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I managed to sleep most of the night, but 6:30 always comes unexpectedly. I often wake before my alarm, look at the time, and fall asleep seconds before the alarm goes off. I managed to do that on Monday morning.

I do the usual morning things and write the next blog. I am not rushed as much as the blog was shorter. I am still working when Jeff Ashley shows and starts back in the bathroom. He will manage to tile the back wall of the shower on Monday.

I drive Air Volvo in, and the traffic is enough that I decided to take the Providence Park exit and skip the tunnel. I forgot to use the busy parking garage, and park in what is likely the last spot left on the roof and in the rain.

Today it is a gray raining day. The Oregon mist has increased now to light rain. This will continue for the next six months with possible breaks for snow and ice storms. Last year we had the second year of the end of the rains in May. That is the first time in my 25 years here that the rains stopped that early. Before, the gray might extend through the summer. But the rains would stop on the week of July 4th. They never before ended early.

Susie was feeling better but was worried about me. She understands that I have colon cancer. I am also still fatigued and pass on feeding Susie as it requires me to stand for hours. The nurses are OK with that knowing about my situation.

Susie is delivered a gift and card from the Nike Core ERP team, my group. Susie has a stuffed animal dog now to hold on to.

I talked to Michelle, the case manager, and Susie is headed to Forest Grove Rehab Center. Susie will be transported there on Tuesday if all the paperwork can be done soon.

This is, of course, a problem as I have my appointment in Portland, not Forest Grove, on Tuesday with the surgeon to talk about the solution to my cancer diagnosis. Tuesday will be a crazy day if Susie moves to Forst Grove while I have to stay in Portland for a medical appointment.

Mariah is excited as she lives in Forst Grove and can help.

I have Tom Yum soup at the Red Onion Thai place for lunch. I like their food, and I have learned the path through the garden past ER to get there, avoiding walking around the hospital. The garden looked so happy in the rain. I took a photo. Yes, after you live her twenty-five years, you like wet and gray.

Susie listens to 1980s music most of the day and drinks a lot of her chocolate shake. The coughing she is prone to does not happen this time. Better!

I leave Susie around 4ish and head to my CT scan. I had one at the end of September and was not expecting another one so soon. I do the same ritual, and it takes minutes.

I drive home in traffic and reach home to see Jeff finishing up his day. I tell him I have cancer, and he will likely need to complete the work on the bathroom with less oversight, he has almost none now, and he is OK with that.

I order Mexican food delivered and eat that while watching the international news on Public TV. My condition does not preclude me from eating anything so far.

The rework of the old Dungeons and Dragons adventure, Tegel Manor, was delivered today (it was 50% off for Black Friday). This is one of the original adventures from old D&D in 1977, and I still have a copy of the original. The folks at The Frog God Games had worked with the original author (gone now) and produced a new version that finally got published using the 5th Edition version of Dungeons and Dragons Open License (called SRD 5E).

From a typed pamphlet and a huge map and a blank map for the player, it is now a hardcover entirely in color with printed color maps. It is an inch thick! There are whole sections of specifications on monsters and all the unique items for Tegal Manor. It still keeps, and I am a bit disappointed by this; all the text for the Judge and no flavor text to be read (DM is a term that came into use after this was initially published). The Judge needs to read and then make up the explanation for the players. This is old school and can slow play as folks wait for the Judge to read and explain. Also, the authors of Tegal Manor had no problem breaking the rules, such as handing out powerful items, but that was some of the fun. Can you get that +2 Battle Axe out of the house before something takes it from you?

I read that and talked to the Smiths in New York for a bit. I have to put down the book and fall asleep a few times. Of course, I dream of wandering some strange places…

I managed to sleep but woke tired. I had written the blog the night before as I had a haircut at 9 with Zeriada, and Mariah wanted to borrow the Volvo for the day to move some items. So rushed but without having to write.

I received a text from Mariah that it was icy in Forest Grove, so the car switch was off. So one of the reasons for rushing was gone.

Off to Zeriada, who I have not seen since before the trip to New York City in October, for a haircut, I finally lose that mad scientist look or the Covid hairstyle as it is also called. Zeriada and I had a pleasant visit.

I then drive to the hospital in Air Volvo and arrive about on time, 10ish. I am so fatigued the walking is even hard, but I make it there, and Francine, today’s nurse, has Susie in a chair. Susie sounds better, but the nurse tells me she slept poorly.

Francine gets Susie back into bed, and we chat a bit. Susie can see I am tired and tells me to get some rest. The PT people then pop Susie out of bed and then back into bed.

The nurses ask me about my health as I know most of them now after serving as Susie’s nurse. They are all reassuring about the cancer diagnoses for me.

Susie nods off before lunch arrives, and I decide that it will be just a few hours today as I just too tired to be of much help.

