Welcome!

A place for family and friends to see what I'm up to. Visitors welcome here.

Hail Guest, we ask not what thou art.
If Friend, we greet thee, hand and heart.
If Stranger, such no longer be.
If Foe, our love will conquer thee.
-Old Welsh Door Verse

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hard News.

Not a good day.

The news for my dad is much worse than we dreamed. He has pancreatic cancer (with involvement of bile duct). Five tumors in the right lung, penetration of the bone of the spine. Stuff on his liver (most of which are cysts).

Six to twelve months. Has his first radiation appointment (84 years old getting his first tattoo) Thursday. Chemo will only buy him another two months so he probably will skip that part of this dance.

In typical Dad style, 30 minutes after getting the news, he was trying to figure out who could drive him to his Monday night band practice.

Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes. All positive vibes welcome.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Equilibrium.

Its a wonderful thing.

Saturday morning was absolutely gorgeous here. I should probably have stayed home to clean clean clean, but DH had something to do all day and DS2 had to work so I hightailed it to Disneyland.
I got to the park a little after noon. Took in a Billy Hill & the Hillbillies show, then had lunch. 
Capped off the evening with the "Remember - Dreams Come True" fireworks show.

Just nothing better for me than great music and great people watching.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Feeling Encouraged.

Just got back from my folks.

Dad cancelled his preliminary appointment to set up his radiation therapy. Which prompted the oncologist to try to move him to his home town rather than the nightmare she had planned for him. Hours on a shuttle for a quick zap, then hours home again.

He also learned that although they have found "spots" on lungs, liver and adrenals, they don't think the stuff on the liver and adrenals are cancerous. And the spot on the lungs is fairly small. So they truly are concerned only with the thing in his back right now, and the oncologist thinks she can contain it and maybe even shrink it enough to stop hurting.

Nice to have a little good news.

He has also had problems eating (nothing sounds good) but I brought pizza and spaghetti. He ate two pieces of pizza.

Good deal.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Just when you think it can't get any worse...

Sad news.

My dad has been diagnosed with cancer. Metastatic. Doctors using phrases like "radiation to keep it contained" and "painkillers to keep you as comfortable as possible for the time you have left."

It's in his lungs, liver and adrenal glands.

I was with Dad and Mom when they saw the tumor that is causing his back pain on the MRI for the first time, then with them when their doctor told them the news.

Today I was visiting when Dad had to go to the drugstore to buy adult diapers because he's been warned the radiation therapy may give him diarrhea.

He came home with two-pound boxes of candy for everyone in the family for Valentine's Day. He never gives us Valentines.


My Mom's birthday is March 23.

I hope he makes it.

Elvis Presley Only Believe

This is cool. This hymn was written by my boys' great-grandfather, (Daniel) Paul Rader. I was able to find it recorded by Presley on an import a couple of years ago. It is reported to have been one of Elvis' favorite songs while he was stationed in Germany.

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Curse of the Historian.

Terminal curiosity.

About people.

I think people are interesting. I love their stories.

I could sit for hours and listen to a complete stranger talk about their Yosemite vacation.

So from time to time, I have to go check out the visitor map here to see who has been to visit. And where you come from.

Most of you I recognize, but there is one visitor who has really piqued my curiosity.

Who is visiting me from the Rosedale Cemetery (Los Angeles)?

This could be a very interesting story.
Thanks, Skipper.

My friend Skip sent me this Bud Lite commercial. I hadn't seen it, but haven't had such a good laugh in a long time.



Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Sigh.

Just for the record...


I am not eating these. 13 pounds lost.

Not good news from Dad's tests. What appeared to be a fairly large tumor in his MRI was in fact a fairly large tumor. They're not sure where it migrated from and until they do they don't know how to treat it. He will speak to an oncologist, then go in for more CT scans to try to pinpoint origins. We are all hoping for the best but preparing for the worst news.

News from my orthopod was better. Nothing wrong other than arthritis in my knees and back. The "cure" for the pain in my left leg is "shrinkage" and to let a local physical therapist "buff [me] up." Scheduled for therapy three times a week for a good long time.

Dog is fine. Disneyland was fine.

Son and DIL came for a weekend rather than just a few hours. That was great. I took them to The Curry Leaf, a local Indian restaurant, for dinner. The food was fabulous and we had a fun time.

The next day the whole family (minus brother and SIL) went to DS2's concert band concert, then to my favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner. Also a good time.

Garden is doing well.

DS1 is being interviewed for the Japan teaching job this month (over 5000 applicants worldwide, fewer interviews being granted than ever before). DS2 started a new part-time job today. I'm still pondering what state we've reached in this country when a 28-year-old college graduate gets nervous over an interview for a $9 per hour, 15-20 hour per week job in a warehouse. He also started a new business as "...the Greener Gardener." He is doing people's lawns the old fashioned way (no power tools). We'll see how it all works out. For now, he is happy and excited.

For now, that's more than enough for me.