2007/03/30
Prairie Beauty and End of a Chapter
Have you ever seen a sunset so beautiful? I took this picture on my way home from a visit to J and L's Ranch. The beautiful colours of the sunset are reflected in a puddle of spring melt-off. This prairie crocus will miss the beauties of the prairies and they are many. This is just one of them. I pity people who say, "There is nothing to see on the prairies." Every place has its beauty. I have a children's book that describes the beauties of the prairie. It's called, If You're Not From The Prairie...
I have been very busy saying goodbye to people and places. I went to the Reh-fit Centre for the last time today. It was sad to think Dennis never got to see the renovated building. We went there three times a week and for him the social aspect was as important as the workout. He spent just as much time talking to his friends as he did on the bikes or walking the track. He would have loved the new building.
I said goodbye to some of my friends there. Cathy, the nurse with the great sense of humour. Dennis enjoyed her wit. Tammy, a receptionist, a tiny, quiet, shy person Dennis used to tease. Henry, an accountant who gave Dennis a very funny CD of some Motown songs done in the style of bluegrass. Bradley, a young, buff fire-fighter who is also a substitute teacher and once asked Dennis where was a good place to take woman out to dinner, but not too expensive. Paul, who works as a cook at a nunnery and had the same endocrinologist as Dennis. Helga, whose friendship with me began when she heard of Dennis' death. Gail, a widow who lost her beloved husband five years ago. Dennis used to listen to her husband Jim whose speech was quite impaired from a stroke and pretend he could understand what Jim was saying. Dennis was so concerned for Gail when Jim died - he made a point of hugging her the first time she came back to the reh-fit. He knew how hard it was for her to go there alone. He was so empathic. Elaine, who was going through the pain of separation. Norm, who also volunteered at the Western Canada Aviation Museum. My friends at the Reh-fit were so intertwined with Dennis and his social life that it feels like another loss. Another chapter in the book of my life has come to an end.
Stay tuned. The Prairie Crocus is going to be transplanted to the west coast.
The language of friendship is not words but meanings. ~Henry David Thoreau
Prairie Beauty and End of a Chapter
2007/03/25
NYTimes, Constance, and Provence
It's been kind of a ho-hum day. I read the paper, did the Sunday New York Times crossword (didn't quite get it all), did laundry, culled a few more things not going with me to Vancouver and watched "The Last Waltz." I had never seen it so I picked it up for 10 bucks. I did not know that it was directed by Martin Scorsese. That Neil Young looked just as goofy as he does now, but Robbie Robertson looked so young!
Yesterday three friends and I went to see "The Constant Wife" at Manitoba Theatre Centre. I was surprised to see a witty farce written by Somerset Maugham. The actor who played Constance, the wife, was very good. Maugham really understood that economic freedom meant sexual freedom for women. He was ahead of his time. The female characters were fuller than the male. I think Maugham gave the men short shrift. They seemed to be either silly or aggressive or both. Well, it might have been the acting or the directing - hard to tell. Still I was used to thinking of Maugham as a dramatic novelist with social commentary. This light-hearted play made me think of Noel Coward's plays. It had the same sort of witty British upper-class language.
Afterwards we went to a restaurant called "Provence." The food was quite ordinary and the wine was overpriced, but the service was impeccable. Margot would have been pleased with the service and she has high standards. It's a little sad to think that was the last play I will be here to attend. Next Saturday P and P are having a farewell party for me.
I see by Gary's blog that they are on their way home tomorrow and may get home at the end of March or April 1. And Charlene is away for some training for work. Why don't the rest of you get blogging!
Ta ta and take care and PEACE.
Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. ~Peter Ustinov
NYTimes, Constance, and Provence
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Yesterday three friends and I went to see "The Constant Wife" at Manitoba Theatre Centre. I was surprised to see a witty farce written by Somerset Maugham. The actor who played Constance, the wife, was very good. Maugham really understood that economic freedom meant sexual freedom for women. He was ahead of his time. The female characters were fuller than the male. I think Maugham gave the men short shrift. They seemed to be either silly or aggressive or both. Well, it might have been the acting or the directing - hard to tell. Still I was used to thinking of Maugham as a dramatic novelist with social commentary. This light-hearted play made me think of Noel Coward's plays. It had the same sort of witty British upper-class language.
Afterwards we went to a restaurant called "Provence." The food was quite ordinary and the wine was overpriced, but the service was impeccable. Margot would have been pleased with the service and she has high standards. It's a little sad to think that was the last play I will be here to attend. Next Saturday P and P are having a farewell party for me.
I see by Gary's blog that they are on their way home tomorrow and may get home at the end of March or April 1. And Charlene is away for some training for work. Why don't the rest of you get blogging!
Ta ta and take care and PEACE.
Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. ~Peter Ustinov
NYTimes, Constance, and Provence
2007/03/22
Posh Spa, Ridgewood, Saint John and Friends
Margot has just gone home from her visit to Winnipeg. It was so great to be together one last time in the old house. We went for pedicures at a really posh spa called "Ten" at the Hotel Fort Garry. I was a spa virgin, so I'll describe it. First you get into a white terry cloth robe. You sit in a lounge to wait for your esthetician and munch goodies. There is even wine (for a price). Soft music and lighting makes it all very relaxing. Then take you in to the pedicure roomand they wrap you in a comforter and you lounge in a recliner chair while they pamper your feet. It was so luxurious. I could get used to such luxury!
Margot and I went for lunch and dinners and even took in a movie. Of course we spent lots of time reminiscing about her childhood and discussing how our grieving is going. When I dropped her off at the airport she was a little under the weather. We dosed her up with Tylenol. She's been developing a virus of some kind so I hope she'll be all right. In three more weeks I will be in Vancouver! Time is flying.
I have chosen my mover and they are packing everything for me, so nothing remains but to cull out more things that I am not taking and arrange for those items to be picked up for auction.
I have made arrangements to sell my car and I have made my travel arrangements by train through the Rockies. I think it will be a good trip. Lots of great scenery to be seen from the VIARAIL train.
I have word that my father is to be transferred to Ridgewood, a veterans' personal care home next Tuesday. That was really good news as he has been in an acute care hospital since last August. Now I know he will be well cared for and it's a load off my mind. I'm pleased because at a place like that they must know how to handle cases of dementia like his and he'll be looked after.
So I decided to go to Saint John for a couple of days to see him. I'm going April 2 to 4. Who knows how long he will recognize me? And it will cost more if I wait until I am in Vancouver. So, things continue to move right along.
The neighbours have all been so good, offering advice (most of it useful) and help with cleaning out the house, etc. A lot of my furniture has been bought by my neighbours. And I continue to meet friends for lunch, dinner and get-togethers. I am lucky to have so many good friends. I will miss them. Will I make new friends?
The adventure continues.
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France
Posh Spa, Ridgewood, Saint John and Friends
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Margot and I went for lunch and dinners and even took in a movie. Of course we spent lots of time reminiscing about her childhood and discussing how our grieving is going. When I dropped her off at the airport she was a little under the weather. We dosed her up with Tylenol. She's been developing a virus of some kind so I hope she'll be all right. In three more weeks I will be in Vancouver! Time is flying.
I have chosen my mover and they are packing everything for me, so nothing remains but to cull out more things that I am not taking and arrange for those items to be picked up for auction.
I have made arrangements to sell my car and I have made my travel arrangements by train through the Rockies. I think it will be a good trip. Lots of great scenery to be seen from the VIARAIL train.
I have word that my father is to be transferred to Ridgewood, a veterans' personal care home next Tuesday. That was really good news as he has been in an acute care hospital since last August. Now I know he will be well cared for and it's a load off my mind. I'm pleased because at a place like that they must know how to handle cases of dementia like his and he'll be looked after.
