDtapmrt58xFc90uleikH_LKt9D577FBNQ8VYdcvsXjMu36lUYC_WDhr9mAD26BSeTBRuaAVPgjCjgPtkCcxl4/s4000/Day%209_20221115_Bathroom%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gqPYQou1ydccG-YKhIChIOOemW-61Xf_5vbGNEjjApAzeHYh1j2hAiv-RHGPhqn2KqdnUoK0HMHEPDvaOLrv7slyA5d8NBDtapmrt58xFc90uleikH_LKt9D577FBNQ8VYdcvsXjMu36lUYC_WDhr9mAD26BSeTBRuaAVPgjCjgPtkCcxl4/s320/Day%209_20221115_Bathroom%20(1).jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is for the Bathroom...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Can I say claustrophobia wasn't an issue when we started this project, but I might be slowly starting to feel it? I sure feel "cozy" at the moment... I look around and have no idea who the guys are going to do to install it all when there is barely any room left for them to move... The two men who delivered it all commented that "normally" they deliver about thirty to forty cabinets. Today they brought in over sixty-two not counting the planks, etc. I guess it IS a BIG job! Crazy and somewhat overwhelming... but I trust things to keep on moving the way they have this far... Stay tune!</div>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-74577875332175621852022-11-11T17:58:00.006-05:002022-11-11T18:00:45.305-05:00Day Five - Popular Renovations Chronicle<p> Another day bites down the dust, in all ways, meanings of this expression... the last day of team A. Today they completed all ceramic joints (floor and wall), sanded one last time the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and all closets walls. They are done, for Step One of these <i>Popular Renovations.<br /></i><br />The also prep the wall for the cabinets which will be delivered next week.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jmStaRst3qywY25ZcH7jfl3sdJ8GuPh7KzbEt6tOzuIFN_5CEBftjCMr82uNnAapIWfdMW296STNJaWsiSFz65WZX5i9f2-4HZhb8GMYqkxaZdrHbUhqM5WlTO7kfz2EHvvjte8JNdCJg3M-9T7LKE47IIaQZqZXkmAgY8QzKjNiumn6gGc/s4000/Day%205_20221111_155440147_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jmStaRst3qywY25ZcH7jfl3sdJ8GuPh7KzbEt6tOzuIFN_5CEBftjCMr82uNnAapIWfdMW296STNJaWsiSFz65WZX5i9f2-4HZhb8GMYqkxaZdrHbUhqM5WlTO7kfz2EHvvjte8JNdCJg3M-9T7LKE47IIaQZqZXkmAgY8QzKjNiumn6gGc/s320/Day%205_20221111_155440147_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />After they were done with all this, they actually vacuumed everywhere (they had been) and even mopped the floors! For them to mop the bathroom floor after they were done with the joints I get that, but to mop the closets, etc., wow! These two are really something else! When we had talked before they started the actual demolition, the son had said they would have a container delivered here for the week. At the time I thought there would be debris from the demolition, but since I was trying to sell a lot of the cabinets and other things that were taken out, there would be less. It made sense if only for the convenience of it, rather than having to deal with garbage bags and their disposal.<br /><br />That's how much junk came out of our home... unreal!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fzv-yvKITo3bNDBRIvhafrUf85tO8xAfyRgIWFPZ_8oAcAtia_UuLWTx7drwOBuUll3zQfwaBim2YV7HNudYn6BqiTvVITaREBBjsG5LYU2NQonx8vieZUlLFNJ_BEmwY4wUAoyYjqRJtNczeD_nP4qXXlrgP8kKoQGY_67JvVuemwDO-kY/s4000/Day%205_20221111_155126023_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fzv-yvKITo3bNDBRIvhafrUf85tO8xAfyRgIWFPZ_8oAcAtia_UuLWTx7drwOBuUll3zQfwaBim2YV7HNudYn6BqiTvVITaREBBjsG5LYU2NQonx8vieZUlLFNJ_BEmwY4wUAoyYjqRJtNczeD_nP4qXXlrgP8kKoQGY_67JvVuemwDO-kY/s320/Day%205_20221111_155126023_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /> <br />Have a great weekend and enjoy the peace and quiet of your home! I know I will! 😉stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-79201886845292358172022-11-10T18:47:00.003-05:002022-11-10T18:47:45.579-05:00Day Four - Renovations Chronicle<p>I can't believe how much I appreciate the quietness after the men leave... <br /><br />This morning I tried to stay in bed when they showed up, but with the racket they were making I just lay in bed and thought. My little hamster never stops going in this little wheel of mine, lately... I swear, I almost get dizzy from all the thoughts that hit me at times. Today was a day of sanding some walls and doing the ceramic behind the tub. They guys weren't too happy having to install in at an angle, but I thought it would be nicer. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFjVNuvFVekyrLeKi6OslJzZlechkQeKYt-9isk-NjEb3jnqlHSOFj18Bo7vLz32rmNxXfHnGLQd93JBdTQgsv7dzc_4a1MtA4-VXyNw183rPhisp44xdBMc_FddB5Ub-ItgCi8MuCruh5b43n7x2VUFa33pLImX4jAliW3GC4r6nJ_v9Peo/s4000/IMG_20221110_145757538_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFjVNuvFVekyrLeKi6OslJzZlechkQeKYt-9isk-NjEb3jnqlHSOFj18Bo7vLz32rmNxXfHnGLQd93JBdTQgsv7dzc_4a1MtA4-VXyNw183rPhisp44xdBMc_FddB5Ub-ItgCi8MuCruh5b43n7x2VUFa33pLImX4jAliW3GC4r6nJ_v9Peo/s320/IMG_20221110_145757538_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I find it almost look like a Frost fence! 👀 But I like it! When I told the designer what I thought it reminded of, he was not too impressed... so touchy!<br /><br />Tomorrow is their last day, they will do all the joints, and finalize everything so that the walls are ready for the cabinet installation. <br /><br />Next week, a new team, the installers, will be coming in. Hope that goes all as well as Team A did...<br /><br />Time will tell!stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-7367294436361350392022-11-09T22:47:00.002-05:002022-11-09T22:58:30.055-05:00Day Three - Renovations Chronicle<p> Today will be a short post, things are still on the right track, running smoothly, which makes us very happy. It wasn't a quiet day in the house, Hubby <i>escaped</i> again. The lucky man can go to his employer's office ten minutes from home for some peace and quiet and he can even shower there, which he did today!<br /><br />I've been thinking how I'm going to manage that tomorrow, as our shower will not be available for a few days... He offered to take me to his office, but that would be after working hours, I'm thinking... <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_c473a7DxpD3QVBTH-dtDmI3othh-CGv48GKz761llVrSJMUG0768xzeXQG03UUY5rXejwcLpMgnKuCdT5Lg1CCWHxfYF3n346hVaJB2YKYpTm9UlQxFKAIfWsTIcZdsUe6vwcwioWrihdoMIlbh6QgJCqh8C_xfh5s_2k22gh8fLCIXy3s/s4000/New%20bathroom%20floor_day%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_c473a7DxpD3QVBTH-dtDmI3othh-CGv48GKz761llVrSJMUG0768xzeXQG03UUY5rXejwcLpMgnKuCdT5Lg1CCWHxfYF3n346hVaJB2YKYpTm9UlQxFKAIfWsTIcZdsUe6vwcwioWrihdoMIlbh6QgJCqh8C_xfh5s_2k22gh8fLCIXy3s/s320/New%20bathroom%20floor_day%203.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />Tomorrow the plan is to do the ceramic (on the wall) and finish the kitchen's walls. The guys show up really early, and as most of you who do know me, I'm no early bird. I've been getting even shorter nights than usual, to the point that this morning, while they were cutting tiles and banging whatever it was, I fell asleep and slept for more than one hour! I guess it's true that one can sleep through anything when tired enough! ah!<br /><br />And I did manage to sell and liberate the garage of the old vanity! Yay me! Been trying to sell some of the stuff we've been taken off/out. I wasn't too thrill to just get rid of it all (as <b>strongly</b> suggested by Hubby), so I took pictures and posted some items on <i>MarketFace. </i>I'm always amazed at what does and does not sell on there... A lot of people ask questions, but few do follow through. I'm happy that I've managed to sell a bunch of things, like light fixtures, blinds, furniture, and once I'll be unpacking the many boxes, I'm sure there will be stuff in there it will be time for me to get rid of. Anyhoo... one thing at the time, and these days it is all about the renovations! 😉stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-16907961843546739602022-11-08T15:52:00.001-05:002022-11-08T15:52:42.813-05:00Day Two - Renovations Chronicle<p> Another one bites the dust, or in this case, I'm breathing dust! BUT things are moving along. <br /><br />Today was a day for the plumber, the electrician (a woman, thank you very much!) a bit more demolition and some of the drywall has been put up.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5JSI6RyXS7Ss9BriqWckMe_Pw25lGz2hxe541QU7FqQIOoc33-lgmToqnP-EVKtp5ahUia17djlQo_vDyjH_qgyAMQ95I-xhyvDebC9tAyEGJEz4JDn1Y9EhFENeEBlBYm5M3bnBa49mhrBZhpsTlLUlFuW9yjAMwGu-6nt5BfSw3L0vPOA/s4000/IMG_20221108_151407427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5JSI6RyXS7Ss9BriqWckMe_Pw25lGz2hxe541QU7FqQIOoc33-lgmToqnP-EVKtp5ahUia17djlQo_vDyjH_qgyAMQ95I-xhyvDebC9tAyEGJEz4JDn1Y9EhFENeEBlBYm5M3bnBa49mhrBZhpsTlLUlFuW9yjAMwGu-6nt5BfSw3L0vPOA/s320/IMG_20221108_151407427.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />They vacuumed the 'site' at the end of their day, empty the garbage and I really like the way they work. They're a fun and pleasant team, and so far I have nothing negative to say about them. There's a big container parked in our driveway... unbelievable the amount of crap demolition generates! And dust!!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SUFkxBMfN8rpiVGcJqUcKL4doVccJls2kKxTUEornv0sTJorkSBx5evG5HlnxfC25VYLTuo5zq_WHvQfzSIUy9WxVrT5AtUn-RXyM50rSBRs4NZqNGZAHf-lw2E1a7JHTHlGTiBMtmeBoZ5mdmfbXeUO3JZRKBybYEwcAis8r9D-uutcZjM/s558/4054b1ad9a1035f90d69eb1b3589e255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="502" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SUFkxBMfN8rpiVGcJqUcKL4doVccJls2kKxTUEornv0sTJorkSBx5evG5HlnxfC25VYLTuo5zq_WHvQfzSIUy9WxVrT5AtUn-RXyM50rSBRs4NZqNGZAHf-lw2E1a7JHTHlGTiBMtmeBoZ5mdmfbXeUO3JZRKBybYEwcAis8r9D-uutcZjM/s320/4054b1ad9a1035f90d69eb1b3589e255.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-44505195917321804492022-11-07T15:53:00.003-05:002022-11-07T15:53:44.856-05:00Day One - Demolition!<p> Today started thirty minutes ahead of the scheduled time, and about twenty minutes ago the workers left...<br /><br />I'll give them that: they are efficient! I've asked them to start with the bathroom, since I have a few people interested to buy a few things, so...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLHQQI6uvQqr_vUshSpKEX_f1H3zvSziDJ1yFTYF3ASK33_8dDifB2q8h8iXQxO0NllikXw32AhRFfqH1GwXmNXVREjVAJA4o21WQk77A9o5pWY-ppyneiKzbIvwzorVDWAQNB0c_tDZ-yzHYjDCFlHOoft8nyJalZ--w090tajXqMcHTyyI/s942/Bathroom%20Day%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="942" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLHQQI6uvQqr_vUshSpKEX_f1H3zvSziDJ1yFTYF3ASK33_8dDifB2q8h8iXQxO0NllikXw32AhRFfqH1GwXmNXVREjVAJA4o21WQk77A9o5pWY-ppyneiKzbIvwzorVDWAQNB0c_tDZ-yzHYjDCFlHOoft8nyJalZ--w090tajXqMcHTyyI/s320/Bathroom%20Day%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />As the day went along, the noise level was getting higher, and Hubby left to go to the office - too much noise since he needed to be on a zoom call. They took a break for lunch and then they <i>attacked</i> the kitchen...