Thursday, October 25, 2012

In Search of Fitness

Theresa and I decided that this year we would join a fitness center and try to renew our youthful physical needs. Well we did go and join a center and I was amazed at the size and scope of this establishment. We will be assessed by a trainer and given a program to suit our needs.

It is embarrassing when you are faced with the fact that you are not what you used to be. Measuring your fat and calculating the percent of your body is far from fun. Of course all these fitness folk are early twenties and live in the gym. I have to say they treated us with respect as seniors and reminded me on several occasions that they do make a difference but are not magicians. Seems that my barber has that same line. Getting old is sometimes just not fun.

After a trial run on about a dozen machines I realized that I had body parts that suddenly asked to be serviced. The gym is the best answer to sleep disorder and we always sleep well after exercise. After our workout I went straight to the steam room and relaxed and after a shower we retired to our home and had a cool drink.

I was used to the gym but for Theresa it was new and she will take full advantage of all the programs offered. I do not expect too much but it will be great to be able to recover some of the physical abilities I lost after surgery.


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Election Chatter

Every four years the media make a killing with several billion being used to elect people to public office. For two years now we have been bombarded with TV, radio and the print media with attack adds. The Super Pac people are permitted to say nearly anything without any fear of being held to account. Therefore the most disgusting, untruthful and ridiculous adds are put out there.

One would think the Presidential candidates would refrain from endorsing these adds but they both do so. The level of rhetoric between the  candidates often shrink to levels which are anything but helpful in helping voters to pick a winner.

This situation causes gridlock in the Congress and Senate and little meaningful legislation is passed. I will be pleased when the election is over and just maybe the winners can get back to work and help build America back to a position where it can assume a leadership role in the world.

The economy strange enough seems to be growing and there are signs of new building and and few for sale signs but it still has a way to go. Here in Florida the elections are sometimes decided here as it is considered a swing state. It is because of this we receive so many visits from all the heavy weights so people are kept busy attending rallies and being poled so often.

This election is still a tossup but I feel that many people would like to give Obama a second chance with a congress and senate who could reach across the isle and work together for the good of the people and the country as a whole. Whoever wins there is much to do and plenty of work for everyone but I worry that the politicians are not up to the task. The system needs to be overhauled to enable the leaders to to lead in a non patrician manner.

I cannot vote but I feel the tension and will be stressed until this election chatter is over with and we have a clean slate.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Planting Nearly Completed

Last year we decided to cut down on our Florida garden. As we were in a shortened time here ,pot gardens seemed to be a nice compromise. This year we will have 8 large pots planted and the small plot set aside for tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and squash.

I always keep the ground covered so there are no weeds. One year I learned my lesson when I left the garden plot uncovered and after six months we had weeds ten feet tall. This year I attended the Home Depot green house and was shocked at the huge increase in prices for potted plants.

I immediately decided to grow everything from seeds. Single four inch pots with one tomato costs $3.69. Ridiculous, and I let them know. Larger pots cost more and the tomatoes in a large pot ready for your patio were priced at $14.50 each.

Growing from seeds is more fun anyway. The prices on every item was up at least 40 percent. I shopped around and all the box stores were the same. I have some new trees growing in my garden as I planted some nuts but I forgot what they were. In any case they are off to a good start. I shall transplant them in the next week when we expect rain.

Our bananas are ready to spring forth with fruit and this year I expect our Star Fruit tree to blossom. It is three years old and very healthy. After you plant something here you can expect to have the task of trimming every year after.

I am trying to get one new flower for the  pool deck this year to bring some colour to the place. We hope to have our place in order by this weekend.




Sunday, October 21, 2012

Summer Damage

We leave our auto in the garage all summer when we are in Canada. This is not a good idea in one sense unless your garage is air conditioned. The humidity is so high that tools and in fact all metals deteriorate here in Florida during the humid summers. This year we had to replace the wipers and battery on our car. The wipers were old but they crumbled at first use this fall. The battery was also old but corroded because I neglected to disconnect the terminals.

I went to my favourite discount car parts store and purchased new product. They also install free but as my car was at home I decided to do it myself. I had difficulty in finding the battery and so did my neighbour because it was under the back seat. It was also locked down with a double lock system which was corroded so badly it took quite an effort to get the darn thing out. It also weighed over 50 lbs and was side mounted. The cleanup of the battery compartment was necessary because of the years of battery waste. I managed the installation without incident.

