Deck the Palms!

Yesterday was a day free from doctor visits or any other visits! I didn't even need to go to the store as we had everything we needed for dinner with left overs from the delicious roast chicken and stuffing that I made on Thursday - Ah! Joy

So, Mr. Indi got up feeling quite good and made his way into the kitchen to fix a bowl of cereal and while standing next to the counter, he lost his footing and fell! BANG! Down he went like a ton of bricks with his walker underneath his legs. Scared me half to death! He was able to pull himself upright and the only damage that we could find was a nasty cut on his elbow. What a big oaf! Grrrr! I warned him not to do that again or I'd give him what for!

After doing a bit of scrubbing and cleaning, I decided that I was worthy of a much better life, so put away the dusters and brooms and off we went to a local shopping center to see what they were giving away! Well, we didn't find much although Mr. Indi did come across a nice pair of slippers with good rubber soles that he can wear outdoors and I found something I have been looking for for ages; a pair of really cute gloves with no ends on the fingers. I have a hard time driving in gloves but I think the ones with no fingers will be perfect for when we get that cold weather - OK-OK, I know - I'm a big titty-baby because it doesn't get cold in California. Ma used to knit those fingertip-free gloves for all of her sons in law - wish I had her pattern.

I took today's picture while at the shopping center. It's strange to see men decorating the palm trees with Christmas lights!

Here are a few more things that you don't know about Mr. Indi:

41) I met him at work - I was his boss! (Still am!)

42) He is 7 years younger than me! My toy boy!

43) He dislikes men who wear jewelry and only started wearing a watch about a year ago

44) The favorite part of his job is problem solving

45) He is a Taurus

46) His favorite way to relax is to read - he usually has 2-3 books on the go

47) One side of his father's ancestors came from England in 1719; the other side from Alsace in 1870

48) His mother's ancestors are from Dorset and Shropshire, England

49) He wants to visit New Zealand

50) He is afraid of heights

Note to Daria - How on earth did you get to 100 things? It's been hard to get to 50!

On The Rocks!

As many of my friends and family in England, Wales, and Canada are now suffering the force of Mother Nature's winter cycle, I thought I would make you all feel better by posting a picture of me and him at one of our beautiful beaches last October. Now, doesn't that make you feel warmer?

You can also see from this picture (taken by my lovely friend S) that it is a miracle that such a scrawny old woman can push a big gorilla like him around in a transport chair! Just goes to show what you can do when you put a bit of elbow grease into it! Also, how strong people are when they have no brains!

Yesterday was Mr. Indi's last visit to the radiation center. Dr. R was mildly optimistic regarding the success of the 10 day treatment. I think she had hoped to see a bit more movement in his legs but was happy that his pain level has decreased. She explained that radiation keeps on working for many weeks after treatment has ceased and he should see further improvement. He has a follow up appointment in 30 days. I was also able to get the CD of Mr. Indi's MRI scan to take to the neuro-surgeon, when we get the appointment.

So, we now have a few days off before Mr Indi's next Dr. visit on Monday. Just enough time to do a bit of skivvying and maybe catch up on some knitting. Mr. Indi has talked to his boss and will be working from home at least until the end of the year when we shall have to start looking at some retirement or disability options. The problem with him taking retirement is that in the last couple of months we have lost 1/3 of his retirement savings (a whole heap of money) He has been saving into his retirement account for 21 years - so that means that 7 years worth of savings have disappeared with the stock market crash! Might as well have stuffed it under the mattress! or spent it on lunch!

I have sent out invitations for our little nibbles and sips get-together on December 13. Mr. Indi's boss has emailed it to EVERYONE in the department and beyond! ARGH! What shall I do if 150 people show up and all I have is a bowl of chips and dip and 2 bottles of wine? Blame it on the maid! You can't get good help these days!

I told you that there would be no Christmas decorations this year - well - I have gone back on my word and, against my better judgement, purchased a very sweet Santa and some elves to put on the mantle above the fireplace. More tat to put away in January!

Last Day for a Zap!

Today's picture is of the orange tree that is growing right outside the front door of the radiation center in Riverside. I took the picture yesterday - just imagine oranges off the tree for Christmas. Today will be our last day for an early morning drive for his Lordship to get a zapping.

