Burnaby - Thor,Gratitude, Grace

Thank you God for this day. Thank you for a night of sleep and interesting dreams. Thank you for the peace and quiet of the awakening day. Thank you for the sunshine. Thank you for  Madigan. Thank you for my ancestors.  Thank you for this Thor. Thank you for the coffee, eggs and yoghurt. Thank you for work and play. Thank you for Jordan Peterson’ We who wrestle with God.  Thank you for Fry’s Mythology.  Thank you for westerns and reading and eyes and imagination of story tellers. Thank you for history and chemistry and physicals. Thank you for my friend Kirk and his Salt Spring Island coffeeshop revival. Thank you for George, his 49 years of inspiration and his love of Burnaby Fellowship, women and cats.  Thank you for Madigan. Thank you for vehicles. Thank you for air. Thank you for space. Thank you for astronaughts and the dream of Mars exploration. Thank you for civilization. Thank you for sensuality and silk and satin and trade. Thank you for satin. Thank you for prayer and contemplation. Thank you for meditation. Thank you for breath.  Thank you for Apple. Thank you for universities. Thank you for medicine and engineering.  Thank you for logic and truth. Thank you for spirituality and the learning of the artists and ethicists,  Thank you for morality and grace.  Thank you for poetry. Thank you for animals and birds and wheat fields and forests and lakes. Thank you for oceans and whales. Thanks you for fish and rain and tropical winds. Thank you for Saipan and San Francisco, Ottawa, Toronto, London, Vancouver, La Paz, Brandon, Churchill, Victoria, Parksville, Tinian, LA, Arizona, Mexico, British Columbia. Thank you for Canada and the USA.  Thank you for all those who have been freed from communism and totalitarianism. Thank you for civilization, Thank you for gravity and physics. Thank you for all dear Lord. Thank you for creation and life and this journey and adventure you have given.  Thank you God for your presence and companionship and reassurance. Thank you for yesterday, today and tomorrow. Thank you Jesus.  

Burnaby - Grateful

I am okay today.  I’m grateful for another sunny summer day.  I have slept well. I’m drinking Starbucks Odyssey coffee my neighbor Nicolina gave Laura when she was here motorhome sitting and caring for Madigan. I’m very grateful for such neighbors as Ernst and Nicolina.  I like seeing Mach and Kim most days.  I’ve seen Shane quite often.  Helena was beautiful on the weekend. She told me Dave came by but I missed him and look forward to seeing him,

It’s been a good week. The week has been good.  It’s the people and events,  I’m on my last day today of work.  

Monday was steady. Tuesday I drove the Mini with Madigan into the city.  We stopped at Bean cafe for the Moca, met Gary and Mary Lou and the other staff, I like them but feel guilty since I’ve not been there enough to remember their names. I met with Moninder and it’s been almost a year with one to go till I complete that commitment,  Thankfully there have been no problems. I also saw my medical legal case charged with sex offence.  Otherwise the day at Docside was routine,  

Back home I completed the day with phone calls and virtual.  I did a couple of long walks enjoying the Brunette River and birdwatching,

I’m continuing to listen to Jordan Perterson’s, audio book, We who wrestle with God  I’ve made no progress on my own book though my weekend with Apple retrieving files encouraged me to move forward,

My back continues to ache but much better than last year. I am planning a chiropractic visit.  I’m reestablishing some stretching in Thor after daily meditation.  I’m thankful for the routine,

Maizy has been born, a 8 lb some girl. Alan hasn’t slept and the two are happy.  Adell, the wonderful grandmother keeps me informed. 

