Things I've Learned ~ part 2

It’s easy to let go when you have no control at all on the situation. I’m a control nut and I always feel that I can influence a situation somehow, someway. So I rarely let go.
There was a moment as the car was sliding and rotating that I knew there was nothing I could do anymore. Whatever was going to happen, was going to happen and I only had to be patient for it to come to an end. That’s when I stopped hanging on to the steering wheel and prepared for the truck to flip. No no, I didn’t see my life flashing in front of my eyes, I knew it was going to be alright, I just had to be patient.

Things I’ve Learned ~ part 1

Be fully insured. In my situation, without a significant other or family members in the area to rely on, it was a relief to learn that not only did I have a same-category rental car included, my cab fare to get to work the morning after will be reimbursed. Just less things to worry about.

Unfortunately, because it was a single-car accident, I am at fault but my policy includes a first offense crash-forgiveness clause. We’ll see where that takes me when I have to settle on the value of the truck with the insurance company.

Wear Your Seatbelt

Always. If I didn’t have that good habit, I couldn’t write tonight. Early evening, the road conditions turned treacherous quickly and I didn’t not realize. I lost control of my truck on an ice patch and, after rotating 180 degrees in the other line, my truck slid, flipped and finally stopped in the ditch, on its roof.
And for those of you wondering, speed was not a factor, only road condition. It took less than a minute after my truck immobilized for Greg to get to me while Steve, who was following me on Highway 2, called 911. Greg was just great; he introduced himself right away and they both kept talking to me till the EMS arrived. There was also a nice young female who stood by and gathered some of my stuff that spilled out of the truck by the broken window. I’m grateful for their help & company. It took 10 minutes for the firemen to get to the site and just a couple minutes for them to assess my condition, secure the truck and release me from the seat belt. I had been “hanging” upside down, hold up to the seat by the seat belt, unable to detach it. Once the fireman cut the belt, I was able to crawl out of the car, with their help pulling me out, and I walked out unscratched. Without the seatbelt, I would have been thrown all over and would have been seriously injured for sure.
Use it; it is not an optional accessory.

Are Shell Casings Biodegradable?

Today was a sunny but cold fall day. I thought I’d try to get a bit of exercise in my day and I went for a walk in the Presqu’Ile Provincial Park. After all, it’s in my backyard and I should enjoy its peaceful beauty as much as possible. The water level is so low right now and I was also curious to see if I could cross by foot on the two islands across the bay. The park was not very busy because the season is not the greatest: it’s cold and all the fall foliage is already on the ground so Nature is not at its best.
I also chose to go today because it’s hunting season and that section of the park is closed off on Saturdays to allow the hunter free roaming where the waterfowl are most present. I’m not really sure why there is hunting permitted in a provincial park; isn’t their mandate to protect and promote the nature? Anyway, I don’t really understand it but I guess if there’s a need for it….. But shouldn’t the waterfowl hunters be respectful of the environment? It was saddening to see plastic shell casings everywhere, not only near the dozens of hide-outs constructed for the hunters but everywhere on the shores. Very sad. I often find shell casings on my beach, all the way across the bay, and wondered where they came from. Now I know. Sometimes it’s better to be ignorant.

If Dogs Could Blog

If Cats Could Blog

As a young teenager, I read this book featuring a donkey-pulled camper-trailer. The heroes of the story travelled to Italy and I think that initiated my desire to travel the world. Even though I fell lucky to have visited so many different countries so far, there is still so much more to discover!
30 years later, not much have changed! I still dream of far away places and I still want to hit the road and check out all small town USA with no time constraint or pre-planned route. The transportation mode has changed however when I came across the Roadtrek line-up of camper vans. Isn’t that a dream??
Better check that lottery ticket from last Saturday’s draw!

Mouse Invasion!

I thought I was alone in my unfortunate situation until Mary expressed her similar exasperation! It appears the little rodents have mastered the art of licking the peanut butter off the trigger without setting off the trap. Very frustrating! We are contemplating taking some legal actions against the maker of these ineffective traps; it has caused many nightmares and hardships and we should be compensated appropriately! Should I mention all the times I hear the little rodents scratching at the crawl space door to come inside? Or the other time my cat chased one around the living room while I was sitting there? The nights I lay awake plotting new execution plans? Just maddening!
Today I came back home to a dead body neatly laid at the foot of my favorite chair in the living room. Finally, a return on my investment in the house cat. But too little too late.
Enough is enough! These visitors have overstayed their welcome! I’m changing tactic and have acquired a new bait house that promises positive results in no time!! It’s already installed at a strategic entry way, full of fresh bait and ready to help me reduce the population of mice in Brighton!!