Lazy Saturday?

This was going to be a lazy day but Matt called to ask me to meet them at White Spot.  Lily always likes the Pirate Paks.  Dozy waitress made mistakes and didn't pay any attention to us - must have had a late night!

Dropped off prescription at the Safeway and bought some groceries.  Also some beer for dinner tomorrow.

Matt texted to say Sadie needed a large clip board for drawing.  I just happened to have a lapboard for a computer that I bought and didn't like.  Took it right over.  Always like to surprise him with efficiency - makes him think I'm smarter than I am.

It's not easy being five!

So said Sadie this morning.  The catheter is gone and the doctor took out the epidural needle while I was there.  Like me, she hated having the dressing taken off.  Next step will be sitting in the wheelchair!

Saw my dermetologist and all my itches are still excema.  Rewrote my prescriptions for a year's supply of goop.

Found 6 newish caches in Vancouver and Richmond to get to 870 in total.  83 in July makes this my best month ever.

Can't stop yawning tonight.

Sadie Blue

Met Andrea and Matt at the White Spot for lunch and then headed off for my chemo.  Had a good nurse today so it went well.

Visited Sadie at Children's.  She was not a happy camper as the medication was making her itchy.  The nurse gave her some Benedryl and the doctor changed the meds she was getting to see if it helped.  She is such a trooper.  She called the nurse at 4:30 and said she needed a hug!  Andrea spent the night on a cot and Matt is doing tonight.

Too tired for groceries again so just came right home.

Sadie's surgery

At the Cancer Agency for bloodwork at 9 and saw my trials nurse and a doctor at 11:00.  My doctor was away.  He was concerned and I wasn't sure why, but Stephanie said not to worry.

Sadie had her surgery on both hips this morning.  I met Andrea and Matt for lunch at Las Margaretas.  Great food and it was good for them to be away from the hospital.  The surgery was to take 5 hours, starting at 10:30, but they were finished by 2:30 and it went as well as they hoped it would.  She'll be in the hospital until Saturday and will have an epidural until Friday.

Did some shopping at COSTCO but it was too hot and I was too tired to do anything else.  Groceries can wait.

Home

Spent the morning exploring Renton and found 7 more caches for a total of 41 on the 3-day trip.  Loved sitting at breakfast in the hotel this morning with my waffle, listening to CKNW using an iPod app and reading the Vancouver Sun on my iPad.

Arrived at Sea-Tac at 12:20 and continued reading the paper as they have free WiFi.  Patience landed at 12:40.  We stopped a few time on the way home - Michael's, Starbucks and Shari's (for salads and blackberry cobbler).  

The border was fine with just one car in front of us.  They weren't even interested in the liquor we bought at the duty free!  We got to Pru's just after 6.

I stayed for a bit but really just wanted to be home.  I knew that I needed to carry stuff upstairs and turn on the fans.

Monroe jackpot

Spent most of the day in Monroe and found the majority of my 20 caches there.  I now have 857.

Had breakfast at the hotel and lunch in the Hitching Post Cafe.

Drifted south on the interior roads and ended up in Renton. A huge Holiday Inn was full but I found a Quality Inn.  Better room than last night and my iPad works.

 

Road Trip

Left at 8 this morning and was through Peace Arch by 9:15.  The radio (730) said there was no wait and they were wrong by about 40 minutes.  I like the staggered line and was able to read the Province.

Meandered south geocaching and found 14 before it just got too hot (27).  Most were in Sedro Wooley and Mount Vernon.  Tried a motel in Marysville but it was too expensive.  One I'd stayed in before was closed.  The Village Pie Shop sells pizza now!   Decided to keep going to Monroe.

I am in a Best Western and got a good discount for having CAA.  There is wireless that works with the iPhone and netbook, but not the iPad?  If it doesn't work in tomorrow's motel, I'll have to ask at an Apple store.  There was some noise from next door and the police showed up.  That worked!

I have 200 caches loaded near here for tomorrow.

All packed

Had a lazy day reading newspapers (on iPad) and my library book.  

Picked up Moira and friend for dinner at Applause.  Then had to go to the White Spot for blueberry pie!

My pack is already in the car ready for tomorrow's road trip.  I am picking Patience up on Tuesday at Sea-Tac so will spend a couple of nights on the road getting there.  

Geocaches are all loaded in my GPS.  I'll have to do it the slow way as it is too expensive to have the phone network on.  I'll make sure the motels have WiFi and stop at Starbucks once in a while.

