Blackout Calendar

Left before dawn this morning and watched the sun rise as I headed to Peace Arch.  Drove right through the NEXUS lane with a slight pause to say Happy New Year.  We really expected more traffic.  I don't think I've ever driven up without having to wait for another car.  Met Pam at the outlet mall and we started on the road to Lynden.  Pam had a plan and I logged 21 by the time I had her back at her car at exactly noon.  I've now found a cache on every day in the year except Feb. 29th  I now have to work on getting each column to add up to 100 (all the 1sts, 2nds...).  I already have 100 in each month.  I need 28 tomorrow but think it'll be raining.  Shopping instead?

Found the finals for a couple of challenges (250 on one day & 10 colours in Washington) but can't log the 2nd one until the owner approves my list.  That puts me at 4,867 total finds.

Stopped at the Shrimp Shack in Bellingham for lunch.  Arrived at my hotel in Lynwood just as the sun went down.  The Jr Hockey game between Canada and the U.S. wasn't on TV so I went to Applebee's for dinner at 6.  Back in time for the Canucks game.  They aren't playing well.  Too many shots allowed on our net and not enough on theirs.

Bought a bottle of bubbly so I can toast 2012.  Dad was born 101 years ago today.  I always miss him on this night.

New splint

Went to a hand specialist at Westside Physio and bought a Thumb Support to help with the ostioarthritis in my wrist and thumb.  An insert was molded to my hand so it it pretty comfortable.  I have lost a lot of range of motion of my right hand and it is quite a bit weaker than the left.  Ran into Mary Locke in the waiting room.

Picked Moira up at Oakridge and we had dinner at White Spot.  Played Scrabble on our iPad & iPhone while eating.

One more to go

Found three caches along a waterfront trail in Queensborough this morning.  I now need one on Saturday to fill up my calendar.  Feb 29th is a bonus day that I can get in 2012.  

It started to rain so I headed home, stopping at Boston Pizza for lunch.

Four more caches

Wasn't raining this morning so I headed for a series of four easy "Rainy Day" caches in Cloverdale.  All were easy drive-ups.

Circled back through New Westminster and had liver & onions at The Waffle House.

Boxing Day Week

I like listening to books on tape from the library and have been using my old iTouch.  The latest updates to the software no longer work on it.  My newer iTouch works with the new OverDrive Media Console but it doesn't work with the car radio.  Neither does my iPhone.  It is an evil plot.

Decided the solution is to buy a new radio so headed for the sales at Best Buy.  My current radio has a line into the glove box that plugs into the iTouch.  Bought a new Sony radio that has a compartment to hold the player.  It doesn't have a CD Player but I can't remember the last time I played a CD in the car.  I have to wait to get it installed (1/2 price).  The installer will call after he deals with all the Boxing Day sales.

Had to come home again as I forgot my GPS units.  Found a cache in Queensborough just as the rain began.  Three more to go!

Hockey Day

Good day to watch hockey.  It was raining outside and I didn't need a cache for the day.  Canadian Juniors are always fun to watch and they beat Finland.  Then the Canucks took care of Edmonton.

Finished the turkey leftovers for dinner.

Quiet Christmas

Drove to Queensborough before the rain to grab today's cache.  Need 4 more to fill my calendar - except for Feb. 29th!  Funny driving by all the closed stores.

Decided not to go to busy movie theatre and just stay home to watch some.  Saw Last Holiday, Finding Neverland and The Help.  All good, especially The Help.  Loved the book and was worried the movie wouldn't do it justice but it was great.                                                                                                 
Had a big turkey sandwich for dinner on my homemade bread. 

Christmas dinner

I finally gave up waiting for the rain to stop and went out for a cache on the way to Matt's.  Lori figured out a puzzle in North Surrey and I just had to go for it to see what we missed on Thursday.  One of the best hides ever!

Then over the Port Mann to get to Matt's.  Traffic was really light but there was a lot of rain.  We had a perfect turkey dinner and the kids enjoyed the craft stuff I put together for them.  Creative duo.  Sadie played some pieces on the piano for me and then just started improvising.  Don't think she is supposed to know how to do that at 6!  Came away with leftovers and lots of treats.  Never did get to make my own shortbread this year.  Did make the cranberry sauce and kept some.  Made bread tonight so I can have it on my turkey sandwich tomorrow.

Good checkup

Louise met me at Fairmont for my appointment with my oncologist.  Karen noted that I must have been nervous as this is the first time I have brought someone.  It helped that they were friends.  

The Tamoxifen is working!  The cancer in my lung "is no longer seen".  Other nodes have either stayed the same or have shrunk.  My tumour markers have dropped a bit for the first time in months.  If the two nodes I can feel get worse I am to call.  Otherwise, she'll check them again next visit.  The plan is to keep on with the Tamoxifen.  All in all, a good outcome.

