I was away during the 15th and when I returned forgot to add to add anew page. So the dates are a little off.

June 18th–19th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 19 degrees, Calgary 16 degrees,, Mesa 40 degrees”

This horrible spring weather continues. Another unsettled day. Did some early morning banking and then readied for gold in my men’s group.

Another wet day. Another horrible score for our whole group. My handicap just keeps going up with the bad games in a row. Ironic that the main reason is bad weather. I hate rain and when your glove is wet, your grips are wet, you have extra clothes on etc etc, The scores just happen and it is not good. It is getting so bad I am embarrassed to state my handicap. Everyone’s scores once again were 10 to 15 strokes too high.

Mentally it is starting to get to me. Three of the last few games we have been poured on.

The US Open as of this evening two of the top five are LIV players. Hopefully they stay in contention.

It took until June 19th for the first day of spring to happen. Today was wonderful hitting 21 degrees, sunny and very little wind.

Up earlier this morning as we had a busy day ahead of us.

We dropped Daisy off at Audrey’s and headed to the Speargrass Golf Course. Once again this course was spectacular. The greens the best I have played on this year. The fairways with the stripes and so green they were like a putting green.

Jeff & Wendy were golfing with us which is always a fun time. As usual mosquitos attacked Jeff and I was sitting right beside him and not one bug bit me. Those bugs take a liking to a smell and go after it. Genetic bodily odor, sweat, body heat , alcohol and the amount of carbon dioxide expelled .

I do not sweat, typically unless working hard have no odor, and don’t drink and golf.

The first hole and we were off. Jackie killed the first hole with a par on a long Par 5 hole. Every shot was excellent. I thought she was going to be on fire today. Overall she had some great drives but topped away too many second or third shots resulting in a higher score than her usual.

Wendy was hitting much better today and even walked with out a limp. Jeff drove quite good today but errors and mishaps killed the score. I was happy the front none with 8 out of 9 greens in regulation. All great drives . On target for another under 80 score. Then I went bogie hunting on the back nine and a low 80’s score happened but I was still ok with it as there were some quality shots.

After the game we rushed back into town and headed to Tim’s for a dozen doughnuts and searched out Ron & Michelle place. Ron & Michelle are two houses down from us at Viewpoint Resort and they asked the Calgarians Bob & Gail which are Viewpoint neighbors about 8 house down for a get together.. I thought it was a wonderful idea for Ron & Michelle to organize this.

Ron lives in Midnapore only a few blocks away from Jeff & Wendy’s home. A very nice bungalow in a cul-de-sac with a great sized back yard. Kudo’s to them as their back yard is amazing and looks absolutely beautiful. One of the nicest I know.

In hindsight a beautiful smaller bungalow with a yard may have been a downsizing option when we sold our house. This yard and home is wonderful. Then I think about the work, the difficulty at leaving it for snow birding and i am content with our decision. But jealous.

We had a blast sitting outside in the sun on the patio talking about every subject in the world. A great gathering to have late afternoon get together. Loved it.

Ron still has the very first car he bought in the backyard a 1957 Pontiac. That is amazing.

First time I have had Moosehead beer and it was good tasting.

Small world. Fun world. Nice people.

Thought of the Day

 We ran into my snowbird neighbor at the grocery store in June. We both froze — not from the cold, but because we didn’t recognize each other without flip-flops and a golf cart.

June 20th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 12 degrees, Calgary 14 degrees, Mesa 39 degrees”

Edmonton was the cold spot of Canada today. Add perhaps the wettest with up to 100mm of rain.

And then a south east to north east storm hit Calgary. It made a diagonal swath hitting Chaparral, then Mackenzie and up and east. Here in Cranston nothing. In fact I was at Home Depot and came out and looked up and new something was up. I hurried home and hid the Jeep in the garage but we only received a small amount of rain for about 15 minutes and the storm was gone.

Daisy and i spent quite awhile in the Depot checking things out. There are things I need and want but when I see the price I say forget about it.

Wow has the product line changed in Home Depot. Still carrying JELD-WEN windows but the interior doors and metal doors are all over the place. Millette interior product from a small company out of Quebec. They only sold the odd custom cedar or fir doors years ago. Pallets of “MADE IN CHINA” interior doors about $20 less than the Masonite ones. Dusco Metal Doors another small company out of Quebec. Henderson/ JW used to have the window business, the metal door business and the interior door business. Big changes. No wonder less sales people required.

