October 6 - As one of my favourite characters once said, Change is good. And it’s okay when every boring thing comes to an end.

 I know. It hasn’t been a year- but I’m taking a break to concentrate on a different kind of writing. 

Hopefully I’ll have some better news in a few weeks!

And you can be glad I’m not going to bore you silly any more. 

October 5 - Sometimes driving can be so rewarding … but for some reason when I drive there, he always drives back. Go figure.

The funniest part of today was when I stepped on the gas a bit heavy and according to Howard, almost scared the crap (he didn’t say crap) out of him. Well, I knew what I was doing - just preparing to enter a Main Street from a side road, and I knew I had a window of opportunity coming up - and I just slipped in there like a pro. But it was kind of rewarding, after the many times he had me bracing my hands on the dashboard. 

At least I didn’t tell him to Shut Up.

*************

From long ago - 2011 I think. 

I think last Thursday happened just so I could write about it, although that may seem vain on my part. We started off by doing a bit of shopping, which was pretty much an everyday, boring experience, so I won't say much about that. On the way out of the incredibly full parking lot (doesn't anyone work anymore?) the truck in front, while signalling a right-hand turn, started to curve to the left, which made Howard stop. Meanwhile, a car trying to turn into our path, blew its horn - well, I guess the driver blew its horn, or his horn, whatever, (which, come to think of it, is one of my three prerequistites for drivers' ed, the ability to swear, blow the horn, and slam on the brake all at one time...but I digress...) so Howard started to move forward so this car could scoot out. Meanwhile I noticed the truck was backing up into a parking stall, so I said, as Howard started to move forward -

"Hey, watch it, he's backing up...."

That's me, trying to be helpful.

And my dear husband answered:

"Shut Up."

So I did.

Well, we had a silent ride home, as I sat and thought of all the times he had helpfully advised me while I was driving, and the many times I had felt like telling him to Shut Up, but didn't. So I thought to myself, if he wants me to Shut Up, I will Shut Up, and when he mentioned some insignificant thing, I just ignored him, so then he Shut Up, too. Until we got home, and he asked me what time our Doctor's appointment was.

So instead of staying Shut Up, I Spoke Up:

"Well, how long was that Shut Up supposed to last? Just until we got out of the parking lot? Or all day? All week?"

By then I was laughing,  but Howard?  Noy so much.

October 4 - Digging up old memories ‘cos I ain’t makin’ any new ones right now.

 Let’s see. Today I walked to school with Will, did dishes, finished rearranging a cupboard, and made supper.

8 years ago (or whereabouts) I did this.  

Enough said. The original post got over 500 views  

Another Bucket List Item to Check Off - Yee Haw!

Okay. Here's a riddle for you - what are you doing, while sitting for an hour, that turns you into a muscle-sore invalid for two days?

Try horseback riding. I'm not sure how the horse felt after our little adventure, but I'm sure his muscles didn't ache like mine. After all, he wasn't straddled over a 4' wide saddle.

The rain was pouring down in buckets when we left Surrey, but Darcy of  Back In The Saddle Again in Langley called and said it was good there, so off we went in Penny's car. Of course she knew the route - she had directions from the Back In The Saddle webpage, plus from the internet, plus from her son-in-law. So after we were zooming down 88 Avenue for a while, I called Steve and found out how to get there. And we did, after about a 45 minute drive.

The horses, and Darcy, were waiting for us - and it wasn't long before he matched us up with our steeds. Nikkie was first - she got Bonnie ....

Chris got Earor ....

Penny (now known as Butch Cassidy) got Sundance ...

And I got Cub. Cub was very wide. Extremely wide. As in almost doing the splits wide. Oh well, I did manage to crawl up on his poor wide back, and we were off on a trail ride through a beautiful park.

We rode trails in Campbell Valley Regional Park but you'll either have to believe me, or check out the link, when I tell you how beautiful it was. I was too busy hanging onto my hat, my boobs, and the reins to take pictures.

Regarding the hat, since it could have been, as in supposed to have been, a rainy day and I had my hooded jacket left in Mission, I decided to wear Steve's cowboy hat, just so my hair wouldn't get wet. The hat was a bit loose, so Steve made me a wedge out of a strip of cardboard he tore off a box, and it seemed I was all set. For the car ride, anyway.

However the wedge got loose as Cub trotted down the path, stopping only for the occasional mouthful of sweet grass (he wasn't supposed to do that, but we were the ones who got in trouble, not the horses.) However ....

It was fine when he was just walking. But when it was trotting time? Well, just let me warn you - don't wear a Genie bra (or an Ahhhh bra) when you go trotting on a horse. Either wear the strongest tightest bra you  can find, or get someone (probably a husband or boyfriend or girlfriend) to sit behind you and hold onto your boobs. Enough said. 

So, between holding onto the hat, and trying to squeeze some shred of control of my boobs between my elbows, and hanging onto the thingie in front of the saddle and the reins too, I would have found it a tad difficult to take pictures. I hope you all understand. 

