AFTER TODAY'S PLASMAPHERESIS TREATMENT, KELLY HAS ONLY ONE MORE TO GO

 PHEEBS MEETS A NEW PAL THIS AFTERNOON

A cold, cloudy, depressing morning found Pheebs and I jeeping ourselves around a few country roads.  Not too inspiring but I do enjoy listening to my Sirius Satellite Radio along the way.  We were back home by 9 a.m.

 STORMY-LOOKING SKIES THIS MORNING WITH THE WEATHER CHANNEL SAYING 'A CHANCE OF SNOW'

Later, under partially sunny skies, it was all three of us in the Subaru by 11 a.m. heading for London's Victoria Hospital where Kelly was scheduled for her fifth plasmapheresis treatment.  Pheebs and I dropped her off at 12:20 and headed the short distance to our 'Serenity Acres' spot behind Parkwood Hospital.

 HEADING FOR LONDON

 BUSH LINES ARE BEGINNING TO COLOR UP AFTER WINTER'S GRAY

 A SMALL GATHERING OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN LONDON'S EAST END

 I HEARD KELLY SAY TO PHEEBS....'SEE YOU IN A COUPLE HOURS'

With flecks of snow in the air, Pheebs and I set off on a walk in an area where there are two large baseball fields.  It was cold enough to make me wish I had brought my mitts.  At the southeast corner of the ball fields, we found a small obscure trail leading off into the forest so we followed that until it petered out and we saw a broader trail ahead.

 IT WASN'T MUCH OF A TRAIL WE DECIDED TO FOLLOW

 PRETTY SOON THERE WAS NO TRAIL AT ALL

 LUCKILY, WE SPOTTED A BROADER WELL WORN PATH

 WE HADN'T SEEN THIS POND BEFORE

 PHEEBS SCOUTS THE WAY AHEAD

 IN A MONTH FROM NOW THIS WILL ALL BE GREEN

I had a feeling this was the 'dog leash' trail I had seen on a sign a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't have a leash with me but because of the cold gray day, we luckily didn't encounter any people.  The trail eventually led into another trail and we took that one in what I figured was the direction back to the ball diamond area.  I figured right but we really got ourselves into some muddy spots along the trail where I nearly got myself a couple of soakers.  I had my cane with but I didn't have to use it regarding my hip but it certainly came in handy while making my way down a slippery slope on the trail.

 MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH A SWAMPY AREA

 THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF LONDON IS NEVER TOO FAR AWAY

 PHEEBS GOES RIGHT THROUGH THESE MUDDY SPOTS WHILE I HAVE TO TRY AND PORTAGE AROUND THE EDGES

GOING DOWN THIS MUD-SLICKED LITTLE HILL WITH MY OLD NO-TREAD SNEAKERS WAS TOUCH AND GO

 HERE COMES PHEEBS RACING DOWN THE MUDDY TRAIL DOING ABOUT 185 MPH

Finally, off the muddy forest trails, we made our way back out onto the green grass of the ball fields and from there headed back to the car.  

 AHHHH TIS THE COLOR OF SPRING IT TIS

 AND IT WAS HERE PHEEBS MET A NEW PAL WHO WAS OUT WALKING WITH HIS MOM AND DAD

 ALMOST BACK TO THE CAR

It was about 1:15 when we climbed into the Subaru and I opened up my Kindle reader while Pheebs curled up in the passenger seat for a big snooze.  

It was close to 2:45 when my cell phone rang with Kelly on the other end saying she was ready to be picked up.  Pheebs and I scooped her about ten minutes later and we began making our way north up Adelaide Street on our way out of London.  Kelly was feeling hungry so we made a stop at Wendys where Kelly got a baked potato and chile.  A small hamburger for me and we were soon back on the road again.  It was a quiet drive home with moody skies overhead made up of a few slivers of sunshine and heavy clouds.  We rolled into our driveway shortly after 4 o'clock under a solid cloud cover again.  However, we did later end the day under bright blue sunny skies:))

 PICKING UP KELLY AFTER HER TREATMENT AT VICTORIA HOSPITAL

 HERE COMES THE PRETTY LADY WITH THE GRUB

Feeling better today, Kelly said she thinks the plasmapheresis treatments are finally taking hold.  She has had two nights in a row with no itching which has allowed her to get some sleep.  Her next and hopefully last treatment will be this coming Wednesday.  Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Pheebs turn for a medical appointment.  She has been shaking her head a lot and one ear has become swollen again so we will be at the Zurich Vets at 10.30.  Thursday and Friday it is my turn with blood work at the Dyancare Lab Thursday morning followed by X-rays of my right hip at the Goderich Hospital Friday morning.  Next week I have an appointment with my Urologist to go over the results of my blood tests regarding the PSA numbers in relation to my past prostate cancer bout.  My numbers have been excellent for a couple years now so I'm hoping that trend continues.          

 WE CAME ACROSS THESE MAYAPPLES ON THE FOREST FLOOR TODAY

 MOSSES OR LICHENS.....HMMMM

Al's Music Box:)) Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress by The Hollies from the album 'Distant Light'.  1972

 I THINK SOMEBODY JUST WOKE UP

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Trying to control her frizzy and dry hair, Kay treated her scalp with olive oil before washing it. Worried that the oil might leave an odor she washed her hair several times with strong soap.  That night when Kay went to bed, she leaned over to her husband and asked, "Do I smell like olive oil?"  "Why ?" he asked, pulling back. "Do I smell like Popeye?

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- What do you call a guy in a Nascar screaming slurs?  Speed Racist.

- Confucius say: "Man who run behind car get exhausted, but man who run in front of car get tired."

