What a beautiful weekend! But before I get to that, I'll do a Friday update since I haven't blogged since Thursday.

Friday was I was so frickin' tired! Well, Thursday night after I blogged, fatigue hit me like a hammer to the head. I was tired through and through. In the morning I slept in until I heard Luke bellowing at me at 9:30 to give him a ride to the bus (the Swat, his lacrosse team, went to Calgary for 3 games this weekend). I threw some clothes on, brushed my teeth and hobbled about as quickly as I could muster. We would have been on time for the bus had Luke not NEEDED to stop at Tim Horton's on 22nd on the way. That place is CRAZY busy! When we pulled up to the bus at Kinsmen arena 5 minutes after 10:00, the coaches were outside the bus waiting for him, tapping their watches. Luke blamed it on me. I'm confident their smart enough to make their own deductions based on the Tim Horton's bag in his hand.

So home again and I made it to work shortly after 11:00. I worked late and through lunch to make it a full day. My goal was to work a full week and I wasn't going to fall short. I did it! YEAH!! Of course, Friday night was a total write off.

Oddly enough for me, I woke up early on Saturday and when I saw that shining sun I couldn't bring myself to go back to bed. And I told myself that it would be better if I got used to getting up earlier even if I did tired out earlier in the evening. Good practice for my work week. Since I was awake before 8:00, I decided to go to the Farmer's Market, where I haven't been in 2 years. It was FABULOUS!! I loved poking about. I picked up some items and then headed to the Saskatchewan Craft Council show and sale along the riverbank. They were only just about set up when I got there and it was perfect ... for me ... for viewing. And then I was home just as Kevin was waking up. What a lovely morning!!

Then I had chores. Did I mention that when I got back from my 2 weeks of traveling, everything in my cupboards seemed dirty? I would grab a "clean" glass from the cupboard and then have to wash it before using it. All of the dishes looked like they'd been outside in the wind, rain, and sun for a week. Of course, the dear men in my family hadn't really noticed. They just kept putting the dishes in the cupboards even though they were disgustingly and obviously yucky and then ... worse ... they were using them!! I finally determined that it's because of a further break-down of our already barely functioning dishwasher. Yesterday Kevin ran a load and the dishes came out looking dirtier than they went in. SO gross!! This is what they'd been doing while I was away and then putting the disgusting things neatly in the cupboards!  So my Saturday chore was to wash all the dishes in our cupboards. That's what I did. While I was at it, I wiped down the insides of the cupboards, too, of course. And now they're all sparkly clean. The dishwasher is off limits until our new one arrives in the middle of July. Even Kevin said he noticed how sparkly the glasses are ... as if that's not normal. Ewwwww!!

Even though it was beautiful out, I can't spend too much time in the sun so I just popped outside every now and then to watch Kevin plant flowers and pull a few weeks ... or just sit in the shade for a bit. It's so nice to have planted pots on our deck again!! I'll be watching for growth every day. I can't wait until they fill in!!

Last night we went to Darrel and Lynn's for dinner ... barbequed burgers, both beef and moose. All so good! And then we played cards. I can't even remember the last time I played canasta (hand and foot)! I'm usually too tired by the time someone suggests it. This time we started early enough and it was great to play again.

I saw Lori yesterday, too. This pile of my hats on Kevin's head ... as well as other smaller ones packed in the car ... are on their way along with my wigs (just in case they work for her) to Lori. Soon, I'm sad to say, she's going to need them. It reminds me to thank my friends again for all the hats and scarves they sent my way. I used them so much and they added some fun and function to what were a lot of otherwise dreary days. I'm happy to say I can mostly go without them now and I hope you're happy to have me share them with someone else who will need them.

I wish I could share the hilarious photo I took of Darrel wearing one of my wigs last night!!  He looked like one of the Beatles ... well, except for the moustache!  Very funny!  I promised him I wouldn't blog it.  But, trust me, he looked hilarious!  And awesome!

