We have been getting lots of rain in Nova Scotia. For weeks it has been rain, rain, and more rain. Just a  micro-second sunny break here and there. If you blink with both eyes you will miss both of them.

Over my lifetime so far I have accomplished a lot of things. Airforce, large vehicle trainer, ran my own DJ business, pretty well mastered computers, web master of a couple sites, and so on.

Now today I was thinking I missed out on one. I could have been a meteorologist. It’s harder to spell the word that it is to predict the weather.

Around here all you have to do is step outside, and if you get wet, which you will, you predict rain. If you don’t get wet and it is kind of dull, cloudy with sunny periods will do it.  If it looks a little bright, sunny with cloudy periods cover that.

Oh yeah, if you step outside and then come back in and your hair is in a worse mess than when you went out, it is windy. No training, no experience, (keep the Farmers Almanac handy for back up).

And the long range forecast. More of the same with the overhead clouds parked in a circle. Maybe those old western movies had something in common we don’t know about.

-=One Day At A Time=-

Sometimes we don’t wave our Canadian flag enough.

“Happy 142nd Canada.”

We are proud to be here.

  This blog has been lacking again for awhile. I did not go away, just been busy – again.

One of the things most noticeable in this part of Canada (Nova Scotia), is that in the interest of being environmentally friendly, one major grocery chain has started charging five cents each for plastic bags.

Another resourceful electronics chain began following the same procedure, asking if you want a bag. If you do, you are out another five cents.

I wouldn’t have a problem with all this if I thought it was helping our environment to a worthwhile degree. As I am being asked, “Do you want a bag sir?” I tend to look around at the nearest displays and see all the goods and products displayed in heavy blister pack packages, that you can’t even open without several swear words when you get home.

Will there be juggler courses available? This procedure does provide some entertainment value as I watch consumers revolt against the five cent charge per plastic bag. People leaving with an arm load of groceries balanced on the two inch forearm to elbow track.

Can I check your receipt please? I don’t know about you, but it sure makes me feel funny to walk out of a store with loose goods in my hand and a tiny faded receipt. Kind of makes you feel those door guards have a real purpose even though I would give them a hard time if they wanted to see my receipt. (If you want a little fun carry an out dated receipt in your pocket for special occasions – wink, wink.)

Cash register line ups longer than an uphill walk – First we had to wait while the person in front had to unload their groceries with one arm while talking on the cell phone. Then wait while they sort through and try seventeen credit cards until they find one that works. (Why are they like keys, it is always the last one that works?) They say things come in three’s, so here it is. Now we wait longer while they decide if they wish to purchase a bag.

The aim is to promote the use of recyclable bags – That’s fine, but is slows us even more. Ever watch the customer trying to convince the poor cashier that more can fit in those stupid cloth bags? Better yet, if they pack it themselves you have an onion bowling alley just outside the door.

If the process was a benefit I wouldn’t have a problem with it. There are so many other things containing plastic that could be eliminated from our lives, plastic shopping bags are a drop in the bucket.

Do You Need A Bag? – of course I do. Where else am I going to put the cat nuggets?

-=One Day At A Time=-

Life goes on you used to say,
And it surely does day after day.
But its no fun being alone
Day after day I am on my own.

Two years have gone by so they say,
To me it seems like it was yesterday,
Yet in another way is seems so long ago,
Being alone makes it very hard you know.

One thing I can tell you and it will always be so,
Not a day will go by that I won't show,
Our love is forever of that you can be certain,
There's no such thing as a final curtain.

I told you I will always love you forever,
I mean that fully no strings what so ever.
My love for you would fill the sky,
And there will be more and more as the years go by.

"I love you Rose!"

I don’t dream much, and I know little about dreams. Experts say we all dream and just don’t know about it. Whenever I do dream and realize it, it is always about something stupid that I can’t remember when I get up.

It has been said you only dream in black and white, no colour. Others swear they dream in colour and describe vibrant colours in some of their dreams.

If you have other people in your dreams you most likely don’t see their faces. Yet some dreams include faces with great detail for some people.

Most people do not dream the same thing every time they dream. Yet there are those who have the same recurring dream time and time again.

