The real estate agent was already at the house when I arrived, and the inspector showed up shortly after. I made the introductions. The agent seemed satisfied that he wasn’t wasting his time when M. disclosed that he worked for the provincial association responsible for home inspections. We went over the house room by room, M. armed with a camera, and myself jotting down any remarks he made about renovations needed. One of the elderly residents was sitting in his room watching television, and kindly agreed, for a second time, to let us come in to look around. I introduced myself to him as the men inspected the pipes under the sink, the ceiling, etc.
“Are you thinking of buying the place?” he asked. I answered that yes, it was quite possible. He then told me that he had his own house in the small town close by, but that his children and family didn’t like him staying alone. He repeated, “But I do have my own house.” So the agent was right, I thought silently. They are worried about having to move.
Aloud I reassured him, “That’s okay, Mr D…. If we buy here, you can just stay on with us if you wish.” I smiled at him. “You’ll be our first official client, and you can show us the ropes!!” Relief was evident in the smile he returned, as he answered “Thank you, that’s nice to know.”
Two hours later, M. and I were sitting at the local Tim Horton’s, sipping coffee while he gave me the lowdown. It was much as I’d thought. Although he agreed that the century old house was beautiful, and would be a gem for any contractor able to do all the repairs himself, it would require substantial expense before even opening for business. This could, of course, be figured into the purchase offer. However, it would delay start-up by at least two months, if not more. He then agreed to come with us next Tuesday evening to see another of the four places we have been considering. I offered payment for his time, which he adamantly refused.
You see, subtle signs point to this venture being a success. M., who is an authentic building inspector, is one of my son’s best friends. He was one of the lads sharing an apartment with us for those years I lived in the city. Another of my partners has an artist friend whose talent is refurbishing walls and ceilings so that they blend in with original décor, and who is willing to help out at little cost too. Because of our existing agency, we have access to a bank of competent nursing home workers, and a third partner is herself a retired nurse, with invaluable experience in the field. Add to this the thought that our families are wholeheartedly supporting our idea, and the lack of adequate care for seniors throughout the province, and one can’t help but be enthusiastic.
Today, however, all that will be put aside while I take care of my own home. Laundry, floors, windows to wash are on the agenda. I also need to spend time with the doggies; I can tell they are lonesome and bored. They were shut up in the house alone while I worked longer hours last week, and yesterday the inspection, then my babysitting, kept me away from them again. Although pits are more independent than most breeds, they still need plenty of love and attention.
Isn’t it true that when you are surrounded by love, you, yourself, seem to have more of it to bestow? Yesterday, inspector M. caring enough to help out; the sweet cuddles from my little grandsons, and this morning already a call from my daughter just to say hi and giggle together; followed by another from my DIL, who got in touch to say thanks and continued to chat and laugh about the boys’ antics…..now two adoring doggies coming to put their heads on my knee, tails wagging in anticipation of spending time together. All of it genuine, all of it precious, and the glow starts in my heart then quickly spreads to keep me floating in its rosy haze.
The weather is fine, the music is rockin’, and life is good! If my SMILE was any bigger, I would need another face to hold it. I’m sending it out to you as I wish you a happy day; I’m confident you will pass it on…because love IS contagious!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Showing posts with label babysitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label babysitting. Show all posts
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
THE BUD SAGA - PART 4
When my children were little, I loved to rock them to sleep. It was one of the things I missed most when each of them got too old to clamber onto my knee, put chubby arms around my neck and nestle tiny heads on my shoulder. Last night, my 2 year old grandson didn’t want to go to bed at the allotted hour, so we put on his pyjamas, and M’mère carried him to the rocking chair. Although he snuggled up and fell to sleep nearly immediately, it was much later when I carried him back upstairs. His older brother, who is 5, was allowed to stay on the couch with me, hugging close, until he, too, sound asleep, was carried to bed. Their mom nodded understanding when she got home and I told her about it. “The occasion was there,” she agreed, “you needed to use it.” It was a mother’s smile she gave me; she understood exactly what I was feeling.
I didn’t get home until late, and I watched the sun’s first rays touch my mountain before shutting my eyes; it was noon before I woke. Half the day is gone, and a beautiful day it is too, so I’ll post my 4th chapter of the Bud Saga, and then get my butt outdoors. Here we go.
Some more of YOU WANT ME TO BABY-SIT WHAT???
Zombie is me when I first wake up. Upon opening my eyes the next morning, the first thing I saw was a clock sitting on a bedside table. It read 8:15. But it wasn’t my clock, and it wasn’t my table. Where was I?
