Choral Responses

LadyBug Update

2012-01-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

LadyBug met with her doctor recently to discuss her MRI results. He told her they saw a mass on her liver. They said it does not appear to be a tumor, but looks like a fat deposit, but that he wants her to get a PET scan soon to find out for sure. For those who are unaware of what this is, all I can tell you right now is that it takes two or three hours, and should be able to tell us if there is any cancer anywhere in LadyBug's body.

Herdoctor also want her to see a dermitologist to check because she has so many moles. Ad all of this is on top of the fact thatshe still gets out of breath easily. She does have scarring on her lungs from radiation therapy. Her heaart condition is better, but we don't know if it is cured or just supressed. And the doctor want her to stay on blood thinners until further notice.

Needless to say, we have quite a bit to worry about right now, but we can still be optimistic. Keep her in your prayers. We can always feel the blessings that come from those.

One such blessing is the fact that although I lost three voice students this term, I gained one at the college and one privately. And I may get more at the college this week, still. I won't get paid from the college at the end of January like normal, but will get more money the next three months than I normally would have. This private student will help in the mean time.

For now, keep on keepin' on!

All Washed Up

2012-01-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

I just had an adventure. The pump in our washer went out, so I replaced it! I have never done anything like that before, so was a bit nervous but YouTube helped me through it. Here is the link to their video: LINK

If I can, I will try to atually put the video on here, but for now, you can clicknand watch! Of course, if I see water flowing over the laundry room floor, Imam calling a repair man.....

A New Look

2011-12-02T23:46:00.000-08:00

LadyBug has undergone some drastic changes over the past year, the least of which is a new pair of glasses. In the accompanying photo, you will see them, along with her new hair, and renewed energy that has been missing for quite some time! Not much left to say, just glad she's almost done!

SO "TIRED"

2011-12-02T23:40:00.000-08:00

Our youngest, ZeldaPrincess had quite the experience tonight, while on a trip to Wally World, on icy roads, she lost control of the car and slid into the curb. We thought we were looking at a new car purchase for awhile, but even though we could not be there, since Kissa has the truck, a friend and some family helped get the spare on. We will see, but right now, it may simply mean a new tire and rim, if not two. Better than the cost of a new car, but not as good as paying off some bills, which was the plan for next week. We do have some blessings coming next week, and the Lord was obviously watching over ZP tonight. To show just how bad it COULD have been.....

Eye, Eye, Eye!

2011-10-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

A milestone was reached in my life. I finally broke down and bought reading glasses! Mine aren't this nice, but they look a little like this:

They are only +1.0, but it is a step I have been putting off as long as possible. It seemed like my arms were either getting longer, or weren't long enough! Reading is easier now, and I can't wear them for anything else, but it still feels like my body has let me down! Alas! I guess I am getting older after all, despite my best efforts!

The Next Project

2011-10-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

We've wanted to do this for some time, so I finally broke down and did it. I don't know if you can see very many details, but we think we'll like it!

The End of the Road (Almost)

2011-10-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

LadyBug had her final reconstructive surgery on Thursday, and was released on Friday. The surgeon told me to expect a 2-4 hour procedure, and the nurses said, and that would be AFTER 30 minutes of prep! So I went to lunch. Granted, it was a long lunch, but even so, I figured I was getting back to the hospital with PLENTY of time!

When I got back, I asked the nurses at the desk where I should wait to talk to the doctor. They told me he had already left and LadyBug was in recovery! The surgery lasted only 1 1/2 hours, MUCH shorter than expected! The doctor called me while LadyBug was still in recovery and said things went much better than expected, and he felt she would have a speedy recovery.

One of the nurses showed LadyBug her scars before she left the hospital, and told her they were the cleanest scars she had ever seen! We feel very blessed through all of this, and greatly appreciate all your prayers on our behalf!

Compared to other operations, LadyBug has felt very good. She even went with me yesterday to a town to the south of us to buy some needed things. It has been a long road, and we aren't quite at the end, but we can see it from here.

Not Much More to Say

2011-09-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

Before/After. And the first isn't even me at my heaviest! All I need to say!

The Next Step

2011-09-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post a pic of my handlebars. Wrapped them myself. Which, of course, means I may have to re-wrap them some other time until I get them done well! But I was still proud of myself for even doing this much! Plus, their kinda cool, dontcha think?

LONG Overdue!

2011-08-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking lately about things that need to be done YESTERDAY. It's an interesting phenomenon. We went to our mechanic the other day for a full oil change / lube service, and when done, he commented that we needed new brakes. I asked when we needed to get them. He replied, "Yesterday." Needless to say, since we just had our inspection earlier in the month, this came as a surprise. We left our van at his shop and picked it up the next day.

In late Spring, when our daughter Kissa came home from college, she brought my truck back with her with tags that had expired MONTHS previously. Our son StarGazer was the one who noticed this fact. We took it in, and had it inspected, then registered it. Last night, our youngest child ZeldaPrincess was pulled over in her car (previously belonging to Kissa) because we had failed to notice that IT'S tags had expired months ago!!! She now has about a $40 fine to pay! THEN she still has to get it inspected and registered.

This made me think about all the things that should have been done "yesterday." Our roof still needs to be replaced. We got a bid on it, which we turned in to our insurance agent. A $6,000.00 bid. Our insurance will cover all but $1,000 of that, but we don't know if they will cut a $5,000 check to the person who placed the bid, or made to us, so we can buy the supplies ourselves and save labor costs. We just know that it needed to be done before today....

My "lawn" also sits ready for me. We have been on the go lately with different family occasions, doctor appointments and the craziness of getting everything set up for school to begin, so i haven't been able to mow my "lawn" for a couple for weeks. I use the term "lawn" loosely because there is very little actual grass anywhere in sight. It is a former alfalfa farm / cornfield / barnyard, so it hasn't been the kindest place for delicate little blades of grass. We get some very pretty colors in the spring, though, with all the various weeds and other plants that pop up. As soon as I have both time and money for gasoline, I will mow it. It will take me a bit of time, though, because I need to have my mower tuned up.

LadyBug is also waiting for approval for her Disability application. Several months ago she called to see when she could expect a decision. They told her they needed some info, so it would be a couple of weeks. She has called several times since then, including last week. They told her it would be a couple of weeks. This was a process which, by law I believe, is supposed to take no more than 120 days. We passed that deadline quite some time ago. She will call again either today or sometime next week. I expect one typical answer: It will be a couple of weeks. If they approve it, it will pay retro-actively all the way back to November of last year. If they deny it, we can appeal, re-appeal, and re-re-appeal, etc. No big deal. I'm sure that will only take a couple of weeks.

We now find ourselves in the place where we are needing to get the truck inspected again. Before that can happen, I have to replace a tail-light assembly. I hope I know how to do that, but we bought one on eBay at 25% of the cost at the local Automotive Supply store. It should hopefully be here before next week is out, or ZeldaPrincess will be walking everywhere. Kissa already is. StarGazer and SkiTl, our two sons, are living and working in a town in the northern part of our state. SkiTl has been waiting for his taxes to be finished for months now. We just got them the other day (the accountant had filed for an extension). Now he hopes he can get that money so he can pay what he still owes from the previous year's "Return."

I also just started the school year, and have been scrambling to find enough students to continue eating and driving and such. This is always a bit of a struggle, but this year we reached a point where if I couldn't find at least three or more students at both the high school and the college, I would not be able to afford to continue teaching! So I have been doing some recruiting this week that would have been much simpler if it could have been done BEFORE the school year started. Unfortunately, for the college that is not possible. For next year at the high school, I will make sure to do some more advertising for the class that always has enrollment issues!

I have been meaning as well to go see a massage therapist. The tension in my neck and shoulders has reached the point where it is affecting my VOICE! I had never thought about it before, but I am sure that this tension is at least one of the main contributing factors to my voice problems. I even have a couple of former students that are licensed massage therapists, but that has to wait until some of the other things get done yesterday. Like getting a haircut. I also have some former students who have licenses for that, but there is just never enough time to get it done!

And. of course, I need to rewrite my book, finish rebuilding my bike, and get back to losing the last five pounds I need to reach my goal. But those things are all on back burners until other things get done. Like cleaning up around the house, doing dishes, cooking dinner, sorting and changing laundry, getting rid of SkiTl's dog, or even THINKING about installing bookshelves in my room, Shampooing the carpet, replacing the carpet, painting the walls, scrubbing the shower door, replacing the kitchen faucet, ripping out the deck and putting in a stone patio, and painting the shed.

And none of that takes into consideration the poems I still want to write, the music I still need to finish, or any of the other things that I have planned for years but never completed.

It all reminds me of a poem I wrote as a senior in high school, titled,
"Skydive."

When troubles build and threaten
To collapse upon my chest,
When all the worries of the world
Are trite cliches, at best,
When hoping counts for nothing,
And wishing follows suit,
In find that I can never have
A working parachute!

Whew! I tell you, it's a good thing time doesn't move in reverse! Because if Yesterday came after today, with all the things that need to be done Yesterday, when Yesterday comes, Tomorrow would be SO busy!

Death in Wyoming by Choral Responses

2011-08-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

A post of a poem from my brother Twist reminded me of this poem I wrote in 2008:

When I die, let me die in Wyoming,

'Cause from there, there's no way to go but up!

Yes, when I die let me die in Wyoming,

But please don't bury me face-up.

Y'see in winter, the blizzards will freeze you,

And the summers will bake you bone-dry.

Y' say you don't want to die in Wyoming?

Well, on second thought, neither do I!

No, don't let me die in Wyoming!

And it's not that I hate heat or snow,

But when I die if I make it to Heaven,

There'll be such an awfully long, long way to go!

The End of Summer

2011-08-12T23:52:00.000-07:00

So it's finally here: the end of Summer Vacation. Finally. I never thought I'd say those words, but this year they are all TOO true! I will always be thankful for the job I had this summer, and how it helped us through what would have been more-than-thin months, but I am SO ready to get back to school.

I have been scrambling to find a few students to fill spots that will be vacated by others who cannot take a class, or are moving, so next week will be a full week for me, especially since the teachers start their contract year on Wednesday, but I am very excited to get moving.

We have a new choir next year that is going to be the closest thing we have ever had to a show choir. And no, I am not a fan of Glee, and have actually been quoted in professional publications on my views on shows like that. But we will sing, we will dance, and we will have a blast!

What really has me excited, however, is our plans to produce (with whatever help we can wrangle) the quite wonderful and famous Songs of Sanctuary by Karl Jenkins. If you have ever heard it, you know it is very cool, and if not, then you should listen to it as soon as possible! It sounds like it is in another language, but it is all nonsense syllables that the composer made up and threw together to sound good! It has a very World-Music sound that I am excited to teach, and the local college director has the DIGITAL ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT on a Click-Track that he is going to loan to me! Plus, my daughter Kissa is going to choreograph the whole thing and we are going to turn this into a HUGE production (I hope!)!

Everything else this year is just going to be getting LadyBug back to herself. Of course, that also means that I will be teaching as many private students as I can handle at the college, but the director there is really looking out for me. We are down one (possibly two) other instructors, and he has told me he will make sure to get me enough students. It amazes me how much the Lord blesses us through others!

Well, it is almost 1:00 a.m., so I guess I should probably go to bed. Of course, now that my job is done, I plan to sleep in tomorrow!

V

2011-08-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

(Preface: No, this is not completely about LadyBug, so don't get scared!)

She Is by Choral Responses

emerging from eternity,

grasping for life,

breathing the new world,

unfamiliar with strife,

her name is Baby,

and she is Loved.

shining in shadow,

dancing through years,

smiling the sunshine,

defiant of fears,

her name is Daughter,

and she is Loved.

standing with strength,

living her life,

giving herself,

becoming a wife,

her name is Woman,

and she is Loved.

Bearing her children,

acquainted with tears,

nurturing the future,

banishing fears,

her name is Mother,

and she is Loved.

discovering an ailment,

seeking a balm,

receiving harsh answers,

finding her calm,

her name is Patience,

and she is Loved.

enduring the treatments,

receiving support,

living for tomorrow,

calling on the Lord,

her name is Survivor,

and she is Loved.

returning to eternity,

receiving new life,

escaping this world's bonds,

released from all strife,

her name is Beloved,

and she is Home.

It's Raining, It's Pouring....

2011-07-10T22:04:00.000-07:00

We have a thunderous downpour happening right now, so it isn't helping, but here are pics from our swollen river earlier today....

A Few of My (Least) Favorite Things....

2011-07-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Living here for 16 years, I have acquired a healthy DIS-LIKE for several residents. They are annoying and revolting, and I would be perfectly fine if they would just LEAVE our town and go someplace else! And every one of them can be found in my back yard! Here they are:

If you don't know what these critters are, consider yourself LUCKY! They are three of the things I consider Banes of My Existence! And there are very few ways to get rid of them!

An Early 4th

2011-07-01T23:13:00.000-07:00

In our town, we celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks on whatever day is Friday. Then we have our parade on Saturday. Always. Every year. Even if it means we're celebrating the 4th on the 1st or the 5th or whatever. It works, though some here complain about it not being "true" 4th of July celebrations!

One of the best things about this is the fact that every year on Saturday, the civic library has a book sale. I always pick up between 1 and 10 books for around 25 cents each. I am already excited about tomorrow's sale (even more than the parade!)! The second is that they do the fireworks in the field BEHIND OUR HOUSE! We get to sit on lawn chairs on the back porch and just look almost straight up! Here are some pics I took tonight:

Also, on my way home from work today, I snapped some shots of the river as it is flooding nearby fields:

This last is outside a house down the street from us. They have been pumping water out of their basements there for WEEKS!

I will post more as it happens!

No More

2011-06-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

LadyBug had her LAST RADIATION TREATMENT TODAY! I drove her up to make a special day of it. The office gave her a certificate of completion and a bottle of sparkling apple/cranberry juice. Kissa went with us, since she had the day off from work. We went to see Skitl and StarGazer, who took us to lunch at Applebee's.

This was the perfect day for this too, since I was able to stop off at a town between here and there and pee in a cup for the drug test required by my new job. I go in tomorrow morning at 8:30 to complete the last of the paperwork, then I start in full-time! This job will work out to a part-time job once school starts, and I will continue until that salary is no longer necessary. Could be awhile. I'm sure if they'd double my current salary as a teacher, I'd be happy to work just for them.... No, I guess not, since I am more than halfway to retirement. Now AFTER retirement....

We are also only a month away from our Relay for Life. We have been trying to raise money for our team's pledge, but it has been slow-going. We are having a 20 mile bike-a-thon, and a karaoke contest, then on the night of the relay, we'll sell S'mores and hot cocoa. Around 2 a.m. that should be fairly welcome.

Right now, though, it is time to cook some spaghetti and enjoy an evening with the family (and the Scottish soccer coach we are hosting!). Take care!

From the Mormon Miracle Pageant

2011-06-26T01:33:00.000-07:00

Take 2!

2011-06-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

So I submitted my book to Cedar Fort Publishers. They are not as well known as some of the big publishers, but they have some very nice books, and their vision statement is in line with what I want. They received my book yesterday. I know my brother Twist also sent his book to them. If Stick sends his in, maybe they'll give us a bulk deal?

A few of the things I really liked about this publisher is that 1) they want to deal with new authors; 2) they are looking for books that have higher values; and 3) even though most of their books are church related, they have some fiction & fantasy books already published! I really feel my story, and especially my protagonist will please them. Now I just have to find out whether or not they like my writing style!

I also have a couple of updates. First, I had my interview with a company just north of us that I worked for last year. There were four computer-based assessment tests, along with a video conference interview with about a half-dozen corporate members. I've never had this big a deal for an entry-level job in my life! Even for my teaching job I only talked with a few people.

Lastly, LadyBug finishes her radiation treatments TUESDAY! We can't believe there are only two appointments left! Afterwards, we still have however many months of reconstruction, but we are THIS close to at least being done with treatments. A lady in our town has been battling MUCH longer than us, and is losing her battle. I saw her daughter at the post office today. I can't believe the strength her family has in the face of such a devastating loss! They are truly inspiring to us.