Daisy loved it as we walked up and down the aisles. Getting pets from kids and interested people made her day. I was actually shocked at how busy it was. I think the garden section after the hail storm may be busy again.

My fancy Seiko watch that I wear everyday which was a lottery home prize I won 30 years ago stopped working. I tried to open it for a battery replacement but looking up the model I discovered two things. I need a special tool, I need to replace the gasket as well as it is a waterproof watch and the battery is a solar charge battery.

So I whipped to the Time Shop. A very nice guy took it to the back to work on it and cane out a few minutes later. All fixed. He laughed and said I could replace the battery but it is just not charged. I held in the window for a few minutes and it started to work. I had worn my special fancy watch up to Edmonton and left this Seiko in the dark for 5 days. It should have lasted longer but it is 30 yrs old. So I left it sit on the dash while shopping and it is working like a brand new watch again. Like i said I have had it for at least 30 years and use it as my everyday time piece. I have replaced the crystal twice and the band at least 4 times. Seiko makes great watches. A $500 watch is by far not expensive in the watch world but this watch just keeps ticking and looking pretty good. I moved to a less expensive band the last time but still love it. It is not to often you run into such a honest business people. He could have replaced it made $60 bucks and no one would known the difference.

Fun to see the professional golfers struggling. My Scottie is doing well in second place, the lepracaun in in about 10 th which is perfect and Clark is playing lights out. 3 days playing and only 3 players below par is unheard of.

RETIREMENT – Here is an interesting article and is so true. Remember I said don’t let your retirement age be dead. Make sure you enjoy your retirement as young as possible. We retired 12 years ago and now and have had a blast even though I feel we should have done more. Having said that we have some great plans for major trips, vacations and get aways. The article below points to two things. First the condition of aging and time, and the importance to spend money while you are younger.

Statistics Canada report on health-adjusted life expectancy, Canadians can expect roughly 66.9 years of healthy life — meaning the average person spends nearly 15 years of their life managing chronic conditions or physical limitations that affect quality of life. That gap has widened by nearly two years since 2019 alone, erasing more than a decade of health gains.

Retiring early also gives you more high-quality time to spend with loved ones while still in good health — not just more time, but better time. That might mean a deeper connection with your partner while you’re both still feeling vigorous, or being more physically present with your grandchildren instead of conserving energy or managing pain.

None of this means everyone should retire early. But it does mean that delaying retirement to 65 or beyond shouldn’t be treated as an automatic goal. If your priority is quality of life — rather than the size of your portfolio — it may be worth planning for flexibility versus assuming ‘later is always better.’

It goes into more detail but I think you get the jest. One of the most annoying things about the financial world is companies and advisors making money off your money. They want you to keep as much in the bank for as long as possible. They want to throw out words like ” Legacy” so you will keep money with them to make money. The government wants you to believe it is in your best interests to delay CPP just to keep more money in their coffers.

Be your own advocate and spend your money NOW before time runs out. You read right at 66,9 years old for health adjusted life expectancy.

Jackie & I are very fortunate today to be relatively healthy but we have oodles of friends that can’t say the same and that is scary. My trip up to Edmonton reinforced that big time. Health discussions being a the main subject get tiring.

My poor Stamps were ROBBED !!!

Last day of school for Atticus and August ending Grade 5 and Grade 2.

Time goes by so fast !

Thought of the Day

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. – a reminder that we can steer how we spend our time

June 21st

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 12 degrees, Calgary 15 degrees, Mesa 40 degrees”

Summer Solstice today and won’t you know as normal for this year our weather sucks. Cold and windy today in Calgary and 100mm of rain in Edmonton.

You would think the temperatures would start to rise but we have not had spring weather yet never mind summer weather.

Today is also Father’s Day , As known Hallmark makes a killing again.

Jackie & I’s fathers are now gone but not forgotten as they had an impact on our lives.

Today I hit the jackpot — one of those rare days where everything lines up so perfectly you start wondering if you should buy a lottery ticket on the way home. But I didn’t need to as I was spoiled with lottery tickets and a gift card plus our fun get together.

