Sunday ; Cloudy and cool.
Late this morning we headed to Penticton to attend a choral concert. We ran errands before and after the concert. The concert was in a large church, and was a performance by six choirs, from all over the Okanagan Valley, each performing a few songs, and then all of them together at the end for a finale. We attended because our neighbour / friend Jeanine is a member of one of the choirs, along with two other residents of our RV park. We accept her invitations to attend her choir's concerts to be supportive of a friend, but ... we really didn't like today's performance. It was two hours of religious music, not at all to our tastes. In hindsight, perhaps we should have realized that it would be all religious music, since it was being presented in a large church. In our naiveté we thought it was simply because the large church had good acoustics. DUH !
After the concert we ran more errands, then went for an early supper at a Chinese buffet restaurant. We arrived back home around 7:30 PM, and both felt so tired that we went to sleep extremely early, around 9:30 PM.
Monday ; Raining !
Last week Joanne bought a little Christmas tree at Value Village. It needed a replacement halogen bulb to illuminate its fiber optics. I bought a replacement bulb yesterday at Rona and installed it this morning. WOW ! What a cool little tree ! Changing colour fiber optic lights all over ! After getting the tree lights working we went for a long walk with Ozzie ( in the rain ... YUCK ! ) and retrieved from our "going to Yuma" tote box in the shed the only Christmas tree ornament we have. A tiny pair of beaded deerskin moccasins I bought in the Northwest Territories last summer. I bought the tiny Christmas tree ornament version of the moccasins because I thought that
I couldn't afford the life size version. HA HA HA ! I later changed my mind and bought myself a pair, which I'm wearing now. HEY ... you can't take it with you !
Tuesday ; Gloomy. Light rain.
Joanne spent the day in Penticton running errands. I stayed home, walking with Ozzie a couple of times, and, of course, having a long nap in the afternoon.
Wednesday ; Gloomy. Light rain. Again.
Long walk. Nap. Long walk. Repaired our door bell. Mounted Emma's new Christmas stocking on the fireplace mantel ... < rolling eyes >.
Thursday ; Raining all day.
With all the rain there has been in the last few days, the Similkameen River has changed from its regular late fall / early winter, knee deep, trickling stream into a raging torrent, threatening to overflow its banks, much like it is in April and May.
Today I removed the side rail on my side of the bed, the last piece of health aid equipment I obtained from the Red Cross following my triple bypass surgery. We will return it to the Red Cross in Penticton tomorrow. I searched online for, found, and downloaded the manual for our Canadian cell phone today, allowing me to make some modifications to the phone's more annoying features. We cleaned and treated Ozzie's ears, trimmed his claws, and gave him a bit of a hair trim in ... < ahem > ... strategic locations. Tomorrow he is going to Penticton for a no anaesthetic dental cleaning. I did monthly backup procedures on my laptop this afternoon.
And ... of course ... long walk, nap, long walk.
Friday ; post-operative 8 weeks
Cloudy. This morning we headed to Penticton. With Ozzie. First stop was Pauline's Pet Grooming where we had an appointment with a "doggie dental hygienist" woman from Kelowna who does dog dental cleanings without the use of anaesthetics. She examined Ozzie's teeth and ... advised that his dental needs were beyond her capabilities ... < sigh >. Next stop was the Red Cross to return the last piece of borrowed health aid equipment, the bed side rail. We refilled the minivan with fuel then the final stop was Dollarama for ... I don't know. I stayed in the car with Ozzie. We were home by 2 PM.
Short walk ... late lunch ... nap ... long walk. We worked together to make Eggs Benedict ( with French Fries ) for supper. MMMMM ... great Hollandaise sauce, my dear !
Eight weeks of recuperation after triple bypass surgery. Two thirds of the way there ! Four more weeks to "healed". Hopefully ! At this eight week point, should be able to resume having sex. Okay ! ! !
Saturday ; Cloudy and cool.
