Monday September 24th 2018

Today Mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Wind northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40. High 11. UV index 3 or moderate.
Tonight Partly cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers this evening. Clearing overnight. Wind northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this evening. Low plus 1.

I'm home. I'm also jetlagged and tired. I slept until 11, after being up for a little while around 0600.

I spent the day at my desk.

Quote of the Day
All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

<< Previous Page    |     Top    |    End     |    Next Page >>

Today A mix of sun and cloud. High 17. UV index 5 or moderate.
Tonight Clear. Becoming partly cloudy near midnight. Low 6.

I'm recovering from my adventures. 

Stepping on the scale, I see I am up about 15 pounds from eating whatever was at hand and drinking beer.  That has to stop.  I've been feeling a bit "off" the past few days and imagine, though, that I may settle a bit lower once I lose some water weight.

I'm still recovering from my adventures. 

Gerry came by to look at the stained glass kiln and supplies in the studio.  We had a good visit.

I have a ton of deskwork to do.

Quote of the Day
I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be.
Douglas Adams

Wednesday September 26th 2018

Today Mainly cloudy. Wind becoming north 20 km/h gusting to 40 this morning. High 14. UV index 3 or moderate.
Tonight Mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Wind north 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light overnight. Low plus 4.

Thursday September 27th 2018

Today Periods of rain ending near noon then clearing. High 9. UV index 1 or low.
Tonight Clear. Wind up to 15 km/h. Low minus 2 with patchy frost. Wind chill minus 4 overnight.

It's raining this morning and fall is definitely here.  I have to go to town this morning to see the doctor about my jaw.

My jaw became sore two weeks ago. I was busy in B.C. at the time and figured it would pass.  It has not and has been getting worse to the point where I can hardly chew, resulting in this visit to the medical centre.

At nine-thirty, I drove to the medical office. While waiting, I had the clerk print out my test results from my September 5th lab tests and looked them over. From what I saw, it is quite obvious I had signs of an infection at that time. 

For some reason, three weeks later neither doctor contacted me.  I have to wonder about out medical system. 

The doctor used liquid nitrogen on some actinic keretosis spots on my head and prescribed a heavy five-day dose of Amoxil.  We'll see if that solves the jaw problem.  To check whether the  infection persists, I went for another urinalysis.

After that, I picked up the prescription, bought some groceries, and drove home.

I reconciled some accounts then went out to deal with the van starting problem.  I have assumed the problem is a bad battery ground connection to the block abd took the van inside to jack it up enough to get under.

I found the connection (left) and cleaned it up. Surprisingly, that did not solve the problem, so I'll have to do further tests. I need the van for tomorrow to take in floors and lids for the silent auction.  I'm guessing a cable has internal corrosion somewhere it cannot be seen.

At any rate, since the shop door was open, I took out four drums of ashes.  I also graded the driveway but the weeds are bad enough it will take a few more passes in the future.

Quote of the Day
Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society.
The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.
George Bernard Shaw

Friday September 28th 2018

Today Increasing cloudiness this morning. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 7. UV index 2 or low.
Tonight Cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers this evening. Clearing overnight. Wind up to 15 km/h. Low minus 3 with patchy frost. Wind chill minus 5 overnight.

It is foggy this morning and that makes me worry about tomorrow. I have to be in Calgary very early to pick up Jerry for the meeting.

I worked on the van starting problem and it only got worse.  I may have to send it to a shop.  I was, however able to take out the rest of the ashes, so that is done for a few months.

Given the risk of bad weather and fog in the morning, I drove to Calgary and checked in at the Travelodge in Sunridge. 

I love hotel rooms.  They are so simple and basic.

Quote of the Day
If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
Dalai Lama

Saturday September 29th 2018

Today is the big day.  I pick Jerry up at 8 at the Palliser and we drive over to the UBA meeting. The meeting starts at 8. 

I'll be interviewing Jerry after lunch.  We'll see, but it's possible we may have a panel of experts as well, later.

At one point we were worried we might not fill the venue that has a capacity of 300, but indications are that the event will be sold out and we will have to turn people away if they have not registered online. 

I see  Hurricane Rosa is expected to pass over the Baja but at reduced strength and far north of La Paz.  Word is, though, that there has been a recent heavy rain in Baja Sur.

