Moving Day

Matt and family moved to Port Moody today. I arrived early to sit by the truck as they packed it. The movers, All Ways Affordable Moving did a great job. The crew of 3 were fast and efficient.

Arrived first at the new condo and really liked it. Two stories with 3 bedrooms and a patio. We were finished by 2 and Matt and I went into Newport Village for lunch. Andrea had stayed behind to clean.

I left before 3 and stopped at the new Thrifty Foods and Vancity at Suter Brook, across from Newport Village. A great selection of stores and restaurants within a short drive. Made it home by 4 and had no trouble with traffic.

Salute to Italy

Picked up pole for Mae's new bird feeder and helped her get it set up. Drove her to Granville Island and picked up some groceries.

Found elusive cache at Broadway and Granville, hidden in an old car in the community gardens. Didn't see the rat this time.

Saluted the group in Italy http://tlsinitalia.blogspot.com/ by watching a DVD on Venice, drinking Italian wine and eating pasta stuffed with Italian sausage.

303!

Went geocaching with Pam today. We explored the old community next to the Boundary Bay Airport. During the war it was the Royal Canadian Air Force Station Boundary Bay where pilots were trained. All that is left of over 100 buildings (houses, school, store...) is a patchwork of roads and the trees planted in the yards. We found caches near 3 trees that gave us the clue to the final one - my 300th find!

Had a great lunch at the Riverhouse Marina Restaurant & Pub - Seafood club ~ shrimp, crab, and bacon on multigrain kaiser.

Carried on caching for the rest of the afternoon. Enjoyed one on Westham Island. We had to find a series of clues that finally led us to the prize.

The GPS I bought at COSTCO was acting up and a part was missing so I returned it. Best Buy was selling the same model for less so I bought a replacement there (took 2 stores to find one in stock).

Birds

Mae wanted a way to attact birds so I took her to Wild Birds Unlimited. They had to order the pole she wants so I'll pick it up Sunday. The store is always a treat to visit.

We had lunch at Trixi's Crepe and Coffeehaus on Cambie - Cinnamon Apple and Brie Cheese, Sprinkled with Roasted Almonds - mmm!

Picked up Andie and dropped them off at Canadian Tire. Picked up GPS holder at Best Buy and then home.

Thought I had figured the GPS problems out. Downloaded code and installed it but can't download the updated maps. Went to put it on holder and a piece is missing. Also it is cheaper at Best Buy than COSTCO. Think I'll return it tomorrow.

I'm awake!

Picked up Mae and went to Relaxation Group at the Cancer Agency at 10 this morning. We then had lunch together before she and Darline headed up to to Therapeutic Touch clinic.

Tried picking up pills when I arrived but the refill order hadn't come. Left them to phone and returned just before chemo and they were ready.

My treatment went really quickly today. Didn't need a separate blood draw so no poking in veins. Had a good nurse who kept her room in order.

Stopped at Safeway to reload on groceries and was home just after 3. I don't plan on doing much tomorrow. I kept falling asleep in the Relaxation and in the the chemo chair!

Ups and downs

Didn't sleep much last night. Surprised to find my GPS sync works today. The company must have been down last night.

Arrived at the Cancer Agency at 10 for blood draw. A nurse checked me in and then I was forgotten for a while someone highlighted my name as being taken care of. They realized their error and came to find me. I carried the vials of blood to the lab and one was empty! Had to go back for another stick.

Ate (after fasting all night) so I could take my pill and then went to see my doctor in Fairmont. My Bone Scan was normal except for arthritis and the CT Scan showed some improvement. The blood tests back so far were fine as well. We'll just keep doing what we are doing.

Went geocaching and found 5 in Kits and UBC.

Spent some hours entering stuff in my new GPS tonight and most of it just disappeared. Love technology! At least someone fixed my sink while I was out.

It's broken

One of those days where nothing works. I am going to stop now.

The kitchen sink is blocked. I tried a couple of different bottle of stuff over the last couple of days but am defeated. The handyman should come tomorrow. I keep eating out so the dishes don't pile up so fast.

Bought a new GPS for the car and now can't update waypoints in it or in the handheld or in the old one. I have done everything the website suggests and have tried it on 2 computers. Nada!

My computers seem to not like certain websites (VPL) and Explorer keeps failing. Is it a plot by Google Chrome?

Stayed in waiting for the handyman but he is now coming tomorrow while I am at the Cancer Agency. Of course!

Went out at 5 to the library and to have dinner in Steveston.

