Thursday, December 19, 2024

BY THE TIME I GOT HOME TODAY I HAD ANOTHER WALRUS SIZED HEADACHE

BAYFIELD'S SOUTH PIER......'OKAY MILDRED I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO PUT A FROZEN WORM ON THE HOOK'
These are at times, busy days.  And that is good.  To have the cobwebs whisked away from a few areas of my mind giving me access to long closed doors is encouraging.   Having to write down, remember, and organize things has awoken and stimulated old thought processes I have not had to use for a long time.  It's as if parts of my mind are awakening from a long drowsy slumber.  I am now once again the 'Big Cheese' who has to make all the decisions.  Needless to say, I am overwhelmed with it all.............

SPOTTED THIS LITTLE FELLA ON MY TRAVELS TODAY
Again, leaving Pheebs at home, I headed off to Goderich for a 9:30 appointment at the Scotia Bank.  It went better than expected and I at least now have a comfortable handle on our online banking.  Of course, that's not before making a major mistake last week.  I was in Walmart and my debit card wouldn't work.  What!! I paid for the groceries with an old credit card in my wallet that I hadn't used since the Wright Brothers last flew at Kitty Hawk.  When I got home and figured out how to get online with our Scotia account I saw there was .19 cents in the account I had tried to use at Walmart.  I had previously written a $$$$$$ cheque last week to the funeral home and I guess that kinda upset our banking applecart.  Anyway, the cheque went through okay and saved me from any embarrassment.  Things are straightened out now and I've finally got my head above water.  Monday morning I have an appointment at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Goderich and I have no idea what surprises await me there.  The lady at Scotia Bank this morning asked me for my driver's license to write some numbers down and then informed me the driver's license was invalid because it had expired.  What!!!! I just renewed it this past October.  So, from the bank, I drive a few blocks to the MTO 'Ministry of Transportation' with my eyes glued to the rearview mirror expecting a fleet of flashing red light police cars coming after me.  Talk gets around fast in a small town ya know.  The lady at the MTO obviously knew she was dealing with a Senior when she checked the records and found out a new driver's license had been sent to me last October.  In fact, I even remember getting it so here's what I figured happened.  Knowing Al as well as I do, he probably took the new license out of the envelope and laid it on the kitchen countertop.  He then likely took the old license out of his wallet and placed that on the counter as well.  Then, he probably ran around the kitchen table three times, came back to the counter, picked up his old driver's license, put it back in his wallet then threw the new one in the garbage.  Hey, it's the only logical way it could have happened.  I now have a temporary driver's license until my 'new again' $35 driver's license arrives in the mail.  Oh yes, and my day wasn't over yet.  From the MTO I went to the McCallum funeral home with our marriage certificate in hand with the hopes of understanding some more confusing paperwork.  Kelly's U.S. citizenship kinda complicates things.  The nice man at the funeral home was able to complete some more stuff thanks to the marriage certificate but one of the big sticks in the mud is that I have not been able to find my Social Insurance Card with my number on it.  The nice man said all I have to do is check back on our income tax forms and the number will be there.  What the heck are income taxes!!  From the funeral home, I headed home and rested my cranium for a couple hours.  

 A LIGHTLY COVERED SNOWY ROAD ON THE WAY TO GODERICH THIS MORNING
 KICKING UP A SLIGHT WHALLUP OF SNOW BEHIND ME ON THE WAY HOME
At 1:15 p.m. with Kelly's iPhone15 securely in my pocket, I headed for the Bayfield Library.  A nice lady met me there and tried her very best to show me some of the basics of the phone like how to turn it on and off and how to access the home screen, etc.  She had her work cut out for her.  I listened intently for the next half hour or so thinking I was understanding what she was showing me.  You would think I would know better, but no......Well, that is until I got home and right away couldn't even remember how to get to that home screen where all the settings were.  I swiped, I swooped, I tapped, and I whooped.  And, I even swore a bit too.  But, I'll be darned if I can find that screen with all the icons again which leaves me effectively still dead in the water.  I am such a bumble-head.  Also while at the Library the nice lady set me up to be a proud card-carrying member of the Bayfield Library just like Kelly was.  She showed me around the Library, then set my iPhone up for audiobooks which is something I am interested in.  However, what chance have I got of accessing the audiobook App if I can't even find the basic home screen.  By the time I got home, I had another walrus-sized headache and felt like I had been run over by a Huron Country road grader.  It had been a long day for this overwhelmed and overworked mind of mine.  And then there came a knock to the door.  Oh no I thought, my brain cannot handle any more tough stuff.  But this wasn't tough stuff, it was neighbor lady Janie (Frank&Janie) with a BIG plate of something called ?? Marseilles I think.  Chicken, rice. and mushrooms....and lots of it.  It sure smelled good and it sure tasted good a half hour later when I heated it up and got my face into it.  Definitely a nice way to do chicken.  There was a day I could have eaten the whole dinner in one sitting but this ?? Marseilles is going to take me two days at least.  Thanks guys:))
 COLD GRAY SKIES OVER LAKE HURON THIS AFTERNOON

THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK WITH ALL MY DAILY REMINDERS HAS BEEN A BUSY PLACE
AND YES, THIS WAS EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS
Al's Music Box:(( This Magic Moment is a song composed by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman.  It was first recorded by The Drifters, with Ben E. King singing lead.  It was recorded first at Bell Sound Studios in New York City.  The Drifter's version spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 16 on April 2, 1960.

 NOW REMEMBER, NEXT TIME YOU GOTTA PUT THE FROZEN WORM ON THE HOOK
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A wealthy merchant of 84 married a 25-year-old fashion model. They had a wonderful honeymoon in Aruba but, unfortunately, the old boy suffered a coronary and was hospitalized.  When his young wife came to see him, the old man said, "Sweetheart, your future has been taken care of regardless of what happens to me. You will have an income of $250,000 a year, my home in Palm Springs, my ranch in Texas, my Mercedes. You'll never need to worry about money."  "Oh, sweetheart, please don't talk that way," his young wife exclaimed. "You've been so good to me already. If you go, I'll be devastated. Oh, there must be something I can do to help you. Please, tell me what I can do?"  "Well," the old man gasped, "you can quit pinching the inlet tube to my oxygen supply for starters."

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- Group swimmers at the Olympics aren't given much choice.  For them, it's synchro swim.

- What did the doctor say to the witch in hospital?  With any luck you'll soon be well enough to get up for a spell!

- Why did the old witch keep her clothes in the fridge?  She liked to have something cool to slip into in the evenings!

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A fair haired young lady was sitting on the train reading the newspaper. The headline said, "12 Brazillian Soldiers Killed."  She shook her head at the sad news, then she turned to the stranger sitting next to her and asked, "How many is a Brazillian?"

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Al's Doggy World


Meanings::


Kelly's Corner

 SOMEWHERE ON CANADA'S PRINCE EDWARD iSLAND
WITH DAUGHTERS REBECCA AND SABRA
Al's Art Gallery














Wednesday, December 18, 2024

I'M STILL NOT IN PEOPLE MODE AND KELLY'S FAMILY WRITES A NICE OBITUARY

 OH GEEZZZ WHERE HAVE I GONE AND FALLEN ASLEEP AT THIS TIME
I managed to wrangle a kind of last-minute appointment at the Subaru dealership in Stratford Ontario for an oil change and 140,000 km inspection this morning.  I had thought of getting in touch with a couple Stratford folks to say hello, but I'm still not feeling in much of a 'people mode' yet.  I just wanted to sit quietly in the Subaru waiting room with my Kindle, mini iPad, and headphones.  As I've said before, in times of emotional stress, I prefer to be alone with my thoughts.  I can see those Stratford folks another time when I'm feeling more on top of things.

HAD MY FINGERS CROSSED HEADING TO STRATFORD THAT THIS LIGHT SNOW WOULDN'T TURN INTO ANYTHING WORSE.....IT DIDN'T
I rolled out of our driveway shortly after eight, picked up a small decaf coffee to go at Clinton's Tim Hortons then to took some traffic-free uncongested secondary roads all the way to Stratford.  Luckily the thin snow in the air didn't fatten itself up into anything else.  I was early for my 9:30 appointment and they took me right in.  The oil change and 140,000 km 'B' Service is a more in-depth inspection and servicing of the car.  It sure tore the heck out of a six hundred dollar bill but this is a nice smooth smooth-running trouble-free car and I don't mind spending an extra few dollars to keep it that way.  They had me out of there in an hour and I made fast tracks for home with two short stops in Clinton for gas and to pick up some copies of our wills for the banks.  

THAT'S SUBIE OVER THERE BEING ATTENDED TO
 THIS WAS MY QUIETLY CONTENTED SPOT FOR AN HOUR THIS MORNING
 HEY, HE'S NOT ASLEEP AFTER ALL
It was a happy little doggy waiting for me when I came through the door shortly before noon.  Didn't take me long to whoop myself up a big bowl of Jerry Rader's homemade turkey noodle soup with two pieces of Weight Watchers toast.  For supper tonight....you guessed it.  A Jerry Rader's chicken pot pie:))

 COMING HOME THE SUN WAS MAKING A GALLANT EFFORT TO PUNCH THROUGH THE HEAVY CLOUD COVER
It took a lot of lookin' today but I found it at last.  Our 'Marriage Certificate' that is.  I'll call the McCallum Funeral Home and make another appointment to have them help me with the rest of the forms now that I have the marriage certificate.......Kelly's daughter Sabra sent me a copy of Kelly's Obituary they put in the Cambridge Times newspaper today. It reads.....Kelly/Gail [Knapp/Florence], a vibrant and adventurous spirit who left an indelible and lasting mark on anyone who knew her, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at Huron Hospice, surrounded by members of her loving family and her devoted husband, Al Bossence.