However, we made it back, safe and sound .... No, that isn't Cub without me, Cub and I are behind these three taking their picture, and wondering how the heck I was going to climb down from the saddle.

I don't know if it's the age thing or what, but I don't remember feeling the hurt of so many muscles after previous horseback rides - but then again, I haven't ridden since way way back - the last time was when I dragged Sheila to the rides at Trinity Loop. I do remember it was a bit bouncy, though. 

However, it was fun ... but I don't think I'll enter the Free 2-Hour Horse Back Ride Draw though. I don't think I could do a 2-hour one. I must be getting old.

Many thanks to Darcy, Bev and Tim for the adventure. Darcy's the one to call if you want to get back in the saddle, and Bev and Tim were our patient guides for the day. 

Here's a few more pics ..... and now I'm off for another ride - this time in a Semi to Prince George! 

October 3 - Not much here.

 Instead of waiting up til elevenish deciding what to write, I am just going to bed now, and leaving an almost empty page.

Not because I’m lazy but because I’m not feeling the best right now. Tomorrow will be better. 

October 2 - If I shake my head it won’t even rattle.

There’s nothing in my empty head
I think I should have stayed in bed
The keyboard sits in front and thinks

The stuff she’s typing really stinks

There’s nothing in my empty head
I think I’ll clean the fridge instead

I know I have to post some stuff
But boy today it’s mighty tough
Where sometimes there are tons of words
There’s just some lousy lumps of turds
There’s nothing in my empty head
I think I’ll scrub the floor instead

I know there’s times my words just flow
Like crazy weeds they grow and grow
But not today, they lag behind
I have a constipated mind
There’s nothing in my empty head
I think I’ll just crawl back in bed.

October 1 - The intro is harder to write than the post, so we’ll just leave it like that.

 Turkey Ham and Salt Beef dinner today, an early Thanksgiving meal combined with a going-away meal for Neil and Sarah, who are heading to Alberta tomorrow to start on a new adventure.

We even had some jamming in the shed, which was great. 

New member of the band - Howard with the Ugly Stick he won at a Lions Kitchen Party in 2021. 

Steve on guitar with some singing thrown in. 

And Richard on guitar and vocals.  

It wasn’t easy getting everyone in the picture - and when I finally did, there was Sarah, with her phone busy too. Oh well. 

And Christine and Macchie rounded out the guest list. 

In the spring of 1994, Howard and I decided to pack it all in and leave the Atlantic for the Pacific, for two reasons. One was to give the boys the opportunity of finding work (as they finished school) without packing up and heading to the mainland, the other, was work for Howard as the boat-building industry in Newfoundland back then went right bottom-up. 

Well. A few years after that, Brad packed up and moved to northern Manitoba, and now Neil is heading to Alberta, so as you can see, that part didn’t work out so well. And now Howard is retired, as am I, but that’s okay. I think we’re pretty sure that Steve won’t migrate - a year-round job for him depends on our moderate BC climate. 

September 30 - Oh, how time flies, whether you’re having fun or not.

 3 months in. One fourth of my promised year accomplished, and all it has really made me realize is how absolutely boring I have become. 

We did get a bit busy today though, going to four - yes, four - different stores to get what we either needed or wanted. The toughest things to find were yellow split peas - none at the Super Store, none at Walmart - but luckily enough, I found some in the back of a top cupboard in the kitchen when I got home, and tinned cream, not Fussels or Nestle, but stuff made in Holland, and exactly the same. So, all good. 

We even went out for supper, to Denny’s  restaurant. I tried something new, a sizzling chicken skillet, which looked really good. However, it was loaded with huge slices of mushrooms, zucchini (which I absolutely hate), and raw - as in I couldn’t even stab a fork in it - broccoli. There also were pieces of red potato, and I love potatoes, and a piece of grilled chicken the size of an apple slice, and those got devoured- although I wasn’t fussy about the sauce they had everything swimming in. 

However, I’m not one to complain, but next time, I’ll stick to the omelette.

I will leave you with the memory of a sky train trip from Richmond to Vancouver. It might make you realize why I hate transit.

********************

Sometime in 2010

Today we were sardines in a can - on a bus ride to the Canada Line station. We joined the shortest lineup, hoping to sit for the journey. Once the comers disembarked, and we goers  got in the door, the rush for seats was a bit desperate. My legs got us to an empty seat, but before I turned my butt around to plunk it down, two young ladies slipped in and almost got me on a lap. I just stared in disbelief - me, who looks pretty damn old, grey hair flying, chin wobbling, wrinkles shaking - why, if I were already sitting down and saw me coming on the train I would offer me a seat. So Howard and I stood directly in front of these bastardettes, and I spent the half hour train ride trying to get the nerve up to fart - I know Steve, who has the dubious art of  Farting On Demand down pat, would have done so, just to impress his opinion on their rudeness to the elderly. However, there were two reasons I decided not to express my view in this manner, one being that I would have great difficulty breaking wind in public, as I was raised to be very polite in such matters, and the other that my stomach was starting to cramp up and rumble its discontent at having grease for breakfast and I didn't want to take any chances that I would produce more than air.