All in a Heart Beat

Kirk had a new experience. Not a good one.

Tuesday afternoon, after installing a new quiet muffler on my truck, he came in the house tired needing something to eat. After feeding him some fish gumbo he mentioned his chest felt strange and asked me to check his pulse. I'm not good at this sort of stuff and yet I could tell there was something definitely wrong.

He says "with some rest it will go away". Since my patience level is real short, after a hour I ask if he is feeling any better. "No." Now I start looking in the phone book for non-emergency medical assistance. There is a medical clinic in Forest (appointments only and I don't care).

We arrive at the clinic just asking for someone with some medical background to check his pulse so we can decide what to do and where to go. With persuasion they finally let us see a Nurse who immediately got a Doctor who immediately called 911.

He is now in an ambulance heading for Stathroy Hospital, which is 45 minutes away. My job is to follow in my truck after paying the bill of $75. for this visit. Cash only. So I had to go the bank first.

I arrive at the hospital an hour later. Kirk is already hooked up to monitors and printers spitting out paper with squiggly lines on them. During blood tests and I.V. he is chatting on and on saying, this is his first time for an ambulance ride, emergence room, monitors.... etc.. He was like a little kid experiencing Disney World or all the attention.

After a short explanation of the numbers jumping up and down on the monitor a realization set in; this is serious! Now Kirk starts a deep concentration on the numbers. It is as if he wanted to "will them" to stop jumping. We are now left alone. There are other patients needing assistance.

We both stare at the monitor like watching some interesting TV program. It is getting late and I have to be a work at 6:00 am. The dogs are "home alone." I am getting very tired and I don't drive well in the dark at best of times. We now are concerned that the Dr. has forgotten us.

At 11:00 pm we are relieved to know the Dr. has his own monitor and announces that Kirk is staying the night with arrangements made for a Specialist to arrive in the morning. I now can leave for home.

I only had one dog accident to clean up. It had to be Shadow, because when letting them out Peaty had a very long pee. Shadow knew something was wrong as she was abnormally affectionate towards me. It was enough affection to let her sleep on the bed along with Peaty. We are going to try to sleep now. Right. It seemed I checked the clock ever hour. Finally it was time to get up. The dogs weren't interested in getting up. To bad. I put them in their beds. In the garage. Set out bowls of water and off to work I go.

8:15 am I get a phone call. Kirk is out of the hospital.

Positive points of this;

• Kirk may cut down on his smoking.
• Medical services are not as expensive as we thought.
• Emerg visit $250. Ambulance $240. Physician fee $50. (Dr is getting *crewed)
• Prescription $4.10
• Follow up visits arranged for Dec. 2 more test ($?) Jan. 10 discuss medication ($120.)
• Many friends and family offer assistance now and in future.
• 911 is just a heart beat away. Use it.

No Cake today! Or any day.

On Sundays I work alone from 6:00 am to 10:00 am. The doors open at 9:00 am.

The following is a letter I faxed to the store owner. It is self explanatory.
It may make or break my job. Time will tell. The confrontation was with the Bakery Manager. Whatever the outcome it is probably for the best as God has a plan. I've spent most of the day repeating the Lords Prayer. The tough part is; we forgive those who trespass against us.

Nov. 26, 2006 Sunday.

This is only my opinion and experience - Without prejudice.

Dear Dave,

In the past I have been able to handle my own confrontations. Today was a little more than what I could handle.

What we have here is a “failure to communicate”.

The following will be my routine, thoughts and feels on how I handled the day. You may receive other versions.

Arriving early as usual, always trying to be prepared for any unplanned emergencies, I find a very large cake order for Sunday at 9 am. (Sale price $80.00) The first question to myself is; why would they do this on such short notice? I read it over and over again. It does say Sunday at 9 am. (When I left on Saturday at 1:15 pm we had no cake orders)

Flying into action, I know I have to get the bread and bun bin filled by 8:00 am. I will worry about the packaged buns later. (From experience people will ask about the packaged buns and I figured I would package as needed.) This now gives me one hour to decorate these cakes. (2 full slab cakes) Ok, my decorating experience is limited but I try my best at whatever I do and being out of practice this takes longer as in after 9, doors are open. (Not sure when I finished had customers in between everything else.)

It is now 10:00 am. The cake customer has not arrived yet. I am cleaning up the decorating tools and waiting on customers, this must have been another mistake I made.

10:05 am. Sue arrives asking, “why aren’t the buns out?” I try to explain. I get cut short. “You don’t do cakes!” Ok. That is fine but what am I suppose to do when I see a cake order for Sunday for 9:00 am. (I am getting loud now) I was told; “don’t you take that tone with me”. I never did get an answer to my question.

I was told there are customers who need buns, as she pointed to her grocery-buggy. Again, I try to explain; I thought it was more important to get an $80.00. cake order done which was a greater $ value than all the packaged buns put on the shelf. Besides we were in the process of packaging when Sue arrived.

I guess my priorities were wrong and I apologize for that. It won’t happen again. I will not decorate again and I will not come up with any ideas again.

Some of my co-workers have asked me why I’m so happy? I love life. I like my job. I enjoy working. I enjoy sharing ideas but I found that is not acceptable here. I will try to fit in.

Black Friday

Shop until you drop! Watching Fox News reminds us of the havoc of this day. All the shoppers waiting in line during the wee hours of the morning to be first in the store for the holiday specials.

Myself, I don't understand, however people need that special item and this is the day to get it. (If you live in the USA) It puts the retailers in the "black" and the consumer in the "red".

