It's getting cold outside

I haven't posted anything in the last month because I've been trying to get ready for the winter hibernation.  Or at least my version of hibernation without a viable vehicle for the routine errands that I normally do.

I live in southwestern Ontario and it does snow rather heavily from mid-November to about mid-March.   Depending on what Mother Nature decides she wants to do.  Fortunately, for most of the month of November there's been little to no snow.  That suits me just fine since I'm not really a winter weather type of person.  So, I start stocking up on items that I'd like to have in the apartment before it really gets cold out and I don't want to leave the warm comfort of my home.

The big thing that I do is stock up on groceries,  mostly getting canned stuff that stores well.  That  way, I have a base stock that goes well for making hot meals through the winter.  The other item that I get is my loose leaf tea.  There's nothing like having a hot cup of tea on a cold winters afternoon.  However, due to car that I have yet to get rid of or replace, I'm at a disadvantage of getting to and from any local grocery store.

I am lucky enough that I live in a fairly large city that has multiple grocery stores and that there is a local transit system.  What I don't like is the fact that I'm at the mercy of the transit schedule and what I'd be able to carry home from the grocery store.  Essentially, having a car that works means getting all the groceries you want in one visit.  (Can you tell I'm grumpy about owning a broken car that I can't afford to fix?)

On my way to work one day, I had some inspiration from a family of three walking down the sidewalk.  It was a couple with their child sitting in a wagon that looked like it could fold up and be  collapsible.  The search online began that day to find where I could get myself one.  It wasn't as easy as it looked.  For the most part, it was a seasonal item that I could have gotten from Walmart, Home Depot or Canadian Tire.  Ranging in price from $60 to $170, yikes!  Well, I finally found one for around $100 that suited my needs and placed the order online.

A week later the item arrived at the building I live in and got delivered - thankfully, I was home to receive it.  Of course I was very excite to try the new wagon out and see how well it worked.  Off to the grocery store I went with a long list of things I needed and did what I needed to do.  I finish off, pack the wagon, and head home.  I'm pleased as punch about how big it was.  Here's some photos:

 It's a good size wagon that's holding a $115.00 Canadian (just under $90.00 in US funds).  For me as a single person, that's a lot of groceries.  Yes, you're seeing a couple of bags of chips - I usually indulge on one or two goodies for myself.  Still it's a lot of groceries to be able to get home on my own without a car.

This is what it looks like when it's folded up, ready for storage.  I live in a one bedroom apartment and there's not a lot of storage space for any big bulky things.  This is why I bought this wagon, it's condense enough to store in the back of the closet or at the end of my small storage area.

For anyone who's wanting to see what the name and size of the wagon, here's the close up of it.  From what I can remember, Walmart does sell these online and will ship to your local store for pick up.

Right now as it stands, I love my new wagon because I can go grocery shopping without needing extra arms.  And I can get as much or as little as I need.  However, I've only done a test run prior to any snow fall here in London.  So,  I don't know how well it's going to work during the winter months.  Here's hoping for a few good days with clear sidewalks and good days over the next couple of months.

Remembrance Day 2016

I'm one of the few that has November 11th as a day off and I'm very grateful for everything that the Canadian military does for us.  Twenty five years ago, I was lucky enough to serve in the military for three years.  I was stationed at CFB Trenton for the most of that time.  While I was there I lived on base and I got use to arriving and departing airplanes.  I wish my contract had been renewed for another three years.  All in all, I loved the time I spent in the military and I wouldn't change it for the world.

This picture is from CFB Cornwallis - basic training.  The only time I was legally allowed have a gun.  Well, it was a working gun without real bullets. 

I didn't time my day very well either.  If I had, I would have been at the cenotaph in downtown London for the services on Remembrance Day.  However, I did manage to pay my respects by visiting the 1st Hussars museum.  http://www.museumsontario.ca/museum/First-Hussars-Museum

I'm probably not suppose to do this but I'm going to copy and paste a portion of the Wikipedia page:

Foundation and organisation

The 1st Hussars traces its roots to the formation of the St. Thomas Troop of Volunteer Militia Cavalry in March 1856 and the First Troop of Volunteer Militia Cavalry of London in July of the same year. In 1863, these units were redesignated the St. Thomas Troop of Cavalry and the London Troop of Cavalry, respectively. Both troops were put on active duty in southwestern Ontario in response to the Fenian raid of 1866, but neither had contact with the invading forces.
The two troops were consolidated under one headquarters, forming the St. Thomas and London Squadron of Canada in January 1867. Both troops were again called into active service during the 1870 Fenian invasion, but again neither saw action.
In May 1872, the squadron was expanded with four additional cavalry troops, for a total of six, to become the 1st Regiment of Cavalry, headquartered in St. Thomas. Subunits included:

• No. 1 Troop - St. Thomas.
• No. 2 Troop - London.
• No. 3 Troop - Mooretown, Lambton County.
• No. 4 Troop - Kingsville, Essex County.
• No. 5 Troop - Bayfield, Huron County.
• No. 6 Troop - Unallocated.

