Grey/Gray Monday

It has been such a grey day, today!  By the way, I grew up spelling it as "grey" and tend to keep to that spelling; but, over here, in the US, it is spelled more often as "gray".  Today has been so dark and gloomy, I think it deserves to be spelled both ways, for added emphasis!  Definitely "May Gray" weather and it won't get much better when the month ends and we go into June, for then, we get "June Gloom"!

The forecast called for rain, but, of course, all we really got was a thin drizzle.  I drove through some of it on my way to the doctor's appointment, in the morning, and in places, it was heavy enough to wet the roads and I had to turn on the wipers.  That qualifies it to be called rain, over here.

My appointment was at 10:30 a.m., but, I knew, from past experience, that it was going to take the whole morning.  I woke up at 8:00 a.m., had a cup of coffee, made a phone call I needed to make, and received a text from daughter saying she wasn't feeling too well and had called in sick; she said she was going back to sleep to try and get some rest.

I got dressed and left the house a little after 9:00 a.m.  The clinic is located in downtown; it is less than 20 miles from my home, but, the drive takes one hour due to traffic.  I reached the clinic around 10:15 a.m., checked in at the front desk and settled down to my knitting (doing the sleeves of the sweater).  Eventually, I was called in, my weight and blood pressure checked, and then, was asked to return to the waiting area until an examination room was available.  Finally, I was called in to a room and was seen by the oncology nurse practitioner, who examined me and went over the lab results with me.  Apparently, I am low in iron!  Well, that might explain the fatigue and one or two other symptoms I've been having, recently, which I put down to other reasons.  I am to take some iron supplements and inform my primary care physician assistant, so she can check on it, too.

She also put in referrals for various other tests I need to have, including another mammogram, a bone density scan (the cancer medication can cause bones to become brittle), and a colonoscopy as well.  I am to return in 3 months time for a follow up, which can be problematic as that will be after retirement and I might have a different insurance provider!  I discussed that with the oncology nurse practitioner, as well.  She said, if I do switch insurance providers, to inform the new doctor I'll be assigned to, so they can continue to monitor me on a regular basis.

It was already noon when I left the clinic!  I came home, called daughter to check on her (she's feeling better), had lunch, called one of my cousins (cousin V) and left her a message, responded to blog comments, put away the laundry, and spent the afternoon, well, I'd like to say relaxing, but actually, I was stressing about something.  Later in the evening, I took the trash cans to the curb, put water to the garden (both front and back), vacuumed the house, did a load of dishes in the dishwasher and handwashed a few items I don't put in the dishwasher.  Cousin V returned my call while I was doing the dishes, and I spoke to her for a bit.  I will be writing to a friend and video chatting with daughter, shortly.

Today, I am grateful for:
- A good visit with the oncology nurse practitioner
- My blood test results were mostly good
- The iron deficiency can be remedied with some supplements and dietary changes
- The little rain we had
- A productive day

How was your Monday?  Which spelling do you use - "grey" or "gray"?