LOTS OF RAIN IN VANCOUVER TODAY

RAIN,RAIN,RAIN

We woke to a grey, windy and very rainy Sunday. One of those days, where you just put on your snuggly PJ's and have a lovely lazy day, sleeping late, having a late breakfast, reading the paper and finishing my novel....great read it was too, called "The Book of Negroes". Then do some snacking , having a big yawn and crawling under my electric blanket and settling into a nice comfy, bear hibernation type sleep!

Across the road from us, is a school yard, and I'm telling you these Vancouver kids can't be called a whoosh!! These kids, about 8 or 9 years old, playing soccer in the pouring, pelting down rain, as if it was a sunshine filled day. The parents sure need a whole lot of praise, as well, with standing out there, huddled together under umberella's, trying to keep warm and dry while hollering advice and encouragement at their kids. I sure hope when they finish the game, winners and losers are treated to a nice set of clothing and taken for their favourite hamburger or pizza! They sure deserve it.

Meanwhile, I have to get up and close the window and put in ear plugs, so it drowns out their cheering and their little victory chanting sounds. Old grouch that I am!!

I hate to tell those who read this faithfully, but blogging is starting to wear down in interest for me. In fact the whole computer thing is such a time consumer, and I'm not getting anything constuctive done around here. I've become a full pledged procrastinator, putting off chores that should be done. I've got ironing up to my ying yang, hanging around to be done, this carpet needs to be steam cleaned, the fridge and freezer cleaned out, plants on the balcony dealt with, plus many other things. I'd like to get back to swimming at the pool and to get myself out walking more, but once I sit down at the computer, I'm lost in it for hours, and nothing gets done! Sooooo, if I miss a few day here and there, I hope you will keep watching for the next blog. I'm not giving it up completely, I just need to do something else and get a life!!!

Dianne C, you will just have to swig a tot of hot rum or something to help you to sleep on those days, my blog doesn't put you to sleep!! hahahh

What a sleeping pill I've been. Goes to show how boring this blog is, but still addictive!

So, please keep tuned, I may be here tomorrow and may not be here until Thursday, but I'll save any good stuff and tell you all about life here in Linda's Ramblings and Other Things.

TA TA !!

YELLOW ROSES

Yellow roses where always my mothers favourite flowers, and yesterday one of the neighbours brought us up, a beautiful bouquet of them, very much like the picture above, only with lots of baby's breath, which I love. She gave them to us for looking after her dog while she was in the hospital. It was Tom who took the dog out for walks a few times a day, but I got the roses!!

I'm afraid, I'm going to do a cop out on you again tonight! We had company for dinner and after all the preparation, which I'm just getting too old for this entertainment stuff, I'm pooped and ready for bed. Beside, I'm reading this really good book that I'm dying to get into the bathtub with and read and soak my aching back. So, I'm sorry, for a blah blog. Tomorrow, I'll try and come up with something interesting. I've also been busy putting pictures into albums and it's a bigger job then I though! But I'm getting there. Now I just need to get Tom when he's not busy to scan a few for me to show you.

Off to bed I go, heigh, ho, heigh ho!!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 2;08

This morning, came very early for me today with the rattling, noisy sound going on and on it seemed right outside our window. I noticed this sound last night while soaking and trying to read in the bathtub. The sound was so annoying, I called Tom to come and see if there was a loud truck running outside. Tom has trouble hearing, so didn't notice the sound, but heard it faintly. No truck was out there! It kept me awake most of the night, until, I couldn't stand it anymore and went and stood on the balcony trying to trace where the sound was. I thought it was the school across the road with maybe the air conditioning running. Went back to bed, and it was driving me insane, so got up, threw on my robe over my nightgown and went down on the elevator and out onto the street at 2:30 am! I didn't expect to see anyone, but did locate the sound. It's a mushroom looking fan that sits, nearly under our window, that is used to send cool air into the parking area below the building. Either the fan is wore out, the bearings need some grease or something!! Of course it seems a hundred times more louder in quiet of the night and the early morning hours. I called the building supervisor first thing this morning and she's looking into the sound for me.

So, I stayed up, with a cup of hot milk and the book I'm reading, and read well into the early morning hours. Batman, just can't stand life out of order, and knew I should be in bed, so he hounded me constantly, until I gave in and went off to bed, with him settling right down, with a big sigh, in his cat bed, beside me.

I slept a little, but woke in about an hour, tired and grouchy (even more so then that blue monster I showed you the other day.)

So, up and made a simple breakfast, and before I even finished it, I returned to bed. Great rainy, dark day for sleeping!! Got about two hours of sleep, got up and put together a stew. I still haven't gotten dressed!!

