Halloween

Another day sitting and not doing too much. My foot started hurting after cooking dinner but it has settled down again.

Gonna miss this guy

Tired

I am getting tired of being tired. My foot didn't hurt much once I had it up on the pillow for the day. Just watched TV all day - The View (to see how dumb Elizabeth can be), The Untouchables, Perry Mason and then stuff I'd taped.

Hard to focus on reading or work. I have so many tasks piled up but just can't get to them.

Obama wins

Watched Obama channel JFK. Weird that Larry King did a 1/2 hour interview with McCain tonight for nothing for the same amount of time.

I actually wrote King a letter tonight asking why they don't call McCain on his "I am tested" claim. He crashed 4 planes, got caught, gave up secrets and never commanded anything. He claims now that he was of Cuba during the missle crisis - yes, he was a pilot on a ship! He is an abject failure as a military man. I'd rather have the "untested" Obama who has nothing to prove to his Admiral father & grandfather. They both dropped dead of heart attacks at 61 and 71 - Palin is 1/2 a heartbeat from the nuclear football.

Granville Island outing

Tuesday was a long day for me.

Connie & Mae picked me up at 11:30. The took out my garbage & recycling with was a big help. Connie dropped Mae & me off at Cactus Club for lunch. Mae & I then took a cab to Granville Island. Bought meat, vegetables & bakery treats. Mae took the boat home after Connie met us. Connie & I then had some pie & coffee. Home by about 4:50.

My ankle was quite sore throughout the day. It took a couple of hours propping it up with an icepack to calm it down.

Today will be a quiet day to compensate.

DEAR

At 11 I turned on Aretha Franklin, made a cup of tea and read my signed copy of A Deadly Little List for Drop Everything and Read. Nice article in today's Sun. I had planned on reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that the VTLA sent me. I was savouring the book but when I got close to the end I just had to stay up for the ending. When you care about the characters, the book is a success!

Pru came with milk, yogurt and a box of Mandarin oranges. I forgot the oranges last week and have craved them ever since.

White Spot Outing

My ankle and leg were painful through the night but settled down once I got up and put an icepack on and took some Tylenol.

Moira picked me up tonight. She carried out my garbage and I paid my rent - important tasks. We dined at the White Spot (Thai Chicken Pizza Baked fresh to order. Our thin crust pizza topped with our house-made red curry sauce, Mozzarella, fresh pineapple, Amorosa tomatoes, red onion and house-roasted chicken marinated in lemon grass, curry paste, ginger and cilantro. Sprinkled with fresh bean sprouts, shaved cilantro and mint).

On the way back through the lobby I picked up a couple of days worth of mail. I try to multitask once I've mastered the stairs.

Remember DEAR tomorrow!

Not in Victoria

Well this is the 3rd day in a row that I am not in Victoria. I am keeping a list of all the things I've had to cancel because of this accident.

Good sleep last night but spent part of the afternoon yawning. It most of the day to read the Sun and Globe & Mail. Tonight I listened to the Lions win on radio (blacked out) and watched the Canucks win on TV.

Lawyered up

Better night of sleep.

Ivar, my new lawyer, made a house call. He's the only one I talk to now. I should be in Victoria at the T-L conference!

Actually cooked a bit. I bought the makings of stew and macaroni & beef on Wednesday. One was for dinner and 4 more servings are in the freezer. The stew is just about finished in the crock pot. Now I'll have a better choice of dinner when I don't feel like cooking.

9 weeks

Little sleep last night. Took cab to The Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre. Had X-Rays and then saw Dr. Kelly Ann Lefaivre. She wouldn't have let me leave Emergency without crutches but now that I've been weight-bearing I'll continue. I'll go back in 2 weeks to see if the bone has stayed in place and keep wearing the Aircast when I go out. It will be 9 weeks before I can drive.

Cab to Safeway and filled a cart. By this time the foot was really painful. My old student David from Carleton helped pack everything to be delivered, put me in a chair & called a cab. Turned out the fellow wasn't coming back to deliver for a couple of hours and he phoned to say he put stuff in the cooler so it wouldn't spoil. I always did like him at school!

