The trip down to Vancouver was uneventful. I went via the canyon and its a good thing I did. The last thing I heard was the Coq was closed. If people just slowed down it would sure help. It was a long trip though. And it isn't the prettiest time of year to go that route.
So I pulled into April's around four. Both of them were home so I had lots of help unloading. Their place looked so Christmassy and homey. We had bologna sammiches for supper, my fave. So easy and made with Vancouver Island bread...the best! That is actually the brand. If you see it give it a try!
April had to work for half a day the next day. Myles got home around lunch and he brought A&W home for dinner...again my fave! I don't really remember the total sequence of events but on the 23rd Myles's parents and Baka came for dinner. April made the most delicious huge prime rib roast, I made the gravy but she made all the rest. Yorkies, peas, carrots and parsnips, mashed spds and I made a Banoffee for desert. Best meal!!!
The next day we lazed around and watched Fawlty Towers and other Xmas movies. Wrangler was such a good dog whilst we were there. April bought him two new dishes on a red plaid mat. And she made him a bed that he basically stayed on. He was so good. That night we opened one small present each. The next morning there were about 200 plus extra amazing presents to open. Myles went overboard crazy bless his heart. She did pretty well too! It was so much fun!
Later we all gathered at Aryn and Bradley's. And let me tell you they put on the turkey dinner of my dreams. I have never ever had a juicy turkey like theirs was. And it was a 25 pounder! Turns out they brined it!!! What a difference that made! And they had a lot left over turkey because all the sides were so delicious we loaded up on them!!! And Bradley was an amazing host, keeping everyone in drinks and appies etc.... And he was so funny when we played Crimes against Humanity later.
After most left, he put on loud dj type dance music. It was beyond awesome!!! And then best of all both Aryn and Bradley danced!! They were amazing!!! I could have watched them all night! I have never ever seen anyone dance like Bradley did...the type of dance. I couldn't even begin to describe it but let me tell you it was fascinating!!
I stayed an extra day to eat leftovers and turkey pot pie. So good. And we spent the day snoozing and watching the Making of a Murderer. So interesting! A perfect boxing day!
Then yesterday I hit the road and headed home. First I had to stop at a gas station and get gas, fill my totally empty windshield washer thingy, and put air in my always slowly flattening tire. Thank goodness I had Bradley show me how to open and close Tank's hood. I would never have figured it out.
Only two hold ups for accidents in the Coq. Fast trip home I must say. Way quicker than the canyon and absolutely stunningly beautiful. Lots of beautiful fluffy white snow and huge mountain peeks and sunshine. Can't beat that!
Now here I am in my red chair, my anchor, catching up here. And best of all today....Aryn and Bradley gave me a huge quantity of perfect lox, not the raggedy end pieces I always buy but thinly sliced beautiful lox, a container of cream cheese, fresh awesome bagels and a gorgeous firm fresh purple onion. So I had one for breakfast, one for lunch and I am about to have the third for supper. And I have to mention here I have never had bagels that were so soft and fresh they don't need to be toasted. Easy on my toothless bottom gums! Absolutely divine!!!! What a treat.
Now I am getting ready for peeps tomorrow. Kevin and kids are coming and possibly Jen and Jeremy (my brother's daughter) and two kids may stay here. We are getting ready for a big New Year's party at Kathy's! A chuckwagon cowboy party!!! I'm going to make a pot of beans and jonny cake. I might make an apple crisp too. Like Mom used to make. Mmmmm.....ttyl
I forgot my charger for my other lappy at Aryn's. So its dead and I can't see my gratitude list. So I am going to put in a Shovel list item:
DOG POOP IN THE SNOW: First of all I can't go out with him in my slippers. I have to stop and put my old Uggs on. Then picking up doodoo in the snow is a pain. Its hard and I keep dropping it and having to scoop several times and there is too much snow with it and it gets on my hands. Shovel list big time.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
FAT LADY STORE VISIT
I bet there are people out there who are pretty offended by me calling Penningtons/Additionelle the Fat Lady Store. But it is what it is. And in all of Canada, other than little tiny boutiques sparsely dotted here and there across the nation, there is only the Fat Lady Store. Department stores don't go up to big enough sizes.
