A very good Monday Afternoon to all

Yikee!!!!!!! I have had a little turn for the worse. I spent the morning at St John Hospital here in Vanderhoof receiving 2 litres of Saline solution and a packet of anti biotics intravenously. I've been having a great deal of difficulty swallowing fluids for the past 3 days. Yesterday I was able to drink only a couple of ounces of water all day and even then, I aspirated much of it and it came swooshing out of my trachea tube. I've also had some diarrhea as well and became dehydrated. Martha Brown and Dolores have had sore throats and coughs for the past week and I have had the same. I suspect that the really cold snap we had last week with -38/40C for 3 days also contributed to my troubles.

So, this morning I went to the hospital with Dolores when she went to work and checked into emergency. I received very good care and I am now feeling so much better. Dr. Campbell asked me to try not to drink any fluids except for "thickened" water and I will receive my fluids twice a day intravenously. That means back and forth to town morning and night. I'm also to take Apo Cefuroxime twice a day for 7 days to kill any bugs/viruses in my lungs. If my throat and Epiglottis do not respond in that time Dr. Campbell will have me see Dr. Filatov on an emergency basis. I hope that it does not come down to that.

So, having said that, We're having a real winter storm today. Snow, wind and -10C. Winter is actually quite nice when it is like this and you do not have to commute in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. The cows don't seem to mind the snow or the cold, good thing since we do not have enough barn space for the whole herd. They just wander about carrying a load of snow on their backs. Weird animals.

I will be a shut in for the next 7 days, except for my daily trips to the hospital, while I fight this bug and get well. Luckily I am all prepared for Christmas as I hope you all are. We will have a grand day with most of Martha's family here as well as some grand children and friends. I am looking forward to it. Dolores and I wish you all have a very Merry Christmas and to everyone grand Ho Ho Ho from the 250 exchange in Central B.C.

Bye for now and love and hugs to everyone.

Rick

Yoski

Hi everyone,

December 6th, 7:23 PM and it's -20 C and getting colder. The high today was -13. It will be cold here in the Nechako Valley for the rest of the week. We are expecting some snow will be added to the +/- 12" we already have on the ground. Winter is now here at the farm. The cows don't seem to mind it at all nor do the outside dogs Duke and Lady. Mambo and Cheyenne are inside dogs and while they are big, they are sissies when it comes to the cold. Even our cats prefer to stay inside these days.

Milton is on a job/work share program with his employer (Central Interior Caterers) and he works 2 weeks on and then 2 weeks off. Currently he is babysitting a logging camp which has been shut down due to the slumping lumber markets. It is pretty boring work for him as he is all by himself for the 2 weeks and the camp is located about 2 and 1/2 hours south and west of here. The closest town is Burns Lake and that is 1 1/2 hours by car and a ferry ride across Francois Lake.

While he is in camp, I take over looking after the laying chickens of which we currently have more than 100. I gather the eggs in the morning , water and feed them and then in the afternoon I clean out the 2 coops and change their water. It is not difficult work but, it is time consuming. It gives me lots to do and gets me outside for a couple of hours a day.

I have joined the Book Club at the Vanderhoof Public Library and the group meets once a month September through May. Once a year the group decides what books will be read and on the 3rd Wednesday of those months we meet and discuss that month's book selection. The December 15th meeting will be my 1st meeting. I have also joined the St. John Hospital Auxiliary and am the 2nd male to join. The Auxiliary is quite active and is well thought of in the town.

Dolores is trying a new diet "Crack the Fat Loss Code" and believe me it is a tough one. She has a very strict regimen of what she can eat and on what days she can eat it. It is an off shoot of the Atkins diet but much friendlier on the body. In the first 7 days she has lost 7 pounds. I don't think she can keep that up, but she is determined to shed 50 pounds.

While she is doing this, I decided to cut down on calories and fat. I made the decision when Dolores took my blood pressure and it was 164 over 72. Well! I guess I over did it because I dropped from 182 to 175 in 6 days. 1,200 calories is not enough for me so I have modified my eating habits again. I am now really watching the amount of fat and sugar that I consume daily and I don't really worry about calories. My goal is to reduce my blood pressure to 140 over 60 by the end of December, Dolores thinks it is doable.

I will keep you updated on our success as time goes on.

In case I don't get another chance, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our house to your house.

Lots of love and good health to everyone.

Rick

Has winter arrived?

Howdy all,

It started to snow yesterday morning around 9:00 and it was still snowing when I went to bed at 10:30 PM. This morning it was a winter wonderland here on the farm. We received about 6 " of the white stuff in total. I was out shovelling the pathways to the chicken coops, wood shed, front and back walkways first thing this morning. David ploughed the drive way last night before Dolores got home from work and he did it again this morning. Everything looks so good with the first real snowfall of the season. By the spring time I will have had enough of it all.

I was in to Prince George on Monday November 2nd to see Dr. Filatov. Dolores and I were anxious to see what he had to say about the November 29th procedure I had in Vancouver. To put it bluntly, he was unhappy with what Dr, Anderson did or the lack of what he did. He suggested that I get a second opinion from another Doctor in Vancouver that he knows. Dr. Filatov thought there were several other options that he could have tried, i.e. he might have tried to install a stint in the narrowing of the larynx or shored up the opening with supports. I am tired of the problems surrounding the radiation damage and at this juncture, I do not want to undergo another procedure. In a year or two I may feel differently and I will leave my options open until then. In the meantime, I will see Dr. Filatov every 4 months for the next year.

I saw Dr. Campbell on the 8th of November for a referral to see Dr. Klopper and I am scheduled to see him here in Vanderhoof with respect to the hernia operation on Nov. 23rd. Dr. Campbell rearranged my meds to try and control my cough a little bit better in anticipation of the surgery. The operation will likely take place early in the new year. I've had my annual flu shot and I received the H1N1 vaccination on Nov. 4th here in Vanderhoof. I was also given a prescription for the Tami Flu remedy in the event that I come down with a flu like virus.

I am still feeling very good. My weight and appetite are holding up and I enjoy getting out every day and doing the chores. Dolores and I are heading to Prince George on Thursday the 19th and she will buy me a B'day dinner while we are there. It's the big one this year. I officially become a "senior citizen" and will reap all the rewards which accrue from it.

Wish me well and I, in turn, send you all my best wishes for good health and happiness.

Until later.

