Finished the World!

Didn't have a great sleep last night.  My leg was sore and I just couldn't settle.  It is just a bit sore and weak today so it didn't last long.

Received the final coordinates for the World Cache last night so headed north on the Sea to Sky to find my final.  So nice to be able to get my smiley face on the map!  Thanks to my team mates in Australia, UK, US & Germany.

Stopped at Park Royal for a bit of shopping.  Picked up my prescriptions and a few groceries at my Safeway and then home.

Met Moira for dinner at the White Spot.

Signed up

Took a latte to Pru this morning and delivered some stuff I had promised her. 

She mentioned needing a book for her book club so I went to Characters on Granville.  Found what she needed and the sequel.  The bonus was finding the 1st part of a multi-cache in the window.  Clever hide!  Also bought a cinnamon bun. 

Signed the HST petition outside the Safeway and dropped a prescription off. Took the books to Pru as an early birthday present and then home.

My leg is healing and there is just a bit of a bruise.  The other one is quite painful so I have an icepack on it.  Also have a floater in my eye.  I am falling apart...

Liberty

Had a long sleep and felt pretty good this morning so I went to meet friends from the VESTA Status of Women Committee at Liberty Bakery.  The food and friends were perfect.

Stopped at VanCity and got rid of $85 in rolled coins and deposited a couple of cheques.

Came straight home and rested the rest of the day.

Biopsy

Connie drove me to the Cancer Agency this morning for an Ultrasound guided core biopsy a couple of inches from the top of my right leg.  The worst part was drinking a lot of water to have a full bladder.  Turns out the woman who told me that when setting up the appointment was wrong!  The radiologist and nurse were excellent and explained everything as they went along.  I even watched on the computer screen.  Only the 4th sample hurt.  I guess the freezing was wearing off.

Found Darline and gave her a library book she had commented on last week (The God of the Hive: A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes).  I read it in 1 day and she'll have a couple of weeks before it is due.  Connie was waiting out front and took me home.  She had bought me a great lunch - sandwich, vegetable stew & bun.  I was really hungry when I got home.  I am supposed to take it easy for a day.  Just sat in front of TV and dozed.

It bled a bit tonight so I added another band aid and used an icepack.

Technology and Aging

Dropped off my fee for the VTLA annual dinner at Henderson Elementary after finding a new cache across the street.  Missed it yesterday but went right to it today.  Found 4 more in White Rock/Surrey (#734).

Met with a grad student to be a subject for his thesis on technology and aging.  Answered questions about my health and problems with mobility.  Watch this video and then more questions.  It was interesting.

Picked up groceries at Cobbs and Save On before heading home.

Meandering

Found another 2 parts of the World Cache.  I have 4 now and just need the final coordinates from Australia.  I think it is in Deep Cove.  Found one near the PNE but failed at a couple of others.

Used my gift certificate at Chapters for The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest.  Can't believe the author died after writing the trilogy!

End of Hockey

Did some laundry today.  Haven't seen Mel for weeks and it is showing.

Watched the last of the Canadian teams tonight.  Must watch baseball until World Cup begins.

Lost

Decided not to chance hearing the ending before catching up so I spent all day with Lost.  Watched 3 episodes from my PVR and then the special and the final.  7 1/2 hours!  Not too surprised by the ending.

Needless to say I didn't get any housework done.  I was tired and slept in until nearly 11 so a day of TV was a good idea.

Habs Struggle

Settled in to watch hockey this afternoon.  Poor Montreal.  The best part was the anthem - Nikki Yanofsky nailed the songs.

Another lazy day.  Rolled a bunch of change - I'm rich!

White Spot

My ears are still bothering me so I didn't do much today.

Watched TV, played Bejewelled, sorted papers...

Picked up Moira and we had dinner at the White Spot.  Always a nice way to finish a week.

Eh?

I have been a bit dizzy and now my ears are plugged up.  Guess it is time to pick one of the new doctors at Seymour Clinic.

Was at the Cancer Agency at 9:45 for bloodwork, saw my trial nurse at 10:30 and had chemo at 1:00.  Everything worked like clockwork.  Well maybe except for the porter who was rude to me.  I decided to walk away from an argument.  What a dork!

Stopped at Granville Island for groceries.  Lots of parking today.  Must remember not to to at noon hour any more.

