I’ve been so busy living my surreal life that I forgot about a few milestones in the past week! They were real turning points, I cannot believe I forgot these.
First, April 14, 2005, I was laid off from my previous job. Looking back, it was a change I really needed. The company was going through many changes and ended up filing bankruptcy. I was fortunate to find a position that has proven to be a better fit with my skills and interests and I am motivated by the many opportunities in the future.
Four days later we visited MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. Prepared to be there for nine full days, we left the afternoon of the initial meeting with the medical staff. We left Houston very disappointed.
Looking back, these two “steps backward” pushed me forward a million steps and counting. Someone (?) once said, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. The truth of this statement has lived in me every single day since we left Houston.
April 20, 2006
April 19, 2006
Blahg
Perhaps I've coined a new term? It combines this, my blog with blah, the way I'm feeling.
NOTE: this is not blah as in I feel bad, just blah in neither good nor bad. Overall, I remain positive, healthy*, upbeat and confident, however, at times this whole thing just beats you down a little. It grows tiring. I want to be normal, to live a normal life. I am not naive, or unrealistic, I know that is not going to happen, I just wish it could. Please don’t misinterpret, I'm not down, things are going GREAT…I'm just thinking out loud here.
It's Spring here in KC, but it's almost as if Summer is here as well. It's too warm, too dry.
I've planted spinach and lettuce and am anxious to get the tomatoes I've started from seed into the ground. Today I'm taking a 1/2 day of vacation to play golf. I can't wait, even though I haven't played since last fall. It's supposed to be 70 but blustery…perhaps the winds will blow primarily from right to left and correct my "strong fade"?
Not much else is new. We wait day to day until the first week of May when I have blood drawn again.
Do you need a laugh? Go to "The Adventures of Cancer Girl". Karen, thanks for the frequent laughs!!
NOTE: this is not blah as in I feel bad, just blah in neither good nor bad. Overall, I remain positive, healthy*, upbeat and confident, however, at times this whole thing just beats you down a little. It grows tiring. I want to be normal, to live a normal life. I am not naive, or unrealistic, I know that is not going to happen, I just wish it could. Please don’t misinterpret, I'm not down, things are going GREAT…I'm just thinking out loud here.
It's Spring here in KC, but it's almost as if Summer is here as well. It's too warm, too dry.
I've planted spinach and lettuce and am anxious to get the tomatoes I've started from seed into the ground. Today I'm taking a 1/2 day of vacation to play golf. I can't wait, even though I haven't played since last fall. It's supposed to be 70 but blustery…perhaps the winds will blow primarily from right to left and correct my "strong fade"?
Not much else is new. We wait day to day until the first week of May when I have blood drawn again.
Do you need a laugh? Go to "The Adventures of Cancer Girl". Karen, thanks for the frequent laughs!!
April 11, 2006
It's a guy thing…..and details on the golf tournament.
Over the weekend the brother in law and I visited my friends property (mentioned here a few months back). Armed with chainsaws, axes and enough ammo to overtake a small third world country we set out for some "guy fun". We really had no plan in mind other than cut a tree up that was blocking the future, potential driveway, clear some small brush and generally blow things up.
After spending an hour or so clearing the tree and brush we proceeded to the area we designated as the "shooting range". I had not fired a gun in at least 10 years. I'm not a hunter but when I had the chance earlier in my life, have always found pleasure in discharging firearms. Observing the up most in all safety precautions, we started small and worked our way up. Though a .22 caliber rifle is rather small, they discharge one of the more deadly bullets, though small, then tend to bounce around the inside of the intended target. The fun with the samll weapons ran out quickly as we each assumed the role of Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry".
This is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. It will take your head clean
off with one shot"…..or something like that.
We proceeded to blow 25 milk jugs and 2 liter plastics bottles to pieces before the fun concluded. It was an adrenaline rush that even my testosterone deprived body enjoyed thoroughly!!
