Last chemo of the decade

Woke up with a sore throat but put it down to sinuses and went out anyway.  Picked up Mae and arrived at the Cancer Agency for bloodwork at 10.  Saw Stephanie a bit later and my temperature and blood pressure were normal.

Read the papers and then had lunch in the cafeteria.  Went to Mae and Darline at 12 for Therapeutic Touch.  I fell asleep during and after.

Chemo was at 1 and it went well.  I was in my car by 2:15.  Stopped at Safeway and then home.

I am really tired and keep falling asleep.  My throat is still sore.  I'm supposed to watch out for a fever and am to call the doctor on call at the Agency if I get one.  Awe well, I hardly ever catch anything.  Maybe I'll to to my GP next week for my hayfever nasal pump.  It usually clears up the sinus problem.

A Day in Whistler

Left about 8:30 (I fell back asleep).  Started with a latte and a stop to fill up the gas tank.  Took a pit stop in Squamish for the bathroom and to put on the boots.

Arrived at Connie's at about 10:45.  She cooked us a great lunch and then we spent the afternoon playing with our iPhones.  Poor Mae.

By the time Mae and left at 3:30 it was snowing!  Kevin cleaned off my car and off we went.  It was like driving through a postcard.  The road was fine and the traffic was only bad at Tayor Way.  I peelled off and went to Ambleside for dinner.  The counterflow lane was gone by the time we tried again and it was clear sailing.

Finally made it home at 8.  I'm tired but it was worth it!

Laundry day

Mel hasn't been for a while so I did a load of laundry today.  Started the next RTA newsletter as the deadline for submissions is next week.

Watched the Junior Hockey game - it is fun watching tomorrow's stars trying to impress the scouts.  Listening to Canucks on radio at the same time was confusing.

The Year Ticks Down

Tired again today.  Actually fell asleep and missed the end of Perry Mason and then did it again during the Junior Hockey game.

Didn't feel like cooking so went to the White Spot for pumpkin soup, turkey and pumpkin pie.

Boxing Day

Too tired to get back up to write last night when I realized I had forgotten.  Slept in until 11 yesterday morning.  Decided that meant I needed a day of nothing.

Watched Annie, The Incredibles and The Sound of Music.  Good way to spend a day.

2nd Christmas

Met Matt, Andy, Lily and Sadie at the Coquitlam White Spot for brunch and then home for presents.  We all did well! I even came away with fresh cookies.

Found 3 caches nearby and then was home by 5.  It wasn't as foggy as the morninging.  The drive to Port Moody was interesting.  Couldn't see half a block in spots.  I wish everyone would turn on their lights so the rear ones are on!

Sad to hear that Janet's stepdaughter died yesterday.

Merry Christmas

Thought I'd go to see Sherlock Holmes this morning but there were too many people at the theatre.  Failed to find 2 nanos nearby - I hate nanos!

Had a quiet afternoon and went to Pru's at 4:30.  I think there were 14 in the end.  A great dinner, as always.  We watched football and played some Texas Hold'em.

Came home at 11:30 - very tired.  I don't do crowds and noise very well.

Christmas Eve

Not sure where the day went!  Went to Safeway and Starbucks this morning for a few things and then home to read the papers.  All of a sudden it was dark out and it was time to eat dinner. 

Watched White Christmas.  It had been long enough that I forgot the plot.  Still enjoyable after all these years.

Made Killer Cranberry Sauce so I don't have anything to do tomorrow morning.  Even did the dishes.

Back to my book - 206 Bones.

500

Lunch was cancelled today so I did a bit of shopping and finished off the geocaches I needed to get to 500.  This was my goal before Christmas.

Tired!

Louise came with her old car this morning and I led the way to Amix Salvage & Sales in Whalley.  She was giving it up under the BC SCRAP-IT® Program.  I took her back home was and headed to White Rock by 11:00.

Found Lori and Pam who had been geocaching.  We had lunch at Dairy Queen and set off in my car.  We continued until 3:00 when I had to take Lori back to her car.  Pam and I continued until dark.  I found 7 and am now at 496.

There was a crash at the tunnel so I had to go around to the Fraser Bridge.  So tired when I got home!!

 

 

Shopping with Mae

Drove Mae around several shops in Vancouver and Richmond.  We had lunch at Brown's Social and then I took her back home.

Had a couple of hours at home and fell asleep for about 1/2 and hour. 

Met Louise at the Cactus Club for dinner and to our group meeting at the Cancer Agency.  We had 9 tonight and there were several treats.  I took shortbread.

My ear was a problem when I woke up but was better during the day.  Both are noisy so I should go to the ear specialist soon.

David's 30th

Up early and made shortbread.  Also finished my cards but can't find the stamps.  While looking, I found my wrist brace!  Decided not to print 6-page letter to go in the cards.  I emailed it to all but 3.

Took my presents to Pru's so I won't have so much to carry at Christmas.  We then went to David's 30th birthday party at Chris's.

My hands didn't like all that kneading this morning and my ear is wonky tonight.

Applause

Picked up 4 reserves at VPL (why do they all come at once?) and found a new geocache near Vancouver College. Did it with just the iPhone.  The GPS is far more accurate.  I only found it by persevering.

Found a box of Japanese oranges at Stong's.  Safeway only sells the Chinese knock-offs.

Was going to bake today but didn't have the energy for it.

Met Moira at Applause for a perfect Japanese dinner and then picked up a latte at Starbucks.

My hands are sore again.  I guess I'll have to buy a new brace since I haven't seen mine for days.

Shopping done

Made the rounds of stores in Richmond and Burnaby this morning and finished my Christmas shopping by noon.  Even wrapped it all tonight while watching the Canucks.

I still haven't mailed my cards.  Tomorrow will be cards and shortbread.

