Monday, January 31, 2011

Cold, Tired and Happy as a Clam

Remember when you were a kid and tomorrow was Christmas?  Or maybe your memory is more like tomorrow you're going to Disneyland?  You were so excited you barely slept, and you ended up getting out of bed the next morning before anyone in your neighborhood?

Yes, that was me this morning.  I could not wait to get to work!  And it all went pretty darned well.  Best transition I have ever had coming off of a leave of absence.  Got my computer up and running by 9AM with total access to all my lovely numbers.

But oh yes, I am totally exhausted now, but it's such a wonderful, almost gleeful exhaustion.  My Boeing family welcomed me back with such warmth.  So, I probably talked too much, which tired me out even before the cancer.   I ended up leaving a bit early and finishing up my day at home telecommuting. 

It was so much fun working on my formulae in Excel and getting reports and things formatted for January month-end.  Gads, I missed it all so much; and it all came back to me so fast!  I was whipping through pivot tables like crazy. :D

Now, I am starving and need to go see about creating dinner.  I have no idea what we have in the house, but I bet I can come up with something.  I'm going to be working from home tomorrow, so I can sleep in a bit.  It's gotten rather cold, and we're expecting another overnight freeze this week.  What a bizarre winter it has been.

And in the mail today, I received a card from the congregation of which my Reverend sister is a member.  That card pushed all the chill from my day; it was full of love and kindness and a powerful fellowship.  Thank you to each and every person that had a hand in that card; I can't help but be touched and feel loved.

Ok, off to find food!  Keep warm, all!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Time Passes Quickly!

I read today that Harmon Killebrew was getting his Esophageal Cancer treatment here at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.  I wish him a kind regimen, but an effective one as well.

Now that I know I'm going back to work on Monday, time is flying by!  Here it is, Wednesday already.  I admit to having some trepidation about returning; will I be exhausted?  Will I pick up a cold or something worse?  Will people get annoyed if I start my coughing?  Oh well, que sera, sera.  Besides, as everyone knows by now: 

Dyspnea, an Orc Death Knight


My PC's office called and said my letter for Jury Duty won't be ready until tomorrow, so while Jane and Nancy are out on their thrift store run, they can stop by his office and pick it up and I'll get it in the mail ASAP.  Wouldn't want to be hauled off to prison.  I hear the food is iffy.

As for my friends in the East, I hear you are about to be hit by even MORE snow.  Make sure you have plenty of supplies at hand, and someone or something with which to cuddle.  Something would include creatures of the dog and cat persuasion, or perhaps a house-broken alpaca.  Soft!

I think the blog is going to take the rest of the week off.  Meet you back here on Monday evening for a recap of how I survived my first day at work after three months off. :)

I can't wait!!!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Cough

Goopy cough this morning.  But the coffee is good! :)

I have to call the doc this morning anyway so that I can get my 'get out of jury duty free' letter.  They don't actually open until 11 AM, so I have time.  I just hate having things like this hanging over my head.  Oh the stress. :D

We saw the owls again yesterday.  The biggest of the two could probably take my smallest chihuahua, but I'm thinking they already have a smorgasbord of feral cats from which to choose.  From where they were roosting yesterday, they overlook the yard of a woman who feeds feral cats.  Yep, smorgasbord.  It's nesting time for them, too, and I am guessing the big one is the female.  She doesn't look like she's been starving in any way. 

Encouraging news from Medscape on early response to Chemotherapy in esophageal cancers.  Read it here!  I think we did my CT after four chemos and found shrinkage of the tumors.  Look at those statistics; median age 62, and 91% male.  But I have been reading more and more about people in their 30's and 40's being diagnosed.  To what are we being exposed?  Is it something in our food?  Our water?  The air we breathe? 

And on a sad note, I mourn the passing of Jack LaLanne, a fixture of my childhood.