Later we hiked back in to the woods, to what had been designated as the future campground. We displaced a few cold ones and some snacks and generally just laughed and enjoyed the beauty and the silence of nature.
Like I said, for the most part, it's a guy thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The second annual Faith-Love-Hope-Win Charity Golf Scramble is planned for Friday, September 29th at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Spring Hill, KS. [http://www.sycamoreridgegolf.com/]
As a result of our inaugural tournament in 2005, we were able to make the following donations:
Prostate Cancer Foundation $16,000*
(www.prostatecnacerfoundation.org)
Angel Flight Central $ 1,500
(www.angelflightcentral.org)
* Due to a special matching program at PCF, our gift resulted in a $32,000 donation to support research for improved treatment against advanced prostate cancer.
Our goal for 2006 is to raise $20,000. The entire amount raised will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). The PCF will dedicate this gift to support research for treatments to cure advanced prostate cancer. We are hopeful that our second year for this fundraising event will continue to be a tremendous success!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The forms for sponsors, players and donors will be available here and at FLHW.org in the next few days.
We hope to see all of you there!!!
After spending an hour or so clearing the tree and brush we proceeded to the area we designated as the "shooting range". I had not fired a gun in at least 10 years. I'm not a hunter but when I had the chance earlier in my life, have always found pleasure in discharging firearms. Observing the up most in all safety precautions, we started small and worked our way up. Though a .22 caliber rifle is rather small, they discharge one of the more deadly bullets, though small, then tend to bounce around the inside of the intended target. The fun with the samll weapons ran out quickly as we each assumed the role of Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry".
This is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. It will take your head clean
off with one shot"…..or something like that.
We proceeded to blow 25 milk jugs and 2 liter plastics bottles to pieces before the fun concluded. It was an adrenaline rush that even my testosterone deprived body enjoyed thoroughly!!
Later we hiked back in to the woods, to what had been designated as the future campground. We displaced a few cold ones and some snacks and generally just laughed and enjoyed the beauty and the silence of nature.
Like I said, for the most part, it's a guy thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The second annual Faith-Love-Hope-Win Charity Golf Scramble is planned for Friday, September 29th at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Spring Hill, KS. [http://www.sycamoreridgegolf.com/]
As a result of our inaugural tournament in 2005, we were able to make the following donations:
Prostate Cancer Foundation $16,000*
(www.prostatecnacerfoundation.org)
Angel Flight Central $ 1,500
(www.angelflightcentral.org)
* Due to a special matching program at PCF, our gift resulted in a $32,000 donation to support research for improved treatment against advanced prostate cancer.
Our goal for 2006 is to raise $20,000. The entire amount raised will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). The PCF will dedicate this gift to support research for treatments to cure advanced prostate cancer. We are hopeful that our second year for this fundraising event will continue to be a tremendous success!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The forms for sponsors, players and donors will be available here and at FLHW.org in the next few days.
We hope to see all of you there!!!
April 06, 2006
Heavy thoughts, and good news….for mice
Most of you know about the changes in my weight. Today marks one year ago that I dropped below 200 lbs for the first time in what must have been 10 years! I've lost an additional 25lbs (55 total) but the 200lb mark was very significant. I can't help wonder how much carrying that weight around for all those years contributed to my case? There is some evidence that weight is a factor in PC's progression (That coupled with fatty foods, which I was a connoisseur. Not all that often, but enough.)
I try not to preach about this, it's a difficult thing for anyone to change. Mary and I struggled for years until we were forced to change. So here's my two cents, I am certain if you do these few things, you will lose weight, live a healthier lifestyle and feel better!
- eat smaller portions
- count your calories, carbs and fat grams (get a journal, I can recommend a good one for Palm devices).
- eat a lot more fish, fresh vegetable and fruit
- do some form of exercise for 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week
- cut back on fast food (burgers, fries and pizza)
- cut back on red meat, cheese, creams, etc.