We truly appreciate all the prayers on our behalf. There isn't a day that goes by where we don't feel the blessings from them! We may have trouble, but as we have seen, not only could things be worse, but they also keep getting better!

More From the River...And IN It!

2011-06-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

A few more pics from our river, down by the main street bridge. What you CAN'T see is the walkway that normally goes under the bridge! You can see a line or two where it SHOULD be!

If the Creek Don't Rise

2011-06-18T01:06:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the wedding reception of a student who just graduated from high school. She was planning on attending college right up to the point where she met and started dating her husband. Now he will finish massage school, and she will go to Cosmetology school. He is about 8 years her senior.

After, we decided to drive to the river crossing nearest our house. Several years ago, they put in a little bridge. You can't even see it right now from the flooding. I snapped a couple of pictures and decided to post them here. We have cooler weather this weekend, which annoys some people, but hopefully will keep the snow in the mountains from melting any faster.

I then sent a resume for a job here in town working in assembly for a company that manufactures carbon-fiber products such as prosthetics and such. It is an evening shift from 4 pm until midnight. I rarely go to bed before midnight right now, so that won't be a problem. The pay is good, so I hope something will come of it. It is also advertised as a temporary position, which has potential to be permanent. If hired, I'm not sure if I would stay once the school year starts, or go back to my college voice students. I know which I'd RATHER do, but will have to see what happens.

Tomorrow I will also speak with the manager of the grocery store where the rest of my family has worked. They have a 4 am shit that goes for a few hours unloading freight. I could consider even doing both jobs, but I would end up sleeping away most of the day. I have to balance providing for my family with whether or not I work myself into an early grave!

Well, I'll figure out something... Lord willing, and if the creek don't rise....

On the Hunt

2011-06-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

I find myself in a situation I have not been in for years. Starting tomorrow, I will be ACTIVELY seeking a job. Not to worry, I am not leaving my career, nor am I leaving this school. But I can no longer just wait and hope the Temp agency will call me.

Two times now, I have applied with this particular agency, and they have found me work within days both times. This year, however, it seems not as many people are hiring temporary employees. I will not point political fingers, but this economy is just not where it was even a year ago! And it was bad enough then!

Anyway, the gist of the matter is that I was speaking with my bishop tonight, and he told me I need to look at this as a situation that may possibly become permanent. If, for some reason, LadyBug is unable to EVER go back to work, it will be up to me to make up her lost income.

This statement was one of the most frightening things I have heard. I have always held onto the hope that LadyBug will be able to eventually return to work. The truth is, we just don't know. And with all the bills that have piled up over the past little while, if we don't find a way to stay ahead, we will quickly be buried.

So, I will stop thinking of this job-hunt as a quest for a one-month gig. I need to see this as a renewable resource for the future. Once the school year starts back up again, I will return to teaching, and that includes my duties as a member of the adjunct faculty at the nearby college. Those students will easily save us, especially since no part-time job can compare with the hourly wage I get as a collegiate-level instructor!

The one thing I will hold to is my refusal to work Sundays. I know this puts me at a disadvantage, but I have to believe that if a job is the one I should get, the Lord will provide a way for me to obey his commandment of keeping the Sabbath day holy. I will not pretend to be better than those who have worked or now work on Sundays, but as long as I can remember, I have been able to find the jobs that allow me to stick with this tenet of our faith.

Other than that, I don't care what I do. A very humbling matter that has come to me is the fact that even with a Master's Degree, I am not qualified for most labor-related jobs. While all those who have getting-your-hands-dirty work experience were learning different skills, I was working in a telemarketing cubicle. While some were getting life experience in garages or farms, I was getting more classroom experience in summer classes, or retail sales experience.The crux of the matter is that most companies that are looking for help are looking for EXPERIENCED help, and will not look twice at someone like me.

So again we are asking all our friends and family to keep us in your prayers. LadyBug is doing very well thanks to all the prayers on her behalf. Now we ask for your faith for us to find a good job for me.

One thing I have been very selfish about thus far is the fact that a job with any potential to help us would mean I would not be able to spend much time (if any) with my family this year. I know there have been years where others have not been able to come for various reasons, but i have never missed a family reunion. It is one of the things I look forward to most all year long. This summer, however, I may just not get much of a summer after all. I hope that things will work out. In whatever way the Lord will allow, regardless of what that means. We still are looking at options, but for now I will also be clipping the proverbial Help-Wanted ads.

$$$$$$$

2011-06-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am going to use this as a sort of forum right now. I have one question.

What are your opinions on "Debt Management Programs?"

We are looking at some options for finally getting rid of the elephant in the room. Just wondering how everyone feels about all of those.

Lemonade Stand

2011-06-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

As a teacher, I sometimes get to see students at their absolute worst. But I also sometimes get to see them at their absolute best. Today was one of those days.

The girls across the street are still in the elementary, so i get to see them every week in "Singing Time." Yesterday and today, they have been running a lemonade stand. They have a picnic table set up, with cups and a big jug of the refreshment. They stand out by the street every time a car drives past with a sign advertising their wares.

I saw our former city Pageant Queen drive past, slow, turn around and come back to pay the 25 cents for each girl that they were charging for only one cup. They were excited just to see her turn around, and they chattered as they got ready for her.

I had only been mowing my lawn for a little bit when I heard a sound behind me. I turned to find the girls with me in my back yard, holding a cup. One of them was holding it out to me.

"Here," she said, smiling. "This is for you. It's free."

I thanked the girls, finished mowing the lawn, then got 25 cents to go across the street and buy another cup! Between the free cup, and the cups that got blown all over the yard by the wind, it's a good thing the girls made some money, because mom & dad probably paid more for supplies than the girls actually raked in!

Even so, it was a sweet gesture, and renewed my faith in the next generation!

Painting Ideas

2011-06-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

I am still stripping the old paint off, but here are some preliminary plans. let me know what you think....

50% and 93%

2011-06-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

As of this week, LadyBug will be 50% done with her radiation treatments! She so far has only gotten a little tired. No other adverse side-effects from the radiation. In another three weeks, she will be done with ALL her initial treatments, and can focus on the reconstruction surgeries.

And, as of today, I am down 65 lbs.! That means I am only 6 lbs. off from my "Target Weight." I am confidant that by the end of summer, not only will I have reached my target weight, but I will have passed it, reaching a weight I haven't seen since before moving here 16 years ago! Now my only problem is finding new clothes! I have a couple of boxes of clothes that are now WAY too big on me! I will take them this summer to my family reunion, but I will also be prepared for a yard sale, just in case!

The bike is coming along steadily, if not speedily. I am in the process of stripping the paint. After that, I will coat it with automobile-quality primer, and repaint it. I'll post more photos once I have something worth posting.

DIY Fun

2011-06-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

So I think I may have found my next project. It combines a couple of my hobbies and passions: biking and creative fun. Here is my find as I brought it home today:

It needs new tires and tubes, most likely a new chain, possibly new gears, new handlebar grips, and who knows what else! I will take my time doing this. It may not be finished until this time next year, because of the parts I will have to buy over time. In the mean time, I will strip the paint off of it and repaint it. I already have a seat for it, since my old bike seat fits it quite nicely. Eventually I will replace that as well, since it is my OLD seat for a reason! Here is what the bike looks like now (this takes two photos...):

Wish me luck!

Last One.... I Hope

2011-05-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

I will just post the photos. I've made better projects, but at the least, this one works.

Now to find something else on which to focus my creative needs....

The Sound of Silence

2011-05-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

I have been having trouble with my larynx lately. They checked my thyroid. Fine. They checked a couple of other things. Nothing. Then I saw a laryngologist.

He said I had some inflammation at the back of my larynx. He said it was most likely caused by reflux. I already take a proton pump inhibitor, so we also elevated the head of our bed (THAT took some getting used to!), and I try to avoid eating after 8:00 p.m.

I think there is more going on, however. For the past month or so, I have had terrible tension in my shoulders and neck, and pain going throughout both. I think this tension has been translated into my larynx. I have started physical therapy to try to overcome this tension. LadyBug went with me because her left arm hurst and she can't straighten it. Quite the pair, aren't we!

I am about ready to try a 10-day vocal silence. I did this once before, several years ago. It is not an easy thing, but is preferable from always feeling like something is stuck in my throat. I am trying to get a summer job, though, so I'm not sure how this will work. I may just have to do vocal rest instead, and just take it easy on my voice.

For now, I will just say, " ."

Ya, Ya, I Know

2011-05-25T17:10:00.001-07:00

I said I would not do another wood project. LadyBug had other ideas. She wanted a place to hang her watches and necklaces. Here it is:

I do have one more in the process right now. I'll post when it is done, and we'll see if it is the last....

Not So Far Overhead....

2011-05-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

I went in today for a minor surgical procedure. This was done in the doctor's office, instead of the hospital, since it was SO minor. I had a cyst removed from my scalp. It felt, while still in, like it was a huge pocket of whatever-it-was, but once out, was about the size of a small pea.

I remember my dad had one removed from his scalp years ago. It seemed to me that there were several, but mom said it was only one. Of course, I was young, and her memory isn't what it used to be, so who knows?

The doctor numbed the area around the cyst, then cut open my scalp, removed the cyst and sewed me back up in just about 30 minutes. We had a nice conversation while he did it. His daughter is the vice-president of one of my choirs next year, and his nurse's daughter is the president! LadyBug sat in a chair right there in the room reading her magazine and avoiding looking over at me the entire time. Go figure.

Speaking of LadyBug, she continues radiation. She is almost to the end of her first week. She has had 4 treatments, with only 24 more to go! Every day, a different lady from our church picks her up and takes her 90+ miles to the clinic, waits the short time she is in, and brings her home. Some of them go to lunch with her, others bring her directly home, arriving around lunch time. We are truly grateful for all the assistance, especially since I am going to have to get a summer job to pay for our roofing project!

Kissa works at our local Sandwich franchise, and ZeldaPrincess still works at our local grocer. We don't know how soon LadyBug will be able to work at all. WE know her coworkers are anxious for her to be better. None more than the lady doing her job right now! They all pray for a speedy recovery (and return to work!).

School is almost out, with only two more full days left. It is late now, and I need all my strength for this coming week, so I will bow out of further blogging. You can check out another post at my No Apologies blog if you are desperate for reading. Good night.

Overhead Costs

2011-05-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

I've always heard of Overhead Costs. People and businesses talk about them all the time. I never fully appreciated it until today, though. I called a popular Do-It-Yourself-Type-Home-Repair Store today to find out how much I will need to save up to buy shingles for the south side of my home. JUST the south side of my home. Only.

Their bundles cover 33 square feet, and each bundle is a mere $22- $25. Sounded reasonable. I even have some money saved up just for this cost. Then I did the math. My home is 15 feet from the peak to the edge of the roof. It is 78 1/2 feet long (give or take a couple of inches). That means it is roughly 1178 square feet. Using that measurement I was able to determine it would take 36 bundles to cover just the south side.

At $22-$25 per bundle that is between $800 and $900 to shingle the south side of my home. I guess I will save up for a little while longer....

Installed

2011-05-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the shelf--with adjustments--and installed it. Here is the finished product:

I feel much better about it now that it is done, but I think I will turn to different pursuits, still. My next project is a black suede case, with fringe, for my conducting baton. I have already done two other cases of different materials, and may post some photos when I am done. After that, I still have a HUGE didjeridoo to complete. I also have my book to edit and at least a couple of songs to write or arrange, so I think my creative powers will be occupied for awhile.

Next....

2011-05-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

I still need to make some adjustments, because of issues over the stove, but here is my next project. It is designed to fit over and behind our stove. This might be my last wood project for awhile. I realized I am NOT a painter, and I also don't know if I have the patience to deal with more right now....

Echoes

2011-05-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

LadyBug has had a couple of echoes done on her heart lately. The doctor was a little concerned, because she keeps getting short of breath, but her oxygen levels are fine.

The good news is that she does not have any more pulmonary embolisms. The bad news is that they aren't sure what is exactly wrong with her. They will continue to monitor her.

After her last pre-radiation visit, she has had difficulty straightening her left arm. The doctor had a sonogram done of it to find out if she had blood clots in her arm. She does not. He will continue watching her to see if it improves. We will update this as we receive more info from the doctors.

I am almost done with my year. We had one of our concerts on Thursday, then State Choir on Friday. Our choir got a I, a I-, and another I-. What this means, for those who don't know, is that we did not "Take State," but had the highest score you could get without doing so. We were disappointed, but still happy with these high scores. A I is like an A in grades. I is the highest score, V the lowest, so a I- is like an A-, whereas a III+ would be like a C+, etc. It takes a minimum score of two I's and one I- (with the highest possible score being three I's) to take State. This coming week, we have our last concert, and the very next day, I go with our senior class on their "Sluff Day" activity to an amusement park.

On Friday, our high school has a short day, with a hamburger lunch, and activities. That same day our elementary does a special program. I will direct the entire student body of about 500 kids in three songs.

After all we have been through this year, I am looking forward to this year being done, and with the addition of a mixed-voices chamber choir next year, I am excited for the new year to start already. Before that happens, we will still have our Relay for Life event.

And to top it all off, tomorrow, I sing in a quartet for a conference, then on Friday, I sing and play with a small band for a class reunion! Maybe I'll go get some sleep. I get the feeling I'm gonna need it!

Mother's Day Eve

2011-05-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we were planning on having a day at home. I was going to mow the lawn, and LadyBug was going to enjoy a nice day inside (I know, but she can't get in the sunlight just yet because of chemo). Then later in the day, we planned to head to Inklings' town to get a couple of things, the foremost being blocks to elevate the head of our bed.

Mere moments before I was going to start getting the mower out, I noticed I had a text from Dee Ice. He said he and Inklings had been at a yard sale and found a wheelchair for LadyBug for $5! He said it was a pretty nice one, so we said to go ahead and get it and we'd be down in a half-hour.

Upon arrival, we found that he was right--it was a fairly nice chair. Inklings told us she would loan it to us if, when we were done, we would take it to my mother and father, since their chair has been appropriated by relatives. It only being $5, this sounded more than fair to us, so we agreed! The only thing was, we couldn't figure out how to attach the foot pegs.... So we drove back to the yard sale and asked them how to do it. They showed us, and we were able to use the wheelchair for our Walmart visit.

The yard sale did have a few things we could still look at, though, and one of them required that we go back and get our truck. Two hours later, we were home again, and decided to go to the college town just north of us. Kissa wanted to see that city's Miss ____ Pageant. One of her friends was running (and won!), and she wanted to be there to support her. Her talent was an Aerial routine that she and the rest of their dance team had learned how to do this year. For those who don't know, this is where they suspend two long pieces of silky fabric from the rafters, and the girls climb up and do all sorts of twisting, spinning moves. Very cool stuff.

Afterwards, we returned home, where Kissa started watching "Undercover Blues," one of my favorite movies. Big mistake. Two nights in a row of getting to bed late about did me in!

Skitl came home for the weekend because he has a dentist appointment Monday. I had him help me put the blocks under the head of our bed. They say that if you elevate your bed's head 6" it will help fight reflux. I hope it does. They also say that you body doesn't even notice the 6" elevation. They were wrong. I hate it! My back aches so much today I don't know if I will ever get used to sleeping that way! And I kept having to scoot back up in the bed. We'll see what happens, but right now, I'd almost rather have the reflux.

Well, happy Mother's Day to all my friends and family! Happy birthday to my loving wife, LadyBug! Take care, all!

My Numbers....

2011-05-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Just had a visit with the doctor this week (having voice problems, due to reflux!), and I have some new numbers. I am still only down 55 lbs., but I have some new figures to be happy with.

First: 108/66 -- I don't think my BP has EVER been that good!

Pulse: 58 -- Go Cardio, Go!

For those who might ask, my Thyroid numbers were EXACTLY in the middle of where they should be!

There are no nodules, just some inflammation. He told me to elevate the head of my bed 6" (exactly...7 inches is not as good, nor is 5!), avoid eating after 8:00 p.m., and be kind to my voice (no yelling or otherwise abusing it). I will also continue taking my Nexium (no, I am not getting paid for that endorsement).

Can't wait to see my numbers in another 5 months!