Lori did a clever thing I have to tell you about. To cover and protect her PICC-line, she cut the foot off an colourfully striped sock and pulled that over her PICC-line to make a very nice arm cuff! I wish I'd thought of that. In fact, she must have had two pairs of that sock because she was wearing socks that matched her PICC-line cuff. CLEVER!!

And now ... a beautiful Sunday. Time for oatmeal with blueberries, raspberries and banana! Mmmmm ...

By the way, the clematis above is from our very own backyard. It has been blooming like crazy for quite a while now!

If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops ...

... oh what a rain it would be! (lalalalala)

I got through yet another full day of work just fine. In fact, I felt more productive than usual. Maybe it was just the day or maybe it's just getting easier. One more day and it will be a whole week of full time work. My first since just over a year ago. A milestone.

Berny was in town and so she and I had coffee together this afternoon on campus! It was great to see her. I'm so inspired by her hair. She's had it "shaped" and coloured. It looks GREAT! I don't have quite as much to work with as Berny but I think I will make an appointment with Van for a consultation at least. Maybe he has some suggestions ... either to wait a bit longer or do something ... I don't know what.

I'm so excited about the nicer weather being predicted for this weekend. I so want to plant flowers. I'm sad to say that the foxglove pictured here is NOT in our garden. It's one I saw in Vancouver.

We finally got groceries tonight. Our cupboards were very bare. Following Hannah's example, I had blueberries for my snack tonight.

Happy Birthday, Lynne! 
I hope you had a fabulous day!

If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops ...

Rules for My Grown Son

I brought this book home from Montreal for Luke. I don't think he's that interested in it. He raised an eyebrow and I don't think he's cracked a page. It's chock-a-block full of good rules even for a boy just out of his teens. I think I imagined that it might make up for some of my failings or for those lessons that are just better learned coming from someone else ... if you know what I mean. Maybe his Dad will read it!

Examples:

• Keep a picture of your first fish, first car, and first girlfriend.

• Don't underestimate your fertility.

• Offer your date the seat with the best view of the restaurant.

• When selling tickets, take face value.

• Take her picture.

• Watch your language at the ballgame.

• When it comes to opening presents, no one likes a good guesser.

• Be careful not to ogle girls at the beach. That's what sunglasses are for.

• Offer to carry a woman's bags. Especially your mother's.

• Nothing good ever happens after 3 a.m. I promise.

• If you absolutely have to fight, punch first and punch hard.

• Never be afraid to ask out the best looking girl in the room.

And ... my personal favourite ...

• When excusing yourself from the table, you need not give a reason.

Rules for My Grown Son

Montreal Photos ... If You're Interested

While I was in Montreal, some of my photos wouldn't upload to the blog.  I was able to upload them now that I'm home.  If you want to see food photos, some shots of Montreal, and some of Hannah and Cody, scroll down.  You'll know you're in the right area by the big food photos.

Warning ... food photos best observed on a full stomach.

Montreal Photos ... If You're Interested

Remembering ...

There are better things to remember about this day than the fact that last year at this time I had my PICC-line in. *shudder* I wish I didn't have scars from it to remind me. I thought the marks would have faded more by now. Sylvia very thoughtfully stopped by with a card and gift. Thanks, Syl.

Enough about PICC-lines. Of course, that means that at this time last year I was also just about to start chemo. I'm not going to make anniversaries of those things, though I probably will want to do a hair comparison from the time I lost it to what I have a year later.

This week is my first week of working full time! I'm very happy about how I'm managing. It's encouraging. People who have been through similar experiences tell me that life really does return to something that feels normal. I can't wait ... though I'm not sure I believe them. Yet.

I have an appointment next Tuesday with a doctor to talk about my joints/tendons/muscles. If I could get my legs back to normal it would go a long way to my being able to sometimes forget what I've been through.

I have to give a little shout out to Cindy! I'll bet she didn't expect me to save a jar of her home-canned peaches for a special craving. Well today was the day. I celebrate today with the sweet, dense flavour of Cindy's canned peaches! DELICIOUS! I shared them. Big of me considering I could have hidden them in the back of the fridge and kept them just for me.