So I decided to go to Saint John for a couple of days to see him. I'm going April 2 to 4. Who knows how long he will recognize me? And it will cost more if I wait until I am in Vancouver. So, things continue to move right along.
The neighbours have all been so good, offering advice (most of it useful) and help with cleaning out the house, etc. A lot of my furniture has been bought by my neighbours. And I continue to meet friends for lunch, dinner and get-togethers. I am lucky to have so many good friends. I will miss them. Will I make new friends?
The adventure continues.
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France
Posh Spa, Ridgewood, Saint John and Friends
2007/03/17
Moving Estimates, Laptop and Anniversary
I've been busy sorting, packing and having lunches with friends. I had three moving companies here for estimates. Honestly, I don't know how to compare the three estimates. They all had different assessments of the weight of what I'm taking to Vancouver. They all mentioned different services they provide (for a price). The highest estimate was almost twice as much as the lowest estimate. It's hard to know if the person who did the highest one was mistaken or inexperienced, or whether the lowest one was lowballed and will turn out to be much higher after the load is actually weighed. Only one estimator suggested that if the apartment block I move into can't handle a large semi, they will have to hire someone to shuttle the load in a smaller truck at an additional cost of $500. Apparently that is quite common in downtown Vancouver. Neither of the other two mentioned that. What is a person to do? It's all very confusing. I think I should talk it over with Margot when she gets here.
Margot is arriving on Monday for one last visit to the house in which she grew up. We have plans for pedicures. It's a mother/daughter bonding time. We will take Nana out for dinner and there just might be a Jeanne's cake in there somewhere. There is still lots of packing to do. I've been getting boxes at liquor stores. It seems to be the only place where they still allow customers to take away the empty boxes.
I am also in the process of transferring all my pictures and files from the desktop computer to the laptop. I will only be taking the laptop to Vancouver. Most of my other stuff is going to auction. The people who bought the house also bought the dining room suite.
Yesterday was the anniversary date. 15 months. I get sad every month on the 16th. It usually starts a few days before. I think I will always miss him. I miss his great smile, his humour, his intelligence, his gentleness. I like to look at Jack's blog where there is a memorial and picture. And the poem that accompanies it is so apt. I saw a book at McNally Robinson called "The Cruciverbalist's World" and I thought of him. He loved doing the Sunday New York Times crossword. We did it together.
Tata, and take care, and PEACE.
Gone - flitted away,
Taken the stars from the night and the sun
From the day!
Gone, and a cloud in my heart.~Alfred Tennyson
Moving Estimates, Laptop and Anniversary
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Margot is arriving on Monday for one last visit to the house in which she grew up. We have plans for pedicures. It's a mother/daughter bonding time. We will take Nana out for dinner and there just might be a Jeanne's cake in there somewhere. There is still lots of packing to do. I've been getting boxes at liquor stores. It seems to be the only place where they still allow customers to take away the empty boxes.
I am also in the process of transferring all my pictures and files from the desktop computer to the laptop. I will only be taking the laptop to Vancouver. Most of my other stuff is going to auction. The people who bought the house also bought the dining room suite.
Yesterday was the anniversary date. 15 months. I get sad every month on the 16th. It usually starts a few days before. I think I will always miss him. I miss his great smile, his humour, his intelligence, his gentleness. I like to look at Jack's blog where there is a memorial and picture. And the poem that accompanies it is so apt. I saw a book at McNally Robinson called "The Cruciverbalist's World" and I thought of him. He loved doing the Sunday New York Times crossword. We did it together.
Tata, and take care, and PEACE.
Gone - flitted away,
Taken the stars from the night and the sun
From the day!
