March 18 to 24, 2018

Sunday ;  Sunny and cool.

This morning I exercised our little generator.  We walked Ozzie.  I paid our bi-monthly electricity bill.  YIKES !  Perhaps we should have used less electricity ( room heaters ) and more propane ( furnace ) for heating ?  Joanne laundered my liquid shoe polish stained red jacket.  Almost all of the stains washed out.

This afternoon I paid some bills, and worked on our income tax returns.  I finished the basics of our returns and now I am working on determining the results of transferring allowable expenses / deductions / pension income splits between spouses.  That's more complicated and time consuming than it sounds !

Monday ;  Cloudy, cool.  Temperature above freezing day time and night time.  Snow all gone.

Went to the swimming pool and did cardiac rehabilitation aquatic exercises this afternoon.  WHEW !  Hard work.  I appreciate having Joanne as my workout partner.

Tuesday ;  Penticton

Cloudy, cool.  Wasted more than half an hour this morning searching for Emma, who "disappeared" just before I was going to administer her morning medications.  Joanne found her squeezed in behind my desk.  < fume >  Bad girl, Emma !  You scared us !

Spent the afternoon running errands in Penticton.  This is the first time since I began cardiac rehabilitation in mid-December that I have participated in shopping errands. 
I hate Wal-Mart shopping !

Wednesday ;  Sunny and ... mild ?  Is it warm enough to call it "mild" ?

This morning we took care of Ozzie's dental and ear care.  I did a teensy bit of outdoor spring work.  After lunch and a nap ( for me and the animals ) we went to the swimming pool to do cardiac rehabilitation aquatic exercises.  Before cooking Lake Winnipeg Pickerel for supper I sent marketing e-mails to exhibitors at the upcoming BC Interior RV Show, offering my trailer towing services to transport trailers ( and truck campers ) to and/or from the show in Penticton.

We ate our pickerel dinner while watching Survivor, followed by 9-1-1.

Thursday ;  Cold.  Intermittent heavy rain.

First thing this morning I received an inquiry from an RV dealer in Kamloops, about providing trailer towing services to and from the upcoming BC Interior RV Show in Penticton, for two extremely large "park trailers", kind of a hybrid between a travel trailer and a park model manufactured home.  These are trailers, but are not meant for travelling.  They are forty-four feet long !

I spent much of today preparing quotes and planning logistics for transporting these two very large trailers from Kamloops to Penticton, and back to Kamloops again after the show.  AND ... preparing for ANOTHER job the dealership hired me to do ; transport a large fifth wheel trailer from our home RV park to Kamloops tomorrow !  So ... that's like five trailer towing jobs in one fell swoop !  KA-CHING !  Too bad I spent so much time outdoors in the heavy rain today getting ready.

Joanne spent the day in Penticton running errands by herself.  After she returned home late in the afternoon she helped me get hitched up to the large fifth wheel trailer we will be towing to Kamloops tomorrow.

Ozzie had an abscess on his front leg burst this morning.  YUCK !  I bandaged his leg.  He pulled the bandage off !  I bandaged his leg using a different type of gauze.  That worked !  In Penticton today Joanne bought him an Elizabethan collar which he is wearing tonight.  Poor Ozzie !  He's a cone head !

Friday ;  home to Kamloops & return

HMPH ! ! !  Another episode of "Highway Thru Hell" ! ! !

We left home this morning shortly before 10:30 AM, with a very large, very heavy fifth wheel trailer in tow, heading for Kamloops.  West on Hwy. 3 to Princeton where we stopped at Kal Tire to adjust the air pressure in all of the trailer's tires.  Then north on Hwy. 5A to the Coquihalla Okanagan Connector, then west to Merritt.  We refilled with diesel at Extra Foods Fuel Bar in Merritt before continuing north on the Coquihalla Highway from Merritt to Kamloops.  We commented on how this seemed to be the first time we have driven on the Coquihalla in decent weather.