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZLWjOCC4D2iDGzCxLvZh29o2JeRisrW20RzivmJO1Gv347oj_QL3yl435Fx0qxylSmBfyuaDmLmNoDaEqDy9cbuG12m-nknJMxbAd0NhqEYaYeO_loc6oho2s5IKNyTuKfnqYuD0_56f8udookTy8a-8oIindFfKLPBjYOLT1Z_3TBn2Qzs/s818/Kitchen%20Day%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="818" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZLWjOCC4D2iDGzCxLvZh29o2JeRisrW20RzivmJO1Gv347oj_QL3yl435Fx0qxylSmBfyuaDmLmNoDaEqDy9cbuG12m-nknJMxbAd0NhqEYaYeO_loc6oho2s5IKNyTuKfnqYuD0_56f8udookTy8a-8oIindFfKLPBjYOLT1Z_3TBn2Qzs/s320/Kitchen%20Day%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />When I came down to see what had been done, I was a little... surprise to say the least. Father and son team... I must say I'm impressed!<br /><br />Now let's keeping our fingers crossed that it keeps on going this way!stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-76994943246972015612022-11-05T16:39:00.001-04:002022-11-05T16:39:12.634-04:00Oh My! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdIwBgQw6w-5sne-_0NVnaecfkWTfjLbyTb00ao3c3d8jy0jUUnJSX4e4EwLmg2y-W0DeUkiPfINSTqty5Ph1U3GxrXkAv15xUSlFxnAlSRgDWxReQJyp_EX91JyqY-l0EUgHRUAZs8n5KZvq3c5Aa3c4C1sGQrNM0s0JP2YxwHdTNZpXYHw/s225/download.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdIwBgQw6w-5sne-_0NVnaecfkWTfjLbyTb00ao3c3d8jy0jUUnJSX4e4EwLmg2y-W0DeUkiPfINSTqty5Ph1U3GxrXkAv15xUSlFxnAlSRgDWxReQJyp_EX91JyqY-l0EUgHRUAZs8n5KZvq3c5Aa3c4C1sGQrNM0s0JP2YxwHdTNZpXYHw/s1600/download.png" width="225" /></a></div><br /> Had not realized it had been THAT long since I last posted... I guess that is what happens when life takes over and runs with it all!<br /><br />Where do I start? Won't/can't recall it all so basically, since my last post, we truly realized that condo life wasn't for us. Having to deal with (mostly!) morons on a daily base and to "mother" them was really not for us. Yes we are slow learners, you could say that, since we tried twice, once in a smaller syndicate for eight years and the second time a much bigger one with ninety-four co-owners... <p></p><p>We chose not to be parents because we didn't want the responsibilities which come with having someone to take care of, the having to explain and re-explain and repeat over and over until either the kid gets it or we give up and do it ourselves... we didn't want that part. Being in a condo association felt like that, explaining, repeating and having to keep cool at others stupidity and none caring attitudes... We tried. I really did, I even got involved more than I ever thought I would, but it the end, before it got the best of me, I got out. We talked about it all and came to the conclusion that we needed to start looking for a "stand alone" house. We would look on Centris, spot a few houses and then do a drive-by to see the neighborhood, etc. We made two different offers. The market was (still) crazy. One of the house we made an offer on had over ninety visits and almost fifty offers, among which ours was flat out refused. The other house we bet on, our offer was also refused, but a week later we were informed by the agent the credit of the potential buyer had some issues, so we upped our offer and we got it. The day the agent called Hubby to inform him our offer had been accepted, when he told me, my initial reaction was: "Fuck!" Yep, you read that right, fuck! I wasn't happy, excited or whatever else feeling one should feel when they buy a house, but my (sick) brain went directly to: <i>OK, get packing! Time to stage the house, get rid of shit, put this place up for sale, what if we don't sell? Shit! Can we deal with two mortgages?</i>... Fucked up brain I tell you! The thoughts that hit me weren't happy ones, trust me.<br /><br />The way the Energy works is always surprising and interesting to me. The day we were leaving to visit the house, I came across this lady walking her dog. When I saw her, I smiled and kept on walking. By the time I was making it to the garage's entrance, where Hubby was waiting for me, we had introduced ourselves, and she had told me she was a real estate agent, and she was friend with a couple living in our syndicate. She lives a street over in the same area. Since we had to sell our place, we contacted the agent who had sold it to us six years prior, and met with her. We also decided to give this lady I met a try. Long story short we went with the lady and her partner since they seemed more "willing" to get us the price Hubby was hoping for. We got our price, and it sold within a week, one open house only, a few offers so that was nice.<br /><br />We moved out July 14th to the house we were supposed to have July 1st. The previous owners were so disorganized, it was unreal! I had thought I would be washing (walls, floors, kitchen) from the 1st to 14th, but we only got the house keys on July 10th! They were moving out while our new appliances were being delivered! They left the house in sad shape. So fucking dirty... I was regretting our move, honestly. I'm not afraid to work, hard, but I felt discouraged. This is our first "pre-owned" house. All previous houses were bought on plan, while they were being built, so we always "personalized" stuff along the way, and made it ours. When we moved in previous houses we had to clean from the construction not from savages who left so many dings in the walls and floor. Hubby left skin from both his knees from cleaning the baseboards, that's how bad it was. We knew there were a few things we didn't like and would adjust, but once we were in, it turned out to be a different feel... Neither one of us said anything about how we truly felt at first, but at some point we both came to the conclusion that if we were to stay here we needed to address certain issues right away.<br /><br />The day we got the call for the real estate agent, I had contacted a friend, who is a house painter, and booked him for two weeks late August. Good thing I did that. The paint helped a lot to alleviate the feelings I was having towards the house. The worst part was, for me, at that point, the main bathroom:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEHf_lw1VdkClbjAmfFQwKRRdaSxP7-JEX88cZ5dwoSXEePwjjsgm_QFBNuhMBwcuHK9_CU6O9JzAQbNLw7vxlevK9xaFxKccbvApYJnO3n8TQ-lU4D81b9onSreF57q3KtUygjuUpiY3A0vg2P0eFodjnt_yJm_L1zfu73n-Ordj6ON3k_8/s751/Bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="751" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEHf_lw1VdkClbjAmfFQwKRRdaSxP7-JEX88cZ5dwoSXEePwjjsgm_QFBNuhMBwcuHK9_CU6O9JzAQbNLw7vxlevK9xaFxKccbvApYJnO3n8TQ-lU4D81b9onSreF57q3KtUygjuUpiY3A0vg2P0eFodjnt_yJm_L1zfu73n-Ordj6ON3k_8/s320/Bathroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It changed the feel whole of it, not only the look. It was still on my "shit list" and would need to be redone, but I least it wasn't as depressing. Hubby's main concern item on his "shit list" was the kitchen... I wanted the closets to be redone, to be organized and practical. We started looking at different organizing companies, draw some ideas. Skip forward a few weeks, we decided to bite the bullet and have the kitchen redone, the bathroom, my office, and all the closets...👀 Yeah! We are like that, all or nothing.<br /><br />The demolition is starting this Monday (finally!), so I've been re-packing boxes, and running out of space as to where to put them...<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFT1LoitpZXbThW_nk7m7L8G5gLHsRJSFqUioN8Uyewmi7qcdviag_-HSher9N42pst0vjYlm7GrxD8aGaJt7Rjcae4Da1GCD1fJS8iRGERYIVrkRqFxOQOUjT2kRb4Z1hNf1xdIMhcoc90MiIvYiM1sbV3m3b5xd6aFCGYtXAFLQFjLCckw/s719/Boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="719" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFT1LoitpZXbThW_nk7m7L8G5gLHsRJSFqUioN8Uyewmi7qcdviag_-HSher9N42pst0vjYlm7GrxD8aGaJt7Rjcae4Da1GCD1fJS8iRGERYIVrkRqFxOQOUjT2kRb4Z1hNf1xdIMhcoc90MiIvYiM1sbV3m3b5xd6aFCGYtXAFLQFjLCckw/s320/Boxes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like Hubby <b style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: underline;">often</b> says: We have way too much shit for two people!! Today I was emptying the kitchen, all cabinets and pantry. We have stuff everywhere: the bathroom stuff is in Hubby's office, as well as lots of my office stuff. The kitchen's boxes are stacked in the dinning area... our closet barfed out in our bedroom and Hubby's office closet. I need to empty one more closet, which I will "store" its content in the garage, and tomorrow after running the dishwasher one last time, I will stow away our dishes for a good month. It will be like camping, washing dishes (if we don't go for plastic!) in the garage sink and cook on the BBQ as much as possible... a fun month ahead!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">Stay tune for the Reno Updates!<br />TTFN</div></div><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-77227714485303010682021-09-30T15:28:00.000-04:002021-09-30T15:28:02.806-04:00To See Past What It Looks Like<p> It's been a long while since I last wrote here... Life has been keeping me busy, between my FIL drama (house sale, court case and him in general), every day life that just can't be smooth sailing all the way, and this damn Covid pandemic and covidiots are not really getting (any) better... life is taking its tole on me, I guess... I did manage to spend some quality time with my mother. Drove 1,300 km with her, helped her reconcile with one of her brothers, even did so ourselves to a certain extend. There is something to be said to being locked up in a card for six plus hours at the time... we had time to talk, let's say! I feel (more) at peace with her, and that's a good thing. <br /><br />Also celebrated a wedding anniversary (our 21st!) by taking a little road trip to Québec City with Hubby and staying there three nights. We stayed right in Old Québec, great location, parked the car once and walked around the rest of the time. We happened to be there along with a friggin' heat wave and oh so humid! Neither one of us could remember sweating this much without ANY training involved, it was hot! Because of the pandemic, every stores and restaurants were short staff, and it showed. It was our first time out really in almost two years, especially to restaurants. The hotel where we stayed, <a href="https://www.hotellepriori.com/en/" target="_blank">Le Priori</a>, was nice, but I must say that for the price (over $300/night, with breakfast) I was somewhat disappointed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oa0X6IYV3RYN5iM215rvkbTR_4E4dhUlsa-r6He8xNsgXbTfoob2sSau_8CMr3uS7rAaIR7PyxTtPqtToF6H7DLvBdTAQG3SW28slR5rKltKrkjw514OmMal2EMiHqaMCemuRQ/s2048/IMG_20210811_170737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oa0X6IYV3RYN5iM215rvkbTR_4E4dhUlsa-r6He8xNsgXbTfoob2sSau_8CMr3uS7rAaIR7PyxTtPqtToF6H7DLvBdTAQG3SW28slR5rKltKrkjw514OmMal2EMiHqaMCemuRQ/s320/IMG_20210811_170737.