"Hello!" said the Bear, feeling a bit uncertain — or more than a bit, actually. It's been more than a year since he has tried this, and he's not sure if he knows quite how to do it.

You see, it's like this. My veterinarian (doctor) has been "encouraging" me to [try to] write more, so I am trying to do just that. Write more. So here goes: MORE.

Well, that wasn't too difficult. So I'm going to carry on. 

To begin at the beginning. The year 2019 was a difficult year. I'll spare you the details, except to say I have been in a lot of pain. I was taking some fairly heavy-duty narcotics. I got off of those (I'll tell you more at another time.) I ended up in an outpatient program in one of our hospitals. The Geriatric Evaluation and Management program is designed to help people who have been struggling with this or that as they progress in years. Of course, I'm Rob, not Geri, and I'm a Bear, not an "atric" (whatever that is). But we sorted things out and the program went well enough that I'm a bit more mobile. Sufficient to say I had a lot of physiotherapy in the process. My one goal for the year 202020: to stay more mobile. (Though I'm not going to sign up this year for the Boston Marathon.)

For some reason, this has been a very dark autumn and early winter. Even J has noticed that. We don't often get the bright sunshine we normally get in the winters. And instead of getting temperatures like -20C to -40C, it's been more like -4C to -8C. As well, there is not much snow on the ground. This is very confusing for a Bear; it definitely does not feel like hibernating weather. I tried hibernating but it just did not feel right. So I'm awake — sleepy, but awake. You may not notice much difference in my behaviour. I don't know if your fall and winter have been unusually dark; pleases let me know about your experience.

One item of note: in late August J and I marked our 50th wedding anniversary. We did not have a party on the occasion. We are both introverts and parties tend to be a bit overwhelming. (That is not a joke.) Actually, some parties are a whole lot overwhelming.


Today's Weather Report
How could I possibly send you a note without today's weather report from prairie Canada?
So, to the weather for River City. Today, the expected high is -4C, and the sky will likely be at least partly cloudy. Tonight, -6C and mostly cloudy.  Just as I told you — grey skies frowning at me.

IN WHICH BEAR PEERS THROUGH THE SMOKE

I'm not going to explain my unplanned absence except by saying "intense pain" and "dodging smoke."

I'm thinking about the fire reports from British Columbia (also knows as British California for its location and sometimes temperament.) At last record, there were firefighters from Australia and New Zealand helping out — those are not exactly our "next-door neighbours."

The last picture I saw was of a giant smoke cloud rising to 25,000 feet. I looked initially like someone had set off a small nuclear bomb. Certainly not a time to be travelling by aeroplane.

(I would show you a picture but I can't get it to transfer from where it is to here. 😢)

Now I'm sure you realize that is a long way from Bear's home. About 1577 kilometres (or 980 miles). But the smoke from there is getting all the way to River City! But that's just the beginning. The smoke goes all the way to Northern Ontario. (In US terms, Ontario is mostly north of New York and Michigan.) That's about 2,520 kilometres or 1,600 miles east of River City. 

And the smoke is dangerous. We received a warning:

### Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk. People with lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, can be particularly sensitive to air pollution. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Pollution can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital visits.

Time to take health concerns seriously. A lung specialist I heard on tv was saying people react to the smoke like it is an intruding infection — developing inflammation and other responses. This adds up over time, leading to things like lung cancer. 

So, I've been busy trying to dodge the bad air. Keeps a Bear busy! Sadly, I have not been very successful. My throat and chest feel pretty uncomfortable at 1,500 kilometres away from the fire. Not good for a former firefighter.

Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow. 

Blessings and Bear hugs, friends!


Tonight's Weather Report
Going down to 8C overnight, then up to 25C tomorrow. No clouds to speak of, but continuing small-particulate smoke.

IN WHICH BEAR CONSIDERS CHANGE

Hello, friends. 

I'm briefly out of hibernation and looking around. It's actually far too cold to be awake, so I may be gone soon. 

