I realised after reviewing my post on Month Three, I started counting from the 16th, when we met with the oncologist and David started treatment. The diagnosis was actually Friday, August 12, otherwise known to me as Black Friday.
Month Four was another turning point in David’s health; chronically low blood counts weren’t a problem before. [...]

I’ve discovered it simply isn’t possible to take care of David properly, get him to his appointments and therapies, look after the house and cat, communicate with everyone I’d like, take photos or write, make up cards and packages, and hold on to my sense of humour or sanity at the same time. Something had [...]

Definitely an indoor cat, Hugh makes two attempts at venturing out into the first big snowfall of December ‘05, then decides snow is overrated.
Music: “It’s a Marshmallow World” - Dean Martin

Who keeps airline socks? Anyone? I found some in a drawer this morning and they were PERFECT for putting over David’s swollen ankles to go to clinic this morning. Who knew?
It’s been a long, tiring day. Both of us had a hard time getting through the prolonged time at the clinic, where the radiation machine [...]

It sounds like the beginning of a joke:

“A German, a Canadian, a Dutchie, and an Englishwoman walk into a bar…”

Ansgar drove down from Germany to meet Lucy and me in Amsterdam, where we flew in from Manchester shortly before Christmas. Fedor met up with us later and took us sightseeing in Volendam, where somebody had the bright idea for us to get dressed up!! (That person wasn’t me.)

As you’ve probably guessed, the other major reason why I haven’t updated this space for a while is medically-related. I write about myself, but I hesitate to write about David because I prefer if he writes about his own condition. The patient/caregiver perspectives differ, and I strive to keep a balance between us regarding the [...]

I did a double-take. [photo by gail on the web]
It looked more like a system crash than a mileage reading!

Famous words by Groucho Marx.
I did, in fact, join a photography club earlier this evening:
Northeast Photography Club
There was a mixup on the website, so I actually showed up an hour early along with two others, so we three had a good natter while waiting for the rest to arrive. The club formed in 1989, so [...]

I’ve been absent around these parts for a number of reasons…

… but let’s start with the good stuff, shall we?

Yesterday the five Ms (Maribeth, Megan, Madeleine, Michael, and Melissa) received Christmas package 1 of 2. Which was a complete surprise since I only mailed it last FRIDAY. For a box, four days between Pennsylvania and BC is remarkable, especially over a weekend!

When I took the package to the post office, it was with more than a twinge of sadness. This will be my very first Christmas without the Ms since the first one (Melissa) came into this world in 1999. I’m not a huge fan of Christmas, but watching small children opening presents is something I’ve come to cherish very much since they were old enough for parent-sanctioned paper shredding.

I don’t recall ever taking Nyquil before, but its sedative properties are legendary, I’ve been told. Thusly, I spent much of the day in an unconscious state. Deservedly so — I can’t cough or sneeze in my sleep, right? It was a pleasant reprieve. When I sleep, it’s just like sleep mode on a computer: [...]