Rough day

I started out well this morning. Arrived at Cancer Agency for bloodwork at 11:00. Asked that the needle be left in the port for the afternoon draw. The first nurse couldn't get the needle in but a 2nd one did it easily.

Had lunch with Mae & Darline in the cafeteria. It used to be busy with great food. Even employees at VGH would come over. It was virtually empty today. Didn't even have regular tea bags.

Spent the afternoon in the fifth floor lounge, reading Scavenger (a book Patience brought me that has geocaching in it) and listening to my iPod. Mae & Darline would join me in between their Therapeutic Touch patients.

I went into the chemo room at 2:15 for my trial - literally. The nurse argued about using the port for the blood draw at the end of the treatment and wanted to put the intravenous in it. That is the small needle so it makes sense to go for the vein with it. She warmed up my right hand and finally got a needle in but couldn't get it to work. Pulled it out and put so much pressure on that I now have a big sore bruise. She tried the left hand but couldn't find a vein. Back to the right hand and finally got it in after about 1/2 an hour.

After the drug was in, she called for the blood pickup and drew it out of the port with no trouble - my point was made!

We broke another record for the hottest day ever, so I came straight home and am sitting in front of the fan and spraying myself with water!

Day of Confusion

I thought I was oganized but the day ended up confused. I drank a bottle of water at 8:15 and another at 8:45 in prep for a CT-Scan at 9:00. The tech had to use a vein in the back of my hand but it only hurt for a bit. Then up to the Medical Day Care for blood tests. Using the port makes this part so easy.

Went to Pru's and we were getting ready to pick up Patience & Sean at YVR when the clinic called to see where I was. I was supposed to see my nurse & doctor at the Fairmont Building (there are renovations under way on the 2nd floor of the Cancer Agency). I had not been told of these appointments and was able to show them my sheet of appointments to prove it. Made it in 20 minutes and saw Stephanie. Dr. Gelmon was running late and I still had to wait an hour. She said the verbal report of the CT-Scan sounded okay and I was in good shape. I should have fasted for the glucose test this morning but again was able to show my sheet specifically said not to today or tomorrow. I suggested fasting tonight and repeating the test so that is what we'll do.

Back home and then to Pru's for dinner and to see Patience.

Today was the hottest day ever (33.8) in Vancouver. Broke a record from August 1960. It was brutal. At one point there was a trickle running down my back. Got Pru to shower me with the hose at one point - it did help. I'll keep my spray bottle of water close tonight.

Cooling off in a movie

Wanted to go to the BC Travel Bureau just this side of the tunnel so had to go to Delta first to get to it on the way back. Decided to do 3 easy caches that I didn't have to walk to in the heat. Used my new tool from Home Depot to snag a high one - a Flexible Pick Up Gripper. Hit 250!

Went to Riverport to see Up to get out of the heat. Laughed out loud several times.

Picked up fresh produce and treated myself to a cone at the new Marble Slab Creamery in Ironwood Plaza - too close to home.

New sunglasses again and again...

Bought some sunglasses to replace my lost ones at COSTCO. These were $20 cheaper than the pair I lost. Also loaded up on water. Then to Home Depot and bought a new magnet on a telescoping rod (to replace the one I lost) and a 2-foot grabber for geocaching.

Back to town to pick up tourist stuff at BCAA. Parked at VSB and saw Rum in the hall. Picked up a tourist book for kids at Chapters. Didn't like the way the the glasses felt so went back to the optometrist to buy the same kind as the the ones I bought last week. They felt sorry for me and threw in one of those dorky cords that lets you hang them around your neck.

Stopped at Safeway and then home in time for Murder She Wrote. Went back out to return the COSTCO glasses and met Moira at Applause for dinner.

I am feeling pretty good. A few new aches, like the top of my left foot. The main problem is the heat. I keep a spray bottle of water nearby.

