We went to an event for the Breast Care Center tonight. There is a brew pub in Santa Rosa, Russian River Brewing Co. That raises money for the BCC every October. October is designated breast cancer awareness month for those of you not in the know. Tonight was the check presentation. It was Larry's first big outing without his wheelchair. He walked A LOT tonight using his walker, the man never ceases to amaze me. He can irritate the hell out of me at times but never have I lost that sense of amazement as he recovers time after time from his traumatic health issues. Now he's taken a pain pill and he and Colin are curled up on the couch together. Very sweet but I digress.
There were a bunch of us there to have beer, dinner and cheer when the check was presented. $14, 608.46, we were floored! Greatful and floored. In the last 3 years they have raised almost $30,000 for the Center. They really get into it, wait staff dye their hair pink, there's a decorated bra auction and a bunch of other things they do before, as the owner said tonight, they pick your pockets on the way out the door. One of the best things about the event tonight was that the Director of the North Bay Sutter Foundation was there. The BCC has been transferred from being a sub of the hospital to being a sub of the Foundation. World of difference, instead of Hospital Director who didn't attend many events except Catwalk we now have Foundation Director who is youngish (early 40's maybe) who's very willing to attend most events. He's a sweetheart of a guy and his wife is equally delightful. Nice to see management get more involved.
It's fricking cold here. We've been trying not to use the propane heaters because propane is so expensive but after having a portable electric heater run for an hour yesterday in the bathroom with all the doors closed in raised the temperature a whopping 1 degree, from 53 to 54. Tomorrow I'm lighting the pilot light on the heater in the bedroom and turn it on because it was 51 when I got up this morning!
Dr. Sanity's new puppy is doing a fine job of learning to be a therapy dog. She spent our session on Friday sleeping on my lap. She still has that puppy soft skin and her eyes are to die for. Very soothing while we were discussing a very difficult subject.
Book Club was yesterday. We're small but we're dedicated, all 4 of us. For this month we had read 2 books because both were relatively small. One was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and other was The Zoo Keeper's Wife. I recommend both highly. The Zoo Keeper's Wife is a bit difficult to get into in the beginning but well worth the struggle. We had our usual lovely time, the nun, the City Attorney, the semi office manger of a law office and me, along with the food and wine. We all feel the same about most issues but obviously come at them from very different perspectives. I can't even remember how long we've been together now but it must be close to 10 years. We've had other people come and go, we sometimes believe we intimate them because none of us are exactly shrinking violets. We never hesitate to speak our minds or nail one another to the wall if given the opportunity. These women are such an important part of my life. Where I can just be me.
Did I mention it's fricking cold here? And guess who gets to go out in the cold, walk the dog, bring in firewood, take out the garbage and walk the dog again? Yes you're right that would be me. And that doesn't count trips to Kaiser. Last week we saw the surgeon in Oakland at 11:45, about an hour away if the traffic is good - oh please excuse me while I pull to the side of the road and laugh hysterically because it's more like 2 hours. Then had to be back here for physical therapy at 5 pm. Yes a lovely day indeed.
Yea, I found my camera cable!!! Boo, I haven't figured out how to download the pictures yet. For someone who loves technology as much as I do it's a rather embarrassing admission.I think that's all I have to say tonight because I'm running out of steam and still have to bring in fire wood and walk the dog.