At Kamloops we crossed the city from west to east on Trans-Canada Highway 1, then turned north on Hwy. 5 for a few miles to Jubilee RV Centre where we dropped off the fifth wheel trailer at 2 PM.  Another job well done !  By 2:30 PM we were leaving Jubilee RV Centre.  We parked at the Kamloops Tourist Information Centre for a few minutes to eat the picnic lunch Joanne had prepared.

Back on TCH1 we crossed the city from east to west, then turned south on the Coquihalla Highway, known locally as "The Coke".  A few miles south of Kamloops ... WTF ? ! ?  A snow blizzard ? ? ?  With zero visibility whiteout conditions ? ? ? ? ? 
< sputter >  BUT ... we had just come through here a couple of hours ago in the opposite direction and ... it was spring ! ! !  < shaking my head in despair >  The horrible winter blizzard conditions persisted until a few miles from Merritt.  We refilled with diesel again in Merritt, then when we turned east on the Coquihalla Okanagan Connector at Merritt the blizzard conditions resumed, even worse than on The Coke !  We crawled along at about 50 km. per hr. / 30 MPH from Merritt all the way up the Connector and then south on Hwy. 5A to Princeton.  Just before Princeton the weather cleared again.  From Princeton eastbound on Hwy. 3 to home it was spring again !  < blink blink >

We arrived back home around 6 PM.  Joanne loves these kind of trailer towing jobs.  Reasonably profitable, reasonably easy job, there and back in one relatively easy day !

Saturday ;  We woke this morning to find snow falling.  Lots of snow falling !  < sigh >  Fortunately, the snow stopped falling by noon, and it had all melted by late afternoon.

So ... this morning's heavy snowfall somewhat threw a monkey wrench into my plans for today, which included outdoor spring work.  Nevertheless, after our afternoon cardiac rehab pool exercises, we did manage to get a teensy bit of work done outside.  Although it was pretty chilly by late afternoon after the sun set behind the mountain across the river.  Most importantly, we got the fifth wheel hitch removed from the truck bed and the truck parked underneath the camper again.

DSK

March 11 to 17, 2018

Sunday ;  Sunny and ... warm ?  Well, not exactly warm, but ... you know ... improving !

We slept very late this morning.  Then had a lazy day.  I reset clocks ... < rolling
eyes > ... did some very minor maintenance on the truck, we went for a couple of long walks with Ozzie, and I spent way too much time standing around outside chatting with neighbours.  In the evening I began working on our income tax returns.

Monday ;  Sunny and ... mild ?  Feels somewhat like spring !

Today we sadly remember Sully the cat, who died three years ago at 18½ years of age.  I'd better go and give sick ( but improving ) Emma an extra hug !

This morning I prepared a trailer towing quote, the third quote, each to a different destination, for the same individual, in the last week.  After this third quote, I expected him to hire me to tow his trailer this coming weekend.  And by 8:30 PM tonight, I still had not heard back from him yet.  HMPH !

This afternoon we went to the swimming pool and did cardiac rehabilitation aquatic exercises.  In the evening I worked on preparing our income tax returns.

Tuesday ;  Sunny, cool.

Another lazy day.  I finally heard from my potential trailer towing client, who postponed his ( maybe ) trailer move for a week.  This morning I did regular weekly pet dental and ear care.  When we went for a long walk with Ozzie I returned a book to the library in the lodge and picked up a couple of new books to read.  In the evening I continued working on our income tax returns.

Wednesday ;  Light rain until mid-afternoon.

This morning we drove into Keremeos to buy some coinage at the credit union.  In the afternoon Joanne did laundry, and our neighbour / friend Jeanine and her little dog Charlie came over for a visit.  In the evening I did a bit more work on our income tax returns.  I've done as much as I can until I receive a few more tax information slips.  Joanne made my favourite dinner which we ate while watching Survivor and 9-1-1.

Thursday ;  Sunny and cool.

After lunch we headed to Penticton, to attend the monthly Kitchen Stove Film Series foreign art film.  Today's movie was "Visages, Villages" translated as "Faces, Places", a movie made in France.  Very interesting documentary.  After the movie we went to Canadian Tire to buy an item, then refilled the minivan with fuel before going to Joey's Seafood Only Restaurant for dinner.