Whilst I was in the store the other day, killing time until my dr appointment, I took note of all the other ladies in there. It seemed a little busier than normal. It became clear to me that a lot of them were Christmas party shopping (a fat broad's nightmare, at least some of us) {shovel list}. And another observance came to my attention. A lot of these women were fat, and I mean FAT. Huge. Really really big.
Now I know what size I wear. There are six sizes above XL and I wear the second from the biggest. And I am completely aware of how big I am. These women were twice my size. So I get to thinking. How do they fit into even the biggest clothes? Seriously!!!! Some of those women are just humungous and they are happily running around with armloads of clothes. I don't get it. It's disturbing. I just don't think I am one size down from them. I think I would be at least three sizes down, but clearly I am not. And I did find a couple of things I wanted, second from the biggest size. Jeez!
I was telling my sister about this. And I mentioned that as I had walked into the store I noticed on the door that they were looking for a sales person. I told her it was so tempting to just apply for fun. But she told me I would have to quit calling it Fat Lady Store. I don't think I can. I would slip up. I just know it.
I am sick. Of course. It's Christmas. This will be the fourth year in a row I am sick. And I am sick of this. The only positive hope is its not that wracking awful cough and chest cold....yet, like everybody seems to have. This one is a gastrointestinal thing. And a fever. I am living on gravol at the moment. Thank god it works. Nothing makes me want to go out in the back yard and shoot myself more than nausea. I HAVE to be better by Friday. I HAVE to be.
Well Alice comes tomorrow morning at 7. It will be great to get all the dog hair off the floor. It's terrible. He is blowing his coat at the moment and brushing him just makes it worse. That hair is coming out in giant prolific clumps. And he is scared of those clumps. If I make him sniff one he dashes away and won't come back to me for a long time. I think I will keep one on the table beside my chair. When he starts bugging me when I am on the phone, I will just waggle that hair in his face. hahaha!!
Monte has officially moved back into his place. It apparently needs a lot of cleaning. I am anxious to see him but he needs to clean his place first. I want to do some cooking when I am there. I will get disposable containers that can microwave and make him some dinners to freeze. I will take some bedding and sleep on the couch. After visiting him I want to take a couple of days and go to Campbell river and visit my brother. He has just successfully had open heart surgery, six bypasses and one valve replacement. Time to visit!
I bought him a book on Amazon and have it shipped to him. Have you heard of the guy that cut down that extremely rare yellow spruce up in the Charlottes? Haida Gwai actually. Well this is a book about him, which involves some history of logging. The guy was a forestry engineer, a bit of a wacko obviously. I think my brother will really enjoy it. Hopefully he hasn't read it. He is a prolific reader.
Well I am going to take this tired hot (as in fever) body to bed. Alice will be banging on my bedroom door bright and early. TTYL
QUIET: I am pretty grateful for quiet, in small doses. I find too much quiet gets my mind in a turmoil sometimes. The only time I really enjoy it is when I am reading a super good book. Then I am not so much grateful as I just don't notice.
Whilst I was in the store the other day, killing time until my dr appointment, I took note of all the other ladies in there. It seemed a little busier than normal. It became clear to me that a lot of them were Christmas party shopping (a fat broad's nightmare, at least some of us) {shovel list}. And another observance came to my attention. A lot of these women were fat, and I mean FAT. Huge. Really really big.
Now I know what size I wear. There are six sizes above XL and I wear the second from the biggest. And I am completely aware of how big I am. These women were twice my size. So I get to thinking. How do they fit into even the biggest clothes? Seriously!!!! Some of those women are just humungous and they are happily running around with armloads of clothes. I don't get it. It's disturbing. I just don't think I am one size down from them. I think I would be at least three sizes down, but clearly I am not. And I did find a couple of things I wanted, second from the biggest size. Jeez!
I was telling my sister about this. And I mentioned that as I had walked into the store I noticed on the door that they were looking for a sales person. I told her it was so tempting to just apply for fun. But she told me I would have to quit calling it Fat Lady Store. I don't think I can. I would slip up. I just know it.