As for us in Canada. The farmers are still hard at it. I mentioned this on the Canadian Thanksgiving. Well, last night the tractor lights lit up the field as they harvest the sugar beet crops.

Around our home they've been working for 2 days (as in 48 hours) straight now. They must be working in shifts as we don't think any one person could keep a straight line staying wake that long.

It seems their Black Friday is much different than you folks in the south. Hopefully it will put the farmer in the "black".

In the mean time, the weather is great. Just like the days in North Carolina. I wanted to cut some grass. Kirk had to change the gas filter on the mower first. He accomplished that task and proceeded to cut the back yard. This is the important yard to cut. It is were the dogs relieve themselves and they prefer short grass. The mower is still not running properly so I was told not to bother cutting the rest of the property. Kirk failed to mention at some point the mower managed to eat the carpet in the garage. Wonder if that has anything to do with the performance of the mower? Our Black Friday?

Life

LIFE…The female columnist is not identified, but the message is important
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9 Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14 If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Happy Thanksgiving USA

For some reason it feels like we are missing out on this day.

We are thinking about you in the south enjoying this Day of Thanks.

Kirk got some fish yesterday. So instead of turkey we will give thanks over a fish dinner.

Influence?

I will seek and find you..

I shall take you to bed and have my way with you.

I will make you ache, shake & sweat until you moan & groan.

I will make you beg for mercy, beg for me to stop.

I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I'm finished with you.

And, when I am finished, you will be weak for days.

All my love,

The Flu

Deer Meat

We are thankful to all. We are very fortunate to be on the receiving end of those who give wholeheartedly.

Since we moved here we have received;
Food
Beef, fish, corn, potatoes, onions, tomatoes and access to bountiful vegetable garden with berries.
Heat
Firewood - logs and 2x4's
Building materials
Lumber, insulation, wiring, lighting, plumbing
Computer services
Clothing
Furniture
Sofa, bed, tables, chairs, pictures, patio chairs
I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting.

But, we are now going to get Deer Meat. I don't know if I'm ready for this?

Small World

This really shouldn't be surprising and yet it seems so bizarre that I am working with someone who started out to be a complete stranger to me.

Realizations set in when she presented this picture of my niece (the short one) and her (the tall one).
1. I'm older than I feel.
2. A kinship occurs.
3. I've returned to a part of the world where I have unknown relationships and the discovery of the fellowship is exciting.
4. Life is great!

They fought for freedom

Remembrance Day, Veterans Day; it is the same.
Just take the pittance of time.

This is really good! I don't know if anyone down south has ever heard of him. If not, this is my small way of promoting a great song writer. His song was sent to me in an email and I just had to know more about him and the song. It is a must, to listen to. I found a number of links if this one doesn't work.

http://www.terry-kelly.com/pittance.htm Click onto video (English).

Indescribable feelings

My Blogger post of Oct 26 (Indifferent, Bad and Good) touched on our dealings with Immigration. We scurry around getting a new set of fingerprints, forms filled out and we feel all the information needed is ready to be sent to the FBI. Time is of the essence here.

I take the package to the Post Office Oct. 30 to ensure that it will be sent properly. From experience I know a letter with standard postage takes approximately 10 days to arrive at a USA destination. To speed up the process the Post Office offers 6 day delivery for $14.50. My thoughts; are 4 days worth the additional cost. NO. (Big mistake on my part) I choose to send it standard postage mentioning to the Postal Clerk that Immigration seemed to have lost the previous set and this has to get to the FBI but 4 days won't make that much difference.

Yesterday, Kirk comes in with the mail. The package returned "insufficient postage".

I am ............... Indescribable.

Grabbing my postage receipt and package I raced out the door to have a discussion with the Post Office. Many thoughts went through my mind. Shooting someone was one of them.

Many of you know me as having quite a temper and irrational. Listening to the gospel music playing in my truck I did calm down before arriving at the Post Office.

The clerk admitted it was their mistake. She apologized as she handed me a box of Kleenex. (I wasn't crying, my nose was dripping. I still have a cold.) The consolation is they return my original postage and we now send it for $14.50. I leave asking the Lord for the understanding of this and my indescribable feelings.

We're having a heat wave!

We are in Canada. (Ok, you know that)It is November. (Ok, you know that too)
It is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. (Surprise)
Kirk has gone FISHING! (Surprise again)
The salmon is running?

Kirk asked me this morning "How is your cold?"
My reply "The best cold I've ever had. It just wants to hang around and mess up my head."
Actually, I think Kirk wanted me to go fishing too. I just couldn't do it.

He worked like a (Canadian) beaver all weekend so he felt justified to take off on such a lovely day. I don't blame him he is retired. (You know what I mean.)

Sticking to the necessities, I completed some household chores ran a few errands and back to my rest and orange juice while waiting to see if I'm cooking fish this evening. (Only worthy results will be photographed.)

Cold Remedies

I now have a Cold! I feel like death is sitting at my door-step. I left work early yesterday hoping with rest and heat (I felt frozen half to death at work) this will pass. When I got home, I feed everyone, drank a gallon of orange juice and went straight to bed. (Ok, died on the couch/sofa/chesterfield or whatever you call it here) I still woke up with a cold.

My idea of fighting a cold is; orange juice, apples, rest/sleep and if that doesn't work. Drugs.
Kirk's idea is; onions, garlic, hot-toddy and MAYBE drugs.

Keeping an open mind between naps. I baked bread with onions and garlic and made a big pot of onion soup. Guess what we are eating today? This better work. I have to work tomorrow.

Too bad beer isn't a remedy. I would never get a cold.