tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41085600186129356872024-03-08T09:24:58.564-05:00Living with FibroA chronicle of life's day-to-day struggles -- when it isn't JUST fibromyalgiaC. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.comBlogger1145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-88500814546913184812020-05-03T11:00:00.000-04:002020-05-03T11:04:13.634-04:00Now meet AdelineOur second great granddaughter was born in 2018. Victoria's baby sister Adeline joined the family on February 18th and what a delight she is.<br />
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And once again, when we get together, I hold the baby, every chance I get.<br />
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Because, as I might have mentioned, I looooooove holding babies!<br />
<br />C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-83654046892283953982020-05-03T10:08:00.002-04:002020-05-03T11:03:31.301-04:00Meet VictoriaFive years go by oh so fast!<br />
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One highlight of 2015 which I had not documented was the arrival of our great granddaughter. Natalie's stepdaughter, Alexis, gave birth to Victoria on May 17, 2015.<br />
I met the little angel later that month.<br />
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And at Christmas time, of course, I held her for as much of the visit as I could.<br />
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I might have mentioned that I looooove holding babies.<br />
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C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-65875849074042580142015-12-08T06:24:00.000-05:002015-12-08T06:24:07.780-05:00Getting Ready for ChristmasSuch a busy season.<br />
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The Advent Calendar is filled and counting down the days. (Drawers 1 - 7 have already been emptied and reversed.)</div>
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My Village is assembled and bringing me much pleasure each morning and afternoon. This photo was taken a couple of years ago and as usual, it's never the same two years in a row so it looks different again this year. There's been a few additions, one highlight being a marching band. </div>
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And of course, the Creche is awaiting the arrival of its special guests. It actually sits empty now, since the guests don't arrive until the 24th.<br />
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Christmas is such a busy, blessed season.<br />
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<br />C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-25357462218506761072015-09-27T11:53:00.001-04:002015-09-27T11:53:17.232-04:00Yet another surgery coming up<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here I go again.</div>
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On Thursday, October 8th, I will undergo yet another hip surgery.</div>
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Yep. I know.</div>
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I've already had two replacements. The left in January 2012, and the right just a year ago.</div>
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So where does a third one happen, you ask.</div>
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Well, the right hip has to be redone -- it's called revision surgery. </div>
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You will recall that I did really well with the right hip arthroplasty. My recovery was without incident and I sailed through the rehab physio sessions.</div>
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All was right with the world.</div>
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Until it wasn't.</div>
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I enjoyed the benefits of the replacement until about March of this year, when I started to experience difficulty in my groin. I put it down to fatigue and figured it would pass.</div>
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Well, it didn't pass. It worsened.</div>
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And it worsened until I had to seek medical advice.</div>
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My physiotherapist advised me to see my surgeon. That appointment was still months away.</div>
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My massage therapist had the same advice.</div>
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My family doctor encouraged me to try to get an appointment with the surgeon sooner rather than later.</div>
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No can do. I would simply have to wait my turn.</div>
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When my turn finally came in June, he wanted to rule out infection so he ordered blood work and a hip aspiration, during which he also allowed a cortisone injection to help alleviate the pain. I had three days of blissful pain-free activity.<br />And it's been downhill since then.</div>
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My next visit with the surgeon, during which he told me there was no infection, he suggested that the prosthetic could be loose but the only way to tell is to go back in. He wanted to take a wait and see approach, to perhaps allow the cortisone shot more time to work.</div>
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At the next follow-up visit it was clear that I was declining and his examination told him that in all likelihood the ball had not adhered properly to the muscle. He would have to revisit it. But this time he can't go in "on the dotted line." He has to make a new incision, this time towards my backside, to allow him to have full access to the unit.</div>
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I'm told that revision surgery is a more involved, longer surgery than a straight replacement. It's also a longer recovery, and takes longer to rehab. And I will have significantly different restrictions for a longer period of time.</div>
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Oh, I am so not looking forward to this.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSkDKkk5FTk/VggQzGuTpFI/AAAAAAAAEiM/fGRAN7eSLsg/s1600/Maxine-My%2Bhip%2Bhurts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSkDKkk5FTk/VggQzGuTpFI/AAAAAAAAEiM/fGRAN7eSLsg/s400/Maxine-My%2Bhip%2Bhurts.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-64519274339382468282015-09-20T09:02:00.000-04:002015-09-20T09:02:00.179-04:00My failed experiment<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to show my support for my beloved Toronto Blue Jays.</div>
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And how would I do that, you ask?</div>
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Well, obviously, I'd dye my hair Blue Jays blue.</div>