Was in a lot of pain when and so tired that I fell asleep after the groceries arrived.

ICBC called with the name of the contact from Crawford.

Lawyer Time

More information about the crash today. The bus was owned by Senators Coaches who provide "safe, comfortable and reliable transportation for the premiere names in the entertainment industry" - I wonder who? They are taking responsibility for the accident - helps having so many witnesses. I also have a lawyer now who will be talking to them for me.

Chris came with a gift (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society) from the VTLA Executive & stayed for tea and a visit.

Off to the specialist tomorrow to look at the ankle. If I still have the energy I plan on taking a cab to Safeway & will have groceries delivered.

Didn't fall asleep today but was yawning in the late afternoon. Seemed to take all day just to read the papers. Janet Steffenhagen blogged our Drop Everything and Read today!

More info

Poor sleep last night. My ankle was sore & swollen but that settled down and I just couldn't sleep.

The police called today with the case number I requested last week. They couldn't tell me anything because of privacy rules but at least ICBC can now request the file.

The insurance agent at BCAA left a rude message asking where their cheque was. Glad I took the time to send it back, via Pru, with a letter (cc'ed to the VP of Insurance in Burnaby) complaining about how I was treated last Tuesday.

Outing

Still haven't heard from the body shop, the police or lawyer. ICBC checked in at the end of the day and they are also waiting to hear from the police. I'll wait until tomorrow afternoon before phoning again.

Louise picked me up tonight. She carried down my garbage and took away my library books. We had our regular dinner at the Cactus Club and were able to park right at the corner. Then to our support group at the Cancer Agency. My ankle was swollen and painful after sitting for such a long time. Much better after I had it up for a while with an icepack.

Vase of yellow roses was waiting at my door - from the Sunshine Committee of the Vancouver Branch of the Retired Teachers' Association. Brighten the apartment up! Also a card from Weir.

Sunday

Sat up too long last night and the ankle was swollen. Kept it elevated all day to compensate. This is a lot easier than the broken leg was, but it is still a pain and I am getting housebound antsy!

Had a better night last night and showered again today.

Pru brought much needed groceries.

Am now playing Scrabble with Jane on Facebook while talking to her on phone - multitasking.

1st week

It has now been a week since the accident. I still don't know much. I left a message with the VPD asking for information but they haven't returned my call. I don't know the case number, whether they laid charges, the owner/leaser of the bus or insurance information. That seems like a lot not to know. All I really have is the licence plate number (Mississippi) and the driver information (Florida). ICBC hasn't done any better so far.

I had another quiet day with my leg up. Got brave this morning and had my 1st shower all week.

Body shop

Lousy night. I couldn't get my legs comfortable so gave up and slept in my chair.

Mel came to clean and do the laundry. She stopped at Boyd Autobody to pickup a form. I had to give them permission to start on the "wreck". I faxed it back to them (can't get this old fax machine to receive).

Talked to the ICBC agent and she said the estimate is about $6000 - the limit is $10,400. Still no word about the bus and its owner.

Grilled cheese & tomato sandwich for dinner tonight and the last of the fresh vegetables.

Talked to Mike in Victoria tonight.

Betty Boop - Betty for President - 1932

Last Debate

Quiet day today. Was awake a lot through the night. My foot aches and I just wasn't feeling well.

Stayed in and made full use of my Lazy Boy & laptop.

Obama won the debate. McCain looked old and tired. How can a man who has done nothing in life other than crash 3 planes, get captured & sit in the Senate compete? Palin is 1/2 a heartbeat from the top - that is the only thing that the next 3 weeks should be about.

Election Day

Started my trek with a cab ride to the Cancer Agency for a CT Scan of body & head. Picked up the next 3 boxes of my cancer drug. Visited with Pat in the lobby.

2nd cab ride to GP's office so he could record my aches and pains from the crash. 3rd ride was to the Scottish Hall on Hudson Street to vote. I've never missed a vote and a broken ankle wasn't going to make me miss this one. I asked for a ride home and the Liberal scrutineer arranged it.

