A LITTLE EVENING VISITOR

 

She's back again this year.  Our very own Snapper.  She is looking for a place to lay her eggs.  She was here last year and tried a few places but was unsuccessful due to the hard ground.  She did try another site closer to the dock and Rejean got a load of sand and prepared a nice spot for her but she never found it.  Maybe this year she will.  We rarely see turtles in our lake but every once in a while we will see her if we leave some fish in the basket in the water.  We also have a few painted turtles around here which we rarely see as well.  They are very secretive.  

Joanne has had her share of turtle traffic on her driveway.  They can actually get a hole big and deep enough for them to actually lay the eggs but so far none have hatched.

I will keep an eye out for her diggings and keep you posted.  

J.

A GREAT WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR!!

 

First a weather report for today - 15 cm of new snow is predicted but from the last snowfall and the warm temperatures we have been having, the snow has been slowly sliding down the roof of the garage.  We prefer that as when it finally does slide completely off, it won't cover the driveway and trap us until we can clear it.  When I go check for mail, I walk as far to the right as I can just in case it decides to slide.

And now for the good news.  I had mentioned before about my stupid chronic cough that I have had for years.  I just couldn't shake it.  I have gone for breathing tests and see a respirologist and I am being treated for asthma.  I thought I had COPD at one point.  It was a horrible cough.  I coughed hard even to the point where I felt as tho I was going to pass out.  I coughed all year long.  I coughed at home. I coughed in Florida and Abu Dhabi.  Everywhere.  My doctor was sure it was allergy induced asthma and I have been referred to a clinic in London for testing.  But during all these years I have been looking on line for different reasons for such a cough but never found anything close to what I had.  Until a few weeks ago.  On my Facebook feed there was a link to a site for "a cough that won't go away"  and i clicked on it. It was a doctor in a video and he started talking about Sensory Neuropathic Coughing.  It was as tho he was describing me.  It is a type of neuropathy.  It affects the nerve endings in your throat and causes you to cough.  I called to make an appointment with my Nurse Practitioner and asked the receptionist to tell Dan to look it up so he could be familiar with it.  Long story short I got a prescription for a drug  that  calms the nerve endings that was causing the cough.  After the first pill I would say my coughing was reduced by 90% and it is still doing what it is supposed to.  Needless to say I am amazed at the results.  I am back to me!!  You sometimes have to be your own advocate in situations.  And have a good doctor or nurse practitioner who will listen to you and not dismiss your ideas.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

2023!!  How did that happen.  It seems like the last 3 years have flown by or seems like they have been dragging.  I guess it depends on what day it is and how you feel when you are thinking about it.  Today it is the former.  

Our celebrations started out with good intentions but due to the majority of the guests not feeling up to par, Stacey and Andrew went back to their place at 7 and Rejean and I watched some tv and were down by 10pm.  Certainly not what I had planned but there is always next year.

Instead of resolutions, I will have intentions.  I intend on getting back to my exercise routines which have fallen by the wayside these past years due to this stupid cough which I intend on getting a firm diagnosis and treatment for.  I will not let it ruin my life!!!

I am not drinking for the month of January.  It is usually February but I have plans for February and I want to be able to indulge in a few beverages.  I never have problems doing this and I do it to prove to myself that I can do it.  Not that I drink a lot anyways but I do enjoy my white wine in a box in the afternoon after all the work is done for the day.

I have high hopes for 2023.  I hope I am not disappointed.

Happy News Years to you all.  I wish you happiness and good health.