Odd day

Picked Mae up at 9:45 and went to the Relaxation Group at the Cancer Agency.  Upstairs at 11:30 for bloodwork.  I missed the note to fast yesterday so did that today and the nurse added another glucose test.  Finally went to the cafeteria for lunch at 12.

Read my book for a bit and then tried to pick up my prescription but there was no record of it.  I said I'd be back after my chemo and settled in for today's treatment.  It always goes faster when there is someone else there who is talkative.  Afterwards I went back to the pharmacy and my pills were ready.

I know what I want to buy Lily for Christmas and can see it on the Internet but no one is selling it here.  Maybe I'll order it for her birthday and find something else for Christmas.  I sat outside Toys 'R Us and looked up all local toy stores on my iPhone and called them (by just pushing the phone number on the website).  No luck but it saved a lot of driving.

I was tired so just went straight home after that failed shopping attempt.

Appointment day

Picked up Mae and we went the Cancer Agency at 7:45.  Mae went to physio at City Square and I had my bloodwork and then breakfast. 

Walked to Broadway to see my oncologist.  Things are still stable.  My trial nurse never showed so another did the questionnaire and gave me my new pill diary.  

Just made it for start of Sydney's group for women with metastatic cancer.  Excellent group but one had died on Friday so there were a lot of tears.  One made a good point that we were expecting our doctors just to keep us stable, not cure us.  We went to Ebisu on Broadway for a great lunch.

Did some Christmas shopping on the way home.  Bought new tips for my walking sticks.  

 

Sjogren's Syndrome

The snow disappeared quickly last night so I had no trouble making the 9:30 appointmen with the rheumatologist.  He thinks I might have Sjogren's Syndrome - an autoimmune disease. It would explain the deterioration of calcium the x-rays show in my wrists and a bunch of other symptoms.  So I now have a new pill - hydroxychloroquine sulfate.  At least my eye exams will now be paid for to watch for side effects.

Did some Christmas shopping in Richmond and then visited Weir a lunchtime.  Hardly anyone left I taught with.  Rum was out but came back at 1:15 so I could pick up my Purdy's order.

Stopped at Safeway for the pills and then home.

Snow!

I wasn't 100% today so decided to stay in. I only went to the car to retrieve my snow boots.  Finished writing my Christmas letter but haven't printed yet.

Tomorrow should be interesting.  It is snowing right now and there might be 15 cm.  I have a doctor's appointment at 9:30.

Headache

As you can see, I am late posting this one.  I woke up with a headache yesterday and it kept coming back through the day.  Finally went to bed hours early.  Slept for a couple of hours and then not much through the night.  Fell asleep again around 6 and woke up at 10.  Probably got 8 hours but very disjointed.  

Had plans to do housework and write Christmas letter yesterday.  Will carry on today.

EnChor

Went to Callanish this afternoon for their Holiday Celebration.  The choir that sang with and for us was amazing.  It is called EnChor and you have to be 55 to join.  They spread out in between the audience a couple of times and the effect was amazing.

Found a cache in Richmond and failed at a 2nd.  Did a bit of shopping and then home to enjoy the Canucks.

Baker's Dozen!

Started the day with a COSCO meeting at Hasting Community Centre.  Coffee wasn't ready - should have stopped at Starbucks.  The meeting was only an hour with goodies to follow.  They were mostly desserts - too early!  Left at 11 to go geocaching.

Found 7 caches in Coquitlam to finish off A Baker's Dozen Challenge!   When Lori and Pam catch up, we are off to Saanich to find the challenge final.  It tried snowing all day without much success. 

Stopped at Oakridge for groceries and then home.

Heritage

At the VSB for a Heritage meeting at 10 this morning.  We are digitizing photos and hoping to find space to open an actual archives.

Had lunch, visited, browsed Chapters and Restoration Hardware and then to Granville Island for groceries.

Picked up a reserve at VPL and was home by 2:30.

Geocaching mania

Set out early this morning for Langley area and found 12 caches - only have one to go (7) to get my Baker's Dozen.  I am now up to 480 finds and am about 400th in the province.  Might make my goal of 500 by the end of the year.  It was cold this morning.  I was glad to have my Cowichan sweater and hat and my Olympic mittens!

Mistletoe Luncheon

Sad day today.  I Cheryl's name on the side of my Facebook and decided to catch up.  Suddenly I realized the posts were from friends talking about her death.  She had been on the Callanish retreat with me and was a teacher in Ottawa.  She died last month - a funny, compassionate woman.

MAHONEY, Cheryl (Sherry) Ann May 11, 1959 - Nov. 5, 2009

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sherry at the age of fifty of ovarian cancer. Beloved daughter of Ann Mahoney and step-daughter of Karl deZeeuw. Cherished mother of Robert & Jeremy. Step sister of Clifford, Nancy and Dina. Loving niece of Theresa, John, Mary, Pamie, Vicky and many uncles. Sherry was an inspiring teacher and a great friend. She had a true zest for life and will be missed by all who had the good fortune to have known her. A heartfelt thanks to Alain Lacroix (father of Jeremy), Irene Frail, Maria Luise Hagemeister, family at Voyage Caleche and all of Sherry's many friends.

I went to the Royal Van Yacht Club for the RTA Mistletoe luncheon.  Always a chance to see old friends.  Ate far too much - turkey!

It was really too late to go geochaching and I wasn't feeling great, so headed home.

Laundry day

Did a couple of loads of laundry some housework today.  Didn't have much energy and just wanted to do nothing.

Am addicted to iPhone apps and must not looking for new ones just before bedtime.

Day of Remembrance

Joined other former members of the VESTA Status of Women Committee at Thornton Park this morning for our annual visit to the Women's Memorial.  It has been 20 years since the massacre in Montreal.  It was too windy and cold for our candles so we just placed a flower on each bench.