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So plans were made with my hairdresser to ensure that she would have the appropriate colour in stock and an appointment was secured for Friday morning.</div>
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"You know it's going to be, ummm, vibrant?" she asked.</div>
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"Yes," said I. "I want to make a statement."</div>
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"As long as you know that it can't be dyed out once you do it. It has to be grown out and cut off to get rid of it," she cautioned me.</div>
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"That's fine," I answered. "The way my hair grows, I'm not at all concerned. Push comes to shove, I'll shave my head again."</div>
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Finally, the day arrived and I was oh soooo excited.</div>
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I sat in the chair and she applied the dye to my hair and we watched as the colour looked very much like what we both expected.</div>
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We sat and chatted while we waited out the clock.</div>
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And then she washed the dye out, and sat me back in the chair in front of the mirror.</div>
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"Oh my God! That's not Blue Jays blue," I exclaimed. "My hair's purple!"</div>
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I don't know who was more disappointed. Me for not having what I expected. Or my hairdresser for not coming through as promised. She was clearly not happy with her supplier, who had assured her that she had been sold what she needed to get the job done.</div>
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Suffice to say, in time, my head will likely be shaved. Again. Like I said, fortunately, my hair grows fast.</div>
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Not quite the statement I had wanted to make.</div>
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But a statement nevertheless.</div>
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And it is only hair!</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-32264035344545510902015-08-29T05:11:00.000-04:002015-08-29T05:11:10.190-04:00My baby is 40 !<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today marks my little chickadee's 40th birthday. (Yes, I can admit to having a 40 year old daughter, although I myself am still only 29!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My daughter entered the world at 1:16 pm on this date back in 1975, and what a terrific addition to this world she has proven to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She has become a truly marvelous young woman of whom I am extremely proud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She is a terrific daughter and a fabulous mother.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But most of all, my daughter has become a wonderful friend.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She was an early talker, and has been bending my ear non-stop ever since. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In her early years, I can remember wishing she had never learned to talk, she did so much of it! </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I look forward to her telephone calls, and miss the days that we can't fit one in.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (The calls don't happen nearly often enough now, what with texting being such a popular mode of correspondence.) </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One would think we'd run out of things to talk about but somehow, that never seems to happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She was an adorable toddler ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">... who blossomed into a truly stunning young lady ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">... and matured into a beautiful woman, inside and out.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oYFXPMTk5w/U_8xUapWigI/AAAAAAAAEOs/IxjGA3bWYu0/s1600/Natalie%2Bmakeover%2BAugust%2B2013%2B-%2BB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7c93a1; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oYFXPMTk5w/U_8xUapWigI/AAAAAAAAEOs/IxjGA3bWYu0/s1600/Natalie%2Bmakeover%2BAugust%2B2013%2B-%2BB.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="352" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She fills my heart with love and pride.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy 40th birthday Natalie, my beauty queen daughter!</span></div>
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C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-6566023311694715552015-08-09T21:00:00.000-04:002015-08-28T13:37:09.437-04:00I'm 65!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yes I am.</div>
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And I embraced my new age.</div>
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Today.</div>
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Now, I qualify for O(ld) A(ge) S(ecurity) payments from the government.</div>
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We had a fabulous party to celebrate my joining the OAS Club.</div>
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Family and friends joined us in the dining room of our favourite local pizza haunt to mark the occasion. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8X00iRRcP18/Vc-hKpFhraI/AAAAAAAAEfU/YjBTjWrOQH0/s1600/_AAA7070a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8X00iRRcP18/Vc-hKpFhraI/AAAAAAAAEfU/YjBTjWrOQH0/s640/_AAA7070a.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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And on this special occasion, we seized the opportunity to "recreate" a favourite photo of me and my little chickadee. We felt it was time it should be updated.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K-rq8oS7BNE/Vc-f-ejHtII/AAAAAAAAEe8/RHgyOZuyPv8/s1600/FB-Me%2Band%2BNatalie%2B-%2Bthen%2Band%2Bnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K-rq8oS7BNE/Vc-f-ejHtII/AAAAAAAAEe8/RHgyOZuyPv8/s640/FB-Me%2Band%2BNatalie%2B-%2Bthen%2Band%2Bnow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As MLC summed it up in a Facebook posting to her cousin, "<span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">Well neither of us had the right outfit, mom's glasses are significantly smaller, I have way better hair...and we were laughing far too much. So, there's a picture, I just don't think it would be immediately obvious that it was meant to be a re-creation."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">Nevertheless, it is our recreated photo. And one I will treasure.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">Tomorrow, I go back to being 29!</span>C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-68255293081233819432015-04-08T14:25:00.001-04:002015-04-08T14:25:25.018-04:00Yikes, it's been a long time<div style="text-align: justify;">
