Time March's on...

We set the clock forward an hour today and sprung forward with the rest of the country. It does feel like we are springing forward.

The procedure I we did two weeks ago worked well. I'm able to swallow with little problem. I've gained three pounds in two weeks. I've worked almost full time over the last two weeks as well.

I feel as though we have a new life here. We know a lot of wonderful people already. Sharon loves volunteering at the Monterey Aquarium. I love my work with clients. We both have joined the Unitarian/Universilist Church of the Monterey Peninsula.

I feel like time is finally moving forward.

It's Spring!

Well, not according to the calendar, but try telling that to the thick, rich yellow daffodils fighting for space in our raised bed to the right of our driveway! And, try telling that to the pink and white Camellias that are pushing hard on the redwood fence that surrounds the garden. The warm, moist air won't listen. The low hanging fog around Point Lobos will just continue to slide by in it's springtime easterly direction whispering "Itsss ssspringggg!" ever so softly.

Exactly one year ago I was half way through chemo and radiation. Only now do I have the stomach to go back and read what I wrote. It is an out of body experience. It's about 10 months from surgery and I'm doing very well. The doctors told me that it would take a year to get my energy back, and I think I'm a little ahead of schedule. I feel great!

There are still occasional problems. I've had increasing problems swallowing and digesting certain foods. It's unpredictable. I'm going to have a second endoscopy with a balloon dilation this Thursday at Stanford. I'm sure it will help. It may take a few of these procedures to beat back the scar tissue that continues to grow around the area where my remaining esophagus meets my stomach.

There is evidence of a pseudo-cyst in there somewhere as a result of surgery. We have to scan it every 6 months to make sure it doesn't grow and require more surgery. These things are more hassle than danger. They often go away on their own. I can tune out the hassles and get back to work.

I'm going to try to work four days instead of two this week and next. I believe I can do that without getting too tired. We'll see.

I feel born again....physically, emotionally and spiritually. Like Spring!

I can breath again...

When you have a day scheduled such as last Friday you hold your breath as the day approaches. I was to hear about the status of the Pulmonary Emboli that was discovered three months ago. I was also to hear the results of the ultra sound scan of my legs where the clots were produced. I needed another breathing test. And then, there is the dreaded contrast CT scan and those results.

And, at the end of 48 hours of breathless anxiety, I could sigh with relief. My lung capacity went from 82% six weeks ago to 97% on Friday. That's amazing! I had been gaining 2-3 % every six weeks and I thought it would take a lot longer to get back to normal.

I also passed another scan with no sign of cancer. They don't need another scan for six months. The pulonary emboli are cleared up. My legs are clear. My weight is stable. I'm working out a lot and gaining muscle back a lot faster than I imagined I would.

I probably need to go back and have my esophagus dilated again in a few weeks, but that is expected, routine, and relatively easy to get done.

Life is getting better and better.

It's still raining...

We managed to stay warm and dry as the rain continued to come down over the weekend. There is no sun in sight on the 10 day weather forecast, but we needed the rain to prevent the drought conditions that often affect the Monterey Peninsula.

Sharon loves her orientation workshops at the Monterey Aquarium. It's the best organized and managed non profit organization that she has been involved with including Kew Gardens in London. She is studying to be a guide.

We also are joining the Monterey Unitarian/Universalist Church next Sunday. We haven't had the time to be involved with a church since our Middletown days. It's been very enjoyable to connect with so many caring people in a church which is so inclusive.

My health continues to be good. My weight is stable. I'm eating a wide variety of food. Occasionally, I have trouble swallowing and I have to eat slowly and carefully. I saw a story the other day about medical researchers who have worked out an esophagus transplant for people with esophagus cancer that is made of a pig's bladder coated with stem cells. It seems to work. I've worked hard to avoid piggishness and I don't think I'll be one of first to try it.

I have follow up CT scans again in a couple of weeks. Those are always unnerving, but I don't feel any symptoms that give me any concern, so, once again, I'm expecting a good outcome.

We had a video conference with our grandchildren yesterday. The technology is improving and it really helps to see a video image of them as well as hear there voices.

Deep in Rain Season

I was exploring the rocks, with my camera, at low tide this afternoon during a break in the rain and came across this Great Blue Heron. He didn't seem to mind my presence. He was regal as he picked little fish from the tide pools and swallowed them in one gulp. I really like my new camera. I had the 300 mm lens that I got for a birthday present.

We came home from a week of deep freeze in the East to non-stop rain on Sunday and it feels great.

I did some work in New York City late last week and then went on to Springfield, MA where my in laws are trying to adjust to the idea of moving out of their home of 50 years and into a new senior apartment in a nearby neighborhood.

This was the first real travel and business trip since going back to work part time. It was touch and go because I came down with a cold that robbed me of my voice for the first half of the week. I gambled that I would get my voice back before the workshop. I did...30 minutes before the workshop. Close call.

All in all, I did fine. I'm looking forward to stepping up my work hours over the next few weeks.

Kicking Off the New Year

Happy New Year! We took a terrible pounding by a storm that descended on us from Alaska and brought high winds and rain for two days. The local surf went up as high as 32 feet and our power wend down for most of two days.

We huddled around the fireplace and we were able to cook on our gas range, so we were never too uncomfortable.

We had a packed full and wonderful holiday.

Now, we turn our attention to the new year. I think my health is as good as it can be. I'll get confirmation on Friday that the blood clots are gone from my legs and lungs. I've been on blood thinners for a month, so that should take care of the pulmonary emboli issue.

My appetite is definitely increasing and I'm eating more. I haven't gained any weight, but I haven't lost any either. I'm getting more muscle. Each visit to the gym brings a good feeling as constantly add more weight to each machine.

I'm able to get a lay on my stomach for a long enough period of time to get a good massage from our massage therapist.

Work is going well. I'm alternating among Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, BT and HP. I'm going to New York to do a workshop with BT next week. I'm able to do about two days a week with clients, and I plan to gradually increase that over the coming months. I have my next CT Scan scheduled for February 8 and I'll see the surgeon a few hours after that scan and get the early results.

As soon as the weather improves, I'll be back at the golf course to continue lessons. I am taking a lot of images with my new camera and lenses and loving that. I'm also beginning to prepare to teach the photography portion of a photography/watercolor workshop that Guy Magallanes and I are offering in April. http://www.guymagallanes.com/Instruction.htm Please pass this web site on to anyone you know who might be interested.

We had a great workshop last year and we will improve on it this year.

Happy Holidays

First Sharon's nephew, Dana, flew in from Austria and joined our son, Josh, and his girlfriend, Erika for a get together before Christmas. They had to leave just before our daughter, Jordan, and her family arrived from Chicago. Sharon's sister, Joyce and her husband, Ed, joined us the day after Christmas. It was all wonderful! Just the way the holidays ought to be. But wait...it's not over. After a short break, our grandchildren, Baxter and Lyle, will stay with us for a rousing New Years Eve Celebration in Pacific Grove with Shirley Temple's and the works. Then Jordan and Matt come back for a few days before they all need to return to Chicago. We are having a blast!