I skipped lunch with the group and headed to Port Moody and Coquitlam to geocache.  Found 8 for my Baker's dozen - only have 2 more to go!  It was a cold day to be walking around.  I wore my Cowichan sweater and was glad that I had bought the hat to match.  My Olympic gloves were also a big help.

Did some shopping at Chapters and Coquitlam Centre.  Arrived at Matt's for dinner at 5:40.  Gave them my school Christmas collection and a box of decorations.  My cupboards are getting better.  The girls liked the collection of music boxes.

Picked up some groceries at Thrifty's on the way home.  Found a shopping cart up against my car.  It had run down the hill but didn't seem to have done any damage.

Hate stupid people

Got to the bank at 10 to do something that should have been simple and left at 11:30.  Slow person (she needed to tick off a checklist and phone for instructions) and too much paperwork in this time of computers.

Pru and I had lunch at the White Spot and then checked out TV sets at Sunny Electronics Audiotronic on Fraser.  Think I'm getting Sony 40".

Finished at 1:30 and I was just too tired to go geocaching as I had planned for this morning.  Came home and finally fell asleep at 5.

Good book

Read Rain Gods by James Lee Burke in 2 days.  I'll surprise Pru with it tomorrow and she'll have almost 3 weeks to finish it.  I really enjoyed it and was sad to finish.

Hauled out Christmas stuff to take to Matt's and now have made a big mess.

I was tired after yesterday, so stayed in.

Another treatment

Picked up Mae and was at the Cancer Agency for bloodwork at 9:30.  Went to Relaxation after that.  I know I kept falling asleep!  Saw my study nurse at 11:30 and then had my usual lunch (egg salad on toasted brown) in the cafeteria.   Sure is slow service.  I should have walked down to the coffee shop with homemade soup.

Spent my time in the 5th floor lounge with my newspapers, book and iPhone.  Nice to be able to check email and news without using the old computer in the corner.  Of course no one else was using it today - just when I didn't need it any more.  Visited with Mae and Darline in between their therapeutic touch patients.

Stopped at the library and Safeway on the way home.  Too tired to do much else.

Status of Women lunch

Eight of us who were on the the VESTA Status of Women Committee and are now retired met for lunch at Liberty Bakery on Main Street.  Always good to see old friends.  Three of the eight of us have had cancer.

Carried on geocaching since it was such a perfect day.  Found my 5 for the Bakers' Dozen.  It was dark and I was tired, so had dinner at Swiss Chalet instead of coming home to cook.  Was home at 8:00.

 

Full moon

Had a great day of driving around the North Shore.  Started with a cache at Roedde House in the West End and then to West Vancouver.  Found a few there and then had lunch at Troll's in Horseshoe Bay.  There were 3 caches close by.  Worked my way back to North Van and found a 10th.  Of course, by then it was dark and I need the flashlight.  I now need 5, 7, 8 and 12 for my Baker's Dozen. 

Got caught up in traffic on the Upper Levels.  Must learn to trust the warnings on my GPS unit.

The scenery all day was quite amazing - the sun glinting off the ocean, snow on the mountains and a huge full moon.

Red Cross training

Took the 3rd alarm to wake me up in time to get to the Red Cross by 8:30.  Steve, from Telus, gave a workshop on CallCentreAnywhere, the software we use to run disasters.  Our activations are so far apart, I always like taking a refresher.

Out by 12:30 and did some Christmas shopping at Lougheed Mall.  After liver and onions at the Waffle House, I made it home by 3:00.

How many men?

Stayed up late to finish my library book (Plague) and slept in until 10:30. After reading my online papers and doing the banking, I settled down to watch the Grey Cup and cheer for Saskatchewan.  What a boneheaded way to loose a game!!!!!

Now I'm watching the Canucks.  Hope I don't jinx them.

Rainy day

Woke up at 10:45 this morning and was behind all day.  The brace on my right wrist is helping me sleep more.

Bought a Christmas shopping App for my iPhone and when I went through the box I keep presents I've been buying through the year, I am half done my shopping!  As much as a surprise this year as it was last year.

Enjoyed the Canucks and now for Saskatchewan and Green Power!!

Geocaching day

Found a couple of caches in English Bay, one on the Sylvia Hotel and headed for North Van.  Had lunch at the Tomahawk Restaurant - hadn't been there for years.  Great hamburger but the cache was gone.  Found several in the North Vancouver Public Art Program.  Too bad more communities don't follow suit.

Back to Burnaby and finally found a puzzle cache after several of my solutions were wrong.  That let me get 9 in my Baker's Dozen.  When we have them all, Pam, Lori & I are heading to Sidney to find the final.

Leadership training

Woke up at 6 with a headache so took a Tylenol.  Woke up again at 10:45!  Still didn't feel well, so took another pill.

After reading the papers and watching Perry Mason, I decided to head out.  Finally got a haircut.  I can tell I need one when the sideburns get too long.

We had a leadership training session for Red Cross Supervisors led by Pastor Deb Judas from Surrey.  She was very good and it is always useful to have the team doing anything together outside of a disaster.  We split off into our funtion groups to brainstorm suggestions to improve things. 

Forgot to take my cancer pill this morning so did tonight.  Duh!

Bone Density

My oncologist wanted me to have a bone scan. Had it at Oakridge today.  Certainly one of the easier tests to have.  My last one showed I was in great shape but they want to see if the treatments are doing any damage.

Picked up my thyroid prescription and groceries at Safeway and then home.  Too wet to geocache.  Hard to write on the logs when the rain is pounding down.

Harrison Swim

The weatherman predicted a nice day with rain later on and he was right on.  I drove out the Lougheed Highway towards Harrison Hot Springs.  Found several caches along the way.  Had to take a photo of myself next to the Source of the springs and post it for an Earth Cache.  I am now up to 436.