Victoria organized a get‑together at Two Rivers Distillery, a place that apparently believes in pushing boundaries. How far? Well, they offer 52 different flavors of Caesars. Fifty‑two ! Talk about trying to make a decision knowing Caesars taste horrible if done wrong. And they are expensive.

Now, I love Caesars. But like everything else in my life, I prefer the original, classic, no‑nonsense version — the one that doesn’t need a personality crisis to stand out. The one with a salad or small meal as a garnish. The one without a Olive but a stick of Celery. Corey and I ordered Flights of Caesars, each one a different “creative” interpretation. And while I appreciate innovation, the original still wiped the floor with the rest.

The jalapeño Caesar? A little hot, but manageable. Jessica’s beef‑jerky Caesar? That one should come with a warning label. It tasted like someone wrung out a cowboy’s boot after a long day on the ranch. And I noticed Atti had his boots on. It instantly transported me back to the Grizzly Paw Pub — the day I bravely sampled a flight of twelve beers and discovered that not a single one was drinkable. Some memories stay with you.

The day got even better when Jessica and the boys drove up for Father’s Day. That’s no small gesture — you’re looking at a $100 gas commitment just to make the trip. That kind of effort means something. A great visit with the Hickens and the Waldies together made the day even better.

To top it off, we were picked up right from our house. Talk about spoiled. And riding in Corey’s new truck? Smooth, quiet, and comfortable — the kind of ride that makes you consider inventing errands just to go for another spin or trading in the Jeep asap.

Two Rivers itself was packed. Every table full, energy buzzing, and only two hostesses running the entire front of house. And I mean running. They handled the crowd like pros. Only two customers were impatient, which says more about them than the service. Honestly, if you can’t appreciate people sprinting to bring you drinks, maybe stay home.

The menu was small, maybe too small but the pizza was outstanding — the kind of simple, well‑executed food that proves you don’t need 100 options when you get the basics right.

All in all, I really liked the place. Great drinks, great food, great people, and a day that reminded me how lucky I am.

After our drinks and meal we headed to pick up a FREE elliptical that jeff & Wendy had said Jessica could have. Jessica will add it to her gym in the garage,

Who doesn’t love a ice cream. ? At least Jessica is smiling. Ice cream EVERYONE should be happy.

Then off to Victoria’s place were we sat outside and enjoyed conversation and discussion on various topics. The Waldies are stepping up their game and have lots of flowers this year. albeit the hail got to a few of them.

Atticus is all ready for rodeo season. He is the perfect young cowboy. Hat, boots, and pants he looked awesome and is waiting for the Calgary Stampede.

It was a wonderful day!

So Happy Fathers day ! Except for those that can’t drive a manual transmission and in that case Happy Mothers Day.

Thought of the Day

Sometimes the best card is the one that makes me laugh first and smile quietly afterward.

June 22nd

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 17 degrees, Calgary 15 degrees , Mesa 41 degrees”

The lousy lousy weather continues. They say 15 but I am saying lucky to hit 12 and cold due to wind. Amazing how poor the weather has been this year. It shocks me it is near the end of June and we have had no spring like weather. We squeezed in odd ok day but never two in a row. I know it is hard to remember year over year patterns but I am sure this is the worst for a long time. I will need to look back at my blog to see the day to day .

I am going golfing with Jeff today in the showers and cold. No use taking a back pill as the score on a day like this really doesn’t matter. Just having fun but fun subdued due to the weather.

I am sure IF we get a hot summer come July people will be complaining about that also. LOL

Jackie took the see Bass Pro as they hadn’t been there yet. Every kid loves that and as usual the boys picked up a hat and hoodie.

World politics still a disaster with the UK Prime Minister resigning again. 7 leaders in 19 years is a disaster. Who knows what really is happening with Iran. Ukraine still keeps fighting. Ebola break out causing issues. Carney spending money like it is made on trees. Golf spectators being ignorant.

Yep another COLD, WET golf day. Unbelievable lousy spring weather.

One good thing about this type of weather is the lack of people on the course. I maybe a little off my times but not by much. We were supposed to be off at 1:15 but teed off early at 1pm. We finished before 4:15 so less than 3:15 minutes.

We were moving and had great rhythm with both of us playing very well. Then the 7th hole we caught up to the group in front of us. Four ladies. This not a dig at women at all as there are some amazing recreational women golfer out there. BUT these four were the slowest I have ever seen. In fact on one hole it appeared one of the ladies slothed back to her cart and got a towel to wash her ball.

