Wow it's daylight in the swamp, and where have I been?  I have been slowly trying to peace together where Susan and I go on from here.  Slowly working on the small projects around the house.  By keeping my brain activity down to zero, (my blog) I seem to get more accomplished around here in a day.
  My emotional state is running at an extremely high level right now waiting for the phone call/letter in the mail telling me of my date for my last test!  Once I pass this test, and I know I will!  Then finally I can get some of my driving privileges back, and get off of some of these drugs!!!
  With the roller coaster effect that this winter's weather has brought upon us, has also brought the same effect on my headaches.  So I am really looking forward to the new approach of getting off of these drugs.  Which are probably part of my problems, (side effects) and looking foreword to tackling the real issue, chronic migraine headaches!
  So if you don't hear from me for a while, don't panic!  Big brother has not taken me out... hahaha, I have not fallen off of the planet, nor have I turned into a hermit.  Just with the extra stresses of waiting, still trying to get things ready around here, we still would like to sell by next spring/summer.  Yes and then the excitement of Christmas fast approaching!  Oh, and then our second oldest phoning and telling us that baby "M" was definitely going to need things in pink!!  Susan finally get's 'her' wish!  To buy 'dainty', 'girly,' 'pink' baby things.  Oh my, just a little more confusion to our happy family, as we slowly work toward's our goal at Building the Simple life.........

  Today Susan finally get's to sleep in, there will be no reporting for duty today!  As a mater of fact she also has tomorrow off as well.  Hopefully our plans will include a board meeting in the hot-tub where some executive decisions can be made on the next round off plans with the projects in the house.
  We have some tile to return today, a counter-top-sink to order.  Some high end vinyl flooring to look at and possibly buy/order.  A stop to make at Derek's to pick up my Brad nailer, air compressor and saw, and then finally some grocery shopping to look after.  This could be a long day!
  Yesterday I managed to finish a bunch of small projects around the house, the most pressing one I did was changing the hot-tub filter!  It was not due until the the early part of December, but yesterday was a bright sunny day with no wind so I felt it would be a good time to take on this job.  I ended up adding some water, as we seem to get a fair amount of evaporation during every cold spell when it is in use.  The deck is cleared of snow, the driveways, the sidewalks, are also done and it did not snow last night! WOW!
  Hopefully it will be clear this evening, because from friends on Facebook there is supposed to be a lunar eclipse tonight!  Now this would be something wonderful to observe with the one you love from the hot-tub, perhaps with a glass of bubbly or two.  No ice needed, mother natures fridge provided free of charge!
  When I went to check my blood sugar this morning, it was up third day in a row.  I realized I would have to see a DR. again to get more test strips I only have one month left.  Which made me think, (strange what triggers memories) the first neurologist I saw last week for my assessment on epileptic seizures had said that these drugs I was on had numerous side effects, and they did not know the long term effects of them.  There just was not enough case study evidence.  My family Dr. at the time said he wanted me to monitor my blood pressure because of the medication I was on, and he definitely wanted me to monitor my blood sugar because of the new medications!!!!  When I asked other specialists and attending physicians they down played this as it might only add like a .1 or .2 it wouldn't be noticeable, and yet my own Dr., felt it worth monitoring as he was concerned at the time of what it might do, I am beginning to wonder???? My personal Dr only believed in drugs as a last resort! He wasn't a pill pusher!
  How can they tell when they do not know the long term effects?  Or how drugs inter react with different individuals?  Before these drugs my blood tests were always low 4.8 to 5.2 since the drugs they are always creeping up, and boy do I have to watch what I eat!  For example yesterday red meat this morning 12 on the blood sugar, not good.  Consolation headache level is lower.
  Yes, I follow the diabetic diet food guide, as given to me by the Dr.'s office and no my portion sizes.  But many foods listed, effect me and shoot me over the top! so go figure.  Like my Dr. said you will figure this out!  Now I am beginning to think, I should have trusted Susan's instinct, a lot of this as she said, 'is probably the dam medication'!!!!  Last winter my personal Dr. passed away he will be dearly missed!  Which also created another bunch of problems for me, but he left a great, and wonderful staff!  Hopefully within the month I will finally get to meet the new Dr., who is to take his place within the practice.  Getting a new family physician has also been a slow process, but a very important one!  As Susan and I move foreword in our process, of Building the Simple life......................

  It snowed again last night, not enough to warrant dragging the snow shovel out.  Just the same, for exercise purposes I cleared off the front drive way and sidewalk.  We also would not want the school children slipping on their walk to school this morning.
  When I came in from my exercise routine Susan asked if it was cold out this morning and I replied it felt a bit cooler out than yesterday but no wind.  In fact I thought it was rather pleasant out.  There's no better way to check than with modern technology, right?  Out comes the iPhone onto one of the local weather sites, oh it's minus 20'C., But then this is where it get's interesting feels like, are you ready for this minus 14'C..  There is no wind, therefore no wind chill, so it feels warmer out than it really is!  This is why they should stop reporting wind chills, in my humble opinion!
  Yesterday I had got ahead of myself in regards to my assigned case worker, she had called to tell me of my appointments with neurologists etc., and generally to introduce herself to me.  I told her I had to keep a journal and appointment book to keep everything documented so I wouldn't forget and already had been informed of my appointment times and dates (Susan and I later had made notes as to why it would take WCB so long to follow up with notification) I also gave my WCB case worker my work cell #.  Oh my God did this ever start a controversy.  Why would I have a work # with a Montana exchange?  Susan had to explain that most transport drivers running in the USA end up using a USA based carrier (cellular).  For purely economic reasons.  Susan also explained to her (the bitch from hell) that during the summer months (may through sept.) if anyone needed to get hold of us that would be the appropriate number to use.  Our case worker seemed to take extreme offence.  When I, and then Susan tried to explain to her that during these months, that is where we live and the only phone communication we have there is cell service.  Her attitude was abrupt and huffy to say the least, 'well as long as you don't miss any of your appointments then', click.
  We did make all of my appointments starting with the first neurologist, which he also confirmed post traumatic concussion.  When I asked him would I be able to get back to work soon he replied you are not listening to me, this is very serious business, this is going to take some time, we will just have to see how it goes.  Now I am not sure what WCB is pulling information from, perhaps from someone who has  not seen me?  Or facts they have made up?  At this point they are dealing on speculation and fiction built up in the mind of a biassed case worker.
  As I was saying we made all my appointments for that first summer, I spent a lot of time on our partially finished deck.  Just resting and yes relaxing.  Dr.'s orders  I cleared all tests to this point proving that I had no blockages, good blood flow no cardio problems.  Still just the constant headaches, if anything they seemed to be getting worse, especially with visual and physical activity.  An increase in med's and a change up?  The neurologist says he is fairly confident I did not have a heart attack or stroke, but still has some major concerns with my light headedness and memory loss.  More tests are to be scheduled!
  Today I shall go outside and clean the back driveway, then do the same with the back deck.  Susan has the next two days off.  I am very sure she would really enjoy a soak in the hot-tub when she returns home from work, so while I am out there I will sweep off the cover and put in the new filter as well.  Making your Spouse (Susan) happy also is very important when you are Building the Simple life.........

  The house once again feels super warm inside, upon checking the outside temp., it is showing only minus 7'C.  And once again revised weather forecast.  Hmm, I wonder what happened to our over night low of minus 22'C?  It is still showing a high of minus 8'C, but we are already at minus7'C.  This must be the new math I've heard the kid's talking so much about, and the reason they need computers to get things done.  Oh what will they think of next?
  Today Susan was off to work bright and early and asked me to do some laundry.  Apparently I forgot yesterday, so now it has been added to todays list.  First load is already in the washing machine!
  Yesterday I walked over to a friends house to attend a supper celebration of his daughters wedding earlier that day.  Susan joined later to toast the bride and groom and then give me a ride home.  It is still hard to recall some of those memories of when we were that young, something I hope in time that will come back to me.  Possibly these memories will return more quickly, once I am able to come off of these medications!
  Now to continue with my story where I left off yesterday.  Then it was back to the family Dr. where  he said I told you so.  He requested that I should see a neurologist, he also requested this through WCB, as they could expedite things now, instead of me waiting months, even years.  It is strange how normal people have to get moved to the back of the line!  There again my 'Boys club theory'.  I received a letter in the mail from WCB, stating that they had accepted my claim as post traumatic concussion, given a file # and case worker and if  had any questions I could contact her at the numbers below, etc..
  With my first contact with my case worker, which was initiated by her, things started to go down hill, lets say we did not hit it off.  No, that's not the word's I am looking for.  I expected to be treated in a dignified and respectful manor.  Not to be talked down to by some one, who carried the opinion on the phone, that she was better than the person on the other end of the line.  I will not call her by her name, but from now on in here, I felt as if I was dealing with the 'Bitch from hell'.  This is where I feel my real problems started with WCB.  It was as if 'she' was on a personal vendetta, and it was 'her' duty to try and discredit me.  Every time you would say something to her she would take something negitive out it and twist it into something you had not said or meant!  You will see it in the way as I detail my story, my dealings with her, how she compiled my file, ultimately Susan having to deal with her (I could not handle the stress).  Our request for her removal from the file, to late the damage had been done (we discovered later when we received our file).  Anybody with any common decency could see how she (the bitch from hell) was manipulating facts, even harassing her own consultants to finally change there decisions.  There again my big boys club theory!  There should be legal ramifications to people like this in civil service.  Union or otherwise, when there is a problem it needs to be fixed.  I bet the recorded tapes have already disappeared of our conversations, hmm how convenient.
  Sorry I got a bit ahead of my time line, my headache is up there this morning probably from my stress level.  Time for another load of laundry, then some breakfast.  One small batch of mortar to mix, one small square glass tile to re-glue, and then it's on to the next task at Building the Simple life....................