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />The room was nice, and we both enjoyed it, but given its shape, a long room, the wall mounted AC unit wasn't enough so there was another (floor) unit at the other end of the room, which turned out to be by the headboard of the bed. That thing had a compressor, a loud compressor, that woke me almost every fucking time it turned on. The first night was the worst, I would jump in bed. The other nights, I guess that all my walking around in the heat made me more tired and I would still wake up but not jumped as much. The real disappointing thing was the breakfast. We got a cardboard box delivered to our room, containing a yogurt, a hard boiled egg, a piece of cheese, an apple, a little bread and three bite size pastries, with a tea or coffee. For three days in a row. Because of Covid? Really? Almost all restaurants around there were opened, so why couldn't they serve breakfast, have it catered or something, rather than these airplane meals lookalike? Oh, and we had no maid services. We would have to put our towels in a bag by the door and someone would pick it up and return it with fresh ones. We made our own bed, and took out our dirty dishes. I understand the Covid issues, but then if they can't offer the services they charge us for they should review their prices accordingly. The location was great, but NOT worth the price we paid for what we got. Still happy I went, it was a nice change of scenery and I must say, to my surprise, I enjoyed Québec City.<br /><br />Health wise, it's been <i>interesting. </i>Had a tooth ache a while back, saw my dentist (in April) and she referred me to an endodontist, which I managed to see in July! Talk about emergency! Anyway... After special xrays, I was told I had an infection at the root of a tooth which had a root canal years ago and a crown. He said he would have to redo the root canal but didn't have to remove my crown, he could go through it. My appointment was scheduled for end of August. It wasn't a pleasant treatment, at one point he pushed hard and actually poke at my sinus. Not pleasant at all. But what was worst was after... man oh man, did it hurt. I was on antibiotics and pain killers for over a week. When that started to feel better, I started having issues with an UTI. Another round of antibiotics, but that worked fast, thank God! Over a week ago I went back to the endodontist for him to finish off the treatment, close up everything. I was still feeling something so he decided to be cautious and re-cleaned it all and would see me in a few more weeks, just to be sure. I was to be expecting some discomfort, but was I in for a treat! Worst pain ever! More painkillers and as of three days ago back on another antibiotics, this one Cortisone based. Happy to write that it seems to be doing the trick. No more pain! It is unbelievable how toothache hurts and affects everything from mood, patience, and everything else. I'm a little concerned how it will actually be post the next (and final, hopefully!) treatment. I guess time will tell...<br /><br />Yesterday I watch a movie/documentary called: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_62BeXxd_jo" target="_blank">In and Of Itself</a> with/by Derek DelGaudio. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRvk0NiOMCChcZqjrMrKn2CrI34jnT0Y1aBTxwJ6q8IhphjyOWpy9edDPKiXuGTM4mj_DaVhPCtaXnvJ3UVHlq9sR5g6Cizx0emDo13x1ti5idAKJ-s1pMZdI-ugw1Lp9lz_Lnw/s1200/MV5BMTU1ZWY1MDctODFjZC00YTFkLTg4NTMtMjg0NjE3NDIwYTYxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDc2NTEzMw%2540%2540._V1_UY1200_CR116%252C0%252C630%252C1200_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRvk0NiOMCChcZqjrMrKn2CrI34jnT0Y1aBTxwJ6q8IhphjyOWpy9edDPKiXuGTM4mj_DaVhPCtaXnvJ3UVHlq9sR5g6Cizx0emDo13x1ti5idAKJ-s1pMZdI-ugw1Lp9lz_Lnw/s320/MV5BMTU1ZWY1MDctODFjZC00YTFkLTg4NTMtMjg0NjE3NDIwYTYxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDc2NTEzMw%2540%2540._V1_UY1200_CR116%252C0%252C630%252C1200_AL_.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><br />Wow! I laughed, I cried and I will watch it again. Do yourself a favor, take an hour and a half, and watch it. <br /><br />Maybe I'm going through an existentialist moment, but this illusionist touched me... Or maybe it is because it touched something in me that rings so true, like that I'm not only what you see, but also many other things that you will never see... Trust me, watch it, you won't regret it.<p></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-36279592989671250782021-05-07T19:34:00.001-04:002021-05-07T19:34:19.950-04:00I'm confused... in more ways that one!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll give you a moment to read this: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhKRu1UIVAMdBizLlJtN59xAVhYkUhN3GPHNcdV_1RQziGTcpWEiFFHrv9fwW6H06qHPkGCyYI-UmT8gZmrPSpeR8OuuJ45G18Cuubh0HxqgoN6p07ZKEGCgoRlV2_bE3Xb_4AA/s526/182771878_2849268935336521_6086085721915050514_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhKRu1UIVAMdBizLlJtN59xAVhYkUhN3GPHNcdV_1RQziGTcpWEiFFHrv9fwW6H06qHPkGCyYI-UmT8gZmrPSpeR8OuuJ45G18Cuubh0HxqgoN6p07ZKEGCgoRlV2_bE3Xb_4AA/s320/182771878_2849268935336521_6086085721915050514_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">When I read this my first reaction was: OK so I must not love that much... I know I can show very little compassion at times, or is that empathy? Let me see what the web says:<br /><br /><div class="WI9k4c" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; display: table; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; word-break: break-word;"><div class="RjReFf jY7QFf" style="font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 36px;"><div class="DgZBFd XcVN5d frCXef" style="font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 36px; line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;"><span data-dobid="hdw">com·pas·sion</span></div></div><div class="S23sjd g30o5d" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 10px;">/kəmˈpaSHən/</div><div aria-hidden="true" class="K6GhFd" data-is-bilingual="false" jsaction="BtuVOb:V46pce" jscontroller="AImii" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s, opacity 0.3s ease 0s;"><div class="b8aKlc" style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA728CA741&q=how+to+pronounce+compassion&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRowy3w8sc9YSnjSWtOXmPU5eINKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLjYglJLcoV4pPi4eJKzs8tSCwuBopbsSgxpebxLGKVzsgvVyjJVygA6soHaktVQCgCAHepm9lfAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjKwtiez7jwAhVFIKwKHXdBCDoQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #1a0dab; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="-1"><div class="S5TwIf" style="border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: rgb(218, 220, 224) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><g-img class="FamOtd" style="display: inline-block; height: 32px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="rISBZc M4dUYb" data-atf="1" height="32" id="dimg_19" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" style="border: 0px; display: block; position: relative;" width="32" /></g-img><span class="fe69if NDrQpb" style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Learn to pronounce</span></div></a></div></div></div><div class="ABgcGb vmod" jsname="p0q1Sd" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></div><div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="vmod" data-topic="" jsname="r5Nvmf"><div class="lW8rQd" style="display: flex;"><div class="L1jWkf U3R6Ke" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><div class="pgRvse vdBwhd ePtbIe" style="min-height: 20px; padding-top: 10px;"><i>noun</i></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="-1" jsname="jUIvqc" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;"><span class="BNl2gb" style="color: #70757a;"><b></b></span><span class="BNl2gb" style="color: #70757a;"><b></b></span></div></div></div><div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline; font-size: 14px;">sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.</div><div class="vmod" style="font-size: 14px;"><div class="H9KYcb" style="color: #70757a;">"the victims should be treated with compassion"<br /><br /><div class="WI9k4c" style="color: #202124; display: table; font-size: small; word-break: break-word;"><div class="RjReFf jY7QFf" style="font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 36px;"><div class="DgZBFd XcVN5d frCXef" style="font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 36px; line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;"><span data-dobid="hdw">em·pa·thy</span></div></div><div class="S23sjd g30o5d" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 10px;">/ˈempəTHē/</div><div aria-hidden="true" class="K6GhFd" data-is-bilingual="false" jsaction="BtuVOb:V46pce" jscontroller="AImii" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s, opacity 0.3s ease 0s;"><div class="b8aKlc" style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA728CA741&q=how+to+pronounce+empathy&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoyS3w8sc9YSmDSWtOXmPU4uINKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLmYglJLcoV4pbi5GJPzS1ILMmotGJRYkrN41nEKpGRX65Qkq9QANSSD9STqgBVAQB_KgfPWQAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGnr6qz7jwAhVDKawKHXXtA_UQ3eEDMAB6BAgEEAc" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #1a0dab; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="-1"><div class="S5TwIf" style="border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: rgb(218, 220, 224) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><g-img class="FamOtd" style="display: inline-block; height: 32px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="rISBZc