• About
  • Contact

Deep Blonde Thoughts

~ Emitting thoughts, tongue-in-cheek observations on life and lifestyles

Deep Blonde Thoughts

Tag Archives: travel

Going to extremes

21 Sunday Jul 2019

Posted by shewrite63 in education, Health, pets, photography, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

cats, education, family, friends, heatwave, lifelong learning, pets, school, technology, travel, Weather, work

I have skipped seasons in my corner of the world, from one extreme to another. 

We are half-way through summer and stuck under what is called a “heat dome“, a stagnant mass of hot, humid air lingering over much of southern and eastern Ontario, and Quebec.

As a positive note, this heat must be good for growing the crops, for farmers to produce the food we need. Right?

The Central Experimental Farm

At times, I whimper and wilt quietly in this heat. At others, I want to lash out at people for their stupid acts and hurtful words. 

Spring seemed to sprint by with nothing much memorable except for a short staycation and sisterly visit. I finished one college course, changed my program of focus and started another.

On the Summer Solstice weekend I had a whirlwind tour in planes, trains and automobiles to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) to stay at one offspring’s trendy downtown rental unit then travel by subway and intercity bus to visit the oldest boy and his growing family. I felt blessed to visit their joyfully busy home bursting with toys and baby gear.

grandma bracelet

When the weather (and temperatures) permit, I try to get out for early morning walks along my regular routes for meditation and prayer. I express my gratitude for getting up, dressed and making it outdoors. It is refreshing and inspiring to be surrounded by birdsong, and occasionally spot local wildlife.

Urban rabbit

Urban wildlife

A couple of weeks ago, I had to say farewell to one old cat whose health was waning, especially after a heat wave in early July.

farewell snuggles the old cat

It was a bittersweet occasion to relieve the old boy from the pain and discomfort. I have to admit that I am sleeping better due to less midnight caterwauls and early morning breakfast service calls.

The other one doesn’t seem to miss him, enjoys the extra attention and is holding out well with her twice-daily Insulin shots.

tabby cat sitting surrounded by plants and air conditioner

Miss Geneva enjoying the comforting hum of the air conditioner

After she goes, I will have expendable income, more money and freedom to travel. I can finally shake the Cat Lady label and maybe start dating again!

Succumbing to keeping up with technology, I got a new cell phone that takes awesome photos and wants to assist me with many other tasks – which gets creepy at times! As a worker in IM/IT, I  see the advantages and risks that Artificial Intelligence can present. I do not see a need in my home for ID-IoT technology.

I am waiting for my course marks after completing a final exam a couple of weeks ago. This eager beaver already registered for another course starting in September.

Even if I don’t transition into Career 2.0 in a couple of years, I like how this keeps my mind active, gets me out to meet new people and make new friends.

Yes, I am still working for a living and complaining about the commute with unreliable public transit. The positive side is that I get most of my reading done while riding the buses.

We can’t escape the vitriol and poisonous political rants to the south of us, and now we have to filter out the attack ads related to a Federal election in Canada this fall. It used to be funny with the late night talk show comedians pointing out the foibles of the US Administration and their witless leader but after a while, it becomes depressing and surreal because America can’t seem to shake off elements of divisiveness and blatant bigotry.

To end this entry on an encouraging note, the weather people have just announced that the heatwave warning has ended and the dome is dissipating, just in time to start the work week all over again!

Stay cool, Canada as we endure the extreme weather changes and political climate – and if anything, remind ourselves to do as Ellen says, “Be kind to one another.”

Thanks for dropping by.

T

Thanks for the natural attractions

15 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by shewrite63 in activism, community, Food and Cooking, Health, therapy, Travel, writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

activism, chaudiere falls, family, gratitude, Onaping falls, Onaping river, Ottawa, ottawa river, reconciliation, thanksgiving, travel

It was an extended Thanksgiving holiday peppered with family gatherings, feasting and a lot of car travel. It was also one tarnished by news of another assault on a sacred site in the nation’s capital.

I spent most of my vacation week traveling with family to visit others in the Greater Sudbury area. The long drive was accompanied and enhanced by the natural fall colours. We enjoyed a couple of days of conversation, feasting, playing cards and going on an outing to a natural attraction. We drove farther north to Onaping Falls to visit the AY Jackson lookout.

AY Jackson lookout at Onaping Falls

A walking stick rests after a tour of the natural beauty of Onaping Falls

The lookout was named after a famous painting of the falls by Group of Seven member, AY Jackson.

I enjoyed the fresh, cool air and exercise plus another chance to catch up with older and wiser relatives.

