A PRODUCTIVE DAY WITH A FEW THOUGHTS ON DEPRESSION

DESPITE A LOT OF AUTUMN LEAVES BEING DOWN I DID MANAGE TO SCRAPE TOGETHER A FEW SHOTS FOR TONIGHT’S BLOG THIS MORNING   NIKON D40 AT 300mm LEAVES ARE BACKLIT AND THE SHADOWED AREA OF A DARK FOREST ABOUT 200 YARDS IN THE BACKGROUND GIVE THE PHOTO IT’S NATURAL BLACK BACKGROUND
Had a few errands to run in Goderich this morning so figured I would include those few stops with a back road Autumn leaves photo tour along the way.  Nice sunny morning so figured I could find myself some nice solid blocks of color along the bush lines.  But, it was not to be.  High gusting winds this past Saturday had stripped many trees of their beautiful Fall colors.   Still some nice photo ops in some areas though but the cold gray days of November are fast approaching.  Soon our once majestic palette of colors will be no more.
 
Spent a fair part of my day on the end of a lawn rake and wheelbarrow.  It is much easier to rake up pine needles now rather than Spring after they have been compacted into the ground by winter's snow.  Also cut down all our towering 12 foot high bamboo grass.  Normally do that in the Spring but figured it might be less messy if I take care of all that long grass now.   Also caught a few more front yard frog pond frogs and carefully transported them to the Park’s bigger pond across the road where they can now burrow in the mud bottom and survive the winter.  When the day comes we have to give up going south I am going to do the same:))
 
OUR WOODEN STORAGE SHED IS SLOWLY FILLING UP WITH SUMMER’S OUTSIDE ORNAMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
I have suspected for quite some time now I may have some kind of wheat allergy.  Kelly got on the computer last week and checked out the symptoms and I have every one of them on the checklist.  With that knowledge in hand Kelly headed off to the health food store and returned with a car load of wheat free products.  So, changes are underway once again here on the old food front. 

Some of the wheat free products are kind of yummy and some taste totally awful.  Some just taste like cardboard but I am finding my way through the tasting process and must say I am already feeling better.  But, here's the downside for the furry guys and the immediate ramifications of Dad's new 'no wheat' diet.  No more sharing Burritos at McDonalds.  In fact, if I have to stick to this 'no wheat' thing, it means no more Subs and no McDonalds Egg McMuffins or Burgs.   And, donuts are out as are probably Pizzas.  I see all this as a good thing in the long run but this morning as I drove by a McDonald's, an A&W, a Harvey’s, a Tim Horton’s and 2 Subways, I knew this is not going to be an easy row for me to hoe.

RETIRED ROD had a few questions regarding the town of Goderich and how they are doing two months after a tornado struck their in August.  The Provincial Government of Ontario is helping residents in several ways, one of which is to match all donations being received.  An all day musical benefit concert was held in the damaged towns center a week ago as well.  Some heritage buildings were damaged beyond repair and have been torn down but the town is rebuilding and people are coping, adjusting and getting on with their lives.  I'm sure the town will emerge strong in the end looking and living even better than before.
As for the damages to the town's large waterfront salt mine, it is going to be a long haul.  The mine is back in production but the repairs and changes there are predicted to take up to a couple years. DEER PARK LODGE where Kelly works has actually benefitted from the mine damages because many of the engineers and personnel brought in to rebuild the mines facilities have found lodging for the winter at Deer Park.  Many of the engineering families are also finding accommodation in the village of Bayfield with some folks renting houses long term until the all the work at the mine is finished.  Goderich is about a 15 to 20 minute drive north of Bayfield.