Have I really not posted here since mid-February?</div>
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Wow!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have an excuse.</div>
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Sort of.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You see, our lives were turned upside down last fall when John was diagnosed with what was believed to be liver cancer.</div>
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It took months of back-and-forth medical appointments to nail down the diagnosis.</div>
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It was liver cancer.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But it was totally treatable.</div>
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His surgery happened on February 25th.</div>
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We were told it was a four hour surgery, with a five day hospital stay.</div>
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Turned out to be an eight hour surgery, with a 17 day hospital stay.</div>
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I'll post more about the long, tiring ordeal later but suffice to say that he is now home and recovering quite nicely, albeit too slowly for his liking. (The good news is they got it all, there's no sign of any further cancer, and he requires no other treatments!)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The wound re-opened at each end so we've had to be going to the local clinic for dressing changes every second day. He's just graduated to every three days because, finally, they are starting to close.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The nurse predicts it will be another month before they are fully healed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the meantime, John still fatigues easily. I've explained to him that as long as he is still having to heal that wound, his body is using all its defenses toward that healing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In time, his energy will come back.</div>
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The other good news is we celebrated his birthday on Monday -- his 83rd.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5adrpy6ypM/VSVwd-yoaVI/AAAAAAAAEeI/E-5UeAppk7M/s1600/John%2Bbday%2Bcake%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5adrpy6ypM/VSVwd-yoaVI/AAAAAAAAEeI/E-5UeAppk7M/s1600/John%2Bbday%2Bcake%2B2015.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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For some reason, dyslexia sets in every April around this household!</div>
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This year, instead of a birthday pizza outing, he chose a breakfast outing. Putting candles in his eggs was a challenge but I managed to turn his plate into a celebration anyway. (The blue thingy plays "Happy Birthday" as lights dance along the letters.)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tF0fXKjVWV0/VSVwd9MbBMI/AAAAAAAAEeA/72D_u5gCeQs/s1600/John%2Bbday%2Bbreakfast%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tF0fXKjVWV0/VSVwd9MbBMI/AAAAAAAAEeA/72D_u5gCeQs/s1600/John%2Bbday%2Bbreakfast%2B2015.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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And of course, that day was also opening day of baseball season so we spent the afternoon watching our Blue Jays ball club beat dem damn Yanks on their own turf!</div>
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What more could a birthday boy ask?</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-65118040612362845252015-02-15T10:55:00.002-05:002015-02-15T12:42:22.045-05:00February 15th - A special day in our historyToday is the 50th anniversary of the day Canada's national flag was first raised on Parliament Hill.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOu0IRpfSMk/VOC7djGbvyI/AAAAAAAAEcI/krMKGu-zHjA/s1600/o-LESTER-PEARSON-FLAG-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOu0IRpfSMk/VOC7djGbvyI/AAAAAAAAEcI/krMKGu-zHjA/s1600/o-LESTER-PEARSON-FLAG-facebook.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
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It has served us well these 50 years, and will continue to do so for many more, I'm sure, given the international respect it garners.</div>
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For many years Canadians tried to convince the federal government to declare February 15th a national holiday, to mark that momentous day in our history. But the feds just won't budge on that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Several provinces have since acknowledged that the day is worthy of recognition and have their own version of holiday to commemorate the event. In Ontario, we have "Family Day" -- the Monday nearest February 15th -- a day for families to spend together. It's the best they could come up with. So those who work for provincially-regulated employers have the day off to spend with their families. Those who are employed in federally-regulated workplaces must take a vacation day to do the same. Keep in mind, day care providers and teachers all have the day off, being provincially employed. So all the children are home that day, many of whose parents are employed in the federal government.</div>
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But I digress.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back in 1965, when that flag was first raised, my best friend sister was celebrating her 16th birthday. We decided then and there that the day should be an annual national holiday. After all, if the country could party this hardy on her 16th, why not every year?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZi-FKwtaeo/VODA_kHIuEI/AAAAAAAAEco/nUCHqHYf8BY/s1600/BONNIE%2BAND%2BWENDY%2B1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZi-FKwtaeo/VODA_kHIuEI/AAAAAAAAEco/nUCHqHYf8BY/s1600/BONNIE%2BAND%2BWENDY%2B1951.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Wendy and Bonnie 1951</i></div>
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<i>(with their Mother)</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bsUcgQOZDWs/VOC9lRjv7QI/AAAAAAAAEcU/kHC4sA4hA2c/s1600/BONNIEANDWENDY1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bsUcgQOZDWs/VOC9lRjv7QI/AAAAAAAAEcU/kHC4sA4hA2c/s1600/BONNIEANDWENDY1999.JPG" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Wendy and Bonnie, Aug 1999</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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For the record, we still think February 15th should be a national holiday.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Happy 66th Wendy, with love from Canada!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U45UKcpwNSI/VOC_2QkcGcI/AAAAAAAAEcg/bRS_MeEP9yQ/s1600/canada-flag-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U45UKcpwNSI/VOC_2QkcGcI/AAAAAAAAEcg/bRS_MeEP9yQ/s1600/canada-flag-2.jpg" height="316" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-30210250522789287702015-02-14T06:21:00.001-05:002015-02-14T06:21:28.442-05:00It's February 14th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4ZNIwNTyEc/VN8vmai1f6I/AAAAAAAAEb4/iEOGh4tyTIw/s1600/Happy%2BValentines%2BDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4ZNIwNTyEc/VN8vmai1f6I/AAAAAAAAEb4/iEOGh4tyTIw/s1600/Happy%2BValentines%2BDay.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-74086094076523761672015-02-06T10:52:00.001-05:002015-02-06T19:23:08.594-05:00Fun with my FitBit<div style="text-align: justify;">