Not Exactly Bob Vila...

2011-05-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have found my creative outlet for the month. I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves. It did take me a few days, and I worked primarily with simple tools, so I was quite pleased with the results. If nothing else, I had fun!

Leaving Marks

2011-05-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

LadyBug had her first appointment with Dr. Rads' office on Thursday. They started the mapping process for upcoming radiation treatments, using a Sharpie to mark places that will help them calibrate the machine. When she returns on Thursday of this week, they will (I think) put permanent tattoos in at least some of those places. She said they told her the right implant is in the way, so will need to be deflated before they can calibrate the device. She will see Dr. Plastics one more time in order to take care of that.

She will have two more visits in preparation for radiation, then will start treatment on Friday, May 13. That is the same day as our choir festival, so neither ZeldaPrincess nor I will be there, Kissa will have to take her, and we will hope it all goes well. We don't know how this will all go over, nor how LadyBug will respond. Some of our friends have offered to take her to her appointments, so that will help in the costs for gas, etc.

We will keep you posted. Take care.

Things Are Looking Up....Especially the River!

2011-04-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

Those who have been to our little town know there is a river that runs right through, crossing under main street. Our city recently paved a pedestrian walkway that stretches for over a mile along the banks. It is a great place to walk, run, bike, or get exercise in some other way, while enjoying the sounds of the river and birds, and taking in some sunlight (or moonlight...).

In 1983, our little river flooded over its banks and into the surrounding area. That included land where our house now sits. This year, the potential for flooding is quite high again, so the city took early measures. They have built a dike along the turn in the river to keep it away from our homes (including the brand new subdivision between us and the river. On my walk tonight, I took some mobile pics of the dike and the already-swollen river.

I also thought I would put up some of the photos we took at our bonfire. You can almost feel the warmth! Which, after my walk in the cold breeze, would feel quite nice about now.... At least it's still paying off--I reached the 60 lb. mark today! I only have another 15 lbs. to my original target weight.

And lastly, before the pics, I will give a brief update. LadyBug has her appointment with Dr. Rads this Thursday. I am taking the second half of the day off to take her up and be with her for this. We still don't know how we are going to GET her to all her appointments, because both Kissa and I will most likely need to work. The Lord will provide, though, and we will just have faith that it will all work out. And on a related topic, my choir will be raising money for cancer research in this year's "Relay for Life." Anyone wishing to donate is more than welcome. Every penny raised goes to the battle against this common enemy.

Enjoy the photos!

Reminiscences

2011-04-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today is number 43 for me. I've reached a milestone with this one. My mother was 42 when she had me, so I am officially MORE than half her age now, for the first time in my life.

This doesn't necessarily make me any wiser, but I've been reminiscing about a few things. First, I'd like to list the things I have truly learned in my 43 years. I'd like to, but there isn't a thing I've learned that someone else didn't learn first, or learn better. And the list of things I DON'T know is much longer. Perhaps someday, I will actually make that list. Until then, I'll be satisfied just adding to it.

One thing I was thinking about these past few days was the old tin tub I had to bathe in when visiting my grandparents. It would sit on the floor of the kitchen, and my mother would pour hot water into it. As a child, I could fit quite easily into the tub, but as I grew, it got more and more difficult to bathe in that thing. Forget the fact that I was BATHING IN THE KITCHEN!

I felt that I had truly reached a turning point in my life when I was finally allowed to shower in the bathroom! Of course, you could just as easily get scalded or frozen in that shower if anyone so much as LOOKED at the kitchen faucet. And if you were there in winter time, you would be lucky if the water didn't freeze right on your body the moment you stepped out of the shower!

If it felt like that had happened, all you had to do to warm up was head back into the kitchen. My grandparents had an old wood stove in there that always had a fire going. There were even some dishes cooked on that thing, even though there was a newer stove. And if you got sick from the frozen droplets on your freshly bathed body, you could perhaps drink a cup of mint tea cooked up on that stove. Not that anyone in the house knew how to make that actually taste appealing in any way....

To this day, I rarely bathe. Sitting in a tub just brings back too many insecure memories of washing on that kitchen floor. Instead, I shower like the rest of the adults did on those long-ago days. And if I ever come across another of those tubs, I think I will put it to good use--as a flower bed!

Happy Easter, everyone!

The End of the Beginning

2011-04-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

LadyBug had her LAST CHEMO TREATMENT TODAY!!!

She gets three weeks until her radiation begins, but we are both VERY happy that this part is done.

Dr. Chemo said he wants her to stay on blood thinners for ANOTHER six months! He is concerned with her shortness of breath, and concerned with her responses to surgeries so far, so wants her to continue. He said he will prescribe pills instead of shots. The good thing will be no more bruises from shots. The bad thing is that the shots were free, whereas we will be paying a copay for the pills. LadyBug had a problem with the pills the first time, but he believes she has been on the Lovenox long enough for them to work now. If she has problems, he will put her back on the shots.

Now we will relax for a couple of weeks, and try to enjoy not having me drive to the college twice a week. As the school year comes to a close, life will be busy, but that is nothing new.

Today, Skitl and I pulled out the main fence post in our back yard. I pulled all the green metal posts, but this one cedar post about did me in. Skitl ended up chopping through it with the pick-axe. I then pulled the entire fence down, and burned almost all the weeds that were stuck to it. As soon as I can, I will roll the fence up to get rid of it. I have the green posts leaning against my shed right now, and I will get rid of them when I can.

As soon as I can, I will mow again, and I think our back yard will look pretty good. I don't know how much will happen this weekend, though, because I have a meeting tomorrow and LadyBug and I are going to watch Kissa dance in a concert. Then Sunday is the big 43, so I don't think I want to wear myself out before that. Of course, even worn out, I'm in better shape than I've been in for too many years to think about.

I also have still not thought much more about a summer job, other than the fact that I need one. One thing we need to do is re-shingle the south side of our house. I would LOVE to take off our stupid roof swamp cooler, board over the hole and eventually get a window unit. We have a small AC unit for the window, but it doesn't really cool much more than one room. I don't get quite so hot anymore, since I have lost so much "insulation," so maybe I can manage without much cooling. I do know that leaving that awful cooler on the roof will only ruin whatever shingles we eventually put up!

Well, it's time to go put the cover back on the grill (turkey burgers tonight--with jalapenos!!!), and go to bed. Goodnight, all!

Two Quotes and a Little Heat

2011-04-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

There is a line in the movie My Blue Heaven, starring Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, where Martin is mowing his lawn in a shiny suit, not exactly fitting into the suburban culture he was placed in by the Witness Protection Program. He turns to the person watching him (looking into the camera), and says, "Nice day for a mow, huh."

Well, yesterday was just such a day. The sun was shining, a cool breeze was blowing, and I spent 2 1/2 hours pushing my mower around the ground, walking over 1 1/2 miles to get this yard done. I had already spent at least an hour and a half the previous day on the front yard. Today, I am very sore, and have some fresh tan lines, but my yard is done!

Jeff Foxworthy says, "If you mow your weeds...You might be a Redneck." If that's true, my existence has been nullified. I definitely do NOT consider myself to be anything even remotely CLOSE to a redneck, but I definitely mow my weeds. In fact, thanks to the previous owners, for putting in the cheapest PVC available when they installed the irrigation system, all I have is weeds. If there were no weeds, my yard would not be green at all. And before I mowed it, it was mostly PURPLE!

Once I had mowed all I could, I still had one more issue: All the brown, dead tumbleweeds against the back fence. My oldest son, Skitl helped me pull a ton of these over to the fire pit and we started a bonfire. I invited any students that wanted to come over to help us celebrate the Open-Burn season, and we threw almost all the weeds, along with several old pieces of wood and one old cedar post onto the blaze. We started the fire around 6:30 pm and put it out around 10:30 pm. My yard hasn't looked this good in ages.

It was also nice to get LadyBug out of the house for a bit. There was cloud cover, so she didn't have to worry about exposure to too much sunlight, and the breeze combined with the heat from the fire to make it a very nice evening. We roasted hotdogs, and had some S'mores. Skitl and I ate 98% fat-free Turkey Dogs on whole-wheat buns, and avoided the S'mores. All in all, we had about a dozen or so kids, age 14-43, and enjoyed each others' company for several hours. The last kids left around 11:35 pm, so it was what referred to in the season 3, episode 12 episode of M*A*S*H as, "a full, rich day." Okay...so I threw in one more quote!

And the best thing? With all that fun and satisfaction, I also am down another five lbs! I know, I know...you don't lose five lbs. just mowing the lawn for two days. But two days ago, I was 5 lbs. heavier than I was this morning. I'm not going to try to figure it out! I just know that I am now only15 lbs. away from my ORIGINAL target weight. I think I am going to shoot for another 15 below that. At the rate I'm going, I should be there by the time school starts up again this fall. Or at least very close. Maybe I'll finish reaching my target weight around the same time LadyBug finishes all her surgeries. I figure I will have to mow my lawn at least 8 or 9 times before fall, so if I can lose 5 lbs. every time.....

Dead Tired

2011-04-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

Let me just say one thing before I continue: this is just an observation; you don't need to worry about me, and an intervention is not required.

That said....I am just dog-tired! My day starts no earlier than anyone's (okay, with the exception of graveyard workers, and my nocturnal sons), and perhaps ends a little later than some few, although perhaps earlier than some of you. I don't work harder than most of my associates (in fact, I am known to enjoy some down-time now and then), and I am neither physically ill (that I know of), nor mentally ill (though some of you may dispute this).

What I am is tired. And I say this with the full knowledge that I am typing this at 12:05 a.m., just before retiring for the night. I am only working two jobs right now. My brother Stick has worked even harder at times, although he became deathly tired as well. And one of my jobs is only a couple of evenings a week at the local college.

And I don't mean to imply that taking care of LadyBug is in any way a tedious task. But I think, perhaps, that I may need to decline a few more "opportunities" for awhile. I have come to the end of my ability to add more straws to the camel's back.

The true irony is that I will most likely not change much of my daily life, with the exception that my last college classes are next week, and my public school classes end in just over a month. I keep trying to be creative, but end up just sitting and staring at nothing. At least I can still formulate thoughts in such a way that I can communicate.

Perhaps what i ned us gi yke diome dune ohd ehs maje s eyukes ecgfa fuine fir ne............

Or maybe I should just go to bed.

Things to Come

2011-04-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

LadyBug just saw her radiation specialist, Dr. Rads, today. She and Skitl drove up this morning. He told her she will have 28 treatments. That's 5 1/2 weeks. She will start 3 weeks after she is done with chemotherapy. That puts us into May, which means Kissa can drive her to her treatments. It also means she will be in radiation therapy until June. The best thing about that is that by the time family reunions come around, she will no longer have chemo in her system, and she can see some sunshine.

Right now, we just have to deal with taxes. Last year I ended up driving over two hours to find THE ONLY POST OFFICE IN THE LOWER 2/3 OF THE STATE THAT WAS OPEN. Granted, I waited until....well, not quite the last minute, but I wasn't far off. This year, we still have several days left, but after last year, we are having them done by a professional. We found out we made a mistake that COULD have been very costly last year, so I don't want to risk that sort of thing again this year.

I am holding steady at being down 50 lbs., but now Skitl has dropped at least 10. Of course, once warm weather decides to stay permanently, I think I may be able to melt off a few more.

The Picture Says It All....

2011-04-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

7/8 Done

2011-04-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

LadyBug is a little sore right now, and will probably feel the most recent treatment soon, but she only has ONE LEFT! She goes to the radiation clinic on Tuesday, to see her newest in the long string of doctors. They will determine exactly how much radiation she will need. We hope and pray (and welcome more) that she will not need a long drawn-out series of treatments!

We are almost there!

The Stupidity of Standardized Testing

2011-04-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

As an Arts Teacher, I get to avoid one of the E-VILS permeating the lives of some of my co-workers--Standardized Testing. Studies have indicated for many years now that these tests, and preparations for them have no educational value whatsoever. Here is another take on the whole subject that I found fascinating. Enjoy.

The Inevitability of Change

2011-04-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

For sixteen years, I have been teaching music. I have taught 7th Grade Chorus, 7th Grade general Music, 8th Grade Chorus, 8th Grade General Music, Beginning Strings, Intermediate Strings, 6th Grade Band, High School Intermediate Band, High School Concert Choir, Concurrent Enrollment College Music Appreciation, Private Voice, Beginning Show Choir, and Women's Choir. In all that time, the Women's Choir was my only auditioned group. They have been my pride and joy, my sanity-saver, my "angels."

This year, one of my angels decided to take it upon herself to make something a little different happen. She recruited and begged until she had a list of boys to try out for a new mixed Chamber Choir. For the first time in sixteen years more than the usual 1-4 boys tried out for my choir. In fact, the thing that was holding us back was the one thing I didn't foresee--we didn't have enough girls to make both the new Chamber Choir and the Women's Choir as big as I would like.

But we had plenty of boys. What I decided was to have eight boys and eight girls in the new choir, and keep almost all of the rest of the girls for the Women's Choir. The Women's Choir has been this small before (and smaller), so I'm not really worried, but I finally get the chance to work with an ALL-AUDITIONED mixed group! I am so excited! We are thinking that for at least half the year, they will be a show choir (NO, I am NOT a fan of "Glee"), and for the rest of the year, a competing chamber choir. This will allow us to have fun and be serious all in the same year.

One thing I wish had happened was that we could have just taken the boys and started a Men's Choir. One of the guys informed me, however, that there had been talk that if we didn't have girls in the group, they would drop the class. Well, guess what--half of the boys didn't make it anyway, since we needed to balance the girls. We could have had something very cool in a Men's Choir, but a mixed choir will still be fun. Tonight, after chatting with my family online, I will head to my office to type up and print the lists for next year's groups. The students will excitedly check my door to find if they made a group, and into which one I placed them.

I know not everyone will be happy. I learned a long time ago I couldn't please everyone, so stopped trying to achieve perfection in that area. And if anyone asks why they didn't make the group, I will just have to say, "Well, you would have made it if it could have been [this type of] choir. We just didn't have enough spots. You should take Concert Choir and try out again next year!"

Perhaps if this happens, the guys will learn something and possibly allow a Men's Choir. If not, We'll just continue doing what we're doing. I'm cool either way.

One fun thing happened this week. Our local Search and Rescue was holding their "Support our Search and Rescue: Get Lost!" fund raising campaign. They sell pop, and get Lost tee-shirts. The main thing they do, however, is have people go around "arresting" other people. You have to stay at their booth until you either buy a shirt or some pop, or someone "bails you out." I just paid the $10 for the tee, and they gave me a free dinner coupon to go with it, so I will get LadyBug a cheeseburger meal one of these days soon.

And on an unrelated topic, Skitl has officially joined me on my diet. He has already lost a few pounds this week, so perhaps he will see some benefits and stick with it. He may not have the self-discipline, though, so only time will tell. I have started boxing up my "fat" clothes. I am keeping the ones that fit relatively okay, and will save the rest for any family or friends who want them. I still have a tux jacket and shirt that no longer fit me, as well as a sport coat, several pairs of jeans, cargo pants, and at least one pair of shorts. I'm not looking forward to replacing all the shorts I can't wear anymore, though!

I only have about three weeks left of voice lessons at our local college, then get the summer off. I am still debating whether or not I should get a temp job for the first part of the summer. I want to spend time with LadyBug, but without her working for the past months, we really need me to get something. If I do, I will still have almost all of July, and half of August to spend with her, including evenings after whatever job I get. I am torn trying to decide what to do. I will take any opinions and advice...

To all my extended family, and friends (and any strangers): Take care! To my siblings: Catch you in Chat in fifteen minutes!

My Memory Ain't What It Used to Be....Or Is it?

2011-03-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

Skitl had to take my truck up north yesterday to get his stuff out of storage up there and bring it down to put it in storage down here. He was sharing a shed with a friend who was moving, so rented a shed closer to home. He left early afternoon and got back early evening.

While up there, he stopped at the mall, and called me to tell me the tags on my truck were expired as of AUGUST of last year! I could have sworn I renewed that, but after calling, the office confirmed that it had not been renewed. This would have been right around the time LadyBug was recovering from her first surgery, so that at least explains how it happened. Plus, I haven't been driving the truck because the van gets better gas mileage.