Some people have very pleasant dreams of joyful things. Likewise, others have dreams where they are falling or someone is chasing them, about as scary as they can get.

Isn’t dreaming like “Watching TV On The Inside of Your Eyelids?”

-=One Day At A Time=-

After my positive last week, this one did turn out to be rather negative, especially on the GPS front. Do you have one of those? Neat electronic gadgets that give you directions to within a few feet.

Less that a year ago I bought one by Mio, a Moov 300c. Part of the deal of buying it less than a year ago was the 2009 map update would be included, to be sent to you on DVD.

2009 updates were supposed to be ready the first of the year, then February, then May, and finally the true date arrived this week when I received an email that they could be downloaded by from a web site address. Did you get that camera guy, they can be downloaded from a web site address – what happened to the DVD?

Previous email advice said the delay was due to unforeseen technical difficulties. Well the update didn’t work. Despite many tries, including re-downloading, all that happened was it wiped out everything on the GPS unit. Thankfully I backed up the original, so can revert to the older 2008 maps.

The procedure was one of the worst I have ever seen. First you have to download the instructions. Then you download and install an update for the original software that was installed on your computer.  Then you go back to your informative email and get a code to be entered into the new software to activate the software and the new map download. You don’t do that many steps to install Windows on your computer.

I spent four hours one day, and one the next trying to get the update to cooperate. It wouldn’t! It just comes up with some stupid error that says “Error loading maps,” or the software produces another error and says ‘the program must close’. 

The best is yet to come. If you have a problem, you can’t send a normal email. On no! You have to sign in to their web site and fill our one of those silly boxes with your problem. Mio promises to answer within one working day, which really means two days because the answer I got came late in the evening my time. The reply consisted of the usual stupid questions “did you do this, did you do that, what is the memory… etc. I had already stated what I had done.

So another email and another wait – I am still waiting, it’s been two days. I guess Mio didn’t like me asking for a regular email address and commenting that the procedure was far too involved time wise.

I have used several brands of GPS units and the Mio 300c was a superior unit in many ways. This experience is changing my opinion fast. I will let you know how it goes, as I had already intended to post a review on our sister site nscave.com. The review is being held for a week or so to see if the update problem is solved.

-=One Day At A Time=-

I guess you knew this one was coming. It’s Friday! I’ve heard this for years as it is the end of the work week for a lot of people. Then the weekend arrives with fun time.

But some people have to work weekends, so their TGIF may be in the middle of the week on Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s okay so long as they have one.

At any rate, TGIF usually signals the end of another hard working week right? It is a time frame used by many to schedule their recreational times. It makes you feel good.I’ll let the little bear from PimpinUp.com express our enthusiasm. After all it has been a good week. I stayed positive all week both here and in thought.

Now I can go back to being normal with more natural comments, computer tips and other things. Is that positive or negative?

-=One Day At A Time=-

My computer is positive to me, isn’t yours? Although almost a necessity today, many still can’t afford a computer or don’t want one. Remember in years gone by TVs were a luxury item, then everyone had one and they appeared in the most unlikely places.

Computers started out the same. No one needs one of those dang things. Now they are close to being a necessity. Getting a job, meeting people, paying your bills, reading the news, researching the product you are going to buy – all of this is done by most people on the internet via computer. You can buy things, sell things and look at things.

I use my computer as a file system, for storing and viewing pictures, making most phone calls, keeping track of notes (instead of those yellow sticky things and scraps of paper), maintaining a web site and writing this blog.

When I was younger I used to do all my own vehicle repairs and home repairs, which made me appreciate the true value of good tools. Today, one of the most useful tools in my collection is the computers I have.

Not many businesses could survive today without a computer. Computers have to be Positive #5, remember all my friends are in there.

-=One Day At A Time=-

  Continuing with our positive theme this week, waking up in the morning must be positive. Not waking up could be a bummer. I think of all the things I would miss, things that I didn’t get completed yet.

Sounds weird you say? Don’t you have things you want to do before you leave forever? Maybe some things will never get done and will always be on the list, but others will be completed and remain forever.