Santa brought me a FitBit for Christmas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I love it!</i></div>
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I'm having so much fun with it.</div>
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One thing it's doing for me is making me ever so conscious of my steps, and the effect that those steps have on my body.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For instance, I actually managed -- one Sunday -- to get up to 10,000 steps in. And the next day my muscles were taking me nowhere!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scratch that idea. When you have fibro, you have to pace yourself and 10,000 steps in a day is way too much. I don't care what the experts say!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've since learned that if I limit my steps to between 5,000 - 6,000 steps a day, I'm OK -- for the most part.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anything over 6,000 steps in one day and I have terrible leg cramps during the night. I've seen the pattern. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So now I try to make at minimum 5,000 steps each day. Anything over that is a bonus.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The price I pay for going over that 6,000 step threshold in a day? Besides the leg cramps that night, I can't make even 2,500 steps the next day. Simply not worth it in my books.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the feature I most enjoy with this FitBit is the sleep monitoring report.</div>
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I indicate when I'm going to sleep and when I wake up. And it monitors me while I'm "asleep."</div>
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I've learned that on average it takes me six minutes to actually fall asleep. (I've always felt that it took me "forever." Apparently, that's not true.)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've also learned that when I'm "sick" (which I have been for most of the month of January), I waken anywhere from 11 to 17 times a night. Not a very restful sleep. But when I've not been sick, I waken perhaps two times. A much more normal pattern, methinks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sleep data has always been of interest to me and I love getting this information every morning. I know it's not the most accurate of data in a scientific sense, but it is reporting something. And I'm enjoying it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oh, I also like learning that during my sleeping period, I'm taking steps too. Yep. Some nights I'm walking nine to twelve steps at a time, without getting out of bed. Neat trick that, don't you think?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Have I mentioned that I'm having fun with my FitBit?</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-3448833548061486942015-01-30T06:32:00.000-05:002015-01-30T14:20:43.447-05:00My "Hot Chocolate" dateOn Monday, my neighbour brought over some zucchini cake to have with hot chocolate.<br />
Have I mentioned that she has the cutest daughter ever?<br />
My soon-to-be-ten-months-old buddy sat with me while I had my hot chocolate. <br />
Her Mom gave me permission to share.<br />
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95t2s6Z938I/VMtouwROe9I/AAAAAAAAEaw/cpvV80MOSGA/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95t2s6Z938I/VMtouwROe9I/AAAAAAAAEaw/cpvV80MOSGA/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"What did you think of that?"</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OiBWrmKEpg/VMto8_zk80I/AAAAAAAAEa0/L-2fIeU5ywg/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OiBWrmKEpg/VMto8_zk80I/AAAAAAAAEa0/L-2fIeU5ywg/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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"Let's try that again, just to be sure."</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IRKLYC-Ip2U/VMtpqc624gI/AAAAAAAAEa8/rOrrJmXfBhM/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IRKLYC-Ip2U/VMtpqc624gI/AAAAAAAAEa8/rOrrJmXfBhM/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B3.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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"Oh yeh, I think she likes it!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XUlNdHQ3unQ/VMtp4pyA1FI/AAAAAAAAEbE/O8CrwL9LUWs/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XUlNdHQ3unQ/VMtp4pyA1FI/AAAAAAAAEbE/O8CrwL9LUWs/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B5.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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"<i>More, please!</i>"</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sTLlipxej1c/VMtqGjz9bDI/AAAAAAAAEbM/e_AWh2lo10U/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sTLlipxej1c/VMtqGjz9bDI/AAAAAAAAEbM/e_AWh2lo10U/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B6.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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"<i>Why did you stop?"</i></div>
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<i>"</i>Well, Mom said that's enough."</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uA7v2Wzp2DQ/VMtrGJeNiOI/AAAAAAAAEbk/jjvhegEWUmQ/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uA7v2Wzp2DQ/VMtrGJeNiOI/AAAAAAAAEbk/jjvhegEWUmQ/s1600/Hot%2BChocolate%2B4.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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"<i>Really Mom? But it's soooooo good!"</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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That was a very fun day indeed.</div>
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She is such a sweetheart, and a delight to have for a neighbour!</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-89908266011182063132015-01-28T06:55:00.001-05:002015-01-28T06:55:12.333-05:00John's "new" dog<div style="text-align: justify;">
