Catching Up

I can’t believe summer is over! To start with, I apologized to the one or two persons who had to suffer summer without having any news from me. But really it’s your own fault, I started a French’s blog and you didn’t follow me over on the dark side. Hum doesn’t sound like an apology at all LOL (or MDR for Ivy). If you can read French or you just want to check out the pictures, here is a link to the French blog.

So here’s a quick recap of Summer 2016:

Busy, busy, busy.

For those who keep a Richard life event’s journal, you might recall in the spring, I volunteered to pick up pines needles. That was almost a full time job! Piles and piles of the stuff were picked up every week and disposed of. If y0u haven’t noticed, pine trees don’t only generously give needles, in June it spits something we call Rice-Krispies. It looks like Rice-Krispies but they are the male pine cones (for more explanation see birds and bees). I had to pick those up with a shovel. Now it’s Fall and what we get freely are the Pine cones (the female ones, they need more time than the male one to reach climax), tons of the shit, once more, I picked them up with shovels. I know, I'm full of useless info!

OMG I LOST A NEEDLE IN THE PINE STACK

On weekend, I would pass by the Pickelball court while players were hitting a small ball… I think I was enjoying myself more. Please if you could recommend a good professional, I might need help! I played just a few times and one of those time was for the tournament. I knew going in that I didn’t play enough so I was playing without pressure knowing I would get kicked out so fast… I won! My partner and I were like the dream team of pickelball. Before starting I told him to play the game while I distracted our adversaries… worked perfectly!

One more trophy to add to my collection... of one!

In our camping community, we are about 360 families. I’m starting to know a lot of them. I started to write a French blog for this community. It is really strange to walk the camping ground and come across people who are reading me. I get so much great feedback. Strangely blogging is not a big thing in Québec, most of the readers leave comments on my Facebook account!

I’m also getting more involved. At the end of summer, I decided we needed our own library. So I asked everyone for books, DVDs, games. Boy the response was great. I built one bookshelf thinking that it’s all we would need till next summer, WRONG, after a week, I had to built another one. This week, I’m going to built a third one. People bring me boxes of items; I always feel like it’s Christmas when opening those. Funny how one lady (Ivy) is into de-clogging and I’m into clogging!

 Humble beginning

I’m also getting involved in a committee to define our association’s status and rules. Next spring, I’ll probably volunteer to get elected on the board (please keep this between us, I’m playing hard to get right now, but you’ll know).

On an unrelated issue… Netflix sucks! Last week they added only one season of Walking Dead. That is ONLY 16, one hour, episodes. Pacing myself, I got through that in 4 days, and now I have to wait till real zombies walk the earth to get next season… I might be grumpy for a while, scuse me! Meanwhile, who died at the end, WHO DIED?

Wow I almost need a nap after writing this… If you thought that retirement = free time, think again LOL

Richard Still walking but living

Orlando is on my mind!

"Imagine"

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today... Aha-ah...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace... You,..

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world... You,..

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

May 16, 2016

Usually I tried to get a title that is meaningful. Today, the date is really meaningful as I'm looking outside at snow coming down, AGAIN! Who pissed off God? What about the planet that is supposed to be warming up? Should I just pack and get back to Florida? So many questions beginning this week, it's like my brain can't register what is going on.

On a more warming subject, I'm almost done picking up pine needlessssss in the camping. My next projects: build shelves in my shed, paint the deck and read a few books. With all that, I don't know when I'll have time to burn some woods; life can be so dementing at time :)

This is pile and pile of the needles moved by arm power :)

No Flossing Way

Please if you could, I would appreciate if all of you has some positive thoughts send my way at 10:00 this morning. I am going to need a lot of encouragement; I have my dentist annual appointment!

I won't pull out this appointment from my calendar, it's too late, I have to give the office a week notice or I will have to pay fees which, for me, would be as painful.

It's not the first time I sit in that chair, I'm 56 years old, been there, done that, hate it every times. To me it's like pulling teeth (not literally, you know).

Every time I get drill... “Richard did you floss?” they know the answer, why the heck they ask the question? 

“I forgot to floss 364 days, I just remember this morning, did I do a good job?” will I answer again. Can't they write that on my file and let go of the guilt trip?

“Do you have any teeth ache?” I will be ask.

“YES I DO, every year after my check up, don't know why, maybe if you didn't poke all over with those scissor like instrument, I would be ok!”

“It has been 3 years since we took your x-ray, we are going to do them this morning.”

WRONG! I remembered clearly last year sitting in the x-ray booth, while the x-ray-er hiding behind a thick wall, was buzzing my face with rays. I still can feel the square plate they put in your mouth and that you have to keep from moving by biting something that I can only describe as piece of tasteless plastic. I don't argue with them, they are my master. Why don't they take passport picture at the same time, this is one place where I don't smile ever.

Enough about me, what are you going to do today? Root canal anyone?