So today I got an inspection, and will head to the DMV right after lunch. I don't know how much the registration is going to be, but it is just one more expense among many right now. I'm sure it will be more since we've been driving for several months with it expired.

At least everything else is looking a little better. LadyBug is just starting to feel this last round of chemo, but she still is doing better than on the last drug, and she only has two left, so we are almost to the end of chemo. Skitl has joined me on my diet, though I don't know how long he'll last. I think he was okay as long as his father weighed more than him, but having me weight less really made him think!

He has never been one to like veggies. In fact, I think he'd rather get a root canal than eat most. As a kid, he would chew each piece of meat like it was gum! We would have to tell him to swallow it so he could eat some more. He would then chew that piece for a half-hour if we'd let him. He does okay with seafood and poultry, but he is a beef-eater through-and-through. If you could survive on steaks and burgers alone, I think he would be just fine with that!

It's a little strange, though, because StarGazer was always something of a vegetarian, because his tonsils were too big to swallow meat effectively. He is still thin, and healthy. He runs, he does Yoga, and he would rather have sushi than anything. Kissa, ZeldaPrincess and I agree with him on that one. LadyBug likes the Teriyaki Chicken with Yakisoba Noodles, but won't eat sushi. Actually she can't right now. The chemo would react badly with some of the bacterias in the fish, etc. Skitl likes sushi, but would rather eat at a steak-house, or Carl's Jr.

Wow....talking about food. Must be lunch time. I am a bit peckish, having ridden my bike for the first time today, so I think I'll go grab some whole-wheat spaghetti. Happy eating!

Upward Swing

2011-03-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

LadyBug only has TWO MORE CHEMO TREATMENTS LEFT!!!

Her most recent treatment was this last Thursday. Skitl was home finally, so took her there. The doctor gave her iron in her IV, and she is almost over her infection, so she felt pretty good the last couple of days. The iron really did it for her! She can't take iron supplement pills, because they make her nauseous, but the intravenous iron worked wonders!

So now we only have a month left! Then just over a month of radiation before starting the final surgeries to finish reconstruction.

On a personal note, I was down 51 lbs. this morning! All my newest clothes no longer fit me! If anyone needs a nice double-breasted tuxedo coat and shirt for a larger gentleman, I have one now that I can't wear! I also have to get rid of all my cargo pants! I hate that, but luckily, I have my skinnier clothes to fall back on.

I also have several pairs of size 40X32 jeans I can't wear anymore. I also kept my skinnier jeans, so I at least have clothes. If I lose much more, though, I will have to buy a whole new wardrobe! I sure hope either LadyBug goes back to work before that happens, or I sell my book. I don't think I can wear warm-up and sweat pants to school (or during the summer!).

Skitl has indicated that he may start my diet, too. I don't know if he has the willpower for it though, since I couldn't do it without a real reason (LadyBug). If his only reason is to lose weight, he may not have the will-power to make it. I hope he does. I don't want to outlive my son.

And I have to take my elliptical apart this week to find out where it is busted. I am rather proud of the fact that I actually wore out an exercise machine, though! I need to get my regular bike back from Kiss. If I can get in shape, perhaps I will ride through the summer. What do you think, Stick? You up for some back-road biking? You're a better biker than me, but even if I can't keep up I can eventually CATCH up! Maybe we could head to the M. Canyon and hit the bike trail there. It is about 7 miles long. I think it may be connected to a bike trail that goes almost to Inklings' town. Pretty trail. Plus there is one in R. C. out to the east of Mom and Dad's place. It looks very nice.

Of course, my bike is VERY heavy, too, so I will not be in good spirits going UP HILL, but I'm up for a challenge at least! One of my goals one of these years is to ride the distance from here to Mom and Dad's place. It will take ME several days. There are bikers who could do it in one day, still have time to shower, eat and take in a movie. I'm not one of those people! But it would be kinda cool to bike part way, camp, then finish the ride.

The rest of the summer, I will just enjoy time with LadyBug. We are SO ready for this to be over!

Well, take care all!

Downturn

2011-03-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

LadyBug isn't doing very well with her current drug. We had hoped that she would be one of the MANY people for whom this drug is milder, but that has not been the case so far. This round has her in constant pain, sometimes keeping her awake or waking her up. She has had a fairly high fever, along with that, and has been plagued with nausea and fatigue. At first, she was doing better, except for the pain, but this week, we had to take her to the doctor because of a high fever.

He put her on an antibiotic, and nausea medicine, and they gave her IV saline. She also had a chest X-Ray, due to a cough. The X-Ray didn't really show much, so we don't think we have to worry about that, and the doctor said her fever and some of the nausea could be linked to the medicine they give her to boost white blood cells. her white blood cell count was up, which was to be expected. The doctor still decided to treat it as an infection just to be safe.

If she is not feeling better by this coming Thursday, Dr. Chemo will make her wait a week until her next treatment. I think she will be okay with that, even though it means prolonging the overall length of her treatment. But it would also mean that our daughter Kissa would be through with school for the year, so she could help get LadyBug to radiation treatments.

On a different tack, our oldest son, Skitl, called us tonight. He took a taxi to a bus, the bus to another town, then WALKED SEVEN MILES to the neighboring town to pick up his car finally. He will pack up his gear and leave for home tomorrow. He might stop, or he might drive most of it as quickly as possible, so we don't know whether to expect him Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. He plans to get an apartment with StarGazer and attend the same school next Fall. This is great for him, since it is the first major decision he has made for his future in awhile.

And on a personal note, I wore a pair of jeans today that haven't fit me for two, three, or more years! I also wore a pair of cargo shorts that are in the same category. And this weekend, when I sing in a session of our church's local conference where we will be visited by someone from Church Headquarters, I will be wearing the suit I bought several years ago, that also hasn't fit me for quite some time. And luckily, I found some belts I had forgotten that are in good shape and now fit me again.

I haven't been feeling 100% the last week or so, but I am making do. I did have a few meals where I wasn't quite as careful as I have been, so I wonder of that's the source of my nausea. I still cannot afford the down time that would come from gall bladder surgery, so I will just keep exercising and eating right. Perhaps if I maintain that plan, I will put off the surgeon for as long as I need to.

In the mean time, we pray for LadyBug, and welcome the prayers of all those who join us. Take care!

Round Two

2011-03-12T22:22:00.000-08:00

LadyBug started her second drug treatment this week. Dr. Chemo gave her an extra half week so she would be feeling good enough to go to ZeldaPrincess' Jr. Prom. And he is giving her a full 2 1/2 weeks until her next treatment to give her blood count time to get where it needs to be. So far, this drug does not make her quite as nauseous as the previous combination, but she has a lot of joint pain and bone pain. She said if it wasn't for the pain, this would be much easier than the first drug round. She is looking much better, though, so I will take whatever I can get!

On the diet front, I have now lost almost 45 lbs. My awesome summer shorts are now too big for me, my belts are getting too big for me, but some of my shirts fit better now. I am getting between 10 and 30 minutes of exercise every day but Sunday, and feeling pretty good. It would be great if it wasn't so much more expensive to eat a healthy diet. If I could get healthy and thin eating at McDonald's I could save a ton of money. It's just as well, though since I despise Micky-D's food!

We are also into the fifth month of LadyBug not working. Sh went in a couple of days early on, but only stayed for two hours at a time. Her boss didn't know what to have her do for only two hours, but everyone will be thrilled when she can return. The lady doing her job right now is at the front of the welcoming line. The best thing about all of this is that we only have three of us home right now, so it doesn't cost as much to feed us. We bought a 40 lb. box of chicken breasts some time back, and even have a few left! We also have had a couple of turkeys that we were able to stretch for quite some time. Luckily, chicken and turkey (and the tilapia in the freezer) are on the list if things we can both eat!

Skitl, our oldest, called us last week to inform us that his car's engine had seized (he hadn't been checking oil like he should for the thousands of miles he was putting on it). He got a loan to pay for a used engine to be installed (I know, used isn't great, but it has fewer miles on it than his original engine...). He should be coming home sometime within the next week or two, so we'll see how the new engine runs. He plans to go north, get an apartment, and start school with StarGazer this fall.

Speaking of StarGazer, he is doing great. His new job starts any day now. He will be working tech support for a smart phone (I think). He is living in the first big city north of us and going to school. He takes a yoga class every semester that he loves, and has been going for sushi with his roommate, who is our newest convert to all things sushi. Soon, we will take over the world with our sushi ways!

I may as well finish with the rest of the clan. Kissa is loving college. She dances about 40 hours a week. She can't do a work schedule around that, but she gets by. She just made the main dance squad for next year, so is very excited. She is home right now for Spring Break, sleeping on the sofa, even though she still has a bed in her old room....

ZeldaPrincess loved her dress for the prom. Her long-distance boyfriend (now State Debate Champ) drove the two hours or so to get here, since he had a game in a neighboring town, spent the night in that town, then drove home the day after prom. Z.P.'s dress was very pretty. This was our second purple prom dress.

It's hard to believe she will be a senior next year. She was also just voted team captain for our varsity girl's soccer team. She will have to attend camp this summer to keep the position, but she is perfectly okay with that. She will have to skip out on their Summer Games tournament, since she will have to work to pay her expense with camp, car, etc., but I think putting in a little extra time makes you appreciate what you have even more.

So wow. That was quite the load of information. We continue keeping our heads up and our eyes open through all of this. We love seeing the Lord's hand in things, and have been overcome by the generosity of the people in our town. We know we are not above the trials others have to face, and seeing some of those are truly humbling to us. For those of you in the boat with us, or in worse circumstances, know we pray for you. For those who generously pray for us, thank you, we pray for you, too. Take care, all.

Glazed Turkey

2011-02-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

LadyBug subscribes to Taste of Home magazine and cookbooks. We got a recipe from them that we adapted. Here is our new recipe:

Turkey Breast

1/2 cup preserves (we used Blackberry)

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 tsp. pepper

dash of salt

Pre-heat the oven to 325.

Place Turkey in a roasting dish (they recommend using a rack in it, but we didn't have one).

Mix the other ingredients in a bowl, basting the turkey to start, then every 30 minutes until the turkey is done.

You will need to go by time, since the caramelizationof the glaze will keep the little red button from popping up. This is is SUCH JUICY turkey!!!

Waters Ripple and Flow...

2011-02-25T18:40:00.000-08:00

We had a very eventful couple of days this week. First, LadyBug went in to have her filter removed. This is not a permanent situation, since she will have it put back in before the final operations. But it also keeps it from being a permanent addition to her vascular system.

The operation went very well, considering they had to go in through the left side, since the vein on her right side has closed up a little. They said it could be because of scarring, or from the chemo, but it simply meant they went through the other side. She was only in the O.R. an hour, which given our history, is a huge improvement over her usual 6-7 hour surgeries.

When she was out, it was only about 40 minutes until she could be released, so we were happy to not have another long stay! We even decided we had enough time before dinner to go to the dollar theater and take in a good movie.

Unfortunately, we chose "Fair Game," quite possibly the most boring movie in existence!! It is starring Sean Penn, which almost chased me away to begin with, except that his movie "The Interpreter" was pretty good. So we went in. Forty-five minutes later, we went back out, glad that we had only wasted $3. If you are looking for a great movie, look somewhere else. If you are looking for a good nap, stay at home--it's cheaper!

We then called LadyBug's sister and bro-in-law, Pillsbury Snowboy, and went out for sushi! I ate more than I have in awhile, but it was sushi, so too bad, so sad, I'm already over any guilt there wasn't.... Snowboy ate his fill in sushi also, since he'd obviously never had really awesome rolls before! LadyBug had the chicken and rice, and ate better than she had in a week! We were very excited for her to get her appetite back!

While all of this was going on, our oldest son, Skitl, called to tell us his car had broken down. The gist of it is this: He hasn't been checking his oil or getting services on his car as frequently as he should, and the thousands of miles he's put on it caused the engine to seize. He has applied for a loan with Wells Fargo to fix his car, which requires a new engine. He only has three weeks left there, so it's rather ironic, but we didn't want him stranded in that city without transportation! My parents wondered if they should send him some money to help, but I was able to let them realize that this would not be the help he needs. He will come home and find a job, then go back to school.

When we were on our way home, we needed to stop for a few things at Wally World, and LadyBug got a little dizzy bending over. An hour later (okay more than that, since we drove in almost white-out conditions in that freak snow-storm!) she bent over to give herself a shot, got dizzy, nauseous, and threw up most of the dinner she ate. We called the hospital and they said since she was okay sitting in a recliner to just let her stay there, so she slept in the recliner.

This morning, she was still nauseous and throwing up, so she called Dr. Chemo's office. They said it sounded like she was dehydrated, so we took her to our local hospital, where she was given I.V. fluids, and nausea medicine, etc. We were also given some scrips for medicines she can put under her tongue. Our insurance doesn't like those types of pills, though, so discourage their use by making us pay more co-pay! We couldn't get both medicines, so we just got the nausea medicine, hoping that will help her keep down the other pills she takes. She is home now, and we a re watching her.

Speaking of dehydration, yours truly has been talking with a health-coach, who started me on a tracking sheet to keep track of how much water I drink each day. I have always told my students (and anyone else who will listen) that they need to drink more water, but i never knew just how much I WASN'T drinking! I have been amazed at just how much water 8 cups of water is! And I am getting to see more of the porcelain than usual (I know you are thrilled to know THAT tidy tidbit of information!). I am also adjusting my workouts to make the most out of them, and keeping up with my diet (okay, not a diet but a life-style change as my fitness friend tells me!). I am down almost forty lbs. now, so I am very happy about that--although the sushi binge may have set me back a week!

So there is our week. Not really. That was all just in the last two or three days. I'm beginning to think there are worse things than being bored.

Take care!

Half off, or 50%, Whichever is More

2011-02-19T12:56:00.000-08:00

LadyBug just had her fourth chemo treatment on Thursday. This seems like just any other statement on the surface. But for us, this is a huge milestone. You see, she is only scheduled to have eight treatments, so this means we are half-way done!

But that's not all. Four chemo treatments down means we are done with the Adriamycin / Cytoxin combination! LaadyBug now prepares for four treatments of Taxol, which is purported to be a milder drug than the previous combination. It is true that everyone responds differently to the various drugs, but the nurse said everyone so far agrees that Taxol is not as harsh, and that they feel better on it than on the other.

This would be great news if it was already happening, but for now, we still have two weeks of side affects to deal with. So for now, LadyBug will be nauseous and tired, though hopefully not as tired as before, since Dr. Chemo prescribed iron pills for her. Her iron was supposed to be 36, but was closer to 14. That's not good. Hopefully the iron pills will boost her energy, if nothing else.

For me, I continue my fat-fight. I haven't lost much more in the last week or so, since these lbs. will not come off as easily, but I have also not been quite as strict in my diet. I have not been cheating or gorging, but have also not had quite as many salads. I have, however, been exercising every day, so am at least holding steady. I do plan to start getting serious again about how I eat, but a good friend cautions that if we don't enjoy what we eat, we are more likely to binge later.

So I will be a good boy for awhile longer. I've lost 35 lbs. so far, and am aiming for another 35 before I am even remotely satisfied. I believe it will happen, so discouragement is not entering the equation yet.

With luck, by the time LadyBug is better, I will be healthy enough to get her back to strength. And hopefully be able to continue doing so for a long time to come!

It Is a Glorious Thing to Be the Pirate King!

2011-02-14T22:17:00.000-08:00

I posted the full story last year, so I won't repost it. But I just want to put this out there: I have been alive 22 years longer than I almost wasn't. A misplaced sword almost did me in on Valentine's Day of 1989, and here I am 22 years later, kickin' like a Rockette (ya, just try to get THAT image out of your head!).

It has always given m a sense of perspective to think that I came within less than an inch of trading in my pirate costume for a robe and (hopefully) a halo. And I realize none of this makes sense to people who never heard the original story. Oh well. I still won't repost it. Look in my archives.