We literally waited at least 10 minutes to tee off. So we decided to miss the one hole and pass them. Lo & behold not our day for that as the four guys ahead of them were just about as bad. We moved up the tee behind and they were shocked as to where their wives were. Again waiting and waiting. So we decided to return to our prior hole. We drove all of the way back and the ladies still were within our distance to hit. Again waited. And waited.

I dislike slow play but today was the most frustrating slow golf groups I have ever seen. Two foursome together along with us on the course and as luck would have it we caught up to them.

This slow play leads to frustration and angst. We passed the ladies as they stopped at the shack after nine. We get to the 10th hole and the husbands still are not even on the green.

We made the decision to skip ONE hole and speed to the 11th hole. We had to settle down which was not that easy but off we were golfing again. We did see another person on the course until we were done.

Both of us were thrown a bit and struggled to get to our form. Pretty good golfing today from both of us. Jeff’s driving has become quite good with extra distance.

Considering mistakes, rain, gust of wind up to 50kph, multiple layers of clothes, and the stupidity of slow golfers we still scored decently.

We went in to eat and have a beer. Just as we were leaving the ladies and husbands showed up to the restaurant. That was a FULL 1 1/2 hours later. Unbelievable and very glad we passed them. If you can’t golf to speed let others play thru.

It was a very fun day even under not so perfect conditions.

Thought of the Day

The only slower than these players is the pace my handicap goes down.

June 23rd

” Mercury Forecast Edmonton 22 degrees, Calgary 22 degrees, Mesa 43 degrees”

Yahoo a summer day. A semi ok warm day, no wind and some sun. Long time no see and wonderful to feel the warmth on your skin.

Ouch then you look at your skin and see 100 mosquitos biting you. The tiny kind that haven’t even had time to sharpen their needle. Mosquitos don’t bug me as our acreage as a kid we lived on was near a swamp so we had millions attack each day. Today though these little pests decided as they were new they wanted food right away.

I whipped out to the lot to see how everything was after our deluge of rain and wind. Everything was pretty good. I did a lot of picking up branches and cleaning up the yard. Only one flower took a beating to I will get one replacement. Trimmed the bushes, dead headed the flowers, cut the grass ( even though the new seed is just starting to take) . I started the generator and loaded it up with the the roof a/c. Good for the genset and a check on the a/c.. I emptied the holding tanks. Organized the shed. I couldn’t use the power washer as the irrigation was off.

A full day spend cleaning up, picking up and checking on things. A fun day though and nice to see the sun.

The plants are all doing well.

We planted our garden box extremely late this year but the radishes are growing like mad.

A good day.

Finally received my new credit card so up and running there.

Thought of the Day

Hopefully a dry summer lasting more than one day.

June 24th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 24 degrees, Calgary 24 degrees, Mesa 42 degrees”

AMAZING- two days in a row of summer like weather, Today was spectacular with wonderful warmth, just a slight breeze and very few mosquitos.

The day started off a little hectic as right as we woke Audrey had a smoke detector start beeping. You know how annoying that is. As soon as Jackie go t back from her walk we whipped to Audrey’s. Yes the detector was beeping two shorts beeps every 30 secs. That means a dead internal battery ( that can not be replaced) and the detector is past his useful date. They give 10 years and if past that date you can not shut it off. I removed it and turned it off.

Back home and get ready to meet Jeff & Wendy at River Spirit golf Course. This is an amazing course, always in pristine condition and a wonderful track to play. It is like playing in Kananaskis as it is so treed, gulley’s, and so peaceful. It is similar to Speargrass with about three holes that can kill your score.

Jackie played very well, can do so much better so easily as just little mistakes happened. Having said that she broke 100 again and knowing Jackie no do overs or mulligans. I was quite happy even though not with the score. I shot a 86 but took a 6 on two Par 3’s. That hurts. The Graces stayed up too late last night so they had a bit of struggle today. Wendy’s drives are coming around again which is good and Jeff’s drives are becoming excellent with playable shots on most left.

A super fun afternoon. A great afternoon in the sun. Fun teasing and joking with my partners and the odd great great golf shot amongst the group.

It is too bad River Spirit does not have a good kitchen as we have to find an alternate each time. Turner Valley used to be this way and we go to the hotel in town. Not today as Turner’s food is as good or better than any now. River needs to do the same.

