Rain ☔ out now, great! 🍁 the start of fall.

Such a comforting feeling inside warm listening to the rain on the sundeck roof, feels great knowing we still have a beautiful fall coming yet. Been an interesting summer, fire's all over, we didn't get hit hard here, good fire fighting here on the island. 

I'm feeling a little bit less ambitious than usual, not only because I'm limited in what I can do, but in that I'm just loosing my desire to do something. Depression? I don't think so, just a moment of ahh shit! It's hard to keep up while things change so quickly, and my options get reduced so quickly. I'll be getting back into it in awhile, just give myself time to heal and then be better I'm thinking. 

Tomorrow phiso, and the big reveal at Harbour Quay of all the work that been happening all summer, be really nice to see what's changed, and what the plans reveal. I have seen photos of the new cover in front of the buildings, but much more has been changed too. I guess I'll have to wait for the show in November to see it. 

I noticed yesterday on our trip to coombs with my friend Don Lloyd, that I didn't take any photos. Have to be up, feeling good optimistic to be taking photos, and I'm not there right now, just different. Also holding a phone out while hanging onto a walker not so easy. I did take one just now of the rainy looking day outside today. 

We now have the Sun to look forward to with cooler weather, and wet underbrush, be nice once again to have a campfire 🔥, I have lots of scraps to burn up after a spring of building many planter boxes. 

Funny how fast it changes hey, one moment AC is really important, then a couple days and done. I think I'll pull that book my sister gave me out and read for a change, be something different for me to do. 

I got a call from a friend that's thinking about surgery on his knee, was nice to talk with him, been awhile. Hopefully I gave him some positive thoughts. 

I did take another couple photos, breakfast was great today, Polly always got something great 👍🏻. 

Then after I saw this on my plate as I finished hmm, is it a sign? 

Everywhere ya go now 🤔

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Groggy start, like most lately.

I'm getting plenty of sleep 😴 now, but with the pain meds having some really bazaar dreams. I know how science fiction writing gets developed now. Steven King must have been taking these while developing characters. 

I have this odd urge to get up and look out the window, before was easy, now I just have the urge, and let it go. I do get a look out at least once a day, but is an effort to get to the window now, undoo the strap, get the cooling stuff off, and make the trek. I have not attempted the stairs yet.

Maybe tomorrow? 

Physio the next thing I've got to get going. Dr said after 2 weeks, phiso in hospital said after 1 week, I'll make the appointment tomorrow. I made a couple online, but we're too far ahead, I'll call around get one for later next week. I feel pretty good, so want to get to it as soon as I can. 

Exercises are good for the first two reps in the day, but last set is a little harder to get to, but I do. 

Having the urge to do something, fix this, make that, looking around too much causes this lol.  Yesterday was a not hungry day, a doughnut 🍩 early, Danny brought some, and didn't feel hungry till dinner. Was odd for me. I'm going to put some brandflakes in me today, see of I can get things moving. 

Polly has been so helpful, she's out watering the garden now. She took up sleeping in the spare room, makes it easier, but I really like it better with her beside me. When I get rid of the ice machine and am a little more comfortable I hope she moves back in 😃.

Sunday again already, I heard the sound of the tiny bit of rain in the night, but not enough to give much water. 

I got used to my drive to the harbour, maybe I'll get Polly to take me for a drive today. See how I feel as the day goes on. 

I'm getting good at pill 💊 taking, even took one for my watery eyes today. 

From zero pills to this in a couple months, hmm. 

Well that's my Sunday this week, not to exciting, but is just life of a non travel day. 

Good we are staying in one place, otherwise wouldn't be able to have this opportunity. 

Love our life ❤️ 

Day 3 now and as expected more stiffness

Ya read and listen to all that's told to you, and still unsure until you do something and it works. The 💊 pills they give you, some for pain, some to help with constipation that the pills for pain cause, some for stomach upset that the pain pills can cause, then pills I was on already for making me pee, my prostate, and pill for lowering my blood pressure. I think that covers it all, sure jumped from no pills a few months ago to a handful now. 

Well what do I get from them, I still have trouble peeing, the message comes, but ya get there and dam, it's like OH! Cancelled, pisses me off! Pooping, another of the previous problems, now drug's that'll make it ever harder to go. I have a word for that but won't include here. 

Pain pills work, but a sleepy groggyness to it, I'll take it over the pain for sure. Then the ice, that's most important, cold really helps with the swelling, I'm sure will lessen with healing too. 

