HOSPITAL..AND HACKED!

I’ve been hacked!! There is a file that needs to be completed ASAP, so I logged onto the office server when my brother and I returned from the hospital today. Suddenly weird messages came up on the screen and everything shut down. None of my attempts to restart it were successful (or should it read ‘was’? Grammar is not one of my strengths). I called my puter-doc, and he advised that I drop it off at his home tomorrow, on my way to work. There is no guarantee that it will be repaired for Christmas. Fortunately my laptop soothes my cyber addiction, but I am less comfortable. It’s similar to switching the old comfy slippers for dress shoes one only wears on occasion. Ah well, at least I can still write.

My brother lives about 30 minutes from my house, so the truck was toasty warm by the time I picked him up at 5:30 AM this morning – a good thing because the -20 temperatures are hard on his breathing. It took us 2 hours in traffic, but we arrived at the hospital in plenty of time for his appointment. Unfortunately there is a blockage in his throat, or bronchial tubes, so they were unable to complete the biopsies. Now we have to wait for the MRI on Monday before the specialist will be able to determine what or why. The doctor, who doesn’t have much of a bedside manner to start with, was NOT happy. He grumbled that this should have been taken care of long ago, which only increased my brother’s alarm. When the news is not good, the ride back home is tense. It’s difficult to encourage someone when you just don’t know what is happening, other than repeating ‘we’ll cross the bridge when we come to it’. It doesn’t help that he has been continually telling the medical team about the pain in his throat, and feels that they are ignoring his words.

My son has received his diagnosis – it is diverticulitis. Because he is so young, they will not operate immediately, hoping instead that the symptoms will not re-occur. It seems they don’t in some cases and, if not, he will be able to avoid having an operation to remove the affected area of intestine. He is to see his doctor tomorrow for a progress report, but is no longer in pain, so feels the results will be good.

I finally picked up my tree this afternoon. It’s a well furnished 6 foot Balsam, and beautiful! I bought it at the roadside vegetable stand, and the nice owner carried it over and managed to fit it into my truck. I had put plastic down, but the shifting around to get it all in without breaking something left a job for the Shop-Vac. It’s outside at the moment, because help is required to set it up. My young lad will be by on the weekend to complete the shovelling (it’s STILL snowing!), and my bro will come with him. Between the 3 of us it should take no time to install it in the designated corner and decorate it all pretty. I enjoy sitting with the doggies in the evening admiring the coloured lights reflecting off the many windows. It’s time for the Christmas spirit to kick in...normally by this time I am all gung-ho. The tree, and the cooking/baking session this Saturday should do the trick.

Tomorrow is Line’s birthday. We will celebrate at her house on Friday night, which is also the birthday of Saskatoon Karen! Detroit Suzie is waiting on my weather report (she doesn’t use internet) but will certainly be driving up by this weekend. And the HABS are playing tonight and tomorrow night!! Is this lady SMILING? You’re darned right she is!

Forwarding the SMILE to you’all!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec