O is for OLYMPICS 2010

October has been a very busy month. As I mentioned in a previous post, there were 3 birthdays to celebrate, Thanksgiving (Canadian), and Halloween this Saturday.

On top of all that, my fiancé received great news that he's been hired as a Security Supervisor for the upcoming Olympics here in Vancouver! What an opportunity he'll have to meet people from all over the world, both athletes and tourists alike. This international company that is handling the security here is the same company that the IOC deals with all over the world. Therefore, if he can optimize this opportunity by doing a great job, we're hoping he might be kept on to work in London preparing for the next Olympics. Fingers crossed!

In the meantime, there couldn't possibly be any better setting for a winter Olympics than right here in western Canada amidst the mountains right next to the ocean!

If anyone is attending the Olympics and needs a place to stay, we're renting our guest bedroom with private bathroom. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump into the city to see hockey, figure skating, and speed skating. And one more hop on the special buses that will take you up to Whistler to see the skiing, bobsledding, and luge events. And if you can't make it out this way, be sure to check the TV for not only the games, but also some spectacular scenery from my hometown!

ABC Wednesday is brought to you by Denise Nesbitt. Please take a moment to pop by her place and give her your condolences on the loss of her beloved German Shepherd Wilma.

N is for NAME

When I got married the first time, it was natural and expected that the wife take the husband's surname. However, not long after that it was considered acceptable that the couple take on a hyphenated name in order that the wife retain her identity. (I always wondered about that reasoning.) Then it seemed to be completely kosher that the wife keep her own (maiden) name for business reasons, but be called Mrs. XXX in personal situations.

How confusing!

When Lorne asked me to marry him, I said that I wanted to take his last name as my own. He wondered if it was really that important to me. And I said, "Absolutely!" (I think he was pleased.)

Why, you may wonder.

The surname I have now was my late husband's name, but I have never felt that I was a "Smith." His family didn't really accept me wholeheartedly and I've had no contact with any of them since before my husband died. (That's another story for another time.) I really only kept the name because of my two daughters. But now they're all grown up and one is married with two children and is know as "Mrs. Husband'ssurname."

Lorne has a Welsh surname and my maiden name was also Welsh (Jones), so I can hardly wait to take his name as my own. We both want to travel to Wales to experience our heritage, and Lorne wants to take the family Bible to donate it somewhere in the country - maybe St. Fagan's living history museum just outside of Cardiff.

It was 40 years ago that we met and started dating. Today the ring is finally on my finger and we have set a date to get married. And I can hardly wait to be called "Mrs. Evans."

...perchance to dream

Hamlet:"To sleep, perchance to dream

ay, there's the rub."

Hamlet (III, i, 65-68)

I had the weirdest dream last night. Briefly, my ear got cut off and someone said to me, "Well, it can't be reattached so you'll need a transplant." Huh?

There was no pain or blood or anything but I did see my ear and the cut edge that looked like it'd be cauterized. Anyway, in the dream I wasn't the least bit upset and just carried on with whatever I was doing.

I couldn't stop thinking about it all day, so I checked online to see if I could find some sort of interpretation. I looked up "amputation."

From my research, I think losing my ear indicates that I've taken on a totally new approach to life. I've abandoned and discarded my former ways of thinking and doing things, including listening to others' criticisms of how I'm living my life. Maybe with my "old" ear, I was unable to stand up for myself and do the things I wanted to do without worrying about what others would think. With a new ear, maybe I'd feel more free. The dream could be a metaphor for what's going on in my waking life and the changes I'm making. I do know that I have an increased level of self-confidence and greater independence.

It's just kind of eerie to dream of losing a part of your body. Maybe it just means that I'm losing my hearing...or could there be some sort of Van Gogh connection?

Anyone else have any weird dreams like this? Or an interpretation for me?

M is for Mountains

We have lots of mountain ranges in British Columbia. In fact, the entire province is comprised of mountains and valleys from the border of Alberta to the Pacific Ocean. Where I live is part of the Coastal Mountain range and one particularly beautiful region to visit is Whistler, right in the midst of all the mountains.