  Minus 20' C outside this morning, we are expecting to get up into the single digits.  Still on the minus side, but a sunny day just the same!  I did not spend to much time on the bathroom project yesterday, other than do a bit of clean up.  I then moved back into the garage to start setting up my work station as I slowly get it ready for cutting the rest of my trim work.  Today I plan on replacing one small piece of loose glass tile, 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch.  It is loose and needs to be cut out and reset in mortar.  When I talked with Derek he said sometimes this happens, and told me it was not a big deal and how to make a simple repair.  That will just leave a bit of clean up and some prep work, then every thing will be ready for Derek's next visit.
  Yesterday we left off when I was sent to RUH by my family Dr.  After a lengthy wait in emergency I was finally seen first by one neurologist.  Then yet another lengthy wait for yet a neurologist.  The first had many concerns with my condition and wanted to get a second opinion.  Both of them confirmed I was suffering from post traumatic concussion syndrome. The likely hood was good that I should have a full recovery.  However, having said that there are no ways to predict the recovery time, based on new information.  (WCB says 3 to 4 months?)  The neurologists were very concerned with the fact of my memory loss of the incident, that it could be an indication that in fact I could have been knocked out!  My balance issues, which they observed, and they then advised not to drive (which I had not).  Then there were the drugs I was put on to work on the pain, which were also not allowed to operate equipment while taking.  There were concerns expressed with the fact that my visit to ST paul had not picked up on me hitting my head, and that further investigation should have been pursued at that time.  Though they are trained in another field of expertise, and I had all the symptoms for a heart attack or stroke!  I felt like another sign of the boy's club sticking together!  Both neurologist's at RUH told us that the extreme headache pain I had felt over the long weekend was probably from some minor brain 'swelling'.  And by staying relaxed and calm all weekend was probably the best thing that could have been done for it (the brain).  Because our Hospital system is so overwhelmed, and the fact Susan was not working at the time they allowed me to be discharged, and treated me as an out patient.  The neurologists, both wanted to make sure that the swelling had in fact had gone down.  The next morning I was called into RUH for my CT scan, which in fact confirmed this fact.  The neurologist gave Susan some helpful information for her to look up to help her help watch over with me and learn how to deal with me.  Somehow WCB has now used this information to say, I never had swelling on the brain, are they in fact a bunch of idiots, because of our failing system.  Or do they just like to manipulate facts to suit their every whim and fantasy?  It still makes me wonder how they can take what they want out of information to suit themselves.  We haven't even gotten started yet, wait until the out right lies start!
  In a short while I will go out and brave the cool morning air!  Coffee time is fast approaching.  When I return home I will have a quick breakfast with Susan and then if she feels up to it we will make a fast trip back and forth to the big city, I have a few things to pick up as we continue on our merry way at Building the Simple life.........................

  This morning it is definitely warmer outside than yesterday.  You could just feel it in the house, even before one looked at the outside temperature.  Soon it will  be time for me to walk the hall and make sure Susan is awake from her beauty rest, she has the opening shift at work today.
  Which brings me back to that fateful day May 22, 2010 when our lives changed forever.  I can tell you about events leading up to and including that day, as some of my memory is slowly returning.  But events from that day foreword are still foggy and come and go.  Some days I remember and some days I don't.  Hopefully this is only a side effect of the medication I am on, which I am to slowly start being removed from after my next set of tests.
  Anyways that day started off great!  We had left the lake early, Susan dropped me off at the shop so I could quickly grease the truck, then I would bobtail to our house pick her up, and we would be off to California on another produce run!  I remember we had a good delivery, a solid reload.  I remember when we got home we were taking two weeks off.  I remember being happy and telling Susan I would see her shortly.  I remember putting on my coveralls, getting under the truck to grease the drive line.  I remember being in a hurry to get from underneath so I could finish up and do the front end, and then nothing..............  I mean nothing.......... some stars********* laying there swearing at being so stupid!!!!! hitting my head********  Getting out from underneath the truck, shaking off a good headache, a bit dizzy and stars!  Did I knock myself out?  I don't know, how long did I lay there, a second, a minute.  I do not know, I shook it of and finished greasing the front of my truck.  When I went to remove my coveralls ( about 10 minutes later) my whole left side started going numb my headache had continued in the meantime to get worse.  I phoned Susan, she asked me what are you doing down there, did you meet up with someone?  Are you having coffee?  What's going on?  I told her my situation, I thought I might be having a stroke or heart attack!  I had completely forgotten about hitting my head by this time.  Susan immediately came down to the shop and took me to St Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon.  Later we determined that I had lost at least 30 to 45 minutes that we could not account for.  From my personal notes the hospital was told I hurt myself at work, and then when I was cleaning up and putting my coveralls away became disoriented and felt numbness down my left side.
  I guess they determined I might be having a stroke or heart attack and did not warrant further investigation into the possibility of a possible concussion!  Another slip-up in our, 'overworked' medical system.  After spending the morning at the hospital, numerous tests later, Blood pressure somewhat under control, I was sent home.  I was told to take it easy for the weekend, take Tylenol for my head pain, and see my family Dr after the weekend.
  Over the course of the weekend, my headaches became worse, the swelling on my head got worse!  After the weekend when I got into see my Dr., the swelling had started to subside somewhat, when he saw me he said, 'you have not been here'!  'What the hell are they trying to do to you'?  'Kill you'!  'Go to RUH'.  'Tell them when you hit your head'!  'My God man, I believe you are suffering from post traumatic concussion'!  'If you go there at least you will have the experts look at it'!  So now because someone at St Paul's hospital took it upon 'themselves' to make a determination on 'paperwork',  I might not have a claim, 'GEE' I love bureaucracy!  At least that's what WCB is leading us to believe, or is this more misleading lies on their part?
  Tomorrow our story shall continue, but for now I shall go and make some breakfast and then get some more work preparation done on the tile job.  I want to make sure all the grout lines a free and clear Derek has volunteered to come and do the grouting for us.  We really appreciate what he (Derek), and the rest of the family has been doing.  Especially since 'the day' they all have been tremendous support for us at Building the Simple life..................

  Yesterday morning I managed to clear off front side walk, as well as the front driveway.  Susan and I then went into the big city to see Barb, at the airport, until her departure time.  Upon our return home, I finished with the remainder of the snow clearing.  Yes, it had finally stopped snowing.  The remainder of our day was mostly spent relaxing, and starting on some plans for the next week.  We have to try and make things work with Susan's schedule.  Over the next two weeks we would like to concentrate on getting the bathroom ready for Christmas!
   We received my results from my appeal from WCB. In there initial decision for my removal from benefits, they said I was ready to return to my pre injury job!  Seizure like symptoms, were not linked to a concussion, therefore I was fit to return to work.  I told them I was off work, because of head trauma (headaches) post traumatic confusion, not seizures.  My licence had been suspended because of a mis diagnosis, and I was going through testing to eliminate seizure disorder.  In their appeal decision, they now have have disregarded their original decision, why they had cancelled my benefits.  They have now gone off in another direction entirely, trying to wear me down.  They now say, I do not have a seizure disorder, (I have a one month wait for the definitive test) therefore I can return to work.  Still forgetting I am off work because I cannot handle the pain from the headaches!  They have based there decision on knowledge they had before, but now have used a different interpretation.  In fact they used exactly the opposite interpretation, than they had before to remove me from benefits.  No one to date at WCB has addressed the constant headaches, ringing in my ears, the fact the neurologist that wrote SGI, had my commercial licence suspended (which includes all driving privileges).  Which I find out now, was probably an early symptom to post traumatic concussion, and then an ongoing side effect to the drugs I was put on to control my headache pain.  He (WCB neurologist, consultant) also concluded with the constant headaches that I would not be able to go back to my pre employment job and I should be a suitable candidate for retraining.  I am beginning to wonder if he wrote this, because he felt somewhat guilty to the fact that he had to write SGI about my licence without all the facts before him?  The failings of our bureaucracy!  Why did WCB choose to ignore this?  Is it because I am getting to old and not worth investing money and resources in retraining?
  Originally when Susan and I started this process of appeal, I was hoping that I could get some retraining and get on with our lives, possibly get WCB to pay for the extreme expense of the Botox treatments.  Now, it's just a matter of getting my story out there so others can see how the system is failing in it's mandate, as I see it!  Where the cracks are, 'BEWARE'.  I do not want this to happen to you or any one else.  You can be the judge.  This is my story, so starting tomorrow, we shall go back to that fateful day!  So I will try to stay true to myself, tell my story from our day to day to day notes.  All this as we slowly move on at Building the Simple life.............................

