11/17/09

About a year and a half ago I started taking walks around the block with Cora. Around that time I noticed that there were a set of car keys hanging on one of our stop signs. It isn't obvious that they're there and I'm sure most neighbors have never seen them. Today I walked past that same stop sign and the keys are still there. I'm curious if they've been forgotten or if there is another reason they just hang out 24/7. If I took those keys would someone put up a sign that says "Lost Keys, Please return to Stop Sign"? Regardless, I'm clearly not interested enough to knock on doors to find out because at this point does it really matter?

Nov. 11 2009

I received my MRI results Thursday last week. I am happy to report that "Fred" was no where to be seen. My next MRI is scheduled for Jan 2010. I think I have this c stuff licked.

10/17/09

I went to the gym today and I ran into Kathy. She is a warm and friendly personality who has also had cancer, and we met when I helped her with her YMCA membership. I was a bit overcome with surprise when she hugged me and gave me a kiss and also held my hand to the locker room. I've spent maybe 20 minutes with Kathy.... TOTAL. This includes the tour of the YMCA a quick sales pitch and then checking her in 4 times. This sounds like an incredibly insensitive reaction towards someone. Is it wrong to not want to hug & kiss someone I hardly know? I've got friends that I've never hugged or kissed.

Derek and I came back from our Colorado vacation on Thursday. It was a lot of fun. We visited friends, took tours in Mesa Verde, hiked up to Hanging Lake, saw Doc Holiday's memorial, sat in the hot springs, went to the Garden of the Gods, and took a cave tour. We did stay at 3 different hotels and 1 of them gave us a free upgrade to a suite. If I had to pick my favorites I would have to select seeing friends, Mesa Verde, and the Hanging Lake. It took more energy than I was expecting to ride in a car and be alert during the daylight hours. Thankfully we were on vacation and it was o.k. to take naps in the middle of the day.

I continue to feel good. My next MRI comes up October 22nd and I find out the results October 27th. Scheduling conflict, go figure.

9/21/09

Recently I received a couple phone calls from 2 old customers. I've known "V" for 10 years and haven't worked with him in over 6 years. I've know "S" slightly longer and haven't worked with her in over 7. It was confusing for me. On one hand it feels good knowing I made enough of an impression that my former customers want to check in on me. On the other hand I'm not always sure what to talk about. I ask how work is going and then quickly move onto other topics. This requires me to dig into my memory and pull out the non-work items. It turns out I remember quite a bit. Enough for a couple laughs and family/hobby updates. I've got skills. :-)

9/1/09

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? Yesterday I woke up to "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Sponge Bob Square Pants!" It started sticking when I was looking for a birthday gift for my nephew. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he will enjoy it. Derek thought we should have run to the grocery and made a Sponge Bob. I'm not against making gifts I just don't think my interpretation of Sponge Bob would be enjoyed as much as the purchased piece of plastic. Maybe when he's older.
Today I'm at the library working on my resume and looking up companies that I may like to work for. My exciting adventure to find a job has moved into the serious phase. Other than the fact that I'm not having luck with internet connections at home, the bonus is that I'm not at home trying to get a connection to the internet. The positive is that I'm making progress. Correcting my resume, jogging, hiking, library time, and volunteering, it will all add up to something fantastic in the end.

8.26.09

When I was diagnosed last year with my tumor I tried my best to keep the information from my former co-workers, vendors, and customers. When Senator Kennedy's cancer was announced a few weeks later I knew the cat was out of the bag. He had no idea who I was and yet the national coverage directly impacted me. At first I was mad because of the news coverage and then he became an inspiration. He seemed to handle his ordeal so well. He went to work, attended President Obama's inauguration, and pushed for health care reform. I have no idea where he got his energy. Of course we had different types of tumors and likely different stages. It's the luck of the draw (or genetics). Today I chose to honor his memory by reaching out to people I haven't heard from in awhile.
I'm bummed that he's gone. I keep thinking that if I managed to survive this long he should have been able to make it as well. It's crap. I'm not happy about this at all.

8/18/09

It took me 1 hour 45 minutes to complete my Sanitas hike this morning. A personal best. I attribute this to cooler weather and my ipod. My guess is when the weather gets warmer my time will increase as well.