The run around continues

Posted on April 16, 2012 by san

Windy and warmish, almost 20c (70F).  A Canadian thing, tell the weather.  Snow expected tomorrow.

So, the process is, get an Ontario Driver’s license, then get car insurance once you have the driver’s license then get the plates then tell OHIP (Ontario Health) you do really live in Ontario.  At some point you also tell Service Canada you live in Ontario.

I have accomplished tell Service Canada.

Today very early I headed into Huntsville (about 30K) to the driver’s license place.  The office was open at 9 when I arrived but the computers were down and stayed down till almost 2 PM.  I did go home (30K) and returned about 4pm.  In the first go around, with the computers down, the clerk tells me today is the last day to use my passport as it expires tomorrow and of course I need documentation.  I do have my birth certificate and I think it also counts.  I have been afraid to send everything away to get a new passport in case I needed it….duh!  Tells me I need 2 of the last 3 years record in Nova Scotia but of course I changed addresses last summer so driver’s license only shows 1 year.  When I go back at 4, she can pull up Nova Scotia records and low and behold I got the license in July 2010 because I was not sure in my mind I wanted to stay in NS and had to spend lots of money to get the Honda approved into Canada.  How is your math?  I am 2 months short of 2 years and nope, no Ontario License.  I do have a print out of my Arizona records from 2009 showing giving up my ON license but nope they need 2 of the last 3 years or I have to do the whole testing thing again and spend an extra $75.  What I have told friends is I did not give up my AZ license but got a duplicate.  I do have an uncertified copy of my record from Nov, 2011 (within the 6 months required) but it does not show me giving up my AZ license.  It is also uncertified and lady says I need original.  She gives me two options, phone AZ, document mailed to me (what maybe 3 weeks at the earliest) or drop down a category and rewrite and redo all the tests.  Phone AZ and I have to mail them a form first before they mail me my document, talking maybe 6 weeks now.  I suspect my insurance quotes will also go up because I am a “beginner”  again.  My Nova Scotia insurance was cancelled and I have 30 days to find new insurance and I need a driver’s license to do that.  Ain’t life fun!

In Parry Sound tomorrow on the only day the driver center is open and maybe they will accept my uncertified record but guess I will have to turn in my AZ driver’s license yet again and maybe say I never lived in Nova Scotia.  I hate lying but they make this so impossible.

Maybe someday, I will officially be in Ontario but maybe it will be in July when 2 years is up….unless I get caught by a police person and of course my health care gets delayed and I have no insurance.

Sorry about your water pipe Sue but seems I have my own stuff that continues to make moving to Canada a nightmare and moving provinces not easy.  Guess you are supposed to be born, school, work and die in the same place and all government organizations will be happy.

Not a happy camper tonight and unsure of the next step.  Seems appropriate it will snow tomorrow.

Forgot some other stuff.  I have a Bell Calling Card and there is a real phone here that is on a party line.  Seems a calling card does not work on a party line phone so guess I can not call any American people.  I used my cell to phone Service AZ and got a trainee on I think day 1.  He kept having to go and check.  At .80 a minute, hum, another bill.

I really am not sure the next step.  Hope a nights sleep will help.  I did take the battery out of the clock so tickless nights now.

Posted in Arizona-Tucson, Canadian, Government, Ontario | 2 Comments

Chips Cottage

Posted on April 15, 2012 by san

My landlord “Dee” and her children Heather and Peter were going to the cottage on Thurs, the day after I arrived in Ontario so went up to meet them and see where I will live.  They put the dock in, summerized the place and I was set to go.  Because of previous commitments, I did not stay that night but as of Sat, Apr 14, I now live here.

The cottage was damp from being closed up but a little heat from electric floor heaters and a ceramic heater it was comfortable enough to get a good nights sleep.  There is a ticking clock that may have to go as there is no other sounds  :)   Ah…….

The drive from the nearest place to get gas or grocery shop is about 45 minutes, the road from the highway, a twisty road, takes about 15 minutes.  My new turbo stick for internet has a good signal and I just have to remember to not download a ton of stuff.  My cell phone works with a good signal as well.  Unfortunately, the rabbit ears on the TV do not work except for an analog signal from a shopping channel.  On Monday I will find out about a satellite dish signal.  The Olympics are this summer!  I consider this my home, not just a cottage so will consider the cost.  Yes, I do have CBC radio.

Hopefully a driver’s license on Monday.  That will allow insurance companies to give me quotes.  Get insurance for the Honda and then plates.  The insurance companies want my plates first and Service Ontario wants my insurance first.  Another catch 22 coming up.  I have 30 days to get me and the vehicle officially in ON.  The RV is another issue but at this point, not urgent thanks to Brenda and Judy.

