It’s a Heatwave…Feelin’ Hot hot hot!

💃💫 To my friends on the North Island, a bit o warning:  you might melt like the popsicles on your dashboard out here!  Everyone said “Oh it gets hot here in summer, can you take it?”  My answer:  “um, kind of?”  

This month its mostly over 30C, like 34, 37…..pretty damn toasty .  So the routine in my apartment is as follows:  morning before the big yellow ball rises, I close all the windows and curtains.  Then coffee on the balcony, enjoying the coolest part o the day.  Maybe wander over to bug a neighbor for a couple of minutes.  Then turn on the air conditioner and the fans, and the place stays cool as a cucumber.  

Thank goodness there is no humidity!  I would be a soggy melted mess!  But in my heart o hearts, I love this weather!  Oh it makes my plants droop, and I admire my green thumbed friends for their dedication to keeping the blooms alive.  Getting fresh garden produce gifted to moi is also very nice!  Currently I am on the hunt for red rhubarb.  Hint hint.  And green and yellow beans..oh they are the best! Speaking of summer coolness, I am once again addicted to watermelon!  Icy cold, juicy, so sweet, its better than ice cream!  Can you tell dear reader that I haven’t had breakfast yet, the price of early morning blogging. 

Today a friend invited  me to come splash in their pool, and Yes I will!  I now have five, count ‘em five swimsuits, still can’t  swim but a gal needs the right wardrobe for summer!! Ok one is a bit garrish, I look like a big tropical fish in it.  Lol But it works, so splish splash!  

Its a happy life here on the prairies.  Great friends, good times, new experiences.  And I am actually getting more real estate tanned!  After years of the biker tan (nose, neck and shoulders) I am becoming sun kissed!  Bring on the cool little sundresses, floppy hats and sandals!  I’m enjoying every moment and before you say “oh winters coming” I say Shuddup you mouth!  😎

Life is grand, new roads to travel, new experiences, heck I even went skinny dipping, for the first time ever!  At 69 yrs old I thought, why keep saying No? As someone once said, “this ain’t no dress rehearsal, have fun while you can!”  And even tho an older woman slipping on slimy rocks doesn’t Sound graceful, it was a blast! End result: I didn’t fall, but did laugh a lot. We all did. Ok so I have crazy friends, and for those who also have crazy friends you really need to read the Old Hens series by Maddie Please.  Then you’ll understand!

Stay cool this summer! Let your crazy friends talk you out of your clothes and into the water!  😂 

 

Sunshine, Lollipops and …Hockey?

 Over the years my hockey knowledge was nurtured by my dad, Big Al.  I recall long drives with mom, and my wee siblings, to sit in a cold ice rink, avoiding pucks that cleared the glass - when there was glass - and then occasionally a chilly wait in the car, while Dad had a beer with the boys.  Looking back Im surprised mom steaming in the front seat didn’t keep us warm!   

Then there were out door rinks, with a warm up shack and a small wood stove, hay bales for seating, and games where young athletic farm lads played their hearts out, hoping they'd catch the eye of an NHL scout.  Oh, and some did! These guys took hockey seriously, it was their life!

And no child couldn’t sing the theme from Hockey Night in Canada, or Gordy Howe Was The Greatest of them All, Clear the Track Here Comes Shack…..and many more!  Why?  Because back in the day, that was a prairie girls life!  Boys skates with socks in the toe to make em fit, used hockey sticks or even better new ones at Christmas, pushing snow off a dugout if there was no rink - we’d play will either frostbite started or the sun went down.  

In my teens hockey continued to rule - my team, Detroit Red Wings, whichever the original great one, number 9, Gordie Howe played for.   He was awesome, 25 of his amazing 26 yr career!  Left elbow up, he had no equal.  Until Guy LaFleur came on the ice.  Then, the Canadiens were my number ones.  Yes I’m a Habs fan.  Much to my father’s disappointment as he was a life long Maple Leafs supporter.

Since there are now no longer The Original Six teams, and places that don’t get snow can have numerous teams, I’ve become disappointed  and haven’t watched much hoeckey, not even playoffs.  But all that changed when the Edmonton Oilers started to play in the finals against the Florida Flamingos, sorry, the Panthers. 

