Keeping Still

Of late I haven't had a lot to say here because, increasingly, I've been in an ongoing state of pain. You see I can't be comfortable for very long whether I'm sitting, standing, walking or lying down. There are a number of factors at work but number one I'm sure is age..... and all the stupid things I put my body through when I was much younger. Likely just too much snow shovelling this season; too many working hours; not enough rest, blah, blah, blah. It has resulted in a flare up of old back problems, tendinitis and renewed pangs from arthritis. Stretches and exercise aren't having any positive effect.There is a medication I used to use which I might have to get back on but the side effects on my stomach were enough to make me stop using it a couple of years ago; time to give it another shot, I suppose. Increasing multiple doses of ibuprofen aren't working anymore.

I'm finding the pain is wearing me out; wearing me down. Lately sleep has been my refuge and I have slept solidly. There's just that occasional problem of changing positions or eventually getting up out of bed. Creak, crack, crunch,.... snap, crackle, pop. The swings in the weather don't seem to be helping either - going from mild and damp to bitterly cold and dry - I feel it all in my bones. Friday saw temps drop 30C in 16 hours from a damp +9 to a bone chilling -20; brutal on the body and psyche.

During my week off I accomplished little and didn't push my self very hard. Some light housecleaning and cooking was about it..... oh, and looking after the pets. I'm not the only one around the house who is feeling off. On Tuesday I had our younger dog, Milo, to the vet for a procedure on his ears. One ear is infected and he's on meds for it. Friday I took Freedom up as well to get her checked out; her hind end is seizing up; she's having difficulty when she first stands to walk and with climbing stairs. She's on a couple of meds including a glucosamine food additive. Oohhh, the joys of getting older, eh, girl??

In a nutshell that's why I've been keeping to myself a bit more than usual with little to say here and not so quick to comment elsewhere. I'll continue to cull any photos I think are worth sharing and get them posted. For right now though this has been enough sitting - time for a walk about the house. Yeah, I'm back for another 7 night stand and I've already been asked to cover a series of dayshifts starting 24 hours after I close off this week. Later....

Baby It's Cold Outside

The weather is what everyone is talking about here these days. Today's high temp was -14C and we're heading down below -20C again tonight. Lots of cold associated accidents, fires, watermain breaks. Shelters are opening extra beds and doing more outreach trying to get the homeless to take shelter. Exposed skin can freeze in as little as 10 or 15 minutes; less time if there is wind.

I had a bunch of running around to do today and everything went incredibly smooth, tickety-boo, no waiting. A doctors appt, haircut, oil change - nice not to have the frustration of having to hang around cooling my heels. Layer up and give the car plenty of time to warm up and off I went. Hah! Layering up - I had a ridiculous amount of clothes on today but I won't bore you with the details. Normally I look like a long, tall drink of water - today I was somewhat rotund and was restricted in movement by all I was wearing.

Unlikely to post during the day Friday as I had yet another call-in for work; this time just a dayshift. Ching-ching. The weekend will likely bring a visit from g'son Owen and his Mom - Dad is on a business trip in Australia. I'm hoping they stay Saturday into Sunday again. Sunday night I'm back into my regular series of night shifts.

BTW - My comments regarding the weather shouldn't be interpreted as complaints, though it may seem sometimes that is the spin on them. Walking out of doors in this sort of weather is bracing, exhilarating and life affirming. (Though daunting at times - must be mindful of inherent dangers and precautionary measures.) If you haven't experienced it I highly recommend it even if it's for a short time.

Catch Up; Wind Down

Sunday night I had a call asking if I would do one of those 26 hour sleep over shifts Monday into this morning. What's a guy to say except, yes......
So, over the course of 10 days I've been on the job for over 120 hours.
Besides grocery shopping, laundry, sweeping and vacuuming my plan is to take it extremely easy today... and cook dinner. Lynda is working an extra long p.m. shift.

One problem though. It is January; this is Canada; there is also a bunch of freshly fallen snow to shovel. I'll rest later. It can't be left where it is because a very cold layer of air is pushing into the area today bringing temps in the -25C to -30C range. Yikes!! Time to hibernate.

Lea - if you check in here - check your junk email folder. I sent you a message a few days ago. I can re-send if need be.

The Big 'Aaaahhhhh!!!'

Whew!! It's over for another year.... one more Christmas behind us.

Interesting day..... not entirely as I would have liked it but, all said and done, it was alright. The only two downsides to it were being forced to spend time listening to the toxic spoutings of stepson #2 and consequently having to bite my tongue in my own house (#!*&%$, ouch!); and being scheduled to work tonight. C'est la vie.....