To those of you who were a part of my world back then, thank you for directing the path of my life. I love you all and appreciate who I am because I knew you. To those who were not there, but are a part of my life now, thank you for keeping me on that path, and showing me what true graciousness is all about.

And to my daughters, whose birthdays were last week and today respectively, thank you for continuing to give me reasons to appreciate the time I've had (even though you don't read my blog!).

Lastly, to my wife, LadyBug, the Love-of -my-life, thank you for being with me through it all. Thank you for being my reason for everything I do, and for inspiring me with you strength in adversity. I may not yet be the man you deserve, but because of you, hopefully I will be the man I should be.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day for Fathers

2011-02-13T18:36:00.000-08:00

So I passed another mile-marker this weekend. Our daughter ZeldaPrincess just turned 17, and has a [new] boyfriend. we have taught our kids all their lives that they should wait until 16 to date, and 18 (college) to steady-date. With Skitl, our oldest, this wasn't an issue, because he was so shy. The next one, StarGazer, had a girlfriend as soon as he turned 16, but that lasted about two weeks, then he never went there again. Kissa went with a boy when she was a junior or senior, but again, it was short-lived and didn't happen again until college.

But with Z.P., this is her FIFTH boyfriend! She keeps settin' 'em up and knockin' 'em down. She even tells each one that she doesn't want a boyfriend anymore, but then turns around within weeks and gets another. We tell her every time she would be much better off if she would just date, which has about as much impact as if we were to tell the same thing to our living room sofa!

But this weekend, Z.P. has informed us that she and her friends made plans with her boyfriend to drive to his place and spend the day, since there is no school. The thing is, though, he lives 1 1/2 hours away on the other side of a very dangerous stretch of Interstate Freeway. Z.P. has been driving for only just over a year, but she was very upset when we informed her that she really shouldn't make plans like that without talking to us first, especially since we are NOT going to let her go.

I will often give in if I feel that a child's request is not unreasonable, but I have informed her that I will NOT be changing my mind on this one. I know that this decision is the right one, since all of the variables give me a bad feeling about the whole plan. Even knowing she wants to have her friends go with her doesn't make me feel better since teenage drivers are more likely to be distracted by friends in the car.

Even so, I am asking (possibly in a means of justifying my decision) all of you... What would YOU say in a situation like this? If nothing else, perhaps knowing there are others out there who would be in the same circumstances would ease her eternal suffering over this one event. Again, I know in these circumstances my decision is the right one, but what would you tell your 17 year-old daughter?

Spinning My Wheel

2011-02-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

Not much has changed in our battle with cancer. LadyBug is more nauseous than before, and more tired than before, and has lost all her hair, but not much has changed. She goes up next week to see if she can get her filter removed. They will check for blood flow and clotting. If everything is okay, the doctor will schedule a surgery to remove the filter. Then, when she is ready to start the final stages of reconstruction, she will go back and have the filter put back in. Otherwise, she will have to have the filter replaced again. So we are hoping for good news, one way or the other.

As for me, I have been putting miles on my elliptical bike. It is a nice little machine we bought a few years ago from a golf shop for a nice price. I'll admit, for a while it was just a bulky coat-rack, but now I am spinning away every night. I have started easy, going for 15 minutes a day, which on the odometer amounts to about 2 1/2 miles. It doesn't feel like running that far, though, so I am happy about that. I hate running.

Once I get into better shape, I will up that to twenty or thirty minutes. I am currently trying to run every day except Sunday. Sometimes I am gone, so can't get to my bike, but I think I will live if I miss one or two days here and there.

The best thing, though, is that I have lost 31 lbs.!

On another tangent, those who are in the know are aware that I have finished my book. I submitted it to Shadow Mountain, a publisher that has produced some of my favorite books. I don't have any expectations, but lots of high hopes. That way, if I am rejected, I won't be completely destroyed, just delayed. I will continue to work at this, until I get to where I want to be. As my brother Stick said, at least I will have written a book. It is a huge thing to finish something that big.

And it has been a while since I was as nervous as I was actually printing my submission and mailing it. Times like that remind you you're still alive, I guess, so it was about as much fun as I've had since I directed the premier of my 1st (and only...) Symphony.

I find that every so many months, I have a creative burst that takes me in new directions. I have made a pinoeer outfit (some of it anyway), two didjeridoos (from PVC), several transverse flutes, my symphony, my book, numerous poems and songs arrangements, choral pieces, hats and scarfs (polar fleece), a rain-stick, political cartoons, various organization logos, and other little projects. I just feel I NEED to make things, but I never know what is going to spark an interest. I can't wait to see what's next!

We are off tomorrow to find ZeldaPrincess some shoes for Prom, and hopefully find a wheelchair for LadyBug. She is just too tired to get around when we go out. Take care, all. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. May the Lord bless you all.

Oh My Hair! Part Deux

2011-02-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

LadyBug got a new 'do. I will not post the whole story here. If you want to hear it, you must hear it from me directly. Sorry, just covering bases. Here is a picture of her new "cranial prosthetic:"

She goes for her third treatment tomorrow. This puts us more than half-way through the first drug therapy! She will only have ONE MORE TREATMENT OF THE RED DEVIL! Then only four treatments of Cytoxin is left! Of course, then she still has five weeks of radiation, but we are making progress here!

I am not happy about the fact that I am leaving later that same evening for a weekend trip, but I cannot miss this conference. ZeldaPrincess will be here the whole weekend, and there is a chance that Kissa will be able to come, plus LadyBug will try going to a baby shower Saturday (if she is able).

I am looking forward to two days of training this weekend, plus some warmer weather! I am also looking forward to seeing some of my friends that I only get to see once or twice a year.

I have also started exercising. It's not pretty. So don't ever come to watch. But I am hoping that I can use this to drop even a few more pounds. I also hope that I can get into better condition. I would love nothing more than to get in good enough shape to go on a long-distance bike ride (pedal-bike).

Oh My Hair!

2011-01-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

So after a week-long Internet Fast, I am back online. Now I start my E-Diet. I will limit how much time I spend online, and how much of that time is wasted. You'll notice I didn't say I wouldn't waste ANY time, just that I will limit it. I think a little wasted time here and there is okay, but I was spending HOURS doing useless things before.

One thing I've noticed is that I feel much more focused now. I was creating my own little case of A.D.D., and now I think I am on the road to recovery. I also spent more time working on things that I really needed to finish. My book is further along, with accompanying submission letter. I also spent more time just sitting with my wife, which is a good thing right now.

Speaking of LadyBug, we finally had to buzz all her hair off, and I will NOT be putting that photo on here, but here is one of her wearing the fuzzy hat she wore to church today.

We still have six more treatments to go, so can still use all those prayers coming! More to come!

Time for a Change

2011-01-23T19:29:00.000-08:00

“Fasting will bring spiritual rebirth to those who cleanse and purify your bodies. The light of the world will illuminate within you when you fast and purify yourself. What the eyes are for the outer world, fasts are for the inner.” – Mahatma Gandhi

With all of the success I have had with my diet, I decided to try another one. I will begin this diet with a week-long cleansing fast. I will abstain for the next seven days. Not from fat, not from sugar, not from carbs. From the Internet.

That’s right, for the next week, I am on an e-Fast. I will still read e-mail, because I have important messages every day, and as a teacher, I must enter attendance and grades. But I will not be blogging all week. I will not be on Facebook. I will not play Internet games.

I am not quitting. I am not going “Cold Turkey.” I am simply spending a week cleansing and thinking. I will find alternate means of entertainment. I will still carry my cell phone, so can still be reached, but not via those normal channels.

Then, following this Internet Fast, I will be going on an e-Diet. I will cut down the time I spend (or rather, waste), and put that time to more important matters. Who knows what I can accomplish with all that extra time. I will still do FB, I will still do other stuff, but I will try to NOT spend the many HOURS I sometimes find I have passed wasting my energies online!

If I can feel THIS much better watching what I eat, I may find whole new horizons available to me after this Fast!

2011-01-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

So LadyBug had her second chemo treatment on Thursday. She is feeling those flu-like symptoms today, same as last time. She is also feeling a little bone-pain from the shot they give her to boost her marrow. We bought some ginger snaps and ginger-ale to try to help the nausea.

One of the things that is happening right now that she is not very excited about is that her hair is just beginning to fall out. You can't see a difference yet, but she has found quite a few strands on her shirt. She is okay with leg hair falling out, but does not want to lose the rest, especially her eyebrows and eyelashes. She thinks that when it starts falling out quickly, we will just shave her head and be done with it.

She is also feeling fatigue, so has not been able to work much, especially since she had that surgery last week. This has meant cutting back in some areas. We haven't gone to a movie since the one the hospital paid for. We have our TV, and we have our DVD's, so we generally stay at home and vegetate, which is okay, since LadyBug really hasn't felt like going out much anyway.

We also don't have to worry about eating out much, since I am avoiding the sort of food found in practically EVERY restaurant, and LadyBug can't eat most of what they serve. She has been craving cheeseburgers lately, but we can get one of those just down the street. She needs stuff like that in order to keep her protein levels up.

On a personal note, I finally reached the 25 lb. mark! I don't know how long I will stay there, but it was a major point in my diet, so I was excited. I also punched ANOTHER hole in my belt. I can't wear it on that hole yet, because it is just a bit too tight, but it is too loose on the previous hole, so I am stuck in the middle! All in all, this is a strange place I am in. I am used to buying clothes that are BIGGER, so I don't know what to do when my clothes get too small. I still have my smaller clothes, but I am not quite into those sizes yet.

I hope all reading this are healthy and happy. Your continued prayers on LadyBug's behalf are felt and appreciated! Thank you all for your support!

DVT's and Filters and Stents, Oh My!

2011-01-16T18:17:00.000-08:00

LadyBug went in on Thursday to have her filter removed. It was more complicated than that, however. First, her blood count could not be too low from the chemo, second, she couldn't have any clotting. Well, one out of two isn't so bad.

Her blood count was fine, but the sonogram showed she still had some clotting. This meant a major change in what happened. First, they could not simply remove the filter. They had to replace it. In a different spot. So, they went in and took out the old filter, then place a new one in a slightly different location. Just so you know, it is called a "Vena Cava" Filter. Here is a picture of one:

After they replaced the filter, they had to deal with the clotting issues. He said there was extensive scarring in her Iliac Vein, some so old she probably didn't even know about it. The main issue with her blood flow out of her leg was caused by May-Thurmer Syndrome, where the Iliac Artery actually crushes the Iliac Vein.

The Surgeon had to go in and put in stents to keep the vein open.

Then he went into other parts of her vein where there was either clotting or scarring and performed angioplasty.

These procedures opened the vein and finally allow spontaneous blood-flow out of her left leg. He says he need to see her in four to six weeks, then about every six months or so for the next two years, to make sure the stents hold and the vein doesn't collapse again. If this all works, she will be fine. The stents are permanent. If he didn't perform this procedure, she would have swelling in her leg and pain for the rest of her life. I won't put the pictures I found of that on here. Some of you may have just eaten.

Speaking of eating, I am now down almost 25 lbs.! I am also fully convinced that it is possible to diet and still enjoy food. AND....I did something yesterday that I have never done before, nor did I ever consider could happen. I went into a shop, stood at the counter, and SAMPLED HOT SAUCES!!!

There is a little store in an outdoor shopping center in our state's capital that sells pepper related items, such as hot sauce, barbecue sauces, drink mixes, powders, etc. They have everything you could ever possibly want in that category! AND...they have little plastic spoons, into which they will pour sample after sample into for you. I LOVED the "F'in Hot" Serrano and Garlic Sauce. It was delicious! I bought a bottle (more $$$ than I would care to admit.....), and have used it in two separate meals already. Yummy, even though it does have habanero in it also.

I was able to try in the midst of my various samples, a ghost pepper sauce which was unbelievably flavorful! It wasn't very hot, though, so must have been diluted quite a bit. Even so, I plan on going back to this shop as soon as I have some money! If I have very much money when I go, I am sure I will come away with several bottles of the good stuff! And best of all, PEPPERS ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEART AND DIGESTION!!!! Life is good!

Preparing Ourselves

2011-01-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

In anticipation of LadyBug possibly losing her hair, I decided to take some initiative. I bought some fleece back before Christmas, then just yesterday made her a hat and matching scarf. I had enough material to make two, so here is a picture of mine.

I also thought that with a matching scarf (and a matching husband) she might not feel quite as self-conscious. The picture makes it look purple, but it is really kind of a puky green that LadyBug really liked. And I won't be as embarrassed with her matching me....

Dropping a Few

2011-01-09T10:52:00.001-08:00

Lately, I have put a lot on here about LadyBug's cancer. I've come to realize though, that there is another word some people tend to avoid: "diet." I recently visited my doctor to find out why I was having nausea. He sent me for a sonogram that showed I have sludge in my gall bladder. A blood test also showed that though my cholesterol was a little high, my triglycerides were VERY high....496, to be exact! That means a stroke or heart attack in no time.

So, I started a diet. One thing I decided early on, though, was that if I was bored with my food, I would choose the stroke. If eating cardboard was the only option, the heart attack would be welcome. Well, let me tell you one of the most overlooked facts of dieting: Chili Peppers have ZERO fat, and ZERO cholesterol, AND ZERO sugar! They are one of the most heart-healthy things you can eat! Fact number two: Dark Chocolate in small amounts REDUCES cholesterol, AND blood pressure, along with boosting your bodies insulin reception!

So I watch fat grams in food, choosing the lowest choice every time. I watch cholesterol and sugar and carbs, too. I will admit that I still don't exercise like I should, which is to say, not at all. But in the last month, I have lost 20 lbs.! Imagine what I could lose if I was exercising! And the best thing is, I still enjoy my food. I will admit, I don't count sodium. Maybe I should, and maybe I will some day. But I don't salt my food--ever. I do add salsa. I do add Cayenne. But no salt. So I think I probably do okay there.

The thing is, I can't take care of LadyBug if I am in a hospital getting my gallbladder out. And I can't take care of her if I am suffering a stroke or whatever. So now I'm dropping pounds. I even punched a new hole in my belt!

Only one thing worries me: What do I do when all my clothes are too big?

The Red Devil

2011-01-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

LadyBug started the first of her chemo sessions today. She recieved almost two hours of intravenous solutions containing Adriamycin--nicknamed the "Red Devil," because of its red color and its horrible side effects--and
Cytoxan. "Cytoxan slows down, or stops the growth of cancer cells." (1)

This was followed by a quick saline drip to clear the lines and clean the port, as well as add some fluid to her system. She should begin feeling the effects of this mix of drugs in about two days. She will have nausea, and fatigue. Within three weeks she will begin losing hair, a little at first, and then in clumps.

After her treatment was done they gave her a shot. I honestly don't remember what the nurse said the shot was, but she said some people get "bone pain" from it. She said if this happens and gets unbearable, to call the doctor. LadyBug said she has already experienced one symptom: The red medicine of Adriamycin causes your urine to turn pink or orange.... I knew you wanted to know that.

Her treatments will be based on the two week spread, but they are doing what they call the "Dose Dance." Chemo treatments are normally spread out three weeks apart. In the Dose Dance, they are two weeks apart, but the patient's body will drop in its white blood cell count. This means that while she is doing treatments, LadyBug will be VERY susceptible to infection. It also means that if she contracts an infection, there is no wait before it hits her. We must monitor all of these symptoms carefully. If any symptoms get out of control, we need to get her to the doctor immediately. If her blood count is too low the next time she is supposed to have a treatment, they wait until the following week to do it. This means her "8 week" treatment could just as easily be 12 weeks.

After these four treatments, she will begin her sessions with Taxol, the last of the drugs she will receive. "Taxol is made from yew trees. It fights cancer by interfering with cancer cell division. Taxol can be used to treat any stage of breast cancer.... When given in low doses it has mild side effects and is well-tolerated." (2)

I cannot look at this series of treatments as being 20 weeks, 16 weeks, etc. I see that we have two sets of four. And for the harder one, LadyBug is 25% done already. We have three more to go. As long as I look at it that way, it seems much more manageable. Now she just has to decide how long she waits before buzzing off her hair. This is one of the things she is most anxious about. Lucky for us, she has her a wig that her doctor's office supplied for her, along with some hats. Keep her in your prayers!