Gone, and a cloud in my heart.~Alfred Tennyson
Moving Estimates, Laptop and Anniversary
2007/03/08
Bye-Bye Subbing, Wall of Honour, Eating Out
Today was my last day as a substitute teacher. I subbed in a really nice class of grade twos and threes. One of my regulars. We played Numero and I read them one of my stories (a repeat of my story, "Stinky", by request). It was so nice to end on such a positive note. I brought almond haystacks, a treat that I made for them myself. They also spent time with their grade seven buddies and about half a dozen of the grade seven students wrote me a great thank you letter and said I was their favourite substitute teacher. It was so heart-warming. Lots of hugs from both the little ones and the not-so-little-ones.
I am glad to be fully retired now. It is a wonderful end to a mostly satisfying career.
Then I went to the Reh-fit for a workout and afterwards went to a special reception put on by the Reh-fit for "major donors." I made a donation to the Reh-fit over a year ago in Dennis' honour and they assured me his name would be on the Honour Wall. Well, they decided they wanted to re-do the Honour Wall and so none of the plaques have been put back up since the new building was finished. It has taken them this long just to choose the artist who is to re-do the plaques! It may not be up before I leave for Vancouver. That is most disappointing. I guess they invited me to the reception to make up for dragging their feet on the Honour Wall.
Maybe the plaque will be up by the time Gary and Carolyn are here to help Mother pack up for the move to Victoria. It will say: In memory of Dennis Neil Ousey 1947-2005. It will be there as long as the building is standing, a long, long time. It's comforting to think about that.
A moving company is coming to give me an estimate tomorrow morning. I have lunch with one friend and dinner with another friend. Mother is coming over to visit this weekend and we are hoping to get out to dinner on Sunday with Kim and Kevin. There is a dinner meeting on Saturday with the Humanist Association of Manitoba. Some students from Afrique 2007 will talk about their recent trip to Senegal, Africa. Busy, busy, busy. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.
Tata, take care and peace.
The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off. ~Abe Lemons
Bye-Bye Subbing, Wall of Honour, Eating Out
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I am glad to be fully retired now. It is a wonderful end to a mostly satisfying career.
Then I went to the Reh-fit for a workout and afterwards went to a special reception put on by the Reh-fit for "major donors." I made a donation to the Reh-fit over a year ago in Dennis' honour and they assured me his name would be on the Honour Wall. Well, they decided they wanted to re-do the Honour Wall and so none of the plaques have been put back up since the new building was finished. It has taken them this long just to choose the artist who is to re-do the plaques! It may not be up before I leave for Vancouver. That is most disappointing. I guess they invited me to the reception to make up for dragging their feet on the Honour Wall.
Maybe the plaque will be up by the time Gary and Carolyn are here to help Mother pack up for the move to Victoria. It will say: In memory of Dennis Neil Ousey 1947-2005. It will be there as long as the building is standing, a long, long time. It's comforting to think about that.
A moving company is coming to give me an estimate tomorrow morning. I have lunch with one friend and dinner with another friend. Mother is coming over to visit this weekend and we are hoping to get out to dinner on Sunday with Kim and Kevin. There is a dinner meeting on Saturday with the Humanist Association of Manitoba. Some students from Afrique 2007 will talk about their recent trip to Senegal, Africa. Busy, busy, busy. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.
Tata, take care and peace.
The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off. ~Abe Lemons
Bye-Bye Subbing, Wall of Honour, Eating Out
2007/03/07
Moving Right Along
Hello to everyone in blogland. It was certainly a relief to get the house sold. The buyers are a forty-something couple living in Brandon. He is ex-army and now works for the government. They have no children. They seem very nice. They came to see the house again on Sunday (he hadn't seen it yet). They bought some of my stuff, the dining room suite, some electronics, my lawn mower. A few less things for me to worry about.
Now that I know when I am leaving I have been able to make some plans. I have phoned everyone that needed to know from Manitoba Hydro to Shaw cable. I have hired an auctioneer to sell the stuff I'm not taking with me including my car. They will pick up the stuff and sell it and send me a cheque. How easy is that?
I haven't picked a mover yet, there are several coming to give me estimates. I also spent some time moving boxes and packing more things in boxes. I know I will be ready. I could probably be ready sooner than April 11, but that is the day my train leaves for Vancouver.
