Yesterday was a little rough.  Tried a couple of new drugs to counteract the nausea.  They seemed to help although the one with gravel left me completely out of it for the most of the day.  Spent most of the day snoozing in my chair and even when I tried to watch Nashville I kept dozing off.  Was in bed by 9 PM and didn't get up until 9 AM so have had a ton of sleep.  Feeling much, much better today though and finished off on my anti nausea meds for this cycle.  One down, two to go and then fingers, toes and eyes crossed......clear and sailing!

Kelli and Mike had Bill and I and Maureen and Duane over for brunch this morning.  I always tease her that she can't cook but must confess that when she sets her mind to it she is actually a darn good cook.  Kind of like my friend Kathy....make them all think you can't cook and then nobody expects much from you.  For years I thought Kathy couldn't cook and then we were out golfing with her this summer and it turns out she's magnificent in the kitchen!  We lived together back in our just leaving home days and we used to take turns cooking dinners.  One night I came home and said "hmmm...what's for dinner tonight..??"  Her answer "Wieners and beans."  Now who on earth could ever screw up wieners and beans?  I went to the stove, lifted the lid on the pot and couldn't believe my eyes.  She was boiling up a can of kidney beans with sliced wieners.  Sooooo gross!!!  Those were the days when we were always on a strict budget.  We were in Ottawa training at the National Training Centre for badminton and we each got a small allowance from home each month to cover our groceries etc.  The money never seemed to last until the end of the month.  Perhaps some of it was going towards our "entertainment budget".  I can't tell you how many times we went to the grocery store and the clerk would ring through the order and we would look at each other and go "oh, oh.....not enough money."  Well, we would give back the lettuce, and the apples.  Still not enough?  Take the eggs......The clerks used to just roll their eyes and give us the most pained looks.  One day we even resorted to buying a bunch of chicken necks to eat for dinner.  OMG how desperate is that one!  We did survive however and obviously did not starve even though our food selections were at times, questionable to say the least.

Had my hydration session today with nurse Ivy.  Yahoo Ivy!  Got my vein first try!  Must confess she has improved considerably over the months I have been going to the Tom Baker.  We arrived a little early today and as we were sitting in the waiting room we heard "Code Blue, Daycare B"  Not a good sign when you see the doctors all walking briskly in that direction with crash carts etc. and then out comes the chaplain to talk to people in the waiting area.  A nurse finally came out and said there would be a delay as they had had an emergency situation.  Most people just nodded and understood but I overheard the woman next to me say to her companion "Go ask how much longer we are going to be delayed."  Duhhh.....what part of emergency didn't she get.  It never ceases to amaze me how self centred some people are.  So we were at the hospital about twice as long as I wanted to be there but are now home and getting ready to see how the Flames will fare tonight sans Kipper!

A brief entry today.  Woke up this morning feeling queazy and managed to hold it together for a bit hoping it would go away.  No such luck!  Nothing like last nights lasagne to wake you up.  How disgusting is that?!!    Just finished a bowl of borche.....hoping that one stays down.  I'm likely to think I'm bleeding to death if I hurl my lunch.  There....I've done it.....you're all feeling queazy along with me!   Have been sick a couple of times and am drugged to the eyeballs on anti nausea drugs.  Apparently, over time, they do lose their effectiveness so may have to look at taking something different.  On the plus side, it doesn't seem as bad as last time but I would much rather not have this at all.  Hopefully this will pass and I will be bounced back by tomorrow.
I have a wedding to be at on the weekend!!!

Just had a look at the Honey Badgers page for the Ride To Conquer Cancer.  If anyone out there is interested in joining them or donating we would love for you to be part of it.

Beautiful day outside.  Bill still hasn't gone to get Boomer but I'm sending him tomorrow for sure.  Kim and Greg have been so good about taking him for us and I feel like we are taking advantage of them by not getting out there to pick him up.  That, and the fact our house just seems kind of empty without him here!  He really does make me get up and about like no one else in this house can.  Kelli suggested a walk today but honestly, walking her isn't half as fun as walking him!  Sorry Kelli but you don't even fetch sticks! So here's to a better, perkier, day tomorrow!