It is the beginning of a new year and an ideal time to think about things new. Things like what in what will happen this year, or what do I want to do this year?

Bear is not in the habit of making "New Year's Resolutions" because they tend to die within about a week.

Anyhow, some "beginning at the beginning" thoughts.

1. I hope to get healthy this year.

The past year ended with Bear struggling to get better after surgery on my hip. The first challenge was to fight off the infections I picked up in the hospital. I finally did that, but the process left me behind in my overall recovery.

I'm past that block, and I'm up and walking without my cane or any other support (most of the time). But I'm still having a lot of pain in my legs, and in my hip (to a lesser degree). I'm taking more pain medication; I'm also looking forward to getting off medications entirely. That, I think, will be a long haul. Sadly.

My continuing worries have to do with the potential of getting addicted to the medication. Even worse, there is a possibility of my getting the pain hardwired into my brain so that, even when the physical problem in my legs is resolved, my  brain will still feel pain. That is a major challenge, I think, and pehaps the root of much of the addiction to opioids post-surgically. 

Another ethical puzzle on which I can work.

Other than taking more medication, I find that resting is the best way to deal with the pain. But that leads to my sleeping all hours of the day and night. For example, when I go to bed at night, I usually sleep an hour or two. Then I wake up, and I don't get back to sleep. Tonight, for example, I went to bed about 10:30, but woke up with bad leg pains about midnight. I haven't been back to sleep since. Will I get back to sleep by 3:00 a.m.? I hope so, but I don't know. But I'm still writing to you at 1:30, so that may give you an idea.

I think I'll quit here, and try to focus on getting to sleep again. I'll write more later today or tomorrow. (I'm hoping I will write a bit every day this year.) 

Blessings and Bear hugs to all!

Today's Weather Report

Most of Canada is being held in a deep freeze which is being complicated by heavy snow in some locations. 

In River City, the sky is cloudy and the temperature is -15°C, though it feels like -25C. (We've had tempeatures as low as -49C this week; people have not been out and about much in that cold!) We are supposed to have warmer weather this week; still below freezing, but much better than -49 or even -25!

UNHEALTHY DETAILS

I want to begin by thanking those who read my latest blog post, and particularly those who offered thoughts of concern and words of encouragement.

From my previous post, I want to focus on the matter of four different infections I picked up while I was a hospital patient.  Roughly 1.7 million Americans get nosocomial (hospital-associated) infections annually, from all types of bacteria alone (not including viri or fungi). Those cause or contribute to 99,000 deaths. During my work in health-care ethics, I recall something about nosocomial infections being the third-leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer. I am bothered by that number because I suspect it is too high; it may have been true of a localized study. Nonetheless, those infections pose serious problems for patients and health-care workers.

If those infections do not kill, they slow peoples' recoveries or make those recoveries incomplete. Hence the slowness of my recovery and the added pain.

I expect to get past this sooner rather than later, through with added frustration.

Blessing and Bear hugs to all!

Today's Weather Report

The overnight low will be 6C (about40F).
The high, later today, will be 18C (about 65F) under clear and sunny sky.

PAIN AND SUFFERING AND STUFF

I'm sorry I've not been around the way I wanted to be this fall.

Truth is I'm recovering from major surgery. And the recovery is going more slowly than I expected it would. All very painful, in fact. Including the two infections that I picked up in hospital. 

Life is "interesting."

Blessings and Bear hugs.

Today's Weather Report

Sunny with a high of 18C (about 65F). Nice fall day. I hope to sleep through most of it. When I'm asleep I don't feel the pain. 

IN WHICH BEAR WAKES UP BUT ISN'T SURE WHERE HE IS

Hmmmmm. This place looks somewhat familiar. Sniff, sniff, sniff. Sells familiar too. (Sorry; but I need to check things with my nose. Bears eyes are not very good; we do much better at finding things with our noses than with our eyes.)

