May 30 - I'll never see 60 again...

A beautiful day, blue sky and sun, about 23 and calm. Ted took me to an unspecified lunch but we ended up at our favourite Calgary restaurant, La Chaumiere - my parents' favourite too. I had champagne and put away a three-course lunch - smoked salmon, ahi tuna and limoncello soufffle. Begone mouth problems and chemo gremlins! Served by our good friend Raul's beautiful son Sean - a perfect occasion at an inside/outside table and few other people in the restaurant, which we closed. Now to the deck to loll in my new lounger...Ah summer.

May 24 Hannah & Nacho's wedding in Barcelona

Yes, we were really sad today because we were missing out on the nuptials of niece Hannah and Nacho. My sisters sent me flowers to cheer me up that day but it was still a low point. On Tuesday James got back and sent me some photos, then Wednesday IT guru Clive sent me another lot. What a happy family. Hannah, it's been a long time coming but we are sooooo happy for you both, and your two little ones, Jan and Frank.
(left, my sister Mary & husband Ivan with Hannah, Nacho, Frank and Jan)

May 24 - Do blondes have more fun?

I'm about to find out. Now I am blonde with streaks. Now that I have three wigs, my hair will probably start growing in. It's so easy not having to do hair, I may keep them permanently.
Great to look good for my date with Don D last night to hear diva soprano Renee Fleming with CPO and the witty Bramwell Tovey conducting. A stunning evening of marvellous music to lift my spirits. Don kindly left the second seat available for me until the last moment, to see how I felt after chemo Tuesday. Such a wonderful friend.
We woke to a field of white again today - it snowed last night! Yerks! Les and Sandy arrive today from the Okangan and will probably wish they had stayed put. With mud slides closing the TransCanada highway, we are having road fun here. They are here for Kayla's graduation, can't believe that little soul is 18 already! We are looking forward to some social time with them since we didn't make it down the valley this spring.
Sadly, yesterday most of my family left for the wedding of the year in Barcelona and today bride, groom and inlaws arrive but without the Fosters. I hope you all have a wonderful time together and we will raise a glass of bubbly Saturday now that I am finished my steroids for 3 weeks and can afford to drink a little. I had a glass of bubbly last weekend and it went down well.

May 22 - Chemo 5 under my belt...

Friday I had blood tests (good!) and saw my two docs. They were so concerned at my serious side effects on Taxotere (a nasty drug) that today they dropped my chemo dose 25% ,so I am hoping that will avoid repeat of the problems. My feet and hands have returned to nearly normal, delicate finger and toe nails, can't put hands in hot water and have lost the skin off both hands but the rash and itching has gone too. Sore mouth still in the background but under control with Dr. Paterson's magic mouthwash. When blisters even threaten, I go into my act rinsing several times day and it seems to work.
We spent the long weekend with Gerdy & Jacques in Edmonton, a lovely change of pace, despite cold weather, and enjoyed being spoiled rotten. Had a nice trip to the market and found provincial design yellow tablecloths to cheer my days, and home-grown herbs to start my collection. Too cold to leave anything out yet with zero degress forecast for a couple more days this week! Yerks.
Just talked to Mary, my big sis, and sad we are going to miss her big event when her daughter Hannah gets married Saturday in Barcelona. I send them all our love and warmest wishes for their big family get-together. Most are leaving London tomorrow but bride/groom/in-laws leaving Thursday. How lovely that father-in-law Ivan has composed a collection of clarinet music for the wedding and reception! I guess Aunty Liz wasn't available to play it, she will be crying into a tablecloth-sized hanky by then...

May 12 Somebody is happy BBQ season is here

Ted is delighted BBQ season is here again. This week we had Jacques and Don for dinner, and Ted BBQed port ribs both days.
Our little feathered pal is happy it is getting a rib from one of the guys every time one of them little piggies goes on the gas! When we bought Tikal in Guatemala 32 years ago (yup it's older than most of our friends' kids..) they told us they eat fruit, nuts and seeds. Of course, once it roomed with the Aussies, it ate lamb chops and it's been a carnivore ever since. It's favourite food, of course, is male index fingers - doesn't like men.
Isn't it fascinating they like to hold their food to eat it. Occasionally when the rib is a bit big it hits itself on the head...Not good for that nice spring plumage while it thinks it's looking for a mate...fat chance. But it does go into nesting gear and chews its cage paper for a month or so. Never having laid an egg, it is definitely male, even though we taught it to say 'pretty girl' many years ago. It's very vocal, sings and talks, some days it's Pavarotti, others Kiri Te Kanawa.

