Drink more water

We had a scare this week. Bob, my mom, and I were out to dinner at Olive Garden in Santa Maria and my mother felt faint at the table. She was unresponsive for a few minutes, so we called 911. The Olive Garden manager and our server were so helpful. The firemen paramedics and EMT ambulance people arrived at the same time. Mom was alert by the time they got there (of course!), and was greatly embarrassed that a fuss was being made IN PUBLIC. They convinced her that she needed to be checked at the hospital, so off she and I went in the ambulance. Bob followed in our car. The nurses, doctors, techs, and admitting staff at Marian Medical Center are the best. Early tests indicated that Mom was dehydrated, but the ER doc wanted to admit her for more tests. Did she want to do this? My heavens no. But Bob and I worked on her for a little while and she relented. She ended up staying two nights while they ran tests on her heart, her carotids, her kidneys, etc. The conclusion seems to be an irregularity with her heart rhythm, which the docs are thinking came from the dehydration and one of her blood pressure meds. She'll see her primary care doctor today; also we're being referred to a cardiologist. Meanwhile, she seems fine. The hospitalist at Marian consulted with Mom's primary care doctor, and they decided to take her off the suspect blood pressure medicine - but they doubled up on another blood pressure drug. Plus, everyone told her, "Drink more water!"

Father Marquette and his trusty guide

We went canoeing today in Morro Bay. I was in front and Bob in back. So I turned to him and said, "Do you feel like Father Marquette exploring the Mississippi?" The answer was no, he did not. :) Note our nearly matching and so fashionable hats.
The canoe rental place has a great dog mascot, a friendly Aussie shepherd. Of course, we must include a photo of the dog. Bob got a good shot of a black-crowned night heron, too.

Ed hangs 10

Ed says, "I had to go to the vet last week for rabies and CPRT shots. I did fine. All the technicians and nurses exclaimed over my lovely coat. They asked if Pat and Bob bathe me. To this I say, 'Bah, humbug.' Can you imagine me submitting to a bath?"

First Friday ... no wait, it's First Thursday

Because the coffee shop in the library is closed on Friday during the summer, First Friday is now First Thursday until Cal Poly begins its new school year in late September. The following photos are from our gathering on Thursday, July 1st. Joan Kunkler, Sharon Fujitani, Denise Wessels, Edna Hjerrild, Karen Beaton, Jan Kline, Donna Lister, and I sat down for a chat. Joan Kennedy and Mary Ellen Baker stopped by to say hi.

Just cruising along

We've been doing errands, making sure the house is clean for a realtor and his client who never showed (not our realtor, I hasten to add), and making decisions about retirement accounts -- if we do this, then what about that?, etc. Here are a few photos of the past week or so. The one of Bob and his finger needs explanation. He had to have his finger lanced because of an infection under the nail. I know that "lancing" would usually equal pain, but he said it was NOT painful, and his finger feels much better after the event. The picture of Isabella's kitty walk on the deck also needs explanation. We cover the netting with towels so she won't be exposed to the sun - she is a little blonde girl and we don't want her to get skin cancer. When she's set up like this, we call it her little Conestoga wagon. She's crossing the Great Plains on her way to the Oregon Territory.

Second month of retirement begins

I'm getting used to this no-work stuff. More time for reading, sleeping in, and just hanging around. We're trying to sell our house, so there are always projects to do. We want to keep the place looking good, but we are living in our house - so it does get dirty and disorganized sometimes. And, darned if weeds don't grow in the garden, too.

Last Friday, we took Mom to the grocery store, but we had time for a picnic lunch at Atascadero Lake. Bob took a photo of the three of us. Also, Bob and I are enjoying the spa. I actually have tan lines, whereas before I was a fairly pale person. The spa is a good place to exercise my "bad" shoulder, which is doing much better after the intra-articular shot of cortisone in late May.

More out and about

We decided to to take pictures of the demolition of Cabo San Luis, a restaurant that burned a few months ago. Check our Flickr page for some demolition shots.
After the photo session, we had to have coffee and a treat at New Frontiers.