WhippoorwillSong

Canadian lady writing about life, the end of life, possibly the afterlife... lots of life thoughts.

Last Notes

2024-09-13 11:24:13 UTC

Not a lot of transit riders this morning. Train was pretty empty.
Have people given up on the office already? lol.

2024-09-09 21:27:24 UTC

These types of accidents seem to be happening with unusual frequency around Ottawa these days.
Or is just getting more news coverage than in other places?
Do people in Ottawa need to paint their houses and businesses in brighter colours?
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/vehicle-crashes-into-front-porch-at-home-in-ottawa-s-sandy-hill-neighbourhood-1.7030634

2024-08-30 19:07:57 UTC

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So many unknowns.
There are two things I’ve had to get used to since diagnosis: being busy (treatments are definitely like a part-time job), and living with uncertainty.

2024-08-30 19:05:42 UTC

Since getting my cremation/burial pre-planning done, I feel oddly liberated.
With that behind me, as well as the downsizing/move into an apartment building with an elevator, I feel a bit better prepared for whatever comes next. Including medical retirement, if need be.
We’ll see when I find out more about treatment plan changes next week. I’ve been plugging along, but lately feel like it’s a lot on my plate… well, I wait to find out how medically complicated the fall will be.

2024-08-25 20:15:07 UTC

The wildfire smoke that's drifted over Ottawa is clearing a bit, I can see more of Gatineau across the Ottawa River in Quebec.
This haze looks a little like routine urban smog, but Ottawa doesn't normally see any smog.
The wildfire haze seem to be becoming a "new normal" in the summertime though.
Sigh.

2024-08-22 20:17:57 UTC

I think this might be a yellow finch?
The birb’s tweet sounded like a curious whistle.
#ottawa
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/113/007/511/079/782/410/original/18ec467426516ebf.jpeg

2024-08-22 12:25:36 UTC

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The side effects of my mental health meds are apparently amplified by the cancer drugs that I take. So more lightheadedness. My medical oncologist suggested reducing the dose of the mental health meds.
Since one of the meds is an antipsychotic (Abilify), the GP has referred me to a psychiatrist to have the dose adjusted.
The referral was in April, and I’m still waiting for an appointment.
If it’s urgent though, go to an ER.

2024-08-19 22:07:09 UTC

My mother recently had a visit with a sister who is dying -- her heart is down to only 10% of its capacity, but she still had a lighthearted visit, and lots of laughs.
Laugh with your last breath if you can!

2024-08-19 22:01:16 UTC

Cancer antigens are one of a couple of dozen things that are tested in my blood on a routine basis.
If they go up, the cancer's more active. The goal of meds is to keep them down.
Well, they've gone up recently, the first line medication probably isn't working so well after the first few months.
All is not lost though; there are many other meds for me to try.
There's some irritation in that area though, so I have an inkling that things are more "active."
A scan next week, to check.

2024-08-17 13:06:15 UTC

I spy, with my little eye...
A maple tree that is beginning to change colour.
Just barely... but I see some yellow on one of these trees.
#fall #ottawa
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/112/977/503/726/474/813/original/5c594623ca60bd37.jpeg

2024-08-08 17:00:44 UTC

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The city’s situation is a challenge so raising taxes might be the only path forward. Downtown needs a lifeline. The north end of Bank St.’s grim, the Market’s changing, it can’t be allowed to just deteriorate. All the street art and street furniture in the world can’t fix the challenges facing the city’s downtown.

2024-08-08 16:53:34 UTC

Wouldn’t be surprised by transit service reduction — wouldn’t be thrilled by it, but not surprised either. The LRT is half empty off peak times, as well as during popular vacation weeks. This morning at 7am it was half empty. And they can’t just “undo” LRT and move the transit clock back to 1999.
Maybe they’ll turn back the clock on some routes. Less frequency. More inconvenience.
Some office buildings should be replaced with infill housing… that’s a decades-long project though.
#ottawa

2024-08-03 23:15:24 UTC

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They are definitely attracted to... surprise... cedar trees.
If you can find cedars, you might be lucky and discover a flock.
They don't stick around in one place for long though, so that's the problem...

2023-12-14 00:33:51 UTC

Days are up and down. It isn't all doom and gloom. More thoughts on that to come too.
My user name comes from an old Hank Williams song:
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I'm so lonesome, I could cry
That might sound a tad depressing, but if you've ever enjoyed feeling blue to a sad song, you know that there's a kindred soul feeling it too, and there's a communion there. So not so lonesome in the end, perhaps.

2023-12-14 00:32:24 UTC

My bio will be short and sweet... I'm just over 50 years old, living in Ontario, and facing a battle with stage 4 #BreastCancer.
I'm here to vent, anonymously. It will probably help to spread awareness too, I hope.
Hobbies, well, I have many. Music (#jazz, vintage rock, and classical in particular). Old movies and #bmovies. Non-fiction, especially #TravelLiterature and pulpy autobiographies.
#introduction