Burnaby Village

Met Andie and the girls at the Burnaby Village Museum.  We started with a ride on the 1912 CW Parker Carousel.  The thing goes 8 km/hour.  There was a small stationary horse for Lily and Andie didn't have to pay to stand with her.  Sadie and I clambered up on big ones (I needed a stool to step up).  We wandered around the site and went in some of the buildings.  There was even a small collection of toys the kids could play with.  We ended with a ride around the site in a 1924 Model T Ford.  Can't get better than that.

We had lunch at IHOP in Brentwood Mall.  I stopped for a reserved book at the library on the way home.

Got the date for my Ultrasound guided core biopsy.  I have to be at the Agency at 11 next Thursday - with a driver.

 

Museum of Vancouver

The VESTA AGM was in the Joyce Walley Learning Centre at the Museum of Vancouver.  I arrived early so I could tour the museum.  Haven't been in it for some time and was impressed by the displays.  Even found one on our cousin's old butcher shop, Reid's Meats. 

The meeting was interesting and there were a lot of new faces elected.  There were a lot of Honorary Life Members in the crowd.  Too bad we can't vote.

Forest fires acomin'

Headed out to North Van to find the next stage in the World Cache.  My GPS wanted me to wade over the Seymour River.  I decided not to and drove around.  Found 3 more on the way to the Red Cross.  Had lunch/dinner at Swiss Chalet at 3 since there would only be snacks tonight.

We had a conference call around the province to talk about reorganization and forest fires.  Home by 9.

Getting hotter

My apartment is hot enough that I never close the windows and keep the fans going.

Worked on the RTA newsletter today and will finish tomorrow.  Got the the final article tonight.  It is probably too big so I'll have to rejig the other pages.

Fell asleep in the middle of he hockey game.

Flash Mob

Pam and I met this morning at Central Park for a flash mob that happened at 10:00 - WWFM VII - Rockin' in Central Park.  Put faces to many familiar caching names.  Met an ex student from Weir.  We then headed to Marine Drive for a couple of other caches.

Had every intention of doing a bunch of stuff today but ended up not doing much.  Fell asleep for a bit in the afternoon.

Heritage

Attended a heritage meeting at the VSB this morning.  There was coffee & treats but no scones!!  Had a short visit with Collette before heading off to Granville Island.  Must remember not to do that again at noon on a sunny day.  Gave up and went for a much needed haircut.

Picked up a few things at London Drugs, Cobbs & M&M in Burnaby.

Fell asleep when I got home.

Heat wave

I was such a beautiful morning that I started off caching.  Started near the border and worked east.  Even met 3 others at a couple of caches.  I found 12 and am at 722.

Had lunch at the Milsean Tea Shoppe in Aldergrove at Rum's suggestion.  Good lunch and did a bit of shopping in their shop.  Finally came back through the tunnel around 6 and headed for Dave's Fish & Chips in Steveston for dinner.

Bought gas for $1.03 but my credit card had been frozen.  Called and proved who I was and it was started up again.  Maybe they were suspicious that I paid my bill a couple of days ago.

Friends

Attended meeting of the Vancouver Branch of the Retired Teachers' Association at the BCTF building this morning.  A few of us walked up to Whole Foods for lunch.  Made myself a great salad.

Stopped at VESTA to visit Vilma and Rossanne for a while.  Found a cache in Burnaby and another near Champlain Mall that had eluded me a few days ago.  Right where I thought it was in the first place!

Spent a couple of hours visiting at Weir.  So glad I am retired!

Enjoyed the Montreal game.  At least we have someone to cheer for now.

Forgot

Forgot to post yesterday!  Had a lazy day.  Paid some bills and worked on the RTA newsletter.

Reading The Girl Who Played with Fire and don't want to put it down.

Canucks weren't really in the game.  Need more strong defencemen who aren't going to get hurt.

Women's luncheon

Felt much better today after a 9 hour sleep.  Picked Georgina up this morning and we found a couple of caches.  We then met Anni and Marilyn at the Thai Garden Restaurant‎.  Excellent chicken pad thai.

We took Anni home and stayed for a visit and then I took Georgina home.  Shopped at Thrifty's and headed home.  Did try unsuccessfully for a new hide near Kerr & 54th.  Maybe Pam will find it tomorrow.

Headache

Woke up with a headache and nursed it all day.  It is much worse now so I took more pain killers.  Didn't get anything done all day!

Birthdays

Found a cache that was restarted at Tomahawk Restaurant in North Van.  Went inside for breakfast afterwards.

