IT WAS ENDOSCOPY TIME FOR KELLY AT LONDON'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL THIS MORNING

 A FEW MORE PICS OF YESTERDY'S CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

An early start today.  Kelly's endoscopy appointment at London's University Hospital was set for 10:30.  Normally it would be all three of us in the Subaru with Pheebs and I dropping Kelly off at the main door.  However, the hospital has tightened up on some of its rules.  Anyone driving a person who is to undergo an endoscopy is now required to be present in the hospital!!  They sent us that notification yesterday.  So, it was just Kelly and I heading for the hospital this morning while Pheebs remained at home.  We felt she would be alright for the time we were away.  (And she was)

 HOW NICE TO SMELL NEW MOWN HAY

 I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF SEEDS GOING INTO THE GROUND HERE

It was 8:35 a.m. when we rolled out of the driveway on this cold 37F sunny clear morning heading for London.  Here we are less than 24 hours from the first day of June and we were only four degrees above freezing!! 

A nice drive to London and we were soon parked on the cave-like fourth floor of the hospital's parking garage.  We were early of course so at the Endoscopy desk, Kelly was taken right in.  The basement waiting room is small, silent as a tomb, and had half a dozen sullen-faced people sitting in it.  I lasted about five minutes and had to get out of there!!  Up to the main floor I went and grabbed a Horton's coffee, a carrot muffin, and feeling a little confused went back to the basement's edoscopy waiting room.  What was I thinking!!  There was no table to set my coffee down, so juggling my Kindle, my carrot muffin bag, and a hot cup of coffee I wasn't doing well.  I knew if I were to set my muffin bag down somewhere it would be snatched up, or worse yet if I tried to take it out of the bag I would immediately be mobbed and lose my Horton's coffee too.  The eyes of everyone in that small gloomy room were upon me, my muffin, and my coffee.  I realized instantly my mistake on returning to that room so I quickly sprung from my chair, goodies in hand, rocketed around the corner, and down the hall.  I went back up to the main floor to see if I could find myself a seat at a table in the lobby.  Nope, it was a full house of chattering humanoids everywhere.  On the wall was a sign saying 'For Seniors Only'.....In case of Confusement, break the glass.' So, grabbing the little hammer right next to a glass-covered indent in the wall, I did just that.  In that indent was a pad of paper with writing.  I peeled off the top sheet which said, Go to the Third floor Dummy, the cafeteria with chairs is there.  Back to the elevators again I lumbered onto an elevator going up and landed in the basement.  Before I could figure out where I was, (remember confusement) a lady got on and pressed level 5 and I was off to the top floor.  I quickly in desparation pressed the wrong button and ended up in the lobby again.  At this point, I had no idea where I was or where I was going.  Several people got on and I saw one guy press level 3 and that rang a bell.  Not wanting to embarrass myself further I quickly darted out the door expecting to be in the cafeteria.  Nope, I was in the hallway again and not thinking to look for signage to tell me where the lost cafeteria was I headed west down the hallway for about 10 seconds, until the fear set in and I raced as fast as my nearly eighty-year-old bones would take me, back to the familiarity of the elevator.  Then, I had a flash of brilliance.  I remembered a nice quiet area on the fourth floor that I had seen one time when on the floor with Kelly for one of her liver appointments.  But, faster than my fast flash of brilliance was a green-garbed nurse who knew exactly where she was and where she was going and pressed the number two button, and down I went.  Knowing better now how those buttons worked I unhesitantly smashed my thumb onto the four number and I was soon on my way upwards again.  The doors opened, and 'Walla' there was my quiet Shangri-la' waiting for me right across the hall where I remembered it.  And, best of all....there was nobody there in that cozy-looking alcove.  I quickly snagged a padded chair (no not a padded cell) in the corner with a big round table in front of me so I remained there for the best part of an hour quite contentedly reading 'Emily Of New Moon' on my Kindle.  And, nobody else came and sat down, leaving me undisturbed all by myself.  'Shangri-la' indeed:)))))

TIM HORTONS COFFEE IN THE LOBBY OF LONDON'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

 THE SMALL ENDOSCOPY WAITING ROOM WHERE I HAD TO ASK THE PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR SEATS SO I COULD TAKE THIS PHOTO.....HEY, YOU DON'T THINK I REALLY DID THAT DO YA,  NAW I DIDN'T THINK SO.