Friday ;  Sunny and cool ... spring is arriving.

This morning we trimmed Emma's claws.  HMPH ... unhappy cat !  This afternoon we went to the swimming pool to do cardiac rehabilitation aquatic exercises.  HMPH ... hard work !  This evening I used the barbecue to cook supper for the first time since last summer.  AHHHHH ... great barbecued chicken !

I prepared another trailer towing quote today.  Lots of trailer towing "tire kickers" lately, an annual, early spring phenomenon.  People have this ludicrous expectation that they can hire someone to tow their trailer for less money than it would cost if they did it themselves !  HA HA HA !  Good luck with that !

Saturday ;  St. Patrick's Day

Mostly sunny, cool, windy.  We got some spring outdoor work done today.  And while polishing our winter boots prior to storing them I had a liquid shoe polish "malfunction".  F*** ! ! !  Looks like my red jacket is ruined now !

DSK

March 4 to 10, 2018

Sunday ;  Cloudy and cold, snowing in late afternoon.

Emma is sick !  Either she has an upper respiratory infection or ... < sigh > ... she has aspiration pneumonia.  Caused by me administering medications to her via syringe. 
< sigh >  I'm very worried about Emma and feeling sick with guilt over the possibility that I may be responsible for her illness.

This afternoon I resumed caulking work on the leaking shower enclosure.  I feel in over my head on this project !

I posted my weekly journal to my blog.  I reconciled our month end bank statements and updated investment files.

Monday ;  Penticton

Cloudy, temperature at freezing level.

After an early lunch I left for Penticton, for my twenty-eighth ( of thirty ) cardiac rehabilitation session.  For the first time since I started the cardiac rehabilitation program, Joanne did not come to Penticton with me.  When I was finished at the gym
I went to an automotive specialty shop to enquire about upgraded headlights for the truck.  Driving in the dark on the way to and from Prince George ... I couldn't see squat !

In the evening I prepared Joanne's Old Age Security pension application form.  It can now be submitted, eleven months before her sixty-fifth birthday.  And I prepared and submitted another quote for a long distance trailer towing job, this one to be done near the end of the month.

Emma is still quite ill with what we are convinced is an upper respiratory viral infection.

Tuesday ;  Sunny, temperature slightly above freezing.

This morning I drove into Keremeos to get a haircut and beard trim.  Before returning home I went to the Post Office to buy postage.  Back at home I brushed Ozzie's ( few remaining ) teeth and cleaned and treated his ears.  I seem to have eliminated his chronic ear infections, at least temporarily.  Emma is still ill, but seems to be slowly improving.  < sigh >  Wish us luck !

Wednesday ;  Penticton

Sunny, temperature around freezing.

Early this afternoon I headed to Penticton, for my second last cardiac rehabilitation session.  Joanne stayed home, nursing a backache.  While at my fitness session, I was asked to do my end of program evaluation with one of the physiotherapists.  And I was put on the schedule to attend the cardiac rehabilitation "reunion", a group medical evaluation session held about three months after "graduating" from this "heart attack school" as it in known by some of its attendees.  Friday will be my thirtieth and final session of cardiac rehabilitation.

Before leaving Penticton I went shopping for headlights at Lordco, an automotive parts store.  I was back home just in time for the 5:30 PM newscast.  After supper we watched Survivor and 9-1-1.

I just finished taking Ozzie for his bedtime walk ( at 10:30 PM ).  HA HA HA ... you should have seen the beeline he made for home, with his tail tucked between his legs, when a nearby pack of coyotes began to howl !

Thursday ;  Cloudy, windy, cold.

Joanne's backache is slightly improved today thanks to drugs.  Emma's upper respiratory infection / "kitty cat cold" is slightly improved today thanks to drugs.  We had a lazy day.  I did some online shopping ... and purchasing ... of automotive parts. 
I retrieved income tax receipts in order to start preparing our income tax returns.  And
I began to monitor and record my fluid intake, after having a discussion yesterday with the nutritionist at the cardiac rehabilitation program about my ongoing edema ( fluid retention ) problem.