The wipers were another thing. I had difficulty getting the wipers off and when I did the spring on the wipers were so strong that when I released it it hit the windshield with such force it cracked the shield. This did not happen once but twice and I still was not successful in getting the wipers in place.

I did the only thing a proud man could do and asked Theresa if she would take her car to the store and have the wipers installed and return the old battery for the $12 exchange deal. It was not my best day but the car is running  and I shall get the windshield fixed on Monday.

Community Market

I have written about our market several times but I never get tired of this place. It just opened this Saturday and when it did there was a vast improvement in the setup.The leaders are a group of interested citizens and try to reach out to the producers of the product and the consumers.

The very new physical  layout makes it possible for easy access to the booths and permits more parking. It has become so popular that the numbers of clients has increased tremendously. The local farmers and fruit growers are happy and many people plan their purchases around the market.

New innovations make the market friendly for people in the craft business and organizations use this venue to showcase their involvement in the community. Theresa and I always buy our produce and flowers here and look forward to the hustle and bustle of the morning. Get there early to get a parking spot and the freshest bargains.

We think that some days there are as many dogs there as people as it is a animal friendly venue. We are happy it opened a week early this year and will be a regular every Saturday.






Friday, October 19, 2012

Six Months Later

When we leave our winter home in May everything is prim and proper. The trees are trimmed, the grass cut and fed, bushes cut back ready for the flush months ahead when rain breathes new life into everything living in Florida. When we drove up to our home on Sunday there was  initial shock and then wonder. Wonder about how nature was able to transfer all that growth in such a short time. The landmark was the Bismark Tree which grew many feet taller but it was the size of the fronds that amazed me as they were double their size.

With the temperature around the 90 degree mark and humidity to match we felt the impact of the heat and moisture and we had our answer to our wonder. Our neighbour looks after our pool and garden and this year as in the past everything was exceptional. Without any heavy weather like a hurricane or such the state was able to fill its water resources and add to the beautiful flora for which Florida is known.

Getting out on the golf course again and starting my winter garden was a real treat and the few days of taking off those shutters knowing hurricane season does not end until November  is a gamble I am prepared to take. Theresa and I specially love the pool and the exercise in the warm water does help you to forget arthritis discomfort.

We just had our Thanksgiving and I must admit that we are always thankful for the opportunity to share half of our time in Florida. I missed blogging for a few days but now that the housekeeping is over I shall attend to business and continue sharing my memories with family and friends.





Monday, October 8, 2012

Fall Cleanup

This week I have been trying to get my fall work completed as we only have five more days  before departing to the south. I really have a problem with growing old as it takes me so much longer to do half as much I just marvel at what I did when I was 65.

The rhubarb had to be helped this year as it was a dry one so more cow manure and littler TLC to bring us a good crop next year.All of our fruit trees needed pruning and I do French pruning which means prune when they need it. Our pear tree is such a fast grower that I prune almost a third every year. The rest are pruned basically to make a path through to the back yard.

Our English Ivy has taken a hold and talk about stubborn to clean up. The Boston Ivy is beautiful in the fall with it's brilliant red colour but it too may be problems if not controlled. Now the bad part when you have to cut the flowers off and put them in the compost. This year the flowers were stressed during the summer heat but really rebounded with the fall cool temperatures.

All during my cleanup I have a pet Chipmunk who follows me around and makes a racket every time I cut a flower. He knows  it is fall and soon winter. We make sure he has a good store of peanuts  for the winter. I keep all of our hanging baskets and geraniums in our garage and they last for years.

This fall I am specially careful with my winter prep as I will pay the price next spring if I do not. I hope I will not get in trouble for working on Sunday as we as kids were never permitted to do much on Sunday except go to church.





Friday, October 5, 2012

A Walk To Church On Thanksgiving Day

There was always a special service in our Carmen United Church on Thanksgiving. We as a family walked to church together  on this day. We were a large family by today's standards but back in the forties we were about average . Getting ready for church was quite an undertaking as we had to measure up to our Mom's inspection before getting out the door. Polished shoes for the boys and best clothes for all ,we must have been quite a sight as we walked up the lane.