My neighbour has become a very good friend. We regularly visit back and forth and very much enjoy each other's company.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Toop, John's dog, has been living in the house for the winter. She's getting on in years and John feels that she doesn't cope with the cold quite as well as she used to, although her kennel is heated. He always did bring her in when the temperature dipped below -20 but this year he decided she should stay in regardless.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She is restricted to the downstairs level -- John's studio, his workshop (where her sleeping quarters are). She is NOT allowed upstairs in our living quarters. She stinks like a dog big time, and I'll not have that odour permeating my living area. Not to mention the dog hair that she sheds all over the place. Bad enough the downstairs now stinks like dog and is covered with her hair!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, last Friday, my neighbour came over to give Toop a bath. She was soooo co-operative it was amazing. For a dog to be experiencing such a thing for the first time in her life (she's seven years old) and not panic was truly something to witness. She allowed herself to be shampoo'd twice, conditioned and rinsed. Then she was blow dried and brushed and had tufts of hair cut off. She no longer "stinks like a dog."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She will be given a bath once a month. Crazy neighbour lady!</div>
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Neighbour is on a campaign to convince me that I should put a doggie bed on the floor by the chimney, right beside the dining table, and let Toop live there.</div>
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Not gonna happen! </div>
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On Saturday, my little chickadee and family came for a visit. Toop decided that Natalie was her new best friend. (Especially since Natalie brought her upstairs to visit with the visitors -- that was a special treat indeed.)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6fg5JnH8SSk/VMjKzRljDkI/AAAAAAAAEaY/hLg0DTyXwNI/s1600/Natalie%2Band%2BToop%2B-%2B24%2BJan%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6fg5JnH8SSk/VMjKzRljDkI/AAAAAAAAEaY/hLg0DTyXwNI/s1600/Natalie%2Band%2BToop%2B-%2B24%2BJan%2B2015.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Natalie agrees with neighbour that a doggie bed for Toop would be nice, right in the spot suggested.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not gonna happen!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Suddenly I got an e-mail from a very good friend who was "voting" with neighbour.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My response: "What part of 'not gonna happen' do you girls not understand?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Her reply? "What part of 'majority rules' do you not understand?</div>
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Fortunately, John still understands that if dog moves upstairs, Bonnie moves out.</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-511409239227087222015-01-24T12:00:00.002-05:002015-01-24T12:08:28.513-05:00My two anniversaries<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is my anniversary sandwich day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday, the 23rd, was the 9th anniversary of Stephen Harper's government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That means it was the 9th anniversary of my having officially retired.</div>
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Tomorrow, the 25th, will be our 18th wedding anniversary (John's and mine, not Harper's and mine).</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqJZSxe03Xs/Tx_wGTXw4zI/AAAAAAAACjc/e9lhbHgmRog/s1600/OURWEDDING1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqJZSxe03Xs/Tx_wGTXw4zI/AAAAAAAACjc/e9lhbHgmRog/s1600/OURWEDDING1.jpg" height="352" width="400" /></a></div>
That makes today the sandwich day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The day between my two anniversaries.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And I have now been retired for half as many years as I will be married (tomorrow).</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-53176667576600348212015-01-21T16:41:00.000-05:002015-01-21T16:41:06.636-05:00Oops, sorry.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Please, please, please forgive me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm not doing a very good job of keeping my resolution to post more frequently.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Both John and I have been quite ill with this bronchitis infection. We've just come off the antibiotics and we are, admittedly, feeling much better.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The coughing has let up considerably. Not gone altogether but it is much better than it was.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm still struggling with the asthma, which I guess will take a while longer to resolve itself. That's just the nature of the beast.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John is quite depleted from the experience. He's never been as sick with anything as he was with this. His energy level is still quite low so he's still sleeping a lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But we'll get there -- eventually.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On a brighter note, since we are now off the antibiotic ...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Finally, I can have a glass of wine this evening. Hallelujah!!!!!!</i></div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-44625848233872332182015-01-14T13:16:00.003-05:002015-01-14T13:16:47.131-05:00My true ailment<div style="text-align: justify;">
It might be asthma, but it's also bronchitis.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After seeing that nurse practitioner last Friday, I didn't improve any over the weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Monday, I had my routine appointment with my ENT specialist to "vacuum" my ears. Of course, the treatment sent me into spasms of coughing. Soon as he heard me, he commented about my bronchitis not helping with my ear issue (he found fluid buildup behind the eardrum).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I told him about the earlier diagnosis of asthma and he urged me to see my family doctor because my cough was bronchial, if not pneumonia. He's not a "lung guy," but he knows coughs. Asthma produces a dry cough and dry mine was not.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday, I saw my family doctor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Explained the past week of medical back and forthing that I've been though. On Friday I was diagnosed with asthma. On Monday I'm told it's bronchitis. Same cough. Two different health care providers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She examined me and said, "Both are right. It's asthma and bronchitis. One can't get better until we treat the other."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A week of antibiotics (and continued increased use of my puffers) should do the trick.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We hope.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>In the meantime, I can't have any wine for seven days.