 I TUCKED MYSELF INTO THAT QUIET CORNER AND BURIED MY NOSE IN MY KINDLE READER 

 REMEMBER, FOURTH FLOOR ACROSS FROM THE ELEVATORS IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND A QUIET SPOT

It was about 11:30, when after playing elevator games again I finally landed myself back in the basement at the Endoscopy waiting room.  Ten minutes later a nurse brought Kelly out feeling a little wobbly.  We made our way up to the hospital's main level and outside and over to the parking garage.  We retreived Subie and with Kelly feeling hungry we headed over to the Subway Shop near the Masonville Mall.  Kelly insisted on going in but this time I went with her.  I could tell she still wasn't a hundred percent steady on her feet.  With Tim Hortons being beside Subway we popped in there where Kelly got herself a coffee and a donut.  With her safely back in the Subaru, we were soon headed for home.

 I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THREE FOOD TRUCKS PARKED OUTSIDE BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL AND THE PARKING GARAGE

 WELL, SOMEWHERE IN THIS PARKING GARAGE IS OUR LITTLE WHITE CAR

 AHHHH, THERE'S SUBIE NOW

 KELLY DECIDES ON A SUB

 YUP, SUB SAUCE ON MY CLEAN SHIRT OF COURSE

 HEADING HOME ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY

So, here's what the Doctor told Kelly about her endoscopy procedure this morning......She needs to go back to the hospital shortly for an iron infusion.  She has portal hypertensive gastropathy in her stomach and small varices in her esophagus.  Kelly has to double up on some of her meds to lower her blood pressure. The doctor was surprised she didn't have a blood transfusion last week but also knows that a blood transfusion would not bode well for Kelly's already compromised anti-bodies count.  In this area of things, she is between the proverbial rock and a hard place.  Aside from feeling tired and slightly weak by the time we got home, she's doing Okay.

Pheebs and I made it out for our afternoon walk around the Park's pond but it was slow going for both of us and our aging bones.  We saw two Green-Backed Herons, four Painted Turtles, two Dragonflies, one Giraffe, a wild Buffalo, and a whole wandering band of lost Swawhili Warriors.       

 PHLOX

 A SINGLE LILY GROWING IN THE PARK'S POND

Al's Music Box:))  Blue Canadian Rockies by Jim Reeves.  I couldn't find any info on this song.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( It’s my wife’s birthday soon and she’s been leaving jewelry catalogs all over the house.  She'll be happy to know I got the hint.  I got her a magazine rack!

I just spent the whole morning brushing all the powdered sugar off the donuts.  Diets are hard!!

The reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day.

What do you call a Chicken staring at lettuce?? 'Chicken Sees A Salad'.

Son: "Dad, did you go to Church when you were little?"  Dad: "Yes son, every single Sunday."  Son: "I thought so. Bet it won't do me any good either.

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A QUICK TRIP FOR SUBIE AND I TO STRATFORD AND BACK TODAY

Just me in the Subaru on this sunny but cool 45F morning.  We had to crank on the house furnace earlier and I had to crank Subie's heater up for a bit when I first headed out.  The Subaru dealer in Stratford had called saying there was an opening this morning at 10:30 for an oil change so I grabbed it.  I've been in the habit of doing this twice a year ever since we got Subie nearly two years ago.  I was in there by 10:15 and out the door by 11:15.  What a beautiful late Spring morning for a drive to Stratford through Southern Ontario's pristine farmland.  Everything is so green and lush.

 A BIG BLUE SKY AND A NEWLY PLANTED FARMER'S FIELD

I SAW HALF A DOZEN FIELDS WHERE THE CUTTING OF HAY HAS BEGUN

 WHO SAID CANADA DIDN'T HAVE BLUE COWS AND RED BARNS

 AND WHO SAID CANADIANS DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT STICKERS ON THEIR CARS EH

With Kelly officially being on the liver transplant list now I don't like being anywhere more than half an hour from home just in case she gets a call from University Hospital to be at the hospital as quickly as possible.  