Love to everyone,

Rick

Fall is here with some signs of winter

Good afternoon everyone,

Today was a big day in our lives as cattle farmers. The adult cows were "Preg Tested". We hire a trained professional who lives near Chase B.C. (he was formerly one of our neighbours). The result was 66 "well bred" cows and 4 open cows (not pregnant). At the same time the "bred" cows were all inoculated for various cow diseases. The 4 open cows will be sold at auction in Vanderhoof, this Saturday. Sad to say they will become MacDonald hamburgers. Dolores, Milton and David have decided to purchase 20 "bred" heifers which will replenish and grow the herd.

It was a good day for the testing. It was sunny with cloudy periods with a temperature of 12.6 C. It was however, very windy. After the mature cows were tested and inoculated, 6 of the 7 calves that were kept back from the auction, were then inoculated. These calves will grow over the winter and next spring they will be bred and become part of the main herd. the 7th calf will be taken to the butcher and will provide beef for us for the next year.

I mentioned the auction earlier. All but 7 of this years calf crop went to the auction here in Vanderhoof October 17th. We received higher and better prices overall than last year. It was a good decision to send them when we did because prices have fallen quite dramatically since then. Two old cows and a yearling bull were shipped to the auction in Vancouver at that time and the prices there were pretty awful. So goes it in the cattle business.

All of our new laying hens (pullets) are now laying and we are getting upwards of 90 to 100 eggs a day from the old layers and the pullets. The pullet eggs are smaller than the ones from the year old hens but within a couple of weeks they will become much larger (average size will then be large to extra large).

We have had some early tastes of winter, freezing temperatures at night and snow. The snow is now gone but we will have lots in the coming weeks and months ahead. I will be spending a lot more time inside as the winter chores are fewer than in the summer. Milton has been care taking a 65 man logging camp on a job share basis, 2 weeks in and 2 weeks out. When he is away there is lots for me to do, but, when he is home the chores are cut in half.

I will be doing a lot of reading. Yesterday I bought 50 Agatha Christie mystery novels and 38 Alfred Hitchcock books (mostly short stories) at a thrift shop in Vanderhoof for $8.00. A couple of months ago I bought 35 Louis L"Amour novels at a thrift store in Prince George for $10 so these new additions to my collection will take up some of the cold winter days and nights.

I am going to see Dr. Suzanne Campbell, my G.P., in Vanderhoof on Tuesday the 10th of November. She will be referring me to another Doctor at St. John Hospital, and he will do the hernia operation. I expect my surgery will be in the new year and I have been told the recovery time is 6 to 8 weeks. Oh the glories of surgery. I am not fearful of the operation but, 6 to 8 weeks of inactivity frightens me. I'll keep you posted.

Before I sign off I would like to sat that I am really healthy, except for the hernia. My weight is in the 175 to 178 pound range and I am probably in better shape than I was when I was 50 years old. My stamina is not what it should be and that is due to the Trachea tube. I'm eating well and enjoying life here on the farm. Every one is well and Martha turned 92 on the 23 of October. We had a big family party here at the farm and all her children and spouses were here. It was a grand affair.

So much for now. I'll post later and tell you about the hernia surgery. Until then, all my love to everyone.

Rick

The End of the Road

Good morning Everyone,

Well, it appears to be over. The running battle with the cancer and extended recovery period now seem to be behind me. Dr. Anderson went into my throat and larynx last Tuesday, Sept. 29th with the view that he would be able to clean up the fibroids around my voice box and make it a little bit easier for me to breath and talk. As it turned out, he was unable to do anything. The little muscles, cartilage, ligaments and bones around the larynx are all fused together. The radiation has damaged the area so badly that even taking out the voice box was not an option. So! I will live with the trachea tube for the rest of my life unless new technology surfaces and I am OK with this.

As you all know, I've had this Trachea Tube for about a year and I am getting used to it. It will always be a bother but, it is only a small medical handicap. It requires a certain amount of care and attention each day but, that care and attention has become part of my daily routine.

I was looking at the procedure Dr. Anderson did last Tuesday as the last step in the recovery process. Now that it has come and gone, I have resolved to move on to a new stage of my life. To this end I have really good news for you. I proposed to Dolores the day after the surgery and she accepted. We went shopping that day and I purchased an engagement ring for her and together we also bought wedding bands. We are planning on a small family wedding in the Spring of 2010.

Both Dolores and I are really happy that the cancer episode is behind us now and we are both looking forward to happier and healthier times. I expect that I will see Dr. Filatov on an annual or semi annual basis for the next 3 or 4 years to be sure that there is no recurrence of the dreadful disease.

This blog has become a good way to keep everyone informed and I plan to keep posting on a semi monthly or monthly basis. Until my next posting.

Love to everyone,

Rick

Damp and wet

Good morning everyone,

I'm getting set to head over to Vancouver General Hospital at 1:15 this afternoon. The surgery on my throat is at 3:15 and I may have to spend the night in the hospital. The procedure itself will only take a 1/2 hour so I hope I'll be discharged when I wake up from the surgery. If I need to stay the bed in the hospital is there reserved for me.

Our trip down was uneventful. We had a nice evening with Olmer and Linda in Big Lake Saturday and when we arrived in Surrey on Sunday evening we went to dinner with Brock and then had a good visit with him. Yesterday we had a 2 hour Post Operation appointment at VGH and everything went well. Dolores and and I then went out to Port Coquitlam and had dinner with my good friends Bob and Lillian Pavich. I was a great evening. We went to bed way to late and Dolores is in the room sleeping as I type.

I'm a little bit antsy about the procedure this afternoon but, I will be OK. I will post a short update on my condition and the results from the surgery before we leave to return home.

Talk to you all soon.

Love to all,

Rick

Making Plans

Hi everyone,

Well we're on the home stretch. Dolores and I are leaving for Vancouver on Saturday August 25th. We will stay with her brother and his wife Linda on Saturday night at Big lake. On Sunday we will take a leisurely drive from there to Vancouver. It takes about a 6 1/2 hours from there. We plan to stop in Surrey on Sunday evening and have dinner with Brock. Both Olmer and his wife and Brock are getting very large and generous produce/care packages from our vegetable garden. From there we will go into Vancouver and check into the Jean C. Barber Lodge. On Monday afternoon I have an appointment with the Pre-Booking Clinic at the Jim Pattison Pavilion which is part of Vancouver General Hospital. Then, on Tuesday August 29th I am scheduled to have the micro laser Laryngoscopy, we do not know what time the surgery is scheduled for.

