Parking headaches

Someone online mentioned about the fun of parking at a hospital. The last time I needed to do that it was quite fine and I easily found a space.

I noticed on the Ottawa Hospital web site that it is not recommended to park on the street. So if the parking lot is full, where are you supposed to park?

It is sometimes a challenge to find a parking space in downtown Ottawa near the church. When I went during the day I parked on a side street. I sometimes manage to park in one of the three spaces at the church - especially when I am doing Altar Guild duty.

Emergency visits

My car started to make a clunking noise. I took it in to the dealer and they said - some pieces need replacing. I could drive it in the meantime. I took it back shortly and had it fixed. It was much quieter after this.

I was chewing on a hard candy and I thought - that is not a candy piece I am biting into. It was a piece of my tooth. It was a rather pricy repair but my dental insurance covered a large portion.

I was trying to adjust my sun clips and the middle piece broke. When I took it to the opticians they said I could get a new pair for ½ price but I would have to leave my glasses too to get a new pair made. I had to go home and get my old glasses. They should be ready in a week or so.

My old glasses feel so heavy now. The frames and the sun clips were much more solid. As my mom would say - they do not make things they way they used to.

Driving to Toronto: the real deal

I had checked a list of the service centres that were open before I left so I knew what to expect.

One was closing the day I passed by.

I had to make a stop in a small town as an alternative for another that was closed.

Construction equipment was much in evidence.

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I was reading about the service stations - they will be hosted by Canadian Tire. I do not think I have ever bought any gas at one of those outlets.

So now there is a new listing of the service centres and the dates for reconstruction on the government of Ontario web site. I will keep it for future reference. I do not know when I will be driving that way again.

Driving to Toronto

Here I go again next Wednesday for an Easter visit to the convent. It seems like such a short time since I was last there.

I had my winter tires on for my last trip on October 31 - Halloween. I still have them on now - but not for much longer.

It is not too long a trip to the convent - 4 to 5 hours. I like to drive in the morning. Driving home and coming east into the bright sun is sometimes an issue but then again sometimes it is not so sunny. I have driven in all weathers - sun and heat and snow and rain and just plain nice. I always hope for the latter.

Another essential move is to study the status of the service centres along the 401 Highway. They are all being renovated. It is somewhat confusing as to what is being done when. I made myself a little list after checking the Government of Ontario Ministry of Transportation website. In the fall of 2011 they will be all updated.

I do not mind this drive too much. I know that I need to stop from time to time - about 1 ½ hours driving is good for me. Getting closer to the big city of Toronto I need to be prepared. I can drive in the express lanes of the 401 until closer to my destination.

My trusty little Toyota Echo will get me there and home again without any trouble.
　

100,000 kilometres

Michael - my Mica Green Toyota Echo - passed this important milestone today.

He has spent a lot of time driving regular routes

- to Lachute
- to Greenbelt Riding School
- to St. John’s Anglican Church

And to various other places that are part of my life.

Driving adventures

I seem to spent some time in the last while driving to new places - both in Ottawa and in the countryside.

I really do need to buy some new maps - mine are getting a little tired and torn from overuse.

I often use Google maps to figure out my driving directions. Recently I did this and the directions said turn this way and then drive for 10 minutes or so. However I did not make the turn. I wondered why I got lost. Fortunately I had a passenger who helped me out.

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A friend who drives often in the country for her work says this is always challenging.

When I bought my house, my real estate agent had some trouble with driving directions. She was fortunate when she was driving a client who could help her out.

I have quite a good sense of direction. My dad did too. He could to a place once and then find it again.

Some of my friends have bought GPS units. I do no think that it is on my shopping list in the near future.

　

Anniversaries

There are lots of anniversaries that come to be part of our lives - both personal and less so. There are nice ones to remember and not so nice ones to remember. Even the ones that are more difficult make us stop and remember.

As the 1st anniversary of my retirement approaches, I remember my work career and important dates - when I started my government career,when I moved to my 2nd and final job - it lasted a long time but there was lots of changes.

I remember the date I bought my first car.

I remember the day I bought my house and the day I took possession of the house.

I also need to remember my dad and my mom on the anniversaries of their deaths. I can understand why it is a tradition to put flowers on the altar at church and remember loved ones in that specific way.

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I know that some of this remembering of anniversaries was prompted by news items and not just September 11th.

Princess Diana's death.

Hurricane Katrina.

The Swissair airplane crash off Nova Scotia.

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My blog will always have lots of remembering of events - I started with one for a stuffed animal who was an important part of my life.