These flowers aren't mine. I took this photo in Vancouver. My clematis, though, is very pretty, too. It's just too dark for me to get a photo right now. Later, though ... when the sun shines ... and when I'm home while the sun is shining. There's not much of that this week. Our clematis is obviously happy where it is.

While I'm remembering, Betty Lou, Kerry, and Russell come to mind. And I wish Lori strength and courage. This isn't to say I don't think of a whole bunch of other people today. If I started listing you all, it would be endless. I'll bet you know what I mean. If you were to write down, during the course of a single day, all the people who crossed your mind ... I'll bet you would have a long list. I heard a song today by Chicago and every time I do, I remember Charles very fondly. 

Happy 20th Anniversary, Jim and Lynne! Your anniversary is a much happier event to mark the day with!

Remembering ...

Back To The Real World

It seems there's no escaping the rain. It rained most of the time we were in Vancouver ... a lot of the time I was in Montreal ... and now that I'm home. Rain. I might have to get an umbrella.

So ... a review of the past two weeks of travel, family events, conferences, hotels. I managed swimmingly, if I do say so myself! I'm very happy about how I held up. I got home Sunday around supper time and then rode my bike to work Monday morning and put in a full day. I didn't really poop out until around 8:30. Anybody would have, I think. If I didn't have to look at myself (well, I guess I don't) and if I didn't have these sore shoulders and stiff legs, I would almost feel back to "normal".

My ankle was it's most swollen last night. That's odd. I had skipped taking my Wobenzym for the past couple of days just because my ankle was doing so great. Maybe I should have continued taking it anyway. Maybe riding my bike to and from work wasn't good for it. I'll take my care now.

Now that I'm home, I'm going to make an appointment to talk to a doctor about why my legs were "cured" while I was on antibiotics and morphine (for my absessed tooth). I don't expect to be on morphine again but perhaps there's a reasonable pharmaceutical that will do the trick. It's worth asking. Those were the most heavenly days ... when my limbs felt so free and able.

It's nice to be home. Kevin and I stopped at Cory Park last night and picked up some bedding plants ... FLOWERS! Everything was so pretty, I wanted it all!! Kevin made me stop. Now ... if it would quit raining ... we could get them planted! There's room for something pretty around these rocks, that's for sure.

Back To The Real World

The Notre Dame Church

The twin towers of the Notre Dame Church. It's so busy with tourists, we didn't go in. Another time.

The Notre Dame Church

Wedding Frenzy

Hannah and I must have seen 6 or 7 wedding parties today! All in Old Montreal! Lots of brides means even more bride's maids ... pretty dresses everywhere!

Wedding Frenzy

Facade

We've seen several big reconstruction projects in Montreal where they've used these printed facades to cover the mess ... you're not seeing through the plastic ... the architectural features are printed right on the material, whatever it is. I find it interesting. Hannah sees lots of this in Vancouver, too. It's a lot easier on the eyes than the usual construction mess. It must cost a lot to print such massive panels!

Facade

Little Bits of Fric-a-frac

Here's a close-up of the work of art I just posted. I love it!

Little Bits of Fric-a-frac

Fascinating Art

I saw this piece over a door in Old Montreal. I think it's fascinating. I didn't see an artist's name anywhere. I'll post a close-up of a section to give you a better idea of it.

Fascinating Art

Stalking Leonard

This is near where Leonard Cohen lives. This is the bagel shop he frequents and across the street is this park. Leonard lives somewhere near this park.

We weren't just in the neighbourhood to stalk Leonard (honest) ... we were going to Schwartz's, the famous corned beef place. We didn't eat any corned beef, though. There were about 30 people in line waiting to place their orders. We just bought some steak spice for Kevin and then "did the skidaddle". We kept walking until we got to the Vegan restaurant. No boys ... no need for meat.

