Life's a Stitch

Apologies for the absence, we were in California with the entire family and friends.

While there we talked about a co-worker of my daughter's, who at the end of each day reflects on what was learned on that particular day. You can tell she worked in academia. A nice concept, though. And although I can't give you an example for each day, I can start with a few. 

I learned:

That Canada Post charges $50 to hold your mail for a four week period. And I thought the post office was a public service paid through our tax system. Nominal fee maybe, but $50? 

It is naive to think that you can change the flooring in a two bedroom apartment over a four week period. It was mayhem, but thanks to the S's-I-L, C, friends Wayne and Margaret (who loaned us essential tools such as a jack hammer and shop vac), Dave of Blogless Marsha fame, and Jose from B&B Flooring we got it done in the nick of time. This meant a mostly cement floor in the kitchen and living room from before Christmas until the second week in January. It also meant powerful grinding of said cement floor, after the boys removed the ceramic tile, with resulting heaps of dust. I should have invested in Swiffer prior to starting the project. There were times when nobody was happy, but we reminded ourselves such is the nature of first world problems. 

Those familiar with the area will recognize that I plied those boys with date shakes from Shields. And In 'n Out burgers. 

Torrential rain in southern California results in roof leakage, flash flooding and mountains with beautiful snow to compliment the palm trees.

Two environmental anomalies can happen 12 hours apart. Flash flooding followed by earthquake. No kidding. I never said I lead a dull life.

Noro virus sweeps through a household with a voracious appetite. Maybe appetite is the wrong word. Apologies to Blogless Marsha and Dave, whose visit last week included such exposure and resulting effects.

In the Palm Springs area, if you need a stuck ring removed from your finger, you pay a visit to the fire department. Marsha's Dave experienced this first hand, so to speak. 

I think six lesson are enough for this post. To think that just weeks ago, we were walking in reflective solitude on the Camino de Santiago. But I am the first to say that life is about balance.