Hockey and football

Taped the game between Canada & the US.  Then watched the Seahawks.  Nice to pick the winning team for a change.

Still not feeling well.

Funeral

Drove to Surrey for Al Parrerson's funeral.  Many old friends were there but I didn't stay long at the reception. Came home and fell asleep for a while.

Felt pretty good, just tired.

More hockey

Recorded the 1:30 am game between Canada and Slovakia and watched when I woke up.  Spent the rest of the days watching a Chopped marathon and reading.

Felt much better than the last couple of days.

Up and down

Felt pretty good this morning and met Pam and Maureen in Burnaby for some caching.  Logged 13.

We had lunch at the White Spot.  I started feeling tired after eating and called it a day.  Was home around 2.

Fell asleep for an hour.   Felt sick around dinner so just had some crackers and cheese.  Like last night, I feel better now.

Boxing Day

Taped the World Cup game between Canada and Germany at 1 am and watched when I got up.

Quiet day and started feeling sick when I ate dinner (turkey sandwich) and had a bit of a headache.  Feeling better now.

Christmas Day

Slept in until 10:30!   Had a quiet day and left for dinner at 3:30.  It was at John's and a nice sized group - Pru, Lucas and Jesse.  Had a turkey dinner with lots of veggies.  Ate a good sized serving but couln't finish my plate.  Talked to Dan in Shanghai via Skye.

Was home by 9:30 - stuffed and tired.

Great Christmas Eve Day

Went to Matt's at noon to celebrate Christmas with them.  He and Andrea put together a tasty Mexican lunch.  We spent the afternoon playing the Wii U I gave them for Christmas.  Lily read me a book and Sadie played Christmas songs on her keyboard.

Was home by 6.  My excema is really a pain in the butt and I was tired, but it was still a good day.

Seattle football

There is still no hockey so I watched Seattle demolish the 49ers.  At least it is a nearby team I can cheer for.

Rested today as I am going out on the next two days.

Chicken and bread

Drove to Byrne Rd this morning to get some groceries at M&M and Cobs.  Both stores surprisingly empty.  Came straight home and fell asleep.

Listened to documentary on Callanish this morning on CBC.   Kirsten was on my weeklong retreat a few years ago.  I was at the concert you hear in the background.

An old friend died a few days ago:

PATERSON, Al 

Al was born on December 21, 1942 in Regina, SK and passed away with his family by his side on December 12, 2012 in Burnaby, BC, a few days short of his 70th birthday. He is predeceased by his sisters Iris and Yvonne, his brother David (Dorothy), his first grandson Jonah, his brothers- in-law John (Barbara), Mike (Joy), Kevin (Barbara) and his niece, Debbie (Gerry). Al will be missed by his wife of 46 years, Lois; his daughter Christine (Tom); his three grandsons Eli, Sam, and Callum; his sister Sheila (Larry); his sisters-in-law Dorothy (Fred), Barbara and Joy and brother-in-law, Bill (Carol), as well as many extended family members. Al had a long and distinguished teaching career that began in 1962 at Hastings Elementary School in Vancouver, where he met his wife, Lois. They were married in 1966. During his career, he became president of VESTA (Vancouver Elementary School Teachers Assoc.) and later received Honourary Life Membership. He also became a school consultant and a school administrator. In addition, he became president of VESPVPA (Vancouver Elementary School Principals and Vice-Principals Assoc.) Finally, he took a position in human resources at the Vancouver School Board. He continued his commitment to teaching after his retirement by participating in the BCTF (BC Teacher's Federation) Assistance Society and the Vancouver RTA (Retired Teacher's Assoc.) later becoming the VRTA president. He was a master at chairing meetings from the school level to the BCTF AGM. Al kept in touch with many of his former students, some of whom later became teachers and were mentored by Al. Al especially loved hockey, all sports, traveling, photography, fine wine, good chocolate, reading, anything to do with trivia and spending time with friends and family, especially his grandsons. In 2004 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, which slowly took away his ability to participate in the things he loved. Special thanks go to the staff at Burquitlam Lions Care Centre, Eagle Ridge Hospital MCU, and St. Michael's Hospice for the care and compassion Al received. A Celebration of Al's Life will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Valley View Funeral Home 14660 72 Avenue, Surrey, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Al's memory to the Parkinson Society of British Columbia or the BC Children's Hospital. 

Tired

Had a busy week so took today off.   Feeling pretty tired.

The NRA should be ashamed.  So glad they don't have power here.  They are so stupid.  That school was so big the bad guy could still have killed all those kids if the guard had been in the other wing.  Only a very small percentage of shootings of children have happened in schools.  Most die in their communities.  School guards wouldn't help them.

Geocaching again

Lori and Pam picked me up at 10 this morning and Lori drove us around Vancouver and UBC for my first day of caching since October.  I let them do all the walking.  I helped with navigation and clues.  I logged 10 by the time they dropped me off at 4.