Stroll on the Dyke

Met Matt, Andrea, Lily & Sadie at the Richmond Dyke this morning. We walked south and just happened (?) on a cache I needed. Andrea spotted the hide first (#247). We then had lunch at Pajo's at Garry Point in Steveston. Perfect day to sit at a picnic table under a tree on the beach!

Too tired to do anything else so came home. Dozed on and off and finally did a load of laundry since everything was soaked from yesterday.

Illuminares Lantern Festival

Spent the day with Lori & Pam. We found geocaches in Vancouver and Burnaby. I added 14 to my count and am now at 246. The huge thunder storm hit while we were deep in Central Park. Of course none us had a jacket and there was nowhere to go that wasn't under trees. One lighting bolt and thunder clap were simultaneous. By the time we got back to the car we were soaked through.

Earlier in the day we left my car in the lot at the Illuminares Lantern Festival at Trout Lake. We were already wet so the drizzle didn't bother us too much. We visited the Fantasy & Fire III Event Cache and included it in our count. Nice to meet others as addicted as we are. The lightning continued to add to the atmosphere and the sunset lit up the sky to the west as though everything was on fire.

Of course I managed to loose my new ($70) sunglasses as I transferred stuff to my car!

Janet Lawton

I've had a pretty physical week and will be out tomorrow so decided to have a lazy day today. Read, did bills & watched TV.

Poor old Lions. They played so well last week and were like amateurs tonight. No spark at all.

A fellow Teacher-Librarian died a while ago and the obit was in today's paper:

Lawton, Janet Melwyn

July 17, 1945 - July 10, 2009 Janet had a wonderful sense of humour and an infectious lilting laugh. She had a large circle of friends, and led an independent productive, and full life. She was committed to the values of loyalty, cooperation, sincerity and community activism. Janet left us too soon. In her final illness, Janet showed all of us how to be courageous, gracious and cheerful. She passed away peacefully with her beloved Bronwyn and dear friends Ros and Gail at her side. Janet was predeceased by her father, James Lawton, She is survived by her daughter Bronwyn, her mother Beryl Lawton, and her brother Kevin.

A memorial will be held at the Van Deusen Gardens on August 8, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Special thanks to the staff at St. Paul's Palliative Care Unit. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer Clinic.

Return to Point Roberts

Went geocaching in Point Roberts and found a couple. Gas is 89.9/litre in US dollars. Then back to Delta for 6 more. I have many new holes and scratches caused by various plants with prickly and spiky armour. Even found a forest of bamboo!

Last time I'll use the tunnel in the late afternoon. Joined the line at about 4:40 and thought it didn't look too bad. Wrong! Most of the time I was sitting still. What idiot thinks merging 6 lanes into 1 works? They need a new plan that might include lights when the tunnel has only one lane northbound. Lori spotted the geocaching decal in the back window and called. She was in the next lane and got ahead of me.

Oops

We had an executive meeting for the Vancouver Chapter of the BC Retired Teachers' Association and I somehow ended up as editor of the Vancouver Tabloid. Got to learn not to mutter.

Did some geocaching in Pacific Spirit Park and found 2 (223) but managed to loose my clip-on sunglasses. Couldn't waste time trying to backtrack as I had a physio appointment. I was bushwacking so probably wouldn't have found them. I put a note on the cache online.

Of course I was sweaty and covered with brush at the physio. She said she was used to rugby players so I wasn't so bad. But it was embarrassing to have her pick twigs off my back as she worked.

Stopped at my optometrist (Archer, Bissonnette & Rea) and bought a pair of fitover sunglasses instead of the magnetic clip-ons. My Cocoons are polarized and my regular glasses fit nicely inside them. Much better as they are bigger than just having the clip-on. Also comes with a great case that has a clip for attaching to a pack.

Got some fresh produce at IGA and home by 4:30. Too hot to do any more caching.

Wandering in Delta

Thought this was going to be a day of rest, but when I finished reading the papers I just had the urge to geocache in the sun. Spent the day in Delta and am up to 221.

