Today is Oct. 14 2021. Have not posted for a long time. For the last almost 2 years the world has been struggling with the Covid 19 epidemic. I t will probably be with us forever. In February when Covid was being recognized here in BC, I was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis. That has certainly changed my life. I went from healthy and vigorous to a scooter riding, cane user, low energy and loss of strength mostly housebound person. Not fun, but cannot allow myself to moan or gripe about it. Not just for me but others as well. There is one medication that is supposed to slow the progression, but at the current cost of $ 60, 000 per month that is not an option. 

Winter is coming, supposed to be a huge rain storm over the next day or so. Some places will see flooding and I can\t help but think of how our salmon will do as abnormal water flow will bring silt, tear out spawning areas and other havoc.

Hmm after I was on here the other day, I realized I had left out quite a bit of the last few years. Funny how you get concentrating on something and then miss the obvious.
Also sold our house over on Cleveland and moved to a duplex. Smaller but nice. Been going to the 55+ senior games the last 6 years, 4 silvers, 1 gold and 1 bronze. so fairly good results. Also 1 silver in pairs.
Finding out that aging isn't all "just Great " as some folks say. Arthritis, hearing, eyesight , I could go on but it won't change the inevitable. Can still bowl, got netflix so that cuts down on TV commercials!
Connected with most of my US cousins on our quick trip to Arizona in OCT/ Nov. Really pleased to develop a friendship with my young cousin in Utah. I sporadically try and work on genealogy still, but with no offspring interested, the desire is rather dulled.
We have both taken up volunteering at our local hospital, Maryann works at the info desk and escorts visitors as needed, Temporarily I will work in the medical imaging area, but may move to a new job just being created.
We have a spring hobby of trying to increase the Mason Bee population - interesting creatures.
The weather has turned cool again so spring is now a bit late.

Hmm almost 3 years since the last entry. The two girls did arrive and they and our club had some good bowling. We, as usual went home in March. Kick started the Junior program and bowled through the summer. Did the senior games again and Silver again. Then back to Arizona in the late fall and started that cycle again. Mostly south and back home were repeats of the other years except we finally hit gold in the quads and Jim M and I took silver in the Mens pairs. Started a long year as President of the Sidney club, easy jobs can be made difficult when there is a turkey and associated turkey crap to contend with.
Double pneumonia in the spring of 2018, travel  medical insurance now very high so sold our unit in Arizona. Back in October to pick up our belongings and Mark in the US open bowling extravaganza. A great time! Home middle of November and that part of our life is now history. Hopefully we will go back for about ten days to do the Open again. I have missed a lot of other things such as Maryann''s sister moving to the coast and later health problems that she developed and of course all the various details of life in a 3 year period. Oh yeah, finished one one more full length novel, That one took 7 years compared to my usual 3 months or so. So will I keep up on here? Maybe but am sure it will be much more sporadic, time will tell.

 March 21st, 2019. Haven't been on here for a long long time. It is odd how priorities change. Just getting over my second carpal tunnel operation. many things have passed into the past since I wrote last. I will try and do a catch up but have to check the date of the last entry.

New sky lights installed yesterday just ahead of the rain. Still some finishing and gyrocompass work to be done. Revised some of the junior rules and privacy issues. We watched the 2 hour long Sarah Beckett funeral yesterday. It was very impressive, emotional and non political.

Bowling club stuff, visiting kept us busy last few days. Bottled wine yesterday morning, renewed travel insurance contract. Had the guys check our roof. Going with new sky lights, obvious that is how some water got in. Pizza night at the club. Hot tub then bed.

Busy days and evenings for that matter. Spending hours on the computer on club stuff, then yesterday our board meeting was over 3 hours long. The weather has turned cool and showery, yuk!
Bought our first batch of spring flowers, will take a few of them to the club to put into our Juniors planter. Not sure what we will do about our roof yet.

Busy day yesterday.paper work for income tax. Club, burning old papers, typing up games report for upcoming meeting, getting telephone repaired, back to the club for pizza night, then company later.
Shoulder is still sore but feeling better thanks to Tylenol.
Great weather, fairly warm in the spring sun. Our blue skies aren't as bright a blue as down south.