So that's the bunch ya deal with, lucky me, I have friends that'll lend me stuff to help deal with all of this, walker very important, ice machine too, cane for getting up the stairs also very important, raised toilet seat too. 

All of this important, taking or using as ya go is a puzzle ya have to learn as ya go. 

Positive I woke this morning with much rest, and ambition, so now I've completed mostly, what now? LoL more ice, Polly not up yet, she did wake early, got me all ready with ice, but all used up now, so I'm going to get some more and add it to what's there, there is a little room yet in the machine level. 

I'm not sure how much to stay off my feet, but don't want to overdo it. 

Then the exercises, 3 times a day, yesterday when I finished was really sore, today will get all 3 sessions in for sure. Only one yesterday, as was a moving day, and pain, I paid attention to that. 

Looking like going to be a beautiful day out, hard not to go do something, but I'll get Polly to bring me a bunch of Beach combed wood a friend gave me, I have a plan to make something out of them. 

My sister gave me a book, I'll try to Read, with the pain pills pushing me to sleep, I'm not sure how that'll go. 

TV, movie's or YouTube, that's always a choice too. I look beside me at my mess,

pills candy, and all the other junk, hmm lol, well that's just how it's going to be for awhile I'm thinking. Not completely organized, but every day a little closer to moving towards freedom again. 

Sure glad I have Polly to help me, be a really big chore without her. 

Even with this hickup, I sure do love our life ❤️ 

Knee replacement night at Duncan hospital

Thanks for the ice machine Pete Aspiall

Along with other equipment. A walker, and a toilet seat, was not correct configuration, but still nice. 

 

Thanks Cindy and Ted Donovan for another 4 wheel walker, be using that later. Ant the toilet seat that fits just right. 

People very helpful with the equipment they've had to buy as they've had similar surgeries. 

Alexa's the nurse at the room, got me a phone 📱 charger as I'd forgotten mine. 

Iris the flower in admitting me and getting everything ready in the sheet divided area I think of as my room. 

Many women from Philippines here helping.

Sarah, a woman we've known From when we lived in Ladysmith in the admitting area. 

Another woman that came up with the idea of placing photos on the top of the wall of dogs and other animals of the people that work where ya start out in the process, also recover there too. She and I had a really good conversation about her dog, who passed in the last week, she was really good to talk with, helped give me a really good attitude heading into surgery. 

I needed it too, as when Polly & Shayla were dropping me off at the front door, a woman drove up behind us, is two lanes, and as I got out she raised her arms, like what am I doing, (my excuse for my behavior is I was hungry) turned into hangry. I raised my hands back, then she gave me the finger, so back it went, then I shut my door, took about 1 minute total, but she then pulled ahead and said if I learned how to park wouldn't be a problem, along with a few "Cursives" I'd heard before. Well that led to me giving her a few words I won't repeat back as she drove away.

 I was kinda dumbfounded, and angry. But after the conversation with the woman in the entrance as I waited to go into the holding area, I forgot about it. 

Now thinking about it, I should have just brushed it off earlier, people sometimes have an attitude that sucks, no response would have been better. 

Anyway, I'm feeling great now, sore knee, but drugs will come, and sleep will too. 

Everyone's comments on my post are good too, and a conversation with Polly Shayla and Carl a few minutes ago really was nice. Nice to have that concern and support. 

Bathroom break now, that's a little bit of a challenge. I'm going to wait till the last minute, before I'm ready to sleep. 

My neighbor just puked, I feel sorry for him, bowel cancer. Now the button pushes, yes he's got it rough. Often I count my blessings. 

He got some drugs to help with reducing the sickness. 

Going to be an interesting night I'm sure, counting on the drugs to give me some rest. 😴

Nice to have good friends and family that care, making me appreciate "Y'all", a saying I learned In USA, ❤️

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Cursive, I always thought that was about swearing 🤬

I'm not the best at understanding language, but I do know a few swear words, and I always understood cursing as swearing, but lately I hear much talk about "Cursive". I pay attention, and get to understand what's being talked about now, still I can't imagine that kids in school are not being taught to print, then to write ✍🏻. 