Just got back from my chemo at the Tom Baker.  One down, two to go....hopefully.  The plan at this point is three chemos then another scan.  Then fingers, toes, eyes crossed everything gone!  That would be the fantastic best!!!  Today had an upbeat seat mate.  This fellow was diagnosed four years ago with colon cancer.  For two years he went to his doctor complaining of various symptoms and the doctor just kept putting him off saying he didn't think they were anything to be concerned about.  So different than my doctor thank goodness.  After two years of continued problems the doctor finally said that perhaps being as he was close to 50 they should send him for a sigmoidostomy.  Sure enough he had colon cancer.  It was so far advanced that they virtually sent him from the test to surgery.  They basically told him he had two years to live.  It is now in both lungs and he is four years out.  He really looks healthy and not at all like a cancer patient, has gone back to work and continues to live life big!  Just got back from a week long trip to Disneyland with his daughter and grandsons.  As we chatted we discovered he is somehow related to my cousins Moms' family and had the same last time.  We chatted more and I announced to Bill that I wanted to ride in the Ride To Conquer Cancer this year.  Bill doesn't think I should do this...."burns too many calories!"  He is so fixated in me gaining weight!  I'm doing my best! Did meet my goal in Mexico and managed to gain my two pound goal!  We continued to have this conversation back and forth about whether or not I should be contemplating this.  I even said..."I won't do the whole thing if it's too much.  I'm not proud......if I need a ride I'll catch a ride!"  Finally I looked at Rob and said "What do you think?"  (of course I had already figured out what this guy was going to answer because I knew he had the same attitude about living your life fully as I do!)  He looked at me and said "Go for it and I'll sponsor you!"  So I got my first sponsor!  Still haven't signed on the dotted line and put my money down but I'm close to becoming a Honey Badger myself!  The team is already up to 15 people with most of the riders on our team back from last year!  Geoff is well into his fund raising and Bill's brother is almost there!  Keeners!!!  Even watching them slog it through the rain last year I had this urge to be there with them and it's been in the back of my mind every since......
Will keep you posted!  May wait til I have my scan before I fully commit.....may not.....depends on the day!

I was not looking forward to going to chemo this morning but it wasn't so bad.  Geoff was at the hospital working and dropped in for a nice visit.  He was there until Kelli arrived and then Bill came.  I am so lucky.  So many people go to their treatments alone but I always seem to have people there to take my mind off of what they are pumping into my veins!  Today was probably my last good hair day!  It has actually grown back over the past few weeks and looks much better than it did when I was in my last round of treatment.  Guess I can always pull out my wig again if I need it.  May actually use it this upcoming weekend.  We are supposed to go to my friend Colleens' daughters' wedding providing I'm feeling good.  Hard to say how things will go.  I usually do have a few tired days after treatment.  On my last round I was quite sick but hopefully with the break and my improved liver things will go back to how they were prior to the surgery.

Kelli has now changed her phone number over to a Calgary number  She gave me her number a couple of days ago, however, it would appear I inputted it into my phone incorrectly!  Last night I was pooped and was madly looking for my Kindle charger and my computer charger.  Could not find them anywhere.  I was sure Bill had put them away somewhere, although he insisted he hadn't touched them.  Finally in exasperation I sent Kelli a text which made absolutely no sense.  I am actually going to write the conversation down for you....it is quite amusing.  Of course I was sending all these texts to the wrong number I had put into my phone!

Last Nights text:  (the first message I didn't even read until this morning....I was incoherent! Not a good start to the conversation with a stranger.  They must have really wondered!)


(me)  Dud I happen to borrow a computer charger today.  I've misplaced mine.
   
(them) Who's this?

This Mornings text conversation:

(me)  No keys here.  Check your pockets and purse.

(them)  Who's the hell is this?  You have the wrong number!!!

(me)  It's Mom!  What the hell?????

(them) Not my mother!!!  YOU HAVE THE WRONG NUMBER!!

So at this point I decide I've been sending my messages to Kelli's old number.  I then go into my contact list and send my next text to what I think is her new Calgary number.

(me)  Oh this is too funny!  Someone else already has your old number!  You should see the text conversation I have been having with this pissed off person!!!  Hilarious.  No keys....check your pockets.  You must have them!!