(1), (2)breastcancer.about.com

LadyBug's New DO!

2011-01-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

LadyBug cut her hair this week. She donated an 11 inch braid to Locks of Love. We figured this way, when she starts losing her hair, she won't miss quite so much!

Everyone comments that it looks cute, and makes her look younger, so she is okay, even though she really misses it right now.

She starts chemo this Thursday, so it won't be long now before she starts losing her hair. She's not happy about it, but we will do what is necessary.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2011-01-01T23:56:00.000-08:00

News from the Front

2010-12-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

We have had an interesting week. We went up on Tuesday to use some movie tickets we had been given by the hospital. We saw the new Chronicles of Narnia movie, and LOVED it! We have the audio books (in two different versions) and the written books, and our whole family has always enjoyed these wonderful tales! We spent the night at Snowman's house, visiting with him and his wife, LadyBug's sister. We also had dinner at their place.

Wednesday we went further north to the hospital where LadyBug was to have her Port-a-Cath installed. She got the Power Port put in which will help with all injections, IV's, and blood tests for her chemo treatments. This is an out-patient procedure, but we still ended up being in the hospital for almost six hours!

The next day, we spent the gift-card my sister Inklings gave us (thanks, sis!). We figured LadyBug won't be able to eat much some of the time while on chemo, so we got a juicer so she can get some nutrients in liquid form. We also got ZeldaPrincess a CD, and season 1 of a favorite TV show DVD. It has been kinda different pushing LadyBug around Wal-Mart in a wheelchair for a couple of weeks now!

So today, we had a visit with Dr. Chemo. He was going to start treatments today, and LadyBug even had blood tests to make sure she was healthy enough to begin. After verifying that she was in good health, he asked if she had any further questions. She told him she had been reading the book he gave her and wondered why she had been diagnosed with this particular form of cancer when symptoms pointed at another.

He explained biopsies and pathology reports, and then asked her what symptoms she had that made her ask the question. She told him all the things that made her wonder about the diagnosis.

After some discussion, he told her she had "raised doubts in his mind." He says he thinks we should now try a different treatment called Adriamycin, which is nicknamed, "The Red Devil." Nice name, huh?

This is a harsher, more aggressive form of chemo. She will no longer just have 6 treatments over 18 weeks, but 8 treatments over 16 weeks. The regimen will be more difficult than previously planned, and she will wait until next week to start. Then she will finish 1 week earlier than originally thought.

One source says the side-effects include, "hair loss, short term memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pains, loss of sleep, sweats, mouth sores, watery eyes, neuropathy, and on and on.....nasty, nasty stuff."

LadyBug is very nervous now, even more than before, but if this is what it takes to get healthy and stay that way, it is simply what must be. Your continued prayers are greatly appreciated.

On a personal note, my diet continues, much to my chagrin. At times, I am ready to chuck it all and die young, but I think about what LadyBug is going to be going through, and realize a little sacrifice on my part is nothing. One good thing, though: in the two weeks I have been going, I have already lost 15 lbs.! Not bad for just watching what I eat. I'm not even getting much exercise yet! Guess I can keep it up for a while longer....

Take Care!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T20:04:00.000-08:00

Let it...Well, You Know

2010-12-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

Two Words: SNOW DAY! *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Our school is closed today because of the incredible amount of snow that fell in the last 24 hours. I don't remember when this last happened. We aren't afraid of snow here, and it take a ton of snow to shut us down. People here will drive as long as they can get the vehicle to move. Our concert is today, so we will see what happens. Merry White Christmas, everyone!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Full Pardon

2010-12-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

Today was a bitter-sweet day for me. It was the Christmas program for my prison choir. Things didn't go as smoothly as they could have, but over all it went quite well, and we were all pleased with the outcome.

Sadly, however, it was my last day at the prison. With LadyBug's looming chemo/radiation treatments and the possibility of further classes at the college, I told the bishop months ago that they would need to replace me. This bishopric is from a neighboring stake, though, and I always felt strange being a part of their stake, etc., so this needed to happen anyway. They should have had someone trained by now, but everyone is too scared to commit, and the few who have agreed only made it to training before backing out.

I told the brethren today, however how much I have come to love serving them, and that I pray for their well-being all the time. My personal beliefs have been challenged so much working there. I have come to see more fully the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in the lives of men who need it so desperately. However heinous the crimes, these men have been an important part of my life for the last two years and I will be forever altered because of my time serving them.

Today was also our High School Women's performance of Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols. We performed this in an amazing, historic hall up north, then in another such hall in the town 15 minutes away. This was an incredible opportunity, and I also consider that we have been blessed to have the privilege of singing this incredible piece of music in such wonderful venues. Needless to say, I am on a musical high right now, not to mention a spiritual one. My emotions are right on my sleeve, and I find that even writing this post, I am getting misty-eyed. I have the best job in the world (now if I could just get paid more)!

Take care!

Dr. Chemo Speaks

2010-12-16T22:30:00.000-08:00

So LadyBug visited Dr. Chemo today. He says she will have six treatments, spread out three weeks apart, for a total of 18 weeks. This throws my original information off a bit. She will not be done with treatments until mid-May at the very earliest. As soon as she is done with chemo, she will begin radiation treatments, which will last for five weeks. This means LadyBug will be continuing this well into June. After this is all done, she will finish up reconstruction. We are looking at the possibility that she may not be done with everything until this time of year 2011, or later into 2012.

In the mean time, although she is recovering nicely, she is still not ready to go back to work. I definitely do not want her rushing into it and ending up worse, so we will wait until the doctor clears her and she feels ready. We are not sure how we are going to manage on a single income until this happens, though. The bill collectors sure aren't worried about this. We had someone call from the anesthesiologist's office yesterday asking us to start paying on their bill. LadyBug informed them that she hasn't even been back to work yet. They made a note of that, thankfully, so maybe we will get a grace period before they really get anxious.

Most of the costs are being paid by my insurance, which I cannot complain about too much, since it is taken care of, but I am still upset, because my coverage has gone down while my costs have gone up. Several years ago, my insurance would have made it so we only paid a small amount. Makes me wish we had gotten the cancer insurance. The costs at the time seemed ridiculous, but one teacher was able to have them remove most of the useless stuff, making his costs much easier to manage. Oh well, live and learn.

To answer one question, yes, LadyBug will be losing her hair. We don't know exactly what other side-effects she may suffer, since some of those vary by individual, but we have a whole folder full of literature about this that Dr. Chemo gave us. Knowledge is power, so I will be doing some reading soon.

On a completely unrelated note, I have been experimenting with almost every meal I have cooked lately. I am trying to avoid all the bad stuff that can kill me. The other stuff is boring though, and I'd rather die young than live bored, so I try new things all the time. Tonight I made a sort of Stir-Fry (using Olive Oil for healthier cooking). It was almost exclusively vegetarian, except for the egg I added at the last minute.

I used about a teaspoon or two of "Chinese Extra Hot Mustard" which sounded exciting, except that I've tasted hotter mustard on Pretzels! I also added Srirachi sauce, ginger, and curry. The resulting dish, served on brown rice, that being the healthier choice, was a little spicy. A little. Very little. I've made spicier spaghetti (no, really). It had a nice flavor, though. Not the best stuff I've ever had, but better than some food I've had in restaurants. What I really need is to get my sister Delirious to send me some ideas (okay, ANY of my siblings that have tasty, yet healthy meal ideas!). I am convinced I can make this healthier diet work, but only IF I don't end up wanting to baste our DOG with butter and garlic sauce!!!

Well, one thing for sure...I can always tell if I ate a good healthy meal, because in no time, I will still be STARVING! I am told that after a short amount of time, those pangs will diminish. Hmmm....wonder how soon THAT will be! Right now, I don't know how soon I'll be able to look another salad in the eye. Wait, if salads HAD eyes, they might taste better.... better be off to bed, I must be starting to hallucinate!

A Stitch in...Well, Nevermind

2010-12-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

LadyBug visited Dr. Plastics today. This is the first office visit in a month that hasn't required a hospital stay! He said she is healing well and everything looks good. He will wait until she has recovered a bit more before continuing the reconstruction process. And he removed her tape/bandages, so now it is just healing for a while.

She has her appointment with the oncologist tomorrow. We have not met Dr. Chemo yet, so I will post the outcomes of that visit afterward.

On a positive note, anyone who will be in our state capital, at a certain square this Saturday, come see my choir perform Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols! We have been preparing for some time now (ZeldaPrincess has a solo), and look forward to singing in the smaller venue next to its more famous neighbor (How's THAT for being vague?)! FHL at 4:00, AH at 6:30, NVC at 8:00.

There's No Place Like....

2010-12-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

Home. We are home. All of us that should be home are finally here.

LadyBug was released from the hospital just after lunch today, and we went to her sister's place for dinner and a visit. Then we took Kissa home and we are now back. All of us. She still has more office visits. She still has more surgeries. She still has chemo and radiation. But she is home. She is in less pain than before. Bearable with medication.

Thank you all for your faith and prayers. May the Lord bless each of you at least as much as He is blessing us!

...Jiggity Jig

2010-12-11T22:15:00.000-08:00

I just returned from visiting LadyBug. She SHOULD be released tomorrow. They finally cleared all the clot out of her leg, and by now should have removed the sheath that was stuck in the back of her leg to protect it. She is feeling so much better with the clot gone! And once they remove the sheath (and spend the half-hour keeping pressure on her leg), she should be able to take a shower for the first time in several weeks! She has bathed, and has had sponge baths. She has had her hair washed even, but she has not been able to shower.

Then she should be able to move around on her own for the first time in a week, one of the first qualifications for coming home. We will go up tomorrow and check her out, then we will go to Snowman's house for dinner. Both our daughters, Kissa and ZeldaPrincess will drive up with me. We will pick up StarGazer on the way. SkiTl we won't see until Christmas, and then we'll have everyone home (and hopefully happy) for at least a couple of days!

I do want to thank those who have generously donated to our need. Some checks we haven't been able to cash yet, and one anonymous donor here in town even left cash. It is all greatly appreciated. Our greatest thanks, though, go to the Lord who has blessed us so greatly in this time of trial. With His help, we can overcome any obstacle, clear any trial. It has been a truly humbling experience. His hand is in all things.

Take care....

...And Again

2010-12-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

One day before LadyBug was supposed to be released from the hospital, her leg started swelling up and turned red. She was in extreme pain, so the doctors had another scan. They believe the clot formed in her ankle and migrated upward. It is now to her thigh area, and is around 18 inches long, with a thickness close to that of your little finger.

They have taken her into surgery again, to drill a hole the length of the clot. They believe the blood flow, combined with medication they will administer will break the clot up completely. This surgeon has had good results with this process before, so is hopeful, even though LadyBug was not responding as they had hoped to the blood thinners before.

So now, LadyBug will be in the hospital at least another 24 hours. I will hopefully be going up to get her on Saturday. Although, this may not happen, since we don't know how she will respond to the surgery and medications. The surgeon is confident the clot will be gone before she leaves the hospital. Of course, if they keep her longer, his chances obviously improve, so I really have no clue how soon she will be released.

All of this would be easier if the hospital wasn't over 100 miles away! We simply don't have the gas money for me to go up, since LadyBug isn't working. And I hate the idea of her being up there without me. Her sister, brother-in-law, and our son StarGazer have been visiting her, but I miss her terribly, as she does me, and I hate the fact that all these things are happening while I am almost two hours away trying to keep things together.

People here keep asking what they can do for us. I have to answer that I have no clue what they can do for us. I can't eat most of the things anyone would bring. LadyBug isn't here to eat food, smell flowers, read cards, or whatever. She is stuck in a hospital and I am stuck in Limbo.

You want to know what you can do? Call Mr. Hospitalsman, the guy who has built most of the medical facilities in the northern part of the state, and convince him to put a radiation clinic in our cancer clinic so patients don't have to drive so far every flipping day. Put a major hospital a little closer to the sticks so those of us who live in the middle of nowhere can see surgeons without emptying our bank accounts for gas. And contribute to cancer research. Let's find a way to cure this, and prevent it!

In the mean time, I will try to find a way to make tasteless food appealing and try to keep paying the bills until the woman I love is back home.

Quick Update

2010-12-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

LadyBug will be released from the hospital on Friday. Then, for the next six months she gets the pleasure of injecting blood thinners into her belly twice a day! We have been told that if we go through what is called an "Infusion Pharmacy," we will have NO out-of-pocket expenses. If we don't (or can't), the medicines are $900 per month! No I don't know much about making medicines, but even at a 100% mark-up, I can't imagine ANYONE ever SPENT $450 to make one month's worth of medicine. Just my opinion. If it cost them that much, they got ripped off, because I think charging that much for vital medication is HIGHWAY ROBBERY!

Now I don't want her to rush into anything, but I hope that things work out relatively quickly from here, because we are hurting without LadyBug's salary. She has been out of work for three weeks now (we were told two), and we have received some unexpected checks that actually make up what was lacking in her last check. I should be getting one more check this month that is only slightly unexpected that will cover some of her next check. But we definitely need her to be ABLE to go to work soon.

On a personal note, I had been adjusting what sorts of food I eat. I am choosing low fat, low carb foods. I have enjoyed a salmon fillet, apples, soup, and tuna. The problem is...I'm STARVING! I honestly think I could win an eating competition right now! SO FAR, I haven't been too terribly bored with these foods, but they leave me wishing for about 60 oz. of STEAK! With mashed potatoes. And dessert. I have tried to make do with fruits, etc. to wind up meals. Apples are good for my condition, and I love bananas too, and have been munching on small pieces of fresh coconut to give me a sense of dessert. I still wondered how long we'd have to BBQ our dog before dinner could be ready.... Naw, not enough meat....

I will keep posting on LadyBug's progress, and whether or not I eat the sheep in our neighbor's yard...

Take Care!

...And Back Again

2010-12-07T20:52:00.000-08:00

LadyBug had a follow-up appointment with her surgeon today. Once of the ladies in town took her up, since I had a full day of school plus my last day of private lessons for the semester.

Dr. Wonderfulsurgeon saw her, and (YAY!) took out her drains! She finally will no be tied to those things (as it were). We won't have to empty them every day.

LadyBug was having too much pain in her leg, though. The blood clot was so painful she couldn't sleep at night. So the doctor sent her in for a sonogram. They found that the blood clot was MOVING UP HER LEG! They immediately checked her into the hospital and took her to surgery. They have implanted a filter which will be in her leg for the rest of her life. But without the huge threat of a massive Pulmonary Embolism, that will be longer.

LadyBug will be in the hospital for another three days. They will see if they can make the anti-coagulants work this time.

On a different note, I've been dealing with nausea for several weeks now. I had blood work and a sonogram this week, and found out two BIG things. First, my Triglycerides are through the roof! Second, I have sludge in my Gall Bladder. I am not even going to consider gall bladder surgery at this time. I will wait until LadyBug is back fully on her feet. I can't take care of her if I am on my back in a hospital also.

So, I am trying to adjust my diet for both cholesterol and gall bladder friendly foods. I will NOT do a no-carb diet. First, some carbs are good for you. Second, no-carb diets are WORSE THAN DEATH! I'd rather die young and enjoy variety and flavor than live long on that sort of food! I will also look into herbal supplements or medicines that are shown to reduce sludge and help cholesterol.

And in case you talk to mom, they said NOTHING about my blood SUGAR level!

We will hope for the best, but once again, I just want LadyBug home....

Home Again, Home Again

2010-12-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

LadyBug is home once more. Now, along with everything else she is dealing with, she must not only take blood thinners, but she must go to the hospital every other day or so to get blood tests, to ensure that the thinners are working properly! So not only does she have chemo and radiation to look forward to, but in the mean time, she gets poked with a needle several times a week.

She is also now having to manage her pain (which thankfully is less than before) with Tylenol instead of Percocet, since the latter was causing other issues. She still has her drains, she still is tired and sore, and she sees her surgeon on Tuesday. Then some time before January, she will most likely need a port inserted for the chemo treatments.