I phoned Kevin and Agile Insurance has dropped the ball not forwarding approval these last two months when I didn’t know there was a delay. Thankfully I could call Thaun at Rand and McNally.  He said he’d called and encouraged them,  I’m just concerned that hunting season is approaching and I’ve made a commitment for a week of hunting in Clearwater.  Kevin says he’ll fit the work into his schedule once he has approval,  He’s booked months in advance so it’s annoying the insurance people are delaying,  All shall be well, 

Laura and I had hoped to take the Thor out for the Labor Day long weekend but all the places we’d hoped to camp at are booked,  I’m enjoying being here, I don’t need to leave ,  Staycation in paradise isn’t so bad.  It’s just nice to break from the routine. I am enjoying my Harley. This weekend I have to get my nails done and there’s a Sunday WDIR zoom meeting. I’d thought of church but that will wait another week. I’ve said I’m a summer pagan and winter Christian because I’d rather be in nature when the weather is good.,  

Last night I enjoyed my men’s meeting seeing Jack and Marty, Mario, Ward and George. George is taking his 49 year cake next week and I’m to give it to him,  I am so honored that I’m tongue tied thinking of the night. He’s such a mensch. So kind hearted too.

Thank you God for this day.  Thank you for all your blessings. 

 

Brunette River Walk

The day lightened up.  It was gloomy earlier. Madigan and I just did the Brunette River walk.  Several other walker with their dogs, Winter coated humans except the athletes running by in space age body clinging attired,  An occasional dog wore a jacket too.  But the weather was mild.  Madigan having lost hid heavy coat weeks back was warm enough in his summer trim.

I liked the hemlock.  Enjoyed stopping to look at the running river,  

There were no birds today. I usually see mallards and often a great blue heron. My favourite is the king fisher.  I once saw an eagle there close up and some hawks., I do like birds.  Recently the fish were migrating but now there’d nothing much happening,  A CN train went by.  

im enjoying the walk counter in the iPhone 16.  It tells me I’ve done 3,800 steps. 10,000 is recommended. I’m normally doing 3-4000 now but when I began counting I was only doing 2 to 3000.  I really did think I was doing 10,000.  I walk the dog several times a day but what I thought was a greater distance turned out only to be 1000 steps each circle of the park. I used to walk the river trail a couple of times during covid years then became concerned about the bullies, bikes and bears.  It was easier to stay in the park but I’m sure I reduced my distance each outing by 1-2000 steps My best so far in 5-6000 steps.  A minor project, 

Assad left Syria and took asylum in Russia.  I didn’t like Assad and was hopeful when he was almost turfed before Putrin came to his side.  Syria might well know peace.  Imagine visiting Damascus one day with all that history,  I’d wanted to go to Egypt but the Muslim Brotherhood was causing instability and terrorist were bombing Copt churched,  

I’ve been hanging s down turn day. I’d thought to go downtown on the weekend but the congestion caused by the Taylor Swift concert and some other events made it easier for me to stay home. I even missed church this morning having woken and 4 am and then gone back to sleep after 6. 

Laura sent me pictures of her red glittery nails.  She looks very festive.  I’m hardly into Christmas yet. I did read about the Annunciation but haven’t even opened Mathew or Luke.  I’m mostly prepared to go south.  Just waiting to move from RV to Camper. I’ve been investigating RV parks but feel limited by the Southern California and border response to Trumps taking power Jan 6.  

thank you Jesus halliluhaja 

Gratitude and Madigan Swollen River Walk

I chose gratitude as a title to uplift me. I slept in. I’ve done a long walk with Madigan. I’m thankful for air, and water and sunshine. I’m thankful for mind and heart. I’m thankful for Ethiopian coffee. I’m thankful for Madigan. I’m thankful for warmth

I enjoyed Wheel of Time. I loved Rosamund Pike.  I was thankful for the hot tub and swim yesterday.

I slept in this morning. 10 am. Latest I’ve slept in in a year.  I woke at 3:50.  I’ve done that this week . On my walk today I saw that the river had risen but the dike has several more feet of elevation .  I looked at in the wee hours to see if there was water in the streets.  We joked yesterday about my having my folding boat and outboard ready.

I’ve been reading of Scotland,

Adell actually found Grandad’s departure from Scotland. His birth was 1886. Dad used to say if he’d stayed he would have got in trouble for poaching salmon.  He was so upstanding here becoming the reeve but he loved to hunt and fish.  Dad loved to fish and I did in the ocean but not inland in BC.  I loved to fish in for pike and pickerel and bass in the interior.  Just never had the same success with rainbow. Loved ocean fishing, salmon and cod.

