Another trip for healthcare (#65)

April 18th

The weather was about to get frightful! The storm was moving northeast, headed for our Ottawa destination. This is trip #65. We had time, but we brought rain gear, too!


The day began with a gift. Hooper had been online, using JB's Amazon account.  The gift was a large mug with "Fire Chief" on it! My job is to keep the fire going, as hubby's back limits his abilities to do so. Hooper and Annie love the fire, they wrote a long story about their searching for it.

Hubby's PSA test was good, last week. It was 0.0008, which is virtually nil. (It should be zero, but surgery didn't get it all.) The ability of the patient to check test results online really alleviates concerns and stress. You just hate not knowing. The drive into the city is much more relaxing this way.

10:34

We left at 10:34, passing through Smiths Falls, I like driving on highway #43, the osprey are back on their nests.  File photos, but you get the picture. It's so good seeing them back, now that the rivers and lakes are open. Soon they will have babies!

At Smiths Falls we were behind a beer truck doing just the right speed. (80 km/hr: the speed limit!) Unfortunately, the two vehicles behind us didn't appreciate this.)

 I pulled over and let them pass.

Funnily enough, we caught up to them in The Gower, where they were stuck behind the beer truck, and both turned off.

North Gower and Manotick, the latter two places where I'd lived in –in a previous lifetime. The nurseries, at least, have vehicles. Some are actually open!

11:47

We passed someone working on the side of the road, beside the airport. Not my kind of job.

There is much construction in Riverside South.

Last time we were through (9 months ago) they were tearing down this forest on River Road. It is gone. These will be part of the high-priced homes in Riverside South. Prices for the featured lots range from $615,000 to almost $900,000.

Ottawa River, still some snow and ice. The rain has been falling for two days. They are worried about flooding, again, in our region.


I used to scoff at people parking on Lynda Road, it's free for two hours, and just across the street from the hospital. I scoff no more. It means we are more likely to find a spot in the lot.


 Can you read the sign below? By the time I could read it, it was too late. It should have been put in front of the barrier. There were several cars, I think, looking for spots. Parking has been an increasing problem. Perhaps they tolerate the short-term parking on the back street to ease space.

Luckily, I found a spot.

12:15 p.m. for our 12:30 appointment

In we went. It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the other end of the complex. My foot has been sore. I wore my sturdy runners. I carried my iPad in the beautiful quilted bag Jean made for me for my 60th birthday. She is an amazing and kind woman, in the midst of The Mess of Alterations!

Here is a tip for people in the waiting room, don't sit on your cell phone discussing your biopsy results with a friend. He was sitting three seats away, and we could hear every word. TMI...

 They have extra large wheelchairs at Ottawa Hospital.

 Our traditional selfie while waiting.

12:30

We are participating in a study of the drug hubby is being given, Lupron. The researcher took us right in to a room where he filled in the questionnaire. 

Next, in popped our doctor's intern, to review our past few months. None of his arthritis symptoms are a result of the treatments. This is a good sign, as the side effect could be bone issues.

Third was the nurse to administer the needle JB purchased at our local pharmacy a week ago (just in case).

Our physician popped back in the debrief. Basically, no big symptoms from the treatments. He could anticipate some bone disease once the PSA rises to about 10. The calcium supplements are good, 650 mg per day they recommended. The next needle is in July (in Perth, yay), the following one will be in October, back in Ottawa.

1:16 p.m.

By the time we left, there was a parking crew, and cars were parked in the other IN lane of the parking lot. (There are two.)


There is lots of construction in Ottawa. There are several infill buildings, with sleek, modern styles. Also, lots of condos.


By the time we make it to Manotick, we see the massive mansions.

2:49 "lunch" done

We had a few options for lunch, but I wanted to get out of the city. We ended up having a decent meal at the Swan. We couldn't see the river, due to the boats in their coats in the parking lot of the marina. Oh, well. We like to eat in the lovely sunroom on the end. It is quieter.


Back on the road, crossing the bridge.


Really wet fields and swollen creeks.


Back through North Gower.


This is the house, that was an antique store: Otter Creek Antiques: Store Deconstruction in Lombardy. They removed the extension part of the house, all those bricks. The left half has been torn down.

3:38 p.m.

Its renovations are coming along. They had an open house, for it to be resold. I don't know what happened. The signage is gone.

April 18, 2019

Otter Creek is a river! On the left is a field. More rains to come, too.


It was getting darker, we'd expected rain. It wasn't until Lombardy that the rain started, then stopped.
Home just up ahead. 

Over the past 24 hours, as I write this, we've had 33 mm (1.3").