  I am up very early this morning, can not sleep!  Snow is falling, there will be more exercise for me today.  Why am I so restless this morning?  Thinking about the advice my oldest daughter Jennifer gave me yesterday, about starting a second 'Blog'.  She had said, I should keep things simple.  Instead of starting a second Blog, make those thoughts (story's) inclusive in my first.  This would be easier on me, less confusion would exist in my mind trying to keep the two separate. (she's right)
  I can pick up the phone and talk to any one of my three children, or for that mater their spouses and just talk and get advice.  Yes, it is a proud moment, when you realize that 'all' of your children have turned into fine outstanding adults.  Definitely puts new meaning to the movie line, "the teacher has become the student".
  Yesterday school was out early for Barb, and what do women do when schools out?  They shop of course!  Well Stan that leather jacket she's been looking for, well look at the gas money 'She' will now get to save!  I always told 'you' there were good things to be found in Saskatoon.
  I made such an impression on Barb, as to how I kept up with my manservant duties, she took Susan and I out to the Sports page for supper. (wing night)  Shortly after our arrival, my grandson (Mikkel) called to tell me something important that had happened a school.  Something, that his mommy (Jennifer) had also done in grade one!  He got his 'tongue' stuck on a metal pipe at school.  They live in Calgary and the temperature was well below 'freezing' yesterday.  I asked him why he had done such a thing, he didn't know.  He just sounded very 'proud' of his accomplishment!  Something that he could say, he had done like his mom.  Thinking about it this morning, I had told him the story about his mom, this past summer at the lake.  I also told him never to do it, as his tongue would stick like his mommy's.  He even asked his mom (Jennifer) in disbelief.  He is so much like his mother, the little rascal.  Yes, tell him not to do something, and then watch him do it!!!
  After supper, we returned home where we spent a quiet evening with Barb.  Mid morning she will be off to the airport to drop off her rental car and catch her flight to Rainy BC.  With a stopover in Calgary.  Susan has the day off, so I imagine we will once again be back at work on our main bathroom.  Perhaps we will also make a trip into the city.  We have some tile to return, it is wall tile, not floor tile which we had assumed we could also use on the floor.  Now we will have to make another decision on what we plan on doing on the floor.  We currently have have linoleum which is in good enough shape to see us through christmas, which just puts off the new toilet install untill that date.  To many decisions, bathtub shower and opposite walls will be done. Floor, toilet, sink?  I think I am going crazy!  I do know I could pick up some cutting wheels for the dremal saw, to be used for trimming the tile at the kitchen sink.  We could also pick up that ceiling panel to finish off the sunshine ceiling.
  This way, when Susan returns back to work I could finish off a bunch of small projects, and get well underway on the completion of the main bathroom.  After all Christmas is just around the corner and the bathroom is on top of our list right now.  As we are making our valiant attempt at Building the Simple life............................

  Yesterday started off like most days for Susan and I, with one exception we were off to the big city to see a new neurologist.  After being booked in at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon it was then off to the Neurologist department.  Where to our surprise we were ushered in to see a neurologist from Regina, who was assisting in Saskatoon for the next three months.  Based on his initial assessment, he felt I did not suffer from seizures, did not have epileptic fits, nor did I ever have one, period.  In fact, some of the data that compensation had used against me in their original statement of claim for cutting off benefits.  Based on testing done by a neuro psyche testing that I had purposly failed,  were inclusive because nobody could fail that badly!  The tester with her Degrees should have realized that the principe side effect of the medications I was on, would have in fact created these results!  Further he said that that even the slightest head injury can cause severe headaches.  From his experience they can be cumulative over time, and probably the last head injury I sustained was the trigger that pushed me over the edge.  His prognosis would be to slowly wean me off of the medication, first one pill over several months, and then onto the next and then so on.  I am on several medications.  He then would recommend starting with 'Botox' therapy.  Susan replied we could not afford the $920.00 for treatments plus only 70% success rate, let alone our concerns with the side effects.  He explained in his practice in Regina he was only seeing a 50% success rate, but the side effects compared to the drug regiment that I was on now was far less.  As for the cost, he was surprised that we were going to be charged for the first treatment, in his practice the drug manufacturer was covering the cost for the first treatment.  I guess the neurologist here need to make more money.
  Now why did I loose my licence?  I used an inappropriate word 'blackout'.  I just didn't remember, memory loss, I have never blacked out!  But the report's have gone in and that is another hurdle to over come.
  Then we got to see the neurologist we were originally referred to by my neurologist.  No he wanted me to stay on my current medications until I was booked and had completed my 48 hour halter monitor.  It is strange how the medical Dr.'s are more concerned about protecting their own ass, even if they jump the gun and make a mistake.  I believe now I have been put on medication that may have amplified some of my symptoms, and perhaps lengthened my recovery time.  Yes I can understand it's better to be safe than sorry, but who pays the price.
  This has led me to another conclusion, I am going to start another "Blog" About, taking on big brother, let the war games begin, I am not sure what it will be called. it will focus on my story about how the little guy takes on the established quo, and how they can lie and cheat and seem to be able to hide within the system sometimes even using our own money against us!
  Yes I still plan on keeping up with my original blog,  ultimately my goal is still Building the Simple life.........................

  The Queen's sister is in the Building!  Yes and to my enjoyment and pleasure, the Queen bee and her sister gave me the evening off!  In fact when I reported there was nothing made up for supper, and that I was tired, without hesitation 'They' treated me to supper at the Sport's page.  Where I consumed a steak sandwich, it wasn't even steak night.  Yes I felt like a king, not your special 'Manservant'.  Yes I was not the only one to take advantage of someone else preparing supper for us, thank-you to my special partner "Susan"!
  Today we are up early, Barb has to prepare for her 'learning' experience.  Susan has the day off, but I again have another neurologist appointment at 'RUH' in the big city.  One more hurdle to hopefully clear, on my way to recovery, or at least get some answers instead of more questions.  I am not sure how much time this is going to involve.  Depending on the time of day we finish up there, then will dictate on how many errands will get accomplished today.  Hopefully things will go very smoothly and we can cary on with the rest of our day.
  Barb is off for the start of her day in the Metropolis of Saskatoon, which is our signal to get started on our day.  So with list in hand our first order of business is a quick breakfast, then pack up the car with our selves and head for the big city.  Try and remain focussed to the tasks at hand, for even when you take days off you must also remain calm and focussed.  Something else we have learned that helps keep us on track, to our goal of Building the Simple life........................

  This morning I hope to put things back on track once again!  Susan is scurrying about the house as I watch in amazement to this transformation.  It's like Clark Kent turning into 'Super Man'!  Soon Susan will be on her way to work, and I will have formed a plan of attack for my day.
  One of the things I have to work on, is getting back to a more structured routine.  First of all, just like Santa Clause I will get my list out and start checking things off.  Not to see who has been naughty or nice, just as reminder to see what I might have accomplished to date!  Possibly it will also help as a reminder to help me with things like, vacuum the back door mat this morning, before I put it (vacuum) away!
  A few things I need to accomplish after breakfast this morning are, vacuum the back door mat and living room, finnish cleaning the bath room, and finally put the vacuum away.  These simple tasks Susan would like me to accomplish before noon, She anticipates he sister to arrive at about 12:30PM!
  The CEO has left the Building, I have my marching orders in hand!  Time for breakfast, daylight in the swamp is fast approaching, surely if I am to get these simple tasks accomplished I had better get at them right away.  So today with my list close at hand I am off to tackle the world, or should I be saying, Building the Simple life...................

  Yesterday turned into a very busy day for us here.  With Derek's arrival the tiling of the main bathroom began.  First he showed me layout options, then once a plan was developed the task began.  Derek showed me how he would have to correct the walls, as they were not level or true.  Once this was established, he (Derek) just took over, and soon rows were forming on the the wall.  I became Derek's helper, getting things he required.
  As the day progressed, Michele my daughter-in-law arrived to take charge of some executive decisions. (Susan was at work)  This was in regards to the placement of a row of accent glass tile.  Good choice Michelle, the end result looks great!  You see this family seems to get involved in projects in a family way.  If it's via phone, Skype, or in person, we all seem to pull together to help however we can.
  Today Susan, on her only day off this week!  Has spent the majority of her time, cleaning, mopping, dusting, and doing the laundry.  Somehow I have fallen down on my duties, perhaps I have been pushing myself, trying to complete other projects.  This does effect my level of headache pain, which some how effects my concentration and then some how my memory slips off of the deep end, oops sorry again.
  I managed to finish the clean up in the garage today, so Susan's sister will be able to park in style.  Lucky Lady, perhaps she will return home and tell 'Stan'. (my brother-in-law)  She now know's how it feels to be treated like a Queen! lol.  Sorry Stan.  This is your advance warning!
  As I was saying earlier, yesterday was a very busy day for me.  So this morning, instead of starting with my blog, I am finishing my day with it.  This has added a bit of confusion to my routine, of trying to keep things simple.  So tomorrow, I will try and get things back on track!  I believe a bit of routine and simplicity, is a very important goal, at Building the Simple life.............

  Yesterday was a wild and crazy kind of day!  The second and final coat of rubber membrane was applied yesterday morning.  I managed to get all the cleanup done, before my headache took complete control over my life once again.

  Now that the second coat has fully cured, I have another 15 minutes or so of prep work to spend in there.  This is to peel back the plastic on the tub edge, where the starter row of tile will go.  After Susan leaves for work, I will fire up the portable heater in the front garage and set up the wet saw.  All that will be left for me to do then, is to bring my big drill from the back garage.  This Derek will need when he is mixing the mortar (adhesive) for putting the tile on.