I swore, and maintain I’m no fan of any Edmonton team.  They are the Woolerton to my Dog River.  But tonight, on the eave of game 7…I confess..i’ve been glued to the TV!  Cheered loudly, yelled at the referees (5 minute major?  In a pigs patoot!) I’m phoning and texting family and friends near and far (read New Zealand, Kentucky and Michigan) and they are all rooting loud and strong for the Alberta team!  

And I love it!  All those years of watching the game as a kid, as a teenager - it all came back to me.  Ok, todays game is much less physical, no teeth on  the ice, bench clearing brawls, heck they don’t even check hard.  But good hockey?  Amazing.  McDavid? A legend!  So tomorrow I’ll be watching, heart racing, hands clenched, and hoping the Oilers can do it one more time for a historic comeback and bring the Stanley Cup back to Alberta!!!

Personally, I’ve been bitten hard by the hockey bug.  It’s one more game, and next October 6 it will start all over.  Maybe a year for the Habs, maybe the Blackhawks. 

 LETS GO OILERS!  OK and now I see the Riders beat the TiCats tonight…hee hee

In the Summer time, when the weather is hot…

 As of June 1st my Alberta Health Card  kicks in!  I have been Albertacized:  got my AB drivers license, my vehicle has red and white plates, my car is registered in Alberta And I have my Alberta Costco card.  Yes, I have landed.  Actually, like a good MacArthur “I have returned.”

And it makes me happy!  I almost forgot how much fun having fun could be!  Alas my cat Fat Casey is not as jubilant, she misses hunting mice and rolling on the lawn.  But a solution may be at hand. 

You see, my step dad, Bob, is having a hip replaced.  Which means a recovery period, and not less than 6 weeks before he could be able to drive.  Which means Mom needs some help, and backup.  Enter First Born and probably Favorite Wild Child, me.  Yes dear reader, on June 2nd I load up my gear, and the cat, and likely a couple of bottles of wine and point the trusty Dodge Journey northward!  

It is a fair jaunt, but Ill get an oil change Friday, check tires, load up on snacks (ju jubes are nutritious yes.) get my prescriptions filled and tally ho!!

And then, home, quick shower and off to an evening with my crew, and a 60’s karaoke night!  If the though of a bunch of mature adults returning to years some of us may wish to forget doesn't frighten you, you’re a tougher person than I.  But I must admit, I am ready with scarves, rings and bells on! 

I’ve also been influenced to enjoy hockey, tho sadly for the first time Ever I cheered for an Edmonton team.  I hope its worth it.  Lol the NHL has become an oddity, ever since Gretzky was paid a million dollars the game has changed.  I won’t  even begin to rant about my feelings towards teams in places That don't get winter!!!!!!unclean!!!

However, winter be damned, summer here is glorious.  I’m working on a tan.  Thunderstorms are cool, and loud and a wee bit scary.  I’m praying the drought has eased and good crops will happen.  its so vibrantly green now,  and soon I will go camping in them there hills

The feeling that I am home is so comforting,  don’t get me wrong, I wish Mac was here, healthy and with his usual sense of mischief.  And his bike. I do miss him rolling in on his HD.  But I also know in my heart of hearts he’d be proud of me making a new life, headed down new roads. In that light I am striking out on untravelled roads every day.  What an adventure!  

You know me, “there’s  a whole lot of things I’ve  never done, but ain’t never had too much fun!”

See y’all down the road! 😎

, 

Oh give me a home…🎵

🎶 one of the sweetest sounds in nature, clear, joyful, with a volume that spoke of its enthusiasm is the Meadowlark.

And this bright sunny morning it was singing its heart out, competing with a chorus of Robins.  What a great way to greet my day.

Well dear readers, its been a year since my Mac departed on “the journey from which no man returns”.  I thought I would melt into my sorrow.  Diminish, find no hope, no joy in life.  But, apparently the Lord had other plans for me. And following my heart and what I knew deep down I needed to do, I moved back to the prairies.  I am so grateful I did!

Casey -  my fat cat, and I are almost totally unpacked.  What I can’t  find, is the power cord, keyboard, mouse and backup power supply for my computer!  Never fear, I will continue to search.  

And now, I’m in my cozy abode, had my first overnight visitor, made new friends, reunited with long time friends, and am loving my new home.  Dare I say? I am happy!

