Bid Ups

 

I was scrolling Facebook and someone I don't know posted this picture.  Squirrel got some appreciation on the Tuk Lake run.  Jeep peeps are so weird.  Lol.

It's 3:30 am and I'm wide awake.  Arg.  I could lay in the dark and hope for sleep but letting my brain have free reign doesn't usually elicit sleep.  So, the phone narrows the thoughts and let's me get bored and sleepy.

Usually I scroll tik tok and watch cute animals and cooking videos.  Tonight however we received an email from Royal offering us bid up upgrades a month earlier than the bid up program for our Hawaii cruise.  So, I woke Eric up.  He just loves it when I do that.  Anyways....I bid on an obstructed view balcony and a regular balcony.  We are booked on a guaranteed inside room.  I could have put bids in for window rooms or Jr Suites too.  I think I can put more bids in later.  So that was fun.  

Yesterday Eric had a mole excise redone for better margins.  It was a big hole, chunk cut out.  Ow.  He was hurting yesterday and uncomfortable.  The Dr said no hulking and to take it easy for two weeks.  We came home after and I found him outside under Oscar.  Arg.  Then later in the evening Lili drove Squirrel to town to practice, lest she were to borrow Squirrel for camping.  She did it but it was a lot of car for her and she wasn't fabulous at knowing where Squirrel was on the road.  No Squirrel's were harmed in the practice drive.  I wouldn't be comfortable sending Lili off to navigate trees on a tight trail ;)  Then when we got home we found Eric under Oscar again!  Arg.

No hulking means literally not using his back muscles.  So hard wheeling is out.  Setting up the trailer is out.  He requested I cancel the Birthday weekend at Elk Falls with the advanced wheeling day.  I did. Then let everyone know.

So, his 60th Birthday is Saturday and we don't have a plan.  At all. He says we can just stay home.  I can not fathom that.  He does always ask for more time at home.  Maybe it really is possible he would actually prefer that?!  

That was WAY too much fun.

 

Squirrel's 1st camp trip.

We had too much fun.

The pictures are in no particular order.

This funny cup holder thingy, for about $3 from Temu holds my water cup and phone since I don't have a side table.  

Kissinger Lake today to hang out after lunch and let the boys catch and release critters off the dock.

We finally made it to Tuk Lake.

Goals to go back.  We need to get the canoe in there.

We joined up with a 4wdabc group today.  30 of them.  The parking was mayhem.  We held back and let them go on their way before doing the Tuk Lake Loop just the three of us later.

Oddly, 30 others vehicles and we knew the two leads but no one else.

We were driving through Fern Gully.  It smelled so fresh and was so gorgeous.

I liked the wheeling part perhaps a bit too much.  I was grinning.  Squirrel and I did great out there.

At one point the trail was twisty, tight, up and down.  I could see Eric ahead jump out to come and spot/guide me but I was already through.  Oh man if only that look on his face was captured.  Pure shock.  He defends himself later and says it was pride.  Lol.

They're so cute together.

Breakfast after a fabulous sleep.  I slept 6 whole hours.  In a row.  Almost unheard of for me.  My heating pad went all night.  The power plant is amazing.

The new potty room worked out great.  I'm not speedy at set up and take down yet.  It wouldn't be convenient on a day trip.  Perfect for camping though.

Eric made dinner in Squirrel's kitchen.  Then he did dishes too.  He wanted to play in his creation.

It was really weird to say good night and then go to our own Jeeps.  I went to bed quite a bit earlier.  Then was up earlier and listened to my audio book for over an hour before I started making noise outside.  So it worked out well.  

The men folk got to go rescue a dumb kid.

Soooo not prepared.  Idiots abound. Zero recovery gear.  Not a winch in the group.

Gold specks.

Eric and his eternal rock hound hunting.

I didn't have nail clippers.  Broken nail, no problem.

Such a great shot.

Getting final touches on Squirrel for her inaugural camp trip.

In this moment, I am literally squealing and laughing.  

Oh, Squirrel and I are going to have so much fun together.

It was a great weekend.  We celebrated Ryan's 40th Birthday.

Jay brought cookie dough to cook on the fire.  We did NOT figure out 'how' to do that efficiently but fire roasted chocolate chip cookies are definitely elevated and a way to get it done must be found.

