FOOT X-RAYED, NOTHING BROKEN SO GOT ME SOME NEW SHOES:))

TONIGHT’S PHOTOS ARE FROM SUNDAY’S DRIVE…JUDGING BY THE HOUSE I THINK THIS MAY BE A MENNONITE LOGGING OPERATION

Had an appointment with my Nurse Practitioner this morning so told her about my foot injury 9 days ago. A sore point was detected on the side of my foot & she sent me for X-rays. Nothing broken & it is termed a 'soft tissue' injury. Nothing I can do but suck it up & do the best I can with a very sore foot for as long as it takes to heal.  Meanwhile I will just shuffle around like Quasimodo from the Hunch Back of Notre Dame.  Nothing like an illness or an injury to make one feel about 30 years older than they actually are!!  My NP did tell me the foot should be supported by good footwear though & I didn’t tell her I’m not in the habit of wearing shoes in the house.  I always walk around in sock feet & it seems that is the worst possible thing I could have been doing for my foot this past week & a half.

NOTHING TO FANCY SCHMANCY, JUST COMFORTABLE

Upon leaving the Medical Center I went straight away to Wuerth’s Shoe Store in downtown Goderich, un-cheapskated myself & bought me a spanking brand new pair of comfortable ‘NEW BALANCE’ walking/hiking/running shoes.  We’ll see if that helps my foot.  I’m just using the ‘walking’ part of that triple combo for starters right now:))

 

FOR SOME IT WAS A WORKING SUNDAY, BUT NOT ALL

'Hotshot' over in the Shout Box is correct about me repeating myself by copying & pasting some of the paragraphs in Sunday night's post. Had written half a dozen paragraphs on my laptop Saturday. Sat down at the desk top Sunday night & started out writing in my Live Writer program. About half way through I remembered the paragraphs on my laptop. Copy & pasted some of them to Live Writer & of course muddled myself up as I tried to integrate Saturday's thoughts with Sunday's thoughts. In doing so I repeated one of the paragraphs which I since have removed. Thanks to keen eyed readers for keeping me on the straight & narrow:))

Commenter Phil had some questions about the Sifto Salt Mine in Goderich.  This operation is the largest Salt Mine in the world with tunnels stretching for miles out underneath Lake Huron.  Kelly & were fortunate enough to have been on one of the last public tours of this mine about 18 years ago.  A small crowded work elevator took us down into the mine that day & when the doors opened we were looking at a world unlike anything we had ever seen before. Large trucks laden with salt chunks driving by, huge noisy ventilation fans whirring away & the sounds of a heavy crusher shaking & breaking those large salt boulders into smaller pieces. I remember we walked & also rode on some kind of shuttle through the cavernous tunnels & large ‘rooms’. Easy for one to become lost at any one of the roadway intersections. Everything looked the same & had been carved through a large salt vein which runs from Ontario all the way under the lake down into Michigan & Ohio somewhere. One would think the cavern walls would be white but I remember them as a dirty gray with the ceilings looking black. We were told that was diesel residue from trucks traveling these subterranean roads for years. The shuttle took us far out under the lake to the leading edge where the actual digging was taking place. Loaders were busy loading trucks as digging equipment kept chipping away at the solid wall of salt in front of them. Explosives are also used.  Salt is loaded into trucks which are driven all those many underground miles back to a main underground crusher machine. Huge blocks of salt are broken down before being transferred to the surface via conveyors where it is milled to various sizes.  Once on the surface it is bulk stored in huge huts while much of it is bagged as well. It is commonly called Rock Salt & the majority of it is used on icy winter roads. A steady stream of big 18 wheel trucks will soon begin arriving to haul that rock salt to points all over Ontario & maybe even Quebec. Those trucks will be rolling all winter. I should add here that I am relating this from a sometimes unreliable memory & 18 years ago was a very long time. In an attempt at trying to lend some accuracy to my paragraph I have included THIS LINK about the mine. 
 