Now I’m here drinking coffee and considering a shower.  The walk was good today. Later I have the western canada docs meeting.  I meditated some. I’m feeling I’m on God’s bench in the game of life, waiting.  There’s a boredom when life is good.  No drama.  The threats at a distance.  I’m content and grateful. . All my problems are Cadillac problems. I love that I’ve paid the flights for the vacation and now have next the cost of hotels and major costs are taken care of I just need to keep working and saving and putting some away for the lack of income during my time away.  Work is hard. It’s draining.  Dispirited people and amongst them a soul sucker.  Rare but they are there.  They present as sad and victim but their anger is palpable.  They scare me and it’s eggshells to not offend them. They are searching for someone to blame and cannibalize for their poor choices.

I’ve had chicken lunch, read social media, walked Madigan again and had a billable conversation with a colleague. The rain is less. I’m puttering about.

Andrew thinks DNA test results aren’t secure enough and is concerned about family getting testing as smart devices can be targeted with family DNA. I contacted Hay Clan Geneologist to see if I could get more on grandad before I get there. Adell did a marvellous job of tracking his arrival in Canada. I passed results to Wayne Hay as one of the girls there is also interested in genealogy.

Gratitude,

Thank you Jesus.

Thank you God for this day. Thank you for my fingers and toes and Madigan.

Stormy day

Vancouver is now reconnected with the rest of Canada. The storms of the last weeks had flooded Abbotsford and Princeton and Merrit. The old Sumas Lake had reformed.  Courageous farmers and friends rescued horses and cattle. Mudslides destroyed parts of the Coquahalla.  I was here.  Unaffected except for the deluge of rain.  Not cats and dogs but raining hippopotamus and dinoasuras.  Torrential.  Now all are ready.  Crews on hand. It’s been raining steady for two days.  The river is high and some banks have been eaten away. I walked Madigan along the river.  Again it’s not really affected me.  Sandy said her husband has stayed in Vancouver because though they have opened the road to Chilliwack it’s one lane and lots of construction, the one hour commute now 6 hours.  In my church they are gathering clothes and food for the migrant workers who are stranded, their bunk houses and the land flooded.  

Today there were some food shelves empty at Walmart. I’d been to Costco last week and there was no shortage. I’ve a fridge and freezer and cupboards full of foods.  The booster for the Covid vaccines is becoming available. I’m planning on getting mine. 

I’ve been focussed on the birthday holiday.  A conference and a trip to my grandfather’s home. I’ve just read a great detective novel, Edinburgh Twilight (Ian Hamilton series) by Carole Lawrence. I’ve downloaded the next Edinburgh Twilight.  I find reading stories like this acquaints me with Edinburgh. I’m well in to the  Bloody Scottish History 

Aberdeen by Elma McMenemy . I’m enjoying the easy read. I’ve got several on the go including Scottish Art and Modern Art , a very short introduction, by David Cottington, a really excellent read. I’m wondering about going to the Tate and the Scottish Modern art galleries.  I’ve little love for the post impressionist period overall though the impressionist and surrealists and cubists were all outsiders in their day.  I just don’t enjoy Pollock as much as Gainsborough or Van Gogh.  I really like religious art especially mother and child presentations.  I confess too that I’m delighted to have a study focus now that I’m going to be visiting art galleries again.  I like reading of history, and art, and culture.  There’ s the. Medical school I’ll be visiting and I’m looking forward to Opera and Ballet. I was able to book the opera but am still trying to get tickets to th ballet. The server failed at the last minute and I’m not certain I have them or not. It’s very difficult to call because of the extreme time difference.

I’m considering a new jacket for the trip. I’ve grown fat so the one lined shell jacket which would be ideal won’t be comfortable with a sweater under neath. I plan to buy a High land sweater on arrival for the trip but need the right jacket. I think Mountain Equipment Coop is the likely place.  I’ve taken my long leather coat out of storage and am enjoying it though I didn’t wear it last year.  There’s something to be said for storage and wardrobes.