I am sick. Of course. It's Christmas. This will be the fourth year in a row I am sick. And I am sick of this. The only positive hope is its not that wracking awful cough and chest cold....yet, like everybody seems to have. This one is a gastrointestinal thing. And a fever. I am living on gravol at the moment. Thank god it works. Nothing makes me want to go out in the back yard and shoot myself more than nausea. I HAVE to be better by Friday. I HAVE to be.
Well Alice comes tomorrow morning at 7. It will be great to get all the dog hair off the floor. It's terrible. He is blowing his coat at the moment and brushing him just makes it worse. That hair is coming out in giant prolific clumps. And he is scared of those clumps. If I make him sniff one he dashes away and won't come back to me for a long time. I think I will keep one on the table beside my chair. When he starts bugging me when I am on the phone, I will just waggle that hair in his face. hahaha!!
Monte has officially moved back into his place. It apparently needs a lot of cleaning. I am anxious to see him but he needs to clean his place first. I want to do some cooking when I am there. I will get disposable containers that can microwave and make him some dinners to freeze. I will take some bedding and sleep on the couch. After visiting him I want to take a couple of days and go to Campbell river and visit my brother. He has just successfully had open heart surgery, six bypasses and one valve replacement. Time to visit!
I bought him a book on Amazon and have it shipped to him. Have you heard of the guy that cut down that extremely rare yellow spruce up in the Charlottes? Haida Gwai actually. Well this is a book about him, which involves some history of logging. The guy was a forestry engineer, a bit of a wacko obviously. I think my brother will really enjoy it. Hopefully he hasn't read it. He is a prolific reader.
Well I am going to take this tired hot (as in fever) body to bed. Alice will be banging on my bedroom door bright and early. TTYL
QUIET: I am pretty grateful for quiet, in small doses. I find too much quiet gets my mind in a turmoil sometimes. The only time I really enjoy it is when I am reading a super good book. Then I am not so much grateful as I just don't notice.
Friday, December 14, 2018
A VENT .... SORRY
Well folks, this vent is about the Interior Health people and their infinite greedy wisdom. Or possibly the provincial budget just doesn't allow our doctors to have a sufficient salary to afford a family practice.
Today I was fortunate enough to actually get an appointment with a doctor on my clinic's very last day of business. I went in and did my lab work this morning and the only way I could get my prescription refills in a timely way was by going in today.
My usual doctor was not working today. Consequently I saw one I haven't been to before. And let me tell you, he was amazing. He was energetic, eye contact, personable, heard me, responded in kind...and took the time to actually check my blood pressure. This is the first time my blood pressure has been checked by a doctor for two years. (and it was super good by the way!). I am on three blood pressure medications. You'd think at least one doctor would have checked it in the last while.
Anyway, I had a very interesting chat with him. He is about 55 years old. He lives in Kamloops and loves it here. He loves being a doctor and is sad that he is too old and too poor to open up a family practise. And now he is out of work because Interior health closed the clinic. And guess what....Interior health is not hiring...anywhere. So either he flips burgers or moves.
In a city of 95,000 population, to not have a place for this eager doctor to work is reprehensible. With approximately 40,000 people in Kamloops unable to get a family doctor, this is completely unacceptable. Clearly those of us that added our names to that ever growing master list of people waiting for a family doctor, it is simply not going to happen in our lifetime as things are now. Not if this is the way the medicare in our catchment area is being run.
And why do we not just go to walk in clinics, if you can find one, and skip the family doctor issue? Because if something happens to you and you need narcotic pain meds, you can only get them from a family doctor. If you need Ritalin for example, not a chance unless you have a family doctor. If you have an ongoing mental illness and need anxiety meds or antipsychotics....forget it if you don't have a psychiatrist or a family doctor.
Now we are down to two clinics that I can find. One on the south shore and one on the north shore. I talked to a lady in the waiting room today. She is an older lady with a plethora of ailments, diabetes, hip and knee replacements needed etc...not an unusual situation for this day and age of population. To see a doctor she has to get up at six am, get a bus or taxi to the clinic and get into a line up. Sick? Old? Just had a baby? Doesn't matter. You line up or you don't get an appointment. At eight am a clipboard comes out the door that we all sign up. At nine o'clock we come back and one by one fifty people are called up and given a time to come back to see a doctor. If you are fifty one? You are shit out of luck. Snow, rain, twenty below zero. forty degrees out....doesn't matter. Line up and sign up.