We decided go to Bobby’s Place which has excellent food in Legacy. Talking to Jeff & Wendy they were going to go thru Chaparral Drive. I thought my way going McLeod and 210 Ave would be faster so chose that.

We arrived and no Grace family. We sit down and our waitress which was one of the best comes to serve us. Our waitress when asked ” how are you doing?” replied ” Fabulous ” I like that as it drives me nuts when people say fine, or good and you know it is not sincere. She takes our order and delivers our drinks after about 5 or 7 minutes. Happy hour ends at 6 pm so we decided to phone and take Jeff & Wendy’s order. I would say we were at the restaurant at least 15 minutes before them. ( They probably stopped to go to the restroom and didn’t want to tell us)

Our wonderful waitress actually put two glasses in the freezer for me to have a cold glass for my beer. This is not store policy. Besides the amazing service she was funny, tentative and a friendly server.

Jeff & Wendy only got one drink in before the end of Happy Hour but I got two in with cold glasses.

I bet NO ONE can guess what Jackie had for supper tonight? It was Wing Wednesday so I had to have wings. Even wings the pricing has gone nuts on. With my work guys we would order 100 wings at a time as they were only 25 cents each. Now a buck each on special and $2 when not. Great wings though tonight. As good as you would ever want.

The patio had a least 6 dogs on it with their owners. A great idea and I bet helps fill seats as people love outside and their dogs.

A great evening sitting on the outside patio.

Then off to Home Depot as you shouldn’t leave a house unprotected with a carbon or smoke detector. Wow are these things expensive now. Sick. Maybe a 10 minute job. I didn’t have electrical tape and have to count on wire nuts. I hate pushing in wire nuts when you have solid and braided wires together as they can pull out easily. The tape holds everything secure. But everything went well. Up and running again for another 10 years.

I like Mayor Farkas and think he has done a good job. Every politician makes mistakes. His is coming back to BITE him big time. Smith & Poilievre both told him he was nuts shutting down the economic engine of the Calgary by listening to a few whiners that hate music for a few days. He rallied back. Then today one of the biggest events Country Thunder concert organizers shut down the event. The noise bylaw limitations listed as one of the reasons to cancel. Farkas has to be going . DUH did I do that ? Yep Hopefully he learns to be a little more objective and rational. Funny though the back and forth and now the result which hurts all Calgarians with the lost revenue.

Thought of the Day

What is the best club to use on a warm day. The club with cold beer and a little a shade on a patio.

June 25th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 25 degrees, Calgary 23 degrees, Mesa 42 degrees”

You check the weather and you think, excellent two great days in a row. It was my Men’s league at Turner Valley today.

The weather started off great. After two holes it was time to put on a jacket as we saw a storm front coming. Then the winds started with gusts I would say up to 30 or 40 kph. The temperature dropped. Golf was a lot more difficult with the gusty winds. No rain which was lucky and nice. Not the day the weatherman said.

Ok to the golf. I have a love hate relationship with Turner Valley. It is one of the prettiest courses we play, it has beautiful views of the mountains and it is lush green. What I hate about it is the ability to score well, It has smaller greens that are very undulating. Add in narrower fairways that are bush lined and it kills me. More so now when I am a better playing than when I was a lousy. I just do not have a handle on it.

Having said that I love playing with the guys and the games we play.

I won the front nine, finished third in my flight and had a net snip so winning money while playing lousy go figure. I lost three balls, and took two 8’s and still won money.

I golfed very well except for the lost balls and two many missed putts.

At home tonight we had a lot of action across the street. We could see the neighbor lady standing in the open garage then a fire truck shows up, then a ambulance and then three cops cars. i could see them grab this guy from the garage and they pull him out and start working on him. No shocking, no air mask no CPR but the guy was laying on the pad lifeless. They finally get him on a gurney and carry him to the ambulance. This whole ordeal took at least an hour. The ambulance had him in it but

Our normally quiet residential street was thrust into chaos tonight as a coordinated emergency response involving firefighters, paramedics, and police officers unfolded in full view.

Shortly after dusk, a woman was seen standing in the open garage of a home across the street, appearing distressed as a fire truck arrived with lights flashing. Moments later, an ambulance pulled up, followed by three police cruisers, turning our street into a scene of urgent activity. Trust the cops park blocking traffic which was not needed.

