HAPPY NEW YEAR !

December 24 to 30, 2017

Sunday ; Christmas Eve

Mostly sunny ... although for only three hours between sunrise and sunset.  Brutally cold !

I was quite ill today.  With a flare up of ulcerative colitis.  My own fault.  What a dumbass !  Yesterday I did not take my cholestyramine medication following lunch and dinner.  The medication that I have been taking longer than any other, about twenty-five years now.  Can't digest food without it !  Every few years, when I've been feeling "colon healthy" for a reasonably long period of time, I need to prove to myself that I still need this medication.  That's it's not just " all in my head".  So ... with brilliant timing ... I've made myself sick for Christmas !  What a dumbass !

GEEEEEZZZ ... if I was Merkin ... I'd run for President !  HA HA HA !

Ozzie was much improved today.  Feeling hungry.  First bowel movement after general anaesthesia, always a momentous achievement.  I should know !  HA HA HA !  I am typing this ( at 7:20 PM ) surrounded by the smell of Tourtière ( French Canadian meat pie ) cooking, our Christmas Eve traditional dinner.

Joanne took me to the pool building around noon for the fourth of my seven planned cardiac rehabilitation substitute fitness sessions.  It went well, I enjoy her company and appreciate her encouragement.

< mumbling under my breath > whip cracking Nazi bitch !

HA HA HA !

Monday ;  MERRY CHRISTMAS

Sunny !  Cold !  We had a quiet day together, just the two of us, and the animals.  By choice.

We slept late.  We had our traditional Christmas brunch, waffles slathered with jam and ice cream.  We took Ozzie for a walk.  He's feeling very well, apparently completely recovered from the ordeal of general anaesthesia a few days ago.  I administered his final dosage of analgesic this morning.  Not sure he really needed it.  He's active, and his spirits are high.  Doesn't seem like he's suffering much pain.

We opened our gifts, mostly edibles like chocolates and special snacks.  Ozzie is unimpressed with the gifts Joanne bought him.  Emma is unimpressed with the gifts Joanne bought her.  HA HA HA ... "hard to buy for" pets.  My sister phoned and we had our annual Christmas chat.  Joanne phoned her sister and they had their chat.  Joanne got our turkey into the oven.  We took Ozzie for another walk before it got dark ... around 4:15 PM !

We had a nice Christmas turkey dinner.  As always, Joanne did a good job of feeding us.  We watched some TV, and relaxed.

FIRST CHRISTMAS ;

• with Emma
• with Ozzie
• without Bo
• in Keremeos, British Columbia
• after triple bypass surgery

Tuesday ;  Boxing Day

Sunny and very cold.  We had a slow, lazy Boxing Day.  That's what Boxing Day is for, n'est-ce pas ?

Around noon we headed to our park's pool building for our fifth of seven cardiac rehabilitation substitute fitness sessions.  It went well.  After lunch and a nap
I reassembled the pet steps that Emma uses to get on and off our bed.  Yesterday
I glue repaired them.  Last Saturday, while we were at the symphony ... Ozzie smashed them to smithereens by jumping awkwardly off the bed while still groggy from anaesthetic.  He's not allowed on the bed, but when we're not home he sometimes climbs up on the bed to watch through the bedroom window for our return.  As soon as he sees us returning, he gets off the bed.  Usually he doesn't land on the pet steps like a ton of bricks, but the other day ... !

Wednesday ;  Cloudy and snowing lightly all day.  BUT ... that means it was warmer today than it has been for the last few days.  Ozzie really enjoys romping in fresh snow.  AND ... after being with us for three months, he is beginning to show his "sense of humour".

AND ... for the first time in the three months he has been with us ... he doesn't stink !  He came to us with stinky skin and fur, and very distinct odours from every ...
< ahem > ... orifice.  Infected ears.  Rotten teeth and infected gums.  Impacted anal gland.  And so on !  Yesterday, I cuddled right up to his face for the first time.  And ... he smells like a clean, healthy dog.