Frustrating day, woke up , well actually went bed with a really sore shoulder. Meetin at the club, car transmission acting up, got het fixed by changing a code. Finally went up to the hospital re my shoulder after over 3 hours plus X-ray, I have arm in a sling for next 4 - 6 weeks. Apparently a hyper extension or severe sprain plus calcium chips in the rotor socket. Supper at Mike and Cheryl's
.

Bowled both here and Lakeview. Big late lunch at Lakeview for a season windup. Got the car zipped into its bag with both M's tricycle and my bike. Visited with Bernard and Alyda. No supper, too full from the 3 pm meal.watched a movie. Didn't sleep well with everything that has to be done today running through my head.
Windy most of the day and night, for a while it looked like a storm was brewing.

M off to church with the Boyd's, I put stuff away from back yard, partly filled our evaporation buckets. Fixed window locks, etc. After a nice lunch at Boyd's we went to the pool for awhile, then zippered the van into its bag. Leftovers for supper, watched Jane Eyre and off to bed.

Bowled in the am, another quick trip to Costco and the dollar store. Bought two new suitcases. Did some preliminary preparation for next weeks leaving. Pizza party at Lyle's for all us citrus pickers. Watched 3 episodes of a new series while M was selling tickets at the concert. Sierra let us know they made the 4 pm ferry and breezed through the border with no delay.  Slightly warmer again.

Got a bigger load of oranges and grapefruit than we have been doing. We didn't keep any, think most of it is set out for free. Quick run to Costco and Walmart. Thanks to Norm found out we don't need a new fan. Note to myself "remember wall switch". Bbq'd steak and chicken for dinner, Wallace's and Sandersons here for Bon voyage dinner.
Sierra keeping us up to date on her way home with the Campbell's. They got to Portland last night.the weather has been cooler just over 80 yesterday.

Didn't bowl in am. But did the monitoring thing. Oakmont visit in the pm, paradise didn't do well , winning only one game out of 16. Supper at Wallace's, watched The Physcician.

Pancake breakfast at the ballroom, then our company off for home on their first leg. Bowled at Lakeview. Won.
Watched Priscilla Westlakes game by live streaming. She lost on. The tie breaker but what a bowler!
A movie then bed.

Been having a good week with our two junior girls from home plus John  and Helena, one of the girls parents. Bowling, shopping, pool time and just visiting. The place is a bit crowded with six of us, but everybody helps.
The girls really enjoy their time at the pool. And Sierra, has been demonstrating her bowling skills and opening a few eyes at how good she is. Jennica has been keeping us laughing with her stories and views of the world.
Had O'Genskis over for dinner last night.

Bowled a part game in the am, had to share as we had too many show up. Quick trip to the99 cent store. Visited in back yard then John, Helena, Jennica and Sierra arrived. The two are our two junior bowlers from home. John and Helena are Jennica's parents.  Did a walkabout then sometime at the pool, a late supper.

Bowled in the am, after lunch to JC Penny, wine store and gassed up. Amazing we can now gas up the van after the low gas warning sounds for 23 dollars! Got a good hour in at the pool. Then supper followed by Skinwalkers.
Just after supper, lots of emergency vehicles, just two streets over one of our fellow bowlers, out building was destroyed by fire and the back of their unit got scorched pretty bad. In these parks a fire can be pretty destructive. Good to have such quick response.
Barry Todd, did you get my phone message?

Found out we have to get a new caretaker for the summer as poor old Art has pancreatic cancer. There is a fellow just down the street, we'll see. Club stuff for home, did the once a month stroll through the market.
In pm played bowling survivor. Good turnout and everyone seemed to enjoy it. A fun game.
The pizza was good again last night as the cards in crib cooperated!
Watched 1 episode of Skinwalkers.