Rewarded myself with a swim at the public pool and then found a couple more in Agassiz.  Had to stop when it got dark and began to drizzle.

Had dinner at the Chilliwack Airport - steak sandwich and Cran-Ap-Peach Pie!  Not much traffic on the drive home.

Forgot to take my pill with me (I have a 12-hour window) and then spilled my thyroid pills in a water-filled sink.  Had been keeping the top loose as I couldn't get the stupid child-proof cap off.

Puzzle Day

Today was a day of rest.  After reading the papers I started tackling some of the puzzle caches I had printed.  A few were pretty easy but others are beyond my simple mind.

The one matching tunes with TV cartoon shows too all afternoon of listening to clips.

Now all I need is a break in the rain to test my results!

Next year!

Poor old Lions.  They shouldn't have been in the quarter finals and it showed.  Montreal outclassed them.

Pam was one ahead of me so I went geocaching this afternoon and am now one ahead of her.  Thought it might be the only break in the rain for the week. 

Decided to use iTouch with my car radio.  I have a line in the glove compartment for it and it doesn't work well with my iPhone.  It doesn't charge it and it disables the phone part.  It would be a pain trying to use the iPhone for geocaching and music.

I put the iTouch back to factory settings and then only loaded music and a book on it.  I borrowed the book from the library - Your Library Without Walls!  Kindles are the hot new thing, but I can borrow books for free from the library and either read them on my netbook or listen on the iTouch. 

I am just watching all the people on TV complaining about the Lions Gate bridge being shut this afternoon.  I was actually going to go across it, but listened to the radio road report when I got in the car.  That is what the radio is for?

Done with car accident

I have now finished all physio for my car accident and my neck feels almost normal.  Mailed off the receipts & the one for the ambulance to my lawyer and it is all up to him now.

Rainy day so I just stayed in and finished the book I was reading.

Drowning in paper

Went out for the paper (to get the TV Guide) and a latte.  When I finished reading, I tackled the piles of paper around the computer.

Paid bills, approved BCCT criminal record check...

Gathered up nearly all the physio receipts and will mail them to my lawyer tomorrow.

Enjoyed the Canucks tonight!

Cycle 7 Day 1

Drove Mae to the Cancer Agency and had my bloodwork done at 10:00.  Left the link in the port-a-cath for the afternoon.  Had a latte and scone with Mae and Darline at Bean So Good.

Hung out in the lounge reading my papers until my treatment at 1:00 -  Cycle 7 Day 1.  Each cycle is 15 days, so I've been on this trial for 105 days!  Things went smoothly and I was out of the building by 2:00.

Picked up some groceries at Granville Island and had a bowl of soup.  Home just after 3:00.

My lawyer called to see how I am doing.  I'll gather up my physio bills and send them to him this weekend.  Then we go fo a settlement.  Maybe by Christmas?

Hail!

Blood test was 7:45 this morning - had to set 2 alarms!  Had breakfast at Sunshine Diner.  As I returned to the Fairmont Building at 9:30 the sky turned pitch black and the hail came pounding down.  By the time I got in the parking lot, everything was covered.  I finally got out and made for the entrance and got soaked.  Bought a wrist splint in the pharmacy.  I'm supposed to wear it to bed.

Dr. Gelmon was pleased with the results of Monday's CT Scan.  My cancer is certainly behaving itself.  She thinks the arthritis could be caused by the drug I'm taking every morning.  If that it true, it is an acceptable trade-off.

I was so tired I just stocked up at Safeway and headed home.  Missed the end of Murder She Wrote when I fell asleep.

Ouch

Went to Dr. Shojania's office in Richmond this morning.  Last time I saw him was at Seymour.  He's the rheumatologist who kept pushing for more tests and found my cancer.

He did a complete exam and thinks the pain in my hands is coming from the wrists.  He ordered several Xrays and blood tests and I'll see him again in a few weeks.  I'm to buy a brace for the right hand to help when sleeping - forgot today.  He doesn't think it is rhematoid arthritis, but might be a kind that comes with breast cancer.  That would be a relief.

It actually wasn't raining.  Did some shopping at Northern Reflections and Roots and then headed out geocaching in Surrey.  Found 6 so am at 425 - 3 ahead of Pam!  Not that I am competitive.

Came home via Queensborough and got groceries at Price Savers on Marine Way. 

The rain cometh

Glad I could be inside for the worst of the rain today.  Had to be at the Cancer Agency at 3:30 for a CT Scan.  The nurse actually found a vein in my arm!  Had to drink 2 bottles of water first so had to plan the rest of my day!

Met Louise for dinner at the Cactus Club.  There were 11 at our support group tonight.

U.S. Visit

Crossed the border before 9 this morning and there were only 3 cars ahead of me.  Outran the rain and started looking for coffee and bathroom in Bellingham.  Wandered around a bit and ended up back in Ferndale.  Tried to find a cache but failed!  Had to give up to get to the airport.

Picked up Pru and Nellie at noon and we had lunch and shopped a bit at Bellis Fair.  The rain picked up as we headed north.  The border lineup was short.  I blew it and moved forward before the green light.  The guard jumped in front of me and yelled to get back.  I was appologetic and she didn't strip search us!

Took Nellie home and she made us tea.  Was home by 5, after dropping Pru off.  The rain wasn't so bad but there were rivelets on several streets.

Rain is back

Didn't wake up until 10 and it seemed to take all day to read the papers.  I did do other stuff in between.  Called Hydro when my bill was over $114 - last time was about $50.  They think they made a mistake in the reading and fixed it.  Pays to check those automatic payments.

Busy week coming up so stayed in today.  Feeling pretty good except for sore hands.

COSCO

Started my day at the Hasting Community Centre in a COSCO (Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC) meeting.  Always interesting.