It’s raining heavily.  I took Madigan for a walk by the river. We had yoghurt and Cobs spinach croissant . I showered and dressed . Then I drove to Dr. Reddy who did another adjustment . His last adjustment a few weeks back really improved my flexibility and mobility and took away the sharp pain I had in the right lower back. After I stopped at Staples where I sat in an office chair better than mine.  I’m think the couch is a problem too. The chair is certainly better than the jury rig office I had at the beginning of Covid.  Now I’m doing much better. I’d love when the hot tub wasn’t jet less and we had to limit the number there. I don’t want to risk going over and having to turn back. I’ve been using naproxen most days and I’m doing better. A matter of weather too.  I bought Epson 110 mobile portable printer ink. This printer is turning out to be really great.  I also bought another pen , old technology but it’s a really beautiful Cross.  There really is a market to be made in ornamental jewelled tablets.  Phone covers are fine but like the pen the actual laptop and pad and phone could be ornamented.  I’ like my iPad with rubies and engraving. My silver skull head umbrella arrived.  It will give me comfort walking in the morning and late at night as I could fend off a predator, those times being dark and the time I as an apex predator would be prowling. I worry about my little guy out on point tugging on the leash.  I want to protect him. He’s a good boy. A fine little room mate.  Pulls my heart strings.

Adell got the chocolates I sent her. Graeme is recovering. I bought some Christmas pjs for Elliott and Fin. 

I’m now at home having had sandwiches and now drinking Ethiopian coffee wondering about going out looking for a jacket thinking myself silly for doing so.  I could go for a swim or read my Scottish or art history.  I am often restless and spend too much time on the couch watching Netflix. 

__________

I ‘ve  just returned from another walk with Madigan.  Down by the river. It’s swollen and fast flowing.  The bank is out in one place and a big tree has toppled with the great roots no longer holding as the river bank was eroded. It was dusk.  I took some pictures.  I had my new umbrella with the skull handle and steel shaft.  Felt better if a cougar , coyote or bear surprised me on the path. As it was two great st. Bernards came up behind me.  Madigan and turned back and was ready to play. We know them. Still they startled me. Hadn’t heard a thing. If it weren’t for Madigan a cougar or wolf would be on us. I’m going deaf and the rain muffles sound. I used these conditions to sneak up on deer in the rain and shoot them.  I’d not like to be walking at dusk or dawn without Madigan.  I had my long leather coat on which is protection.  

I feel badly .  I was talking to my neighbour and couldn’t help but comment on all the billions that was supposed to go to ‘infrastructure spending’.  The Liberals couldn’t say where it went.  It was supposed to dredge areas and improve dikes and roads but typical of Trudeau government rife with corruption it likely went to multi million dollar gab fests of party favourites.

I was thinking of doing another step 4 around institituions.  I am resentful at ‘Trudeau”, “federal government”, the UN,  IPCC, WEF and Agenfa 21 , Davos and now the Glasgow Orgy.  Why.  Because they take my money. It doesn’t affect my self esteem or personal relationships. Obviously it can affect my sex relationships because the stupid young girls love the shallow rich stupid guys like Trudeau and all those spouting ‘politically correct ‘ propaganda and fashion.  The Nazis early got laid a lot.  But really it’s just my money that I get upset with and the though that these little psychopaths could be putting more money into science and less into parties that are no different than they were a thousand years ago.  Talk fuck fests. I’d like functional MRI’s and PET scans . I’d like more medical research and anti terrorism and less corruptions. If our leaders weren’t such twits all our tax money wouldn’t be going to these luxury scams and the drivel that flows from the central BS.  

Oh well, what’s my part in it. I didn’t vote for the little dictator or his Quebec rodent followers and the scab voters who he favoured from other countries selected for likelihood to vote 30 years in the past.  The Liberal Party and Trudeau are as out dated today as Xi Jinping.  Marxism is a maggot crawling off the dead body of communism.  My part is that I voted for Trudeau and supported Trudeau when my father and mother told me that Trudeau senior was evil or twisted. They knew the family stunk and yet I was 20 and I liked Trudeau senior. Though that carnation lovely and liked that I shook his hand on ly to find out later he didn’t like shaking hands.  I sort of grabbed it.  Then his sick son came along and I’m paying for the silliness of my youth, listening to hippy world and not asking whose paying.  Now the eggs have hatched and the chickens have come home to roost

I have ‘fear of economic insecurity’, aging now and seeing Trudeau inflation and economic mismanagement.  