And after listening to Peter Millibar, our MLA on the news today, I think I know part of the reason the clinic was closed, leaving its ten thousand patients swinging in the wind. He said that the Urgent Care Clinic, the brand new one, is in jeopardy due to clinics threatening to put them out of business. Seriously. That is what he said. All I can say is shame on him. For a long time resident, three term mayor of Kamloops, he doesn't seem to have much of a handle on this dire issue.
So I am moving. I need a doctor. The lady in the clinic I was talking to is also moving back to her previous place....Ontario. She has been here one year. Time to start making even more noise about this situation with Interior Health. If anyone has any ideas let me know. Would love to hear. TTYL. (and I am not in the right frame of mind to write about frigging gratitude. Lowest common denominatorism sucks.)
Today I was fortunate enough to actually get an appointment with a doctor on my clinic's very last day of business. I went in and did my lab work this morning and the only way I could get my prescription refills in a timely way was by going in today.
My usual doctor was not working today. Consequently I saw one I haven't been to before. And let me tell you, he was amazing. He was energetic, eye contact, personable, heard me, responded in kind...and took the time to actually check my blood pressure. This is the first time my blood pressure has been checked by a doctor for two years. (and it was super good by the way!). I am on three blood pressure medications. You'd think at least one doctor would have checked it in the last while.
Anyway, I had a very interesting chat with him. He is about 55 years old. He lives in Kamloops and loves it here. He loves being a doctor and is sad that he is too old and too poor to open up a family practise. And now he is out of work because Interior health closed the clinic. And guess what....Interior health is not hiring...anywhere. So either he flips burgers or moves.
In a city of 95,000 population, to not have a place for this eager doctor to work is reprehensible. With approximately 40,000 people in Kamloops unable to get a family doctor, this is completely unacceptable. Clearly those of us that added our names to that ever growing master list of people waiting for a family doctor, it is simply not going to happen in our lifetime as things are now. Not if this is the way the medicare in our catchment area is being run.
And why do we not just go to walk in clinics, if you can find one, and skip the family doctor issue? Because if something happens to you and you need narcotic pain meds, you can only get them from a family doctor. If you need Ritalin for example, not a chance unless you have a family doctor. If you have an ongoing mental illness and need anxiety meds or antipsychotics....forget it if you don't have a psychiatrist or a family doctor.
Now we are down to two clinics that I can find. One on the south shore and one on the north shore. I talked to a lady in the waiting room today. She is an older lady with a plethora of ailments, diabetes, hip and knee replacements needed etc...not an unusual situation for this day and age of population. To see a doctor she has to get up at six am, get a bus or taxi to the clinic and get into a line up. Sick? Old? Just had a baby? Doesn't matter. You line up or you don't get an appointment. At eight am a clipboard comes out the door that we all sign up. At nine o'clock we come back and one by one fifty people are called up and given a time to come back to see a doctor. If you are fifty one? You are shit out of luck. Snow, rain, twenty below zero. forty degrees out....doesn't matter. Line up and sign up.
And after listening to Peter Millibar, our MLA on the news today, I think I know part of the reason the clinic was closed, leaving its ten thousand patients swinging in the wind. He said that the Urgent Care Clinic, the brand new one, is in jeopardy due to clinics threatening to put them out of business. Seriously. That is what he said. All I can say is shame on him. For a long time resident, three term mayor of Kamloops, he doesn't seem to have much of a handle on this dire issue.
So I am moving. I need a doctor. The lady in the clinic I was talking to is also moving back to her previous place....Ontario. She has been here one year. Time to start making even more noise about this situation with Interior Health. If anyone has any ideas let me know. Would love to hear. TTYL. (and I am not in the right frame of mind to write about frigging gratitude. Lowest common denominatorism sucks.)
Monday, December 10, 2018
PEOPLEl
I am home as you probably could tell by my last post. I loved being down in Vancouver, even with a sick doggie, but I am super glad to be home too.
