4th day after 4th Chemo 10-01-2010

4th day after 4th Chemo 10-01-2010

This report is about 10/01. I'm posting this Saturday morning, 10/02.

In the interest of being upfront with my readers, I must report that Thursday evening I had a little issue with er, irregularity. Not as bad as last time. The last two chemos that has been a problem, so NEXT time, I will really try to avoid that. Not that I didn't this time, you understand, but next time I will ratchet up my efforts (don't even let your imagination toss that around). The fact that it wasn't as bad as last time is at least encouraging.

I've been feeling pretty good. The hiccups never did develop and I can't figure that out. Every chemo but this one, they were very prominent.

I have the usual swelling from the prednisone, and the floating feeling. My mouth has seemed to be verging on tenderness, if that makes any sense, but last time was worse.

Although my ankles are swollen, there is no pain associated with that.

No major complaints, really.

I was pretty busy at work this week which is good because it distracts you from feeling a little out of it.

Friday night after work I had just a little time for a quick bike ride. I did 13 miles in mostly a dead sprint (conjure up Tom Hanks "Coasting... are you coasting? There's no coasting in cycling!") as I was quickly running out of light. I felt pretty good. Got chased by that one damned dog on Burr Oak Road. The mongrel!

The days are getting shorter here in northern Illinois and bike rides after work are shrinking distance-wise. The weather has been beautiful and I've been enjoying it.

After my ride we had a nice quiet evening, just the missus and I (Tessa crashed early) as Austin went to hang out with his little cousins. Taco Bell carryins, Julie on Facebook and me surfing the internet. Nice, boring, and quiet.

** mini movie review follows **

My neighbor Michael was nice enough to bring me some movies to watch in my downtime. He brought some great titles. I watched Casablanca front to back for the first time ever. Yeah, first time! Bogart was great, a star, and Ingrid Bergman a total babe show. But why am I telling you that (?), you already know. "Round up the usual suspects" comes from this movie. I had not known that.


I guess my takeaway from Casablanca was this: staying the course, when you know the course is the right thing to do, is ALWAYS the best option. Although it looks like the evil Nazis will take over the world and maybe some people think they should just lie down and welcome the inevitable, good will always triumph over evil. And even if it doesn't, it's better to die for a good cause than to live for a diabolical one. There is nobility in taking one for the team, even if there's no one around to notice. And sometimes the best in people does come out.

Casablanca, made in black in white back when the world was a little more black and white. It's held up so well over all these years because it addresses timeless issues.

** end of movie review. THANKS MICHAEL! **

Upcoming I have my blood draws the next two mondays and then my PET scan. Anxious to see how that comes out, obviously.

Hopefully it will show that Prince Chemo is slaying the Non Hodgkins Lymphoma dragon-bastard-thingie.

I haven't been to see my mom in the nursing home because my wbcs were down. I think Monday when I get them checked again they'll be back up so hopefully I will be able to go see her again. She's 86 next Saturday and we're having a little get together. Sure hope I'll be able to attend.

**

My boss Chuck did NOT require his surgical procedure, for some reason, which is good. They're working on getting his BP to stabilize, and it seems like he's doing fine.

**

Someone ragged my ass because I started a sentence in my 'blog with "And". And this person said I shouldn't do that. And so I wanted to put something in here about it. And what I want to say is that I haven't a clue as a writer, I've stated that here previously. And my point is that I write this as if I were speaking it, so sue me. And that's all I have to say about that.

**

Here's looking at you, kid!