Yesterday, we drove the "Sea to Sky Highway" all the way to Whistler in order to visit a few of Lorne's old hockey and skiing friends. We're hoping to have our "Big Chill" weekend there next spring and also have a reunion with the guys who played on the Burnaby Stealers hockey team.

I've taken lots of photos around Whistler before, but this time I took the opportunity to take some photos of the mountainous areas just off the highway and towards the ocean. I hope you enjoy them as they were all taken from a moving vehicle. And NO, I wasn't driving. Please click to enlarge.

ABC Wednesday has been hosted by Mrs. Nesbitt for the last 3 years. However, due to business practicalities, she won't be able to host it after this round is over. Many thanks to Denise for the awesome job she's done and hopefully someone will take over for her.

To CPAP or Not To CPAP

This morning I saw the respiratory specialist and was fitted for my first (trial) CPAP machine. Apparently, I have a small nose and extra-small nostrils so the full face mask was way too big. So I have a device that fits just over the nostrils and is strapped to the top and back of my head.

It's a strange feeling when the air blows into my nostrils and at first I didn't like it at all. However, the specialist said that it take time to get used to it. I'm to use it for an hour each day for three days (sit and watch TV or read or something) before I start to use it at night. I have to go back next Friday to get the monitor checked and get another device to check my oxygen levels overnight. I had that done already and that showed that I stop breathing on average 25 times an hour - severe sleep apnea. Hopefully, the next test will show that the CPAP is working as it should.

So why bother with all this? Well, I first inquired about my snoring because it was keeping my sweetie awake all night. I thought maybe something could be done about that. Now I find out that sleep apnea can actually kill you! I found the following on the internet:

What's the proof that Sleep Apnea can kill? The study published by Terry Young, Ph.D. and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin at Madison is particularly convincing and ominous. Back in 1988, Dr. Young rounded up a large group of randomly selected Wisconsinites (about 1,500 people) who agreed to be tested for Sleep Apnea. Dr. Young recorded not only whether they had Sleep Apnea, but also if they did, the level of Sleep Apnea severity. Dr. Young asked this group, known as her "Wisconsin Cohort" group, to agree to be tracked over the years, and they agreed. Fast forward to 2006, when Dr. Young checked in on them. After 18 years, some had passed away, some were still as healthy as they were back in 1988. The key for our purposes is that, controlling for all other factors, the folks who were identified as having severe Sleep Apnea and who did not get treatment for it were three to four times as likely as the others to die from something . . . anything, and five times more likely to die from stroke or cardiovascular disease.

Basically, sleep apnea is like a person choking you very slowly. Instead of someone choking you fully and killing you in 5 minutes, it kills you softly in a number of months or years. Most people don't bother treating it or giving it their full attention. Also, lack of sleep causes your mind to lose its ability to focus, which makes it more likely that you could have a motor vehicle accident, stroke, cardiac arrest, or death let alone the high blood pressure, weight gain, and serious diseases like diabetes and cancer.

So my question is, "To CPAP or not to CPAP?"

I don't believe there is any other answer but a resounding YES! Not only do I want my sweetie to be able to sleep with me, I also want us to wake up together for many, many years to come. I'm hoping that within a few months I'll have much more energy and be able to go walking, swimming, cycling and read a book for more than 5 minutes without drifting off.

If you or someone you love snores a lot and/or seems to stop breathing during sleep, please share this information with them and get them to a specialist.

L is for LAKE

Today, L is for lake, Green Lake, to be precise. At the beginning of June, we went up to this lake with a group of Lorne's friends. We all stayed at a fishing resort, some of us in cabins and others in their own RVs. The guys went out fishing while the gals visited, drank coffee, and took photos for posterity.

Here are 3 of the guys out fishing.

A gorgeous shot of the surroundings reflected in the lake.

It was quite marshy at this place ...

and as such, there were lots and lots of ducks around.

This was the scene from the balcony of our cabin.

and this was the wharf that greeted us each morning.

Some of you might remember it was here that Lorne and I got officially engaged on June 5, 2009.