I picked up Wrangler on Friday morning. Needless to say we were very excited to see each other. But he is such an easy dog. I think that he would be happy with anyone. But he was happy to see me.
I drove straight to Safeway and picked up what I needed to make curried chicken. I had a pot luck to go to that night. Kathy and Kerry picked me up and we had a wonderful evening. That group is such an interesting and a good group of people. And the fellow who owned the house we were in had a set of speakers like no other I have ever seen. They are seven feet tall and a good two to three feet across. OMG!!! So we sat in the perfect spot in the room and played..AC/DC, Imagine Dragons, Roxy etc...what an experience.
Anne was up for lunch but couldn't stay long on Saturday. We are going for lunch on Wed. so we will have more time to chat. Today Amy was in for coffee. Its always so good to see her. I picked her brain on prices of these condos etc. But I don't want to think about that until I have to. There are people here I am going to miss horribly when I move. I LOVE living close to my sister. I always wanted to live close to her. At least in North Van I will be able to have Emily over lots. So I am going to pull a Scarlett O'Hara...I will think about it tomorrow.
I also got the bunk bedroom done today. That was a big job. When I got the bed from Kerry for my tan purple room I just moved everything into the bunk bed room and left it there...til today. I will take pics tomorrow and put them on here.
Tomorrow is Kiwanis day. I should bake something. Pass it around. They seem to appreciate that. I have this sick need to be appreciated and the only way I am is by cooking. Hahaha!!!!
When I got home Thursday night, Kerry picked me up at the bus around quarter to nine at night. He drove me home and, bless him, got out and carried my ridiculously heavy suitcase into the house for me. And we could hardly get into the place! I had left a key with my neighbour so he could put any amazon deliveries (I do all, and I mean all, my xmas shopping online) into my place. Well we were faced with a massive pile of boxes. A huge pile. OMG!!! Hahaha! I thought there was a mail strike for heaven's sake! Clearly not!
But I was so tired I collapsed into my awesome homey welcoming red pleather recliner, pulled up a blanket and literally passed out...until twenty to eight in the morning!!!! I haven't done that since I was a kid!
I opened all the boxes the next day and separated the stuff into piles on my table. It wasn't all that much. You know Amazon...they put a deck of cards into a 3 foot by 3 foot box with a pile of air inflated plastic bags. But I have a lovely pile of boxes now. I shall be keeping them and slowly filling them up over the next year.
Anywhoo. Its getting to be my bedtime. TTYL
TECHNOLOGY: Well, next to my friends and family, technology is something I am MOST grateful for. Once I got a laptop on my lap, joined facebook, started emailing, writing this blog, bought a serious dslr Nikon, I have not looked back and there would be no going back. I think though, that my most fave thing about technology is that it allows me to almost never leave my house. I hate errands. Now I don't have to go shopping, other than groceries and that I could order online and just might in the new year, I can bank, I can pay bills, I can pay people back, I can write my letters and mail them electronically, I can buy all my books, I can plan and buy my trips. Other than taking the dog to the kennel, there isn't much I can't do technologically. I am most grateful for it! (I just wish I could go to the gym technologically! Hahaha!!!)
I picked up Wrangler on Friday morning. Needless to say we were very excited to see each other. But he is such an easy dog. I think that he would be happy with anyone. But he was happy to see me.
I drove straight to Safeway and picked up what I needed to make curried chicken. I had a pot luck to go to that night. Kathy and Kerry picked me up and we had a wonderful evening. That group is such an interesting and a good group of people. And the fellow who owned the house we were in had a set of speakers like no other I have ever seen. They are seven feet tall and a good two to three feet across. OMG!!! So we sat in the perfect spot in the room and played..AC/DC, Imagine Dragons, Roxy etc...what an experience.
Anne was up for lunch but couldn't stay long on Saturday. We are going for lunch on Wed. so we will have more time to chat. Today Amy was in for coffee. Its always so good to see her. I picked her brain on prices of these condos etc. But I don't want to think about that until I have to. There are people here I am going to miss horribly when I move. I LOVE living close to my sister. I always wanted to live close to her. At least in North Van I will be able to have Emily over lots. So I am going to pull a Scarlett O'Hara...I will think about it tomorrow.
