Animal with Home Value

  The week's tasks entailed Clean oxygen is like I'm an aerospace engineering  💨 Clean Air on a Budget: Meet the Corsi-Rosenthal Box After an epic cleaning session indoors and out, I'm taking the pursuit of a healthy home to the next level! I just finished building my very own Corsi-Rosenthal Box (CR Box), a DIY air purifier designed to significantly improve indoor air quality for a fraction of the cost of commercial units. I'm hoping this will be a game-changer, especially for controlling pet dander, those pesky dust and dog mites, and general pet odor. The construction took about half an hour of focused effort (after waiting a week for all the parts to arrive), and I'm really proud of how it turned out. The best part? The total cost of the fan and high-efficiency filters is roughly one-third the price of my existing, single-filter Rabbit Air unit. It delivers similar powerful air cleaning capacity or I figure it's way better at doing the job without breaking ...

  🎉 Celebrating 10 Years Together Last night was a beautiful celebration of a decade spent with Kim. We marked our 10-year anniversary with a cozy dinner at The Keg, where I indulged in a hearty 20 oz steak and Kim opted for a more modest 8 oz cut. It felt so good to get out together and enjoy a special evening. We kept things simple—just water to drink, with fresh bread and salad to start. The atmosphere was perfect, and I soaked in every moment of our time together. We’re incredibly grateful for our families, who made the night even more special. My parents generously gave us cash to enjoy our dinner, and Kim’s parents gifted us movie money so we could extend the celebration. Their thoughtfulness reminded us how lucky we are to be surrounded by love and support. Family and friends made it sweeter We were so blessed by our families: my parents gave us cash to enjoy the night and Kim’s parents sent money for a movie treat. Our friends even gifted us a 20% tip card for the meal...

 The mental tug-of-war and the ritual of writing motivation into motion. Lines Before Laces Some mornings, motivation doesn’t come with the sunrise—it arrives in fragments. Today was one of those days. I sat down more times than I stood up, each attempt to lace my shoes interrupted by the gravity of comfort and the weight of hesitation. It took writing lines in a Word document—simple, stubborn affirmations—to coax myself into motion. Not poetic, not profound. Just necessary. Dixie and I finally made it out for a short run. My legs protested with sharp shin splints , a reminder that I hadn’t fueled properly—protein was missing, and my body knew it. I stretched mid-run, paused, breathed, and kept going. It wasn’t graceful, but it was real. And despite the discomfort, I found joy in the rhythm, in Dixie’s steady presence, and in the fact that I’d overcome the inertia. Funny how workdays make it easier. I say I’ll run, and I do. No mental tug-of-war, no negotiations with the couch. But...

  Frost , Hills, and a Chewed-Up Start October 6 greeted us with our first frost of the season—just a whisper of white across the grass, crisp enough to make the coffee taste richer and the walk feel sharper. Dixie and I took full advantage, clocking an hour through one of the few routes around here with real elevation gains. Not many places in Lethbridge or Medicine Hat offer hills worth mentioning, so when the land lifts and dips just enough to challenge the legs and lungs, it feels like a small triumph. Joe joined for the first leg, and two cups of black coffee later, the morning ritual felt complete. But nature giveth and nature gnaweth. Back at home, I discovered the mice had chewed through my windshield washer lines . The pump still hums with purpose, but only a few weak spurts make it to the glass—like a faucet with a cough. It’s a small annoyance, but one that reminds me how even the tiniest creatures can reroute our day. I’ll patch it up, of course, but part of me admire...