  Is every thing else ready for Derek, where's my list?  Beer cooling, check.  All dressed chips, check.  Verns pizza delivery on speed dial, check.  Daughter-in-law coming to supervise (Susan's at work), check.  There I think all the bases are covered for the day!  When Susan is finished work for the day, we are hoping to have the tiling completed.  We will then be able to sit down with family, relax with food and drinks.  Perhaps the grand daughters may be here as well, I am not sure what there plans were for the weekend.

  After my head settled down yesterday afternoon, I removed the old end panels in the kitchen's sunshine ceiling.  To my amazement, I discovered material left from the original build.  Why trades people can not clean up after themselves is simply amazing to me.  When I went to cut the pieces I needed, I could not find this one complete panel I was sure I had.  After a lot of contemplating, and when I was installing one of the short ones I almost dropped another one.  I thought if I drop one I'll break one like I did before.  Then the light went on!!!!!!!  I used the full sheet to replace the one I had shattered some time before!  Like, duhh!  Oh well!  Talk about giving oneself another headache.  I have to remember, breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out.  Relaxation technique.  Does it help?  No!  But it makes people smile, and sometimes laugh, and you know laughter is the best medicine.  And if we can laugh at our selves, then it takes our minds off of our pain, even if it's just for a short while.

  Last night Donald took me out for supper at the Sport's Page, (steak night) it was guys night out!  It was a quiet relaxing time, it wasn't even packed at the bar!  First time for that.  This morning we shall sneak out for coffee where we can catch up on the weeks top gossip (headlines), I can not believe I said that out loud.  We have found out it is also, very important to be informed of what is happening around us locally, so we can make our decisions wisely, while Building the Simple life..............

  Yesterday turned into a very traumatic day for me, but I somehow persevered.  What could have served up such drama in my life?  Somehow our little expedition into the big city of Saskatoon, took longer than we had anticipated.  Susan and I ended up over on the South side, where our son Derek works to pick out our supplies.  These included our waterproofing material, grout, and tile edging.
     Now this should not be such a big deal, but it only left us 15 minutes for Susan to drive home from the south side, and for her to get ready for work.  The car needed unpacking, her lunch needed to be made for work.  Susan also needed to have a bite to eat for lunch.  This all had to happen before she stepped out of the door, and was once again on her way back to work.  Somehow this mission was accomplished!
  Now the real 'stress' of the day began!  To keep on schedule for our tile laying project this weekend, this left the painting and prep work up to me.  What a day!  Somehow with a couple of phone calls and numerous breaks I managed to get the job accomplished.  So today, I get to repeat the process, with a little less stress.  Possibly it should go a bit quicker, I just have to remember to brush in a 90 degree direction to yesterday.  This is to insure maximum coverage and protection.  When Susan came home home late last night she gave the first coat the the CEO's good coat seal of approval!  Perhaps this means I will be able to actually paint something for real inside the house.  NOT!!
  Yesterday when we were in the big city, we went over to the east side to Ronas, (our version of Lowes) so I could pick up a air stapler. (probably this is why we were late)  We also found our replacement lights for our fixtures in the house.  Our old bulbs were warm (yellow), we wanted a cool light (white),  finally someone here is carrying them, so we didn't have to order them online.
  After I finish with the second coat of waterproofing, and let's not forget my cleanup!  I shall read up on all the settings, on my new air stapler.  I have four end panels that need replacing in Susan's sunshine ceiling.  These overlook her breakfast nook.  All the other panels have been replaced, and just lay in place.  The end panels have to be cut to size and are stapled in place.  Thus the reason I was watching for a stapler to come on sale!
  I see it is becoming daylight in the swamp, Susan has long ago left for work.  She had a short change over again, so I shall surprise her and do the second coat in the bathroom. (she expects to come home and do the second one)  First I shall make myself a quick breakfast to start my day, go over my list just to make sure I have every thing organized.  After all the final count down is now on for this weekend and we have to keep the free help happy when you are Building the Simple life..............

  Thought I had done too much yesterday, until I looked at my weekly medication tray.  There it was staring me in the face, I had forgotten to take my evening medication.  No wonders I had been suffering most of the night.  Yes I know I did over do things a we might, and then with the combination of forgetting to take my medication.  Trouble is, I distinctly remember getting up to go take my pills.  In fact, the container was exactly where I left it when I went to take them before bed time.  I some how must have gotten distracted.  Well, now you know the rest of the story!
  Yesterday I possibly got a little overambitious (understatement).  Removed the trim board from behind the fireplace.  Yes it worked for part of the trim behind the fridge.  God was smiling on me yesterday, then reminded me who's the boss today with my headache!  I finished the trim work behind the fridge, then changed out the electrical plug to match the rest in the house.  Centered and levelled the fridge, then removed the remainder of the protective packing film it was delivered with.
  I had just finished eating my cucumber sandwich (supper) when Susan came home from her close shift at work!  So I did my clean up, tried to watch the late news, Susan went to the hot-tub, and I went to bed.  Possibly, this was my distraction to missing out on taking my medication.  Sometimes it doesn't take me much, especially if I am already fighting an increased level of headache pain.
  Susan and I have to pick up some trim for the edge of the tile either today or tomorrow, plus pick up some hooks to hang my art work.  The hooks we got yesterday are to long, so we shall make one more trip to the big city.  Today is also the first day that the first coat of the protective coat of waterproofing membrane must be painted on.  I would also like to wipe down all the base board material in the basement, and have them ready for their first coat of paint.
  Another project susan has asked me to concentrate on this week, is to finish cleaning out the second stall in the front garage.  Currently we are using it as a work/storage station.  Susan's sister will be spending four days, three nights with us next week.  She is in the big city on a training seminar with her job, so she will be spending some time here.  Susan felt it would be nice, if Barb could park her rental (car) inside the garage.  It would be easier on Barb, she may have lost her Canadian stamina for prairie living.  West coast living has a way of doing this to people!  LOL...  So I shall see what I can accomplish.  After all, I wouldn't want Stan (my brother-in-law) accusing me of Barb freezing her petunias off!!
  It will be great to see the two sisters reunited in laughter under the same roof, even if it is just in the evenings.  You see, we can not forget laughter!  Because, it is also a very important step in Building the Simple life................

  Yesterday Susan's kitchen once again looks like a kitchen, Wow!  There are still many finishing projects to accomplish in this area of the house.  One of these projects is having two cupboard doors made for above the fridge.  My friend Burt and I remade the cabinet, this was to accommodate the height of the new flush mount fridge.  The second project is to cut the backsplash tile around the sink window.  This is to accommodate the updated window trim, we intend on installing this trim to match the rest of the house.  The door leading to the attached garage and the outside door need painting, this project will have to wait until spring, when the weather is warmer.
  I still have some baseboard's to do in the back hall closet, and one small piece to do in the kitchen.  Then there is the small tedious detail of filling all the nail holes, and one last coat of pain on all the trim.  I would also like to pull Susan's oven/cooktop out, (she has a drop in style) and move her electrical plug.  Where and how it was originally installed prevents her oven/cooktop from sitting perfectly square.  Now if I didn't show it to you, you wouldn't see it.  But, it bugs me!  Like I have said before, if my name is going on the finished product, it will be done right!
  Susan and I will be going to the big city this morning to pick up some supplies.  Judging by her list, we will have several stops to make.  It looks like we will be finally repositioning the breakfast nook light, all those years of banging my head will soon be coming to an end.  There are also supplies on the list, to hang some of my Haida art work.  We have this large display wall at the back entrance, that also leads downstairs to our future entertainment area.  This would be the perfect area to display at least four of my art pieces, that were gifts from Susan's mom and oldest sister.
  I am not sure how much work Susan and I will get accomplished today after our adventure to the big city (Susan has to work the late shift).  Perhaps Susan and I can get some baseboard material moved down to the basement, where I have everything ready, and set up for painting.
   My project while Susan is at work this evening, will be to figure out how we will finish of the space behind Susan's new fridge.  One other project I could look after is the removal of the baseboard in the living room behind the fireplace.  It is not long enough, once the door trim  was readjusted to the correct position for the pocket door.  Perhaps the baseboard trim I remove from the back of the fireplace, will work behind the fridge.  A few simple cuts and slide things together, presto!  It's done!  Sometimes with patience in life we get lucky, or  is it something or someone of a higher authority (GOD)!  This would be extremely wonderful, if today is one of those days that every thing falls into place, and would help immensely in our process at Building the Simple life....................