This is my blog, I think. I knew it was around here somewhere. But, oh my; it's been almost a year since I did anything here. And that's not for lack of noteworthy events. Actually, a lot of things have happened. I just haven't shared them with you. I'm sorry about that, but my get up and go got up and went, and I was left behind, and it's been just awful.

A lot of things are very different here. It's like somebody has trashed my den. But I've just come out of my den. Nothing here makes much sense anymore. I . . . well, um, yes. This is a mess.

Let me try to sort things out, and bring you up to speed.

Where to begin?

1. Moved, again (why not)? 

Well, the Bears have shifted den, again. (Oooh — that rhymes.)

We had this nice condominium suite we were renting in downtown River City. It was really nice. Until it turned out to be not so nice. Life in the trees was grand — there, beside the river, alongside the parks. Close to downtown shopping.

But the floor under us has one of the hotel's party rooms, and people were allowed to party there until 1:00 a.m., whenever they were partying. And party hard some people did. Many people, even. 

I don't know about you, but I don't sleep that well with a party that close. And J hardly sleeps at all. And the hotel was making good money off the partiers, so it wasn't the least bit concerned about our worries. 

Enough of that. We moved. To the New Town part of the city, across the river. This was one of the three communities which came together just over a century ago to form River City. Nice, tree-lined streets with big mid-street boulevards. And ancient Elm trees. (The city is working hard to keep them from all dying.)

We hunted and looked, and finally found a place that we thought we would like. We phoned to have a viewing. And who showed up? One of J's cousins, who just happened to be working for a property agent. Talk about a small world! (We've both met him here in River City several times. I stayed with his mom when I first moved to River City, before J and the kids came here and we got to move into our home.)

This condo we are renting from a doctor who is studying out of the country for an uncertain length of time. 

Ironically, we used to live in this part of River City, just two blocks down the street. (That's another long, sad story for yet another day.) But we know the neighourhood, and it is a great place to live.

2. Challenges Abound

But as you know, when we do things we have a habit of making them complicated. Or at least I make things complicated. And so it was, on the last night of moving, I rolled over in bed and felt this sharp pain in my hip. I also found it almost impossible to walk because the pain was so bad. 

I got to the doctor and had some x-rays done, and fond I had dislocated my hip. It was still generally close to my pelvic bone, but it did not fit into the "cup" (the acetabulum) where it was supposed to sit. He called it "Hip dysplasia," the same problems that lots of dogs have. Have I gone to the dogs? (I'm not going there!)

Fast forward nine months. I have had my second consult with my surgeon. He says the situation is definitely worse than when he saw me in the autumn (I think October). The solution: give me a new hip, made of titanium. So I'm scheduled for a hip replacement, though the backlog is so long, it could take 12 months to get in. (Meanwhile, the government has just cut back on money to medicare, so the delay could be . . . we won't think about that.)

But in the meantime, I am taking increasingly large doses of a narcotic medication. (Yes, I know, there's a great hullabaloo about narcotic medications, and how many people are dying from them, etc.) Fortunately, I have studied this stuff in detail when I as working on my second Master's Degree. Anyhow, I know what I'm doing when I take this stuff. Still, having those pills around is like having a loaded gun on top of my dresser — makes me feel uncomfortable. And I use the drugs very carefully — making sure I don't take too much.

BTW, this is a lot more medication than I took when I was having trouble with my back. I don't feel that at all, now.

There are a couple of other things on the downside of the medications.

a) I feel very tired, and I want to sleep a lot of the time. There are lots of days when I cannot really function until about noon, even wen I've gone to bed early the night before.

b) I have increased problems getting my brain to function. I cannot remember the names of friends, sometimes. I find it almost impossible to keep track of what I am doing, or what J and I are doing. I have to make lots of notes, but sometimes that is still not enough to keep me straight. And try to figure out problems? I might as well forget that on lots of days.

Anyhow, enough of that.

In fact, I'll quit there. I have lots more news, but I'm getting very tired. (I did mention the drugs wear me out and leave me feeling tired much of the time.) I'll write in the next couple of days — or sooner, or later. I expect/hope to be writing more frequently. Much more frequently.

