Celebrating Freedom to Read Week in Canada
26 Wednesday Feb 2025
Category Archives: community
My low-key winter
16 Sunday Feb 2025
Posted in community, Food and Cooking, Health, libraries, pets, Warm fuzzy, writing
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In an earlier post, readers were introduced to reckless joys and activities emerging from my brat summer.
Now seven months into retirement, I am appreciating less commuting, less stress … and less wants as a result of having less income.
I have been enjoying weekly walks on different days with two different friends, exploring our community, breathing in the fresh air, visiting local thrift shops and obtaining groceries on our way home. I appreciate getting out for volunteer activities and short jaunts to local stores for necessities. Some days I need more motivation. That’s why it’s good to have walking buddies who push you to stay on schedule.
The above parking lot scene illustrates the challenge with snow removal after recent snowstorms in our region. With recent street parking restrictions by the City of Ottawa, I am so relieved that I do not have to worry about where to safely shelter a vehicle.
As usual, I managed my seasonal depression by embracing colours, aromas and friendships while preparing for the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake. I also participated in home cooking experiments with the Resident Millennial.
One unexpected, heart-warming encounter in January was an email received from a hopeful writer who found mention of my (Flo’s) novel online and requested to purchase a copy. I had to inform him that I had no more printed copies and had removed the electronic version in 2024. I was tickled pink yet cautious about this request. You can read about it at the novel’s blog.
As we navigate paths and obstacles in this deep and brutal winter, let us be optimistic that spring will arrive in the Northern Hemisphere in five weeks.
Let us dream about new places to visit in Canada this summer.
Let us continue to be kind and supportive of those in need.
Thank you for stopping by.
T
Cutting the cord, cutting costs
02 Sunday Jul 2023
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communication, economizing, expenses, family, friends, home phone, landline, rent, telemarketers, telephones
It took two years to make the decision, one that addressed the need to economize, and to cease interruptions to our quiet home life.
We no longer have a “home phone” number, no longer have a landline. Gone is the ability for family and friends to reach us at a consistent number, on a service that functions during power outages when the cellular system becomes overloaded.
I declined a friend’s suggestion to subscribe to an affordable VOIP service (Voice over Internet Protocol). That option would require additional gadgetry and did not appeal to my criteria of eliminating more electronics in our home.
We wanted to delay the inevitable requirement to sign on with the telecom’s fibre connection they are installing in many neighbourhoods around our city. People are feeling forced to eventually use their bundled services. Thankfully, we can still use the Internet connection and modem provided by our community ISP, one of the remaining not-for-profit resellers and service providers. I have learned about “wet line” DSL and “dry copper” DSL (Digital Subscriber Line).
The physical line changes went smoothly, better than the act of informing our telecom through online chat and eventual conversation on my cell that I wanted to discontinue the home phone service and subsequent billing.
All the old phones and cords are packed into a box and inserted in the storage nook for the benefit – or burden – of family archaeologists. We now rely on our personal cell phones, instant messaging and email for communications – when in-person gatherings are not possible.
This transition has been emotional with a touch of nostalgia. One can feel comforted that we can use the savings to soothe the pain of an approaching rent increase, and gain peace and quiet in our humble home by eliminating calls from telemarketers.
It only took me two years to make that decision. So, what’s next: Expenses related to entertainment, clothing, restaurant gatherings with friends, or that geriatric cat?
Thank you for stopping by. Perhaps you can commiserate about the lost era of communications?
T
Deep Blonde Thoughts 