In speaking with the people in Dr. Anderson's office, I have been told that this is relatively uncomplicated surgery and I should be up and fully mobile by the next day, Sept. 30th. Just to be sure that I am travel ready, we are booked into the Cancer Lodge through to Oct. 1st. I am not worried or concerned about the procedure and I have complete confidence in Dr. Anderson's skill. I expect that we will get a full report from him on my condition and future outlook prior to our departure from Vancouver.

I am reconciled to the fact that I will likely have to have the trachea tube for the rest of my life. I consider it to be only a minor medical handicap. There are certainly much worse conditions that I could be suffering from. After all, I am still looking at the grass from the green side which has a far better view than from the brown side.

Turning now to other matters, I have had a very busy and active life here at the farm this summer. I have been out working around the house and garden every day and feel exceptionally well and fit. I have found that wearing the thermovent over the opening of my trachea tube while I am outside really helps to control my cough and it is especially noticeable when I come back inside. I have put on a few more pounds and am up to 178/79 and it's mostly muscle. I am sleeping well most nights

I will update when I return from Vancouver and I hope to be able to move on to a new chapter in my ongoing recovery. I still suffer from the hernia but it is now just a matter of time until I can have that straight forward surgery.

Be well and happy.

Rick

Continuation

Hello again from sunny Vanderhoof,

As I said last night Dolores and I arrived home from our trip to Vancouver in time for supper last night. We left Vancouver at 10:00 ish on Friday the 7th and took our time coming home. We stopped in Sorento to visit with Elaine and Brian Hopkins (long time friends of Dolores) and stayed with them Friday and Saturday nights. It was a good visit although the air quality was really putrid due to the numerous forest fires in the area.

On Sunday morning we left after a leisurely breakfast for Big Lake to visit with Olmer and Linda Brown (Dolores's brother). We had a restful visit with them Sunday and stayed the night. We left Big lake and drove to Barkerville, a historical gold rush town 80 Km's out of Quesnel, B.C. We wondered aimlessly around the town site taking in the sites and sounds and went to the local theatre for an afternoon show depicting the great fire in Barkerville in the late summer of 1868. The entire town was destroyed (burned to the ground) except for 3 buildings. It was enjoyable.

We left Barkerville at about 5:30 PM and drove to Prince George for dinner. While we were having supper, we made a spur of the moment decision to stay overnight in PG. We ran around Prince George on Tuesday and visited with Dolores's brother Floyd and his wife Janice. Then we left for home at 3:45 PM.

So much for that. I received some very distressing news from Dr. Anderson during my appointment with him on Tuesday afternoon Aug. 5th. I have Fibrosis of the Larynx. That is to say that what Dr. Filatov though was skin granulation over the top of my voice box is in fact fibroids (scar tissue) and it is much more difficult to deal with. The bottom line is, I'll have the traecheostomy tube for the rest of my life. There are no other alternatives.

On Spt. 29th, I will have a procedure called a Laser Microlaryngoscopy at Vancouver General Hospital. This will entail a full examination of the larynx and the fibroids. Dr. Anderson will clean them up as much as possible but, he cannot remove them because the risk of aspirating while I'm drinking or eating is too great. He could remove my larynx but, then I would not be able to talk and I would still have to have a tracheostomy tube, so what is the point of that?

There is no question that I will have to have the tracheostomy tube forever but, the good thing is I'm still breathing and I'm on the green side of the grass. I'll be able to fill you in more completely after the procedure on the 29th of Sept. I'll keep posting in the meantime and keep you up to date on what's happening here in Vanderhoof.

Bye for now,

Rick

Back in Vanderhoof

Good evening all,

Dolores and I arrived home a few hours ago. I am exhausted and am going to take my meds and hit the hay. I'll up date you with all the details of our trip to Vancouver tomorrow.

Bye for now,

Rick

The Big Smoke

Good morning all,

A great big hello to each and everyone of you. We made it to Vancouver in 12 hours yesterday and in one piece. The traffic was manageable and the road construction delays were to be expected. We left the farm at 8:00 AM and drove through to Quesnel where we gassed up and changed drivers. It was a bright sunny day and about 22 C. As we got further south on Highway 97 heading toward Cache Creek the smoke in the air from the many forest fires around Kamloops and Lilloet (sp) was very noticeable.

We had lunch in 100 Mile House and then proceeded on to Kamloops where we picked up the Coquihalla Hwy. We stopped in Merritt for gas (107.9/l) and a Dairy Queen sundae and then it was on to Hope and where we joined up with the Trans Canada Hwy into Vancouver, We arrived here at the Jean C. Barber Cancer Lodge at about 8:00 PM. It was a long drive. We checked into our room and at 9:00 PM we joined a number of the other guests staying here for a late evening snack and something to drink. The cost for the two of us is $95 per night including breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as 2 snacks at 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm. This is a wonderful facility and everyone is very friendly.

This afternoon we will drive out to see Dr. Anderson at his office in Coquitlam. We will then spend some time shopping and loitering around and then have Greek dinner with Dolores's son Michael and his daughter Jessica. Afterward we will drive over to Surrey and visit with Brock.

At 8:30 tomorrow morning we have an appointment at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic Dentistry Clinic which is located across the street from this facility. We have decided to stay here through to Friday morning and we will then depart for Sorento.

I will up date tomorrow after my Dental visit. Until then, bye for now.

Rick

Travel Time

Good morning to everyone,

Tomorrow morning Dolores and I will drive to Vancouver and on Wed. Aug. 5th we will see Dr. Anderson, the surgeon who will remove the Granulation/web that has grown over the top of my voice box. This meeting will be a consultation and examination and will be the precursor to the actual surgery. We expect it will take 4 to 6 weeks before I will have the surgery. On Thursday morning I have an appointment at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic Dental Office in Vancouver. We will stay at the Jean C. Barber Cancer Lodge across the Street from the Cancer Clinic on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. On Thursday night we will stay with my friends Linda and Bob Leighton in Surrey, B.C.

It is almost a 1,000 km's to Vancouver from the farm so we will have a long day on the road. Thankfully I can drive now so with the two of us sharing the duty, the trip will be somewhat less tiring. On the way home, we are going to visit friends of Dolores in Sorento (60 Km's east of Kamloops on the Trans Canada Hwy). We will also stop to visit Olmer and Linda Brown at Big Lake before returning home on Monday Aug. 10th.