We watched the first responders enter the garage and pull an unresponsive man onto the driveway. The man, was as “lifeless”, showed no visible signs of CPR, defibrillation, or assisted breathing as crews worked around him. Paramedics eventually placed him onto a gurney and loaded him into the waiting ambulance.

What followed only deepened the mystery.

For more than 45 minutes, the ambulance remained parked in front of the home, its back doors closed, paramedics working inside. Police officers continued questioning the woman on the driveway, their conversation stretching nearly an hour. No arrests were made, and the woman was not taken into custody.

One by one, the emergency vehicles departed — first the fire truck, then the ambulance escorted by police, and finally the last cruiser. The woman quietly returned inside her home, leaving neighbors with more questions than answers.

Why didn’t she follow the ambulance? Why was the man unresponsive? Why such a prolonged on‑scene investigation? And why did police remain with her long after the ambulance had departed?

Authorities have not released any information regarding the nature of the incident. Possible explanations range from a medical emergency to an accidental overdose or domestic disturbance, but without official confirmation, the true cause remains unknown.

For now, residents are left with only speculation — and the lingering image of a dramatic late‑night emergency that shattered the calm of an otherwise ordinary evening. Fun to watch it unfold.

Thought of the Day

I’m not nosy — I’m just conducting unpaid human documentaries. People-watching is like Netflix: you don’t always understand the plot, but you can’t stop bingeing.

June 26th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 24 degrees, Calgary 22 degrees, Mesa 42 degrees”

Our summer is over. It is overcast, windy and cool. BUT wait only a few days of wet weather again and we will have another summer day.

First thing this morning I whipped to my eye clinic to pick up my new glasses. I checked in with the receptionist and was told an assistant would be with me right away.

A young lady approaches me a box with my glasses in it. ” I just want to make sure I have the right ones. Larry ? I answer ” No I am John Smith” She turns abruptly and says oops. I had to to yell it is ok I am Larry. She laughs and says ” You got me and i think we have a client named John Smith ” She was quick to run away.

She checks my glass position, lens position and gives me a test and we are all set to go.

I arrived home, changed, and headed over to Jackson’s school for his Grade 9 graduation — and let me tell you, nothing prepares you for the shock of realizing today’s “14‑year‑olds” look like they’re ready to file taxes and run for office. The girls were dressed in full evening gowns, the boys in sharp suits, and the whole scene looked less like middle school and more like the Oscars’ youth division.

They looked fantastic, no question. But part of me couldn’t help thinking we’re speeding up the “grown‑up” timeline a little too enthusiastically. Most people I know never had a Grade 9 graduation. We barely had a handshake and a report card, let alone a ceremony, a dance, and — wait for it — a party bus. Yes, one of the parents rented an actual party bus for Jackson and his friends to cruise around in. When I was in Grade 9, the closest thing we had to a party bus was our old school bus, and even that was questionable.

Still, to see Jackson have the opportunity to walk across a stage, shake hands, and then escort a lovely young girl as his date — well, that hit me. In Grade 9, I was still snapping bra straps in the hallway and thinking I was hilarious. Meanwhile, Jackson is out here behaving like a young gentleman.

I do miss the little boy he used to be, but I’m incredibly proud of the young man he’s becoming. The kids all looked amazing, and even though they’re growing up faster than seems reasonable, moments like this remind me just how lucky I am to watch him grow.

It is amazing how time flies by so fast. A little scary actually.

We met with our investment advisor today, and as always, it was a positive and reassuring conversation. He’s consistently professional, personable, and his results continue to meet—and often exceed—our expectations. We’ve always positioned ourselves on the safe‑to‑moderate end of the investment spectrum. While that approach naturally tempers potential returns, it also allows us to sleep well at night, knowing our portfolio is less exposed to the volatility faced by those who pursue higher‑risk strategies.

What stood out today was how closely our current financial position aligns with the retirement plan we established back in 2014. Twelve years later, not only has the plan proven remarkably accurate, but we’re actually ahead of the projections. That’s especially encouraging given that we’re spending more than originally anticipated. Still, I’ve always believed that retirement is meant to be enjoyed in the present. There will be plenty of time—fifteen years from now—for quieter days filled with books and crosswords if we get so lucky. For now, these are the years meant for travel, experiences, and making the most of our health and freedom. We have to be careful not to be held back by commitments and perceived obligations.