It took a couple of seconds to get my bearings, and by that time the phone rang again. Its shrill had wakened me.
I stumbled out of bed and grabbed my dressing gown, struggling to pull it on, simultaneously inserting my feet into flip-flops, alias slippers. I had succeeded with one, but the other kept avoiding my foot. I was pushing it along ahead of me, still trying to manoeuvre the toe-hold into place, when OWYEE! Pain, massive pain. My left shin had connected solidly with the chair barrier at the top of the stairs. Moaning, I tried to rub it numb as I watched the culprit go sliding down. It stopped to lodge halfway, once again blocking my path.
Briiing! The phone.
I limped down as quickly as I could, grabbed the darned chair, and continued my wavering descent. I was feeling my way, because the seat obstructed my vision. I didn’t see, only felt, the squish when I put my foot on the level floor. Just the texture alone, even in my stupor, would have told me what it was. The awful smell confirmed the fact.
Briiing!
“Yyyuck!” I looked down with disgust. It was oozing over the toes of my right foot... And the stink! I held my breath, dropping the chair to hold my nose as I gingerly slipped out of the flip-flop. It stuck there. That type of footwear is not pooh protective! Both sides of my foot were covered with the stuff.
Briiing!
How many swear words can one utter when hobbling over a ten foot space, hardly able to put weight on the left leg, and trying not to soil the wall-to-wall carpet with the right one?
Briing!
I grabbed up the receiver. “What?!” I growled in exasperation.
“Hey, it’s me. How are you doing?” I recognized the cheery voice of my friend.
“How am I doing?" I asked incredulously. “How am I doing?” I repeated. “You xxxxx!! I’m stuck out here in the middle of the bush, with a pit that scares the sh*t outta me, and I just stepped in a whopping load of it at the bottom of the stairs… and I’m spreading it all over the frigging carpet, and…”
“Whoa, whoa,” he exclaimed. “Did you just say you sh*t at the bottom of my stairs and now you’re dragging it all over my carpet?”
“What??? Not me, you idiot!” I was yelling now, then I sensed movement behind me. Turning I saw the pit staring at me, his ears pricked in high alert. He wasn’t sitting; he was standing on the couch. I lowered my voice. “It was your damned dog.” I said through gritted teeth, keeping a watchful eye on the pit. “And…”
He interrupted me. “My dog stepped in your sh*t and is dragging it over my carpet??” His voice was strangled. Was he laughing?
“Okay, look here,” I sputtered, but he cut in again.
“Guess you haven’t had your coffee yet. I’ll let you wake up. Call you back in an hour or so.” Then the dial tone. I stared at the receiver in my hand. He had to be kidding!
Another movement caught my attention. I turned to see the pit climbing down off the couch, and the labs getting up from their cushions, wagging their tails slowly. At the same time the smell overwhelmed me.
I glared at the three of them.
“Okay, which one of you guys did that?” I asked accusingly, pointing at the pile of pooh where my flip flop was still encased. The tails went down, and the labs ducked their heads, both pictures of abject guilt. Not so the pit. He stood there looking at me, tongue lolling from his mouth, his attitude not in the least contrite. A 'don’t give a damn' stance if I’d ever seen one. Somehow I knew exactly who had left me the gift on the floor, but in my present state, I didn’t have the energy to press the matter.
“Okay, everybody out!” I limped towards the door. The labs hurried towards me, tails wagging again. The pit came running up behind us, then bullied his way past them to exit first. Once outside he turned, and I gasped as he lunged at Ben, the youngest lab, aiming for his face as Ben tried to follow. “Hey!” I yelled. The pit backed off and Ben, ignoring him, kept going. Beef was next, and was nearly out before the pit repeated the act on him too. Beef stopped abruptly, and his hind end caught the door, sending it flying back. I wasn’t holding it tightly, so the only thing that kept it from hitting my face was my big toe. The one on the sh**ty foot.
My scream of pain startled both dogs. The pit jerked his head up to look at me, and Beef quickly scurried the rest of the way out. I was feeling faint, but still managed enough strength to slam the door. The wham resounded loudly in the silent house. I leaned my face against the cold wood, waiting for the pain to abate. There was little time for that luxury. If I didn’t get rid of the stink in here I was going to gag. Walking the best I could, I crossed the room to throw open the windows. It was already cold ...I had forgotten to stoke the wood fire properly the night before… so more outside air wouldn’t make much of a difference, I reasoned. Okay, find paper towels, and a plastic bag. But first, wash the foot with the throbbing toe. Ugh!
