Day 418 - Post Grad Night

Today the Home Care Nurse came & flushed the line & changed the stat lock & dressing. Looks like I'm going to have to change the dressing daily while I'm in California. I'm glad I'm on antibiotics (NEVER thought I'd say that!) while I'm away. It will help get rid of any would-be bugs while I'm gone.

I had a different Nurse today. I wasn't too impressed. She REEKED like cigarette smoke. She must've just butted out before she walked through the door. Come on. You're a NURSE! Health=Nurse=No Smoking! Oceana apparently doesn't like smoke. She growled like the dickens at the poor gal! I thought it was kinda funny! I said, 'Sorry, she doesn't like smoke.' To which the Nurse replied, 'Well, aren't you the fat puppy!?' indicating Valentina. Okay. Guess we're even now!

I packed up 2 small suitcases for California & got the dogs ready for Mom2's. I drove in late afternoon & Mom2 & I went to the PB Post Grad meeting. Basically they give us a few days to process & apply what we've learned & then we get to meet up & clarify any of the tools we learned & share our experiences. It was great fun to see everyone again! I'm sad I'll miss the next one, as I'll be in Cuba.

Mom2 wore the Angelina wig & I wore the Rihanna wig. It was fun to see people's reactions. It was so stinkin' cold tonight. I can't wait to leave for California, even if it is Northern California! We got home shortly after 10 & I think it was near 2300 by the time I finished arranging the suitcases & went to bed. What a short night. I had to be up by 0245 to leave in time for the airport. Why do I do this to myself!? And Mom2? She was going to drive me.

I'm so excited for this trip! Not only is it my first time out of the country in 6 months, but I'm going to ask for a miracle! I'm so excited for what will happen! Wish me luck for tomorrow I fly!

xxxx Maria, Valentina, Oceana

Sorry - no pictures - I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off! Soon!

Day 293 - Here's Jacoooooooo!

Ugh. There's nothing like the feeling of death. I felt like rubbish from the moment I woke up. I slept until 1100 when Mom made me some pancakes with fruit for breakfast. I was feeling so ill I didn't even put a drop of maple syrup on them. That should tell you everything right there! 


I managed to eat 1.5 pancakes, some blueberries, saskatoons & raspberries. I also noticed 5 hairs on the edge of my plate. Oh dear. It's happening. Although, at that moment, I was feeling far too poor to care! 


I pretty much laid in bed. I couldn't read, I couldn't really keep my eyes open, but I couldn't sleep either. Naturally I laid around too long & then it was time to get ready to go to the airport to collect Jaco. I had decided to ask Mom to drive me. I would go in to fetch him & then we would drive back home. Of course, my wonderful Mom agreed. I could not decide a thing to save my soul today, so Mom helped me pick out my wardrobe. Wig included. 


I have a very strong romantic attachment to meeting your loved one at the airport. Call me crazy. Maybe I watched Love, Actually one too many times. Perhaps it was that one volunteer shift I did at the airport 10+ years ago. I was supposed to welcome tourism officials to Calgary, but spent most of my time sniffling & teary eyed over the reunited lovers, family members & stories of long distance love. Maybe I'm just a sap. But in any case, I was bound & determined to meet my man at the airport. Even if I was dressing incognito!


As expected, Mom & I left one hour late for the airport. I was worried that my husband would grow impatient & just take a taxi to Bragg Creek for $100+. Too ill to drive myself, I griped about my Mother's driving skills pretty much the entire way there. I hopped out of the car & darted in to the appropriate doors. It was mayhem. How on Earth was I to find my jet-lagged & exhausted hubby in this mess!? There were people everywhere! Oh my. I strolled around looking for him. I gathered a few bizarre looks - I love a good raised eyebrow now & then - but I kept on searching. THERE HE WAS!


Okay, now what to do? I could see him looking around, not sure where to go & also looking for me. I hid behind the pillar to see which side he would come around so I could surprise him. He came around the pillar but was looking in the exact opposite direction & he didn't turn around. He started to walk away. So I followed him. 


Here I am, tiptoeing behind him, waiting for him to turn around & see me. He's walking. And he's walking. And he's walking. Is he ever going to stop? Finally he stops. He looks around. All the way around. He finally sees me, but he doesn't recognize me. I smile at him & then he realizes it's me! I laugh & of course, we hug & we kiss! Yay! He's finally here! 