Beautiful view of Lake of Bays.  Sunshine has already tried out the water many times and is learning to go on her towel when she comes in.

Posted in Canadian, Chips Cottage, Ontario | 2 Comments

Will change ever be easy?

Posted on April 11, 2012 by san

Woke up to an inch of snow on the ground :)   Most of the day, the temperature was about 36F (3c).  I know, welcome back.

Was keen to get my paperwork done so out of B & J’s  house early.  Service Ontario to try and get Ontario Health Insurance filed.  Seems the office in Mt Forest is a small office and does not do transfers from other provinces either for Health or Driver’s license.  Said I had to go to a bigger center.  She also pointed out that I needed major documents that I actually lived in Ontario, like my driver`s license and bank statements with my new address.  Get home and phone the 800 number for Service Ontario and find a major office about an hour away.  Before I head out to get a new driver`s license, I phone Ontario Health an find I have 3 months to get the documents with my new address so cancel the panic run to Guelph.  I do need to keep any documentation that prove I entered Ontario yesterday.  Of course I bought nothing and the border does not stamp passports.  I went to the bank today and have a deposit slip.  Hope that works.  Found out a major Service Ontario in Parry Sound so will try to get my driver`s license as a start.

So, I need car insurance and eventually RV Insurance as well as new plates etc.  Phone my insurance co in Nova Scotia and they do not provide insurance in Ontario but will provide an experience letter and by the way, you have 30 days.  So now I have to decide on an address as my cottage does not have mail.  Decided to use Fern in Parry Sound so started changing addresses to that address and got all sorts of error messages including Service Canada saying since I had a foreign address on file at one point, I must contact them directly.  Line has been busy all day.  As of 6:00 PM, I still do not officially live in Ontario :)

Did phone some of the people I had to contact and found out the Stapletons who own the cottage`I will stay in this summer will be there tomorrow.  Change of plans and off to my new home on Thurs to meet up with some of the family and finally get to see my new abode.  On Friday, I will head to Parry Sound and find answers hopefully to Service Ontario questions, a new driver`s license, a ON license plate and start the process of car insurance.  Busy couple of days.

I may not have internet after Thurs morning till I figure out how I can get it.  Don`t panic if no entries.

Hope your day was more fun than mine.

 

Posted in Canadian, Government | 3 Comments

Canada Eh!

Posted on April 10, 2012 by san

Crossed the border this afternoon with no issues except, IT IS SNOWING and cold.  Well snow flurries and just above freezing.  Thank goodness there is a wood stove at B&J’s.

Lots of paperwork to do tomorrow but atleast my 6 months has started and the heat of Arizona can get hot now and cool off for next fall.  I’m Home.

Posted in Canadian, Travels | 3 Comments

Ah Finally!

Posted on April 9, 2012 by san

Not to worry all of you out there, just lack of internet for 4 days while at my sister-in-law #1 in Springfield, MO.  She phoned me tonight to ask about computers she saw today.  Told her I had to have internet in Oct when I come thru in the fall.  Guess she is taking me seriously.

Arrived in Springfield on Thurs afternoon and left this morning.  Tomorrow, I am over the border in Canada again…..ah winegums and polite people.  Lots of unknowns but that is tomorrow.

So back to Springfield, Easter and family.  My brother had three wives, the first, Susan was the mother of the two nieces who live in Springfield and a nephew in Greensboro, NC.  Every six months, I travel either to Canada or Arizona, always through Springfield, MO.  This trip I noticed it was over Easter so planned more time in MO.  Arrived Thurs afternoon, Friday, the whole gang plus more went to Silver Dollar City Amusement Park in Branson, MO, just south of Springfield.  Roller coasters, rides, play areas, walking, ride, more ride and 9 great nieces and nephews under 12.  The oldest is almost 12 and the youngest, 3 months.  Also the parents, Grandmother on the other side, sisters of Susan for a total of 19 people.  We only lost one child  for 3-4 minutes.  We did well.  We were at the park for almost 8 hours.  Just imagine.  Went out for  Chinese food after the day at the park.

On Sat, it was Easter Egg hunt day at Cheryl’s, Susan’s sister.  Same gang plus a couple of extras.  This picture was right after the “hunt”.  Eight of the great nieces and nephews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ninth is only 3 months so she was a later picture and did not do the “hunt”.