With a teensy bit of coaching from Joanne, tonight I baked a batch of peanut butter cookies.

And one year ago today we met Emma for the first time, at the Humane Society of Yuma.  She was emaciated and dehydrated ... near death.  When I finished my regular Tuesday afternoon shift of dog walking, I went into the cat wing to tell Joanne I was ready to go home.  I found her brushing Emma, trying to untangle some mattes from her long hair.  The first thing I saw as I walked into the cat wing was ... Joanne brushing Emma's tummy, and ... < sputter > ... Emma's flesh was tearing like a damp paper
towel ! ! !

She was thirteen years old when she came into the Humane Society of Yuma, a few days before Christmas.  SO ... I am declaring today to be her fourteenth birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA !

Thursday ;  WHEW !  Lots of snow overnight.

Ozzie really enjoyed our late morning long walk.  He loves to romp in fresh, fluffy snow.  Too bad he's the only one of us who enjoys it.  HA HA HA !  This afternoon I clipped all the hair on his face and muzzle very short, to get rid of the long, dirty, slightly stinky hair resulting from his dental surgery.  His face and muzzle look a lot different, slightly odd, but ... clean and not stinky !

When I told Ozzie not to worry, it's just hair, it will grow back, he will only look odd for a brief time, like I did when I had to shave for my surgery three months ago, Joanne said ... "oh ... no ... Ozzie doesn't look anywhere near as bad as you looked immediately after your surgery, with no beard, and grey skin colour".  HA HA HA !  Thanks a lot, my dear !

Friday ;  POST OPERATIVE THREE MONTHS

Three months is a bypass surgery milestone.  “Basic” healing is completed.  Most restrictions are lifted.  ( I’m still not cleared for swimming pool or hot tub use. )  For  patients with employment, return to work on a part time / light duties basis is permissible.  Ten pound limit weight lifting restrictions are removed, common sense ... and sternum pain ... dictate lifting limits.  Lifting arms above the head and shampooing were previously approved.  Driving and sex were previously approved.  Travel by aircraft is approved.  Piloting an aircraft is not !  Sadly, my wings are clipped.  My flying days are over.

< sigh >  Heavy snowfall today.  Ceiling zero.  Visibility zero.  DARN ... should have gone into town to refill our five gallon water jug yesterday.

Late this morning we went ( by car ) to the swimming pool building to do my sixth of seven planned cardiac rehabilitation substitute fitness sessions.  Afterwards we drove to town ( Keremeos ) to refill our five gallon water jug.  YIKES !  Atrocious driving conditions !  Especially for someone who hasn't done any winter driving in fourteen years.  We were back home about 2:30 PM.  We had a late lunch, and I went for a long nap.

It seemed as if every time we used the car today we spent more time cleaning snow and ice off the car than actually driving it.  And the snowplow blade on our park's truck is broken, so we have had no snow clearing service in our park for the last two days of heavy snowfall !

BUT ... evidently my heart works just fine ! ! !  No high blood pressure !  No angina
pain !  And ... < insert drum roll here > ... no blocked arteries !  Well ... actually ... the blocked arteries are still blocked ... they're just bypassed !  HA HA HA !

Saturday ;

We spent a lot of today shovelling out from yesterday's snowfall.  Well ... Joanne spent a lot of today shovelling.  I mostly stood around somewhat uselessly.  I cleaned snow off the car.  I scraped ice off the car's windows.  I broke the car window scraper / snow brush.  < sigh >  I actually did some of the shovelling.  Perhaps 20%.  The final "clean up" part.  Joanne did all the heavy lifting, no doubt about that !

And while doing that, she informed me ... "never again !"  She wants to begin shopping next summer for an apartment style condominium unit.

DSK

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

December 17 to 23, 2017

Sunday ;  Snowing !  Ozzie enjoys long walks in fresh snow.

At lunch time our neighbour / friend Jeanine came over with her little dog so I could examine and clean Charlie's ears.  No problems !  Well ... except for his bulging little eyes.  I think Charlie may have glaucoma.  This afternoon Joanne did laundry.  I did a bit of routine maintenance on the minivan.  In the evening ... < sigh > ... I wrapped Christmas gifts.

