Day 399 - Miss Communication & Food, Inc.

Okay! Here's another BBC Animals video if you didn't see them all yet!

Today was a day of miscommunication. I am still not sleeping well. I finally fell asleep about 0500 this morning. Mom's SCREAMING (not whistling) tea kettle woke me up at 0615. It screamed for 9 minutes. Really. I checked the clock. I thought surely to goodness she would shut it off. Now. Now? NOW?! I think I know what she's getting for Christmas. Perhaps early at this rate!

I managed to fall back asleep at 0800 until my alarm went off at 1130. I was supposed to go stay with Mom2 for the weekend. Plans got shuffled around as much as sanely possible, so I ended up not going. I may go tomorrow if all goes well! I was on the phone with Roxy, Mom2 & Collet for the better part of the afternoon trying to sort out the agenda. By the time 1700 rolled around, I was exhausted. I fell asleep for one hour. Mom came home briefly & I was back to sleep just past 1800.

Of course, I slept until 2100 & was subsequently awake until 1100 the following morning. I don't understand why my body is so messed up. I just can't seem to straighten things out. It's getting old! And so am I from the lack of sleep! I used to be able to sleep & sleep & sleep! Now, not so!

I watched a documentary this evening called Food, Inc. I was eating chicken while watching it. I couldn't finish my chicken. I gave it to the dogs. If you watch one film this month/week/year, pick this one! It is incredible. It basically educates the viewer about corporate control over our food sources. Of course, it is based on American companies, but as you & I both know, America controls & owns a lot of the companies in Canada. It isn't for one type of eater - carnivore, vegetarian, vegan, raw - it educates you on so many different levels. Basically they encourage you to buy from companies that treat the workers, animals & environment with respect. It would be wonderful if these large corporations would do that without our asking, but sadly, very sadly, this is not the case. This film changed my, well, life! It did! As cliché as that sounds, it's totally true! Just watch it already!

And with that, another day is done. Tomorrow Jaco should be in Barbados, soaking up the Caribbean sun. Sigh. Soon enough I'll be able to join him. I sure do miss him!

xxxxMV&O

Meet Gwyneth - her son, Moses, & I share the same birthday!

As for Apple, well, I'm typing this blog on one, does that count?

Day 320 - Just Another Day.

Ahhh... I do love to sleep late. I'm sure if I was on a regular routine & was in bed at 2200 every night, I would love the tranquility of the peaceful mornings here on the ranch, but alas, I'm a night hawk who stays up too late & thus, I love my lie-ins. 


Today was supposed to be a recuperation day from chemo, so instead, it pretty much was the same thing, only without the chemo. :o) 


On that note... I'm off to get a little R&R... 


See you tomorrow! xxxx MJV&O

Her tongue is out. She thinks she's hungry. Look at the size of her belly. Valentina doesn't need food either! :oP

I must have had food nearby.

I could make a really nasty joke about who Jaco shares his bed with... but I'll hold back.

Yup. 1, 2, 3... All in the bed.

What's that? You want to roll over? Too bad!

Do you mind? I'm trying to sleep here!

Day 178 - St. Lucia

So I seem to have this sleep issue when I’m on the ship. I just can’t wake up. I know, I know, I sleep late when I’m at home. On the ship, it’s even worse! Granted, I was pretty tired from the flights & all the running around of the previous week, but I could not drag my butt out of bed until noon. I guess my body was telling me it needed some rest. (I listened for once!)

I was not allowed to take Valentina off today, but I wanted to collect a bit of grass to put in her potty box, as she still hadn’t used it. I took a little ziplock baggie with me & ventured off to a desolate corner of the terminal area & took my collection. While I was there, I noticed those neat little plants that don’t like to be touched. They close their leaves up whenever you touch them. It’s pretty neat to see a plant move so quickly!

It was overcast & rainy, but still hot & humid. Oh how I love the humidity! I peeked in one of the shops I had found bargains in 4 years ago, but no luck. I was actually wearing the shirt I bought there 4 years ago & I wanted to find another one like it. I always get compliments on it & sure enough, I had 3 compliments on it by the time I boarded the ship again!

There were a few security girls that I recognized from previous ships – it’s always nice to see some familiar faces! I also ran into Eddie. Who’s Eddie? Eddie is a Bartender I met on ships 2 years ago when I visited Jaco for the first time. They were both working on the Dawn Princess. I had brought along a juicer & plugged it in at the bar to make my grape juice. As we were on Red Level for Norovirus, I had to eat my food upstairs in the buffet area, without Jaco. I sat at the bar & visited with Eddie. We got to know each other quite well & lo & behold, I was on the Star, again visiting Jaco, when it was doing the South America/Antarctica run. Eddie lives close to Buenos Aires & jumped at the chance to show us around his beautiful city. We frequented his friend’s sushi restaurant, downtown history & of course, La Boca, the Tango district.