Louise took me out for coffees to celebrate and then I bought some groceries at Granville Island.

I'm pretty tired tonight.  Probably partly because of the stress leading up to this appointment.  Still managed to make the cranberry sauce but haven't wrapped the presents yet.  Tomorrow morning will do.

Cougar Canyon

Picked up Lori & Pam at Sungod this morning and we worked our way around Delta & Surrey.  Found a couple in Cougar Canyon, behind Matt & Mike's elementary school.  Lori braved the slippery path.

Finished my Christmas shopping at Chapters and then had to go to a couple of stores before I found pecans for my cranberry sauce.  Picked up Chinese food and was home by 4:30.

So tired I fell asleep watching Rachel Maddow and had to rewind it.

Long walk

Went to the end of River Road past Westham Island to look for snowy owls.  Although several people said there were a lot, I never did see one.  There were a lot of hawks hunting so maybe they were laying low.  I did find the cache I was looking for.  After a while I realized I was close to another one so kept going.  I walked 1.6 km by the time I got back to the car.

Picked up a few things at M&M Meats on the way home.

Fort Langley

Started the day with bloodwork at the Cancer Agency.  Quiet place today.

Drove to Fort Langley to do some shopping and found a nice easy cache.  Wandered home the long way and shopped in Aldergrove and Cloverdale.  A day for small stores.

Home by 4.

Missions accomplished

Had a list and did it all!  Started with a stop at Cobb's in Richmond Centre for tonight's treats.  Parked in a handicapped spot right by the door.  I then went to Richmond Country Farms and found local cranberries and good ginger - big improvement over the poor offerings at Safeway.

Picked up my last package at TSB.  Missed Kathryn by 30 minutes.  The line snaked around inside but when I left it went right out to the road.  Timed it just right.  Filled up with gas and met Pam for a cache grab.  We weren't having much luck and had to phone Lori for some help.

Home to rest and then to Dr. Watterson, my rheumatologist.  He said the pain in my hand and wrist were osteoarthritis and wants me to wear a splint all the time.  I'll get one made on December 30th.  I'll continue the pills for the rheumatoid arthritis and see him again in May.

Home again for a couple of hours and then met Louise at the Cactus Club.  Our group met at the Cancer Agency and we all had brought treats.  

Made it home in time for the 3rd period of the hockey game.

Queensborough

Took another drive to Queensborough for an easy cache to fill today's calendar slot.  9 more to go and then Feb. 29th as a bonus day.  

Stopped at Byrne Rd. to shop at London Drugs and Cobbs.

Enjoyed Canucks and Toronto game.

Laundry day

Slept in and had a lazy morning.  Did 2 loads of laundry at noon.

Dinner at Applause with Moira & Philomena.

Have been able to feel a tumour for a couple of weeks.  Glad I see oncologist on Friday.

Another geocaching Thursday

Had a good sleep last night after a busy day.  Met Pam & Lori in Delta and we found a bunch of caches that some or all of us needed.  I counted 9.  There were a few that I didn't attempt and waited in the car while the intrepid duo braved the ravines.

We had a short day and I was home before 4.  Tired but not as bad as yesterday.

Home again

Up early and took Pru to SeaTac.  Realized afterwards that we were really early for her flight.  Should have checked the time again and gone to Starbucks on the way.  At least we checked the bags curbside and she had a good book to read.  Traffic was heavy but we could use the high occupancy lane.

Meandered home and found 6 caches.  Stopped in Arlington for lunch.

Started getting quite tired so headed home early.  Only a 10 minute wait at the border with my NEXUS.  Arrived home just before 4 and avoided the rain.  Tired enough to fall asleep before dinner.

Lynnwood

Had a quiet day and picked up Pru at 2:00 for her trip to SeaTac.  The border wasn't too bad.  Couldn't use my NEXUS since she didn't have one.

Stopped at Barnes & Noble near Bellis Fair.  Found a cache just a few blocks away fo fill in today's date on the calendar.

We are in the Best Western in Lynnwood - used my VISA points.  Listened to the end of the Canucks game on my iPad and then went out to Applebee's for dinner.  Discovered Lemon Drop Martini!

Cinnamon makes you smarter

Picked up a latte and arrived at Weir in time for recess.  Had a good visit and picked up my Purdy's order.

Stopped at VanCity and then Characters (for a book, soup & cinnamon bun) on the way home.

Went to Sadie's first piano recital in Port Moody this afternoon.  She nailed Jolly Old St. Nick.  

Took them all to the White Spot for dinner to celebrate.  Back to the house for a visit for a couple of hours.

Attended a geocaching event with Pam at the Best Western near Lougheed Mall.  We searched for the clues to a cache hidden across the street and exchanged Secret Santa gifts.  Several familiar faces there.

Really tired and glad to get home.

EnChor

Found today's cache under the Welcome to Kitsilano sign near the Burrard St. Bridge - also a dead seagull!

Enjoyed the Open House at Callanish in the afternoon.  EnChor was singing again.  Met several old friends.  Such a welcoming building.  Hope to go on an alumni retreat in May.

White Spot

Quiet day today after a busy week.  Did some paperwork and picking up stuff.

Met Moira at White Spot for dinner.

Still caches left in Surrey

Picked up Lori and Pam at our usual Starbucks and we started our day at the Scholastic Book Sale in Surrey.  My handicapped tag got us parked next to the door instead of a couple of blocks away.  Came away with a couple of bags of presents.

Lunch was a grilled cheese at the Wired Monk.  Nice to have free WiFi.  I passed another milestone and have 4,804 finds.  A few times I sat in the illegally parked car while the other two dashed for the cache.  Saved a lot of walking.   My favourite part was the walk was around Stokes Pitt.  Hope they are able to save it from development.

Another lunch

Took transit to our last metastatic support group this year.  I'll miss it for the next few weeks.  It always grounds me and sets me up for the days following.  We had lunch at Milestone's, courtesy of the donors who run the annual Cancer Busters dance.  

Rode Canada Line downtown and found a cache near the Post Office.  Bought a 2012 Olympic sweatshirt for 1/2 price at the Bay.  Home in about 30 minutes.

Really tired tonight.

Long day

Went to the Agency for a CT-Scan this morning.  Hardest part is reaching above my head and staying still.  My shoulders don't like it!  Met Mae and Darline briefly.

I missed the Status of Women's little ceremony at the memorial at the Marker of Change in Thornton Park honouring the women murdered in the Polytechnique massacre.  I met them after at the Rhizome Cafe.  Very different spot and worth a visit.  I had a Grilled Apple sandwich with carmelized onions, melted jack cheese and spinach.

Just made it to my GP's office in time for my appointment for a flu shot.  I described what happened Friday night and he says food poisoning.  I was sure sick enough for that.

Friends

Pam and I found a Puzzle Cache solution in Burnaby this morning and that got me enough to finish a Challenge.  We looked at another one that nearby but it looked too dangerous with the wet leaves on a steep trail.

Met Georgina, Marilyn and Anni for lunch.  The first 2 restaurants don't open on Mondays, so we ended up in a little Japanese one that turned out to be really good.  A big bowl of chicken udon did me for lunch and I took half home for dinner.  The old chicken soup was the perfect food for me today.  We also bought some stuff in Inno Bakery that I parked near.  I saved that one in my GPS.

Took 35 minutes to drive home.  I am not back to normal but am a lot better than I was.

Headache

Had a long sleep but woke up with a headache that keeps coming back.  Time for another painkiller and bed.

Quick trip to Queensborough for a drive-up cache.

Sick day

Bad day today.  Started throwing up at midnight and finished at 6 am.  Couldn't even keep water down.  Very little sleep so spent most of the day dozing in front of the TV.  Finally managed some tea and digestive cookies.

Needed a cache today so went for a close one in Richmond.  Picked up some bread and ginger ale and then home.  Still feeling shaky.  Early to bed tonight.

Blaine in the sun

Up early to have my port flushed at the Cancer Agency.  Picked up Lori & Pam in Surrey and we headed across the line for a very productive day of caching.  We stuck near Blaine & Birch Bay.  What a gorgeous day along the seashore.

Home by 5 and rested for a bit before heading out for dinner with women I knew from VESTA.  There were about 20 of us at Szechuan Chongqing. 

Something has upset my gut and I've just been throwing up.  Food, tired...?

What keys?

Picked Lori & Pam up at Sungod in Surrey and we spent the day finding puzzle caches.  The had to do a few without me as it was too steep and slippery.  Took Lori back to her car at 1:30 and Pam & I continued around Cloverdale.  


After dropping Pam off in Ladner, came home through the tunnel.  Traffic wasn't too bad there but a problem at the Oak St. Bridge.  Made it home only to realize I didn't have my house keys.  They weren't on the hook in my trunk where I usually put them.  Had to walk around Marine Dr. to get to the front door.  Someone finally let me in and I called the Manager.  He was in Richmond but was there in about 15 minutes.  His wife had found the keys in my mailbox lock.  Duh!  I've found a few sets there myself.

Harrison

Beautiful day for a drive.  Found a cache on the way to Chilliwack.  Had lunch at the airport - cream of mushroom & leek soup!  

Headed back after a swim at Harrison.  Tried a couple of other caches but it failed and it started getting late.  Home by 6.