Rainy geocaching day

Lori was babysitting so I met Pam at her house and we spent this rainy day inside.  I showed her how to do her geocaching stats and some other computer and ipad stuff.

Rainy drive home.  The tunnel was busy so I went the long way over the Fraser Bridge.  

Really tired tonight.

Angry Birds

Slept in even with the time change.

Must stop playing Angry Birds.....

Sunny day

It was such a gorgeous morning I had to go geocaching.  Found a couple in Richmond, one on Mitchell Island and then headed to the Waffle House for lunch.  Then 2 in Burnaby and a puzzle in Everett Crowley Park.

The walks in the sunshine felt good.

Winners

The Lions and Canucks kept me occupied on this dull rainy day.  They both won!  

I am reading The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival, a Canadian book about a rogue tiger in Russia and can't put it down.

Better day

Slept for over 8 hours last night.  Had a bloodtest today to check my platelets and passed.

Met Pru at Oakridge for some White Spot burgers.  Picked up some food at M&M in Richmond and then home for the weekend.

Felt tired all day.

Bad reaction

Arrived at the Cancer Agency at 9:30 for bloodwork.  Lost my parking ticket and spent far too much time looking for it.

I have been in the trial now for 19 months but today I get the real thing - AMG 479.  For this 1st bag, the drip took an hour instead of 1/2 an hour.  I had a metallic taste in my mouth for a bit but breezed through it.  About 10 minutes into the hour observation time, I started feeling odd.  I went to the bathroom a couple of times but then started shaking and got very cold.  The nurse called for help and started a bag of benedryl.  The doctor came and they added something else & Gravol.  Another nurse arrived with hot blankets to wrap me up.  I shook for about 20 minutes.

All these drugs meant I couldn't drive home so I stayed until Darline and Mae were finished their Therapeutic Touch clinic and Darline drove my car.  The went home by Canada Line.

I am tired tonight and have slept quite a bit since this happened.  I did call my trials nurse and she doesn't think that the doctor will stop the drug but I'll probably have benedryl before they start it.  This means no more driving on that day.

Karen

Out before the sun was up to see Karen and Stephanie, my trials nurse. They briefed me on side effects and did an exam. I might have a rash, dry eyes - Oh wait, I already have those symptoms. No wonder they thought I was on the real drug. Also have to watch for bleeding as platelets might drop. My bone scan just showed a lot of arthritis. Home by 9.

Worked on more puzzles.

Puzzle caches

Met Pam and Lori in Surrey for our weekly geocaching trip.  We concentrated on puzzles in Surrey/White Rock.  I logged 11 but we spent a long time not finding a couple, even with a hint for the owner for one of them.

Stopped for lunch at Dock's Fish & Chips along the beach.  Perfect sunny day for it.  

Finally stopped searching when we needed our flashlights.  Picked up a burger at Vera's and was home by 8.

Odd day

Made a 3rd attempt to find the right black cartidge for my computer at Staples.  Their computers were down but they let me in when I promised to pay cash.  My Cobbs is gone from 5 & Steveston!

Came home and did a load of laundry.  Matt called just after 3 to say he had my cookie dough from Sadie's school and didn't have room in the freezer.  Took less than an hour to get their with my cooler bag in hand.  Stayed for dinner and a visit.  Home by 8.

Printer woes

Bought cartridges for my new printer at COSTCO and they were the wrong model.  They took them back even though I'd opened the box!  Bought the "right" ones at Office Depot but the black is wrong!  Of course that is what I am out of.  the number is right but it is not the standard black.

Watched the Lions and finished a book.  Spent Halloween watching Rocky Horror Picture Show that I recorded at midnight last night.

Quiet Saturday

Have heard very few fireworks this year.  The silence is nice.

Picked up a book at the library and groceries at Safeway.  I was out of most things.  Use my cart for coming up the stairs.  I bought it at the PNE for only $20 so shouldn't complain that the wheels fall off when it is empty.