Library ladies at lunch

Met Rum and Marilyn at the White Spot for lunch.  First time we have eaten together for many years.  Felt like last week.

Picked up a library reserve and did my banking - deposit, cash, U.S. cash.

Forgot about the football game until I saw Patrick's post so missed most of the first half.  Just about won on last play!  Must stop taking penalties.

A day of not accomplishing much

This video shows my day perfectly:

Went geocaching out towards Haney and didn't find any.  Really wasn't feeling great so came home.  Just one of those days.

Blah

Had no energy to do much today.  It needs to cool down just a little!

Errands

Did well today.  Went to BCAA for some books and travel insurance.  I can now cross the border for up to 3 days at a time.

Found 4 caches in Surrey area.  It finally got too hot to continue.

Returned a charger to Best Buy with no trouble at all.  Stopped at London Drugs and Cobs on the way home.

Arthritis acting up in my ankles today.

Support

Nice lazy day reading.

Louise dropped off her car and we had a great dinner at Cravings - Beef Short Ribs: Flambeed with bourbon and deglazed with root beer, then braised for five hours; served with vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. Best meal since my accident!

We drove to Champlain Heights for our cancer support group. We held it at a member's house as there aren't any in the Cancer Agency in the summer. 6 of us did quite well on our own.

Cleanup

Mel came today and my apartment is clean again.  

Decided I've walked a lot in the last couple of days, so this was a TV day.

Crescent Beach

Picked up Pam this morning for our first geocaching day since she retired.  We spent the day around Crescent Beach, carefully avoiding the crowds near the beach.  We found 9 before I'd had enough.  I'm now at 819.

Too tired to shop on the way home so just picked up an Orange Mango Vivanno™ Smoothie at Starbucks.  It was only $3 as I had this morning's latte receipt.  The forgot to make it so I also walked out with a coupon for a free drink the next visit.

Chinatown Walk

Took the Canada Line to Canada Place and walked to Maple Tree Square near the Gassy Jack Statue to meet others from the VESTA Status of Women Committee. 

As we walked, Joan told us the history of many of the buildings and monuments.  We went through Chinatown and around many of the older buildings in Strathcona.  I knew a lot but also learned a lot.  We really enjoyed this and want more.

Got on a bus on Main St. and rode it to Dunsmuir & Georgia.  Stopped at Dairy Queen in the mall for some ice cream (I couldn't bite the big panini sandwiches at the shop we stopped for lunch - just had a big latte).

Moira and I went to Applause for a great Japanese dinner.  

Chemo day

Bloodwork was 8:30 this morning.  I then visited with some friends and went to the cafeteria for my scone.  Back to the chemo waiting room to read until 10:30.

My trial nurse was away and her replacement found me and asked why I hadn't gone to my appointment with her.  I was able to show her my appointment sheet that did not have it recorded.  I love being right once in a while!

The treatment went well and after seeing Mae and Darline I was out of there.  Stopped for a haircut and to pick up some library reserves and then home.  Fell asleep for part of the afternoon.

Harrison

Drove up to Harrison for a swim today.  Filled up with gas at Silverton for $1.02/litre.  It is $1.17 in Vancouver!

Had lunch at Kilby - vegetable soup, homemade bread and wonderful apple pie.  Enjoyed the blackberry jam I bought on the last visit so bought a couple of bottles and some raspberry jam.

Found 6 caches (810) and had a good swim.  Must complain that the temperature is lower in the pool by 25 degrees.

Stopped near Cloverdale for Mexican at the Luna Loca Restaurant- more than I could eat for $12.95.

Still having some trouble with the lip and with my bite.  

Dentist again

Saw my dentist briefly to check on partial.  It is fittting well and I am getting used to it.  Still slurring some words.

Couldn't decide what to do but it was still pretty cloudy so I ended up getting groceries and heading home.

Fresh fruit

Did some laundry this morning.  It is such a relief to have cooler weather so I feel like moving around.

Headed out to Richmond and loaded up on cherries, raspberries, blueberries & fresh peas.  Love this time of year.

Poor Netherlands

I always pick the wrong team to cheer for!  I did like it that the Spanish team had members from all parts of Spain and was a unifying force for a previously fractured country.

Watched Inkheart after the soccer.  Really enjoyed it.

Out to Safeway and then Youban mall in Richmond for Chinese takeout.  Too hot to cook.