We went out to the parking lot & Mom was just pulling around, so we hopped in the car & we were off! He was quite jet-lagged, so we didn't visit too much. I was still feeling rubbish from round 3 (ding ding), thus it was a pretty quite night. I set my alarm for 0100 to take my pill & it was lights out. Hmm, perhaps having Jaco around can turn me into an early sleeper yet! You see, there IS always hope! :o)


Lekker slaap!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Maria, Jaco & Valentina

I feel like I should be in 'The Saint' with Val Kilmer or something.

Remind you of anyone?

He finally found me! Reunited at last!

Jaco's 'Welcome Gift' - 'Look & Feel Canadian Instantly' Magic Life-Transforming  Breathspray (As used by some of the World's finest people & some bears)

Back of package reads:

"You may have read about Canadians in books or watched documentaries about their country on TV. But you probably never imagined that you could be part of this alternative lifestyle... for less than the cost of a glass of beer.

Now, for a limited time, Jesus Had A Sister Productions offers you the unique opportunity to look & feel Canadian. Instantly experience an enhanced appreciation of fresh water lakes, rippling streams, moose, squirrels, bears, maple syrup & loons. Discover simple pleasures like trout fishing, snowshoeing, wiener roasts, and campfire sing-a-longs. 

**Igloo & caribou sold separately

Manufacturer's Warning: Physical results may vary. In emergency situations, may be used as bug spray."

:o)

Day 271 - Farewell Jenny Rose...

Today was my last day hangin’ with Jenn. :o( I’ve really enjoyed our visit! And I must say, I wish she lived closer! We had a blast taking photos out & about, even if it was with our point & shoot cameras! We had a lovely breakfast of maple butter on sprouted grain toast with some fruit on the side. Jenn had never had maple butter, so I was happy to be the first to share my love of maple butter with yet another Maple Butter Virgin! Yum!

We went for a walk to the barns & caught Mom’s horse, Shufly. We took a few photos of the other horses & then headed out for a walk through the meadow. The grass was quite tall & it had rained the night before. Our feet were soaked shortly! Valentina had a blast leaping through the tall grass! She’s so funny to watch. You just see the grass moving a bit & every once in awhile you see her little ears flop above the grass line. She knows how to make me giggle!

We encountered a coyote on our way out. He was healthy – full coat & fluffy tail. He loped up the side of the hill, stopping several times to check us out. The funny thing was the cattle were more leery of us than the coyote! They kept running around us & stopping to get a good look at us! 

We walked for about an hour & then decided we'd had enough. We hung out at the house while Jenn cleaned the ka-ka off of her shoes to spare the poor lad she'd have to sit next to on the plane. I started sorting through a box of old photos. I joked with Jenn, saying she was going to know my entire life story before she flew out today! 

We left for town around 1500 with a quick stop for sushi. Jenn had a hankering for sushi the other day, but had the disappointment of her life at the sushi restaurant in Canmore. I picked one of my favourites in Calgary & luckily it didn't disappoint! We headed up Deerfoot to the airport - during rush hour. Ugh! Thankfully we made it there only 5 minutes past our planned time of arrival! 

I waited for Jenn to check in & also to go through security. She was taking everything on as carry on & I didn't want her to have to throw away her moisturizer. Sure enough, it was a meagre 20 mls over! One more hug goodbye & she was off! Hope to see you again soon Miss Jenn!!! 

I stopped at Chapters to see if they had a book on marriage I'm looking for. No luck. I then stopped at HomeSense & picked up a small wedding present for the James'. They are stopping next week... Yippee!!! 

I arrived home just in time to see Mom back from her visit to my brother's place. He is doing okay. Pretty slow going, but he's a tough, stubborn ol' cowboy... I'm sure he'll be right as rain in no time flat... 

As usual, I procrastinated at going to bed. It was 0200 by the time I turned out the light. One of these days I'll get to bed early. Here's hoping for tomorrow! By the way, it's chemo day... Wish me luck!

xxxx

Maria & Valentina

Shufly

Jenn & the ponies

Walkin' in the woods

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