<<< NIKON D40 AT 300mm…..NARROW DEPTH OF FIELD IS FOCUSED ON THE LEAVES AND HAVE BLURRED THE SPARKLING WATERS OF A POND ABOUT 50 YARDS IN THE BACKGROUND…LEAVES ARE BACKLIT BY A LATE MORNING SUN
And, a personal thank you to readers and friends for your comments and concerns regarding my 4 day blogging absence.  A special thanks for the emails from folks who understand the ways of depression and shared their own personal experiences with me.  The subject of depression is one of those closet topics which is too often hastily swept under the nearest carpet.  In my opinion, no one is immune from depression in one form or another.  It’s human nature, and the many faces of depression are gathered together in varying degrees by each and every one of us.  The key is in recognizing it and knowing how to deal with it.  Talking about depression is a definite step forward for anyone, and catching the early symptoms of an oncoming depression can save one a lot of ‘down time’.    
GROANER’S CORNER:((  Did you know it gets so hot in Arizona that Roadrunners have to use pot holders to pull Lizards out of the ground & ranchers have to feed their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.  Yep, it’s true alright:))
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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL

FOUR DAYS WRESTLING WITH AN OLD FOE

I have sat here at my keyboard for awhile tonight gathering my thoughts on what, if anything, to say about the last 4 days.  Should I talk about the depression that had a hold of me or should I just cover that up with ‘happy smiling thoughts’.  Some folks choose to talk about that ‘half empty glass’ and some do not.   I have a habit of writing about that side of things here in the blog from time to time because the empty half of the glass is just as real as the full half.  And, every bit as important.   Maybe….even more so.

It has been 4 days since I last posted, turned off the computer and never turned it on again until tonight.  No blogging, no blog reading, no checking the weather report or latest news items, no email reading, no Google or Map searches, no nothing.  I had no idea I would be completely away from the computer this long when I shut it down.  In fact, it has been the longest time away from the computer since we bought our very first Pentium 2 back in 1997.  I didn't plan on a 4 day absence, it just happened. 

Many years ago in the 'not so good old days' I had problems with depression but over the last 32 years or so I have managed to get a controlling handle on that for the most part.  Aside from a day here and there it has been rare for my old Nemesis to wrestle me to the ground for more than a few hours or a day at a time.   However, over the past 6 months I'm afraid this wrestling match has gone back and forth between us for too long and my old foe did manage to get me down for a good pummelling these past 4 days.  Relieved to say I awoke this morning with a clearer mind, regained control of the situation and battled my way back up onto my feet again.

I think my age coupled with my ever present restless personality and my lack of purpose and challenge at this stage of life have conspired in a type of overall ongoing frustration that I have been having difficulty dealing with.  Couple that with some of life’s usual weighty stuff and the canoe gets a little low in the water sometimes.  And yes, I have to admit this last change and delay in our travel plans has added some challenges to that frustration as well.  I still have no idea when we will get on the road.  For a 'hitch itch' fellow like myself, sitting on the starting line with engine running, map in hand, one foot on the gas and two eyes on the horizon it's been a real stretch to keep a lid on my patience.  

Also wanted to add that despite what my ‘anonymous commenter’ may come back with this time I did not drop out of these past four days to purposely attract attention to my blog, gain sympathy for myself or fish for a whole slew of additional comments.   I do thank the folks though who expressed concern over my short absence.
 

ALWAYS SO NICE ALONG OUR MORNING TRAIL 
Ok, so what has been happening the past 4 days.  Well, basically not much.  I watched a lot of television and practically wore the remote out flicking through the channels trying to find some interesting programming.  No easy task I can assure you.  Watched way too much depressing news and found it difficult to find any kind of intelligent humour.  If it wasn't for biographies, documentaries, and the history channel there would be absolutely no reason for me having a television.  And why sit in my recliner day after day watching television?  It just seemed that was all my mind was capable of doing for those few days.

OUR ROAD (LEFT) AND DRIVEWAY (RIGHT) ARE NOW HEAVILY COVERED IN PINE NEEDLES AFTER SATURDAY’S BIG WINDS
It was one year ago today we here in Blog Land lost two of our own.  Margie and Bruce Mallin, fellow RV’ers and bloggers tragically lost their lives while out for a quiet morning walk.  This is a link to my post when I found out the news a year ago on October 17th…..WE HAVE JUST TRAGICALLY LOST TWO OF OUR RV'ING BLOGGER FRIENDS.   This is a LINK to the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and the sentencing of the man responsible for their deaths.