 

SUNDAY WAS A NICE DAY FOR SOME CANOE FOLKS ON THE MAITLAND RIVER
TOM from up there in that Alaska place also had a comment question. Tom asks, {I do wonder how you afford all that gas by the liter for those wonderful jeep rides} Jeeps are not known for their terrific gas mileage so my answer Tom is that we drive very slowly. Must admit I do have some guilt feelings at times especially when Kelly is working & Pheebs & I are out driving around in the Jeep. We do justify some of those types of expenses at times by telling ourselves, we don't drink, we don't smoke or do drugs, we seldom eat out, we're not fancy dressers, & we don't entertain or spend much money on social stuff.  Sometimes we just gotta justify things eh:))

ANOTHER ONE OF THE DAY’S SCENIC PIT STOPS FOR PHEEBS & I

IVAN is still having himself a great working summer in southern Alberta fuelling helicopters when called upon & being choppered around from mountain top to mountain top helping out with things where & whenever needed. What a great environment to spend one's summers in & then what a great environment to spend one's winter in when he gets to freely wander his way around the entire American South West. What a life, what a life:))

First thing in the morning I am off to the Maitland Medical Center (the Vampire clinic) again. More blood tests this time concerning cholesterol levels. I will be soooooooo glad when at some point Kelly & I hopefully reach a point where we can put all this medical stuff behind us, load up the rig, & hit the road for the South West once again. Something new to blog about & I know readers will be sooooooo glad when that happens as well............10-4:))

 

Thanks to Commenters & Shout Boxers for understanding my Sunday post.  Sometimes I forget to thank the folks on my Facebook page for their comments & ‘likes’ as well so a special nod to readers over there for your long time interest & support.  I hope to write more on the subject of depression now that I have brought it out of the closet.  Let me just start by saying there are times at the end of some days where I hover my cursor over the 'Publish' button on my Live Writer program. My mind thinks, have I said something I'm going to regret. Is there something I wrote I should rethink, rewrite, or remove. Some posts roll off my keyboard light & easy. They have a good feeling to them & I have little to be concerned about. Other times, not so much. This is not by design, this is due in part to mood swings. Mood swings are related to Depression…………………………………. 

CAN YOU TELL PHEEBS & I WERE DRIVING ALONG SUNDAY EATING A VERY JUICY & DRIPPY HAMBURGER WITH THE WORKS:((

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A wife, being the romantic sort, sent her husband a text: “If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you! The husband, typically nonromantic, replied, “I am on the toilet. Please advise!”

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

DARE I DRAG THE ‘D’ WORD OUT OF THE CLOSET

ANOTHER FINE DAY FOR A RELAXING SUNDAY MORNING DRIVE IN RURAL ONTARIO…MANY FARM CO-OP GRAIN ELEVATORS DOT THE LAND
A patch of light flickered at the end of my tunnel this morning & it came in the form of a sad little doggy face sitting on my lap. I had spent all day Saturday in a doldrum state anchored to my recliner & was into my second repeat day when the little Pheeber face looked up at me with those big brown eyes saying, 'aw come on Dad, let's go for a ride in the Jeep & maybe you will feel better'. I knew she was right. Twenty minutes later we were Jeeped up & rolling.

 


ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE THESE KINDS OF CLOUDS IN THE SKY
Losing interest in things is often associated with Seniors & I believe that to be a natural process of the aging mind. However, there is another reason for loss of interest in things. Not so much to do with aging because it can strike anyone at anytime. It is a cunning & sly devil which can infiltrate one's mind without one ever knowing it's there. It can stay for a few days, a few weeks, months, or it can lay dormant in one's mind forever. Many who suffer from it will not admit it. Many will see it as a sign of weakness & put on the mask of happy while others who understand the illness that has befallen them will try to deal with it in whatever way they can.  It is a real condition generally kept under wraps, not readily discussed, & it is kept in a closet. I am talking about the ‘D’ word of course. Depression.

 

We had us another beautiful morning going as we again picked up one of our routine routes through Clinton's Tim Horton drive-thru followed by a drive to the Hullett Marsh. Wanted to get Pheebs out for a run even though I couldn't walk far. We ended up making three separate stops at various locations around the Marsh.  I always enjoy watching Pheebs run around all over having a good time. It was just a great morning to be outside & I was grateful to Pheebs for re-mobilizing me & getting my can out of the house.