Personally, I eliminated the last two for obvious reasons. Just cutting back in those areas will result in an immediate impact. I am convinced that if American's could do these six steps, the change would be remarkable. The problem is it all takes time and planning and we're all too busy these days. It's tough at times for Mary and me, but she heads off to the store every Sunday to stock up of fruit, veggies, etc. [another example of "what would I do without her?"] Yes it's bland and boring at times, but as I said here last year; we now eat to live instead of living to eat.
The message of eating right and exercising is repeated time and time and time again, don’t wait until it's too late - unlike me you have the opportunity to change on your own terms.
I have now stepped off the soapbox.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's a news story I missed the other day….oh, to be Willard!!!
Scientists Spot Factor in Cancer's Spread - Study in mice finds a key protein lures malignant cells to bone
I try not to preach about this, it's a difficult thing for anyone to change. Mary and I struggled for years until we were forced to change. So here's my two cents, I am certain if you do these few things, you will lose weight, live a healthier lifestyle and feel better!
- eat smaller portions
- count your calories, carbs and fat grams (get a journal, I can recommend a good one for Palm devices).
- eat a lot more fish, fresh vegetable and fruit
- do some form of exercise for 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week
- cut back on fast food (burgers, fries and pizza)
- cut back on red meat, cheese, creams, etc.
Personally, I eliminated the last two for obvious reasons. Just cutting back in those areas will result in an immediate impact. I am convinced that if American's could do these six steps, the change would be remarkable. The problem is it all takes time and planning and we're all too busy these days. It's tough at times for Mary and me, but she heads off to the store every Sunday to stock up of fruit, veggies, etc. [another example of "what would I do without her?"] Yes it's bland and boring at times, but as I said here last year; we now eat to live instead of living to eat.
The message of eating right and exercising is repeated time and time and time again, don’t wait until it's too late - unlike me you have the opportunity to change on your own terms.
I have now stepped off the soapbox.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's a news story I missed the other day….oh, to be Willard!!!
Scientists Spot Factor in Cancer's Spread - Study in mice finds a key protein lures malignant cells to bone
April 04, 2006
What's Up?
My PSA number for one. Yesterday's test yielded a 4.25, up from 1.45 in March.
Mary asked if I was O.K.? I told her I am so ambivalent to bad news it's as if nothing effects me right now.
I suspected it was going to go up. It's a trend. Up for three or four months, down for three or four months. So when May rolls around, my number will likely be back up to the 7's. I pray it's not, but that's reality. I'll get bone and CT scans again on May 10th and meet with the Oncologist on the 19th of May and determine next steps. It is likely as a next step we'll start the Casodex again and see if we can get that to bring the number down for a few months, or more.
There is not much else to say but that, it is what it is.
Perhaps that's my slogan from this point forward……"It is what it is".
Mary asked if I was O.K.? I told her I am so ambivalent to bad news it's as if nothing effects me right now.
I suspected it was going to go up. It's a trend. Up for three or four months, down for three or four months. So when May rolls around, my number will likely be back up to the 7's. I pray it's not, but that's reality. I'll get bone and CT scans again on May 10th and meet with the Oncologist on the 19th of May and determine next steps. It is likely as a next step we'll start the Casodex again and see if we can get that to bring the number down for a few months, or more.
There is not much else to say but that, it is what it is.
Perhaps that's my slogan from this point forward……"It is what it is".
March 30, 2006
PC Research Update
It's been some time since we ran across any encouraging news related to advanced PC research. This one is worth posting.