  Today was a full-body kind of day—the kind that leaves you feeling strong, clear-headed, and quietly proud. I started with two weight sessions totaling 68 minutes and 46 sets, pushing through each rep with focus and intention. My doctor recently recommended two to three strength workouts per week, and I’m already ahead of the curve. After the weights, Dixie and I hit the pavement for a 5 km run. She kept pace beautifully, and I could feel the rhythm of the day settling into my stride. The energy didn’t stop there. I rolled that momentum into a deep clean of the house—vacuuming the night before, then mopping floors, scrubbing toilets and sinks, and picking up scattered papers. There’s something grounding about tending to your space after tending to your body. It’s like syncing the inside with the outside, clearing clutter both physical and mental. I didn’t rush it; I moved with purpose, letting the satisfaction build with each task. I’m feeling good—really good. The doctor’s adv...

  A good walk with my dad “We snapped a photo right at the start, where our walking routes met in the park—a shared midpoint from both our homes. The park was alive with others walking, and we even crossed paths with the same man twice: once in the park, then again on the road. It’s almost a game, seeing who collects the most hellos. My dad offered two or three greetings, while I, lugging a 30 lbs. pack, didn’t manage a single one. That kind of weight makes you weezy, more focused on breath than banter.” That’s such a vivid slice of your walk, Nigel—starting with a photo that marks the moment of connection, two paths converging in a lively park. The social rhythm of walking—passing familiar faces, exchanging greetings—feels almost like a neighborhood ritual. I love the idea of it being a game of hellos, with your dad racking up a few wins while you, understandably, were focused on breathing through that 30 lbs. pack. “Weezy” is the perfect word—funny, honest, and totally relatable....

Walk to the Fire Hall This morning’s walk with Vince and Dixie was a perfect blend of fresh air, good company, and quiet reflection. We wandered through the neighborhood, passing the fire hall, chatting about how well Dixie has matured—staying close even off leash, a far cry from her puppy days at the Coaldale dog park when she’d bolt and ignore every call.  The weather cooperated beautifully: a brisk 14°C for our first stretch, climbing to 25°C later, but I managed to beat the heat by heading out early. After 5.7 km and about 75 minutes of walking, Dixie is now sprawled by the air register, soaking up the cool air, and I’m left feeling grateful for the time spent with Vince and my father-in-law—simple moments that mean the most. This week’s walk was a bit more intense than usual — I strapped on a 14 kg weight (about 30 lbs) and took it with me for the entire route. It added a satisfying challenge to the pace, and I could feel the difference in my stride and breathing. Carrying th...

Last Cohiba   After more than a year resting in my humidor, the last cigar finally had its moment. I’ve told the story before—how it lingered, waiting for the right occasion—but this time, the occasion was simple: I needed the space. So I unplugged the humidor, not with ceremony, but with quiet resolve. That final smoke wasn’t just about flavor or nostalgia; it was about closure. A small ritual to mark the end of a chapter, making room for whatever comes next. This afternoon’s cigar came with a surprise bite—literally. While tossing the ball for the dog and enjoying my final smoke from the humidor, a bug decided to make its mark. I smacked it, no luck, so I brushed it off and carried on. The dog, soaked from a playful run through the sprinkler—one of the last before autumn fully settles in—was content to dry off out front after our walk and ball-chasing session. She’s well-behaved, even when wet, and I sat back, cigar finished, watching her bask in the fading warmth of the season. ...

  My mom and I go for a walk, longer than expected.  we discuss that once you get out and plan it is the hard part but walking it is the easy part 🌳 Summer Surprises and Sweater Weather While walking with my mom, she pointed out a fallen tree and remarked on how much the trees have grown this year—thanks to all the rain we’ve had. I was expecting drought conditions after such a heavy snowpack, but it’s turned out to be a surprisingly decent year for water. We ended up walking 2.5 km in 32 minutes. What started as a simple stroll to the park turned into a detour to the fire hall, and then a little further down the back lane so the dog could go off leash. She’s always happier running free than tugging on a leash, so it was a win for all of us. It was around +15°C when we headed out—sweater weather at first, but warm enough to shed layers by the end. 🚶‍♂️ Tracking the Walk, Sort Of We kept a steady pace—about 13 minutes per kilometer—with me carrying my rucker weight a...