I had a good thanksgiving at Uncle Tom's cabin. (More like mansion on the lake) which led straight to Sue's meeting of my friends, which is where we came up with this idea of a blog which cousin Jane has setup and I am filling in the content. We will send a notice when it has been up dated, so you can decide at any time if you want to get a notice or if you would rather take your name off the list.
I am getting ready (ok, I'm ready) to leave Ponoka. Yes, it has taught me a lot but I think the next phase will too. Cousin Jane (Ralph) has been a fantastic cousin that tidied and organized me, which was just how I would have done things, in my life before the accident, ok, better! But because of her once a week visit I felt very much ready to meet the challenges of my recovery schedule. Now I am going to leave the hospital and Cousin Jane has already bought a retirement place on lake Erie near home. Just because it is in the tomato capital of Canada, Leamington, Ont. It is close to both Tim's and her family. Ok I plan on visiting so I am sure it will suit me fine!
I have worked real hard to use my left hand after this summer with the blue berries and my favorite niece Kate, or my niecie piecie. I have learned to type with two hands but on my laptop but it is more of a challenge on my IPad. I typed a recipe on my laptop and transferred it to the IPad so it could be sent to the whole list! On Mondays I have a cooking class where I like to make low fat, dishes that are more interesting than mashed potatoes and gravy or the same old hospital food so I thought I'd share this autumn soup with you. I like quinoa because it is high in protein which for something that is similar to rice or potato which is usually all carbohydrate. It is an ancient grain that has recently become popular! So it can be found in most grocery stores.
For the rest of my time here I am working with my walker in the hopes of learning to walk. It is a lot of work, and I know I am pretty spastic but i know how important it is, so I'll continue to work hard.
The week before Dec 9th sister Sue will drive her Van out here and load it up for our drive to the rain forest on the wet coast so for the rest of my time here I'm just trying to get all I can and keep working hard to the very end. I've read a lot of books and thank god I can still read. Right now, I'm reading the trashy sequel to the Da Vinci Code "Angels & Demons" but I've really enjoyed my book club book on water called, "The Big Thirst" and reading about Michael J. Fox's struggle with Alzheimer’s and all he took on in America, and the foundation he started under the Bush administration. I read a number of books on brain damage that were not as fun as the fiction books about "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" but Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's "Stroke of Insight" and Lee and ABC news correspondent Bob Woodruff who was imbedded with the troops in Iraq and suffered shrapnel giving him brain damage and one other book on brain damage that was tough to handle but it was given to me from my girlfriend Sandra from LA (ok I forget the title) and it was tough as cause it hit a little close to home and I really enjoyed the fiction. Which is a change for me.
Well I don't have a lot to say. My head is down, and I'm very much looking forward to being close to Sue and family and Christmas and getting the heck out of here! It will take me some time and adjusting as I get used to life as a cripple on the left coast. I will also be looking for a place to live that is suitable and friends who are interested to have stimulating conversation or go sky diving!