What would the Customs and Immigration people think

Posted on February 1, 2012 by san

My cousin Carl, thank you!, forwarded my latest mail.  It was from the Nova Scotia Cancer centre with a second request for me to complete the colon cancer screening kit.  I can only imagine what material they wanted me to send off to them.  Can you imagine if Carl had sent it down to me to “complete” and then I mailed it back to Canada.  It takes 2-3 weeks to get stuff back across the border.  Would the smell have given it away :)

I had a colonoscopy 5-6 years ago and all was clear.  The Dr said don’t bother to get re-scoped  for 10 years minimum so I am not worried.  Good on the Nova Scotia people to provide the test for free.  Ah the Canadian Health System.

 

Posted in Canadian, Humour, Medical | 1 Comment

Money in, more out

Posted on January 24, 2012 by san

Why does the universe know you have saved and saved and been diligent.  I have tried so hard while in Tucson to not blow it!  Yup, have rent, have stretched to have TV and Internet but really, I have been frugal….at least for me….very frugal.  Yesterday I took the Honda in for a service because sometimes the starter made a strange sound but also knew it needed a service.  So…  $425 later and a major  service including spark plug replacement and and and … He tells me what they did (and it needed to be done) and then starts on the wish list.  Time belt, water pump etc (replaced every 4 years) for $700, a transmission flush for $199…the fluid is very dark and I have issues shifting when hot and a oil pan gasket needs replacing $200.  So for $1000, my car would have services it needs to last till 300,000 miles (it is currently at 125,000 miles)  yup the drive belt was changes at 65,000 so is due.

Today I go to the dentist about a crown.  Seems my tooth fell apart in Springfield, MO and thankfully, Gwyneth, my niece knew a dentist.  he patched it up and said….it needs a crown as half is filling now.  Today at a dentist….for $1000, I can get a crown.

So in two days, I have or will have spent $2500 if I go ahead with what needs to be done.  When does need and money available ever agree.

Send money….just kidding but yikes!

Posted in cars, Medical | 1 Comment

Hole in my sidewalk

Posted on January 20, 2012 by san
My very early childhood was a mess.  The first two weeks of my life, no one wanted me or fed me till finally my Grandmother came to stay with me for a short period of time.  When something triggers me, that period of time is were I go emotionally.  With Mary Jane- therapist help, I am learning to get out of the hole myself.  Last session she gave me this poem and I debated telling all of you out there that read this scramble of words that I was back in the hole again.  I am in #2 paragraph, better than not even seeing the hole :)   I found some “grandmother” types, kind and caring, to help me back up.  Thank you.  May there be more gentle folk in this world.  Don’t worry Kathy….I am  doing fine :)
THERE’S A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK
 
1) 1 walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
 
I am lost.. I am hopeless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
 
2) 1 walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don ‘t see it.
I fall in again.
I can ‘t believe I’m in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
 
3) 1 walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I see it is there.
I still fall in.. it’s a habit
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
 
4) 1 walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it.
 
5) 1 walk down another street.
 
There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk, ~ Portia Nelson, © 1989, Stonebarn Publishers
Posted in Childhood, Depression, Family | 3 Comments

Poor Nookie

Posted on January 8, 2012 by san

As Tucson has suffered through several weeks of sun and 70F, poor Nookie left in Ontario looks like this:

Nookie in the snow of Southern Ontario

Posted in Ontario | 2 Comments

Am I really that old?

Posted on January 6, 2012 by san

On January 2, I was watching the Rose Parade from Pasadena, CA.  Near the end was the Girl Scout float celebrating the 100th  anniversary and I said, Oh My!  My family moved to Southern California in 1960.  Jan, 1962, my last year in High school, I was also a member of the Wing Scouts, a branch of the girl scouts.  The girl scouts were celebrating their 50th anniversary with a float in the Rose parade and I was asked to represent the British Empire on the float.  I got to experience riding on a float surrounded by flowers, crowds, TV cameras.  It was a memory I treasure and always watch the parade.

BUT  that was the 50th and this year was the 100th…..was that really 50 years ago.  I am only 49!

Posted in Childhood | 1 Comment

Snapping fingers

Posted on December 31, 2011 by san

Today I was writing an email to someone and used these words.  Thought maybe they were appropriate thoughts and wishes for 2012.  Feel free to add your own.

Snapping Fingers
If I could snap my fingers and: The bad days were very short, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Tanque Verde Ridge (spot near Tucson) was a desert
hike on one side with a sunny 70F and a ski resort on the other with lots of snow below
freezing, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Pantano Wash (Dry river) was beautiful Canadian Lake,
I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: My therapy sessions were over with all the pain
resolved, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: The year ended Dec 15 and started Jan 5 ish, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Every ones trigger points result in a hug instead of…….,
I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Mental health was cured in 7 days with or without meds,
I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: I was 50 lbs lighter, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Remember to eat something before trying something
stressful, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: People could understand true honest thoughts of others
so words would not cause conflict, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Only people who want children have them, I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Only the fun times with people were remembered,
I would.

If I could snap my fingers and: Make transitions work smoothly, I would.
If I could snap my fingers and:  2012 was a healthy, peaceful, uneventful,
compassionate, relaxing year, I would.

Posted in Arizona-Tucson, Depression | 2 Comments

Need bad weather – Call San

Posted on December 24, 2011 by san

The summer of 2011 went on record in Nova Scotia for the coldest, wettest since 1973.  I was there.  December in Tucson, Arizona, the wettest ever.  Yes the area needs rain so no one is complaining but 12+ inches of rain this month compared to 10 inches on average.  Even 2011 has the first surplus in many years.  SO….Need some bad weather in your area – let me know.