Blessings and Bear hugs!


Today's Weather Report

At 1:00 a.m. Friday, the temperature is 7°C, on its way up to 17°C this afternoon. (It's 45°F going to 63F.) It is supposed to be sunny all day; I'll look forward to that.

"I DRINK AND I KNOW THINGS" ~ TYRIAN LANNISTER

I got a note from Snowbrush today. He was wondering, in part, why I hadn't written anything lately. And since an august gentleman like Snowbrush has asked (even in June), I decided I had better write something. (See how much influence you have, Snow?)

I have been doing a lot of thinking and wondering lately. I wonder, for example, from under which rock The Donald had crawled out. (Or is he the Creature from the Black Lagoon?)

But to start with Mr. Trump gives him more significance than that to which he is entitled. So I'll move on. Quickly.

1. I am Sick and I am Tired

More than that, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

In my last post, I shared with you that I am on drugs. The process has not gone well. I have sadly discovered that I simply cannot keep anything in my stomach when I am on those drugs. It is a warning which comes with the medication — some people experience nausea (and worse) as a side effect of the medication.  I have tried a number of options, none of which has been terribly helpful. (It's about enough to drive a Bear out of his mind.) So, once more, I'll be going back to the doctor this week. I am not amused.

2. Our Grandson Had Developed Diabetes.   

And we are not amused by this, either. We are not sure what this will entail, but he is constantly (it seems) having to test his blood sugar. Meaning that he is poking one of his fingers and taking blood samples. Poor little guy; he's only turned 12. One more challenge he did not need. 

He seems (according to family reports) to be getting by with it. (When you're young, you tend to bounce back pretty quickly, I suppose.) The family will be here for supper on Wednesday; I'll get an update then.

3. Our Election Has Panned Out Pretty Much as I Expected.

So we're going to have oil pipelines and pollution instead of a healthy environment. The police state surveillance law will be left in place. Canada's Indigenous people, who were promised a whole new working relationship with the government, will get the same old Colonial treatment. Things are going exactly the way I thought they would go. Things are going the way I said they would go. It's enough to make a Bear cry!

4. The World is Not a Happy Place

You already knew that. Civil War in Yemen, with Saudis adding to the mess. Unsettled migrants in Europe, some of whom are being returned to Turkey. You need a program to keep track of the players in the battle for Syria. Fighting and environmental messes in many parts of Africa. American drones droning on all over the place, "surgically" killing intended targets, and lots of other people — particularly women and children, written off as just "collateral damage." What a horrid term for human lives. 

5. The American Election

So it appears that it will be "Lyin' Hillary" versus "Donald the Doofus" in the federal election. I was hoping it would be Bernie vs Donald, but I believe the Democratic National Committee has decided on "the devil we know" for the presidential campaign. I trust neither Donald nor Hillary. I'm not alone in that — they both have very high disapproval ratings. Both would be bad, not just for American, but for the world. Hillary would be the lesser of two evils, but I don't feel that is the best option for voters.

The rest of the world watches this in agony. Except, perhaps for the radical right-winged groups in Europe, that keep stirring up racial violence.

So To Conclude

"Things could be worse." But we all know that they cannot be (at least not very much).

In the midst of all the chaos, I still dare to wish you "Blessings and Bear hugs."

Today's Weather Report

It is 22°C outside, partly cloudy, with a nice breeze from the south. Overnight, partly cloudy and 13. Tomorrow, 28 with a 20% chance of rain (which isn't very significant).

Yup, it's summer in Bear Country.

IN WHICH BEAR WAKES UP AND STARTS "DOING DRUGS"

Up Way Too Early!

This has not been a good winter for Bears. Much too short and much too mild. We were coming out of hibernation in mid-March — as much as two months early! (While some are still in the dead of winter, like the Black Bears in the eastern part of Canada, I believe they are the exceptions.)