It's one of those type of lazy days where the less I do the better. I just remembered as I wrote this, the ton of ironing I have to do!! YUK!! Tomorrow is another day!

Election night!!! Survivor night!!

What election will us Canadians watch this evening? The Canada elections or the vice-president debate between Bidan and Palin? I bet anything it will be the American debate! That's what we'll be watching. The Canadian one is soooo dry and boring!!!! I will vote though!!

Survivor....I hope it won't be pre empted by the Canadian Elections!! I'll really turn into that blue monster! Nah, I'll just take my book and head to bed.

Whatever, you are doing tonight, ENJOY!!

See you tomorrow!

TIRED TONIGHT

Well, I'm plain old tired tonight, so going to make this a short blog. What did I do all day....well, made breakfast, went to the mall and shopped around and had lunch with my friend Patricia,

I did a couple loads of laundry, folded some, put them away, cleaned up the garbage, cleaned the litter box for the cat, bought a photo album and spent all afternoon going through pictures and inserting them in the album that holds 500 photos'. I probably did more things then this, but I can't remember them all, I'm too tired to think!

This old gal is getting old and can't go like she used to!!

So, I'm calling it a night, heading for the bath tub and to read my book which is fantastic. It's like the book Roots, only from a woman's perspective. I read 136 pages all in one go, until my eyes didn't focus on the pages anymore.

Goodnight, sleep tight, especially you Dianne C, and will see you tomorrow!

END OF SEPTEMBER

September Song

Oh, its a long, long while from may to December

But the days grow short when you reach September

When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame

One hasn't got time for the waiting game

Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few

September, November,these few precious days Ill spend with you

These precious days Ill spend with you

The end of September! Where did the summer go? We all ask ourselves that question, all the time, or "Where does the time go?" I think this question is something I ask myself this time of the day, everyday, when I glance at my watch, thinking there is lots of time left until having to make dinner. It seems I just got out of bed and soon it will be time to get back into it. Then I think "What did I accomplish?" Well, today, I got up in a terrible mood, grouchy and ready to snap any one's head off. Much like this little picture!

HOWDY...Meet Linda this morning!!!! Maybe it was because the phone rang, before I was really awake, and had to jump out of bed and rush to the phone, bouncing once off the wall as I made my way down the hallway to get whoever was calling at this ungodly hour!! Glancing at the clock along the way, it was 9:05....woops....I should have been up!! It was our travel agent to tell us he'd be away for two weeks, should we happen to need him. Nooooo, I don't think so...not for awhile!!

So, now, I'm up, awake, and grouchy!! Good thing Tom has gone overtime on his computer class. It usually ends at 9! He was safe where he was, until this mood passed!

By the time, I made the bed, got dressed, did my make-up and got breakfast, I was back to myself..whatever that is!! I think as I put on my make-up, I glanced in the mirror and frightened myself!

We had a quiet but nice breakfast, and Tom said, he was still tired, and was going to have a little catnap. Well, I was right beside him and it's amazing what 1/2 hour snooze, will do to make a difference for a mood change!

Tom and I walked up to the Library this lovely sunshine filled Fall day, as one of the books I had requested was my turn to read. This is what I'm reading and only on page 10 and know it's going to be GREAT!!

So, I'm trying to hurry with my blog, so I can get dinner ready, and jump into the bathtub and then in bed, to be cosy and comfy and read, read, read!!

Just a few moments ago, the sun as shining in though the vertical blinds, and I tried to reach over and grab the cord to close them, so I could see this screen. It was barely in my reach, and all of a sudden a huge cramp hit my leg, and right into my foot and toes. My toes, all curled right under and did it hurt!!! I had to call to Tom, as I couldn't move at all. He came running in, got down on his hands and knees and massaged my leg and foot until the cramp left. What pain it was!!! Then, Tom went to get up, fell forward, right into the cat's little house/bed and bumped his head on the wall!! We had a good laugh, over the whole thing and just as I glanced over at him now, all his hair is standing straight up on his head!! Hahaha....I'll wait until he looks in the mirror to see for himself.

So, what started with a grouch, ends with a giggle! And life goes on and tomorrow, we are into October!!! Where does the time go??

Please scroll down for last days blog.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD

Well, my last blog was full of the fun times I had in Ontario with friends and family. This is a little different.

I'm home a few days, the mail sits unopened on the table until I get myself organized and get around to opening it. Actually, Tom opened the Visa bill and came out and never said a word to me, just handed it to me. I nearly flipped out at the amount!!

Some smart asshole, stole our credit card numbers from our Visa, and must have made a new card from the numbers. All the activity started in Toronto, the day before I arrived there and continued for a few days after I got home.

