Sunday ; Cold, rainy, windy. BRRR ... feels like winter is near !
Well ... it’s about time to resume writing my daily journal and posting it weekly to my blog, n’est-ce pas ? It’s been six months since I last posted. Here’s what has happened in our lives over the last six months ;
HOME ; Well ... we’ve moved. We have left our seniors’ co-op condominium in Dugald on the eastern outskirts of Winnipeg, and moved to a large two bedroom, two bathroom luxurious condominium suite we purchased in Tuxedo, Winnipeg’s prestigious “old money” neighbourhood. We’ve been here for three weeks. All is great so far !
The highlight of our new home, in my opinion, is the large balcony converted to a four season sunroom. The ceiling, floor and side walls have been insulated and finished, including lush, thick carpeting the same as in the rest of the suite. The outside of the balcony has been enclosed with triple pane, screened, opening windows, floor to ceiling glass, the inside wall has been removed, opening up the living room to the sunroom, with the removed living room wall replaced with floor to ceiling sliding glass panels which we leave open all the time, turning the balcony / sunroom into an extension of the already large living room. Spectacular ! The sunroom is also heated, with thermostat controlled heaters enclosed in both side walls.
This community is quite different than Dugald Estates. Thankfully ! While this building is not designated “senior”, most of the residents are seniors / retirees. There are a lot of dogs in our building, and in the neighbouring condominium buildings as well. As we were shopping for a new home earlier this summer, a real estate agent referred us to this Swindon Way neighbourhood of condominium buildings, noted for all being pet friendly. Apollo appreciates the many new dog friends and smells in the neighbourhood. We appreciate the diversity that was lacking at Dugald Estates, a “white bread” community of narrow minded “parochials” (yes, yes ... it’s okay to read that as “hillbillies”) who think adventure travel means going to Beausejour for lunch ! Who think that the sun rises and sets on Anola !
Winslow House, our new home, is filled with many different shades of skin colour, varied religions and sexual orientations, with (affluent) immigrants from all over the world, speaking a multitude of languages. With men wearing yarmulkes instead of John Deere baseball caps !
HEALTH ; I have had some cardiac issues this summer which resulted in needing an angiogram, which went well. Partially due to my cardiac triple bypass surgery eight years ago, implantation of stents was not a viable option for resolving this summer’s angina problems. But medication was, and the reintroduction of a cardiac medication which I used for the first couple of years following my bypass surgery has solved the current angina issues.
Joanne continues to have a chronic coughing problem, persistent for a year and a half now. And still undiagnosed ! ! ! Our family doctor referred her to a respirologist about a year ago, and she finally saw him (the respirologist) this spring, about six months ago. He referred her for some tests, one of which has still not been scheduled ! ! ! SO ... since we’re leaving soon for the winter, it appears that her coughing problem will remain undiagnosed, let alone treated and resolved, for over two years ! ! ! ! !
And even more worrisome than that ... on our 21st retirement anniversary date (June 18) she experienced three TIA’s (transient ischemic attacks) / mini-strokes ! Our family doctor referred her for a multitude of tests and scans, culminating in a visit a few days ago to a neurologist at Winnipeg’s stroke prevention clinic. He ordered more tests and scans. Winnipeg’s health care delays due to waitlists / scheduling issues means that those tests and scans won’t take place until we return from Victoria next spring.
Not only is the health deterioration of aging having a significant impact on both of us, we are both tired of the amount of time and energy that has gone into medical issues and appointments this summer.
WEALTH ; <shrug> The stock market continues to be generous !
Monday ; home to Brereton Lake
Sunny, windy, cold.
This morning we finished preparing and packing for a four day mini-holiday at Inverness Falls Resort on Brereton Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. We left home at 12:30 PM, stopping to refill the minivan with cheap “rez gas” at Oodena Gas, the new Indigenous owned and operated fuel bar very near to our home. We stopped again, this time on Pembina Highway, to drop off some donated items at Goodwill, before heading to Hwy. 101, Winnipeg’s Perimeter Hwy., heading east and south around the city to Dugald Road / Hwy.15. Heading east on Dugald Road, through the village of Dugald, Joanne waving (with one finger) at Dugald Estates as we passed by.
We stopped to eat our picnic lunch at Whistle Stop Park, a municipal park in Beausejour. WOO-HOO ... adventure travel ! <snicker> We arrived at Inverness Falls Resort precisely at our check-in time of 4 PM. We checked in, unloaded our stuff, then I drove to the resort’s nearby wood shed to load up with some firewood for the woodstove in our cabin. Our dog friendly cabin has a woodstove and an indoor hot tub.
We took Apollo for a walk, but soon all of us were cold, so we returned to our cabin for an evening of resting (all of us), snoozing (Apollo), and reading (Joanne and me) in front of the woodstove. At bedtime Joanne and I enjoyed some relaxing time in the hot tub before going to bed.
Tuesday ; Overcast until late afternoon, chilly, but no wind.
Apollo is ill today. Since before we’ve had him (almost a year and a half now) he’s had some manner of pancreatic / intestinal ailment which flares occasionally. Today he is constipated, lethargic, and occasionally shivering and moaning. Poor little fellow. We’re keeping him warm, wrapped up in a blanket, feeding him some extra kefir yogurt (which he has daily, a small amount with his lunch).