I finished the cleaning, had coaxed another fire to life, and was finally sipping my first cup of coffee before I noticed that the pit was sitting at the patio door watching me. Had he been there the whole time? My mental state at the moment suggested to me that he was finding my misery highly amusing. I stared back at him.
“This is all your fault, you little Sh*t!” I could swear he smiled as he turned his back and trotted off the gallery. The phone began to ring.
(to be cont’d)
I hope your enjoying the story, but even more that you are enjoying your day. Each one is a gift, they say, and I agree. Sending you SMILES – I’ll catch yours if it comes my way.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
I didn’t get home until late, and I watched the sun’s first rays touch my mountain before shutting my eyes; it was noon before I woke. Half the day is gone, and a beautiful day it is too, so I’ll post my 4th chapter of the Bud Saga, and then get my butt outdoors. Here we go.
Some more of YOU WANT ME TO BABY-SIT WHAT???
Zombie is me when I first wake up. Upon opening my eyes the next morning, the first thing I saw was a clock sitting on a bedside table. It read 8:15. But it wasn’t my clock, and it wasn’t my table. Where was I?
It took a couple of seconds to get my bearings, and by that time the phone rang again. Its shrill had wakened me.
I stumbled out of bed and grabbed my dressing gown, struggling to pull it on, simultaneously inserting my feet into flip-flops, alias slippers. I had succeeded with one, but the other kept avoiding my foot. I was pushing it along ahead of me, still trying to manoeuvre the toe-hold into place, when OWYEE! Pain, massive pain. My left shin had connected solidly with the chair barrier at the top of the stairs. Moaning, I tried to rub it numb as I watched the culprit go sliding down. It stopped to lodge halfway, once again blocking my path.
Briiing! The phone.
I limped down as quickly as I could, grabbed the darned chair, and continued my wavering descent. I was feeling my way, because the seat obstructed my vision. I didn’t see, only felt, the squish when I put my foot on the level floor. Just the texture alone, even in my stupor, would have told me what it was. The awful smell confirmed the fact.
Briiing!
“Yyyuck!” I looked down with disgust. It was oozing over the toes of my right foot... And the stink! I held my breath, dropping the chair to hold my nose as I gingerly slipped out of the flip-flop. It stuck there. That type of footwear is not pooh protective! Both sides of my foot were covered with the stuff.
Briiing!
How many swear words can one utter when hobbling over a ten foot space, hardly able to put weight on the left leg, and trying not to soil the wall-to-wall carpet with the right one?
Briing!
I grabbed up the receiver. “What?!” I growled in exasperation.
“Hey, it’s me. How are you doing?” I recognized the cheery voice of my friend.
“How am I doing?" I asked incredulously. “How am I doing?” I repeated. “You xxxxx!! I’m stuck out here in the middle of the bush, with a pit that scares the sh*t outta me, and I just stepped in a whopping load of it at the bottom of the stairs… and I’m spreading it all over the frigging carpet, and…”
“Whoa, whoa,” he exclaimed. “Did you just say you sh*t at the bottom of my stairs and now you’re dragging it all over my carpet?”
“What??? Not me, you idiot!” I was yelling now, then I sensed movement behind me. Turning I saw the pit staring at me, his ears pricked in high alert. He wasn’t sitting; he was standing on the couch. I lowered my voice. “It was your damned dog.” I said through gritted teeth, keeping a watchful eye on the pit. “And…”
He interrupted me. “My dog stepped in your sh*t and is dragging it over my carpet??” His voice was strangled. Was he laughing?
“Okay, look here,” I sputtered, but he cut in again.
“Guess you haven’t had your coffee yet. I’ll let you wake up. Call you back in an hour or so.” Then the dial tone. I stared at the receiver in my hand. He had to be kidding!
Another movement caught my attention. I turned to see the pit climbing down off the couch, and the labs getting up from their cushions, wagging their tails slowly. At the same time the smell overwhelmed me.
I glared at the three of them.
“Okay, which one of you guys did that?” I asked accusingly, pointing at the pile of pooh where my flip flop was still encased. The tails went down, and the labs ducked their heads, both pictures of abject guilt. Not so the pit. He stood there looking at me, tongue lolling from his mouth, his attitude not in the least contrite. A 'don’t give a damn' stance if I’d ever seen one. Somehow I knew exactly who had left me the gift on the floor, but in my present state, I didn’t have the energy to press the matter.
