Sunshine is here

Another day at our retreat. A couple of great sessions with writing and art. Lots of time for walking and just lounging in the welcome sun. Always surprising what you don't know about the people you meet. This is so much better than just coming together for a couple of hours at a time. I surprised myself a few times.

Enjoyed some wine sitting on the edge of the ocean before dinner. So nice to have the sun! Dinner was good and we were back in our room in time for the end of the hockey game. We should have won!!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mets retreat

Just made the 9:20 ferry to Langdale and spent the day geocaching.

Now I'm at the Rockwater Secret Cove Resort with my metastatic cancer support group.

We went for a walk along the boardwalk and then sat in the sun!

Started at 5 and broke for dinner at 7. Shared some wine and stories in Carolyn's room before bed. What a perfect spot. I was here years ago with VESTA when it was Lord Jim's.

I am using my iPad tethered to iPhone as there is no WiFi.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mets retreat

Just made the 9:20 ferry to Langdale and spent the day geocaching.

Now I'm at the Rockwater Secret Cove Resort with my metastatic cancer support group.

We went for a walk along the boardwalk and then sat in the sun!

Started at 5 and broke for dinner at 7. Shared some wine and stories in Carolyn's room before bed. What a perfect spot. I was here years ago with VESTA when it was Lord Jim's.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Royal Canadian Air Force Station Boundary Bay

Took about an hour to get from here to Pam's in Delta this morning.  There were some demonstrators near the tunnel and they delayed opening the 2nd lane south.  Even then, there was still a huge lineup waiting to come north.  At least I had my latte.

Picked up Pam & Lori and we finished the caches at the old ghost town that was the Royal Canadian Air Force Station Boundary Bay during the war.  Patience and Edna lived here right after the war as there was no housing in Vancouver when they moved here. TJ joined them on weekends with a bag of coal under his arm!

Finally finished the photos from our Harrison visit.

Did some shopping at London Drugs, Canadian Tire & Tim Horton's on the way home.

Picked up Pru and we went to the Chaise Lounge on Main St. with big group of family and friends to eat, drink and watch the Canucks win.  One surprise was there that I can't mention.

Cold day

Found today's cache at Iona, along the outlet pipe. It was a blustery, cold morning. Now I am worried about not having snow tires on any more for drive to Red Deer next week.

Did some birthday present shopping on way home.

Dinner at the White Spot with Pru et al.


Val


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

WA Caching

Used my NEXUS card to cross quickly at Peace Arch this morning.  Nice to by-pass the other lines.  Found 7 caches.  Stopped for lunch at The Village in Marysville and had dinner at the Shrimp Shack in Bellingham.  Filled up at $3.85 & $4.05 - $0.97 & $1.02.  Still better than $1.37 in Vancouver.

Got to Pru's in time for the 3rd period after listening to 1st two on the radio.  What a relief!!  On to Round Two.

Tax Time

Found today's cache near Cambie & 8th.  Avoided muggles walking but must have looked odd to drivers.

Finally did the Taxes and owed $1900.  Netfiled & transferred payment right from savings.  Love computers, hate taxes.

Another cache

Still trying to find a cache for every day in the year.  Found today's near the tunnel just as the rain started.  Now at 2,477.

Stopped at London Drugs & Save On and was home by noon.

Canucks just want to give us a game 7.  They played much better and should have won tonight.

62

Well, I made it another year and have caught up to Pru again.

Picked up a book at the library and tried buying a new patch cord for my camera.  Didn't have any luck.  Stupid that it isn't generic.

At Pru's by 11:30 for birthday lunch with the family.  Always a treat to be with them all.  Hung around sitting in the sun all afternoon.

Voting

Met Moira at the Coast Hotel to vote in the advance poll and then went back to the White Spot off the lobby for dinner.

Spent the evening with Pru and some bottles of wine.

Yesterday's injection spot still hurts.  Left leg a bit swollen.  Suppose I should see my doctor about that.

Busy day

Did 3 loads of laundry so lost count of the times up and down the stairs.

The Cancer Agency called to see if I could come early for the FASLODEX shot.  Got there and was checking in when I realized I'd forgotten to pick up the drug.  Called Macdonald's Pharmacy as I walked down and they had it for me pretty quick.  Back for the shot and to have the port cleaned.  This is the first time the shot has hurt afterwards.  I've reached my maximum on the Extended Health so they are paying all of it!  Must send bills for the other months to the drug company and they will return some of it.

Stopped at Seymour Medical for bloodtests for my rheumatologist.  Too bad they can't use the port.

Poor old Canucks need a jump start!