We slept late this morning ... < snicker >. On my late morning walk ... which became my early afternoon walk ... we chatted with neighbours Barb and Gil who recommended we give frozen turkey necks to Ozzie to chew on to clean his teeth, as they do with their dog. Afterwards Barb brought over a frozen turkey neck, which we gave to Ozzie to chew. He chewed on it enthusiastically until it was consumed. He seemed to quite like it. Maybe we'll get more for him from the local butcher.
Our neighbour / friend Jeanine came over to visit this afternoon, with her little dog Charlie. Around 4 PM we went for our afternoon walk, walking with Jeanine and Charlie back to their home. While Joanne prepared supper I paid some bills, and reconciled our November MasterCard statement.
DSK
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
November 12 to 18, 2017
Sunday ; Cloudy, warm enough to melt most of the snow that fell last week.
Long walk, long nap, long walk, some household chores. Currently the story of my life !
When I woke this morning my chest incision was bleeding. It does that every few days, but today it bled / oozed a bit more than it usually does. It seems that pockets of pus and blood form, and when they get large enough, they bust through the healing incision.
Monday ; Partially sunny, cool.
We drove into town this morning to run some errands. First stop was Westland Insurance where we renewed the minivan's registration and insurance. Second stop was the Post Office. HMPH ... closed today ! Then ... the grocery store, the pharmacy, and the Esso station, looking for the weekend Vancouver newspaper at all three businesses. None had it. HMPH !
Back at home we went for a long walk, I returned a book to the library, had a long nap after lunch, we went for another long walk before it got dark. I spent the evening online exploring the concept of home exchange vacations. HMMM ... interesting idea !
Tuesday ; Cloudy, temperature in the low 40's.
In addition to my long walk, long nap, and second long walk ... I took a series of photos of the exterior of our home, and posted them to my new Home Exchange listing.
Wednesday ; Cloudy, temperature in the low 40's again.
Long walk, nap, long walk. Returned a book to the library and picked up a couple of books to read. Made phone calls and sent e-mails. Watched Survivor while having dinner.
Thursday ; Sunny, temperature in the 40's.
This morning our neighbour / friend Jeanine came over for a visit. Afterwards Joanne helped me take photos of the interior of our home, for me to post to our Home Exchange listing. I did some preventive maintenance on the minivan and truck.
We drove into town ( Keremeos ) to buy a shipping box at the Post Office. Ozzie and
I waited in the car while Joanne went into the grocery store. Back at home, while Joanne did laundry, I napped with the animals. Late in the afternoon and after supper
I worked on the computer, loading photos to our Home Exchange listing, paying bills, updating some medication records, reconciling bank statements.
Friday ; post-operative 7 weeks
Mix of sun and clouds, cool.
We were up multiple times during the night to deal with Emma, who was sick and vomiting repeatedly. Poor baby Emma. She remained ill until this afternoon when she began to improve. Hopefully she'll be fine by tomorrow.
The first time she vomited, I woke to the sound of her being sick beside my side of our bed. I woke startled, and quickly leaned over the side of the bed to tend to Emma.
I forgot that I now have a side rail on my side of the bed to assist me in getting in and out of bed. I slammed my face into the side rail, smashing the bridge of my nose against the rail. OUCH ! My nose is now swollen and bruised.
We took photos of our home's bedroom and bathroom. I uploaded them to our Home Exchange listing, which is now ( more or less ) complete. I prepared a package of Canada Day stuff to send to a neighbour at Kofa Ko-op, our RV park in Yuma, Arizona, for the first annual Canada Day at Kofa Ko-op in February.
My morning long walk set a new distance record, and ... with no rest stops. I felt the need to achieve something more than before ... a new level of achievement. Come to think of it ... that need has been a driving force throughout my life, I think.
Saturday ; Sunny, cold, windy.
Late this morning we headed into Keremeos. First stop was the Post Office to mail a package to Yuma. CLOSED ! Next was Pharmasave to buy a weekend Vancouver newspaper. SOLD OUT ! What a wasted trip to town ! On the way back home we stopped at Sanderson Farms so that Joanne could buy some produce.
Partially due to the weather both of my walks today were shorter than yesterday.
I checked our home's propane tank level, so now I know when I need to order a refill.
