Today Sharon and I have been married 35 years. It has been an interesting and eventful trip to get here. But it has been worth it and we are expecting many more years and adventures. I feel like the opening line of Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities": "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
We have moved 12 times to and from 5 cities. This last move has been the longest at over 20 years in the same house. We have had some lean times and some good times. We have survived good jobs and bad jobs, finding them and losing them. We have had good bosses and learned from them and we have had some bad bosses and learned more from them. We have survived raising children and are now enjoying the fruits of our labors: grandchildren. We have each survived some serious health issues that could have and should have shorted our time together. We have lost each other in some emotional/marital problems and found each other again only to realize that there is nothing that we can not work though because we really do love each other and that all these trials really do make us stronger and draw us closer.
Once we were invited to a young marrieds workshop at church. I had no idea why. We had been married almost 10 years at the time. I think it was because we had 2 small children at the time and the organizers thought we were relatively new at the game. The class we attended was on surviving life's ups and downs. The facilitator gave some statistics on what causes divorces and per cent ages of failures with each. Things like a new job with either and increase or decrease in pay 30%, with moves to a new town/city 40%. Loss of a child 25%, with the loss of first child almost 40%, and the subsequent loss a second child the chances rose to over 50%. He said all these are cumulative. After the presentation of the rest of his lecture he turned the time over to discussion. Several of the group asked questions and made comments. After a while I looked at Sharon and put up my hand. I asked hypothetically what the odds of surviving the following scenario was: "A young couple married while attending post secondary schooling, taking a good job in the schools town, about a year later moving to a small faring town for a better job, losing that job because of an economic down turn, moving to get another job and finding out they were expecting just after the move, being transferred to another city with the company, losing the position because the business was sold and also losing the child shortly after he was born to a mysterious illness almost at the same time, finding another good job in his field, losing a second child due to miscarriage at the start of third trimester, having their first child, expecting their second and moving to another city for another position with another company just before the second child is born and losing this job with in a year because of the economy. All this happens in the first 10 years of marriage." The facilitator looked shocked and asked if I was joking stating that this couple if still together would be lucky to survive another night together. Sharon and I started to laugh and asked if he knew a good divorce lawyer. He asked why and I said that is a brief outline of our life since we got married. He was amazed and asked how we survived and obviously thrived. We looked at each other and said "Our faith in each other and in God." He said that is and was the best foundation a couple could have and was where he was headed and thanked us for finishing his lecture.
I think that he was looking only at the negatives. I do not see many in our life together. Most of the "hardships" we have been through have be for the better. Very little if any have been for the worse. They have taught us to value each other even more and to cherish each other. They have taught us valuable lessons in humility and charity. They have given us an entirely different out look on life, a view of things around us and their real importance or should I say what is important. It is not a view that we have often found in others. We enjoy each day as it comes and try to live it together at its fullest. Doing the things we enjoy whether they are mutually shared or by ourselves and respecting the other's choices.
Enough of the mush. Lets just leave it at 35 happy years and counting.
Until next time.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Even My Hair Hurts
Over the last few weeks Sharon and I have been walking at nights when she gets off early enough. At my last doctor's appointment he gave a clean bill of health (except for the blood pressure medicine and the occasional celebrex for my bum knee) and said to get back into exercising. I went to see my old Sensei, Hanshi Jorge Sosa last week. He agreed to take me on as a student again on Mondays from 4 to 6. Tonight was the first night training. He said that he would take it easy on me for the first time. I should have know better. He had me sweating so hard my hands were even wet. I know they say the second day is worse than the first but I hurt in places I haven't hurt in a long time. My legs are starting to stiffen, my knee is numb, my chest and shoulders are sore, and my abs are spasming from the "warm-ups". It has been a long time since I did 40 sit ups, not to mention push ups, leg tucks and reverse crunchies. But I feel the best I have in over a year. I just hope I survive the next few days to make it back next week. I guess he did take it easy on me. He told me that was all at 5:50 and let me go 10 minutes early.
I was shocked at how much I remembered. After warm ups and techniques practice we did 10 Katas and I managed to get through them with little or now coaxing. Next week should be interesting as we move forward into the more difficult ones. I have only another 18 to remember.
Night all.
I was shocked at how much I remembered. After warm ups and techniques practice we did 10 Katas and I managed to get through them with little or now coaxing. Next week should be interesting as we move forward into the more difficult ones. I have only another 18 to remember.