(them)  WHAT R U TALKING ABOUT???  I've had this number for four years!!!  You have the WRONG number.  My number is........

At this point I realized I had been sending all my messages to the wrong number I had inputted into my contact list.

(me)  Very sorry.  Have a NICE DAY!!!  Won't bother U again.
           signed....someone elses Mom

(them)  LOL  No worries...Just didn't want to get somebody in trouble for not listening to their mom.!!

This is not the first time I have done something like this.  Had a similar conversation with someone I thought was my cousin's husband, Gerry awhile back.  I puzzle, however at how angry people get.
I do have to share one more phone story with you though and my cousin is going to kill me for this!!!
A few years back Trish and Gerry hosted their sons hockey windup party at their home.  After the guests had left, Trish discovered her phone was missing and immediately decided that someone had stolen it.  A couple of days went by and she got this brilliant idea that she would phone her own number and confront the thief!  A male voice answered the phone and Trish said "Ahh haa.....You are a thief....I want my phone back or I'll be calling the police!"
The male voice answered "What the hell are you talking about lady....you are crazy!"
For a few days Trish continued to phone and harass this individual.  A few days later, while cleaning up she found her phone.  She had been calling the wrong number all along and was accusing some poor innocent guy of stealing her phone.  She's lucky he didn't call the police on her!  We laughed so hard over that one!!!  (Sorry Trish....but this one was too good not to tell! I still laugh out loud when I think about it...!!!)

So going to lay easy for a couple of days.  Hoping Bill will go pick up my black side kick tomorrow.  The house is definitely quiet without him although I'm certain he's not complaining!  Life is good in the country!!!!

Back to the realities of winter and life revolving around my "little bother".  We had a great couple of weeks with our friends Gary and Jenifer.  Had a few rainy days but even those didn't seem bad and we always seemed to find things to do.  We actually all got some exercise and Bill and Gary found a running route they really enjoyed!  I was thinking this morning about the trips we have done with thse friends over the years and they are many and varied.  Our friendship started, as many do, with the friendship of our sons.  We have spent many weeks out at their beautiful place in the Shuswap over the years.  Together, sometimes with family, sometimes without, we have hiked the West Coast Trail, Kayaked the Broken Group Islands and the Queen Charlotte Islands, hiked the Chilcoot Trail, done a couple of golf jaunts in our fifth wheel, cycled the Kettle Valley (twice), the San Juan Islands (once), from Jasper to Lake Louise (once)  and have enjoyed numerous ski holidays.  I'm sure I've missed a few in there but we certainly have had some good trips and holidays over the years!

Got up yesterday morning and threw the last of our gear into our bags, headed to the breakfast buffet for the last time and then headed off towards Cancun in our rental car.  About five minutes into the ride, Jenifer and I discovered the guys could not remember where the rental car agency was.  We had arrived to Cancun after dark and nobody paid a lot of attention when we left the rental lot.  I never pay attention so I'm not to blame in this one!  In any case it wasn't as bad as it sounds.....we did take one run past the turn off but found it and arrived with plenty of time to spare.  We have heard such horror stories about renting cars in other countries.....we had even photographed every nick and dent before we took the car in the first place but there was no need.  They took it back with no hint that we had damaged it.  When Geoff and Lindsey were in Jordan, they rented a car from Avis.  On the first day they got a flat tire, went to change it and discovered the spare was also flat so called the rental company to come and fix it for them.  It took them two days to get there.  When they arrived they jacked the car up, took the tire away and returned a few hours later to find the car had tipped over.  Go figure ... what do you think is going to happen when you jack it up in sand. Jack Asses!  They then accused Geoff of "pushing" the car over.  He looked at them in amazement and said "Why would I do that?  I want to drive it?"  They were very angry but agreed he would get a credit for the two days he could not drive the car.....You guessed it though.  Full charges came through on his Master Card and how do you battle that one once you are back in Canada?

