July 10th, 2013

Hello One and All!

Five days since I sent out my last update...

Thursday evening we did go to our first Stampede party - at Drew's house (neighbor & brother)
A good time was had by all - as always one of the best Stampede parties in the city - but I was far too tired to continue the party in the ManRoom with Kent & friends!
Friday, parade day!  Big cheer for the First Responders & Volunteers that were honoured for their work in flood recovery!  Lunch at the Ranchman's and then the President's Reception that evening at the Stampede.
But enough of that!!  Saturday found us back at work at the condo.  Sharon & I ripped out studs :
brilliant work my sister!!  and other construction-ish stuff!!

Unfortunately, Mom & Dad left our place in Turner Valley at 6:30 in the morning - Mom took Dad to the Black Diamond hospital with severe chest pains.  He said that it was an 8 or 9 out of 10 - not good. The (great!) doctors decided to send him into Calgary so that he could see a cardiologist so off they
went.  The ambulance even took the temporary bridge (emergency vehicles only ) over the river
between Black Diamond & Turner Valley.

Dad has had a few rough days - they are trying very hard to regulate everything so that they can send him home.  They are still searching for the perfect combination of medications - it complicates things
when there is not only heart problems, but also diabetes, kidney problems, COPD & Parkinsons...
He has been in the hospital for four days now and I don't think that he will be heading out anytime soon.  But hopefully I am wrong and he will be back to his old self before we know it!!

Back at the condo, everything is now ripped out of the basement (except for the furnace, which should come out soon), the drywall is gone as is the carpets, bathroom fixtures, hot water tank etc. etc..
Today they came in and pressure-washed the entire space - next it needs to be dried, de-humidified,
and sanitized...  It takes time since they are working on the entire 42 condos in the complex, but I can't complain - a friend's house in Calgary was "deemed uninhabitable" the other day : not fun at all!

A friend said the other day that she has volunteered her entire life, but has never been on the receiving end before and we now know what it is to know that people care and we get tearful thinking of the kindness of friends and of strangers.

Love to you all,

Janine