Night all.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Not Just Another Pretty Face
Last Monday I received a phone call from a friend that is directing the local musical theatre group's fall production. He asked if I was interested in being involved. I have performed and worked with the group in the past and said sure knowing he was short of back stage help. I can drive a nail with the best of them. I arrived at the theatre at the appointed time. As I walked in he handed me a script and said "Congratulations. You have just auditioned for 'Joseph and His TechinColor Dream Coat'. You are one of the brothers. Rehearsals are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The men start rehearsal in 30 minutes." He then smiled and walked off. I didn't think the railroad ran through that area of Lethbridge but obviously it does. Don't get me wrong, I am having fun and enjoy this immensely. It is nice to know that you are not just a pretty face but a voice too.
We started that night as the 8 brothers. The next rehearsal we up to the 10 brothers. I think we are now the required 11. I will find out this morning as we start learning the dance sections and everyone said that they could be there. We had planned at the 8 stage that we would hold puppets between us. One would operate the head and mouth, the other the arms. The feet would be connected to our feet so as we moved the puppet would too. But I guess that has gone by the boards now.
Got to run. Till next time.
We started that night as the 8 brothers. The next rehearsal we up to the 10 brothers. I think we are now the required 11. I will find out this morning as we start learning the dance sections and everyone said that they could be there. We had planned at the 8 stage that we would hold puppets between us. One would operate the head and mouth, the other the arms. The feet would be connected to our feet so as we moved the puppet would too. But I guess that has gone by the boards now.
Got to run. Till next time.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
More Ramblings
Been a couple of weeks since the last foray into blogdom. Lots has happened and not much of it remembered. Work has taken most of my time. Even getting calls on my days off. Got just about all of the weeds cut in the back yard and all the rest sprayed. Been putting off that inevitable almost next to last date with the lawn mower. Monday seems to be the day.
Sharon and I have been shopping a lot recently. We have paid off more big bills and bought more stuff for the house than we have done in a long time. The only thing I can put it down to is the fact that there are the commission cheques coming in.
We bought a wii a little while back and on Friday we bought our "first" couch. Now don't get me wrong. We have had 2 others: the 1st was a new one given us by my parents and the 2nd was a "hand me down" again from my Mom. She bought a new one and didn't have room for the old one. This one is the first new one that we picked out and paid for ourselves. It only took us 35 plus years but what the hey. It is a "semi-custom built" black leather sofa. We won't see it for at least another month.
Today we also started to seriously price out kitchen cabinets. The original ones are starting to look a little dated and worn. It is time for them to go to the big scrap heap in the sky. Besides they don't really match the white oak hard wood flooring I put down this spring. When we were leaving the show room we walked by this bathroom sink and fell in love with it. It would go perfectly with the tile we are going to put in the bathroom upstairs. Even better than the one we bought over 2 years ago. We looked at each other and said at the same time "The other one would look really nice in the down stairs bath." Now all I have to do is get the time to get it done before 16 Dec.
Jake was talking about projects in his blog earlier this month. He said they are works in progress. That is why they are called projects. I agree that is why they are called projects. I have to do on my project list: 1) finish installing the base boards and trim on the new hardwood floor and stairs, 2) finish the bookcase/railing thingy in the living room, 3) the upstairs bathroom reno (tile, tub surround, and sink) and probably one or two other small things. Hey I learned from the best. It took my Dad almost 2 years to build the mohagany fire place in their house and over 5 to complete the linen closet. It takes us Hovan males a while to get things done, but when they are done they are done well and done right. Just ask us we'll tell you.
It is getting late and the eyes are starting to droop. It has been a long day. It started almost 2 hours sooner than I was expecting. When Kimmie was a young'un she had done a number on her ankle while participating in competitive gymnastics. They operated but while waiting the several weeks it took to get her into the operating room they prescribed Voltarin Rapid to help control the inflammation. It turns out she is the 1 in 100,000 that take a reaction to the drug and is the 1 in 250,000 that take a violent reaction. Her muscles stiffen and cramp up. She was curled up into a little ball and there was nothing they could do for her to help with the pain. She literally cried for 4 or 5 days while the drug worked its way out of her system. This week to help control the inflammation in her feet from another medical condition she was prescribed another drug that was from the same drug family but was even less likely to have any side effects. Well that was what the phone call was about at 6 this morning. Her neck and back had started to seize up. Unlike the last time she knew what to watch for and Friday she started to feel it coming on so she stopped taking the pills. Scott watched the kids while Kimmie and I spent 2 hours in the ER. There is still not much they could do for her but they were at least able to give her a painkiller to help unlike the last time.