I could wish that this trip was to have the "web" removed but, it isn't. It is just another long trip for a consultation. The way it looks now, I will have the trachea tube at least into November but, I guess that we are making progress. I am feeling very good these days. The terrible cough has eased up somewhat and I am more comfortable on a day to day basis. I continue to grow stronger and bit by bit my health and wellness is improving. I am filling out nicely and staying steady at 175 lbs. The ravages of the cancer are becoming less and less noticeable with every passing day.

Stay tuned, the saga continues.

Bye for now,

Rick

Up date

Good evening all,

Well, I heard from Dr. Filatov's office, yesterday. I have an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Ron Anderson in Coquitlam, B.C. on Wednesday August 5th. Dr. Anderson is the surgeon who was going to remove the lymph node mass from my neck after the radiation treatments. He is one of 2 surgeons that Dr. Filatov knows who does the type of laser surgery that I need. I have seen Dr. Anderson on 2 previous occasions and he has my complete confidence. The only sticky point is that this appointment is for a consultation only and the actual surgery will be scheduled for some time further down the road. Oh well, the wheels of progress oft times turn slowly.

We are having great weather here in Vanderhoof. The mosquitoes are almost gone and that is really nice. I am outside every day doing this and that and feeling really good. I now have a hernia belt which provides a great deal of relief during the day while I'm doing my chores. If I could just get rid of this cough. I know, once the trachea tube is removed or as I now refer to it "my breathing tube" the cough will be a thing of the past.

I wish everyone good health and happiness. I'll keep you posted.

Love,

Farmer Rick or XLumpy

Hello all

I have delayed in bringing you up to date for a reason.  I saw Dr.
Filatov last Wednesday (June 10th) and he scoped me and was concerned
about some swelling on the left side of my neck where the original
lump was located.  He had Dolores look at the area and feel the
affected area.  They both felt that there was some swelling but,
neither one of them was overly concerned.  Dr. Filatov ordered a CT
Scan and I had that yesterday afternoon in Prince George.  This

morning at 11:00 I saw Dr. Filatov at St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof
and he reviewed the CT Scan on line.  Dolores was with him while he
looked at the pictures and the swelling seems to be a slightly swollen
muscle.  There is nothing growing within the muscle so he says there
is nothing to worry about.  I am relieved by the results but, I will
say I have been a little on edge during the past week while I waited
the CT Scan.

Other than that little blip, I am extremely well and fine.  I am
feeling much stronger by the day and my stamina is improving
noticeably.  The trachea tube is a nuisance but happily the coughing
has decreased at night.  The hernia is bothersome and it is irritating
much of the time.  I can do just about every thing except lift heavy
weights.  Coughing hurts the most.

I have been helping Dolores with the garden, planting and watering
etc.  It is a very large task and it will continue to be so for most
of the summer.  Weeding and watering are daily chores which I will be
involved with.  We now have 90 new meat birds and they require frequent
attention for watering and food.  During the first several weeks they
are very sensitive to the temperature inside the coop.  Right now the
temperature must be maintained at 90 F and will drop to 85 tomorrow
and 5 degrees cooler each week.  We have 70/75 new laying chicks and
they also require the same amount of attention.  We got the chicks a
week ago today (Friday last week) and they were one day old.  You can
really see the difference in size in that one week.  The meat birds
grow much faster than the laying chicks.

Our weather has been beautiful lately.  Warm and sunny with enough
breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay.  We finally had rain the day
before yesterday and that was very welcomed.  The fields were
beginning to dry up and the rain came at the right time.  We've had
showers on and off yesterday and today.  We can expect more rain and
showers through next next Tuesday.  The temperatures will remain in
the high teens to the low 20's.

There is only one cow that has yet to calf.  We are still feeding the
2 babies, one is an orphan and the other is a twin which was rejected
by the mother.  They are both growing nicely and are really friendly.
They come to us when we call them for feeding 3 times a day.  It is
more fun to feed them than doing chores.  My permanent daily morning
chore is to water all the numerous flower gardens as well as a small
potato patch.  That takes me the better part of an hour and a half and
then it's off to the wood pile to split wood until lunch.  I  have
helped Dolores with the planting of the vegetable garden which is
about 3 acres.  It has been a lot of work but a real learning
experience.  My cousins Harvey and Irene Wrightman in Ontario 

will appreciate what it takes to plant and maintain a garden of this size.

Dolores has the big green house (12'x40') just about fully planted
with tomatoes, cukes, green and red peppers and a variety of herbs.
The little green house (8'x10') is bursting at the seems with many
different types of lettuce.  She picked the first lettuce for salads
the day before yesterday.  Yummy.  The garden provides enough
potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, squash, broccoli, cauliflower,
cabbage, Swiss chard, parsnips, peas and beans so that we do not have
to buy any all year.  It has been a real big learning curve for me.
We also cleaned out the raspberry patches, Janet helped with that, then
the tay berry  and blackberry patches as well.  The strawberries are in
flower and it will be only weeks until they are ready to be picked.

I am getting stronger and stronger with every passing day and my stamina

is noticeably better as well.  I am eating bigger meals and enjoying the food.  

I still have some trouble swallowing certain things and talking is difficult. 

The airway to my lungs is really restricted by the skin granulation/web 

covering the top of my larynx.  Dr. Filatov has referred me to Dr. Anderson in Vancouver who will do the surgery to remove the web.  I expect to hear more about this in a month to 6 weeks.  I will have to recover from that surgery before Dr. Filatov will even be able to consider removing the trachea tube.  When that is finished and done with I will have a hernia operation here in Vanderhoof.

So long for now.  Love yo everyone.

Rick

  

The Cough That Never Quits

Greetings from the farm,

As we near end of May, I am reminded of a very unusual calendar event which is going to happen very soon.  At 5 minutes and 6 seconds after 4 AM on July 8th this year the time and date will be: 04:05:06, 07/08/09 and it will never happen again. 

Having said that, today I had an appointment with Dr. Campbell here in Vanderhoof at 09:40:00,05/28/09.  As I have said in numerous posts in the past, I have a persistent and painful cough which continues day after day after day.  It just never lets up.  I have been coughing so hard and so often, that I have developed a hernia around the right side of my groin.  It is painless most of the time, except when I cough or try to lift something heavy.  Dr. Campbell says I can continue with my normal daily activities. Whew! 

Now comes the tricky part.  I will be seeing Dr. Filatov on June 10th and he will be referring me to a surgeon in Surrey or Vancouver to have the "web" which has grown over my larynx removed.  Once we know what Doctor I will be referred to and what date the surgery will be on, Dr. Campbell will liaise with that Doctor and try to arrange for me to have the hernia operation at the same time.  I sure hope that works, otherwise I will have to wait until my trachea tube is removed before we can schedule the hernia surgery in Vanderhoof and who knows when that will be.