Searching in Surrey

Started with a failure in Richmond and then moved to Surrey. Found 7 caches and am up to 290. Only had a couple I couldn't find and one was too much of a climb into a ravine. Each cache is rating on two scales of 1 to 5 to indicate difficulty of the find and the terrain. I often disagree with the evaluation of the terrain. I don't want to risk another broken leg or ankle for a happy face!

Had to park at an ABC Restaurant to get to the site where there used to be a motel. Made the mistake of eating lunch there. As with the outlet in Richmond, service was bad. I had to ask where my food was and basically never saw my waitress even though it was nearly empty.

Laptop home

Did some caching today. Needed Lori's help with one - very neat hide. Failed on a couple and am up to 283. Nice day. Lots of cuts from brambles, blackberries... Managed to enjoy looking at wasp nest without being stung. Walked 5.4 km today.

Best Buy called to say the laptop was ready. They reformatted the hard drive again. I don't think that is what was wrong as it was replaced the last time I had the "blue screen of death". Of course the warranty is expired so if it happens again I don't know what will happen. It is nice to have it back on my lap as I watch Masterpiece Mystery!

Computer works!

I decided to have a quiet day after a couple of busy ones. Slept in and then decided to tackle the computer and the tangle of wires. I am sure I straightened them out 2 days ago!

Got the temporary monitor working but still didn't have sound. It disappeared a few days ago. Did everything I could think of and then the computer insisted on rebooting. Who am I to argue? When it came back on the sound was working perfectly. Maybe it was just pouting?

Bone Scan

Had to set the alarm for 6:00 am this morning and that hurt! Arrived at VGH for my pre-bone scan injection of isotopes at 7:15. The technician found a vein in my hand with no trouble.

Picked up Louise and we had a great breakfast at the Sunshine Diner on Broadway. Definitely one to go back to.

Had to drink 4 cups of fluid and be back at VGH by 9:50. The scan was easy and over in 1/2 an hour.

Stopped at Safeway for groceries - and bathroom.

Fell asleep this afternoon.

Put computer together and the loaner screen works but I've lost sound. I'll try again tomorrow.

Carry it again!

Matt came over to pick me up and go to Future Shop to pick up computer and deal with broken monitor. The man on the phone said the monitor wasn't covered under the extended warranty. I knew it was and was ready for a fight but was told of course it is covered. I took it over to Customer Service only to find that they had to send it to HP for repairs. I complained to the manager and he offered to sell me a new one and then take it back when mine is repaired. Good plan.

Matt carried the computer up and put all those wires back in but it didn't work. He put it all back in my car and back I drove. Got someone to carry the computer up and started again. They hooked it up and showed me that it works. The new monitor had the wrong plug and we weren't putting it in the video card. Had to take everything back to customer service. They gave me an adapter and helped carry it all down to the car.

Carried the heavy computer up and went to the White Spot for dinner - and a cold beer. Carried up the monitor but too tired and hot to attempt putting it all together!

Started the day with a bit of a headache and it didn't go away!

Sleep

Have been tired for a couple of days. Fell asleep yesterday afternoon and slept in until 10:30 today.

Cleaned up piles of papers and tried sorting the maze of computer wires under the desk.

Future Shop called to say I need a new monitor. I thought that so didn't need to come home to cart in the tower yesterday! Of course the monitor isn't covered under the 3 year warranty I purchased!

Took out garbage & recycling and just kept going to White Spot for dinner.

Another computer bites the dust

My monitor keeps loosing the signal so I took it to Future Shop. Still have a year on the warranty. He wanted the computer so I had to go back for it. Hoped to get away without carrying both down the stairs! With laptop still at Toshiba, I am using little netbook.

Found a cache in Brighouse and then went to Steveston for halibut & chips at Pajo's. Found another cache nearby (#281). Started looking for a new one and decided it was too hot for a long walk. Also have sore leg with big bruise after slipping against bathtub rim.

Picked up corn, tomatoes & blueberries before heading to Marpole Library for hold.

Busy day

Left home at 10:30 and returned at 9:00. Started with physio. My neck was in good shape today. Shoulder still stiff and sore. Almost time to turn it back to the lawyer?

Picked up Nancy and we went to Stanley Park. I needed her to take my photo near a monument to count a cache. We then ate halibut burgers at the Fish House.

Went shopping at London Drugs, Canadian Tire & Lee Valley and then it was time to pick up a key at the Cancer Agency.

Had dinner at The Raga with Louise, Wanda & Gwen. Then went to Lesbian Support Group at the Cancer Agency. We ran it ourselves and had 8 in the group!

My monitor is off again so I am using the netbook tonight.

Caching day

Found 4 caches today in Vancouver, Burnaby & New Westminster. Gave up quickly on the Muggles, Muggles Everywhere on Broadway when a huge rat scampered under where I needed to put my hand. Put watches on a couple of my failures and others have already found them - must try again.

