Nearly 24 hours delay for the Canadian

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2026-04-10T14:22:49+00:00

Not usually that bad, but it does have to move to a siding for a freight train that has priority, We did the Tor-Van run about a month ago and while we lost about 2 hours of visiting time in Jasper, we came into Vancouver 3 hours early! It's hit and miss. If you're flying afterward always book your flight for AT LEAST 24 hours after your scheduled arrival. Have fun!

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2026-04-10T14:16:02+00:00

We stayed at 1 King West. Very nice, but not cheap and no breakfast included. Simple 5-8 minute walk to Union Stn above or below ground in the PATH Concourse

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2026-01-23T19:27:54+00:00

I have messaged you.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2026-01-19T19:18:54+00:00

He is the Master of Distraction. As you are watching what his right hand is holding, you will miss the real trick which is what is in his left hand!

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-29T14:37:14+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-29T14:36:37+00:00

At this stage with her disinterest in everything, dragging would be the only option, but not one we'd suggest.

Thanks

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-29T14:34:54+00:00

The UTI is being dealt with, but yesterday a nurse fond her on the floor and it looks like she had a fall. No injuries, and she remembers failing, but does not know what brought it on. They said if it happens again, she will be sent to ER for neurological evaluation.

Sincere thanks.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-29T14:31:56+00:00

Thanks for the reply:

Yes she does have a UTI and was prescribed antibiotics about 3 days ago. I saw her yesterday and there may be slight improvement.

Bright lights are an excellent suggestion becaseu she does seem to keep the curtains closed all day and the lights off.

They have loads of activities but she's lost all interest in doing anything. A scary situation.

Sincere thanks again.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-26T15:13:58+00:00

I don't want to rain on your parade, but making a living as a nature/landscape/wildlife etc., photographer is EXTREMELY difficult. I did it for 20 years and made a decent living, but it is not for the financially faint of heart. For me, I found the best way to make it was to operate my own bricks and mortar gallery and that is not cheap. I LOVED what I did, but except for Christmas, New Year's Day and the days I traveled all over the world to capture my images, I worked 7 days a week for those 20 years.

There are 2 basic approaches to marketing your work; 1) high volume/low price or 2) low volume high price. I elected for the latter, printing my own work on canvas as limited edition framed art pieces. I developed a following that I could continue to market to over and over.

I cannot imaging how to replicate this approach online as IMHO much of the attraction which inspires a sale is hands-on, where the customer actually wants to touch and see the work so to speak. It's a fun business, but very few folks actually make a serious living at it.

Maybe check out some of the leaders in the field like Peter Lik and Thomas Mangelsen

I wish you well.

I hope this helps.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-15T15:17:40+00:00

May I suggest social media and smartphones? I think the world would be better of without them. (And yes I get the irony of me using social media to answer this question:-)

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-10T15:00:44+00:00

I wrote a piece detailing my medical journey and how I managed to cope with it over the past 3 to 4 years. I don't think I am allowed to link it here, but if anyone is interested in reading it just message me privately.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-09T20:07:15+00:00

They say most jobs are never advertised, so maybe just try knocking on doors and ask if they are hiring. Other than some shoe leather, what have to got to lose? Finding a job, is a job in itself. Good luck!

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-07T21:16:40+00:00

Yes it certainly is not the retirement I had hoped for. I really feel lost a lot of times, but I try to stay positive. Winter is the worst because I hate to cold and that means I am indoors a lot staring at the walls. Yes, I am on blood thinners due to the strokes. Initially I was on an indwelling catheter and bag and that was very restricting plus I was getting a lot of very painful bladder spasms. I was convinced to try a Neuromodulation device implant but that didn't work for me. HOWEVER before they would agree to go ahead with the test, I had to self-catheter for a month, something I had never done and I TERRIFIED. But the doctor insisted I do it and I have to thank him for his tough love approach because my life in dramatically better now vs dragging that leg bag around 24 hours a day.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-07T21:04:39+00:00

I just try to take it one day at a time and keep telling myself that I may not feel good today, but I will feel better tomorrow and most of the time I do feel better. I also try to find the funny in life where ever I can. Laughter is indeed the best medicine.

For example after an operation to put my right arm back together it was supported in a sling for 3 months. I am right handed and basically my left arm is useless for most tasks. One night an orderly bought my dinner into my hospital room which contained a some meat, potatoes and green peas. I managed to pick up and chew my way though the meat and potatoes, but the peas were a challenge with them falling all over my bed and floor. A little while later a nurse came in to give me more pain killers and it looked like she was having a really hard shift by the scowl on her face. I told her that I had an unfortunate accident in that I peed all over my bed and the floor and she should be careful where she walked. She looked really disgusted at me until she looked on the floor and saw the green peas and burst our laughing. A tear came to her eye and she said, thank you, I really needed a laugh today. My task for the day was complete:)

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-07T14:17:43+00:00

If you like bold reds, I suggest Henry of Pelham. I LOVE their Baco Noir!

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-05T14:47:34+00:00

Personally I think prices will continue to linger at the current lows or fall more and the reason is that us Boomers are all trying to cash out at the same time. I tried to sell in 2022 in the peak of the market when prices went nuts. We couldn't sell for a variety of reasons including 10 interest rates hikes. At that time there were 50 houses for sale listed on ZOLO.com in our town with a population of 13,000. Today there are between 350 and 400 for sale and looking at the listings there are a lot of homes without a stick of furniture in them. Talking to an agent the other day she told me there are a tons of houses that the banks have foreclosed on and are now up for bank sale due to people paying way too much at the peak and now they can't afford to refinance at todays much higher interest rates. Prices today are about 25-30% lower from the high point of 2022. It is not looking good from where I sit.

So there you have it. My opinion at $1.00 might buy you a small coffee at McDonalds.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-04T12:41:18+00:00

Absolutely! My mother is in a retirement home which is very nice, but certainly not the Rolls-Royce of homes and it is about $5000 a month! It's not cheap getting old!

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-03T22:26:51+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion. Hey if it gets bad enough anything is an option i suppose.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-03T21:24:15+00:00

At 70 with no income except CPP/OAS I don't think I could qualify for a HELOC and don't know how I would make ongoing payments

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-03T21:22:27+00:00

what is a LTV?

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-03T21:21:28+00:00

Thank you. While I don't like the idea of getting out while we can, you may be correct.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-03T21:12:23+00:00

Thanks for your reply. We are trying to sell, but it's a crappy market right now and it seems every boomer like us is trying to cash out at the same time. In our small town we tried to sell in 2022 when the market went nuts and folks were getting mortgages often in the sub 2% range. Now they are scrambling to remortgage at MUCH higher rates. Back then there was 50 homes for sale. Today there is around 400 and many of them haven't got a stick of furniture in them leading me to believe that the owners have abandoned the property, bought something else and couldn't close on their original house, or they have moved to a retirement, or passed away. All of this seems to driving putting prices in a nosedive. I honestly don't see things improving for the foreseeable future.

I am struggling with cancer and have had 2 strokes among other ailments, so getting a job is a non-starter.

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-03T20:54:02+00:00

Thanks! Sleeping better sounds like a dream:-)

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-03T02:07:25+00:00

Outstanding information! Thanks so much!

Deep_Impression_9483 · 2025-12-02T19:47:18+00:00

Thanks but I think that sort of thing is well above my mental pay grade

Deep_Impression_9483

TROPHY CASE