M4dUYb" data-atf="1" height="32" id="dimg_18" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIiB3aWR0aD0iMzIiIGhlaWdodD0iMzIiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAzMiAzMiI+CiAgPGRlZnM+CiAgICA8cG9seWdvbiBpZD0ic21hbGwtdmlzZW1lLXYzLWEiIHBvaW50cz0iMCAwIDMyIDAgMzIgMzIgMCAzMiIvPgogIDwvZGVmcz4KICA8ZyBmaWxsPSJub25lIiBmaWxsLXJ1bGU9ImV2ZW5vZGQiPgogICAgPG1hc2sgaWQ9InNtYWxsLXZpc2VtZS12My1iIiBmaWxsPSIjZmZmIj4KICAgICAgPHVzZSB4bGluazpocmVmPSIjc21hbGwtdmlzZW1lLXYzLWEiLz4KICAgIDwvbWFzaz4KICAgIDx1c2UgZmlsbD0iIzQyODVGNCIgeGxpbms6aHJlZj0iI3NtYWxsLXZpc2VtZS12My1hIi8+CiAgICA8cGF0aCBmaWxsPSIjRDJFM0ZDIiBkPSJNMCwxNS4yMzk3OTYzIEMyLjU0Mzg1NzE0LDE4Ljg3MDUyMDMgNS42NTIsMjIuMDgyMTk0NiA5LjIwMjI4NTcxLDI0Ljc0NDg3NjkgQzEzLjIxMTU3MTQsMjcuNzUxNzA3NyAxOC43ODg0Mjg2LDI3Ljc1MTcwNzcgMjIuNzk3NzE0MywyNC43NDQ4NzY5IEMyNi4zNDgsMjIuMDgyMTk0NiAyOS40NTYxNDI5LDE4Ljg3MDUyMDMgMzIsMTUuMjM5Nzk2MyBMMzIsLTcgTDAsLTcgTDAsMTUuMjM5Nzk2MyBaIiBtYXNrPSJ1cmwoI3NtYWxsLXZpc2VtZS12My1iKSIvPgogICAgPHBhdGggZmlsbD0iIzQyODVGNCIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIuNiIgZD0iTTE2LDIxLjIzMDY0OTIgQzE2LjkyNjA5OTEsMjEuMjMwNjQ5MiAxNy43OTEyNDY3LDIxLjQ5NDMxNTcgMTguNTI3MjEzNSwyMS45NTE1MDE5IEMxOC44MTA0NDEsMjIuMTI3MzMwOSAxOS4xMzYyNzM4LDIxLjc4ODc0ODUgMTguOTQwMzc5OSwyMS41MTY0Njc0IEMxOC4yNzg1NTU2LDIwLjU5NzMyNjMgMTcuMjA4MTEzNiwyMCAxNiwyMCBDMTQuNzkxODg2NCwyMCAxMy43MjE0NDQ0LDIwLjU5NzMyNjMgMTMuMDU5NjIwMSwyMS41MTY0Njc0IEMxMi44NjM3MjYyLDIxLjc4ODc0ODUgMTMuMTg5NTU5LDIyLjEyNzMzMDkgMTMuNDcyNzg2NSwyMS45NTE1MDE5IEMxNC4yMDg3NTMzLDIxLjQ5NDMxNTcgMTUuMDczOTAwOSwyMS4yMzA2NDkyIDE2LDIxLjIzMDY0OTIiIG1hc2s9InVybCgjc21hbGwtdmlzZW1lLXYzLWIpIi8+CiAgICA8cGF0aCBzdHJva2U9IiM0Mjg1RjQiIHN0cm9rZS1saW5lY2FwPSJzcXVhcmUiIGQ9Ik0yNSwxMyBDMjMsMTUuMzMzMzMzMyAyMCwxNi41IDE2LDE2LjUgQzEyLDE2LjUgOSwxNS4zMzMzMzMzIDcsMTMgTDEzLDEwLjUgTDE5LDEwLjUgTDI1LDEzIFoiIG1hc2s9InVybCgjc21hbGwtdmlzZW1lLXYzLWIpIi8+CiAgICA8cG9seWdvbiBmaWxsPSIjNDI4NUY0IiBmaWxsLXJ1bGU9Im5vbnplcm8iIHBvaW50cz0iOCAxNCA3IDEzIDI1IDEzIDI0IDE0IiBtYXNrPSJ1cmwoI3NtYWxsLXZpc2VtZS12My1iKSIvPgogICAgPHBhdGggc3Ryb2tlPSIjNDI4NUY0IiBzdHJva2UtbGluZWNhcD0icm91bmQiIGQ9Ik0yMCwzIEwxNy43Njc4NzUsNS4yNTg5MjYyMiBDMTYuNzkxNSw2LjI0NzAyNDU5IDE1LjIwODUsNi4yNDcwMjQ1OSAxNC4yMzIxMjUsNS4yNTg5MjYyMiBMMTIsMyIgbWFzaz0idXJsKCNzbWFsbC12aXNlbWUtdjMtYikiLz4KICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPgo=" style="border: 0px; display: block; position: relative;" width="32" /></g-img><span class="fe69if NDrQpb" style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Learn to pronounce</span></div></a></div></div></div><div class="ABgcGb vmod" jsname="p0q1Sd" style="color: #202124; font-size: small;"></div><div class="vmod" style="color: #202124; font-size: small;"><div class="vmod" data-topic="" jsname="r5Nvmf"><div class="lW8rQd" style="display: flex;"><div class="L1jWkf U3R6Ke" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><div class="pgRvse vdBwhd ePtbIe" style="min-height: 20px; padding-top: 10px;"><i>noun<br /></i>the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Compassion</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> is not the same as </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">empathy</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> or altruism, though the concepts are related. While </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">empathy</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> refers more generally to our ability to take the perspective of and feel the emotions of another person, </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">compassion</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> is when those feelings and thoughts include the desire to help.</span><br /><br />Ok so I don't have much of neither of those, at times. I say at times, because there are times when I will do lots to help others, but not necessarily do I understand or share their feelings. <br /><br />When I think back to situations/conversations with my FIL lately, it's not pretty. He tries my patience in many different ways. I tried to be nice, to explain, to pamper, to explain again, to help, to do for him. I see that my efforts are kind of expected and that doesn't sit well with me. I made a conscious decision years ago not to have a child; it is a responsibility for life that I didn't want, and I didn't want to love someone that much. I didn't know (or even trust) if I could show/have that "unconditional" love. I guess deep down I knew already that blood isn't thicker than water... Giving birth (or sperm) to someone doesn't make it so that you will love or even like that person. It's not that <i>automagic</i>... I don't think it is, anyway.<br /><br />At times, I see people who are such a close-knit family and think is it because they love each other or because they have something in common? Why are we that different from the animals, is it because we lost our instinct? Is it because we can think? (<i>not that many people do, really, but hey, that is what science say</i>). I would have to look into this, but do animals take care of their parents? I don't think so... The parents let their kids go fairly early on, and are they worst off for it? I don't think so. We, as human, do everything for our kids, and some parents do a shit load for their kids. Are we better off for it? I don't think so neither...<br /><br />I think the one big thing that differs between humans parents and animal ones, is the guilt aspect. Do animals play the guilt card on their young ones? I don't know, but I do know that humans do, on many levels and for whatever reason.<br /><br />Are we showing affection, love, care, compassion, empathy because we can think or because we care to do so? Are any of those feelings part of us as people, or we learn them, pick them up along the way?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz0A6BYsAXHpFlrfOsHU2CpfRoYklMydEtPQ1guNaEZluMxbyZCVRx-dRQJMvkTIOTzDWRxDGUTUZSoEZIv8cnnwV1TZ6Y6zkbHMYjaXpplz1XqnOt6rqFyY5K5UiXN7gWywUgg/s959/960x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="959" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz0A6BYsAXHpFlrfOsHU2CpfRoYklMydEtPQ1guNaEZluMxbyZCVRx-dRQJMvkTIOTzDWRxDGUTUZSoEZIv8cnnwV1TZ6Y6zkbHMYjaXpplz1XqnOt6rqFyY5K5UiXN7gWywUgg/w211-h159/960x0.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />What do you think?</div></div>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-46246061496700137032021-04-06T01:59:00.001-04:002021-04-06T01:59:07.526-04:00Yup it could happen, and snap!!<p> Just finished watching ''Hunhinged" with Russell Crowe, the blurb of the movie is: <i> </i><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">After a confrontation with an unstable man at an intersection, a woman becomes the target of his rage.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t02zpmAE6RO8dSglVeQ8iyNdXGVoALRc9LYCVuWjGtka63mDwhHodgV_vU952wXDi2iiwlfI3QQXB0PX4F_6C9qN4HRf8fSAOFkk3zhad0RuQ2sl1d8aHpIGaSy88lQZTWFYvg/s2048/Unhinged.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t02zpmAE6RO8dSglVeQ8iyNdXGVoALRc9LYCVuWjGtka63mDwhHodgV_vU952wXDi2iiwlfI3QQXB0PX4F_6C9qN4HRf8fSAOFkk3zhad0RuQ2sl1d8aHpIGaSy88lQZTWFYvg/s320/Unhinged.jpg" /></a></div>O.M.F.G. what a lunatic! The story/acting isn't that great, but the violence and stunt work were quite creative and surprising! Road rage at the max. There was one scene, where a woman was driving while applying mascara in traffic, and I turned to Hubby and said: She deserved to be hit (by a car), and man oh man, did he ram into her car. It was satisfying to see, because I did <i>(and most likely will again, I'm pretty sure</i>) have thoughts and even visions of ramming our old Civic into a moron who cut me off or pulled a bone headed move on the road. <br /><br />I've been feeling crap, yes the time of year plays into it, the lack of sun, the confinement, name it, and add it to the list. We are all tired of it all. I get that. At times I feel like I could become<i> unhinged </i>too, maybe not to the level of Crowe in the movie, but then again, we he says she should have given him a little courtesy tap (on the horn) rather than hitting it aggressively the way she did, because he wasn't moving from the green light, I got that. I understood what he meant. I find that people are driving more and more aggressively, and so much faster than a few years ago. People are often distracted because of their damn cell phones, or shaving while driving, or putting on make up, or turning to look at the back seat passengers... all those things which take away from they attention being on the road, where it really should be. I've had a few accidents from people who hit me, while I was stop at a red light on more than one occasions. Once it was an old man who never slowed down on a boulevard and ram into my car without hitting the breaks. He didn't have a license anymore and yet, he drove and totaled my car, and as of result of that impact, my uterus flipped. Another time, some guy hit me, while I was also stopped at a red light, and also totaled my car - he was distracted because he was planning his upcoming vacation on his phone. Once a little Chinese man ran a red light and hit me as I crossed a street, because he was distracted looking for an address... <br /><br />Whatever the reasons, each time, my trust in other drivers diminished and now I wish I had a roobar on our car, so I would feel "protected" somewhat... <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcLRCi1GII2SLTWCGfmrfhuvf0VhqYOZo9iTjhYjyyxPp5pEZomSQWlgb68U0p2mWMi5WPwAE_0BhXym79CS2Pp7ps2dzdN12ha1wz1a6aXN8hA4wwxr4ywX2aUluQ9eyRMv51Q/s600/Toyota-Corolla-Roobar.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcLRCi1GII2SLTWCGfmrfhuvf0VhqYOZo9iTjhYjyyxPp5pEZomSQWlgb68U0p2mWMi5WPwAE_0BhXym79CS2Pp7ps2dzdN12ha1wz1a6aXN8hA4wwxr4ywX2aUluQ9eyRMv51Q/s320/Toyota-Corolla-Roobar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We are more aggressive, less tolerant, and ridiculously feeling entitled, so that make us all a lethal combination when behind the wheel of a car.<br /><br />I already have any fuse left in me; between my hormones being all over the board, the menopause not giving me any break, the lack of sleep and throw in, for shits and giggles, the family issues and you get me naturally pissed off. Put me behind the wheel of a card, and who knows I <i>might happen to anyone...</i><br /><br />It does scare me (<i>Yeah, I scare myself!)