Sep 16, 2015

Now this is the ultimate man cave

Colin did aerial photography last Friday for several clients.  The following home is for sale for a mere $6,390,000.00CAD, a real bargain for you Americans.  Taxes are only $21,000.00 per year, a good deal as the home is not on the lake nor has a lake view but it is large.  Please note that Colin only took this first shot, the aerial and none of the others.

The man cave I want to show you is the building on the bottom right.

The man cave I want to show you is the building on the bottom right.

Just a very few special vehicles.

Just a very few special vehicles.

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Two Porches, two Ford GTs and a very special Mustang.

...and you can't forget the vintage Harley hanging up high.

…and you can’t forget the vintage Harley hanging up high.

Quite the set up.  Note the immaculate floor.

Quite the set up. Note the immaculate floor.

Of course

Of course there are also areas to relax with some adult beverages.

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I must say that I am most disappointed at how small the television is.

Lots more photos but I think you get the idea.  However I am certain that there are many more man caves out there that are even better 😕

If you feel compelled to check out the rest of the man cave and the home, feel free to click here.  Wish I was getting a commission 😉

 

Comments(5)

Sep 11, 2015

Summer is back…

…well at least for three days!  I was at Costco the other day and they now have Christmas trees, lights and decorations and even more holiday crap stuff for sale.  Christmas is over 3.5 months away 🙄   Thank goodness they weren’t yet playing Xmas music.  Wait, that is Walmart that starts that in October.  Today I saw pumpkins for sale at Superstore.  Never too early to pick up your pumpkin.  Actually Costco has had Halloween costumes on sale since September 1st.

We got up to 29C/84.2F today.  Colin has been gone all day and now at 8:30PM it is dark out and he is still not back.  I was out for about 4 hours midday and turned the A/C on as I could not leave the girls inside without some relief from the heat.  Gosh A/C in September?  I keep reminding myself that I was gone all of September and October and most of November last year ( caring for my Dad in Edmonton ) and so I missed this time of year.

We have guests arriving tomorrow for a few days and so I set about tidying up the yard earlier this afternoon.  Tons of spider webs to get rid off.  Not so much bird poop on the patio furniture, likely due to all the recent rain we had.  But I did discover that we had ( yes ‘had’ as in they are long gone or so I hope ) 2 resident bats living inside our large table umbrella.  Lots of bat poop under the folded umbrella was the give away.  I really can’t recall the last time we had it open so I guess they moved right in.  That made me think as to the last time we used our fire pit here and that was way back to June of 2014 when Chris and Juan were here.  Actually the last time we used our fire pit ( a different one ) on the Isla was with Chris and Juan way back in January.  I really need to get those guys back in my life, lots of action then.

We got the word today that friends are joining us on the Isla for a month in December.  Are they escaping El Nino?  What do you think about El Nino this winter?  Will it affect your travels?

OUr friends live in

Our friends live in Arizona yet they are traveling south.  So maybe that is good news for us.  Our palapa needs some work if we are going to have to live in the rain all winter.  Mazatlan and the Isla are to the right of the tip of the Baja.  I bet we get lucky, as we are a good inch below that dreaded red arrow.

Can you believe this?  It's true.  Taken just a week ago on Sept. 4th in Alberta, not too far from Jasper.

Can you believe this? It’s true. Taken just a week ago on Sept. 4th in Alberta, not too far from Jasper.

I feel so bad for these people.  This was on the Coquilhala on the way here to Kep

I feel so bad for these people. This was on the Coquihalla Highway, just a day ago, on the way here to Kelowna from the coast.  What would cause such a fire?  Perhaps a leaking radiator.  Regardless, a devastating end to a vacation.

I leave you with me, the beautiful blond along with my new baby sister and my Mom.....way back when.

I leave you with me, the beautiful blonde, along with my new baby sister and my Mom…..way back when.

Thanks for all your great comments on the last post.  Lots of added information between your comments and my answers.  Who doesn’t love a comment 😉

 

Comments(14)

Sep 10, 2015

Mad House

The sun is out but only for 3 days before the clouds return and the rain showers.  So Colin is gone at 6AM until 10PM for the next 3 days.  He is moving at warp speed trying to get close to 2 weeks worth of photography done.  Meanwhile I sit here like a person in the control tower at an airport.  Go there and then over there.  The phone keeps ringing.  Yes I will try and fit you in, can we start at 8AM?  To the next one, we will start at 4PM and go till midnight and so and so on.  A job scheduled for next week had been moved to October 15th ( good thing we delayed our departure ).  Another has been postponed to May ( yeah !! ).  Of course there are a multitude of things that crop up that require a great deal of my time to sort out.  That’s my job but really why didn’t you tell me that before I spent an hour organizing that for you 🙄

I did finally get the courier I was expecting from the estate lawyer, after it took an unexpected trip around B.C.  It made me feel better by about 20% and upped my blood pressure by about 50%.  Not all I asked for was included nor all that I expected.  Oh well, I shall just send her an email stating that I will be out of the country from Oct. 20th to April 18th ( I always tell people I am leaving ten days before I actually am, just in case ).  I also tell the clients that I need to be paid at least ten days before we leave.

