January 7th – Day 6 of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

Today is a new day and a new opportunity to step up to transcend my previous limitations!

Yesterday went well.  I did my morning aerobics.  I put more focus and effort into each movement.  I felt it for sure,  but I also felt a greater  sense of accomplishment when I was done. 

I met my weekly goal by getting out and about with a visit to Northgate Mall.  Dan drove me and joined me for lunch at the food court.  I had an amazing Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Pork Salad from  Hung’s Happy Kitchen. 

After lunch, Dan left to get gas while I checked out the mall and a few of the shops.  I stopped at the Dollar Store to visit  their Christmas/Valentine/Easter displays.  I did a tour of Fabricland (which was the busiest outlet in the mall).  I checked out the Safeway Store, where there seemed to be more clerks than customers.  And for old time sake, I checked out the kiddie rides.  Twenty years ago, Rory would have loved that dozer!

It is unfortunate how many shops in this mall have closed down.  The place is half deserted.  I’m not sure why.  There are three other major malls in the city that seem to thrive despite the arrival of bigbox stores.

Northgate has a special place in my heart.  I was living across the street from it when I met Dan.  We worked together for eight months before our first date.  We went to a movie.  I chose the movie.  “The English Patient”. 🤦‍♀️ 

Surprisingly, we had a second date.  He came shopping with me to Northgate Safeway.  As a single mother of  three teenagers, working eighty hours a week, grocery shopping was a major event.  When my bill rang up at $250.00 (1997),   Dan asked me how long it had been since I had gone shopping.  

Two weeks later (right on schedule) we were back.  That time the bill rang in at $300.00.  Dan told me I couldn’t be in charge of grocery shopping anymore. 🤣

Dan has been doing our shopping ever since.  He buys in bulk, he checks fliers, and instore sales. He compares brands and price per unit.  He examines eggs and meat, fresh vegetables and fruit.  He reads labels.  He is, no doubt, the better shopper. 

Back to yesterday… Dan returned to pick me up forty five minutes after he left to get gas.  We came home, had tea, and I did a light weight workout. 

Neither of us were hungry for supper, so we skipped that and went straight to our evening wind down. 

Dan watched verious televisoon programs and I took out the new crochet book that I got last week.

As far as flower patterns go, it leaves something to be desired, but it has a LOT of extremely helpful information for beginners or for someone (like me) who hasn’t crocheted for decades.

Winter evenings are problematic for me.  I am not much into television.  Playing mindless, repetitive games on my phone or the computer gets old fast.  And doom scrolling does nothing for my mental or/and emotional well being. 

I am looking forward to challenging my creative skills and talents! And crocheted flowers beats no flowers during our long Saskatchewan winter.

That’s it for today.   Take care and have a great day!

19 thoughts on “January 7th – Day 6 of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal”

  1. I had to look up the term Doom Scrolling, I am guilty… It’s a shame that so many malls have vanished, Anne, I remember enjoying cruising to different malls with my buddies or with my girlfriend. So fun!

    Online shopping has probably a lot to do with how malls are suffering today. Again, guilty. Amazon and other websites make it so easy to shop unless you’ve got to have the wonderful feeling of Instant Gratification!

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  2. It is hard not to Doom Scroll these days. I pick up my phone to look for a recipe and I have to wade through sixteen political rants. 🤦‍♀️
    I’m sure online shopping hasn’t helped, but honestly with most in person service skills nowadays, its easier to deal with a computer. But like you, I miss the mall experience of the past.

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  3. Some of the service people are real punks today, sometimes its a snotty young kid or someone having a bad day that can’t leave that stuff at home and do the job without snapping at people.

    Politics are everywhere, I scroll through so much hateful political garbage on Instagram these days yet some of it can really fill you in on what’s going on in politics as the main stream media are a bag full of liars.

    You’ve got to be extremely careful of what you choose to believe on any platform. There are so many keyboard warriors out there!

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  6. The Northgate Mall is near and dear to me too, Anne! Right after high school, I worked for the summer at the Albert North Dub and lived with my Aunt and Uncle near there. Once I graduated from nursing, I worked for a while at the General, but lived in an apartment on 9th Ave North. On days off, I walked to that mall regularly. Thanks for igniting some old and dear memories!

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  7. It seems you had a nice and successful day and met goals. Enjoy crocheting I tried it years ago but it made me nervous so I didn’t stay with it long. I made a few doilies and a large tablecloth for my mother I didn’t think I would ever get the tablecloth finished and that ended my crocheting days.

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  10. I’m glad I gave you reason to reminisce. The kids and I were living on Lorne Street right behind the mall when I met Dan. I didnt have much time spend at the mall but it was convenient with Walmart, Safeway, Shoppers, and all the smaller shops.

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  12. I find it relaxing, once I get into it. My mother made dozens of lace tablecloths plus more. My sister Elaine crocheted everything – from kids clothes, to tablecloths, to blankets. She was amazing. I dont know if she still crochets but she is still creative!

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  14. My grandmother taught me how to crochet. There are a lot of family members that sew and have amazing talent to do so, but I didn’t get it. I was more into art and taking care of special needs children. There are several chefs in my family too, but as you know I don’t have that gift. 🙂

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  16. sawyer has a collection of penguins so it’s hard to find something unusual for her collection. At least 300-400. Not bad for a 3 year old. (almost)

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