My youngest turned 43 today. The daddy to my Rugrats, the jack-of-all-trades who, at the moment, is working 80 hours+ a week during the rush of the tire season. He’s an industrial mechanic, a singer in a band (with their own CD), a plumber, an electrician, a construction dude, a hunter (unfortunately), a daredevil on a motorbike, a great cook, and a big, sweet teddy bear. We wanted to celebrate with him but his wish was to relax for the only weekend he has had off since the beginning of March, so the party is delayed until things settle down. Every year near the end of fall with people frantic to get their winter tires installed before the limit date of December 1^st, and in early spring, when same tires can be removed, he works 7 days a week, with many hours per day, and it is physically demanding. He’s not finding it as easy as when he was a partying 20 something; I can sympathize!

I’ll probably be heading to the hospital later. The rash that I thought was getting better is spreading, and that’s worrisome. It has been over 10 days since I last took Tylenol, and I have only used Advil maybe 5 rimes? I have changed nothing in my diet or medication, nor my laundry or bathing soap, so it’s difficult to pinpoint what could be the cause. Shingles could be a possibility but I believe that starts around the waist area. The only other thing I can think of it the dye in the uniform I wear to work. Anyway, it will be better to know than to guess; it has spread over my back and bum and my legs and is beginning to itch. Not good!

I’ll come back into Blogit later and comment on the posts, most of them read quickly already, and will let you know what the doctor thinks. Until then, enjoy the beautiful weather and I wish you all a lovely day, with plenty of SMILES!

LUV FROM THE BUSSH IN QUEBEC.

Sorry, folks! Just after posting last Saturday, I stumbled over one of the dogs – my fault – I know that at least one of them is always lying on the floor right beside me, no matter where I am, but I didn’t pay attention. It worsened the sore back situation; intentions went out the window and I spent most of the day either in bed or hot baths…and lamenting, of course.

Working on Sunday was a bit of a struggle, but it got done. When I finish my shift later today, it will be 6 days in a row completed. Thankfully the weekend is off and the only thing scheduled is relaxation.

It’s bugging me that there is so much material from the job, so many characters, both employees and clients, who would be interesting to blog about. Unfortunately, but understandable, it is not allowed. In fact on being hired we are required to sign a document that we would refrain from writing about any of it on social media, blogging included. I’m contemplating a way around it, and thanks to a suggestion from my dear amigo, Kilroy, I believe it can be done. A little notebook full of ideas, jotted in my terrible handwriting, will soon, hopefully, if I can read my scribbles, be incorporated into stories I want to tell without implicating the place.

We’ve had rain and snow and sunny days all in this same week – April in Quebec – but the forecast for the weekend off is for bright and warmer temperatures. That can change in a heartbeat. I’m hoping it won’t though, and we’ll maybe get some time out on the gallery to enjoy the view of my mountain. Pesky bugs are not around yet, so one could even snooze out there on the swing, albeit in a fetal position seeing it’s a two-seater. It’s doable, I’ve done it, and it worked until one of the beasts decided to join me.

I’ve been up most off the night, so am heading back to bed before donning the uniform and off to work. Sending you SMILES, and wishing you all lots of outdoor time – nothing like it to bring make you SMILE too!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.

Karen got home on Thursday, hauling stuff in from her car to the house through pouring rain, so was thoroughly wet when she finally came upstairs carrying a 2 litre jar of olives (one of my favorite foods) and a large brick of aged cheddar cheese (another of my favorites). The beasts were ecstatic in their welcome; it took a good 10 minutes before their zoomies and whines of pleasure settled down enough that she could finally sit and relax after the long drive. The mouthy parrot added to the melee, not that she shows any affection whatsoever for Karen, but the dogs’ excitement get her going too. Whether friend or foe, there is no way anyone gets into this residence without the occupants knowing it, LOL!

Her being here makes things so much easier. The arrival is good timing too, because they have once again booked me for 5 days of the longer shifts. Karen hangs out with the animals when I’m away to work, and poor little Mommy doesn’t need to spend all that time crated. Mommy’s separation anxiety has her chewing on the walls when her human is absent so, as much as I hate it, she is confined if there is no two legged being here to keep her company.