Our thanks to all who have sent wishes, comforting items, cards, money, and prayers. You make the battle a little lighter!

It Never Rains But....

2010-11-30T21:26:00.000-08:00

LadyBug is currently sitting in the E.R. of a hospital up north. She went in for a visit with Dr. Plastics today. He said everything around the surgical sight looks great, and she is healing up nicely. He was concerned, however about the trouble she was having breathing, so told her to get a chest X-ray at the hospital.

The x-ray showed fluid in both lungs, plus a blood clot in the left lung. They are waiting for a room to be ready, or something right now, and our son StarGazer drove over to be with her. They said they will probably keep her a couple of days, but we don't know for sure exactly how long. They have her on oxygen, and I think, antibiotics, and will start her on anti-coagulants as soon as they can.

We don't know much at this point, but your continued faith and prayers are appreciated. I am quite worried right now, because my accompanist told me her husband's first wife died suddenly from a blood clot in her lung. We'll be walking a tight line until we can get LadyBug home again.

A Little Pampering Goes A Long Way

2010-11-26T22:32:00.000-08:00

Today, LadyBug called down to one of our neighbors who has an in-home salon, to see if she could wash her hair for her. The lady not only agreed to do this, but offered her services pro-bono, so we took her down there. Our van had not started for two days, so we jumped it with my truck, drove down and helped LadyBug into the salon. The lady washed it, dried it, and even started styling it for her, though that was not needed, since she doesn't know how LadyBug styles her hair. but it was a kind, generous service, and was a nice way for LadyBug to get out, get some pampering, and get a small amount of exercise all at the same time.

I am not necessarily surprised, but definitely pleased about how many people are stepping in to help LadyBug. We still have a long way to go, but with all this help the Lord is sending us, we won't go through it alone!

LadyBug Fly Away Home

2010-11-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, LadyBug was released from the hospital. She spent the night with her little sister and her husband, SnowMan. The next day, they brought her home to stay! They then went home, but came down again for Thanksgiving (more food than humanly possible to eat in a week!

For the first day, we had to check LadyBug's drains every four hours. Now we are up to 8 hours. This is a quite unpleasant task that I gladly perform, because it means I have a tangible way to help her! Kissa and SoccerGirl have helped a few times, and StarGazer has at least been trained, though he hasn't needed to help. Soon, we will need to remove the pain-med pump, and be done with that. Once the drain levels are low enough, we can go to Dr. Plastics and he'll remove the drains.

People keep asking what they can do to help. We respond that this is the first time we've ever gone through this, so we don't know what we'll need. One thing that will help is those who have volunteered to take LadyBug up north when she needs to go. I am more than half-way done with taking my possible leave days, so too many more, and the district will start docking my pay. We REALLY can't afford for that to happen.

We actually have more food right now than we know what to do with, so we are okay there. Which is good, since all our spare cash already went for gas to get north, and dinners while we were there. I get paid again in a few days, and LadyBug should get at least a small check next week. If we have too many trips, those will be gone fast. Thankfully, I have my classes at the College to help.

LadyBug is doing fairly well, considering. She takes Percoset for pain, plus another pill that makes her drowsy. She has spent 48 hours on the couch, only getting up to relieve herself or change. She can't shower for a while, but we have caps that you put over your hair to wash without water. Weird, but cool. She hurts, but it isn't unbearable, and she is staying focused. The rest of us are trying to stay as strong and positive as she needs us to be. The one thing that keeps us going is knowing that with the Lord's help we can get through anything. Thank you to all who have shown and offered your support!

The Hardest Thing I've Done

2010-11-23T22:20:00.000-08:00

I try to stay strong. I try to stay positive. But this week nearly broke me, as I did one of the hardest things I've ever done.

It started on Monday when LadyBug went in for surgery. She was on the table for over six hours, which is quite a bit longer than the doctors told us would happen, worrying us (our youngest daughter was waiting with me). First we had to go in for an X-ray. LadyBug had to fast, so I took our daughter to the cafeteria for breakfast. After, we had a couple of hours to get a haircut and find out that Wally World pharmacy wanted to charge us over THREE TIMES what should have been our cost for one of our medications.

We got back in time for LadyBug to get injected with radioactive dye (I asked if she would now turn green when she gets angry...you wouldn't like her when she's angry). After this we went to the prep room. About 1:00 pm they took her to the O.R. where Doctor Wonderfulsurgeon scrubbed up within minutes. Three hours later, she came to talk to us while Dr. Plastics started reconstruction. She told us that the operation went as well as could be expected--better in some aspects.

She told us, however that the lymph nodes tested positive for cancer. This means that LadyBug will have some recuperation time from this surgery, then around the start of the year, she will start Chemo-therapy. Those can be done right here in our town! Depending on what the Oncologist recommends, this will entail bi-weekly visits for either 6 or 8 treatments. Immediately following completion, she will start radiation, which will go five days a week for four weeks or so, and must be done up north.

We still have a lot to learn about which combination of chemicals will be used, what stage the cancer was in, etc., but we are focusing on getting better.

My daughter and I, in the mean time, had both lunch and dinner, before LadyBug was brought to the room. She was quite groggy from the anesthesia, and was still in quite a bit of pain. Our daughter has never seen her mom in this sort if setting, so really had a hard time with it, but we stayed as positive as possible for her and LadyBug.

And then, after several mg's of morphine, I did one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. I left her in the hospital and went home. I've missed so many days of school already, and expect to miss more, so I couldn't afford to stay, though it tore me up to leave. With her missing at least two weeks of work right now, and with more dr. visits coming up, we need every dollar my paycheck brings. Logic explains it, but didn't make me feel like less of a cad. It was so late when we left as it was that I had to have my daughter drive part of the way home.

That was yesterday. Today, LadyBug was released. She will spend a day or so with her sisters family, who will bring her home for Thanksgiving. That means she won't have to be in the hospital, but we still don't get to see her yet. I know we still have a ways to go, but we can see the end now. By summer, LadyBug will be done with all her treatments. And because of Dr. Plastics, she will come home with almost the same cup size she started out with! And within weeks, she can decide just how much more she would like to have. She doesn't want to go very big, and it doesn't really matter to me (no, really!). I keep telling her she should at least go up one cup size, just because she's always complained about being too small....

I wish we knew more. People keep asking how they can help. I just have to answer that we've never done this before, so don't know what we need. Cooking and cleaning can be handled. We will need some help getting her to some of these appointments, and several friends have already volunteered. We know before this is done, we'll end up owing twice as much to the medical treatments as we originally thought. We've met our deductible this year, but treatments start in the new year. So we'll get our deductible met for next year before January is up, I am sure!

The one thing we know has helped us is all the fasting, faith, and prayers on our behalf. I've always believed that the Lord answers prayers. I've also always believed that he doesn't always answer them in the way we expect or necessarily want. Sometimes, what we think we need is not what is best for us in the long run. This experience has already changed us, and continues to do so. And in the long run, perhaps we will eventually become the people the Lord wants us to be.

I just finished reading Stone Tables, by Orson Scott Card, which is a fictionalized retelling of the story of Moses. The main theme of this book was that Moses, Aaron, Miriam, and Joshua expected their lives to go one way. They prayed for their lives to go another way, but the Lord had other plans. Moses in particular had to lose everything in order to be in the situation where he could be the Lord's prophet. He certainly didn't think it was a good thing at the time, but realized later that it was necessary.

We may not be enjoying our circumstances right now, and we may not yet be entirely grateful for our hardships, but we recognize the Lord's hand in all things, and are seeking to understand His will. One thing for sure, we have come to realize not only how much our friends and family love us, but how much we love them. Without our loved ones, we would be left bereft of much of what gives us hope. May the Lord bless all of you who have supported us and continue to do so. Thank you!

Never Disappointed?

2010-11-20T22:48:00.000-08:00

My mother once shocked me by telling me that she used to come up with new ways every day to disappoint me, with the plan that that way i wouldn't grow up not knowing how to deal with disappointment. Well, for better or worse, I think her plan worked (sometimes I wonder if it worked so well I EXPECT disappointment)!

I was thinking the other day, though, that perhaps this is one reason why I was led to LadyBug some two dozen years ago. I wonder if the fact that I have spent the last two decades convincing her that she is not only worthwhile, but strong in her own right, has made it possible for her to continue through this ordeal with cancer in the way she has. She has stayed positive and focused throughout the whole ordeal, and has earned the respect of observers for her courage.

I have never really considered myself to be a "strong person" but feel that my mother-developed ability to see adversity as a temporary challenge has enabled me to help LadyBug in this trial. I also believe, as Delirious has stated, that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has helped us through this also. With His aid, all things are possible, and I feel that when He is blessing us, we can overcome any obstacle. It has inspired me to seek other stumbling blocks in my life to remove.

This has also shown me that there are some things in our lives which we cling to that simply are NOT important. I have found that dropping some of these things was easier than it would have been three months ago. I'm not giving up every indulgence or pastime, but I am recognizing which ones I definitely can do without.

So, although she sometimes scares the crap out of us, at this time of year, I am Thankful for a mother who wasn't afraid to disappoint her children. Repeatedly. On purpose....

Confirmation

2010-11-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

We went yesterday to get a sonogram. The doctor wanted to compare this with the MRI from earlier in the week. As they performed the sonogram, they could easily see the mass on the right side, and said it looked like a normal--and more-importantly--benign fibroadenoma, a normally recurring type of tissue found in breasts of women the same age as LadyBug.

They still wanted to be safe, so recommended taking a core biopsy (or, more accurately, FOUR biopsies). These were couriered over to the pathologist so he can try to have a report on it before the surgery Monday. We then had to get a chest x-ray. This is in preparation for the surgery, which will take place Monday, sometime after noon.

Basically, unless the information we have changes, or LadyBug's mind does, the surgery will excise the left breast, while leaving the right. The best possible conclusion will be that this removes all the cancer and LadyBug will not need radiation or chemo.

Your prayers and faith have been greatly appreciated. We are praying for a quick recovery and a quiet Thanksgiving.

Checking the Right

2010-11-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

Today we went north again. We needed to get an MRI to see if there was anything in LadyBug's right breast that could cause concern. We also had an appointment with the plastic surgeon to see options for reconstruction. We ended the day with both good news and bad news.

First the bad. LadyBug's MRI showed a mass in her right breast. Dr. Wonderfulsurgeon said we should not panic, because it appears to just be fibrous tissue, but then that's how the left side started too. Regardless, it means we must go north AGAIN on Friday to get a sonogram, so they can compare images to decide what exactly is going on. It basically means that we still don't know whether this will be a double-mastectomy or single. It also doesn't help us know whether or not LadyBug will need radiation and chemo. So all we know is that we need to get more tests, and the operation is still Monday.

The good news is that whether LadyBug needs radiation or not, the reconstruction process will begin Monday while LadyBug is STILL ON THE TABLE. We saw several pictures today showing what the reconstruction process is like, including a coffee table book showing one woman's journey from mastectomy to recovery. Not for the squeamish, and not what you want to show to your kids friends, but very informative and encouraging. If LadyBug only needs one side removed, they can not only rebuild that side, but build up the other so they match (including a breast lift on the right side). If she must have the double, then both sides will be rebuilt at the same time, and she can choose what size she wants when she gets there. I won't go into the gory details of everything reconstruction involves, but we will keep positive and keep posting through the process.

The prayers of all our loved ones have definitely helped us, and the strength we receive from the Lord keeps us going. We don't know how we will reach the end of all this, but we know that with His aid, we will reach it. This experience has brought us closer, built our faith, made us grateful for our blessings, and made LadyBug realize how many people care for her.

I don't know if we can say yet that we are thankful for this experience, but we can definitely say we are grateful for things that have come to us as a result of it. Thank you all.

Insurance Companies are Evil

2010-11-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

If you are planning to get health insurance, check first to see if your company covers the costs of the test for the cancer gene. Ours, Educator's Mutual, does not. Further more, the people who do the test told us it takes 10-14 days to receive results. That would be okay, if they had told us with more than 7 days until our surgery. Which means that even if we could afford the $3,300.00 cost of the test, we would not have results back in time to do any good. So double check those sorts of things before you throw good money to bad companies. Healthcare reform, my eye!

To Contribute

2010-11-15T21:01:00.000-08:00

Anyone wishing to help with deferring the medical costs of our Cancer Battle may do so by sending funds via PayPal to: choralresponses@hotmail.com

News From the Front

2010-11-09T22:59:00.000-08:00

So LadyBug and I headed north today to see her surgeon. This was a much anticipated visit after the news we received on Friday. If you ever want to spend a tense weekend, find out on Friday you have entered the realms of cancer, then wait until Tuesday to find out more.

After a bit of a wait, the Doctor Wonderfulsurgeon entered the room. She, much as she always does, got right to business. She laid out both options that were available to us, with accompanying benefits and consequences. One was a lumpectomy, the other a full mastectomy. To cut the matter short, LadyBug decided to opt for the total package. She doesn't want to have to worry (and lose even more sleep) and wonder whether or not the cancer will come back.

One of the things she did was recommend a screen for the Cancer Gene. If the results come back positive, she will strongly advise a double-mastectomy. If the results are negative for that gene, only the left breast will be taken. The doctor then explained that as she is in surgery, they will look at her lymph nodes, and the pathologist will be able to tell before the end of the operation whether or not the cancer has spread.

If the cancer has spread to the lymph system, LadyBug will need to begin radiation therapy as soon as she is recovered from the surgery, to be accompanied by chemotherapy. If she were to do just a lumpectomy, the radiation and chemo would have been mandated. Since radiation therapy would mean a 200 mile round trip five days a week, please pray that it will not be necessary. If the lymph system is cancer-free, the surgery will most likely end the ordeal, with possibly some chemo added for good measure.

While LadyBug is still on the table, the reconstructive specialist will come in to see what he can do about building a new breast. He will insert a tissue extender, which can be inflated with saline gradually over time. Eventually, when the surrounding tissue has reached the point where it is ready, he will remove the extender and insert the augmentation implant. LadyBug's younger sister suggested going BIG! Her brother-in-law (married to another sister) advised DOUBLE-D's.

LadyBug doesn't want anything much bigger than what she has now, but if they only have to take the left breast, she will get a new one to match it's size and shape. The surgeon can eventually reconstruct (ahem) all physical attributes of a healthy breast, with the exceptions of inner material and feeling. I suggested that once she is done, she needs the shirt that says, "Of course they're fake! My real ones tried to kill me!"

LadyBug first has to have an MRI, and consultation with the plastic-surgeon, both of which take place next Wednesday. The full surgery will take place on the Monday before Thanksgiving. She will spend one night in the hospital, with a possible second-night stay. LadyBug's bro-in-law, Pillsbury Doughboy, has volunteered to check in on her the second day, since I will have classes to teach. If she can be checked out that day, he has volunteered to drive her home. If not, he will call me and let me know. Then she can be brought home the next day (the day before Thanksgiving).

We don't know how long recovery time is. We do know without my college classes, we wouldn't stand a chance of making it without LadyBug working. We also know we have the faith and prayers of many loved ones. My students had a text forwarded around town about five times telling everyone to fast and pray for her this last Sunday. It's in the Lord's hands now, and I feel very strongly that he is guiding the surgeon's hands. What His will is in this matter, we cannot say, but we know He will watch over us and guide us. Our thanks to those whose prayers have benefited us so much already. And if you haven't seen your doctor in a while, go soon. Don't wait. And may God bless each one of you.

We Have Joined the Cancer Community

2010-11-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

I will not post very much here. I just want to keep one more place where everyone can be kept up on what is going on. In June, LadyBug went in for her first Mammogram. She was 43, and felt she had put it off too long already. The results showed several masses, which appeared to be just fibrous material that is common and benign.

She was referred to a WONDERFUL doctor up north who did more exams and determined the same thing. She told her that she had several options: 1) Wait and see what happened over the course of the next six months; 2) Biopsy the lumps and decide later; or 3) Remove the lumps and be done with it.

LadyBug chose option number 3, and went in for surgery in August. All three lumps were removed, and biopsied. The results came back as expected--they were non-cancerous fibrous tissue. We were relieved, but not too surprised. After all, this is what we had been told to expect.