Friday ;  Penticton

Sunny, temperature above freezing.

At 12:45 PM we left home, drove to Keremeos, refilled our five gallon water jug, then headed to Penticton for my thirtieth and final cardiac rehabilitation session.  Congratulations, Daniel !  You are now a graduate of "heart attack school".  HA HA
HA !  While I was at the gym ... for the last time ... Joanne went grocery shopping at Superstore, then refilled the minivan with fuel before picking me up at 3:45 PM.  We went shopping at Wal-Mart before returning home.

After a supper of perogies, we watched a documentary on the life and career of Eric Clapton.  How the hell did he survive all that booze and drugs ? ! ?

Saturday ;  Sunny, temperature above freezing.

Repaired our doorbell.  Did some minor preventive maintenance on the minivan and truck.  Went for a long walk, partially to exercise Joanne's sore back.  Visited briefly with our neighbour / friend Jeanine this afternoon.  Went out for supper to Benja Thai in Keremeos to celebrate my completion of the cardiac rehabilitation program.

DSK

February 25 to March 3, 2018 ; home to Prince George & return

Sunday ;  Sunny, temperature slightly above freezing.

This afternoon Joanne helped me with shower enclosure "leak detection".  I have been unsuccessfully battling a leak of water underneath the shower enclosure, between the bottom of the shower enclosure walls and the floor / base.  < sigh >  It seems as if I will have to remove "old" caulking" to find the problem.  And the "old" caulking does not want to be removed  < sigh >  !

Monday ;  Penticton

This afternoon we went to Penticton.  I attended session twenty-six ( of thirty ) of my cardiac rehabilitation fitness program.  Joanne went shopping while I was at the gym.  After she picked me up we went to Wal-Mart so that I could buy some socks.

I was hired today to transport a trailer to Prince George.  However ... there was some misunderstanding / difficulty regarding use of the dealer's license plate or purchase of a temporary transport permit.  I don't think the problems can be overcome, and the job will likely be cancelled tomorrow morning.

Tuesday ;  home to 100 Mile House

This morning I received word around 8 AM that the trailer delivery job to Prince George was a "go".  We scrambled around for a few hours getting ready to go, and left home around 11:30 AM, Ozzie with us, and Emma left at home to fend for herself.

We drove halfway to Penticton, to Twin Lakes, and picked up the trailer to be delivered.  There was a bit of a delay while the dealer "wrapped" the trailer using bubble wrap on the front, and "stretch wrap" around and around and around the trailer, in an attempt to protect the brand new trailer from the elements.  It didn't really work all that well !

We had the trailer hooked up and were on the way from Twin Lakes at 1 PM.  North on Hwy. 3A to Kaleden, Hwy. 97 to Penticton to Summerland to Peachland.  West on Coquihalla Okanagan Connector to Merritt.  We refilled with diesel and bought some groceries at Extra Foods in Merritt.  North on the Coquihalla ... aptly named the Highway Thru Hell !  Terrible winter conditions on the Coquihalla.  At one point our truck with large trailer attached began to slip and slide on the highway.  Very scary !  Needed all my best driving skills, and lots of luck, to bring it back under control.  Just before reaching Kamloops we turned west on Hwy.1 to Cache Creek, then north on Hwy. 97 again.  We reached 100 Mile House at 7 PM.  I was tired and needed to stop for the night.

We checked into the 100 Mile House Motel.  Ate supper in our room while watching TV. 

The shrink wrap around the trailer slowly peeled off during the day.  Every time we stopped I had to cut off more "tails" of shrink wrap blowing and dragging behind the trailer.

This was our first road trip with Ozzie.  He did fine until it got dark outside at 6 PM.  Then he seemed to suffer a bit of a panic attack.  He seemed very worried that we were "lost".

Wednesday ;  post-operative 5 months ; 100 Mile House to Prince George and return

Overcast, temperature well below freezing this far north.