I have no idea what this event might mean for food production this year, but I'm watching for signs. Meantime, as in many springs, I've been reduced to eating grass. Fortunately, the supply isn't too bad. (Despite what you may have heard, we Bears actually eat anything and everything, depending on what we find. We may prefer meat, but nuts, honey, and grass are all fine, if that's all we have around us.)

Doing Drugs

A while ago, when I first crawled out, a friend asked how I was doing. And, well, the best I can say is that I'm still here.

Most of your know I have two chronic problems: depression and pain.       

Depression

There is really good news here. I am doing much better! Thanks, God, and friends who have stood by me!

The human side of me has found a really interesting book called Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. It has been written by psychologist named Martin Seligman, and it leads to a real breakthrough.

I've had no change in my drug regimen, but I may be able to decrease one of them.  Perhaps sooner than later. 

Pain

The not-so-good part of the story is my continuing experience with chronic pain. It is showing up in different ways; ways I had not expected. So, I'm living with something called Hydromorphone;  it is a new challenge. "Steady as she goes."

Thanks for all your visits; I hope to be back next week.

Blessings and Bear hugs, everyone! 

Today's Weather Report

It is 10°C in the land of the Bear (but it only feels like about 7°C). But 10 C is one of those "benchmark" numbers to hold for mental reference; 10C is 50°F.

Tomorrow, the day will start at about the freezing point, before rising to 17C (in the mid-60s F) under mostly sunny skies. 

IN WHICH BEAR GOES HIBERNATING.

Yes, it is that time of year.

It's -20°C (which is fresh), but it feels like -29C (which is starting to get a bit cool, but nothing serious). It's not until about -60C that we start worrying about anything. As long as we've got bacon, maple syrup, and each other, well be just fine!

As I've said before (I think), there are three things you can do about that kind of weather.
1. You can leave.
2. You can die (which, I suppose, is another way to leave).
3. You can get accustomed to it. Which is what we decided to do a long time ago, so we're still here. Hard to believe we've been living in the west for 45 years. 

Normally, no self-respecting 
Bear would still be up at this time of year. Normally, a Bear would be "out of it" by now. But I have a very good reason for still being up.

The latest Star Wars movie (number VII) has arrived in time for Christmas season. Our son and his family, including the
kids, had decided we would all go to see it, together. (Well not all of us; J is not interested in the least, and daughter M really isn't drawn to this sort of move. They are such romantics.)

So, off we go into a new adventure, sometime after supper. We've already got our tickets, so we're set that way. And to get ready for the big event, we've watched adventures I to VI of Star Wars over the last three days. 

Who, us? Die-hard "Warriors"? What would make you think that?

So, movie tonight, followed by the start of hibernation. The world looks just so beautiful, thought it is a bit cloudy (as you can see from the pictures). But to tell you the truth, I'm really over-tired. So by time I'm into my den, I'll be gone in about two breaths. Hopefully, seeing you in the spring. (BTW, mother Fox left the place in excellent shape after she raised her Kits over the summer; I'll just move in and fall asleep.)

So many things have happened this year. Most of them bad. So I'll not review them. We changed government here in Canada; by spring, when I come out, we'll know if things have actually changed, or if we've simply gone from tweedle-dum to tweedle-dee. I have this feeling, you see, but I don't want to prejudice the potential events. 

I am happy to report that we're all doing well. Except for M, whose SUV was hit in the back end and crunched into a light pole at the front. Total write-off. And she wasn't finished paying for it. NOT a good way to end the year. It was parked by the curb in front of her house. It was about 3:30 a.m. a few days ago. By time she heard the noise, woke up, and figured out what had happened, she saw somebody running away. Anyhow, the police came, etc., etc. Clearly, not her fault.

We're a bit late getting to year end greetings, but Merry Christmas, Happy Hunakkh, Joyous Yuletide, Happy Kwanza, and a delightful New Year. Oh, and for Seinfeld fans, Happy Festivus. I think I've got things covered. If I've forgotten your celebration, I'm sorry, and I hope you enjoyed it. (At this time of year, my brain is pretty foggy, so I don't remember all the things I should. In fact, I don't remember much at all.) 