THE HULLETT MARSH STRETCHES FOR AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE

A WELL INTENTIONED SIGN BUT BUDGET CUT BACKS AT THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAVE LET THE ONCE ACCESSIBLE MARSH VIEW POINT INACCESSIBLE
 
SURE LOVE OUR LITTLE JEEP, TAKES US JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE WE WANNA GO:))


PHEEBS LOVES CHECKING OUT ALL THE GREAT SMELLS
Depression for many is a taboo subject. Although rarely talked about, few have escaped it's wrath sometime in their lives. Some are aware of depression & make no attempt to hide it while others choose to hide behind a happy mask. For some, everyday is awesomely wondrous & any talk of depression is a talk about weakness. Not something people like to discuss & certainly not something many will readily admit to having. If they even know they have it at all.

FOUND YOU ANOTHER COMBINE ALASKA TOM
 
INTERESTING WHEEL TREAD DESIGN ON THE COMBINES FRONT END
Our Sunday morning travels took us further afield again this morning & we managed to find a few new back roads traveling through a couple little places I may or may not have been before. An old building standing at a country crossroad called Moncrieff reminded me of the southwest & another place by the name of Ethel seemed to ring a distant bell in my memory. Didn't recognize anything but felt I had once been through there a long time ago.  Sunday morning drives began a long time ago for me.  Back in the early 70’s when I lived in Vernon British Columbia I found Sunday morning drives the only way to put my head back together after heavy week-end party binges. 

AT A COUNTRY CROSSROAD SITS THIS BUILDING WHICH SURE REMINDED ME OF THE SOUTH-WEST

AT THE SAME CROSSROAD CALLED ‘MONCRIEFF ARE A FEW OTHER BUILDINGS & THIS CREATIVELY DONE LAWN PIECE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION

Depression is just as real as any of the other debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes, & alzheimers, to name a few. But there is a difference. Depression’s closet status keeps it out of the light it so sorely needs. It is an illness most try to hide. Depression has been a part of my life on & off for just about as long as I can remember. It has come & gone over the years but I am finding it a persistent & unrelenting foe now at this later stage of life. It is as if it senses my aging vulnerabilities & circles ever closer. Knowing depression as well as I do I am aware of it's subtle advances. Depression is not merely a temporary sadness or a short lived blue Monday. It is an illness that settles in & can take control of one’s life. Symptoms may include fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, impatience, anxiety, poor sleeping habits, loss of interest in things, appetite swings, feelings of worthlessness, loss of confidence, anger, despair & emptiness. Unless one has led an awesomely wondrous life I think most folks have probably dealt with depression at one time or another.  Well, the one’s who are honest enough to admit it that is.  I'm sure there are readers out here who have picked up on my depressive swings a long time ago. The clues are often in my posts & that is what gives my daily topics an unintentional roller coaster affect. They have always been there, right from day one.

 

NICE ‘59’ FORD GALAXIE FOR SALE SOUTH OF AUBURN ONTARIO
My blog over the years has always been a form of therapy for me. It has been my way at the end of each day to sit down & talk about my thoughts & feelings. Where else could I do that uninterrupted except right here at my keyboard. I try to blend those thoughts & feelings in with daily activities, photos, past adventures & future ideas. On good days I am able to weave in some humor, some creativity & occasionally reach out & help a few folks. On the not so good days humor & creativity are bumped aside by doubts & fears & maybe just a little too much honesty on my part at times. But it is the way it is here & we all write our posts in different ways for different reasons…………………………………………….

And a warm welcome from the Bayfield Bunch to Linda & John Eiden from TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD, AND I, TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED.  Thanks for joining our Blog Follower list folks:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  One day a rather inebriated ice fisherman drilled a hole in the ice and peered into the hole and a loud voice said, "There are no fish down there.  He walked several yards away and drilled another hole and peered into the hole and again the voice said, "There's no fish down there." He then walked about 50 yards away and drilled another hole and again the voice said, "There's no fish down there." He looked up into the sky and asked, "God, is that you?" "No, you idiot," the voice said, "it's the rink manager."
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

RESTING MY FOOT WHILE WATCHING RURAL SCENERY ROLL BY:))

Decided it might be best to rest my foot so opted out of our morning walk. In hindsight I don't think that was too smart of me to walk the trail Thursday:((  Kelly, feeling better this morning headed off with Pheebs for a 20 minute walk. Swelling continues to go down & she is feeling much better.

