Well....the pain continues in my abdomen....but it is slowing down a bit. I am doing the prune juice and sennakot route and today I dug out the Miralax that Dr. Lachance gave me months ago. All of this is working (occasionally)...but I have to keep up this routine or it doesn't come out.

And I was just thinking a couple of weeks ago, "remember when your stomach hurt so bad? Good thing that's over!" HA! I have to remember not to have such thoughts from now on.

I do believe it is adhesions from my surgeries. These are causing small blockages in my bowels and thus the pain. I don't understand why my stomach pouch was so painful though. Sandy thinks I might have had a virus of some sort.

I never got a call about the CT scan. When (and if) I do, I'm going to tell them to fahgeddabouddit!

I keep walking and moving about...that helps even though it hurts at the same time.

As I told Robin (who gave me great suggestions on what to do to help), having this is still better than having cancer!

The weather has been wonderful and it looks like it will continue. It proves the theory I have held since I was a kid...the week the kids go back to school is always the best week of the year...weatherwise! It always seemed that way when I was a kid in school. Anyway, I fell asleep on the deck, lying in the sun, this morning after having my coffee. It felt good.

I work two days this week, tomorrow and Thursday. Friday I have chemo. Then it's time to start getting ready for Tennessee!

Big Moon

Can't remember when I last posted. Sandy was off most of this week, so we did some stuff. Tuesday night we had Carol and Mark over for steak, corn from Sandy's garden and Sandy's great red potatoes cooked on the grill. I got sick, actually, sicker after I ate and ended up in the tub of hot water, trying to get my stomach to calm down.

That didn't work. My stomach had been bothering me since Sunday. Yesterday I had to go see the doctor anyway for my check up prior to chemo. I had to go a week early as there were no appointments available next week.

It's just as well I went yesterday. Saw Dr. McCourt...another new doctor--for me. She's very nice as all of them in that practice are. When she palpated my abdomen I came up off the table with the pain...and I'm usually quite stoic at the doctor's office. She doesn't know what it is and wanted me to go for a CT scan to have it checked. She and I think it's something with my stomach...not the cancer coming back.

I couldn't stand the thought of drinking that crap on top of how my stomach felt, so I told her I wanted to see how it goes. She told me to call and let her know if I wanted the test.

I felt a bit better this AM and went to pick up Lynne for our long-delayed trip to Ikea and to Lenny and Joe's for lobster that I had promised her for her birthday way back in July! We had a great time shopping at Ikea and then we got to the restaurant, after a nice, leisurely drive down Rte 1. They don't sell whole lobsters until after 5:00, so we each had a lunchtime special...the hot buttered lobster on a roll, with french fries and cole slaw.

I felt pretty good walking around Ikea, but at the end the weight of my shopping bag was starting to pull on my abdominal muscles, which made my stomach start hurting again. I kept getting twinges off and on the ride home and at the restaurant. By the time I dropped Lynne off and drove home, my stomach was back where it was yesterday. So, as I promised Lynne and Sandy, I called the doctor and told them I wanted a CT scan. Of course that was 3pm and now it's after 8pm and no one has called me back, so I guess I'll call again tomorrow. Hopefully I can get scanned tomorrow or Saturday and they can figure out what the hell this is.

I have a feeling and so does Lynne and Carol that this may be adhesions. It does feel like my stomach or something near is is very inflamed. Of course Bubbles and Rocky manage to jump on me and land on the worst spot for pain. Not fun.

The good news I got yesterday was that my latest CA 125 test showed that my cancer level dropped even more...to THREE! YAY!! I am three away from my goal of zero...which most people say can't be accomplished.

We were supposed to go to the Woodstock Fair tomorrow...I guess those plans are foiled by my abdomen...oh well...it was going to be expensive anyway.

I'm going to enjoy the moon tonight and the sun tomorrow. And maybe fit a CT scan in the schedule.

Nighty night!

Rainy Saturday

Went to Megan's 5oth birthday party today. Saw Pam, Robin, Karen and Sharon, Scott and Val and Megan, of course. Oh...and Laura Jutras, daughter of my old pal, Anne Champeau of Chapman Street. I write that for Maria's benefit.

Had a good time, but got very tired and came home early. It's been a busy week, with the beach and boogey boarding on Wednesday and going down to Jean's on Thursday and Friday. Sandy was off several days this week, so we got to do things.

We went to the movies to see Harry Potter one day...I forget if that was this week or last! Huh. Anyway, it was good. We hadn't been to the movies since that last Die Hard movie! Long time.

The beach was awesome...again, it had been a few years since we went to the beach. The waves were great for boogey boarding and we got some good rides. Carol came with us and we all agreed it was a great day. She and Mark came over for pizza that night and we had a good evening visiting and watching the game.

While we were enjoying ourselves, someone was breaking into the house down the street where the older couple live. They go out every Wednesday night from 6-8 for dinner and someone knows that...they broke in and took weird stuff....47 cans of tuna included! Who the hell has 47 cans of tuna or KNOWS the exact amount?