I could say I've been to busy to write on here the last couple of days, but actually I was too lazy!
The weather continues warm, even yesterday with an overcast sky. Trying to only bowl once a day and save the rest of the day for something else. Have started getting things in order for going home. We have decided on the 30th.
Had our spring club meeting a few days ago, nothing exciting. Sold M's bike and have the golf cart up for sale. We hardly ever use it.
Out for a nice dinner yesterday, home in time to watch our latest series, Skinwalkers, Navajo mysteries,  pretty well an all Indian cast, funny most of them are Canadian acrors that we see quite often.
The Campbell's and the two girls left Sidney yesterday. We are both looking forward to their visit and to show off our two Juniors to the club here.

Attended the funeral service of our bowling friend, Bob Smith. Thirty of us from the club in our whites attended. A nice service for a good man.
Put in about 2 hours at the pool until the heat got too much. Early supper then to the ball room to watch a play by the local drama club. It was awful!!! And cost 5$ besides.

Bowled in am, against M, she bowled really good so finally had to lay a 5 ender to squeak,out the win. Pm to Lakeview but I went on to the lab to get INR done, came back and watched the rest bowl.
Visit to Bealls then home. Watched Witness on Netflix , actually pretty good.

Didn't bowl, stayed home, paper work for both SLBC and Paradise LBC. Cleaned up back yard, replanted the broken cactus (not an easy task) and a few other chores.
Got out our car bag and out tried it out, it will work well and we can probably fit both the ladies 3 wheelers in as well. Read for awhile, game of scrabble. Started a movie but didn't like it.
Haven't heard from any "kids" but Cheryl and Brenden for a while!

Won our first game lost our second, but squeezed through into playoffs in second flight today.pizza night last night, tasted pretty good this time!
Visited Dmv and found out how to avoid insurance costs while vehicle is stored.
Very warm in the afternoons now, pretty well 90 everyday.

Lost both our games in the current tournament. Only consolation was after being down 11 to 0 after 4 ends, we came back to tie the game in the11th end. Gave up the winning point in the 12th.
Read while M went grocery shopping.
WatchedTrain Man, quite a good movie.

Got Bob Smith's bowls mounted and they are now nice looking bookends. Bike ride around park, visiting ere and there. Read in the afternoon(outside).game of scrabble. Did some club work for back home.
Watched episode 1 of House of Cards, it won't be a regular with us.

League play in the morning. The last day. Got the stats done after another glitch developed in the excel program. Read in the afternoon. Stayed in the shade as the temp was about 90.
I think we may have watched all of the Heartland episodes! Now what?

Bowled in the am, with Erle's help got framing done around our covered window. Tried to mount bowls onto book ends frames. But need a drill press etc. Read a bit.
Wallace's for supper, then home to Heartland.

Stayed home yesterday after a night of coughing, happily whatever everyone else had didn't develop and by evening I felt pretty good. Read and dozed the day away out in the back yard. Bbq'd chicken and asparagus, Norm and Alice here for supper. Heartland then bed.

Worked on schedules again. Big excitement just at noon, gas leak some where near the club house. Fire engines, haz mat team. They ribboned off a large section including our club house. Turned out to be a leaking line in in one of the dryers in the laundromat. So a little late starting our Fun day in pm, played two jack a bit different. It was followed by appies and bbq'd tuna, wow was that good. Home by 4:30. Heartland in the evening, didn't need supper!
Feels like I have a touch of the crud going around, coughing, flem. Yuk. Will lie low this am.

Slept in till after daylight, haven't done that in a long time!
Bowled in am, won. Cutthroat in pm, didn't bowl badly but came second. Cards and pizza, the pizza was on us!
Heartland and bed.

Worked on bookends for the the banquet tables. Got the excel fixed again. Early lunch then to SCW for Wednesday $ day. Meeting with insurance guy I'm starting to think we should look elsewhere for another quote.
Supper at Norm and Alice's then home to Heartland.

League in am. Lost. Visit to S C Grande, won both my games and Paradise won overall.
Had a traditional toast for Feb. 23.

Supper and some Heartland episodes.

