Cat's Rule

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Sunday Morning News

I love this picture, so much so, that I placed it on my desktop! How majestic, over powering and yet very beautiful.

Day after tomorrow I am back at work at least for the time being. Since I am in the latter stages before my early retirement work does not seem so daunting.

I started this blog last year to talk about my retirement plans regarding going on the road full time as an RVer.

However, my plans have changed over the past few months. I purchased a house in the country and will commute to work every day. I love this place it suites me fine. My dogs have plenty of room to roam around in my fenced property which incidentally is about four times or more the size of my place in the city. Yesterday, I went into the city to cut the grass at my house which is still up for sale. It took me under an hour to cut the grass both front and back. Whereas here, it takes me a couple of days to get it all cut. I have decided to cut the grass in stages: front, side and back yard. I have nine pine trees in the back yard and a huge tree on the side of the house where deck one is located. A french doors open up to the second deck over looking the entire back yard. My birds share this room with me as it's also a reading and TV room. I will post some new pictures in a few days.

Since deciding against full timing I can easily travel from here for a few months of the year should I choose to. Traveling is an option that I will not close the door on entirely. I have travelled extensively and lived in a variety of places including Europe, United States and of course Canada.

It's a good idea to be flexible and ready for whatever may come your way. It is an understatement to say that when I retire I will do this or that ... instead we can consider the changes in our plans as adventures and see where they take us.

Well, I still have a few more pictures to hang and a few more things to put away, but all in all I am enjoying every minute!

Take care,

Jaime & Company

Update

I did it! I moved out of the city into the country. What can I say? I love it! It's quiet and slower paced. I moved in the beginning of July and am in the midst of settling in. My house in the city is up for sale and should be sold within short order. My dogs love their new yard and home. They have plenty of room to run around and bark if they wish without getting the neighbours upset.

I am off work until August 5, 2008 and then back to work for a few months before I hit the retirement trail for good. I better get back to unpacking the rest of my stuff. I never new I had so many things.

Till next time, Cheers

Jaime & Company

Sunny Days

There are sunny days ahead, at least that's my prediction. It is in fact very sunny outside right now and it was sunny yesterday. Tomorrow, well that's another story. It could be sunny ... if you look at it that way. You see, we can still picture the world outside sunny because of how we feel inside.

For example, when a person states they are feeling blue or have the blahs ... it could be either sunny or raining outside. Their feelings are not necessarily dependent upon the weather, but rather their feelings belong to them and how they interpret the world around them. If I think poorly about myself, I will act poorly in my environment. If I believe that everyone is out to get me ... they propbably are since I am interpreting everything by my thinking and feelings. When I wake up tomorrow and think to myself it's going to be one of thoses days then sure enough it is going to be just "one of those days" when nothing goes right.

Two people can be looking at the same thing and have totally different interpretations of what they are looking at ... our perceptions are influenced by our frame of reference. If my focus is on the hole and not the donut then I can conclude that life is just a big fat zero. If I focus on the possibilities of that donut, like a delicious treat that I can eat and enjoy. I will not necessarily notice the hole, but rather that eating it has met a need of satisfying my sweet tooth.

Till next time, Cheers!

Middle of the Night Adventures

It was one of those sleepless nights. Not a good thing especially since I am training this weekend! I found a video on dolphins ... on the National Geographic website. It's worth checking out. (Click on the title).

These creatures are beautiful and so graceful as they jump through the air! So when you can't sleep .. count dolphin's instead of sheep.

Till next time, Cheers!

Stonehenge Was Cemetery First and Foremost, Study Says

"Stonehenge stood as giant tombstones to the dead for centuries, new radiocarbon dating suggests. The site appears to have been intended as a cemetery from the very start, around 5,000 years ago—centuries before the giant sandstone blocks were erected—the new study says..." Read the entire article: (Click on the title, for a direct link to National Geographic website, which references this study).

Till next time, Cheers!

How Far Does Five Bucks Go .... in the USA?

Take a real close look at this bill. What do you see?

Remember the 'good old days', when 5 bucks would almost buy you a cart full of groceries. Well maybe not a full cart .... our money, Canadian dollars too, are shrinking more and more by the day. The cost of living rises but the dollar seems to be continuously shrinking. This gives a new meaning to making ends meet. As you know my goal is retirement. My goal for retirement is to be mortgage free. I remember back in 1999 when I lived in Texas, I could fill up my Ford Ranger for $12.00 (USA). Now, back in Canada I pay pretty close to $100.00 to fill a tank. I am fortunate that my truck is a standard and real good on gas.

