FROM DORA DOG TO D DOG and a THOUGHTFUL WANDERER MILESTONE

POST # 344

And just like that, I've had to say so long (for now) to Dora dog, and welcome a new four-legged friend into my life.  Her name is Dee Dee, but she goes by D dog for short.

She's pretty cute and very easy to get along with, but if the truth be known, I have come to put Dora dog at the top of my favourite boneheads list.  There are so many to chose from, and I can't really put my finger on exactly why Dora dog is at the top, but she just is.

However, in the meantime, I am more than happy to spend time with D dog, and get to know her view of the world.  As you can probably tell, she's very relaxed most of the time, and there have been moments during this sit, that I don't even know she's around.  She finds one of her favourite sleeping spots (she has plenty), and just slinks off when I'm not looking, in order to have another nap.  

 I arrived at my current location last Wednesday, and spent the evening with D's owners in order to go over any last minute details that I would need to know about this current house sit.  Mind you, I've been doing this full-time  for almost seven and a half years at this point, so I know the ropes. However, each sit has its own special list of things to know, so it's good to have the opportunity to find out what they are, while the owners are still here.  It also gives the pet an opportunity to get to know me in the owner's presence.  Some pets need more time than others.  D dog is not one of those.  I became her new best friend after only a few moments, which makes for a very easy time for the both of us.

In only a few short days, we have settled into a  comfortable routine, with three walks per day, one of which is a beach walk which is my favourite, and D dog acts as though it is her favourite as well.  After all, there are so many wonderful things to sniff at along the beach.  She uses her nose, and I use my eyes, but we both enjoy the time we spend while wandering along the sea shore.

Whether it's Dora dog or D dog, after a good walk, it's time to have a rest, and they both have this down to a fine art.

It's a dog's life after all.  Fortunately for the dog sitter, I've come across a new book while here, which is a fascinating read, and should help me in the future when it comes to understanding these boneheads even better than I do at the moment. I can highly recommend it.  With this new knowledge, the four legged critters won't be able to take advantage of me any more.  :-)

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Photo from a tourist brochure. That's me departing from the Hornby Street Dock

Now let's move on to the last half of the title of today's blog.  Some people recognize me as the "date guy" and yesterday, January 27th just happened to be another one of those dates for me.  It was my very final day of paid employment, and at the time I was working at what had become my favourite occupation, that of a ferry boat skipper for the company called Aquabus in Vancouver.  As was my preferred option, I had the afternoon/closing shift, and it felt rather strange as I headed to the back dock for the final time, having said goodbye to the other skippers on the radio just prior to docking.  If memory serves, I think that there were a few beers consumed at the Arts Club on Granville Island afterwards, with some other Aquabusers.  And that all happened in 2009, so it's now been an entire decade plus one day.  I had no idea where my path would lead after that, but I can say with all sincerity that I am happy with the way things have turned out since that day.  Now, every life has its ups and downs, but from my point of view, the good has more than outweighed the bad since then.  Of course, I am tied to this culture like everyone else (but to a lesser extent than most), hence I still have to spend money to get through another day/week/month and year.  Without an income for an entire decade, the balance sheet has been steadily depleting, and I often joke to others that it's a race between whether I run out of money first, or I die first.  The jury is still out on that.  Thankfully my parents lived a frugal life, and I have followed in their footsteps in that regard, which has helped to keep this unpaid streak going for a while longer, and certainly longer than I would have anticipated at the beginning.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to do what I do, and try to appreciate all of the blessings that I have enjoyed up to and including today.

maximizing my moments,

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer

MUSTARD PLASTER DAYS

POST # 343

BURROWS ISLAND (R) NEAR ANACORTES WASHINGTON

The dreaded mustard plaster.  Now, that is something that I would have never thought about for years, but seeing as it's another anniversary of my mom's birth, it seems rather appropriate to be talking about it.  You see, when I was very young, and had a bad chest cold, dear old mom would tell me that it was time to apply a mustard plaster to my chest.  It burned like the dickens, and I will always remember the smell of the Keen's hot mustard.  I'm sure that is why to this day, I don't like hot mustard.

Fast forward to today, and I find myself burdened with another chest infection that has been troubling me for the better part of a couple of weeks.  I had a few days off between house sits, and so I came here to Washington to spend time with my dear friend Mary, and her lovable bonehead, Dora dog.

When Mary heard my cough, she suggested of all things a mustard plaster.  So as of this writing I have been through a few sessions.  It isn't as bad as I remembered from my childhood, but it still burns.  I think it may have helped a little bit, but I am still troubled with this persistent dry cough.  I guess I'll just have to let nature take its course, and I will be very glad when I'm back to normal, (whatever normal is for me these days).

In spite of it all, I have enjoyed this short visit at Mary's new home in Shelter Bay, a place that we are both familiar with from years ago.  Last night we had the pleasure of enjoying the lunar eclipse.  It was a very rare crystal clear night sky, and we had a ring side seat.

Back on the road again tomorrow to begin another sit on Vancouver island.  The island has become a regular venue over the past few years, and I have enjoyed each sit that I have had there.

ADORABLE DORA DOG

maximizing my moments,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

SO LONG SOOKE

POST # 342

It's that time again, or almost that time.  In a few short days, I will be leaving the Sooke area, here on Vancouver Island.  It's difficult for me to believe that I arrived here way back on December 6th, but the calendar doesn't lie.  As is always the case,  the time has gone by way too fast.  Maybe it's an age thing, or maybe it's because the time has been so enjoyable.  Perhaps it's a bit of both.

To be more specific, I have been living in East Sooke, right next to a provincial park.  This has made it easy to do a daily "Bill Bryson" or in other words, a walk in the woods.

It has become one of my most favourite activities in recent years, so I have been very fortunate indeed to have had the opportunity to spend time in this location.

In addition to living in the woods, I've had this wonderful log cabin to call home, and a woodstove to keep me and the critters nice and cozy.

Speaking of critters, here they are.

LEELOO

TRINITY

If the woodstove wasn't enough to keep me warm, the sleeping arrangements have helped.

So it's almost time to say, "so long Sooke."And so long Leeloo and Trinity.  I've enjoyed your company, in spite of ( or perhaps because of) the sleeping arrangements.

maximizing my moments,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

2019 IS OFF AND RUNNING

POST # 341

And so another year begins.  The photo (above) was sent to me from my friends Rose and Gary in the Yukon.  Each year,  they plan a get together on the frozen ponds located directly behind their house in the village of Bear Creek, not far from where I used to call home, when I lived at Snug.  There seems to be no shortage of snow up there this year, and so they made the most of it by shovelling the pond to create the 2019 image, and I thank them for that.

There are plenty of predictions that I could make regarding 2019, but predictions can be tricky, so I'm going to pass on that idea.  What I will say with a fair degree of confidence, is that 2019 is going to look a lot better at the beginning, than at the end, on a variety of fronts.  Let's sit back and enjoy the ride, for what it's worth.  After all, we're here, and we have a front row seat, so pass the popcorn, and here we go.

I will continue on this house/pet sitting gig for as long as I am able.  It has been for the most part, a very low stress and high reward lifestyle.  The rewards by no means are monetary, but rather centre around two main things.  I have the good fortune to choose how to spend each day, and I get to spend those days with a variety of wonderful critters, mostly of the four-legged type.

It has been a magnificent journey so far, and for that, I am happy, and extremely grateful.

maximizing my moments,

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer