Road trip

The sun was shining so I headed East.  After brunch at Tim Horton's I went to Harrison Hot Springs and a swim in the public pool.  Always helps the sore joints.

Drove along the north side of the Fraser to Hope.  The scenery was amazing with all the snow on the higher mountains.  Found 7 caches in Hope (620) and then had dinner at the Chilliwack Airport - turkey stew with baking powder biscuits and blackberry/apple pie.  Mmmm.

Home by 7.  The drive was hard as the sun sat right in front of my sightline.  A baseball cap helped.  The day was mostly blue skies with towering clouds passing by.  Once in a while I would hit a shower but it was always gone quickly.

Go Canucks

Another day of not doing much other than reading and playing Bejewelled. 

Enjoyed the Canucks game - most home wins in a season!

Lost another doctor

Saw my rheumatologist this morning and he announced he is moving to Kelowna.  He was so good I'm temped to move!  Now I need a new GP and someone to look after my Sjogren's and arthritis.  Hopefully the replacements at Seymour will work out.

Thought I might do some caching but it was cold and pouring when I returned to my car.  Decided to head home.  The weather changed so many times I am glad I did.

PVR day

Spent the day watching Midsomer Murder and Pacific episodes on my PVR.  What a great invention it is!  Didn't even get dressed.

Lights Out

This might be the last day without rain so I headed to Langley and found a few more caches (613).  Stopped at Mr. Mike's for lunch and stayed out until I was tired.  Needed the bathroom a couple of times which spoiled the day a bit.

Came home for a bit and then Moira suggested White Spot so out again for soup and salad. 

Remembered to turn the lights out at 8:30.  Lit candles and used the laptop on battery.  The paper said we could keep watching the Canucks game.

Sleeping in

Being retired means sleeping in until nearly 11!

Off to Safeway for groceries and then home for the day.  Feeling wider awake than yesterday and my aching joints are better.

Tired

Picked up Mae and was at the Cancer Agency by 10 for bloodwork.  Saw my trial nurse and then met Mae for a scone & coffee.  Read until my treatment at 1.  Went quickly and I was back in my car by 2.

Found a quick drive-up cache on the way home (605) and picked up a few things at London Drugs.

Was really tired and kept falling asleep, so don't plan much for tomorrow.

A perfect summer day

The weather was perfect today and the temperature about 20.  

I met Georgina at her house in Coquitlam and we headed down the street to Mundy Park so I could give her some geocaching pointers.  We found 3 on our walk and then returned for the car.  After another find in a different part of the park, we met Marilyn for lunch at Tim Horton's.

Off we went again and in the end Georgina had 10 finds and I had 7 (I had already found the others).  My total passed 600 and I sit at about 346th in B.C.

I dropped G off at home at 4:45 and stopped at the nearby Thrifty's for groceries before heading home.

Laundry

Slept in until 10 and did a load of laundry.  Then I just sat and read for the rest of the day.  Still no word on what happened to our landlady - her apartment is stripped and she is just gone.  Moved home with the kids, sick, dead...  None of us know yet.

My shoulder is much better so the heat is working.

Sore shoulder

My left shoulder hurt a bit this weekend and is really sore tonight.  I can't lift my arm.  Time for heat and painkillers.

I ignored the pain this morning and headed out to South & North Delta - found 10 geocaches and am up to 597.  3 more to go!  My goal was 600 by my birthday but I'll be way ahead of that.

Health Care Passes!

I can't believe all the debate over health care in the U.S.  The bill passed the House tonight and is going to Obama to sign.  If I lived in the U.S. I would probably have reached my lifetime limit for coverage and would be broke or dead.  I have a friend who was working in a U.S. cancer hospital who had to tell patients that they couldn't have any more chemo as they had reached the cap - talk about death panels!

Had a quiet day today - watched the debate and the closing Paralympic ceremonies and read.  At one point I was following the vote on my laptop so I could watch what was happening in Whistler.

Tomorrow will be so boring!

Finally finished newsletter

Finally got the last article in for the Vancouver RTA newsletter and sent it off to the printer this morning.  I hate getting so close to the deadline now I am retired.  Must give others a pep talk!!!

Took a couple of books back to the library and there were 3 more waiting for me.  Now the newsletter is gone, the rain is coming and the Olympics/Paralympics are over, I can read in peace (except for Bejewelled).

Looked for a new cache in Vancouver and just didn't get it!  I know I'll hate myself when I figure it out.  Had lunch at Top's and did some shopping at Staples & London Drugs.  Did look at a cache near the Queensborough Bridge but haven't figured out yet how to get to the little dog park without walking through traffic.