The most promising aspect of the article below is the fact that the drug is already approved by the FDA. I looked further and found the most common side effects are hot flashes (been there, live that!) and leg cramps (bring it on!). However, these are also listed (the last two don't sound very good but are said to be very rare):
> leg pain or a feeling of warmth in the calves
> swelling of the legs, hands or feet
> sudden chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing up blood
> sudden change in your vision, such as loss of vision or blurred vision
The compound is known as Raloxifene, Lilly uses the name "Evista".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Posted: March 24, 2006
Raloxifene, Drug Used For Osteoporosis, Shown To Potentially Benefit Prostate Cancer Patients
In a study to be published in the April 2006 issue of the British Journal of Urology International, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have shown that Raloxifene, a drug commonly used to treat osteoporosis, has a potential clinical benefit in treating men with prostate cancer. This study has implications for the approximately 35,000 men who will die this year of advanced prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men living in the United States. Approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. "We undertook this study because we desperately need new therapies for patients with advanced prostate cancer," said David B. Agus, M.D., research director of the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai and principal investigator of the study.
Since Raloxifene is a drug already on the market, researchers were able to move directly into a Phase II clinical trial. They identified the presence of the beta isoform of the estrogen receptor in prostate cancer tissue samples, then moved directly into studies of animals with human prostate cancer, and then onto human clinical trials. The entire process took only 2-3 years.
"It used to be that to show effectiveness through research studies, cancer drugs needed to shrink tumors by 50 percent," Agus said. "Now, the new way of thinking about the effectiveness of cancer drugs is whether they can slow cancer's growth, which ultimately may significantly benefit patients."
Through the study, patients were given a daily oral dosage of Raloxifene, and the disease and its symptoms were followed on a regular basis. Some of the patients in the clinical trial taking Raloxifene showed evidence of disease stabilization manifested by a slowing or stopping of the growth of their prostate cancer.
According to Ronald L. Shazer, M.D., primary author of the manuscript, "The outcome from the Phase II clinical trial merits further study in a randomized clinical trial to demonstrate the clinical benefit of this targeted therapy."
The study was funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Elle and Paul Stephens Family Foundation.
For more information about the work of the physicians and researchers at the Louis Warschaw Prostate
Cancer Center, please visit: http://www.csmc.edu/899.html.
The most promising aspect of the article below is the fact that the drug is already approved by the FDA. I looked further and found the most common side effects are hot flashes (been there, live that!) and leg cramps (bring it on!). However, these are also listed (the last two don't sound very good but are said to be very rare):
> leg pain or a feeling of warmth in the calves
> swelling of the legs, hands or feet
> sudden chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing up blood
> sudden change in your vision, such as loss of vision or blurred vision
The compound is known as Raloxifene, Lilly uses the name "Evista".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Posted: March 24, 2006
Raloxifene, Drug Used For Osteoporosis, Shown To Potentially Benefit Prostate Cancer Patients
In a study to be published in the April 2006 issue of the British Journal of Urology International, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have shown that Raloxifene, a drug commonly used to treat osteoporosis, has a potential clinical benefit in treating men with prostate cancer. This study has implications for the approximately 35,000 men who will die this year of advanced prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men living in the United States. Approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. "We undertook this study because we desperately need new therapies for patients with advanced prostate cancer," said David B. Agus, M.D., research director of the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai and principal investigator of the study.
Since Raloxifene is a drug already on the market, researchers were able to move directly into a Phase II clinical trial. They identified the presence of the beta isoform of the estrogen receptor in prostate cancer tissue samples, then moved directly into studies of animals with human prostate cancer, and then onto human clinical trials. The entire process took only 2-3 years.
"It used to be that to show effectiveness through research studies, cancer drugs needed to shrink tumors by 50 percent," Agus said. "Now, the new way of thinking about the effectiveness of cancer drugs is whether they can slow cancer's growth, which ultimately may significantly benefit patients."
Through the study, patients were given a daily oral dosage of Raloxifene, and the disease and its symptoms were followed on a regular basis. Some of the patients in the clinical trial taking Raloxifene showed evidence of disease stabilization manifested by a slowing or stopping of the growth of their prostate cancer.
According to Ronald L. Shazer, M.D., primary author of the manuscript, "The outcome from the Phase II clinical trial merits further study in a randomized clinical trial to demonstrate the clinical benefit of this targeted therapy."