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Woe is me!!!!!</i></div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-49866560781416031172015-01-10T05:20:00.003-05:002015-01-10T05:23:49.628-05:00My illness identified<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, turns out that I've been suffering with asthma all this time. Actually, I'm still suffering with it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Broke down and sought medical treatment again yesterday because I was clearly getting worse. It being Friday, my family physician is not in but I saw a Nurse Practitioner who was both personable and knowledgeable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She thoroughly examined me and ruled out pneumonia or any presence of infection at this point.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then the discussion turned to asthma.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She asked how often I have to use my rescue inhaler and I explained that I don't often use it. My asthma is cold-air induced. And as I said that, a little light bulb went on. This whole mess started last Sunday -- the day I cleared a path in the snow on the deck so I could get to the bird feeders to fill them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hmmmmmmmm. You think? (The last time I cleared snow to get to the bird feeders -- several years ago now -- I ended up at emergency, so serious was the asthma attack!)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So we talked about that for a while.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But I was there because it had gotten so much worse on Tuesday night. The coughing just became so severe that I was up most of that night and the next.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As she was telling me what she wanted me to do to manage the symptoms, one of her suggestions was to apply Vicks to my chest at bedtime. Might help give me some relief.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That's when the next light bulb went on. John had convinced me to use Vicks on Tuesday night and I had suggested to him the next morning that I was sure it made me worse because I hadn't been coughing that badly before I used it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"<i>Stay away from the Vicks then</i>," she said. "<i>It can cause an asthmatic response in some people</i>."<br />
Who knew?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, my instructions, for the next two weeks at least, are:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>use my sinus rinse three times a day</li>
<li>increase my puffer from two times a day to three times a day</li>
<li>use a nasal spray twice a day (<i>new prescription</i>)</li>
<li>use a humidifier in the bedroom (<i>I was already doing that</i>)</li>
<li>sleep in an upright position (<i>such a comfortable way to sleep!)</i></li>
</ul>
<span style="text-align: justify;">If I'm not seeing an improvement by Monday, I'm to go back to see her.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
As an interesting aside here, I am now the proud owner of a Fitbit Flex. It tracks my sleep pattern.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Prior to Sunday (when I moved that snow), I was waking up two-three times a night.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Sunday night I was awake 11 times.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But then on Tuesday, the night I used the Vicks, I was awake 15 times.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Wednesday and Thursday, 16 and 14 times respectively.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But last night, I broke the bank. After using all the above methods of treatment (but not three times, mind you) to help get this under control, I awoke 24 times! At one point, I was coughing so badly, John was pounding on my arm telling me to wake up and go rinse my sinuses or do something! But please stop the coughing! So the very uncomfortable upright sleeping position did little to alleviate the coughing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today is another day and I will be able to implement her suggestions to the full complement.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let's hope tonight is a better night. (<i>Tonight, my rescue inhaler will be on the bedside table, at the ready. Enough already!)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John needs his sleep.</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-28788049146844175932015-01-08T04:42:00.001-05:002015-01-08T04:42:36.048-05:00I have a valid "excuse"<div style="text-align: justify;">
OK, so I haven't exactly been posting frequently yet, as I resolved to do.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But truth be known, I've been quite sick and haven't really been on the computer much this past week.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not sure what's going on.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A cold?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A flu?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I saw a doctor on Monday because that was day three on which I had trouble putting on my hearing aid. Whenever that's happened before, it was because I had an ear infection. Not so this time. She couldn't see any sign of infection. And whatever was preventing the hearing aid from going in at that time, has not been a problem since.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Don't get me wrong. My ears have continued to be sore.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As has my throat.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But I don't have fever.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The past couple of days I've developed a nasty cough but can't quite manage to bring the sputum up and out. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday morning I was quite bad but seemed to clear as the day went on and then got worse at bedtime.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last night I was coughing almost to the point of vomiting but just couldn't quite make it. In fact, the coughing was so unrelenting that I slept very little. At least it seemed like I slept very little. Seemed like I was awake every 30 minutes or so, coughing violently.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Suffice to say today my chest wall is very sore from all the coughing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All this to say that that's my story and I'm sticking to it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'll be back when I'm better -- much better.</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-83515352649414668092015-01-04T13:06:00.000-05:002015-01-04T13:06:07.959-05:00Goodbye to Christmas 2014<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I have removed what little Christmas I had put up this year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For reasons that I will not go into detail here I did not put up my village and Christmas 2014 was very different than most for us.