Since the sun was shining when we finished at noon, I started geocaching.  Found one nearby in Burnaby and drove out the Barnet Hwy.  Went over the new Pitt River and Golden Ears bridges.  What a difference they make.

Had lunch in Fort Langley at Village Coffee & Tea and then bought some wine at The Fort Wine Co. 

First time I've used my iPhone for geocaching without maps or preloading GPS units.  Worked like a dream.  Found the nearby caches and picked the one I wanted.  Then added it to the car GPS to drive to it.  The handheld Garmin seems more accurate so I still used it as well.  Found 3 more to bring me up to 419.  Had to stop as it was dark and cold!

55 Plus

Up early to attend Vancouver Retired Teachers' 55 Plus Seminar at the Hellenic Community Centre on Arbutus.  First was a presentation on the state of our pensions from the BCTF.  This was a repeat of an earlier one I went to but, with a different presenter, I did stay interested.

Next was Identity Theft with George Greenwood.   Picked up several useful tips and bought his book, "In Your Good Name!  Identity Theft: A Canadian Perspective". 

Lunch was Greek Salad, Chicken Souvlaki and pastry.  Very good and nice to be served for a change.

The afternoon was a session on Legal documents you need: Power of Attorney, Wills, and Representation Agreements - a joint BCTF/COSTCO workshop.  Good handout and I learned a lot.  It is time to do that will again.

I left as it finished to get to the BCTF to take off the mailing labels from our big list so they won't get our newsletter mailed.  Only 22 but it is a start in going green.

Had to go to Best Buy to buy a charger for the iPhone battery I bought in the states.  The twit there only sold me half of what is needed.  The fellow serving me gave me ideas for saving power as I have been using it up quickly.

Picked up a couple of reserves at the library and then home.  I was so tired that I fell asleep.

Laundry day

Slept in but up in time for the Remembrance Day ceremonies.  Like it when the announcers on CBC stop talking for 25 minutes.  Too bad our local stations don't follow suit.

Mel could only use 1 machine last week so I did a couple of loads of laundry today. 

Spent the day watching stuff I'd tapes and reading.

Road Trip

Went to the Oakridge Library for a tape to listen to in the car.  Had to go back home to retrieve forgotted iPhone.

Picked up Pru and Nellie at 11.  We stopped at the Bay so they could buy Olympic gloves to take as presents to San Francisco.  Nellie got me a pair, too.  Mad that they are made in China but at least some of the money goes to the athletes.  They are comfortable.

We had about a 30 minute wait at the border and then headed for the closest Starbucks - love my GPS.  They checked in at Bellingham Airport early and we headed back to Bellis Fair for lunch (really good chili at Red Robin's) and some shopping.

Left them at the airport at 2:45 and headed south.  I was out of everything I like from Harry & David's.  I realized yesterday that the store at the outlet mall near Burlington had been closed, so had to drive to Seattle Premium Outlets at Marysville.  Loaded up on goodies and headed back.  Stopped at Ivar's for dinner at Bellis Fair and was home by 8:10.

Geocaching didn't fit in today.  Maybe when I pick them up on Sunday? 

I'm feeling pretty good but have a new rash.  It could be a side effect of the trial drug.  When I have to do a survey for them, they keep asking if I am embarrassed by a rash. 

Ready for the snow

Took my car to Open Road to have regular check-up and have the snow tires mounted.  Arrived at 2 and left at 5.  They now have wireless so I could use the iPhone.  Love that I can switch from the cell 3G network to WiFi when it is available. 

Finished the extra issue of the Vancouver Tabloid and sent it off to the printers.

Road trip to Bellingham Airport tomorrow!

Dim Sum

Stayed up playing games too late last night and slept in until 11:30.  Met Pru, Lucas and his girlfriend for Dim Sum at Li Garden Restaurant on Victoria Drive.  We ordered far too much food!

Did a bit of shopping and then home.  The day drifted away.   Address:

Drizzly day

Glad to stay in and get caught up on paperwork (sort of).  Finished 1st draft of RTA newsletter and sent it to my proof readers.

Played with iPhone.  Stuff from iTouch moved over nicely.  It used my WiFi in the apartment so doesn't count as air time.  Now I need to sell my iTouch, GPS and Palm.

Had dinner at Chris's and watched Secret Agent - early Hitchock.  Didn't spot him in the background but learned that he was coming down the gangplank in the beginning.

iPhone!

Met Lori in New Westminster.  Ran into Mr. Gulllable at the 1st site and he was raving about his iPhone.  He also found the cache that had eluded me on several occasions!  I counted 11 finds.  One was a multi that took us on a tour around the heritage houses.  We stopped at the Waffle House for lunch and bathroom.  

Stopped at London Drugs for the toilet paper I forgot yesterday and then to Telus at Oakridge.  Bought 16GB iPhone.  Figure I haven't gone on many holidays since starting this clinical trial.  Also should be getting money from the car accident.  Anyways, Louise says I should spend, spend, spend!  I have to stop playing with it and finish reading the papers.

Signs of mice in the kitchen.  The landlady came up this morning and got an exterminator in.  

Fur in the kitchen?

Spent the whole day at the Cancer Agency.  Started with bloodwork at 10:00 and then saw one of the trial nurses at 10:30.  Had my chemo at 2:15 and things went well.  Always easier when they leave the needle in after the bloodwork.  Saw Dr. Drysdale at 4:30 and didn't get back to my car until after 6 ($12 in parking).

Stopped at Oakridge for groceries and then home to find fur on the kitchen floor.  I thought I heard a mouse last week but Mel cleaned out the cupboard with food and there were no signs.  Where did the fur come from?  A ghost cat fight?  I don't have a cat.  I've left it alone and will get the landlady to come in tomorrow morning.

Walking in Burnaby

It is supposed to start raining so I went caching in Burnaby today and found 4.  Didn't find more and that!  Some people just don't get how hard it is to bushwack when you aren't a Boy Scout.

