Today is Oct 23rd and I am amazes that 6+ weeks
has slipped by since I last addressed this Blog. I do apologize to those who came back in
between Sept 9th and today. I
have been very busy but of course, so have you.
I have no valid explanation as to why I did not address this Blog other
than to say that I have been enjoying my Chemo free time and I have worked hard
at making every day matter. So what have
I been doing?
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| Lake Bernard Sunset - Oct 2017 |
After my Dr. visit in early September, I set about a daily routine
that was quite different from the time on Chemo. Primarily this was doable as I woke up each
day feeling stronger, less affected by drugs and filled with more enthusiasm
for my life and the limited world I circulate in. My energy level was quite elevated and my
outlook much clearer. All of these gave
me the opportunity to work outside with more enthusiasm and to complete my
consulting company tasks more effectively and in a timely fashion. In addition my appetite, although only
marginally affected by Chemo, returned to its normal level. That had to be managed as I do not wish to put
on any more weight as I am at my “best weight” right now. All in, I have been feeling very good and
have straightened out my deteriorating attitude about living with Cancer. It is my secret hope that my next CT Scan
will show no new growth and we will be able to continue a “no Chemo” profile.
You might well ask about what I have been doing. Well the consulting business provides
continued support requirement and meetings with Ben, my partner, to discuss
business issues, planning and of course our Partnership Agreement – that has
been on the table for a long time. We
are currently planning our Consultant Christmas Dinner event and sourcing our annual
gifts to our active consultants. That is
a December tradition and we are just on the curve of making the purchase a rush
delivery. I expect to finalize that
order this week.
On the outdoor front, Bruce and I have been winterizing our
client’s boats and getting them ready for the harsh dark period in Canada. This
year we added a few new clients and lost only one.
Most of our clients wanted to keep their
boats in the water as the fall weather has been better than the summer
weather. Our summer was pretty wet and
many of the boats sat idle at the docks.
Fall has brought near record warmth and sunshine in this part of the country
and continues as I look outside at a sunny fall morning. Yesterday Sandra and I completed the
penultimate boat for the year. We have one
undecided situation to resolve but other than that all of our client’s boats
are put to bed for the winter. The back
field is pretty full as we have set a new standard, as we seem to do each
successive year. The fine weather has
certainly been a major benefit in keeping up with the intake and completing most
boats on the same day. Oh yes, my boats
are still in the water and I have enjoyed many sunsets on the lake in
October. We normally pull our boats in
early November and that will likely be the case again this year.
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| Working on boats |
In addition to those activities, I applied for a job at the
airport with WestJet in August. Much to
my surprise, I was invited to a group interview session in late September. In October I was informed that they had added
me to their local WestJet work force and that I would be trained in Toronto on
Oct 30th. The job I applied
for was the Guest Service Ambassador position where my sole responsibility is
to make sure that WestJet clients have a positive and good experience as they
pass through the Ottawa airport on route to wherever they are going. Tara-Lee thought this would be a good
diversion for me as she felt I was ideally suited to do this job. I have now met a few of the folks in the
Airport Team and am thrilled to be part of that team. Last week I spent 3 hours shadowing a GSA and
enjoyed the experience. Incidentally, Tara-Lee
is making the move from a Flight Attendant to a GSA position in Ottawa
also. We will be working together at the
airport. That makes it even more fun for
me.
Tara-Lee and Brehn, and of course Kaia, all went to Hawaii in
October for a honeymoon vacation. They
had a great time enjoying the fine and consistent weather and spent lots of time
on the beach with Kaia. During that time
Freddi and I missed our routine visits with Roichel Family and we took care of
Ranger at Lake Bernard. They are back
now and things have started to come together as a new schedule will start for
Tara-Lee in November.
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| Proud Hawaiian |
My new challenge will be to manage my medical appointments
and my new work schedule as I will be on shift work. My next CT is in early November (7th)
which is now a work day for me. I need
to get my schedule so I can arrange for appointments when I am not expected at
work. The challenge will continue when I
re-start any treatments. No rest for the
wicked they say so I will be kept on my toes managing these things.
In the interim, I will try to continue my evening cruises,
weather permitting, maintaining a happy and healthy attitude, manage my life
with an eye to keeping my new work schedule in tact while undertaking any recommended
treatments after I see the Dr and return from a short Caribbean cruise in late
November. I think that is enough for
the short term.
Thank you once again for dropping in and I hope you will
address any questions of comments with me directly to my email where I would be
happy to respond to you directly.
Until then be well and happy. Love ya .......
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| Kaia - Downward Dog on the beach. |