I think too of others who wake up in the morning much less fortunate than I. My creaky knees might be a pain sometimes, but there are others worse off who are unable to get around at all. There are some who wake up with only the sky over their head instead of a roof and a home around them.

Waking up in the morning gives me a brand new start with the urge to look at things again. Some of the negative issues weren’t so negative at all.

Going to sleep at night listening to the frogs croaking, and waking in the morning to hear the birds chirping makes me realize it’s the little things that count.

All the other things in between make it worthwhile. To me, waking up in the morning is a gift we all should enjoy.

Just think, there are many this very morning that didn’t get to enjoy Waking Up In The Morning.

-=One Day At A Time=-

My fascination of hummingbirds was renewed while visiting a friend last weekend. I don’t think you can find anything any more positive than those little creatures.

Flapping those tiny wings up to 90 times per second with the best aerodynamics in the world. They appear, stop, backup, move forward, sideways, and disappear in such a fluid motion it boggles the mind. They are constantly active and so colourful, and provide endless entertainment when they are present.

Like a lot of people I find most birds pleasing to have around, (except when they take aim at my truck. By the way, for some reason they prefer blue, so if you have a blue vehicle, it will be a target).

The tiny hummingbirds are special though, because there is so much energy and movement in such a small package. You may not get as many as this fellow does.

But if you hang out a couple hummingbird feeders with an easily made mixture you just might be lucky enough to experience this positive event that doesn’t cost much and makes you feel good about this busy world of ours.

-=One Day At A Time=-

My father worked at several things throughout his years, but what he loved most was being a farmer. During one of our walks through out the expanse of farm land he related to me how he was always fascinated with the earth, nature and its seeds.

From a few measly seeds with a little care and attention, you could produce an abundance of food, in the form of vegetables and fruit. Or should you care to do so, with nature’s help you could produce a magnitude of beauty in colourful flowers.

Not only that, nature was very kind in that she often gave you more seeds. With a little preservation, determination and perhaps a reasonable amount of labour the cycle would continue year after year.

I think these days when we dash into the store “to  get a few things” we tend to forget the basics.

This has to be one of life’s positive things when we can plant a few seeds and watch things grow. Or each spring, watch the barren winter beaten trees suddenly change with new born leaves.

Maybe there is beauty in that golden coloured dandelion. We take so much for granted. Real beauty, with positive experiences happens all around us constantly. Maybe we are just too busy to see it.

Lets enjoy the simple life and the surroundings around us that we so quickly take for granted. Remember it can disappear in seconds.

-=One Day At A Time=-

I promised this week to publish all positive things rather than the usual negative - I will do my best, for one week only.

Times have changed, mostly for the better, and I think this video gives us an idea of just how much and how fast things have changed. Not all are positive, but the majority are.  Things like the use of technology, such as cell phones, text messaging, online dating, internet use, and so on.

We just have to figure out what it all means and where we are going, or where we are sending our future generations. What will it be like another ten or twenty years from now?

This video describes what I am talking about very well.

There’s lots there to think about. Is it positive, or negative? You decide. I think it is fascinating how far we have traveled in those short periods of time.

-=One Day At A Time=-

Not everyone knows how to use a computer and the internet these days, but the majority do. Even most seniors are now learning the basics and are able to use email and other means for staying in touch with family and friends. This is especially good when you are not able to get out and about as often as you used to.

Most hospitals include TV rentals now days where you can rent one of those swing arm TVs for your enjoyment should your stay in the hospital  be longer than you wish. For a reasonable fee you can often have a telephone activated that is charged to your home phone so that you have a phone available for keeping in touch with family and friends.

Isn’t it time these institutions offered internet?

People of all ages now keep in touch mainly with email, VOIP telephone such as Skype, MSN Messenger, Facebook and other online communications methods. If you are hospitalized for an extended period of time, shouldn’t it be almost routine these days that this service should be available there?

Many people already have laptop or net book computers that can be easily taken with them no matter where they go. High speed internet is carried by cable or phone line, which most hospitals already have anyway. It shouldn’t be rocket science to be able to add internet to either of these for a reasonable cost.

