Life continues on....... .. ... ....... and on ........

Dad is still in the Cottage.
I managed to get there this morning and again, to pick up Mom, this afternoon.

Mom mentions that Dad has just lost the will to live. 
He seems happy/content enough.  Still manages to smile and joke.  Seems to be eating OK, nothing like he did years ago, but still eating.
However, he does seem to be "accepting" of his situation.

It is quite difficult and makes me very sad to see him in this condition.
Sometimes I think that he would choose a different ending.
I believe that he would just like to "go to sleep and not wake up"

Probably like most of us!!

Very nice weekend.

Two straight days off.  Lots to do and I didn't do a bit of it.

12 straight days of 10 hour days (minimum).  Why the heck is a guy my age working like that??

You would think that there would be some young guys just screaming to get into some of that overtime.

Still, with the way things are now, can't complain.

While enjoying a quick weekend in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to visit a "Bass Pro" shop, for the first time.

Wow!!  Sure outpaces anything that I have seen back home in BC.

Three fish tanks, two sturgeon, ducks, salmon, catfish, carp, bass, and others. 
Tons of equipment on display.  Lots of rods, reels, lures, clothing, cooking supplies, camping gear, hunting accessories, etc.  Fantastic boats, most of them completely loaded with accessories!  Motors, trolling motors, rod holders, coolers, finders, sounders, speedos, gauges, anchor equipment, trailers, winches, the entire thing. 

Even a very creditable "fly" department!!

Man, the amount of money in inventory must be huge.

What impressed me the most, though, was the number of staff on the floor.  There was staff everywhere!!

Anyway, the trip is going well.  "Comped" room and shows, transportation, etc.  Great weather.  Good food.
"Awesome Lady" is enjoying herself, and visiting lots.

Sorry, no pics.  After all, "what happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas"

Man, getting old sucks!

Everything is getting stiff, well, almost everything ;-)

Work has been a real Bi*** the last few days.  Tight deadlines and lots of problems.
At least I am having no problem sleeping at night!!

And then, to top it off, a "step" relative wants us to co-sign a lease for a new truck!!??  wt*

Ever since I saw the "grilled asparagus" one FFF, and tried it to great success, my "Awesome Lady" has used her charms to entice me to cook them again.

This was my last attempt. Last weekend.

The usual "cheap cut" steaks, and the asparagus.  I think that it may be the last of the season.  We will probably not be having the opportunity to enjoy this dinner again, at least this year!!

Mom's friend, Marion, has been moved into the "High Acuity Unit" at the Abbotsford Hospital.  Unfortunately, she does not look very good.  She is 89 years old, diabetic, almost blind, and, was still living on her own!!  It has added a lot of stress to Mom's life.

And, I still have not blown up the tubes, or, assembled the frame for my "new to me" Scadden Skykomish!!

At the rate I am going, summer will be past before the darn thing gets wet!!

Wow.

Dad is still in the Hospital.

Another of their friends went in today.  Mom had to call the ambulance for her.  She seems stable, but, the Doctor's say that she is very ill. 

Never rains, but pours.

And, I have had the Scadden for over a week and I haven't even blown the tubes up.
The frame is still in pieces!!

And, the summer is beginning to wind down.  Crap!!!!!

New (to me) 'toon

Well, I just rec'd my first personal pontoon watercraft.  I guess that I will have to think up a nickname for it now.

It is a Skykomish Sunrise from Northfork Outfitters.  Scadden design, I assume.  I bought it used from a guy on Vancouver Island, sight unseen.  I had an acquaintance take a look and it seems as good as new.  I doubt that it has been used more than a dozen times.

Nice blue 'toons, powder coated frame, swivel seat, standing platform and leaning bar, motor mount.

I think that I will add a pedestal to the seat.  Just a short one, 8"??

Also, will rig up some kind of netting under the seat, to act as a backstop for my clumsy fingers.  After all, I don't want to get accused of littering the lake bed with my nippers, or forceps!

Plus, I need to figure out how it all goes together!  Just wish that I could find a "youtube" on it.

Well, Dad is still in the system.  He is still at Worthington and seems settled.
That is good.

Unfortunately, just heard that another family friend has passed away.  Dot Curley.  Dot, and her deceased husband Adam, were amongst the first people that my Mom and Dad met in Vancouver.  Right after Mom and Dad got married.  They have been friends ever since.