Of course, I was delighted to hear that Eddie would be onboard the Sea Princess & it didn’t take me long to find him! He immediately began to make plans for the coming weeks. He had just purchased his first digital SLR camera, so he was pretty pumped to head out & do some photo shoots. He talked about all the best beaches, dinners & so on & so forth. He was very excited to hear about Valentina. I must say, his Italian accent is much better than mine! We enjoyed dinner at the Pizzeria tonight - the three or four of us will be busy these next few weeks!!

Anyhow, I brought the grass back onboard & no luck. We were approaching 48 hours with no #2. Jaco, being the Doc that he is, figured a little lactulose would do the trick. We googled the right dosage for dogs. Nope. A little doggy enema? Nope. Finally at 0100 in the morning, after being ‘sick as a dog’, I had put her in her kennel, when the bedroom filled with a certain foul aroma. Hey, at least we got a little business done. Her poor little tummy was so bloated, until then! This potty box could be a challenge! She is so used to going potty outside & thinks she’ll get in trouble for going inside. I’m sure if she hears me say, ‘Go pee pee’ one more time she’ll bite my arm off! And FYI, the grass didn’t do a darn thing. She just ate it!

I’m finally going to bed… What a day!

Love & hugs & happy bladders,

Maria, Jaco, & Valentina

xoxoxoxooxxxoooxoxox

View from the terminal area

Oh the memories!

Now you see me...

Now you don't!

Smuggling some 'grass' onboard!

Cloudy day in paradise!

Island life!

Eddie, Jaco & I at the Pizzeria!

Day 122 - Yuen Method Day 2

Up & at it again, I was out the door a little later than planned. I am one of those people who likes to hit the snooze button. Again & again. I’ve been known to press snooze for 1 hour. I know, just reset the alarm, right? Well, I must say, I LOVE the feeling of being able to hit snooze & fall back asleep. I think it comes from reading Farley Mowat’s ‘Never Cry Wolf’ in school… I had an obsession with wolves for a time & I remember reading how wolves only sleep for 15 minute intervals, they get up & turn around, then go back to sleep. I press snooze, wake up every 5 minutes & roll over. That counts, right? :o)

Anyhow, I managed to make it to class on time, saw Joe in his groovy Parks van on the way to work – oh the perks of a Government job!

I shared with the class that I felt a little like the dumb kid in math class. I had no clue what I was doing, but I was there. Jessica reassured me that this was completely normal. I was excited to learn that she is offering a small level 3 class in 2 weeks time. I jumped at the chance to take it! It focuses more specifically on cancers, fetuses & sex. I suppose now that it’s not cancer, I can focus on the sex? :o)

We worked in partners & things became a little clearer, although, I must say, I am still a little foggy in some areas. I promise I will keep plugging away. I’ve got a lovely drive across rural Canada these next 10 days, so I’ll have plenty of time to practice.

If you have any issues, health or otherwise, I would highly recommend calling Jessica. She’s done some amazing things! http://www.intuitiveedge.ca

Oh, I did visit the pool & hot tub over lunch. It was spectacular! I haven’t been in the hot tub since Mexico, so I felt like I was there, if only for a moment. I’ve also realized that not only will I be missing my friends from Dr. Castillo’s clinic, but I no longer have my hairdresser! I was so excited to have another silent haircut! That was the best $13 I ever spent! But I suppose I can forgo the haircut in exchange for a no cancer bill of health! Oh yeah!

On another note… Needles. I called Dr. Castillo on Friday to ask him about my protocol & whether or not I should keep taking the needles & all the pills. He said to keep going. Come on! Really? I can’t take a break? Needles once every three days? At least? Nope. So, like a true junkie, there I sat in the bathroom at the Delta. After my swim, I pricked myself in the leg. I must say, it was very distracting, trying to focus on jabbing myself, with other ladies giggling, talking & making all sorts of bodily functioning noises next to me. How happy will I be when I no longer have to do these needles!

Alright… Tomorrow is the big day. Day 1 of the big road trip! Luckily I’m still packed for Mexico, so I will just exchange a few shorts for sweats, a few tanks for sweaters & I should be good to go!

Sleep well & I’ll be seeing you in Speedy Creek! (Swift Current, SK)

Maria & Valentina

xxxxxx

Pool tiles

Gotta love a good hot tub over lunch!

Our class!

Jessica