We are going to start a neighborhood watch for sure now. We lock our doors, even when we're home and we keep the windows locked at night. I think we are pretty safe...we have the alarm system, plus the dogs, plus the fact that we don't work regular hours...it's tough to say when we are going to be away from the house...plus we don't have alcohol in the house--that's another thing they are after---wine and hard liquor.

One house had something like 65 bottles of hard liquor taken...now who the hell has that much booze in their house? Somehow these thieves know what's in there. They aren't taking electronics though. Booze, jewelry and prescription drugs...those are the common items taken. They even left coins that were lying around in one house and a coin collection in this last place that they broke into. Odd.

So, work one day next week, out to Ikea and to Lenny and Joe's with Lynne on Thursday and to see the doctor (DiSilvestro's partner) on Wednesday. Friday there's something going on too...oh, Sandy may be off and we may go to the Woodstock Fair. Saturday is Richard and David's wedding picnic. Sunday I'm watching Janet's dogs while she is in Maine, so I may spend some time over there.

The time should fly.

Sox are beating Toronto (again) with Bucholtz spinning a beauty on the mound. Great game. Gonna go watch it.

Nighty night.

Follow up to yesterday's post

I forgot to include what happened while we were at Foxwoods!

When we got back to Janet's house, we saw that my car's lights were on....we were puzzled...and then realized that the car was still running! Sandy had forgotten to turn it off. It ran on some gasoline and mostly the battery for almost six hours. I dare anyone without a hybrid to do that!

My mileage notice read 26.4 mpg after this...prior to this it had read 38.7 mpg...when I turned the car over to Sandy.

I don't blame her...it is so easy to forget to turn the car off and it's so hard to realize that it is still running. It's so quiet. However, she did say that she heard the car beeping at her as she locked the doors. That's the alert we need to pay attention to.

And Jean told me that as she and Dorothy were leaving the gaming area after the show Saturday night a guy got up from his chair in front of a slot machine and just dropped to the floor. She was pretty sure he was dead. Sandy says that happens frequently at the casinos. They call them "casino cardiacs." I bet (get it?) that people ignore the symptoms so they can continue gambling. That is sad.

I can't believe that I forgot to include these tidbits...they are arguably the most interesting things about the weekend!

Oh, and I love the Lutherans! They are allowing non-celibate gay clergy to continue preaching.
Good for them!

Sunday and the Sox are going down.....

again.....to the Stankees. UGH! Oh well, maybe they will snap out of it in the ninth!

We ate outside on the deck tonight, steak, stuffed potatoes, winter squash and we each had an ear of corn picked fresh from Sandy's garden. Three years she's been growing corn...tonight is the first time I had any of it...and it was very, very good.

Went to the Schultzberg Family reunion yesterday. Always a great time....and yesterday was no exception. Couldn't stay long as we had a dinner date and tickets to an event at Foxwoods in the evening. Went to pick up Bob and Wini on my way to Uxbridge and they had forgotten all about it...Bob was in his shorts and t-shirt, bare footed, standing on a stepstool, washing the kitchen cupboards when I got there. He looked very cute with his new glasses. Makes him look 20 years younger!

Wini was trying to convince him to go with me, but he felt it would be too much for him and I have to agree. He doesn't know everyone there and it creates anxiety for him. It's too confusing now for him to be in large groups of folks he doesn't know well. I told him I would have Shirley and Gus come down for dinner and invite him and Wini to come too. He liked that idea and so did they. Jean and Dave will bring Shirl and Gus. It will be nice.

So I went alone and stayed for a couple of hours, then flew home in time to throw some different clothes on and get in the car to go to Janet's. We made it there in time, met Barry for the first time and really liked him. Janet, Jess, Barry, Sandy and I loaded into their van and off we went to Foxwoods. We met Jean and Dorothy at California Pizza (Dorothy's suggestion) and we had a very good meal there. I would go again.

Then we played some slots, I got ripped off by one of the machines....I had $18.45 credit, punched out and took the slip to another machine to play. It wouldn't let me play and pushed out a ticket for .20! I took it to a machine attendant who traced the whole thing...the machine ripped me off...but someone came along behind me and played the rest of my credits! I didn't see anyone at that machine...but that's what the printout said...so..... Maybe that's how the casinos make their money now. Good thing I gamble only about once a year and limit it to $20!

Then it was time for the show: "The Legends" show. It was comprised of celebrity lookalikes/singalikes. "Garth Brooks, Gwen Stefani, Bette Midler, Elton John and Elvis." Most of them were pretty good and it was fun singing along with them. We had a great time, laughing and singing.

I really like Barry and Sandy did too. Jean and Dorothy couldn't get over how easily he got along with the four of us who he had never met before. He is an easy-going guy and we are very happy for Janet! She deserves the best!

Well...there is one out in the ninth, doesn't look good for the home team. I've taken my night meds and should be crashing soon...so I'll say:


Nighty night.

Halfway home!

Had chemo #11 today. Another 11 to go. Sometimes it feels like I've just started this process, sometimes it feels as if I have been doing it for years! I got the good news about my CT scan today--everything looks great in there...no gremlins popping up anywhere. Happy day!