Well, I guess I'll go hit the shower and then play a little World of Warcraft before I call the doctor.  Be safe, warm and kind, people.  Adios!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Saturday Night

So, I guess I don't do the triple dose of Herceptin without some backlash.  It's hard to describe how I felt Thursday afternoon.  Mostly, I felt cold, and achy.  Ok, being Winter, I might expect cold, but it wasn't that cold on Thursday.

I normally don't like to read about medication side effects, but yes, Herceptin has some doozies. :D  I especially like the part about the lung side effects.  But I'm hoping that like almost every drug I have ever taken, I won't be one of those affected.  And, as I noted in an earlier post, my MO is having my heart function monitored every three months.

I just don't feel GOOD.  But hey, that's life; good days, bad days.... at least I HAVE days. :D 

Time for a breathing treatment.  Thank goodness for Albuterol via Small Volume Nebulizer, or SVN.  I have a bookshelf in my bedroom that has nothing but boxes full of vials of albuterol.  Now that I'm getting my meds at three months' worth, I get a LOT of boxes.  But talk about a feeling of security.  I guess I don't have to stress about running out any time soon. ;)

I watched a Chefography last night on Nigella Lawson.  Talk about a life affected by cancer!  She lost her mother, her sister and her husband, all very young.  I actually never paid much attention to her shows, but I found the Chefography to be quite interesting.  I think it was on the Food Network.  I wasn't feeling great, and that leads to TV watching because it's easy.

So, that's pretty much why I haven't posted since Thursday.  Wasn't feeling quite up to snuf, and didn't have anything pithy to say. :D

Oh dear gods, I got a summons for Jury Duty in the mail today.  My PC already sent a letter to the Federal court to get me dismissed from the last summons.  But this one is Mesa Superior Court.  That means I have to call Dr. R and go see him for another letter.  You see, I cough, and I have a weakened immune system, and I have to use medical machinery several times a day.  "Pardon me, you honor, but I have to go do a breathing treatment again.  Can we recess for the third time?"

The sad part is that when I was young and healthy, I really enjoyed doing jury duty.  It was interesting to me.  Everyone should experience how the justice system works.  (or sometimes DOES NOT work)  Never pass up an opportunity for new learning experiences, folks.

Anywho, I really would have liked to do it, but... oh well.

I think I'll go play for a while....a little World of Warcraft.  And you all have a great Saturday Night, and ... a SPECTACULAR Sunday. 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Infusing

And here we are at Ironwood, getting my Benadryl and getting woozy.  Here is my traditional chemo picture: 

LOOK! I think I detect CURL!  I should call Blanca and make an appointment for a trim.  I know it looks short enough, but it's growing in weirdly, and can use a little shaping up. :)

Oh, lordy, I had to pay my entire deductible when I got here today.  How had I forgotten it was a new year!?

Talking to Darita again, whose husband also works at Boeing.  We're so thankful for health insurance, despite the increase of the cost for us.

Well, the Benadryl is really hitting me today, so I'll close this post with a wish for great happiness to everyone that reads this blog.

Great Horned Owl

We heard him again last night, but it was coming from the front of the house, so we went outside, and finally found him perched on a branch between two palm trees.  At least I thought it was a him, until the real HIM joined HER.  She was huge and he was just a bit smaller.  Here is a fine video of Great Horned Owls in a backyard in Phoenix.

Somehow, and it must be something etched into our subconscious from eons before, their hoots are eerie.  On this page, just below the line of photos, you can hear what we heard last night; the callings of a nesting pair.  So yeah, I don't let my chihuahuas out at night alone.  :)  I'm thinking, too, that these two huge owls may be accounting for the high incidence of feral cat remains in the neighborhood.  The neighbors have been blaming coyotes, but I haven't seen a coyote this far into an established neighborhood in years.  Owls make more sense.

Well, I guess I shall go pop into the shower and then get dressed for Herceptin Thursday.  It should get to about 74ish today.  I'll post later, during my infusion, if only to say HI. :)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Herceptin Thursday!

Oh yes, that's tomorrow.  My triple dose, YAY!  And so far, so good on the heart function front.  Too bad the stuff that's supposed to kill your cancer cells does all kinds of crappy stuff to the rest of you.  Hang in there, body!  We can do this!

I got some play time in today.  My intrepid Orc Hunter, Kauket spent a few days looking for a rare pet, and finally found a Spirit Bear, but I haven't yet taken a picture of her.  Kauket named her new bear companion Ursula.

Here she is earlier this week flying around Sholazar Basin, in search of a couple of rare spawns that never showed.  That must be what makes 'em so rare! :D

Well, I'll post tomorrow from Ironwood Cancer and Research Center whilst I have my exciting infusions.  Keep warm, share love, and dream happy dreams.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

So much for the Golden Globules..

...because I frankly was disappointed in Ricky Gervaise.  Oh well, can't be spot on every time, I guess.

And as I predicted, I didn't know who was who, nor what was what, but I enjoyed the clothes, for the most part. :D

I'm coughing quite a bit this morning, but I really think it's more related to allergies than anything else.  My eyes have been itching like crazy, too.  I think today's high is going to be 78ish, so plant entities are freaking out thinking they need to bloom because they must have slept in, or something.  My poor bougainvillea looks deceased, but I know it will come back; we've had freezes before, so I shall not give up on him.

Adenocarcinoma is the type of tumor I have in my chest.  Here's an uplifting quote from Mirella Stancu, MD, taken from a pathology site.

"Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is one of the most lethal of all malignancies due to advanced stage at diagnosis, for several reasons: 1) it is commonly asymptomatic in early phases; 2) spreads quickly to the outer layer of the esophagus and from there to multiple lymph node chains in the neck, chest and abdomen, and 3) due to proximity of the esophagus to vital organs in the chest."

Yeah, how sneaky is a cancer that doesn't give you any symptoms until it's too late?  Although, it is stated that people with Barrett's Esophagus are much more likely to have this type of cancer, my Barrett's Esophagus wasn't diagnosed until my cancer was.  Bummer.  But, it was well-established that I had Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease, for which I have been treated for a good seven years or so.  I would have said my GERD was well-controlled; I wasn't experiencing any reflux of which I was aware.


As seen in this drawing, the esophagus is a pretty long tubular structure. I had no idea.  Who ever thinks about their esophagus?  Mostly it just does its job, and transports your food and drink to the proper receptacle, your stomach. 

My tumor is located at the very lower part of the esophagus. It hasn't really interfered with my ability to swallow, for the most part, but it does interfere with my ability to have uninterrupted sleep.  It hurts, but thankfully, not often. 

Anyway, I'm glad that I am at the stage that I can read information on this type and cancer and not go into total shock, or get freaked out.  I've long since stopped being aware of swallowing. :)  Many of the articles I have read, while perhaps not adding to my innate optimism, have been very informative.  I really do want to learn all I can about the disease, now that it doesn't scare the beejeebers out of me.  Well, it's still scary, of course, if you read about the progression, but I'm living in today, so it's not making me crazy.

My sisters are outside weeding and culling dead plant bits, and it's such a gorgeous day.  I think I should go outside and supervise. :D

Love to all!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Golden Globules, as I like to Call 'Em

Yes, probably a tad irreverent, but hey, if you can't have fun with your native tongue, what good is life?

Anywho, we'll be watching simply for Ricky Gervaise.  Bless the British and their wondrous sense of humor.  Oh, sure, we'll probably laugh uproariously at peoples' ... *cough*... sense of "style," as well.  I'm surely not watching because I care about who or what wins.  The last movie I actually saw in the theatre was "Return of the King."

I abhor what movie theatres have become.  No common courtesy; no parental responsibility; coughing... oh yeah, and that's a big reason why I don't go anymore.  I choose to exercise my personal responsibility and my sense of courtesy by not bothering other theatre-goers with my stupid coughing.

And then I think about it; what movies have I even watched on cable?  Well, I did actually PURCHASE Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and watched it on Bluray... spectacular.  Being an avid Danny Elfman afficianada, I probably would have at least bought the film score.. and I did that, as well.

I saw "The Book of Eli," only because the bits I had heard on Cinemagic intrigued me enough.  And I did enjoy that movie.  I tried to watch "Wolfman," but it was too violent and gory for my tastes. 

Period pieces I do enjoy, so I've seen "The Duchess," "The Other Boleyn Girl," and "Young Victoria."  So, as you can tell, most of what will be getting awarded this evening, I will not have seen, nor probably care to see, except perhaps the "King's Speech."  I live a sheltered life. :D

Well, nothing is on the agenda, cancer-wise, until Thursday's Herceptin infusion.  So, I will be concentrating on resting and making sure I can be up and at 'em for a whole eight hours at work... oh so soon! 

Be safe, all.  And hug someone everyday!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Saturday Morning

Now this is more like it.  Yes, it's nippy, but not bone-chillingly cold.  Today's high is slated to hit about 73.  Currently it's 55 outside, and our sun is out there shining for all he's worth. :)

My glucose was good this morning, and I had a nice bowl of Aarti's Pumpkin Oatmeal, my version that is.  And now I am here at my blog, sipping a nice cup of hot coffee.  What a great morning!  I've got two sleeping chihuahuas with me; Quito and Cisco.  How they can sleep when we got up an hour or so ago, I'll never know, but they aren't youngsters any more.

And speaking of Aarti Sequiera, I wonder when the next Next Food Network Star will begin?  There are few shows that I watch with any regularity, but that's usually one.  I was happy when Aarti won her season, because I thought her food was exactly the type I would want to eat.  And indeed, when one of my minions was Thomas Rajan, we discussed our two cultures and decided that people of India and latinos are very similar, including how they cook.  Thomas Rajan was one of the most delightful minions that ever graced us with his wit and knowledge.  I expect great things from him.

Today, I think I will work on getting my closet into some kind of more organized chaos.  When you open the doors, it looks like Walt Disney threw up in there.  I love color.  And I love prints, big, bold, crazy. :)  So yes, it looks to be a daunting task, but I should be able to figure out some way to organize my clothes.

That's it for this post; I'm feeling fine, just a little burning and one moment of actual pain upon eating my muesli this morning, but nothing I can't handle, and Thursday is Herceptin Infusion day, so if it gets worse, I'll be sure to let someone know.

Stay warm, all, unless you're my great niece down in Aussie-land.  You stay dry, Lindsay!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

And Back to Work I *WILL* Go!

I'm exceedingly happy to report that I'll officially be returning to work on 31 January! :)  Yes, this makes me very happy, considering I've still got stage IV Esophageal Cancer.  But if the Herceptin treatments can keep this stuff from running rampant all over my body, then baby, I am ready to get back to a 'normal' life!

Not to say three months off work wasn't necessary.  At my visit to the Radiation Oncologist today, she iterated that I had one of the worst regimens of chemo and radiation around.  And as my dear friends Jon and Michelle can vouch, I wasn't doing all that well during the chemo.  Some days it really was difficult to get out of bed and acknowledge that the world was still there.  :/

Now, we have to watch out for Radiation Pneumonitis which Dr. Tsai says can occur about four to six months after the cessation of the radiation.  And thus, I continue to take my temperature every evening. 

But oh my gosh, I am so very happy today.  I can't wait to see my co-workers, customers and friends; my Boeing family.  I wish I could say that I'll see you with a head full of my normal curly hair, but... meh.  I don't know why suddenly the lack of hair is bothering me.  I know it's better to not have hair and live, than to be a hairy corpse.  And it's not like I have NO hair at all... I have it, just not much of it.  It used to fill in all the places on my head; now, there are gaps... in some cases, big gaps.  Again, it looks like I have mange.  I toy with the idea of getting a wig, but I rather think those things are more of a pain than a pleasure. 

