Learning and understanding

A lovely 5C today.  Partly sunny, then overcast and rain looming… The long range forecast has snow coming.  I’m not looking forward to that at all at all.  It’s the time of year when it gets miserable and the days shrink to dark mornings, dark afternoons and midnight at 4pm… not fun in the least.  Jerry is on his “new” bed — an old pillow that we gave him.  I stopped buying him beds as he will just rip the stuffing out of them and I’d be spending ages picking up the wads of batting.  Don was feeling under the weather today, having difficulty breathing, walking and sleeping last night.  He’s dozed a few times today and is not fully awake at the moment.  He’ll hopefully sleep better tonight. I realized that for the last few nights I haven’t slept too well myself.  I turn off my light to go to sleep by 9:30, will fall asleep for about an hour, and then wake up in pain in my back — there’s pain in my coccyx where I can’t find a comfy spot, and an...

It’s been literally warm  the last couple of days.  Can you imagine, 23C!  Sunny!  It’s just such a lovely surprise.  It won’t last, I know, and I’m not crazy about what’s coming, because I am a whiner and a wimp where winter weather is concerned.  Instead, I’m enjoying this lovely photo of a moonlit beach in Trinidad, where I can pretend I’m enjoying the warm breeze and smelling the salt air… The things I do to keep my spirits up when I feel less than chipper.  Jerry has been on my lap until a moment ago when I threw him off so I could type.  He’s standing next to me, giving me a stink eye and looking for a way to jump back on my lap.  The boys were happy to have me back home, and Jerry became even more Velcro than usual!  Don is having a nap right now; he says that he’s been sleeping better, although he falls asleep late.  I’m of the opinion that he’s watching far too much Cheeto-TV to get a good rest and he should find something ...

It’s a lovely, sunny day today, and I must admit that it’s lovely to see the sun after clouds for a while.  I have a small dog curled up on my toes after wreaking destruction on my coat trim (he refuses to relinquish it!) a delivery box, the remains of his pillow and a paper towel… Don is feeling OK, so I’m glad about that.  He had a broken night when he took his pain meds too late, and he lay awake until about 6am, poor honey.  He’s dozing right now, looking all cute and cuddly… Night before last I never slept at all.  Same problem as Don - I took my pain meds too late, and couldn’t fall into sleep.  I opted to force myself to stay awake as long as possible to try and reset my sleep schedule; I made it to 8pm before I collapsed, groaning into bed.  Took me about 30 minutes to settle into a comfy position, and I was rivalling Rip Van Winkle’s sleep!  I woke up once because of the ache in my back (that sore spot that I mentioned) rearranged myself and d...

It is HOT 🥵 and like the Wicked Witch of the West, I’m melting!  I saw 2 memes that apply today — the first is a woman saying “I need to ensure that I become a better person because I definitely can’t survive hell!” And the other, “Just because I grew up in 40C tropical heat doesn’t mean I can cope with 30C Canadian summer!” (It’s actually about 42C today, but that’s not the point!  I can’t deal!)  And yes, I will gripe about the snow and ice in about 4 months, just deal with it!  Poor little Jerry is moping around, drinking all his water and not moving from in front of the fan if possible.  He’s not touching anyone, which — if you know his habits — is very unusual for my little guy.  Don is groaning in pain and having tremendous difficulty walking and I have no idea what to do for him.  At least he doesn’t have to go anywhere tomorrow, so that is a bit of a relief for him.  But the heat is hard on him as well. I had my chemo today, and I got put...

Oh, I’m loving this weather, where it’s not too hot, not too humid and enough sun and breeze to make it enjoyable!  Jerry loves this kind of weather and has been patrolling the balcony and warning off the single pigeon who tries to visit… He’s certainly barked at everyone and everything in the neighbourhood and notified all the dogs within hearing that he’s out and in charge.  Then he starts shredding his bed; I’d stopped buying for him years ago but he stole a pillow as his, then ripped a hole in it and has been pretending that he’s a wolf disemboweling a moose… Don says that he’s feeling much better today than he was, and attributes it to the birthday cake, cherries and strawberries that he’s been eating for the last few days.  Whatever works!  I’m happy that he’s got a bit more energy, which is excellent. I am training myself to get back to a “regular” sleep pattern.  For reasons that it’s not sharing, my body insists on not falling asleep until about 1 - 2am...