While we sometimes reflect on the value of a generous pension plan we missed out on, today’s meeting reinforced that our disciplined approach has served us well. We’re pleased with our progress, confident in our strategy, and genuinely grateful to see our long‑term plan working exactly as intended. I have always said no regrets but in hindsight the luxury of a pension especially if defined would have drastically changed our lifestyle.

We watched a great movie last night on Prime about female car mechanics and a shop being bullied out of business. Add in the romance and made for a fun light movie to watch.

Thought of the Day

If laughter counted as currency, we’d all be sipping piña coladas on a beach by now.

June 27th-28th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 19 degrees, Calgary 20 degrees, Mesa 41 degrees”

Look at that. Raining again this morning. Spring weather or summer ? I would say shitty weather.

This morning we decided to head to Ikea with Audrey for blinds. I am not a fan of Ikea but it was great today. The crowds were very small and I actually saw very useful items there. Luckily the blind section was easy to get to. A few options but Audrey choose the room darkening honeycomb blinds with a manual pull and lift action. As she is very short and not the strongest these lead themselves to being the easiest to use.

Now to the install. I am thinking 15 minutes max as I had my drill with me but very few other tools if something came up. Well something came up. First Ikea did not supply screws for the hangers. Luckily I had a few different items in my drill pack. Now the main issue which I am still not happy about. I understand standard construction methods and something is amiss here with this window in this dormer. I did not have a stud finder so the only stud I could find was the one installing the blind. Not having this makes it a little more difficult but with a window with a King Stud, Jack Stud, Cripple studs and header you should always find wood to screw into. Every rough opening should be 1 inch over window frame size. A header should always be installed over a window for snow load. I could not find a header, or a 2 x4 edge wise on top of the window and no King studs. So i used plastic wall anchors which typically are the normal way. These things I hate though as they are not strong. So I have asked Jackie to watch if this thing and if comes loose and I will install metal hollow wall anchors which are excellent. In hindsight I should have whipped to the Depot. But as the blind is light so I am hoping we will be fine.

The blind looks great and work great.

Watched Brooke end up in second place with one more day of golf and Scottie ending up exactly in the same spot. Tomorrow will be the test for my favorite men’s golfer and my second favorite female golfers. Charley Hull is my ladies favorite.

Off and on showers all day long.

This morning began under exceptionally adverse weather conditions. Heavy, persistent rainfall combined with strong winds created near‑monsoon levels of saturation, with temperatures holding at a cool 14 degrees. At times, the conditions resembled a wet haboob, and even with the gas pedal three‑quarters engaged, maintaining a speed of 100 kph proved challenging.

Despite the weather, we travelled to Oasis to attend our annual AGM, an important opportunity to remain informed about developments within the resort. Attendance was strong, quorum was achieved, and it was evident that our community continues to benefit from a wide range of capable and dedicated individuals.

One of the key voting items concerned the installation of protective netting for approximately ten trailers to prevent damage from errant golf balls. The proposed cost of $143,000K was deemed disproportionate to the number of owners who would benefit, and the motion did not pass. The broader review of completed improvements over the past year was encouraging and demonstrated meaningful progress.

However, one major infrastructure project remains unresolved. Now entering its third year of discussion, the project carries an estimated cost exceeding $4 million, equating to roughly $13,000 per site. The board appears hesitant to bring the matter to a formal vote, opting instead to highlight potential benefits while postponing decision‑making. Although bank financing is being explored, a combined approach involving a partial cash call and a structured monthly assessment may prove more acceptable to the majority of owners. The projected start date of September 2027 feels unnecessarily distant for an issue of this magnitude.

Throughout the meeting, Daisy behaved exceptionally well, remaining calmly on my lap for more than two hours. Her only moment of excitement occurred when the smoke alarm was accidentally triggered.

I checked on my newly seeded lawn. Despite the heavy rainfall, the grass is beginning to establish itself. While some seed may have washed away, overall growth is evident. The ground was too saturated to remain outside for long.

The remainder of the day was spent following several sporting events. I alternated between three channels, watching Brooke Henderson secure a third‑place finish, Scottie Scheffler advance to a weather‑delayed playoff, and Canada’s soccer team progress to the round of 16 — a milestone that has been widely celebrated. It made for a pleasant and relaxing conclusion to an otherwise weather challenging day.