I exercised our little generator. I am unable to yank the generator's starter rope, and Joanne had a lot of difficulty yanking it hard and fast enough to start the generator, but finally got it done. Thank you, my dear. Good team work !
DSK
Long walk, long nap, long walk, some household chores. Currently the story of my life !
When I woke this morning my chest incision was bleeding. It does that every few days, but today it bled / oozed a bit more than it usually does. It seems that pockets of pus and blood form, and when they get large enough, they bust through the healing incision.
Monday ; Partially sunny, cool.
We drove into town this morning to run some errands. First stop was Westland Insurance where we renewed the minivan's registration and insurance. Second stop was the Post Office. HMPH ... closed today ! Then ... the grocery store, the pharmacy, and the Esso station, looking for the weekend Vancouver newspaper at all three businesses. None had it. HMPH !
Back at home we went for a long walk, I returned a book to the library, had a long nap after lunch, we went for another long walk before it got dark. I spent the evening online exploring the concept of home exchange vacations. HMMM ... interesting idea !
Tuesday ; Cloudy, temperature in the low 40's.
In addition to my long walk, long nap, and second long walk ... I took a series of photos of the exterior of our home, and posted them to my new Home Exchange listing.
Wednesday ; Cloudy, temperature in the low 40's again.
Long walk, nap, long walk. Returned a book to the library and picked up a couple of books to read. Made phone calls and sent e-mails. Watched Survivor while having dinner.
Thursday ; Sunny, temperature in the 40's.
This morning our neighbour / friend Jeanine came over for a visit. Afterwards Joanne helped me take photos of the interior of our home, for me to post to our Home Exchange listing. I did some preventive maintenance on the minivan and truck.
We drove into town ( Keremeos ) to buy a shipping box at the Post Office. Ozzie and
I waited in the car while Joanne went into the grocery store. Back at home, while Joanne did laundry, I napped with the animals. Late in the afternoon and after supper
I worked on the computer, loading photos to our Home Exchange listing, paying bills, updating some medication records, reconciling bank statements.
Friday ; post-operative 7 weeks
Mix of sun and clouds, cool.
We were up multiple times during the night to deal with Emma, who was sick and vomiting repeatedly. Poor baby Emma. She remained ill until this afternoon when she began to improve. Hopefully she'll be fine by tomorrow.
The first time she vomited, I woke to the sound of her being sick beside my side of our bed. I woke startled, and quickly leaned over the side of the bed to tend to Emma.
I forgot that I now have a side rail on my side of the bed to assist me in getting in and out of bed. I slammed my face into the side rail, smashing the bridge of my nose against the rail. OUCH ! My nose is now swollen and bruised.
We took photos of our home's bedroom and bathroom. I uploaded them to our Home Exchange listing, which is now ( more or less ) complete. I prepared a package of Canada Day stuff to send to a neighbour at Kofa Ko-op, our RV park in Yuma, Arizona, for the first annual Canada Day at Kofa Ko-op in February.
My morning long walk set a new distance record, and ... with no rest stops. I felt the need to achieve something more than before ... a new level of achievement. Come to think of it ... that need has been a driving force throughout my life, I think.
Saturday ; Sunny, cold, windy.
Late this morning we headed into Keremeos. First stop was the Post Office to mail a package to Yuma. CLOSED ! Next was Pharmasave to buy a weekend Vancouver newspaper. SOLD OUT ! What a wasted trip to town ! On the way back home we stopped at Sanderson Farms so that Joanne could buy some produce.
Partially due to the weather both of my walks today were shorter than yesterday.
I checked our home's propane tank level, so now I know when I need to order a refill.
I exercised our little generator. I am unable to yank the generator's starter rope, and Joanne had a lot of difficulty yanking it hard and fast enough to start the generator, but finally got it done. Thank you, my dear. Good team work !
DSK
Sunday, November 12, 2017
November 5 to 11, 2017
Sunday ; Overcast and cold.
This morning I finished resetting clocks, then went outside for my morning walk.
I started the truck, to "exercise" it, reset the clock in the truck, then walked to the clubhouse to return a book to the library. When I returned home from the library,
I turned off the truck. Enough "exercise" for now, for both me and the truck. PEUW !