Well I need to go for now ... I have to fill my truck up with gas!

Tell next time, Cheers!

The Day After ...

I am happy to report that my plant made it through the night! The dirt is still moist so I think I am okay in not watering it yet.

It's Monday morning and I am sitting here writing on my blog before I have had my first cup of java. I am going to have to remedy that situation by going into the kitchen to make some coffee. I need to start the day right. am drinking Folgers these days. I usually drinking Colombian or Breakfast Coffee. But since Folgers was on sale. It's Folgers for the next while. I enjoy Tom Horton's coffee too! I drink mine black, have for years, but I don't drink as many cups as I use to. But I digress, I will be right back. Don't go away. I am back and the coffee is brewing. Can you smell the fresh aroma wafting down the hall? I guess not. Seriously, I do enjoy a great cup of coffee.

I am currently reading Mary Higgins Clark's book, "I Heard That Song Before", (2007), it's about a sleepwalker who allegedly committed three murders while sleepwalking. It has a lot of twists and turns, a web of lies and deceit. Ms. Clark's eloquence has you hanging on every word until the very end when the culprit is finally revealed. Click on the title of this entry which will take you directly to Simon and Schuster, Ms. Clark's publisher's website. I was reading the book until the wee hours as I could not put it down. Finally, my eyes would no longer allow me to read another word. Hence, today is another day to spend reading the remainder of this thriller. Ms. Clark truly is the Queen of suspense!

Till next time, Enjoy!

Mother's Day ... Part II

The above are pictures of the hanging plant that I bought in memory of my Mom for Mother's Day... I will post pictures again mid-summer so you can see the growth.

A kind lady at the store answered numerous questions I had about the variety of flowers in the Wal-Mart Garden Centre. Behind the flowers are some of my budgies and lovebirds which I have taken out of the main cage.

Well I must close for now as my dogs are waiting for their supper.

p.s. I am unsure as to how to line up these pictures with the text. I have tried it several ways and it always seems to come out differently.

Mother's Day Part I

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers everywhere!

My mom loved flowers. She could make anything bloom. Her flower boxes were full of flowers each summer. Her lawn was always beautifully manicured and framed with, you guess it, flowers. My mom had a jar which she named: "flower fund." She saved her pennies, collected the change that fell between the cushions from over flowing pockets and of course I would contribute whatever change I usually had in my pockets whenever I came over to visit. When Spring rolled around she had quite a haul, hence the beautiful yard of flowers.

When I was growing up I remember my mother having flowers inside the house. They were all over and I must admit that I did not inherit the skill of making everything grow. My attempts at having flowers is very feeble indeed. I can plant them in the dirt alright, but usually forget to water them. I will make another attempt this year. Maybe.

On February 6, 2006, my mother passed away suddenly. She was only seventy-five, and would have been seventy-six year on October 20, 2006. I lost my best friend. A few days after she died. I had a dream. I saw a white room and at one end of it was a gurney. My mom was laying on it. I walked over and looked down on her. Suddenly she was standing beside me with her hand on my shoulder. She said, " I am alright now." I responded by saying, "How did you do that?" She was alive and standing beside me. I have had a number of dreams about her and we are usually talking about things like we use to do.

In another dream, my mom came and swooped me up and we were traveling into outer space. I could see the world getting smaller. It was a great feeling. This dream came a few months after her death at a particularly difficult time in my life. In the dream, I told her about everything that was happening and she was listening as she did so many times throughout my life. She was a great listener. When the dream was just about over my mom told me that I had to go back. I told her that I didn't want to go back I wanted to stay with her. She told me I had to go back for now.

I awoke from this dream and knew that I had just visited with my mom. I do believe that people that have passed on can and often do visit us in dreams. I recall an incident that occurred in July 2007 when I was having a garage sale. Only I was not asleep at the time, I was coming out of the house and I "heard" my mother's voice calling me by my middle name, in German. I turned and there was absolutely no one insight at that precise moment.

I told my friend who was visiting from Texas and helping me with the garage sale, about what had just happened. I told her that I would never forget it. I have to tell you about something else concerning my mother. I have had the urge to buy a hanging basket of flowers which my brother and I would buy for my mother for Mother's Day. I have never felt the urge to do this before now, as I mentioned, flowers aren't my thing since I have a difficult time looking after them.

But as soon as the stores open today. I will go to Wal-mart and pick out a nice hanging basket in memory of my mom and keep it on the dining room table until the weather is warmer. Then I will hang it outside in the very place where she hung so many of the hanging baskets we gave her over the years.