Who ever the scourge on society was, he/she/they, certainly had a good time. They must be driving quite a bit, with a huge car, because about five fill-ups at different gas stations all in the $70-$95 range, all in Toronto. There was a trip to the movies for nearly $70.00....must have ate everything in the concession booth! Then, they must have invited all their friends out for dinner on different nights to various large amounts. Parked in many parking garages and just made Shoppers Drug Mt, quite a bit richer with a huge purchase there!

We called Visa right away and stopped all purchases on the card, on Friday night, so you can bet, whoever the creep or creeps are, has moved on to someone else's card by now!!

Visa, say's there are just so many ways these crooks can get your card numbers now, it's almost impossible to stop it. Thank goodness we have insurance on our card as this is the second time it's happened to us!! The first time, these horrible people, used our numbers to shop at Staples and bought a load of electronic equipment, to the tune of over $2,000. This time we we're hit with almost $1,000!

There is really no answer on how to prevent it from happening. These thieves are smart and have so many different ways to get the numbers. Visa, said next year they are putting out Visa cards that will require a pin number to prevent theft, but I can't see even that happening, as how many times does Interact theft happen? American Express, apparently puts your picture on your card, so even that would help. I remember reading as a child and even recently where they the government was considering embedding a chip under the skin to use as identification. I have no problem with this at all, as I'm not a thief, or have anything to hide. Except, maybe the crooks may carry a cleaver to hack of your hand to get your information!

It's just so damn maddening to be violated this way. To think there are people out there, preying all the time on whoever they can. Do they not have any conscience at all? The old saying goes "What goes around, comes around." I just hope it comes back on whoever they are, worse then they could ever imagine it could be!

On a more cheery note, Tom and I went to Granville Island today.Gosh, it's fun going there. It's like going to a festival, with all the music, the food and scenery. Here's a few pictures!!

Lots of great music to listen to

Great Food To Eat...Tom had a beef stew pie,and I had a chicken one! Delicous!

What a wonderful way to spend a spectacular Fall day!

Water Taxi, taking people to the other side of the water. What fun!

Tom, people watching!

Tom and his feathered friends.

Our West Coast trees are beginning to change.

So, ends another day in Vancouver.

I still haven't picked out my Survivor picks for the pool. With the economy going down, down, down, I better pick wisely!! It may be the only money left!!

Bye for now!

JOURNEY'S END

MY JOURNEY TO ONTARIO COMES TO AN END!

Well, it's winding down to the end of my trip to Ontario, so here's the last posting on a fun time.

I think this is where the party ended for me. After this, I went to bed. Only had about 2 glasses of weak wine....my Spomonti Bambino sparkling white stuff, I like.....baby wine, it's called!! But, I was tired and worn out, so left while the party was in full gear, and crashed. When I woke in the morning, I was sure I was going to wake up to an awful clean up job outside, and when I opened the door (everyone was still sleeping), this is what I found!

Everything was cleaned up, no sign of a party the night before, the dishes where all done, and learned later, that Roxanne stayed up by herself after everyone left and did a huge clean-up job!! Amazing!! How guilty I felt!Auntie Irene came to pick me up, as Kass and Roxanne needed some alone time and they went to the wine festival, so Irene treated me to go out for breakfast. Then we went to her place and went through old pictures, that later in the week, Roxanne, Irene and myself, made Walmart rich, while we copied old prints. Then the next day, Roxanne and I went and did some more!! I'll show them on here soon.

Then we went to Irene's granddaughter 2nd birthday party where I got to see lots of cousins, I wouldn't have seen otherwise, so it was a great time. Isn't she cute!!!

Ohhhh Boy....Presents!!!

Daddy Sean and the birthday girl!!

All the little cousins and one brother!

Linda with her two Aunties, Irene and Colleen who alway's make me feel so welcome and loved!

The next day, Mike, my brother and my Sister-in Law, came over to say goodbye, before I left the following day.

Mike and TJ, who loves living in Ontaro and loves his new mom and has forgotten all about his old mom!!

On the plane heading home to Vancouver....goodbye, all those I love in Ontario!

The picture of the clouds and ground, previous to this one, show's exactly where I was flying over.

Touch down in Vancouver. I was on the wrong side of the plane to get the good scenery. It's so good to be HOME!

Tom was there to meet me with a big tight hug, a kiss and a beautiful red rose! A great greeting!

Thanks to family, friends and new friends who made this a great holiday!!

This ends my ventures in Ontario, and tomorrow stay tuned for the Visa Credit Card theft that happened to us!! Not pretty!!!