In cold weather diesel engines stink even worse than usual.
At 4:30 PM we departed for Oliver. We stopped at Sanderson Farms in Keremeos to buy some produce, then continued east on Hwy. 3 to Osoyoos, then north on Hwy. 97 to Oliver. We had an early Chinese buffet dinner at Oliver Garden Restaurant, then headed a few blocks to Frank Venables Theatre for a performance by "The Contenders"; Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard. We have been fans of, and attending performances by Valdy for over forty years. This is the first time we have seen him perform with Gary Fjellgaard as The Contenders. Old folkie meets old cowboy. Very interesting blend. Great harmonies ! Long show, from 7:30 PM until 10:10 PM. We did not arrive back home until 11:30 PM.
I felt ill. The outing was too much / too long for me.
Monday ; Sunny and cold. I appreciate the sunshine.
Long walk. Long nap. Another long walk. That's what my days currently are.
Tuesday ; Cloudy and cold.
For the first time since my surgery ( 39 days ago ) I slept uninterrupted for the entire night, and awoke feeling refreshed.
This morning I made pancakes for brunch before we left for Penticton. First stop was BG Fuel Bar to refill the minivan's empty fuel tank. Then the Red Cross to return two pieces of borrowed health care equipment. Then downtown to Front Street Jewellers to pick up my ( father's ) repaired Canada Post gold watch. And then ... what good would a trip to Penticton be without a stop at Value Village ? ! < sigh >
Primary reason for the trip to Penticton was my 3:30 PM appointment with my cardiologist. It went well. He reviewed all the heart related medications I was prescribed by the hospital doctors. He examined my arm and chest incisions. He listened to my lungs to ensure there was no recurrence of fluid build up. And finally ... he decided I was ready to be referred to the cardiac rehabilitation program.
Our final stop was Wal-Mart. When I walked in carrying my heart shaped pillow ( which is with me all the time, to "splint" my sternum when I cough or sneeze ) the Wal-Mart greeter approached me to tell me that he recognized the pillow ( which is given to all heart surgery patients upon discharge from the hospital ). He had triple bypass surgery last February, and we chatted for awhile. I hope I can avoid his largest impediment to recuperation ; the broken ribs he suffered when he slipped and fell. OUCH !
We left Penticton about 4:30 PM and were back home about 5:30 PM. Half of the drive home was in the dark !
Wednesday ; Overcast and cold. Winter gloomy !
This morning we examined a lump on Ozzie's neck that I discovered last night. It was soft, and filled with fluid. Looked like a cyst or small abscess. So ... I punctured it with a dental tool. It drained a lot of clear fluid, then a teensy bit of blood, then ... sort of disappeared. I guess that problem is solved !
Long walk ... long nap ... another long walk. I also downloaded and reconciled October's investment statements. I set up 2018's trailer towing files and archived 2017's trailer towing files. This was a very good year for Similkameen Trailer Towing !
Thursday ; Overcast ... ceiling about fifty feet above ground ... heavy snow ! Big snowflakes, falling slowly, very pretty, looks like Christmas Eve in a Disney movie.
Long walk ... long nap ... long walk ! I mounted a Christmas wreath on our entry door. Thank you, Value Village. I installed two new bulbs in my therapy light. Thank you, Amazon. I trimmed my beard. WOO-HOO ! Six weeks after shaving it off it has grown long enough to need trimming and sculpting. I look "normal" again. Well ... at least my face looks normal again. HA HA HA !
Friday ; post-operative 6 weeks
Sunny and warm enough to slowly melt the snow.
Joanne spent the day in Penticton running errands by herself. I walked ... napped ... and walked some more. I made an appointment for a cardiac rehabilitation program initial evaluation. Earliest available appointment was in a couple of weeks.
Saturday ; Remembrance Day ; LEST WE FORGET !
Cloudy, temperature a bit above freezing, gloomy.
This morning we were up a little earlier than usual so that we could head into town for the Remembrance Day ceremony / service. It has been fourteen years since we have attended a Remembrance Day service in Canada. How very different than Veteran's Day services we have attended in the United States. Canadian Remembrance Day services are more sombre and ... focused on "remembering" our nation's military who gave their lives in the service of their country.
