IN KELLY'S CASE, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

 CANADA GEESE HEADING WEST ON THE AUSABLE RIVER IN EXETER ONTARIO THIS MORNING

With a Winter weather advisory in place, the day's weather was a bit iffy first thing this morning.  Cold and windy with snow in the morning and rain in the afternoon.  At the time of publishing this tonight, it is pouring rain.  Kelly had a dental appointment in Exeter for 10 a.m. so it was all three of us in the Subaru rolling out our driveway.  Secondary roads were lightly snowcovered and highways were bare with oceans of road salt applied to them.  It was a salt bath for the Subaru all the way there and all the way home again later.

 SOME ROADS HAD A LIGHT SNOW COVER ON THEM

 HIGHWAYS WERE BARE BUT WET WITH MELTING ROAD SALT

After dropping Kelly off at the dental clinic, Pheebs and I drove a few short blocks over to McNaughton Park where we were able to get out for a short walkaround and take a few photos before the cold icy wind drove us back inside the nice warm car.

PHEEBS AND I WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES AT THE PARK

Knowing Kelly's appointment wouldn't be a long one we headed right back to the dental parking lot and minutes later we had Kelly onboard.  A stop at A&W for a couple breakfast wraps and coffees to go and we were on our way.  With snowflakes in the air turning to rain we were home shortly before 11 a.m.

PATIENTLY WAITING OUTSIDE THE DENTAL CLINIC

 YAY, HERE COMES THE BOSS NOW

 AND HERE COMES OUR A&W SNACKS

In my Monday post, I made a little 'ooopsy.'  I had meant to move the last paragraph about Kelly's good news to the top of my post and make it the lead paragraph.  Just another example of my short-term memory letting me down.  Also, one thing I forgot to mention about Kelly's 'good news' phone call Monday afternoon is that her liaison person told her that in Kelly's case, a live liver donor is the preferable way to go as opposed to a cadaver liver.  I think in Kelly's case they realize time is of the essence now.

 MORNING AT OUR HOUSE

 HAVING A BIG SNOOZE

With a cold rainy drizzle going on all afternoon, there was no point in me even sticking my nose out the door except to keep the birdfeeders topped up.  Birdies, Squirrels, and Bunnies have priority.  Yes, you read that right.  Squirrels too.  Luckily this winter so far I have had very few problems with Squirrels getting onto the bird station.    

 KELLY IN HER COLORFUL PJ'S THIS MORNING

Al's Music Box:)) She's Not There is the debut single by British rock band the Zombies, written by keyboardist Rod Argent.  Rod Argent built the lyrics of "She's Not There" from a John Lee Hooker song, whose title – "No One Told Me" – became a part of the opening phrase of "She's Not There". Following an April 29th 1964 performance by the Zombies at St. Albans Market Hall, Argent played the one verse he had written of the song for Ken Jones who was set to produce the band's first recording session. Jones encouraged Argent to write a second verse, intending the band to record it. Argent recalls: "I wrote the song for Colin's range" – referring to Zombies' vocalist Colin Blundstone – "I could hear him singing it in my mind". 

 OUR LAMPOST AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING

GROANER'S CORNER:(( You might be a redneck if::

- More than one living relative is named after a Southern Civil War general.
- You think the stock market has a fence around it.
- You think the O.J. trial was about the big Sunkist and Minutemaid taste test feud.
- You've ever lost a loved one to kudzu.
- Your boat has not left the driveway in 15 years.
- Your coffee table used to be a telephone cable spool.
- You keep a can of Raid on the kitchen table.
- You've ever used a toilet seat as a picture frame.
- Your home has more miles on it than your car.

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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets.

My wallet is like an onion. When I open it, it makes me cry…

 Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.

Of all the dogs, a hot dog is the most noble; it feeds the hand that bites it.