Monday ;  Cloudy.

With Joanne as my coach and cheerleader, I went to our RV park's fitness room to walk on the treadmill for half an hour, then use other fitness equipment to substitute for my cardiac rehabilitation fitness session.  The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program is closed for the next two and a half weeks, so I will do some exercising here at home to try to "keep up the good work", so to speak.

After exercising, and a late lunch, I had a long nap.  We picked up our mail while walking Ozzie late in the afternoon.  I received a "get well' card from our winter home at Kofa Ko-op RV Park in Yuma, Arizona.  The card was signed by many of our neighbours and friends down there.

Tuesday ;  Cloudy and windy.

We drove into town this morning to refill our five gallon water jug, using the truck for the first time since September 22.  Back at home I exercised our little generator, and we took Ozzie for a walk in the fresh snow.  He loves romping in fresh snow.  In the evening Joanne baked Christmas sugar cookies.  I was the decorator, with little coloured sprinkles, and chocolate sprinkles, and little icing Christmas trees.

Wednesday ;  Mostly cloudy, partially sunny, very cold.  As we approach the winter solstice, the sun rises above the mountain across the road at 9:30 AM, and sets behind the mountain across the river at 12:30 PM.  < sigh >

This afternoon we went for the second time ( of seven ) to our RV park's fitness centre for my "substitute" cardiac rehab fitness session.  It seems to be getting more difficult rather than easier.  Thank you again to Joanne for being my "coach" and "cheerleader".

< mumbling under my breath > whip cracking Nazi bitch !

HA HA HA < SNORT > HA HA !

In the evening we watched the three hour season finale of Survivor.

Thursday ;  Cloudy.  Cold.

The roadway behind our home has become icy and treacherous.  Today I sent a letter of complaint to our Board of Directors, but it seems to have been ignored.

We cleaned and treated Ozzie's ears today.  Same as always, it seems.  One ear remains perfectly fine, one ear is about 98% okay, but slight traces of fungal infection remain.  When we went for our afternoon walk, after checking our mailbox, I went to the park's library in the clubhouse to look for books to read, while Joanne continued walking Ozzie.

Joanne tried a new recipe tonight, a Chicken Mole ( pronounced "molay" ) dish.  Mole is a Mexican recipe for a savoury chocolate based sauce.  Sounds weird, but it works.

Friday ;  post operative 12 weeks

Mostly cloudy, cold.

Joanne was up early this morning preparing for her 8 AM departure with Ozzie, heading for Penticton, and Ozzie's 9 AM appointment with the veterinarian for dental cleaning and extractions.  After dropping Ozzie off at the veterinarian Joanne spent the day in Penticton, shopping and running errands, and waiting for Ozzie's 4 PM pick up time.

< sigh >  The veterinarian did $3500 worth of work on Ozzie's teeth, cleaning ten teeth and extracting twenty five teeth !  Poor little dog !  Two and a half hours of oral surgery.  His teeth were atrocious.  With lots of infection in the gums and down to the roots of the teeth.  Since the estimate was for ( only ! ) $1200 worth of work, and / or perhaps because Ozzie was the veterinarian's last patient before Christmas, and / or perhaps because Ozzie was the veterinarian's last patient before maternity leave, she reduced the bill by 50% !  With an examination and blood tests two weeks ago, his "dental work" cost over $2000 ! ! ! ! !  I surely hope his quality of life will be improved as a result.

Showing brilliant time management, after Joanne left at 8 AM I went back to sleep with Emma.  And ... < sputter > ... we slept until noon !  This afternoon I went to our RV park's fitness room and did the third ( of seven ) substitute cardiac rehab fitness sessions.  I was a little bit afraid to do a fitness regimen alone, with no one there to help me if a medical emergency arose.  And I was a little bit afraid to walk alone to the pool building and back on this park's treacherous icy roads.  I used my walking stick with the little spike on the bottom.  The one I use to walk in the river when I go fly fishing.