Last day of Winter

It was such a beautiful (summer) day that I headed out geocaching this morning.  Stopped for brunch at the Waffle House and found my first cache in Whalley.  I worked my way south through Surrey and recorded 7 (587).

Realized at 3:45 that I was tired so headed straight home.  I walked 5.37 km!

So sorry that Lori is cutting her trip to India short. 

Cavities

Heard from the Genetic cancer people today and I was negative for faulty BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.  This means my breast cancer is probably not inherited.  Still have to submit forms for Lynch Syndrome testing. 

My dentist was back from her 2nd maternity leave and filled a couple of teeth for me.  Sure a lot easier than it used to be.  She uses topical freezing before sticking in the needles.  I was even encouraged to listen to my iPhone while they worked.  She also filled in the part of my plate that disappeared a while ago (swallowed?).

Stopped at Granville Island for groceries and headed home as I was too tired to do much else.

Disappointing trip downtown

Took the Canada Line to the Cancer Agency this morning for a meeting of the Metastatic Cancer Support Group.  Nothing beats being in the same room with others who share your experience.

Continued downtown and was ticked off to find most of the Olympic buildings were closed for the day.  No reason for this other than another slam at the Paralympics.  The line was too long at the Mint and the Bay so I went down to Hastings and the Northern House.  I asked the girl at the door where she was from and I knew she was thinking I would know Fort Simpson, NWT.  Imagine her surprise when I told how I had been there in 1966 for a week.  It was a Centennial Exchange Tour between Grade 11 & 12.  They have a building full of interesting displays, stuffed animals and art.  Well worth the visit.

Had green beer and a bison burger for lunch at the Transcontinental.  Good food and service and I loved the decor.

The stupid Liberals are still telling the VSB to tear Carleton's old building down.  There was a rally today but I didn't know about it.

What did I do today?

I see that it is 10:40 and I haven't done much today.  I can't finish my newletter as I am waiting for the front page article to arrive.  

I thought about going out, but decided to read instead.  I love retirement!

Haircut

Had a haircut at 12:30 today.  It was really getting thick!

Started looking at new laptops but am not sure yet what to buy.  I just know I need a 500 gb hard drive.

Met Louise for dinner and we went to our support group at the Cancer Agency.  Good group tonight.

My dry skin/rash has come back with a vengence so I'll need a referral to the dermatologist again.

Blogger in Draft

I like the new Blogger in Draft and have changed several of my blogs.  For the better I hope.

Another day of sports.  Love the sledge hockey and watched Canada beat Sweden.  Then some curling, Paralympic and Tim Horton's.  Finished with the Canucks.

Hockey Day

Started the day with Canada beating Italy in sledge hockey.  What a great game to watch!  Mel and the kids came to clean in the middle but I kept it on.

Then the Canucks demolished Ottawa.  They looked like they were playing on the adrenalin of the crowd. 

Had a lot to do today but didn't really feel like doing any of it.  Tomorrow!

Paralympics Begin

So tired today that I did virtually nothing.

Did enjoy the Opening Ceremonies of the Paralympics even though the camera work left something to be desired.

Happy Birthday, Sadie

Picked up Mae this morning and was at the Cancer Agency for bloodwork at 10:30.  My treatment was at 1:00 as usual and I was done by 1:45.

Found a couple of caches on the way to Port Moody and then did some shopping.  Arrived at Matt's at 5:30 for Sadie's 5th birthday.  Both girls had a good time and I left after dinner.

Picked up a lemon treat for Pru who has a sore back and stopped in for a short visit.

Glad to get home and will stay in tomorrow!

How much?

Strange day today.  Arrived at the Cancer Agency at 9 for bloodwork and then saw my oncologist at 10:20.  My lymph nodes are smaller, there is nothing showing on my sore ribs (must be muscle strain) and the blood clot is smaller.  I am to carry on doing what I'm doing.  Parking for this little visit was $10.50!!  

Stopped at Kidsbooks for birthday present shopping and met an old friend.

Talked to my lawyer about the bus accident and he has received an offer from the U.S. insurance company.  No where near what we think it should be for losing a year of my retirement, the broken ankle and stress.  We'll try again.

Enjoyed the Canucks game from Phoenix, even though we lost in the shootout.  Didn't see Connie, Kevin or Pam in the crowd.