Air Volvo gets me back home without much effort. I stop by Wendy’s and get a simple burger with fries and chili. Then, I make a chili burger at home. After that, I try to watch the Marvel movie Captain Marvel, but I just need to sleep after lunch.

I sleep off and on until 5ish and then get up and eat my Gyro leftover from the day before. It is still good, and the microwave did not ruin it.

I had sent a book by Eric Cline to David Smith last week and suddenly felt like watching some lectures. I was tired and did not want to do much more than sit and watch.

Eric Cline is an archeologist (now retired) that dug for years at Meggido and other sites in the Middle East. I enjoy his books, and his lectures are available and just fun to watch. Eric Cline is the kind of archeologist that needs actual proof, like a text found in the dig, before saying something likely true; otherwise, it is a theory, and it needs lots of support and will remain a theory that could change with new evidence. His lectures cover vast amounts of bronze age history, and he tries to have conclusions. I recommend them; I watched two lectures.

Lastly, I watched the next episode of Doctor Who’s new season and the last of the Flux storyline. Again, this is a continual story, and I like them using the old classic Doctor Who model of a multi-episode storyline with universe-threatening mad persons. But I thought the ending a bit lame and will have to watch it again to see if I missed something. It reminded me of the Three Doctor classic storyline.

The Smiths (plus Jason) sent me pics of them in New York City. After watching a show (Lion King) and having some cheesecake (at Junior’s), they thought of me. I do miss NYC.

I went to sleep after that and woke often had I had slept in the afternoon but finally drifted off.

 

 

 

This morning 6:30 came sooner than I wanted it. I awoke and discovered it was time to start. I did the usual things like make coffee and toast with peanut butter. I also had one of Susie’s strawberry yogurts.

I wrote a daily blog that included my cancer diagnosis. That took some time to write, and there was a lot of reaction to the news. I am moved by all the kind messages I received. Thank you!

I was rushed and finally made it to Susie’s room after 10 AM. I did spend some time chatting with Bill Butler, mostly on what is wrong with DC films and how Marvel seems to have been confused of late.

Susie was as happy to see me. It is the first time in more than six weeks that I have not been with her every day. Susie was doing even better than the last time I saw her. Her voice is coming back and her communication, while still halting, is easier to understand.

Susie showing a bit of shoulder today.

Susie ordered spaghetti for lunch (!?) and soup. I ordered a tray for myself for $10 to eat with Susie in the room.

We chatted about the house remodels, and I covered my cancer issues. Susie is very worried and upset.

Lunch came, and I helped somehow helped feed spaghetti to Susie. This requires Susie to chew and move the food around in her mouth. This is something her pureed diet does not require. Susie stopped about every ten minutes to rest. I would then go eat in front of her, which would convince her to try again. This process continued for ninety minutes until Susie was tired out and needed a nap.

I, too, was too tired to go on and drove home and just sat and relaxed. I am still tired from yesterday’s colonoscopy and prep for the same.

Mariah called, and I found the strength to join her for a lovely dinner at BJ’s Brewhouse. I had the prime rib to celebrate eating again. This with my favorite beer and then coffee.

Sorry that this is short today, but it is hard to write. I have a strange headache and need to stop writing for a bit.

I will likely head to sleep soon.

But as it is the holidays, I thought we could go with this: Carols of the Bell.

 

It is hard to type the word “cancer” today. I do not want to upset folks or ask, yet, for help. I want to keep my blog writing honest and record my experience (the parts I believe my audience would wish to know and I am comfortable writing). So I will discuss my new personal journey that began six months ago when the unexplained bleeding started.

There was no actual start of Friday. There was no sleep as all the prep for the colonoscopy had to be done almost around the clock. The details of that I will not cover.

I picked up Wayne Weld-Martin in Air Volvo, and we drove to Portland. There was some traffic at 6:30ish into Portland, but I still took the tunnel. I parked the car on the street and paid Kitty Park, an app for parking in Portland. Wayne would have to wait in the car as waiting rooms stays are not allowed in a Covid world.

I will leave out most of the details of the process I remember, but I will cover that I had the fastest and least painful IV in my hand before I even knew it.

I have to admit I was scared of the Endoscopy (throat). I fear breathing issues as I have had terrible dreams when having an asthma attack while sleeping. I tried to stay calm, and the calming drug they gave helped. My last action before I faded was a thumbs up, despite the fear, to the staff that got a relieved look from the team.

The anesthesia was Propofol, and I recognized the name, but at the time, I could not remember why. Also, they injected a local anesthetic to prevent me from feeling the burning of Propofol. I remember the room fading out and losing definition, and then it was over.

My recovery from Propofol was fast. I did not feel ill nor that fuzzy-headed thing. Instead, I felt a bit washed out. I could function, but I suspected a complex question would mystify me. I dressed and was done, and Wayne drove us to Sherri’s, piloting an unfamiliar but easy-to-drive Air Volvo through Portland traffic (outbound) without issue.