Yesterday was all go! But, I think we got a lot done. Radiation went well and we were in and out in 15 mins. After today's session, we shall meet with Dr. R and she will tell us how things are looking. The radiation clinic was the first stop on a trip that took us to the gas station (I am putting a few miles on this car!) the drug store (I'm keeping Larry in business) the grocery store and the post office (I just shoved stuff in the box this time!) We were back home in time for Mr. Indi to have a little bit of a rest before going to see Dr. J - but on the way we stopped in to see Sharon - the best hugger in the whole world - and she gave me lots of extra squeezes. I also saw my throat specialist, Dr. K who asked how I was doing and why was I so hoarse! I said it's because I talk too much but am taking Bailey's on ice and it's helping! He shook his head and walked away! Can't understand why!

Dr. J was somewhat pleased that Mr. Indi is able to move his legs a bit better than 2 weeks ago and he is hopeful that radiation was started soon enough to avoid paralysis - he was, however, very cautious because he had hoped to see Mr. Indi walking without a walking frame. Still, he thinks the tumor may have been zapped in the nick of time. We shall see! Regarding the letter of rejection, he said we must go to our Primary Care Physician and allow him to examine Mr. Indi and for him to give the OK to the insurance company! What a load of tripe - our PCP is a General MD - a mumps and measles kind of bloke so how does he know more about cancer of the spine than an oncologist? Doesn't make sense to me! But, what the hey! I just do as I'm told. BUT, the next hurdle would be getting an appointment with Dr. Nelson (the PCP) who needs an Act of Congress signed by God before you can grace his presence.

We went to lunch and worked on a strategy while munching on chicken wings and cheesy french fries. I then stopped by the house and picked up all the paperwork from the MRI place, the radiation center with all of Dr. R's notes and the letter of rejection from the insurance co. I put them in a very smart looking folder and made a label for it - Rejection Documentation. It all looked very official and gave the impression that I know what I'm talking about! Off we went to Dr. N's office. I plonked the file folder on the reception desk and began to explain the issue to the lady who makes appointments. I didn't get very far - I think she knew where I was going with this - "Give me an appointment for Mr. Indi - or else!" She said,"Dr can see John on Monday at 10 a.m." Ta very much - mission accomplished. I fully expect that Dr. Nelson will give the OK for Mr. Indi to see a neuro-surgeon and we shall be back on track to define the next avenue of treatment!

After our success with Dr. N's office, Mr. Indi wanted to go to Radio Shack to look at more electronic gadgets! It must be a man thing! AND after that, we went to Brian's where I finally sat down with a large, tall, cold beer! It was during this time that I missed a few phone calls including one from my sissy - Mrs. Banjo! Sorry - hope to catch you today.

So - all in all, it was a pretty good day expect I think I lost the lovely silk scarf that I was wearing! Grrrrrrr! I hope it shows up somewhere.

UPDATE - I found the scarf! It was folded up and put away in the drawer where I keep my scarves! That's it - I've gone mental!

Christmas Joy - at the Post Office!

Yesterday was another day when Mr. Indi was exhausted after his radiation. He just wanted to go to bed but after I reminded him that I was taking him to brekkies, he perked up a little bit. I had French Toast with lots of powdered sugar and maple syrup (good energy food - about 6 gazillion calories per) and he had sausage, eggs and hash brown potatoes with that disgusting American concoction, biscuits and gravy (Yuck!) I will say, they make a darn good cup of coffee and we both left there as stuffed as a tick (as Ma would say!)

I took his Lordship home and put him to bed so that he could rest while I did a few bits and bobs - more bobs than bits - but, what the hey? I made the mistake of going down to the post office to get Christmas stamps so that I could mail the invitations to our Dec 13 get-together. Somebody has forgotten to tell the Postmaster that it is the Christmas season - there was ONE person working the counter. One person for a town with a population of 25,000 - 24,000 of whom where in the queue for Christmas stamps! GRRRRRRR!!!! Took me half an hour!