When the service ... at Keremeos Memorial Park ... was completed, I walked to the grocery store, as my long morning walk. Joanne drove the minivan there to pick me up. Back at home I did a bit of "home improvement" work before having lunch followed by a long nap. Joanne and Ozzie joined me on my late afternoon walk. We stopped at our neighbour / friend Jeanine's for a visit. After a late supper we watched Saturday Night Live.
DSK
This morning I finished resetting clocks, then went outside for my morning walk.
I started the truck, to "exercise" it, reset the clock in the truck, then walked to the clubhouse to return a book to the library. When I returned home from the library,
I turned off the truck. Enough "exercise" for now, for both me and the truck. PEUW !
In cold weather diesel engines stink even worse than usual.
At 4:30 PM we departed for Oliver. We stopped at Sanderson Farms in Keremeos to buy some produce, then continued east on Hwy. 3 to Osoyoos, then north on Hwy. 97 to Oliver. We had an early Chinese buffet dinner at Oliver Garden Restaurant, then headed a few blocks to Frank Venables Theatre for a performance by "The Contenders"; Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard. We have been fans of, and attending performances by Valdy for over forty years. This is the first time we have seen him perform with Gary Fjellgaard as The Contenders. Old folkie meets old cowboy. Very interesting blend. Great harmonies ! Long show, from 7:30 PM until 10:10 PM. We did not arrive back home until 11:30 PM.
I felt ill. The outing was too much / too long for me.
Monday ; Sunny and cold. I appreciate the sunshine.
Long walk. Long nap. Another long walk. That's what my days currently are.
Tuesday ; Cloudy and cold.
For the first time since my surgery ( 39 days ago ) I slept uninterrupted for the entire night, and awoke feeling refreshed.
This morning I made pancakes for brunch before we left for Penticton. First stop was BG Fuel Bar to refill the minivan's empty fuel tank. Then the Red Cross to return two pieces of borrowed health care equipment. Then downtown to Front Street Jewellers to pick up my ( father's ) repaired Canada Post gold watch. And then ... what good would a trip to Penticton be without a stop at Value Village ? ! < sigh >
Primary reason for the trip to Penticton was my 3:30 PM appointment with my cardiologist. It went well. He reviewed all the heart related medications I was prescribed by the hospital doctors. He examined my arm and chest incisions. He listened to my lungs to ensure there was no recurrence of fluid build up. And finally ... he decided I was ready to be referred to the cardiac rehabilitation program.
Our final stop was Wal-Mart. When I walked in carrying my heart shaped pillow ( which is with me all the time, to "splint" my sternum when I cough or sneeze ) the Wal-Mart greeter approached me to tell me that he recognized the pillow ( which is given to all heart surgery patients upon discharge from the hospital ). He had triple bypass surgery last February, and we chatted for awhile. I hope I can avoid his largest impediment to recuperation ; the broken ribs he suffered when he slipped and fell. OUCH !
We left Penticton about 4:30 PM and were back home about 5:30 PM. Half of the drive home was in the dark !
Wednesday ; Overcast and cold. Winter gloomy !
This morning we examined a lump on Ozzie's neck that I discovered last night. It was soft, and filled with fluid. Looked like a cyst or small abscess. So ... I punctured it with a dental tool. It drained a lot of clear fluid, then a teensy bit of blood, then ... sort of disappeared. I guess that problem is solved !
Long walk ... long nap ... another long walk. I also downloaded and reconciled October's investment statements. I set up 2018's trailer towing files and archived 2017's trailer towing files. This was a very good year for Similkameen Trailer Towing !
Thursday ; Overcast ... ceiling about fifty feet above ground ... heavy snow ! Big snowflakes, falling slowly, very pretty, looks like Christmas Eve in a Disney movie.
Long walk ... long nap ... long walk ! I mounted a Christmas wreath on our entry door. Thank you, Value Village. I installed two new bulbs in my therapy light. Thank you, Amazon. I trimmed my beard. WOO-HOO ! Six weeks after shaving it off it has grown long enough to need trimming and sculpting. I look "normal" again. Well ... at least my face looks normal again. HA HA HA !