Maybe I'll just wear hats.  I'll start a fashion trend.  Big hats, small hats, skull caps, fishing caps, cowboy hats, berets... hmmm, that could be fun. :)

Well, hugs to everyone that reads this; things are looking up, and life is good.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Wanting to Go Back To Work

Maybe it's odd that I want to go back to work.  As of the 1st of January, I could retire if I want, but I think getting back to the normalcy of working would be really good for me.

I did contact the disability insurance folks today, and they are sending some paperwork so that I can do Intermittent Family Leave, because I will still be having treatments of SOME kind until I die.  But at the moment, and this is pending my visit to the radiation oncologist on Thursday, I only have one infusion of Herceptin every three weeks. 

Interestingly, I heard today that I don't have to go through medical to come off leave UNLESS I have any physical restrictions.  I only have those due to my lungs and those are already documented.

I wonder what my passwords are?  Oh lordy.

My temperature is 99, so I had better watch it.  The coughing hasn't slowed down at all.  If it's any higher tomorrow, I'll call the Cancer Center.

Well, it's time for bed.  Let's hear it for lots of fluffy covers and chihuahua heating devices. :)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Doctors and End of Life Discussions

Guess what, people, if doctors don't want to initiate this discussion, then it's up to you to get the ball rolling.  There's no need to legislate something that's this private; if end of life care is important to YOU, then YOU must be the one to ensure your doctors know exactly what you want, exactly how far you are willing to go and when it's time to rely on pure palliative care.

I was a bit miffed by this article in The Huffington Post.  Once again, someone opines that the government should get involved in something that is PURELY YOUR OWN responsibility.

"Oh they are already too gravely ill to discuss it."  Horse hockey.  If it's important to you, YOU have already gotten a living will together and every single one of your doctors has a copy on file.  You take it with you every time you have to have any kind of procedure.  YOUR FAMILY knows what you want, and aren't afraid to be your advocate if a time comes and you can't voice your wishes verbally.

And believe me, doctors are NOT averse to having end of life care discussions.  I've had plenty of them already.  If your doctor is poo-pooing your concern for this discussion by saying it's too early, or you're too young; honey, you need a new doctor.  If your doctor is unable or unwilling to LISTEN to your valid concerns, you need a doctor that will.

Good doctors want to give you the care that you feel is best; remember that they work for YOU, not vice versa.  I'm doing pretty darned well, but my oncologist and I have already discussed the trade-offs in my care vs my quality of life.  But another thing you have to remember is that YOU have a few doctors, but your doctors have hundreds of patients.  They will not remember every discussion you have ever had with them, and that is why it is incumbent upon YOU to get your end of life care directions put down on paper and drilled into the heads of your family.

And I know that family can be another huge driver in your end of life care.  Some people have family that won't listen to their wishes, due to many factors; spiritual, fear, grief... and again, this is why you NEED to get your desires documented.

I know, this article really pushed one of my buttons today.  But essentially, my own Living Will says, if I can be fixed, fix me, but if I can't be fixed then give me as many drugs as NECESSARY to keep me pain free.  Don't worry that I'll become addicted to pain killers; I'll be dead first.

Anyway, just understand that nothing in life is certain, even when you've gotten your ducks in a row, have all the documentation, and a DNR on the door of your hospital room,... and still someone ignores it.  Just do the best you can, and hope your wishes are understood and acknowledged.

Hugs to all... :)

And MORE Coughing

Last night I started coughing... and coughing...and coughing.  I did a breathing treatment, but the coughing continued until I was totally exhausted.  Today, I'm still exhausted, and there is some residual coughing.  I've done all my lung meds, so we'll see how it goes today.

But, I had a good breakfast of my muesli, heated up with some milk.  Such a comforting meal, eaten while watching Liverpool lose to Manchester United with Steven Gerrard going out on a red card.  Theoretically, it was a studs up tackle, but we didn't see it from the right angle, I guess.

