Animal with Home Value

  That meal really stuck with you, not just because you were physically full, but because it quickly turned into judging yourself and feeling like you needed to “walk it off.” I’d keep that honesty in the post, while being a little kinder to yourself. One unexpectedly huge burger doesn’t define you or undo the walking and running you’ve been doing. The Burger Was Bigger Than I Expected Today had quite a bit packed into it. This afternoon, Kim and I celebrated her getting a keyworker position, which was definitely worth celebrating. I also had a doctor’s appointment, and afterward I was on a bit of a high coming home. I probably overshared a little, but sometimes that happens when I’m feeling good and have a lot going through my head. For our celebration meal, we went to Smitty’s. I ordered a double-patty jam bacon burger. Now, I knew I was ordering a burger. What I didn't quite appreciate was just how much burger was about to arrive at the table. This thing was loaded. I ate almos...

  Step by Step, Even When Life Gets Weird The last few days have been crazy. A couple of days ago I ended up in the ER because of my throat. Now I'm on antibiotics for tonsillitis, and next on my list is going to the doctor about the numbness I've had in my hand for the last two weeks. It's tough because, of course, my mind starts wondering what it could be. I've talked to AI about some of it, and strangely, there's something about doing that that makes me feel like I'm figuring out life for the first time. Something new comes up, I have questions, I talk it through, and then I figure out what I'm actually going to do about it. Right now, that's seeing my doctor and getting their opinion instead of trying to diagnose myself. I've wondered about everything from stroke symptoms to multiple sclerosis, and it's honestly scary territory to let your imagination wander into. Part of me doesn't even want to know what some of the possibilities are. Bu...

  Rain or Snow, We Are Out Today the dog and I went for a walk. It was one of those winter days where the weather couldn't quite make up its mind. Snow, rain, wet ground, cold air. We went anyway. Rain or snow, we are out. I took a few photos along the way, and when we finally got back home, Dixie was wet and ready for one of her favourite parts of a bad-weather walk: the towel rub-down. She leaned right into it. Dixie loves getting rubbed down with a towel. There's something about watching a wet dog happily lean into a towel that makes coming home feel pretty good. The walk might be cold and miserable, but then we're inside, getting warm, and she's enjoying every second of being dried off. Lately, my mom has been walking Dixie too. That's a blessing for us, but I think it's also a good little bit of activity for my mom. Dixie is fortunate that she has people willing to get her outside. I was reminded of that recently in a way I wasn't expecting. While I was...

  Wind, Waterfalls, and Good Company — Our Oct. 17 Waterton Run Oct. 17 turned into one of those Alberta days that reminds you just how alive the prairies and mountains can be. Kim and I headed out to Waterton in the middle of a severe windstorm — the kind that makes the highway feel like it’s breathing, pushing, shifting under the tires. Even before we reached the park, we saw the power of it: a trailer tipped over on the side of the road, waiting out the gusts. That set the tone. Wild weather, wild scenery, and a day that felt like it had its own pulse. We started early, voting first thing, then doing the classic “Lethbridge loop” — back home for food, back again for a parcel, and once more because Kim needed to change pants. Three tries to leave the city, but eventually we made it. Once we finally hit the open fields, the mountains pulled us in like they always do. Despite the storm, Waterton was beautiful. The temperature dropped fast, the clouds rolled in, and by the time we w...

  First Snow, First Signs of Slowing Down The first snowfall of the year always lands with a certain weight. Autumn tries to hold on, but Alberta doesn’t negotiate — one cold front sweeps across the province and suddenly everything is white, quiet, and a little more serious. Dixie and I stepped out into it this morning, the kind of snow that softens the world and reminds you winter has officially clocked in. She loved the walk itself. Tail up, nose working overtime, paws crunching through the fresh layer. But the stairs afterward told a different story. Dixie is 91 months old now , and for the first time I saw her hesitate — not because she couldn’t, but because she didn’t want to. That small pause, that look back at me, said more than anything else. Winter hits everyone differently, and once you reach a certain age, those temperature swings feel sharper in the joints. I get it. My forties have been a whole new chapter of back pain and stiffness, and I’ve had my own days where cli...

  There is a specific kind of quiet satisfaction that comes with an early-morning park walk right before a shift starts. Today was one of those crisp, four-degree October days—windy enough to remind you winter is waiting in the wings, but free of snow and ice, which I’ll take as a win any day. Dixie got her full ten minutes around the park, handled her business, and seemed just as happy to stretch her legs as I was. Dropped the waste in the bin, kept us moving, and managed to stay completely dry. Honestly, I kind of thrive in this colder weather once it settles in. Throwing on the work bibs and pulling out the proper winter gear feels like getting ahead of the season. Once you're bundled up right, a cool fall morning isn't something to bundle away from—it’s just plain invigorating. Kim was home catching a nap after tackling some online computer work early today, with more on her plate for later. It’s a busy rhythm around here, but it works. It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and while ...