Had a note on Facebook from my cousin's wife that my Uncle Ralph died tonight.  I stayed with them many times and we even camped together when I was small.  He was a special man.

BCTF Day 2

Rode Canada Line down to Waterfront and had a sandwich before transferring to Skytrain.  Got off at Burrard and my 2nd day at the BCTF AGM.

Jane MacEwan and Barb Parrott received Life Memberships and Barb was awarded the G.A. Fergusson Memorial Award.  Off to the bar for a martini and then VESTA took us for dinner at the Italian Kitchen.  What an amazing meal!  We shared platters of salad and pasta. 

Back to the Hyatt at 7:30 for the rest of the pension debates.  I enjoyed the 2 days of visiting old friends.  Next year is Victoria!

Walked to Granville & Georgia to catch Canada Line and was home at 10:15.

There was a message from my lawyer to say there has been an offer.  I'll call him tomorrow!!

 

 

BCTF AGM

Up early to chug a liter of water before a CT Scan at the Cancer Agency.  I always go straight to the chair with a heating pad to warm up the arm.  The tech actually managed to find a vein today!   I went back home for a few hours as I knew I'd need to be close to the bathroom.

Rode the Canada Line downtown to listen to the pension debate at the BCTF AGM.  I wasn't an RTA delegate but wanted to take notes for the Tabloid.  Good to see so many old friends.  The debate dragged on with the same old people wanting to hear themselves talk.  We adjourned for dinner at 5:45.  I went with VESTA to a Japanese restaurant but left when I saw I'd have to crawl into the table.  My legs are too stiff by the end of the day for such things.  Tried the Keg but left when I saw the prices.  Ended up in the Cactus Club and someone from VSTA noticed me sitting alone and asked me to join them.

Back to the meeting at 7:30.  Two hours later they were still talking and will try again tomorrow!

I walked back to Granville & Georgia and the Canada Line and was home in 1/2 an hour.  Walked 3.71km.

Glad to see Pam logging caches in Arizona and Lori in Hong Kong, Macau and India. 

Really pissed off that the government has told the VSB to tear down the heritage building at Carleton. 

 

Canucks and Oscar

What a perfect day of TV.  The Canucks pulled another one out in the 3rd period and are doing better than 50/50 on the longest road trip in NHL history.

Enjoyed the Academy Awards but haven't seen many of the movies.  Pay for View here I come.

Finished up some paperwork so the day wasn't a total snooze.

Another Spring day

Apparently it will snow this week on the mountains in time for the Paralympics.  Time to find the coat again.

Gave my ribs a rest again today and they are somewhat better tonight.  I am getting tired of this.

Have almost finished my Retired Tchrs newsletter.  Only the front page left.

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

Since the weather is still like the middle of Spring, I ignored the painful ribs and went geocaching (#578).  Met a couple of women at the last one who helped find it. 

Met Matt at Coquitlam Centre for the 3D version of "Alice in Wonderland".  I loved it.  The cast was perfect and the special effects would have wowed Lewis Carroll.

No games today

No Olympics, no hockey.  Curling starts this weekend.

My ribs really hurt this morning so I sat all day.  Didn't shower or dress until Moira called to see if I wanted dinner at Applause.

RTA

Stopped at Starbucks on the way to a meeting of the Vancouver Branch of the Retired Teachers' Association Executive at the BCTF.  Am going to help create a policy book.  

Bought a new pair of North Face Hedgehog shoes at Kintec Footlabs.  I get a discount because I bought my orthotics from them.

Picked up an extra battery for my small Canon at Lens & Shutter.  There is probably something wrong with the camera, charger or original battery.  Time will tell!

Stopped at the Sunshine Diner for a grilled cheese sandwich and then home.

Canucks played a great game tonight.  Nice to be allowed to cheer for Kessler again.

My ribs are hurting again but not a lot.

Dentist

Check up with the dentist this morning.  Mine is still on maternity leave so I saw her father.  He can fix my partial and I have a couple of cavities so will return in a few weeks.  Will see Suzy then for the first time in a couple of years.

Pam gave me a good home-cooked meal tonight and I taught her how to load waypoints into her GPS.  

It's over!

What a letdown not having the Olympics to watch this morning.  Two weeks before the paralympics begin.

Met Matt at the Oakridge White Spot for lunch and then found a couple of caches (#572). 

Did some shopping at Byrne Rd & Marine Drive and then home for Murder She Wrote.

My ribs have stopped hurting so I am assuming it was just a muscle.  When you have cancer, every headache is a brain tumour!