Met Matt and Andrea at the Oakridge White Spot after the kids got their H1N1 shots.  Didn't seem to phase them at all.  They were really well behaved and enjoyed their Pirate Paks.

I am really tired tonight and my knees are cranky.

400!

It was such a nice day, I headed off caching.  Found one in Richmond and then my 400th in Delta!  Failed on the 2nd part of 2 multis. 

Running out of time to get through the tunnel and to Tupper by 4 so had to stop.  Just made it in time for talk on problems with our pension plan. 

H1N1

Off to my GP's office this morning to get the results of blood tests.  Three of them indicate that I probably have rheumatoid arthritis.  He called Dr. Shojania's secretary and said I needed a quick appointment.  I got a call later to book for November 17th.  I've seen him several times in the past and like him a lot.

Got my flu shot.  The clinic had set up a nurse in an office just to give the shot and I only had a wait of a couple of minutes.

Picked up some groceries at Granville Island just as the rain started.

Although I slept well last night, I fell asleep this afternoon!

Monster Ball

Mel and the kids came to clean and do the laundry.  Could only do 1 load so I'll have to do some myself.

Found the Monster Ball cache today after finding several monster movie caches to glean clues.  Pam and Lori worked it out and we found it!  Much easier than a couple of nights ago when we were looking in the dark and rain.  I carried on to find a few more and am at 398.  Had to stop when it got dark - an hour earlier!

This little fellow was in my way at one cache.  I think it is a weasel.

Happy Halloween

Realized I had a cache starting with each letter of the alphabet and could log one called ABC.  Found it near Guilford and also picked up an easy one in New West on my way.  This let me log my 2-cache-day in the Baker's Dozen.

Stopped at Chapters and had lunch at Mr. Mike's - 1st time in 30 years!  Met Matt & Andy as they came back from the kids' swimming lessons.  Gave them my Halloween stuff that I decorated my desk at school with.  Cleaning out the cupboards!  Sadie's no dummy.  She asked for a glass of milk and permission to go for a nap.  This is a kid who knows how to get ready for Halloween!

Picked up groceries at Thrifty's and headed home down the Barnett Highway.  What a beautiful drive at this time of year.  There were hundreds of kids Trick or Treating in the stores on Hastings in Burnaby.

Sure has been quiet around here this year.  Hardly any fireworks.

Tired? Yup!

Dropped Purdy's order off at Weir.  Sad to see the library closed.  The principal chose not to replace the person who worked Fridays.

Met Lori and Pam to do a multi cache of monsters.  We found 4 in Burnaby but failed on 1, even with 3 pairs of eyes looking.   Stopped at Renfrew Library to use the computers for some clues from monster movies and headed to where we thought the final was.  Wandered around in the dark and rain but didn't find it.

Retreated to the White Spot to recover.

Publish Post

Time to get up?

Didn't get dressed today.  Watched TV and caught up on emails.  Started the next issue of the RTA newsletter and have it half done.  Figured out how to put a box of headlines from my news blog on the RTA web site.

Lost one cache from Victoria. The slip of paper I found with someone else's name on it wasn't in the real cache.  It was nearby.  I deducted the find and will have to return. 

I am trying to break codes for caches and failing.  My father was in cryptology during WW II and would be disappointed in me.  One is:

¿³²»®½¨©°½¨µ³²¯ÝÜ¿½¿´¹Üµ¯Ü°³¿½¨¹¸Ü½¨Ü
²ÈÅLÜÍÊÒÌÅÈÜ«ÍÎÏLÜÌËÒÈÏÍÜÆÕ

 

Home

Did more geocaching in Oak Bay today.  Ended up a couple of blocks from the Blethering Place so went again for lunch.  Found 8 today but ran out of those I'd preloaded and marked on a map.  Another argument for an iPhone!   My total for the trip is 33 and I am now in the top 500 in BC with 390 finds.

Remembered to stop in Sidney for a bottle of Victoria Gin.  Tried Marley winery but it was closed during the week.  The web site had said it was open but they are having family problems.  Too bad, I liked their wine.

Saw by the highway sign that the 4:00 ferry was full and the 5:00 was 44% full so decided to get in line at 3:30.  The ticket seller said there was a good chance I'd make the 5.  They started loading the 4 and we all got on!  It was an extra sailing, probably because of the U2 concert.  The traffic trying to get through the tunnel went for miles so I bypassed it and went to New Westminster via Queensborough.  Longer but I never slowed down.

I am tired and my hands are sore, but glad I took the trip.

Blethering around Oak Bay

Found 15 today, for a total of 24 on this trip.  I am at 382.  Gave up when it got dark.

Had tea and a scone a little coffee shop and then lunch was at The Blethering Place, where I used to go with my aunt.  Just walked across the street for dinner at the White Spot so I could come back for the hockey game.

I slept well again last night but am sore and tired now.

DEAR in the Leg

Slept well last night and read newspapers online until the rain stopped.  Took a bus downtown and found some caches around the harbour.

Met the group TLs from Vancouver and Victoria for lunch at Milestones.  We entered the House at 1 and were all settled in for the 1:30 Question Period.  The behaviour of MLAs hasn't improved over the years.  We all wanted to tell them to behave.  Got mentioned Hansard http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/39th1st/H91026y.htm

Found another cache in Chinatown on the walk back to the hotel.  Had to wait for the bell at the Chinese school to ring to get the munchkins out of the way.  Ticked off with how the Olympics have dealt with the Cowichan Indians over the sweaters, so bought one at the Cowichan Trading Company.  Has a label and serial number to prove it is real.

Alana picked my up at 6:30 and we had dinner at Bard & Banker in an old bank building.  Victoria is full of old buildings that have been brought back to life.