Tired enough to fall asleep part way through Perry Mason! The right inside part of my foot is now turning a dark reddish purple.

BCAA admitted after playing telephone tag that they had made a mistake by cancelling my home insurance & sending me a refund cheque. It is all fixed now.

John Cleese on Sarah Palin

Cast

Pru took me to VGH Emergency at 9:00 this morning. We had to wait for a couple of hours for my turn. Always interesting to "patient watch".

The doctor looked at my X-rays from Saturday and agreed that there was a hairline fracture of one of the ankle bones. He sent me away with a referral to an ortho specialist and the Aircast.

We stopped at Max's Deli for lunch and to stock up on food.

I cancelled the hotel in Victoria (actually gave my room to Moira) and will deal with others tomorrow.

My ankle still hurts a lot when I walk. Hope it settles down soon.

Pru left a big plate of food from last night's turkey dinner. It was delicious and there is enough for tomorrow night.

Tomorrow is an adventure by cab - Cancer Agency, doctor & voting.

Broken Ankle

I actually had a pretty good sleep on my back with my leg on a pillow. My day went well but it really hurt whenever I had to stand up. Once up I made sure I had several tasks accomplished before sitting down in my Lazy-Boy again. So glad I got wireless so I can use my laptop.

ICBC called to say that my car will be looked at on Tuesday. Then the hospital called to say they looked at the X-rays again and I do have a broken bone. I get a cast in the morning.

There goes the convention in Victoria and Callanish!

Racism in Canada

The attacks on Obama are racist and the attacks on Dion are as well. CTV went back on its word and that is scary!

Crash

Today started out so calmly. I fiddled around on the computer and then set out for Safeway to but the sugar I forgot yesterday. I made it to 70th & Oak.

I was heading West on 70th in the curb lane. Two lanes of cars to my left started to turn left onto the bridge and I drove straight through the intersection. A large bus pulling a trailer booted it through the red light and hit me on the driver side front. I ended up facing North partway down Oak Street. My front end was smashed, the hood buckled up so you could see the engine and the axle broken.

I hit my head on the side window, hurt my right wrist and have a sore shoulder. My right foot twisted between the pedals and was hurting enough that I decided to just sit still. Many people came over to the car as I called 911. Couldn't see the phone at first as my glasses had been ripped off and were on the floor. The ambulance arrived first and they wanted me out in case the airbag deployed. It hurt to walk so I was put on a stretcher. Took me to VGH and I felt every speed bump! The two men couldn't have been nicer.

Matt met me at the hospital and stayed until I went for X-rays. Nothing is broken, it is just a bad sprain - ice and elevation. A police officer came to take a statement and left me the names of 6 witnesses.

Moira collected me and we got groceries at Safeway and lattes at Starbucks. She carried my bags up the stairs in my 3 floor walkup - I am not going out for a few days.

I am very lucky that I was driving a Toyota Corolla. The front end took all the energy and kept the passenger compartment safe. My problem now is what will happen if they write it off - I won't get replacement value and will have to come up with the difference. Maybe I can sue the driver from Florida who was driving a bus from Mississippi.

Poor Lions

Bought what I need to make my Killer Cranberry Sauce this weekend and forgot the sugar. Have to go back tomorrow.

Poor Lions didn't really show up tonight. Probably a good one not to watch. I listened to it on the radio while watching TV, reading & playing Sudoku.

Canucks are Back

Out to Richmond for some shopping and home in time for hte noon news.

Worked through several piles of paper. Filled in the form for Canada Pension next May. Started catching up on watching TV shows I've taped.

Enjoyed the Canucks first game - 6-0 over Calgary. Good start to the new season.

Wednesday

Didn't do a lot today. Went out for groceries and a few other things. Hard to focus on any task, I have so many. At least I have nothing to do all week. Think I'll just flow with it.

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

2nd Debate

Didn't get dressed today. Fiddles with bills and paperwork. Updated some web sites.

Watched the debate. Agree that McCain looks sick. One commentator thought it was early Alzheimer's. "That one" was either a racist cheap shot or he couldn't remember his name. He got the name of one of the questioners wrong. Very condescending and rambling.