Joanne and Ozzie arrived back home shortly after 5 PM.  Ozzie was groggy from anaesthetic, and obviously in pain.  The veterinarian provided three days worth of analgesic for us to administer to him.  And ... his dry kibble days are over !  Hope you like canned food, Ozzie !

After supper we watched ... HA HA HA ... the season finale of "The Guest Book".

Saturday ;  Penticton

Sunny !  Finally !  But cold.

We left home around 12:30 PM heading for Penticton, and an afternoon matinee performance by the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.  The Christmas concert, entitled "Ringing In The Season" was the full symphony orchestra performing with the Okanagan Handbell Chorus and special guest, a harmonica virtuoso from Hong Kong.  Seated a couple of seats over from us were neighbours from Riverside RV Park Resort.

It was an interesting and enjoyable concert of Christmas music.  It reminded me that
I miss attending symphony orchestra concerts.  Joanne enjoyed the concert.  Which is unusual, she's not a fan of most symphony orchestra performances.  At her urging,
I purchased an expensive raffle ticket for the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra's fund raiser spring raffle.

After the concert we went to London Drugs to buy an item I needed.  And ... feeling a bit guilty about spending that much money on a raffle ticket to raise funds for a symphony orchestra ... providing expensive entertainment for affluent people ... I decided to be generous to the Salvation Army's bell ringer outside the London Drugs store.  Merry Christmas !  The Salvation Army does great work !

We were back home about 6 PM.  Ozzie is doing okay.  His pain level seems to be not too much of a problem for him.  Or ... he's very stoic, which he has proven to be, so maybe the pain is worse than he lets on.  In any case, by tonight his appetite was returning, so I guess that's a very good sign.

DSK

December 10 to 16, 2017

Sunday ;  Penticton

Mostly cloudy, cold.

Around noon we headed to Penticton.  We stopped at Staples and bought a new office chair, and printer ink cartridge, then drove to the Shatford Centre, a performing arts facility.  We attended the 2:30 PM afternoon Christmas concert of the Penticton
Tune-Agers, a choir that our neighbour / friend Jeanine is a member of, along with two other residents of our RV park.  After the afternoon concert of Christmas music, we stayed to partake of the choir's Christmas fund raiser dinner at 4:30 PM.  We had a pleasant Christmas turkey dinner with all the fixin's, then ... < sigh > ... the Christmas carol sing-along.  Jeanine was at our eight person dinner table and accepted our offer of a ride home.

We arrived home about 8:15 PM.  Yes, yes ... Ozzie had peed in the kitchen by then !  At least he is considerate enough to go in the room with vinyl flooring, and not on carpet.

Monday ;  Penticton

Partially sunny, cold, windy.  BRRRRR !

We left home about noon, heading for Penticton.  First stop was Home Hardware where I bought a couple of advertised specials.  Then Canadian Tire, for canned cat food on sale, some sidewalk sand, and a couple of drill bits.  Then ... I went to the first of my thirty sessions at the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program.  Joanne went grocery shopping at Superstore while I was at the supervised fitness program from 2 PM to
4 PM.  This being my first day, I was there longer than I will be on future trips.

A physiotherapist guided me through thirty minutes on a treadmill followed by work on each of a dozen fitness machines, along with warm up exercises, cool down exercises, stretching exercises, and ... frequent blood pressure checks.  As expected, I found no joy in this program.  I will grind through the thirty sessions because of the cardiac rehabilitation health benefit they will bring, but ... I don't have to like it !

Joanne picked me up at 4 PM and we were back home around 5 PM.  In the evening
I assembled my office chair.  Good thing ... because Joanne completely broke the old chair while talking on the phone to her sister tonight.

Tuesday ;  Gloomy.  Cold.  Again !  Still !

All my muscles from the chest upwards hurt today.  The pectoral muscles in my upper chest, my shoulders, my biceps.  I guess I have not used my upper body muscles since surgery over ten weeks ago.  Until yesterday !