This morning we were up by 7:30 AM and checked out of our motel room around 9:30 AM.  We continued north on Hwy. 97.  We stopped in Quesnel to refill with diesel.  We arrived in Prince George around 2 PM.  The buyer of the trailer met us at the Superstore parking lot, I unhitched his new trailer from our truck, and helped him hitch it up to his truck.  Eight hundred kilometre ( five hundred mile ) trailer delivery job completed !  We were heading south out of Prince George at 2:30 PM.

We refilled with diesel again in Quesnel on our way back.  We stopped in Williams Lake at 5:30 PM to have an early supper at Denny's.  We left Williams Lake at 6:30 PM and arrived in 100 Mile House at 7:30 PM.  We checked into the motel next door to the one we stayed in last night, just to try something different, and were ready to watch the two hour season premiere of Survivor at 8 PM.

Thursday ;  100 Mile House to home

We left 100 Mile House this morning about 9:30 AM, continuing south on Hwy. 97.  At Cache Creek we turned west on Trans Canada Highway 1.  As we approached Kamloops and the Coquihalla Highway, not surprisingly, we encountered snow blizzard conditions.  There was a radio report that the Coquihalla Highway was closed southbound because of ( ANOTHER ) multi-vehicle accident, an event that seems to take place about twice a week during the winter on the Highway Thru Hell !  We decided to drive a few miles into Kamloops and turn south on Hwy. 5A, the very winding "old" two lane undivided highway from Kamloops to Merritt, with a much lower speed limit than the Coquihalla.

Yes, it was blizzard conditions, but ... with an 80 km./hour speed limit, and few commercial trucks, it was not that difficult a drive.  As opposed to driving on the Coquihalla, with bumper to bumper commercial trucks driving at 130 km./hr. regardless of weather conditions ! ! !  At Merritt we refilled with diesel at the Extra Foods Fuel Bar.  The blizzard conditions persisted eastbound on the Coquihalla Okanagan Connector and southbound on Hwy. 5A again to Princeton.  We turned east on Hwy. 3 at Princeton, and were home an hour later, at 4 PM.

This trailer delivery job wasn't about making money so much as it was about proving to myself that after five months I have recovered sufficiently from cardiac bypass surgery to resume the hard work of trailer deliveries.  I passed the test !

Friday ;  Penticton

Blizzard conditions starting in late afternoon.

We left home at 12:30 PM heading for Penticton and my twenty-seventh cardiac rehabilitation session.  We stopped in Keremeos to refill our five gallon water jug.  We stopped at Twin Lakes to return the dealer's license plate and pick up payment for our trailer delivery job to Prince George. Joanne dropped me off at the cardiac rehabilitation gym and went grocery shopping at Superstore.  After grocery shopping she refilled the minivan with fuel then picked me up at the gym at 3:45 PM.

By then it was raining heavily in Penticton and as we drove out of the city the heavy rain turned into a snow blizzard.  On our way home down Hwy. 3A we stopped to provide assistance to a small car that had spun off the road and into the ditch.  The two ladies in the car were a bit rattled, but okay.  Nothing for them to do but wait for a tow truck ! 

The closer we got to home, the worse the storm became.  We arrived home at 4:45 PM, about fifteen minutes after the power went out !  A semi-trailer ... ( of course ! ) ... had crashed into a power pole nearby.  The power was out from 4:30 PM until 12:20 AM !  It was a dark, cold ... and crabby ... evening !

Saturday ;  Partially sunny, temperature just above freezing, yesterday's huge dump of snow melting.

Emma seems to have an upper respiratory infection.  A "kitty cat cold".  I am administering a cold medication for pets that we bought in Mexico.  She hates it !  Poor baby Emma.

Just before lunch we headed into town ( Keremeos ) to wash the road grime off the truck.  YUCK ... filthy big truck !  Back at home, after lunch, we gave Ozzie a bath.  YUCK ... stinky little dog !  HA HA HA !

In the evening I processed some photos and worked on month end banking and investment reconciliations.  After supper we watched Saturday Night Live.

DSK