This morning when I woke up, I thought, “wonder what time Mac will be home?”.  Strange, but not strange.  Yes, I am meeting people, but he is always around.  I miss the big dude, miss sitting beside him watching tv, listening to music.  But as I move forward on this new road, I think he’d want me to have fun, go out, laugh and celebrate! 

I told a good friend I was considering joining the Seniors centre here:  exercise equip, a cafeteria, classes, a community,  His response?  “Seniors?  You are way too immature to be a senior!”  Lol.  Although when I look in the mirror first thing in the morning, and don't recognize the old gal looking back, I think he's right!

So now in my new city, I go for lunch once a week, and dinner on Fridays with “the crew”.  Its fun, they are really nice people!  Very interesting people, and they look out for me.  Thru this past year my circle of support has grown.  I drop in for cinnamon buns and bagels, get in invited for lunch, or ice cream.  Its great! And makes me feel vital and alive.

I’ve definitely changed over the past year, becoming more self reliant and occasionally brave.  Asking for a table for one is no longer crushing.  I’ve been so long out of the “dating scene” that a man opening the car door for me, or asking if I’d like to meet for an ice cream sundae is absolutely thrilling!  Things that were important in the past, have shifted.  My mental well being is now first and foremost, heck I sang Karaoke for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago!  New day, new me?

 Yup, and I don’t feel guilty for having fun.  Ok I may scold myself over another mega ice cream bar…lol but I’m happy.  And I deserve to be.  Looking forward to the road ahead, and whatever that holds.

 “At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets.”

Back in Alberta again

🎶 Oh Country roads, take me home….it is so good to be where’s sunshine, warm breezes, but honey, I had to work for it!

As previously blogged, we left on a cool wet late morning headed for Nanaimo.  The weather forecast:  Snow.  Ok, I deserved to hit some shite weather.  Looking back when Mac and I journeyed to the Island, it too was in February.  And yes, the weather was not on our side!  “But,” I convinced myself, “this time it will be different.”  And yes my friends, it was.  Rainy to Nanaimo, we stayed at the pet friendly  The Spot, all renovated, very comfy, and Miss Murder Mittens was delighted to be released from her kennel.   

Ah the kennel.  How else does one transport an 18 lb ball of fur.  And claws. (Which thankfully I’d just had trimmed) I’d bought a large hamster type waterer for her, made a small but efficient litter box, a bowl of nibbles, and her fave blankie.  She should have adored it.  And well she may have except for one tiny hitch:  getting her in the kennel was a major struggle!  I’m sure my neighbors in the motel thought I was skinning her, judging by her loud protests.  First morning:  I was pouring sweat, ready to weep and leave behind.  After 4 attempts, I was victorious.  And off to the ferry we went!  We arrived in Vancouver at the tail end of rush hour.  And fuelled up on the island, I joined the throngs, and slowly made it thru the city in the rain.  The cat by now was asleep, or silently planning her revenge.  Didn't matter, I was hoping to get to Creston.   

Hope is not just a city on the way to Hwy 3, The Crowsnest Highway. It was what I felt as we made tracks east, in snow and rain.  The car was running great, I was confident, I’d had winter tires put on early Oct, and traffic was light. Now the road to Princeton, the next town on our route, is definitely mountainy.  The whole or majority of BC was windy, travelling beside a river, and over a few passes.  When I got to Princeton, spying an A& W it was time to pull in for a bathroom break and some lunch.  Checked on the cat - yup still grouchy.  But, the weather!  It was dusty, warm, windy complete with tumble weeds!  Not what I expected.  So onward to Creston!  And over the hump, into a bit of rain and snow.  Then more snow.  A brief delay as a wrecker was trying to pull a semi out of the ditch, ok, now we’re into winter conditions.  

I went over Allison Pass at one point, it was snow packed and slick.  Not a lot of traffic.  Then over Bonanza Pass…. Yeesh!  Also known as Blueberry-Paulson pass, it had a lot of snow coming down.  No traffic.  No tracks, and whats this?  Little rocks which had come down off the Big Rocks…. Keeeep going Marlean, no time to freak out, just stay calm, stay steady, we’ll be fine.  I admit, it was tense, no time for any errors, but I could hear in my mind Mac telling me “you’re doing great honey, you’re doing great” so onwards.  Eventually we came to Osoyoos, a few hours short of my planned stop in Creston.  It was again warm, windy, dry, no signs of winter.  Ok we stop here!  I pulled into Windmere Motel, a pet friendly place.  So nice!  Super clean, comfiest bed and pillows, perfect!  And reasonable, under $110. Released the cat, ordered some food, cracked a cold one, yay! 