I also got the bunk bedroom done today. That was a big job. When I got the bed from Kerry for my tan purple room I just moved everything into the bunk bed room and left it there...til today. I will take pics tomorrow and put them on here.
Tomorrow is Kiwanis day. I should bake something. Pass it around. They seem to appreciate that. I have this sick need to be appreciated and the only way I am is by cooking. Hahaha!!!!
When I got home Thursday night, Kerry picked me up at the bus around quarter to nine at night. He drove me home and, bless him, got out and carried my ridiculously heavy suitcase into the house for me. And we could hardly get into the place! I had left a key with my neighbour so he could put any amazon deliveries (I do all, and I mean all, my xmas shopping online) into my place. Well we were faced with a massive pile of boxes. A huge pile. OMG!!! Hahaha! I thought there was a mail strike for heaven's sake! Clearly not!
But I was so tired I collapsed into my awesome homey welcoming red pleather recliner, pulled up a blanket and literally passed out...until twenty to eight in the morning!!!! I haven't done that since I was a kid!
I opened all the boxes the next day and separated the stuff into piles on my table. It wasn't all that much. You know Amazon...they put a deck of cards into a 3 foot by 3 foot box with a pile of air inflated plastic bags. But I have a lovely pile of boxes now. I shall be keeping them and slowly filling them up over the next year.
Anywhoo. Its getting to be my bedtime. TTYL
TECHNOLOGY: Well, next to my friends and family, technology is something I am MOST grateful for. Once I got a laptop on my lap, joined facebook, started emailing, writing this blog, bought a serious dslr Nikon, I have not looked back and there would be no going back. I think though, that my most fave thing about technology is that it allows me to almost never leave my house. I hate errands. Now I don't have to go shopping, other than groceries and that I could order online and just might in the new year, I can bank, I can pay bills, I can pay people back, I can write my letters and mail them electronically, I can buy all my books, I can plan and buy my trips. Other than taking the dog to the kennel, there isn't much I can't do technologically. I am most grateful for it! (I just wish I could go to the gym technologically! Hahaha!!!)
Saturday, December 8, 2018
UPSET
I am so upset right now. My clinic I go to is closing on the fifteenth. Plus a number of other doctors in this frigging cow town are retiring or moving. Its throwing approximately another ten thousand people out there with no doctor and now there are basically two clinics in this town with 40,000 people using them. I'm not doing this.
Also there is no cardiac clinic or cancer clinic. If you need hip, knee replacements, heart surgery, cancer treatments and probably other stuff I don't know about, you have to climb on a bus and go to Kelowna. A friend I was talking to last night has a bone spur somewhere on her that needs attention. She needs to see an orthopedist. In this town its a four year wait. FOUR YEARS!!!! So she is being referred to one far away. So, I have made the decision, the only decision that makes sense really, that due to my age and my diabetes, and high blood pressure etc... I need to blow this popsicle stand.
First though, I need to see a doctor every three months, lab checks and pill renewals. So I am going to start by going to North Van and start the process of finding a family doctor. There are lots of clinics there as well THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LINE UP AT 7 IN THE MORNING FOR.
I had planned on moving to North Vancouver to a senior place, probably renting in a cheaper one, in about five years. But I am not going to wait until something more serious, like heart or cancer comes down the pipe, then plan the move and going to north Van and finding a place etc. I am going to get a jump on it now.
First things first though I need to get Monte settled. Where he lives now is temporary. I need to help him figure things out in Port Alberni. Then I shall figure out where to live cheaply in North Van and gitter done. Fortunately being a senior helps. If I were twenty years younger there would be no way I could move there. But there are quite a few senior places, full apartments I can look into.
