What crazy times we are living in.  I will admit that recently traveling in France and England I was nervous.  My children thought I would be a bit of a basket case as my husband and I arrived in Paris two days after the terror death of a police officer on the Champs Elysees, I was not.  Sad yes, insanely nervous no.
It was oddly reassuring to see the armed military in police patrolling the city.  Our daughter just this week travelled from the south of France back to Scotland where armed military were apparent at the airport.  Something she had never seen in Scotland before. I feel horrible for the families of those affected by the horror of the attack in Manchester.
I so admire the people of Manchester who are strong and have shown the world that they will not let terror win.  These wonderful people who go about life, doing the small things and enjoying life, being examples for the world.
Don’t know if I would ever have their strength and determination to live a “normal” life, all things big and small. Thank you Manchester for showing me the way.

It’s 9:58 on Wednesday morning, a beautiful sunny day here in the Boonies.  I took our dog Oli out for his morning constitutional about three hours ago.  Oli is a rescue dog  who hailed originally from Texas but came to us by way of Vancouver and is a bit of a baby; everything  in his world must be perfect to get the old tail wagging.  Sunny but not too hot, a slight breeze to just lift his black and white coat is perfect.  Great comfy spots to lay in while he follows the sun around the house getting his sun on through the windows.  Did I mention that we often call him our “cat dog”.  A good run then plenty of rabbit poo to munch on (YUCK! But oh so dogfish, Woot Oli!) then a lie in the grass while watching us work is his perfect day.  It has been raining a ton here, our lot line is a lake.  The pond across the road is the highest I have ever seen it (partially due to the bloody beavers I am sure) and our side lawn towards our neighours “The Clampets” is a tad squishy.  Oli when it is raining must be paid to go outside to do his business, to step on the grass after a rain is almost painfully for him.  This morning I spent about 10 minutes trying to fake him out to come out onto the grass with me.  Two steps and he is frozen, one paw midair, standing on the tip of his toes of the three left on the ground.  He looked up at me with such a glare of “wtf”, that it took everything in me to not laugh at him.  He bounded his way, leaping like a deer to find a “dry” spot on the brim back by our fire pit.  He leaped a little too far and ended up in a burr bush -YIKES!  The poor guy’s front paws and shoulders were covered and I still made him hang around to pee before I carried him in and debburred him.  Fifteen minutes later he was ready for breakfast, all in all the whole thing had taken about thirty minutes.  Thirty minutes I don’t really have today.
You see, tomorrow morning at what the hell was I thinking o’clock, my husband and I have to be up and at’em to head to the airport in Toronto.  I know dear invisible readers, you are thinking where the heck are they going now?  The answer is Mexico for the wedding of my husbands trainer.  I will know let me see… 1 person, my husband.  I have met the bride and groom and handful of times, and a few others that will attending once.  We are at a time in our lives where we don’t get out much other than traveling and don’t really meet many new people.  As well, most of the people we would hang with at home either live out of town or are still working making socializing difficult.  My people skills are more than a bit rusty – and its an all inclusive.  Ya know what I mean?!?  We are packing our Bubba’s and I have to be sure to not partake of too much liquid courage lol!
I have a bit of an issue before I travel, those that know me would probably say its all the time (and we are not talking about my wine consumption here folks), I want my house to be perfect before I leave.  Doesn’t matter that Oli and Baby Girl will be here to trash it while we are gone – it just needs to be eat of the floor clean before I leave here at what the hell was I thinking o’clock tomorrow morning.  I have been away so much that currently you could braid the dog hair that is on the floor (just kidding – honest)!  One load of laundry done and hanging on the new indoor clothes rack (more about that in a later post), a husband that is sitting on the couch praying that the grass dries a bit so he can go out and cut it, a dog finding the perfect sun spot.  And I am not packed, not even close. So much to do!  Clean, pack, laundry, walk Oli – iron……What the heck was I thinking!