Wil the contractor......

.....twenty years ago I had a small contracting business. I worked with various friends and we had a good time repairing things and working on building additions, etc for people. Now this has led to three thoughts whenever I want to do something about this house: 1) I still have the skills to do the job; 2) I no longer seem to have the strength; and 3) I do know a better way!

So, enter the "better way" in the form of my friends Dick and Terry and we have a new back door that does not leak air like crazy!

Now, that is the good news. The bad news is that I have learned all too well what "nausea" and "sickness after chemo" are since taking the Alimta drug. I never those reactions before and I can easily understand why anybody might say: "enough, I don't want to go the chemical route!"
Although I am OK this week as far as a reaction is concerned, but the pain in my lower abdominal area is growing worse and spreading to the left side as well. As the doctor report says, "this pain is of unclear etiology. I am somewhat concerned about the possibility that this may represent intra-abdominal metastatic disease, but at this point we'll just monitor."

All bad news, and if you add the weather (it is snowing here again), I am sick of the news! At least Anne and I made it up to Columbus for the meeting of the "Living with Lung Cancer Support Group" and we though it was useful and well done. In fact, I got so involved that I forgot to ask about the awareness of any "long liver" with adnocarcinoma altho there was a woman there who had been diagnosed over 3 years ago!

All in all, a pretty down week topped off with the feeling that all the supplements (close to 100 various pills a day) are not doing any good since I am coughing more and frequently short of breath. Now I am aware that this is not a very positive report but I am still thinking, studying alternatives, and listening to my medically educated friends. The weather will break soon and we are going to Florida in 3 weeks.

I have a great life and it sure as hell "ain't over yet"!

....I don't feel very well today.

....in fact, I didn't feel very well yesterday either! A general listlessness, headachy, sore right lung area and lots of congestion in the right lung (my adnocarcinoma area). So, lots of questions: lets start with the treatment I received on Monday at OSU. I went for joining a blind clinical trial, but had a slight bit too much protein in my urine so we decided to just give me one part of the trial called Alimta. 10 Minute infusion--but all day for blood tests and dr visit. Then the drive home in the worst storm Columbus, Ohio, has had in years!

Am I a bit down from the chemo? Or maybe the snowy dark weather we have had here for 2 weeks--even gets to the "skiier" in me. Or perhaps the whole idea that there is no cure for what I have and I will have to keep "fishing" around hoping something turns up! I am even growing disenchanted with my integrative doctor. Mostly no wheat (gluten) and an unbelieveable amount of supplements per day (maybe I will say how many sometime soon) and yet the reports of the blood tests he sends me always (always) are stamped with "more omega 3 fish oil, more magnesium, and more B100 might improve the results". Every time!

I do know from experience that people don't like to hear negative reports such as above, but things are not all that bad. I am going to get more info from various support groups--establishment and integrative--and something good is going to turn up I am sure. I still can take the dog on long and short walks, plan to go skiing again, take some other trips, and I have included pics of me on my return from Columbus and then out shoveling snow with my "last" snow shovel!

Anyhow, there is still lots of fun to be had and Anne and I are going to pick up Evelyn and walk to "uptown Athens". Evelyn always makes me smile

Will this little girl grow up to be as good a dancer as her grandfather?

?? Well, chances are good that she will, but the other one is my grandaughter and she is already a better dancer than I am!

Anyhow, the weather has been something here in the "Near East". I don't think that Athens, Ohio, is either in the Midwest nor the "East". It's been cold and snowy all over the Eastern half of this country. Sure does make all those Al Gore haters happy--although they are also very happy to confuse "weather" with "climate". Enough of that, all who know me have heard me say that all old people talk about is the weather and their ailments. Since I never fail to mention my ailments, I am placing myself smack dab in the "Realm of the Old Farts"!

I have been skiing a few times in this snowy year and while my feet do give lots of trouble, I still enjoy it a lot. It is quite strange to my that every time I get short of breath, or tired, or can't do something that I used to do easily, I wonder what the heck is going on. Is it the cancer, the fact that somehow I am already 66 yrs old, or just me being way out of shape? Can't change the years thing, but I have vowed to keep working on the other two!

I mentioned some time ago that I tried to go to the Living with Lung Cancer meeting at OSU and they had moved it!! Well, I did complain to the "facilitator" and she was very nice and said she would send revised info. She did. And inside the packet was a $25 gift card for gas--kinda redeemed herself there. I hope to go to the next one.

Last Saturday I was to get a CTscan and then back that Monday to Columbus to start the Clinical Trial (I think). All canceled due to the weather, now I am heading back early tomorrow (Sat) for CTscan and then Monday to the doctor for the Clinical Trial (I think). Still cold this evening and I think I get colder more easily now. But we must forge on and we are walking up to a Latin American dinner benefit that my friend is putting on at the United Campus Ministry. That should warm me up!

Please stay warm and well--and remember to have lots of fun.

.....is this guy a few bricks

.......shy of a "full load" or what??!!

Well, I have been having pains in my right side for some weeks now and none of the 3 doctors and various "laymen who know everything" have been able to explain the lower right side pain. No problem on last CT scan in that area and last Friday I had a wonderful day getting "put out" for an inspection--down under--which showed no problems either.

What is a guy to do with 2 pains in the right side, neuropathy of the toes, and a very sore shoulder supposed to do? One never knows, but I loaded my truck up with Athens Block (those pavers are heavy), added some ski equipment and a son and headed for skiing in Maryland! We began by spending the day skiing at Wisp and it was really good skiing and fun. Then we went out for a great dinner and then unloaded the "heavy bricks" to continue and build upon an Ohio University presence in Oakland Maryland--more on that another time. After skiing the next morn, it was back to Athens after a day and a half of fun skiing.

I really think that my dear Anne is right when she says my way to deal with this cancer thing is to stay very active! This morning at 7 am after a "sleep-over" Evelyn and I went to my Athens AM Rotary and then after a stop for a cookie off to pre-school. I think we both had fun!

Next medical question? Well, Columbus on Saturday for another CTscan and then Columbus again Monday when I believe I might start a clinical trial. Kinda boxed in until next week, but I certainly need to get out skiing soon as the season will definitely end!

I continue my search for someone who has had cancer of the pleural area(lung surrounding?) and continues to live beyond the "dooms day" time. There must be someone who can tell me what they did to get there. I have some new leads to check out--so I will stay on the case.