Because of the possibility of radiation pneumonitis, I'll be watching this cough like a hawk.  So far, no fever.  Plus, I'll see the Radiation Oncologist this week, so if it's still bothersome, I'll let her know.

That's it for this post.  Keep warm, all, and don't forget to hug someone you love.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Talking leads to Coughing

So, one of the things I have found out in my Esophageal Cancer research is that people who have asthma AND the cancer will tend to have a rather annoying cough.  And in my case, it starts as soon as I start talking in more than short sentences.  This has made my phone conversations with my sister, Wendy, a bit of a challenge, but I know she doesn't mind one bit.

I saw my Primary Care doc today, and I did start the coughing, but he says my lungs still sound pretty darned good.  We talked about the treatments I've had so far, and the joy of the two really toxic chemos, Taxol and Carboplatin, combined with the radiation treatments being rather debilitating.  But all in all, he's really pleased with how I'm coming through it all.  He says that a few years back, esophageal cancer patients spent most of their first chemo round in the hospital; it was that hard on them.  Indeed, Dr. Fastenberg had already told me that quite often, even now, with the regimen I was on, he has patients end up in hospital.

The reason for the PC visit was to start getting my meds through MedCo, so I don't go bankrupt.  I don't like using Medco, as they have really screwed up my meds in the past, but I don't have a choice, now.  It's just so much less expensive to use them.  Let's just hope they have learned from their mistakes and can be trusted to dispense meds as ordered.

It was a good PC visit; he's very straight-forward not unlike my oncology docs.  We talked about my latest blood tests and that if the liver problem shows up again, we'll discontinue my statins and see how that goes.  He says we have to be more concerned with nutrition than with glucose levels, although we have plenty of options to work on those.

No, he just wants me to concentrate on my nutrition, and remaining upright, and there's no problem with either of those areas. ;)  In fact, I went to see him with no walker and not even my cane.  Granted, it's only steps from parking into his office, but believe me, if I had felt the need, I would have still had the cane.

Now for a nice, relaxing weekend. Still we have the low sixties as our high, but beats those middle fifties any day.  And the sun shines, and all is right in my little world.  Well, except for this stupid cancer.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Is it Spring Yet? Please?

One thing I will say for Winter is that I sleep like a hibernating bear.  This is great, but I don't want to sleep my life away, either. :)

Jane and I finished off the pumpkin oatmeal this morning.  Oh so delicious.  That same evening, for dinner, we made a nice veggie pizza with two kinds of squash, diced Anaheim chili and shredded spinach.  And, ... lots of good garlic!  It was wonderful, and the spinach was cooked perfectly as it was hidden under the layer of gooey, yummy mozzarella.

I did have to get up last night and hit the Miracle Mouthwash.  Maybe it was the garlic.  No, wait, that was the night before last.  No, wait, I had the last two pieces of that same pizza last night.  Hmmm.  In any event, I am still getting some burning, but not nearly as much as at the cessation of the radiation.  I almost feel like 'normal' for me.  You know, can't breathe, but otherwise... pretty good. :D

Must go see my Primary Care doc so we can get my prescriptions over to MedCo.  Yeah, I've succumbed to the extortion.  I can't afford not to succumb.  To get three months worth at less than one month's supply from my local pharmacy; gotta do it.  Everything went up so much on the medical insurance front.  I'm going to be quite broke this year if I have to follow essentially the same treatments I had in 2010.

Well, Wendy is on the phone, so I am going to finish up this post.  Hugs to all!  And try some pumpkin oatmeal!!! :D

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Ahh, Pumpkin!

This weekend I watched a bit of the Food Network, and Aarti Sequeira made oatmeal with pumpkin.  That's brilliant! Pumpkin is full of great nutrients like Vitamin A, Folate, decent fiber, Vitamin C and Potassium, to name just a few.  Plus, there are probably for most of us, tons of good memories associated with pumpkin.  What a great way to work a veggie into breakfast!