It’s stopped raining, but the heat and humidity have settled in and are getting a bit too comfortable for anyone’s liking.  Personally, I’d like it to be about 10 degrees cooler, but you can’t have everything, can you?  It promises to be a bit less cloying over the next few days, so we’ll see.  Jerry is not happy, as I don’t allow him on me for a couple of days post-chemo (I’m still somewhat toxic, and he’s vomited after licking me before, which I don’t like)  He lets me know that he disapproves strongly of this, and right now is at my feet sulking ostentatiously and ripping the stuffing out of his bed…  Don is recuperating from yesterday; he didn’t sleep well the night before for fear of missing his alarm, and sat in the car while I was getting treatment so was in discomfort when we got home, not helped by the humidity.  He’s been dozing off and on all day and is looking less pale than before.  We did have a heated political debate yesterday, and my s...

It is sooooo hot!!  I’m craving an ice cold cider or spiked lemonade, which is not a good thing, as they both contain alcohol, which is on my “restricted” list.  Pity, because a frosty pineapple cider is so cooling on a boiling day (I know, I know, a hot cup of tea is better for managing body temperature, but the ice is so refreshing!)  Jerry is not happy with the heat, and has had to stop rushing around chasing his ball — which we’ve been refusing to throw for him.  He’s drunk a lot of water today, which I had put in the freezer for a while to chill.  He spent more time sucking up the air from the fan than sitting on me, which lets you know how hot it is!  Don’s been sitting around less than half dressed because he said it’s too hot to wear clothes… I’m so not commenting!  I’m not copying him, I find it hotter when I’m not dressed. I didn’t sleep well last night, probably because it was very muggy, even with the AC.  I finally dozed off around 4a...

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 ...

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...

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 another cool spring day, with wind (which transforms the day to “need a coat”) and overcast.  More rain is forecast later this week, but right now it’s just gloomy.  I don’t mind the rain, as it leads to displays like this (from my friend’s garden in Hamilton)  Jerry is sitting contentedly watching his  support worker as she’s cooking supper.  He had a few happy wriggles and barks and got his tummy rubbed, so he’s fine with people in his space.  Don was dealing with some pain again, but it is at its worst when he first wakes up, and improves a bit through the day.  His team won the last game of the year (when it no longer matters) and he’s happy that they did. I took a sleep aid last night and slept for 9 solid hours, but I’m feeling a bit groggy today, so there’s that trade off.  We’ll try the early night again — without the pill — and hopefully it’s a successful experiment.  I had some (frozen) Chinese today — from my sister’s last vis...

OK, it’s a lovely wet April, so the flowers should be spectacular  later on.  They’re not out yet — mostly.  There are a few in a couple of sunny spots, but anywhere shaded is still pretty bare, and the trees aren’t yet leafing.  Soon come, though, soon come!  I was debating pulling out a sweater today as it was all of 6C, but thought that there was no point adding to my laundry for one day!  Consider me optimistic, OK?  Perhaps even rushing the season, but it’s not cold enough to justify digging out the warm stuff that just got packed away.  As you can see, Jerry is extremely comfortable and living the life of Riley.  He’s right now rolled in Don’s blanket, pretending to be a little roti, all wrapped up and cozy.  Don is, again, watching some true crime stories — they’re mixed in with series of (real) court cases and what happens after arrest and so on… what used to be Arts & Entertainment is now all the worst of humanity all the ti...

We had 2 days of wet, icky weather, with yesterday having 15cm of wet blowing snow.  It was below 0, windy and generally miserable — heck of a day to have to go out and deal with appointments.  The roads were slippery and the wind actually fought the car!  All’s well, though, and Don has strong wrists, so it was all uneventful, thankfully.  Jerry is more settled today as the wind has calmed down and moved to the other side of the building so it’s not unsettling him too badly.  He’s curled up on Don’s blanket on the sofa, pretending to nap, but he’s alert to any movement or crumb falling in the area 🥹  Don’s ok, watching a game, which I think was recorded, but he’s awake and fully absorbed in the game, which is one of those that just drags on with no useful resolution.  I’m told it’s a “game of strategy” but honestly, it’s not cricket and the level of spitting and scratching cancels any potential interest! I’m happy to report that chemo had ZERO reacti...

