A Moment of Silence for Goldie

We had a death in the family.  About a month ago, Liz won a goldfish a the Calvert County Fair, which she gave to Robbie and which he put in our fish tank with our somewhat-startled population of swordtails.  Robbie named the fish "Goldie".  Well, yesterday, after fighting what looked like ick (like I know fish diseases), Goldie succumbed to his/her illness, surrounded by family and friends.  Robbie tried to be blase' about it at first.  He had seen dead fish before.  This was different; this one had a name.  For about 10 minutes, he was kinda upset and teary, then moved on.  We have decided that Goldie rates better than a trip in the old ceramic subway, so we've frozen Goldie and will be having a suitable burial this weekend (weather permitting).

Liz is in Seattle and has been having a hellava trip so far.  On her way to airport Sunday morning she took out a deer with her rental car.  This morning on her way to the Seattle airport, she was the first witness at a fatality accident.  The Washington State Police have asked her to make a taped statement.  Nice bookends for the trip.  She did get home OK.

Finally, a paragraph with no death!  Just a knitting needle in my hip.  I'm scheduled to go to Georgetown on December 3rd for my baselining for the next phase of my clinical trial.  The highlights of the baseline are of course the bone marrow biopsy and the ceremonial drinking of the horrible quart of library paste before the CT scan.  I'll start taking the Revlamid the next week.  It's been nice to be between treatments, but I am ready to start the next phase.

All for now.

Yo Ho Ho and a Tall Decaff Skinny Mocha Latte with Powdered Cinnamon

Happy Belated Halloween!  To the left, you'll see a fuzzy picture of Robbie and me dressed as fierce pirates.  Actually, HE's dressed as a fierce pirate.  I'm dressed more like a flamboyant pirate who loves show tunes and makes catty remarks about other pirates outfits, if you catch my drift.  Liz was also dressed in Pirate Princess garb, but I was told that if I posted those pictures, my next move better be writing my eulogy.

Robbie was great and surprising.  He loved his costume and loved tromping thru our friend Art's neighborhood, but after about an hour, he turned to us and said, "I've got enough candy now.  Let's go home."  After trying in vain to explain that on Halloween there's no such thing as 'enough candy', we gave in and went home.  Once there, he dumped his loot out on the coffee table, took inventory, gave Liz and me one Fun Sized Kit Kat each, then ate one (One!) piece of candy himself.  Over the next several days, he gave away far more of his candy than he ate.  Neat kid.

Yesterday, I went to my first yoga class since June 6th.  I've done yoga since, but not in a class setting.  As I said on my Facebook page, except for my total lack of flexibility, strength, and stamina, I thought I did great!  Actually, it was a challenging hour-and-a-half, but I really like Laurie, the instructor, and I liked the class.  I was a sweaty puppy (now Tim, puppies don't sweat!) at the end, but I never had to bail out of any positions.  I'll definitely be going back next week.

No word yet when I start my next round of treatment, but it's got to be in the next three or four weeks.  I'll keep you informed as I get informed.

Finally, a warm welcome-aboard to "Sadrypali", the newest member of the followers list.  I'm not sure what brought you to this blog, but I'm glad you're here.

No News is No News

Met with Dr. Cheson on Tuesday.  No real news to report.  I'm still progressing according to schedule and it looks like we switch to the Revlamid (that's the pill that is at the heart of my clinical trial) probably next month.

Robbie and I are bachelors again this week, with Liz in Fort Worth.  Tonight we went for Mexican, but last night I was Googling "How to Waterboard a 5-year-old".  Now to be fair, he wasn't all bad last night.  Here's a picture of one of the times he was not being a total screaming (literally) pain in the butt (who I love with all my being.)  As you could see, I was still recovering from our early discussions.

Pumpkin Sunday

Nothing earth-shaking from last week.  Liz went to Seattle again on Wednesday, returning this evening around 6:00.  Robbie was really good this week, all things considered.  Today he and I went to the annual pumpkin carving party hosted by my friends Dennis and Christine.  It was a great time, as it usually is.

I see Dr. Cheson again on Tuesday, then probably have another month "off".  After that, it's back to Georgetown for another bone marrow sample and another CT scan.  Then on to the next phase of the clinical trial.  Apparently I can anticipate neutropenic episodes under the new regime, but I hoping we'll still offset those with the growth factor shots.

And, OBTW, who dat said dey's gonna beat them Saints?  7-0:  who'd a thunk it.

Marathons are for wimps...

Greetings from the Bayou State, where our state motto is "Thank God for Mississippi".  By now you've probably heard about the local justice of the peace who refused to marry the mixed-race couple.  That happened about 15 miles from here.  Not since Britney Spears has Tangipahoa Parish had such a distinguished national celebrity.  Makes you proud.

Now, I could have focused this entry on celebrating my 100th blog entry, but I was upstaged.

Liz, now bored with the lack of challenge offered by 26.2 miles, took it up a notch and--BAM--ran a 50-kilometer trail run today.  That would be 31.1 miles for the conversion-challenged.  That's a long way.  Today was as pretty as a Louisiana Fall day can be.  Liz said the trail, which followed an old railroad right of way, was the prettiest trail she's ever run.  Even the one-mile section of calf-deep mud couldn't put a damper on things.

Beyond that,  we're having a great time in Louisiana.  Robbie is having a particularly great time playing in his Aunt Nina and Uncle Buster's house.  He is exhausting Nina and Buster's dog, Gracie, with marathon sessions of "fetch" in the grand hallway of N&B's house.  He has also been playing down at the old barn and today found the courage to climb on his grandfather's tractor (see picture).   This is the tractor on which I spent uncountable uncomfortable hours as a teenager (pre-Ipod), so it's kinda sweet seeing Robbie on it, knowing he won't have to spend quality time in the Louisiana sun, breathing the diesel fumes.

I went to church today and met many of the people who prayed (and are praying) for me.  It was heartwarming to hear how many people read this blog regularly (Hello!).  I also met a young lady who confessed that many years ago, when she was in the third grade, she decided that she was going to marry me.  I think she was a student in my mother's elementary school class, so I have to believe that was the link.

We head back to Maryland tomorrow and I'll be taking Tuesday off to catch up on the things at home I missed this weekend.

OBTW, this is my 100th blog entry.  I believe this is a tipping situation.

Most direct route from BWI to New Orleans? According to Southwest Air, it's via Tampa.
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Fun in Baltimore

In one of these pictures, you'll see what the feet of the mother of a 5-year-old look like post-marathon, after the next-day blister-popping party.  Colorful band-aids, no?

In the other, you'll see the male contingent of the Southern Maryland McMichaels aboard the USS Torsk, a retired WWII-era submarine, now part of a four-ship exhibit in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. We had already toured the USS Constellation and finished up the day with lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.