Yet I’m spending,  I could be more frugal like my family.  I’m working longer than any of them. I’ve worked hard too.  I like working. I like being of service.  I’ve all I need and my anxiety and fear is future based.  God is good all of the time. I need to get to meetings.  Yet I listen to anxiety all day.  I ‘m constantly ‘lending ego ‘ and ‘reassuring’.  Still I’m blessed.  This too will pass.  

There’s a South African variant.  I’m waiting for a booster. There’s a ‘vaccine passport’ I need. I’m waiting for insurance appraisal of my injured camper. I saw the card for the people who sell yachts.  I’m putting it off. May be I’ll sail to the Caribbean or Ireland yet. I’ve the boat. All I need is crew.  But I could sell the boat and focus on travelling with RV and truck   I’m waiting to hear about the Camper bccause I’ thinking of trading my  F350 2017 8 foot box 6.2 gas engine for the 6 1/2 foot box because then I could perhaps sell my little car. I simply can’t easily drive and park in city with 8 foot box but with the new surround cameras and shorter truck I could do well. I also take the gate off to put the camper on and with the short4r box I’d leave the gate on rather than having it off most of the year.  It’s an idea.  My fears are related to the possibility that my ‘plans’ won’t come through because of inflation etc.  Fear of economic insecurity would leave us.  Well I do tend to take my will back rather than accept ‘thy will be done’.  If that’s what God wants it will happen, Like the vacation .  

The bank just reinvested a mutual fund that came to maturity today. Here I am afraid of economic insecurity and I have a ‘mutual fund’.  I can get by. I just don’t want to ‘get by’. I want to continue to have this ‘good life’. I really am grateful for this good life. I have a nice place to live, clean water, clean air, heat.  I’ve work and madigan and Laura visits. I’ve family and friends. Thank you Jesus. Of course we’re a little worried the river rising. I’ve an inflatable in the garage and a folding boat on the side.  I’ve even got a couple of outboard motors.  It’s not as if I’m not prepared. I talked to a man today whose unable to get to his home in Kelowna because the roads are closed and he’s concerned about his house and property. My problems are Cadillac problems. Like what am I going to eat to night.  I’ve chilli or kraft or I could order a pizza.   Life is okay.  

Thank you Jesus.

 

Blue Heron in Brunette River Walk with Gilbert

I have often seen the blue heron in the neighbourhood. He tours a mile distance and has a nest back in the olds high in the trees. I’ve most often spotted him down by the little falls much further along the trail. Today though he was nearer and he had just flown a short ways further so we saw him gain.