Now the good news.  I am feeling really, really good and have regained most of my stamina and my energy level is as high as it has been since well before the radiation treatments began.  I am also getting stronger every day.  My good days far out number the bad days and life is good once again.

It is nice to be able to give you good news.  I'll continue to keep posting, so stay tuned.

Love to all,

Rick

SNOW

Hi all,

BRRRRRRRR and it's snowing here in Vanderhoof.  Yup, Snowing on May 19th.  A great big YUK!  Oh well, it was accumulating on the ground earlier this morning but it is now all gone.  

Since my last post, my sister Janet and Ron have been to B.C. and returned to Kingston, Ont.  Janet drove up from Williams Lake to visit us.  She arrived here on Wednesday May 6th and stayed with us until Friday May 8th.  While she was here we introduced here to farm life at the Triple G Ranch.  Everyone here loved having her visit and I really miss her now that she is gone.   Dolores and Janet got together and worked in the garden with spring clean up.  Together they dug up some raspberry plants, tay berry plants, blackberry plants and currents, mixed them together in bundles and packaged them in plastic bags bags.  The bundles were then donated to the Ladies Auxiliary of St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof for their annual garage sale.  Milton took Janet with him while he hand fed two of the baby calves as well as introducing her to the chicken coops and gathering eggs.  She then had a fresh egg, 10 minutes from the coop to the frying pan and her for breakfast plate.  Her visit was way to short.

On the 8th, Dolores and I drove with her to Williams Lake.  We stopped in Prince George at Timberline Footfitters and visited with Adele Sjoberg.  We all bought new shoes while we were there and then it was off to WL.  We went for dinner with Janet and Ron and had a great visit.  On Saturday the 9th, Janet, Dolores and I  went to Scout Island, a Nature Reserve in Williams Lake and toured the grounds.  We then drove about 40 kms out on Hwy 20 to Riske Creek and then took a side trip of about 20 kms on a gravel road to Farwell Canyon to see the Hoodoos.  It was a marvellous day.  Saturday night we all went out for dinner again.  Sunday morning Ron and Janet left early for Kamloops and their return trip to Kingston.

Dolores and I then drove to Big Lake and visited with her brother Olmer and his wife Linda.  They have built a new house on a beautiful 2o acre parcel of land overlooking Big Lake.  The property is studded with magnificent Douglas Fir. pine and spruce trees and lots of deciduous trees as well. We spent Sunday and Monday with them and returned to Vanderhoof on Tuesday the 12th.  

It was a great get away for me as it was the first time, since I returned to the farm last July, that I have been away for more than a day at a time.  Delores and I enjoyed the trip.

My appointment with Dr. Filatov has been changed from June 25th to May 22nd and now to June 9th.  The granulation/web which has grown over my voice box must be removed by laser surgery and it cannot be done in Prince George.  I will be referred to a surgeon in Vancouver or Surrey.  Yippee, another trip to Vancouver.  I will also have some dental work done at the Fraser valley Cancer Clinic while we are there.  More on that when I have more details.

Since returning to the farm, the weather up until today has been nice.  I have been outside working along side of Milton and Dolores in the gardens.  I've also been swinging my golf clubs and riding my bike.  I feel great.  Yesterday Reg Koop and Marjo came to visit us.  I love having company and we had a wonderful visit.

That's it for now, more later.

Love to everyone,

Rick 

Update

Good afternoon everyone,

A quick update on the trouble I'm having with the granulation tissue/web on my larynx.  While Dolores was at work yesterday at St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof, she ran into Dr. Filatov.  He comes to Vanderhoof about twice a month to conduct surgeries and see local patients.  He asked that I call his office and arrange an appointment for later this month.  He will not be able to do the surgery to remove the Granulation tissue in Prince George because it must be removed using laser surgery.  Prince George does not have the necessary laser equipment.

Dr. Filatov will refer me to Surrey or Vancouver where the surgery will be performed and it may take a couple of months before I can be scheduled for the procedure.   I cannot have the tracheostomy removed until the problem is fixed.  While I'm there, I will make an appointment to see the dentist at the Fraser Valley Cancer Clinic and have 7 minor cavities filled.  All of the cavities are due to the deterioration of the enamel on my teeth from the radiation.

My sister Janet will be here next Wednesday.  I spoke to her last night and they are flying to Edmonton today.  Tomorrow morning (Sunday) they will take the train from Edmonton to Kamloops, B.C.  While they are in Kamloops, they will visit with my brother Stephen's two children, Stephanie and Spencer.  On Monday the 4th they will drive in a rental car to Williams Lake.  Ron is teaching phsycology to some college teachers in there.  On Wednesday the 6th, Janet will drive to Vanderhoof and visit with us here at the farm.  Then, next Friday the 10th, Dolores and I along with Janet will return to Williams Lake.  That will give Dolores and I a chance to visit with Ron before they return to Kingston on Sunday the 12th.   

Before Dolores and I return to Vanderhoof, we will visit with her brother Olmer and his wife Linda.  They live at Big Lake, B.C. which is about 30 to 40 minutes out of Williams Lake.  It will be a nice mini vacation for the 2 of us.

That's it for now, but as you can see, my recovery from the radiation seems to be never ending.  I will keep you updated.

Love to all,

Rick

  

CORRECTION

Good evening everyone,

I have a significant correction to my last post where I said that the swelling in my epiglottis was only marginally improved from December.  I was incorrect.  I was speaking with my son Brock the other day and I mentioned that the swelling was still restricting the airway by 85%.  Dolores corrected me by saying the pictures showed that the airway is about 50% blocked.  It is the swelling around my larynx/voice box which is now the area of Dr. Filatov's concern and that is because the airway there is so swollen and the granulation/web is blocking the air from entering my larynx.  

So, I guess that would explain why I have been able to swallow so much easier and without any pain.  I am still feeling great and enjoying our spring time weather.

Talk to you all soon.

Rick

 

So!!!! How's your Mud?

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday, April 21st, I had an appointment with Dr. Filatov in Prince George.  As usual, he examined my throat and larynx areas with his endoscopy.  I have become more used to the procedure but it is still very unpleasant.  The first thing he noticed was the swelling of of my epiglottis has subsided but, only marginally.  I have been thinking that the swelling had gone down considerably more due to the fact that I am able to swallow just about everything easily. This is not the case.  

