WhippoorwillSong

https://mstdn.social/@WhippoorwillSong

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

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whippoorwillsong_at_mstdn.social@momostr.pink

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Last Notes

2024-08-30 19:07:57

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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...

2024-06-28 14:01:06

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I think there’s a lot of respect and deference towards Biden on the left, after a tough but brilliant term as president.
I sense that people don’t want to be “mean” to the guy.
Unfortunately, I think that’s blinding Democrats to the reality of the situation: Biden’s losing to Trump, and there doesn’t appear to be any obvious way of turning that around, short of a new presidential ticket.
I’d love a second Biden term, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Terrifying.

2024-06-28 13:40:39

The extent of the continuing pro-Biden support this morning makes it seem like there’s a lot of state of denial behaviour, an attempt to avoid a desperately needed reckoning with Biden’s lack of competence at the debate.
It is sobering. It is worrying.
Sweeping problems under the rug is no way to deal with them.
Biden’s campaign is off the rails. Sorry.
Deal with reality, or reality will deal with you…

2024-06-22 13:38:14

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Well, you can "quantify" results via opinion polling if the goal of an activity is to change hearts and minds.
Civil disobedience isn't necessarily a popularity contest, though. Desegregation protesters in the 1950s knew it wasn't going to be popular. They knew they'd get assaulted, arrested, etc.. They were fighting unjust Jim Crow though.
Breaking laws doesn't necessarily make sense, but then, a lot of young people today don't "get" civil disobedience as a strategy imo

2024-06-04 01:30:40

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I love June. It's warm, but not insufferably hot yet. Beautiful weather.

2024-05-29 14:53:14

This is what we're up against.
Madness.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/in-bizarre-provocation-north-korea-flies-trash-manure-balloons-over-the-south-1.6904835

2024-05-24 01:56:42

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Ignorance is bliss, and your ableist frenemy sounds like they're living blissfully indeed.

2024-05-24 01:55:22

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Slight digression... some people think elderly folks should be "in a home" when they get frail, rather than aging in place at home.
The thing is, though, they'll never be put into long term care unless they're immobile, and can't get out of bed or take care of their feeding or toilet needs.
Hospice usually (not always, but usually) means 3-6 months left to live.
And "supportive seniors housing" is $$$ for the rich only.
So, a very similar situation to what you're facing.

2024-05-17 13:25:02

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Beautiful photos for a rainy summer morning.

2024-05-17 02:06:36

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It's a society run by sociopaths. I can't even.

2024-05-17 02:02:39

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It seems like a great opportunity for some civil disobedience. It would take a group of people with stage 4 cancer, organ transplants, heck - allergies will do; stage a public protest, all masked up. Would they round up and drag terminally and chronically ill people into the court system for masking???

2024-05-02 19:38:55

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An utter toddler, with no impulse control, no emotional maturity, no gravitas.
Nothing but endless meme fodder. Entertainment for onlookers who like to watch somebody self-immolating on the multi-year plan.
I’ve said it before: he’s our 21st century Howard Hughes. Losing his mind, whatever’s left of it now.

2023-12-14 00:33:51

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

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