Next weekend is Eric's 60th.  We are camping Elk Falls and Eric is going out with the group to do an advanced run on his actual birthday.  

Tomorrow we start off the week with a Dr. appointment for Eric he needs the last mole removal redone for better margins.  Yeesh.  This is the slowest process ever.  Kai and Squirrel have appointments this week.  Shockingly, I personally don't have an appointment this week :)

Camping win.

Eric packed up our outside gear last night.  We were up and sorted inside within a few minutes this morning.  The rain started on the highway home.  Yay.  No wet gear to deal with.

We had Jeeping friends come out yesterday for Canada Day.  They have two boys.  I naively thought the boys might hang out.  Nope.  Luk completely ignored them to the point of complete rudeness.  Kai tried but they are both busy kids and he only lasted a half hour before he needed to sit and zone.  We're supposed to be group camping with them this weekend.  I don't think dragging Luk to car camp is a good idea for any of us.  He hates the idea of sleeping in the Jeeps.  He's never done it so I'm not sure where the adamant ideas come from.

Trucks in the dirt.  Kai wouldn't sit down or squat.  Too dirty.  Lol.  We've come a LONG way.

So, Eric took Luk home the first night to hit the walk in the next day.  They were 1st.  Saw the Dr at opening.  Did his test at the lab.  Got results.  Yes, infection.  Medication prescription to the pharmacy.  They went for breakfast, picked up the meds and Eric brought him back to me.

I was supposed to lay low.  Luk was tired.  Kai didn't want to go outside while it was so cold.  So, we actually had a pajama day inside the trailer!  We had great food, awesome snacks, naps, movies and Luk even agreed to play Nertz with me.  Overall we had a pretty great low key day.

Eric came out at lunch time yesterday.  We enjoyed visiting with friends.  Then Eric watched a movie while I crashed.  Finally.  I had super, super serious insomnia the two nights before.  Perhaps from the Tremfya.  ?  I did develop a rash.  I had no cream so put deodorant on it, to keep it dry.  It seems to have worked and it's cleared up today.

Also some digestive upset, but that could have been from chili that was beyond my spice level of tolerance.  Who knows.  So many issues.

Also...I forgot my insulin one night.  I remembered in the wee hours and checked my numbers before taking it.  16!!!  Yikes.  I went online to Dr. Google.  Who told me to go to the emergency room.  Then I went to a.i. chat and put in the part about being new to the Tremfya infusion.  Then it said to drink water and don't exercise.  Scary night.  Then I woke up to a 4.8.  Go figure.

I told my Mommy I need a decoder ring.  Diabetes is insidious.

Eric got a lot done at home.  Lawn mowed.  Oscar's rear locker fixed.  It was a broken wire.  Squirrel's bed completed.  Along with assorted little chores.  He needs more time at home.  

Eric and I hit the hot tub this morning after we sorted the camping mess.  We had a lovely soak and right after we came inside the farmer behind us started spreading manure on the field.  Score.  Lucky day so far.

 

Tremfya Day

 

It all went well.  No issues.  My nurse also has Chrones.  We had some fun discussing our theories.  

So, now I'm immune compromised.

The goal is to slow down my over active immune system.  Targeting a particular protein.  So precise.  

So far there have been zero reactions.  I did pick up the right Benedryl on the way to the camp site though.  Breathing issues are common and I'm to get to emerg asap if I notice anything.  Scary stuff.

I ordered the fidget squirrel thinking it was attached to a lanyard.  Things on Temu are not always clear.  But, it turns out it's actually a phone handle.  Fei set me up.  It's fun.  I have definitely used it to fidget.  We'll see how long it lasts on my phone ;)

We're at the campsite.  However we suspect Luk might have another uti. Super common with cathing.  The pharmacist can only prescribe antibiotics to women.  Seriously.  That was the stupidest thing to hear. I then called his pediatrician and she is away until July 21.  Then I called the family doctor and his office closed at 3.  So, Eric took Luk home tonight so they can hit the walk in clinic tomorrow morning.  

Our medical system is soooo broken.

It'll be a quiet night for Kai and I.

Which is perfect since I'm supposed to sit still.

Side Gig?