A chuckle from Chuck, a fellow RVer and friend.

A chuckle from Chuck, a fellow RVer and good friend.

Maybe that explains why I can’t lose those 3 miserable pounds I gained over our anniversary and Colin’s birthday.  I’ve been back on a very strict Weight Watcher program for three weeks now and nothing has happened.  Heck I’m even counting every sip of wine, well almost, 😳   I did treat myself to a FitBit Zip a few weeks ago.  Much better that the pedometer I have been using which added a step just for a small body movement.  The FitBit Zip only records steps so it is taking much more effort to get to those 10,000 daily steps.  Today was the first time I actually made the 10,000.  I love it because it is so tiny and costs less than $60.00CAD.

It is really tiny and can even be worn on your bra.

It is really tiny and can even be worn on your bra. Yup, this is the color I purchased.

However now that I have done some research I think that for another $40.00 I would have purchased the FitBit One  ( it is also very small ) but it also records your sleep activity.  I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night.  I toss and turn and two hours of sleep is considered a good night for me.  Maybe I am losing weight while I sleep, I wish.  Actually it would just be interesting to see how much rest I get versus all the movement.  I do sleep much better in Mexico, I am starting to look forward to that.

Two nights ago we were up for a long while at about 4AM dealing with Carmeh who was throwing up all over the place.  Funny how it is always the bed or a carpet and never the hardwood floor.  She even upchucked on one of the ramps!  She was better yesterday and perfect today.  Just one of those things.  Then of course it was Caeli’s turn, she has an ear infection.  Eww, what a smell, that’s how I discovered it, during a snuggle.  Already within 24 hours it is better, good thing I have a dog pharmacy in my house.

It’s almost 8PM and I have had to reply to three clients since I started this post.  We do work around the clock at this time of the year. By the way I did get a cheque in the mail today from Checkout 51 for $21.75 and I only bought things I really needed.  I already have $6.00 towards my next cheque.

This is just a quickie post tonight but I do feel more energy the last day or so.  I plan to add more of my own photos as well.  Bear with me.  Time for a well earned dinner and a glass of you know what 😛

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Comments(21)

Sep 08, 2015

Que pasa

The smoke has gone and in it’s place has been a lot of cloud.  Certainly not great work weather nor is it inspiring to see grey day after grey day.  We have had no summer to speak of.  First it was record breaking heat and one needed to be inside with the A/C  on most of the day.  I mentioned earlier that we even had the A/C on overnight, a first for us.  Then we had the smoke for over three weeks and now the clouds.  Thinking back, Colin and I only spent a few hours outside one day in the shade and I spent another afternoon in early June out there with the girls.  It’s just been that kind of year.

Pretty much what we've been dealing with.

Pretty much what we’ve been dealing with.

I have been barely getting through each day.  I seem to have little to no energy.  Just enough to do what I have to do.  In all honesty it is the estate business that is dragging me down.  Right now I don’t even feel like preparing for Mexico.  I keep hinting to Colin that maybe we should just stay here for the winter  😥   I have had it with the lawyer whom I am dealing with who happens to be the one who wrote my father’s will.  She has created so many issues ( such as misinterpreting certain words ) that have given me so very much stress.  I tried to fire her but that didn’t work as she said she could not legally transfer the funds to me here in B.C. 👿   I don’t believe her but after a solid two weeks of 10 hour days, I have given up.  I did contact two other lawyers, one in each Province but I can’t let a legal battle between us eat up the funds in the estate so I have given in and she is in charge right to the bitter end.  I so feel like I have let my Dad down.  He never wanted me to use a lawyer as he wanted to save the money but there was no way I could have gone through probate on my own, but I could have done the disbursements and final tax stuff on my own.  Once everything is complete I plan to file a complaint with the Alberta Law Society.  I was waking up in the middle of the night with sore teeth only to find that I was clenching my jaw and likely grinding my teeth.  My sore eye syndrome came back and even with wearing sunglasses I could not use the computer nor do desk work.  Totally stress related.