  Present companies love to rent you TV when you have an extended stay in hospital. Couldn’t internet be offered as well for a reasonable outlay for equipment?  For those that do not wish a continuous internet rental, couldn’t a computer be supplied in one of the recreational rooms that would be available for use now and then?

TVs in the rooms sounded far fetched when they first came out. Maybe this sounds the same way right now. But think about it. The internet with all its available methods is the most important communications method, for businesses, for individuals and it could be for patients. What better way to keep in touch with family and friends, since their lives seem so busy with activities.

-=One Day At A Time=-

PVR stands for Personal Video Recorder as far as I know. You know the kind, your cable company or satellite company will rent one to you for so much per month. Usually you have to rent them because they don’t allow or don’t want you to own it. They don’t make much money that way.

I got a call this week asking if I was interested in such an addition to my home entertainment package. Price is one thing, but there is another factor of much more concern.

What the heck am I going to record?

I’ve mentioned in this blog before that the movie networks I have and the specialty channels I have keep repeating the programs over and over. Not only that, but lately they repeat the same programs over and over on different channels, since a lot of them are owned by the same background company. So much so that dropping some of those packages is a great possibility.

So back to this offer of a great deal on a PVR.

What the heck am I going to record? Do I want to watch those shows 28 times instead of 27? Don’t talk about time shifting, because every time I time shift my viewing habits, the same shows are still there. Why would I want to save 28 hours of reruns? I can’t get them out of the strange little box and on to a DVD. Watching a ‘no channel’ would be just as entertaining.

So I declined the offer of a PVR once again. Any program I missed will magically appear again on the channel anyway – and I don’t have to pay extra for it – I am already doing that.

P.S. Next week I will have all positive entries. I do that once or twice a year. That means I have a lot of research to do to find some positive material. Oh, that’s negative isn’t it?

-=One Day At A Time=-

Remember those days when Mom used to say “Take that, it’s good for you,” or eat that, “It’s good for you.” Fact is, usually back in those days it was good for you.

Now days we have different people looking out for us, or looking out for our own good. Often under the name “green” which I am  getting sick of hearing constantly.

Compact fluorescent bulbs – Won’t be long before many of the country’s governments will have it so you must use these bulbs and won’t be able to buy any other type of bulb. They save us money on power, and saves the environment as well. It’s good for you. Not to mention they have mercury inside and create a disposal problem, and suddenly we find they are unshielded and cause health problems to some people if used too close to  the body for fine viewing.

Reusable Cloth Bags – Big drive now to do away with plastic grocery bags. Use the new fancy designer reusable cloth ones. If many retailers have their way we will be forced to use those. It’s green, it keeps plastic bags out of the landfill, it’s good for you. Now we find they are loaded with bacteria and other goodies. Bad enough should some of you use them for gym stuff and put your dirty underlings in them, but what about leaky meat packages and other products that ooze bits of slime that soak into the material of the bag and travel with you for weeks.

It’s easy to realize something needs to be done to protect our future generations. Are we doing it the right way? Why not tackle wasteful excess plastic packaging? Why not hasten production of LED light bulbs which are even more efficient than the compact fluorescents? Why not use paper bags for groceries?

The list of “could do’s” is extensive. But I think in all these things the true interest is in being green – the green often referred to as money.

-=One Day At A Time=-

I think it started out with making certain upper body parts appear larger than reality.

Electronic chips were added, and we moved to pace makers, tracking devices and even carrying our own medical information right inside us for anyone who needs to know that has a reader.

Where do these ideas come from? Inventors I guess. Where would we be without the safety pin and stick-it notes?

So I have an idea, but I am not an inventor, so I will leave the production details up to those individuals.

You know how you don’t want to miss your favourite program, but it is always scheduled late at night. You fall asleep. Or you feel wide awake and in the movie mode, but by the end of it you are fast asleep. In either case you miss the most important part.

Here’s my take. Why can’t someone invent miniature TV sets that can be imbedded on the inside of your eyelids? Then if you fall asleep you won’t miss any of the shows. While you are “resting your eyes” you will see everything up to ‘roll credits.’

They are already imbedding them into eye glasses and other things, why not eyelids?

Think I am falling off the deep end? Think about it. Even post-it notes were developed accidently. While trying to develop a strong adhesive they instead developed a weaker product.