 
I sometimes wonder if we would do as many walks if we didn't have the Pheebers. Probably not. Often thought that when we had Max, Checkers, & the Motormouse too. Even if we didn't feel like walking sometimes the guys always got us going. Every day they gave us a purpose. It is just one of the many great reasons for having a dog. A best Pal to walk & do things with. Pheebe puts a smile on my grouchy face every single day:))

 
My restlessness this summer has been at an all time high so as soon as Kelly headed off to the Maitland Medical Clinic this morning Pheebs & I were out the door & into the Jeep. Figured if I had to sit & rest my foot I would much rather sit in the Jeep with rural scenery going by. Had another great sunny morning going for us & had it not been for my sore foot we would have headed off for a hike in the Hullett Marsh.

GODERICH’S BEACH, A WOODEN WALKWAY & ROAD STRETCHES FROM HERE TO THAT FAR POINT OF LAND IN THE DISTANCE & AT THIS END THEY KEEP THE BEACH GROOMED
Made our way to Goderich where I stopped into the TSC store to have a look at their Kodiak hiking boots. I was in one of my cheapskate modes again so after looking at the $129.00 price tag I was quick to exit myself out of the store. Next stop was the Solo gas bar across the road where Pheebs knows she always get's a treat from the gas attendant. Didn't spoil her appetite for McDonald's though. I confused the young girl taking money when I paid for our stuff with $2 bills. They have been out of circulation for quite awhile now here in this Canada place. Slipped down around the harbor, grabbed a few quick photos & off out into the countryside we went. Ahhhhhhhhhhh:))

GRAIN ELEVATORS ON LEFT, SALT MINE COMPLEX CENTER, & A LAKE FREIGHTER THAT HAS BEEN DOCKED THERE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW
 
LAKE FREIGHTER ‘ROBERT S PIERSON’ DOCKED ALONGSIDE GODERICH’S SIFTO SALT MINE READYING FOR A LOAD & EASY TO SEE HOW STRONG WINDS OFF THE LAKE HAVE SHAPED THIS LEANING TREE OVER THE YEARS

THE MAITLAND RIVER EMPTIES INTO LAKE HURON JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE SALT MINE
Our destinationless travels kept us entertained for most of the morning. Pheebs got to chase some frogs around at a pond & I got to enjoy a few hours of freely wandering about soaking up country scenery. Sure wished we had some nice mountain trails in our area though. I miss our South-West mountains & think how now nice it would have been to hike the places in Colorado where Mark from the BOX CANYON BLOG captures his eye popping photos. Just not sure if Kelly or I would be up to those long strenuous hikes though. We would both have to be in a lot better shape than we are right now. My hip/leg problem has been on it's best behavior for about a month & half now but I know if I pushed it I could be in trouble again. It still tweaks me occasionally enough to let me know not to get too rambunctious with myself.   Damn, how I hate this aging crap!!

IT’S HARVEST TIME & COUNTRY ROADS HAVE A LOT OF LARGE FARM MACHINERY ON THEM…INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SQUEEZE BY I ALWAYS JUST DRIVE THE JEEP DOWN IN THE DITCH & LET THE BIG GUYS GO BY…APPRECIATED BY THE FARMERS & FUN FOR PHEEBS & I TO DRIVE IN THE DITCH:))
Seem to recall a question from Gay & Joe over at GOOD-TIMES-ROLLIN about how I got that frog/toad photo in Thursday's post. Short simple answer to that question is.....a 300mm lens. Same lens as today's frog pics. Someone else asked where have all our front yard bird's gone? Wished I knew but I think It has something to do with the time of year again. Seems to me there were a couple other questions from folks rattling around in my Noggin but I have been unable to retrieve those memory cells at this point.

HERE’S A FARM LADY WORKING THE FIELDS TODAY
 
FARM FOLKS EVEN MOW DITCHES ALONG COUNTRY ROADS IN MANY PLACES
Hooked up a magnetic Sirius Satellite Radio antenna the other day in the Winnie Wagon. Have the same type of antenna on the Jeep so it's easy to just move the satellite radio itself from vehicle to vehicle. After installing the antenna I hooked up the radio & ran through some channels to check reception. In doing so I came across another radio channel I like. Been listening to channel 068 'The Spa' for a few years now but always wished they would play a little less long hair music & more funky stuff. Now I have 'Chill' on channel 053 & yep, it's funkier.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( In the men's room at work, the boss placed a sign directly above the sink.  It had a single word on it: "Think!" The next day, when he went to the men's room, he looked at the sign, and right below it, immediately above the soap dispenser, someone had carefully lettered another sign which read, "Thoap!"
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.