  Yesterday our kitchen and back entrance, slowly started going back together.  Then to my amazement, I discovered the master painter's wrist had given out.  Susan still has to take the small brush around today by the cabinets, next to the trim.  When this task is completed, and the paint is dry, then I can put the remaining cabinet doors back on.  Then I shall work on getting the fridge perfectly level and put exactly in place.  Today we should also get some more baseboard material moved into the basement. Where it can climatize over the next few weeks.  This way it can expand, and adjust to the humidity levels that we maintain in our house.  Then it will be ready for painting.
  In the meantime it will be onto the main bathroom, to try and get organized and ready for this project.  In a perfect world, we should be able to use the bathroom by a week from tomorrow (Tuesday). Remember, I said a perfect world!
  Why, the rush?  Susan was hoping to have the bathroom complete, by the time her sister arrives on the 20.  But, I have revised the schedule to make sure there will be a working toilet, possibly a working shower.  If not there is always our shower that can be used.  We still will be on schedule for everything to be up and working before Christmas!
  Speaking of Christmas, Nicole is flying home a week before, and is going to help me get ready for the festive season.  Now the plan is to go out and buy a real tree, but I am starting to have my doubts.  I just realized, that every one will have gone home, and I will have been left with the chore of the clean up.  Those needles, and more needles, and more needles, what was I thinking of????  I really must have hit my head, very, very, hard!  My God, we don't even have a tree stand.  Perhaps, she (Nicole) will understand, if I just want to put up the artificial tree this year!  Well, maybe we can find a cheap tree, and a cheap tree stand.  Possibly at Wall Mart when she arrives, I do have to admit there is something about the smell of a Douglas fir a Christmas time!
  Remember I said no more shovelling until the 22!  Wrong, it's revised, it's snowing in the big city, not here yet, and the revised forecast is now for the 21, we are supposed to get lot's on that date!  Bring it on!!
  I see the day light is gradually creeping out over the swamp, perhaps it is time to get my day started.  My goofy pills have finally knocked my headache back to a manageable level, so it's time for breakfast, and then off to the hot-tub for a board meeting!  Some very important step's, 'every day', at Building the Simple life..................

  A friend was complaining yesterday, that our mighty 'Riders' ( CFL) were done.  Soon NASCAR would be done, and it was going to be a long season without any NHL.  Inferring there wasn't anything else to do over a long winter.  I reminded him, there still was the NFL and NBA.  Also he liked to brag he was a 'Canadian' with two boy's!  So quit being such a couch potato, and get outside and enjoy the outdoors!  After all, there are many things that one can enjoy in the winter time.  You don't have to watch some one else's dream, you can actually live 'the dream'!  After all, we are lucky this is 'Canada'.
  Yes our mighty Rider's are done for another season, but the true football fans will still be watching the 'game' for another two weeks.  Next week's 'Western' conference final, and the 'Eastern' conference final.  And then the Grand Daddy of them all for us Canadians THE "GREY CUP" CHAMPIONSHIP, this year celebrating 100 years!!
  Today Susan is going to put the final coat of paint on in the kitchen and the back entrance.  There are a couple of touch up spots to look after, plus I have to help move the fridge in and out.  Thus enabling easier movement throughout.  We almost forgot to paint back there (behind the fridge).  Susan also plans on putting on the first coat of water proofing membrane on today.  This will leave tomorrow morning for her to put on the final coat, and then the tub area should be ready for tiling.
  Once all the paint surfaces are dry, I shall remove any remaining masking tape and start my clean up.  I will have two cupboard doors to install which I removed, some light covers and some plug covers.  Then there is the task of finally putting Susan's fridge perfectly in place.  Making sure it is 'bang' on the money, level, square, etc..  All of the protective packing film can be finally removed!  You see last winter they delivered the first fridge and it was the fridge from hell!  Umpteen blower motor's later, door hinges etc., they finally determined that we had a defective unit and brought us a new fridge from the factory.  I was at the lake, they were supposed to unpack, set up, and transfer everything.  According to the factory this was "ALL" to be arranged by the store where the unit was purchased from.  "NOT"!!  Some customer service!  We will not buy anything there again!  PERIOD!  Susan did what she could, she was working that day.  So we left it until our final paint day, which is today, Yahoo!!!
  So as you can see we are slowly starting to gather up a bunch of loose pieces, seeing what fits in our puzzle and what does not.  What does fit we slowly fit into place as we move along at our pace to Building the Simple life..........

  Today Canadian's set aside time to honour their fallen heroes.  Those who insured our freedoms and liberties.  They paid the ultimate sacrifice!  I believe it is honoured in all countries, around the world.  Some call it armistice day, memorial day, veterans day, and the list goes on.  On the 11th hour of the 11th month  WW II ENDED!  The war to end all wars.  (mankind is still trying to get it right)  Anyways 'Canadians' wherever they are will take a minute of silence at this time , to honour their fallen "Heroes"!  Not quite sure what happened to our clear forecast for today, but it sure looks like there is a light snow still falling outside this morning.  Hopefully it will not interfere with any wreath laying services.
  Doesn't look like there is enough snow outside, that I will have to drag the shovel out ahead of me to plow an escape route to the curb.  Just enough to show tracks, this I will look after when I return home from coffee with Donald. (sun is now shinning)
  Susan painted out all the corners and trim edges in the kitchen yesterday.  This morning she is going to roll the kitchen and put the final coat of paint on in the back entrance.  Hopefully this afternoon I will be able to finish putting the back entrance together.  Then later today or first thing tomorrow morning the final painting can be done and the kitchen can start going back together.  Then we can at last see the transformation of the new colour!
  I then get to move onto the next project in the kitchen.  Finishing off the window trim around the sink window.  This involves cutting back a bit of tile with Derek's dremal, then customizing the new window trim to fit in and around the kitchen cabinets, and sunshine ceiling.  A slow process, which I will take my time at.  This trim then will need painting, before it is finally installed.  This should keep me preoccupied, and out of harms way for a week or so.  Meanwhile, Susan will finish up the preparation work in the bathroom.  I believe Derek is going to come over, and install the tiles for her next weekend.  Yes, one more week to get through, and the war zone will be over in our house, once again!  Just a little to much happening all at once for my state of mind!  Sometimes this makes it hard for me to concentrate, and realize that this is what it takes!  A bit of 'chaos', for us to get the job done!  This is something I have been trying very hard to avoid, (headaches) as we try to slowly move forward at Building The Simple life.................

  Be careful when you throw down the the glove and challenge mother nature.  You just might live to regret the extra exercise you have created for yourself.  It looks like one of the two weather networks got it partially right!  Which means, there will be some shovelling for me today.  I am beginning to love snow.  It's just a month early this year!  One bonus of snow, is the low temp's at night tend to be warmer.  Which keeps the average temp above normal.  It just makes winter, look longer outside.
  Now to just solve the shovelling issue.  Perhaps a bobcat on tracks, with a snow bucket would do the trick!  Now just to put the financing in place, and get cleared by the Dr.'s to go back to work.  Oh yes, then there would be Susan.  Humm, I don't think this would happen, not after the 'brad' nailer incident!  The 'finger' is coming along, just fine.  I will have no permanent 'mental' scaring of any kind, and will not need any professional help in this regards!  And no, my med's have not kicked in yet.  Why do you ask?  I am just giving every one a little smile to start their day with.
  Today I will start my day with a bit of shovelling from the front garage doorway, just in case Donald wants to escape and go out for coffee.  I can just imagine the conversation at coffee, to who has the most snow, or the worst weather from around the area.  This storm surely is not as bad as the storm of 92 or 67.  Have to get over to the other farm to make sure the cows have enough feed incase this storm carries on, etc..  Well  you get the idea, how the conversation's might go.
  After coffee I will return home and have some breakfast with Susan, finish some prep-work.  then Susan will be off painting, and I guess, I will spend my day, you guessed it, 'shovelling'.  Eventually the snowing will stop, then I can stop.  It's not snowing that hard outside now, so it should not take that long to get ahead of it (the snow).  Hopefully by tomorrow all the painting in the kitchen will be done, and then all the tapping and masking can be removed.  There are a couple of doors to be put back on, and then we can start on the final pieces of trim that need to be completed.
  This weekend we are also (Susan) prepping the main bathroom (bathtub area), for the waterproof membrane.  This is a product that is painted on.  After all wall surfaces are prepped, you paint in one direction, wait 12 hours for it to dry (overnight) then repeat the process in the opposite direction the next day.  This makes sure that all the air pockets that might have been exposed during the first coat, will be covered, thus making a perfect water tight seal.  Wait another 12 hours to dry (overnight), and start laying your tile or whatever you want on your finished enclosure the next day.  Why all the extra fuss for something you are going to sell?  Because we are building, and putting our names to the job.  So like our parents taught us, if you are going to do a job, do it right.  So this also goes with Building the Simple life...................

  Perhaps the weatherman was right with his last two forecasts!  Well he can't be wrong all of the time, and let us pray this trend will continue.  The weather forecast for Remberance Day, is for a cold sunny day, with a few cloudy periods, but no snow in the forecast!

  Yesterday when Susan returned home from work, she took me into the big city to 'Emergency' at one of our three hospitals there.  Now they used to have a sign up saying waiting time at the three hospitals at emergency (to see a Dr.), it no longer exists.  When I asked one of the volunteers what happened to it, he had never seen such a sign.  But then replied he had only been there for about 2 months.  Which I replied if it was going to be quicker at another hospital we would just drive over there.  He had no answers for me.  In there new efficiency process it took me 30 minutes to get checked in and assessed. this was when it wasn't even busy.  Two people ahead off me when we arrived. signs up every where, if you are not satisfied with the time it's taking to see a Dr., talk to the person with the stop watch! no such person could be found.  The next two hours were spent in a room with virtually no heat, luckily Susan and I both had our winter jackets and gloves on.  Now I thought I had put a nail into my finger, through the nail, with a brad nailer the night before.  While we were waiting I cut the nail back and it looked like the nail had gone in and sliced the nail, then and had shot straight back out.  Meanwhile they had put me on a lower priority than people that were obviously coming in drunk, saying 'I think I might have fallen'.  I went to the front desk and told them I couldn't wait any longer, I was already past my medication time, and my headache was a approaching a 10.  If I didn't get out of there soon who knows perhaps Susan would have come unglued.

