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.