On the Book

Yesterday morning, I worked on the pine needles shit-uation in the camping. I think, so far, I moved over 2-3 tons of those. But I'm so encourage, I can see most of the lots were done, maybe I have 3-4 days work left. I'll take a picture of the pile once finish (to remind myself next year to NOT volunteer :) ). But honestly, I love doing it, I feel so great to do something outside and to see the place getting so much nicer.

This week, I'm downtown until Thursday afternoon, more dental and medical checkup to get over.

One of my kids (she/he doesn't want me to divulge her/his sex on the internet) has written a book which is available on Amazon.com. Her/his author name is: Manen Lyset. All proceed from the sale will go to her/his pocket, and I'll get NOTHING but maybe a thank you on father day. LOL

I'm so proud of my kids. Here I include a link to amazon, it will be available to amazon.ca next month (the author told me). From the Ashes of Pompeii: and other dark tales by Manen Lyset

 

Sunday Humor

The pine picking is still going on, this weekend a lot of people show up and cleaned their place, so now, I lost ground and have more to do. I was lucky, last week, 2 friends joined me in this labor.

Natalie: My weight went from 84.6 kg (186.6 lbs) Monday to 83.9 kg (185 lbs) this Sunday. Ah ah only 8.9 kg (20 lbs) to be declare the winner of this race... LOL

I need a good sense of humor this morning, just look at the first picture, I took it at 06:00 TODAY!

TV Shows - Braking Bad

I'll started by stating the negative: There is only 5 Seasons of BB. That's it you have to deal with this information as best as you can. I'm still in denial, I can't believe that it will not go on forever! This is one of those shows that I will watch again soon.

Just to give you an idea of the context: Let say you are a science teacher, your name is Walter White, respect by everyone, then you get hit by cancer and your chance of survival are minimal at best. You don't have a big chunk of money in the bank to pay for your treatment and to stop working. As a mater of fact, your bank account is redder than roses. What will you do?

If you answered: “Cook Meth” this show might be for you. This is the exact situation of Walter. However, like life would not be heart breaking enough, he learned that his wife is expecting.

Oups I'm sorry for the ones that haven't seen the shows, I gave you the spoiler of episode 1, season 1.

I learned so much from the show... from Meth recipe to how to dissolved a human in a bath of acid. How to distribute your goods and how to store millions of dollar from the proceed.

I like to tell you more but I have to go... I have something on the stove right now ;)

Man at Work

This will be another short post as I'm still going to do volunteering work. I have about a week of work ahead of me. I'm picking up piles and piles of Pines needles.

It's a very intense type of work but I enjoy driving the 4 wheeler, the fresh air and to see the place getting cleaner.

Monday I said that for a whole week I will drink ONLY water, sigh! Yesterday I had lasagna for supper and what go well with lasagna? Wine! Red! Red Wine! Darn I had 2 glasses... This morning I checked my weight... I lost .6 lb from the previous day. So I concluded that I should drop the water and drink ONLY wine!

Man at work playing:

Look at that Natalie

Just a quick post, I'm busy doing some volunteering work at my camping but I want to post one picture for Natalie... Did you see my lunch? Surrender now Natalie! You can't compete with all those vegetables... LOL

A Negative Day

Yesterday was so perfect. It was not about what I did, it was about what I didn't do:

I had nothing else to drink but water.

I didn't go to a restaurant and order fries.

I watched a hockey game and didn't have few beers and chips.

I had no dessert, not even a small bite to taste something call a chocolate bowl.

I walked in the shadow of death (AKA the bakery) and didn't pick up anything.

Yes, yesterday I was so negative!

At this rate, I am confident that my competitor from Down Under (Natalie) will be looking at my thinner self as I passed her so fast. LOL (Natalie and I are in a race to see who (ME) get their weight down to 75 kg (165 lbs) the first.)

Is there anything you are happy you didn't do yesterday?

Virtually Kicking Myself

Last year, I lost 50 pounds. But in the last 6 months I gained 30 back. I joined the yo-yo club! I know that if I don't stop this uplifting pattern, I'll be back to where I started and add some more.

In the previous 6 months, I have posted couple of time about getting back to the health path... LIES. All LIES! I was letting my guilt do the talking with empty words while stuffing my face with junks. The logic behind this was to calm my conscience by sending it a message that everything will be fine.

I'm taking steps to get back in my leaner wagon. The first one... for the next week, I'll drink ONLY water. I love the stuff (I will never frankly say). Already, this morning there was NO coffee, and you know what, I didn't need it, I can deal with the shake!

Thanks to Natalie who honestly post about her own falling off this weekend, I started to think that I was doing so much worst than a weekend laps but was not honest about it. You just can't fix a problem if you ignore it!

That's it, I'm virtually kicking myself but taking steps right NOW to get back on track. I know I can! I know I can!

Sunday Humor

Another week and another month bite the dust!

