Ready to Roll

I slept like a baby last night.

Nooooo...I wasn't up crying every hour. I didn't see monsters in the dark. And I didn't need my diaper changed.

I guess I didn't sleep exactly like a baby. But I slept well.

And after half a cup of coffee I'm awake and energized.

Our computer network went completely "wonka" on us last night. Done. It's fixed.

Barb reminded me that we need a new menu plan since we're going to the grocery store tomorrow. Done. A complete two-week menu, with one "free" night, plans to deal with food on chemo days, and dinners planned for Charlie's and Alyssa's Thursday night visits. The menu even plans out a cooking pattern that allows for us to switch handling the main chef's role every night.

I'm organized. But I'm not obsessive about it. The menu never goes exactly as planned. The menu mainly helps us build a grocery list so we get what we need, and not much else.

Then we play it out day-by-day.

Some highlights this week? How about lasagna, my world-famous pasta salad (Alyssa has been waking up in the middle of the night dreaming about it), and we even worked the Albert family recipe stromboli into the mix.

Today we are getting ready to visit the Licatese compound where our plans are to make sausage.

Yes, that's what I said, we're making sausage.

The sausage making is a Fall tradition for the Licatese family. It's also a good excuse to get family and friends together to enjoy a little fellowship and fun.

You know. You grind some meats, mix in some spices, and fill casings. It's not Disney World. But get enough wine in someone and next thing you know there's singing and dancing. It's part of the process, you can't make good italian sausage without love.

Wine is on my list of things I have very, very little of. So is sausage. So I believe my official position is "fly on the wall." This fits me well. I am an avid people watcher.

The rain will be falling today on the festivities. But I'm absolutely sure that it will not dampen any spirits.

There's not too many people in the United States right now, that could say, if asked the question, "What are you doing today?"

"Well sir, I am making sausage today."

Hungover

I woke up this morning feeling like I had been out partying all night. My stomach is sour. I have a headache. My body is sore and tired.

Of course I didn't earn these feelings from an all night party. It was treatment day yesterday and the chemo is making itself known now today. It's a normal part of the process, and likely by around noon today I'll start to feel somewhat like myself again.

Chemo was especially crowded yesterday since the health campus was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

I was on a great streak with the nurses over the past few weeks. They were hitting my veins with the needles on just one shot. But that streak ended yesterday. It took two sticks to get my IV going.

The nurse was very apologetic.

"No worries," I assured her. "You're just going to be known as the nurse that broke the streak," I said with a broad smile.

Next week I'm due for another CT scan. I'm, of course, looking forward to seeing the results. Also I have a few things I would like to discuss with the doctor.

The CT scan is of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis and is scheduled for Wednesday. Then I'll meet with the doctor before chemo treatment on Friday.

There is always something, and here is the latest. I have developed a small bump on the inside of my lower lip. From what I've read this is likely to be a little mucus retention cyst. But I still may have to have it sliced out of there if it doesn't start clearning up on its own.

I also want to talk to the doc about a small, pinching pain that showed up recently at the bottom of my rib cage. I think I may have aggravated something exercising. But, better safe than sorry. The pinching pain showed up and then I skipped exercises for a couple of days and it went away. Then I started exercising again and it came back again. It only hurts when I move, unlike the pains I had there in late Spring. We'll see what the doctor says.

And one last thing, I believe I might have a lymph node on the right side of my neck that is a bit active. But it's such an odd shape, long and slender, I can't really tell what it might be. The doc will know.

I never used to worry about silly stuff like this. Quite frankly, I still don't worry overly so, but more than I ever did before for obvious reasons. Some people are hypochondriacs before they have a reason to worry about anything. I tend to wait until I have a reason to worry, then take it from there.

Thanks

Yesterday was the first Thanksgiving I ever spent in my own home. It was nice to stroll around in pajama bottoms and my big bear paw slippers.

Usually I'm rushing through a shower and trying to get ready to travel somewhere for this holiday, over hill and over dale, over the river and through the woods.

But this year it was just Barb and I, and staying home once in a lifetime for Thanksgiving was good.