After Mr. Indi had a good rest, he wanted to go and look around the electronics stores for laptops and other whiz bang gadgets - so off we went with the big push chair. I had never realized before but in some of these shops it is almost impossible to get down the aisles with a wheelchair - I started getting annoyed and mowing down the stupid displays of marking pens and adhesive tape that they place in the middle of the aisle - serves them right! I left a trail of devastation behind us and didn't buy anything! But - I did see a nice little Toshiba laptop on special for $495. I might have to consider it as one of my gifts.

Today, after radiation, we meet with Dr. J - the medical oncologist to find out what the heck is going on. Mr Indi got a letter of denial from our insurance. Dr. J had requested a consultation with a neuro-surgeon to evaluate the spinal tumor but for some reason the requested has been turned down. What will happen next?

Today's picture is one that I took in San Diego in October. It's kind of a tatty old flower cart - but cute in a tatty sort of way!

Smiley Face from Down Under.

As you can see, this looks a bit better than mine.

The picture was taken in Melbourne and I got it off the web at http://www.theage.com.au/

The photographer was a reader Tom Richards. Pretty, eh?

Smiley Face History!

The sky was very clear last night and when I took the garbage out at about 7 p.m. I saw the magical sight in the sky! The Moon, Jupiter and Venus all shining brightly in a very small area of the sky. I had read that from down in OZ, it looks like a smiley face in the sky but here, up in the northern hemi, the smiley face is on his head! I rushed into the house and got the camera - Mr. Indi wondered what on earth I was snapping in the back garden in the dark!- and got this (not very good)picture Still, I can say that I took it AND save it for posterity.

Mr. Indi didn't feel at all well after radiation yesterday. His back hurt very badly and he was a little sick to his stomach. He spent the rest of the morning in bed while I did my impression of a chicken with it's head cut off! I was all caught up by noon and we went out for a bite to eat - which was less than satisfactory - so we won't go into details. But, for dinner, I made the most delish home made hamburgers that one could ever hope for. Slathered with mayo, salsa, avocado, dill pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, green chilis on a toasted bakery bun - I call it The Kitchen Sink Burger! Yum!

Some people want to know why I am called India Pale Ale. Well, I'll tell ya! The name I was registered and christened with began with the initials IPA. My dad, being a bit of a beer lover - OK - a boozer! - used to call me India Pale Ale, which, as all beer connoisseurs know, is a special brew of a horrible bitter and very hoppy flavoured ale that was developed so that when beer was shipped from England to India it didn't go off. (Interesting reading if you google it) Actually, I have always been known by my middle name, Pale! Hehehehe - I mean Pam - and you may call me that if you like BUT all of my closest friends call me India! So, now you know!

More radiation this morning and then I am going to take his Lordship out to breakfast at a local cafe called Pat's Kitchen that has the best ham and eggs in the world. To hell with the cholesterol! Live dangerously, I say!

HP is Toast!

Mr. Indi had decided that it was time for me to get a new laptop computer - and so that is what I am getting from Santa. My old laptop (HP) is at least 7 years old; a bit slow and clunky and acts strangely at times - kind of like me! So, yesterday, his Lordship was sitting at the coffee table using the HP to look on the web for laptops when all of a sudden - Poof! It died - and I mean died. I suppose it was HP's way of warning me not to get another HP! So, now I only have one computer - my Dell, and I feel very vulnerable - what will I do if this dies too? - Oh, the horror of it all - how could I live without a computer? I can't bear the idea! (Daft really, isn't it?)

Yesterday was a fairly good day overall. I took Mr. Indi down to the shops and managed to push him, in his chair, into my favorite clothing store where I bought a lovely red jacket and 3 sweaters! This chair is good - it knows what shops to go to!

I am going to organize a little Christmas get together on Saturday 13th December between 3 and 5 for everyone to come over and say Merry Christmas to me and him. Nothing special - just some egg nog etc and a few munchies. Anybody and everybody is invited. I am unable to put up the tree or Christmas lights as they are all put away in the attic and I would have to risk life and limb to get it all down - besides which - I can't be coping with any more work than I already have! So, the house will be sans all the Christmas tat but I'm sure nobody will mind.

It's back to the radiation routine this morning and we shall need to dress warmly when we leave the house at 6:45 - it's only 44 degrees out there (7C) Brrr!

I took the picture yesterday. It is outside Chili's restaurant where they have a lovely rose garden with the whitest white roses that I have ever seen. Pretty!