Peter Gets His Shots, Shares His Library Love, and Reviews a Good Book

Let me start off this week by stating that I have had both COVID vaccinations and will gladly get a booster shot in a couple of months if it is recommended. I have been wearing a mask and practicing social distancing and taking any precautions available to keep myself safe. During my career with the Canadian government, I got my flu shot every year, not only to protect myself, but to protect those whom I interviewed, as well as my family members and friends. 

I posted this comment in response to an article about the virus, and while many people “liked” this comment…..several people “laughed” at it.

Sadly enough there are those out there who minimize the impact of COVID 19 on the world as we know it. They freely post disinformation in the guise of memes and videos, while mocking those who take it rather more seriously.

Aunt Louise Visits Peter and Betty

This week I was going to write about stupid people commenting on things in general and Facebook in particular, but it has been so hot this week that I decided to write about something more pleasant. Besides, stupid people commenting will always be with us, so there’s no great hurry to write about them  😉 .

Loyal Reader, this week I will write about one of the best days of my life, last Tuesday, and a joyful time with my dear aunt Louise. 

Peter Gets Carded

This week I will give you a break from my reminiscences about work and address an issue of some personal importance and While you may be reluctant to take financial advice from someone who stockpiled “stubby beer bottles” after they were withdrawn from use in Ontario as a supplement to his retirement income, you can’t beat the price.

Peter and Betty – Together

This week, Loyal Reader, we start off in a dark, depressing place. However, thankfully, my story does have a happy ending, due to a number of factors.

In the period of misery I experienced after Lois’ passing, I came close to “hitting rock bottom”. I really don’t remember much of the last half of September, 2019, and I was actually happy to have the distraction of having to clear out Lois’ apartment the following month to enable me to focus my energy on something besides my all consuming grief. I couldn’t have finished that job in a timely manner without the help of Lois  neighbour Kathy, who loaned me a dolly, and my nephew David, who came over and helped me out on two separate occasions, including going as far as renting a van to help me with moving the contents of the apartment, something I most certainly couldn’t have done using public transit. ( Happy birthday, David, by the way.) a)

Peter – What a Difference a Year Makes

What a difference a year makes! Over the last 12 months we have learned a lot about a lot of things, including ourselves and our society. Civilization has been challenged by circumstance, and the future promises us even more uncertainty than usual, if that is possible.

I blame the previous occupant of the Oval Office for introducing a veneer of intolerance not only to the American political system, but also to the public’s perception of the mass media.

Peter is Grateful

I went out yesterday morning to get our 6/49 ticket. There was a person at the scanner in front of me, checking their tickets………..their tickets…….their tickets. Having finished that particular task, why of course they would buy more tickets…….but only after careful consideration and much nail biting. Loyal Reader, I have bought a new car in less time than this person took conducting their business at the counter. I said nothing, but I do confess to glowering at the floor in exasperation. I said nothing to them as they finally left , and was my usual pleasant self to the employee behind the counter. It wasn’t their fault that the previous customer had taken as long as they had to, and as a longstanding veteran of “dealing with the public” myself, I knew that the shopkeeper would appreciate my treating them with courtesy.

Peter Honours International Women’s Day

Monday, March 8th was “International Women’s Day”, so that’s what I will be writing about, or at least one aspect of it.

Let me begin by restating how much I support the strong women whom I am lucky enough to have in my life. I admire your enthusiasm, your tenacity and your strength. Many of you have been a major influence on me, and helped me understand a lot of things that life has thrown at me, both personally and as part of a collective, be it music, work or basic human rights issues.

Peter, Coffee, House Rules, and Snoopy

Last week’s column generated some positive feedback, and I appreciate those who took the time to get in touch with me. As a writer, I want to inform people and let them know that they are not alone and that there are resources and opinions available to assist them in resolving the situation that they are dealing with. I will be doing more writing about toxic people, but this week I will write about something a little more pleasant, a bit easier to read.

Peter – Toxic People

I am dedicating this week’s column to my dear late girlfriend Lois. After her passing, I had to go through her private papers and found proof that she had had dealings with toxic people in her past. It made me very sad to know that even that part of her life had not been pleasant. So this week, my topic is toxic people.

A Peter Pot Pourri

As today marks my late girlfriend Lois’ birthday, I am thinking of her. I am happy to have had her in my life, and will hold her in my heart. I know that she would be pleased that I have been lucky enough to have found a new love, and it is almost eerie how similar she and Betty are. I will dedicate next week’s column to Lois, as the subject will be “toxic people”, and I want to do a thorough job on the subject.

So this week, a brief “pot pourri” it is.