Well I'm rambling again and time is flying by. My pillow is calling my name and I can no longer ignore it. So good night all. Till next time.
Sharon and I have been shopping a lot recently. We have paid off more big bills and bought more stuff for the house than we have done in a long time. The only thing I can put it down to is the fact that there are the commission cheques coming in.
We bought a wii a little while back and on Friday we bought our "first" couch. Now don't get me wrong. We have had 2 others: the 1st was a new one given us by my parents and the 2nd was a "hand me down" again from my Mom. She bought a new one and didn't have room for the old one. This one is the first new one that we picked out and paid for ourselves. It only took us 35 plus years but what the hey. It is a "semi-custom built" black leather sofa. We won't see it for at least another month.
Today we also started to seriously price out kitchen cabinets. The original ones are starting to look a little dated and worn. It is time for them to go to the big scrap heap in the sky. Besides they don't really match the white oak hard wood flooring I put down this spring. When we were leaving the show room we walked by this bathroom sink and fell in love with it. It would go perfectly with the tile we are going to put in the bathroom upstairs. Even better than the one we bought over 2 years ago. We looked at each other and said at the same time "The other one would look really nice in the down stairs bath." Now all I have to do is get the time to get it done before 16 Dec.
Jake was talking about projects in his blog earlier this month. He said they are works in progress. That is why they are called projects. I agree that is why they are called projects. I have to do on my project list: 1) finish installing the base boards and trim on the new hardwood floor and stairs, 2) finish the bookcase/railing thingy in the living room, 3) the upstairs bathroom reno (tile, tub surround, and sink) and probably one or two other small things. Hey I learned from the best. It took my Dad almost 2 years to build the mohagany fire place in their house and over 5 to complete the linen closet. It takes us Hovan males a while to get things done, but when they are done they are done well and done right. Just ask us we'll tell you.
It is getting late and the eyes are starting to droop. It has been a long day. It started almost 2 hours sooner than I was expecting. When Kimmie was a young'un she had done a number on her ankle while participating in competitive gymnastics. They operated but while waiting the several weeks it took to get her into the operating room they prescribed Voltarin Rapid to help control the inflammation. It turns out she is the 1 in 100,000 that take a reaction to the drug and is the 1 in 250,000 that take a violent reaction. Her muscles stiffen and cramp up. She was curled up into a little ball and there was nothing they could do for her to help with the pain. She literally cried for 4 or 5 days while the drug worked its way out of her system. This week to help control the inflammation in her feet from another medical condition she was prescribed another drug that was from the same drug family but was even less likely to have any side effects. Well that was what the phone call was about at 6 this morning. Her neck and back had started to seize up. Unlike the last time she knew what to watch for and Friday she started to feel it coming on so she stopped taking the pills. Scott watched the kids while Kimmie and I spent 2 hours in the ER. There is still not much they could do for her but they were at least able to give her a painkiller to help unlike the last time.
Well I'm rambling again and time is flying by. My pillow is calling my name and I can no longer ignore it. So good night all. Till next time.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
The Wolves Have Feasted
Last night we went to pick David up. It was interesting waiting at the airport. Sharon and I discussed how we were going to pick the young man out. We had never met him nor him us. It was just by picture. We decided I should have gotten dressed up like a limo driver with a sign with his name on it and stood at the entrance. As I said we hadn't met and the only description that Di gave us was "a tall, skinny, goofy looking guy with big ears." We decided to add to that "who was looking lost and confused." When he came through the door of the customs area we knew exactly who he was and it seemed he recognized us too. I'm not to sure how he took the welcome. As I walked up to him I said "David" and he held out his hand to shake. I took it and immediately pull him into a hug and said "I'm Dad and this is Sharon. You can call her Mom." I don't think that was what he was expecting.
On the ride down we had 2 hours to talk and I think we got to know him. And I don't think we chewed on him too hard. He seemed to arrive in Lethbridge in one piece. I'll have to ask Di later. He was as Di had described him over the past few weeks and I think he will survive well in the Hovan family. He may have to get a few final pointers from Jacob and Scott so he is not coming in total unprepared. I took the weekend off so I could spend some time with him and Di and get to know him better and see how they work together.