Six weeks later, LadyBug began experiencing pain in her left breast, a few inches away from any incision. We called our doctor, who put her on antibiotics, thinking it was an abscess. After a week or so, we called the surgeon's office. She was out of town, but one of her associates agreed to see us. After several types of exams, we were told it was most likely a hematoma or an abscess. This doctor really didn't seem to interested in anything other than getting us out of the office. He gave her stronger antibiotics, and was asked to contact him if there were no improvements. There weren't.

When we went back, Dr. Doesntgiveacrap saw us again and said, "Oh, it looks smaller! Good! That means the antibiotics are working!" He told her that all her other symptoms were basically figments of her imagination. So we went home, feeling like we had completely wasted a long trip, plus copay.

A few days later, Dr. Wonderfulsurgeon came back into town, saw that her disinterested associate had seen us and called to get LadyBug in for a visit. She wanted to see for herself what was going on. She did an ultra-sound exam, and saw the mass, which she assumed was either infection, or a hematoma. She suggested we should return in a couple of days for another surgical procedure. We agreed.

After a three-hour wait in Pre-Op, and a thirty minute surgery, the dr. came to speak with me. She did not find a huge amount of infection OR a hematoma, but instead, found a small amount of infection surrounded by what she called "angry tissue." She cleaned out the infection and scooped out some of that "angry tissue," which was biopsied.

Friday morning, Dr. Wonderfulsurgeon called at 10:30 to speak with LadyBug. She had just gotten the results back from the biopsy. "Angry Tissue" turned out to be cancerous. She set an appointment for Tuesday. We don't know what to expect, but have been on the receiving end of Relief Society dinners, well-wishes, and Fasting and Prayer by many of my students and friends. Things like this really let you know what is going on! And let's you know what really matters. We will know more Tuesday, but I have appointments every day this week because of this, so I don't know how soon I will get onto this blog. I will try to keep my family informed as soon as we know anything (although I don't think I have cell numbers for everyone yet...).

For now, just keep her in your prayers. It is in the hands of the Lord, and our Wonderful Surgeon, and between you and me, that's the best place she could be in this situation!

Our Little Elves

2010-10-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know my wife and I know that I am rarely, if ever, home, and she has been in poor health for several years now. Three of our four kids have "moved out" of the house. The problem though, was that before moving, they did as little as possible to help with the upkeep in chores, and as much as seems possible to add to the piles of messiness everywhere in our house.

I am not afraid of work, and the missus is a very conscientious housekeeper, but with her health affecting her the way it did, and with me being gone for hours and hours every day, the mess got to be a HUGE monster staring us in the face! We have even watched episodes of "Clean House" with varying degrees of guilt, but with such a seemingly insurmountable task, just kept getting further and further behind. The result was an embarrassing situation and never wanting anyone to visit our home.

Well, her boss, seeing how clean she keeps her desk in the office, and hearing how much she complained about not being able to get caught up at home, decided to step in. He brought about a half-dozen co-workers over to our house between yesterday and today, and they boxed up, bagged up, cleaned up, carted off or threw away tons of trash, clothes, books, toys, shoes, and whatever else they could find. The result is an amazingly clean house. One of our bedrooms has become a storage room, but everything else is nice and neat! Here are some pics:

I have never felt quite so grateful and humble all at the same time before. It is a terrifying process to see people pick through your nick-knacks and little treasures and decide you don't need them, tossing them out. I must say, though, that it is a testament to the impact my wife has on the people who work with her that they would be willing to do this for her. There a re just times, I guess when the dragon is too big for one lone adventurer to tackle. Thank you to all our little elves who magically transformed our place back into a semblance of the home we bought. We have a long way to go before it could be ready to sell, but what a relief to not ignore the elephant in the room anymore!

All-State 2010

2010-10-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

We had our All-State Choir Concert recently. We had a great guest conductor from a state to our north, and around 700 students, all singing in an amazing hall. What a great weekend! I only have one picture to share right now, but more may come later, possibly on FB.

Schools that spend at least 20 percent of their curricular day studying the arts, especially choral music, are more likely to have educational achievement. Please speak to you administrators and school boards, legislators, and congressional representatives to keep music alive in our schools!

The Hot Air Ballon Fiesta Trip

2010-10-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

We went last week to visit my sister at the balloon rally held in her little town. Here are some pics from that trip, as requested by Inklings.

Two crazy Sisters...

At a restaurant...

Mass Ascension...

Balloon Fiesta Arts Show...

Fried Twinkies?!

The drive home...

The Windows of Heaven

2010-09-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

We have been planning for some time to take a trip to visit my sister, Nene. A certain gathering takes place in her little village every year that is quite the sight, and we've been a few times before, but not for a few years. And this will be our first trip without my parents. Even though we'd originally planned this in order to see lots of family only to find out we were going a week too early to do so, we decided to continue with our plans anyway.

Several things this last week came up (finances not being the least) which made us wonder if we would be able to make the trip. This was causing me considerable stress, and I did not know what to do. We wanted the trip to happen, but just didn't know if it would be possible.

Then yesterday, right before heading to do some shopping, we checked the mail. It seems there was a problem with our 2009 State Taxes. They had chosen our return to review and had found a problem. There was one form, it seems, that we had forgotten to include in our return. This review now means that we will be getting a nice little check from the State Tax Commission sometime in the next thirty days. That, combined with my regular paycheck, my bonus paycheck, and my college paycheck, which are all coming in the next couple of weeks, make it so we can now go on our trip.

Of course, after getting our daughter from college, we will be leaving at 7:00 p.m. and driving through the night in shifts, arriving in Nene's town about breakfast time! And the last time we went, our van did not make it back in one piece.... We will keep faith (and pray, pray, pray). See you in a few days, Nene!

Visit my New Blog

2010-09-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

No Apologies
This Blog is now open for comments. I still retain the right to read all comments before they are published, but it is no longer closed.

Where There's Smoke....

2010-09-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

From:

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.

CBS's Bob Schieffer made it crystal clear Sunday that he is going to do his part to prevent House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh.) from replacing Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as Speaker this January.

In a hard-hitting interview about a variety of subjects on "Face the Nation," Schieffer actually hammered his guest for smoking cigarettes and taking campaign contributions from the tobacco industry.

"How do you square that with the fact that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in this country; 435,000 people -- their deaths are linked to cancer. That`s one in five," scolded Schieffer.

(video follows with transcript and commentary):

BOB SCHIEFFER, HOST: Mr. Boehner, I`m going to ask you this question because I`m not objective about this. I`m -- I`m a cancer survivor. I used to be a heavy smoker. Do you still smoke?

JOHN BOEHNER, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER (R-OHIO): I do.

SCHIEFFER: You have taken $340,000 from the tobacco industry. They`ve been the largest contributor to your political campaigns over the year. How do you square that with the fact that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in this country; 435,000 people -- their deaths are linked to cancer. That`s one in five. How do you -- how do you justify that in your own mind?

BOEHNER: Bob, tobacco is a legal product in America. And the American people have the right to decide for themselves whether they want to partake or not. There are lots of things that we deal with and come in contact with every day, from alcohol to food to cigarettes, a lot of things that aren`t good for our health. But the American people ought to have the right to make those decisions on their own.

SCHIEFFER: Well, I mean, they have a right to shoot themselves if they choose to.

Actually, Bob, suicide is against the law in America. Nice try!

SCHIEFFER: But, I mean, shouldn`t we do something to try to encourage them not to? I mean, do you think that`s a good example?

BOEHNER: Well, listen, I wish I didn`t have this bad habit. And it is a bad habit. You`ve had it. You`ve dealt with it. But it`s something that I choose to do. And, you know, at some point maybe I`ll decide I`ve had enough of it.

SCHIEFFER: Well, I mean, if you should become speaker, you could set a good example for the country by saying, I`m going to try to stop smoking. Maybe you could get the president. I understand he smokes too. Maybe the two of you could find a way to try to stop smoking. That would be kind of a good thing, wouldn`t it?

BOEHNER: Bob, I appreciate your suggestion.

The hypocrisy on display here was astounding. After all, as Schieffer noted, Barack Obama is a cigarette smoker. But something Schieffer didn't mention was that in 2008, Obama took more money from the tobacco industry than Boehner did. Yet, according to LexisNexis, Schieffer has never scolded Obama for his smoking or asked him to quit in order to "set a good example."

And From: http://listverse.com/2009/01/11/30-fascinating-cigarette-smoking-facts/

The world’s view on smoking cigarettes has changed dramatically over the last century. The habit was once considered to be cool, sexy, good for your health, and widely enjoyed by many people. It was promoted by sportsmen, and advertised all over television. No one could be seen acting in a movie without a lit cigarette in their hand! Today, smoking is considered to be a nasty addictive habit that can kill you and those around you. You wont find them advertised anywhere – nor will you see anyone smoking inside a public building. It seems that these days smokers are considered to be anti-social and are often frowned at if seen smoking outside in crowded places. Below is a list of interesting facts about cigarettes.

1. Cigarettes are the single-most traded item on the planet, with approximately 1 trillion being sold from country to country each year. At a global take of more than $400 billion, it’s one of the world’s largest industries.

2. The nicotine content in several major brands is reportedly on the rise. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Health Department revealed that between 1997 and 2005 the amount of nicotine in Camel, Newport, and Doral cigarettes may have increased by as much as 11 percent.

3. In 1970, President Nixon signed the law that placed warning labels on cigarettes and banned television advertisements for cigarettes. The last date that cigarette ads were permitted on TV was extended by a day, from December 31, 1970 to January 1, 1971 to allow the television networks one last cash windfall from cigarette advertising in the New Year’s Day football games.

4. U.S. cigarette manufacturers now make more money selling cigarettes to countries around the globe than they do selling to Americans.

5. The American brands Marlboro, Kool, Camel and Kent own roughly 70% of the global cigarette market.

6. Cigarettes contain arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia and 43 known carcinogens.

7. In the early 1950s, the Kent brand of cigarettes used crocidolite asbestos as part of the filter, a known active carcinogen.

8. Urea, a chemical compound that is a major component in urine, is used to add “flavor” to cigarettes.

9. The ‘Cork Tip’ filter was originally invented in 1925 by Hungarian inventor Boris Aivaz, who patented the process of making the cigarette filter from crepe paper. All kinds of filters were tested, although ‘cork’ is unlikely to have been one of them.

10. In most countries around the world, the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products is now 18, raised from 16, while in Japan the age minimum is 20 years old.

11. Contrary to popular social belief, it is NOT illegal to smoke tobacco products at any age. Parents are within the law to allow minors to smoke, and minors are within the law to smoke tobacco products freely. However, the SALE of tobacco products is highly regulated with legal legislation.

12. Smoking bans in many parts of the world have been employed as a means to stop smokers smoking in public. As a result, many social businesses have claimed a significant drop in the number of people who go out to pubs, bars and restaurants.

13. Scientists claim the average smoker will lose 14 years of their life due to smoking. This however does not necessarily mean that a smoker will die young – and they may still live out a ‘normal’ lifespan.

14. The U.S. states with the highest percentage of smokers are Kentucky (28.7%), Indiana (27.3%), and Tennessee (26.8%), while the states with the fewest are Utah (11.5%), California ( 15.2%), and Connecticut (16.5%).

15. Cigarettes can contain more than 4,000 ingredients, which, when burned, can also produce over 200 ‘compound’ chemicals. Many of these ‘compounds’ have been linked to lung damage.

16. The United States is the only major cigarette market in the world in which the percentage of women smoking cigarettes (22%) comes close to the number of men who smoke (35%). Europe has a slightly larger gap (46% of men smoke, 26% of women smoke), while most other regions have few women smokers. The stats: Africa (29% of men smoke, 4% of women smoke); Southeast Asia (44% of men, 4% of women), Western Pacific (60% of men, 8% of women)

17. Nicotine reaches the brain within 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. It has been found in every part of the body and in breast milk.

18. Sugar approximates to roughly 20% of a cigarette, and many diabetics are unaware of this secret sugar intake. Also, the effect of burning sugar is unknown.

19. ‘Lite’ cigarettes are produced by infusing tobacco with CO2 and superheating it until the tobacco ‘puffs up’ like expanding foam. The expanded tobacco then fills the same paper tube as ‘regular’ tobacco.

20. Smokers draw on ‘lite’ and menthol cigarettes harder (on average) than regular cigarettes; causing the same overall levels of tar and nicotine to be consumed.

21. ‘Lite’ cigarettes are manufactured with air holes around the filter to aerate the smoke as it is drawn in. Many smokers have learned to cover these holes with their fingers or their lips to get a stronger hit.

22. The immune systems of smokers has to work harder every day than non-smokers. As a result, a smokers’ blood will contain less antioxidants, although a smokers immune system may be quicker to respond to virus attacks due to its more active nature.

23. Smokers often smoke after meals to ‘allow food to digest easier’. In fact, this works because the bodies priority moves away from the digestion of food in favor of protecting the blood cells and flushing toxins from the brain.

24. Some people (mostly males) can be aroused by the sight of smoker smoking (usually females). This is called the Smoking Fetish, and affects a small number of the population. As with most fetishes, the reason for this arousal can usually be traced back to incidents in childhood. However, cigarettes – particularly menthols, force blood away from the penis if smoked while aroused.

25. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of cigarettes sold around the world are smuggled.

26. Most smokers take up the habit in their mid teens, well before the legal age for purchasing them, and is seen as a right of passage towards adulthood. Other perceived rights of passage include: aftershave, wearing stilettos, alcohol, drugs and sexual intercourse; with a combination of these sometimes being cited as the main causes of teenage pregnancy.

27. Smoking tobacco is the ultimate gateway drug in that it is legally available, and involves mastering a unique method of intake – much more so than alcohol (which has such a significant effect that users need look no further for stimulation). Smokers looking to get ‘high’ will very rarely do so from cigarettes after the initial stages of taking up the habit.

28. Smokers generally report a variety of after-effects; such as calmness, relaxation, alertness, stimulation, concentration and many others. In fact, smoking will produce a different effect in each individual depending on ‘what they expect to get’; turning the cigarette into the worlds most popular placebo (satisfying the brains hunger for nicotine being the only ‘relaxing’ factor). The smoker will then use these expectations as a means to continue the habit.

29. Several active ingredients and special methods of production are involved in making sure the nicotine in a cigarette is many times more potent than that of a tobacco plant.

30. ‘Toppings’ are added to the blended tobacco mix to add flavor and a taste unique to the manufacturer. Some of these toppings have included; clove, licorice, orange oil, apricot stone, lime oil, lavender oil, dill seed oil, cocoa, carrot oil, mace oil, myrrh, beet juice, bay leaf, oak, rum, vanilla, and vinegar.

Contributor: Lifeschool

Small Town Homecomings

2010-09-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

It's Homecoming time again in our little Burgh, and that means clubs paint windows. Here are our windows. Not exactly Monet, but we have fun...

That Wierd Feeling...

2010-09-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Something seems strange today. We went to our youngest daughter's soccer game, which her team won, 4-1. The other school didn't bring a JV team, so after just over one hour, we were done. Our daughter score one of the four goals for her team, off a set of beautiful passes that put her right where she needed to be. After the game, we decided to go get the mail and some cat food.

On the way from the Post Office, we saw a yard sale sign, which in our town doesn't necessarily mean anything good, but it had been so long since I'd been to a yard sale, I decided to turn around. My wife found some decorations that fit the lighthouse theme she wants for one of our bathrooms, so we got those, then started talking about houses that was up for sale. Yes, we would like to move, but no, it's not going to happen soon. But we decided to go for a drive to check out these homes, just for fun.

On the way we saw another yard sale sign, and stopped. We got a canopy for a great price, and a child door gate, which in our house will be a keep-the-dog-out-of-our-room gate. The we stopped at a sale that really had nothing and went to the store. After filling our van's gas tank, we finally reached home, where my wife cut my hair after we ate lunch.

Now, I find that I have nowhere to be, nothing to do, nobody to meet. It's bizarre. I haven't had a free afternoon in a while now, so I feel like something is missing.

Then I realize, nah...I'm ok. I'll just go fishing.