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Was pleasant, but different.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So now, all signs of it having been Christmas are removed from my home, save for the Creche. That, of course, must remain until January 6th -- <i>Little Christmas.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are many versions of the origination of the <i>Feast of the Epiphany</i> but put simply, it is the twelfth day of Christmas, marking the day that the Magi (the three wise men) arrived at the manger offering their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the new-born child.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Catholics, we are quite attuned to this story and if the family displayed a creche as part of their Christmas tradition, it would be left up until January 6th to mark the Feast of the Epiphany. A special mass would be said at the parish church and devout Catholics would be sure to attend.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some families would find small gifts at the foot of the family creche, marking the gift-giving occasion.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Growing up, our family did not do the gift exchange on Little Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once I was living on my own, and certainly once my little chickadee was on the scene, I added a creche to my Christmas display, buying the one I use today in 1978.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometime around the 10th of December, my daughter and I would carefully set up the creche once the tree was decorated. We would also start reading her many books about the story of Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since Mary and Joseph didn't arrive at the "Inn" until the 24th, they would be placed off in the distance, as though walking toward Bethlehem. The shepherd would be set further off in the distance since he was "following the star of Bethlehem" and would arrive once the baby was there. The three wise men were positioned really far away because they were not due to arrive until the 6th of January.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the 24th of December, Mary and Joseph would arrive at the manger and would be placed inside, but the baby would be "hiding" behind the structure, to be added the following morning. (<em>The funniest story ever was the year my little chickadee, about an hour after she had been put to bed on Christmas Eve, came tearing downstairs to lie Mary down -- "she was going to have a baby" that night.</em>)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At some point in her young life, my little chickadee convinced me that she should start getting a gift on January 6th. "<em>It was, after all, Little Christmas</em>," she whined. So, I would hold back one gift from what she would otherwise have received on Christmas Day and give it to her on January 6th. Not sure how she figured she was ahead on that one but whatever.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7OQMaALafPs/S0S1ckyMQZI/AAAAAAAABSo/oQDs1V_HuaQ/s1600/Creche-Full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7c93a1; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7OQMaALafPs/S0S1ckyMQZI/AAAAAAAABSo/oQDs1V_HuaQ/s640/Creche-Full.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my current household, I continue to play out the story of Christmas, with the various players arriving at the appropriate times. (<i>John asked if the Wise Men were lost when he saw them off in the distance away from the display. I had to again explain the process.) </i>The creche still remains on display until January 6th, (after all, the three wise men only just arrive on that date) but the "tradition" of offering a gift on January 6th has not prevailed.<br />On January 7th, with all original members present and accounted for (although the shepherd is a little worse for wear, having been dropped again this year), the creche will be dismantled, carefully wrapped (I only a few years ago threw away the original packing material) and put away for another year.</span><div>
<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">And thus will mark the official end of Christmas for another season.</span></em></div>
</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-33675849859663389402015-01-03T10:34:00.001-05:002015-01-04T12:51:02.882-05:00A 2015 Resolution<div style="text-align: justify;">
I hereby resolve to post here more frequently than I have of late.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sure hope I can maintain that resolve.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If nothing else, I resolve to try to keep that resolve.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(I don't normally make any new year's resolutions so we'll see how this one goes.)</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-61638980693472348622015-01-01T05:54:00.000-05:002015-01-01T05:54:18.476-05:00A new year dawns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BidqUL1inP8/VKRRuE3tsuI/AAAAAAAAEVY/tvK3PI-mvnE/s1600/happy-new-year-2015-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BidqUL1inP8/VKRRuE3tsuI/AAAAAAAAEVY/tvK3PI-mvnE/s1600/happy-new-year-2015-01.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-51361250555863144162014-12-25T04:41:00.003-05:002014-12-25T04:41:49.243-05:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yb5bNcUmXt8/VJvbvXSmVXI/AAAAAAAAEU8/4S12y_ufSBY/s1600/Merry-Christmas-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yb5bNcUmXt8/VJvbvXSmVXI/AAAAAAAAEU8/4S12y_ufSBY/s1600/Merry-Christmas-2014.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-25386591556530016922014-12-21T04:39:00.001-05:002014-12-21T04:39:38.175-05:00That memorable Christmas of 1963<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
For some reason, the closer we get to the big day, the crisper my memories of Christmases past (go figure!).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">
And this year, I can't seem to get images of one particular Christmas out of my mind.<br />I've told the story here before, but I'll tell it again for recent readers' enlightenment.<br />It was Christmas, 1963. I was thirteen years old and I desperately wanted a pair of patterned stockings -- they were all the rage that year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6d08bfgi1cc/TvYSaiMnppI/AAAAAAAACgM/JYyI3q9dTsA/s1600/textured+tights+stockings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7c93a1; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6d08bfgi1cc/TvYSaiMnppI/AAAAAAAACgM/JYyI3q9dTsA/s400/textured+tights+stockings.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="222" /></a></div>
About a week before Christmas, I was home from school. (I don't recall why; obviously I must have been sick.)<br /><div>