  Back to my sign, I wonder what was their decision to take it down?  Was it because they thought it was promoting a two tiered health care system?  Those that could afford to drive to the next hospital got better service.  I don't know, but I think it better utilized the resources we have in the health care system.  I know in the past we have driven from one hospital to the next, why wait for three hours when one of the others is only a half or an hour wait.  Saskatchewan the birthplace of publicly funded medical services in Canada and it has come to this?  Perhaps they should have an app's for your phone so when you are heading for the hospital you could dial up and head for the one wit the least amount of wait time, thus improving the efficiency level of care in the system.

  This morning I once again cleaned up this finger again, I think I am going to be very lucky.  God must have been looking after me once again.  It does appear that the brad nail went in and out through the nail, so somewhere on this floor is a nail for me to step on.  I must vacuum today!  Thus reducing the chance of a work related injury.  Maybe I'm a bit paranoid, but I try to keep everyone healthy and happy.  In this way we all can have some fun, as we work on Building the Simple life........................

 

  Yesterday I managed to finish with putting up the rest of my Christmas lights, including the ones on Nicole's tree.  There are a few clips that need replacing, but will have to wait for a warmer day.  If we get that warmer day, and my finger is doing better.  I may put the clips up for the walk in garage door and put the lights up on there as well.
  What did I do to my finger?  It took me about two hours, including clean up to put out the decorations and lights outside. When I came inside my headache and concentration level was not so good, so I decided to have some lunch and have a bit of a rest.  While I was sitting in the living room looking at the doorway, I had this thought. (dangerous)  Wouldn't it be a nice surprise for Susan to come home from her late shift, and see the top outside trim done, on living room side of the doorway!  Well it is done!  But in the process I managed to slip, the brad nailer fired and put a hole through my nail.  At first I didn't think I had put a nail in my finger, (sometimes it misfires) but after changing my bandage this morning..  Susan had already left for work. (she had a short change over)  I guess when Susan gets home from her early shift, she will give me another lecture, about why I should not be doing certain things unsupervised.  Her word's will be something like No or NO or "absolutely no" or just "NO"!!!!!  Then there is the look and the smirk where they kinda want to laugh at you with that twinkle in their eye look 'no'
  However it works out, I know she loves me, I got it in my hand in an act of love for her.  Even though it will now be costing her more of her leisure time.  I guess I am somewhat of a big child for her.  With that being said, I will be going to 'Emergency' today this nail will have to come out.  The crazy part of this whole ordeal is with my high threshold for pain, this doesn't hurt.  So why do my headaches hurt so bad?  Still no answers from the medical professionals!
  I phoned Susan at her place of work, so she is well aware that we will be making a return trip to the big city when she gets home.  Perhaps now is the time for a quick breakfast and then I can make an attempt at clearing the sidewalk of some snow, thus preventing some future accident.  I would not want to see any more accidents, one is to many while we are trying to build the Simple life..........................

  Plus two outside this morning, with a bit of rain and snow mix happening!  Slowly, the fall has been pushing old man winter back!  If this trend continues, soon even the alleys will be safe to travel, even with vehicles with bald tires.
  When Susan and I returned from the city Sunday evening we noticed some Christmas decorations starting to appear throughout the neighbourhood.  That is one thing that usually goes up fairly early around here, people take advantage of any nice day they can!  I was looking at the long range forecast, and I would imagine that most people will have their outdoor displays done within the next two weeks. Perhaps I will try and set ours up one last time today, there is not that much to do.  The upper lights are already up and plugged in, and the lower lights usually do not take that long to set up.  If I don't finish today there is always tomorrow and the next day, etc..
  Yesterday I started the prep work for the painting in the kitchen, still more to do today.  I also cut the last three small base boards for the back entrance between the doors and set them in place.  Hopefully they will get nailed and glued in the near future.  The top of the pocket door was also trimmed out between the living room and kitchen, before my headache got the best of me!
  Hopefully Susan will be able to give me a hand once again today, before she has to leave for her paid job.  When this happens, I think I will putts around in the front garage, and organize my outside Christmas decorations.  Perhaps things will go well and I will even get some of them set out, four to stake into the ground, and two sets of bells to hang on the front garage lights.  There is a set of lights to put around the garage door, clips are permanently installed, and the same for the front door.  I do have lights for the walk in garage door that we installed earlier this fall.  The clips need to be installed, and I am not quite sure I am up to this task.  You see I am a bit of a perfectionist, and these outdoor mini-lights can be a bit of a pain to get them perfectly aligned.  We also have a tree in our front yard that now must be sixteen plus feet.  We call it Nicole's tree or my tree.  Why?  When, Nicole was young she started it from a seed at school and brought it home, I basically threw it in the ground (I was on my way to work) where it grew to big!  Had to get a tree spade in to transplant it, to try and save it.  And have been fighting bugs disease etc., ever since!  So since I have put an investment of time and energy into trying to keep Nicole's tree alive, I started calling it 'my' tree.
  Hopefully the weather will be warm enough so I can put up the outdoor lights on "OUR TREE" one last year, as we celebrate Christmas!  This is another thing I have learned, we cannot take the tree with us, so you have to learn to let go as you down size.  A very important lesson at Building the Simple life......

  Sure enough, it's daylight in the swamp again!  Plus one outside this morning.  We had a rapid melt down yesterday afternoon, hopefully the weatherman is wrong and it will continue again today.
  Our little city in their wisdom, decided it was more important to try and haul melting snow away!  Rather than grade the streets of the slush to the edge, where it could melt on it's own accord, and then drain away.  No they prefer that it should again freeze in clumps and tracks making things dangerous for travel especially at intersections and crosswalks, especially dangerous for pedestrians.  The money they spent tying up two graders, trucks, loaders and the drivers, could have graded all the streets in our little city.  Plus they could have made sure all the side walks were cleaned off.  Many of our seniors walk to the mail daily.
  I find it simply amazing, that the people that are hired to make these management decisions cannot or will not make the effort to look outside.  Or is this a case of our elected officials not allowing the city's hired managers, to have the flexibility to change decisions, on a moments notice!  Sometimes I wonder if the effort of our politically elected officials, and their agenda to make sure of their re-election, ends up costing us more money.  Which in turn, looks like a whole bunch of stupidity some days!
  Susan is busy doing some more de-clutering of her kitchen cupboards, and then she will be onto painting.  It will be my job to pack up the boxes and put them in the garage for transport to value village.  I believe they are mostly glasses that we never use, hopefully they will get recycled to another family.  I also have one more door to start working on, the trim work between the living room and the kitchen.  Hopefully I can get the top of it done tonight when Susan is at work.
  Well it's time for me to get back at it, and help with my part of Building the Simple life....................

  It's the beginning of a new week, and the temperature is warming up outside.  Bringing with it a bit of rain for today, well depends on which weather station you listen to.  One calls for some rain and sunshine, the other cloud and sunshine.
  My work at the back entrance is starting to show signs of progress, in fact it looks like it has turned the corner and is headed for the home stretch.  I just have base boards to do inside the closet and a couple of small ones to do along the back wall.  Then it will be time to move our efforts into the kitchen.
  Today, on Susan's only day off from her paid job, we will once again head into the big city.  This time to pick up tiles for the bathroom project.  I think Susan is anticipating on having it completed by late November or early December.  Let's hope they lay off with the overtime at her paid job.  Anyways our goal is to have two fully working bathrooms for Christmas.  A lofty goal, but we definitely will have the bathtub shower up and operational before Christmas!
  The big question will be, will we pull the toilet, remove the floor, tile and grout, and install the new toilet before Christmas?  I do not want to be down to one toilet over Christmas, especially when it's in the master suit!  I guess we will have to wait and see how much time the bathtub tilling takes.  How my head is doing, and how much time before our first Christmas guests are arriving.  Namely, Nicole (Mickey Mouse) and Baby 'M'.
  As I said earlier, Susan and I will be off to the big city this morning to pick up our tile for the main bathroom.  What I should say, is look at it, study it, touch it, feel it, then pick it out, then buy it, then bring it home.  This is what women in general mean, when they say they are going to pick something up.  It's called shopping!  They know what they want, they just have to see what they want first!  My dad has learned to take a book with him and sits in the parking lot and reads while my mom shops!  Now you may think I might be getting crazy, but since I hit my head I kinda wander about in a daze and look at things and shop.  In fact being a bit slow, the wife is the one that now tells me are you finished, lol. It's kinda nice when the shoe is on the other foot.  What's my point here?  Oh, none..  It's just life sometimes gets going way to fast, and sometimes it's nice to slow things down.  So you see this helps us at Building the Simple life........................