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WE ALL TODDLED OFF TO A&W IN GODERICH

 A SLIGHT TOUCH OF SUNSHINE TEMPORARILY GREENED UP OUR PINE TREES

Despite a couple hot days a few weeks ago I think the Spring of 2023 will go into the weather books as cold and wet.  Looking ahead at our 14 day-day forecast, the temperatures are staying in the forties well into the first week of May.  It was a short Jeep drive into and around Bayfield for Pheebs and I this morning and another tired and not feeling well day for Kelly.  The Sun did finally come out and energized me enough to spend about an hour and a half outside with my pitchfork, lawn rake, and wheelbarrow.  About 4:30 this afternoon Kelly suggested we go get a couple hamburgers instead of making supper and with that, we all toddled off to A&W in Goderich......................  

Ellen's Groove:)) Here's Ellen jamming with another young musician guitarist by the name of Charlotte Milestein.  Muse Hysteria  

 ONE CAN ALWAYS TELL A MALE ROBIN BY IT'S DARKER COLORED HEAD

Al's Music Box:)) Stand By Me by Ben E. King from the album 'Don't Play That Song'.  1962

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A weary traveler in 18th century England, hungry and tired, approached a roadside inn with a sign that read: "Saint George and the Dragon."  He knocked on the door. The innkeeper's wife poked her head out of a window.  "Any chance for a bite to eat?" he inquired.  The woman eyed his ragged, filthy clothes and yelled, "No!"  "May I have a pint of ale?"  "No!" she yelled back.  "Can I at least rest in your stable?"  "No!" she yelled once more.  The traveler tried again, "Could I kindly...?"  "What is it now?" the woman snapped, cutting him off.  "Would it be possible," he asked, "to have a chat with George then?"

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IN HINDSIGHT WE THINK WE TRIED TO DO TO MUCH IN TOO SHORT A TIME

A PAIR OF MALLARD DUCKS ON OUR PARK'S POND THIS AFTERNOON

Feeling better this morning than Friday morning, Kelly called the Plasma Exchange department at London's Victoria Hospital at 7:15 to say she felt well enough to come in today for her 5th Plasmapheresis treatment.  However, the nurse on the other end of the line understanding how hard this has all been for Kelly suggested she take a break today and rest up for Monday's second-to-last treatment.  Both Kelly and I thought that was a good suggestion so the Subaru didn't move today.  Instead, Pheebs and I were back into the Jeep and off to Goderich in a chilly drizzling rain.  As much as I like driving the Subaru it was good to be back in our good old familiar twenty-two-year-old Jeep Liberty which we have had since April 14th, 2015.  Coffee to go at McDonald's, a swing down around the harbor, and a stop at Walmart to pick up some things including prescriptions.  It was sometime around 11 a.m. before Pheebs and I finally followed our windshield wipers home again.  Being home seems to be taking on more of a pleasantly significant feeling these days.  It seems these past couple of weeks have been a little bit on the stressful hectic side and especially for Kelly.  In hindsight, we think she tried to do too much with all the medical appointments and some of them being back to back.

 IT WAS A COOL WET START TO OUR MORNING

 WITH A RAINY WET DRIVE TO GODERICH AND PHEEBS PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOWN WE HAD THE JEEP'S HEATER CRANKED

 A FEW HARDY SOULS STROLL THE BOARDWALK NEAR GODERICH'S ROTARY COVE

 A DISTANT FOG LYING JUST OFFSHORE

I think I must have snoozed part of the afternoon away.  That is until whatever it was I was dreaming about seemed to suddenly light up.  I opened my eyes and there was sunlight pouring through our sunroom windows.  Well, it didn't take long for Pheebs and I to head out the door for a walk over to the Park's pond.  We would have gone farther but the roads were too muddy.  I think it's been a week since the last time we did a pond walk.  I took my cane along but didn't have to use it.  The Canada Goose nest was still there but no eggs and no sign of any little baby Gooses or big Mom & Poppa Gooses either.  Only a pair of Mallard ducks on the pond.

 AFTERNOON SUNSHINE HIGHLIGHTS THE GREENS OF SPRING AROUND OUR PARK'S POND

 HAD THIS PAIR OF MALLARD DUCKS NOT BEEN MOVING I MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN THEM

 SPOTTED THIS BIRD IN SOME BRAMBLES NEAR THE WATER'S EDGE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS

Kelly had a better day today and Thank You to everyone for your kind and supportive words as Kelly bravely battles this debilitating liver disease..................  

 WE HAVE FRONT YARD HYACINTH IN BLOOM

 I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THIS GREEN AND PURPLE PERRIWINKLE GROUND COVER WE HAVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF OUR HOUSE

 OUR SMALL WHITE MAGNOLIA TREE IN THE FRONT YARD IS BEGINNING TO BLOSSOM

 OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND'S SOLE RESIDENT SO FAR

Al's Music Box:))  Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel from the album 'Fate For Breakfast'.  1979

 FEMALE MALLARD DUCK

GROANER'S CORNER:))  Ten words that do not exist, but should......

1. AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks' trus) adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes.

2. CARPERPETUATION (kar' pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

3. DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt') v. To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow `remove' all the germs.

4. ELBONICS (el bon' iks) n. The actions of two people maneuvering for one armrest in a movie theater.

5. FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until he finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug.

6. LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man gyu lay' shun) n. Manhandling the 'open here' spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort to the `illegal' side.

7. PEPPIER (pehp ee ay') n. The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want ground pepper.

8. PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh) n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

9. PUPKUS (pup' kus) n. The moist residue left on a window after a dog presses its nose to it.

10. TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun) n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're only six inches away.

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