Anyways....we were at the airport three hours early and found ourselves in a massive lineup for check in.  West Jet is doing very well with their flights in and out of Mexico!  Had our last opportunity to check out Mexican souvenirs in the airport which seems to be the only place you can shop in Mexico without being hassled to buy.  We actually spent a grand total of $26 on take home stuff.  After you've been there a time or two you realize there really isn't much you want to bring home.  Our flight ended up being delayed about an hour which made for a very long day indeed.  The flight was rather uneventful. The lady sitting next to me had the worst sun burn on her legs thatI have ever seen and spent much of the trip applying aloe vera.  She appeared to be very uncomfortable and was a bit of an annoying seat companion as she just couldn't sit still.  Oh well...if that's all I've got to complain about....no big deal, right?

Geoff picked us up at the airport.  I was absolutely bagged and went straight to bed thinking I was going to sleep like a rock.  No such luck.  Had the worst sleep I've had in weeks.  Perhaps I'm fretting a little about the week ahead.  Not really looking forward to getting back to the chemo stuff again but know it is necessary to continue to meet this head on in battle mode.  Just have to get my head back into that space.  It has been such a lovely break from hospitals and routines.

Off to get my bloodwork done this morning (Monday mornings are the worst! Everyone seems to be at the hospital!)  then will do the usual things one does on returning from holidays....Groceries, laundry, pay bills........back to the real world!!!

So sorry I missed the blog yesterday.  Internet connections in our rooms are spotty at best and I was just to darn lazy to walk to the reception area last night.  Yesterday was a fairly quiet day.  Another day of rain and cool, however, we did make the most of it.  Went to the morning yoga class   The fellow that teaches it is excellent and really puts us through our paces.  It is really pleasant doing your yoga in the palappa on the beach.  Jenifer and I decided to go to a pottery painting class.  There we were sitting painting our projects for a good couple of hours with a bunch of 10 year olds.  I was determined to be patient and do a good job but alas I quickly came to be reminded an artist I am not!  I was way slower than Jenifer and her spoon turned out way better than my bowl.  On the plus side, however,  the little Mexican girl who was looking after the activity took our projects home and "fixed" them a little.  Neither Jenifer, nor I confessed this to Bill and Gary and they were both quite impressed with the job we had done.  Hmmmmm..... Also hit the gym yesterday.  I am trying to get  back to my weights and bike riding.

Today a much better day. Bill and I were awake earlier than usual and decided to go for a walk on the beach.  Gary and Jenifer have done this most mornings before breakfast but we generally have found ourselves sleeping later than them.  The beach was beautiful this morning and I had some fun playing with some of the things I had learned in my photography course.

After breakfast we decided to take a drive and look for a Cenote to visit.  We ended up going to Azul Cenote.  Azul was quite different than the Cenote Bill and I visited on a previous trip to Mexico.  This Cenote was on the surface, whereas the other one we had been to you had to rappel down into a cavern beneath the ground surface.  The water at Azul was crystal clear and was full of Catfish and Snappers.  It was fun to snorkel there but I was happy to have my wetsuit jacket as it was a little on the cool side.  When we arrived we had the place to ourselves but about 45 minutes later a family arrived with several excited, noisy kids!  We were quite thankful we had finished our snorkelling because I don't think we would have seen much in the way of fish with all the splashing and kicking these little guys were doing.  On the plus side, it was fun to watch their huge enthusiasm!!!

The green things you see in the water are not algae.  They are actually rocks on the bottom of the Cenote.  That is how clear the water was!

We returned to the resort after our swim and headed down to the beach as the sun was shining!  When we got to the beach we discovered a Zumba class in progressan but today participants were in the ocean with the instructors on the beach.  There we were trying to do the steps and keep in time while being pummelled by the surf!  I was just about knocked off my feet several times but it was great fun!
Finished that class and headed up for lunch then back to the beach to go sailing.  The winds were much tamer today and we had no problems and the Mexican fellow who is generally very miserable actually was semi pleasant today.

Gary and Jenifer went kayaking but we decided to pass on that.  Spent some time people watching and believe me, there is lots to look at!  Canadians and english speaking people are in the minority at this resort with there seemingly being a large number of people from Argentina.    In any case, as I mentioned in a previous blog, the thong is definitely the fashion statement here and it does not seem to matter what size you are.  I am including a picture of the male version here but out of respect for my fellow females will abstain from posting some of the incredible female versions I spent time gawking at!

Finished off the day with a Mexican meal which seems fitting for our final night in Mexico!
It's been a great holiday but time to return to the realities of life at home!