Happy Anniversary

Although my mom and dad have both passed away, May 31st always stands out in my mind as their anniversary! They were married in 1942 which would make it their 71st anniversary! I don't think many people have those!! If they were alive, my dad would have been 98 and my mom would be 94! I guess that is possible but you don't hear about it very often - usually one or the other has passed away.

Anyway, "Happy Anniversary", Mom and Dad! We love you and miss you!

May 31, 1942, Claresholme, Alberta

The Morning After

They are calling for more rain today but right now, the birds are singing and the sun is shining in the backyard. I love the smells after a rain and we definitely got rain yesterday. Not as much as to the south and east of the city but we got enough to make things green and 'a little extra'. I am sure those mosquitos will be out thick as molasses in the next day or so.

I know we had lots of rain as our trees don't usually show how wet they are but the trunks are dark as they are saturated with rain. It looks cool. The heavy rain also helped them to drop their pods and settle the pollen in the air. I am not looking forward to the poplar fuzz that usually starts about now. Maybe it won't be as bad this year. Last year at a provincial park we were at it looked like snow on the ground as there was so much poplar fuzz everywhere.

Sunshine after the rain...

rainfall

Most of the day it was raining - off - and on -- and lots! The grass was just cut on Sunday afternoon and already it is long and green. That's a good thing, I think. Rain for tonite and a little bit for tomorrow.

Lots of rain clouds around

It was raining while the sun was shining - a sun shower!

Still Waiting

I have not had word yet from the doctor's officer about a specialist appointment. I guess I will be calling to see what's happening and likely the response will be they are waiting for the specialist to confirm a date. I guess you don't get any choice in the matter - other than saying you can't come.

I have been wearing my tensor support a lot during the day but mainly to bed at night. I tried it once without it and my hand was aching in the morning. Who knows how my hand lies at night wrapped around or under a pillow.Now I wear the support and I think it is better. As for typing with it on, it makes it very hard - especially on my laptop which is flat. 

Anyway, the swelling is gone, my veins are popping up (not sure why), my wrist aches, and especially my baby finger. Holding my two hands side-by-side, I definitely see there is something different about my right hand. Guess we will wait to see what the specialist says.

I am so thankful I can still type as writing is really difficult and painful. Guess it is because you fold your fingers to grasp the pen and flatten your wrist on the side to have movement on the paper. All of that does not work 'fluidly' anymore!

ANSWERS, well...sort of....

I finally got a call back from the Doctor's office - after I called there after three days of waiting for x-ray results. At first, the receptionist told me they had not arrived back yet. Then she told me they had arrived. Then she said she couldn't tell me the results only the doctor could. I would have to make an appointment with the Dr to discuss them. After she said that, I said I didn't have to do that last time and she just said, "oh". 

Well, I got flustered and said I would have to call back as I had to go to work.  Apparently, they phoned back shortly after I left for work and when John got home he called me to tell me there was a message to call the doctor's office. The same thing happened again. First she was unaware, then she was and finally read the doctors note from my file "mild deformity (fracture) of right hand - 4th and 5th metacarpal; 4th appears to be from old injury, 5th looks like a recent fracture." She wondered what I wanted to do next?  What I want to do? what do they think I NEED to do? She then volunteered they could make an appt with a hand specialist, if I wanted. So...I said YES I did! They will call me when it's set up. I wonder how long that will take??? Likely I will be calling to find out about that one too! By then, my hand will have healed incorrectly! Maybe there is nothing they can do but it would be nice to hear a diagnosis from a doctor - spoken to me and suggesting what I can do for treatment or improvement. Guess I learned my lesson...next time (hopefully never) but next time..go get an x-ray right away if there is ANY concern.

No Word Yet

No word yet from the doctor's office. Go figure! Guess I will be calling today ... again! However, my hand seems to be doing better although it aches and certain motions give immediate pain. That being said, maybe things are healing as they are supposed to.