I decide to check out a website which features a number of recipes that seem to be easy enough to make for your mom. The site is called Mother's Day Muffins. Enjoy!

Till next time, Cheers!

Middle of the Night Ramblings

I am wide awake since the dogs got me up. They heard the birds fluttering around in their cage. When I checked on them one of the little budgies was at the bottom of the cage trying to fly back up on to his perch. I turned on the light and told him that he could do it. He inched along the side of the cage and climbed up until he could fly back up to reach his perch. His little buddies cheered him on too. Teamwork!

I know that I have a picture of a cat in this entry ... what do you expect for the middle of the night? I have a cat free zone since I have birds. I do know that cats can get use to birds and not bother them, but why risk it? Haida, my Shepherd, likes to sit outside watching the birds fly all around her. She just sits and watches them. I sometimes wonder what she may be thinking as they swoop down in front of her. Lunch? I know, I know, give me a break it is the middle of the night!

Well, I am going back to bed and hope to fall back asleep as morning is just around the corner. Thank goodness I don't have to go to work until the afternoon!

Cheers,

Jaime & Company

TGIF

Need I say more? This week seemed to drag by so much so it felt like it was going backwards. I am working this weekend so it will seem like an even longer week for me. Not that I am complaining, not in the least. I am finding working irregular hours is taking it's toll. I can't believe that I deferred my retirement for another year.

I am in the process of house hunting again. I want to buy a house that is smaller and less maintenance. I am not sure there is such a thing, but nonetheless, I am going to try to find it!

I will write more later, as I have to feed the dogs and make supper.

Till next time, Cheers!

Sunday Morning

The snow did not last into the afternoon. I just came back in from talking to my neighbour about the fence separating our properties. I told her that I had ordered a chain link fence. I had built the existing fence (wood) in 1988. I am surprised that it lasted this long. I had hoped that I would not have to undergo this expense before selling the house. But it's leaning too much into the neighbours yard. The joys of home ownership. Speaking of back yard, I will have to rid my yard of dog poop. I should do it this morning as it's cool out side and it would be a much better time for this project instead of the afternoon when it's warmer. I think you get the picture.

So I had better get on some old clothes and head out the door. But first, I will make myself a cup of java before undertaking this arduous task.

Till next time, Cheers!

Morning Spring Snow

I awoke this morning to snow on my deck. My dogs immediately went out to pee on the freshly fallen snow and promptly returned to go back to bed. I don't think that the snow will last until the afternoon. However, the added bonus of the mositure is what the farmers need for their fields. So it's a good thing!

I have a few things to do today and one of them includes laundry. I will do that first and then move on to other tasks. Weekends are usually reserved for personal tasks but since I work on some weekends my persoanl tasks usually fall by the wayside.

First and formost I have to make a fresh cup of java, afterall, how better to start my day.

Tell next time, Cheers!

News from Up North

Good Morning,

I am back in training today. I was here in Saskatoon last November 2007. The room I have this time around is a 100% improvement from the last time. When I registered a couple of weeks ago I told them I wasn't too pleased with my previous room and hoped there would be an improvement. Well I was pleasantly surprised and the room certainly meets my expectations.

Last week they had a snow storm whereas we were spared down South at least in my part of the Province. However, we still could have snow where we are. I remember one year we had a snow storm in May. Enough about the weather. I better get ready for breakfast as I don't want my stomach to growl during the session.

Till next time, cheers!

Breath Taking View

Hello Everybody,

I would love to open my blinds and feast my eyes on this spectacular view, wouldn't you? Mount Rundle is located in the Canadian Rockies. Years ago, many, many, many, years ago. I lived and worked in Banff. I was in my early twenties along with most of my friends. We all had a variety of jobs just to live there to enjoy the four seasons, especially winter when we would spend our off times skiing. Yes, I use to be a skier! Hard to believe I know but nonetheless very true.

Sometimes I wish I could rewind my life and go back to when it was not as complicated. But then again, my life is only as complicated as I make it. Perhaps, I should fast forward my life to see what's ahead for me, or just around the corner. I want to know if I am going to win the lottery! I think we all would like to know our futures. If you could know your future, what would you do differently?

Well, I am in the present and actually am enjoying it. Well, maybe not all the time. But for the most part when I don't complicate my life it's okay.

By the way, if you notice on the right side of this blog I have added a new feature: Shout box. It's pretty cool. Why don't you say hello? I would love to hear from you all out there in cyberspace.