This morning at 6:30 Di woke me up to help cook breakfast. This after getting home at 2:30 and to bed just after 3. She had cooked some hash browns and was making scrabbled eggs. I was to cook the steaks and would have gladly if we had steaks. My dear little vegetarian had taked out pork chops. So we had bbq'ed pork chops, eggs and hash brown before Sharon went to work. I understand we are dinning at O Sho's tonight and tomorrow we are having a family birthday(Kimmie)/engagement party.
This wolf will say more as the weekend progresses. I now have a date with the weeds in the yard and a sprayer of round-up.
Till later.....
On the ride down we had 2 hours to talk and I think we got to know him. And I don't think we chewed on him too hard. He seemed to arrive in Lethbridge in one piece. I'll have to ask Di later. He was as Di had described him over the past few weeks and I think he will survive well in the Hovan family. He may have to get a few final pointers from Jacob and Scott so he is not coming in total unprepared. I took the weekend off so I could spend some time with him and Di and get to know him better and see how they work together.
This morning at 6:30 Di woke me up to help cook breakfast. This after getting home at 2:30 and to bed just after 3. She had cooked some hash browns and was making scrabbled eggs. I was to cook the steaks and would have gladly if we had steaks. My dear little vegetarian had taked out pork chops. So we had bbq'ed pork chops, eggs and hash brown before Sharon went to work. I understand we are dinning at O Sho's tonight and tomorrow we are having a family birthday(Kimmie)/engagement party.
This wolf will say more as the weekend progresses. I now have a date with the weeds in the yard and a sprayer of round-up.
Till later.....
Monday, August 25, 2008
..... when you're having fun
Been 2 months now and a lot has happened. Things are going well here work wise. In June I was top lease professional company wide. Had a great month in July as well. Did so well that I basically had nothing to do here. Rented them all. The Calgary office was down a couple of people due to illness at the end of the month so they sent me to Calgary to help with the back log there.
August was just as good to me. On Friday the 15th they flew me to Vancouver to help them through a back log as well. Spent the week showing apartments in New Westminster. Had a good time but it was sure a lonely week. Got to meet some of the names that I see in my emails and put faces to them. Arrived home on Friday the 22nd. Spend Saturday getting reacquainted with my lawn mower. Sharon had some tickets to the Lethbridge Exhibition rodeo for Saturday. We went and had a good time. The livestock seemed to win most of the battles as there was a lot of "no times" and "no rides" posted. Afterwards we walked through the grounds and pavilion just to say we had been. Today was the annual Calgary region BBQ. Scott, Kimmie, the kids, Dian, Sharon and I went and had a good time. Makynna found a new friend from Calgary and suprised us all by getting on one of the horses. She rode Peggy and then Sage for over an hour. it wasn't until Kimmie told her that the horse was getting tired (actually it was her and Papa as we led the horses) that she reluctantly got off. We all had a good time.
Tomorrow is supposed to be my day off but I have a few things to get done so I can take Saturday off. Sharon and I are going to go to Calgary on Friday to pick up David while Dian is working. I am taking Saturday off to get to know him a bit if I can pry him away from Di for a few minutes.
Well it is late and bed is calling.
Till next time.
August was just as good to me. On Friday the 15th they flew me to Vancouver to help them through a back log as well. Spent the week showing apartments in New Westminster. Had a good time but it was sure a lonely week. Got to meet some of the names that I see in my emails and put faces to them. Arrived home on Friday the 22nd. Spend Saturday getting reacquainted with my lawn mower. Sharon had some tickets to the Lethbridge Exhibition rodeo for Saturday. We went and had a good time. The livestock seemed to win most of the battles as there was a lot of "no times" and "no rides" posted. Afterwards we walked through the grounds and pavilion just to say we had been. Today was the annual Calgary region BBQ. Scott, Kimmie, the kids, Dian, Sharon and I went and had a good time. Makynna found a new friend from Calgary and suprised us all by getting on one of the horses. She rode Peggy and then Sage for over an hour. it wasn't until Kimmie told her that the horse was getting tired (actually it was her and Papa as we led the horses) that she reluctantly got off. We all had a good time.