</i> at times, when I see how little I need to fuel my fire, to go from zero to 60 in no time flat, but also I see that (<i>for now)</i> I lose my shit verbally. I will raise my voice, talk loud, but (<i>I don't think I do) </i>I don't scream as such. I talk loud, say things that don't come out nicely nor calmly, and yes I do fucking swear. Once I've said what I had to get off my chest, I go back to "normal" (<i>whatever that may be</i>). I've tried (and still do at times, to control that anger often simmering on the back burner. I feel like I've have enough of people's bullshit and entitlement. The pendulum is going back too far on the other side. Telling someone that they are doing or did something wrong is almost impossible these days. When you do you are called a bully or controlling. We can't say anything without offending someone. And don't get me started on the bleeding hearts. I've have an exchanged (via messenger) last week, with someone who thought it wasn't nice of me to vent about the fact that I've received a piece of Chinese Calligraphy paper rather than a postcard through Postcrossing. I thanked the sender, mentioned the nice stamp, and also reminded him politely about what was Postcrossing, as indicated on the site: <br /><br /><blockquote>The goal of this project is to allow anyone to send and receive postcards from all over the world! </blockquote><br />I knew that by mentioning my disappointment about the piece of paper that some would comment. I was told I should show more appreciation to the fact that they made an effort to send me something, that maybe they couldn't afford a card, that maybe that was all they add. My knee jerk reaction was to ask, then, why would someone, voluntarily signed up for Postcrossing to send postcards if they can't afford it? Why would someone send a piece of paper rather than a postcard? They couldn't afford one, then they shouldn't send anything. I know I'm black or white, but if I sign up to play hockey and show up with a broom rather than a stick chances are the other players will not want me to play or to play with them. Should we feel appreciative that the player tried and showed up with a broom, when they clearly know from the start that they signed up for hockey? I want postcards, don't care the sizes, the shapes nor the material used for it, but <b><u>not</u></b> a piece of paper. Call me intransigent, cold, name it, I don't care I signed up for Postcrossing wanting to send and receive postcards, and damnit when I don't get that, I will get upset!<br /><br />Speaking of postcards, Saturday I hosted a virtual Postcrossing meetup and we were, at the peak, 45 participants from all over, including Canadians (23), Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, US, Ireland, UK, Sweden. Some I've met in real life, pre-covid, and some online and some were totally new. It lasted five hours, and actually ran quite smoothly overall. I was concerned how it would be to manage such a large group, but it went well considering everything! That was a really good way to spend a Saturday afternoon catching up with others sharing the same interests. It was my first virtual meet international, and will not be the last one I think.<br /><br />This week will be an "interesting" week to say the least, lots going on with the Father in Law... should be interesting and hoping for the best.<br /><br />Until things settle down for him all around, we have to manage. So stay safe and watch out for the <span style="color: red;"><i>covidiots</i></span>, they're everywhere and they are many of them!!stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-53295874008933063262021-03-22T19:56:00.000-04:002021-03-22T19:56:59.886-04:00Falling out of...<p> ... friendship - that's like falling out of love, but with friends. That happens too. <br /><br />The past few weeks, I've been having dreams about people I chose not to have in my life anymore. At some point, in the past, I made this very conscious decision to not have these specific people around. I have given them enough, may it be physically, monetary, energy or just time. I decided it was enough. With some people it sorts of happened or happens naturally... we just drift apart. One day you realize that you haven't seen then in a long while and you're ok with it. And this is pre-Covid, when we still had the option to see and fraternize with people. You don't really miss them, nor think of them often. Others, well, for me it was harder, since they had been part of my life for a long while, they had an important role in it, I thought of them as friends, and (for me) that is something. But I clearly remember walking away. No explanation were giving, nor asked for, it just happened and that was that. <br /><br />Like for any breakup, common friends will feel they have to choose a side. Some do and they will ask what happened, etc. Some will try to reconcile, try to mediate, when really there is nothing to mend...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxEzvblkAbQqwIkCWc9XyhVoITMaNL77xcC8IlCbmbZEMYh88sYPTkK2UN1mM73ummt09MSJtxgheKELaTTh3-rSJUxi15tcoehIQnU46jwzWxBhNwtQjU00bJSpBfwGlaqbHCA/s415/ODWVLBRIQ5HCZCSRYF3HGGYPMI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxEzvblkAbQqwIkCWc9XyhVoITMaNL77xcC8IlCbmbZEMYh88sYPTkK2UN1mM73ummt09MSJtxgheKELaTTh3-rSJUxi15tcoehIQnU46jwzWxBhNwtQjU00bJSpBfwGlaqbHCA/s320/ODWVLBRIQ5HCZCSRYF3HGGYPMI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It is not even a question of pride, ego or being stubborn. I just reached my max of what I would tolerate, do and accept, and decided that was it. <br /><br />It did cost me. Lots. I gave up on something that had been part of my daily activities for over twenty plus years. Granted my body was needing a break from the abuse I was giving it, but like everything I tend to do in life, I went from black to white, from zero to sixty, when I decided it was over, I stop everything.<br /><br />Having dreams about these people, where I'm interacting with them, and seeing them, churned things in me. It disturbed me. The situations in the dreams were strange, unreal, and yet, I felt wary, I even woke up feeling on edge, alert. Thinking about it, I'm realizing that it is not like I stopped caring what happened to them even if I chose to remove myself from their environment. I don't wish them harm. I won't go visit them at the hospital but I'll pay my respect when the day come.<br /><br />I'm wondering why I'm dreaming of them, what part of my brain triggered this? Am I missing them, or is it because we've been confined for so long that I'm reminiscing? Whatever the reason is, it was strange to dream of them... I'm also realizing that I don't want them back into my life, so that's good!<br /><br />Today I had a strange experience with a neighbor's dog. This lady was walking her dog, a BIG Bernese Bouvier, across the street. As I was working on our evergreen, removing its winter covering, I felt like I was being stared. I turned around to see this big beast sitting on the sidewalk, across the street, just starting at me. The lady was pulling on his leash, but the dog wasn't moving. He just sat there and stared. I wave at him, and he got all excited. The lady was having a hard time holding him back. He wouldn't keep on walking, just sat there and would stare. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwMayr_FT6f4l4TlOVxvSn38Sv9GMwYW0e-xstDUt2xFjVy8zNv2vCbsoBl9Y5C-qtCoXzpubf8MVJOqiBFTeTFdNpdsbirOq6Xal6SNcwS2bX91jkeSZTwtjLXeACbqzEMs6RQ/s706/bouvier-bernois1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwMayr_FT6f4l4TlOVxvSn38Sv9GMwYW0e-xstDUt2xFjVy8zNv2vCbsoBl9Y5C-qtCoXzpubf8MVJOqiBFTeTFdNpdsbirOq6Xal6SNcwS2bX91jkeSZTwtjLXeACbqzEMs6RQ/s320/bouvier-bernois1.png" /></a></div><br /> It lasted a good five minutes or more. I had time to uncover all four trees, go up to get a bag and bagged everything and the dog was still there, staring at me. The lady then asked me if I was afraid of dogs. Told her no, and asked if I could go see her dog. As I crossed the street the dog got so excited, jumping up and down, pulling on his leash, and at over 130 lbs the lady was struggling. When I got to him, he was whimpering, tale going 100 km/hour, and trying to jump on me. He was presenting me his paws, pushing me with its head. Boris was quite happy to meet me it seemed. I ended up petting him, scratching him and getting gobs of drool over my pants. The lady looked embarrassed and told me he never did that before... If one believes in signs - and I do! - was this a sign that I should be getting that pooch?<br /><br />One can help and wonder! One thing for sure, no matter how sweet that big beast was, no way am I even thinking of a big dog. I want a little one, like a Yorkie or Maltese... some pooch who won't shed too much or not at all! I have to work on the Husband as I showed him some pictures of these little pooches, and he wasn't interested... He says he's starting to warm up to the idea of a cat. Of course! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-33529415138186322532021-03-14T03:02:00.002-04:002021-03-14T03:02:25.093-04:00Pondering<p> I've been brewing for a while, and I'm not referring to a bowel movement type thing, but more in a thinking kind of way about this post. When I think, often it's in English, and other times it's in French... so this post will (most likely) reflect that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXm098UCd13qaJVj61MuGL_wUgsDqj7jF5ilC8ehyphenhyphenMwO5kAfI93XsbN4bvBvbotWuFmiPxD7B7MrcPe3eRALnHHZwM6vj8Asn-E613BekLdO6FkWklGfi93lhaAqMXXT9xggOaDQ/s500/thinking-cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXm098UCd13qaJVj61MuGL_wUgsDqj7jF5ilC8ehyphenhyphenMwO5kAfI93XsbN4bvBvbotWuFmiPxD7B7MrcPe3eRALnHHZwM6vj8Asn-E613BekLdO6FkWklGfi93lhaAqMXXT9xggOaDQ/s320/thinking-cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I came about a little video on Bacefook posted by a friend, which showed a march that was done in town (Montréal) to protest the confinement and curfew we've been under due to Covid. To see this crowd of <i>Covidiots</i>, screaming and chanting "Liberty" and walking around by signs offering free hugs, and actually seeing them going up to strangers and hugging them, made me wonder if we have a chance... Watching the walkers in town, united for a cause, to not let the governments take over their lives, I can't help and wonder, WTF? It was a nice day for a stroll in town. I wonder if they would have been as many if it was raining and cold? The cops were present giving tickets to some for not respecting the social distancing rules and not wearing masks, but overall it seemed like a peaceful march. They were Canadians after all.<br />The host of the little video, called upon everyone watching to join their movement and to stop our governments (both provincial and federal) from keeping us prisoners. Prisoners, really? I'm sure many people in actual prison would love to be home rather than where they are.<br /><br />Yes the pandemic is getting to me, it is affecting me, I know that. I also know, as kindly pointed out by the Husband, that this time of year is <i>always</i> rough for me. I'm tired of having to wear a mask, to not hear properly when talked to (because of the darn mask or partition), to not be able to go to a restaurant and have a bite to eat with a friend, to just go to a mall for a stroll, all that is affecting me, but also I'm aware of the fact that there is something making people sick out there, and it is (<i>might be</i>) better for all to refrain from getting together too much. People died (are dying) because of this, so why not try to put the odds on our side, and try to avoid it... just 'saying. <br /><br />Earlier Hubby and I watched the new Disney movie "Raya and the Last Dragon" - I liked it. The animation is really good, and the story is a Disney one, so... The Druun are a threat humanity must fight to survive. Fight as a united front, imagine that. Anyway...