I had the house to myself and decided I should go snooping for gifts. I just HAD to know if I was getting a pair of those stockings!</div>
<div>
Well, I found the cache of presents and eventually identified one that had my name on it that felt like it might be just what I was hoping for.</div>
<div>
I oh so carefully opened the package -- and there they were. They were blue and black with a diamond pattern. Truly the most beautiful pair of patterned stockings in the whole wide world!</div>
<div>
Then I did the unthinkable. I just HAD to try one on.</div>
<div>
I remember shaking as I put the stocking on and pulled it up my leg. And then I pranced around my parents' bedroom, admiring the sight.</div>
<div>
I was still shaking as I took the stocking off and carefully folded it to put it back in the package.</div>
<div>
But look! Now the one I tried on was all stretched out, noticeably bigger than the other one.</div>
<div>
So I quickly put the second stocking on and stretched it up my leg so the pair would match again.</div>
<div>
Then I very carefully rewrapped the package and returned it to the hidden stash of gifts.</div>
<div>
And I remember on Christmas morning being very nervous when it came time to open that gift.</div>
<div>
My mother, who knew how badly I wanted those stockings, was watching closely as the package was handed to me.</div>
<div>
What was I going to do? I knew I had to act surprised and excited. And I figured I could do that easily, since there was so much other commotion going on with our large family. But would someone notice that the stockings were already stretched?</div>
<div>
So I opened the package, let out a squeal of delight, and immediately proceeded to put the stockings on.</div>
<div>
There, of course they're stretched, I'm wearing them!</div>
<div>
<i>That was the year I learned a very important lesson: the surprise is so much sweeter if it is shared.</i></div>
<div>
Here we are 51 Christmases later, and I have never again gone snooping for gifts.</div>
</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-44064797837630153692014-12-03T10:18:00.000-05:002014-12-03T10:18:06.989-05:00Early mornings, coffee, and puzzles<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our days start very early in this household.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For no particular reason other than we are awake.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now, by early, I mean 3:30 - 4:00 am early.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once the newspapers are delivered, the coffee is made and our day is officially started.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We retire back to the bedroom with the newspapers, coffee in hand, and John reads the <i>National Post</i> while I read the <i>Ottawa Citizen</i>. (We switch papers at bedtime.)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have always enjoyed reading my morning paper with my morning coffee. Have done so most of my adult life. Even managed to do it most of my working life.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But without a doubt, the best part of this morning ritual -- for me -- is when I get to the puzzle page. Nothing relaxes me like sitting with a crossword puzzle to solve. Don't know what it is about puzzles that brings me so much pleasure but it is truly a pastime that totally relaxes me. Perhaps it is the fact that solving them requires my total focus, which takes my mind off everything else.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I find working on a jigsaw puzzle has the same calming effect on me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Perhaps that's why I so love genealogy too. That is puzzle solving in the extreme!</div>
C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108560018612935687.post-80032770351476998372014-11-30T06:06:00.000-05:002014-11-30T06:47:54.814-05:00My Advent Calendar<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5672862519215916614" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 660px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Every year on December 1st, I put out an "Advent Calendar" to count down the days 'til Christmas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've done it ever since my little chickadee was truly a wee chickadee.<br />
Several years ago, on a lark, as I passed through Starbucks to get to Chapters, I noticed a most intriguing Advent tree.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was comprised of numbered drawers, arranged in a tree formation, with each drawer containing a small chocolate treat.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the treat is claimed on each day of December, the drawer is to be turned around before it is returned to its rightful place on the tree.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And when completed, on the 24th day, a winter scene is revealed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was perfect!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AnRd9qY32Yg/VHsDvmOllMI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/Y47-sI3j4TE/s1600/Advent%2Btree%2B-%2Bside%2Bby%2Bside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AnRd9qY32Yg/VHsDvmOllMI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/Y47-sI3j4TE/s1600/Advent%2Btree%2B-%2Bside%2Bby%2Bside.jpg" height="377" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 1.4;">It could be used year after year, simply by refilling the drawers each year.</span><br />
<div>
I couldn't find the price on the display unit and eventually I found someone to ask.</div>
<div>
Turned out I had found the manager.</div>
<div>
He told me the price and asked me if I wanted to buy it.</div>
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As I hemmed and hawed, not so sure that I wanted to spend quite that much, he made me a deal I couldn't refuse.</div>
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He told me that if I bought the tree, which was the last one he had in stock, I could also take the display unit, since he would no longer have use for it.</div>
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That made the price so much more reasonable.</div>
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So I grabbed them.</div>
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One for my little chickadee.</div>
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And one for me.</div>
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<i>And forever after, we have the same advent tree which we fill with treats to help us count down the days until Santa's arrival.</i><br />
Last year, I forgot and didn't get the tree filled until December 3rd. This year, I was ready. Bought the candy two weeks ago. Filled the tree today.</div>
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We're good to go tomorrow!</div>
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C. Bonnie Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05872968616430575620noreply@blogger.com0