Seek not to follow in the footsteps of men of old; seek what they sought. -Matsuo Basho, poet (1644-1694)
art blog:..and now for something completely different...
Hello! Just posted about my latest gallery exhibit!
You can find details at:
http://DeborahSawyerArt.blogspot.com
Enjoy! Deborah P.S. Fear not, fans of "Evil Greens"! The series
will resume shortly...
Greetings from the Bottom Rung of the Evil Island Inn!
Hi Tamara de Lempicka!
Like your latest painting! So does Cora Lee. She was starting to worry about about re-potting on patio, now that we are back. Needed Maggie as a bodyguard against any Evil Greens here on the West Coast!
Hi Big Al!
Thanks for the
Welcome Back! Wonderful trip but it is always wonderful be to be home as
well. Yes, Mom suffered a heart attack while we were in Darwin, (about
two weeks before we were to leave for Japan), but in talking to Chloe we
decided that there was little we could do, by returning, in any event.
Given her mental state, even before we left it, is hard to know if she
even recognizes us. Once we were satisfied that Chloe would be fine in
the event of Mom's death, we decided to continue our trip. Of course, it
was a blessing that she was still alive, and relatively well, when we
returned last Thursday. I gather you know Whirlygig picked us up at YVR.
At any rate we saw Annie almost as soon as we had dumped our bags.
She
certainly is a tough old bird! That being said, she is spending most of
her time in bed now. Staff get her up around noon and on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, I went to the Lodge to feed lunch. She still has an
appetite and I assume this is one of the main reasons she is still
around. For my past, I was feeling great. Even went for short rides
after visiting with Mom, (YVR to collect two corkscrews confiscated In
Hong Kong, while in Transit! [More later!], on Friday and out to UBC on
Sunday. Didn't really have any jet-lag to speak of and was going to send
out a call to the Full Peleton after those couple of leg warmers and we
had finally unpacked and settled back in. Mom visited ahd her condition
stable, etc.
Unfortunately, fairly early Sunday evening I
started to feel a bit funny after dinner. We had enjoyed a delicious
meal with Flamin' and Sarge and were sittng in the living room chatting
and Nicole said I looked like I needed to go to bed as my eyes looked
glassy. I actually didn't feel tired at all but because I did feel a bit
"off" I gave my thanks and made my way upstairs. Cora Lee remained to
visit and Chloe was having a bite when I walked in. By the time I was at
hope I was almost shaking with a fever and chills and started to cough.
There is quite bit of white fluffy "stuff", Dogwood I think, around our
place. Lots of balls of it even in our Parkade and I cycled through
streets of it coming and going to UBC. I started coughing when i was
near Jericho on way home and simply assumed it was an allergic reaction.
Well, it was a horrible night and every bone and muscle in my body
ached, my temples felt like they were being squeezed in a vice, a
pounding headache. My stomach muscles, in particular, were like my ribs,
whenever I coughed. The pain, while perhaps not excruciating, was such
that I would wince when I knew I was going to cough.
I can
honestly say that I don't think I've ever felt so ill and beside myself
before. I kept imagining, hoping, that this was a 24 hour flu bug,
caught somewhere between Narita/Hong Kong and Vancouver. I took all
sorts of cold/flu medication and Advil, even some "Mexicans" that have
proved relief in the past with a persistent cough. I spent all of Monday
in bed, drinking as much as I could manage, and moaning after each
coughing bout, breathing in shallow gasps as the pain subsided after the
wracking fit. (Through the "fog" of it all, I thought of Jon Krakauer,
author of Into Thin Air, an incredible tale of an ascent of Everest gone
terribly wrong, in case you don't know it. Well worth a read. Could
hardly put it down once started. At one point, due to extreme
conditions, he develops a cough and his spasms becomes so violent that
he breaks or cracks at least one, if not more, of his ribs. For my part,
I felt so desperately ill and uncomfortable that I really didn't care
whether I continued breathing or not. I simply cannot imagine his agony
and the circumstances under which he was forced to endure it but it gave
me some inkling of what strength some individuals can muster.)
Little
had changed by Tuesday morning, although I was able to think a little
more clearly and told Corinne that I thought I probably had pneumonia.
She was able to squeeze me, ahead of her, to see our GP and after a
quick listen to my chest, etc., she agreed with my diagnosis and sent me
for a blood test and X-ray, clutching a prescription for antibiotics in
one hand. Am more than pleased to say that the pain for the coughing
has abated, as well as headache and high temperature. However, I still
feel lethargic. I have a bite to eat and read and sleep for three or
four hours and then repeat this
process all over.
I had
intended to send an email two days ago, once back from seeing the doctor
and having started taking medication but I simply didn't have the
energy. Same held true for most of today but after a fairly light dinner
this evening, I decided I really needed to start trying to function. So
this rather long-winded apology/explanation for not being in touch
sooner. I'm off to have a shower shortly as I usually feel a tad better
as a result. Furthermore, I want to try to stay up for a bit as since
I've been sleeping most of the day it can be difficult to fall asleep
even when I want to do so. Cora Lee and I will watch an episode of MI5
that Chloe recorded for us while we were away.
Trust you and
Marilyn, and the Young Brothers, are well. Loads to tell about all sorts
of things and am keen to hear about your busy lives as well. Fondestos
from Cora Lee. Cheers, Patrizzio!
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