Learning and understanding

What an absolutely beautiful day it is!  It’s sunny, light breeze, blue skies with tiny puffy clouds and 19C.  Just needing a light scarf or jacket if you’re outdoors for any length of time.  Plus the lilacs, peonies and irises are all in full bloom so it’s just looking lush and pretty with the sunshine.  Gorgeous!  Jerry is sitting on the sofa, ears perked, looking at Don and myself as if to ask why we aren’t outside letting him dominate all the fields and bark at dogs… Don was happily watching a Willie Nelson tribute this afternoon, and enjoying listening to the music of the “red headed stranger” and the guest artistes, which included (among others) Snoop Dogg and Keith Richards… and a LOT of weed references! LOL I admit that I enjoyed it too, as I am constantly amazed at how prolific a songwriter he is. One of my friends decided to “kidnap” me today and we went to celebrate her son’s team winning the Eurocup in waterpolo this year.  We had a lovely littl...

The dog lives in luxury; this is where he spends his spare time, and if he’s not there, he complains extensively and pushes at me to get here.  I know, I encourage this, so it’s up to me to try to correct it.  He was being shunned for a bit, but then I let him up so I could corral him better, and he just looked so smug it was insufferable!  It’s been delightfully cooler for the last couple of days, with a breeze that almost sent me hunting for sweaters and throw blankets!  It’s the kind of weather where you need a sweater to go outside, and it’s great for a hot drink in the evenings.  Don has a slew of games recorded, so he’ll be busy for a while LOL plus he’s booked appointments for his eyes and to renew his driver’s licence and all those types of things over the next few weeks.   I don’t understand why I’m having difficulty breathing these days.  It’s a bit humid, yes, but it is lower than it was during the recent heat wave.  I’ve had to resort ...

I was woken up this morning by the rumble of thunder and the occasional flash of lightning, and during the day we were under a tornado watch, heavy rain, high winds and a very cool day.  It’s still pouring down and the sky is heavy… so instead, here’s a lovely photo of a “beauty bush” sent from Vancouver for me to enjoy!  Isn’t it pretty?  Jerry is in a small ball on Don’s lap, glaring at me.  He spent a good part of the morning on me, then he got pushed off when I went in search of lunch and later when I was on a Zoom call, so he’s sulking at me.  Don was glued to a series of games today, although he didn’t watch any in its entirety.  He’s also enjoying the rain, although he’s finding it difficult to breathe with the high humidity (100%, as there’s rain) so he’s moving slowly. I’m finding it comparatively easier to breathe today, which is surprising to me.  Perhaps tiredness aggravates the breathing, I don’t know.  I got a call from my family doc...

This photo was take a few years ago.  Today would have been Auntie Ming’s 91st birthday, and I’m missing her a lot.  My phone popped up a slideshow of memories of her, which just seems like the algorithm is super sneaky, and I’ve been feeling a little sad and nostalgic for her and my mother.  I like looking back and seeing so many casual shots of her, plus some “formal” fancy studio ones and some of her dressed up for an occasion.  But I remember her best dressed in her “home clothes” just being her spectacular, quiet, loving self, doing her normal kind things (and our many, many times saying, “Auntie Ming, come and eat!”  Or “Auntie Ming, leave the dishes and come with us!  We’ll do that.”  She seemed happiest when we were all being looked after, and I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I liked her looking after me.  As an adult I’d sometimes say, “Can you comb my hair please?”  And she would.  I’d offer to do things like rub her feet...

It was a lovely day today, although somewhat overcast.  It was warm, not humid and with a lovely breeze.  My friend from Vancouver raided a garden for these lilacs and gave them to me before she left yesterday.  The house is full of the scent of lilacs and they’re wonderful!  I’m enjoying them so much!  Jerry spent his time making me into a dog bed and ball thrower for a good part of his day, and then arranged my thighs to make himself comfortable.  Because that’s what he does.  Don is doing pretty well, although we’re both having difficulty breathing.  He’s been watching the international games and was not too happy with Canada’s performance, so I’ve heard all about that!  Otherwise he’s in good spirits and I’m nervously scanning for Amazon delivery packages, as he’s received several of them lately, and they don’t seem to have anything for me in them… at least, they arrive, he opens them after I go to bed, and I see empty boxes… 😁 I slept t...