Stalking Leonard

Deadly Fashion

I saw these in a shop in Old Montreal. Not everything in the shop was so bizarre. There was a lot of jewelery by the same artisan who made the gold bracelet we got Hannah for her convocation, which was so nice to see. But these shoes were too strange!! Can you imagine the likelihood of catching those two extra elevated "heels" on things? I would so wipe out! What doesn't show is that these heels aren't just brown ... they're rusted steel! I don't get it.

Deadly Fashion

Gal Pals

This makes you want to sit right down with these women and join the gab-fest. Hannah suggested I should while she took a photo but I wasn't feeling photogenic ... as if I might! Ha!

Gal Pals

More Montreal Love

More hearts. We found these in Old Montreal.

More Montreal Love

Look What We Found!! Macarons!!

I have SO wanted to taste real macarons! I still plan on making them but seeing them and tasting them will be such a treat before embarking on such a challenging baking project.

We found these in Old Montreal where I also thought of Chantelle, the cupcake baker. They had lots of pretty cupcakes, too. I haven't tasted the macarons yet. Hannah and I are saving them for later tonight.

After a good sleep, I'm happy to say my ankle is much improved from yesterday. I was glad to have my Wobenzym N here with me. I took a couple doses of it since yesterday and I really believe it has made the difference. Even though I was a bit slow today, I didn't limp too badly. My ankle would start to hurt after much walking but if I sat for a little while, I would be able to walk more comfortably for a while again. I did so much better than either of us thought I would.

This is how you know a restaurant is good. In a city full of eateries, we went back to that Vegan restaurant for lunch because it was that good! Vegetables are our friends. Hannah needs a steady intake to feel right and it's good for me, too. We have to allow for macarons, right?!

We walked around Old Montreal. Saw lots of weddings taking place! It rained a bit, which felt good, too. I don't mind a little rain. The only problem, which I didn't realize until I got back to the hotel, is that it made my hair curl more tightly revealing a LOT more scalp than I'm used to. ICK!!

Our goal was to find Hannah some shoes and/or summer clothes in the fashion capital of Canada. No could do. She is SO picky!! I could fall in love with clothes in just about any store we walked into, but my girl is very particular. That's fine. I just wanted to buy her something pretty while we were here. So, instead, and since my ankle was finished by late afternoon, I sent her to a Swedish spa while I came back here to the hotel.

I've had a bath and will start packing up for my flight home tomorrow. I've been away for a long time and it will be nice to be home again even though I have really loved this time with Hannah. She will stay here a few more days with Cody before going to Toronto for a week and then she'll be in New York for a while. She'll surely find nice shoes and clothes in those places. She'll have to send me a picture!

Look What We Found!! Macarons!!

Calamity Heather / Polyanna Heather

Calamity Heather ... gets through a week of conferencing with pretty good stamina. We finished up yesterday at noon after which Hannah and I started our little weekend adventure together. We walked a little way down Ste. Catherine's and then took the metro to the part of town where Cody lives. From there we had walked little more than a few blocks down the street when, with my eyes on street signs and buildings, I stepped into a giant sidewalk divot and turned my ankle! I caught myself from falling down entirely. Good thing or I surely would have hurt myself worse. As it was, I sprained my ankle and/or pulled tendons along the outside of my foot. How's that for a drag?! The immediate pain was so bad, I wondered how I was going to walk anywhere so I just stood for quite a while waiting for the pain to settle so I could better determine how badly I was hurt. Man, it hurt!! And then I hobbled along. We did quite a big of walking / hobbling. Every now and then we would stop for me to rest it and put some ice on it (thanks to kind waiters). Poor Hannah. I'm already a slow mover compared to the very quick pace she's used to and with my injured ankle we quite literally inched along.

Polyanna Heather ... at one point I remember feeling so disappointed that I wanted to stomp my good foot and say, "Why do these things always happen to me?!" ... after which I immediately laughed because that is so not true. These things do not ALWAYS happen to me. Aside from this cancer business, I have always considered myself more fortunate than not. I have no reason to whine over a sprained ankle. We still had a nice day even though our mission to find Hannah a pair of shoes was unsuccessful. The pair she fell in love with was not available in her size.