I'm working on World Cache with partners in Australia, U.S., U.K. and Germany.  I found one by Burrard & 7th that gave coordinates to the person in Australia.  Our American partner sent me coordinates that sent me to Capilano.  My GPS took me to the hatchery and I quickly realized the hike to the cache was up the mountain.  This didn't seem like a 1 or 2 on the difficulty rating so I pulled out the map and decided to drive up to the dam.  This was much better and I found what I was looking for just below the dam.  The coordinates I figured out make no sense so I sent the puzzle off to the group.

Made it just in time for a family birthday celebration at Elaine and Rick's for me, Jesse, Patrick & Chris.  Jesse had to work but the rest of us had a good time.  Lots of music from Gordon Elementary's fun day next door.

Driving again

I was so tired yesterday that I slept until 10 this morning.  Boyd Autobody called before noon and I walked over to retrieve my car.  The final bill was $2300 and I just had to pay the $300 deductable.  They even washed and vacuumed.

Got my 700th cache in Burnaby and then went to the Waffle House for liver and onions to compensate for all that blood I gave this week.  Carried on caching around Guilford and stopped at 705.

I think the Canucks are toast.  One more game to pull it off.

Chemo day

Talked to Dean Brothers this morning.  ICBC has accepted my claim and the car will be ready today or tomorrow.  I haven't bothered with the free rental as I really haven't needed it this week.  

Took Canada Line to the Agency for a 10:00 blood draw.  This time it was several vials.  Sat around reading until treatment at 1:00.  My drug was ready on time so I was done quickly.

Stopped for Japanese bento box on the way back to the Canada Line.  Was home by 3.  I am getting better at asking people in the handicapped seats to give them up.  

Suspicious CT

Rode Canada Line to the Cancer Agency for 9:00 blood tests.  Then saw my oncologist at Fairmont.  She was busy so the appointment was an hour late.  I always have something to read or play.

Monday's CT Scan found something suspicious in the right groin.  It was the other side that hurt last month.  I am to have a wire biopsy during an ultrasound. 

Walked over to Oak St to find a cache hidden last night (#699).  Caught a bus back to Cambie and was home by 1:00.

Canucks was outplaying Chicago but just couldn't score!

Home time

I am behind on so many projects that being without a car is a bonus.

Did a couple of loads of laundry and started on the next Retired Teachers' newsletter. 

Didn't hear anything about the car.

I hit a what?

The main problem today was dealing with a CT Scan without a car.  I had to drink a liter of water and didn't want to be standing at a bus stop.  Pru rearranged her morning and drove me.  I arrived at 9 and was home again by 10.  This time they did a bunch of head shots - and then had to repeat them.  I really didn't want to ask why.

Dean Auto called to say they looked at the car and didn't think the damage was connected to the accident as it looked new.  I must have driven over something.  The housing was gone and the transmission was split in two.  The bill will be over $2,000!

I was quite relieved when he said to file a claim with ICBC.  They were very nice and it looks like it is covered under my collision coverage and I will only pay $300.  Now I have to wait for the adjuster to talk to the mechanic.

Really tired today and fell asleep for a while.

Car woes

Saw a couple of new caches appear this morning that were close to home.  Flubbed both of them but decided to keep trying as long as I didn't get too wet.  Stopped at the Waffle House in New West for a waffle.  I found 5 (698) and was on my way home when disaster struck.

My car died at a light and I restarted it thinking that it was odd but quickly forgot it.  A few blocks later it felt like I'd driven over something.  I was in the inside lane of the Lougheed Hwy near Ikea in Coquitlam.  Then it felt like a tire had gone flat and I was driving on the rim.  I forced my way across traffic and made it into a lot.  The tires were fine so I knew I was in trouble.  Luckily I do have BCAA and the woman was very helpful.  She knew exactly where I was and the truck arrived in about 15 minutes.

You could see the transmission fluid flowing across the lot and the driver thinks the transmission had split in two.  He asked if I'd been in an accident.  This could be part of the October 2008 bus crash!  He suggested taking it to Dean Brothers Collision instead of Toyota so he hauled it up on the flatbed and took me along.  It cost $40 but left me with an easy walk home instead of a long cab ride.  I put the keys in an envelope and stuck then through the mail-slot.  I then trudged the few blocks home in the rain.

10th Anniversary of Geocaching

Today is the 10th anniversary of the freeing of satellite signals for public use.  Met Pam and we spent the day searching mainly at UBC.  I counted 7 for a total of 693.  We stopped at Spanish Banks for fish and chips. Had a great visit with Michelle.  She gave us a tour of her house and a cup of tea.  By the end, I walked 7 km!

Finally got home in time to see the 3rd period of the hockey (I listened to the 1st two on the radio).  Canucks had a great game and have shown that they can beat Chicago.