Home again

In the pool at 8 this morning and then my first shower of the visit!  Nice to have hot water again.

Had my last buffet breakfast and headed out by 10.  Bought some cheese at the Farm House.

Found a cache in Mission after a couple of DNFs and decided to just head home.  Made it by 2:30 and was glad to be here.  My leg has been a bit swollen and sore.  My lazy boy was the perfect cure.

Harrison bliss

Had breakfast with Matt et al and they left at 9. Into the pool to wash my hair. Read the papers on my iPad then went for a walk to find the cache I needed for the day. Much easier now I had a hint!

Stopped at the hotel coffee bar for a bowl of soup. Read in the lobby until afternoon tea time. Back into the pools.

Sat in the bar to watch the 1st 2 periods of hockey. Too painful to watch the rest in public. Had a couple of drinks and dinner there.

By the end of the game just after 7 it felt like 11. Didn't go back in the water. My hot water was back in the late afternoon.

No hot water

The fire alarm went off just after 7 this morning. I was up and had just turned on the shower. Started dressing and it stopped. Went to get in the shower and realized that there was no hot water. Apparently 4 pipes burst. We saw them digging a big hole out the back of the building later in the morning as they tried to find them.

The hotel has given us a chit for $50 off our next visit and set up a room in the tower for showers. Later they offered to move us to a room there. The chamber maid was happy when I turned that down - she didn't have to make up my room again today. Part of the fun of coming is the old rooms. The pool is fine instead of showers. Hopefully I can have one tomorrow. There is water coming out of the tap now but it is still cold.

We had big breakfast at the buffet and went for a walk around the lagoon. I walked 2.66 miles today! Spent quite a while in the pools with the kids. I just got a latte & scone from the cafe for lunch and read the newspapers in my room. Walked to the stores again and found weighted rings to toss for Sadie in the pools.

We met for afternoon tea in the lobby and then back to the pool for some more fun. What a workout with little kids. Walked to Harrison Pizza for dinner.

Matt got a free movie as part of the package so we watched The King's Speech. Enjoyed it a lot.

Harrison Hot Springs

Left home at 8:30 this morning.  Found a couple of caches in Chilliwack and had brunch at the Airport.  Matt called to say they had arrived at Harrison and I got there in 1/2 an hour.  We were able to check in at noon instead of waiting until 4.

Spent quite a while in the pool with the girls.  Sadie is a good little swimmer!  We then walked a cafe for some lunch but it was drizzling and cold so we came right back.

We watched the Canucks and ordered our 2 free pizzas for dinner.  The girls were happy colouring and playing with the new apps on my iPad.

I went back into the pool at 9:00 and then sat in front of the lobby fire with my iPhone music and a book.

Spring Council

Picked up Moira and Gwen on the way to the BCTF building and the BCTLA Spring Council/AGM.  We spent the morning learning how to use the new BCTLA Ning that will replace the Forum I've run for several years.  Also had a Twitter lesson.  The AGM was quick and we were finished by 3.

Had some shopping to do at Granville Island, London Drugs & Chapters.  Picked up Chinese takout in one of the malls on #3 Road.

Think I'm about packed for Harrison tomorrow!

BCTLA Executive Meeting

Couldn't find a new cache near Weir this morning so found one in Burnaby by the river. 

Spent some time at Weir visiting at noon.

Picked up Moira and we went to the BCTF building for a BCTLA Executive meeting.  Went until 9 so missed most of the hockey game.

Quick trip to Point Roberts

Got an email from TSB Shipping to say my Kensington KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard and Case had arrived.  The fellow was surprised I was there so quickly.  Saved a lot buying it from Amazon.  I paid $59.49 - Best Buy sells it for $109.99!  Even with the $3 pickup fee it was worth the drive.  Especially with gas at $1.19/litre.  The case does everything I expected and the keyboard is simple to use.

It snowed on the way home just as a note to me that I took the snow tires off too soon!!  Also drove through a thunderstorm downpour.

Impressive storm

There is an amazing thunder and lightning storm going on right now.  Not much space between the flashes and the thunder.  My apartment is shaking!

Thought a package would be in Point Roberts today but it is late. It's in Washington, but not at TBS yet.

My groin was still painful today so I didn't do much moving around.

Canucks were impressive with first win of the playoffs!

Caching day

Met Lori and Pam at Deas Island Park for our first cache. We then got one near the dumped and were cornered by a flag woman and then a supervisor who said we were trespassing. This was not true as we were on the public road. Power trip by yet more people who think the road is only for motorists. Then we hit road construction by the airport so gave up and headed to North Delta.