The pictures of Tylenol-caused rashes sent to me by Sassyass convinced me to switch up on pain medication. Although not as bad, what I have is similar to the images. Seeing that I rarely used the pills before, I’m guessing the sudden high doses sent my body’s protection system into overdrive.  I’ve taken Advil once or twice since Tuesday, and applied the Cortisone as prescribed, and the rash is slowly disappearing. I’ll try to stick to the heated corn bag and Jacuzzi to get me through until cable is installed and I can be employed for remote computer work, much less physical labor.

Today I’m off, so a grocery run is planned, and I intend to deliver my friend’s frozen Christmas stew and visit with them for a little, then there is a NBA     game this afternoon and my Habs play hockey tonight. I have the early shift tomorrow, the start of the 5 days, and should prepare some meals for the week; it’s so much easier to just reheat supper when I drag my butt home.

Sunny but not too warm outside right now, so we’ll get a move on. Sending y’all SMILES, and wishes for a great day!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

I was still up when my daughter started her work day at 5 AM. We sent our good mornings by text, then chatted about the weekend get together, she sent me some photos of a renovation project she has been working on – our usual banter while most people are still sleeping or just rising. The wind was picking up, snow was falling, and my prediction that hydro would go off happened. After lighting a small fire (for the mouthy bird’s sake), the beasts and I headed back to bed. Some cleanup was left to do, but would be impossible without water. It set the day’s tone; I spent most of it snoozing off and on. I’m not sure when the electricity came back, but it was there when we finally stumbled out to the kitchen, me for coffee and them for outside duty. By this time it was past 3 PM, and I had energy again!

There is an extra stand-alone cupboard in my dining area where the large bowls, jars and containers, and fancy serving dishes used for guests are stored. I imagine most homes have a similar setup; you know what I mean. Things that are not used day to day. That cupboard beats the heck out of getting on hands and knees to maneuver them from the bottom of the regular kitchen cabinets, or having to climb on a collapsible ladder to lift them from the highest shelves, those shelves we only see for spring cleaning and family gatherings. Staring into it, I realized how much STUFF is crammed in there. If ever I decide to downsize, I’m in trouble!  Either that or I could have a yard sale and probably pay my first few months’ mortgage on the new place.

I managed to get everything back into it, then packaged and labeled left overs which I popped into the freezer, getting it all done just as the hockey game started.  The bird cage was rolled over beside me so that Pistache could preen and learn new words as I vocalized the play by play of our team losing. The beasts came to my chair randomly for their cuddling and neck scratches. Yes, there is a special leather, rocking type chair used for hockey viewing in this house; it sits square in front of the screen with a handy table for coffee, wine or whatever within arm’s reach. I believe, and most guests would too, that it is the most comfortable piece of furniture in the whole place.

I was up early making Christmas stew (requested by a friend for his birthday gift), Karen should be on her way home, and soon it is off to the job this afternoon. My back is already protesting, but someone suggested that the massive quantities of Tylenol I have been consuming could very well be the cause of this new rash. Have you ever heard the like? Anyway, I’ll see if I can make it through the shift without this time.

I need to get a move on, so will send you out SMILES, wishing you a sunny day with that!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

Wow – already 6 days since I last posted. Time just slipping by. I did work longer hours, and my Little Flea was here more often after my shifts, and there was supper to prepare for her daddy in the evening and the extra after meal cleanup. The list goes on.

My son’s surgery was to have been over already, the delay suspected to be Covid related because it has filled our hospitals AGAIN, but now they have contacted him to schedule another meeting with the surgeon on the 27^th of this month. It’s worrisome – did they find something else in the further testing done a day before seeing that same doctor 6 weeks ago? We don’t discuss it, but it is weighing on my mind. I have developed a rash on both my forearms. I was thinking it could be the job uniform, but it should have happened when I first wore it one would think. I’m wondering if it isn’t stress related; I can remember when my brother was so ill that I had something similar, but on my face that time. I was wearing a mask before it was the ‘thing’, just to hide the ugliness of it. The pharmacist have given me cortisone cream, and we’ll see what happens. The season is still long-sleeve cool fortunately.

The family did gather here on Easter Sunday, missing just one of the grandsons who was volunteering at a Minor hockey tournament. It was wonderful to see the little ones running around together, hugging my Rugrats who have grown taller than their Mémère, the teasing and the laughing and crazy antics of the gang. Baked potatoes and a huge salad prepared in advance, with the hot dogs and steaks on the BBQ being cooked to perfection by the boys, and a chocolate mill birthday cake for the Rugrats’ stepmom –a tasty meal enjoyed with great company – there is nothing as delightful!