PS   Happy Holidays with lots of sunlight, peace and warmth of family and friends.

Posted in Arizona-Tucson, Halifax | Leave a comment

The flood

Posted on December 13, 2011 by san

The joys of apartment living.

Last 24 hours, Tucson has had as much rain as the whole month of a normal Dec. This is our wet season but the last ten years, there has been a drought.  It would be a typical day in Halifax and barely recordable as anything special.

Woke up this am and put my feet on the floor and it was wet.  Did Sunshine have an accident?  Took her out and she peed normally.  It was not against the wall so was confused.  Took paper towels then regular towels and still the water appeared.  It was 6:30 am and no one at the office AND I had to work from 9 am till Noon.  Finally about 8:30 I saw a workman and said you have permission to enter but watch out for the dog.  I did move some stuff but not everything.  Off to work and the client tells me she cancelled the session.  Phone Home Instead and nope, I am supposed to be there and do chores.  She was not happy, I wanted to be home and I ended up trying to clean roasting pans.  She did let me go 30 minutes early.  Arrived back at the house to the ditch dug and sump pump working.  Inside they had vacuumed the water from the carpet, missed the closet but of course, everything was still wet.  I cleaned out one side of the closet and went to the office.  A gent appeared in an hour to say the water had pooled under the Hydro boxes because the slope was wrong.  There was a crack in the cement and it seeped under the pad and up the cracks into my bedroom and closet.  I plug in the sump pump  every hour or so…yes, it is still raining and they finally lifted a corner of the rug and installed a blower.  It has been running for 6 hours and still the rug is damp.  They said when it stops raining, they will fix the crack, correct the slope error and install a french drain.  It is supposed to rain again on the weekend.  Hope the rug /pad dries soon.  He said they would also replace the carpet strips as they are now rusted.

Where will I sleep tonight?

Posted in Arizona-Tucson | 2 Comments

December and sunlight

Posted on December 5, 2011 by san

It is Dec 5, only 20 days to Christmas and 16 days to the shortest day of the year.  My big celebration is Dec 21.  Arizona has had 3 “winter” storms over the last 5 days.  Yes rain and only a high of 44F yesterday with only a bit of sun.  I can hear all my Canadian friends just laughing.  Sure reminds me of Nova Scotia this summer, cold, rain, wind, no sun and San’s mood kept going down hill.   As most of you know, I come to Arizona to get sun to cheer my spirit.  The sun is out today so took a long walk with Sunshine and sunshine :)

To keep my spirits up, and yes, I do have to work at it, I cooked the turkey dinner at Thanksgiving:


Also on the holiday schedule was a lovely potluck at Susan and Marie’s followed by bridge at my house with selected guests.  This week-end I will work at the Desert Voices (The GBLT chorus).  Looks like a garage sale coming up in a couple of weeks so must start looking at all the stuff in the storage shed.

It is (was) November and a strange thing happens every year.  I do some computer work, not much except for friends, and in November and March, everyone has issues.  No calls the rest of the year but have made some money in the last couple of weeks.  Guess I have to work next March too :)   As for Home Instead, I have had one job.  I think I am off their list because I do not want to work 20 hours a week again.

So, I am attempting to be busy to fight off the lack of light.  I am not myself and have slacked off on this blog and emails.  Just know I am aware and pushing as hard as I dare.

Posted in Arizona-Tucson, Cooking, Depression | 1 Comment

Thanksgiving – US style

Posted on November 24, 2011 by san

Yesterday was sunny and a high of 76F (23C).  Hard to think of it being Thanksgiving.    Today a rain storm is moving in so maybe it will feel more like fall.

I am cooking a second turkey in a week.  A group of my Tucson friends are gathering and the host did not feel comfortable cooking a  ‘bird’.  With a little arm twisting, I volunteered.  The big issue is, dinner is at 1:00 and it is a 16 lb turkey so it needs 5-6 hours.  I set the alarm for 6 AM.  My neighbour upstairs is almost like clockwork.  The floor starts to creak at 6:30 every morning, almost a wakeup call.  When I heard the floor creak, I jumped out of bed thinking the alarm did not go off at 6.  Went to the bathroom and started to get dressed to take Sunshine out.  I happened to glance at the clock and it was 4:45 am.  The upstairs lady was taking a shower so I was not wrong she got up.  Maybe she had a turkey to put in the oven too :)   The turkey still has a way to go so good thing I got it in about 6:30.  Seems like I have been up for hours :)

Seems I have been doing this and that.  I did go to US Social Security to apply for benefits.  I have 7 credits but that allows something called totalization with my Canada Pension.  The gent told me 90 days (better than a year and a half in Canada if it is true ) to find out if I qualify and for how much but he sounded optomistic.  The other good news he told me that as a US Citizen and over 65, I qualify for Medicare Part B.  Since I did not sign up last year when I turned 65, I will be penalized but can sign up between Jan and March of next year.  Don’t know all the details yet but basically, you pay a minimum fee taken away from your social security payment and then something like $35 for Dr visits, lab work etc.  Everything but hospital care and drugs.  Depending on the cost, seems like a good supplement to my Canada Out of Province insurance I buy.  That  covers hospital emergencies.  Maybe my luck has really changed.

I did have one client last week and I think I have Home Instead Tucson sold on the idea I am a driver so give me those kind of jobs.  I only asked for 10 hours a week.  Can’t earn too much money or I will blow the Guaranteed Income Supplement. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, nice to have you in my life.

Posted in Arizona-Tucson, Government | 2 Comments