We had dinner at a very nice vegan restaurant on Ste. Laurent ... Aux Vivres. SO GOOD! We started with corn bread (served toasted) with guacamole. YUMMY. Then we had amazing salads! Hannah needed this. The restaurant had been described to her as a place that makes one feel cleansed after eating there. We concur. Everything was so good.

We took a cab home. No more walking for me! By then I was totally done!! Overdone, to tell you the truth.

We had initially planned on walking around Old Montreal in the evening. Apparently, it's beautifully lit up at night but I wasn't going anywhere. I parked on the bed, Hannah got me some ice, and that's where I stayed for the rest of the night. Hannah ran out and picked us up some snacks, as pictured above. Guess who chose what. This explains both of us. Hannah had a craving for organic blueberries. I requested Doritos and this was the closest Hannah could find. We both like dark chocolate. I have to admit, her blueberries were the better choice. They tasted so refreshing compared to Munchi Mix. I continue to learn from my kids, you see.

So we both sprawled on the bed and watched a pay-per-view movie, A Single Man. A VERY good movie, by the way. I would like to see it again on a better screen. It's a real visual movie. Artfully done.

Calamity Heather / Polyanna Heather

The Art of Dessert

And yes ... we had to have dessert! It selections sounded too interesting to resist. Mine ... at the top ... was stuffed prunes baked in a pastry and then covered with saucy orange peel and and powdered sugar with a scoop of ice cream that I think was hazelnut and cardamom.

Hannah had three flavours of sherbet made at the restaurant.

Cody had strawberry parfait made with vanilla ice cream made at the restaurant.

Oh yeah. Dessert was GOOD!

While we were walking to the restaurant, we saw this graffiti. The stickers at the top (that form a face) are made by Graham, an artist friend of Hannah's in Vancouver! It was so amazing to see them just there along the street so far from where he lives.

The Art of Dessert

Fine but Casual Dining in Montreal

Here are Cody and Hannah outside the restaurant Cody recommended for us. It was a VERY good recommendation! We brought our own wine as you can at many restaurants here.

Don't our meals look fascinating?! They were. Delicious, too.

The circles on top of my beef dish are foie gras! You probably know that I'm not the most adventurous diner so I even surprised myself by trying the foie gras! I've always been curious about it (and a little creeped out). I found it to be a flavour sensation ... as Cody prepared me for. It's such an interesting mix of flavours ... none of which I could really identify.

Hannah had red deer (venison), which was so tender and so good.

Cody had duck stuffed with foie gras.

Fine but Casual Dining in Montreal

LOVIN' Montreal!

I do love Montreal. I would walk around here forever just enjoying all there is to see. Here are just a few things.

The double heart sculpture. LOVELY!

Kids playing street hockey in a back alley. How Canadian! How adorable!

People sitting on the roof on a busy street on a beautiful evening.

A huge anime mural on brick.

I wish I had time to just walk around and capture all the things that caught my eye. There wouldn't be room on my camera. I did not see Leonard Cohen walking about but Cody has! They literally bumped into each other one day ... shoulder to shoulder. Cool!

Roger (my sherpa) and I ... and a whole lot other other delegates from the Ottawa Summit (for a people-centred economy) ... took the Via Rail train to Montreal on Tuesday evening. The train ride was very nice. So much nicer than a bus or a plane. Our train was delayed for an hour because of some mechanical issues, but no biggie. Hannah was here when we arrived at our hotel which is only a 5 minute walk from the conference location ... Concordia University. She, Roger and I stepped out for a late dinner near our hotel and then I packed it in while Hannah went out with her friend, Cody.

Yesterday and today were busy conference days and last night Cody, Hannah and I went to a very nice restaurant recommended by Cody ... who should know because he lived here and got his journalism degree from Concordia.

This afternoon I kind of bit the dust and went back to the hotel for a long soak in the tub and a lay down. That's what I needed to do. We have a conference banquet tonight and I'm bringing Hannah with me. She's interested in "conference culture".

LOVIN' Montreal!