Bowled in am then club visit to El Mirage. Our club won overall. Very windy afternoon with the wind coming straight from the west. Beer brak when we got home on the deck. Temp just below 90.
Watched more episodes before bed.

Today would have been Alan's 47 birthday. So tonight we will raise our customary glass to his birthday. Hope those of you who are elsewhere can join us  for the moment.

Completed the new bowler's training, he caught on very fast. Another revision on my excel sheet, read a bit, went to the pool, read and a quick swim. Out to dinner with friends, then home and did 3 episodes.

Yard sale day. We only put out two things, the Golf Cart and m's bike. We still have them. Training in am , helped juice last of our oranges. Cutthroat league in pm. Then to Talent show, we do have some talented folks here.
2,episodes.

M lost her first game then later played off for third place, she got that one. Squeezed in a haircut, bank and Best Buy between games. Marked a game while M did her playoff.
Canada dinner party, went very well good turnout of about a hundred.we ran the 50/50. Made a120 $ for next year's party.Got in one episode when we got home.

Didn't bowl well and lost two games so am out of it today. M made it through and will be playing this am. I guess will be a marker.
I resigned yesterday am from my bowls bc job. Just too much work, and priority must go to the Junior program and the U25 we are hosting again.

Two games in men's singles, won and won. Marked two games besides. Hope the two games go well today. Hot out there in the pm.
Got an estimate on a new roof, ouch. Have requested the report from the person who checked the roof out.
A little shopping in pm then two episodes.

League play in am, lost. Helped a newer bowler with tuning up in pmthen home to deal with our leaking roof in our real home. Worked on a bunch of Bbc/BSI stuff. I don't think it will ever end.
Our roof has been tarped, apparently the recommendation is to redo the whole thing. I am concerned that it may only be a problem where the sky light drains are plugged.
Cheryl and Chad pulled out the wet carpeting in our closet and have a fan going.

Training in am then bowled at Lakeview. Spent most of the late afternoon into supper time working on Sidney Club stuff and Bowls BC. Seems that a winter vacation with Internet and emails create a situation of work, work.
 But also had to deal with a leak into our bedroom closet at home. Roofer coming today. Good thing Cheryl was there to find it and do the contacting.

Friday pizza on Sunday, oh well it tasted good as we won the crib game!
Bowled both am and pm.
It clouded over in the late pm, more of a high haze. I see the dollar is up a bit this morning, higher please!

Watched a bit of bowling, went to the market. Found that the kitchen sink taps were not repairable so with Erle got new ones and we, well really he installed them.  Had a welcome beer out in the mire welcome heat in the back yard. The thermometer in the car port said 92. M home from her bowling camp around 4. After supper watched 4 episodes.
Happy Valentine's Day.

Got home at 9pm. Very busy day yesterday, took Cheryl to work so I could use her car. Picked up files etc for Bowls BC business, signature card at the bank for our club,  visited two places for a half hour each. Picked up Cheryl for her lunch break, looked for some stuff we needed down here. Then it was time to get Cheryl back to work and me to the Westjet gate. Got dropped off last last night when I should have been second.

Well we came through! I borrowed Erle's bowls as they run narrower than mine and was able to get to the Jack more often. Won our first game, then the second on an extra end to win our flight. Entry fee. $ 25, prize money $ 26 for a dollar profit after 66 ends and 14 hours out in 85 to 87 degrees. Something wrong with that picture.
2 episodes last night. 

Won 1 game out of four. Temp peaked at 87 during last two games. The energy level sort of suffered. Our single win got us into today's round. I played poorly and demoted myself after the first game.
Really tired last night and actually wish we hadn't made the cut.
This week is tournament week , the bowlers come in very strong teams from all over , a lot of them are tournament bowlers only and much younger than what we are used to. Makes for very tough competition for us regulars.
Managed 2 episodes last night then to bed at 9.

Lost our first game miserably then had a good second game but lost it on the last end. The ladies didn't fair much better.
And yes the warm weather has finally returned, sat out on the deck at 84 f.
Watched 3 episodes so got to bed a bit late.
Men's pairs start today.

