Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Seriously and Satirically Thankful 2010

  • Like many folks who have found jobs after a long stretch of unemployment I am thankful to have a job this year.
  • Likewise I am doubly thankful to have insurance
  • I am thankful to have a nice clean decent place to live and food on the table to eat
  • I am thankful to have reasonably good health for a person my age
  • I am thankful to be married to a wonderful woman
  • I am thankful for all the kids and grandkids we have
  • I am thankful and grateful for the great support system of friends and family that help us during Vicki's cancer treatments
  • I am thankful that today was Vicki's last Radiation treatment (#30)

  • On a lighter note I am thankful I was able to miss Sarah Palin's book signing here in Phoenix today.
  • I am thankful that the new congress will not be in session till next year
  • I am thankful that George Bush can never be president again
  • I am thankful that at least 50% of the population has common sense, though the people who are in that 50% percent are not the same all the time
  • I am thankful that for 4 days I will not be answering the phone for work
  • I am thankful that football is a winter sport (though the season gets longer every year)
  • I am thankful that I will not be driving, flying or commuting by train to some distant location during this holiday break
  • And I'm thankful that Cigars and Whiskey do for me these days what pot and Boone's Farm Apple Wine did for me in the 60s


Happy Thanksgiving,

RT

Friday, November 19, 2010

27 Down

We've just ended week 6 of Vicki's treatments. They have included 27 radiation sessions and 2 chemotherapy treatments. This next week we will complete the 30 radiation treatments prescribed for her cancer and also the 3rd session of chemo.

I will be celebrating these accomplishments over a long Thanksgiving weekend. Both of us will be happy to end the daily visits to St. Joes for radiation. In fairness I should say that the folks at Radiation Oncology are great. Vicki has received the best possible treatment available and the staff is superb. That being said; we will not miss the trips or the treatment. I can see the effects of the radiation on her face tonight and the redness and swelling is apparent.

Her doctor has told us that the radiation will continue to have effects for a few more weeks and then slowly dissipate. We look forward to that.

The chemo will go on for a total of 6 cycles which should take us into late January of 2011 or early February. After that it may 2 or 3 months before she will be tested to see how effective the treatment regimen has been.

I pray every night that this will end our fight with her cancer and we will be able to look forward to a more normal life and schedule. Cancer world is a very different place to be.

One positive thing that both of us can take from this is all the wonderfully brave people we've met at the radiation and chemo centers. Some of these folk's stories and trials with surgery and treatments are scary and heart breaking. It brings to mind the story of the man who bemoaned having no shoes till he met the man who had no feet. Every time we go to the hospital or the chemo center we meet someone whose situation is so much more dire than our own. It gives one pause.

No matter what you condition or situation remember to count your blessing.

Wish us luck,

RT

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Election Night Blues

OK, it seems the pundits may have gotten this one right. The Dems have lost the house and we will have our first "Orange" speaker of the house. Good luck you republicans, you'll need it. After two years of obfuscation and obstructionism the new majority will be forced to actually do something. If recent history tells us anything the damage will be done with continued weakening of any governmental oversight of the financial sector in particular and corporations is general.

The result will no doubt be good for the already wealthy and devastating for the growing lower classes and even middle classes now struggling for their very survival in the new American economy. So hold on to your wallets cause most of us are going to get slammed if they manage to pass the legislation on their agenda.

In my world, where cancer rules, we moved into week four of Vicki's treatment. Week two included 36 hours in St. Joes, some of it in the emergency room. We got out though and she's doing fine now. Week three was just 5 radiation treatments and one visit to the chemo guy for a followup. That week went pretty smooth. Oh, somewhere along there Vicki's hair fell out and I shaved my head to match. We are a pair of baldies now.

This week (#4) of treatment has been two chemos with another tomorrow along with the daily radiation treatments. My oldest daughter took Vick to the Monday and Tuesday sessions and I will pick it up tomorrow and through the rest of the week.

Vicki is doing well considering all the cancer treatments she's receiving. Her attitude remains superb and I gain strength from her positive outlook and faith.

So.... election or not, win or lose, life as we know it goes on. The good news is that we've seen the last of a season of the most obnoxious campaign commercials ever aired. Surely there are several places in hell for these responsible for the political ads this year. May they roast for eternity.

RT