I have always figured that eventually I would end up back in North Van. I have always loved living there and I have friends and my girls nearby. It will probably take a while though. Waiting lists, applications, selling the condo, I have a dog, any number of things will just take time. Gee I have a mortgage on an apartment in North Van. Maybe she will quit paying and I can kick her out and take ownership! Haha!! Just kidding. TTYL
FAMILY/FRIENDS: This is an easy one. I am so blessed and grateful for my family, every single one of them. I have a sister who is fun and such a good companion and urges me into doing things that I would never do...and its sooo good for me. I love her to bits! And I have a brother who has more integrity in his little finger than a hundred good people put together. He has the most awesome sense of humour and I love telling him funny stories, his laughter is so infectious. And he has my back like no one else in the world. And every singe one of my kids...well....I would simply lay down and die for them. And the hundreds of awesome cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
And I have two very best friends. What more could one ask for. Seriously! They are two of the most incredibly amazing and loyal people on the planet.
I am so grateful for every single one of these people.
Also there is no cardiac clinic or cancer clinic. If you need hip, knee replacements, heart surgery, cancer treatments and probably other stuff I don't know about, you have to climb on a bus and go to Kelowna. A friend I was talking to last night has a bone spur somewhere on her that needs attention. She needs to see an orthopedist. In this town its a four year wait. FOUR YEARS!!!! So she is being referred to one far away. So, I have made the decision, the only decision that makes sense really, that due to my age and my diabetes, and high blood pressure etc... I need to blow this popsicle stand.
First though, I need to see a doctor every three months, lab checks and pill renewals. So I am going to start by going to North Van and start the process of finding a family doctor. There are lots of clinics there as well THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LINE UP AT 7 IN THE MORNING FOR.
I had planned on moving to North Vancouver to a senior place, probably renting in a cheaper one, in about five years. But I am not going to wait until something more serious, like heart or cancer comes down the pipe, then plan the move and going to north Van and finding a place etc. I am going to get a jump on it now.
First things first though I need to get Monte settled. Where he lives now is temporary. I need to help him figure things out in Port Alberni. Then I shall figure out where to live cheaply in North Van and gitter done. Fortunately being a senior helps. If I were twenty years younger there would be no way I could move there. But there are quite a few senior places, full apartments I can look into.
I have always figured that eventually I would end up back in North Van. I have always loved living there and I have friends and my girls nearby. It will probably take a while though. Waiting lists, applications, selling the condo, I have a dog, any number of things will just take time. Gee I have a mortgage on an apartment in North Van. Maybe she will quit paying and I can kick her out and take ownership! Haha!! Just kidding. TTYL
FAMILY/FRIENDS: This is an easy one. I am so blessed and grateful for my family, every single one of them. I have a sister who is fun and such a good companion and urges me into doing things that I would never do...and its sooo good for me. I love her to bits! And I have a brother who has more integrity in his little finger than a hundred good people put together. He has the most awesome sense of humour and I love telling him funny stories, his laughter is so infectious. And he has my back like no one else in the world. And every singe one of my kids...well....I would simply lay down and die for them. And the hundreds of awesome cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
And I have two very best friends. What more could one ask for. Seriously! They are two of the most incredibly amazing and loyal people on the planet.
I am so grateful for every single one of these people.
Monday, December 3, 2018
MOLLY
Molly's end is near. She has cancer which is taking over. At this point she isn't in too much pain and still has a few beans in her. But this week she gave us a real scare.
One morning she tried to get up and couldn't. She couldn't walk and she was making the oddest noises. When she did try to walk she had to drag her back end. Plus she was completely disoriented...didn't know where she was. It was very very hard to watch and feel. Cookie was here and we honestly didn't think she would make it til Tuesday when Aryn got home. Aryn wanted to see her one last time which was totally understandable. But we were worried.
But if there is anything I know how to do is how to get a dog to rally...if its rallyable!. I saved our Homer's life when he was dying as a baby. Took a lot of patience and love but wasn't hard to do. Then last year Molly went downhill fast. She was utterly miserable, peeing everywhere, tail down, all wobbly. Monte and I discussed when enough was enough for the poor dog. But I suggested we get all her hair cut off first...she likes that. And a brand new dog emerged, tore around the house and shook the hell out of her toys. Such a relief.
When I was talking to Aryn I reminded her that Molly is the queen of rally though. I have seen her go through, maybe not as bad, but through stuff before and she has rallied.
So eyedropper for water at the ready, carrying to her food and water station, plucking her gently out of the space between the wall and her bed where she would get stuck, wrapping her up and rocking her....and fielding phone calls from Britain with huge admonitions to keep her alive no matter what til they got home.