The study was funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Elle and Paul Stephens Family Foundation.
For more information about the work of the physicians and researchers at the Louis Warschaw Prostate
Cancer Center, please visit: http://www.csmc.edu/899.html.
March 27, 2006
In case you forgot, you are a mortal
My guess is that this is not an original thought...What I've been thinking is that perhaps the thought of mortality gets to the root of what makes cancer so devastating. Cancer forces one to deal with what we all know, but do not spend a lot of time contemplating; we are mortal, we will die. I can't imagine many people actually think that they will live forever, but we as humans, we just don't spend a lot of our time considering when and how we will go.
Even in my case, who really knows, it might be a car accident or a lightening strike? Like the rest of you, one just never knows. On the other hand, considering the odds, it is more than likely it will be cancer. So what do I do with that wonderful piece of knowledge? So far, it hasn't become all consuming. It bothers me, it bothers us, but we go on.
Mary and I had a real good streak going. It had been months since we cried about it. In Florida the streak ended. On one of our last nights we went for a walk late in the evening. We sat down on the bench where we watched the sunset each night. It was very brief but a much overdue moment.
Here are a few verses I penned, I hate to even refer to this as poetry, it gives poetry a bad name!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There you stand
weathered, beaten, tired
surrounded by sand,
and the beauty and warmth of the sun.
Years have passed,
your scars show clearly,
you rest in a place,
that I'll forever hold dearly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Line of Separation
There's a line in the sky,
a place in the atmosphere,
that separates the world
from heaven.
It was always there,
for me to see,
but until this happened,
it was shrouded to me.
I looked upward,
my focus is external,
to the day that comes,
when I cross that line.
She needs to know,
my love for her,
has never wavered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even in my case, who really knows, it might be a car accident or a lightening strike? Like the rest of you, one just never knows. On the other hand, considering the odds, it is more than likely it will be cancer. So what do I do with that wonderful piece of knowledge? So far, it hasn't become all consuming. It bothers me, it bothers us, but we go on.
Mary and I had a real good streak going. It had been months since we cried about it. In Florida the streak ended. On one of our last nights we went for a walk late in the evening. We sat down on the bench where we watched the sunset each night. It was very brief but a much overdue moment.
Here are a few verses I penned, I hate to even refer to this as poetry, it gives poetry a bad name!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There you stand
weathered, beaten, tired
surrounded by sand,
and the beauty and warmth of the sun.
Years have passed,
your scars show clearly,
you rest in a place,
that I'll forever hold dearly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Line of Separation
There's a line in the sky,
a place in the atmosphere,
that separates the world
from heaven.
It was always there,
for me to see,
but until this happened,
it was shrouded to me.
I looked upward,
my focus is external,
to the day that comes,
when I cross that line.
She needs to know,
my love for her,
has never wavered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 21, 2006
March 20, 2006
Paradise, the conclusion
It's the first day of Spring and we're expecting up to 8" of snow by tomorrow!! Just 48 hours ago Mary and I took our last morning walk on the beach before packing and returning to K.C.
The weather last week was picture perfect. When we checked out of the condo, the manager said he couldn’t remember a better week in March since he'd been living there (1982).
Some friends from church/soccer/school were staying about 10 minutes down the beach. It was their first time in the area, they loved the area as well. The best part of this location is that although it is Spring Break, there are no teens, college students! It's very family friendly!!!
We did absolutely nothing all week (except for the trip to Busch Gardens). We ate fresh seafood daily and went to the beach and that's it. It's amazing how relaxing doing nothing can be. I want to go back! Laying on the beach, listening to the iPod and the surf, what a life!!! I can really imagine a life of 7:00am walks on the beach, a work out, disc golf, fresh seafood for dinner, early to bed and then repeat the whole thing - day, after day, after day!!! I hope that this brief bout of winter goes away quickly. They are calling for 50 degress by Saturday and 60 degrees next week - I hope for once they are correct!