Good verse to think about and practise when opportunities present themselves ... taken from my calendar:

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

When I was going for Stephen Ministry training, one of the women I met in the USA and who ended up being my prayer partner for that training week (she was from Las Vegas) gave me this scripture as my 'mantra' for the week. It has turned out to be a valuable lesson for my daily walk. Can't say I ALWAYS practise it, even when I know I should. Still...it's a good thing to remember and try to do - maybe it can be yours now too.

Waiting

I am still waiting for the results of my 2nd x-ray on my hand. Hopefully I will hear from my doctor (or her receptionist) today. If not, well, I guess I will be phoning. Whatever happened to the days of house calls and phone calls, conversations with your doctor? Oh well...

I am still typing but my Gr 9 typing teacher would not be happy with my hand structure or how I hit certain keys. Any 'variation' is simply because I can't hit all the keys properly. I am just thankful that I can type.

I went out for supper last night with a few girlfriends. Lots of laughs.There was a group of 10 or so people sitting beside us (celebrating something) and the youngest girl (oh, say about 5 or 6 years old) was very interested in us. She spent most of the night turned around in her chair or literally standing and staring at us. I think she must have been mesmerized by all the laughter. I am sure she has a picture in her mind now of what it must be like to be 'older' and having fun. Their table was laughing too but it would be interesting to know what was going on in her little mind and what she thought of these women and all their talk and laughter!

Another beautiful day out there ... I need to get out and enjoy it!

Happy Birthday MOM

It would have been our mom's 94th birthday today - May 20th. Although these pictures didn't transfer well, they still show you her beautiful face! She passed away at the age of 81. Happy birthday, Mom. We love you and miss you.

20 years young

76 years young

81 years young

Heads Up!

Pretty amazing what Angelina Jolie has done and made public! It takes quite a woman. Not sure I could...or would...then again, if my life is at stake as her's appeared to be...she took control of her own fate. A single masectomy would be tragic but even more so a double. She still looks beautiful and now she will hopefully be alive to raise her kids to adulthood! Pretty dramatic but good for her! Something positive coming out of Hollywood - go figure!

Mother's Day

Yesterday I went to a jewellery party at the Derrick Club for a friend. She had some very nice pieces (of course) and I bought a pair of earrings (of course) for myself for Mother's Day (as if I needed an excuse)! I brought a friend with me who likes jewellery as well and she did me proud! She obviously works full time and is not in semi-retirement!

Today, my hubby took me to Milestone's for Mother's Day lunch as I had the urge for Eggs Benedict which they do so well. He was thinking more along the lines of Montana's but...since it was Mother's Day....we went to Milestones. Thanks, honey!

The afternoon we spent cleaning up the back deck and putting out the lawn furniture - no - deck furniture as we don't sit on the lawn! It was very warm but the clouds have arrived and it has cooled off a bit with a wind. Actually it would be ok with me if we had a rain to clean things up a bit (which I think is supposed to happen). 

Dinner

Went out for supper with friends to a new restaurant (for us) to Bistecca. Nice atmosphere, great food and good service. Will definately go again. Thanks also to the great fellowship with good friends.

The New 'Normal'

I finally got through to the reception of my Dr's office to find out the results of my x-ray. She 'checked my file' and the results say 'normal right hand'. I asked what they normally do with a report after sending someone for x-rays and she said 'well, if everything is normal, we don't call. If there is an issue or we are told to call, we will call.' So, in the meantime, I am thinking (and feeling) that I have an issue with my hand but since they get a report, they are fine in reading the results so, that's it...they file it. What about me? No one calls me..or tells me..can you tell that I am a bit miffed! The x-ray tech said I did have a break on the palm of my hand - whether that is a crack or a small tear or who knows what...the fact remains that my hand hurts and she gave me the disk and I can see it for myself. However, I am guessing the Dr doesn't think it is something they need to worry about - but - wouldn't it be nice if she could tell ME that too!  The receptionist told me that if it continues to hurt, I can always come back to the office. Yeah right! Thanks!

