Stella Reddy's Story of Hope

Reading Time: 5 minutes

A Confession:

I am still a little bummed that someone I don’t know is cybersquatting on the stellareddy.com domain: an experience that left me feeling disappointed but not surprised. When I contacted GoDaddy, they explained they were acting as a broker for the person trying to sell the domain and are now looking into whether this situation breaches their policies. So far, I’m still waiting for their reply.

I also reached out directly to the domain registrar this morning, sharing my concerns about the attempted profiteering on my name and how the registrant seems to expect I would pay more than CAD $4000 just to reclaim it. That won’t be happening. Thankfully, every domain registrar has an Abuse Policy I can use! I have come to understand that I have every right to complain; it is my name!

It’s disheartening that there are individuals out there hoping to exploit others’ challenges for personal gain. Still, everything I’ve learned over the past nine years about human behaviour and resilience has given me the tools to manage my emotions and keep moving forward. I know I will get over my disappointment!

Another Confession:

I am still a bit bummed over losing our beautiful Angelfish, Sunshine, last week. Hubby and I cleaned the tank the weekend, and I missed seeing her chase the vacuum I use to clean up the bottom substrate. I got hubby to finish the vacuuming instead as I got emotional. I miss seeing her bright yellow going around the tank.

Tiger, the striped Angelfish, misses her as well, I think. Zippy, the pleco, is just zipping along! He has grown quite a bit this past month, tho. I greatly enjoy watching the fish and am thinking of getting some more takemates for them. Maybe some Mollies!

Recovery Time

I spent most of last week in recovery from all the physical activity from the week before. I get worn out when hubby is on vacation! We spent so much time playing Tourist that my body needed a break.

I did manage to go downtown to the Pedestrian Mall on Friday to catch some of the Drag Queen Show scheduled there as part of Pride Month, though I missed the Pride Parade on Sunday. I do feel a bit bad. It’s the first one we missed since moving back home in 2020, but I was just not physically up for the trek and all the standing around. I have seen pictures and other people’s videos, so that helps.

I also got to see a Police woman on Horseback Friday, as noted in the picture above. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) still patrol on horseback here, and I love seeing them around the City.

Physically, my body is slowing down and I can’t do as much as I could before. Every year I feel the difference in my stamina, but I am adjusting to it. I am prepared for the day when I can’t move on my own steam…

A Quiet Week

It’s been a quiet week so far, and the weather has changed a bit. It has been so hot here lately!I thought I got away from the hot, muggy weather! It has been cold and wet the past couple of days, but I have to go out this afternoon to get a few things at the Grocery Store. I don’t mind the rain, thankfully!

I spent some time in the backyard this week, sitting in the sunshine reading my book. I am still reading the hardcover of “Let Them Theory” by Mell Robbins. It is a very interesting book and so many things for me to try!

Trade Wars

Yes, I have noticed food prices have gone up here recently due to the Tariffs from the US, but I still buy local as much as possible. I am glad hubby and I can afford it. Thankfully, NL has  Farms! I haven’t bought a US food product in many months as part of the “Buy Canadian” going on here. Our local grocery store helps by placing Canadian products front and center, but I don’t see many American products there anymore anyway.

I have been following Prime Minister Carney here in Canada on the Tariffs, and I am impressed by his strategy. He knows he can’t control the US, so he is focusing on what Canada can do: which is diversify our Trade with other Countries and build more manufacturing here in Canada. The next few years are going to be interesting!

Canada now has more Free Trade agreements with other Nations, such as the EU, Australia, and now Mexico. Imagine using Cargo Ships to bring products back and forth with Mexico, totally bypassing going through the United States! That was a smart move!

Canada also just completed its first LNG shipment to South Korea! That is BIG! I expect more to come now.

Canadian Provincial Premiers are meeting in Ontario today with PM Carney to discuss what else our Nation can do to get away from our reliance on the US. While Canada knows we will never have Free Trade with the US anymore (Trump is too determined to make money off other Countries), there are ways we can minimize the impact of them.

I have come to see in recent months that Donald Trump is determined to affect the Economies of other Nations with his Tariffs, but there are ways that they don’t hit so badly. I truly feel bad for Americans.

You will never satisfy Trump; there will always be something else he wants from you to make a deal with the US. So, Countries might as well move on and find a way around the US. At least till Trump is gone!

One thing I have learned is that nothing lasts forever. Eventually, Americans will fight back enough and get Trump impeached again. I live in hope!

Upcoming!

The next few weeks will be interesting for me. Hubby and I have tickets for the George Street Festival for next weekend,  August 1, to see Blue Rodeo! Kellie Loder is also playing that night, and I am so excited to see them! As you know, I love Kellie Loder’s music and I have shared some of it here. Blue Rodeo is also a fav of mine! It will be an exciting night and I am so looking forward to it! I might even have a beer, who knows?

Another Music Concert is scheduled for October when Foreigner is coming! Hubby and I have had tickets to that one for months, as they sell out pretty quickly. I LOVE their music and it will be exciting!

Next week, July 30th, is also the St. John’s Royal Newfoundland Regatta. I love watching the boat races and taking in the many Stalls with games of chance and selling wares set up all around Quidi Vidi Lake. I will try really hard to make it there this year, as it is so much fun!

August

August is also another month of fun for us as hubby has another week off, it’s our Wedding Anniversary month (our 29th), and I am trying to make it to the West Coast of Newfoundland to meet with my Dad when he is there towards the end. So many exciting things!

It’s the timing I am having issues with, as my Dad is on the West Coast of Newfoundland into early September, and I have to be here for the 3rd of September. I am off to the Mainland again for a week with one of my siblings to visit our Mom. Our other sibling from Ontario is also going to meet us there. It will be the first time we are all together with Mom in many years, so I am looking forward to that.

I am very much looking forward to hugging her! I haven’t seen my Mom physically since she left Ontario the summer of 2019 to visit my other sibling there, and decided to stay and not return. I talk to her all the time through Messenger, but it isn’t the same as being around her. My Mom is 79 now, and she has many health issues, including early Dementia, so this visit is important to all of us.

I am looking forward to all the excitement the next few weeks will bring me! More trips, more family time, and an awesome Wedding Anniversary to look forward to in between!

I am so very grateful I get to experience all these things. I am living in the moment, from one to the next, and it is a great way to live!