Has anyone else noticed how bad travel has gotten? Every plane is full to the gills! On three of the 4 legs we traveled the airline was offering vouchers for people to get off the plane. The airports were all crowded,but the airlines are in such bad financial shape they won't add any flights……
Health-wise, things are good. Two weeks until my next blood test, currently on cruise control.
The weather last week was picture perfect. When we checked out of the condo, the manager said he couldn’t remember a better week in March since he'd been living there (1982).
Some friends from church/soccer/school were staying about 10 minutes down the beach. It was their first time in the area, they loved the area as well. The best part of this location is that although it is Spring Break, there are no teens, college students! It's very family friendly!!!
We did absolutely nothing all week (except for the trip to Busch Gardens). We ate fresh seafood daily and went to the beach and that's it. It's amazing how relaxing doing nothing can be. I want to go back! Laying on the beach, listening to the iPod and the surf, what a life!!! I can really imagine a life of 7:00am walks on the beach, a work out, disc golf, fresh seafood for dinner, early to bed and then repeat the whole thing - day, after day, after day!!! I hope that this brief bout of winter goes away quickly. They are calling for 50 degress by Saturday and 60 degrees next week - I hope for once they are correct!
Has anyone else noticed how bad travel has gotten? Every plane is full to the gills! On three of the 4 legs we traveled the airline was offering vouchers for people to get off the plane. The airports were all crowded,but the airlines are in such bad financial shape they won't add any flights……
Health-wise, things are good. Two weeks until my next blood test, currently on cruise control.
March 16, 2006
Paradise, Part II
Day 6, still wondering where all the clouds are? Six straight days of awesome weather, the first four were in the low 80’s and the last three have been in the high 70’s.
On Monday we drove down to Venice Beach to meet some friends and watch the sunset. Again, a post card sunset, worth the drive, I just wish they were closer.
Tuesday we headed off to Busch Gardens for a day of roller coasters. It had been close to 20 years since I had been there. My things have changed! If you are in to roller coasters, I would recommend this park over any in Orlando. There are two older coasters that are OK, but are not worth adding any details on. They have one where your legs dangle below you, it is frightening but pretty good as well. The three that are a must are:
- Sheikra: you climb to 200 feet and they stop the cars at the edge and hold you there for what seems like an eternity (4-5 seconds), then you drop straight down (literally). It's an unbelievable experience.
Kwazi – more twists and turns and invertered loops than I have ever experienced. This one was the best.
???? – the most fun however, it was the old wooden one. 3500 feet, 3.5 g forces of laughter. I laugh on roller coasters. Some people scream; I laugh, and laugh and laugh. The best part of riding this one (7 times) was having Brad in the car with me each time. He was loving every single bump, corner, hill, etc. (I have whiplash, but nothing a few Advil didn’t clear up!!!)
(On another note, on our way up I-75 to the park I had a thought about a guy named Dan. Dan is from Tampa and has PC. I’ve mentioned him here before. He drives 150 miles or so round trip for chemo therapy several times a week. Anyway, I just wondered if we passed each other on I-75. Now here is the ironic part….I check my email later on in the day, and there is a comment on the blog from his wife Paula…..spooky stuff (see the comment on the previous entry)!!!
Yesterday our deep sea fishing trip was cancelled because of choppy seas so we spent the day at the beach. Imagine that! My brother and I found a hoard of sand dollars at the end of the day, 20-30 in about 30 minutes, and we had to stop for dinner.
Mary turned 39 again yesterday and we took her out for a wonderful dinner. If you ever find yourself in Longboat Key, FL I would recommend “Moore’s Crab House”. A family owned place, right on the inner-coastal waterway. Not much on atmosphere but the seafood was excellent and the service was great.
I love the ocean, I love being by water. There is something peaceful, tranquil about the sound of the waves, the sand, even seagulls (winged rats). Though the thoughts of cancer are still there, I must admit there have been a few times this week where perhaps 30 or 60 minutes have passed without those thoughts being top of mind.