Victoria

Caught the 9:00 ferry this morning.  Wanted to be here for tomorrow's Question Period.  A large group of teacher-librarians will be in the House at 1:30 to help celebrate DEAR - Drop Everything and Read Day.

Found 6 caches on the drive here.  I am staying in the Traveller's Inn-Downtown.  Cheap and has free internet and parking.

Went to Liz and Hans's house for dinner.  Always enjoy visiting them.  Their house is in the middle of renovations and looks great.  Turns out Julie and her husband were on the ferry that passed mine in Active Pass.

Slept in

Wasn't feeling well last night and fell back asleep after my alarm went off.  Moira woke me up at 10:20, calling from the ferry.  She had a call from the BCTLA meeting, asking if she knew where I was.  I got up and felt better after a shower.

Arrived at the Sandman Vancouver Airport nearly 2 hours late.  Touching how worried they had been.  We had a productive meeting of Chapter Reps from around the province.  Stayed in the bar for a drink and to visit for a while at the end.

Home in time to see the end of the Canucks game.  Packing tonight for Victoria.

Champions of Literacy

Had to be at Richmond High at 7:30 for the BCTLA Conference, Champions of Literacy.  Well organized but cold in the larger spaces.  Went to a couple of sessions and skipped to 3rd to rest.  The Executive had a meeting after it was over.

Several were staying at the Sandman Vancouver Airport (old Airport Inn) so we had dinner at their restaurant, Chop Steak Fish Bar - Creamy Seafood Chowder:
bay scallops, clams, prawns and a variety of fin fish and 1/2 a Rack of Lamb:
grainy mustard rub and savoury bread crumb crust, finished with merlot and garlic demi-glace, served with infused mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.  Very good but expensive.

Dr. Brough's office called to book an appointment as my blood test yesterday indicated rheumatoid arthritis.  I'll see him a week Monday.  This will be why my hands have been so painful.

A day late

The Blogger site was down last night and I couldn't post. I am now at the BCTLA Conference at Richmond High and they have wifi so here is what I wrote last night.

What a long day! Stopped at Safeway to pick up stuff I keep forgetting to buy & the newspapers. Picked up Mae and dropped her at VGH to visit a patient.



Renewed my house insurance at BCAA. Knew I'd seen a notice but don't know what pile of paper it is in. It was overdue but they were still covering me.



Dr. Brough gave me a flu shot and didn't agree with yesterday's resident's diagnosis of carpal tunnel. He thinks it is rheumatoid arthritis making my hands so painful and did a blood test to check for markers.



Back to the Cancer Agency in time for little surpise 80th birthday party for Darline. Cake for breakfast! Enjoyed a bowl of soup and a scone at Bean So Good.



The pharmacy couldn't find my pills this morning but they were there when I returned. My chemo was delivered on time so the treatment went quickly. Even quicker as I was watching a free NFB film, Marianne's Theatre, on my iTouch. You can download films for 24 hours.

Stayed in the lounge reading until it was time to see Dr. Drysdale. She was late but my book was good.

Stopped at Oakridge library to return stuff and at home to change.

The BCTLA's 2009 Conference began tonight in Richmond with a wine and cheese at the Richmond Olympic Oval. What an amazing building! We had tours in small groups. Can't wait to watch the speed skating on TV.

2009 Conference

I'm awake!

Blood test was 7:45 this morning.  Hard to get up that early!  Went to Mae's for breakfast and then to Fairmont Medical to see my oncologist.  The lot was full so I parked next door at Willow.  Had trouble with the ticket machine and just left it.  Needless to say, I had a $75 ticket ($45 if paid in 7 days).  I called the number on the ticket and explained just what had gone wrong.  The machine did keep $3.50 of my money.  The man was quite polite and finally said all was forgiven.  I hadn't even asked for that!

Dr. Gelmon says my tests show I'm holding my own.  The thyroid markers are actually normal so I have to watch now for an overactive thyroid as I keep on the pills.

Stopped at London Drugs and Safeway and then home to fall asleep!

Laundry

Did a couple of loads of laundry today.  Need clean things for trip to Victoria.

Bought some clothes at Northern Reflection & Mark's Workwear World.  Needed some warmer tops that unbutton to get to the port-a-cath.

Canada Line Bridge

Found geocache #357 near the Richmond side of the Canada Line bridge.  Walked up the wonderful bike/pedestrian sidewalk to take some photos.

Did some shopping at Chapters, London Drugs and Cobbs and then home.

Met Louise for dinner at Cactus Club and then to our support group at the Cancer Agency.

Go Lions

After a scary start, the Lions settled down and played better.  How many quarterbacks can one team have?

The day just melted away.  I was pretty tired although I slept well.

Booked my hotel room in Victoria on Expedia for next Sunday & Monday at the Traveller's Inn - Downtown.  Will be in the Legislature for DEAR and then some geocaching.

Monsoon

Easy to forget all those days of sun when the monsoon rages outside.

Drove to Surrey for dinner with Glen and Jane.  Jane is still in a wheelchair after breaking her ankle, so Glen cooked.

Too wet to geocache!  Should finish my book tonight.

Last physio?

Went to physio today.  I'm going to pack up all my bills and forward them to my lawyer.  I think it is time to move tro the next stage.  My shoulders and back are still stiff and sore but I can turn my head both ways again.  It has been a year and I'd like all the money back for the physio.

Shopped at COSTCO and then home to dive back into my book.

Poor Canuck!

Red Cross Training

Did bills today.  Needed to get my Quicken up to speed after not having my computer for so long.  The wife of my Dad's 2nd cousin died and I put her obit into my new version of Family Tree Maker.  It is so much better than the older one I was using.  It merges automatically with Ancestry.ca that I pay for.

Met Jeff, Robin & Karen to work on the training manual for the Red Cross Telus Call Centre.  We agreed on everything.  Love groups like this.

