Preparation

Today as I sit in Canadian Tire getting new snow tires, I am actually ahead of the curve when it comes to winter prep.
How often do we leave tasks like this till the last minute and then wonder why we can't get traction on the issue?
I know In the past I have been guilty of this type of procrastination, how about you?
What "tires" do you need to change to get better results in your life?
What are your "wear indicators" telling you? On tires it is obvious, sometimes in us they are hidden in stress, anger, impatience, to name a few.
Give yourself a check up from the neck up and see if it is time for some new wheels.

Lady Madison of Kingswood

Lady Madison of Kingswood

Today was a tough day. Today was the day we had to put this beautiful animal down. Madison was 10 years 4 months and the most gentle friend you could ask for. How many of us wish we had these qualities; great listener, always happy, never too tired for a run or a walk, did not offer opinions or talk back, loyal, and loving.

This picture is of her around 2 1/2 years old. Up until that point we wondered what the heck we got when we picked this dog. She was always getting in trouble, then a funny thing happened, she changed! The next 9 years were filled with the joy of owning this incredibly intelligent, well behaved and wonderful pet.

Madison was my dog (Bill), she rarely left my side. Always in my office right beside my chair, the only time she would move was when she had to make a trip and this big head would plunk down on my leg. That was her subtle way of saying "for the love of God let me out!".

We only heard Maddy bark maybe a total of 10 times in her life. Never a growl, yelp, or really any kind of noise, but she spoke volumes with her eyes, and more so with her eyebrows. She could lift those eyebrows up and around as if speaking to us.

The past couple of weeks we had seen a marked drop in her ability to walk and a swelling of her front right leg. Then there was a mass growing around her heart and she was out of breath easily. This morning she could not get up by herself and it was time. We have a great caring vet who had been monitoring her over the past few weeks and he agreed it was time.

As I sit here and write this I keep expecting her to walk into the room, but that will not happen anymore. I have lost a great friend and this hurt will be a long time leaving.

If you have a pet, be sure to give it an extra hug tonight, I know I wish I could....

Home away from home

When you travel as much as we do, about the last thing we look forward to is another sterile, generic, hotel room. Over the past few years we have experienced some wonderful B&B's. What a refreshing way to spend an evening, and what beautiful surroundings.
Often the other guests are fascinating too! Last time we stayed here there was a judge who shared breakfast with us. Some great conversation happened over warm croissants.
Truly great hosts at this establishment as they remembered us from our visit two years ago, right down to what I take in my coffee. Now theta is customer service. Not like the fancy hotel and cookie blog from earlier.
The message for today's blog is make the best of travel. Don't just opt for another bland hotel room, go for something unique and make it your home away from home.
I have included a picture of Viewfield in Walkerton.

Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving is over for all of us Canadians. Our American friends still have the turkey feeding frenzy to go through.

As we are now three days past I wonder how many people are still thinking gratitude? Has life now caught us and we are racing towards that ever elusive goal of success?

In my daily reading this morning I came across a great statement about taking the higher road. This is the road that is less traveled. How often do we miss the turn opting instead to stay on safe and narrow path never utilizing the opportunity we have to take the high road?

People who take the high road know that its not what happens TO you but IN you, that matters.

I love this story from the civil war. It seems there was a Confederate general named Whitting who was a jealous rival of general Robert E Lee. This general never passed up an opportunity to spread rumours about Lee. When President Jefferson Davis was considering the general for a promotion he asked Lee his opinion of him. Now, Lee had an opportunity to get even. What did he do? Without hesitation, Lee endorsed and commended Whitting. When pressed for details as to why, he simply stated, "I understand the President wanted to know my opinion of Whitting, not Whitting's opinion of me."

I wish I could say I would do the same. A useful nugget of history to help us build our character.

Oh, and I am grateful for that!