Day 505 - At Sea

Lunch today was spent with the most traveled passengers. The loyalty program onboard arranges a luncheon for the 30 passengers who have sailed with Princess the highest number of days. At each table, one of the senior officers working onboard will dine with the passengers. Jaco invited me to go along, so I obliged.

I’ve been a few times previously & it’s always hit & miss as to whether or not you’ll find passengers who are easy to get along with. Or not. Thankfully the ones I sat next to were pleasant. There was one other lady at our table who actually works for Princess as a vendor in the shops. She was pretty excited.

Now, there is a VAST difference between British passengers & American passengers. British passengers are very polite & reserved. American passengers TEND to be a little louder & a little less reserved. This woman, being an employee, was NOT reserved at all. Oh my. It was a little awkward at times. I won’t go into too much detail, but needless to say, I think several of us were relieved when the luncheon was finished!

I visited with Jaco for a while in the cabin until he went to the office, at which point, I wandered up on deck to catch a little sun. It was quite breezy and a little cloudy. Several birds were flying around the ship. It was fantastic to lay back & read, watching the clouds roll by & birds soar overhead. When it started to cool off, I got up to come inside. I noticed a large mass of land off the port side. Apparently we were sailing between Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico. Cool.

Popping by the Medical Centre to see Jaco, I visited a bit with him before I headed to the cabin & got changed for the gym. Yes, today is day 3! I’m on a roll now! Another 18 days & I’ll have a new habit! Just in time to fly to South Africa & fall apart again! Argh! Here’s hoping I can stick with something when I get there!

I’ve thrown out the quinoa sprouts. My chart said they should be ready tonight, but compared to all the other sprouts, they reek. Yuck. I had to pitch them. I think next time, I’ll only sprout them one day and then eat them. If anyone has any insight, let me know! The rest of the sprouts are doing well!

For the evening’s entertainment, I phoned home & visited with Dad & Grandma B, as well as Jenn in Texas. I’ve been pretty ‘detached’ from home thus far. I typed a few blog posts & put some more tunes on the iPod, seeing as I’m a regular at the gym now… ha!

Tomorrow is Grand Turk. Another pin on the map!

Sleep well…xxxx Maria

 What a great day!

Love the clouds!

 Life at sea.

Streaks of light & land in the distance (I think it's Dominican Republic)

Day 423 - Flying Home

I was up at 0315 when I woke up from a scary dream. The head of a woman was chasing me, laughing, her head bouncing like a crazy bouncy ball. Gross. I ran to a truck & couldn't get the key in the ignition. I was so panicked in the dream, I actually woke up, my heart pounding so fiercely I was afraid I'd have a heart attack! My alarm was set for 0345, so I laid in bed for another 15 minutes & decided I would need the extra time to get ready.

I didn't change my dressing this morning, I'll do it tonight when I'm home. George was already up & at it, patiently waiting for me to finish up. Elizabeth came out to the kitchen all wrapped up in her blanket, just to give me a hug & say goodbye.

George & I had breakfast & one last chat before we hopped into the Pacifica for the ride to the hotel where the shuttle was waiting. I'm so sad to see the weekend end! I want it to last so much longer! I have had such an amazing experience here!

I sat in the back of the shuttle next to a gal on her way to Houston. She is finishing up her studies to be a Teacher & has lived in Illinois, Colombia, and now California. She has ties to Bethel too, so that was pretty neat! We chit chatted for a bit until we both decided to fall asleep for a bit.

I checked one suitcase in & sat down to drink 1L of fresh squeezed orange juice & 500 ml of Kangen water. I was so 'soaked' by the time I was done, I felt sick! In fact, that feeling stuck with me for the rest of the day. I think my body is in dire need of sleep & relaxation!

The flight to Seattle was good. I think. I slept the whole way! No drooling this time! I visited with an Electrical Technician for Medical Equipment while we taxi'd the runway. He raises Border Collies & wants to move to Kentucky from California. Apparently Kentucky is more affordable than California. Not sure I'd want to head out to Kentucky, but each to his own, I guess!

