No real news to post this week, just gradually recovering from chemo. I did get to play golf Wednesday, but it was really too much for me; I played terribly and was worn out for the rest of the day. It was a beautiful day, though, and thanks to Ed Scanlon for shepherding me around the course.. Also have had a couple of visitors this week who I enjoyed a great deal. So, this is not the most exciting post... but I guess that's a good thing.

The big challenge is to try to eat and not lose too much weight. I'm down to 154, naked (sorry for the imagery), which is about 11 pounds since I started chemo. When this is all done I should be at fighting weight for The Tour De France, just like how Lance did it. More or less.

A big, beautiful deer just walked through my yard. Clearly a sign of something... could one of you karmic readers let me know what?

Strange reactions this morning, two days after finishing chemo Saturday. I'm feeling this weird and powerful energy surge, like having too much strong coffee. Couldn't sleep last night, and needing to eat every 2-3 hours. I wonder if this is normal, maybe I'll call the help line later. It's nice to be this alert, but not that pleasant with the jitters and sweats along with it.

I'm also concerned about losing too much weight. Got to make a concerted effort to eat alot before the next round of chemo.

The chemo is going much better this time. I think we are figuring out the best drugs and timing to manage all the side effects. I still had a few rough hours last night, and I'm feeling drained, but it is manageable.Maybe I'll just do this indefinitely, to have an excuse to lie in bed and watch sports every other weekend.

Talked to several old friends today, Bob, John, Janis... thanks so much to you all!

Today is a big day. I meet with my doctor and get a blood test, and make sure I am fit to do chemo again tomorrow. I think the main thing is to make sure my white blood cell count is adequate. The only thing worse than not being fit enough would be to be fit enough... I'm dreading the next dose. But I'm ready to deal with it.

Just as I warned you, I started a new blog today. It's all thoughts and feelings, no facts; I'll use this one for the facts and details. The other one is more personal and emotional. As my friend said yesterday, "Why would I want to read that?" I think he's probably right, but if you're still interested, you can find it here:

http://rickstrailnotes.blogspot.com/

Update, 7:00: Fit and ready for chemo. Expect this space to be quiet for awhile.

I met one of my main objectives today: I was able to get out and play a round of golf, with my nephew Jeffrey Snyder. I can barely sit up to type this now, but it was a thrill to be out there! Actually hit a few good shots, too, though I needed my TI-83 to keep score. If I'm smart I'll stick to playing 9 holes in the future, but I'm afraid we all know how well the being smart thing has gone for me up to now.

Meanwhile, I'm recovering enough to get clobbered again with another round of chemo Thursday. I do have on-going cramping and stomach pain which is annoying (keeping this G-rated). I'm hoping the doctor can suggest some better meds when I see him Wednesday.

Thanks for all the emails, calls, and texts, I love you all! Oh, and I might start a different blog that is all thoughts and feelings, I like writing and I think it helps me. Stay tuned.


By the way, you can subscribe to this blog, and get emails informing you of new posts. I'm not exactly sure of the steps since I am the author, but it starts with clicking on my name on the right and going to the Dashboard. Maybe you, one of my smart tech savvy friends, could explain all the steps in the Comments.

It's been an uncomfortable few days with stomach pain and upset. I guess when the doctor says "You might experience...", I should take that as "You can invest your IRA in..." the possibility of stomach troubles about 5-7 days after chemo. But it fulfills my life ambition: license to lie in bed and watch sports all day!

It's all manageable with the right cycles of meds, food, and sleep, repeatable every 3 hours or so. Just requires a different mindset and expectations, which I'm sure will be a constant from here on. I also had several very appreciated visitors this week, bearing pasta and other treasures. The visits, emails, texts, calls, etc., continue to provide some purpose and lots of good spirits, thanks to you all!

Very proud of myself today - ate a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs for breakfast. You gotta problem w' dat fo' breakfast? Afterward felt like I'd had a 7 course dinner. Still, feeling a good deal better today, and hope to be out and about some this week.

I've gotten many emails, texts, and phone calls and every one counts! Thank you all, and I'm eager to get out and spread some hugs around.

I don't  think I have the words to describe how drained I have felt. I probably slept 20 of the past 24 hours. Just chewing a banana was an extraordinary effort. Finally starting to come out of it a little bit now. Thanks to those of you who sent emails and text, I will try to get back to you soon.

Well, I started chemo yesterday around noon and things went pretty well until about 3 o'clock. Then shortly before I went home, I stared to feel pretty bad. By the time I got home I was feeling quite ill. Last night was one of the toughest nights I've ever had in my life. But the good news is I've been feeling dramatically better all morning, managed to eat something a little while ago.  I think they might have to adjust my dosages next time, but I know I can get through this.

My sister Karen is here now, and she and Allison have been taking very good care of me. So, sorry for the downer note of this post, but I know I'm in good hands and looking forward to going ahead with the next treatments.  On Saturday I go to see the doctor, get my IV taken out, do some blood work, and get a shot to boost my immune system. So, that's what's up, and if I don't like the chemo very much, Shirley the tumor doesn't either!

I wrote the above a couple hours ago by dictating into my phone,  and clearly my phone doesn't know the difference between Shirley and surely.  But I'll leave it in there for now, and maybe my tumor will  henceforth be known as Shirley.

Chemo class was terrifying - all the stuff that might happen to me. It's harder to think of things that won't happen than things that might. Just have to keep thinking of the people who get through chemo relatively smoothly, and not think about hypotheticals. Still, the class was a pretty good advertisement for living a healthy lifestyle, everyone should take it before they decide how to live.

Lying on the table waiting for infusion port surgery. What else to do but blog?

Eight hours later... port insertion went fine. I'm a little sore, got a new scar, etc. Tomorrow is chemo class, everything I always never wanted to know about chemotherapy. No problem, I'm good at academics.