Yesterday was so gorgeous, I spent it outside playing with my leaves blower several hours. I love that thing so much that, after blowing away the pines needles in my place, I crossed fences and did the same to my friends' property. I also cooked some logs in my fire pit... in good company.

Today it's gray (I'm not sure how many shade) but it doesn't mater as long as there is something to smile about...

TV shows- Highway Thru Hell

This is the kind of show that has me wondering if I should get professional help, a lot of help!

This is like watching a train wreck but instead of a train, it's 18 wheelers, cars, and all sort of vehicles needing to be towed away.

Here what Wikipedia has to say about it:

Highway Thru Hell is a Canadian reality TV show that follows the operations of Jamie Davis Motor Trucking, a heavy vehicle rescue and recovery towing company based in Hope, British Columbia and Lac la Biche in Northern Alberta. The show focuses on the hardships of operating along the highways of the BC Interior, especially the Coquihalla Highway (Coq), and highways in Northern Alberta, around Fort McMurray, which are notorious for rapidly changing weather and big wrecks.

It's currently playing the fifth seasons and I can't stop watching it; Sometimes trucks has full load in their trailer and hang to a side of a cliff. Some other time, the trucks are only stuck in snow and need to be pull off. Spellbound!

To give a better and clearer idea of the show, I'll describe it for you: A truck loose control, it hit a snow bank and end up on its side. Jamie Davis' crews are call. When they arrived, they decided that just one towing truck will not be enough, they call a competitor. Both towing company work together and started to chain the truck and its trailer. The operator started slowly to pull on some levers on their equipment to move every thing back on its wheel. After about 2 times period of advertisement, the trucks is back on its wheel and drive away. Every one is happy. The end. 

Exciting, right? You are going to watch it from now on, right? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!

If you decide that this is a show for you, please let me know, we could trade names of health professional.

The picture of the kitten is a recommendation from my psychologist to fill my head with beautiful images instead of all the wrecks!

Life is Going to be so Easy

I have been 2 weeks without running water. Today it's really exciting, I will be getting running water IN MY home.

During those weeks, I went to a daily trip to the lake to pick up buckets of water to flush my toilet.

I had to get to the front gate and filled up Jerry cans of water for cleaning the dishes and brushing the teeth that I have left.

I bought bottle waters for drinking and using in the food preparation.

But for those 2 weeks, I didn't take one single shower... in my home. I had to go to the main building.

From now on, life is going to be so easy!

Do you have running water? Do you like it? 

 

Wealthy Thoughts

Some of you might be thinking about early retirement or are already retired but would love to supplement their pension. Is there a way to get there faster? Yes there is... Powerball! 

 

I don't know if it's the best way but hey who would say NO to the current amount. It is estimated to be 314 Millions US if you take an annuity that will be pay out in 30 installments. The first one, right away ($4,726,151), and then with a 5 % increase per year, you get your bank account yearly replenish 29 times.

Or you could take 204.7 Millions in cash. But if you do so, you better be in shape, you will have to run a lot!

So Saturday when I win, I'll take the annuity. I never managed 204.7 millions before and it would just complicate my life too much. I'm pretty sure I could manage 4.7 millions... With that amount...

I pay off my tax. Sadly, I will be in the upper tax bracket, lets round it to 50 %, so I will be down to 2.35 M.

I will pay off my debts. After this, I'll still have 2.35 M. in my bank account.

I will keep a third and give two third to the kids. Let them have the headache of managing that! My next bank statement will show ONLY 780 K. If I budget it per day it would be about $2000 every single day.

I buy a new car. It's going to be red. I limited that spending to 100 grand. (680 K. left)

I am going to travel, the whole year. I know it doesn't make sense to buy a car and leave it in the garage but I can afford it. I'll budget 280 K. for this once in a lifetime trip. (400 K left)

I just realized, I don't have a garage... I'll need to buy a house with a garage in a good neighborhood... I'll budget a Million on that. However, all is left in my bank account is 400 K so I won't pay cash, I'll have a mortgage. If I take into account the mortgage payment and all other cost of owning, it might be an other 150 K expenses per year. (250 K. Left)

I'll give to some charities, I'll even going to carry on me gift card for restaurant so that if I come upon a homeless, I can send him/her to get a good meal. (150 K. Left)

I will budget gifts for my family and friends (the one I had before winning) (100 K. Left)

I will get all kind of gadget like a smart phone, NO I can't give that number away... I am just going to walk in Best buy and get carts of stuff... (50 K. Left)

I will through a party where food is free, bar is open, with live music (I'll have to check if Adele is available) (1 K. Left)

I will get an accountant and layer and all kind of adviser. (- 15 K.)

I'm going to buy a boat, I can't swim, but that will be nice to invite people to the boat that is in dry docking. (- 215 K.)

Oh no, it doesn't seem like I have enough... I might have to pass the hat at some point, can any of you spare me a few grand? :(

What would you do if I don't win but you do?