Friday ; post-operative 6 weeks
Sunny and warm enough to slowly melt the snow.
Joanne spent the day in Penticton running errands by herself. I walked ... napped ... and walked some more. I made an appointment for a cardiac rehabilitation program initial evaluation. Earliest available appointment was in a couple of weeks.
Saturday ; Remembrance Day ; LEST WE FORGET !
Cloudy, temperature a bit above freezing, gloomy.
This morning we were up a little earlier than usual so that we could head into town for the Remembrance Day ceremony / service. It has been fourteen years since we have attended a Remembrance Day service in Canada. How very different than Veteran's Day services we have attended in the United States. Canadian Remembrance Day services are more sombre and ... focused on "remembering" our nation's military who gave their lives in the service of their country.
When the service ... at Keremeos Memorial Park ... was completed, I walked to the grocery store, as my long morning walk. Joanne drove the minivan there to pick me up. Back at home I did a bit of "home improvement" work before having lunch followed by a long nap. Joanne and Ozzie joined me on my late afternoon walk. We stopped at our neighbour / friend Jeanine's for a visit. After a late supper we watched Saturday Night Live.
DSK
Sunday, November 5, 2017
October 29 to November 4, 2017
Sunday ; post-operative day 30
Sunny and mild.
We took a long walk around the RV park late this morning, stopping to chat with neighbours as we walked. I did a repair to the hose connecting our new large propane tank to the regulator on the house. The hose is leaking, and will have to be replaced.
Joanne pulled out our tomato plants this afternoon, completing our fall yard work. We combined her trip to the burn pile / compost pile to discard the tomato plant waste with my long afternoon walk.
Since my recent thoracentesis ( removal of fluid from around the lung ) I have been coughing a lot less, and am finally able to breathe while lying down. I'm sleeping
better !
Monday ; Sunny and cool.
I spent the morning making many phone calls. This afternoon Joanne went to Penticton to run errands. She wasn't back home until 7 PM. I napped with the animals. I went for a couple of long walks, the second one with Ozzie.
Tuesday ; Hallowe'en ; Sunny and cool.
A couple of long walks. A couple of long naps. Some month end online work.
Wednesday ; Cloudy and cool.
This morning we loaded two of the three "health aides" borrowed from the Penticton Red Cross into the minivan. I haven't needed the raised toilet seat since a few days after returning home from the hospital, and I no longer need the shower seat. Both can be returned to the Red Cross next time we go to Penticton. I'm still using the bed rail to get in and out of bed, in order to protect my sternum.
The other day Joanne bought a "light kaleidoscope" as Christmas lighting on our home. Today I mounted it on the edge of our picnic table. Joanne went to the burn pile, then we both went to the woodworking shop, to scrounge some scrap material to use to build a barrier to prevent Ozzie from getting at Emma's litter box.
I took two long walks, first one longer than any previous. That's my job ! Self-care and exercise to facilitate recuperation. One month done, two more to go, to ( almost ) full recuperation. If all goes well, and I work at it hard enough. And I have been working hard at it !
I ordered tickets for a theatre play in Oliver on Saturday afternoon. And I ordered tickets to a music concert in Oliver on Sunday evening. I ordered two ( expensive ! ) replacement bulbs for my new / old therapy light. We went into Keremeos at suppertime for our annual dinner at Benja Thai Restaurant. It was my way of consoling myself for being here on the day that we would normally depart for the south. I am extremely unhappy about being stuck here for the winter.
When we returned home after a wonderful dinner we watched Survivor, then
I reconciled our monthly bank statements.
Thursday ; Sunny and cool in the morning, snow blizzard in the afternoon !
I have just finished ( at 6:15 PM ) reading my journal for this date last year. We drove from Omak, Washington to Memaloose Rest Area along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. < sigh > Have I mentioned how disgusted I am with having to spend this winter here ? ! ? Especially so after my afternoon walk of about an hour ago, in blizzard conditions !