Born in Spencerport, New York, on March 30, 1948, she was a remarkable woman who embraced life with unparalleled passion and grace. A loving mother of five children, Gail was known for her creative spirit, colorful sense of style, and boundless kindness.

Together with Al, she spent winters exploring the Southwest and summers in the charming town of Bayfield, Ontario. Their zest for life and travels with their beloved dogs captivated and inspired many in the blogging community, where they are affectionately known as the "Bayfield Bunch."
Though she battled liver disease with remarkable courage, her spirit remained undiminished - a beacon of strength and resilience to all who knew her.
The family suggests //Gail wished that// in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Bayfield Library, allowing her love of reading to continue inspiring others.
She is survived by her husband Al, siblings Peter,Becky,Kathy, her five children Jason, Sabra, Sarah, Rebecca, and Ben, and eight grandchildren, leaving behind a profound legacy of love, adventure, and compassion

Published online December 18, 2024 in the Cambridge Times......I thought the family did a  great job with this Obituary:))

THE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT ON THE LEFT IS FROM KELLY'S MOMS FUNERAL AND THE BLACK BOX CONTAINS KELLY'S ASHES
Al's Music Box:)) Groovin' is a song written by the American singer-songwriters Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, initially recorded by their group the Young Rascals in 1967. Cavaliere was inspired to compose the song by his girlfriend Adrienne Buccheri, whom he only got to meet on Sundays amidst heavy touring and recording. Musically, the song differs from most of the band's previous output. Lyrically, "Groovin'" tells the tale of a narrator spending time with his partner on a Sunday afternoon. The song was arranged and recorded at the Talentmasters Studios, New York City in March of 1967.  Initially, Atlantic Records were skeptical of releasing "Groovin'" as a single, given that it deviated from their previous output. After hearing it, the disc jockey Murry the K convinced Jerry Wexler to release it. "Groovin'" was released as a single on April 10, 1967 backed by the group "Sueño". It became a commercial hit, reaching number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1967. It peaked at number eight in the UK as the Young Rascals' only hit there.  Upon initial release, "Groovin'" received widespread critical acclaim by critics, who noted the new direction the Young Rascals took with the single. Owing to the success, it became the title track of the band's third studio album. Retrospective appraisal of the single have often noted the experimental nature of the single. The Young Rascals original version is on the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list and has been awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

 A DRIVE BY PHOTO GOING THROUGH CLINTON THIS MORNING
GROANER'S CORNER:(( My doctor was giving me a hard time about my health. To get back on his good side I bought a puppy and named him 'Five Miles'.  That way, when I went to see my doctor I could tell him, "I walk five miles every morning!"  

Here's a few things about asteroids you may not have known::

- Why did the astronaut break up with her boyfriend?  Because she said he needed space!


- What's the difference between a spacecraft and an asteroid?  A spacecraft is really light, and an asteroid is a little meteor.


Why did the female asteroid deny her boyfriend's marriage proposal?  Because she was scared of comet-ment

- They say the asteroid killed all the dinosaurs.  You could say it killed many birds with one stone.

An Asteroid Measuring 1,600 Meters Is Headed Straight Towards Earth.  That's quite the milestone! 

Why was Jupiter banned from competing in the planetary boxing match?  He took asteroids.

One day in Contract Law class, Professor Jepson asked one of his better students, "Now if you were to give someone an orange, how would you go about it?"
The student replied, "Here's an orange."
The professor was livid. "No! No! Think like a lawyer!" The student then recited, "Okay, I'd tell him, 'I hereby give and convey to you all and singular, my estate and interests, rights, claim, title, calim and advantages of and in, said orange, together with all its rind, juice, pulp, and seeds, and all rights and advantages with full power to bite, cut, freeze and otherwise eat, the same, or give the same away with and without the pulp, juice, rind and seeds, anything herein before or hereinafter or in any deed, or deeds, instruments of whatever nature or kind whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding..."
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Al's Doggy World


Meanings::

Kelly's Corner
KELLY AND HER DAUGHTER SARAH

 WE LOVED OUR MORNING DESERT WALKS
 ON THE ROAD AGAIN IN OUR BIG 'TRIPLE E' MOTORHOME
Al's Art Gallery