Long walk, nap, short walk.  Bought tickets to a Christmas concert by the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.  Despite having lived here for more than ten years, we have never seen the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra perform.  All of their concerts are performed three times ; once in Vernon, once in Kelowna, once in Penticton.  The upcoming Christmas concert features the Okanagan Handbell Ringers.

< sigh >  < whispering >  I miss the National Arts Centre in Ottawa !

Wednesday ;  Penticton

Snow overnight.  < sigh >

I started my day by knocking over a large glass of orange juice.  < sigh >  Juice went everywhere !  Including through the split in the middle of the table and into the "expansion" mechanism underneath that allows the table to be expanded and a leaf put in.  And onto the chairs and chair cushions.  And all over the floor.  And the Christmas placemats on the table.  And the Christmas basket on the table.  And the drill and box of drill bits and other tools that were on the table awaiting return to the shed.  < deep sigh >

Around lunch time we left for Penticton.  I went to my second ( of thirty ) cardiac rehabilitation session, from 2 PM to 3:45 PM.  Joanne went shopping at Wal-Mart.  When she returned to pick me up, we went to BG Fuels and refilled the minivan's fuel tank, then I dropped her off at Superstore to do some grocery shopping while I went to do some Christmas gift shopping.  When I was finished I picked Joanne up at Superstore and we returned home, arriving back home around 6 PM.

Joanne prepared an artichoke as an appetizer, then pizza for supper which we ate while watching Survivor.  Gee ... artichokes sold here are certainly different ... < cough cough > ... than artichokes we buy in Yuma, where we buy them at the farmer's market within a day of them being picked.

After two cardiac rehabilitation sessions ... I ache all over !

Thursday ;  Gloomy, cold, a bit windy.

Short walk, nap, shorter walk.  On cold, windy days I'm not inclined to take long walks.  And I'm not inclined to take long walks on the days following my cardiac rehabilitation sessions, when I'm nursing sore muscles.  But ... after only two sessions I can already feel improvement in my breathing ability.

Friday ;  post operative 11 weeks ;  Penticton

Light snow falling all day, temperature warm enough to melt the falling snow enough to make the roads "greasy".  And windows and headlights filthy.  YUCK !

We left home at 11 AM heading for Penticton.  I had an appointment at noon at Health Source Specialty Medical Supplies to be fit with a new compression sleeve for my left arm.  The arm from which the radial artery was harvested to be used as a coronary artery bypass graft.  When finished there we went to Value Village and I bought a couple of pairs of exercise pants to be worn during my cardiac rehabilitation sessions.  The first two sessions I attended wearing pyjama sweat pants.

We went to McDonald's for a quick, light lunch before I had to be at my 2 PM cardiac rehabilitation fitness class.  At McDonald's we shared a hamburger and a muffin.  While I was at the gym from 2 PM until 3:45 PM Joanne went shopping to three "Dollar" stores.  She picked me up at the gym when I was finished and we were back home around 5 PM.  Most of the drive home was in darkness !

As much as I hate these cardiac rehabilitation fitness sessions I must admit ... after only three sessions ... there is improvement !  My breathing is improved, some cut / damaged and "dead" nerves in my upper chest are regaining feeling, and my upper body strength is beginning to recover.

Saturday ;  Gloomy.  Warm enough to melt most of Wednesday's and yesterday's snow.

When we took Ozzie for our regular late morning walk we bumped into our neighbour / friend Jeanine on her way to the laundromat ( in our RV park's swimming pool
building ).  She invited us into her home to have a cup of tea.  This afternoon I did some preventive maintenance on the truck and minivan.  Joanne baked shortbread cookies. 
I paid some bills online.

Late in the afternoon, while sitting at my desk ... I sneezed.  Oh my goodness !  My sternum made a "click" sound, as the sawn apart two halves pulled apart and came back together.  OUCH !  I guess I still need to "splint" it ( press my hands against it ) more heavily when I sneeze or cough !