So, blessings and Bear hugs! See you in the spring.

Today's Weather Report

I'm reliably informed that it will be -14C this afternoon, and -13C overnight, with a chance of some flow snurries (to add to our whiteness). Tomorrow — is another day. 

MEANWHILE, . . .

your worst fears about Bear have not come true. I have not been shot and turned into a Bear rug. (I may be a bit rugged, but not that kind of rugged.) I have not been taken off to jail for what I've been writing on Facebook. (That's been a bit of a fear, with the new security law that our Conservative government has imposed on our nation. Even more "interesting" than the Patriot Act in the US.) 

However, I have been, um, well, busy.

1. We managed through the heat and tiredness of the summer. I'm finding that I get very tired many days. But now that I've turned 70, I'm not as young as I used to feel. So I was draggy over the summer.

2. There were a lot of forest fires in the early summer.  They were generally hundreds of miles away. But we felt the effect. The government moved hundreds, eventually thousands, of people into River City from threatened areas. And we were nearly smoked out of our homes.

Normally, we can look along 19th street (above) and see key downtown buildings. But not this day — when everything disappeared into a smoky grey cloud. It was so thick you could taste it this day. And I almost resorted to wearing a mask because the smoke was hard on my lungs. 

3. We were finding it harder and harder to keep up the house. J in particular, on the inside; me, on the outside. 

4. J was supposed to have additional surgery this summer. Doctors ran into trouble almost immediately, repaired the problem they created, and quit while they were ahead. (Or was it behind?) So, it may be close to Christmas when she has the planned surgery. 

5. We rented a suite in a condo to help J post-surgery. That was, of course, before the surgery — or non-surgery. Anyhow, it's really nice.

6. After considering numbers 3 and 4, we decided to sell the house. I put it on Kijiji one day, and sold it the next. Yup, the next day! It was bought by a young couple with two small kids — mom had grown up in the area and knew the kind of house she wanted, and which streets and blocks would be best. She sold it to her husband and father; I didn't have to do much except encourage them to sign the forms from our lawyer. (Why bother with real estate fees when you and your lawyer can do the work?)

7. So good-bye to the house,

and hello to apartment living, right downtown,

among the trees. (It's actually a condo, but a number of the suites were bought as rental properties, and we got one of those. Normally the condo units sell for about half a million dollars; we are definitely not that rich!)

And that's enough for one report. I hope to be back within a week to share more interesting information with you. 

Blessing and Bear hugs, everyone! 

Today's Weather Report
It's very foggy outside, and 10°C (or 50F). Things are supposed to clear up, and hit 18C (about 65F) this afternoon. Tonight — about 8C with "variable cloudiness." Definitely fall weather. "Winter is coming," as they say on the Game of Thrones.

UM, HELLO?

Contrary to what you might be thinking, Bear has not died and gone to . . . well, wherever. Bear has just been a bit overwhelmed.

You may recall from an earlier post that we had snow at the end of April. It came, and it went, fortunately. Or unfortunately.

Now it's so dry, one farmer told me he actually saw two trees fighting over a dog. Your Bear is a bit suspicious about that, but I wasn't there when it happened, and it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. 

Yesterday, the temperature was 45°C on one of our thermometers. If you keep track of the world in degrees F, that's about 112. Yup; 112°F. (No, I didn't try cooking an egg on the sidewalk; the sidewalk is dirty enough it would have been a waste of an egg.) And, of course, I'm wearing my fur coat, which is permanently attached to me. Any of you wear fur coats in the summer? You're probably too smart for that. 

This is far less than ideal farming weather. Basically, super hot + dry, dry = no crop. And since we live in the breadbasket of Canada, that is a bit of a food challenge. Now, reduced production here or there is survivable. But when broad swaths of the land are in the same condition, this does become something of a challenge. 