Next, Dr. Filatov examined the area around my voice box and larynx.  This area is now causing him some concern.  The endoscopy clearly showed a stenos (narrowing) of the airway and the top of my voice box opening to the larynx shows granulation of the tissue.  Granulation is a natural part of the body's healing process.  This particular area was badly burned by the radiation treatments and the granulation looks like a "web" which is restricting the flow of air. The result of this is the raspy sound of my voice and the difficulty I have in talking.  

Dr. Filatov wants me to start wearing a plug on the end of my tracheostomy (trachea tube) for an hour or two at a time, at various points throughout the day, to see if I can get enough air in through my nose and mouth to function on a normal basis.  The plug will assist help me to talk by allowing the air which I breathe out to travel over the vocal cords.  At some point, he will have to remove the "web" surgically.

Next, we spoke about my hearing and yes, it is more than likely that the significant loss of hearing I have experienced over the past few months is a direct result of the radiation.  He examined my ears with a scope and told me there was fluid behind both ear drums.  He then did a procedure to suction the fluid out of the ear canals by piercing  the ear drums and then he installed "shunts/tubes" in both ears to drain the fluid on an ongoing basis.  The procedure was uncomfortable but relatively painless.  It was noisy as he suctioned off the fluid and it reminded me of the noise I heard when I had an MRI, it was really loud.  I can hear much better now and the plugs will dissolve over time.

I will see him again on June 25th and he will decide at that time what to do about the granulation/web.  Until at least that time I will continue to have the trachea tube.  Oh the joy of that.

Well that's it for now.  I'll keep you posted.

Love to everyone.

Rick

P.S.: So maybe you are wondering about the Title of this post.  Spring has arrived at the farm. The snow is all but melted and the result is soft ground and MUD!!! Oh my, what MUD!!!  To make matters worse, it started to rain on Sunday night and continued to rain most of Monday and yesterday.  That made that MUD that much more MUDDIER.  Today it is breezy and mostly sunny and that will help dry up the ground but until then, we have MUD!!!.  

Later,

H

WOW!!!!

HI EVERYBODY,

Three posts in 4 days, what's come over me?  I went and saw Dr. Campbell this morning and she removed my Gastric Tube.  Yippee.  It was the easiest procedure yet.  All she had to do was snip a small string which was inside the plastic sheath near the outside end of the tube (duh!) which then released the "pig tail" at the other end of the tube in my stomach.  She then gently pulled the tube out and "wahlah" no more Gastric Tube.  The small hole in my stomach will close almost immediately and the opening where it exited will close up and heal all by itself.  She simply put a band aid over the outside hole and by this time tomorrow it should be healed over.

There you have it.  One less dressing to change each day and no more "stat locks"  the dressing that held the tube in place.  They were quite pricey at $18 each.  We changed the stat lock on average every 30 to 45 days.  There will be no chopping wood for me this afternoon.

Bye for now.

Love to everyone,

Rick, the less than holey one

An after thought

Good evening all,

I forgot to mention in my last post that I picked up my new hearing aids on Mar 25.  It has taken me some time to learn how to put them in and keep them properly adjusted.  But, the result is that I can hear again.  Seldom have to ask some body to repeat what was said to me.  I do notice noises that I haven't heard before at the house.  For instance, the fan on the fire place is always there, the dish washer when it's on, the electric furnace in the back hallway.  All things which I will get used to.  A small price to pay to be able to hear again.

Last Saturday I spoke with my good friend D'Arcy Regan in Toronto.  D'Arcy and I go back to grade 9.  It was great to get together on the phone with him.  He has been one of my biggest boosters throughout this past year.  Then last evening, out of the blue,  Bill Purkis from Bala, Ont. called to say hello.  I have known Bill since we were in grade 5 together.  I must say both calls did wonders for my moral and gave me a warm and happy feeling inside.  Now if some of you other folks would care to hear my scratchy voice, please call me at 250-567-9516.  The best time to catch me is around 6:00 PM PDT.

Bye for now.

Love to everyone,

Rick

  

Another month, come and gone

Good morning everyone,

Yup, I'm still here.  I have been much better these past few days/weeks.

When I get sick, as I was with the Noro virus and then the cold, it takes a
very long time for me to recover.  I finally feel like I am myself again.  My 

appetite has returned which is always the best sign that I'm on the mend.

My weight is hovering around 175 and has for the past 10 days or so.  

I am not using my G-tube at all any more.  I just flush it with clear water 

twice a day.

I saw Dr. Campbell, my GP on March the 25th.  She went over my blood

tests of a month ago.  My PSA (prostate test) is "1".  That was particularly 

good news.  My cholesterol is 5.1 and that too is really good.  Everything
else was good except for my "red" count which is 126, OK for women
but, men should be 140/150.  More blood work was done and I have to
provide "stool" samples, YUK!  All in all it was a good visit and I'm
in good shape.  ON a positive note, Dr. Campbell will be removing my
Gastric Tube on Wed. Apr. 8th.  I've had it for about 11 months and I
will be glad to see the end of it.

The farm well/water system went "kaput" Wednesday March 25th.  The
well people were here every day for 4 days including Sat. and Sun.  We
now have  water in the house and the wells for the cows are working as
they should.  All this for a measly $7,800.  What a shock.  Oh well it's
done now and everything is new including the pump, pressure tank, all
new well casings, as well as all new under ground piping.  Two new 
hydrants were installed as well.  We have lots of water, 20 gallons
per minute coming from 212' below the surface and our pressure is now
70 pounds plus.  The water is loaded with iron and other nice things so we
have a full purification system and a water softener.  That water is used
for everyday needs of the house and our drinking water goes through a
reverse osmosis and ultra violet process.  The livestock use the water
as it comes out of the ground.  

Well, no sooner is the water fixed and the sewer system gets backed up. 

David has worked very hard at trying to clear the system using a 150 foot snake.

The sewage lagoon was pumped out and an excavator came in 

and dug up the main sewer lines for us.  David has now isolated where 

the blockage is.  In the meantime it has been an experience with no toilets.

We are hopeful that the system will be fully restored and running by tonight.

My sister Janet and her husband Ron are coming west the first week in
May.  Ron will be teaching in Williams Lake (355 kms by road from
here).  Janet is going to drive up and visit with us for a few days while

Ron does his teaching and then we'll take two cars and return to 

Williams Lake to visit with Ron.  They will be in B.C. from May 5th 

to the 9th.  After they leave Dolores and I will go and visit with her

brother Omer and his wife Linda.  They live 40 minutes outside of 

Williams Lake.  I'm really excited about seeing Janet and Ron again.