The news from the procedure was poor. A large mass, likely cancer, was nearly blocking my colon. I would need a referral and would receive confirmation of the cancer diagnosis in a few days. This fits with my expectations.

I had breakfast with Wayne and then went to sleep at the house for a bit. Trying to clear the lack of sleep, process the cancer news, and get over the Propofol.

Note: My memory was that Propofol was in the news was correct. I was trying to remember the report about using the drug in executions in the USA. But according to a Google search, it has never been used for executions as Europe and other countries threatened to ban the drug’s import if used for executions. I did not remember the execution controversy at the time of my intake of the drug–That would not have impacted my calm, but it makes my experience relevant as I understand the process now.

It was hard to do much, and I was banned from travel, so I called the hospital twice. I even spoke to Susie on the phone. It was hard to understand some of her words, but she could handle a phone–and that is an improvement! I told her I made it through the procedure without issue. I left out cancer discovery as that would be best to cover in person. The nurse said that Susie was having a good day and was not eating enough. I see I am needed and will return on Saturday.

Jeff and his assistant continued their work on the remodel of the bathroom. The tile was installed on the floor and will dry this weekend. They will return next week to finish the job.

One detail on the work is that the floor and wall tiles are larger. This is more economical, has a more straightforward design, and helps with fundamental decisions. The seat in the shower is one tile wide, for example. The interior of the shower, in this photo painted black with waterproof paint, and the baseboard tile will be done after the floor is dry.

Returning to the story, I ordered a gyro from Gryo House, delivered. I could only eat about 1/2 of it. I ordered hummus and bread with it, and that filled me up. I will pick up some more flatbread and eat this for Saturday night’s dinner.

The gastroenterology called me and let me know that a CT scan was ordered and I could schedule it now. I was sort of amused that it was up to me, slightly simplified by drugs, to schedule. So I called the CT folks at Legacy and will have to cut my visit short on Monday with Susie to get a CT scan in the same hospital that evening. Done.

My doc messaged me after I messaged him and called, asking the simple question, “what now, doc.” I have a referral and the name of the next docs and will contact them on Monday to begin the voyage in earnest. In the note from my doc, he explains that the CT scan will determine the amount of spreading, if any, of my newly discovered cancer. Doc was reassuring:

Dinner was late as details still escaped me, pizza delivered. While eating, Corwin and I enjoyed the HBOMax show, Warrior. Corwin had not seen it, but he really liked the show. I have described it before in this blog and thus will just write a few words about it. It is a near-all-action wire-fu show set in the conflict between nearly super-powered Chinese folks and the exploitive 1878 San Fransico Americans. With all the sex and violence of Game of Thrones recast into wire-fu and the old west. Pizza, chicken with bacon on a ranch-style sauce, from Dominos delivered about 9:15ish.

The Smiths are all in New York City and called me just to chat about NYC and their trip. Their call was a nice distraction from cancer news. They had gone to a Turkish place in the Upper Eastside and had my fav of Turkish coffee with Turkish delight and other desserts. I was wondered about the time of the call, near midnight in NYC on a Friday night, and they did not seem tired. Yes, Turkish coffee. It was nice for them to remember me and NYC. I do miss NYC and the Smiths (plus Jason).

I managed two episodes with a massive headache, went to bed too early, and slept until 6:30 AM.

 

 

 

I awoke about 6:30 and rolled over, and woke at 8:30. Today was prep day for my colonoscopy on Friday. I will skip those details, but I am up all night for that.

Today, Anne Weld-Martin took my place at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital room 361 in Portland. I spent a bit of the morning on chores that were lagging at the house. I also delivered the documents to our doc for my leave request with the shoe company.

I decided to watch my collection of Poirot DVDs from the original series that started on PBS when I was in college. So I started with number 1.

Corwin’s laptop is not working well. I removed the hard drive and replaced it with a new one. We then spent the morning trying to get the machine to boot to rebuild the OS. Unfortunately, we could not get it to reboot from the recovery USB drive. Will try to put the old drive back and start over again.

Jeff, who was surprised to have me home today, made a lot of progress on remodeling the bathroom today. We also agreed to put in a power plug outside. The wall outside is behind the shower, so it can be done now. So finally, I will have a plug for Christmas lights!

I spoke to Anne and Susie at the hospital. Anne thought Susie was doing much better and had a conversation with Susie. Susie’s speech is better–I could hear the difference on the phone.

The case manager, Michelle, called me at home; she has found a care facility that will take Susie. Details are still to follow. Timing is not known at this time, but soon.

I am up all night to do the prep, and my appointment is at 7:15 in Portland at the Legacy Medical Building across from the hospital housing Susie.

Sorry, but it will be a short write-up as I mostly do prep today. It is hard to write.