A windstorm knocked out our electricity for part of the weekend, and there is freezing rain with a forecast for plenty of snow today, so a possibility of losing power again. I’m off until tomorrow, no place that I need to go, but Karen was to begin her trek home. Because she is driving, I imagine she will wait until the roads are better.

The beast and I will be heading back to bed now (it’s 4 AM); we’re due for a sleepy, lie around day and this kind of temperature suits the desire. Sending you all SMILES, and wishing you a belated Happy Easter!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.

I did write a post at 3:30 AM this morning. I left off posting it until I would get up at 8 with the beasts, wanting to read it over and edit it as I usually do. Problem is, I tried to edit it before finishing my first coffee because I was anxious to return to bed as soon as their breakfast and outdoor needs were done. I clicked the wrong button, well actually two wrong buttons, the second click saving the disappearing act over the original so….all gone!

Just as well. I was only whining about aches and pains anyway. One good thing I did mention was that the hockey games are on alternate evenings than they have been lately, so I won’t miss a one!  Talk about perfect scheduling, even if it is too many days’ work for my taste (or maybe capacity?).

Beautiful sunny day here, but apparently parts of the country are in for a huge storm, maybe the worst in decades, says TWN, showing up on Wednesday and Thursday. Ah well, it is April after all, so no surprise. Once again, they’re blaming Colorado, where this mega storm originates; again, as per TWN.

I was in too much pain to enjoy My Little Flea’s magic when she stayed with me after school yesterday, but that’s okay. She’ll be back twice again this week, and then on Sunday the family WILL all show up for Easter/birthday celebration, confirmed last night. There goes the ‘playing by ear’, haha!! Love it all.

Gotta rush to prepare the beasts and bird for my departure – working in an hour – so sending y’all SMILES, hopefully with some of our sunshine!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

I was tired before I even started my shift yesterday, so was in bed with the beasts by 9 last night. I woke up every hour for bathroom use – can’t figure out why because I didn’t drink much of anything before hitting the sack – but fortunately I went right back to sleep each time. At 3:30 AM the pain started, legs and back, so there was no use trying to snooze any longer. They have booked me 5 days, and the longer shifts, so it’s gonna be a looong week.

We’re expecting my son to be contacted by the hospital too. The wait time the doctor gave him is at its limit. Because my DIL is working nights, my Little Flea will be coming home with me every evening except Tuesday. That night I am closing so won’t be home before 10. Missing another hockey game, grumble grumble. What is fun (apart from the magical hours with my Little Flea) is that my son has supper with me when he comes to pick up his daughter, so we’ll be spending lots of time together.

It is Easter on Sunday, but there is no plans for a family meal yet. That doesn’t mean it won’t take place though. We tend to gather on specific holidays. It just happens. So far I hadn’t extended invitations because I only knew yesterday that I’m not scheduled. I think I’ll just play it by ear this year, seeing that so much is up in the air.

Now I need to feed the beasts and prepare them for my departure. I can hear the mouthy bird muttering coucou behind her cage cover – within 10 minutes she’ll be saying it louder, looking for attention. There’s shower and dress and commute to do, so I’ll wish you all a good day, send you SMILES, and get to it!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

We know what propaganda means, and most of us realize that we are being bombarded with it on a regular basis, and have been for years and years. Much of it is of a political nature but there also seems to constant ‘wise’ little sayings and proclamations telling us that happiness can only be found inside ourselves, that acceptance of your situation, whatever it be, is the way to go, that rich people are unhappier than those who have less, etc. etc.

Don’t get me wrong; there is an element of truth there. Happiness DOES start with our own mindset. However, in this world, we need money to survive, and if you try to tell me that a person who is hungry because there is no coin to buy food, or someone without shelter because there is no way to pay for it, or a person who suffers from illness because health care can’t be afforded…if you try to convince me that these people are happy, I’ll cry FOUL, even more so if that person has loved ones who are going through any kind of bad situation because of lack of funds.

So who comes up with those ‘cute’ little verses telling us to be satisfied with what we’ve got? Who is pushing the idea that the difference between the ‘HAVES’ and the ‘HAVE NOTS’ doesn’t matter, that you should accept doing without because, after all, you can’t buy happiness? What is the reasoning behind the attempt to convince ordinary people to continue working for below poverty level salaries, or to forego higher education because tuition fees are so high, to realize that there isn’t much one can do about the bigger picture because it is what it is? Just who benefits from all that BS?

