In spite of the recent news from Tucson about an evil little prick with a gun shooting various government officials and innocent bystanders, I welcome 2011 and say a not so fond farewell to 2010.
I hesitated to comment on the Tucson story because it seemed like a natural extension of our state's gun policy. Literally anyone can purchase a weapon in Arizona and this is what comes from that sort of lack of regulation. It is really no different than allowing the blind to drive if you think about it. Many of our citizens are not mentally equipped to own weapons, it's just that simple. I feel bad for the victims, but I'm already sick of hearing about it and especially hearing about the perpetrator and the pundit's opinions.
Here in cancer world, where I live, our lives revolve around Vicki's treatment schedule, her follow-up appointments and related scans and tests. This next week will start her 5th chemo treatment cycle. It has gotten harder on her each time as her immune system fights back against the chemo drugs. With luck she will pass her blood test on Monday and this next treatment cycle, the second to last, can begin. While her spirits remain high, each successive treatment week takes more and more out of her and reduces her strength.
That's why I welcome 2011. This can be the year we say goodbye to her cancer and hello to remission and cure. In 2010 we had her surgery, diagnosis, radiation and chemo. God willing we will have her cure and return to health in 2011.
So in spite of the unhappy local, national and international news, I still look forward to this year and I damned sure won't miss 2010.
Best to all of you out there,
RT
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Friday, December 24, 2010
Twas the Night Before
Well, here it is. We made it to Christmas Eve in one piece. It hasn't been all that easy this year. Vicki's diagnosis of cancer in August has dominated our lives since that day she had surgery and the tests from the biopsy came back positive.
We've been fortunate that she's received the best care possible, though recently her Chemo guy has pissed me off. She has had two times now that her white cell count has been so low she couldn't take her chemo. This last Monday she failed her blood test again and came down with a nasty lung infection. I thought we were going to have to admit her for pneumonia, but the chest x-ray came back OK. She's been on a strong antibiotic and coughing up junk all week, but today she is much better.
We now know that the celebration of our anniversary where we were out and about among hundreds of people led to her infection. She just can't be around a lot of people with her immune system so weak.
Still, we are happy to be together this Christmas, to have the love and support of family and friends during this time of our lives and thankful for all the good things God has bestowed upon us.
So here's my Christmas offering for all you yuletide revelers:
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the valley
Bikers were out at some Harley rally
And Turkeys were fried and baked and roasted
While holiday celebrants were getting toasted
Old Codgers played golf and shot for the green
dodging the Ducks and Geese on the scene
The freeways ran smoothly at least for a while
till you came to an exit where stores sold high style
And our children prepared for Santa's coming
While father's struggled with overloaded plumbing
Cause our families come together at this time of year
causing some anxiety, confusion and fear
But it's still a great time if you hang on tight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Peace and God's Blessings to you this Christmas,
RT
We've been fortunate that she's received the best care possible, though recently her Chemo guy has pissed me off. She has had two times now that her white cell count has been so low she couldn't take her chemo. This last Monday she failed her blood test again and came down with a nasty lung infection. I thought we were going to have to admit her for pneumonia, but the chest x-ray came back OK. She's been on a strong antibiotic and coughing up junk all week, but today she is much better.
We now know that the celebration of our anniversary where we were out and about among hundreds of people led to her infection. She just can't be around a lot of people with her immune system so weak.
Still, we are happy to be together this Christmas, to have the love and support of family and friends during this time of our lives and thankful for all the good things God has bestowed upon us.
So here's my Christmas offering for all you yuletide revelers:
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the valley
Bikers were out at some Harley rally
And Turkeys were fried and baked and roasted
While holiday celebrants were getting toasted
Old Codgers played golf and shot for the green
dodging the Ducks and Geese on the scene
The freeways ran smoothly at least for a while
till you came to an exit where stores sold high style
And our children prepared for Santa's coming
While father's struggled with overloaded plumbing
Cause our families come together at this time of year
causing some anxiety, confusion and fear
But it's still a great time if you hang on tight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Peace and God's Blessings to you this Christmas,
RT
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday Funnies and not so Funnies
My best friend Jack sent me an e-mail claiming to be me on you tube. The clip was an interview with an Irishman concerning his opinion of what were the root causes of the recession. The gentleman is both profane and profound. Enjoy.
John Stewart speaks to Obama's dissatisfaction with the American Public. As usual it's funny and poignant. Not much more to say about this. Here's the link .
That's all I've got on the humorous side. Here's a link to Christopher Hitchens (not a guy I can say I like or often agree with, but this time he's right on. Read him here.
OK, that's pretty much it for me this week. I am supremely happy it's Friday. My immediate supervisor (in front of his boss) in our team meeting today asked me if I liked my job. I told him NO I did not. He then asked me why I was still there even though he knows very well I need the insurance for Vicki's Cancer treatments. This guy tries to be a bully and intimidate folks, but in this case he just came off as being a jerk.
Hope your weekend is fantastic. Remember there's still 14 shopping days till Christmas. So get out there and stimulate our economy if you can afford to do so. Regardless, take a minute and contemplate the true meaning of this most precious Christian Holiday. For those of us who believe it's time to celebrate the birth of the World's Saviour. Not a bad reason to sing with joy if you've got it in you'
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
RT
John Stewart speaks to Obama's dissatisfaction with the American Public. As usual it's funny and poignant. Not much more to say about this. Here's the link .
That's all I've got on the humorous side. Here's a link to Christopher Hitchens (not a guy I can say I like or often agree with, but this time he's right on. Read him here.
OK, that's pretty much it for me this week. I am supremely happy it's Friday. My immediate supervisor (in front of his boss) in our team meeting today asked me if I liked my job. I told him NO I did not. He then asked me why I was still there even though he knows very well I need the insurance for Vicki's Cancer treatments. This guy tries to be a bully and intimidate folks, but in this case he just came off as being a jerk.
Hope your weekend is fantastic. Remember there's still 14 shopping days till Christmas. So get out there and stimulate our economy if you can afford to do so. Regardless, take a minute and contemplate the true meaning of this most precious Christian Holiday. For those of us who believe it's time to celebrate the birth of the World's Saviour. Not a bad reason to sing with joy if you've got it in you'
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
RT
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Another Milestone
We completed 50% of Vicki's chemo this week. That's the good news. The not so good news is that her 4th chemo week will be the week before Christmas. It's sure to make her depressed and make it harder for her to enjoy the holiday. Still, I am determined that we will have a Merry Christmas.
This next week I'll be haunting the local mall looking for presents and surprises. Hopefully I'll be able to find nifty gifts to help cheer her up.
We also will be celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary the last Sunday before Christmas. Luckily it's before her next chemo, so she should be up for dinner out and maybe even a dance or two.
I've got the Thursday and Friday before Christmas off. That should allow me to look after her closely following her 4th chemo treatment.
Here's hoping that you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
RT
This next week I'll be haunting the local mall looking for presents and surprises. Hopefully I'll be able to find nifty gifts to help cheer her up.
We also will be celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary the last Sunday before Christmas. Luckily it's before her next chemo, so she should be up for dinner out and maybe even a dance or two.
I've got the Thursday and Friday before Christmas off. That should allow me to look after her closely following her 4th chemo treatment.
Here's hoping that you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
RT
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
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
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
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