Once I was up for the day (but still very much waking up) I was tapdancing about the kitchen alternately trying to help Lynda where I could and also staying so much as possible out of her way. Dinner turned out great and right on time. Good job Lynnie!! Driving to work I was feeling the effects of a very full belly - chuck full of turkey, potatoes, dressing, veggies, cheesecake and apple crisp. Lynda and I were so busy we didn't even have a chance to exchange gifts. I left for work a bit early to avoid #2 and any possible confrontation and escorted our clients to an outside meeting. (Yes, A.A. operates 365 days a year.) Good meeting - one of our weekend counsellors happened to have been asked to speak and did a good job relating his story.

Things here at work are REALLY quiet; the clients are safe and secure being here; the phonelines are still. In years past it hasn't always been so; some upset and agony through the holidays. Looks like it may be time to choose another movie to watch. Last night it was the first of the 'Bourne' series - a good solid action film. Did I mention I've picked up another series of day shifts next week? Don't think so. Thankfully these land at the end of the week so I'll have the chance to reset my body clock and rest up to recharge the old batteries. I'm feeling all of my 54 years and then some.... due for a little break. (thanks again for your kind invitation Kel - if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.)

In relation to this blog's name - Constant Change - and the upcoming New Year - and my involvement in A.A...... I haven't made new years resolutions for a number of years now because my program is one of ongoing change. This does however provide an opportunity to review my inventory, track change and progress, and try to spot any deficiencies or defects of character that need further work. I got sober when I was 48 so I may be all grown up and almost perfect if I live until I'm 96. It's important to have a plan..... lol.

For New Years Eve I've asked Lynda if she'd like to attend a city sponsored alcohol-free event at our new GM Centre. It includes an evening of free skating (something I haven't done since I was a teen), an early music performance for the kiddies, and a later one for the adults leading into the big countdown. As chance would have it the headliner is a guy who ushered in a very drunken new year for me about 25 years ago. David Wilcox - worth doing a search for - a veteran blues-rock guitarist.

Scanning the blogs earlier I see some celebrated early, some on the day and some chose to opt out and not celebrate at all. Wherever you land in that range I hope your day was a good one whether in company or alone.

What's Ahead??

The plan is to try and do the quicky shift switcheroo so I can get my days and nights flipped around to 'real' world hours. I'll have a much abbreviated sleep after I get off work in the morning so I can be back in bed early Sunday evening, back up and semi-functional Monday morning. I intend to report to a couple of temporary employment agencies to see if I can line up any sort of work for the balance of the week. The hope is that I can make a positive impression somewhere and get hired on a full time basis. At the very least I can make some contacts and get a line on who is hiring in the area.

There are a couple more CVs and cover letters to be sent out; a couple of follow up calls to make for others I sent out previously. One guy I know works for a printing firm and had mentioned the possibility of a CSR position opening up - gotta track him down and bend his ear. I used to work in print.

What else? The countdown is on for that Dylan concert here in town next week, the 12th. Woo-Hoo!! I'm glad I splurged for those tickets. Here's hoping he has a good night. Hmmm.... let's listen to some 'Modern Times', shall we? Get online and check some reviews and set lists.....

Lynda will be working her later shift this week so maybe I'll try to take in a couple of extra AA meetings - get out and see some friends.

I'm also looking forward to the American election Tuesday and to see what the result will be. (Plus it will FINALLY!! be over.) It has been a long, exhausting process. All rhetoric aside, in a political sense Obama fills the bill for me. McCain is too much of a hawk for me. And although expectations are that this will be a close race I do hope there is a clear winner.

Enjoy your week - I'll be back around when I'm able.

In reference to.......

.....my last post.

(I've been absent....mea culpa....[and very busy])

Russ did come out Sunday evening for a visit. We spent a while trying to download a program so that I could download movies and TV episodes but it kept dying so we quit - it was eating up too much time. Lynda had run out to pick up some dessert so we had a good feed on pecan pie, ice cream and brownies - diabetic heaven. He made it back home to Calgary Wednesday evening; about 40 hours of driving. My main concern was deer and moose through northern Ontario - a deer will wreck your car and likely injure you. A moose will kill you if you hit it broad-side. Ahhh, home safe.

I got my wish - I was asked to do a relief day shift Wednesday and an overnight shift Friday into Saturday morning. The shift ended at 9 and I was back here, in time for the first night shift of my week, by 7. And so it goes...getting organized for the week at hand.


"Think globally. Act locally."