IN THE SUBARU WAITING ROOM WITH MY KINDLE

 SUBIE GOING UP ON THE LIFT FOR HER OIL CHANGE

Following the oil change and new windshield wipers I didn't waste any time getting myself home.  Okay, so I did take a quick whiz through McDonalds' before leaving Stratford.  A very enjoyable drive all the way home and I considered it a pleasant road trip:))

 HEADING HOME THROUGH FIELDS OF NEW MOWN HAY

 A LOT OF FARM MACHINERY ON THE ROAD TODAY

Before arriving home I made a stop at the Porters Hill Wild Bird Seed Co. for a couple 20-pound bags of birdseed.  Yes, I broke down and I'm feeding all the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and bunnies, again plus any other poor critters that wander in.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a Hippopotamus one of these days.  Still not happy about some of the table manners I see going on at the feeders but it's more important to get the little guys fed and not worry about who eats what and how.  And geeezzzz, I'm the last guy who should be talking about sketchy table manners.

Pheebs and I made it out for an afternoon walk and it was cool enough that I had to put on a long-sleeve shirt and a light nylon jacket to block the cool breeze.  Even the turtles were not out sunning themselves and the frogs were not chuggermming, but we did see a couple butterflies and I was able to get a few photos.  

 PHEEBS MAKING HER WAY ALONG A JUNGLE PATH IN OUR FRONT YARD

 ON THE SHADY PATH ACROSS THE ROAD FROM OUR HOUSE ON OUR WAY TO THE PARK'S POND

Al's Music Box:)) Betch By Golly Why is a song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, originally titled "Keep Growing Strong"  The composition later became a hit when it was released by the Philadelphia soul group the Stylistics in 1972 under its better-known title, "Betcha by Golly, Wow".  It was the third track from the Stylistics' 1971 debut self-titled album; released as a single in 1972. The single sold over one million copies globally, earning the band a gold disc.  It was the band's second gold disc. There are two mixes of the song; the 3:17 version released as a single is the one most familiar to listeners, while the 3:48 album version has an instrumental break prior to the song's finale.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Bob Hill and his new wife Betty were vacationing in Europe, as it happens, near Transylvania. They were driving in a rental car along a rather deserted highway. It was late, and raining very hard. Bob could barely see 20 feet in front of the car.  Suddenly the car skids out of control! Bob attempts to control the car but to no avail! The car swerves and smashes into a tree.  Moments later, Bob shakes his head to clear the fog. Dazed, he looks over at the passenger seat and sees his wife unconscious, with her head bleeding! Despite the rain and unfamiliar countryside, Bob knows he has to carry her to the nearest phone.  Bob carefully picks his wife up and begins trudging down the road. After a short while, he sees a light. He heads towards the light, which is coming from an old, large house. He approaches the door and knocks.  A minute passes. A small, hunched man opens the door. Bob immediately blurts, "Hello, my name is Bob Hill, and this is my wife Betty. We've been in a terrible accident, and my wife has been seriously hurt. Can I please use your phone??"  "I'm sorry," replied the hunchback, "but we don't have a phone. My master is a Doctor; come in and I will get him!"  Bob brings his wife in. An elegant man comes down the stairs. "I'm afraid my assistant may have misled you. I am not a medical doctor; I am a scientist. However, it is many miles to the nearest clinic, and I have had basic medical training. I will see what I can do. Igor, bring them down to the laboratory."  With that, Igor picks up Betty and carries her downstairs, with Bob following closely. Igor places Betty on a table in the lab. Bob collapses from exhaustion and his own injuries, so Igor places Bob on an adjoining table.  After a brief examination, Igor's master looks worried. "Things are serious, Igor. Prepare a transfusion." Igor and his master work feverishly but to no avail. Bob and Betty Hill are no more.  The Hills' deaths upset Igor's master greatly. Wearily, he climbs the steps to his conservatory, which houses his grand piano. For it is here that he has always found solace. He begins to play, and a stirring, almost haunting, melody fills the house.  Meanwhile, Igor is still in the lab tidying up. His eyes catch movement, and he notices the fingers on Betty's hand twitch. Stunned, he watches as Bob's arm begins to rise! He is further amazed as Betty sits straight up!  Unable to contain himself, he dashes up the stairs to the conservatory. He bursts in and shouts to his master:  "Master, Master! ... The Hills are alive with the sound of music! 

(I'm hoping by tomorrow I will have a better handle on these font colors)  So aggravating!!!!

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