After the Election

 Well it looks like the polls were wrong. The Wild Rose didn't get in but now form the official opposition. The PC party won the majority and even gained a few more seats as did the NDP. But the Liberals lost seats and when it comes right down to it, better the devil you know! My thoughts on the turn out were way off. I did feel that the PC would win but by a minority. My only hope is that Redford keeps true to her promises. But I also hope that she sees sense and looks to the future of the province and the needs of senior care, health care and the environment. All we have to do now is wait and see if the next 4 years will be positive or negative for all.    

Election time

Tomorrow is election day and we here in Alberta will find out if we see the PC party finally defeated or not. My guess is no matter which way it goes it will be a minority government. But who will win it? That will be the question of the day.

No matter which way it goes my questions still remains unanswered. Will we have better and more affordable care facilities for seniors and better support for care givers? And I don't mean just the caregivers of seniors I am referring to all caregivers in general. I have put that question out there and have yet to get an answer from any of the parties. The sad fact is that no matter who gets in senior issues have fallen by the wayside and so has the fact that there is no real support for care givers. Sure, they all say better healthcare is needed for all of us and some senior issues have been addressed. But, none of the parties have considered that couples are being separated and that the cost is more than seniors on a fixed income can afford. The burden has fallen on the children (caregivers) to make up the short fall. This puts a strain on the caregiver, who has no support, and on the seniors who are forced to separate after more than 60 years of being together. So, no matter what party gets in there will be no solution to a growing problem. It is NOT just a healthcare problem. As an aging population grows so will the need for enough facilities to care for them. As for us caregivers . . . where will we end up?

The Joy of Clay

I have been working with clay for over 20 years and there is always something new to learn or try. Last summer I built my own wood fired kiln and now trying to make enough ware to fill the kiln and fire it. So far it's been a slow process. But working with clay seems to absorb all the stress of daily life and of being a caregiver. Unfortunately it does not help with the chronic pain but it helps me focus on something other than the pain.


The past 2 weeks I've been working at it full time. At first I had to do practice pots and make sure I had the right thickness. After a few days I started to produce ware that I was happy with. I have a lot more ware to make in order to fill the new kiln. My target date is sometime in June to fire it for the first time. But there is a lot left to do such as making, trimming, bisque then glaze and load the kiln.

This time that I have taken has given me an opportunity to see what it will be like when I take early retirement.  Now the question is when do I pull the plug?

To retire or not?

After spending almost 40 years in the same trade, when does one decide it's time to call it quits and retire? There are things I would rather be doing than having to be creative on demand. Such things as doing my pottery and sculpting with metal, wood or clay. My passion for working with clay is never ending and the learning is constant. Working with metal is fascinating and wood has a natural beauty to it. But with the rising costs of life can I retire and live comfortably? I guess doing something that I enjoy is more important and as long as I can meet the bill payments I'd be good. There are always jobs out there that I could do. So part time work to supplement my pension is a possibility. The question is when do I pull the plug and take the early retirement?

Another election!

Time for another election. But what party to vote for. Do you vote for the person best for your riding or vote for the overall party? This is a decision that rests on voters mines. I myself, will vote for the party that best represents seniors issues, education and most important healthcare. I know they all spout promises, but which party will actually hold true to the promises they make? My main concern, being a care giver, is healthcare and seniors issues. Most of all is the fact that senior couples who are separated in different facilities be allowed to be together in the same room/facility. Why are the seniors denied the given right to live out their lives together? I am facing the inevitable of having to make the decision of having one or both parents live with me in order to allow them to live out the remaining years of their lives together or as close to it as possible. Why? Because there are NO facilities that allow them to live together when they each need different levels of care. So what to do? Am I reaching for the stars or is it payback for all the years they supported me.

What has to happen is to get more people out to vote and make politicians accountable for what they promise. It is my experience that the ones that complain the most are the ones that do not vote. I am in favor of bringing in the law, like in Australia, that requires you to vote. The last election was poor turn out and it is the responsibility of every citizen in the county to place a vote. If not then don't complain when things go wrong. 

Do you know who you will vote for? Be a responsible Canadian and cast your vote on election day.