For ten end games in the men's triples. One win two losses and a bye. So going into today's finals in the middle of the pack.
M's ladies quads ended up in upper middle for today's finals.
Weather was great, a bit cool and breezy but warm from mid morning on.
Supper then 3 episodes.

Watched m bowl. Unfortunately although she played well, she got beat.brought Norm home from the hospital. Practise at Lakeview, watched some of the finals. Pizza  and card night. We paid. One episode then bed.

M lost her first game but won her second so will be in the second flight today. I walked back and forth a few times, had a hot tub, derrière feels better. Took Alice to hospital, Norm hopes to get out this afternoon. Days and Wallace's here for supper. Watched 2 episodes later.

Laid low yesterday, hoping to heal up my bruised derrière. Went to watch the bowling in pm. M was HOT. I have never seen her bowl that well before. She won both her games with a poor old lead that no one else would want.
Got some banking looked after, bowls stuff for Sidney and Bowls BC. Read a bit. In the evening we got in two episodes. 

League bowling in am, won. Took Alice up to the hospital. Started bowling in the visit with Grand to our club but couldn't finish second game. My tail bone area hurt so bad, I couldn't bend. Came home and laid about. I guess the squatting and bending motion is an aggravation. Two episodes in the evening.

Cutthroat make up game in the am. I didn't bowl well. My bruised or broken coccyx is somewhat painful so took it easy in the pm. Larry brought me over a donut pillow, it helps a bit.
A real humdoozer of an electrical, wind and rain storm, must of lasted two or three hours. But the way the rain comes down we could easily had over an inch of rain.
Norm is still coming along. Watched two episodes.

Bowled in am. Visited Norm in pm. Spirits are good, he just wants to get things fixed. Won't be out of the hospital till at least Tuesday.
Delivered orange juice and oranges to friends.
Watched tv after supper while M and Alice went to the hospital. Later got in one episode.

Bowled in am then in pm watched the first round of cutthroat with Richard then played in second round. Mane Alice off to hospital about 5:30 got back at 8:15. Watched a couple episodes.

Bowled in the am. Worked on Bowls bc stuff.
Norm still in hospital, I went back up to visit with M and Alice, by the time we came home last night he had had an echocardiogram and a ct scan plus a couple of other tests . The results came back quickly.
Apparently he has some blood clots in his lungs so will now get treatment for sisolving those.
Interesting comparing us system to ours. Aggressive treatment, do tests etc now not later. At hospitals, free parking, free tv, free coffee etc for visitors, free newspaper, large uncluttered rooms and almost one on one nursing.

Picked oranges in the am, but on return at about 11 found that M's cousin Norm had been taken by ambulance to hospital. We went right away and he seemed pretty good, a little later he was moved to the heart wing but crashed. By about 7:30 pm he had an angiogram and 3 stints implanted in his heart. Was awake and resting quietly.
M and Alice will be going over 1st thing this am.
If you can believe it , he may be real eased later today.

Got score cards ready for most of the league play. Emails. Watched some of the new bowlers tournament. Lakeview in pm.
A decent day, temperature wise, no cloud.
Shuddering about the thought that we have to buy some US dollars, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
Looks like along with running the Junior Provincials again, I will also sit on the board of Bowls BC as the Zone 1 (BSI )rep. Oh well gotta keep busy I guess.
Exciting to hear that Chad was flown to Hawaii to template a cruise ship, presume it's the kitchen or serving area.

Home in the morning, bowls stuff for home. M and m went shopping.
Cutthroat in the pm, makeup game for the one we missed. Although I had top score in my group. Will probably still be in the lower half. M was second in her group which should keep her in the top half.
Pizza night, we paid. It was Sunday so we were making up for missing Friday.
Temperature still on the low side, big difference between sun and shade.

Won our first game which got us into the finals for our flight but lost the last one. Well we were in the money anyway
Got back in time for the conclusion of fun day and had our two dollar bbq'd hamburger,  quickly organised a 50/50 and made $45 for the club. We should have joined up with the fun day bowlers to eat though.
Had an early evening so got in 4 episodes.