 

Eric called me to ask me to come see the build.  He has so many little features.  Hidden areas.  Every inch planned.

Sooo much storage.

I even have a pass through basement area.  I needed a longer space for tent poles.  I might need a long hook to get things back in place though.  I have no idea why he made rounded openings. Because he could I guess.  They look like retro boat spaces.  I love it.

He has even made a hinged head piece that pivots up with a foot so the seats can move back and the flipped up piece will hold the mattress back.  

He could be selling this set up as a side gig.  But we won't.  Lol.  No time left in a day.

Always trying to catch up.

 

Visiting Eric's paternal Grandparents.

Hatley Memorial in Langford.

Saying final Goodbyes to Eric's Aunt Maxine.

We were a small group.  About 17 total.

We met for lunch first at the Brass Monkey.

Everyone went to Julie's afterwards but we skipped out.  Long day.  Boys were home on their own.

Saturday morning we were up and at it.  Squirrel and Oscar joined the convoy to deliver the cheque from Jeepapaloosa to the Cancer Clinic.

Lili came with me.  Kai and Luk went with Eric.

Lili played her music on the way and she had three Jeep songs on her playlist!  I need to update my Jeep list today when I find a quiet moment.

It was nice to be there for something not pertaining to my butt.

Yes, I'm the only one parked backwards.  For 3 reasons.

To show off Warrior Squirrel.

To keep my Intrepid banner out of the shot.  And finally because doing the one go perfect back up in front of everyone is WAY too intimidating.  For real.

$43000 from 2026

Over $350,000 over 12 years.

There were at least 5 of us there fighting.  So there was some emotions.

Three of us in active recovery mode.

The representative from the clinic cried a few times.  She loved all the painted f-cancers.  I showed her my cancer decal corner and she took a picture.

Belinda gave her a duck.

She said she loved the Squirrel so I ran to my stash and gave her a squirrel.  So that was fun.

I came home to a new Temu order and more squirrels to give away.  Even I will admit that the amount of squirrel's has reached total crazy town.

In my defence, Temu keeps showing me more and I don't sleep. So.  Things happen in the wee hours.  I shouldn't be left up to my own devices.

When we met up at Tim's there were some laughs because everyone was saying 'who is Squirrel?'.  Haha.  She was well received.

Afterwards we did lunch with the group.  Then Eric and the boys went home while Lili and I went to see the movie Girls Like Girls.  The lore of the song, then music video, then novel and finally the movie is sweet.  We need a continuing movie now.

We had a wee adventure in the city.  Trying to park Squirrel, who doesn't fit in parkades.  Ask me how we know.  Sheesh.  A little traumatic but she survived and then we just kept going until we found a street spot that we could be in long enough for the movie.

Oh, and on Friday, it took us three hours to get home from Langford.  I was driving Onyx.  That's a long time to be using the clutch and gears.  

At one point with Lili I was chanting, trees, dirt, trees, dirt, I'm not a city girl!  

Now, believe it or not.  We are home on a Sunday.  There is nothing on the calendar.  It's blank.  Such a thing of beauty.  I have of course over done it.  There is swelling in the nether region.  I know ya'll probably find that shocking.  Lol.  I started the day with a hot soak.

I'm hoping to finish a book this morning.  Have a nice relaxing lunch at home and then hit Walmart to get everything for campimg on Monday.  The boys and I are going to Bamberton for Canada Day.  

Eric has already been up and cleaned up the back deck because he is expecting family visits this week.  He has finished building Squirrel's bed and it's all stained.  He's hoping to install it today.

Eric and I are going next Sat to Nitnat River to celebrate a friends Birthday, we're camping in Squirrel and Oscar and taking both boys.  It's just one night.  Luk is extremely apprehensive about this plan.  Apparently it sounds extremely uncomfortable.  I think he means cozy.

Tomorrow is my first Tremfya infusion in Nanaimo at a private infusion center.  I finally read all the details last night at around 4am while I was still up.  Plan for 2 to 4 hours.  Wear comfy clothing.  Bring all the comfort things and things to do.  Drink a ton of water for two days before hand.  Oops.  Well, I can try today.  Then do nothing with very little movement for a few days afterwards.  That's a super hard one for me.