We did have a great early Thanksgiving at the home of Barb's sister and brother-in-law last Sunday.

The Albert family Thanksgiving originally schedule for yesterday kind of fell apart for various reasons.

I was very impressed by my brother's plans to visit a friend who has an addiction problem. He was going to try to talk him into rehab. I hope his Thanksgiving mission yesterday went well.

Barb and I were still able to pull together a Thanksgiving dinner from Sunday's leftovers though. We made hot turkey sandwiches from Sunday leftovers with all of the fixings. It was very good, and Freckles was very jealous.

I have so many things to be thankful for, from the earliest stages of my life until this very moment.

I could have easily been raised in an orphanage. But a kind, wonderful, couple from Myerstown adopted me and provided me with everything a kid can hope for in life.

When I was an infant I had to wear metal braces and the doctor questioned how well I'd be able to walk as I grew older. Then I went and became a top athlete who started on the school's basketball and soccer team.

I am so thankful for my family and all of the friends who I've been lucky enough to be surrounded with through all these years. And I'm especially thankful for all of those who've surrounded me these past few years, constantly giving me the strength and support to fight this cancer.

I am especially thankful for Barb. She's an angel sent from heaven as far as I'm concerned. Her and her daughter have given me the world to live for, and more. Thanks Barb. I love you.

Next Thanksgiving, undoubtedly we'll be on the road again. But that will work just fine too. It was nice though, for the first time in my history, to enjoy the holiday here in my own home.

The Nature of Things

Have you ever noticed that everyone's index finger is the perfect size to stick up their nose? I mean it's perfect. If you see someone with thin fingers, I'll guarantee you that they have thin nostrils. If you see someone with stout, chubby fingers, I'll bet they have wide nostrils.

I'm imagining right now how many people will be out there trying to stick their finger in their nose while reading this.

But it is true.

I notice these important aspects of life. lol

It is amazing observing the incredible balances that exist in the nature of things.

Some animals used to live in the seas and for their betterment they've evolved to be land dwellers.

Giant turtles spend their life in deep waters, but lay their eggs on the beaches.

It's wise not to mess with Mother Nature - you will lose. But it's fascinating to watch nature in progress, and smart to just go with the flow.

I do remember reading of an experiment conducted a couple years ago. Some of the facts I may not get right. But the point of the story I will always remember.

There was a type of trout found in Missouri rivers, and it was a great game fish. Someone from Colorado thought it would be a great idea to introduce this Missouri fish into Colorado waters.

In a short time after the Missouri Trout was introduced into a Colorado river, everything in the Colorado river died. All the Missouri trout died, all the fish natural to the Colorado river died, just everything.

Scientists concluded that the fish from Missouri brought elements of their natural ecosystem with them to Colorado. When the natural ecosystem in the Colorado river mixed with the imported ecosystem, they didn't get along and everything died.

To me, that means we have to be careful about what parts of this world we mix with others. And of course I wonder if that would also be a rule for humankind.

If we mix a person from France with a person from Vietnam would a similar result occur? Would their natural ecosystems clash and cause chaos?

I don't know. But sometimes I wonder.

I often worry because my marriage to Barb is a mixed marriage. Afterall, she is from the west side of the Susquehanna River and I am from the east side of the river. Many times I tease her about that. lol

But hey, over here on the east side we call that Pennsylvania Dutch delicacy "pig stomach." Meanwhile over there, across the river, they call it "hog maw."

Hog maw? Bunch of crazy people over there. I'll tell 'ya.

Where Does That Come From?

One thing I never hear anyone talk about is how some of the poorest parts of this planet end up with excessive amounts of deadly weapons.

How do people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and others, have such easy access to rocket-propelled grenade launchers?

Do they carry them in their local convenience stores?

"Hi. I'd like a pack of Twinkies, a cherry slushie, and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher."

Jeesh, I think we have troubles here with guns. At least we don't have rocket-propelled grenade launchers. I can just hear an NRA member now explaining how he hunts deer with his rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

Obviously someone is purposely arming these poor nations to help create conflict. But who?

They also must be willing to part with these weapons at deep discounts because I can't imagine these poor nations, and rebel groups being able to afford this kind of stuff when they have difficulties even feeding themselves.

