Shoes (and boots) are so tempting to buy. After all, you don't have to get undressed to try them on, there are soooo many styles and occasions for use. Until we both had well paying, steady jobs (~40yo) I wore cheap shoes (Woolco, Zellers then Walmart). I'm easy on shoes and have no foot problems. I'm still easy on shoes and have no foot problems but my purchasing style has changed. I had a lot to learn before I could really afford to make that change.
I live in a small Canadian Prairie city with a spouse and a dog. We retired in 2018. This is what life is like.
Wednesday 30 December 2020
Footwear - the struggle is real
Wednesday 25 November 2020
The Fall Pandemic Response Edition
Saturday 21 November 2020
iPhone Mini first impressions
It's a very nice phone, GREAT size and I can see the appeal of face unlock. It was quick and easy to transfer everything from his old phone. While he loves the size, he's not that fond of the glass back and it's an opinion we share. My favourite phone was the Galaxy Nexus because you could through that phone down the stairs and it would be unscathed. Glass backs are slippery and made worse by increasing phone size. Ergonomics can only do so much.
Thursday 12 November 2020
A book and 2 apps
I routinely escape my doom scrolling (now with REDDIT - oh no!) by reading books and writing reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads. This time I'm putting the review here! By coincidence I've also added 2 new apps to my phone so I thought I would include a first impression of them as well.
Wednesday 11 November 2020
Could be a l-o-n-g winter
Avalanche for clearing solar panels |
workout space |
Having parents in their 80s really helps us recognize just how fortunate we are. While they all live in their own homes, none of them are particularly tech savvy so it's difficult to video call or suggest virtual activities that we take for granted. Fred's parents are going out for coffee and stuff while my dad is mostly staying home - a difference in mobility and locations. My dad is in the Fraser Health Region in BC while in-laws are in Alberta South Zone. We are in Saskatchewan NW2 zone. Exposures are low enough in our area that we get warned of exposure events and I can check my Google timeline to see if I'm affected. We minimize in store shopping and wear a mask when inside public spaces. We may start wearing a mask outside as well as trails narrow due to snow. I find it mystifying that people can bemoan the effects of the pandemic on the economy/leisure activities while refusing to take the simple step of wearing a maskš¤·♀️
Once the pandemic is resolved in a year or so, we plan to increase our traveling so that's really something to look forward to! How far ahead are you looking?
Saturday 17 October 2020
Echo Show First Impressions
We've had both Amazon and Google speakers and have, in the end, decided to go with Amazon. A large reason is because we can have different trigger words for different devices, essential with an open floor plan. Alexa doesn't say thank you like Google but also has fewer accidental triggers. We opted for the 5" model that was on sale for Prime days.
Friday 2 October 2020
Definitely Autumn
Days are getting shorter so we are getting up later - the joys of retirement! We have been s-o-o-o-o lucky this year. After snow in September for 2 years in a row - with the cold staying last year - this year has been a gift. It's been windy, but warm enough to do a lot of stuff outside. There's been a lot of P.E. (biking, canoeing and Frisbee golf) from the schools and even band practice! Our workout in the park went to the end of September.
Monday 21 September 2020
Winter is coming...
Summer is winding down. It was very late in arriving (max solar credits in AUGUST!) but at least isn't early in leaving. We've had some time to adjust to pandemic rules but it will be an adjustment as winter activities kick in.
Sunday 13 September 2020
Getting Book Recommendations
Living in this time is just ... challenging. The news out of the US is (and always has been) overwhelming and it's a challenge to get out of that bubble and look local. Scrolling through social feeds is just too easy and often feels futile. If you can't affect where you live with your vote, worrying about the US is worse. To that end - since I'm a reader, I'm looking towards fiction to read.
Monday 31 August 2020
Techcopalypse, Bennie vs the voles and summer's end
Saturday 8 August 2020
Today is Ice Cream making day!
I had asked for the ice cream making attachment for my KitchenAid a couple years ago. In true lazy fashion, I only got the bowl in the freezer this year and am finally going to make a 3 ingredient vegan recipe! I say 3 ingredient but I infused a can of coconut milk with a cardamon pod and bit of vanilla pod I had hanging around a drawer. Can't hurt right?
Friday 17 July 2020
Having an Aging Parent
Dad and Bennie 2019 |
Sunday 5 July 2020
Travel in a time of Pandemic
Range at 3/4 tank |
Last time I was by here ('82), the glacier was down to the road. |
Snow was very close to the road - we're running 20" summer radials |
Rocky Mountain House area. Crown land so free camping along the reservoir. |
Monday 25 May 2020
Bennie turns 2!
Friday 15 May 2020
COVID-19 the reopening
- Leaving the house - we already shop at less busy time but I'm very uncomfortable going into stores right now. If I can't do curbside pickup, I will wear a cloth mask. I don't wear one outside because we can easily physically distance.
- Domestic travel - this is pretty well by car. Once group meetings for 10 people are routine with no outbreaks in the area we would travel to, we'll probably make separate trips with 2 weeks at home in between to make sure we aren't carrying anything. August for the soonest I think.
- International travel - unlikely until there is an understanding of long term effects of this disease along with medical interventions that would either the virus from infecting to any degree. This could be a vaccination or medication. Both would be preferable.
Sunday 10 May 2020
Review - 3 items
Thursday 19 March 2020
COVID-19 edition with handy links! #cdnpoli
Liberated from Twitter |
As a retiree I'm used to not structuring my day around work; as a social person, I had found many IRL activities to replace going to work and they are now unavailable. The mixed blessing is the seasonal cold weather-gloves, scarves, and lack of people around make it easy for social distancingšI thought I would share how I'm staying positive.
Tuesday 3 March 2020
Saturday 15 February 2020
I work owww-t!
Thursday 13 February 2020
One year of solar - an update
Friday 7 February 2020
On going "Home"
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Mail from the Feds duh duh duhhhhš¹
Tuesday 21 January 2020
MarioKart Tour - Cabin Fever saver
Each race is fairly short and you can only collect a certain amount of coins and experience points before hitting the daily cap. Rubies are doled out frequently enough that you get to use the pipe without paying and you can use tickets to level up to earn more points in a race. I usually hit a wall 3 days before a tour ends - if you don't keep collecting stars, new tracks don't open. Challenges are a good range of "keep playing" points and "do tasks" to earn extra stars and coins. New Tour = several open tracks.
You can play a long time without knowing all the ins and outs. I collected tickets for ages before really exploring the menu button and using them to upgrade karts, drivers and gliders. Game mechanics are good. I tend to keep my thumb on the screen all the time even though you don't need to and it can result in unintended motions. It's a drain on the phone battery but not too bad.
This is a freemium game; you can purchase rubies and play packages as well as a monthly subscription. Coming soon is a multi-player mode which I'm meh about. I suppose for people used to countless hours playing games, this game wouldn't be appealing but for a casual gamer like myself, it's a nice break with firm disengagement opportunities.
Tuesday 14 January 2020
First cold week of Winter.
Wednesday 8 January 2020
Wow 2020!
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Weight loss is more than calories in and calories out. Research using a pool of 10,000 participants. People tend to gain weight back. Differ...
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Serious about safety? Allow one free checked bag and stop carry on that doesn't fit under the seat. Don't want to "give away&qu...
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We were in Edmonton so I took the opportunity to visit the Microsoft Store, check out the Go and finally purchased it. I knew there was a ...