My low: Hearing how much you ae suffering Dave, you just don't deserve it. How I wish I lived close by to give you some support.

My high: Very trivial but I caught the flea!

Conor is certainly a very handsome little chap Gatsby, somehow or other, one day, everything wil work out

Bad new: I got to the cat with the fleas' contraception a bit too late! This morning upstairs I looked at my legs and found about a dozen little babies! I paid a visit to the vet and stocked up on carpet spray and more contraception, I think the last lot was out of date.

Oh my gosh, I'd run away screaming if I woke up with bugs on me... granted I've never seen a flea, but unless they're cute little suckers like ladybugs or something, I'd run away screaming. But at least it seems your little outbreak is localized in the bedroom and bathroom. Hope it doesn't spread.


Bad news: At about 4 am this morning I looked out my dining room window and saw the ambulance taking my neighbour away. Imagine my shock, seeing as I had been talking to him the evening before about his pasta sauce. I do hope he'll be alright. Nice old chap that one.

Good news: My friend from England is coming out to Canada for a visit soon. It's always fun to welcome a new friend and show him or her the sights. He's got some high expectations though, I hope he isn't let down by my big city.

Maybe not, fleas take about 10 days to hatch, so the lot on your leg would have been laid before you started treating your cat.
What a nuisance though. I know there have been a couple of times when the fall has stayed warmer than normal, and the summer supply of treatment has run its course, and the critters have shown up inside the house - not pleasant.
Hopefully this will be the last batch of babies for you.
Gemini that's a shame about your neighbour.

Low point this week: not having three major papers for my portfolio done. I have half of one and nothing of the other two. I have today and the weekend to get these done.

High point: Dealing my lonely-ness a bit better; making goals for myself and feeling better about my life.

High point of my day today, is going to our local "big" theatre, with my Mum and one of her sisters, to see "Beauty and the Beast". Very good indeed. There is nothing more magical for me, than watching a stage show

Oh, good grief again! I am losing my hair now, in clumps. I'm like a chihuahua at the moment. It's funny/strange that I didn't even notice it until I realized that my arm pits weren't stinky. Then I checked my legs. They're hairless, too, now. At least one good thing - my beard has stopped growing. I was approaching ZZ Top Land there for a minute. I guess that's my low point of the day. But hairlessness isn't so bad. I'm lucky. No reason to budget deodorant in there.

I do have a low(er) point but I won't squawk about it. Lung lesions in multiple? Growing tumors? I'll be a nice friend about that all.

Jane, take me to a musical. Do they really make things right? Maybe they do.

Well for me, it takes me away from "real life" for a few hours.

Well Dad went to see the specialist again today, and it's not exactly good news, But in a way it is. The specialist says it looks as it the cancer is in his lung too. So the three specialists (radiotherapy person, bone cancer person and pain person) have to get together and decide which treatment would be best for him. There's three options - radiotherapy again, chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiotherapy together. They want to see Dad in a fortnight, to see what they have decided. There's his age to consider, also his heart problems. But the good news is that he is reasonably fit and healthy. He's eating, not being sick. So more waiting around. But I still have faith that he will get through this.

It's important to have faith, Jane, I'm glad to hear you're taking this so well. I doubt I could handle it with such aplomb. I wish I could send my health out to your pop's and Gats too, but if only life worked that way, huh? Glad to hear he's fit and healthy and ready to fight back.

Hang in there for him, Jane. It sounds dumb to say, especially about a Dad, but he's probably scared to death (but won't likely say so unless you yank it out of him at a lucky moment). And, even then, he'll still do his job: being Dad. Who needs who gets very confusing in a crisis. You likely need a Dad and he likely needs a daughter. After some work I got to be friends with my parents when they got ill. I still needed them like crazy - but knew it was all different now. They needed me. And I never once let them not know, when they were ailing, that I didn't need them. But my parents had totally terminal cancer and then dementia - probably not such good examples for you. Your Dad will, or most likely will, be OK.

My low of the day: I feel like I have to be in such a hurry now. I can't hurry! It's going - and it still interests me. My dreams would make for a great TV show! People in them are getting ready for me to join them. Totally odd, if you ask me. Just as long as they can guarantee I can run or walk again I'm OK with it. Nobody has just yet.

Fearlessness is a dandy remedy. A good shock absorber, too. It all works together. And, as we all likely know, I won't be shutting up until I get everything I want to say said.

Today's high- for those of you following my artistic progress, I just delivered my first two new paintings to the gallery manager, and he accepted them both for hanging! Now I don't know if becoming a professional artist is after you actually sell one, or are exhibited, but either way, I feel like one now.

The low? Along with about 40 million other Brits, England possibly being thrown out of the next football World Cup by losing to Northern Ireland. Amazingly, the only time I saw them play they also lost to Northern Ireland in Wembley. That was in 1971, and I'd really rather not have seen it happen again tonight. After recently losing 4-1 to Denmark, many people saw the beginning of the end and now it seems to be a reality...

A pretty fair day all the way around; for over a week my family has waited anxiously for news concerning seven of our family members in the New Orleans area. Two left for NW Arkansas in the nick of time and are here staying with friends. They lost their beloved houseboat,which they bought years ago and have sailed halfway around the world in. So now they'll be looking for an actual apartment -anywhere but Sliddell, apparently!

My other cousins are all fine, but for minor cuts and bruises; fortunately they were not wading through the toxic mire as many have been forced to do. Their three houses were blown to bits.

The one remaining distant family member at 82, decided early on she would not leave the home her family had built some 120 years ago. My Texas cousins were obliged to go over and reason with her,which took some doing. She is finally safe in Austin tonight with dry bedding and clean water. Worrying about the family property will just have to wait for now.

Another high point: a wonderful overseas phone call which made my day, from an unexpected but true blue friend.

Kate, I'm so glad you heard from your loved ones and that they are all safe. That's the main thing. Glad your day was a good one. You deserve it.

Thanks, Bally.[ Another who's proven themselves a true blue friend]

Kate, what a terrible time of worry for you. The pictures and news are harrowing enough without being personally involved through family. At least they are alive and safe.

Amen to that. I am really pleased that it has worked out well for you.

I can't imagine the strain of not knowing if family is even alive - I'm so glad that everyone is well.

Thank you, everybody.

High is realising that exactly six months ago I was in the Medical Assessment Unit at our local hospital having just been admitted with my stroke, and I am here to tell the tale.

I just don't want to think about that time, Sue, it was ghastly. It is such a blessing you are OK.

Yes, Sue. But In some ways it's good to reflect back, and be grateful for what didn't happen. As per Lady MacBeth's signature "how would we see the light, if there were no dark?" or words to that effect...

It's so wonderful usually where time and effort and many prayers get us. 6 months ago? I guess I, too, don't want to think about our Sue on the blink, either. But you are here now, Sue. And, I'm sure, we're all better people having experienced that as best we could with and for you.

One little reminder, though: Don't scare us like that again or we might have to collectively come over there and take a riding crop to you . Just kidding. I think we're all in this together, bad times or good ones.

I agree with you gatsby722.
I was numb after I heard and I felt like the days were moving like molasses.
I am so grateful you had the best care and are here with us.
I hope the Thank You note I wrote got to the appropriate people.
We should all have a glass of our favorite beverage and toast to Sue's continuing good health for many many yrs.

Cheers Sue. Here's to many more wonderful yrs.
PF