We lived in a house ,last on the lane and as we walked up the narrow pathway we passed most of our relatives who also lived close by. Nearly all of our extended family also attended our church. As we crossed the railway tracks we were in a different place. Our town was divided by two sets of railway tracks. One was the mainline CNR which was so busy during the war carrying material and men to other places in Canada and the smaller rail line owned by the coal company. These tracks often became a barrier when the trains stopped, blocking our free passage so we had to wait or crawl under to get home.

Mom usually walked with the girls but as we approached the church she gave us final instructions, specially to we boys about our behaviour. We could hear the church bell ringing, warning us that service was to begin in fifteen minutes. We hurried along an approached the steps forming a line as we entered the church chamber. The organist was playing the pipe organ and we filed down the right side and with the help of the usher filled the fourth and part of the fifth pews. We always sat in the same place. Mom quickly shuffled us around so she could keep an eye on us during the service.

On this Sunday the church was decorated with flowers and coloured leaves. There was a special feeling and every seat was filled. Our beloved old minister J W O'Brien cleared his throat and began the service. After the extremely long prayer and children's hymn the young ones filed out. This year I was able to remain because I was 11 years old. The rest of the service was pretty boring with the minister having a terrible time with his voice and he kept reaching down to find his glass of water. He prayed for everyone in several ways, spoke kindly about everything and told us how thankful we should be for all the blessings bestowed upon us by a caring God. I was impressed but my head was full of thoughts about all the people I knew who did not have much to be thankful for.

Service was over and we filed out with the adults thanking the minister for a wonderful service and we children were given a kind pat on the head much as you pat your favourite pet. What I was looking forward to was the Thanksgiving dinner with roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, turnip and carrots and Mom's apple pie or sweet squares.

As we cleared the church we boys bolted from the area and never stopped until we reached home. As we entered our house we were transformed into another world by the wonderful smells of Thanksgiving Dinner. I still have this memory and it is replicated every year when we get together to keep the tradition alive. What a wonderful feeling.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend is very special for our family. It is not only a time to realize just how fortunate we really are but it is our family get together. For us it is the turning point and turn around time as we trek to our southern home right after the shared time with family.

Fall is in the air and leaves are falling, my garden is out, and ground prepared for next spring and I am looking forward to our Florida garden. There is always a hint of sadness at the end of the Thanksgiving celebrations as we will not see our friends and family until Christmas. This year Doris will not be sharing time with us in Florida and we will miss her. Good telephone plans help to keep in close contact.

During the last week I have renewed contact with several friends from the past and that brought some joy to our life. It is almost like getting a surprise gift when the phone rings or you get an email from friends with whom you have not been in contact for some time.

This year all of our family with the exception of one  will share hours of time and Lynda's home will a hub of activity. Lively discussions, stories and some achievements told and sometimes embellished by the younger ones makes for real good family time.


When I was in the High Arctic I had a Thanksgiving turkey and invited my young friends to a special dinner. I tried to make it as much like our traditional dinner to stay off the lonely feeling I had from being separated from my family at this time. The Inuit children were great and followed all the rules I made to give them a special experience. It was special and after dinner and cleanup we spoke of the meaning of thanksgiving. I was amazed at the conversation from the little ones and what they were thankful for. Every one was thankful for an unselfish memory and before leaving to face the below zero weather I received thanks and a hug from each. I shall always remember that first Thanksgiving dinner away from home and family and how the Inuit Children made me think about all the wonderful life  experiences I received throughout my life. Now I miss those kids and their wonderful ability to be thankful for very little.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Political Season

October will be a hot political season both in the USA and Canada. With young Mr. Trudeau throwing in his hat for the leadership of the Liberal party there is an opportunity to see just what type of leadership he can share with the people of Canada. He has many months to explain his vision if he has one and daily answer to the media for any perceived mistakes he will undoubtedly make along the way. Personally I look forward to seeing him making his mark on the national scene.

Down south there is a debate among the two leaders of the nation. Although most polls show the president ahead a debate like this one watched by up to 50 million could make or break either one. This election started on day one after Obama was elected and resulted in the most negative sessions of Congress in history. We as Canadians are used to short periods of time after an election call but in the USA it seems to never end.