Counted 9 today. Filled in gaps on my map.

Heard there was traffic jam on the Connector so came home via Queensborough.

Tired tonight - walked 3.5 miles. Some pain in groin but gone now.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Summer is coming

Found a quick cache for the day on the way to have my car serviced in Richmond.  Time to take off the winter tires!  Sat and read for 3 hours.  Never a hardship if you are prepared.

Dinner at Dave's Fish & Chips in Steveston.

Rain again

Slept in and decided not to even get dressed today.  Did a lot of little jobs but not what I should have been doing - housework & bills.

Golf & soccer kept me entertained.

New glasses

Found today's cache across from my optometrist's office.  It was a clever one.  Had my fingers on it early on but decided I was wrong.  Stopped and thought about the clues and logs and realized that had to be it and I was right.

Picked up the glasses and am trying to get used to them.  They are bifocals and should make walking in the woods safer.  I still need my trifocals for the computer.  Also picked up some artificial tears samples and bought a bottle of Thera Tears to help with the dry eyes of Sjogren's syndrome.

Enjoyed the last Canucks game - now for the playoffs. 

Found it!

Started in New Westminster today.  Found one but failed on a couple more.  Decided to head to Surrey and look again for one that we missed on Tuesday.  We had a new clue, "hard as a ..".  Found it in the 2nd place I looked - only took a couple of minutes!  Worked my way back to New West and ended the day with 8 finds.

Had a bit of a headache but it didn't get worse.  Stopped at the Waffle House for liver & onions.  Picked up fresh bread at Cobb's on the way home.

Puzzle caches

It was a gorgeous day and I spent the day in South Surrey/White Rock with Pam helping her find the puzzle caches that Lori and I found while she was away.  She found 12 and I counted 1.  She then helped me find 3 hides she had found.  Teamwork!

Picked up dinner at Applewood Bakery and then enjoyed the Canucks win for their last home game.

Support group

Slept for over 8 hours and felt much better this morning.  Went to the Metastatic Support Group at the Cancer Agency.  Always helps.

Picked up groceries at Oakridge and saw that they have now painted around the speed bumps.  My complaint about falling must have worked.

Watched White Caps.  The officials were not very good but the players did take stupid penalties.

A sick day

Woke up at 5 and spent most of the next couple of hours in the bathroom.  Don't feel really sick so hope it is just my old gut problem and not a bug.  Stayed in and ate little all day.

Had to miss a geocaching day today with Pam & Lori!  That was worse than being sick.  

Had some soup for dinner and feel better, but not normal yet.

Triage

No water this morning so brushed my teeth with bottled water and decided to go out without a shower.  Nice to have my hair short!

Dragged and carried 9 large garbage bags of clothes down to the car.  Stopped at the Sunshine Diner for tea and Eggs Benny (tomato & avocado). 

Found Triage on Pender Street and several men came out to carry in the clothes.  They seemed pleased.  I like taking things here as anyone living nearby can come in to choose things.

Found a cache at CRAB Park at Portside at the north end of Main St.  What a little gem in the Downtown Eastside.  Great view of the port and a beautiful park.

It was cold and rainy so I was glad to be home by noon.  It snowed at SFU!

Haney

Had a slow start this morning but made myself go out. Picked up a latte and headed for Pitt Meadows. Didn't find the first cache and am pleased to see a group after me failed as well.

Decided to keep going to buy gas at Silverdale at $1.19 instead of the usual $1.35.

Went back to Maple Ridge and was caught in rain & hail. Retreated to the Bobby Sox 50's Diner and a grilled cheese sandwich.

In the end I found 7 caches. Couldn't get one opened but took a photo. The owner said I could count it.

Was getting tired so headed to Lougheed Mall. I had an email from Karen to say Northern Reflections had T-shirts and sweatshirts. Nothing I liked or would fit. I used to spend a lot there - no more!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Feeling peckish

Slept like a log after being sick last night.  Decided to have a lazy day and started with toast and tea.

Watched baseball, soccer & hockey.  The White Caps game was quite exciting and the Canucks just sad.  The can't win them all!

Finished with the clothes and now have to start carting the bags to the car.

Another wet day

Saw a doctor this morning to get a renewal for my Sjogren's prescription.  Got some groceries and waited for it at Safeway.

Cleaned out part of my closet and filled a bunch of bags with clothes I haven't worn for some time.  Need to cart them downtown to a shelter.

Was sick tonight.  Think it might have been the coleslaw for dinner.  Haven't eaten it since I was sick a couple of years ago.  Think I'll chuck the rest of the package and swear off it.