Poor Lions

Watched Germany win 3rd place in the World Cup.  One game left - go Netherlands.

Stayed in again.  It was still pretty hot and my foot was sore.  The new plate is fitting well but I need to practice talking.

Watched the Lions 1st game at Empire Field.  Not a great game.

The Pacific

The van that honks at 7:30 every morning was back today.  I waited until the man came out of my building and called down to him to ask them to stop waking me up.  He did seem agreeable so we'll see what happens next week.

I went back to sleep for a while and then decided to just stay in out of the heat all day.  Watched the last 4 hours of The Pacific.  It has been nominated for some Emmy Awards and should win. 

Teeth!

Back to the dentist for my new upper partial. It has a front tooth and also one to fill a hole on the side. After fixing the bite they wanted me to take out - not possible! Suzy had to use pliers. It took a few more fittings to get it right. Now I have to learn to talk without slurring.

Found a couple of caches on the west side and then headed home to hide from the heat. Went out for a long dinner at the White Spot to cool down. Nice to chew again.

Hot

Okay, now it can cool down.  This is too hot!!

Watched the soccer game and then dozed away the afternoon.  I was up early because some idiot blows his horn at 7:30 every morning.  I must go down one day and get the licence number and report him - or shoot him.

Went to Steveston for fish and chips.  Was hungry for real food and figured I could get through some nice halibut with a missing front tooth.

Dentist

Went to my dentist this morning. She ground a bit off my remaining front cap to improve my bite which had gone to hell. She said the two loose teeth will tighten up. At least they have stopped aching. The tech then did the moulds for a partial. My mouth is so small since the cancer surgery on the top lip and the lower lip still tender from stitches that it was stressful. My gap reflex didn't help.

Went to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo with Chris Evans. What a perfect movie. Can't wait for next 2 movies.

802

It was such a beautiful summer day I headed out to Pitt Meadows and did some geocaching.  I am now at 802! 

Stopped at Swiss Chalet and had some soup and perogies for lunch.  Tasted so good!

Lions opener

Slept in really late this morning (still in my Lazy-Boy).  

Watched the Queen's Plate and the BC Lions game in Edmonton.  There were lots of mistakes but we kicked ass!

I'll be glad to have a plate put in this week.  Soft food has lost its appeal.

Dr. Gelmon was actually in the Agency on a Sunday!  She called to say the biopsy was estrogen positive.  That is the best news since it means we carry on with my treatments.  She still doesn't know what is going on with the last biopsy.  It might have been a faulty test and it having them redo it.  For the moment that tumour is stable and we are going to just watch it.

Go who?

Getting hard to pick teams in the World Cup.  I've decided to cheer for the Netherlands.  Tomorrow is the Lions.

Went to do some geocaching once the games were finished.  Gave up on one in Delta as the boardwalk through the woods was broken and leaning towards the water.  Found a few in Surrey instead - 797.  I have to decide what to find for the 800th so it means something.

Stopped at Byrne Road for groceries and home for dinner.  Really tired so waited a while to cook.

Back geocaching

Up early to watch the 2 soccer matches.  Picked one winner.  Had hoped Ghana would move up to semi-finals.

Feel pretty good so went geocaching.  Found 3 new ones on Sea Island and 1 in Richmond.

Came straight home.  The lip still has twinges and my teach don't feel right.

Happy Canada Day

Up in time see most of the Canada Day show with the Queen in Ottawa.  Didn't think much of the entertainment.

A weird day at the Cancer Agency.  I told the clerk I was 1/2 an hour early as I needed blood drawn and she told me I was wrong.  She even came back and said the nurse in charge said I was wrong.  I knew I was right so waited until a nurse took me in and she said that she was drawing blood - hah!  

It took a while for her to call the lab to say I was ready and it turned out the tech was already sitting in the waiting room.  The first needle in the port was too small and the blood dribbled out.  She filled a tube with a label and coloured cap and then remembered the first one was to be thrown out.  The clerk was sent to find a replacement with the right colour.  Then the flow was so slow, she took everything out and tossed it.  We started again with a bigger needle and she again forgot the 1st tube was a throwaway.  The clerk was sent to find another replacement.  We finally finished at 1:25 - so much for coming at 12:30!  It was 2:30 before I finally headed back to the car.

Met a couple of neighbours from Killarney Gardens who are on the same 2-week rotation.  Had a good visit before and after the treatment.

Was to tired I just headed home.  Four days in a row at the Agency is enough!