  Good morning, I took a day off yesterday from the world and spent it entirely with my son and his family.  What did we accomplish?  Derek and the girl's managed to move a deep freezer from my basement to their place.  Do an oil change on Michele'e escape, take Shayla out to have her mobile device looked at, and repaired.  The world might come to an end if a teenage girl can not link properly to her data plan on her phone don't you know!  Install two small pieces of sheet rock in their basement, which I might add is coming along very nicely!  What did I get out of the deal?  I got to supervise and boss people around, spend some quality time with some amazing family, and end up with a great home made chicken supper out of the deal!  Then we all finished up with an early surprise 'Birthday' cake!  Which Susan brought, after she finished at work.  Yes, it was a great afternoon and evening!
  Today I shall try and make an effort to get back on track, but first I will have to find my list!  Somehow in the last couple of days, in my confusion I seem to have misplaced it.  How this could have happened I do not know, nor do I recall.  Perhaps this has something to do with my dazed and massive headaches I have been dealing with as of late.
  There, back from a quick coffee break with Donald, my list has now been found, things are good!  I should be able to now get my day organized and back on track.  Susan was called into work early again!  I am not sure if she will be home earlier, or if this will mean her five hour shift will now become an eight hour shift.  Time will tell.  It is important to note that this has thrown my schedule a bit out of sorts!  No board meeting, and no executive decisions were made before the departure of the CEO., this morning!  Do I dare take another day off?  Probably,,,,,,,'NOT'!
  Breakfast is done, so it's back to the little things, and then on to the next!  This is whatever I can handle on my own off of our list.  Well, until Susan returns home.  Which means all I have to remember is to keep it to just one step at a time, at Building the Simple life.............

  Rain, freezing rain, then some more rain, and then a good dump of snow.  Say hello to November!  I should have guessed there was something like this building weather wise, with the headache levels I have been experiencing as of late.
  The positive thing about the weather for us, is Susan does not start work until noon today.  This leaves ample time for the snow-plows (salt shakers) to be out to do their job.  It also gives me an outdoor exercise activity to perform, 'thanks'!  Did I tell you I love winter on the prairies, 'especially the snow', part!  Should have bought that snow blower when we were out yesterday!  Yes, the one I was promised I could get for this winter, except 'winter' is not supposed to be here until sometime after Remembrance Day!
  Somehow 'We' have managed without a snow blower, all these years.  Perhaps this is the year to make the investment, even with a smaller place, I probably still, will have a driveway and a garage!  Would this mean no more shovelling?  No, a snow blower can not get every where if you want to do a good job, but it sure beats throwing it over great distances and having to try and pile it up.  Such a dilemma to deal with.  Should we, or shouldn't we?  That is the question!
  While I make an attempt at doing my impression as the human snow machine, Susan will remain snug and warm inside.  Yes inside the house, paint brush or roller in hand (not sure which is her weapon of choice) doing the second, and final coat of paint for the back door closet.  Now, depending on how long it takes to dry, and where my head is at later today, I may make an attempt at starting to put the closet hardware back together.  Or I might just sit on my hinny and finish cleaning the few remaining tools that were found in the back closet.  Then they can be properly put away where they belong.
  Yesterday morning Susan and I finished cleaning up from halloween.  I cut up the pumpkin, which she cooked and prepared for freezing.  Nothing like homemade pumpkin pie at Christmas time!  We started the sorting process of what came out of the back closet, to be continued today!  We managed to accomplish the basics of what had to happen on our list, hopefully today we can check off a few optional things.  It's the optional things that help keep us moving forward, to our Goal of Building the Simple life..................

  We have survived another halloween!  Quite possibly, our last in this house.  I did a get a few comments about my costume, a 'Boston' fan.  One young ghost in fact, jokingly replied 'I don't know if I can take a treat, I'm a canadian's fan',  We had a good laugh over that one!  For such a cold evening, we ended up with a modest turnout of about 40 children, the last two goblins showing up around 8:40.

  This morning is back into our regular routine on Susan's only day off.  We had an indoor board meeting to discuss the adventures of the day.  The executive decisions have been made.  The orders are out.

  These orders shall include some painting, a trip this afternoon to the city for my chiropractor appointment, a stop to pick up another prescription for me, and a few more groceries for the next week.  This is all to commence after we have a nutritious breakfast!  No, not left over halloween candy!  We shall send that as a treat for dessert in Susan's lunch at work, better yet she can take it to work and put it out in the lunch room for her co-workers to enjoy.

  One of my jobs today is to peel the pumpkin and get it ready to cook and freeze.  This way it will be ready to be made into a pumpkin pie at Christmas time.  Perhaps this might be something else that I might attempt for the first time "NOT".  I'm not allowed to destroy Derek's homemade pumpkin pie!

   My other job, you might have already guessed it, is to finish cleaning up the halloween mess.  Then I get to follow behind Susan, and you guessed it again, clean up!  Then there is the other job's I made myself yesterday, yes, you guessed it!  The clean up, sorting of tools, things to put away, where they belong, recycling, etc.!  I am totally committed to having an organized back closet!  "NOT", a giant hidden junk drawer!

  Once Susan has the back entrance and closet painted, then I can slowly put things back together.  This includes the closet shelve, which I have already painted.  Then the door hardware can be reinstalled, and the by-fold door slips back into place.  Then the real work shall begin, trimming out the door and installing new base boards with all those cuts.  A job that would only taken me a couple of hours before, that might take me days, perhaps a week or more now to do.  If I'm lucky, Derek might swing by and give me a hand to complete it.

  Susan is already busy painting, so I had better get off my duff, and start contributing to our day, that is how we expect to get to the next stage of Building the Simple life................

  Good morning, somehow I think the weatherman has it wrong again.  It is already 3 degrees warmer than the predicted high for today!  Does that mean it will be substantially warmer for the trick or treaters?  Or are we still waiting for the temp., to plunge to the high?  I am so confused!  Well at least when it comes to listening to the weatherman.  My forecast, was for a nice cool evening for the kids.
  When my parents were young, before TV., if you were lucky, you had a radio.  One of the radio shows was "Fibber Magee and Molly"!  Now as I remember being told, they had this closet, that every thing, and any thing was thrown into.  Kinda like the junk drawer in the kitchen!  Well I have to admit, we sorta have one of those back door closets.  Now there wasn't much in the 'closet', as we had gone through it a couple of times already.
  My task yesterday was to empty the 'closet', and have it ready for painting.  Now for a normal person, this task should have taken approximately an hour, including the removal of the by-fold door, and it's hardware.  Now, I'm sorta like Mr. Magee, a bit slow and with distractions this is an all day project.  I could not believe what one could store in one tiny space.  Just like the science guy would say, "IT'S SIMPLY AMAZING".
  I found more tools to sort and clean, just to lazy to put things away the last time they were used?  Why, at least they are no longer missing and now are found.  Another few days worth of work of sorting, cleaning, and putting things away that I wasn't even planing on.  But what was really amazing, there was actually hats in the closet, can you imagine that?  Jackets and Hat's!!  Yes my "BOSTON BRUINS" official baseball style hat!  Then I remembered my hockey stick down stairs. (cleaning the deep freezer)  I think I should have a black golf shirt, possibly I could be a 'Bruins' hockey fan passing out the candy tonight.  This definitely would be a novelty with no NHL season in sight!
  Anyways, back to my closet, notice I said my closet.  I have become obsessed with this little space, it will no longer hold all the junk that one 'might' need one day.  It to has served it's purpose, and is getting downsized!  Those ultimate words, needs, wants.  Then the next set are, have we used it in the past year, will we miss it, can we pass it on, is it recyclable?  So unlike Mr. Magee, who always at the last second ended up throwing the whole lot back into the closet, our 'stuff 'will be put away properly, or find other uses.  Our 'closet' will have some jackets, hats and shoes for the season!  Oh happy days, just a good thought for Building the Simple life..............

  I managed to get up and see Susan off to what was supposed to be her last day of work.  Unfortunately she is going in tomorrow for five hours to cover for another co-worker who was called for her surgery yesterday.  When these things happen in life, that is the type of people we are.  No hesitation, no questions, you just do what needs to be done.  That's how we were raised by our parents, that's what we have tried to show our children, and it looks like it is what our children are teaching our grandchildren as well.
  Who said common decency is dead in this world, just look around.  I see it in the friends and family, we choose to be around.  I believe if we all look hard enough, there still is a lot of good in this world, without someone thinking what is at the other end.  What's in it for me?  So remember, just pass it on down the line, no pay back...
  I still could not convince Susan that I could handle some painting upstairs!  Not even the inside of the back entrance closet!  I told her I thought I had painted the inside of the front entrance closet, her response was "really"!!!!  I guess I have the dubious task of cleaning out the back closet and having it ready for her to paint.  Lucky me!  I am really sure I could handle this task, but if I make one mistake.... life is so precious, and my mom'a didn't raise no fools.  At least I remember this much from the past!
  Susan must have made it safely to work this morning, as I did not get a phone call.  She is an experienced driver, having logged countless miles as professional driver.  This was when we drove semi- truck throughout Canada and the USA.  It looked like we were experiencing some rain, when she backed the car out on her way to work this morning, and with the temp hovering at the freezing mark.  Well it could be a concern, and we did talk about road conditions before she left for work.
  So today I will resign myself to getting the closet ready for painting.  This will consist of the removal of the shelf, some hangers, and the by-fold door.  Now if I am really clever about this procedure, I can lay everything out in such a way.  That everything that comes out of the closet, including the door, shelve, and all the hardware will take up all useable table and counter space!  Humm, now how do you suppose I am supposed to make supper?  It must be time to order in a "PIZZA"!!!
  Perhaps, miracles happen everyday. we just have to be receptive to see what they are!  Remember the saying when pigs can fly!  Then why did God tell men to build the planes?  It's just a perspective of how we look at things.  Just like we used to try to tell our children, which Susan always tried to reinforce.  Is it a want, or a need?  So too, Susan and I now look at life, in our down sizing process at Building the Simple life.........................