End to a busy week

Just couldn't get inspired to do much today.  Caught up on watching everything except movies on my PVR.

I really have to get groceries tomorrow.

Bone Scan

At VGH for an injection for a bone scan at 9:00.  Had breakfast at the Sunshine Diner and then did some shopping at Granville Island.  Sat there reading until it was time to head back.  The scan was at 11:50 and I was walking out at 12:25.  Everything went smoothly except the itch on my leg I couldn't scratch.

Came straight home and kept falling asleep this afternoon.  My leg hasn't been hurting so I think it was all the sitting on the weekend that bothered it.

Talked to my trial nurse and I will see Karen on Wednesday at 8 AM.  My first treatment will be on Thursday.  It will be an hour the first time to see if I react to the drug and I'll have to sit for another hour after it's finished.  Good thing I can amuse myself with music and books.

Placebo

Woke up with a headache so didn't even get dressed today.  Watched some of the many hours on my PVR after being away for several days.

Karen called when I was on the phone and left a message saying I was on the placebo.  My trial nurse will call to arrange moving me on to the real thing!

Puzzles

Had bloodwork this morning to help them decide about taking me off the clinical trial.  

Lori and I met at Pam's to do some rainy day caching.  We spent the day solving various puzzles that gave us the coordinates of caches.  A lot of puns, math, science, music....  Always easier doing these with 3 minds coming from different directions.

Did a bit of shopping on the way home but my left leg was too sore to do much.

Home

Good sleep last night.  Had free breakfast at the hotel before starting out.  Had lunch in Spences Bridge where there was a cache.  It didn't start raining until about Boston Bar.  Stopped at the Chilliwack Airport for dinner as I have to fast for 14 hours for tomorrow's blood test.  The rain was nasty so I got off the Freeway at Langley and Hwy 10 was much better to see on as there were a lot of streetlights.

Found 17 caches today.  Didn't think I'd done so many and had to count it twice.

The Cancer Agency found me in Cache Creek to tell me a bone scan is booked for Thursday - a waiting time of a week. 

 

Kamloops

Lazy morning. Halia made scones and Angie a fresh fruit salad. A perfect breakfast.

Only found 3 community named caches. Failed to find the final in Vernon. Have to go back next year.

Stopped in Kamloops at new Best Western. $109 and there is a couch! Ate at Red Robin.

Fall Council

The BCTLA Fall Council meeting started at 8:30 with breakfast - good treats! Impressed by with quality of young teacher-librarians struggling to keep a library program in their districts. I slipped out a couple of times to put my feet up in the lobby.

A few of us went to the Cactus Club for dinner. Angie then took Halia and me home for the night (and some wine).

Having some leg and groin pains.

Kelowna Fresh

Great conference today. Met others in hotel dining room for breakfast and then drove to Kelowna Secondary for BCTLA conference. Well organized and interesting speakers. Much isn't relevant any more but I didn't have to pay since an award is named the Val Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award. Love it that Sharon Scott won - one of my mentors in the 70's.

We had an Executive meeting from 4 to 6 and then a large group went to Moxie's. Had a great steak soaked in honey and garlic.

I finally said I was driving back. My legs were rebelling against all that sitting!

Drive to Kelowna

Left my Starbucks at 8:30 on the way to the BCTLA conference in Kelowna. Stopped in Hope for gas and a snack at Tim Horton's. Lunch at Billy's in Penticton. There was N Earthcache right behind it and a simple one at the museum. I am concentrating on finding 40 with the names of the community in the title. Climbed up into the mine ruins in Hedley and found the spot described but no cache. More success in Penticton. Could see one in Westbank but couldn't get to it in rush hour traffic.

Checked into the Capri and couldn't see anyone. Drove across the street to Kelsey's and there they were. We went to Kelowna Secondary for a social.

Stopped with a group for a cocktail downstairs.