May 31, 2015. Harper, Texas. Friends and Neighbors.

Having friends as well as neighbors is a great blessing. One of the best aspect of living in Nova Scotia is that friends live beside us as neighbors. I like it. We have the same situation at the ranch. Last evening, Robbie came to pick us up to take us to their home for dinner, which is just down the road. He had stopped over first thing in the morning to invite us. They thought we needed a bit of an excursion, which we did. As usual, Joyce cooked a wonderful meal and we enjoyed the food and the conversation. It was the first time we had been to their home since their little dog Beau died. We missed him. Three years ago when Joyce's sister died,, her little dog Beau had no one to look after him, so Joyce and Robbie took Beau into their home and gave him their love. Beau was a fine little dog, and they miss Beau. Robbie does not watch hockey but he knew there was a game on TV so right after dinner he turned it on. It was the most fun because Robbie asked all the questions that most Canadians already know. He wanted to know about the hitting. He could not figure out what was legal. And he did not understand the off side rule or icing the puck. He was also not a bit interested in cheering for Chicago. He brought us home after the one period as we were weary but he told us he would watch to the end. We did not speak to him today, but he must have been disappointed because Chicago won the game. Maybe he will become a new fan, deep in the heart of Texas. Now neighbors who are friends is one thing, but when they also become hockey fans, Ken and I will be in seventh heaven.

May 30, 2015. Harper, Texas. A Foolish Lady.

She will make everyone who knows her miserable, but I was on my best behaviour, and did not say a word. The other day in the waiting room of the office of the Oncologist, I was sitting right opposite three ladies. One looked angry and the other two were pleasant looking. This waiting room is used for people who have checked in and are waiting for the lab or for treatment or to see the doctor. Also family and friends wait in the same area. My habit in waiting rooms is to look and eves drop but not talk. I bury my head in a magazine or my phone. This lady looked miserable. And she also looked white which means she was probably sick. It was clear from looking at her that she was not enjoying sitting in that waiting room. I kept thinking to myself and wondering how she thought about all the rest of us? And did she think she was helping her situation by being miserable? In fact, she was doing the opposite. I am told that being positive is a big factor in the success of your immune system. Her hair was long and straight and salt and pepper color. Perhaps she is angry that she will soon no longer have her lovely hair. She was a foolish lady, sitting in the waiting room last week. I wonder if she ever changes her attitude? I will watch for her in the waiting room over the next few weeks.

May 29, 2015. Harper, Texas. The Test.

Next week I will find the results of the test, when I meet with Dr. Stotz but until then, I must agree that that test was weird. I do not know if this was an old time test or if it is new but it was just weird. When Ken first saw the Neurologist, he mentioned that my legs were having problems so Dr. Stotz, our Neurologist who we like, suggested that he see me which he did. At that time, he suggested that I do a test in their office that checks the nerves and the connection of the nerves with the muscles. So I agreed. I lay on an examining table, and one of Dr. Stotz's sons Ronnie administered the test. He tests my arms, hands, legs and feet. He stimulated a spot and my muscles react and jump all over the place. For someone like me who likes to be in charge this is not a test I like, because I have no control as to when my muscles jerk. Eventually, the test ended. During the test, which takes over an hour, Ronnie and I talked. First we talk about me and where we live. He did comment that he would never want to live in Maryland due to the taxes and the business taxes. Then I ask him about his family and I discover he and his wife have 8 children. What fun. His comment to me was "What were we thinking?" His oldest child is in her second year of College in Texas while his youngest is 4 years old. He has a lot of college tuitions before he is finished. His wife teaches 8th grade at school too so she is a busy lady. The best part of the test was talking to Ronnie. Now next week I will have a meeting to evaluate my nerves and muscles and hope there is something that I can do to help my situation. I do not enjoy walking on sponges. And I am certainly not going to take that weird test again.

May 28, 2015. Harper, Texas. Hockey Playoffs.