The next morning:  struggle with the cat (just be quick before she realizes whats happening) grab a McBreakfast and skeedaddle.  Over Anarchist Pass  we came down again with, you guessed it, snow and rain.  By now I was in my groove, with Cranbrook as the destination only 5 and 1/2 hrs away.  Sure.

We continued on the Crowsnest, till gassing up at Salmo.  The trip had some truly emotional memories, Salmo in particular.  So many roads, restaurants, and motels we’d stopped at, spent a night, yup there were a few sniffles.  And some smiles and laughs.  We’d had amazing rides through this area!  But, after fuelling up, I couldn’t figure out whether to turn or continue straight.  Consulting Gargle Maps, it said go left.  Who was I to argue?  Just a minute!  What the h-e- double hockey sticks!  I was in Nelson.  Capital of hillbilly hippies.  Jeez, the Gargle Map led me to WTF a ferry terminal?  Suddenly I was parked, twixt a van (of course) and a 4x4 full of skiers.  This wasn't Creston!!! After politely asking the BCFerries lady why I had been steered to one end of Kootenay Lake, she said “Oh the highway is closed, there was an avalanche in the Kootenay Pass, likely wont be clear till tomorrow.  The ferry takes you to Creston.”  And it did.  

So after a 90 minute wait, a half hour boat ride, it was onwards!  We got to Cranbrook by 6 and checked into The Flamingo Motel.  Unassuming, clean inexpensive and ordered the worse chinese takeout ever.  4 bites and in the bin.  Next time, its KFC. However, that Friday morning, I discovered if I tuck Cranky Cat’s right leg against her body, she cant grab the kennel, and in she went. Victory was mine! A few hours later the famous Crowsnest Pass: and I see sunshine, a dry highway, blue skies for miles!  Setting the cruise control for Onwards, tunes cranked, made it to the Hat, found my apartment, got a key, off loaded my gear and the cat and to on to our wonderful friends The Campbells.  For a great visit, a chat and some beers, and a wonderful sleep!  Sandy fried up his homemade square sausage and after a few coffees and some more visiting, I made it to my new home!  Blew up the air bed, set up my camping table and folding chair, I am home! 

My furniture arrived a few days later, he too had a “fun drive” since the day I left, a few hours later the skies opened and 5 inches of snow fell, causing my driver to eventually be storm stayed in Parksville. 

Now I’m almost unpacked, living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, are for all intensive purposes set up.  The spare bedroom: work in progress but looking more organized every day. Ive met some incredibly friendly people already, thanks to Sandy and Marion inviting me to join their lunch and Friday night crew. And very nice folks who live in the apartment.  Along with 264 dogs, lolol 

The sun and big skies are healing.  I thank God every day for getting me here safely and for steering me to this place to live.  

So now three days to spring, officially.  And in the “way of the MacArthur” we’re supposed to get snow 🤣😱 Hey, its Alberta! 

I

Over the Rockies and far away I go….

 At last, a cure for this endless non stop gloomy rain and wind.  Yes dear reader a solution is at hand…I’m a-gonna move back over the Rockies, off this soggy albeit beautiful island and return to Alberta!

This decision was not made lightly, in fact I’ve been waffling “should I or shouldn’t I” for months, truth be told.  Port McNeill has been good, lovely people, now I’ve been getting out and about a lot more its grown on me.  And this weekend I heard a lot of Nooo dont leave, but leave I must.

You see I am a prairie lass.  Born on the flat lands, loving the big skies, the rolling hills, its beautiful.  When I travelled through Montana and Alberta last year I found I was teary, breathless at the blue skies, the wispy feathered clouds, and THE BIG YELLOW THING IN THE SKY!  🕶🌞

Vitamin D, which I faithfully take every day, is what my old self needs - I’ve noticed how good it makes me feel, energized, calm, it connects me with Me!  So here, should we get 20 minutes of sun, the cat and I hustle outside, grab a lawn chair, and soak it up.  Mexico was like a balm for my soul…healing, warming, calming,  wonderful.  And lets face it, I am a land mammal.  A flatlander, from “the people of the ow.”  So over the Rockies I shall migrate!  