Margot is coming for a few days to say goodbye to the house. It is the house she grew up in. We lived here since 1980. It's starting to look more and more like it did when we moved in - mostly empty.
No one in the family has blogged for several days! Get blogging out there. I'm getting withdrawal symptoms!
Tata and take care and peace.
Moving Right Along
0 comments
Now that I know when I am leaving I have been able to make some plans. I have phoned everyone that needed to know from Manitoba Hydro to Shaw cable. I have hired an auctioneer to sell the stuff I'm not taking with me including my car. They will pick up the stuff and sell it and send me a cheque. How easy is that?
I haven't picked a mover yet, there are several coming to give me estimates. I also spent some time moving boxes and packing more things in boxes. I know I will be ready. I could probably be ready sooner than April 11, but that is the day my train leaves for Vancouver.
Margot is coming for a few days to say goodbye to the house. It is the house she grew up in. We lived here since 1980. It's starting to look more and more like it did when we moved in - mostly empty.
No one in the family has blogged for several days! Get blogging out there. I'm getting withdrawal symptoms!
Tata and take care and peace.
Moving Right Along
2007/03/02
House Sold, Moving On
Hello to everyone out there in blogland. I can't believe this blog has had over 14,000 hits! That is fantastic. I just checked the stats for today and there were 15 people checking out the blog, 9 new people and 6 returnees. Unbelieveable!
The big news: my house is sold. Possession date is April 15. I have a lot to do. I decided to travel to Vancouver by train. I don't want to drive all that way by myself. Besides the old Tore-ass might not make it all that way through the mountains. And I can't travel by plane because I'm taking his urn with me. I phoned Air Canada and asked if I could carry it on the plane and they said I could, but they could not guarantee that security wouldn't ask me to open it so they could examine the contents. That would be too horrible to contemplate, so the train was the obvious choice.
I have booked a bedroom on the train for April 11, to arrive in Vancouver April 13. I am really looking forward to the trip. It was in our long term plans to take a train trip from here to Vancouver. We were waiting until we were both 60 because then you get a seniors discount. This is not the way we planned it, but he will be travelling through the Rockies by train with me.
And I have so much to do before I leave. I have to arrange for movers, sell my car, get an auction firm to sell any furniture and household goods that I am not taking, phone up all the companies about my household bills. And I have to see all my friends to say goodbye. I have several lunch dates already.
My condolences to Charlene and family. So sorry to hear of your loss. It's so sad when a young person dies. Glad to hear Lyn is better.
Got to go - lots to plan and do.
There is nothing permanent but change. ~ Heraclitus
House Sold, Moving On
1 comments
The big news: my house is sold. Possession date is April 15. I have a lot to do. I decided to travel to Vancouver by train. I don't want to drive all that way by myself. Besides the old Tore-ass might not make it all that way through the mountains. And I can't travel by plane because I'm taking his urn with me. I phoned Air Canada and asked if I could carry it on the plane and they said I could, but they could not guarantee that security wouldn't ask me to open it so they could examine the contents. That would be too horrible to contemplate, so the train was the obvious choice.
I have booked a bedroom on the train for April 11, to arrive in Vancouver April 13. I am really looking forward to the trip. It was in our long term plans to take a train trip from here to Vancouver. We were waiting until we were both 60 because then you get a seniors discount. This is not the way we planned it, but he will be travelling through the Rockies by train with me.
And I have so much to do before I leave. I have to arrange for movers, sell my car, get an auction firm to sell any furniture and household goods that I am not taking, phone up all the companies about my household bills. And I have to see all my friends to say goodbye. I have several lunch dates already.
My condolences to Charlene and family. So sorry to hear of your loss. It's so sad when a young person dies. Glad to hear Lyn is better.
Got to go - lots to plan and do.
There is nothing permanent but change. ~ Heraclitus
House Sold, Moving On
