Spring Ahead
March 20th, 2006
It’s the first day of Spring! Not that you can tell by our weather and the snow showers predicted all week, but that’s Calgary for ya. I just like that Spring is here and the weather will catch up sooner or later.
It’s been over a week since I updated. Here’s what I’ve been up to:
- Sunday and Monday I sorted and posted receipts into Simply Accounting (taking many breaks, I’m sure, for lattes and such);
- Tuesday I worked at a client’s and went to Hooter’s for lunch again with Mel, and drank lots of Tim Horton’s coffee;
- Wednesday I saw my neurologist at the MS Clinic for the first time in about 6 years. He confirmed I am no longer Relapsing-Remitting and have moved to Secondary Progressive (which I knew anyway, I have not had a “remission” period in years, just gradual progression). Sucks to hear it Officially, though. He said there’s “nothing new” happening in the MS world and that the progressive forms still puzzle everyone. The drugs, he said, are “over hyped, over pushed and over prescribed” which I was surprised, and impressed, to hear him say because I totally agree and they’re not supposed to say stuff like that! He’s referring me to an out-patient MS physio and occupational therapy clinic that will take 6 months to get into (YAY health care!) as well as a psychiatrist who specializes in MS and depression. I’m not having the best time at the moment, but I’m not sure I want to see a psychiatrist who will just prescribe more drugs. I think I will ask my regular doctor for a referral to a therapist instead.
- That night I met up with friends for Wing Night. My friend Shawna arrived from Winnipeg that afternoon so she met us too. She looks fabulous.
- Thursday I worked at home and got enough done that I didn’t feel guilty taking off to meet Shawna at the mall later in the afternoon. We went into Reitman’s, where Shawna proceeded to try on EVERY pair of pants and black top they had in the store (okay, kidding). While waiting for her and giving her my opinions on the many things she tried on, I grabbed a skirt and top for myself that I figured would fit and were a great price. Shawna was still trying things on after I was done paying for mine. She finally came out of the dressing room back in her own clothes and walked out… buying… nothing.
- We went to Swiss Chalet for dinner. Mmmmm perogies!
- Friday I worked at the pub and then Michelle and Shawna met me down there around 5:00 because everyone needs to be in a pub on St. Patrick’s Day. We had dinner and drinks and then moved to Shawna’s hotel room where we yakked for hours about junior high and boys and crushes and crazy times when we were young and knew everything.
- Saturday morning my mom and Bob picked me up and we took our usual jaunt to the chiropractor. He bought us ice cream cones from the Dairy Queen next door. My chiropractor. Then we stopped at a health food store so my mom could pick up an ear candling kit she wants to try. Then we went for brunch at this great restaurant in Marda Loop. Then we stopped at a Lebanese deli in Forest Lawn so I could buy some hummus and falafels. The owner gave me two free pieces of baklava and it was the BEST baklava I’ve ever tasted. The hummus and falafels were awesome too, but I still think Aida’s is the best. Then we came back to my place and my mom helped me with a few things around here. Then I settled in to watch Just Like Heaven and In Her Shoes.
- Shawna called me later and came by with Tim Horton’s coffee and DQ Blizzards (DQ twice in one day! This IS Just Like Heaven!) She left around 9:00 or so and I watched the rest of my movie then went to bed.
- Sunday (yesterday) I was ti-ired. I’m surprised I eventually managed to shower and dress at some point and scooter over to the mall, because that’s just what I do when I feel like I need to get out for 5 minutes. I spent most of the day puttering on the computer or trying to watch TV, but eventually just crawled into bed at 8:45 because I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.
Today is Monday, and I just called my doctor’s office to discuss a prescription change my neuro made, and I found out the WORST.NEWS.EVER. My doctor is retiring at the end of April. THE END OF APRIL And Sandy, his nurse, sounded horrible. Her cancer is back and she is leaving. So, that’s that. I don’t know what to do!!! My doctor is the best!! Him and Sandy have been a part of my life for almost 20 years and she is sick and he is retiring and I don’t know WTF to do. What sort of gift do I buy them? What do I say? No other doctor is taking over his practice either, so we need to find our own, and I can guarantee you there isn’t another doctor like him in this city. I lucked out big time when I found him. I need to do something special for both of them and I don’t know what, and at the same time pity myself for losing them.
Shawna is leaving today too. We are supposed to be going for lunch at Moxie’s, so I shall drown my sorrows in a bellini and a white chocolate brownie and worry about the effects of all this food I’ve been eating lately another day.
The first day of Spring is turning out to suck big time. Oh well, it’s not even 11:00 a.m., so there is still room for improvement…
Yeah, you wouldn’t know it was the first day of spring in Kansas, either. Rain and snow and sleet all day long, expected to continue through tomorrow. Forecasting several inches of the white stuff overnight. Blah. What happened to my nice 60 and 70 degree days from just a couple of weeks ago? Mother Nature must be PMSing.
MMMM, baklava!!! I LOVE THAT STUFF!!!!
the first day of spring was pretty normal here- super sunny and nice but SUPER COLD AND CRAZY winds. meh!
what is an ear candling kit from the health food store!? sounds… tasty? o___O!
Yikes, trying to find a new doctor in Calgary is not fun!! And speaking of doctors, a good psychiatrist shouldn’t just write out a prescription. I could tell you one definitely to avoid, but I won’t put his name here in case someone sees it and sues me. But I think he’s in jail so maybe it doesn’t matter. (He would fit into the category of VERY bad psychiatrist!!)
Haha yeah I’d say so Michelle, if he is in jail!! I am being referred to one that is on the MS Clinic’s team - one of three that specialize in working with MS patients, so hopefully no relation to that guy.
Emma ear candling kits are special candles that you light in your ear (seriously) that pull wax and toxins out. My mom’s about to get a hearing aid so she wants to try this first!
When I first moved to Calgary 11 years ago (wow, so long!!) they people I lived with were seriously into ear candling. I never had it done, but they thought it was wonderful.
As for the bad psychiatrist, he worked with children, not MS patients, so you’re probably safe. That probably also gives you an idea of why he’s in jail.
First day of spring..pshaw. I’m sorry to hear about your doctor Donna, that really stinks. You’ll find one, I’m sure….then you can go over everything again (sorry that didn’t sound encouraging!)
Can’t imagine lighting a candle in your ear, sounds kind of kinky and painful all at once! Hey if it improves your mom’s hearing let me know, I’ll try it on my dad! ha ha
Wow Donna-sure sounds like you had a SUPER busy week! First off, those ear candling things, my bros girlie said she tried it and it was amazing. She could almost feel the toxins from her body coming out as well-not just the wax. I should try that since I tend to get a lot of buildup. Let me know what your mom thinks of it!
As for Doctors what a SHAME that your Doctor is retiring..gosh, what to do? It will be hard to find another one-my female doctor is awesome, she is patient and kind, and VERY concerned about female health, so she makes sure to look at everything. You should try her though I am not sure if she is taking any new patients or not..her name is Dr. Nicole Halasa from Bridgeland.
I guess you will just have to find the right kind of present for the years and years of work that Doctor has done-maybe you could ask him who he would recommend for you? Everyone know s eachother in the medical community…he may have good ideas!
Oh and reading this post made me VERY HUNGRY! lol
Wow, donna. You have no idea how much respect I have for you. You really are my role-model and inspiration.
Sorry about the bad news. Even if a person does secretly know a thing, it is not nice to hear it out loud.