ABC Wednesday is brought to you by Mrs. Nesbitt and it's amazing that we're on Year 3, Round 5 already! Click here to see other participants' postings and/or to join in.

No wonder I'm tired all the time!

This morning I had my long-awaited appointment with the sleep disorder specialist. The results of my night wearing a monitor on my finger showed that I stop breathing about 25 times an hour!

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Most nights I go to bed around 11:00 pm and get up around 8:00 am, but without my alarm clock on I could "sleep" for up to 12 hours! It doesn't matter how many hours I "think" I sleep because I'm not really sleeping, but rather gasping for breath every other minute! And snoring like a old truck at the same time. No wonder I'm tired all the time!

Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million (North) Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, (like strokes or cardiac arrest) memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.

The specialist also told me that drinking alcohol, especially close to bedtime, can exacerbate sleep apnea. There's one good reason for not drinking except at special occasions. Plus since I'm already on high blood pressure meds, there's another reason to get this condition under control. AND I'm still having trouble losing the 7 pounds I've put on since my surgery in January. I thought that was because of lack of exercise (well, oKAY, that's part of it but now I have another excuse reason.)

So what to do about it? First, I have to wait for a phone call from a clinic that will give me a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to try out for a couple of months. (Free!) I will then see the specialist again to let him know if it's working. If it is, then I buy the machine (and get reimbursed by my Extended Health Benefits). I also have to go to the hospital to have the entire testing done to find out if I have "obstructed" or "central" sleep apnea. The wait time for this procedure is up to 12 months! But it's important to have the test done because then they can tell whether I can get surgery to trim my palate or not. This could relieve the apnea and I wouldn't have to use the CPAP.

Let's hope! Poor Lorne has the choice of sleeping in the other room or with me looking like an alien!

Birthday Lunch

What a gorgeous day to visit Granville Island! Clear blue skies formed a ceiling over the brilliant trees just turning red, gold, yellow, and burnt orange. We lucked out getting a free parking spot as someone pulled out just as we arrived giving us a 5-minute walk to the Granville Island Hotel and Dockside Restaurant. Oldest sister had already arrived so we joined her at the table by the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the marina full of massive sailboats. This was our view! Check out that chandelier...


After the formalities of "Happy Birthday," etc. we set to deciding on our drinks. Sisters had mimosas (which I dislike) so I opted instead for a pear cider. Brunch for me was a shrimp bennie and a circular caramel pecan cheesecake for dessert. I was SO full that I was grateful for that bit of a walk back to the car.

Oh, I got prezzies, too! The book, "The Time Traveler's Wife," a CD called "Paris Café," and a gift card to Starbucks. Just the ticket for a grey, rainy Vancouver day - I'll get some Starbucks coffee and a nice new mug and settle in to read while listening to soft French musique in front of a warm fire.

But before that happens, I want to go on a photo safari to capture the colours of the season. Plus I need to get the tulip bulbs planted soon, too. Although our temperatures are in the high teens celsius (in the 60's), it does cool down at night.

So the first in a month of special days has come and gone and I'm looking forward to Tuesday - the real birth-day - when Lorne and I are going out for dinner. We actually haven't done that in a while, so it should be nice.

October Already!

Man, the year is going by too quickly! Today it's the first of October, which means another very busy month. First up is my birthday on the 6th (which I share with my son-in-law), and then comes Thanksgiving - yes in Canada it's the 2nd Monday in October - and next is my older daughter's birthday on the 29th, and finally it's Halloween.

Sunday, my two sisters are taking me out to lunch at the Dockside Restaurant down in Granville Island in the big city of Vancouver. I always say that because I've lived in the 'burbs for so long, I feel like a tourist every time I drive in. I've never been to the Dockside before, but apparently it features floor to ceilings windows overlooking the water and a 50 foot aquarium. I'm really looking forward to it and will let you all know how the food is there.

Then after my students leave on Tuesday (my b'day) Lorne is taking me out to Earl's Restaurant for dinner. It's probably going to be a late night, replete with lots of vino, so it's a good thing Wednesday is a light day with only 2 students late in the afternoon.