My morning walk set a new record for distance. I'm working hard and proud of myself for doing so. My daily walking, five weeks after surgery, is at about the goal for twelve weeks after surgery. After my morning walk Joanne helped me to fabricate a litter box barrier wall to prevent Ozzie from getting at Emma's litter box, The "wall" has a small opening for Emma to pass through. We were worried that she might be resistant to passing through the small "hole in the wall", but ... she's not. Good girl, Emma.
Marcie and her son were at her home next door to us today to pick up some stuff. Marcie came over to visit with Ozzie briefly. Ozzie was happy to see her, but after a brief visit was more than happy to come back into our house. He seems to clearly know where he lives now, and who his caregivers are now. Marcie's son came over later to ask questions about winterizing the park model home. I was napping and ... Joanne doesn't know the specifics of the process. AND ... both of us are fed up with Marcie's and her son's manipulative style of getting other people to do their work for them. Our generosity towards her / them has ended. We are giving Ozzie a home and care for the rest of his life. Marcie and her family are on their own for everything else ! ! !
By 9:30 PM there was a significant amount of snow on the ground ! < heavy sigh >
Friday ; Post-operative 5 weeks
Cloudy and cold ! Very winter !
This afternoon the gas fitter we had hired to connect the new large propane tank to our home returned for his second attempt to get the job done properly. Just because someone is certified to do a job, doesn't seem to mean that they are capable of doing that job. After countless missed appointments ... < fume > ... and two attempts, the job is now finished ... I hope ! And it looks like it was done by a retarded eight year old ! ! ! What atrocious workmanship ! Trades people should be ashamed to do work that
badly ! And charge that much money ! And fail to show for that many appointments !
I agreed to pay for materials used today, but refused to pay for a second service call.
It was so cold today that I only walked once. And it was not a long walk. The roads in the park were icy today. Joanne and I cleared all the snow and ice off the minivan. HMPH ! Now that was a sound I had hoped to never hear again ; the sound of scraping ice off the car windows. I also removed a small solar panel from the roof of the gazebo, to prevent it from being broken by the weight of snow build up. As it has been in the past.
Saturday ; Overcast and cold.
I cooked a ( beef ) bacon and eggs brunch, then shortly after noon we headed for Oliver. East on Hwy. 3 to Osoyoos, then north on Hwy. 97 to Oliver, about an hour and a quarter of driving time. At 2 PM we attended a theater performance by South Okanagan Amateur Players, at the Frank Venables Theatre, a play entitled "The Games Afoot ... or ... Holmes For The Holidays". It was a murder mystery comedy. Joanne liked it. I didn't. But ... that may be more a function of my state of mind than whether or not the play was any good. The play ended about 4:30 PM. We were back home by 6 PM, just as it turned dark.
We had supper, then watched Saturday Night Live.
DSK
Sunny and mild.
We took a long walk around the RV park late this morning, stopping to chat with neighbours as we walked. I did a repair to the hose connecting our new large propane tank to the regulator on the house. The hose is leaking, and will have to be replaced.
Joanne pulled out our tomato plants this afternoon, completing our fall yard work. We combined her trip to the burn pile / compost pile to discard the tomato plant waste with my long afternoon walk.
Since my recent thoracentesis ( removal of fluid from around the lung ) I have been coughing a lot less, and am finally able to breathe while lying down. I'm sleeping
better !
Monday ; Sunny and cool.
I spent the morning making many phone calls. This afternoon Joanne went to Penticton to run errands. She wasn't back home until 7 PM. I napped with the animals. I went for a couple of long walks, the second one with Ozzie.
Tuesday ; Hallowe'en ; Sunny and cool.
A couple of long walks. A couple of long naps. Some month end online work.
Wednesday ; Cloudy and cool.
This morning we loaded two of the three "health aides" borrowed from the Penticton Red Cross into the minivan. I haven't needed the raised toilet seat since a few days after returning home from the hospital, and I no longer need the shower seat. Both can be returned to the Red Cross next time we go to Penticton. I'm still using the bed rail to get in and out of bed, in order to protect my sternum.