I’m looking forward to reading any of your thoughts on this. Be warned, if anyone implies that my questioning sounds pro-socialist or pro-communist, it’s just going to make me SMILE.

Sending them out to you – SMILES actually do cost nothing!!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.

I’m spoiled. I admit it. And one of the things I enjoy spoiling myself with is my heated attached garage.  Although the stairs to go down to it are a killer, I have not had to clean snow off my car, sit my fanny down on a freezing seat when leaving, use an umbrella, or walk through yard muck in spring; the remote controls allow me to stay in my vehicle while opening or closing the electric doors. Because it’s a double garage, Karen, too, has space to bring her car inside. Also, because it’s a double garage, it is full of all sorts of extra ‘stuff’, some mine, some Karen’s, some stored for my kids and/or grandkids, and some I can’t remember to whom it belongs or how it got here. It is so FULL! That’s what caused the problem.

The controls are attached on the walls on the sides of each door. There is a huge table just near the entrance, loaded with all kinds of things, and it restricts easy access for someone coming in the pedestrian admittance, or bringing up armloads of firewood. More than once I have accidently hooked the control myself while passing, and I KNOW it is there. When the doors stopped working, those mechanisms were the first thing I checked. The wires allowing them to work were broken, probably pulled apart accidently by a passing body. We were going to be parking outside until it could be repaired.

I didn’t call the Door Doctor immediately; any extra in my budget was put aside for squirrel removal, which I deemed more important. That plan fell through, as explained in a former blog, so yesterday, looking out and seeing my truck COVERED with heavy snow, I contacted said Door Doctor. To my surprise, he showed up maybe 2 hours later because he was in the area and his office had given him the order. Kool! But…there was a couple of feet of snow in my driveway (the plow contract finished at the end of March) and he got stuck. Very stuck. Stuck enough that it took him a good half hour to get unstuck, and then he couldn’t make it all the way up my hill, so he parked at the bottom and walked the rest of the distance. Love that man!! Within another 45 minutes he had temporary repairs completed, ordered whatever he needed to come back and finish the job, and it was a push of the remote button for ‘Open Sesame’!

When he left, I did the minimum snow cleaning (windshield) and drove into the shelter; the rest would melt. In my defense, I was wearing winter boots but was still in my pj’s and housecoat, which is thick for interior wear but not suitable for Quebec outdoor winter weather. On exiting the truck, I glanced at the umbrella lying between the two seats, and stuck out my tongue – don’t want ya, don’t need ya anymore – and I was SMILING.

Sent out your share of them, warm and dry!                                                                                   

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

Woke up at 3 AM when my bedroom fan went off. Oops – no electricity! I groggily tried to remember if I had filled the beasts’ water bowl last night. I wasn’t sure, so got up to check. No hydro means no water out here. In the kitchen I looked out to see a good 5 inches of new snow on the gallery. Hmmm…guess my Dunany Demons were insulted that I asked them to lay off Goldiec’s area in Cleveland.  If it was supposed to be punishment for my butting in, they should know better; I’m the snow lover, remember? I was delighted – the exterior lights made it a winter wonderland out there. Beautiful!

I was a little worried though, because I knew my daughter had her winter tires changed yesterday. Too early for Quebec, I had told her but, like most kids, she laughed and said no problem. Her car is a Subaru and a 4-wheel drive, plus often here in the mountain bush we get snow while the village gets rain. She saw I was online this morning at 5 AM, so sent me a message that she had arrived safely in spite of the bad road conditions.

When I got to work yesterday, I learned they had tried to reach me to come in earlier than scheduled. Oops! I agreed to stay a little later, but it was pouring rain and there was a hockey game on, so figured I wouldn’t be needed too long. I was right, and finished only a half hour later than usual. I made it home in time for the 3^rd period (we beat New Jersey!) and to hear that our Toronto Raptors had won their basketball game too! Yes!! After the cheering, the bird and beast cuddling, there was a stint in the Jacuzzi then a crawl into bed. Humidity was at the 100% mark, and my bones were making me aware of it.

Hydro is still fluctuating, so I’ll post this before it stays off for good. I’ll come back in later today if it’s possible, i.e. if there is electricity! My grandson sent a photo of a tree down on one of our roads out here, so I imagine it is quite likely we have a ‘no power’ day. That’s okay – I was intending to go back for a snooze anyway.

Sending you all SMILES – sorry if the snowflakes with them are not desired by some!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.