Sunday was Easter dinner with Krysta, oldest niece and her family of 6 plus husband Tom.  Great time with her children but Aunt San was done in at the end of Sunday.  I am so not used to young children.  Left today very early and finally have internet at the motel.  That is the Ah Finally!

Love the family, really but Aunt San needs a rest!

 

 

Posted in Family, Travels | 2 Comments

Oklahoma City

Posted on April 4, 2012 by san

Thank goodness I had a good audio book to cross Texas and Oklahoma …  JA Jance new one, “Left for Dead”. 2 hour time zone change so best if I go get food so my body thinks it is 6:15 instead of 4:15.

Red Roof Inn is not Comfort Inn of last night with both dinner and full breakfast included.  Half the price, half the quality.  I know, I need to learn my new reality.

Cool and cloudy with some rain but no “nasty weather”.

4 Days of great nieces and nephews and only some internet so will try to update blog but no promises.

Thanks for your comments ….those that did :)

Posted in Travels | 3 Comments

I’m off!

Posted on April 3, 2012 by san

Tonight is Roswell, NM so I am officially on my return trip.  The last two days have been hectic.  Move stuff to storage, move stuff to car, move stuff to garbage, move stuff  to a maybe garage sale, clean the apartment.  You get the picture :)   Thank you Susan and Marie, Rose and Roberta and Sue for helping me move the big stuff.  I promise to rethink that procedure next year.

Even with the quiet of Susan and Marie’s house, I had trouble sleeping.  Too many things going through my mind.  Last night it was….where did I pack that, did I pack this.  Tried all my tricks but basically read alot.  The last hour today was difficult.  Yes, I was safe but hope tonight brings sleep because if I forgot it, it is forgotten!  I hate this 6 month pack and unpack life.  Maybe this summer a light will shine as to the direction I should take.

On Saturday I finally heard from the US Social Security about my totalization so I can receive US Social security.  Spent over $250 redoing my 2008 taxes to get up to 6 credits, the required amount to even fill in the application.  Basically it is supposed to add my CDN years and US years to give me an amount.  I had to wait for Canada to fill in their side of the agreement.  So, drum roll…….my monthly US$ amount is…….$26.  Yup, Twenty six dollars a month, less that $300 a year.  They would never tell me how they work out the amount so just kept proceeding.  Pays for half a tank of gas.  The only good part was it was retroactive back to Oct 2011 so a big back pay of $128.

As a final thought, I am sure my friends and relatives that read this blog, especially when I am traveling  appreciate Andria and Ron, the people who pay the bill for this blog site.  Thank you for allowing me to continue to easily tell all where I am and how I am doing.

Posted in Arizona-Tucson, Government, Travels | 3 Comments

Definately Time to Leave

Posted on March 28, 2012 by san

Walking Sunshine in the wash this am, mostly on lead but got stupid, let her off and she ran to dig ground squirrel holes.  Of course did not come back as that instinct of digging is far greater than following her owner’s command……yes, hit the owner over the head for poor training!  Finally found her digging away, scolded her as I caught her in the act, put her on lead to walk back to the car.  Walked no more that 25 feet from where she was digging, heard a rattle and on the side of the path, maybe 10 feet away was a very large, fist size in diameter, rattlesnake coiled up warning us.  When the snakes come out, I know it is time to go and NO, Sunshine will not be off lead in Arizona for a long while.

Posted in Arizona-Tucson, Dogs | 1 Comment

Morning walk

Posted on March 25, 2012 by san

One week to go, packing still to do, Women’s Basketball Championship on TV to watch and a dog that wants her morning walk.

The Pantano wash runs behind this apartment unit.  It is one of the major drains when it rains or snows in the Mountains.  They put cement walls on the sides to prevent erosion.  Under a bridge, guess the footings were in trouble so a major redo of the cement sides.  Most days we walk up the wash to see the construction.

 

 

I have watched the trucks moving the cement traveling narrow trails as they dump the cement and build the walls higher and higher.  Eventually a new walking trail will be put on top.

Yesterday on the news, I heard that one of the trucks fell off the narrow trail and was killed.  It sure had looked dangerous and figured one slight turn of the wheel and danger.  Sorry my thought came true.  Some pictures of the road he was coming down.  My morning walk sure was a different sight this morning.

 

Posted in Arizona-Tucson | Leave a comment

It’s snowing!

Posted on March 19, 2012 by san

A couple of days ago, it was sunny and 85.  Right now it is snowing and just above freezing.  Tonight it goes below freezing!  Guess the universe is getting me ready for Canada in a couple of weeks :)

Snow in Tuscon

Posted in Arizona-Tucson | 2 Comments