Heart of the Valley

Drove to Chilliwack with Pam and Lori to find the 14 caches in the Heart of the Valley series.  Took us on a beautiful drive in the hills southeast of town.  The final was one of cleverest we've seen.  Drove about 300 km.

Came home to find 2 police officers trying to knock on a patio door.  I offered to let them in the building and they were quite relieved.  I'm guessing that apartment will be empty again soon.

Quiet day

Rainy day, so a good one to just stay in and watch TV & read.

Better day

Found 5 caches today in Queensborough & Surrey.  Only had one DNF - Whalley.  Still can't look for one tricky one because a homeless person and their shopping cart have set up permanent residence under the tree with the cache.

Good lunch at Swiss Chalet and did some shopping on the way home.

I am one of the 200 whose records with the genetic testing at the Cancer Agency were incomplete.  I've already had a call and the deficiencies are being fixed.

DNFs

Exchanged the moccasin's I got for Christmas for a bigger size at Hill's in Gastown.  Headed to West Vancouver for some geocaching.  Only found 2 and didn't find about 5.  Not one of my better days.

Finally gave up when I spotted a new Thrifty's in North Van.  Bought some groceries and then went to the Apple Store in Oakridge.  Needed to take back iPad stand present that I already had and exchanged it for a mophie juice pack.

Super Bowl

Stayed in to watch the Super Bowl.  It didn't disappoint.  Was able to see all the U.S. commercials on YouTube since most are blocked in Canada.

Best laid plans

Was going out in the sunshine today but changed my mind when the phone woke me after 11.  Took it as a sign to take it easy.  

Watched hockey and played Scrabble.

A day of Mary's

Spent a couple of hours with an OT at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre.  She did an evaluation and figured what kind of help I'll need.  Next appointment in a week.

Stopped at Staples for a name stamp for geocaching but they got it wrong.  Some people just can't read.  Found a new cache near where Dad & I used to work at the foot of Boundary.  He was in Plywood & I was in White Pine - for the CNIB.

Mary McDermott's memorial was at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.  Might be the first time a choir has sung The Internationale there.  Family and friends spoke well.  Her sisters do look and talk just like her.  Always good to see old friends.  A very emotional night.

Vancouver caching

Pam and I spent the day downtown and in Stanley Park.  I found 11 and she logged 17.  I had to tweet a teacher at J.O. for a hint on one.  We stopped at Hamburger Mary's for a great burger lunch.  

Black bean soup

Just made it for the metastatic support group.  Cut it too close and the women with the drinks cart ran out of hot water for my tea so had a coffee.  Not the same.  Interesting group today.   Only knew one of the other six.

Picked up some socks at MEC and then decided to head home.  Bought some soup at Liberty on Main St.  Perfect comfort food.

5,000th cache

Picked up Pam at her sisters and we met Lori near the Lynden Road & the outlet mall.  We headed off to fill in our map between there and Lynden.  There were a few we couldn't find but think they aren't there any more.  Maybe the owners will replace them so we can return.  My count is now 5,029 and I got my 100 for the 31st.  

We were really lucky with the weather.  It drizzled once in a while but the real rain didn't start until I came back over the border.  Had another good lunch in Lynden.

No luck today

Wandered around and looked for a few caches.  Found none of them.  A homeless person had set up camp right where one was hidden.

Gave up and did some needed shopping instead.

Rain again

Another rainy day so stayed in and watched the Hockey All Star Game & women's soccer.  Both my teams lost.  Still fun to watch.

Christmas in January

Picked up Pru this afternoon and we joined the family at Chris's for a January Christmas.  Most of them had been in Houston for Patience's wedding.  I made cranberry sauce - had to use frozen and the few fresh left didn't look good.

We had an early night.  I was home by 7:30 and quite tired.

Lynden caching

Logged 49 caches today with Pam & Lori around Lynden.  Most were driveups and part of a group put out last Halloween.  Had a good lunch at Dutch Mothers - excellent Dutch rye bread.

No trouble with the border either way due to our NEXUS cards.  Did see a lot of border patrol vehicles on various side roads as we explored.  Guess we didn't look suspicious.

I am feeling much better today.  Still not right, but the headache finally left after the 5 am painkiller.

Headache day

Woke up with a headache and it keeps coming back. Just took another Tylenol and hope to sleep it off.  Still not feeling normal.

Picked up a couple of packages in Point Roberts and filled up with gas.  

Met Pam and she had lunch waiting - tomato soup & grilled cheese.  The ultimate comfort food.  We drove to North Delta and went for a couple of caches.  I climbed down a stairway I'd been down before.  Remembered not being able to go the last section as the stairway stopped and it was a steep trail.  Pam clambered down and found the caches.  

Picked up groceries and a prescription at Safeway on the way home.  Forgot to activate new Extended Health number so have to mail the claim in.

New radio

Finally had the new radio I bought on Dec. 27th installed at Best Buy.  It has no CD player but has a compartment for my iTouch.

Gave up trying to buy fresh cranberries.  Will try again tomorrow.  Bought a last Christmas present for Saturday at Chapters.

Still not feeling well and just had some chicken soup for dinner.

Dark and stormy day

A good day to stay inside.  It never seemed to get light and the rain was really hard at times.

Was enjoying the Canucks game but got sick and had to turn it off.  I think dinner didn't agree with me.  A few antacids and some Tylenol helped.  I curled up in my chair and dozed for a couple of hours.  Couldn't lie down in bed.  Feeling almost normal now.

Mary McDermott

So sad to hear that Mary McDermott has died.  Her stroke several years ago was a cruel blow that robbed the BC education system of a tireless advocate.  She was a dear friend and a very special person.

Windy day

The wind was strong all day.  I stayed in and read a whole book while watching 2 football games.

BCTLA Executive

Picked up Moira at 8:30 this morning.  We stopped for Starbucks on our way to the BCTF building and the BCTLA Executive meeting.  Day went well and we completed the 3-page agenda with an hour left over to do some work in little committees.  Lunch was brought in and it was really good - salads, chicken, salmon, fruit..  Much easier than going out to a restaurant.

Some of us went to the Cactus Club for a drink and dinner.

I am so tired right now that I am heading for bed.