Dr. Shoja Today

Woo hoo! I was able to cancel my Covid and Flu vaccine appointment in Nanaimo and change it to a clinic here in our Community Hall. I am very glad to be able to stay on Gabriola and not go to Nanaimo. I’m nervous about doing anything involving transportation and a new environment because I’m afraid of having another major seizure.

At 9:30, I went out to see if I could see what had made the noise on the roof on Tuesday night, but I could see no fallen branch anywhere. I reckon it might have been a raccoon slipping on the metal roof panels. Finding nothing, Sheba and I headed to Rollo Park and what a pleasant surprise I had there!

She trotted for much of our walk, but she balked as I headed along the long trail, and so I turned back and she immediately trotted ahead of me along the shorter trail. It was a very happy walk for me, seeing her look so full of life.

Our west coast is dealing with a wind and storm alert, but we had neither strong winds nor rain yesterday morning. I loved our walk because it was a lovely and mild 14° as we walked. I would love to have gone on a long walk with her in the mildness of the morning, but that’s a thing of our past now.

Two of the greatest reading thrills of my life were The Professor and The Madman and The Map that Changed the World. Both books were written by Simon Winchester, and I was extremely sad to read that he died on November third of this year. Both books are non-fiction and tell extraordinary tales. If you like non-fiction, read these books!

Another author I loved was Oliver Sacks, and I recently read Insomnia City, written by Sacks’ partner, Bill Hays. That book is soon to be a movie starring Jonathan Baily and Bill Nighy. I’ll be watching for this one!

Our afternoon walk was great because it was very warm and quite windy, but it wasn’t raining and Sheba was trotting along and full of interest in every smell she encountered. She gives me hope on her good days. And it was wonderful to come home to so clean a house. 

Finally, today, I see Dr. S. and our session may lead to a better understanding of how to avoid more major seizures. This afternoon, I’m going to see Sue and Bonnie’s new home. 

Migraine!

 Yesterday was a write-off. Rising as usual too early, I was busy doing chores all morning. The best part of the morning was walking with Sheba. We only walked less than two blocks, but she walked, and when we got home, I was kept busy with more chores until lunchtime.

We all had lunch and then I undertook my last chore: cleaning the kitty litter box. While I was doing that, the dreaded light show started in my eyes. I was having the first migraine I’ve had in a year probably, and that flattened me for the afternoon. I lay on the chaise, closed my eyes, and waited for things to pass.

The evening was uneventful and calm except for when I was going to bed. I heard a frightening noise on the roof. I’m awaiting dawn to go outside and see if I can find whatever it was. It might have been an animal slipping and falling; it could have been a large branch falling.

 I welcomed an early repose, knowing that I’d feel myself this the morning, and I do. We’ll try walking again, and I’ll read and do more chores. I’ve got to drain the hot tub and tidy up the shed. Sigh.

Today: Nothing but Chilling.

Monday morning’s walk was very short. Sheba is not liking her walks much at all. Instead, now we go to Rollo Park or the 707 and she sniffs everything, moving slowly from bush to branch, and I just stand by until she is done, then we go a little further on the trail for more sniffing until she stops and stands still on the trail. That’s when I know that she is done, and when she sees that I am willing to return to the car, she picks up her pace considerably.

It was cloudy, but not dark and there was no rain all morning. Stacy called me and invited me to join her for lunch at Mad Rona’s, which I was keen to do. I fed everyone before I left and went into the village for a lovely visit with Stace. We got caught up on each other’s lives and had lots of laughs.

When I got home, I checked my mailbox and hooray! There were three books there. I was thrilled and soon comfortably ensconced on the chaise. At 15:00, Sheba seemed up for a walk, but when we got to the car, she turned and walked back to the house. It’s terribly sad about her mobility, but she betrays no sense of being in pain and she seems just fine around the house and in the yard.

At 18:15, Pete and Ali picked me up to go to Dana’s for dinner. Dana is the woman for whom I cooked the eight cakes last July. They live in an unbelievably beautiful home, high on a hill and overlooking the sea. Their house faces west, so they get a glorious view of the sunsets. But not yesterday, as we left to go to their house, it started raining.

We had a ball in Dana’s mansion. If my body wasn’t such a source of shame, I would have wanted to go swimming in their indoor pool. The food was great, as was the conversation. We had lots of laughs, but I could hardly wait to get home to be with Sheba. I am profoundly attached to her knowing that there is not a lot of time left. I hope for lots more time together, but walking her seems to be a thing of the past.

Today, I read and chill. No calls, no visiting, just calm and quiet at home.

Himalayas from space.

My Day

I threw an entire (small) package of copper sulphate on
the fire last night and this is what happens.

Sunday morning’s walk at 8:30 was spectacular. The golden sun was low on the horizon, rising slowly and casting a golden light in the air. After all the rain, the mild temperatures have water evaporating and filling the air with tiny water droplets of moisture that glow in the morning light. It looked like a picture postcard, and it filled me with appreciation for the silent early morning beauty of this island.

Sheba was walking very slowly, so we did a short walk, came home, and then I left her here to go into the village to meet Kelly for breakfast at Mad Rona’s. I hadn’t seen her for a few months, so it was great to get caught up. When we were done, I came home to feed the brood their lunch, and then I was chaise-bound where I fell asleep.

Later in the afternoon, we walked in the 707 Park before coming home for our usual evening. Pinecone Park runs on regular routines. It was My Day, and although nothing much happened, it was a good and relaxing day.

This week will be gentle. There’s naught but rain in the forecast, so good fires will be the best part of the week, and my books start arriving tomorrow, so reading will be back as part of my daily habits. Plus, I get my RSV vaccine and on Thursday I see Dr. S.