I don't have young children anymore, so not really anything to do with the education system. I still curse once in awhile, but using cursive, writing, I don't do often either. As for children now, I'm not sure exactly what they are learning in schools now. I just go by what I read and hear from others, that they can't write, as are not taught to. I just can't imagine that's going to be our new way, as I sit here pecking on my phone. 😏

8 am, and I'm just a little anse as headed to Naniamo today, staying overnight at our granddaughters, as surgery tomorrow morning, a new knee be installed on my left leg. Felling just a little bit unsure, yet committed to going ahead with it. Been a good quick time getting to this point, was winter when I started asking to get my knee done, and here I am going to get it done tomorrow. Pretty darn fast as the system goes, I've heard many that have waited years for this, I'm fortunate. 

Although still as I go, wondering if I'm doing the right thing. 🤔

I'm not sure exactly why I started out with cursive, but I've been hearing a lot of people talking about it. 

On another subject, my little piece of garden has started to produce, 3 🍅 🍅 🍅 tomatoes, looking for to a few more bacon 🥓 tomato 🍅 sandwiches 😄

This little garden was another thing that came to me in a odd way, I just went to look at it after seeing it on Google Earth, wondering about it got me in the gate, just happened the woman in charge Mary was there, along with a friend Gordie, and another that's becoming a friend, Evo. 

Never know how things will go until ya step 🪜 up, or step in the gate lol. 

Today I'm planning to stop at a friend's campsite on our way south, then to our granddaughter's, for a little hike with her, a place she's wanted to take me for awhile. Then dinner with Shayla & Carl, another cousin Rene, be a nice evening before the scrubbing that the surgery calls for, special stuff on a packaged sponge 🧽, then again in the morning 🧽 want me with no bacteria. 

Life changing this is the next development in our aging. 

Lucky we've made it this far, many haven't. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Sunday laid back day, Nice 👍🏻

Our trip to the big city was definitely laid back, no big rush, we had planned to get there early, and leave late the next day. Having extra time in the morning gave to a leisurely wakeup, and a coffee ☕, (gotta remember to bring our own coffee next time) we talked about the night before, how great it was to meet with Herb and family, was really great way to start the adventure. 

After we talk a bit I got a little bit antsy so took a short walk, and looked around the neighborhood. A quiet area, with a Chinese influence. Beautiful gardens in some of the yards, and some not taken care of at all. I'd call it a normal neighborhood. I didn't walk far, but on returning I looked at the place we stayed in, and the contrast of the house beside it, WOW what a bright green, no photo. 

After a bit of searching I found a restaurant not too far away serving breakfast, was a different looking place, so I said to everyone, if ya don't like it, we will leave, as the photos of the entrance was less than beautiful. I didn't take a photo, here is the one on the website,

Not too inviting, but the reviews were through the roof, and pictures of the meals were great. So we went.

Well upon arriving we walked past the entrance, was inside a lumber yard, something none of us expected. We walked through the yard, past plywood and trucks, and up the stairs, down a narrow hallway, then right to the restaurant. Well "would you like to make a reservation?" Said a young man that greeted us, "Yes for 4 please" ok be about 20-30 minutes. Give a phone number, and we wait on 4 chairs facing a few windows that looked into a seamstress shop, which looked over the river. 

This time we all talked a little more, interested in what this will be like, as people kept coming in making reservations, and the delivery guy brings in groceries, 3-4 times he goes by with a cart, and I say to him "is a tough place to deliver" he agrees, but comments "they are really nice people, so makes it ok" 

Well we didn't know what we were in for, but what a great place to have our breakfast, friendly, and busy, and so much choice. Everything we got was really good looking and tasting, right from the coffee to the food. Perfect way to start our day. The walls all around had little drawings, and thankyous from so many from all over the world. The fridge had $$ bills form all over the world, was an exceptional experience for all of us. 

Claudette said more than once "How did you find this place?" I just put in the search bar breakfast restaurant, and this looked like best food, but odd entrance, so had to try. I wrote a little bit on a slip of paper that we were given, we all added our own bit to it, then taped it to the wall. We will not forget this place, I'm thinking we'll have to go back just to check it out again, maybe for lunch. 😃

    This was what the inside looked like 

Not big, but extremely busy + interesting 
 

      Polly couldn't stop looking around 😀

My breakfast French toast with chicken and egg on top, was really good 

The girls hat a meatlovers omelet 

Americo egg's Bennie 

I did get a photo as we left of the lineup 

we will remember this place forever 

After we took a drive to Rudy's tire shop, a business that Tyson and Kristina our nephew and niece own and operate. Wanted to just have a look, and say goodbye again to Herb and Tyson. Was a nice visit, got a good look around, and understood a little more their plans for the future. 