Well friends, that's it for now.  As you can see, I am doing well and I am

spending up to 4 hours a day outside.  I'm chopping wood every day, 

shovelling the snow away from the back of the house so the basement will not 

flood when the really warm spring time temperatures arrive.  

I will see Dr. Filatov on April 21st.  My throat has been much better and I can 

swallow without any pain so I am anxious to see/learn how much my 

epiglottis has shrunk.

I'll post another report after that visit.  Until then, think spring.

Love to everyone,

Rick

Yo & hello

It has been a long time since my last post and I have been through a tough

period during the few weeks.  Dolores caught the Noro Virus   

at work and I caught it from her.  It is a real killer and I am still not a 100%.  

Then I caught a cold.  I have suffered mightily from it.  Having the 

Trachea Tube has helped me to breathe but, sleeping through the night just doesn't

happen.  I'm up three of 4 times a night fighting this troublesome and
very painful cough.  The cough coupled with the upset stomach and
troubled bowels drives me crazy.  Dolores even wonders how long it
will how it will take for me to regain my health.

I cancelled my March 4th appointment with Dr. Filatov.  I'll see him
April 21st and he will do a full inspection of my tongue and throat.
He will also check out my Tracheostomy.  Speaking of which, a few days ago
I had just finished cleaning my inner cannula when I felt that the
whole apparatus was terribly loose.  I called Dolores and to our
surprise, the whole Trachea Tube was completely out of my throat.  She
quickly re inserted it and re adjusted the neck strap which holds it
in place.  That's the first time the neck strap has failed and the tube

 has slid out.  Whew I'm glad that's over.

For the past five days I have been much better.  I have been able

 to get out and do chores and get some  much needed fresh air.  

I feel invigorated.  It is a good feeling.  On the days I get outside

 for exercise doing the wood etc. really sparks my appetite and I 

eat well.  I am holding steady at 172 lbs.  I don't really want to gain

allot of weight.  I would be happy not to exceed 180 ever again.  

At 5'7" that is a very comfortable weight for me.

On Monday, Dolores drove me to Prince George (125 kms).  We went to Costco
and I purchased a set of over the ear hearing aids ($2,900 complete).
There is no tax, either Provincial or Federal on them.   I was
fitted for the ear pieces and in 2 weeks time I'll be able to pick
them up.  My supplementary health care provider is Manulife Financial.

I have submitted a claim for reimbursement of 90% of the total cost.

You may remember from my blog that my hearing has
deteriorated to the point where I hear 85% but at 105 decibels in my
right ear and 60% at 85 decibels in my lest ear.  My appointment with

Dr. Filatov on the 4th of March was to find out how much of the
hearing loss was due to radiation damage.  That is something that I
don't think he will ever be able to answer.  It will be good to be
able to hear again.

Well it's time to take some "meds" and then read until Dolores gets home
from work.  I'm really tired tonight.  Sorry that I haven't written sooner or 

brought you or brought you up to date before this.  I just haven't had the
energy to get it done.  Now that I'm feeling better I'll be more
attentive.  

Watch for more news in the days to come.

Love to everyone,

Rick

Hello, can you hear me?

Good evening everyone,

Yesterday I had an appointment with Dr. Filatov at 11:15am in Prince George.  For some unknown reason he was unable to see me yesterday.  I will now see him March 4th here in Vanderhoof and then again April 15th in PG.

At 1:00pm I had an appointment to have my hearing tested at the Costco store in PG.  Patricia Murrow, Hearing Aid Manager, administered the test.  This is a very new Department at Costco in PG only having opened for business January 19th this year.  The test took about 40 to 45 minutes and the results were somewhat startling to me.  My hearing in both ears is severely impaired especially in the higher hertz ranges.  Simply said I need hearing aids in both ears.

I received a copy on the test and she sent one to Dr. Filatov.  Ms Monrow also gave me an estimate of the cost of hearing aids for both ears.  It is her opinion that some of the hearing loss may be as a result of the radiation but she cannot say for sure.  Dr. Filatov will have to be the judge of that.  For most of you who know me my hearing has been on the slide for a number of years.  It's the severe loss that I am now experiencing which surprises me the most.

Today I called ManuLife, my supplemental health care provider, to find out what I should do now.  Since the cost of the 2 hearing aids is less than $3,000, I simply order the devices, pay for them and then submit a claim for 90% reimbursement.  My coverage allows for replacement hearing aids every three years.  Once the cost exceeds $3,000 total, I must have prescription from Dr. Filatov before I can claim reimbursement.  A pretty simple plan for sure.  There you have it.  It will take about 2 to 3 weeks to order the hearing aids and have the ear pieces made.  I will have the over the ear style as the miniature hearing aids which fit inside the ear do not have the amplification that I need.  The hearing in my right ear is 85% at 110 decibels and in the left ear slightly better where I hear 60% at 80 decibels.  So you can see that I can hear but it must be loud!

That's it for tonight folks.  I'll bring you up to date as time goes on.  On Saturday, Valentines day, it will be exactly 1 year since I was diagnosed with the cancer.  It has been an up and down year for me and not one I would wish on anyone.  On the positive side Dolores and I have lots to be thankful for and that my recovery has been steady and ongoing.

Love to all,

Rick

I'm back again

Howdy all,

I have been under the weather for the past 5 days fighting with a flu bug that has laid me low.  I have not been able to tolerate my tube feed and my appetite has gone south.  As a result I've lost 7 pounds in 5 days and I'm below 170 pounds for the first time in over a month.  Today is the first day that I have not suffered any nausea or stomach cramps since the bug set upon me on Wednesday.  I have had a terrible time sleeping at night.  The persistent cough has raked my upper chest and right shoulder so bad that I've been taking unusually large amounts of liquid T3 with Codeine which causes a whole lot of other problems as I'm sure you all know.

Today Dolores and I went and saw Jim and Vicky Ford  who introduced us to Reconnective Therapy which is a healing process developed by Dr. Eric Pearl (refer to his book The Reconnection (Heal Others, Heal Yourself).  In the simplest of terms, the process aligns the strands of our DNA to the energy of the universe and the magnetic Grid which surrounds the earth.  It is a hands off treatment and I cannot say for sure what benefit, if any, I received from the treatment today.  The easiest way to explain it is to liken it to the "Atunement" I practised while I was meeting for Sunday Services with the Emissaries of the Devine Light in Prince George.  It was a very peaceful experience.