Tll next time, Cheers
Jaime

Sleepless Night ...

Have you ever had a sleepless night? I don't have them often, but when I do I usually find myself at the computer writing to someone to let them know that I am wide awake while they are no doubt snoozing away.

Have you ever thought why you can't sleep especially when you are dead tired and know you have to get up in a few hours and get ready for work? The thought has crossed my mind on more than one occasion. For me, I usually end up thinking about things that are going on in my life or things that are waiting for me around the corner. Teddy just meandered into my office wondering if it's morning. Angel is on the floor beside my desk and Haida, well she's snoring away in the other room. For my birds, it's dark and they too are still in dreamland.

Speaking of dreams, I have been having a few these past few nights and they are usually about me trying to ind something or someone is telling me that I should do things differently. Sounds a lot like my waking life.

Yesterday, I decided to check the real estate market and things are still booming in this part of the country. The value of my house seems to be climbing higher as we speak. On one hand this is good for me but on the other hand if I sell I will have to buy something else. I have been checking the market in towns surrounding the city I live in now and guess what the market there is also on the climb. Surprise, surprise!

I had hoped to retire without a mortgage. I am sure something will work out. Perhaps the Lottery? Dream on. Well someone has to win, it might as well be me, right? Okay, it could be you and me, there feel better that I included you. This post is beginning to sound like middle of the night ramblings. It's 3:26 a.m. I am going to sign off for now and head back to bed and try to get back to sleep. When sleepless nights happen to me I do eventually fall asleep only to hear the sound of the radio coming on announcing it's time for me to get up and face another wonderful day in paradise. Cheers!

On the Run ...

I feel like I am running in all directions these days. I am in the midst of finishing my Winter training sessions and preparing for my Spring sessions.

This morning is our final session for my Tuesday group. We are going to finish off with a celebration lunch. Next week I will be doing the same thing with my Monday evening group. Then the following week we start again with new people in our Spring sessions.

I will write more when I can.

Till next time, cheers!

Spring Is Here ...

Perhaps I am rushing things in my part of the world, but the snow is seemingly melting and what a mess underneath ... dog poop! Now I do try to pick up all the visiable dog poop but didn't realize that the snow covered some of it!

I am still trying to figure out a way to have the dogs pick up after themselves. This of course is a fruitless venture but nonetheless a dream of all dog owners. I am I right?

I am thinking about purchasing some flowers to put in my window boxes in front of the diningroom and livingroom windows. Since I am not an expert on flowers like my mother, I have to rely on the expertise of those in the gardening field and perhaps google for some information on the subject.

I am still on vacation and my to do list is widdling down bit by bit. I think I can get use to retirement without too much difficulty transitioning from an actual work week to a more relaxed setting. Since I deferred my retirement for another a year, I have more time to make plans for that chapter of my life.

In the meantime, I am making plans for the next series of training sessions and looking forward to a month off during the summer. I will create a"To Do List" and little projects for that time. I need a new fence in the back yard that separates my property from the neighbours and keepmy dogs from wandering off and/or running at large in the neighbourhood.

My dogs just started barking outside. I better let them in since they have been outside most of the morning. Next week, they will be back into their old rountine of spending time in doors while I am at work.

Till next time, Cheers!

Sunday Morning

Top of the Morning To You!

This is the first Sunday morning since the beginning of the New Year that I haven't had a to do list a mile long. I must say that it has been quite a wild ride getting use to my new duties as a trainer. The hours of work are no longer 8:00 a.m. to 5;00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Now I work evenings and weekends and days. Not necessarily in that order but you get the idea my schedule has changed considerably. I didn't think that I would have any difficulty adjusting. Wrong! I did have some problems adjusting to the evening work as I like to go to bed early because I am usually up by 5:30 a.m. every morning.

I am off for Spring break until Monday, March 31, 2008 4:30 p.m. when I go back to work to resume teaching an evening session. I must say that the challenge of adjustment has been worth it as I am enjoying the work itself. I spent hours of preparation time and feel confident enough with the material to teach it without feeling like I may be missing something.

In mid-April 2008 I will be starting another round of the same sessions. It will be a busy time right up until the end of June 2008 and then off for the summer. Well, for me it's off for the month of July 2008 and back to work in August 2008 to prepare for the Fall training sessions and teaching new material again.

But for now I am going to pour myself a cup of java and enjoy a liesurely breakfast reading the Sunday paper.

Till next time, Cheers!