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At a dinner party, several of the guests were arguing whether men or women were more trustworthy.  "No woman," said one man, scornfully, "can keep a secret."  "I don't know about that," answered a woman guest. "I have kept my age a secret since I was twenty-one."  "You'll let it out someday," the man insisted.  "I hardly think so!" responded the lady. "When a woman has kept a secret for twenty-seven years, she can keep it forever."  

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KELLY'S LONG AWAITED PHONE CALL FROM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CAME THIS AFTERNOON:)))))))

 WILD TURKEYS TAKE FLIGHT

A slightly earlier start to the day than usual.  My appointment time with my diabetes lady was for 9 a.m. so off to Goderich I went all by myself.  Quite an accomplishment nowadays it seems considering I've driven to Canada's west coast and back, as well as Canada's east coast and back plus a bunch of other places all by my lonesome self years ago.  I don't know where all that confidence and reckless abandon of mine has gone, but it sure has got up and left me over these latter years.

After my morning appointment on this cloudy day, I picked up a Hortons coffee to go and cruised down around the harbor and beach areas.  Noticed a large cargo ship tied up at the northeast corner of the harbor.  It's sitting high so there is no cargo aboard.  Maybe it's there to ride out the winter months or maybe it's biding its time before being moved to a repair facility or something up in Quebec.  After a quick stop at Walmart and Pet Smart, I headed home on this dull and dreary day to climb aboard my recliner for another day of relaxing reading.  Maybe one of these days something mildly exciting will happen:))  

THE 'NORTHERN VENTURE' IS SITTING HIGH IN THE WATER

And then at precisely 2:10 p.m. this afternoon, our phone rang with the call coming from University Hospital in London.  Our excitement meter spiked as Kelly was finally given the good news that the surgeon, Dr. Scaro, and the liver transplant team had okayed Kelly today for a liver transplant.  She is officially on the transplant list and they have 'fast-tracked' her meaning that if a suitable cadaver liver becomes available before her donor liver then she will be called in.  Her liaison lady told her today to keep an overnight bag handy and do not stray far from her phone and do not turn her phone off at night......just in case.  Also, Kelly's anonymous liver donor is moving ahead with the final stages of her tests as well and so far, everything is matching up perfectly and everything so far is a go.  So, it is good news on both fronts for Kelly.  And, with her condition steadily worsening she was desperately in need of today's good news.  It has been a long difficult four years for her to reach this point today.  So here we go, onward and upward:))))    

I LOVE WATCHING THE BUNNIES BOUNCE AROUND IN OUR FRONT YARD

Al's Music Box:)) A World Without Love is a song originally recorded by the British duo Peter and Gordon and released as their first single in February 1964. It was included on the duo's debut album in the UK, and in the US on an album of the same name. The song was written by Paul McCartney at the age of 16.  When he moved into the London home of his then-girlfriend Jane Asher in 1963, sharing a room with her brother Peter Asher, who asked McCartney if he could use the song after he and Gordon Waller had signed a recording contract as Peter and Gordon.  McCartney described John Lennon's reaction to the song: "The funny first line always used to please John.  'Please lock me away –' 'Yes, okay.' end of song," Lennon said. "The line 'Please lock me away' always used to crack us up."

GROANER'S CORNER:((  "Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist—while you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it!  Sincerely, the opportunist!

- “The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.”

- “I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”

- “Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow internet to see who they really are.”

 

- “I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance: waiting for the bathroom.” 

-  “Trying is the first step toward failure.”

- “Every Friday, I like to high-five myself for getting through another week on little more than caffeine, willpower, and inappropriate humor.”

- "Sir," said the timid employee to his boss, "my wife says I'm to ask you for a raise."  "Fine," the boss replied. "I'll ask my wife if I can give you one."

