I had an echocardiogram. Most of the tests I have had are invasive, requiring radioactive material be put in my blood. This just required gel on a pad that she moved around to look at my heart. What I found out while I was there is that I don't have a bicuspid valve. It is a normal tricuspid. I think it was over 30 years ago that a cardiologist did tests and told me it was bicuspid. I could actually see the valve and I told Lori, the Sonographer that It looked tricuspid to me and she affirmed that I was correct. I have to wait for a doctor to read it and, if something else needs to be done or all is okay that Dr. Tun will inform me. This test was done to see if my heart is leaking because my refraction rate is 80% and normal is 60% Dr. Tun has never seen anyone with the results I have had. Hopefully, all is okay. We will see.
Hart Park has an area that peacocks like to hang out. I went looking for peacock feathers for my teacher Carol Bradshaw. We have been working on peacocks for two weeks now. Well, it was easier said than done. There were several cars there when I arrived around 11 am. So people could have already picked up feathers. I did go to the opposite side of where people were and I found a couple of feathers. Then I saw two within the gate where the peacocks tend to stay. It was too far to reach. I used the umbrella handle but I seemed to be pushing it further. Then I started looking for a long thin branch to reach it. I eventually did get two more feathers. It turned into a bigger deal than I expected. I do have some peacock feathers from a stay at Martha's home, but I didn't find the bag I put it in.
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| Peacock in Hart Park. I don't think anyone lives in this house which has a gate around it. That is where the Peacocks like to hang out. |
Linda has joined us in class. Carol noted things I didn't get in the drawing of the peacock, so below is another stab at it. Carol also asked us to find a picture of a lizard to draw. Below also is a picture taken from the feathers I collected, that Carol laid out and that I took the picture. She said the focus of these recent drawings - peacock, lizard and snake are on patterns. I am not done with the peacock, but I will get it done tomorrow
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| Three Peacock Feathers. |
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| Peacock - Still being worked on |
Last summer I had lots of plumbing work done. It is not finished. My shower and bath are leaking and it has become ridiculous. So I had the same guy Trevor for part of the work then. Shower is fixed but the bathtub needs a lot more done. We settled on $650 for all of it. Ugh! But I really don't have a choice. I'm not doing work to make it prettier (though I would like to). I am focused on keeping it whole. If you wait too long, problems can get worse and you put out a lot more money at one time. I am relieved though to have the repairs I had done completed. He thinks it is time to replace the galvanized pipes in the house, but he did give me a guesstimate of $7,500 to replace those in the house. Way too overwhelming! I don't have that sort of money.
I gave a form to my doctor to get a handicap placard for parking. I do fine for most parking, but big events with hug parking lots are very difficult for me to handle because of the distance to get in. My doctor signed this and I will mail it to the Department of Motor Vehicles. I have stalled on this a long time, but I really don't want to lessen my activities as much as I can.
I told my friend Janet when we were at Mexicali’s about the results of the echocardiogram. She was an nuclear medicine technician. She said that the work when I had it done then, like at least 30 years ago is like comparing caveman times to now. Pictures are much clear now. I’m glad I have friends in the know to check with.
To top off the week, I met with friends I worked with in Corcoran. There were seven of us- Marc, Lynette and her husband Simon, Bill and his wife Jana, Jody and me. We met at The Vintage Press which was delicious.
Some of us talked about another restaurant called Craw Daddy's. When Paul and I lived in Visalia, we went there several times. It had just been built and opened. Simon had heard a lot of ads on it recently. We were wondering if it was a new owner and wondered if they had changed the menu some. Anyway, we thought it might be worth checking it out. I did speak with Lynette after this and we are going to see if the restaurants in Visalia have been reviewed and perhaps go by that.
We stayed at the Marriott which is being remodeled. Lynette and Simon were on the seventh floor (it has eight floors). Jody and I each had a room on the second floor. There was nothing obviously changed on the second floor, but I did see my friends' room on the seventh floor. I liked it. It had what looked like a very dark wood-slatted floor, a sophisticated sofa, special lighting in the mirror, wide screen oversized television, and a wonderful large picture of the sequoias. The entire hotel is being redecorated. I like to stay at that hotel when I visit, however, prices are getting a lot higher and depending on if I can get a deal or not, i would stay there less frequently. There are less expensive hotels in the area and I could stay there.
Bill looked good as did Jana. Jana is more of a Facebook friend, but I have met her at several gatherings. Of course Lynette and Simon looked great. Simon gave me a jar of canned lemons he brined. He asked "Do you like Middle Eastern food?" I do, but I had to order a couple of books so I could make some dishes. I'm really hoping there is a big section on vegetables. I've been to Turkey twice and I fell in love with the vegetables! If we had it like that in the United States, I would easily eat all my veggies. Marc looked very good. I believe that he really enjoys not working (like me). I have not had a problem of thinking I had nothing to do. His life runs a little slower (as mine does). And he really takes his time having his coffee in the morning, then walking his dog (in the foothills of Sequoia) before driving to Visalia to work out at the gym. I think it is over two years ago since I have seen Jody. I can’t be sure, but it was great seeing her. It is such a long drive for her to come and she can hit very heavy traffic, so she left for home early in the morning. We will look at getting together in the Fall. I realized after I got home that I had not taken any pictures! And, I don't think anyone else did either!
Below is from another blog about a funeral procession on its way to the cemetery. We need to think beyond ourselves when other people are hurting. This is worth reading.
So that was a loaded week. I got lots of sleep in-between events, so I did okay. I really hope your week went well and I will see you next Sunday. Rachel
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