Blonde woman at the bridge over Onaping River and Falls

Blonde woman at the bridge over Onaping River and Falls

When I returned home stiff yet elated, I was relieved that one of the offspring heeded my request to visit le petit apartment and check on the cats.

Tabby cat resting in front of house plants

A peaceful Sunday setting in the Tabby cat’s habitat

While I was savoring the memories of visiting Onaping Falls and viewing photographs of its natural settings, my activist friends in the Ottawa area were having to educate the public, the politicians, anyone who would listen about the shameful activities happening again at a sacred site in the Ottawa River.

You too can be informed. Read this interview of Algonquin Elders.

On this Sunday morning, my pen name got involved with sharing her views on this glitzy invasion at Chaudière Falls and its islands.

Thanks for dropping by. Spread the word. Free the Falls!

T

 

Wherever you go – it may be raining

06 Saturday May 2017

Posted by shewrite63 in Art, Food and Cooking, Health, pets, therapy, Travel

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

air travel, anxieties, British Columbia, cats, family, flooding, Ottawa, Pacific Ocean, photographs, rain, relatives, spring, tourism, travel, Vancouver island

Spring travel whisked me away from the rainy Ottawa Valley to Vancouver Island.

It rained there too. 

My objectives were made months in advance:

  • Travel somewhere within Canada
  • Push my air travel anxiety limits – further than before
  • Visit with family
  • Do touristy things
  • Do not think about work

My destination was Vancouver Island, just off the coast of British Columbia. The long stretches of flying, sitting, waiting, flying, sitting, etc. tired me out. At various destinations I welcomed opportunities for walking tours and restaurant outings. Soon that tired me out too!

I practiced mindfulness as much as I could, savouring moments and reminding myself to breathe.

One family member took me for a drive up the east coast of Vancouver Island, humoured my request to stop where I could dip my toes into the Pacific Ocean.

Theresa dipping her toes into the west coast ocean waters

Pacific Ocean (well… some inlet) I am in you!

Soon I was on a bus then another bus to the beautiful city of Victoria. I was happy and comforted that relatives were waiting for me, extra umbrellas in hand to provide an escort to my hotel.

While in Victoria, I was treated to sufficient walking excursions, visited a castle and tried food from different restaurants. We had one sunny, windy day.

I spent one rainy afternoon by myself, enjoying bright flower gardens and inhaling the scent of trees in full blossom.

Flowers rain Victoria

A rainy tourist outing in downtown Victoria

A wet park bench

A wet bench and colourful flowers

Soon one of my adult children joined me after his own cross-country tour by train, ferry and bus. He got to meet one set of cousins for the first time. He accompanied me for a walk by the docks, an appropriate lunch and a walking tour up to Emily Carr House.

Lunch at Red Fish Blue Fish – Victoria

As with my tour of the castle a couple of days earlier, we exited through the gift shop and I picked up a few souvenirs.

Blonde Lady sitting at tea table in Emily Carr house

A chance to sit down during a tour of Emily Carr house

Did I achieve my objectives?  Yes! I practiced mindfulness moments wherever I was, taking in the experiences, breathing in and breathing out.

After a long day of travel east, I returned to Ottawa in the rain. I observed the local news about severe spring flooding in our region.

I was glad to be home, to have the chance to do laundry and rest in my creature comforts.

Snuggles was glad to see me too and perform his morning routine of waking me up to serve breakfast and read the online news together. Creatures of habit…

Black cat on lap

“Good. You’re back where you belong – with me!”

Thanks for dropping by.

T

← Older posts

Recent Posts

  • Home Phone
  • Dilemmas and distractions
  • Family reunion word fun in our virtual new world
  • Winter nesting during the pandemic
  • Using art therapy to enhance staycation activities

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 129 other followers

Follow Flo on Twitter

My Tweets

Blogroll

  • Learn WordPress.com
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Links

  • Deep Blonde Thoughts – the other blog
  • Deep Blonde Thoughts Domain
  • Where the Tabby Cat rules

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • October 2019
  • July 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • Home Phone
  • Dilemmas and distractions
  • Family reunion word fun in our virtual new world
  • Winter nesting during the pandemic
  • Using art therapy to enhance staycation activities

Categories

  • activism
  • Art
  • community
  • education
  • Food and Cooking
  • Health
  • libraries
  • Mythology
  • pets
  • philosophy
  • photography
  • reading
  • therapy
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Warm fuzzy
  • writing

Category Cloud

Art community Health pets philosophy photography reading therapy Travel Uncategorized Warm fuzzy writing

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy