Trip to the city

Trip #53 Feb. 6th appointment

10:50 a.m.
The January trip was cancelled from January ice storm. We're down to visits every six months in this watch and wait phase. Medical Trip #50 into the city, was a delightful day in July. This was just cold and dreary.

It wasn't a propitious start, having to move the recycling bin! The skies were dark, we drove out of the clouds. We thought we'd give ourselves extra time and eat on the road. Normally we allow two hours for the trip, as parking can be iffy.

12:03 p.m.

After an hour and a half, and 96 km, we arrived at Robbie's for lunch.

By the time we finished lunch the clouds had followed us to the city. Sunglasses were put away.

The restaurant is on the east part of the city, right near the hospital. We have had visits here since November, 2013, when the pre-surgery stuff began. Surgery was in Jan., 2014! Follow-ups have been every 3 months, until the latter part of last year.
Nice decor. Their staff are so well-trained. Fresh food. Hubby can get his sans dairy, yeast, eggs. Yummy.
I love the fireplace in the middle of the room.

1:07 p.m.

We parked and were in waiting room at this point. There were 6 people and/or pairs waiting. It was quite a room. I began playing around with the iPad. It has these fun apps for doing artsie treatments of photos, i.e. Toon Camera. Sadly, while we were an hour early, they don't take us in order of arrival. We waited and waited. I had my lovely bag with my art pencils, courtesy of dear Jean, but I wasn't in the mood to sketch.


Three people were sleeping in their chairs. People shuffled in, some with walkers, others with canes. Everyone went ahead of us. People drifted out, test requisitions in hand, and more drifted in.

 

2:08 p.m.

A woman was playing videos from SNL on her iPad, husband said too loudly. She was surprised! I didn't need the aggravation. Happily she stopped. Then she hauled out her smart phone, but was quietly texting! Another couple were regaling someone they knew with their trips around the world. They were trying to one up each other. You just want to throw something, sometimes.

2:40 p.m.

Into room with Dr. C. He asked the usual questions. No bone pain. Will do a bone scan. Physical in 6 months, repeat PSA test (2.7). Kidney function testing. Blood work a week before tests. Chest X-ray, bone scan #4  (Civic Hospital Bone Scan#3),  CT Scan #6 (CT Scan (#5). He is smart, fast, and efficient. He is a gentleman, too. Shakes hubby's, then my hand. You can hear him talking to some hard-of-hearing and more frail people with dignity and respect.

2:45 p.m.

After our 5 minutes with the good doc, we paid our parking ($13), and got on the road. On the way home, there were lots of ducks on the Ottawa river. We were stopped at the light. It's important to enjoy the scenery! We couldn't get close, although we could stop. We just want to hightail it out of the city before rush hour.


For reference... archived duck photos!

4:00 p.m. Home again, jiggety jig.

Then there was the replacement of a culvert. Happily, there were no incidents. The snow increased on the drive home, but I took it easy. The traffic slowed behind me.

We arrived home and they hadn't taken our garbage. Dang.

To relax, we watched one of our CDs, a series called Wallander. A calm end to a long day.
Hubby made himself a wrap, I made a salad, as our lunch meal was wonderful.