This year, the four teams left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all excellent. Ken commented the other evening that he had never seen such sustained, high quality play ever in his life. Even if a person was not a hockey fan, it would be worth watching some games just to see the expertise and skill on display. Both series are going to the 7th game, which is the first time in years that both the western and eastern championships are going to the full series. Ken and I have watched at least a part of every game and have thoroughly enjoyed them. The coaches are clever and imaginative and the players work hard. Some years, teams just get lucky and win a series and get into the semi finals with not much left to work with. But these four teams are all excellent teams in their different ways and deserve to be fighting for their league championships. Tomorrow evening, New York Rangers will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in their 7th game. An added interest to me is the coach of the Lightning. He is young and coaching in the NHL playoffs but he has not played a minute as a player in the NHL. This a first. During one early series, Ken and I were watching Detroit beat Tampa Bay and finally went to bed, knowing full well that Detroit would win that game and then go on to win the series. But we were wrong. The next morning, we discovered that Tampa Bay won that game and then went on to win the series. Now we will find out if they are up to one more game before they finally get to play in the Stanley Cup Championship. On Saturday, The Chicago Blackhawks will play the Anaheim Ducks in their 7th game. No telling how the game will turn out. I love to watch the Chicago style. Their team is fast and quick and clever. But I suspect that the Ducks will not be denied. I wonder what the Canadian fans will think if a California team plays a Florida team for the Stanley Cup. We might find out!!

May 27, 2015. Harper, Texas. Simple Pleasures.

Every time I go up or down the stairs at the Top House it brings me pleasure. I stole the idea from Dave and Irene. When Dave was coming home after his surgery, Irene installed a second rail on their stairs, to allow Dave to go from one floor to another. They live in a lovely three story home so they installed the extra railing, and kept a walker on every floor. Problem solved. When we arrived at the ranch, I could see that using the stairs was dangerous for me, so Lorin, the builder, installed the second rail while we were at the lake. Now I feel secure going up and down. And I can move more quickly. Using stairs is a good form of exercise so I am pleased that I can use them safely. Another simple pleasure was my results at the doctor's appointment. We had a full day yesterday and I had driven from the lake, but by my appointment at 4:00 I was feeling good so I was joking with the nurse about how healthy I was looking. I had good color and energy, even after a full active day. As she was drawing blood, we speculated as to whether or not my blood counts were high enough to proceed with the new medications. We both agreed that they would be high enough and we were right. We both laughed. The numbers were not normal but were high enough to proceed with the Ibrance. Simple pleasure to get the numbers high enough to proceed with my treatment. My life has certainly changed when the pleasures of my life are the extra railing and the higher blood count. The good part of my life is that I do have many simple pleasures and for that I am grateful. The pleasures are just different!!

May 26, 2015. Harper, Texas. Surprise Dinner.

After we finished our appointments this afternoon, Ken found that his new glasses were ready, so we immediately drove to the Optician. While Ken was getting fitted, I stayed in the truck, then got out to do some exercises. Much to my surprise, I discovered I had been sitting in front of a Japanese restaurant, so I went in to check it out. By the time Ken came out, I had decided that we needed an early dinner at this restaurant. Now that we are spending more time in Fredericksburg, we are discovering the restaurants not used by tourists. This is one of them. As we were eating, we observed the local folks come in for a drink. There was a big bar scene, full of folks who live in Fredericksburg who stop for a drink on their way home from work. Our meal was delightful, except they serve portions that are too large, so we over ordered. But now we have two boxes of food to enjoy tomorrow. The restaurant is one block off the main street and is called E. You would never stop in to dine had you not known about it. But it is fancy, perhaps the top of the heap in Fredericksburg. It is always a pleasant surprise to discover a new restaurant. Of course, everyone else already knows about it. By the time we left, the place was full. It was new for us. We enjoyed it thoroughly.

May 25, 2015. Canyon Lake, Texas. Silence is Not Sweet.

The silence in the house is deafening, since David and Suzanne, Sarah, Abigail, Allison and Samantha have left the lake to return to San Antonio. It made me wish we had also headed up the highway for the ranch, where at least we are used to being alone and quiet. But we had a wonderful weekend, all together. At least, Ken and I did and everyone else seemed happy. I stationed myself in the main room where the kitchen, dining room and living room are all just one big room. One of the decks leads right from that room too so we moved from eating to watching to talking, all day long. Eventually, everyone comes to sit and chat with me as all the food is there. Normally, the lake is a busy place. The girls take excursions on the 2 jet ski's and they visit friends to play basketball. But this weekend, the jet boats could only be used on Saturday morning and a bit of Sunday afternoon. Today the lake was closed. This was a wonderful weekend for sleeping in and reading and talking, which was perfect for me. Suzanne brought all the food for the weekend while I did nothing, except for peaches from Stonewall. Suzanne made several batches of the peaches, in the freezer, all ready to make peach cobbler. Ken and I enjoyed our weekend at the lake with our Texas family. All of them are energetic, spirited and helpful. It was a great pleasure to spend the weekend with them. Tomorrow morning we return to Fredericksburg. Both Ken and I have yet more doctor appointments but we return refreshed in body and mind.