With two days left I don’t want to go. I’d love to live here; I love to die here (in 30 years). I think I understand why people come here to retire. Everyday you get up, walk the beach for an hour (or two), have a little breakfast, do your errands, eat lunch, play golf or tennis or God forbid, walk the beach again, etc., etc. I know it’s not something that interests all of you, but for me, this is a little slice of paradise.
.
(Please excuse typo’s etc. We are sponging off someone’s internet connection and don’t have a lot of time for edits. My better half will surely clean this up later. After all she’s 39 and better looking than I am!!!)
I’ll wrap this all up on Sunday but in closing, from Anna Maria Island, Florida here is something to consider:
A beach is sand, sand is pretty much made up of crushed shells and dead sea organisms. When has death ever looked so beautiful?
On Monday we drove down to Venice Beach to meet some friends and watch the sunset. Again, a post card sunset, worth the drive, I just wish they were closer.
Tuesday we headed off to Busch Gardens for a day of roller coasters. It had been close to 20 years since I had been there. My things have changed! If you are in to roller coasters, I would recommend this park over any in Orlando. There are two older coasters that are OK, but are not worth adding any details on. They have one where your legs dangle below you, it is frightening but pretty good as well. The three that are a must are:
- Sheikra: you climb to 200 feet and they stop the cars at the edge and hold you there for what seems like an eternity (4-5 seconds), then you drop straight down (literally). It's an unbelievable experience.
Kwazi – more twists and turns and invertered loops than I have ever experienced. This one was the best.
???? – the most fun however, it was the old wooden one. 3500 feet, 3.5 g forces of laughter. I laugh on roller coasters. Some people scream; I laugh, and laugh and laugh. The best part of riding this one (7 times) was having Brad in the car with me each time. He was loving every single bump, corner, hill, etc. (I have whiplash, but nothing a few Advil didn’t clear up!!!)
(On another note, on our way up I-75 to the park I had a thought about a guy named Dan. Dan is from Tampa and has PC. I’ve mentioned him here before. He drives 150 miles or so round trip for chemo therapy several times a week. Anyway, I just wondered if we passed each other on I-75. Now here is the ironic part….I check my email later on in the day, and there is a comment on the blog from his wife Paula…..spooky stuff (see the comment on the previous entry)!!!
Yesterday our deep sea fishing trip was cancelled because of choppy seas so we spent the day at the beach. Imagine that! My brother and I found a hoard of sand dollars at the end of the day, 20-30 in about 30 minutes, and we had to stop for dinner.
Mary turned 39 again yesterday and we took her out for a wonderful dinner. If you ever find yourself in Longboat Key, FL I would recommend “Moore’s Crab House”. A family owned place, right on the inner-coastal waterway. Not much on atmosphere but the seafood was excellent and the service was great.
I love the ocean, I love being by water. There is something peaceful, tranquil about the sound of the waves, the sand, even seagulls (winged rats). Though the thoughts of cancer are still there, I must admit there have been a few times this week where perhaps 30 or 60 minutes have passed without those thoughts being top of mind.
With two days left I don’t want to go. I’d love to live here; I love to die here (in 30 years). I think I understand why people come here to retire. Everyday you get up, walk the beach for an hour (or two), have a little breakfast, do your errands, eat lunch, play golf or tennis or God forbid, walk the beach again, etc., etc. I know it’s not something that interests all of you, but for me, this is a little slice of paradise.
.
(Please excuse typo’s etc. We are sponging off someone’s internet connection and don’t have a lot of time for edits. My better half will surely clean this up later. After all she’s 39 and better looking than I am!!!)
I’ll wrap this all up on Sunday but in closing, from Anna Maria Island, Florida here is something to consider:
A beach is sand, sand is pretty much made up of crushed shells and dead sea organisms. When has death ever looked so beautiful?
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