Time Passing Quickly

Life certainly seems to be changing before my eyes and the years are passing by rapidly. There seems to be too many things I would like to do and not enough time to do them in.

It doesn’t seem like it was that many years ago that I was run off my feet trying to balance getting the boys to whatever sport or event they needed to be at, attending school meetings, keeping the household functioning and working full time. Well, the guys no longer need me to get around, but I still don’t have a lot of extra time. It seems like other things just seem to fill in the gap. I now have elderly parents to shuttle here and there and ensure their needs are being met.

I realize my injuries don’t heal as quickly as they used to and some of the injuries I had years ago are coming back to haunt me now. I am trying to stay positive and keep trying to work out a way to better manage my days so I can include some of those things that I really what to try before I am too old or no longer have the energy to enjoy them.

What a Start

April 1st started out very interesting. I am normally up by 4:00 a.m. and this morning started out no different than any other morning. My routine starts with letting the dogs out and around 4:30 they usually want back in. When I let them in the Irish Wolfhound cross who prefers to stay outside was the first one in the house and that should have been my first clue that something was up. My son, who gets up around the same time I do, asked me what the dog had on her face and when I looked, what a surprise .... she had had an encounter with a porcupine.

As we recently adopted her, I had no idea how she was going to react when we started pulling out the quills. She is not fully grown but is about 29 inches at the shoulders and weighs over 100 pounds so she could be a real handful if she put her mind to it. I was just hoping she was not like our border collie, who is a real sweetheart but when it comes to removing porcupine quills .... watch out. Although she certainly didn't like it, she didn't give us too much trouble.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that dogs keep away from the porcupines.

Filling In

Very interesting work experience this week. One of the largest senior facility sites where I work undertook a full day training for all their staff. Normally staff training takes place in smaller groups settings due to staff coverage. This site alone has close to 50 staff and to try a full day training with skeleton staff covering and I might add, some of the staff (me included) have not worked or used some of the large kitchen equipment used in these kitchens.

Strange enough, I was really looking forward to seeing and doing first hand what some of the staff do and experience on a daily basis. We had to show up at the site for 8:00 a.m. for an orientation and training on the various equipment, depending on where we would be working. I chose to work in the kitchen so I had to have a clear understanding of the health and safety issues, proper food handling, equipment use, which sanitizing chemicals to use where and How to use the equipment. I was instructed that at 10:00 a.m. after the breakfast cleaning rush was over, I needed to drain the dishwasher and take it apart and give it a thorough cleaning. As instructed, at the appointed time, I started to take the dishwasher apart and one of my co-w0rkers was totally amazed that I appeared to know what I was doing. I must say there is an awful lot that one must know and practices and procedures that must be followed for each and every position.

It was an extremely hectic and very physically demanding day. I found out first hand that one needs to be extremely organized and constantly on the move when working in the area I was in. I wish I would have had a pedometer as I bet I walked many, many miles that day.

I must say that the staff are totally amazing and very caring people and I now have a new insight and appreciation for how hard they truly work.

The experimental training day turned out to be very successful and who knows, maybe I will have another opportunity to walk a mile in someone else's shoes.

Sifu Dennis

Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

On the Move

I work for a non-profit organization that provides housing to seniors with a very fixed income. The facilities are well taken care of and the residents enjoy excellent meals, activities, outings and much more. One of our sites is undergoing some major elevator renovations and the residents are required to temporarily move while this is going on. Alternate accommodations have been provided and all moving arrangements are being taken care of for the residents with the least amount of disruption in mind.

There are a number of us who have volunteered to help the seniors in their transition from their home to their temporary home-away-from-home.

A lot of thought and effort has been put into ensuring the move for the residents is conducted with the least amount of disruption. The temporary site was decorate to welcome the residents upon their arrival. It kept us on our toes ensuring no one left anything they will be needing behind, setting up their new rooms and ensuring everything got delivered to the proper room. Each resident was provided with an orientation of the new site, shown how everything worked and where everything was located.

The main objective is to ensure the residents settle in comfortably. Most viewed the move as a "vacation" and made the transition quite well. A few had a bit of difficulty with change and extra care was required to ensure they settled in.

Once the renovations are complete, the residents will be moved back in. A couple of other sites will be undergoing the same type of renovations so the residents at those locations will need to be temporarily relocated in the same manner.

Progressing Wisely

I thought last Friday's class was really super. I have been having a lot of issues with my hip, especially over the last while, so have been cautious and pacing my kicks. Well, on Friday I was feeling pretty good (or so I thought) so I ignored the subtle signs my body was giving me and gave it my best shot with the various kicks we were doing. I paid for my enthusiasm all weekend and throughout this week. I have been going to bed as soon as I get home from work and that just not like me. It's very difficult to hang back when surrounded by such an energetic group who "can fly through the air with the greatest of ease" so to speak.

Helping Hand

I was really looking forward to taking some time out during the Family Day long weekend to do a bit of relaxing, spending time with my family and getting some of the things done that I have not had time to do.

Shortly before the weekend someone I met through a friend is expecting a baby very shortly and as she is single, she wanted to move closer her family for support. When I heard that she was moving into an apartment that needed a lot of cleaning up and she, along with her mom and dad, were going to do it alone, I volunteered to help out. I know her mom and dad are not very healthy and could use the extra hands. When I got there on Saturday, I was speechless to say the least as it was far worse than I could have ever imagined. There was no way anyone could bring a new baby into the apartment in the condition it was in.

I spent the next couple of days disinfecting and washing out every corner, wall and fixture I could get my hands on. I do not even want to think about what was encountered when cleaning the freezer and fridge, but I must say the end result was worth every minute of scrubbing that went into getting it clean. There is still a lot of work, like putting up shelves, etc, but it looks so much better.

At the end of the weekend, my hands were raw and sore from scrubbing and my body ached from the workout it got but it felt really good to lend a helping hand.

Working Together

Once again last night's Black Belt Promotion ceromony was very inspirational and gives one food for thought. Many thanks to those who made this year's event the success it was. These events take a group effort and it was wonderful to see how, once again, the "Silent River Kung Fu" family pulled together when needed. Sure, every event has its malfunctions, but if everything went perfectly and without a hitch, I don't think we would appreciate the outcome nearly as much.

I am very proud to be associated with such a wonderful group of individuals. Way to Go Team!

Eva Dennis
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta

Canada