Talked to my fianacial advisor and think I'll be rid of Opus Cranberries after signing some documents. This stupid investment, pushed on me by Jill Bock (who lost her ability to trade as punishment for poor advice) has cost me $12,500+.

Red Cross checked up on me today and we are still on standby for Kelowna fires.

Lunch & Dinner

Met Status of Women committee members at Liberty Bakery on Main Street for a couple of hours at lunch.

Walked down the block to my hairdresser and got a cut - too hot & thick!

Shopped at Oakridge, picked up a package at Post Office & then home for a bit.

Picked up Louise and we went to the Harry Purdy Pavilion at UBC to visit a woman who came to our support group last week since there was not meetings in the summer. Sat out in the garden and enjoyed the flowers and breeze.

We then had dinner at Enigma on 10th - Braised Lamb Shoulder in a Rosemary Demi
Glaze served with Mashed Potatoes (we switched to yam fries) and Herbed Vegetables.

Perfect summer day

Out geocaching for the first time with my old Palm TX. It worked perfectly, giving the description, hints and recent logs for the caches I was looking for. I've loaded the closest 500 into it. Found 4 in Richmond and Burnaby - 215. I have several new scratches from the brambles!

Wildfire alert

Didn't do a lot today. Am pleased that I've figured out how to use my old Palm TX for geocaching. Watched a couple of videos and now know how to syn the closest 500 caches, including notes and clues. I still mark up maps with the codes & names so I can plan my days.

Met Moira at Applause for dinner. Then bought a Vivanno at Starbucks - mmm.

Red Cross email put us on alert for the Glenrosa-Westbank wildfire.

http://www.kelowna.com/2009/07/18/right-now-forest-fire-in-west-kelowna/

http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Situation.asp

http://www.vancouversun.com/Kelowna+area+forest+fire+blazes+hectares+homes+evacuated/1805180/story.html

Better day

Things went better today at the Cancer Agency. This was the first time that the morning bloodwork was done in Medical Daycare by a nurse who was trained in using the port-a-cath. I explained how bad things were the last time and she had a solution. Instead of using the thing for the intravenous, she drew blood from it and left the needle hanging & taped.

I then sat and read until it was time to see my trial nurse. She was away but I knew her replacement and that went quickly - vitals and questions.

I had parked at City Square (free for 2 hours) and walked back to meet Mae who was at her doctors. We moved the car to the Agency and then went to the Cactus Club for lunch.

I was back in the Chemo Unit early for my 2:00 treatment. Everything worked to plan with one glitch. I forgot to take my pill at lunch. I usually take it with breakfast but had to wait for that 1st blood test. The final blood test had to be 2 hours after taking it so I had to hang around an extra hour.

Now I am glad that I had the surgery to insert the port-a-cath and will keep to this routine. I saw my cancer marker for 2 weeks ago and it was up a bit but still in the 40's so the slide to the high numbers has stopped.

Roar Lions, Roar

Slept in and decided not to go to relaxation at Callanish. I had too much shopping to do before tomorrow's treatment. Started at Staples (printer cartridge), Richmond Country Farms (peas, raspberries, blueberries, cherries), London Drugs, Cobbs & Mark's Workwear World.

Home for lunch and then stopped at the library on the way to physio at go!physiotherapy. Picked up groceries at the IGA and was home by 3:30.

The BC Lions played the way they did last year tonight and kicked Edmonton's butt!

My neck and back were really painful today during the treatment but feel fine tonight.

New support group

Joined a new group at the Cancer Agency today - Women with Metastatic Cancer. It was time to join I think.

Found a new place for lunch on Broadway, Aphrodite’s Organic Cafe & Pie Shop. I had Aphrodite's Stuffed French Toast: Stuffed with seasonal fruit cream cheese, served with maple syrup and organic chantilly whipped cream. Very tasty!

I wanted a walk after this morning so decided to find a couple of caches in Pacific Spirit Park that I knew Lori already had. Both were easy but then I made a strategic mistake. I thought I could keep on down the trail I was on and find one going back east to the car - NOT! Realized I was passing another cache and called Lori for the clues but couldn't find it. When it was clear that I was all the way down to Marine and 41st, I looked for and did find one of the Troll caches (#210). Then I had to trudge back up the hill to my car.

I was so wiped that I cancelled helping Chris with his computer and going to John's for a BBQ. Came home and fell asleep.

Palm TX

Didn't even get dressed today. Thought I deserved a day of sitting around after yesterday.

Dug out my old Palm TX and turned it into a geocaching tool. Bought 2 programs online: GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) and CacheMate. Figured out how to use them but must be doing something wrong since the hints don't come through. I found a video clip to watch to see what to do. This will mean paperless caching. I think I'll still print a map of the area with the caches marked to help plan the attack.

The monitor on my main compter keeps going to sleep and won't wake up!

Battleships in White Rock

Set out at 9:45 to meet Lori and Pam for a day of geocaching in the White Rock/Crescent Beach/Surrey area. Our goal was to find a series of caches and the clues to solve a game of Battleships. This was a multi-cache called Battleships in White Rock and there were 25 locations in the grid. Some of the didn't have caches anymore so we actually found more than we could log. It took until almost 8:00 to find the final cache to sink the 3 ships on the grid and use the clues to find the final battleship location. I am now up to 207 finds!

Needless to say I am too tired to even move from this chair and go to bed. We ate fish and chips in Crescent Beach for lunch. The day was made easier by the cool weather. This also kept a lot of the traffice away from the beaches and we could park close to where we needed to be.

Bugs!

Didn't sleep well last night - combination of heat and itchy port-a-cath.

Made my 2nd visit to the Ladner Village Market and ran into Lori, Anni and Georgina. Alan Zisman was playing accordian for Mojo Zydeco. Have to tap your toes when you hear Zydeco music. Ate a bbq wild salmon burger (topped with a slice of orange & lettuce). Bought bread & homous.

Found a cache at Wellington Point. When I put the ammuniciaton box down on a bench to open it a horde of bugs came off the bottom. I think they were earwigs (or maybe termites). I avoided touching any of them but I still itch!

Picked up some scones for the freezer at the Thrifty's in Tsawwassen - I didn't but meat since I wasn't sure if I was going right home but should have because I did!

Met Moira at White Spot for dinner - Chicken Chevre Pizza (Our thin crust pizza topped with our house-made Arrabbiata sauce, roasted BC chicken, basil goat cheese, grilled and marinated sweet golden bell peppers and red onions and our special blend of cheeses) and fresh blueberry pie!

Lost day

I did have plans for today, but...

I didn't wake up until 10:00 and didn't finish reading the newspapers until about 5:00. I did so some birthday present shopping online in the middle, but not mch else.

Sometimes you just need days like this.

Poor Lions

Mel and her kids came to clean today. I really need to do a better job in between visits. It takes me a day to get ready for her.

Had dinner at Chris's and we watched the Lions and Mariners go down to defeat! Lions did pretty well considering their kicker was hurt.

I slept well last night after all the walking yesterday. Got my appointment list from the Cancer Agency for the rest of the summer. I like knowing when everything is happening.

Treehugger

Met Lori and we found 7 geocaches. We started with Treehugger (BC's First Cache) - between Chancellor Blvd & Spanish Banks. This was Lori's 500th find so we celebrated with champagne flutes of water.

After fish & chips on the beach, we found more along the shore. There was one more up in the bush. We agreed that the Endowment Lands (Pacific Spirit Park) are quite amazing.

By the time I was home, I was totally wiped and didn't want to lift a finger to do anything!

Public Enemies

Met Diane for lunch at the Big River Brew Pub at Riverport. Then saw Public Enemy. The film was really entertining even though some of the history was changed. It is irritating when a screenwriter can't stick to the truth when it is still a good story. Changing the clothing of the "woman in red" at the end was silly - orange skirt and white blouse instead of a red dress.