So who is distributing all of this deadly weaponry? Who's willing to eat the costs of creating chaos?

Is it Iran? North Korea? Syria? We can't cut off these supply lines?

Without someone supplying them with weapons, let's face it, these angry people would be fighting with sticks and stones.

Well we have enough troubles controlling our borders. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that we can't control other countries borders, like the one between Iraq and Iran.

The Gaza Strip has for all intesive purposes been cut-off from the rest of the world, surrounded by Egypt, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea. Yet somehow they still manage to have rockets and launchers that they can recklessly fire into Israel and cause trouble.

Rockets? I mean c'mon rockets and rocket launchers? Everyone suspects that they're coming from Iran or Syria or both. But why can't we stop this importing of weapons?

How do you hide a rocket for crying out loud? Do you disguise it as a giant sausage or something?

Ugh.

Thankful

We celebrated an early Thanksgiving yesterday with Barb's family. We have lots to be thankful for.

Jay and Debbie (and Ellis of course) kindly hosted the get together. It's always good to see everyone.

Debbie and Susan worked the kitchen hard and produced a wonderful turkey dinner, complete with the legendary family filling balls.

Bill reprised his role as mashed potato king.

Sheridan filled me with tales of Arizona.

Jim and Becky seemed to be in outstanding spirits.

Charlie let out "ooos" and "aaaahs" at the Philadelphia Eagles lame performance. Alyssa's eyes proved to be too big for her stomach once again as she filled her plate to an overflow level. They crack us up.

Ellis and Briana never stopped moving, running through the house from top to bottom, all smiles all the way.

My favorite moment was when Bill started a game of hide-and-seek with Ellis and Briana.

He would start counting, "One. Two. Five."

"No. No. No," screamed Ellis and Briana. "It's three!"

"Oh, that's right," said Bill. "One. Two. Seven," he'd start again.

LOL

I'm very thankful for moments like that. I'm thankful for smiles and laughs.

Before we left I noticed the Grim girls getting into a butt slapping session. That's right. I said it - a butt slapping session. I noted that this was strictly a female behavior pattern in our species, as I could not picture myself, Bill and Jay giggling and slapping each other's butts.

Just then Charlie came out to the kitchen, and at just the right moment all the Grim girls were watching so I slapped Charlie in the rear section, area, place. It brought smiles and laughs, I can't forego an opportunity to create them.

Sorry about that Charlie. I had to sacrifice our dignity to let the ladies smile and laugh a little. Who am I kidding? It's greedy. I like to seem them smile and laugh.

I am very thankful for all the family and friends who continue to offer me so much support. I think I'm in my 18-month of chemo and I couldn't have done it without everyone around me.

Thank you.

Wine and Worry

Every year at around this time of year my parents join friends and head for the Finger Lakes region of Western New York.

And every year it snows.

And every year I worry about them driving through all this slick stuff.

They left yesterday in the midst of our first significant snow of the season. I wasn't pleased to hear about accident after accident, as the roads froze last evening into "black ice" conditions. I was even less pleased to hear that a bridge over the Susquehanna River closed in Harrisburg due to four accidents on the bridge.

I'll be thinking about them until I hear that they're home safe and sound.

The Finger Lakes region is New York's wine area. The vineyards there open themselves all up to tours and tastings. I wish they would do it in September.

Barb and I have no reasons to go out into the cold today. So we won't.

My English soccer team Newcastle plays number on Chelsea in five minutes, and I hope they're not too embarassed.

Penn State tries to upend Michigan State at 3:30 p.m. for a trip to the Rose Bowl. I am so tired of the BCS rankings system for college football. Just take the top 16 teams and have a playoff and it will be one of the most exciting and watched events in sports.

And Oklahoma plays Texas Tech tonight, that's number two versus number five.

So it's a pretty darn good sports day.

I still have some things to do today. But the day after chemo is always a little lazy.

Barb's getting ready to make a couple pumpkin rolls for Thanksgiving at her sister's home tomorrow.

I am sooooooo ready. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday - all of the food, family, and friends, with none of the presents.