  I see we have some fresh snow on the ground, must be time to get some outdoor exercise in today!  Soon I will head outside and clear the walkways and driveway of snow.  This should not take to long, as it doesn't appear to be much more than a skiff of new snow on the ground.  I shall know soon enough, once I am fully dressed and out there.  Why clean the walkways at all?  Well for starters it's safer for the kids or anyone who will be out there waking this morning or later today!  In our northern climate even if the temp., does not get above the freezing point, If the sun can get at the bare ground, the sun will help melt and evaporate the surrounding snow.  This will help make it safer for the little trick or treaters come halloween night!
  Speaking of halloween night, the jury is still out on wether or not I get dressed up in some sort of costume, to pass out treats for the little ones!  Susan is off that day as well, and I have some more treatments at the chiropractors.  So depending on how my day goes, will determine what happens that evening.
  Susan has an early start at work today, so hopefully I will get the necessary priming done before she gets home.  Then depending on drying time, perhaps we can put on the second coat of paint after supper, or early this evening.  This would allow me to install the rest of the garage closet door frame and the last of the pocket door on tuesday afternoon.  Then possibly Susan can get right into the painting of the back entrance and kitchen on wednesday afternoon.  Hopefully finishing up on thursday, her last day off.  Yes I am quite the slave driver!  My, how our roles have reversed since my head injury.  NOT!  This is what happens when Susan, does not want me to have a paint brush in my hand, for certain jobs.
  Yesterday I made a huge garden salad!  So today, I just have to plan a meat dish, and some vegetables to add with it for supper.  I think I will pull some fish out to bake in the oven, and then have some steamer vegetables.  Something quick and easy.  I want to try and concentrate on finishing up with a few small projects in the garage, which mostly involve the 'cleanup' word.  Putting tools away, sweeping up my last mess, etc..  This should not take long, but is a necessary evil, it keeps every thing tidy and organized.  This way you can easily find things for the next job, and last but not least, no one gets hurt!  Another very important lesson we realized we have learned in our lives, as we are Building the Simple life.....................

  Another day is well on it's way.  It's daylight in the swamp!  Supper is in the slow cooker, and Susan is long gone to work!  YES, LONG GONE TO WORK!  I thought, I was letting her sleep in this morning.  To my surprise when I returned from an early coffee break with Donald, it had been to no avail.  Shortly after I had left, her work called and awoke her from her "Beauty" rest.  Could she start work early?  Susan being such a "Dedicated" employee, well you get the rest of the picture.  I arrived home just in time to say goodbye, and a see you for supper good-by.
  Now I am not sure what my plans are for the rest of the day.  Yes there is always the ongoing reno project's in the house, some requiring painting.  Which Susan had planed on getting me started on this morning, oh well.  I did manage to rearrange our meal schedule for the day, and now have the slow cooker going with supper.  This was something I had not planed on doing today, and will be a total surprise for Susan!  Let's see, kitchen is clean, check.  I suppose I should make myself a light lunch, before I totally miss out on this one!
  We are always trying to keep things simple in our lives, even when life throws us curves.  This has proved to be an invaluable lesson in life, things are less stressful this way!  That is probably the most important piece of wisdom that our parents and grandparents before us, have passed on through the generations.  So as we have gathered this tiny bit of knowledge for ourselves, we to should also pass this on to future generations, that is why also try to keep things simple at Building the Simple life............

  Another day is about to begin, and I am still waiting for the daylight to appear over the swamp!  This is one of the trade off's for all the long days throughout the spring/summer.  Yes, the long nights during the fall/winter, but on the up side you can dress really warm and go outside and become a star gazer.  You never know what you might see!  Orbiting satellites, space derbies on re-entry, shooting stars, or our famous northern lights, or just the wonder of the star studded heavens in all their glory on a moonless night.  It seems we can find a lot to do in the cold of a fall evening, if we just have the patience and determination to get out and do it!  We only have one problem with this theory, we have to work around clouds.  But with a bit of perseverance, this to can be worked out in time.  After all, we do get a lot of cloud free days here on the prairies!!
  Today is going to be a very busy one for Susan!  She has to drive me to the city.  We have to do some shopping before her work day commences.  Thank-God she has a shortened work schedule for today.  We are going to pick up some groceries, paint, and I forget the rest, at least it is written down on the list!
  This afternoon while Susan is at work I will prime the trim boards in the basement.  I did not accomplish this yesterday, as I was not sure which paint to use.  There are to many white paint cans stacked in the basement to choose from.  I did not know which was primer, or inside paint or outside paint.  So instead of raising the wrath of the paint gods, I determined it would be wise and wait for a board meeting this morning.  Then we could have an executive decision!  Sounds good to me, right?
  The false dawn is upon us, Susan has had her morning breakfast, some executive decisions for the day have been made, and she is now off for the hot-tub!  Just like that our day has begun, I think I might pop down to the coffee shop with Donald before I head into the the big city with Susan.  It would be nice to catch up on the local election results from this week.  Perhaps we may have a new council, definitely a new mayor.  It will be interesting to see what direction or change our little city might be headed in.  These are things and issues that also effect ones decisions at Building the Simple life...............

  Once again, Susan's days off have rolled by!  Where did they go?  They went into a couple of loads of laundry, some work in the bathroom, sizing some trim for the back entrance, grocery shopping, and the on going clean up!  Oh yes, we took a two hour break.  When she took me out for wings, Wednesday evening at the Sports page for supper!
  We have the next batch of trim set up in the basement ready for it's first coat of paint.  Perhaps, even I might try and tackle this later today.  Susan does not usually allow, paint, a brush, in the same room with me at the same time.  Let me just say, I've been told there were some bad experiences that I do not recall!  Anyways my painting skills have somewhat improved, as I demonstrated on the outside of the house and garage this fall.  It's all in the prep work!  Lot's of drop cloth's and paper to protect everything around you'll..., and lots of time and plenty of faith!
  I see once again the weather man has revised the forecast!  Fall is loosing fore ground to old man winter.  We are already at our high for the day, perhaps fall is just building up some strength for a counter offensive!  I sure hope it appears soon, as the clock is ticking down towards halloween and the arrival of all the little trick and treaters.
  I was thinking that I could dress up in some sort of costume this year when I pass out the candy to all the kids as they come around.  This is something that my second oldest, Nicole does.  This is my daughter that is due with baby "M" in about 4 months.  I am not sure who or what nicole will dress up as this year, I just know it will be something spectacular!  No chasing kids down the street this year trying to give your candy away Mickey Mouse!
  Today while Susan is at work I will have to come up with a meal plan and grocery list for the next week.  I have to take into consideration what we have remaining in the freezer down stairs, yes we are still trying to get it empty!  Then come up with a schedule of meals, and finally a plan for shutting it (freezer) down.  When this is done we will be able to defrost, clean, and have it ready for pickup by the new owners.  Who I am sure are anxiously awaiting it!
  It is definitely daylight in the swamp!  Time to see if Susan wants to get her day started, and what challenges we might face today.  Hopefully every day starts the same, just by waking up!  But after that, we are not sure what challenges we might face.  That is why we are Building the Simple life..........................

  What is it that makes us one day wake up and hate something we once loved?  In my case it was winter!  And what are we famous for in Canada, especially in the winter time?  Well, "Snow" lots of snow.  Now since my head injury, or is it because of my age?  Did a switch just go poof in my body and say 'you are old and will no longer like winter'!  This I am definitely not sure about, because I used to prefer working in the cold!  And now I have done a complete reversal in my life.  This is not a good thing.  Especially if old man winter comes knocking on the door early!
  This morning when I looked outside, I noticed there was a fresh dusting of snow on the ground, again! Not enough to drag the shovel out, but enough for those that park outside, to grab their window scrapers and clear car windows, before they set off to the big city on their early morning commute.
  Now being "Canadian" where we like to promote to the rest of the world, that we live with seven months of winter (not true).  A stigma that was invented by our "American" cousins, which we decided early in our history, was not worth correcting.  Why?,  If our cousins knew how good we actually had it up here, we would soon become over populated with guests, that would not want to leave.  Yes we do get "snow", some years more than others.  We just have to learn how to train this stuff, (snow) to land where we really need it.  This would be scientific breakthrough, worthy of the "Nobel prize" for science.
  You can definitely see my dilemma, a good old boy from Canada, that somehow has lost his love of winter!  This is so, not "CANADIAN".  This morning I am on the sidelines cheering for the underdog fall, as they are about to try and push back with their limited defence, against old man winter.  Hopefully the injury riddled defence can hold him up enough, to at least give the little ones a safe and decent halloween!  This is my wish, one that would also make winter seem just a little bit shorter.
  Today Susan and I are going to move the pickup out of the back garage, as we have some trim boards to fabricate.  This is for our one pocket door between our kitchen and living room, and then one closet door at the back entrance.  Hopefully we can get this job accomplished by lunch time.  I believe this will be the final time the pickup will have to be moved, until I need to rip some base boards to fit for a special project after Christmas.
  Susan is up, it's time to give the deck a quick sweep, and head for the to-tub.  We must set our plans in motion for the day.  Minutes of previous meetings to be hashed over, and finally the executive decisions to be made.  Then we will be back on track for the day, at Building the Simple life..................