My battle with cancer has left me very open to alternative cures and treatments which perhaps I would have pooh poohed a year ago, before this all began.  I have Dr. Pearls book and intend to read it this week to gain a better understanding of the healing process and what it involves.  I will pass on more in a later post. 

Calving season has begun.  Of the 78 pregnant cows, five new calves have been born in the last 4 days.  Not all has been this good as one cow "slipped" her calf and then she died 2 days later. Early last week another cow was in labour but the calf died during the birthing process.  When you are a farmer raising livestock, unfortunately you sometimes have dead stock and that is a fact of life.  We all hope that the remaining cows have healthy and normal calves.

I hope you are all well and in good health.  Please remember I love to hear from you.  Please send me your thoughts etc. at rdhoney@tlpg.com or call me at 250-567-9516.

Until later, love to everyone,

Rick, formerly known as Lumpy

Hello all

I have been thinking of my sister Janet and her husband Ron vacationing on Isla off the coast of Cancun.  Their holiday time there is just about over.  I've thought of them almost  everyday.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone up and down the island on my bike with Janet.  The sun on my back and the wind in my face and the joy of it all when I was there with them a few years ago.

Yesterday Dolores and I went to Prince George.  We went to Medi-Chair and and I picked up my 50 Portal Thermovents.  I will now be able to go outside without thinking about the consequences.  The weather has turned cold on us here in Fort Fraser.  Not like the old days in this area where -40 C was a given but, as I write it is -20 but, there is no wind.  Yesterday and last night it was in the -15 range but windy and really cold. The Thermovents are here now and I can take part in out door chores on a regular basis. It was so good of Janet to help me out with the purchase of them.  I will always remember her generosity.

I have been much better this week.  I'm sleeping well and eating lots, there are even occasions when I have a snack between meals and before I go to bed.  I have started to drink my tube feed rather than take it through my G-tube.  During the past week or so, I noticed that I was getting an sick to my stomach when I was taking it through the tube.   It may have been because I "nebulize" at the same time as I'm doing a tube feed but, why is it upsetting me after all this time?  I have also cut down on the number of cans of tube feed I take each day.  I'm now down to 3 or 4 per day from 6 and my weight is holding steady at 175 lbs.  The cough is still bothering me and the mucus never lets up but, I have to live with that as a fact of life.

Dolores is well.  She has been suffering from back, neck and shoulder pains for years. It's part of her job at the hospital to lift patients and years of this has left her with soreness that never seems to go away.  Last week and this week she saw Dr. Cher Boomhower, ND and had Bowen Therapy treatments.  Last week after the treatment she was in pain but, it was a different pain from what she normally feels.  That's what happens with Bowen.  This morning she has no pain at all.  For the next week she will experience pain from time to time which is also what tends to happen.  Cher is off on a two week holiday in the sun but, Dolores will see her when she gets back if it is necessary.  Everyone else here is fine.

The new tractor a White/Allis has been giving David fits.  Hoses keep breaking and seals have been leaking, bolts have been popping off, switches don't work, fans shut off unexpectedly along with other annoying little troubles.  The Dealership mechanic has been out here from Prince George twice in the past week.  All of the problems have been minor and have been fixed promptly.  There is a full money back guarantee for 30 days and all are watching the calendar closely.  David likes the tractor and wants to keep it if the little things can be all sorted out.  It is big and powerful and can handle all of the farms requirements and of course it is a 4x4.

Time marches on and with each week there is a noticeable difference in the way I feel.  I am filling out and I am getting stronger and have lots more stamina.  The cold still bothers me and it is hard to breathe even with the Thermovents. Winter is long in this part of the country but, the snow is white, deep and it simply dazzles when the sun shines on it.

Enough for now, I'll post more in a week or so.

Love to everyone,

Rick

Yo & hello

Hi All,

Welcome back.  It's been a while since I posted.  January is nearly half gone and this is a big birthday month for me.  My brothers John and Stephen will celebrate on the 15th and the 14th respectively, John's youngest son Tom on the 16th and Milton, brother of Dolores on the 18th. Happy B'day to them all.  John will continue to be the oldest of the Honey siblings at ?? (you can try to guess), Stephen will be 66 and he's 6 years younger than John and Tommy will be 40 something.  Milton will be 68.

I am well, eating more and more each day and starting to fill out a little bit.  I have cut back on the tube feeds to 2 a day from 3.  My weight is holding at around 178 lbs. and I am happy with that.  I still have the constant cough and mucus problem but, I am learning to live with that.  I have ordered the Portex Thermovents which will allow me to go outside on cold days. Yippee.

On a different note, the 4 wheel drive, a 1984 Universal tractor, used mainly in the winter and spring months for feeding the cattle, has upped and died.  David had just finished feeding the cows and was returning to the equipment shed when the engine blew sending a connecting rod through the side of the engine block thereby crippling the poor old beast.  Plans are now underway for Milton and David to visit all of the various farm implement dealers from here to Williams Lake looking for a suitable 4x4 replacement for old "Blue".  In the meantime David has temporarily rigged up "Big Red" a 2x4 tractor to use when feeding the cattle but, a 4x4 is required during the spring because of the soft ground.  A farmers troubles never seem to end.

Well, so long for now.  See you soon.

Love to everyone,

Rick

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hello all,

Happy New Year from snowy Fort Fraser, B.C. a winter wonderland.  It's snowing lightly and it is -14C.  Tomorrow will be really cold (-25C) but, for the rest of the week it will warm up considerably.  Yesterday I got outside to do some chores for the first time in three weeks.  I've been to Vanderhoof and Prince George but, this was my first time bringing in wood and shovelling snow.  I winded very easily and Dolores was with me to take over at those moments.  It felt good to be outside.  

We had a very quiet New Years Eve.  Dolores is working today and we were in bed by 10:00 PM.  5:30 AM comes very early and I was up with her this morning to say Happy New Year and have breakfast with her.  We both slept well last night and I am pleased to say that I have been feeling very good these last few days. 

Reg Koop and Margo Price called in to see us on the 27th.  It was really nice to visit with them.  Marjo and I worked together at the Development Bank in Prince George for many years and we are very good friends.  It was a great pick me up.  Company is always nice.

My sister Janet in Kingston, Ont. sent me a very nice Christmas present and I will be buying a box of 50 Portex Thermovents when we next go to Prince George.   I will then be able to go outside when the weather is cold.  Thank-you Janet.

Once again I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Until the next time, bye for now,

Rick