Monday  March 27 , 2006

The only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.

Albert Einstein

Chemo... a full day, I sat with Christy till they started the Chemo and then went out to run errands. Pharmacy, Panda Express to get Christy lunch, back to the Cancer Care Clinic to deliver her lunch, back to the Pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions, Costco to get fresh fruit, Suzuki shop was closed [All bike shops are closed on Mondays.. I knew that... damn] Perkins for lunch, Lowes to get a shower rod... they didn't have the right kind, Home Depot to get the right kind... picked up Christy at the CCC went back to Panda Express to get Christy more rice and egg rolls then home... got in about 1730.

Tuesday  March 28 , 2006

There are things worth getting angry about, things no decent man should brush aside without anger. The important thing with anger is to first determine its cause. If the cause is vanity or other weakness, it is time to look in the mirror. If the cause is something external and threatening, it is time to focus one's strength and wit against the source of anger, to battle it, to seek revenge against it, to gain the remarkable strength that comes only to the persecuted.

Alfred Emerson Unaterra (1952-2002), American writer

Back to Spokane to get Christy's Neulesta shot... Suzuki couldn't help me with a key... they need the bike. went home via Colville, a nice road, I hadn't been that way before. We went almost to Pries River to look at entry doors and garage doors... expensive but nice entry doors, the garage doors seem about twice as sturdy as the ones we have... they are apparently about 12 years old and they have been bent and straightened out so many times by the previous owners that they are virtually useless and need to be replaced.

I loaded up the truck for the dump... lots of metal this time because I cleaned out down by the shop. Four lawn mowers, toilets two sinks lots of other stuff and there is still a bunch more to get out of there.

Christy is very self-conscious about losing her hair. It seems callus to say I couldn't care less because it really matters to her. My perspective is that hair is a small price to pay for her life, and the hair will grow back eventually. We are buying a wig from [believe it or not] New Jersey . They shipped one via UPS today and it looks real nice but she says it's too big... we will call them in the morning and make arrangements to send it back and get a new one custom made.

I am impressed with the women who come in to the clinic with bald or balding heads, no hats scarves or wigs for them... courageous women, men too. To me it's like they are flipping off Cancer. I want to hug them and tell them how wonderful I think they are. Christy is really doing well, after the diagnosis I was a little frightened that she would not be able to fight through this but since the therapy started she has really been a tiger. She is on top of every move they make and the Physicians Assistant who we see has to run out of the room to get answers to her questions every time we go in. I wish I understood what's going on as well as she does.

Wednesday  March 29 , 2006

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant---
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightening to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind---

Emily Dickinson, poet (1830-1886)

What a wonderful poem... people have written books to explain what she has said in eight carefully chosen lines... I have read a few interpretations of this and I wish I could know for sure what she was trying to say but I am happy with what she says on the surface...

Christy takes Coumadin (sp) to keep her blood thin, they are concerned about clotting and strokes. While she was awaiting her first Chemo they had her giving herself shots of Lovinox that made the Coumadin unnecessary. Once Chemo started her blood read too low so they upped the Coumadin... now she is off the charts so she has to back off... we will get blood tests every few days till she gets back to where she is supposed to be and she can start taking the medicine again. She got tested again today... she is still way high (Blood too thin)

I got those moles removed today... the process was almost painless but I am paying for it now... my back hurts. I got all the vehicles cleaned inside and out. All that twisting and turning probably had some affect why my back hurts.

Thursday  March 30 , 2006

Langston Hughes, poet and novelist (1902-1967)

I took Calie into the Dr. with a bloody nose, unfortunately we were a bit too late and he couldn't see where to cauterize... Monica had an appointment in the afternoon... looks like we need to get some family therapy. I didn't realize how hard it was on the kids, they manifest their fears differently than adults... Monica is having a hard time.

Friday  March 31 , 2006

"I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'."

Q: What's the difference between a puppy and a Country & Western singer/songwriter?

A: Eventually the puppy stops whining.

Christy and I shaved off the rest of her hair... she looks better... The kids are OK with it, they were a little disconcerted but once we explained that it was a result of the treatment and not the disease they seemed to be mollified.

I worked down below [outside the shop] and cut down s few trees that had died or were in the way... there are several piles of junk and trash and also some sort of neat old equipment too. I will try to remember to take some pictures...

April