The good news is that "It ain't over til it's over" — as Yogi famously said. But this is the time when the grain heads should be filling out, so. . . .

In other news, the family survived its trip to the west, but not so wet, coast. Wally and I survived keeping each other company. Our professional football team lost its opening game yesterday, and our star quarterback — who may be out for the rest of the season! (To which Bear said "GGGGRRRRRRrrr.")

Other thing get a GGGRRRr?

1. I keep watching the run-up to next year's Presidential election in the US. Being a Canadian, I don't get to vote in the American election. But it is interesting to watch what the Republicans are doing. The head of our government (the Prime Minister) is an American-thinking Canadian. (Some people are using the word "fascist" to describe him!) His rise to power, we now know, happened with the help of the CIA and an Republican party offshoot. (We have the documents demonstrating this.) And the Canadian take on the US Republican Presidential hopefuls (about 15 at last count), is, well, not enthusiastic. (That is an understatement.)  Bernie Sanders is the only person I consider to be a reasonable candidate in either party.

 Elizabeth Warren would be great, too, but she wants to keep on being a Senator. Which is also good. She asks excellent questions.

2. With all the hot and dry weather, forest fires are becoming a huge problem. In River City, we're several hundred miles (or kilometres) south of the fires, but we're getting the smoke. Of course, it's a bit smokier up north. This fire is perhaps a hundred miles north of River City.

Simon Bird photo

3. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report on (white) Canadian relations with our indigenous peoples — First Nations, Metis, and Inuit. Predictably it revealed a major mess — with the word "genocide" being used. 

The Commission offered almost a hundred recommendations for improving indigenous-settler relations.

The federal government received the report with a yawn. It has no plans to change its destructive plans for indigenous people. Assimilation is the government goal. As in "getting the indian out of the Indian." As you might imagine, this government plan is not going over very well with a lot of people, indigenous and others. 

And that's some of what's happening these days. I'm trying really hard not to turn into an extremely grumpy Bear, but sometimes it is tough. Very tough.

Blessings and Bear hugs, folks!


Today's Weather Report
Mainly sunny today with a high of 30°C (86F). (I have a graveside service [mini-funeral] to do at a cemetery out on the prairie — that will be "interesting.") Down to about 17C tonight (about 65F) — which won't cool things much. There's a 30 per cent chance of a five-minute rain shower. All in all, drier than your Bear's sense of humour.

WHOA! WAIT!

We are in the season called "Spring." I checked the calendar to make sure. Today is the 26th of April, which is definitely after the 21st. Of March.

But we Bears don't need calendars to know what time of year it is. Usually. 

But yesterday wasn't "usually."

Yup. It snowed!

It showed yesterday, and even overnight. This morning, when I ventured out of the house, it was pretty tough slogging. And messy.

Sigh!












Adding to yesterday's excitement, an old friend came to be a house guest.

Yes, that's Wally. 

For those of you who don't know Wally, he is our daughter-in-law's dog. If A has to work late at the university, I get to take him for a walk, somewhere around supper time. (Our son's family is only two blocks from our place, so walking Wally is no big deal.) Since he and I are already good friends, why shouldn't Wally come and stay with me?

You see, A is going to be away for a while at meetings, in a nice place. So she is taking her whole family along. And J (my wife) is going, too! 

Since a trip to a "far country" would require much more energy that I have, I get to stay home with Wally. And look after two houses. But don't worry about me. I can still split my own fire wood and shovel (at least part of) our sidewalks. (Yes, we did light a fire yesterday, when the electricity was off because of the storm.)

Anyhow, Wally does one of several predictable things. He follows me around the house when I'm moving. He'll rest on the floor of my study while I'm working there — sometimes. Or he rests in his kennel.

Or he sleeps in his kennel.

Or he sleeps on the kitchen floor when I'm eating.