A SLIPPERY PATH OF WET LEAVES IN THE FOREST

A fellow RV'er, blog reader and occasional Blogger himself, Alex (RUNNING LINER) from Guelph Ontario had emailed me awhile back saying he would like to get together for a coffee sometime.  Friday morning I met Alex at a Tim Horton's coffee shop in downtown Goderich.   Of course always a lot to talk about and Alex brought his older mint condition Leisure Travel Van for me to have a look at.  Alex is another one of those fellows who can do anything he turns his hand to and of course has made many great renovations and improvements to his rig.  I managed to install a towel rack in ours once.  We spent a couple of hours talking about things and then Alex surprised me with a gift. 

Being involved with the aircraft industry for many years he has traveled extensively and been a part of the buying and selling side of things.  Helicopters being one of them.  In that sales oriented hi tech business there are often perks that go back and forth with sales and one of those perks Alex had at his disposal were YUKON DIGITAL NIGHT VISION Ranger devices.  Although looking like binoculars they actually have an electronic screen inside and are used for seeing in the darkness of night.  You sometimes see versions of this type of technology on soldiers helmets.  How nice of Alex to give me a pair of these and they should be great for spotting ‘activities’ in the darkened desert nights this winter:))

 

While I had dropped out of Blog Land for a few days I noticed upon returning tonight we have two new Bayfield Bunch blog followers.  A big welcome to RV Travelers as well as Gene, Judy and Peanuts the cat from BLUE ROADS TO HIKING TRAILS.  Thanks for your interest folks and appreciate you taking the time to stop by.  Also just noticed a third follower but I’m afraid I do not understand any of the language on the blog so I do not know what the website is about.  Welcome WS.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Three lawyers and three engineers are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, each of the three lawyers buys a ticket while the three engineers buy only one ticket.
"How can the three of you travel on one ticket?" asks a lawyer.
"Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer.
Aboard the train the lawyers take their respective seats while all three engineers cram into the restroom and squeeze the door closed behind them.
When the conductor comes around collecting tickets, he knocks on the restroom door and says, "Ticket, please." The door opens a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on.
The lawyers are impressed with this clever idea. One the way home from the conference, they decide to copy the engineers' technique. At the station, they buy a single ticket for their return trip. To their astonishment, the engineers don't buy a ticket at all!
"How in the hell are you going to pull this off?" asks a lawyer.
"Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer.
They board the train. The three lawyers cram into one restroom and the three engineers cram into the other restroom.
Shortly after the train departs, one of the engineers leaves his restroom and knocks on the other restroom door. "Ticket, please!"

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

NOT MUCH TO SAY

With our weather beginning it's mid October decline I figured it was time to put the Motorcycle away.  A last ride for the year into Bayfield and topped up the gas tank.  Manoeuvred the bike into it's winter storage spot in our carport, gas treatment, battery out, cover on and that’s it until next Spring.

Jim, over at JIMBO'S JOURNEY has some great photos of the Albuquerque hot air Balloon Festival.  In fact, one balloon landed on his rig!!  

Just not up to writing a post tonight........we'll see how tomorrow goes.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The positive side of getting older..... 

-You’ll never have to endure those harrowing visits to the dentist again.

-You’ll save a fortune on shampoo. 

-You will look distinguished with your receding hairline, double chin and wrinkles.

-You have survived the humiliation of middle age.

-You’ll no longer have to suffer the disappointment of thwarted ambitions – you no longer have any.

-You can finally sell those dreadful diet and exercise books that have sat unopened on the bookshelf for years. 

-You can embarrass your family by entering glamorous granny or good-looking grandfather competitions.

-You don’t need to make an effort anymore – people will expect you to be frumpy, boring and cantankerous.

-You’ll be able to talk incessantly about the good old days.

-Your failing eyesight saves you the anguish of seeing your disintegrating body.

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Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.