DSK

December 3 to 9, 2017

Sunday ;  Mostly sunny, cold.  I enjoyed the sunshine.

Long walk, lunch, nap, long walk.  I updated some investment data.  I posted my weekly journal to my blog.  We experimented with changing Ozzie's feeding schedule and quantity.  He wasn't pleased !  I administered hairball medication to Emma.  She wasn't pleased !

Monday ;  Sunny and cold.

Joanne went to Penticton today for a day of running errands by herself.  I stayed at home with the animals.  I walked twice with Ozzie.  I napped with Emma.  I did some minor preventive maintenance work on Lanoire the truck and Elsie the camper.  I made phone calls, setting up appointments.

Tuesday ;  Penticton

Sunny and cold.

Drove to Penticton this morning.  Brought Ozzie with us.  I had an appointment at
12:15 PM at the cardiac rehabilitation gym for a physical assessment and orientation.  Joanne went to Value Village.  Afterwards we went to the food court at Cherry Lane Mall for lunch.  We refilled the minivan with fuel, bought some cat food at Total Pet, then took Ozzie to Anderson Animal Hospital for a dental assessment.  As we had expected, his teeth and gums are in atrocious condition, and he needs extensive work.  Today's examination and blood tests cost $260, and his dental work will be a minimum of a thousand dollars ! ! !  We arrived back home about 4:00 PM, and immediately went for a long walk with Ozzie.  By the time we were finished our walk around 4:30 PM it was already dark outside.

Wednesday ;  Mostly sunny and cold.

Long walk, nap, long walk.  Phone calls.  Spoke to Ozzie's veterinarian.  She phoned with the results of his blood tests.  He is healthy enough to tolerate general anaesthesia.  SO ... he will be receiving a Christmas present of $1200 worth of dental work, plus the $260 paid yesterday, for a total of around $1500 !  His long life of no health care leaves me angry at our former next door neighbours / his previous caregivers.

MMMMM ... my favourite recipe for dinner tonight.  Survivor afterwards.

Thursday ;  Kelowna

Gloomy !  We were up early this morning in order to be able to leave home at 8:45 AM heading for Kelowna, and my appointment with my cardiothoracic surgeon for a "two months after surgery" check up.  We arrived in Kelowna a bit quicker than expected, so before going to see the doctor we found our way to Summit Tools to buy me a couple of advertised specials as Christmas gifts.  Thank you, Santa !

We returned to Kelowna General Hospital and at 11:30 AM we met with the cardiothoracic surgeon who performed my triple bypass surgery almost ten weeks ago.  He examined me, and asked me a lot of questions, and gave me adequate time and attention to ask my many questions.  Except for a bit of a fluid retention issue, my healing and recuperation are progressing very well, in his opinion.  That's reassuring.  He ended our appointment by stating that he hopes never to see me again.  HA HA
HA !

He cleared me to resume driving, so I drove home from Kelowna.  The last time I drove was when we drove to Kelowna for my angiogram more than ten weeks ago !  I am grateful to Joanne for bearing the burden of doing all the driving for the last ten weeks.  BUT ... I am also very glad to not be her passenger any more !  No offence, my dear.

We stopped at Superstore in West Kelowna / WestBank.  While Joanne went into the store to buy a couple of grocery items I went to the fuel bar and refilled the minivan with fuel.  Back at home at 2:30 PM we had a very late lunch, then I napped for awhile before we went for a walk with Ozzie, with a stop at the home of our neighbour / friend Jeanine for a brief visit.

Friday ;  post-operative 10 weeks

Gloomy.  Cold.  < sigh >

This morning I headed into Keremeos, driving myself.  WOO-HOO !  I stopped at Similkameen Pharmacy to drop off some new prescriptions to be filled, then drove to Autumn Rain Hair Design for a haircut and beard trim.  After my haircut and beard trim ... and telling Sarah all about my heart and dog drama of late September / early October ... I returned to the pharmacy, picked up my prescriptions and drove back home.