I found free wireless at the airport in Seattle & decided I would finally break my Facebook fast & attempt to get caught up on the blog. Of course, a little people watching is always included in anything airport. The Somalian lady whose 'handsfree' cellphone means tucking it into the side of her head covering, the splashing, gurgling water fountain with a speaker underneath emitting just those sounds, the California girls in their matching track suits & bold ways, the burping 50-ish lady with an 80's perm & apparently no manners... The list goes on...

Another quick sleep on the plane to YYC & there was Mrs. Roxy, chai tea in hand, waiting patiently for me! What a great friend! She dropped me off at Mom2's to pick up the girls & have a quick visit with M&D2. I left a few hours later & managed to find Roxy still up with Mom, doing books. Roxy was going to drive home & I ky-boshed that. Ever since her & Kevin told me about Roxy's habit of falling asleep at the wheel in the night, I don't like her on the roads after dark! She had to get up early, so to bed it was. Just as I was about to turn out the light, I remembered the eclipse! I think it was 0130 by the time I went to bed. I stood out on the deck with my camera, taking photos of the moon as it disappeared & turned a glorious shade of orange/red. I froze my butt off & couldn't fall asleep I was so cold! Whoops! Luckily I have no plans for tomorrow!

Sweet dreams...

xxxx Maria, Adios, Valentina & Oceana (glad to have the girls back!)

 George dropping me off at 0430 for the shuttle!

 Crazy paintjob in Seattle

 I love Target! Best dog costumes ever!

 Merry Christmas from the girls!

 Mama's high tech weigh in...

 Grocery bag & luggage scale!

 Roxy dons the honorary wig! Forwards...

& backwards! (And she still looks adorable!)

Day 367 - Hello Home & Laundry!

Wow. That was one comfy bed. A great mattress & a fabulous duvet. It was like a little taste of heaven. Can you tell I'm sleep deprived? How do these Mom's do it? Ugh. I'm exhausted & I don't even have a kid!  Let alone 2 or 3 of them!

This morning we had a delicious breakfast of bacon & pancakes, along with toasted walnut tea (two thumbs up!). We packed up our things, helped tidy up the house & away we went!

Thankfully the roads were clear all the way home. Much to our surprise, there was hardly a speck of snow when we pulled into the yard! I was expecting a good six inches!

I am absolutely exhausted, as for the rest of the afternoon until the wee hours of the morning, I unpacked, cleaned, tidied & did laundry. (And now I'm trying to catch up on 2 weeks of missed blogging!)

The dogs are happy to be home & so am I, even if I have to jet back into the city tomorrow for my acupuncture appointment. I'm actually looking forward to a few down days to recover from chemo & from trucking all over the place!

I did my neupogen shot tonight. I think I nicked a blood vessel or something, as blood came gushing out when I withdrew the needle & my leg hurt like the dickens after I was done. Whoopsy. I know, I know. Jaco was busy, so I did it myself.

Jaco is peacefully sleeping while I type this in the light of the laptop screen. I think I'll join him, as you don't really need to know how many missing socks I have, nor which items I most likely shrunk (either from the dryer or too much ice cream!). Lekker slaap & see you tomorrow!!!

xxxxMaria

Day 151 - Driving...

Why is it that I can always find the snooze button before I gain consciousness? I hit the snooze button at 0740 (consciously) & the next time I heard the snooze button, it was 0805. Where did those 25 minutes go when my snooze beeps every 5 minutes?


Needless to say, I was late getting going this morning, but managed to get out the door & arrive at Jessica's right on time! We had a great session - how can I have a bad session? She makes me laugh for an hour & I get to lie on this really warm bed. Oh yeah, I get healthy too! Bonus!


Mom & I left for SK, but only after a stop at the insurance place & Planet Organic for a bit of lunch. She drove to Brooks & I drove the rest of the way. We had a good chat & were serenaded by Valentina & her squeaky toy. She still hasn't decided on the puppy, but I guess I'm optimistic she'll make the RIGHT choice & I'll meet Annie next time I'm home. 


We arrived at the junction at 1600. Mom was picking up a used car from my Uncle Darryl & he had left it at the junction for her. Phew. It reeked of cigarette smoke! I sprinkled lavender oil all over the seats & dash to try & eliminate the smell of smoke. We said goodbye & she headed for home.


