Never say never

I didn't have a chance to check out the list of smart devices, but YES --- we have tablets, iPads, computers, three sewing machines, the front door, and a smart TV (forgot about those last two), one Alexa, and well, I'll have to check the rest of the devices. No thermostat connected and no fridge or microwave! 

You laugh— a friend of mine just purchased a dishwasher, and it's Wi-Fi enabled. Why? I hope to have some time today to connect those pods, and then we can hopefully get a handle on this Wi-Fi issue. 

It's going to be tight to get everything done today that I would like, and I have two things that MUST be done - well, three if I count packing! I'm almost done, but I must do laundry before I finish. 

I had some help, of course I did! 

Grandma -- are we going somewhere? 

Bear loves jumping into suitcases! It's now almost full of my samples, and the rest of the stuff is on the kitchen table to toss in later today. That takes care of the work stuff, except I MUST finish one sample today - the one that I'll be using as a teaching aide, so it has to be finished. The best news is - I prepped everything yesterday, including threads, so it shouldn't take long to complete. 

I even got the opportunity to use an OLD zipper for this project. I have it all visualized in my head and will "make it up" as I go along. 

An old zipper got used

I'm reading a physical book, but I didn't want to travel with it. I was lucky and found the ebook in the Libby app, and I will return the physical one on my walk today. I got a chuckle as I found my spot in the electronic version. The book is a bit tongue-in-cheek about murder mysteries (Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson). 

This is the text at the beginning of Chapter 14.5. Nothing to see here. 

But look at the same text in the ebook version. 

A sentence has been added in because it's an ebook! Hilarious!!! 

Yes—I still like reading physical books, but for travel? Ebooks are the way to go! And if I took the train to work every day? I'd be reading ebooks all the time. I never thought I would enjoy that - screen too small, hard to read, lots of page turning. Nope — never say never, because I LOVE it, and I could almost say it's my preferred book style now! GASP!!!! 

I've been having some trouble with my foot - you know - the lost toenails, the terrible way I'm walking, which is causing so many other issues, curled toes to grip the ground when walking the dogs, a slight bunion, and pain across the top of my foot. I know -- a walking disaster, but this is not new. 

It had been on my list to see a chiropodist. In Canada, they are the same as a podiatrist. Anyway, there is one near me and it's in the building where Ruti's Needlebed used to be, so I was intrigued and had to book my appointment there! How will the inside have changed? 

Will the outside have changed? Nope --- there's still the sign on the back "Quilting, Knitting" painted on the back wall! 

The back of what used to be Ruti's Needlebed

The front door is the same, although I don't remember the door; I remember the funky painted mailbox. It's still there! 

The front entrance

But inside? OH MY --- it's very different. This is the waiting room. I don't think I have any pictures of the inside of that quilt store, but you could barely see the window for stuff. The walls were jammed with fabric from floor to ceiling, bolts on the floor, and samples everywhere. It was packed. And now? It's wide open with a few chairs! 

This used to be the central area of the quilt store

There used to be a counter about mid-way down the store - that is gone, and there's a new wall (room) with a new counter in front. The carpet is gone (I think it had carpet), and a lovely, clean vinyl plank floor is in its place. The walls are light grey and bare. Everything echoes in there, which it did NOT have a chance to do before. 

There's another room in the back. I'm not sure if it's another exam room - it must be, and the light to the basement was on - the door to the basement is just beside the door to that exam room on the right. It was all done in bright white/greys as well, but I didn't peek down the stairs. 

So it was fun to go and check out that building - what a transformation, and I can only imagine how much dirt and crap they had to pry out of the old walls! It used to be a hassle to park near the store, but now that the parking lot has paid parking, that problem has gone away! Funny how that is! It used to be the same thing at my doctor's office when I drove there. Now that it's paid parking, people don't park there.

As for my foot? You won't believe this! But not only are the muscles and tendons in my legs and hips tight, but so are my calves and my feet! TIGHT!!! 

I got a recommendation for a few physical aids to help me walk, including a toe spacer and a pad for the bottom of my foot. And then to visit an osteopath. But after getting some feedback from my sewing group about them, I'm not sure I want to go there. Perhaps a physiotherapist would be better!

The bottom line is that I need to start from the bottom up, and it looks like a daily half hour of stretching is in my future. Good grief -- who knew!!!

And here is the little guy, exploring the backyard. He is so funny, and while he's very high maintenance, I'm going to miss him when he goes home. 

The little explorer

The piles of leaves are almost too deep in spots, and someone is supposed to come clean them up since I don't have a working leaf blower, but I'm not bitter about that! LOL. 

I've done a pretty decent job of clearing my to-do list, but I need to send a few emails today and book a few things for this upcoming trip, like a car, a hotel, and possibly a plane. I'll see how it goes today. I'm pretty flexible, so I may have to switch some of those plans up. But it all works out! 

I have all the writing done for the moment - just one final proof this morning, and then I'm downstairs all day to get the last couple of physical things done. Laundry and finish packing, and I'm ready! 

It all works out, but it just seems like there is never enough time!

On that note, I'm out of here. Off to meet with Brooke at the gym!!!

Just back from the gym, and we did a LOT of stretching. I feel like a million bucks!!!! Now the goal is to schedule 30 minutes a day for stretching. This is not an option. This is all about keeping that mobility happening. Without it, I'm going to seize up and be old! I strongly suspect my knees are fine -- it's the muscles and tendons that are causing the problems! Case in point - I could practically run down the stairs after my workout, and my knees did not hurt! 

Have a good day!!!

Ciao!!!