Picked up groceries on the way home. Watched Grey Gardens on HBO. I saw the documentary several months ago and had wanted to watch Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange - brilliant acting.

2nd to find

I had 2 emails about a new cache at the foot of Shaughnessy around midnight. Was up early to see if I could find it first but someone logged it at 2 minutes past midnight. Had breakfast and wandered down just before the rain started. Found it after being challenged by a barking dog. Took a slinky toy and left a geocoin.

Picked up a latte and headed back home to watch the Michael Jackson memorial. They did a good job but I still have suspicions about his relationships with children. Time will tell as they talk after growing up.

Had a physio treatment on my neck in the afternoon.

Rain?

It tried to rain today. I started off thinking of geocaching but it started sprinkling and I decided I needed to shop. Vitamins at London Drugs and stops at Cobs & the market garden on Steveston. Loaded up with fresh fruit & vegetables.

Back home in time for lunch and read the day away - The Mitfords. Fascinating reading these letters between 6 sisters and the casual mention of lunch with Hitler.

Lazy days of summer

Just didn't feel like doing much today.

Watched the end of the Wimbledon match - it went on forever.

Worked through a pile of paperwork and bills. Even though it was cloudy, I sat outside on the balcony reading for a while. Then back to Masterpiece Mystery, Sherlock Holmes & Blood Diamond.

I am tired but not overly so and should get out for groceries and maybe some geocaching tomorrow.

Happy Fourth of July

Slept well last night and feel much better today but decided to just have a quiet one to make up for yesterday's stress.

Read, watched the Blue Jays loose, sat on the patio...

Treatment #3

The tech taking blood at 11:30 this morning found a vein quickly and filled a few vials. I then picked up my new supply of pills and walked down to Broadway for breakfast.

My trial treatment appointment was at 2:00. I had suggested to the doctor yesterday that they find a vein and leave a line in it so it will be easier to draw blood when they are supposed to. The nurse put the IV into my port and then tried finding a vein in the back of my left hand. It took a while before she was satisfied. Unfortunately she couldn't get blood out of it when the time came. Another nurse came in and tried for a bit. She agreed the line was in a vein but no blood would come. Finally, she switched to the back of the right hand. This worked somewhat better and she filled the vials - and spilled some on me and the floor. It took them almost 1/2 an hour to do this. My veins were not being cooperative!

I was so tired by this time that I didn't stop for groceries and drove straight home. I fell asleep and missed the end of Murder She Wrote!!

Poor Lions. I was hoping they'd win to cheer me up. Right down to the last Hail Mary!

At least Sarah Palin entertained me. What an idiot!

Checkup

Started my day giving up 8 vials of blood after a 12 hour fast. Had to use the back of my hand again. Had tea and a scone at coffee shop on Heather and read the newspapers. Saw my oncologist, Karen Gelmon, at 10:00. We don't have a tumour marker test (tomorrow) or CT-Scan (July 29) since I started on the Exemestane, but I am feeling well so the plan is to continue.

Found a cache on the way to Weir to take Rum out for her birthday lunch. I was early and visited with Lynn while I waited. At 12 I called and Rum had forgotten to cancel - they were cleaning the school carpets. I went to Tops and had the seniors liver & onions - thought I needed it after all the blood they took.

Wandered around Burnaby and am now up to 179 caches.

Bookmark Party

Met Pru for a tasty lunch at Lombardo's Pizzeria & Ristorante on the Drive. We were turned away from Calbria because Pru had a Starbucks drink. How stupid? They lost the money for my drink and 2 lunches and my future business.

Found cache #175 on the way home.

Went to Liz A's for a potluck dinner with those who used to put the BCTLA's Bookmark together. We've come a long way to from their paste-up sessions to the online edition. Many familiar faces and wonderful food.

Had to remember to start fasting at 8:30 for tomorrow's testing. That little bit of cheese at 9:10 shouldn't hurt. You'd think at my age I could remember details!