Home by 8:00 and ready to start reading Lost Symbol that I finally picked up from the library today.

FInished

Spent the day working on the Vancouver RTA newsletter and finally sent it off to the printer!  Didn't hear anything from them so I must call tomorrow.

Was going to do other paperwork but was too tired.  Tomorrow!

Callanish

Had to go back to the BCTF building to retrieve the netbook I left there last week.  Duh!

Attended "Strength Within" at Callanish.  3 others from our retreat (the 49ers) showed up today as well.  Janey led the meditation and it was like I'd never left.  It sure comes back easily.  I know I fell asleep a couple of times as someone came to stroke my head.

Stopped at the Sunshine Diner for lunch and ran into Diane and her husband.  If I order eggs benny again, I must ask for a 1/2 order.  Back to UBC and this time found the Bio 101 cache!  Must have looked right at it the last 2 times.

Bought groceries and picked up the full strength prescription for my thyroid at Safeway and then home.  Too tired to continue.  Woke up early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep.

Happy Thanksgiving

It has now been a year since the bus hit my car.  I think one more physio will do it.  I haven't been for a couple of weeks and my neck is pretty good.  Then I'll load up all those bills and ship them to my lawyer.  I've been waiting for rain to get caught up on paperwork.

Finished the RTA newsletter and sent it to my proofreader to check.  Went out to geocache on the last day before the rain begins.  Found 3 but am still stuck by the one near the Biology building at UBC.

Had a turkey dinner at White Spot.

Sunday Drive

Felt like one of those Sunday drives my father used to make my mother take us on (he was blind so she had to drive).  Went back to the IOCO (Imperial Oil CO.) townsite and found a cache.  Found a total of 4 in the area but didn't find another 4 - frustrating, especially when you have to climb about for nothing. 

The day was bright but started clouding over a bit later in the afternoon and there was a bit of a chill.  Still the best place in Canada to be this weekend.

FTF

Had a long sleep but still ached this morning from all the walking.  I also had a headache most of the day, so decided to stay in.  It takes a long time to get through the Saturday papers (online) - Sun, Times Colonist, National Post, Globe & Mail...

Worked on the Retired Teachers' newsletter but I am still short a column.  Can't go to printer until Tuesday so I am not panicking.

Was printing a new copy of the geocaching map of Vancouver and realized a new multi cache had appeared near Marine and Granville. Went to the 1st coordinates and found the clue for the 2nds.  I was the First to Find (FTF) - my 1st!

Busy day

Attended a COSCO meeting at the Hasting Community Centre - The Council of Senior Citizens' of BC.  The speaker from BC Ambulance was interesting

http://www.saveourparamedics.com/

Drove to Delta and picked up Pam and Lori.  We found caches in Richmond, Delta and Surrey.  I had 13 finds to push me up to 348.   Lori and/or Pam had already found a few of these.  We finished off the group in Serpentine Fen just as it was getting dark.

Turned down dinner invitations as I was so sore and tired I knew that if I went into their houses, I wouldn't want to leave again.  I think I will sleep well tonight.  I walked over 8 km and drove about 150 km.

Long day at the Cancer Agency

Went back to Crown and Marine to find the cache we couldn't find yesterday. The photo on the web gave me the clue I needed. Now at 335!

Picked up Mae and was at the Cancer Agency just before 10.  Only gave 1 vial of blood and then waited for Mae & Darline.  We walked across the street to Bean So Good for tea and cinnamon bun.

View Larger Map

I love the new Google Street View. When you can't remember the name of a place, just zoom in!

Met with Stephanie at 11:20. My tumour markers are holding pretty steady. They should be below 30 but have stopped climbing.

I asked about the thyroid and my TSH test (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) was at 5 which means hypothyroidism.  This is often a side effect of the study drug.  Does this mean I am on the real thing and not the placebo?

I went back to Bean So Good for carrot soup and a small bagel.  Spent the rest of the time before my treatment in the 5th floor lounge, reading and listening to my iTouch. 

The drug was delayed about 45 minutes as there was problem mixing it in the pharmacy.  The treatment was fine and the nurse had no problems.  A lot easier when they can use the port-a-cath for everything.

Saw Dr. Drysdale, the shrink, at 3:30.  I had seen her 15 years ago when on Tamoxifen.  She suggested an appointment when we ran into each other a few weeks ago.

Finally home just before 5 pm.   A long day.

RTA Executive

Started the day with an RTA Executive meeting.  Lori emailed during the meeting and asked me to meet her.

Had lunch at Tim Horton's and went to Dunbar Library for a change.  Met Lori at the piece of machinery on Southlands that I visited unsuccessfully yesterday.  We both looked for a good 1/2 hour and she finally found the cache!  Then we worked out a puzzle cache at the foot of Crown.  There are a lot of standing stones along the roadway that were part of the puzzle.  We had to avoid a camera crew filming a documentary that involved a girl running down the centre of the street waving a tree branch.  We solved the clues and reached the cache but didn't find it.  Got some hints from the website and the owner tonight so think we can find it now.

Love the new Google!


View Larger Map

Zzzzzzz

After reading the papers I set out to find a geocache in Southlands.  Looked for 1/2 an hour but couldn't find it.  Gave up on further searches as I was just too tired.  Stopped at IGA for groceries and then straight home.

Fiddled on RTA newsletter and read some.

It works!

Put my computer together and it seems to work. I always thought it was the video card an wish they had replaced it a couple of months ago. For carting the tower & monitor up and down 3 flights MANY times since July, I end up with a new monitor, DVD drive & video card and short $150 for reinstalling Windows. When the warranty is up, I'll never shop at Future Shop again.

The Red Cross meeting was changed to next week so I worked on the Retired Teachers' Assoc. newletter this afternoon and have it nearly finished. Just  waiting for 2 articles.

I as still really tired and my hands hurt.