Tomorrow is supposed to be my day off but I have a few things to get done so I can take Saturday off. Sharon and I are going to go to Calgary on Friday to pick up David while Dian is working. I am taking Saturday off to get to know him a bit if I can pry him away from Di for a few minutes.
Well it is late and bed is calling.
Till next time.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Been a While
A lot has happened over the past 2 months. Time to get caught up.
June saw me taking a stress test. It discovered 2 things. I have a heart (for all those who think I'm heartless) and I have stress (who da thunk it). There were some things else but the long and short of it was the doc figured my blood pressure with is a bit high but not critical was just high enough to confuse the heart. He put me on a very mild blood pressure medicine to see if the slight drop it would cause would settle things out. In September we see if he was right. Everything else is on a wait and see basis.
End of May I got offered a job as the lease professional (agent) for TransGlobe Property Management Services in Lethbridge. TransGlobe is a large nation wide company that owns and operates appartments across the country. My job is to keep the ones they own in Lethbridge rented. And to top it off I get to do what I do best - talk to people. Most times I get the warm fuzzies because I am helping someone. Over all the people I work with are great and the company seems to be really supportive.
2 weeks ago I went into the office on Monday to hand in some paper work and check on a few things. I went into the office I was using and didn't see my laptop. I had worked late on Saturday and had used the main office for the internet access as I didn't have any yet in mine. I thought I may have left it there. When I asked Vicki who is the office assistant (in reality she runs the place) if she had seen it she said no. We went back into the back office and looked. There was bits of ceiling tile all over the desk and floor. We could not find my laptop, another that had been left there, a digital camera and the cordless phone. Some one had gone into the washroom on the other side of the office wall, climbed up on the toilet, accessed the ceiling, gone through the wall and through the ceiling tile in the office and helped themselves. The police arrived and investigated. No news yet. What should have been a quick hour or so turned into an all day stint.
Last week I got a call from the young man Dian has been dating while she is in Arizona. He asked me for her hand in marriage. I asked if him would take the rest too and he agree. He hadn't asked her yet. She knew something was up and tried to weasel it out of everyone in the family but we managed to keep it a secret. Last night at supper he asked her. She said yes. They are planning a December wedding.
Well lets hope the next posting comes a little quicker. I was rather busy working 2 full time jobs until they could replace me at the Corps. I finally had to write myself out of the schedule.
Until next time.
June saw me taking a stress test. It discovered 2 things. I have a heart (for all those who think I'm heartless) and I have stress (who da thunk it). There were some things else but the long and short of it was the doc figured my blood pressure with is a bit high but not critical was just high enough to confuse the heart. He put me on a very mild blood pressure medicine to see if the slight drop it would cause would settle things out. In September we see if he was right. Everything else is on a wait and see basis.
End of May I got offered a job as the lease professional (agent) for TransGlobe Property Management Services in Lethbridge. TransGlobe is a large nation wide company that owns and operates appartments across the country. My job is to keep the ones they own in Lethbridge rented. And to top it off I get to do what I do best - talk to people. Most times I get the warm fuzzies because I am helping someone. Over all the people I work with are great and the company seems to be really supportive.
2 weeks ago I went into the office on Monday to hand in some paper work and check on a few things. I went into the office I was using and didn't see my laptop. I had worked late on Saturday and had used the main office for the internet access as I didn't have any yet in mine. I thought I may have left it there. When I asked Vicki who is the office assistant (in reality she runs the place) if she had seen it she said no. We went back into the back office and looked. There was bits of ceiling tile all over the desk and floor. We could not find my laptop, another that had been left there, a digital camera and the cordless phone. Some one had gone into the washroom on the other side of the office wall, climbed up on the toilet, accessed the ceiling, gone through the wall and through the ceiling tile in the office and helped themselves. The police arrived and investigated. No news yet. What should have been a quick hour or so turned into an all day stint.
Last week I got a call from the young man Dian has been dating while she is in Arizona. He asked me for her hand in marriage. I asked if him would take the rest too and he agree. He hadn't asked her yet. She knew something was up and tried to weasel it out of everyone in the family but we managed to keep it a secret. Last night at supper he asked her. She said yes. They are planning a December wedding.
Well lets hope the next posting comes a little quicker. I was rather busy working 2 full time jobs until they could replace me at the Corps. I finally had to write myself out of the schedule.
Until next time.
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