No. 5 and No. 6 Troops disbanded in 1874. In 1880, regimental headquarters moved to London, where it has remained to this day. The 1st Regiment of Cavalry was redesignated the 1st Regiment of Cavalry Hussars in 1888, and 1st Hussars in 1892. In 1896 and 1897, the remaining four troops' numbered designations were replaced with letters and the troops were renamed as squadrons.
In February 1905, the regiment moved into the newly built London Armouries at the corner of Dundas and Waterloo Streets, which it used until 1977. By 1913, 'A' Squadron had moved to London from St. Thomas, 'C' Squadron had moved from Mooretown to Courtright, where it was disbanded, and 'D' Squadron had moved from Kingsville to Amherstburg, where it was renamed 'C' Squadron after the disbandment of the Courtright squadron.

Anyway, it was very interesting tour through the museum.  If I am ever asked for something interesting to do, I'll recommend going to this museum.

The start of money troubles

I've had a pretty rotten year in 2016.  Or I should say, it's been a really crappy year financially.  It seems like I've been bleeding money faster than I can make it.  It started more or less in 2015, when the board of directors moved forward with the required maintenance for the exterior of the building.  The brick work had been needing repair for a few years before it was decided that it needed to be done.It finally got started in early 2015 and completed by fall of 2015.  Obviously, a final bill was given to the condo corporation for the work done and the finances had to be looked at.  With the amount of money that was needed to pay for such work, there wasn't enough in the reserve fund to pay for it and  a special assessment was levied against the 86 owners. The notice went out early in January 2016.

Depending on the number of bedrooms you have, the "special assessment" amount that you pay would be $3600 for a one bedroom or over $5000 for a two bedroom unit.  I don't know about you, I don't exactly have 3 to 5 grand lying around to drop at a moments notice.  I'm lucky if on a whim, I have enough money to stop at the local coffee shop for that large coffee.  Yes, I was very aware in the summer of 2015 that I should have been saving every single penny I could to pay for it but it's hard to save money when you don't know how much you'll be paying in the end.

Back in 2004, I made the decision to purchase a home because I didn't want to spend my money (and my retirement money) renting.  I wanted to be secure in my old age.  I chose an apartment condo because I knew that I didn't want an actual house where I had to shovel snow, rake leaves, cut grass, pull weeds out of the garden or any other outside chore.  Yes, it makes me look lazy.  On the other hand, I knew that owning a condo meant paying condo fees for the maintenance of the building I live in.   

For many years, the condo fees in the building I live in stayed low and didn't increase as much as they should have.  If the board of directors did their job they way they should have, a lot of us wouldn't be broke. If the Board stays diligent, hopefully the Reserve Fund was accurately funded now and in the future. And I wouldn't be in the financial hole that I am.

Humorous thought for the day:

(As seen on a bumper of a passing car):  If I wanted a bitch, I'd buy a dog.

There is no Reasoning - Learning to let go

Over the last few years I've learned a few things about myself.  Mostly, there's more people on the planet Earth than just me, that I'm not the center of the universe.  I have and will continue to improve my life skills in relation to how I interact and treat other people.  The first thing was to remember the manners my mother taught me and use them regardless of the situation.  I think I've improved and I've noticed people around me appreciate it when I say "please/thank-you".  A small thing to do in daily life that makes things easier in the long run.  There's been a few more things that I've worked on, including talking (or interpersonal skills) with the people around me and improving my  sense of humor.  These two things have taken a little work on my part and I'm working on getting rid of the  hermit shell that's I've used to protect my life.

When I originally started this entry,  I wanted go on a tear about a co-worker's "attributes" (my polite attempt not to call someone a b*tch).  It was turning into an extra long rant about something unimportant to me but not my co-worker.  Before long, I realized that I didn't want to sink to the level of a person who doesn't have respect for others.  I want to rise above the ignorance and remember why I want to be a better person.  I don't want to hold onto grudges, treat people like dirt, treat people with respect and believe that there's something better out there.

What I'd like to finish off with something good.  Today I ran into a friend that I haven't seen in a very long time, Lisa M.  She's someone I went to public school and Brownies with when we were both younger.  It's great to see someone that you haven't seen in a long time.

In the beginning

One day after my 48th birthday, I'm starting a new journey that I hope will be productive and fulfilling.   I'm not quite  sure what this blog will be tomorrow or next week but I'm hoping that in a year it will be a valuable thing for me to look back at and remember.

In recent months I've had more than my share of "hiccups" that have driven me nuts, and 2016 is far from being over.  Not to say the beginning of the year was any better.  What I'd like to do is start letting go of the grief, guilty feelings and any other problems that plague my thoughts.

Over the next few weeks and months, I'll be more "grumpy" when I post something that's happened in the last ten months.  I think what I need to do in the early stages of this blog is give some history to what has been my life.  Hopefully better things will happen in the months to come and I can share them when they happen.

What I can say is, I'd like to work on being a better person.  Work on my sense of humor, turn the other cheek and find the good in what I do everyday.

I do apologize if this post seems disjointed or chaotic, my brain in recent weeks has turned to mush.  In the next day or two, I may post a "venting" session about recent events.