I headed for my former home - Dad's place. It is always strange to go home & see what has changed & what hasn't. Buildings, businesses, family farms, and all the faces that I hardly recognize anymore. I politely visit & then when we're out the door, I ask Dad, 'Who was that again?' 


Dad had to take a few cows to town & his dog needed some shots, so we stopped at the vet clinic. Dad's dog, Mac, a border collie, is quite the character. He's a little large for a lap dog, but he'd sure like to be one! His tongue was out the whole time & he was happy as a pig in mud! 


We took a drive out to the 'Cabbage Patch' when we got back home & checked on the cows & calves. Valentina started to give her little 'woof' from the cab of the truck. Yeah, she is catching 'Little Dog Syndrome'. I'll bet she'd crawl right up my leg if I put her out with the cows!


Once back at the house, Dad made supper for us. (I survived my own cooking, but barely!) He made brown rice, asparagus, salmon & a garden salad. We followed supper with a pot of Rooibos tea. Quite the entertainer he is! I remember the days of microwaved perogies, so he's come a LONG way! Remind me one day to tell the toilet paper/microwave story...


We visited about a wide variety of topics & then Dad's eyelids began to get heavy. He can be mid-sentence & fall asleep. I knew it was time to hit the hay. I'm pretty wiped too! Here's to a fun filled day tomorrow...


Maria & Valentina
xoxoxoxoxoxooxoo

Having a nice lie-in.

My rear view helper. (When she's conscious!)

Sleeping on the road again.

The big trees in the yard where I grew up. We used to have some swings in the trees.

Mac & Dad. Mac is the happiest dog in the world. Dad is cleaning the trail mix out of his teeth.

Grandad's Herd

My Cowdog-In-Training

Day 146 - Boxes of Stuff

Okay, so perhaps I haven't made the MOST out of my time to myself in the house, but I have certainly made the most out of uninterrupted phone calls! :o) I used the chi machine more than I have in a long time, did some yoga & faithfully used the treadmill! I'm certainly no fit chick, but there's an inkling of effort there! 


Today I was just getting involved in my research when the phone rang. It was the Cancer Centre. I had asked them to call me & tell me if they ACTUALLY HAD RESULTS so I wouldn't sit there for another 2 hours & then be told nothing & have a lovely parking tab! I certainly wasn't expecting what I heard next.


'Hi Jill, it's (the Nurse) from (the Oncologist's) office. I had a message to call you & let you know the results. It's Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin's Lymphoma. So pretty much exactly what we were thinking all along. Are you coming for your blood work tomorrow & appointment?'


Well, wasn't that just lovely! Certainly not what I had expected. I mean everyone wishes they would receive the call to tell them they've just won some big sweepstakes & they can chase their dreams. Never did I expect to hear the words 'Cancer' pop out just like that!


So, after I hung up & sat there stunned for awhile, I slowly began to process. Okay. Not such a big deal. I mean, before I answered the phone, whatever was in my neck & co. was the EXACT same thing as it was after I hung up the phone. Now, it's just got a prettier name than FRANK. :o) 


I told about 2 people that day. I really didn't want to let 'Fear' rear it's ugly head in the hearts & minds of the friends & family out there, so I just kept it hush-hush. I also didn't need the drama of 'What are you going to do now?!?' I wanted to enjoy the remainder of my time in the house alone. 


I decided to finally haul some stuff back to the bunk house & get it out of my sight. I also pilfered through some more boxes & it felt good to clean out some stuff. I love my 'stuff', but sometimes, too much 'stuff' calls for a little purging. It was a beautiful day & Valentina enjoyed sniffing around the bunkhouse.


I came back & began cleaning up the house. Mom wasn't sure if she would be back tonight or tomorrow morning, so I thought I better do a little tidying. Good thing! I'd just vacuumed up the wicker basket disaster & she drove in the yard! Yeah, I left if for awhile. It was only Valentina & me, what's the big deal?


So, tomorrow I would meet with the other Oncologist & see what was really going on. Give me strength to handle the words they say & keep my clear thinking mind about me!


Love & healing hugs,
Maria & Valentina
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

This could be my all time favourite photo!

Like she smoked in a previous life or something!

Friends

Yes?