<br /><br />I've been itching to get a fur ball... It will be eight years in June (the 21st) that we buried Tobi. We often talk about him still, and remember things he did, etc. A coworker of the Husband got himself a big Main Coon, a real cutie, but that much fur is a real turn-off. I don't want a hairless cat neither; they are said to be really affectionate, but I think they only tolerate people near them to warm them up! Anyway, between the two of us we shed a lot already. Last week, since it was a gorgeous and warm week, I went on a walk with a friend, and again it triggered that thought that having a pooch would <i>force</i> me to go out for its daily walks. The Husband thinks its ridiculous that I need a pooch to do that, and yet, I know myself, that little incentive would get me out of the house. When we had Cathy, I went out daily with her for the short time we had her with us - from April to November 2006 - it did me good on many levels. I want that feeling back, that unconditional love only a pet can provide. I guess I'll have to start working on the Husband. I was willing to wait for the next house, but the way things are going who knows when that will be, so... <br /><br />Yeah, we've been talking about moving again. Condo life <b>really</b> isn't for us. The market is red hot for sellers, but for buyers, yikes! We've looked around some. Even did some drives to look at different areas, cities. We were thinking a cottage not far from the train, since the Husband still goes to town. We did a tour of one house, in St-Jérôme (the end of the line for the train). I fell in love with the house, new construction. The light in there was gorgeous, and there was nothing that bothered neither one of us about the place. That is, except the price! We'd have to buy the land and build the house... and in doing so, we would increase our mortgage, which is not our plan, since we would be moving further from the city to spend (hopefully!) a little less and reduce said mortgage. When I talked with the Sales Rep and she did some calculation, etc. and told me the price, I was a little speechless... like 250K over our "budget" - not in our price range at all. I kept looking, and let's just say it wasn't that inspiring. We don't do renovation, so it has to be new, or a complete strip down and rebuilt. We're not there, mentally, so...<br /><br />For now, we will concentrate our efforts on getting the FIL damn house sold, get all his shit organized and then I'll get myself a dog, and then maybe at some point, life will return to some kind of normalcy.<br /><br />One can hope, right? Right! Glad you agree with me! Until then, stay safe!<p></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-36064624753075940302021-01-17T19:28:00.000-05:002021-01-17T19:28:29.640-05:00Happy New Fucking Year!<p> Yep! I wrote that! Same shit different digit, that is it! I'm not pretending to be positive and to believe that everyone is nice and kind, that is bullshit. People are fucking stupid and we are proving this daily. You don't believe me? Just watch the news for 15 minutes, you'll see. <br /><br />Many people were all : it's a new year, things will get better! Come on, all that changed was the 0 for a 1, that is all. Our shitty behaviors and stupidity did not vanish because the zero became a one. We don't want to put in the effort it takes to change, to address our issues, to face the truth, so we play the positive people, who believe in rainbows and unicorns and hope for the best. The pandemic is here, it's a fact, and (I believe) it will be here as long as we keep acting like the selfish people we are. After almost a year of this being "our normal" why is it that we still have to remind people to wash their hands, to wear a mask and keep a social distance? Are we that dense? Really? Obviously. It is sad really. But then, why would someone try hard to respect all that when our, yes OUR government paid them $1,000 in compensation after they've travelled down South during a pandemic? It was ridiculous and Trudeau did amend that stupid decision. What I still can get over is why oh why are we still allowed to travel. If it is that dangerous and that easy to spread, why are we not confining and restricting movements of the population? We've had a curfew established last week, in Québec, woohoo, it was about fucking time!<br /><br />Everyone bitches and complains about all this, and even if it could be/is a conspiracy, manmade or natural, who gives a fuck, it's real and people are sick. That should be enough to convince us all to be careful. We are so selfish that we just have to get together, to celebrate, because "it was Christmas". I love Christmas, I love to get together with friends and all that, but I haven't really done so in a long while. I've been using Messenger, Zoom, Google, etc. to catch up with some people. I've managed to teach my mother to use Facebook and video chat, since she wanted to see me so bad. She was sad that I didn't visit her during the Holidays - last time I saw her was in June - she was sad that her Christmas gift was mail delivered. She was sad that she didn't get to feed me and give me the goodies she had prepared for us. I rather stay home and away that <i>teasing</i> myself at a distance, with a mask on, not able to give a hug, etc. Yes, I am that way: all or nothing. These half-ass measures we've been playing with for the past ten months are just that, a little tease. I rather be told no than maybe and not know if it will happen or not. With a firm no (or yes), I know where I stand and can deal. I can decide what to do knowing what I can and cannot do.<br /><br />Ok I think I got my venting out of the way. For now. Hubby's dad is now settled in his new apartment. It was a lot of work, but it is done. The rest of his life is still a big mess, and we're addressing that as we go. Not always easy, lots to deal with and at times quite frustrating, especially in a pandemic situation, it just adds to the fun of it all! Not!<br /><br />My mom is doing well, considering her beau is basically sitting at home and waiting for death to come. Sad situation, he was diagnosed with cancer and was told they couldn't operate nor treat. They could give him meds to alleviate the pain. So, for the past few months, he's been stone and/or sleeping. On New Year's day my mom asked me to talk to him while we were video chatting... what do you say to someone who's waiting to die? Hang in there, it will be over soon? I can only wish him that. Let's just say it was a short little chat. But mom is hanging in, after all this will be her third man she will burry!<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpmfW_sbkXTB7VJLL7bRmqPUgu-GdZtsvf1g0MwHSOjX3aM2XAy5sWqnbpIlteJH-njeh15nvAFRURqA56xipbvbyNeA_pNfuPJbjb01-8EwkFCPcQ3SFlcSWMGNCk3q4FueGWQ/s160/Easy-Peasy-isolated-tiny_160x160.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpmfW_sbkXTB7VJLL7bRmqPUgu-GdZtsvf1g0MwHSOjX3aM2XAy5sWqnbpIlteJH-njeh15nvAFRURqA56xipbvbyNeA_pNfuPJbjb01-8EwkFCPcQ3SFlcSWMGNCk3q4FueGWQ/s0/Easy-Peasy-isolated-tiny_160x160.gif" /></a></div><br /> Hubby is super busy, too busy it seems at times. But he said, last week he actually had fun (learning!) so that's good. If ever I had any doubt (which I never did!) that my husband is a true geek, hearing him talk about what he does, proves it to me, almost daily. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT8bUZbzpncKhN1-oaVTRBxuJWOCS4AdYMzd0d7cSvQRImKKOw2AkEzeBAIAgv-u44iWAKdUecvIX3FORcHgxCg56hTtpYkCxZsznqQSJ66jIS7ZIGtKLwxYPKSwjpZUMwb9rTA/s1200/0_The-Tam-Turbulence.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT8bUZbzpncKhN1-oaVTRBxuJWOCS4AdYMzd0d7cSvQRImKKOw2AkEzeBAIAgv-u44iWAKdUecvIX3FORcHgxCg56hTtpYkCxZsznqQSJ66jIS7ZIGtKLwxYPKSwjpZUMwb9rTA/s320/0_The-Tam-Turbulence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />He is not only wired to be a geek, he's like the Sheldon of my life, really! At times it can be <i>interesting</i>, for lack of a better word, but one thing for sure it not boring!<br /><br />On that note, I will close this post, hoping I did not offend you more than usual with my foul language and direct approach on life. Life is short, stop bitching about what you can't do and address the things you can. <p></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-81996546006874859202020-11-30T17:01:00.005-05:002020-11-30T17:25:14.906-05:00It might be time...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVJZ-mfV3XNzhONdnK_JVbcgUsnPCa0lsbCtiJV9qvBPqwu0HBk23nWNo8KcZwqCzQRQKN-Ls9oY-JvU86rilOdFwWLnFnAbHg_FZ9NK066-rLkb5aoPQUW1hX2_wTJzjNoQM-w/s504/Is-it-Time-to-Call-it-Quits-740x400.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="504" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVJZ-mfV3XNzhONdnK_JVbcgUsnPCa0lsbCtiJV9qvBPqwu0HBk23nWNo8KcZwqCzQRQKN-Ls9oY-JvU86rilOdFwWLnFnAbHg_FZ9NK066-rLkb5aoPQUW1hX2_wTJzjNoQM-w/w320-h253/Is-it-Time-to-Call-it-Quits-740x400.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> It's been a while since my last post, and even if I've often felt the need to write, I decided against it for various reasons like I didn't want to aggravate a situation, didn't want to share what I was </span><b style="text-align: left;">really</b><span style="text-align: left;"> feeling, didn't know how to word it all, but today feels like it is the day for me to empty my thought bucket... it might be due to the fact that last night Hubbly and I had a good conversation, or the fact that it is a dreary day, or simply because deep down I am fed up of putting up with people's bullshit on a personal and professional level. <br /><span><br />According to Hubbly I put myself in situations where I will get criticized, and will be an easy target - he's right. (</span><i>Shit! Did I just admit this on the web for the world to see? Oh well, shit does happen, right?