Author Archives: Al Zylstra

So, my latest trip to Edmonton was not off to a good start. But, I am always the eternal optimist. I went back to Mom’s nursing home on Sunday with a determination that I was going to have a nice visit with my Mom. To hell with Dementia. We were going to have a goodContinue reading “Edmonton Blues – Pt 2”

My latest trip to Edmonton has been a bit of a letdown. Earlier this week, I pulled some muscles in my back, resulting in me missing a day of work and being forced to walk around shaped like a question mark. I actually considered cancelling my trip but my trips to Edmonton are NEVER aboutContinue reading “Edmonton blues”

So, chances are good that my husband will not see this – for some reason, he doesn’t subscribe to my website (*sigh) But, this post isn’t for him, but, it is about him. I have always considered myself one of the luckiest guys on the planet when this man came into my life. He hasContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Alex”

So, it has been a few weeks since I posted last. The year end is always kinda busy for me and some things get dropped by the wayside. This blog, apparently, is one of them. But, I am going to try and make up for it with this post. It has been a tumultuous yearContinue reading “Season’s Greetings – Year End Review”

So, after the untimely but not unexpected demise of Lucky, our rescue budgie, Tiny, his roommate for the last 4 and a half years, was feeling very lonely. I promised Alex that we wouldn’t replace Lucky, but, I saw how lonely Tiny was feeling. So, on to Craiglist. Lo and behold; meet Blue. A littleContinue reading “Meet the newest addition”

So, after almost 6 years of living in our house, we have FINALLY managed to finish our master bathroom.  We ripped out the old shower – a glorified phone booth sized shower that I could only stand and spin in.  Washing anything below the waist was an exercise in futility.   The soaker tub wasContinue reading “Our new Throne Room!”

Happy 15th Anniversary to my wonderful husband.

After 5 1/2 years of NOT using our ensuite bathroom, the renovations have begun. Alex and our amazing plumber, David tore out the phone booth of a shower. It took less than two hours to open up the shower, cap off the water and haul the shell away. It looks so much bigger in thatContinue reading “Bathroom renos on my mind…..”

Had another whirlwind visit to Edmonton over the weekend. Mom has been moved to a new facility: Lynnwood Extended Care Facility.  It is in the West End of Edmonton near West Edmonton Mall. A very nice facility, to be sure.  Open and airy.  Brightly lit with lots of things to see and do for theContinue reading “Visiting Mom”

So, after 5 1/2 years of enduring the master bathroom that is completely irrelevant to our needs, it was time.  Time to change it. Alex and I discussed it a couple of years ago and we started looking for new fixtures that would transform the bathroom from a space that I only used to brushContinue reading “Changes are afoot ….”