Did something stupid on the spur of the moment a couple of weeks ago that is coming back to bite me. Can't keep using the pills as an excuse for everything I do.

I do need a holiday! Victoria in a couple of weeks, then Callanish Healing Retreat & Houston for Christmas. That might do it.

Religulous

Finally changed all my VISA automatic payments. What a pain! At least the new card doesn't change until 2012.

Picked up Mae & we went to Religulous at the Fifth Avenue. Not many in the theatre but those who were there laughed out loud all through the movie. He really nailed a few people, especially Senator Mark Pryor - I can't believe he is a Democrat!



via videosift.com

It was raining when we came out so we had the drive around Stanley Park almost to ourselves. Stopped to show Mae the new portals by Susan Point (Musqueam) at Totem Park and then Steve's tree near Lumberman's Arch.

Used the first coupon from my Entertainment Book at The Fish House in Stanley Park. We had halibut that was delicious.

Run for the Cure

Woke up before my alarm and got up at 6:30. I love turning them off without ever having to hear them ring.

Met Barb outside her tower and we walked across to the Run for the Cure site. The BCTF had Frisbees for the kids finishing and we had pamphlets and big pink clips at our table. Two cartons of the clips disappeared before the race even began - a big hit.

Saw several teachers. Vancouver didn't have a team this year and we thought maybe we should join the existing BCTF Team and make it open to all teachers.

The rain stayed away and I even needed sunglasses by the time we left.

Home by noon and just sat and watched the latest Bourne movie for the rest of the afternoon.

SNL VP Debate

Windy

Quite windy here all day. I was so glad that the owners had the huge trees in the front properly pruned yesterday. The morningglory is totally gone and there is room between the branches for the wind. They were worrying me in big storms. Today they behaved much better.

Started at the library and then went to the mall at Marine Way & Bryne Rd. There is a large movie lot across the street with storefronts and fake roads. Too bad they don't build in a viewing area.

I like shopping at Market Crossing. I found everything I was looking for in Staples, HomeSense, Linens & Things, PriceSmart, Vancity & Cobbs.

Spent the day with bills. VISA sent new, safer cards. Still can't contact everyone to change automatic billing. I found myself yelling at the Telus Automatic Voice - it must have worked since I was switched to a very nice live man.

Found a new TV station called CPAC at 110 that shows politics all day. Watched some of the debates again. Palin is scary. A piece in the NY Times suggests she is running for President, not VP (see DIGG on side).

OJ Guilty

Took 13 years to the day from the 1st acquital for a jury to get it right! Minimum sentence has to be 15 years.

Forgot to blog yesterday. Did some laundry in the morning and then settled in to watch the 2 debates. Watched the US VP live. Palin was totally outclassed by Biden. She had memorized lots of answers but couldn't match them to the questions. Then watched the rerun of the Canadian leaders. Elizabeth May did surprisingly well. Jack Layton was the most feisty and Dion the most statemanlike. Harper just kept smiling. That smile is as irritating as Palin's wink. Actually, Elizabeth would be a far better VP than Palin.

Picked up Matt this morning and we started with lattes from Starbucks. Then drove around Stanley Park and visited the tree they planted for Steve. It is a giant sequoia and is in the perfect spot (just in front and below the red arrow).

Head Case

Spent 2 hours with a neurologist at the Cancer Agency today. His student did a complete workup. I think I actually knew all the answers (the words I was to remember were face, velvet, church, daisies, red) - if only I remembered everything so easily. I made a story as she read them to me.

I passed everything so the Dr. thinks the problems I'm having with memory are the result of the Arimidex. Just like the chemo brain I had with the chemo and again with the Tamoxifen. My theory is that women are smarter than men because of estrogen.

I am doing the just what he suggests - playing Scrabble & Brain Age - to exercise different parts of the brain. Research shows it helps. Now I don't feel guilty about buying the Nintendo DS.

Stopped at IGA & London Drugs on the way home. Missed the French debate but watched it at 10. Tomorrow the VPs debate is on at the same time as the English debate but again it is repeated at 10.