For those of us who love politics it is a time of excitement but for many it is a boring waste of time. I would hope that our democratic process would engage more people and place back on the electorate more confidence in the system. Today the majority of people lack trust in the system and the people running it. October could be a month when some, just some of that trust could be renewed with a show of faith in our democratic process.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Changing A Deadbolt Lock

My daughter made me aware of the problem with her deadbolt lock. It was old and caused a problem every time she tried to use it with the key. I told her I would purchase one and change it in a few minutes.

I did buy one at the hardware store and was surprised at the number of different dead bolts. The salesman was a good one and gave me all the options for my purchase. I asked if there would be any problem installing it and he laughed and said just remove the old and put in the new. What a joke.

My grandson and I removed the old lock and prepared to install the new. It did not fit. When we compared the old and new there was a definite difference. The hole was too small and the whole opening had to be radically changed to accommodate the new bolt.

Adam and I were now working over an hour and were not close to performing our task. We shoved, cut and begged the bolt to work. Finally we thought that everything was OK and prepared to line up those two screws. They would not line up. After what seemed like a dozen tries we were able to get one set but the other would not co-operate.

Well we did get it together in a hour and a half of the most frustrating moments. I now add locksmithing up there with plumbing. If this keeps up I will be back happy just cutting the grass and leaving the technical jobs to the grandchildren.

Rambling Thoughts

There are so many stories out there in the news today that it is hard to imagine so many negatives exist. The news media wish to sell its product and so pick up the flashy stories about crime and violence. International news is usually about violence and wars with ordinary people suffering. Few people trust our leaders and fewer people believe that governments work for the ordinary citizens.

The United Nations has lost its power because the big 8 power nations act outside the jurisdiction of the UN charter whenever it's not in its interest. When the charter was signed it appeared at that time we would have a world sanctioning body prepared to monitor the affairs of the worlds nations and settle differences that would arise from time to time. Lester B Pearson was one of the great leaders and made considerable impact by establishing the Blue Beret Peace Keeping Force. 

The super powers have hi-jacked the UN by having veto power and right today the UN is unable to act against Syria because three of the super powers will not let it happen because it is against its national interest. The democratic process is followed to some degree but when some nations have greater power than others the system fails.

There are so many hot button issues in the world today that it is impossible to act on them as there are divides in the UN and the idea of a world police force is far removed from the UN charter. The UN is effective in providing aid  to  countries suffering disasters  such as the one in Haiti. Even there the flow of relief  was slow and mainly ineffective. In African countries where warring populations are in conflict and horrible acts are regularly carried out the UN has no ability to correct the situation.

In spite of all the mess it feels great to live in Canada.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Fishing Trip With Grandsons

As often as possible but not often enough we try to get out fishing. This trip was planned by Adam, the eldest grandson - one who loves to fish. Troy loves to fish as well but will not eat fish. He tries but is unable to enjoy these tasty treats. Usually there is no worry because fish are hard to come by.

The location of our outing was in a lake near Lindsay and on the Trent Canal system so there is a lot of boat activity. We rented a small cabin and a boat and used every available moment on the water to catch fish. There was a bass tournament on as well so the fishing places known for production were busy.

The weather was perfect and our desire to catch fish was evident. Even getting stuck in the weeds was considered a bite but upon retrieving the bait, all we received was a handful of weeds. A few small perch and bass livened up the otherwise quiet time we shared on the lake.

We came prepared for good eating and we shared the cooking duties and cleanup. On the last outing we were determined to catch the big one before turning the boat back to the owner.Troy tried everything and finally I gave him my favourite large colourful and magical lure . With a joke I told him what it would cost if he lost it and I attached it to his line with a double leader.

Within a matter of minutes he yelled that he had a bite but Adam laughed and said it was weeds. Troy began struggling with his rod and declared for all to hear that he had a large pike. Adam at last agreed Troy had a fish but it was a muskie not a pike. After considerable effort Troy brought his catch close to the boat and I was able to get it in with the aid of my fish gloves. It was a beauty and Troy was happy and shared his joy with both of us.






That became the talk until we went ashore and cooked supper. Later we played cards but still catching this Muskie was the main topic for all of us. We returned the fish safely back to be caught again and agreed that this fish made our trip all worth while. Fishing is about the outing with friends and the stories in the future of the big one which did not get away.