Dot and Adam helped my parents get started on their first home.  They played a large part in my parents early married life.  They were both really great people.  The kind that are getting harder and harder to find.

She will be missed, by her family, and, by all those that were her friends.

Had a decent little trip to the "secret lake" known as Tunkwa last week.  Weather was really good and the fishing was pretty decent also.  Managed to score a few decent fish, enough to put the effort into bringing some home for family and friends.  The biggest was probably a bit over 5 pounds.

Too bad, but, this will probably be my only fishing trip this year.

I would like to go again in the fall, it will depend on whether I can get more time off.  Since I have already had quite a bit off, it may be a little dicey.

Arlene

Got the news, last evening, that a friend of ours, Arlene, had passed away.

She had been in hospital for quite a while.  Christine Morrison Pavilion lately.

Great person, very caring, energetic, interesting, smart, dynamic, outspoken, determined.  All the best that a person could be. 

I have only known her for the last ten years.  I really wish that it could have been lots longer.

My condolences to her family, and my prayers for her.

Well, Dad is still in the Hospital.  Medical Inpatient Unit.

It feels like such a tragedy to see this happening to such a hard-working, life enjoying man.
His appetite has disappeared, his eyes are failing, he can hardly hear.  Yet, he is still pretty sharp!
He may forget what day it is, but, who wouldn't when you are in the hospital?  Each day is pretty much like every other day!  Especially when you are bed-ridden.

The men, and women, from that generation cannot be duplicated!  When these guys are gone, society will have suffered a huge loss.  Those of us, from the "modern" generations, are no match for the courage, determination, hard work, tenacity, sense of duty, common sense, and, many other qualities that are becoming more and more difficult to find.

Those old guys, and this one in particular, are "the heroes of this country".  They will ALL be sorely missed.

Just got back from a quick trip to Kamloops.

The oldest (step) grand-daughter graduated.  Wonderful weekend and not bad Chinese food for dinner also.

The "Grad" ceremony took place over the entire weekend!  Wow, when I graduated (high school), I was allowed to stay out late one night.  Kids now days, have much more fun!!

Hope they all stayed safe!!

Saw a post on "Fat Guys Fly Fishing" and just had to try it.
Grilled Steak (cheap cuts marinated), new potatoes with onions and celery, and grilled asparagus.

Took only a few minutes to prepare, and a few more to cook.

"Awesome Lady" really enjoyed it.

Dad is still in the Hospital, not fishing this year

Well, Dad is still in the Hospital.

94 and still fighting.  Unbelievable.
Trying to get him into a "care" home of some sort, but, the Fraser Valley Health crew are very disappointing in their performance so far.

Kind of makes my complaint, "not being able to go fishing" kind of "wimp-ass"

They sure don't make them like the people from a few generations ago.

Family

My Dad is back in the hospital.  Not the first time.  He has been on "borrowed time" since he was 75.  Closing in on 95 now.

The "Old Man" has been through the Depression on the Prairies, the Navy/North Atlantic in WW II, trying to find a job after the War, making do with almost nothing most of his life, but always enjoyed being alive.  He has always been happier with what he could make, rather than what he could buy.

He isn't famous, but, he has done lots of remarkable things.  Even from a simple standpoint.  He has never had a mortgage, ever.  He built each house on his own.

The last one, he was 65.  Bought a treed lot and a chainsaw.  Logged, cleared, did the foundation, did the framing, lots of the electrical and plumbing, most of the drywall, all of the painting.  At 65!!

It is very hard to see him fading away.

One other amazing thing.  My Mom is still alive also.  They have been married over 64 years.  They are currently still living, on their own, in a condo.

They don't make people like that anymore.

Thanks for the views.  Wow 213.

wow !!!

199 views, probably mostly mine.  :-)

Looks like we are finally getting some decent weather, too bad I am having such a sh***y time at work.

I should have listened to my Mom and Dad.  Start saving early.  I could have been retired by now!!!!

Just dropping in

Hello to Anybody that happens by here:

Just got back from our usual trip to Mexico.  Great weather and great company.  Of course, "Awesome Lady" was with me. 

We took a couple of trips, one to the Sierra Madres and one to Las Caletas.  Boat rides, open bar, good company lots of laughs.

We stayed in Nuevo Vallarta again.  Like usual.  Lots of development around there, but, from talking with some of the local workers, things are still slow.  Busier than the fall, but, not as busy as past years.