I was getting tired and then realized it was 5:00!

Slow Saturday

My computer monitor wouldn't detect the signal again this morning so I went to the store for the papers. It worked again once I'd finished reading them!

Finished a book, did some work on the Vancouver RTA web site, played on Facebook...

A day of nothing much. Just what I needed.

Cleanup

I've been cleaning for days to get ready for Mel coming today. You would think that after 60 years I would be able to pick up after myself each day!

Met Mary at Chapters at Broadway & Granville and went to Vij's Rangoli for a delicious lunch - Spicy Pulled Pork on Sauteed Greens with sour cream chutney & chapati. Then back to Chapters/Starbucks for a longer visit.

After buying a few things I went to the RCMP Memorial at 37th & Heather to get the clues for a cache and found the container a short drive away (#273).

Played Scrabble on Facebook and talked to Pru while watching the Lions actually win a game that had gotten away from them. Certainly a great finish.

Treatment day

Blood drawn from port-a-cath at 9:45 with just a bit of trouble. The line was left in for the afternoon. Grabbed a scone and tea so I could take my pill. The trial nurse came to find me as she had a different appointment time for me.

Met Darline at lunch but didn't buy mine for a bit as there were a few people ahead of me. Didn't go out as the weather was iffy. Big rain storm as I drove to the Agency. After eating, I sat in the 5th floor lounge reading and saw Darline again.

Arrived for treatment at 1:oo and was hooked up to saline drip. The nurse was a good one this time. She didn't need to draw any more blood so could use the morning line. A machine in the lab at VGH was down so the bloodwork was late. Then the nurse couldn't communicate with the lab from their new offices in Fairmont. Another nurse had to walk up to give the orders. My treatment finally started an hour late. I didn't really mind since there were no more attempts to finds veins this time. I always have my iPod and a good book.

Came home via Granville Island. Found a parking spot after a few circles of the parking lot and bought some meat and bread.

I still didn't have my appointments for the next few weeks and have arranged to have it emailed. Much more efficient.

Dentist

Had my teeth cleaned today. The complete check of lymph nodes, tongue... is reassuring. My dentist of off on maternity leave again. I hardly ever see her.

I really wanted to find the elusive Byte cache at Metrotown. Lori & Pam and I actually figured it out yesterday and I was able to find it. Wanted to have lunch at the Waffle House in New West but is is gone! Did find 4 caches in the neighbourhood.

Out to Richmond for some shopping and then met Moira at Applause. Did some needed grocery shopping at Safeway after eating.

Delta geocaching

Picked up Lori and Pam to find some caches in Delta. They already had most of them and were helping me find them. We planned on hitting the old airport but the road was still closed because of the fire danger. We called City Hall to make sure and they said it was still closed even though it rained a lot yesterday. We'll come back another day. Found a couple on the dyke - beautiful walk with lots of birds.

Lori had to leave so Pam and I had lunch at Oki Doki in Ladner. Lots of food for a reasonable cost. We both walked out full. We found some more caches but when it was time to drop Pam off I realized I'd missed getting through the tunnel before the counterflow lane opened. Found one more cache (#268) and headed for the Alex Fraser Bridge - longer drive but got home without pausing once.

Sean and Evan came to look at my bike and took it for Evan. Too heavy for me to ride, I'd never get my leg over the bar (it is a man's bike), don't have a bike rack, hard to use brakes with arthritic hands... Time to give it to someone who will use it.

Family Birthdays

Rain again today. Slept really well since it was nice and cool.

18 for dinner at Pru's tonight and we were celebrating 2 birthdays (early) - Lucas & Patience, our matriarch from Houston. She and Sean head home in the morning. Her visits are always too short. Judy made butter chicken - amazing!

Rainy day

So nice to see the rain most of the day. The plants really needed it.

Got caught up on bills and not much else today. I need days with not much to do. This is going to be a busy week so I'm starting slow.

Janet Lawton

Attended memorial at Van Dusen for Janet, a Vancouver Teacher-Librarian who died of cancer last month. Full house and a very well thought out programme. Saw lots of friends.

Stopped at the library and then straight home.

Cool weather

Such a relief to have cooler weather. We now need 2 days of heavy rain and then the sun can come back.

Went geocaching in Delta. Did some long walks I avoided in the heat (2.6 km) and am up to 261 finds. Lori is at 564 and Pam is rocketing ahead of me with 301! Was seen by walkers a couple of times while in the bush. I can just imaging what they thought I was doing! Had lunch at Ricky's in Ladner and failed on couple of caches by the ferry. Managed to get through the tunnel just at the beginning of the rush.