-=One Day At A Time=-

Follow up Topsy Turvey Tomatoes – Since my last blog entry I received additional emails explaining the Topsy Turvey Tomatoes. Seems according to the pictures, the roots are upside down in a container, and the plants grow down. Wonder if you can do that with dandelions? Would solve my major lawn problem if you could.

Looking At Places – Do you get emails advertising travel destination bargains? Or the brochures in you snail mail.  High quality pictures of places you would just love to go to.

The price looks great, and you are enthused. It might be good to get away from things for awhile. Oh, check the fine print. The departure point is a couple thousand miles from where you live.

Look at this one. Seven nights, all inclusive. Great price. Swimming pool, big room, 52” TV, breakfast… Oh, check the fine print. That’s per person and some things cost extra.

Here’s one, and this time the price is good, all inclusive for three nights. Wow, almost missed this one. Oh, check the fine print, must be booked in advance by the end of today. That’s nice – if you are already packed and don’t have any responsibilities.

Finally, here’s one I can really afford. Should have checked the back page first. Seat sale, cheap luxury hotel, car, what more could you ask for? Oh, check the fine print, that’s one way, taxes and other things extra. I did want to come back.

Once again I am Looking At Places Where I Won’t Be Going. Looks like I will have to check the rest of the sales. Guess my log trips are still going to be to Canadian Tire or Staples.

-=One Day At A Time=-

“Produce up to 30 lbs of tomatoes per plant - As Seen on TV Topsy Turvey” - - - That’s what the email subject says. I don’t even have to open that one to see the light, I am going no further.

Thirty pounds of tomatoes per plant! How big is the trunk on that plant. Is this a new development tomato tree? No wonder they are Topsy Turvey.

For goodness sake, don’t put Miracle Grow on them – they would be higher than your house. The local airport authority would make you get a strobe light. Might be be a good idea to keep them away from any foundations, the roots will likely go right through concrete.

Mind you I am wondering, is this one tomato on the plant? A dozen? Twenty three?

If you are hard up for something to do, watching these plants would certainly beat sitting around watching the grass grow.

Think about it. At the end of the season you would need a wood chipper to get rid of the tomato plants.

-=One Day At A Time=-

 Do you have a pet? I hope you do. Many kinds of animals can be a pet but I am referring mostly to cats and dogs here. (Some people can be pets too, but we won’t get into that.)

I have always loved animals since my days way back on the farm when I was a young fellow. And for most of my years we had a pet as part of our family. Yes, they become part of the family and only those who have pets can understand that.

Unlike people, you can get angry at your pet. They will still love you. You can feel down like there is no tomorrow. They will bring you back in no time. You can be lonely, like no one cares for you or will ever care for you again. But your pet dog or cat does. When you have a few moments to spare and there is absolutely nothing to do, your pet can take care of that.

Dogs and cats can give you unconditional love. They don’t care, they are just always there for you. You can be dirty or clean, happy or sad, in a bad mood or a good mood, they are always right there for you with the same abundance of love.

Go hug your pet today, they need you too, and you will be rewarded right back with “Unconditional Love.”

-=One Day At A Time=-

“There are two exits that have on-ramps along the 45-kilometre pass, at Londonderry and Glenholme.”

This was a recent comment in one of our local newspaper articles. I think I am being confused again. “There are two exits that have on-ramps.”

Let me see, does that make it an exit? Or does that make it an on-ramp, which would be an entrance, wouldn’t it?

If you exit an on-ramp you would be entering the controlled access highway wouldn’t you? If you are on an on-ramp there is only one way to go.  I already figured out if you go in on an exit you are doing it wrong and may get into trouble.

Back to the original problem, if you have two exits that have on-ramps, someone has to be going the wrong way. Lets work this out. If I am on the controlled access highway, and leave it, I am using the exit, correct? If I am driving down the road and I am about to enter that same controlled access highway, I am using the on-ramp, right?

Where do these exit on-ramps take you to?  Maybe that is why so many motorists need GPS these days.

At least they are sensible - “Perform a U-turn when possible.”

-=One Day At A Time=-