🎼🎶  Though April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May 🎶  That old song was in my mind when we headed to my appointment this afternoon.  It’s been raining with high winds since last night, and it’s bitingly cold from the damp!  To make up for that, you get a lovely moonlit poui tree taken last week in Trinidad.  Jerry dislikes the wind, which was blowing strongly for most of the night and he was trying to find a place to hide from it.  He gets nervous at the sound of high winds, especially since they’re rattling my windows and finding cracks through which to seep.  He just rolled himself into a blanket and is hiding out there away from the bangs and bumps.  Don was up pretty late last night watching his game… then fell asleep about an hour before we were due to leave.  I could feel the wind buffeting the car on the way home, and it was so nice to return to a cozy house out of the weather which is not at all en...

So it’s officially  spring now!  April, the month of showers and flowers and all that lovely stuff… and, because I live in Ottawa, it also means snow !!  They’re calling for 15cm of the white stuff over the next 2 days — days when I MUST leave my house and go to hospital appointments!!  Today is mild, sunny and lovely, but if the forecast is right, I’ll have to find my boots again.  And maybe a heavier coat.  I was getting used to just a sweater.  Jerry is being very attached to me again… I pushed him off my lap about 5 times, and he just bounces back up like a rubber ball (remember those super bouncers that could go really high and just keep bouncing?)  Then I tried pushing him off and he just dug in his little paws and refused to move… and then lay back and fell asleep.  Don is on tap to take me to my appointments over the next few days, while grumbling about the increased price of gas… it went up yesterday again.  He managed to record...

Another cold day today, although it’s sunny, which makes it feel a little better.  Still below zero, and I’m really getting tired of the cold.  Jerry has an appointment for grooming this week, so I’ll have about a half a dog when we get him back… I love it when he’s floofy, but because of his thick curls, that leads to matts, and snarls, which aren’t good for him.  He’s been on my lap for as much as he can today, and is on my feet right now, pretending to be neglected.  Don is good, he’s recorded a couple of games, but is all caught up.  His team is out of the playoffs (as usual) just in time for baseball season.  I’m just grateful that basketball and golf aren’t part of his rotation! I slept like a log last night, but was still really tired this morning.  In fact, I’m “beppin” (as my sister says) which means that I’m nodding off on myself.  Early bed tonight, definitely.  I also had a fairly decent lunch, and will work out supper soon. ...

It was fairly mild today, reaching a sunny high of 8C, which is much better than the rain and snow forecast for the weekend.  Jerry spent his day as usual on various laps and is now guarding Don in the kitchen as he’s making tuna salad sandwiches… Jerry is hoping for bits to fall on the floor so he can pounce on them and vacuum things up!  (Even if they might make him sick.  Stubborn puppy!)  Don is moving a little more easily than yesterday, for which I’m relieved, although one of his fingers is purple from the injury and looks really gross.  I have made efforts to persuade him to seek medical attention, but it seems that I should save my breath to cool my tea.  He spent a good part of today watching the team trades, so he’s happy, and I was rereading some stuff written by my friend from New Zealand and got as lost in it as the first time! I’m still trying to make sense of my world.  I feel a bit more at ease having made a decision and spoken with my ...

Well, we had a pretty mild day today; the door was open again for most of the day, but it just got closed as it’s a little too cool for that now that the sun’s set.  Jerry was amusing himself today, running around with his ball and dropping it on my toes for me to toss, then he lay on my lap on his back with one paw firmly on my arm, and the other would come up every few seconds to pat my face… He looked so comfortable that I felt too guilty to throw him off!  Don is “watching” his game, but his snores are louder than the announcer’s voice, so I’m not sure how much he’s really paying attention… unless I change the channel, and then he’ll yell!  😝  Once again, no support worker… of my 8 hours this week, I’ve received 2!!!  So another angry email to the manager to complain.  I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve been tagged as “difficult” or something, or if it’s as simple as a staff shortage.  On the plus side, my appetite is getting normal, although I’m hav...

I looked out the window this afternoon and saw only swirling white!  It was snowing with a lot of enthusiasm, and looked like it was planning to settle in for the long haul, but thankfully it didn’t.  The snow lasted for about an hour, then it cleared up and we had a little sun.  I’d complain, except that it’s getting to that time and my complaints do nothing.  I have noticed, though, that it’s got suddenly quite chilly indoors and I’ve had to reach for the extra throw for warmth!  Jerry is eating at me right now — that’s where he trots off to his bowl, picks up a mouthful of dry food, runs back to me and chews it aggressively while staring at me.  He doesn’t particularly like dry food, and would much prefer to steal off my plate, but he can’t, so he shows his displeasure this way.  Don is dozing as usual on the sofa, while pretending that he’s fully awake.  Sports will be on later, so he’ll wake up and be glued to them.  He’s not too thrille...