It has been so hot this week. I worked on Monday and Wednesday and was supposed to work today, but I couldn't because of chemo. I'm on stand-by for Monday. They don't need as many people so they canceled me--but then they said the back-up person isn't feeling well...so I'm on stand-by. It's all good. I get paid either way.

Today the nurse put me on Effexor...which is an antidepressant that also helps with hot flashes. The Tylenol PM she suggested last time really helps me fall asleep when I first go to bed and when I wake up at night....from the hot flashes. Hopefully the Effexor will help reduce the hot flashes. I used to take hormones for this but can't now because of the chemo.

I don't mind being on an antidepressant. I kind of run to depression anyway. I've always been that way...have to fight depression most of the time. I used to be on a different med that helped "smooth things out" for me. It can't hurt that's for sure!

Jerry Remy is back in the booth where he belongs...just hope the Sox respond and dig their way out of this 5-1 deficit! Ooops! 6-1 deficit!

I don't trust Brad Penny.

Tomorrow is a big day....family picnic in Massachusetts at the McElreath's, I'll be picking Bob and Wini up at noon and heading up to Linwood. Then I take them home, come home and rest for a bit, then it's off to Norwich to meet up with Janet and Jess to go to dinner at Foxwoods and then see the "Legends" show that we have been eagerly anticipating. We'll be seeing "Michael Jackson, Cher, Bette Midler" and I can't rememer who else. Should be lots of fun. I hope I'm not too tired!

Sunday I think I'll just lie in the recliner and enjoy the Sox and Yankees. Or watch the hurricane or whatever it is that's headed this way.

Batten down the hatches folks!

Nighty night.

Hot hot hot

It's been hot hot hot....and I'm loving it. I never used to like the heat. I was very affected by heat, in a negative way in the past. I tolerate it better now and am able to do more stuff out in the heat.

This AM I got up and went to the gym. I hadn't been in more than a week--maybe even longer than that...so it felt good to be back in there again. This is odd, as right now there is a show on TV about a guy who works out at least 50 times a WEEK! It's that show "Obsession" that we're recording.

Well, I'm certainly not like that guy. But I do need to go to the gym more. I worked out for over an hour, nice mix of treadclimber, bike, resistance machines, weights and then stretching.

Friday I worked in the afternoon---Jenn was back to work after having the baby. Nice talking with her and hearing about her new life with the baby. It was also good to see her back at her desk. Sheila is in Paris....again...that's getting old. I hope she's back when I go to work tomorrow. I love fooling around with her.

Friday night I had Mark and Carol come over. We had fish and chips from a local place and we gave it three "thumbs down"....and continue our quest for great fish and chips. I told Mark about the red potato pizza that I get from the place in Canterbury and he got all excited.he wants to go with the next time I head out that way.

We were eating on the deck, but had to move into the house because of the damned mosquitos. They were really wicked. I guess they have been bad everywhere this year. Because it's been so wet and we have wetlands next to us and behind us, I guess they like our place even more.

So, we went inside and Carol and I watched Real Housewives of Atlanta (delicious!) while Mark dozed off in Sandy's recliner!

Yesterday I went to Guilford for Trudy's 80th birthday party at her daughter's house. She had called me in the AM to see if I was going to ride down with her and I gave her all kinds of excuses and told her maybe I wouldn't be there, I "didn't feel good" I told her. She was surprised to see me there....which is what I wanted. Of course, she was more surprised to see her daughter from Indiana there. I got to meet them all....and ended up being the official photographer for the occasion. Her daughter's house is gorgeous, very nicely decorated and on four acres!

Speaking of photos, I had wanted Sandy to take some photos of me as there are so few photos of me around. I always end up taking the pictures and have lots of pics of other people but none of me! So today when I got home from the gym I had her take some shots of me in my workout clothes.

I took some photos of her with the dogs and later Carol came over and took photos of us with the dogs out on the front porch, surrounded by flowers. The dogs started howling when we first sat down and we told Carol to keep shooting. The pictures are hysterical. They are all howling and we are laughing.

Then we got them to settle down and they were able to focus on Carol once in awhile so we could get some nice shots. I'll post a couple here when I get time.

Heard from my cousin Barbara, who went to Sweden at the end of July, into August. She and Harvey had a great time and got to see Birgitta and Mats when they were there. They all went out to the island where my grandfather and Barbara's father lived. I am so jealous that she got to see Birgitta and Mats--I miss them. I want to go back to the island so bad...can't wait until next year when Maria and I go over for a visit.

Sandy and Truman were accepted into the national trials in Tennessee next month. We rented a horse stall area to set up our stuff in---it sounds nice...10x10 and a cement floor and electrical hook-up. This way the dogs can get-away from other people and dogs at the trial. We can run the fans to keep them cool.

They also have Wi-Fi at the trial site and I will be able to bring my laptop with me so I can blog about the trial and how Truman is doing. I can also keep up with my email and what my pals on Facebook are doing. Life in the modern age.....

Another busy week ahead....work, swimming at Jean's, work, swimming again and then chemo on Friday. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to the gym.

Nighty night! STAY COOL!