It started to rain rather heavily about 3AM and continued for most of the day.  The fog appeared during the short period the rain took a break.

It started to rain rather heavily about 3AM this morning and continued for most of the day. The fog appeared during the short period the rain took a break.

Today I was supposed to receive a package of documents from the lawyer.  I stayed home everyday last week waiting for it.  It was finally sent last Friday and with it being the Labor Day weekend I was expecting it today.  Well it got sent to Victoria, B.C. instead.  So now I get to spend tomorrow waiting for it.  Fortunately the contents of the envelope should be enough to give me a break from the estate until next May.  I, as well as Mother Nature  are about to get a break, with sun in the forecast for several days 😎

Life goes on.  We have an 80 gallon propane tank that is filled as needed by the company we have been dealing with for over 12 years.  They just come by every few weeks with a huge truck and fill our tank as needed, even in the winter when we are gone.  We leave our furnace on low while away.  A new company has come to town and is offering a great rate, 19 cents per liter less than the street propane price.  That includes transferring tanks and new hook ups, all at no cost to us.  Both companies wave the standard $19.50 delivery fee.  So I called the first company and spoke to the manager and gave him an idea of what was going on and that we along with others here in the park would be making the switch.  He called me back 30 minutes later and offered a 20 cent off per liter with a 5 year contract.  Sold.  Good deal for us, bad news for both propane companies, no or very little profit.  I also managed to buy at least 6 months worth of my face moisturizer at 50% off.  A good month for us financially.

The really great news is that we finally have a new family doctor.  Ours retired last July and using the walk in clinic is a pain ( usually a 2 -3 hour wait ).  There is a huge shortage of MD’s around here and no one is taking new patients.  When Colin turned 65 in July he became eligible for a new government program for seniors that interviewed him and promised to match him to a local GP within a few months.  When the call came a few weeks ago I asked the receptionist if I could tag along and see if the doctor would also take me on.  Yes.  Our new MD is young and Greek and a most wonderful person.  We both really like her and she is doing a full battery of tests and a complete physical on each of us.  Our old Dr. only did 2 physicals per month and so I haven’t had one in years and years and years.  Really like this new doctor and most especially how her office is run so efficiently.

Sometime in the last 10 days we had a very special visitor to our beach.

Sometime in the last 10 days we had a very special visitor to our beach.

I just happened to be walking into the kitchen to get a glass of water when a heron flew past very low.  Suddenly a second heron came along and landed right there in front of me.  I carefully and slowly walked back to my desk to get my camera.  These photos were taken through the window with little time to focus before the bird started to walk through the water very slowly and soon was out of sight.  What a treat.

We have been hearing many coyotes lately, first time in close to a year.  Love to listen to their laments.  The other day Colin and I were returning home when a deer crossed, not too far in front of us…….it crossed 4 lanes  ( HWY 97 ) of heavy traffic 😯   Our hearts stopped for a moment but it survived.  It stopped in an orchard next to the highway and seemed to just stand there catching its breath.  The last few days have the geese up there practicing their V formation.  Fall is in the air.

Do you know anyone who has had cancer?  Well who hasn’t?  My friend Lynne who writes Winnie Views was suddenly diagnosed with uterine cancer last April.  She is now NED ( no evidence of disease ) after her surgery.  Lynne has embraced promoting the fight against, as she calls it, below the belt cancer, gynecologic cancer, by educating people as well as raising funds for the Foundation for Women’s Cancer.

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Did you know that there now are vaccines for pre teens to prevent them from getting certain below the belt cancers?  I certainly didn’t.  So please take a moment to click here to read how you can help your sisters, friends and any female you know with some life saving information.  The link takes you to the first day of Lynne’s blog posts about this subject.  Each post since then holds much important information.  Please take a moment to read about this little discussed cancer.  It just might be your life that you save.

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Thank you to all my wonderful blog readers who have stayed with me these past few weeks.  Your comments and emails have meant so very much to me.

Comments(18)

Sep 05, 2015

I really am okay, honestly!

Thank you to those who have emailed me over the last week.  Colin and I and the girls really are just fine, more or less.  A few things weighing heavily on my mind that have caused me a lack on energy and time.  I promise to post soon, perhaps even tomorrow.  Thanks for your concerns and hugs.

 

EDIT……I did not post this for sympathy or a pat on the back but to let the many who have contacted me that yes things are alright and please don’t worry.

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Comments(11)

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