After our visit here, we drove to the Tasawassen ferry, loaded on after about a 1/2 hour rest, then played skipbo again, no ordering any food this time. After the first game, I took a walkabout while they played crib, I sat down now far away and took a 😴 nap. Was a fast ride home for me. Oh, yes then dinner was wing's with Shayla and her Boss with their family, outside at Smitty's at South Naniamo after we got off the ferry. 

Was a really fun time with them, so happy, they all just got off "work" something we remember, but not a part of our lives anymore 👍🏻

What a great weekend during the week! 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Usually I write ✍🏻 on Sunday, but lots going on lately so I'll start today 😁

We had an amazing trip to the big city, with a concert in our sights AC⚡DC we're fantastic. Really a good show they were, loud, screaming and wild, was a really fun time with Americo and Claudette on a Thursday night. Felt like the weekend Polly thought, was really nice to be with our friends that are like cousins. 

Started off with Apple fritters I'd order the day before, as Americo always brought those when we went fishing 🎣 together. As we ate them and drove outta town, we talked about everything, especially the concert we were about to go to. Non stop yak all the way to Naniamo, duke point to get our ferry to Tasawassen. Had a little rest before loading, was a perfect day to travel. 

Once on the ferry we Polly & I stood in line to get a bit to eat, learned that at this time 11am the restaurant changed over from breakfast to lunch. Well never thought that be such a delay in getting our food. But yep, it was as breakfast was closed, so if ya said yes we want breakfast, ya got to go ahead of everyone, and lineup as they got some left, then wait till they are all ready, then start lunch, that took over 1/2 hour. Well I could hear the bitching before they put the belt up to hold us all back. 

A lesson learned, next time Yes! I wanted Breakfast! 😂 LoL. 

We did get our lunch finally, and sat with A&C as they were playing cards. We joined in after our lunch, and played skipbo, two games then we docked, and off we went to our Airbnb, well wasn't really ready yet, so to Tasawassen Mills Mall for a little look around. Polly disappeared soon, and couldn't find her for awhile as we all thought she was in this big shoe store, but nope, gone. 

Once she came back to that store, told of walking to the end of the mall looking for Claudette LoL, now blaming Claudette.

Now outta the Mall, on our way to our Airbnb, the drive was great, not too fast, not too congested, took the road a little less traveled. Took awhile longer as volume of traffic picked up as we got into Vancouver, then all the sudden we were on shaded streets, and narrow roads, as parking on both sides, all the way along. 

The GPS took us right to the back of the house, right to the driveway way we were to park in, #2. Perfect, then into our place, WOW, as nice as the pictures on the Airbnb site. Great, we all looked around, and everything we saw was just great. Two bedrooms, very nice beds, big living room, and nice kitchen. Perfect for our 1night stay. 

Now cut into the beer, then the bottle 🍾 of prosecco Mmm that sweetened us all up, the volume of conversation changed, I smile as I'm writing this, was such a great feeling, being together, ready for our fun night. Oh yeah, were going to meet others, family, Pollys brother and our niece & nephew and their daughter. Meeting us at the restaurant we picked. 

After another beer, I opted for a snooze instead, listening to the 3 of them enjoying their conversation, for a sec I thought I might not be able to, but 😴 zzz and I was out for a few. 

Up I got, getting close to go time. Off we went to the restaurant, Uber was the travel now. So easy, just click on ride to, and after 5 minutes he shows up, Felipe he said his name was, from Brazil, noisey coming from the back seat, 3 of them having a party 🥳 🎉 🎉 while I'm trying to talk with the driver. 

We were driving up to the restaurant and who's outside Herb, Tyson Kristina, and Kora. Well that worked out perfectly. Greetings on the sidewalk, pictures as Claudette was all over that, and in we went. Kristina had arranged a table for all of us, was really nice to spend time with there family before we went to the concert. 

After dinner, and a whole lot of info and laughter, we headed to BC Place, was close, so a little uphill, then down all the way there 3 blocks. Said our goodbyes outside, then we went in, us 4 to our seats, and there family to there's. 

A beer each, and upstairs to our seats, the singer that was before was a really hard rocker, giving it all she had. AC⚡DC came on and we all got up, and that was it, we sat sometime, but often up singing and rocking. Was a really good concert. 

Our gift the tickets, friends like Americo & Claudette deserve a thanks for all they've done for us while we traveled. 

Was a fantastic time, felt like the weekend, but wasn't. 

Sometimes just gotta do it up right, this was one of those times 🎵🎸🎶🎸

Sure do love our life ❤️