It’s a beautiful, cool day today, with loads of sunshine and a cool breeze.  The humidity is lower than it was, and it’s picturesque.  Jerry is taking a nap at the moment; he’s been having a busy afternoon of schnoodle: singing along with a fire engines; chasing his ball around and being a little alarm for people who ring his  doorbell.  Don is the recipient of several boxes of stuff — I have no idea, and am not asking — and has delusions of being a handyman (again, I ask no questions) plus is invested in a few games over the weekend.  We’ll see what he manages 😁 Yesterday was a series of medical appointments at opposite ends of the city.  Last night was my scan, scheduled for 7:30pm.  We got there, I called for a porter to wheel me upstairs, and after 3 phone calls to follow up, a porter arrived about an HOUR after I first called.  Thankfully, the helpful man on the phone contacted the CT unit to let them know that I was in the building waiting ...

Begin the griping about the humidity… It’s not very hot yet, but with a humidity level of 100% it is brutal.  It’s the kind of weather where you’re sweating just standing still outdoors.  My new location is about 30cm from the flow of air from a fan or an AC!  Any exertion, no matter how minor, has me struggling to take a deep breath.  Me no like.  Jerry is a tiny heat generator who has far  too much energy for this kind of humidity.  He leaps on my lap at every chance and just radiates like a tiny furnace.  He jumps, runs, barks and plays with a lot of enthusiasm.  Don finds it hard to breathe also, but has been less vocal about it than I am… I just grouse that this is interfering with my plans and he simply shrugs and finds something to keep himself amused. Happy to report a good night’s sleep, slowly returning appetite and no tummy issues.  I tried some Thai food with a mild spice level — this being unable to eat peppers is cultural a...

It’s been cloudy and muggy all day today, and about an hour ago there was a flash of lightning and a deep growl, followed by a huge downpour.  The humidity level dropped significantly, and I am able to take a couple of deep breaths!  So relieving! It’s still raining now, and the breeze is wonderfully comfortable.  I’m so relieved by this.  Jerry is getting into mischief and trying to steal a piece of my donut and scone!  He doesn’t approve of this concept of “not safe for his tiny tummy” — in his view, if he can’t eat it, then I shouldn’t either.  Don was up again late last night with the hockey games and baseball games — there were about 4 new recordings this morning of assorted matches — and he’s got some true crime documentaries to watch, so he’s definitely happy with his selection of entertainment for the moment. I slept quite well last night; I’ll confess that I’ve downloaded a new game which is becoming quite addictive so I had to set time limits on m...

A PSA from Jerry today… I’m sorry to report that it’s very accurate!  He can be very defiant when he chooses, usually when he’s intent on doing something that requires more energy than I have so spare.  He’s currently trying to mooch off Don, and is scratching at him to get shares of what he’s eating.  Don spent most of the day watching baseball, and he seems to be fine with whatever the team is doing.  Baseball, to me, is less entertaining than watching paint dry, but that’s just my bias… It’s been very humid today; the humidity was above 70% and I feel like I’m wrapped in a blanket and trying to breathe through it.  I’ve been hugging the fan all day, and quietly dreading the summer, when the humidity values can make it feel like it’s in the 40sC.  It’s hard to breathe easily, which has several knock-on effects that are no bueno.  My visiting friend dropped off some cheese scones today, and has been doing her best to spark my appetite, which I freely ...

A gift from my visiting friend… some beautiful, ripe strawberries!  Just ate them with no adornments, and could easily eat loads more.  So yum!  It’s a lovely day, sunny with just a hint of clouds and warm and not too humid.  Jerry is in a playful mood, which is exhausting for me today.  He’s been throwing his ball at me and happily play growling for it to be tossed back when he’s not pulling on my hem for more attention!  Don was sleeping quite a bit today; he pushed through a lot yesterday, with 2 runs to take me to the hospital plus time in the dog park, so I’m not too surprised that he’s wiped; and add that the games are still on, so you know what that means!   I’m still feeling a little tired today, and my appetite is playing hide and seek with me.  My friend who’s visiting has been wonderful, dropping off various treats for me to try to tempt my appetite, and I feel dreadful that I’m not able to spend more time with her — we hadn’t seen each...