One thing I know is this....and this might not sound so nice, but, to know that dog is to love her to pieces. No one person loves her more than another. I have had total dog haters fall in love with her. There is just something about her that gets inside your heart. I have never met anyone that didn't respond that way to her. So I know they have had her for the last two years, but seriously? they don't love her anymore or differently than the rest of the family who had her for the previous 14 years. Aryn and I did a lot of complaining, big loud dammit dog talk, (who wouldn't?! as we two were the ones that primarily took care of her..me for the previous 14 years and her the last two) but we love her and feel so sad at this natural stage of her life. Our hope is that she can die eventually, peacefully at home, AFTER Aryn gets home. She deserves to be with her.
That dog worships the ground Aryn walks on. She follows her around to the point where Aryn has to hide sometimes so Molly won't follow her!!! The other day when Molly was so sick she could barely lift her head, I held the phone right to her ear and Aryn talked to her and that little dog perked up like crazy. She went nuts over the phone! It was amazing.
So I am glad Aryn is getting home tomorrow. Its going to make Molly very very happy to 'see' her. The dog has rallied very well, just like I predicted she would. LOL!!! And April, who is actually the real owner of Molly, who had her for years and years was over the other day and able to say goodbye just in case. It was hard. Everybody has a piece of that dog in their heart, even the dog haters.
I will keep you up to date. Right now, other than being a little wobbly and chasing her sore leg, she seems to be okay. TTYL
One morning she tried to get up and couldn't. She couldn't walk and she was making the oddest noises. When she did try to walk she had to drag her back end. Plus she was completely disoriented...didn't know where she was. It was very very hard to watch and feel. Cookie was here and we honestly didn't think she would make it til Tuesday when Aryn got home. Aryn wanted to see her one last time which was totally understandable. But we were worried.
But if there is anything I know how to do is how to get a dog to rally...if its rallyable!. I saved our Homer's life when he was dying as a baby. Took a lot of patience and love but wasn't hard to do. Then last year Molly went downhill fast. She was utterly miserable, peeing everywhere, tail down, all wobbly. Monte and I discussed when enough was enough for the poor dog. But I suggested we get all her hair cut off first...she likes that. And a brand new dog emerged, tore around the house and shook the hell out of her toys. Such a relief.
When I was talking to Aryn I reminded her that Molly is the queen of rally though. I have seen her go through, maybe not as bad, but through stuff before and she has rallied.
So eyedropper for water at the ready, carrying to her food and water station, plucking her gently out of the space between the wall and her bed where she would get stuck, wrapping her up and rocking her....and fielding phone calls from Britain with huge admonitions to keep her alive no matter what til they got home.
One thing I know is this....and this might not sound so nice, but, to know that dog is to love her to pieces. No one person loves her more than another. I have had total dog haters fall in love with her. There is just something about her that gets inside your heart. I have never met anyone that didn't respond that way to her. So I know they have had her for the last two years, but seriously? they don't love her anymore or differently than the rest of the family who had her for the previous 14 years. Aryn and I did a lot of complaining, big loud dammit dog talk, (who wouldn't?! as we two were the ones that primarily took care of her..me for the previous 14 years and her the last two) but we love her and feel so sad at this natural stage of her life. Our hope is that she can die eventually, peacefully at home, AFTER Aryn gets home. She deserves to be with her.
That dog worships the ground Aryn walks on. She follows her around to the point where Aryn has to hide sometimes so Molly won't follow her!!! The other day when Molly was so sick she could barely lift her head, I held the phone right to her ear and Aryn talked to her and that little dog perked up like crazy. She went nuts over the phone! It was amazing.
So I am glad Aryn is getting home tomorrow. Its going to make Molly very very happy to 'see' her. The dog has rallied very well, just like I predicted she would. LOL!!! And April, who is actually the real owner of Molly, who had her for years and years was over the other day and able to say goodbye just in case. It was hard. Everybody has a piece of that dog in their heart, even the dog haters.
I will keep you up to date. Right now, other than being a little wobbly and chasing her sore leg, she seems to be okay. TTYL
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