Lunch.  Nap.  Visit from neighbour / friend Jeanine.  We visited with Jeanine over a cup of tea, then I and Ozzie walked her back home at dusk ( 4:30 PM ) while Joanne went to deal with laundry.

Saturday ;  Gloomy.  Very cold.

So cold that my two long walks became a short walk and a shorter walk !  I took some books back to the library.  We cleaned and treated Ozzie's ears.  One ear is 100% good, and the other is about 99% okay.  It's a constant battle to keep his chronic ear infections at bay.  I did some prescription records keeping and accounting.  I trimmed my moustache and eyebrows, something my Canadian hair stylist doesn't do.  My Mexican hair stylist does !  I did some research on an online program designed by the University of Regina for cardiac patients with depression and/or anxiety.  I don't qualify.  HMPH !

DSK

November 26 to December 2, 2017

Sunday ;  Mostly cloudy, cool, very windy.

This afternoon I watched the Grey Cup, Canada's football championship game, for the first time in fourteen years.  Before the game we drained Ozzie's anal glands, then gave him a bath.  I updated some investment data, and posted my weekly journal to my blog.  AND ... baked some Bits & Bites mix to eat during the game.  AHHHHH ... nostalgia !  Too bad the Argonauts won the game.

Late in the evening we watched "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas".  HA HA HA
< SNORT > HA HA !

Monday ;  Sunny and cold.  But most importantly ... sunny !

My two walks today were long, quick paced, no rest stops.  I felt strong.

I cleaned and polished shoes today.  I made a veterinarian appointment for Ozzie to have a dental assessment.  I cancelled our Home Exchange listing and account.  I think I would rather try an RV exchange website.  I updated some financial data.  After 13½ years of unemployment ... we're doing pretty well !

Tuesday ;  Cloudy and cold, intermittent drizzle.

We left home at noon, heading for Penticton, and my early afternoon appointment to have my first of two assessments for admission to the cardiac rehabilitation program in Penticton.  Joanne dropped me off at the medical building then went grocery shopping.  Today's meeting with a nurse struck me as mostly a waste of time.  She took a bit of a medical history, reviewed my medications, and assessed my recuperation to date.  She discovered that the bottom of my left lung is not inflating as it should.  HMPH !  After all that hard work !  I suppose I will have to increase my deep breathing exercises.  My blood pressure certainly has lowered since my bypass surgery !  We were finished in Penticton at 2:30 PM.  On the way back home we stopped in Keremeos to refill our five gallon water jug.  As soon as we got back home, about 4 PM, we went for a long walk with Ozzie.  My goodness, it certainly is getting dark early, especially on cloudy, gloomy days.

Wednesday ;  Cloudy, cold, windy.

Long walk, nap, long walk ... squabble, bicker, squabble.

Thursday ;  Cloudy, cold.

Long walk, nap, long walk.  AND ... download month end bank statements and investment updates.  AND ... reconcile bank statements and investment updates.
I have increased my deep breathing exercises.  Which has made it obvious that ...
I need to increase my deep breathing exercises !

Friday ;  post operative 9 weeks

Cloudy and cold.  I guess that's what winter is here !

Changed all the calendars, did some first of the month accounting and bill paying, long walk, nap, another long walk.  After an early supper we drove to Penticton for an evening performance by Many Hats Theatre Company of the play "A Nice Family Gathering".  Good play ... well done !  We arrived back home at 11:20 PM.

Saturday ;  Cloudy ... low ceiling ... gloomy ... cold ... big, wet snowflakes falling in the evening.

This morning we headed into town ( Keremeos ) to run some errands.  As always ... PharmaSave was sold out of the weekend Vancouver Sun before noon.  I suppose
I should give up on the idea of buying the weekend Vancouver Sun.  Joanne bought some coinage at Valley First Credit Union.  Then some produce at Sanderson Farms before heading home.

Long walk, lunch, nap, long walk.  Beef Stroganoff for dinner.  MMMMM !  Well done, my dear.  Saturday Night Live in the evening.

DSK

November 19 to 25, 2017

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

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