On Memorial Day Roger started his prep for his first follow-up colonoscopy since surgery last June. Prep is creepy as you all well know. I feel guilty eating delicious things in front of him. He says he doesn't mind, while he sips his chicken broth. I think he probably minds the glass of wine I'm sipping more than the garlic mashed potatoes and teriyaki tofu I am dining on. I'll be taking him for the exam at 10:15 Tuesday morning, and it should be done by noon. Check-in takes fifteen minutes and then the administration of Demerol and that weird Versed takes some time. So, the exam will probably be an hour or less. Roger asked the doctor not to give him the Versed, but the doc said "No." We assume the drug is really administered for the doctor's benefit. They don't really want patients awake and aware. Too much hassle.UPDATE: Colonoscopy was fine. All is well. The doctor put Roger on a three-year recall. We are absolutely thrilled and relieved.
Our weather has been interesting, to say the least. I've decided that winter is not a season determined by the angle of the sun, it is a weather pattern. The National Weather service has issued "winter storm warnings" over and over for our region. A surprising thing given that we are three weeks away from SUMMER SOLSTICE. Our poor garden is waiting for something very warm and sunny to happen. It's been promised to them. But so far our temperatures are a good twenty degrees below average. The furnace still turns on in the morning when the temp in the house is lower than 60. We had a fire in the woodstove on Sunday. Hello, climate change, is this the new pattern? We don't like it. Thank you very much.Still, we have seen some wonderful birds in the yard lately. The colors of the Western Tanager are so vivid, like a hint of the tropics. And the young Cooper's Hawk has been hunting with a clumsy enthusiasm that chases the songbirds rather than surprising them. I'm sure he'll get the hang of it. We enjoyed watching him preen and hunt in a quiet moment. I love a bird that doesn't know it's being watched.
This is life on Tuesday.
Good luck on his test. Our weather has been about like you described and it means planting things that want 50 at night is just not progressing well. I can't complain though given the odd weather other areas are getting that involves storms. I hope that doesn't find its way to the PNW
ReplyDeleteYes, good luck with the test. Our weather is running very hot for late May - more like August. We are at 90* or above for the next 7 days (97 tomorrow).
ReplyDeleteWill be good to get the colonoscopy out of the way and get back home to your peaceful refuge.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that they use Demerol and Versed for colonoscopies. I recall how altered my mental state was the one time I was given Demerol in my early 20s. I became so relaxed that I didn't look like my usual somewhat anxious young self when I looked in the mirror, while still under the influence of that powerful drug.
Love the bird shots and video! I've never seen a Western Tanager in person. Lucky you! I've seen quite a few bright yellow goldfinches this year. They always make me smile. How can you not smile at a sunshiny bird?
ReplyDeleteWe were in Baltimore (to see our grandson!) all weekend. It was very, very hot. Today is forecast for 98 degrees in Roanoke. Yikes!
This must be tanager day, my friend in South Surrey, BC just sent me a tanager picture from her yard.
ReplyDelete(And my friend in Cotati is complaining bitterly about the absence of gardening weather, and of local veggies in the market.)
best to roger.
ReplyDeletethe weather is very weird. we're having yet another winterish rainstorm -- usually it is pretty dry here between march and october.
but the birds are doing well. mr. and mrs. robin are regular visitors; so are some doves, little brown birds, and hummingbirds. doves!
Great news! Personal aside to Roger: DO NOT blow off that next colonoscopy in three years.
ReplyDeleteWhich drugs you get are definitely up to the doctor. My first exam I got knocked out. This last time I had some wonderful drug that left me completely comfortable but alert enough to watch the entire procedure in living color. Great stuff. Maybe in three years whatever drug they gave me will be the standard.
What a relief on the colonoscopy results! Another glass of bubbly?
ReplyDeleteThat's great news that that the colonoscopy was fine!
ReplyDeleteRoger--yeay! You are probably ready to 'prime the pump' after that liquid (and not the good liquids) diet yesterday.
ReplyDeleteYou can double up on the wine tonight. :-)
Wa-HOO on Roger's test! A 3 year recall sounds pretty darned good. Roger, you kicked ARSE, baby.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this weather, whaddya gonna do? I sprinkled on me on my morning walk today. Light, but cold.
Nice lil hawk, there. And he doesn't even have a clue you are spying on him. He he.
The tanager is stunning! When I first saw it, I really did think it was a tropical bird, so it's funny that you wrote that. The hawk vid is sweet. I love to watch birds preen.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the clean bill of health, Roger! That's joy! Regarding the drugs, I don't have any idea what they gave me, but twice during the procedure, I woke up enough to be in agony. It's like having really really really really bad gas. VERY painful.
I already commented on the happy news about Roger and I already saw your beautiful tanagers but I'm glad I stopped in and saw your hawk video. I miss our Coopers, Hannibal, in Florida. The weather. We are unseasonably warm here after a cool spring. Our garden is crying for water every afternoon and lugging a 200 ft hose is a challenge.
ReplyDeleteWonderful update. So happy for you. Also good that you don't have to do another colonoscopy for 3 years... :-|
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, i am so happy that the colonoscopy was good. This post brings us only good news.
ReplyDeleteYes, strange weather in the west and in many other places as well. We have had a lot of rain - enough to postpone planting crops and gardens. So different from last year. Let's hope this is an anomoly and not a trend.
ReplyDeleteGreat news about Roger's. So happy for both of you. Nice that there won't be more tests for three years. Now time to get out there living, traveling, or whatever.
OMG, I could swear I saw one of those
ReplyDeleteTanagers recently, but thought it was an overweight Finch. Glad the procedure is over Roger and all is well. I enjoyed the sleepy day of rest and peace that followed when I went through it in April.
The update makes me very happy for you both!!
ReplyDeleteHooray for the good news. I love the photographs of birds just being birds. And I do hope our crazy weather will NOT be the new normal.
ReplyDeleteGreat news about the test results,you guys.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, my sister and I saw one of those tanagers out in our side yard last month. I've never seen one up here.
Three cheers for Roger - three cheers for all of you!Q
ReplyDeleteAs usual, I'm late reading. I am always envious of anyone who has a guest Western Tanager....We usually see one about 2-3 times a year....and I'm sure they're around. We even planted berries, currants, etc.....but we're missing something I guess....they ARE beautiful. Nice photos.
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