It’s overcast but warm today, with a tinge of smoke in the air from wildfires burning out West.  The fact that it’s affecting us, so many thousands of kilometres away, is distressing to say the least!  Today’s flowers are from my “brother’s” garden in southern Ontario; they look like a victory sign, so I thought I’d share that!  Jerry is currently at the park with Don, and I imagine that they are enjoying themselves, especially the tiny dictator, who just loves to run around and boss the other dogs that he meets!  He thinks he’s bigger than he is, and has no fear of challenging dogs that are 15 times his size!  Don reported difficulty breathing today, which we attribute to the humidity and the smoke, a combination that is not conducive to easy breathing even in a fully healthy person, and definitely not someone with COPD. I’m currently at the hospital getting a blood transfusion; so that’s how my Saturday is going… fair indication, really.  I’ll also add th...

Here we are last night, heading out to a very fun dinner with my friend from Vancouver and my best friend here.  I thought it would be nicer than a photo of me hooked up to chemo drugs!  Jerry is a happy puppy as it’s sunny and warm and he got to run around in a new area today as they waited for me to finish treatment.  Don is fairly active (for him) and is moving relatively easily.  He was up pretty late last night and early today to catch up on assorted games, and I got a long discourse on the women’s playoff games… they’re both curled up right now watching TV. I had a dreadful night last night — there’s no other word for it.  My tummy was very  unhappy ☹️ and I was up every 90 minutes.  I was exhausted and dragging by the time we had to leave for chemotherapy… I dozed off in the waiting room and had to be woken up to go to the pod!  But after treatment I felt a lot more alert and less dragging, so that’s all to the good.  Plus I’ve gained ...

Some dogwoods at sunset from Vancouver for your enjoyment.  The tulips are in full bloom in Ottawa, so they won’t last until Victoria Day, but they are beautiful.  Jerry has been on my lap as usual most of the day, and has been lying back like he’s reclining in a hammock when he’s not using me as a trampoline!  He’s right now supervising Don in the bathroom — apparently he thinks we need to be monitored everywhere.  Don was up late last night watching the women’s playoffs (which went to 3 OT periods, in case anyone cares) but he enjoyed it, so that’s all good.  He’s been watching other sports, including an international tournament (there’s no snow anywhere at this time of year, so why is there still hockey?) to keep him distracted from all the season finales of his favourite broadcast shows. I’m confused… I haven’t had much of an appetite for the last couple of days, nor have I felt like eating, despite the meals that are in the freezer.  I’ve been knocking...

What a beautiful day it was today!  Sunny, not too hot, low humidity, lovely blue skies… just as ordered for a beautiful spring day.  Not sure what the forecast is for the weekend, but today was picture perfect.  Jerry is glaring at Don who’s playing some country music on YouTube and his lap is unavailable.  I threw him off mine so I could type (and give my thighs a chance to regain their normal shape) so he’s a very annoyed little schnoodle, who just wants to be a schnoodle and get attention from all the people in sight 😆  Apart from the music, Don’s feeling more like himself, although the government just made him feel old by reminding him that “drivers over 80 have to undergo certain tests” and he’s never been a fan of tests, or anything that reminds him of his age (other than me) so that needs to be added to the list of errands. I slept uninterrupted for a solid 8 and a half hours last night, not even getting up to shift position or anything.  That’s aw...

Today was one that started out chilly, warmed up and then cooled off again.  It’s blanket and hot cocoa weather tonight, and I’m wrapped in a light blanket and wearing a cap because my head feels cold!  Jerry spent every possible second on my lap today, after he slept pressed against my back under the blanket last night.  He stretched himself out on my lap and took up all the space in the chair; he really made himself comfortable!  Don slept a bit better last night, so he’s more alert today, which is good.  He was also up fairly late watching sports and I don’t know who won in any of the games (not really interested, myself) and then he took in a marathon of 48 hours  before falling fast asleep and snoring loudly… it was funny watching Jerry watching Don snore.  He was sniffing at him and poking him! 😅 I don’t know why, but today I just don’t feel like eating anything.  I have stuff prepared, and my worker today made some extra food, but I took a...

It was a wild, windy night, with lots of rain today, pouring down since last night.  It also is a lot cooler than it has been for the past few days, so out came the sweaters again, and the warm throw blankets.  It’s really not that  cold, but the difference is definitely noticeable.  Jerry was extremely unhappy last night / early this morning with the wind. He burrowed under me to hide himself and go to sleep.  He stayed hidden under the pillow and blanket and then darted under the bed… he was really upset, poor little guy!  Don has been dozing most of today; he had a lot of difficulty sleeping last night and is catching up on that today.  He also was watching the Draft (which sends me to sleep immediately) and getting excited with the picks!  It’s also playoffs for both men’s and women’s hockey, so he’ll be busy! I slept a lot today.  My nurse gave me a 2-hour window for her arrival, so I woke up ahead of the earlier time (8am) so I’d be ale...

A warm, sunny day again today, with a light breeze.  So lovely, and I’m really sorry that I don’t have the energy to do what I used to do and go for long walks — this is the kind of “be outside for hours walking around and then find a patio for a drink” weather.  Jerry made himself very comfortable again last night, managing to take up my side of the bed, which is amazing, as he seems to have the body of a concertina able to stretch to fill any available space!   His  support worker was here today, and he was wriggling happily as he got cuddled.  Don is good, happily watching his games and the odd PVR show (although he snored through one and claimed to be “resting his eyes”) I question these statements, I do, but if I turn off the TV, he’s suddenly not resting eyes anymore… Happy to report that I slept well and my appetite is good.  My new meds have arrived, and I start them today; expect a report on them in about a week.  Last night’s pasta salad is n...

What a gorgeous, warm, spring day!  It’s a sunny, breezy day, with blue skies and tiny puffy white clouds.  A definite change from yesterday with the rains and the clouds and the chills!  Just lovely!  Jerry was sniffing the air like he was smelling something delicious, and his little nose was against the window (I have to keep it mostly closed, as I’m terrified that he might get excited and jump out the window and down 20 stories)  Even Don is perkier — in spring, a man’s fancy… and all that!  He and Jerry are both curled up on the sofa watching TV and looking so content that it’s cute. I slept pretty well, given that Jerry seemed to want to hide under me for most of the night!  He made himself comfortable while I turned into a pretzel.  I did sleep — daddy used to say that if someone managed to fall asleep it didn’t matter how uncomfortable they looked, they’d only sleep if they were fine in the position — and only regretted it when I got up and...

Greetings from the most spoiled schnoodle on Earth who doesn’t wear clothes/costumes.  (There are those that do, but not this little guy)  Here he is, in his favourite spot letting everyone know that his tummy is not constantly petted, and he’s a neglected, unloved, starving boy who is just so exhausted from having to nag for cuddles!  I have explained, in vain, that other dogs have to work for a living, and he just replies with a “Pfft!”  He’s been very good all weekend, and didn’t complain about people in his house.  Don is disappointed that his preferred team was eliminated last night in overtime but he has at least 2 other Canadian teams to support in upcoming battles.  Then there’s baseball, formula one racing, horse racing and I don’t know what else going on, so he’s got lots to keep him distracted. Nothing of significance to report today.  I slept well, even with Jerry lying on my legs all night (and again all day as soon as I got up!)  As ...

It’s a lovely spring day, warm and sunny and there are hints of flowers making their way out.  That’s especially good as the Tulip Festival looms near, and it’s particularly nice to have tulips in bloom then!  Not as much fun when the blooms are over 2 weeks ahead of the festival.  Jerry managed to work his way in for lots of snuggles this morning, and was using me as a bed and trampoline this morning.  He’s right now sequestered with Don as a support worker has arrived - she’s new, and learning her way around my kitchen - so he’s in the other room.  Don complained that Jerry kept him up most of the night, by lying on his face at every opportunity!  He managed to get some sleep this morning when it was my turn to be a bouncy castle… I slept quite well; I did wake up a couple of times but went right back to sleep.  My appetite is fine; I was quite hungry this morning and had some leftovers for lunch; I now need to work out what I’ll do for dinner. ...

It’s another fairly cool, cloudy day today, but I’m adjusting to the growing length of the day — it’s still light at almost 8pm, which is both wonderful and disconcerting!  Jerry is in full on cuddle mode, and was sprawled all over me for a couple of hours today, even ignoring Don to settle on my lap.  Silly puppy!  Don is snoring on the sofa at the moment, although he claims to be paying attention to the TV.  He’s got a very important game on tomorrow, so he’s planning to watch it live, not just record it. My sleep was back to mildly interrupted last night, where I woke up and took over an hour to fall back asleep.  It’s a bit strange, as I’m not in any pain, nor am I having my mind running over anything, so the usual reasons don’t seem to apply.  We’ll get it sorted out, worry not, and then I’ll share “secrets to sleeping all night” as an ebook 😆. My appetite is OK today; I had 2 decent meals today, and will have something lighter for supper.  I con...