The family is coming for Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday so we'll be busy cooking a traditional meal of roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, a corn scallop I make that everyone requests, and maybe a few brussel sprouts for colour. Seriously, I have a video of my grandson eating one last Thanksgiving and he actually liked it!

Halloween is a Saturday this year, so I'm expecting it to be a noisy evening after all the little ones finish their rounds. I'm sure all the teenagers will be out and about lighting their firecrackers and getting into all sorts of mischief. But we'll be cosy in our nice little house with the fire on and nibbling on popcorn and Halloween candy and sipping warm apple cider.

We've been wanting to get away for a few days, but life just seems to get in the way. Sometimes I wish time would stand still for a little while so I can absorb the moments rather than flitting through them to get to the next task.

October is one of my favourite months for all the reasons mentioned above. I hope it's sunny a lot, too, so we can go on a little photo safari to capture the colours of the season. Stay tuned for updates on all our activities. And wishing everyone a wonderful autumn season!

K is for Keepsakes

Gee, we're almost halfway through the alphabet for the 5th time! This week, the letter K is brought to you by Mrs. Nesbitt, our ABC Wednesday hostess.

In keeping with the theme of my new life with Lorne, I'm showing you some of his keepsakes. And the first thing actually begins with the letter K - keys. He loves antiques, and when he saw these keys in an antique store, he just had to get them. When he showed them to me, I said "Oh, why don't you choose one that would look good on a silver chain and you can give it to me saying 'It's the key to my heart.' Wouldn't that be romantic?" And he actually agreed! So, I'm waiting.

Click to enlarge.

Last Sunday, we took a load to the storage locker and came home with another box. Inside were 6 ducK decoys. I chose this one to show you because it's the oldest and most "antiquey" looking one. We put it by the front door to use as a doorstop. The others are scattered around the main floor living area, but I think I just might have to hide some of them. A few months ago, he said that "I" had too many nicK-nacKs around but lately, I'm finding a few too many of "his." Click to enlarge.

Finally, I'd like to show you his grandfather's lighter. His grandfather had the same initials as Lorne (except for the middle initial, that is). I think it's quite unique and very macho looking. Of course, we don't need a lighter like this since we don't smoke and we use those long-handled ones for the barbecue. But it is Kind of a conversation piece and it's fun to hear stories of the past about his family. Click to enlarge.

To see other participants posts, simply click here and you'll be instantly transported to a Mr. McLinky where you can click on a name to see their contributions.

Oh yes, you might have been wondering about the wedding we attended a week ago. I said I'd post photos, but I don't think I should as the people might object. But here is one that fits in to our K-Day. The KISS:

Congratulations go out to Jon and Tiffany, hoping they have a wonderful honeymoon in Cuba!

J is for Jib

Today at ABC Wednesday, hosted by Mrs. Nesbitt here, we're celebrating the letter J. Now, there are lots of J names in my family - father Jack (formally John), late FIL James, sister Jackie, daughters Jamie (who married Jason), and Jaclyn. But I needed to find a J word that would tie in with the theme of my new life with Lorne.

Lorne used to sail. Actually, he sold sailboats and raced them, too. Now I have never been on a sailboat in my entire life but I'm sure hoping that I'll get to go one of these days. Lorne no longer has his boat, but knows lots of people who have one. Anyway, I decided to do J is for JIB - of course, I had to ask him what a "jib" is because I had no idea which sail was called the jib. If you would like to read more about it, simply click here, but let me warn you that if you're not a sailing aficionado, it'll be as Greek to you as it is to me.

Lorne brought a few pieces of art with him when he moved in and, because I love it, this is one that will grace a wall in our living room. It's very large and will be a focal point and a conversation piece. Please excuse the poor photo but it was difficult to get the shot without a lot of reflections. But you get the idea.

I'd sure like to go sailing one day and feel the wind on my face out in the briny Pacific Ocean - well, at least the inlets that don't have huge thunderous waves that could wash me overboard. I might need to take a bucket with me, too, just in case......