I woke at 8 AM, took Apollo outside, then we returned to bed where we all slept quite late. By design, we had a lazy day. This mini-vacation was intended to give us a rest from the challenges and demands of our recent move. <sigh> This was our third move in 4½ years ! I’m hoping that there will be no more moves in my life until I leave Winslow House in a pine box ! HA HA HA ! Or ... perhaps ... to an assisted living facility.
We took Apollo for a long slow walk before having a late lunch. His health seemed to be slowly improving as the day wore on. Joanne kept feeding him small servings of kefir yogurt, and that seemed to help, along with fresh air and slow exercise. After late lunch, and a nap for me and Apollo, we went out for another long, slow walk. The sky had cleared, and the brilliant sunshine made it feel warmer than it actually was. I went fishing off the end of the resort’s dock for about forty-five minutes. I didn’t catch anything, but sitting on the end of the dock with the sunshine in my face was great !
GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS ; It’s 11:30 PM ... bedtime. Apollo seems to be feeling much better. Now Joanne is ill ! Story of my ****ing life !
Wednesday ; Sunny, mild, chilly wind coming off the lake.
Apollo is healthy and happy. Joanne less so. She has a mystery GI ailment that has been slowly improving throughout the day, so she’ll probably be fine by tomorrow.
Before lunch we went for a long, slow walk down the road to the west admiring the lakefront neighbourhood. After lunch and a nap for me and Apollo we drove to the resort’s wood shed and replenished firewood for our cabin’s woodstove, then went for a long, slow drive down the road to the east, until the road ended, again just to admire the lakefront neighbourhood. The cold wind blowing in off the lake discouraged me from fishing today.
We had supper and enjoyed another lovely fire in the woodstove while watching Survivor and Amazing Race. We ended another day with another relaxing soak in the hot tub a few feet from the cabin’s bed. AHHHHH ... good night !
Thursday ; Overcast, mild, windy near the lake.
Everybody is healthy today. WOO-HOO !
Another very lazy day. This afternoon we went for another long, slow walk. I paid our bill at the resort office to expedite tomorrow morning’s departure. I finished reconciling September’s investment statements which I have been puttering with on and off during our few days here.
At dusk we went for another leisurely, long walk with Apollo. After dinner we watched some TV, sat around in front of the fire in the woodstove, and had a soak in the hot tub at bedtime.
Friday ; Brereton Lake to Winnipeg
HAPPY 71st BIRTHDAY TO ME !
Sunny and warm.
You know, for most of my life ... until my triple bypass surgery eight years ago, actually ... I had very little expectation / hope that I would live beyond age seventy. To my knowledge, no man in my paternal familial lineage ever has. So ... congratulations to me, I suppose ! Must have been all that clean living I did in the 70’s. HA HA HA <SNORT> HA HA !
We left Inverness Falls Resort at 10:40 AM and returned to Winnipeg. At 12:30 PM we stopped to have lunch at Dairy Queen in St. Vital then drove downtown for Joanne’s respirologist appointment at Winnipeg Clinic at 2 PM. I dropped Joanne off at the front door of the large medical clinic then drove around until I found a nearby parking spot. I accompany Joanne to most of her medical appointments, at her request, but I did not want to do so today. I am dissatisfied with her respirologist’s provision of services, and I am intolerant of his style of always being a minimum of one hour behind schedule. I have had doctors like that in the past, and I refuse to tolerate that disrespect and arrogance.
Apollo and I sat and waited in the car for almost two hours. I read the newspaper. Apollo napped. When Joanne returned to the car after her appointment we headed towards home, stopping at Harvest Bakery near home to buy a Black Forest Cherry Torte birthday cake, my favourite.
HMPH ! As beautiful as this bakery cake is, Joanne’s home made Black Forest Cherry Torte cake, which she usually makes for my birthday, is much better tasting.
Joanne prepared my favourite birthday dinner. Thank you, my dear. We each had a small glass of Forbidden Fruit Winery gold medal award winning Pomme Désirée ice wine which I bought at the winery near Cawston, BC last November as we were on our way to Victoria. It was supposed to be for last Christmas. Then New Year’s Eve. Then Joanne’s birthday in January. Then ... to drink at Inverness Falls Resort, while relaxing in front of the fire, or while soaking in the hot tub. HA HA HA ... we don’t imbibe much !
Even though it’s only been “home” for a few weeks, it’s nice to be back home.
Saturday ; Sunny early in the day, cloudy later, mild, windy.
Back at home, back to chores, back to every day life. Checked tire pressures and fluid levels on the car. Trimmed my beard. Gave Apollo a bath. Decided that this is the last time we give him a bath at home. All last winter on Vancouver Island we were taking him to PET VALU stores to give him baths at their self-serve dog wash stations. It’s much easier (on my back and recently injured hip) to bathe him in a dog wash station than at home.
Posted an ad on our condominium’s bulletin board that our indoor parking spot is available for rent for the winter. We own both an indoor and an outdoor parking spot here at Winslow House. Not every suite owns two parking spots. Certainly none of the suites owns two indoor parking spots. So ... maybe somebody with two vehicles might want to rent another indoor spot for the winter ? Hey ... <shrug> ... it’s Tuxedo ! HA HA HA !
Joanne went to the very nearby Superstore to replenish groceries. I processed photos from our Inverness Falls Resort mini-vacation. Then watched the Blue Bombers game in the evening.
DSK