I have to get back down to the Baja. I had expected to be there by now for at least a visit, but this meeting, then Thanksgiving with Mom come first.

After that, Jon's wedding is in early November and that screws up my hopes for spending much time in Mexico and complicates the issue of travel medical insurance.

I don't mind being uninsured in Mexico.  Medical there is cheap and good, but I fear being in the USA without it. US medical facilities are good, but their charges are outlandish.  My current plan only covers fifteen days starting from a departure from Alberta, so a multi-stage trip to Baja California, then US California leaves me uncovered for the portion of the trip I worry about unless I purchase an extension.

Then there is US Thanksgiving shortly after.  I always visit Jon for US Thanksgiving, but that means two trips to CA within weeks. 

Having spent significant time in Baja and making it a home, I now find this Canadian prairie climate cold and dark in comparison.  It is now only the beginning of October and already we are having snow and the days are cool.  The nights drop below freezing and the days are growing shorter.

The BC west coast, even in the rain, is more temperate.

I picked up Jerry at the Palliser at eight and we drove to the meeting at Parkland Community Centre.

+   +   +   +   +

We did it!  We pulled off the meeting without a hitch and the speakers were top notch.  The presentations were aimed at the right level, the hall was packed and the food was fabulous. 

We had been worried the business meeting would degenerate into chaos, but Thomas just announced the business meeting, asked the assembly if they had like what they see so far and received general applause in response.  Then he asked if we needed to have elections and other business or if the assembly wanted the steering committee to continue as we have and work on bylaws and such later.

A show of hands said yes, do the latter.  Someone in the audience asked if we needed a motion and made one.  Another seconded and the vote was unanimous.  The steering committee is now the board of directors.

By then everyone had had a full day.  Ron put on some music for the social and people browsed the buffet, but soon most began leaving and cleanup started. Some of us lingered and chatted, then the steering committee and speakers drove to Ron's for pizza.  We had a fun gathering there.  Ron's teen son, David, was interested in  Jerry's smartphone app and went out to the backyard hives and gave it a try.

At eight, I drove Jerry back to his hotel and I was home an hour later.  I turned up the heat, and went to bed.

Quote of the Day
Promises are worse than lies.
You don't just make them believe, you also make them hope.
Marilyn Monroe

Sunday September 30th 2018

I woke up at eight after a good night's sleep and lay there a while.  Finally, I got up. 

I'd like to sleep all day, but somehow I just can't, so I made coffee and ate sandwiches left over from the meeting.  My jaw is still sore, but getting better. 

I'm guessing I have an abscessed tooth.  That was our original guess when I saw the doctor and the reason for this treatment with Amoxicillin  The pain is in the jaw hinge, but my bite was not right, and I'm guessing it is a lower left molar that has a root canal and cap, so no feeling there.

I really like this doctor. I'm so tired of locums - loci? She is smart and agreeable and actually likes the fact that I research my conditions and read and understand  -- Sorta -- my test results. I'm hugely into teamwork.

No matter.  It seems that the antibiotic should clear it up.  If not, I am going to have to see a dentist.

I hate to see Canadian dentists. The ones I have been subjected to lately are mercenary and fawning. They run several chairs at once, over-treat, try to up-sell to maximum insurance coverage and beyond. At the same time try to act as if they are my best friend. U

Ugggh.  That's smarmy.  I don't want my dentist to be my friend.  I just want genuine concern, and quick, efficient and effective treatment for the immediate situation and low cost -- like Mexico.

Checking online, I see that Hurricane Rosa is no threat to La Paz. Here, the forecast is dismal and, yes, that is frost on the car and rooftops. Brrrr.

I called Carolyn and we went for a walk.  It was too cold for her short-haired Chihuahua, so she picked her up and carried her in her jacket.

I don't know how I ever thought this kind of weather was normal and okay.  I guess I just grew up with it.

 I do enjoy it sometimes, especially skiing or boarding, but the secret is long underwear and proper clothing.  Even then, minus 10° C (14° F) is about my comfort limit.

Quote of the Day
I choose my friends for their good looks,
 my acquaintances for their good characters,
 and my enemies for their intellects.
A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
Oscar Wilde