I can tell how much Lorne loved to sail because whenever he talks about it his eyes just light up. A few of his cherished possessions are a gorgeous coffee table book about sailing and yachts, three brass ornaments of sailboats, and a photo his best friend took of him sailing his own boat, "Daisy," about 15 years ago. Look at the joy on his face in the photo.

Wouldn't you love to experience that same joy? If I ever get the chance, I'll strap my camera to me and snap away like crazy and get a photo of the jib, other sails, the sailors, and maybe one of me hanging over the bucket.

Monochrome Weekly

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a day over on the Sunshine Coast and did a post about it here. I didn't post this photo at the time because I was saving it for a Monochrome Weekly. These stairs led down to a beautiful beach where driftwood lay scattered on the sand and dogs fetched sticks for their masters. The day was absolutely gorgeous, sunny and warm, with not a cloud in the sky. And Iloved how the shadows played impishly on these steps. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed taking the photo.

Have a great week everyone and I'll try to get around to visiting everyone.

Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it. It looks much better that way.

To view other Monochrome photos, click here.

A Very Special Wedding

We're going to a wedding this Saturday. No, not ours - not yet. Ours is a year and a week away, but this one is going to be very special. I think it's quite unusual for a guest to be as close to both the bride and the groom as I am.

The bride is the youngest daughter of a couple I've known for about 30 years. I actually know the entire clan! The groom is the youngest son of my late husband's best friend who was also best man at our own wedding over 36 years ago. My daughter and I have been to two showers for the bride and we had wonderful times at both, seeing old friends we haven't seen for some time and meeting new ones.

The wedding is to be held at Hycroft, an absolutely gorgeous mansion in the Shaughnessy area of Vancouver. It's going to be quite formal, with the ceremony outside, weather permitting, and the reception and dance inside. I've been to Hycroft before, at the University Women's Club's annual Christmas Fair, and I can vouch for its opulance. At the right you'll see the gated entrance and then you can see the portico at the front door. The entire place will be a fantastic location for a special wedding complete with photo shoots deserving a place in "In Style" magazine!

Lorne and I are honoured to be sitting with the groom's parents and relatives and next to the bride's parents' table. That just shows how close we are to both the families. I can hardly wait to dress up for the event and watch these two wonderful young people (ages 25 & 27) get married! They've both lived at home all their lives so this is going to be a very special time in their lives.

Keep an eye out for photos of the wedding here next week.

Exploring the Sunshine Coast

Thanks, David, for the mention re POTD.

What a full day I had yesterday! Up at 6:15 and over at my friend's place by 7:30 to drive together to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry to go over to a part of the Sunshine Coast. The last time I was there was last November but just to look around for a couple of days with another friend and to "get away." This time, I had an ulterior motive...the area is in the running as a place to live in our retirement years. The Sunshine Coast is located north of Vancouver BC and is accessed by water or air and once there, you'd think you were on an island. However, it is attached to the mainland of British Columbia but there just isn't any road access.

I have lived in my little village of Ladner for many many years and came here specifically because it was a quiet little burb away from the hustle and bustle of noisy city living. However, lately it seems to be growing by leaps and bounds and we hear traffic, sirens, and children shouting all the time now. There has also been an increase in homelessness, drugs, and crime. So for our retirement years we'd like to live in a more peaceful location that suits our lifestyle.

My friend knows several people, including her immediate family, who live in Gibsons, Sechelt, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay and other areas. The climate is mild, being protected by the outlying islands and there are more than 20 provincial parks, lakes, beaches, a lot of artisans, and great food. We visited 2 totally different Bed & Breakfast accomodations run by people my friend knows - one quite elegant and the other more laid-back/countryish with outdoor fire pits. Here are a few photos I took that might help give you an idea of the beauty of the region. Be sure to click to enlarge the photos to get the best effect possible.

So, two thumbs WAY UP for the Sunshine Coast. How could anyone say "no" to such gorgeous beaches where you can walk your dog and let it go swimming at any time of the year, the sealife, the sailing and other types of boating, its history, peace and quiet, all the friendly folks, and lots of the "Arts."

Of course, the Okanagan (namely the town of Peachland) is also in the running. But we won't know for a while as I think we both need to visit these places a few more times to make an informed decision.