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HAVING THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO GO HELPS

A few flakes of snow in the air as Pheebs and I made our way around Bayfield on this cold and gray Sunday morning.  And, it was a legitimate Sunday morning too.  I don't know why but ever since before Christmas every day has seemed like Sunday to me.  Without thinking, had anyone asked me on any one of these past 14 days or so what day it was, I would have responded, 'Sunday'.  I actually like Mondays nowadays because that's the day when things start over again for another week.  No matter how good or bad the past week or week-end were, Monday is a new start.  Just like the first day of the month is a new start with the Grand Daddy of all new starts...New Year's Day.  I sometimes kinda like the fresh mentality and shaky challenges of new starts:))

 SNOWFLAKES IN THE AIR ON OUR DRIVE THROUGH BAYFIELD THIS MORNING

 SPOTTED A FELLOW DOING SOME SUNDAY MORNING WELDING AT BAYFIELD'S NORTH PIER

 IT'S A FISHING BOAT THIS CHAP IS WORKING ON

 IT'S A GOOD THING THERE IS A FIRE HYDRANT CLOSE BY IN CASE THOSE WELDING TORCH SPARKS SET ABLAZE HIS TIM HORTONS COFFEE SEEN HERE IN A RED CUP

DOG WALKERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER

I am enjoying my latest book, Two Years Before The Mast but being a landlubber I am having difficulty understanding the workings of the early 1800's ship the author is sailing on. Here is an example of the book and how the author describes making ready for the ship's departure........'Having hove short, cast off the gaskets, and made the bunt of each sail fast by the jigger, with a man on each yard; at the word, the whole canvas of the ship was loosed, and with the greatest rapidity possible, everything was sheeted home and hoisted up, the anchor tripped and catheaded, and the ship underway.  The royal yards were all crossed at once, and royals and skysails set, and, as we had the wind free, the booms were run out, and every one was aloft, active as cats, laying out on the yards and booms, reeving the studding-sail gear; and sail after sail the captain piled upon her until she was covered with canvas, her sails looking like a great white cloud resting upon a black speck'.

Well, at least we have a few things going on next week to shake us out of these long and boring cold gray days.  Monday morning it's me to the Maitland Valley Medical Centre and Kelly to Exeter Tuesday morning for a dentist appointment.  Wednesday her new chair arrives from London and Thursday morning Richard and I will be out and about with coffee and muffins in hand.  Having things to do and places to go helps with Winter's doldrums at this time of year.

Al's Music Box:)) Answer Me The original Nat King Cole recording, titled "Answer Me, My Love", was released by Capitol Records on 24 February 1954.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?"  "Sixteen," the boy responded.  His cousin was amazed that he knew the answer so quickly. "How do you know that?"  "Easy," the little boy said.  "All you have to do is add it up, like the Preacher said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."

-The first five days after the weekend are the toughest.

A little guy gets on a plane and sits next to the window. A few minutes later, a big, heavy, mean-looking guy plops down in the seat next to him and immediately falls asleep.  The little guy starts to feel a little airsick, but he's afraid to wake the big guy up to ask if he can go to the bathroom. He knows he can't climb over him, and so the little guy sits there, looking at the big guy, trying to decide what to do.  Suddenly, the plane hits an air pocket and an uncontrollable wave of nausea passes over the little guy. He can't hold it in any longer and he pukes all over the big guy's chest. About five minutes later the big guy wakes up, looks down, and sees the vomit all over him.  "So," says the little guy: "are you feeling better now?"

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A REPEAT OF YESTERDAY

Today was basically a repeat of yesterday.  Again, I had to rely on a couple file photos.

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Al's Music Box:)) Vincent (Starry Starry Night) "Vincent" is a song by Don McLean, written as a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh. It is often erroneously titled after its opening refrain, "Starry, Starry Night", a reference to Van Gogh's 1889 painting The Starry Night.  McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of Van Gogh. It was released on McLean's 1971 American Pie album; the following year,  McLean said the following about the genesis of the song:   "In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system, playing my guitar in classrooms. I was sitting on the veranda one morning, reading a biography of Van Gogh, and suddenly I knew I had to write a song arguing that he wasn't crazy. He had an illness and so did his brother Theo. This makes it different, in my mind, to the garden variety of 'crazy' – because he was rejected by a woman [as was commonly thought]. So I sat down with a print of Starry Night and wrote the lyrics.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Due to personal reasons, I am going to keep posting memes instead of seeking professional help.