“Okay, everybody out!” I limped towards the door. The labs hurried towards me, tails wagging again. The pit came running up behind us, then bullied his way past them to exit first. Once outside he turned, and I gasped as he lunged at Ben, the youngest lab, aiming for his face as Ben tried to follow. “Hey!” I yelled. The pit backed off and Ben, ignoring him, kept going. Beef was next, and was nearly out before the pit repeated the act on him too. Beef stopped abruptly, and his hind end caught the door, sending it flying back. I wasn’t holding it tightly, so the only thing that kept it from hitting my face was my big toe. The one on the sh**ty foot.
My scream of pain startled both dogs. The pit jerked his head up to look at me, and Beef quickly scurried the rest of the way out. I was feeling faint, but still managed enough strength to slam the door. The wham resounded loudly in the silent house. I leaned my face against the cold wood, waiting for the pain to abate. There was little time for that luxury. If I didn’t get rid of the stink in here I was going to gag. Walking the best I could, I crossed the room to throw open the windows. It was already cold ...I had forgotten to stoke the wood fire properly the night before… so more outside air wouldn’t make much of a difference, I reasoned. Okay, find paper towels, and a plastic bag. But first, wash the foot with the throbbing toe. Ugh!
I finished the cleaning, had coaxed another fire to life, and was finally sipping my first cup of coffee before I noticed that the pit was sitting at the patio door watching me. Had he been there the whole time? My mental state at the moment suggested to me that he was finding my misery highly amusing. I stared back at him.
“This is all your fault, you little Sh*t!” I could swear he smiled as he turned his back and trotted off the gallery. The phone began to ring.
(to be cont’d)
I hope your enjoying the story, but even more that you are enjoying your day. Each one is a gift, they say, and I agree. Sending you SMILES – I’ll catch yours if it comes my way.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Saturday, September 26, 2009
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
This afternoon I am going to babysit my two little dudes, Nalou and Bali. Because of my work schedule, I don’t get to do this often, so I am really looking forward to it. I imagine I will have alot to write in my Blog tomorrow!
I don’t know where you are sitting with your morning coffee, or what you can see. I was up at 5 AM, and am lucky enough to have a view of my mountain as it welcomes the sun; a riot of autumn reds and oranges and golds, running in and around the darker, constant hues of the evergreens, all a silhouette against the clearest blue sky...it's simply breathtaking! Would that I be a painter, or a photo genius, so that I could capture it forever...but I’m not, so I try to keep the picture in my memory. Fortunately I get to see it from day to day, renewing it each morning. It’s another of my blessings for which I am extremely thankful.
Maybe I’m doing the sympathy thing for my friend, Kilroy, who wrote in his blog that he has a sore back, because both my legs are painful today. Because there has been no extreme exercise to merit these aches, I’m beginning to get worried. It’s not normal, and I haven’t yet managed to get the results from the x-rays or visit to my doc & his grumpy receptionists. If I don’t get a return call next week, I’ll have to take the time and drive over to his office. In the meantime, I’m swallowing anti-inflammatory pills (and whining), something I hate doing (the pill taking I mean – I’m okay with the whining, lol).
I have a few errands to run before going to see my grandsons, so will sign off now. Maybe I’ll come back in and post the sure-to-be delightful anecdotes after I’ve put my little rug rats to bed tonight.
Sending you all a big SMILE, and hoping you are out there enjoying this great fall weather.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
I don’t know where you are sitting with your morning coffee, or what you can see. I was up at 5 AM, and am lucky enough to have a view of my mountain as it welcomes the sun; a riot of autumn reds and oranges and golds, running in and around the darker, constant hues of the evergreens, all a silhouette against the clearest blue sky...it's simply breathtaking! Would that I be a painter, or a photo genius, so that I could capture it forever...but I’m not, so I try to keep the picture in my memory. Fortunately I get to see it from day to day, renewing it each morning. It’s another of my blessings for which I am extremely thankful.
Maybe I’m doing the sympathy thing for my friend, Kilroy, who wrote in his blog that he has a sore back, because both my legs are painful today. Because there has been no extreme exercise to merit these aches, I’m beginning to get worried. It’s not normal, and I haven’t yet managed to get the results from the x-rays or visit to my doc & his grumpy receptionists. If I don’t get a return call next week, I’ll have to take the time and drive over to his office. In the meantime, I’m swallowing anti-inflammatory pills (and whining), something I hate doing (the pill taking I mean – I’m okay with the whining, lol).
I have a few errands to run before going to see my grandsons, so will sign off now. Maybe I’ll come back in and post the sure-to-be delightful anecdotes after I’ve put my little rug rats to bed tonight.
Sending you all a big SMILE, and hoping you are out there enjoying this great fall weather.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
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