I had my spaghetti and meatballs supper which was excellent

Thought of the Day

What do maintenance workers say when they finish a project quickly. ” Nailed It”

June 29th -30th

“Mercury Forecast Edmonton 25 degrees, Calgary 20 degrees, Mesa 42 degrees”

One wet day AGAIN. I do not know the exact amount of rain we have had but I am sure is it substantial and maybe even record breaking. Thunder and lightning and rain !

Rain sure puts a damper on things.

I watched the playoff and my Scottie lost. He had the shorter putt but lipped it. Good for Victor though and he is such a nice guy and two of them playing against one another was cool. In golf it is amazing how one putt can lose you 1 million dollars.

Paid bills and booked appointments so nice to get that done.

Daisy just wondering what is going on with her different routines lately.

I can not imagine the amount of nasty mosquitos we are going to have.

An afternoon at Sobey’s turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant. The store was nearly empty, which made the experience feel less like grocery shopping and more like a private retail engagement. I even found myself entertained in the parking lot, watching drivers perform their best “backup‑camera ballet.” Ninety percent relied entirely on the screen, which is fine until life hands them a vehicle built before the era of dashboard cameras. Still, I have to give credit where it’s due — most people have finally discovered that backing into a parking spot is far easier, especially when you’re piloting something with a longer wheelbase.

Tonight’s culinary plan is sizzling fajitas — chicken, red tomato tortillas, and a special fajita sauce that practically promised greatness right there on the label.

The rain finally stopped, albeit too late to accomplish anything ambitious outdoors, so a good dinner will have to be the day’s victory lap.

On the financial front, we’re moving money into our TFSA accounts to soften the eventual RRSP tax hit. When you look at average Canadian savings by age, the numbers are… scary. I often imagine what it would feel like to walk into any store and buy whatever I wanted without checking the price tag. You don’t need to be extravagantly wealthy for that — just comfortable enough to enjoy the freedom. (For the record, I wouldn’t wander into a Ferrari or Porsche dealership; I’ve never liked them.)

One advantage of getting older is that the financial horizon becomes clearer. It’s easier to look at what you’ve saved and decide how and when to enjoy it, because the timeline is no longer an abstract mystery. I’ve never been a fan of frugality for frugality’s sake — it often steals enjoyment, time, and experience. Prudence, however, is a different matter. I’ve never felt the need to impress anyone, aside from my younger self with my cars. It’s funny how a person with a $100,000 car is assumed to be wealthy, while someone with a $20,000 car and $80,000 in the bank is perceived as struggling. Perception is a strange thing.

In the end, I prefer spending money on memories and experiences rather than depreciating assets — though if fortune ever smiled with a windfall, I would buy a 1967 Camaro without hesitation. Some dreams deserve to be indulged and that car is a appreciating asset.

As the weather was semi ok I decided to head to Oasis. I needed a few tools, and to maintain the yard.

First thing on my busy agenda was trimming the edges and cutting the grass. Good growth but patchy so hopefully soon it fill in.. I may buy one piece of sod and cut it up to patch which will speed it up.

The hackberry trees are getting a little too large so I climbed a ladder and hacked them back to a workable height. Well on tree as my fire pit was full to the brim. I started the fire. Wet branches cause a lot of smoke. I had my own healing smoke tent on my lawn. Fast forward, I got home and I HAD to jump in the shower as my beard, hair and clothes stank.

I burned all of the trimmings and branches which took a few hours. Dead headed all of the flowers and cleaned up around the yard. Organized a bit and 6 hours flies by.

One of my chair covers has a split in it from the wind so I will need to replace that.

I moved and resorted my tools in the Saloon.

On my way home which was beautiful out i noticed the sky over Calgary to be pitch black. I phoned Jackie as I thought it looked like hail clouds. It was dry until I was on McKenzie Drive by Shell. Then it poured and small hail. Very hard. timing is everything.

Some accident happened near out windmill and the cops closed off the road and detoured everyone. Quite the tie up and we don’t know the reason.

Saw on the news where two houses in Sundance were hit by lightning. That is rare.

Off to Raymond for Canada Day, Rodeo and hopefully time to finalize the irrigation !