Life here has been splendid, I mean the scenery, the view out my window is majestic.  When its not foggy, rainy, gray and gloomy. Nothing is better than watching a full moon rise, reflecting on the ocean.  Cruise ships are stunning.  But a water person, I am not,  My sign may be a crab, but its obviously a land crab!  Lol 

So ever the ambitious adventurer, I have given notice to my landlady, put 90%of my housewares and furnishings on FB marketplace, sold most of it, and attacked the flotsam and jetsam Mac and I accumulated.  7 bookshelves.  Yes 7.  Thats a Lot of books …some not sellable, out of date, many hauled to a church bookstore, and a few kept.  Office supplies anyone?  I donated the copier to a deserving charity, kept my personal computer and sold the desk, chair, etc.  The flat has been rented as of March 1, the new tenant bought most of the furniture, seems everyone wanted a portable dishwasher, and small freezer.  

Today I had the good fortune of selling my hunky bill’s perogy maker - to an elder from the G’wasala First Nations - Macs last employer.  What a gift, to have tea and cookies with this nice lady and her husband, and to hear how they appreciated Macs kindness and patience, it was such a heartwarming honour. 

A fresh start will be good for me.  Clearing out old stuff that was just “stuff” is hard work, nerve wracking and scary.  But the end result is I feel good about this - what I’m guessing will be my final move.  Unless of course my lottery tickets come thru for me!  Lol 

Me and Casey aka Miss Murder Mittens have an apartment on the 4th floor in a building with an elevator, all the appliances I need and lots of good friends!  I’ll have all sorts of restaurants and shopping should I need it, and 40 minutes from Cypress Hills.  And today I finalized my mover, which is a relief.  Move date: Feb 28th.  So I’m in full moving madness mode, making great progress and glad the office pack up/purge is behind me! 

Look out people of the cow, I am on my way home.  🐂🐎🦨🦖🦉

How Grey Was My Valley?

 Ok its 2024, and since my return to the sunny island in the Pacific, I think its rained 19 out of 21 days.  Indeed we seem to be caught in continuous weather warnings.  

Its like Meteorologist Mikey has just started to make stuff up.  It is an El Nino its a Polar Vortex!  Its a tropical river, or some such new woke term.  We used to call it Winter.  cold spell.  Rain.  Or even Rainy . And  hot dry spell.  Nope, not anymore.  It makes me feel old and out of touch.  Which apparently I have become! Lol.  

One goal achieved:  I cleared up my spare bedroom, now have a bed!  So thats a good thing, more work than I anticipated.  Now to finish up the office.  Yikes.  First item: get rid of stuff that has no use.  So into the dumpster went about 18 framed documents/certificates that neither Mac nor I will ever gaze upon again.  My computer is up and running, which is awesome since I found a plethora of music I feared I’d lost!  And the computer Mac bought but never hooked up was quickly sold and shipped away. Slow but sure its going to become my room!

Today however I only managed to hang a new calendar up in the office.  And put a few books back on the shelf.  So small victories, but victories none the less!  Rome wasn't build in a day.  

Oh and did I mention the ceaseless wind…  ceaseless in its determination to wreck and ruin my catio fence!!! I did manage to resurrect it…and a friend is bringing me some rebar to reinforce it.  Lol  so now Casey can go outside and glare at her surroundings.  Mostly at the hummingbirds, who continue to ckme to my now thawed feeder. I’ve been using zip ties to fasten it to the fence, which last about 4 minutes against a 70 kph wind.  Sheesh.  Paracord it is!  Lets see if it holds thru the night, fingers crossed!

Tonight its hamburger and cabbage soup, likely so,e other junk food, and looking for something interesting on the boob tube.  5:41 p.m. and its totally dark, windy and wet outside.  Sigh.  Tomorrow is another day!  This coming weekend is the Robbie Burns dinner at the local Legion.  I’m so looking forward to it, praying a couple of bearded kilted Scots will be there! I’ll raise a dram to Mac, shed a tear and toast to the coming year.  

Slainte!