The other day Joanne bought a "light kaleidoscope" as Christmas lighting on our home. Today I mounted it on the edge of our picnic table. Joanne went to the burn pile, then we both went to the woodworking shop, to scrounge some scrap material to use to build a barrier to prevent Ozzie from getting at Emma's litter box.
I took two long walks, first one longer than any previous. That's my job ! Self-care and exercise to facilitate recuperation. One month done, two more to go, to ( almost ) full recuperation. If all goes well, and I work at it hard enough. And I have been working hard at it !
I ordered tickets for a theatre play in Oliver on Saturday afternoon. And I ordered tickets to a music concert in Oliver on Sunday evening. I ordered two ( expensive ! ) replacement bulbs for my new / old therapy light. We went into Keremeos at suppertime for our annual dinner at Benja Thai Restaurant. It was my way of consoling myself for being here on the day that we would normally depart for the south. I am extremely unhappy about being stuck here for the winter.
When we returned home after a wonderful dinner we watched Survivor, then
I reconciled our monthly bank statements.
Thursday ; Sunny and cool in the morning, snow blizzard in the afternoon !
I have just finished ( at 6:15 PM ) reading my journal for this date last year. We drove from Omak, Washington to Memaloose Rest Area along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. < sigh > Have I mentioned how disgusted I am with having to spend this winter here ? ! ? Especially so after my afternoon walk of about an hour ago, in blizzard conditions !
My morning walk set a new record for distance. I'm working hard and proud of myself for doing so. My daily walking, five weeks after surgery, is at about the goal for twelve weeks after surgery. After my morning walk Joanne helped me to fabricate a litter box barrier wall to prevent Ozzie from getting at Emma's litter box, The "wall" has a small opening for Emma to pass through. We were worried that she might be resistant to passing through the small "hole in the wall", but ... she's not. Good girl, Emma.
Marcie and her son were at her home next door to us today to pick up some stuff. Marcie came over to visit with Ozzie briefly. Ozzie was happy to see her, but after a brief visit was more than happy to come back into our house. He seems to clearly know where he lives now, and who his caregivers are now. Marcie's son came over later to ask questions about winterizing the park model home. I was napping and ... Joanne doesn't know the specifics of the process. AND ... both of us are fed up with Marcie's and her son's manipulative style of getting other people to do their work for them. Our generosity towards her / them has ended. We are giving Ozzie a home and care for the rest of his life. Marcie and her family are on their own for everything else ! ! !
By 9:30 PM there was a significant amount of snow on the ground ! < heavy sigh >
Friday ; Post-operative 5 weeks
Cloudy and cold ! Very winter !
This afternoon the gas fitter we had hired to connect the new large propane tank to our home returned for his second attempt to get the job done properly. Just because someone is certified to do a job, doesn't seem to mean that they are capable of doing that job. After countless missed appointments ... < fume > ... and two attempts, the job is now finished ... I hope ! And it looks like it was done by a retarded eight year old ! ! ! What atrocious workmanship ! Trades people should be ashamed to do work that
badly ! And charge that much money ! And fail to show for that many appointments !
I agreed to pay for materials used today, but refused to pay for a second service call.
It was so cold today that I only walked once. And it was not a long walk. The roads in the park were icy today. Joanne and I cleared all the snow and ice off the minivan. HMPH ! Now that was a sound I had hoped to never hear again ; the sound of scraping ice off the car windows. I also removed a small solar panel from the roof of the gazebo, to prevent it from being broken by the weight of snow build up. As it has been in the past.
Saturday ; Overcast and cold.
I cooked a ( beef ) bacon and eggs brunch, then shortly after noon we headed for Oliver. East on Hwy. 3 to Osoyoos, then north on Hwy. 97 to Oliver, about an hour and a quarter of driving time. At 2 PM we attended a theater performance by South Okanagan Amateur Players, at the Frank Venables Theatre, a play entitled "The Games Afoot ... or ... Holmes For The Holidays". It was a murder mystery comedy. Joanne liked it. I didn't. But ... that may be more a function of my state of mind than whether or not the play was any good. The play ended about 4:30 PM. We were back home by 6 PM, just as it turned dark.
We had supper, then watched Saturday Night Live.
DSK
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