From all that sleeping and resting, you'd think he is a really laid-back dog. And generally he is. However, when I take him for a walk, sometimes Wally sees a cat (or something like that). For Wally, who is a sighthound, cat = prey, and he wants to chase it. In the process, he can drag me all over the place if I'm not careful. He is fast and he is very strong. He would think nothing of chasing and killing a Fox or a Coyote. All in a day's life for a sighthound. For me, not so much. In fact, not at all.

Anyhow, for the next week and a half Wally and I will be sharing this house. And I'm sure we will get along just fine. Unless he decides to chase one of the birds in our back yard. That is just not on! It will bring out the Bear in me! And that will be another matter, entirely, because Wally isn't built to handle Bears.

So, in the meantime, friends, blessings and Bear hugs. As always!

Today's Weather Report

It's 2°C and overcast right now. It is supposed to be -4C overnight with a light wind. Tomorrow's anticipated high is  12C — enough to melt most of the remaining snow. Tuesday's expected high is 17; Wednesday's, 23, with a 10% chance of rain. All this white stuff was just an atmospheric "blip." But I hope the storm didn't kill too many calves — spring storms have a nasty habit of doing that. 

BEAR'S LIVESTOCK REPORT AND OTHER MATTERS

Well, looks like an interesting assortment of livestock around here this year. Several Black-capped Chickadees. A couple of American Robins and a couple of Cedar Waxwings. All very delightful. (Plus a few House Sparrows and Rock Doves — aka Pigeons.) Maybe we'll have a nest or two in the yard, or nearby. But I hope not pigeons on the roof — they wake J far too early!

I finally got down to the river, which is virtually ice-free. Spring seems to be coming along.

Most interesting: some of the ice has been pushed up on the rocks. I've never seen anything like this before.

Strange crystalline shapes and blocks. Fascinating!

Through much of the winter, I struggled around with a very bad back. I even had to use my third leg (the wooden one). I am thrilled to say that things are much better now! Time to celebrate!

And apropos of perhaps absolutely nothing, a picture I came across. On Facebook (where else?).

Hmmmm. Different ways with words intrigue me.

Many of you have left very kind notes, in relation to my prior post. I'll make a point of replying to them next week.

Blessings and Bear hugs, friends!


Today's Weather Report
So: 5C tonight, 8C tomorrow morning. Tomorrow's high is supposed to be 18C. (For easy conversion, 20C = 68F). We're expecting a clear night, with lots of sunshine and a few clouds tomorrow. That is wonderful! 

Maybe I'll get to play in the garden tomorrow. 

IN WHICH BEAR RETURNS

Grwlf .

Humph.

Er, ah, . . . scratch, scratch.

Sniff

Shake. 

Oooh. Ahhh. 

Sunlight in my den!

(That's what it feels like when a Bear comes out of hibernation. Just wanted you to understand that important reality.)

Let's have a better look. Stick my snout out the den's door.

Snow is almost gone! 

Lots of sunshine.

Air is cool, but it smells good. 

OK: let's see if there is anything left over from the winter. Even a snack. Perhaps some dry grass or leaves, even (though they don't taste very good). Maybe a dead bird or coyote.

Things look kinda familiar. There's the fountain (too cold for water, yet), but I see some leaves on the ground. There's the place where the birds nested last year.

Sniff! Sniff! Sniff! Sniff! Sniff! 

Smells like there has been a fire here, recently. Must check that more closely.

I also need to get down towards the river, too. Though I doubt there will be any fish, yet.

The start of another year. Seems pretty good, so far. But I'll admit I haven't done much.

Blessings and Bear hugs till next time (and even after that)!



Today's Weather Report
Let's see: -8C overnight, feels like -14. Tomorrow's high is supposed to be 3, but it's going to feel like -1. OK, so when you're cool, you're cool. 

Oh? Do I still need to give you temperatures in Fahrenheit? Or have you discovered you've "got an app for that" — as in translating Celsius to Fahrenheit? If not, I can still do the conversions for you. (For example: it will be 18F tonight, going up to 37F tomorrow.) But if you don't ask, you're on your own for this "atmospheric conversion." (Oh, big words bother me!)