Sunday Walk and Keystone Fuzion

My legs hurt from the 5 k run yesterday. I actually ran most of it and only walked a bit.  Gilbert had come for a poop and pee then insisted he go back and protect Laura who was still sleeping.  He's really a suck. Sitting beside her as she is lying in bed he puts his paw on her arm and she begins to pet his back or scratch his belly.  That's so much better than a run which I think is sore for his back.  If I wasn't fat and out of shape I'd crawl back in bed with Laura. I was glad for the run though.
Today Gilbert got his walk along the Brunette River. A Gilbert walk as opposed to a Bill run involves lots of sniffing and lots of peeing but not rushing about.  It takes a long time to complete a goodly Gilbert walk.
The sun is shining. It's hot. I love it.
Laura was up early this morning. Her sister and John were picking her up to go with Robin to Cultus lake to meet family and friends and see the granddaughters and grandson.  Laura's granddaughter Paris and Robin are best friends. The newest grandson, Everley is really cute.
I like when Laura sees her grandchildren. She's such a lovely lady and children and animals gravitate towards her. Just yesterday the neighbour's little 5 year old took her by the hand and said,"Lets leave the adults and you and me go for a walk."
With that she took Laura by the hand and chattering all along walked away with her.  I was left talking with Laura and Rick and Dave. There were others there whose names I've sadly forgotten.  Gilbert was so happy to see Dave's dog Emory and visit with the chocolate lab and blond lab. He likes them all.
My big event yesterday was going to Meridian, to look at the 37 foot Fuzion and talk to Steve.  We're hoping to go back next Saturday and that all goes well. I've been looking at new digs for a few weeks. It's been a plan in making for months.  I live in my Keystone Energy which I got and have used for hunting. The fact is I do more living in it and less hauling in it which Laura pointed out. So the Fuzion 5 th wheel is more space and more elegant and also a toyhauler. I doubt I'll be taking it off road anytime soon if the deal goes through.
I have to get an endorsement for my license and called Burnaby Hitch to have a toyhauler removable hitch installed in the new Ford F-350 Lariat edition. Then once I have a machine I have to get a teacher to train me in hauling it. I actually also have to take an actually driving and hauling text.  I like that the government has required this. In retrospect I would have had more peace of mind if I took lessons in towing my previous machines.
I'm really no good at backing up and have all manner of anxiety towing despite doing it and  getting by. This unit is that much longer and that much heavier but the fifth wheel arrangement distributes the weight and I'm told makes backing up easier. I'll have cameras on the new unit as well.  in addition the Fifth Wheel is least likely to shimmy in the wind going downhill/. That's been a trial coming down the Cocahalla Highway off the escarpment and  the coastal mountains.
I picked black berries on the walk today. Sweet. Took some pictures of flowers too.  This morning after Laura left with her family I eventually  had a shave and shower.  Laura's sister and brother in law are terrific. They don't look any different than they did when I met them some 15 years ago. Their daughter sure has grown.  She's a young woman going off to New Zealand for a month next week. Laura thinks the world of her.
I thought about my nephew Alan going to Coventry England for a year of work and study with his partner Meaghan who is doing a year of forensic psychology.  Robin must only be about 20 and I can't help but think how our parents must have been terrified when Baiba and I flew off to bicycle across Europe at that age.  Alan's much older and finished his psychology but I confess young people seem more vulnerable.  I'm old and scarred and dangerous.  It's been a hard learning curve but I survived it and so do the young. I hope it's much safer than it was in my day.  They'll do fine.  Cell phones alone make life less isolated.
I'm reading a Captain Steel novel.  British Grenadiers fighting the French under Marlborough in the 1800's.  Back yard summer reading. I listened to a pod cast while I walked ,of 13th century Hildegard of Bingen, one of four Doctors of Letters of the Roman Catholic Church.  I like the history podcasts. I had just listened to a medical podcast on Placebo Effect in the car.
I ate Me and Ed's pizza left overs for lunch. Laura and I had enjoyed it fresh last night. Great crust.
I've concluded I'm on call.  I've no big expedition or project in motion. I'm just muddling along.  I've a sense I'm recovering from a particularly difficult time still grieving, overworked by the need to move. Disappointed by ethical lapses of others.  Glad to be in these clinics.  I really like the other doctors and colleagues I'm working with. The Fentanyl epidemic is taking it's toll.  I enjoyed getting to Whitecliff last week. IDAA before that was so  inspirational as always.
Now it's time to get back to reading on a lawn chair in the sun. Gilbert is on his leash lying beside the Harley at the front of the property, guarding and sniffing the wind. There's a lot of dogs here right now. They come and go but this weekend has been a real doggy social weekend.
Thank you God for all your blessings.
 

Burnaby Lake and Brunette River walks with Gilbert

Last week in the sunshine I hiked around Burnaby Lake with Gilbert.   This week we walked along the Brunette River.  I take the camera. There’s always birds and pictures of Gilbert to capture.  There are always mallards but occasionally I see a common merganser, the red headed duck with red beak and white spot under it’s chin as well as the white breast.  It’s easy to mix it up with the canvasback or the redhead but they have black beaks and black breasts.  I used to be able to tell these in flight but I’m not sure how good I’d be separating the redhead and canvasback.  
Common Merganzer


There’s the damn with the fish ladder.

Song Sparrow



Sandpipers

Hooded Merganzer



Braking

Train Truck