Then This

  toe sticking up during latest chemo infusion           Oncologist Harris said three things on a phone visit recently: I should go see Dr.  Smith Apisarnthanarax, known as Dr. A for obvious reasons, who would radiate with protons, try to join clinical trial of modified virus injected into the tumor directly and continue chemo. It was a pretty upbeat conversation.     There was an infusion by nurse Riley which included mac and cheese and chocolate milk and one unit of red corpuscles.      There was a three night airbnb on Lummi Island with Mr. Grogan and of course S and D and me. The Lummians were of two minds about tourism which resulted in poor signage.     D got carried away in a bark fest with the other two hooligans next door and put the nip on Billy the screen writer yesterday, but they made up today at the Commons.

still life at Spinnaker Bay condo Spin Bay pose Meerkerk Rhody park with Kim, S and D Three dog afternoon      At least a month has passed since last recording the adventures of the patient and friends so must make amends. Chemo got a small response from tumor; it didn't get bigger. The infusions of poison will continue but they become less effective in a few months. Effects of the new blood transfusion are wearing off now.      Greg and Kim flew in for a nice visit under unexpectedly blue skies. Very relaxed time and D certainly enjoyed licking his new friends.      Not sure whether the new dual battery electric mower has been documented, but it's worth a mention since I've been a non-professional mower for 60 years. It's bug green and self-propelled and heavy. Changes some of my basic notions about cutting the lawn.      Participated in a somewhat wild pickle ball session with Laurie, Barbara and S in which we struggled with ...

Transfusion prep brunch at SCCA      Time enough before medical procedure downtown to go to Costco to level up my store of cottage cheese to an unprecedented 9 lbs. Mostly for D who seems to like anything put before him. Two units of blood consumed later not as satisfying as stocking up on the cheese. Li bit peppier.       Couple days later took a flat walk up by Deception Pass on an old road by the water round the corner to the east from  Coronet Bay with Deon, Cocco, S, D and I. Felt like being dropped on to a country road  outside of Mayberry of the Andy Griffith show. Felt like whistling. Stopped in Coupeville for lunch at Toby's. Found car dead, dashed across the road to an ancient auto repair shop that was seriously right out of 1947. Jumped and gone in 15 minutes.      R rolled into Pittsburgh about midday today under fair skies. Her trip across the continent was smooth as milk. Ramona's new old digs in Pittsburgh ...

some dog in my living room some guy in my living room can now make a poached egg exactly the same every time Trotsky's cousin      The week on the Peninsula is now the stuff of myth and I must deal with a cold head a lot. Mr. D is growing old; in the new math for dogs' age vs humans' he will be 40 in a few months. S may have found an answer for her cough. R is packing and repacking her Corolla to see if she can make it bigger for the  peregrination  to Pittsburgh.      As to walking, that has fallen-off with the chemo, but I still have to walk the dog and get the spicy bread and butter pickles from the cheese lady at the Greenbank Farm, so there's that.     It was girls night yesterday, but Langley could not offer any table space at any suitable venue, so they came home to my house. They were nice to me with some joking around and they were outside in the backyard so it wasn't a bother. Z came for to play with D.      Moth...

  R finds self-eating shopping bag to have the right blend of medieval and sustainable            Today we sought a pickle court and in the morning we looked at open areas at Woodmens; it's a pretty  place; go through there all the time these days. That circuit that includes Woodmens is a long narrow loop from my house, it goes through several zones from suburban to sort of wild especially down in  Freundlich's swamp. Pick this up later -       Picking up much later - ten days gone by and now we, S, R, D, M and I are intubbed at a great little beach cottage with a hot-ass hot tub on the beach at Lake Bay off Case Inlet west of MacNeil Island and further to the south, Anderson Island of which I read a whole history once not long ago.       Got head shaved, but only with electric shears not razor, free on Water Street in Port Townsend after a cold-ass couple days and nights at Fort Worden. In a renta...

  the way back machine featuring from left: R, Neblol, OGee, S, Chula and Ike at the almost finished house we built south of Hopkins, Belize      Thwacked by first chemo treatment; pain pills helpful, but only just. Second pickle ball training at the Bob Alexander Memorial Gym on the old middle school campus led to very dizzy, sicky moments early on during wall practice and not much better as S and I were whumped by our opponents. Cancelled dental appointment for 8 am yesterday, just couldn't do. S taking charge of meds, Elizabeth from SCCA downtown phoned - not much help, but nice to have someone to talk to. Plus got Zoloft script and maybe refill on ambian from new primary care doc in Harbor Pointe although visit was supposed to be a video session, but never got vid part to work.      More later if I can think of anything.      Asked S if she could look in to a plot at Woodmens. She replied that she would look for 2 together. I'm consi...

       ...everybody wants a hand to hold. I've got several plus some paws so should be good. pickle ballers looking down airstrip from pickle end court - planes seem to come in this way mostly establishing shot of court looking the other way - down strip from court four rvs, evidence of various projects - pickle end of Porter District and field fire wood factory across street from rv guys airplane skeleton special mushroom - consumption may lead to visions of future of District      Featured this week - a photoessay on Pickle Ball and the rise of the Porter District.      Actually had a lesson in PB from tall fellow in a black jumpsuit. Very good time, got a feel for ball action which is quite different from say tennis ball. Learned to stay out of the "kitchen" and did not learn the scoring which was beyond complex. Have another lesson at Parks and Rec (at the old middle school main gym where some decades ago I played my first game!!) so...