Picked up fruit and vegetables in Richmond and then home. Sales must have dropped off so the Lion's game was blacked out. Listened to them win their 2nd game on the radio.

My computer monitor keeps going to sleep. Since the laptop is in for repairs, I'm using the Netbook. Talk about having too many toys!

Relaxation

Picked up Mae and we went to the Relaxation Group at the Cancer Agency. Haven't been for a while and it felt good to be back. Stayed for lunch with Mae & Darline. Mae goes to Paris with Connie tonight.

Found 5 caches in Burnaby. One was placed last night & I was #3.

Feeling much better today except for sore ankles & feet - arthritis.

The blue screen of death returns

The blue screen of death popped up on my laptop again last night. It happened in June - just a few days from the end of the 3-day warranty. The hard drive & DVD burner were replaced. Obviously something else is wrong that is causing this. I waited almost an hour for my turn at Best Buy. They are sending it back and hope the warranty will cover it since it is sort of a month (June 25) since the repair. New ones are so cheap I don't want to waste money on repairs.

Rushed to my appointment at St. Paul's with Dr. Irvine, my Otolaryngologist. It was to talk about dizzy spells when I get up off treatment beds - he said low blood pressure. Luckily I had the appointment since I could barely hear. I've been putting olive oil in my ears for a few days and he was able to vacuum them out. Some of the wax needed the pick - arghh. Said to come in more often. Now to turn down all the radios & TV at home.

To Kidsbooks for Lily's birthday presents and then lunch at the Swiss Chalet. Bought pens at Office Depot and some stuff at Mountain Equipment Co-op. Picked Mae up at her bank and drove her to Canadian Tire and home.

Tried to find a cache at Metrotown and failed for the 3rd time. The ultimate insult is there were 2 posts tonight from people who found it easily!

Went to Matt's for Lily's birthday cake and presents along with Andrea's parents. Love it when they figure out there is a present in the paper. She was so careful and slow tearing it all off.

To Pru's for dinner. Chris brought Boston Pizza pizzas. Kathrine flew in from Australia but went straight home to bed.

Was tired so left early. Didn't sleep much last night. Must be a change in the weather coming since my arthritis is acting up in my ankles and feet.

Eh?

Deaf as a post! I am putting olive oil in my ears to get ready for the ear specialist tomorrow. Woke up with my headache but it did go away and I felt much better by dinner.

Went to Pru's to wait for Jesse to come from school and we all went to White Spot for dinner. Picked up groceries at Safeway. Love shopping late at night.

Fires

Woke up with plugged ears and a headache. Took a painkiller and went to supervise the Red Cross Fire Call Centre. Quickly remembered how to do everything. Good group of volunteers on the phones and people were grateful for the answers we knew. Very confusing with so many fires burning all over the province. The name of the fire didn't always give a clue as to where it was burning. We really need a big map of BC with labels on the wall.

My headache came back so I left early and came home to bed for a bit. Then to family dinner at Pru's. Sat on porch which was cooler than here. Left when the headache started up again. Tomorrow is another day and I see my ear specialist at St. Paul's on Wednesday.

BBQ at John's

Slept in and had a quiet day.

Found a cache (252) on the way to John's for a family BBQ. Nice to have such a large group together.

Red Cross Alert

Red Cross might be opening up the Call Centre for the forest fires tomorrow.

Escaped to a movie to get out of the heat this afternoon. IMAX 3D Harry Potter. 3d only worked for 1st 12 minutes but was impressive.

Had some pasta at Boston Pizza and then found a cache (251) along the Fraser. It won't last long as it is poorly placed so I wanted the count before it disappeared.

Rankings

I just looked up our rankings for geocaching in B.C. The #1 team has 6,746 finds. The 2nd person is so full of himself that he doesn't have his name listed as he thinks he is a loser for not being first. Maybe he is!

Lori is #278 with 563 caches, Pam is # 586 with 276 and I am pulling up the rear at #630 and 250 finds. I figure I can catch up to Pam when she goes back to school! Not bad for an old lady with arthritis and cancer!!

Aquabus

Went over to Pru's in the morning and then we all (Pru, Patience, Lucas, Patrick & Sean) went to Granville Island. We had a 25 minute Mini Cruise on the Aquabus. A very good deal. After some shopping in the Market, which wasn't at all busy, we headed for the liquor store and home.

Dinner was at Chris's. I found it pretty hot and wasn't feeling well by the time I got home. Didn't even stay up for the news. I was in bed at 10:30. Woke up a few times. Once I even put one of those cotton ice bags around my neck. Woke up at 9 this morning.