- Don't assume someone who is quiet needs to be fixed.

- All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

- If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto! The blockage will be almost instantly removed.

- Don't invite me anywhere with complicated parking because I will just go home.

- Dear God, Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.

- A lot of people seem normal until you get to know them.

- My favorite part of Winter is when it's over.

- Have you ever tried to eat the core of an apple first?

- Every silver lining has a cloud around it.

- Posed nude for an art class today.  They didn't ask me to.  I think they were making ceramic bowls.

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AND, THANKS TO READERS COMMENTS

 FEMALE CARDINAL

Another cold gray day and although Pheebs and I took a cruise into Bayfield and back I was not inspired to take even a single photo.  Tonight's pictures are from my early 2021 January photo files.  Aside from checking the oil and topping up the windshield washer fluid in both vehicles upon returning home, I spent the rest of the day in my recliner reading.

Thanks to a phone call from our good friend and handyman Bruce, I will be returning the 'grab bar' I bought yesterday back to the Canadian Tire Store.  He said all those types of medical aids can be had free of charge from the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Goderich.  Items can later be returned or a donation to Saint Vincent de Paul can be made.  The Canadian Legion in Goderich also offers the same medical aids free of charge.  We are at the moment compiling a list of things we will need.  And, thanks to reader's comments, we will not go the 'suction grab bar' route for our shower.  

Al's Music Box:)) Now And Then  (This is a remarkable piece of engineering) "Now and Then" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 2 November 2023. Dubbed "the last Beatles song",  "Now and Then" is a psychedelic soft rock ballad that John Lennon. wrote and recorded around 1977 as a solo home demo but left unfinished. After Lennon died in 1980, the song was considered as a potential third Beatles reunion single for their 1995–1996 retrospective project The Beatles Anthology, following "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love", both based on Lennon's demos. Instead, it was shelved for nearly three decades, until it was completed by his surviving bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, using overdubs and guitar tracks by George Harrison (who died in 2001) from the abandoned 1995 sessions.  The final version features additional lyrics by McCartney.  Lennon's voice was extracted from the demo using the machine-learning-assisted audio restoration technology commissioned by Peter Jackson for his 2021 documentary The Beatles: Get Back.  Jackson also directed the music video for "Now and Then".  The song received acclaim from critics, who felt it was a worthy finale for the Beatles. It topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria, and reached the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. It is the only Beatles United Kingdo number-one single not attributed to the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership.  John Lennon wrote "Now and Then" in the late 1970s, and recorded a five-minute piano demo in around 1977 on a tape recorder at his home at the Dakota in New York City. The lyrics are typical of the apologetic love songs that Lennon wrote in the latter half of his career. For the most part the verses are nearly complete, though there are still a few lines that Lennon did not flesh out on the demo tape performance. Writing for the Los Angeles Times Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Lennon's composition "a wispy, melancholy ballad", while Billboard's Kyle Denis described the song as "a lovelorn guitar-centric rock ballad".  Referring to the original demo, Craig Jenkins of Vulture said "'Now and Then' languished in an unfinished state, its vocal and piano melodies enshrouded in too dense a thicket of abrasively scratchy hiss to massage into the high-quality recordings the Beatles were known for".

 MALE CARDINAL

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Why does the Canadian Army even bother with guns, tanks, bombs, and other stuff?  Just give them hockey sticks then say, there you are boys, the enemy has the puck. 

If you have been struck by a headache, follow the instructions on the aspirin bottle: KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of bank payments.

 It may seem like I’m doing nothing, but I’m actively waiting for my problems to disappear.

Sometimes we just need to remember what The Rules of Life really are: You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the duct tape.
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