Nov 29 - Bad year coming to a close...

It's nearly December and I can't believe the year is over. But I'm glad it is behind me. I am finally regaining my strength and body back. My mouth sores have gone, but eating still has a few trials. I just top up with protein mixes when I think I'm not there some days.
I've started to socalize a bit more but evenings are difficult. By 9pm I am definitely ready to be home and often before that. Everyone has been very understanding but it's been nice to be able to host people again at home.
The sad news that my good friend Sally (who has been a mainstay during my illness) has been diagnosed with BC and goes in Wednesday for a mastectomy also. Hopefully I can be a strong support for her as she has been for me.
My fingernails have not grown back yet so I am still avoiding housework and water. Ted just loves that! I am back into lymph therapy regularly to try to regain my arm strength again, lost during radiation, but that too is coming.
We are looking forward to a few days with our friends in Edmonton next week then Dec 18 to Jan 2 in Puerto Vallarta, a coastal resort in Pacific Mexico, that we haven't been to before. Using he condo of Auntie Nancy (Tikal's bird-sitting companion!) should make for a leisurely stay. Ah tropical Mexico, starting to sound good! Feliz Navidad and all that...

Nov 26 - New co-director of Silly Walks

Welcome to Snoopy or Snoops, my latest co-Director of Silly Walks. Snoopy owns Jackie and Ian who sadly had to say goodbye to almost 14-year-old golden retriever Kelly this summer. She had been a faithful friend to me on my daily walks with Jackie until the end. We miss her a lot but are going to enjoy this lively young pup, rescued from one of the reserves with mother and siblings recently. What a lucky dog to move into the Mills household!

Nov 17 A new era in RV'ing

Saturday we flew to Kelowna, were met by Country RV staff, and picked up our brand new Free Spirit RV. It's a Dodge Sprint van, converted to diesel engine by Mercedez Benz, then fitted out as an RV in Manitoba. The dealer didn't want it on the lot for the winter, and we can't really use it until next May, but that made for good conditions for a deal. We had a couple of nights with Les/Sandy in Vernon, dinner with friends, a night at the symphony, then drove back Monday. It was one of the most beautiful days in the Rockies, clear blue sky, snow on the peaks already and quiet on the roads. Perfect conditions.
We delivered it to the inspection shop 15 minutes before they closed for the day. Whew. An inter-provincial inspection gave it a clean bill of health Tuesday morning, when we licensed and registered it, and are now ready to drive it anywhere we want. I'd like to be leaving in the morning to go south for the winter but I guess that will have to wait until next year. Pretty heady stuff for a couple of aging hippies getting rid of the aging hippie-mobile VW Westy!

Nov 7 BP Progress and Fall

A regular visit to my GP yesterday revealed that my blood pressure has been steadily dropping and is well under control. Therefore I can now drop one of the drugs, a calcium blocker, that I have been taking for some years. I am still on the ace inhibitor, a small dose. Finally there is something good about this ordeal of mine this year. Losing 16lbs has helped!
Dr. Waymouth is a great GP, so supportive. She thinks I should write a book as I've done so well, she credits my positive attitude for this. I agree.
Although we changed from Daylight Saving time last weekend, we are still enjoying lovely fall days. The sun is out, sky is blue, it is about 12 during the day so we are relishing our days before winter arrives. Yesterday we cleaned up the VW van ready to store and sell in the spring. It's in good shape so I'm sure it won't be hard to sell and get a good price for it. It's served us well, we've had a lot of fun, but time to move on.
Of course, we are following Mr. Bush's timetable that was supposed to save energy costs by having more daylight time coincide with normal work hours. That doesn't seem to have materialized, rather like many of Mr. Bush's ideas. The good news - soon he will be a smaller bush, then a shrub, twig, then history.

Nov 5 Building that body one brick at a time

In the past three weeks I've attended three full-day workshops to help me get back on track. The first, Positively Pink, was for breast cancer survivors, very inspiring. Met lots of great women and support/care workers and volunteers. Great progress is being made in this field, especially in pathology and especially here in Calgary.
Then we had a Women's Health Day, organized by the Ismaili society in Calgary. A great public service and many good speakers.
This weekend I went to a women's retreat in Cochrane in the foothills, called Tapestry. Speakers were from a broad spectrum: ex-corporate turned stand-up comedienne/coach, First Nations politician/union leader, and reserve nurse/healer. It was fascinating. I ran into several women I knew from my past and present lives. There's a fascinating native belief that we walk with seven generations behind us to support us, and seven generations ahead of us. Makes for some serious contemplation. If that's true, and seven generations behind me are on my shoulder, I only intend listening to the good ones!
We stayed with Ursula and Dieter in Cochrane for the weekend so I didn't have to do much driving. It was great. Friday she invited 4 other friends for dinner, and Saturday and Sunday she cooked her heart out for us again. I .finally managed to drink some champagne easily, and a smidgeon of Limoncelo. My taste buds are still off so wine is wasted on me. We woke to a beautiful snow cover Sunday so had a lazy time playing Mexican Train, a form of dominoes.
It seem I have a handful of vitamins/minerals/substances to take every day but the leg cramps have gone, the sore mouth is going and I seem to be getting my energy field back.

Remember, remember the 5th of November...

When I was a kid in England we celebrated Guy Fawkes' birthday today.
"Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpower treason and plot,
Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Shall never be forgot."
The grammar was lacking but it's amazing how that date always resonates.
Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament. A few people would still like to emulate that feat.
We lit bonfires, had fireworks and roasted potatoes in the fire. Ah the simple life.
Today was Herceptin treatment #10, with 7 to go. Easy going, no side effects.
Good news! The mouth problems are starting to fade, Nystatin is a horrid medication but it works. I am still using Dr. Akubuku's mouthwash 4 times a day, which also contains Nystatin, and that seems to be doing the trick. I still have no saliva, but a visit to the dentist Thursday confirms that not too much damage has been done from all the mouth problems and bleeding gums. Hurray. (The small things I have to celebrate....)