</i><span>) I do tend to join things like the condo committee or even better, me creating this Bacefook group for this postcards hobby of mine. In doing so, I have to deal with people, many people. And, I don't feel like it is my strong suit to deal with people. I'm not anti-social I just have a VERY low tolerance to stupidity. And having to deal with people it triggers that side of me a lot. There comes a time when one has to ask themselves, is it time to call it quits, to walk away from it all? </span><br /></span><br />I think I'm reaching that point. I've tried to be detached, to not take things personally, but after six years of managing a growing group (over 400 members), it is taxing on my <i>mental</i>, add to that this freaking pandemic and life throwing us some curve balls, and I see that little open door to leave as an invite, almost... <br /><br />The control freak in me doesn't want to let go, doesn't want to relinquish control, I see that clearly. It was/is my baby, and I've put many, many hours into it for it to be an organized group. I was told it was too structured, and yet I know that many like that aspect. I know I can't please everyone, and somewhere I'm not trying to too much. I try to make it easy for all and for me as well, and organization just comes naturally. The idea of closing shop has been simmering for a while now, because having to deal with the drama and childish ways of many and their sense of entitlement and even many <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect#:~:text=In%20the%20field%20of%20psychology,recognize%20their%20lack%20of%20ability." target="_blank">Dunning-Kruger Effect</a> makes it all a heavy load to support. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhVf-DXmvRhaI2aeRIvCdo05JCuipwqYhHKUrv-MpRyVNSGlnUPDvBuiIXdTBXGjVpkWEYsDC5izB-nXxZkepM81e0xisNZ0O-xqbGJVeI1itqUDz6AOIiNPb54FVOsYcvGEcjQ/s437/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhVf-DXmvRhaI2aeRIvCdo05JCuipwqYhHKUrv-MpRyVNSGlnUPDvBuiIXdTBXGjVpkWEYsDC5izB-nXxZkepM81e0xisNZ0O-xqbGJVeI1itqUDz6AOIiNPb54FVOsYcvGEcjQ/s320/unnamed.jpg" /></a></div><br />Plus to add to it all, we have to deal with Hubby's father situation. The old man, he's 84, found himself in a real big mess from which we are working hard to get him out of. All of his life he's had someone taking care of him (from his siblings, to his wife, to his girlfriend and now us) because on his own he is completely useless. It is sad, really. Yes he is old, but being old doesn't excuse being stupid and making bad decisions. Repeatedly. No, being old excuses him only so far. I've had to use a lot of patience in my dealings with him, patience which is already running on low supplies. Yesterday I had to spent part of the day dealing with the Airbnb host from whom we've rented an apartment for the past nine weeks, who wanted to basically kick my father-in-law out because he had not received the payment for the two weeks extension we had asked for in November. We had originally booked the apartment until November 30th, but because FIL's new place was to be ready in December, we asked the host to extend for the first two weeks of December, which he accepted. I sent him a partial payment on November 19th to confirm the extension and didn't hear anything back until yesterday. He sent me an email simply saying "I've received a reservation from Dec. 2nd to January 11th, and can't extent your stay. Your reservation ends Nov. 30th." I was surprised and wrote him back, asking for an explanation, etc. It went on for over four hours, with me sending him proof after proof of the payments (made through PayPal/Visa), etc. for him to say that he never got any email from PayPal and that he couldn't access his account at the moment. Let's just say, it is fixed for now, but man oh man, Airbnb might not be for me!<br /><br />So, maybe it is the time of year, the cumulative of this past shitty year or whatever, but I really feel like I need a vacation, far away, where it will be sunny and warm and where nobody expect anything from me. Having to deal with morons asking where they should put their garbage while standing in a garbage room is just too much for me. I don't want to be patient anymore, or even try to be nice, I just feel like looking at them and say: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjZlHkunB0yVr-i4CXwl03AV62TgtrXrndA23GEOOPSPjFoIYvsZ7x1azJsksyNAM_LJ0rnErxo9OL5-3vV0iNIULIPf5Dke580vZbjT_iMXp4XqyisoJ1hYntkQ6wydv6xl06Q/s234/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjZlHkunB0yVr-i4CXwl03AV62TgtrXrndA23GEOOPSPjFoIYvsZ7x1azJsksyNAM_LJ0rnErxo9OL5-3vV0iNIULIPf5Dke580vZbjT_iMXp4XqyisoJ1hYntkQ6wydv6xl06Q/s0/download.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""open sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;" /><span face=""open sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">—Mother Teresa</span><p></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-31947981224259916042020-10-06T23:02:00.005-04:002020-10-06T23:02:50.420-04:00You don't have to be nice to be good!<p>There are times in life where I'm looking for that sign that says: "Bang Head Here", because when the shit starts to rise, the smell gets to be too fucking much. Things are coasting, generally speaking, and then one day we get a call informing us of a "family situation". Oh, it's nothing dramatic, just a fucking ridiculous matter that is taking over the little free time we had in our lives. FYI, this is going to be a very selfish post. We are selfish, both of us, of our time. We chose not to have kids because we wanted time for ourselves, we didn't want to explain things over and over until it would be understood. We are both independent, we like being together but we also enjoy our time alone. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59zqs-1_9ir92w7IWE4pIWIwCkgYHhxnLrPJ_T2nwoZgFueO7oUohK318423z8bTxLVjfTFoa9JdI_T4nczlN6n9iiMdQfUMoy_4V2_Q2ZnYyfGC3ru36crLywmZxp6s37rK9Jw/s960/93970376_3081312571977685_1853799917512818688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59zqs-1_9ir92w7IWE4pIWIwCkgYHhxnLrPJ_T2nwoZgFueO7oUohK318423z8bTxLVjfTFoa9JdI_T4nczlN6n9iiMdQfUMoy_4V2_Q2ZnYyfGC3ru36crLywmZxp6s37rK9Jw/s320/93970376_3081312571977685_1853799917512818688_n.jpg" /></a>Does that mean we are antisocial? It does not. Does this mean we are bad people? I don't think so. Does it mean we are not nice? It does at times!<br /><br />As we all know, I have no fuse. I have a really hard time supporting stupidity, especially from grown ass adults. I've been trying to shut the hell up, to be politically correct because we can't say shit anymore without offending someone, it's ridiculous.<br /><br />For example, why is it wrong for me to say that I'm pissed off when I am? Why is it frown upon when I mention I don't like something? Why do I have to act as if everyone is good, competent and meaning well when the reality is not that? Why can't we tell someone they are not doing a job correctly? Is it because we wouldn't want to offend or demotivate that person? What about the effect that has on me having to deal with a fucking moron who doesn't give a rat's ass about their job, or me having to pick up after them, or me having to do it again (whatever it may be) because it wasn't done correctly in the first place? <br /><br />I don't consider myself a hypocrite, I <strike>tend to</strike> say (too often!) what I mean. I have the finesse of a 2 x 4, I know that, so when my mother's beau was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago, I didn't feel much. Sure, I feel bad for my mother. The type of cancer he has is not operable nor curable. He's getting treatments (radiation and chemo) to prolong him, that is all. So they have to deal with that. I say they, because I would be lying to say I'm affected by this. </p><p>Covid's second wave seems to be hitting Montréal. People are really not acting like they care. We can see teens playing basketball together, fuck social distancing, same thing in stores, etc. I haven't been out much. I've been avoiding people. Might be paranoia, might (most likely) only be me not wanting to deal with people, but I'm tired of it all. <br /><br />I'm tired of reading people complaining about wearing or not a fucking mask. I've stop following friends on Bacefook. I'm tired of people feeling "they deserve" whatever it may be. I'm tired of having to think for others, because they are too fucking stupid to do so themselves. <br /><br />I wish I could just reboot, unplug and recharge... this is promising for the winter months ahead of us, huh?<br /><br /><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></blockquote><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-87158084730491646452020-08-11T00:30:00.006-04:002020-08-11T00:30:07.391-04:00Twenty Freaking Years Already!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHg5tjP23cs2WnTQ5XY9IVxPampFY1gsDsoUXVK8cIO2NOMJWH5mCVmevl9uANbmD66grF2zKFq26gz0vXgxQpr1RuU6Kn7qOjPD4hxYpzPAaVKX7huVGUB_b8N3VSE0C3xFkUQ/s1478/Wed+Reception+us+b3-adj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="1478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHg5tjP23cs2WnTQ5XY9IVxPampFY1gsDsoUXVK8cIO2NOMJWH5mCVmevl9uANbmD66grF2zKFq26gz0vXgxQpr1RuU6Kn7qOjPD4hxYpzPAaVKX7huVGUB_b8N3VSE0C3xFkUQ/s640/Wed+Reception+us+b3-adj.jpg" width="640" /></a>This is my favorite picture from our wedding reception...<br /><br />Twenty years ago we were barefoot, <br />somewhat sweaty on the beach,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at sunset,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">surrounded by friends and loved ones.<br /><br />Twenty years ago we exchanged vows, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in front of everyone,<br />we promised to be there for one another.<br /><br />Twenty years ago we were in love, <br />we wanted to do the deed, <br />and we did it our way.<br /><br />Twenty years ago I married my best friend, <br />the man with whom I laugh daily, <br />mostly at him, <br />but that's another story.<br /><br />Twenty years ago we were happy, <br />excited to celebrate it all, <br />to pursue our dreams together.<br /><br />Twenty years ago I had no idea, <br />my love for you would keep on growing, <br />and we'd have so much fun.<br /><br />Thank you for being here for me,<br />freely and willingly, <br />(if need be)<br />for your patience, <br />your tenderness and care.<br /><br />Cheers to us for another twenty years!<br />Luvu my cute husband!<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-91586861848207036762020-07-19T20:43:00.003-04:002020-07-20T00:45:32.989-04:00Another Month Zoomed By...I thought it wasn't that long ago that I last wrote on here, and yet, it has been well over a month. Geez time flies even in confinement!<br />