Waiting

I am waiting for a reply from my Dr regarding my wrist/hand x-ray results after my fall last week in Jasper. The swelling has gone done considerably and although I had said my hand hurt, I was still typing and still AM typing (slowly) but my hand is hurting now more than before. How can that be? I guess I am trying to use it more and I realize that 'something' is not right. I went out last night to get a support for my wrist and found one at Walmart which was $30 for a slim line, woman's tensor bandage. I know it was a lot of $$ but I was desperate. I wore it to bed but took it off after a short while as my hand felt like it was swelling - maybe I had it on too tight. But, if it's not tight, what's the point?!! Anyway, I am wearing it now and it makes it cumbersome to type but it does keep my wrist straight.

The x-ray tech gave me a CD to take back to my Dr right after I was x-rayed but the receptionist said they could not read it and were not sure why they would send it. I took it to work and thought 'I will see if I can read it' and sure enough....I could. Not sure why they couldn't!! Anyway, she had said they get a courier each day so they should have a written report for the Dr to see. Well, it is now Friday and no word yet. You would think that they would phone. Perhaps there is nothing worth phoning about! However, the x-ray tech said I did have a cracked hand and I can see that in my x-ray. Oh..what to do.
I finally called this morning but they don't open until 9 am (the reception). I do know that my Dr starts at 7:15 a.m. with her first appt so they are there but just not answering for awhile. Hopefully they will call me FIRST this morning before I have to call them! It will be my luck that the Dr is NOT in on Fridays and it will be Mon before I hear from them!

Grizzlies

Similar to last year at this time, we saw a grizzly bear on the fairway munching away at the new, young grass. He was totally disinterested in us and the many others that walked by. Golfers were told to report any sightings of bears (of course) and this fellow was no different. He was a bit smaller than the one we saw last year but he is a GRIZZLY nonetheless!  

Our suite was in a different location but the view from the deck was beautiful - not as breathtaking as our old one but hey...I am NOT complaining - just comparing. Both are wonderful.

From the main hotel - similar to last year's view 

View from our deck this year

The pictures don't give you the feel of the warmth of the sunshine, the fragrances of the outdoors and the sense of calm and peace that the woods provide. It is truly a beautiful place.  Next week, we are looking forward to the May long weekend. We are headed to a different location than Jasper though. We will be trying out a campsite at Slave Lake as our neighbors advise us that it is beautiful there too. So, we will give it a try. 

Weekend Away - Ouch

I had a wonderful trip to the mountains this past weekend. We were staying at a fancy, dancy resort (Jasper Park Lodge) in the beautiful, Rocky Mountains.  We never get tired of the view - it is absolutely gorgeous and the food that is served is unbelievable. However, one venue or should I say menu, this year had a lot (no, not a lot...too much) mushroom inclusion! I did try the mushroom soup again - hoping that it would be similar to one I tried there a few years ago. But alas, it was not. It had the distinctive taste of mushroom (or mould as I see it ... or taste it!). For those of you who like mushrooms, you would have loved it. Everyone else said it was excellent. I on the other hand, do my best to avoid them. They were in the salad, in the sauces, in the wraps....literally everywhere. There must have been a SALE on them this year. 

However, the rest of the meal was excellent and the service is wonderful too. So many servers from different countries that come to check out our Canada and our mountains! What a wonderful place to work (according to them) too!

One fall back on the weekend - and it was literally a fall but FORWARD, not back. I slipped off the 3rd step from the bottom of some stairs due to a difference in height between them. I was 'on a roll' down the steps when the change in height caught me off guard and down I went! I broke my glasses, scraped my lip, got myself a black eye and cracked my wrist. The swelling of my lip and black eye did nothing for photo shots and my right wrist is still swollen. I went for x-rays yesterday and was advised I cracked my wrist but have not been called yet by the Dr to tell me to cast it so perhaps it is not such a big deal (in their eyes)! I am able to type, just not use my right baby fingers or ring fingers for the shift key! It's amazing how much you do with that right hand! It has caused me to slow down some - especially putting on or taking off pants, skirts, etc. Any prolonged use of my fingers at this point, causes pain. 

Anyway, just thought I would keep you up to date as to what I have been doing. Other than that - which took place as soon as we arrived at our room on Wed - the rest of the weekend went well! Beautiful weather, absolutely gorgeous views - but more of that in my next blog. I need to rest my hand now!