Had lunch at the White Spot.  Enjoyed a cup of chowder and a small Caesar salad.  Finished every bite. Nice to have my taste buds back.

Really tired by the time we were done.

Snow day

It kept snowing this morning but my big tree only had snow on its branches for about 20 minutes.  The rest of the city was in chaos.  Good day to stay inside.

Too much

Decided to get groceries today as there will be a lot of snow tonight.  It snowed in a lot of places last night but there was none here when I got up.  Filled a cart at the Oakridge Safeway.  Had to take a bathroom break and the closest was in the food fair.  That did me in and I went straight home.  The delivery arrived before noon. Only costs $5 for seniors - worth every penny.

Felt a bit sick all afternoon.  Just overdid it.

Best day yet

Went out at 10:30 to have a haircut.  Long overdue and very shaggy.  Stopped at Weir to pick up Purdy's order.  Visited with Rum and Coral.  Got some cash at VanCityvthen stopped at Applause for Japanese take-out.  Split it between lunch and dinner.  Didn't eat it all but managed more than I've been eating recently.

Finished up my Harry Potter marathon.  Loved the ending.

Harry Potter

It is a dark and stormy night.  Perfect for a Harry Potter marathon.  I watched the first five.  Three more to go.  I haven't seen the last one and decided to see then all again first.

Outing

Today I put shoes on for the first time in 7 weeks.  Louise picked me up at 12:30 and we went to the annual Open House at Callanish.  She dropped me at the door as there is seldom parking nearby.  EnChor was there for their annual carol sing.  It was sad this year as their founder, Diane Loomer, died earlier this week.  The music was as good as always. 

Was home by 3:30 and felt pretty good.  

Dark day

Hard to stop watching the school massacre in the U.S.   They are so out of step with other  countries.  Anyone can buy weapons at gun shows.  Disturbed people can get guns, as can anyone on the terrorist watch list.  Insanity!

Better day

Felt better today than yesterday.  Took it easy and read.  Days getting too much the sane.

12-12-12

Amazing how many reporters were talking about the Mayan Calendar today.  Didn't do much research, confusing today with 12-12-21.

Saw an oncologist this morning.  My liver and anemia are getting back towards normal!   She also thinks the new treatment is having an effect as the protruding tumour has stopped hurting.

Pam was going to pick me up and we were going out for dinner and to a 12-12-12 geocaching event.   I begged off as I wasn't feeling well.  Some of the side effects are a bother.  Didn't want to be too far from a bathroom.

Another day, contd.

Another her day.  Feeling pretty good.  Still have some side effects but see Karen in the morning.  Big day tomorrow so rested up today.

Driving

Took my first drive in 45 days this morning.  Needed some blood tests and went to the lab near Granville and 71st.  Driving is easier than walking or standing.

Life is starting to feel more normal but am worried about Christmas.  No cards this year and not sure what to do about shopping.  Gift cards?

Another day

My days are so much the same.  Read and watched TV.

Stomach a bit iffy all day but enjoyed the food I ate - a good sign.

Grocery day

Moira did some more shopping at Oakridge Safeway today and had it delivered.  Love being able to pay her by Transfering funds from VanCity.  It goes to her in an email and she directs it to her bank.

Took a bag of garbage downstairs and started my car on my first try.  Fell asleep soon after getting back upstairs.  Feeling better than yesterday.

Poor day

Had to stay near the bathroom today - side effects of my meds.  Not much of an appetite.  Made some scrambled eggs for dinner.

Was feeling more normal so this was disappointing.

École Polytechnique

23rd anniversary of the massacre in Montreal.  Missed the VESTA gathering at Thornton Park memorial but they called any everyone said hello.

PVR ghost

Figured out my PVR had begun to drop older episodes of shows to record new ones.  A few of them reappeared today!

Feeling pretty good today.

Mail

Had a shower this morning and decided it was time to go down the stairs for a mail pickup.  Did pretty good on the way down and up.  Still getting a cough and some shortness of breath when walking or talking.

Soup day

Pru's sons came through for me today.  Lucas carried away my garbage, a big old microwave, a lamp and some boxes.  He also brought me some wonderful soup that Jesse made.  I ate a big bowl of it tonight.

5 weeks

Went into the hospital 5 weeks ago.  I'm still feeling a bit better each day.  I can drink without feeling a block in my throat.  I've started eating in small bits through the day.  Enjoyed scrambled eggs and toast for dinner.

More groceries

Moira filled a cart with groceries at the Oakridge Safeway and they delivered them.

Had a headache on and off all day but still felt a bit better.  Had a shower this morning.

Was going to watch last episode of Upstairs, Downstairs but hit erase instead.  Bought it from iTunes for $3.49.  Took an hour to download.

Better day

Feeling better today.  Still getting short of breath, especially when I talk.

Got my PVR below 50%.  Should catch up soon.