Her recipe can be found here.  We changed it up because I used my favorite Muesli which already has raisins, and we didn't have any pepitas.  We used walnuts.  For the spices, we used cinnamon, cloves and allspice.  Hard as we searched through our spice cabinet, we couldn't find cardamom.  And I LOVE cardamom, so that's on the grocery list, now. :)

What a lovely breakfast it was!  There is something very warming and comforting about that pumpkin.  Needless to say, we didn't put on the extras; I don't need the sugar, and nobody really needs the heavy cream. :D  It was great just the way it was.

On an optimistic note, I do believe I'm getting a little curl back into my hair.  Well, so far, it's probably more like a bit of a wave, but I'll take it!  I don't think it will ever be thick again, but oh well, it'll be cooler in the summer!

In anticipation of getting back to work on the 31st, I'm trying to regain my strength.  I don't think I'll be heading to work minus the walker, mostly due to the lack of lung capacity... I can't carry my laptop from the car to my desk.  But I also don't want to feel all weak and dizzy, either.  So, I'm trying to eat right, which really isn't that hard, as we've been doing that for ages.  And I'm getting up and walking as much as I can.  Can't let my legs get all out of shape!  I've got my mama's legs, and I can tell you that at 85, hers were still looking quite amazing.  Maybe the skin wasn't very tight, but her muscle tone was right-on.

And on that note, I think I'll go hit the NuStep, and work on my endurance.  It's a lot harder to go to work than you might think.  It's not just sitting at a desk all day; you have to have some stamina. ;)

Hugs to all... keep warm, and tell someone how much you love them.

Monday, January 3, 2011

YAY, warming UP...

Again, it's all relative, but tomorrow's high is expected to hit 61, and I'll take it.  Yes, I am totally sick of being cold.  I told you this would happen. ;)

I see another poor soul has this nasty cancer.  I know the name Harmon Killebrew, but not really sure of who he is except that he's a hall of fame baseball player.

Occasionally, I come across a story of someone that's actually survived Esophageal Cancer.  Here is the story of Rose Marie Jauregui.  And what a way to get diagnosed!  

Yes, most of the things I read are pretty horrendous, but you have to know what's going on out there; what kinds of treatment are being used, etc.  Sadly, I read more about people dying of the disease than being cured.  

And then there are stories that make you simply hate cancer and thank your lucky stars that you have had 52 years under your belt.  This story about Jessica Shepherd will raise your ire if nothing else does.  We need to figure out better ways to find this disease BEFORE we're incurable or inoperable.

I'm not sure why I looked up news items about Esophageal Cancer today, but I was feeling pretty well, and didn't want to be lulled into a false sense of security.  Yes, today, I feel good.  It's not that I want to be negative; I just need to be realistic.  And even stories like Jessica's make me appreciate how lucky I have been.  Life is so precious, and we must never forget that.  NEVER take a day for granted.

Hugs to all.  

Sunday, January 2, 2011

2011... still sounds like Science Fiction to me

When I was a kid, back in the sixties and seventies, everything about the year 2000 sounded exciting because you just KNEW it would be like living a "Jetson" dream.  We'd all be flying in the family car and travelling in tubes, and have robot housekeepers.  Yeah, that would be a dream. :)

Somehow we got derailed from all that.  Oh indeed, we've progressed with technology, but I still want to fly to work.  Alas.  And gods know, I could use a robot maid.  Hey, do they make a Roomba for the outdoors, like an iPooperscooper?  Now THAT would be handy. :D

Anyway, it being 2011, how is it that we still get colds, flu, and... yeah, cancer.  Seriously, the Jetsons were never sick.  Apparently, when you get those flying cars, that's when all our ills will be cured as well.  So, let's get with it, America! Get cracking on those flying cars, and curing cancer.  And, can I have my flying car in like metallic purple, with orange/red flames?

Keep safe, all... bundle up and share some love.

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