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As I'm writing this I feel like crap, not because I am sick, but because I feel bad, for more than one reasons actually... You see, I've been working on that husband on mine for a while now, chirping in his ears that we should think about changing our car. We were the (proud) owner of a Honda Civic that we bought in 2010 a recup from an end of lease that was already five years old. When we got it, purchased following a car accident I had (while stopped at a red light some truck rammed into me, while he was on his phone planning his vacation). We were going away on vacation, and decided to get a car, not a new one, temporarily, until we decided what we wanted. That "for now" car became our car for the past ten years. It served us very well. Honda were/are good reliable cars, but like any car of ten+ years, rust was starting to show, it had a hole (made from a hitch of a pickup who backed into it one winter) right in the center of the front bumper, the doors would not stay open, the rear passenger left side window did not go down anymore, the speedometer wasn't indicating our speed at times (and according to the husband, more and more often), the AC wasn't as cold as it used to be, plus last January, while driving on Ste-Catherine downtown, some guy slowly "scraped" our car while he was changing lane. Since it was night, and darn cold, it looked like he had peeled off some dirt. When we looked at the car in daylight there was a little more damage, but since it was an old car, we didn't care too much. Following that though, it had loosen the left part of the front bumper and one day while Hubby was going in to work, a piece of plastic flew off the car, exposing the window washing container completely. Something had to be done, so I did a tape job on it!<br />
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It didn't look that bad, right? Granted we did not fit in our neighborhood where most people are driving Audi, Mercedes, BMW, etc, so our tape job was clashing to say the least, but it still got us from point A to point B. Hubby had been researching some models, asking friends, etc. and we agreed that the Kia Forte pleased us both. It was in our price range (cheap! <i>not really</i>) and offered good warranty. We made our way to our dealer, in Laval, and after four (long) hours, we had signed for a brand new car. They (offensively, almost!) offered us $350 for our old Civic. Yes we could have tried to sell it ourselves for more, but didn't want the hassle.<br />
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We picked it up Wednesday evening. Hubby drove it home. Thursday he drove me to the eye doctor, because I have <b>another</b> lids (eye lashes) infection, and Saturday we decided to go for a little drive, and visit some friends in the Waste Island. (On a side note, I will say that it was really the first people we've visited since this Covid nightmare started and it felt somewhat strange at first, but also nice to catch up with friends, and talk with someone other than my husband. I also realized that I'm far from ready to go back to malls or even restaurants, call my pussy, I don't care. I haven't been "secluding" for months to go into a group or a crowd, just to be social. Nope. Not yet. Side note closed.)<br />
We visited our friends, and actually stayed over for dinner. A pleasant afternoon was had by all. Since Hubby had been drinking I was to drive home, my first time driving our new car. I put it in drive, and I started pulling out of the driveway when I heard my girlfriend yelling "Stop, Stop!" I had clipped a little cement triangle that was along the road... Long story short, and to spare you the drama, I scratched the car. Let's just say that there haven't been much conversation in this house today. We've been on different floors most of the day, and earlier we went out together to look at the damages... I scrapped the bottom of the door from the driver to back door it seems. I feel like shit about it, it was my bad. I didn't know (and still don't) the feel, size of this car, and I put on its first scratch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkIXFShV1yKsdbUyduyRp_d_NeFIf8omQvjyt5q5P-GuppphAh3tfIYjidWIYNaiSWe32dZxBWoiNdJp_hXSwtbsE_YVwdDYv3rPGDSXJ0tdps2P2WOr3k6QSKTHtM-DGplkbKQ/s1600/A-gray-cat-crying-looking-upset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkIXFShV1yKsdbUyduyRp_d_NeFIf8omQvjyt5q5P-GuppphAh3tfIYjidWIYNaiSWe32dZxBWoiNdJp_hXSwtbsE_YVwdDYv3rPGDSXJ0tdps2P2WOr3k6QSKTHtM-DGplkbKQ/s320/A-gray-cat-crying-looking-upset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I really feel terrible about it all, and to see Hubby this upset about it doesn't help at all how I'm feeling... I didn't do it on purpose, and like Hubby said, I have really <i>bad juju</i> with new cars, or so it seems. I have to let this go and get over it. But it was brand spanking new!! Within minutes of me driving it!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqlWvMbcbJSnJDFJY8fwUf7_LNWXv3KULk0Ph3FGJv-dcU5H2HQX5SBinaDqH6GigFrhxxTFqlFPMQByva-UB8WfexJ7YTS0su06tfjC6ngcnnC1F4dCATLKk-HWcDmyz54F-ng/s1600/203b35c861683160848454a1e19ed254.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="615" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqlWvMbcbJSnJDFJY8fwUf7_LNWXv3KULk0Ph3FGJv-dcU5H2HQX5SBinaDqH6GigFrhxxTFqlFPMQByva-UB8WfexJ7YTS0su06tfjC6ngcnnC1F4dCATLKk-HWcDmyz54F-ng/s200/203b35c861683160848454a1e19ed254.jpg" width="156" /></a>stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25689012.post-58053090955797871692020-06-15T01:03:00.000-04:002020-06-15T01:03:20.202-04:00Be Yourself, But Be Your Best SelfSince my mother is turning 78 and because the last time we saw each other was before she left for Florida, last fall, we went to visit her on Saturday. Since the <i>rules</i> are a lot looser we figured we could visit them while keeping some <i>social distancing. </i>We made her day, she was so happy and it was funny to see how much she wanted to hug, kiss and simply touch us. She was so excited. I think if she'd been a little pooch, she would have peed on the spot!<br />
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It was strange to visit her, since we haven't visited anyone for a few months now... and we had not seen her nor her beau in almost nine months. According to my mom, her beau had a rough winter. He was sick most of the time he was there, feeling like he had no energy, didn't work around the property liked he used to the previous winters. They got back just before the borders were closed, and since haven't been able to access his doctor as easily as normal (or pre-covid). When I saw him I thought he aged a lot. He's lost weight, he didn't look that healthy. He wasn't feeling too hot neither. He's having back issues, plus he's having some blood issues, and going for more tests, which worries him.<br />
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It was nice to see my mom, she looked the same. She's doing well, even if she is bored out of her tree with the confinement. She's a very social person, loves to be with people, playing cards, pool, bowling, board games, name it she plays. So being at home, doing puzzles, reading and watching TV is a real downer for her. Plus her beau not feeling well... and me not calling much, nor visiting.<br />
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On Friday, while Hubby and I went to our jeweler to get a new battery in my watch, I decided to get my mom a little charm. She's been wearing this heart pendant for years, it was a pendant my ex boyfriend gave me when we had first moved in together back in the late 80s. When I left him, I gave that heart to my mother, since she was always mentioning how nice it was. When I worked at the jeweler I had looked at a few things, with her in mind, but since we don't see each other that often, I simply looked. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOWH3O7erIj4L64YavEAgojPqGLYd_ksh9VTTDvggrtVAVDuNfiYMLEB4gxPO100CuMx_09f8m_k7LgRXGFBvI_tzLWh4Km4bIWgwKyfmltJiwfmtER14vzqN2XFAUeDUXB4Wsw/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOWH3O7erIj4L64YavEAgojPqGLYd_ksh9VTTDvggrtVAVDuNfiYMLEB4gxPO100CuMx_09f8m_k7LgRXGFBvI_tzLWh4Km4bIWgwKyfmltJiwfmtER14vzqN2XFAUeDUXB4Wsw/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
Friday we got her this ''floating'' two-tones gold heart. I knew she already had a few chains she could put it on. She did not wait for us to tell her to open her gift. I had written in her card that the two halves were Hubby and I. She loved it and wanted to put it on a chain right away. She removed the <i>old</i> one, and went to her bedroom to look for a nice chain. I followed her and going through her jewels with her, reminding me of when I was a kid and would play in her jewelry box, which had a little ballerina and red velvet on the inside, and sections for rings, earrings, etc. She doesn't have that box anymore... so we went through her travelling stuff, and lots of little envelopes. While she was looking she was talking... She surprised me by saying she had to get something off her chest for the past three years and mostly she had to forgive herself before anything. I stood there listening and going through her costume jewelry. You see three years ago, I had planned a nice outing mother/daughter for her 75th birthday. She decided not to come (you can read more about it <a href="https://stories-2-tell.blogspot.com/2017/05/" target="_blank">here</a>). Since then, I have been more <i>distant</i>. I've distanced myself, gave her space and have not said anything to her about it. I have been hurt, and have been avoiding being hurt again. For the first time, in many, many years, my mother and I had a conversation where both of us listened and talked like adults. I felt super calm. She apologized for ''not putting me first that time'', and she regretted it. She said that a few times. I listened. When she said that she didn't want me to be like my father in never again offering something because she had said no once, I listened, took a deep breath and told her, she did it more than once. Seeing the look of surprise on her face I knew I had to explain myself, so I did. I remained calm, and told her that she deeply hurt me twice: once when she refused to come shopping with me for my wedding dress because I didn't want her then beau to wait for us in a car in January, and the second time was when she refused to come with me for a mother/daughter weekend for her 75th birthday because she felt torn up between her (new) beau and me. We talked. She cried, and I tried to reassure her that no matter what she was and will always be my mother and that in fact, it was because of that, that I was still talking to her. I also explained to her that like a broken ceramic that may be glued back together and looks ok, that piece has been broken and will never be the same, no matter how much we try to make it all nice, it was broken.<br /><br />She accepted my explanation, and I think that the fact that we wouldn't touch (hug, kiss) made it easier. It was just our words, spoken softly. I did tell her, like she did when she read her birthday card, that she had a lot more life behind her than ahead, and that I want those years, no matter how many there are, to be happy and peaceful, not filled with regrets and sadness. I want her to be happy. I would love for her to be happy with herself, to be enough for herself to be complete. stinkypawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.com2