May 10 - A challenging two weeks

After starting the new chemo regime , I am finding this new drug Taxotere a big challenge. My body is fighting back furiously, something new every day, swollen hands and feet, insomnia, rash, flu like symptoms for a few days, headaches, and still the mouth sores, sore throat and a mouth that feels like I've been raising chickens in it. Food just isn't the same. This too will pass - only two more of those treatments to go. My immune system seems to kick back in well.
I also started on Herceptin, the immunotherapy drug, but don't think any of the side effects are linked to that. Who knows? At least I don't have cardiac failure, which is the downside of that treatment!
I find it extraordinary that I am eating butter, cream, all the things I was trying to avoid before, and still lose weight! When I get off this chemo, I am going to have to change my diet again! So far I've lost 16lbs but still not at the point the dietitians aim for (BMI 25)! Twiggy here I come.
This week I have been eating, sleeping and walking again, and hope the feet will hold up for my daily walks - so far so good.

May 9 Music for the soul...

My friend Lila decided she wants to learn the harp! Earlier this month she flew to Victoria and bought one from a harp maker! She is taking lessons once a week and determined to be harping on soon. On Wednesday she brought Kyla (obviously a female harp) over and played to me. After my wretched week last week, this was a tonic for the soul. I even got out my flute and played with her: My love is like a red, red rose. We will get better. Next year maybe we'll have gigs together. The husbands would like that so they can spend their time at Moti Mahal chowing down on more great curries...
Seriously, after the new chemo regime, I am finding this new drug a big challenge. My body is fighting back furiously, something new every day, swollen hands and feet, insomnia, rash, flu like symptoms for a few days, headaches, and still the mouth sores, sore throat and a mouth that feels like I've been raising chickens in it. This too will pass - only two more of those treatments to go. I also started on Herceptin, the immunotherapy drug, but don't think any of the side effects are linked to that. Who knows? At least I don't have cardiac failure, which is the downside of the immunotherapy treatment!
This week I am eating, sleeping and walking again, although I don't know how the feet will hold up to keep up my daily walks, but so far so good.

May 2 Inspiration!

One of the most beautiful gifts arrived in the mail today. It's from my three-time cancer survivor and our good friend Vivienne Jarvis in Toronto, since 1969. To help recover from her own mastectomy some years ago, she joined a quilting group at Mt. Sinai Hospital and they have remained friends every since. Viv has given me the first quilt she has made alone, and it is looks magnificent on our four-poster pine bed.
When I unwrapped the parcel I first thought she had made me another pillow. But no, this is a gorgeous work of art. But best of all is the message on the card that came with it. If she cannot be here and close to hug us, Viv tells me we are to sleep peacefully under her quilt, knowing she is hugging us both and wishing me a full recovery, as she has experienced. Now that is true and lasting friendship! I will cherish this for ever.

May Day - no marching here

MAC are you listening?
' The first of May, the first of May, outdoor screwing starts today.'
Calgarians may be hard pressed to follow that guideline from one of our buddies at Tricentrol many moons ago. You know who you are!
Last week street cleaning machines were all through the neighborhood removing the gravel from the roads, washing them down from winter debris, clearing the grassy centre and road edges ready for new growth. Trees and hedges are budding - hooray.
In the park across the road from our house, the frogs keep up a loud chorus, the robins are competing for nest space, and a bald eagle has returned with the ubiquitous Canada geese and rare white geese, the latter making brief stops en route north. The cacophony from the Glenmore Reservoir is deafening and mornings we now wake to a loud dawn chorus at 5am.
Water levels are high but will be dropped shortly in anticipation of the mountain spring runoff to prevent floods for residential areas near the river banks. Two years ago our basement was flooded, so we now have sump pump installed which will prevent any recurrences. Many neighbours had to completely redo their basements with far worse flood damage than we had.