Archive for August, 2012

Reprieve

Posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2012 at 9:25 am

Helen was given permission to have her blood tests in Austin, so the weekly jaunts to Houston have been rescinded.  Yesterday was the last one.  This does not mean no more trips to Houston, but at least it won’t be a regular weekly thing to roll for six hours.  Next scheduled visit is three weeks away.

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Also, Helen found that her youngest brother is a donor candidate, as his DNA matched.  The date is not set yet, but it made for very good news.  No long prolonged search for a donor….

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Thursday Jam tonight.  Tired, will probably take a second nap this afternoon.

No no Nos……

Posted on Saturday, August 25th, 2012 at 7:34 pm

Caught nursoda’s Nos upon release, second in the just released window.  A great match for Muggie.  Here’s Muggie and Nos, in Poser.

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One day a week

Posted on Thursday, August 23rd, 2012 at 8:32 am

Well, the trips to Houston as chauffeur have dropped to once a week, and my body appreciates it, though it’s a little hard to tell this morning.  At least I’ve stopped passing kidney stones for the time being.  Sleep was pretty broken last night, three segments of 2 to 3 hours each.  So I’m off to a slow start.

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Heading into Austin today.  The vet has returned from vacation, so I can get some Tresiderm for the dogs’ ears.  Add milk and a gallant search for BlueBell Strawberry Cheesecake.  Five in possession, four more is the target, but a fifth for current summertime heat would be appreciated.  One a month is the target.  I have a week to find them before they go off sale, but today is the target date for securing the annual rations.

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Thursday Jam tonight.  Got a tambourine on Tuesday at Guitar Center, but the other toys I wanted were MSRP, and Musician Friend has them greatly discounted.  So I ordered about half the list from there, but they won’t be here tonight.  They are in Oklahoma heading south as I write, according to UPS tracking.  The rest will be ordered next month.  Two $80 purchases is easier than $160 in one lump.

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Bills still coming in from medical offices associated with surgery, but the ones I’ve seen tus far have been adjusted for PPO.  I’ll have to see what the grand total is before I start trying to raise funds.

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Back from Austin with only one half gallon, but I scored the Slap Ya Mama Seafood Boil, a 4 pound bag.  The dogs will be thrilled at the medicine for their ears.  I’ll be eating shrimp cocktail (9/12 ct, wild) tonight, the orange slap recipe.  Mmmmm.

Stung again

Posted on Saturday, August 18th, 2012 at 3:51 pm

Got hit by yellow jackets yesterday, so I’m taking it easy and letting my body process the venom.  It rained .2 inch today, not gobs, but much needed.  Everything is still green, but barely, ready to turn brown at a hash sun’s ray, and the shower will buy some time.

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Party tonight at Nancy’s.  It will be low key for me.  Music supplied, so not packing.

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First of the four Gorey books arrived in the mail today.

Amphigorey

Posted on Tuesday, August 14th, 2012 at 9:02 pm

On Monday, to pass the time while sitting with Helen in the hospital in Houston (red blood cell transfusion), I showed her the rendering of Muggie, making reference to my one personal splurge, seeing as how I’ve been acting as her financial manager.  I made reference to Edward Gorey’s pen and ink characters, for which Muggie has been compared.

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This all happened because I got my new laptop battery, and I had the laptop with me to pass the four plus hours on the hospital wifi.  I Googled some of Edward Gorey’s illustration for Helen, which led to a deeper search, which led to the online purchase of the four Amphigorey books (anthologies of his stories, I – IV).  All four books have currently shipped.

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So I guess my purchase of Muggie was justified after all, as I created a fellow convert. To quote Fats Waller, “One never knows, do one?”

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A flush of kidney stones today, a typical spell opener, with over a dozen small stones, what I call a gravel shot.  Groan.  I thought that was behind me with the surgery.  I guess not.  At least now I know why I’ve been tired this last week.

Stoned again

Posted on Monday, August 13th, 2012 at 8:27 am

Passed some sand granule sized kidney stones yesterday.  I thought that was behind me.  No wonder I was so tired yesterday.  Groan.  I was hoping that was all behind me with the surgery.

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Preparing to head to Houston, Helen is getting a transfusion today.  Whoopie….  Another one Wednesday, then it’s down to once a week.

Couldn’t resist

Posted on Saturday, August 11th, 2012 at 4:11 pm

Nursoda has a new figure out, and I couldn’t resist.  I was trying to hold out, but I had a few spare bucks, and even though I couldn’t justify the expense, I purchased Muggie.  It has to be the face that lured me.  (It could have been the second turn around run to Houston in a week that weakened my resolve, along with everything else.  Helen was given a doctor’s approval for no second chemo, a huge relief, and she’s home until the marrow transplant.)

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Boing boing

Posted on Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 at 8:35 pm

A run to Houston and back, through Bryan on the return, in 12 hours.  Yesterday was taxing, but encouraging.  Helen went down to the hospital and then came back with me, and we stopped and saw Doug and Ellen and ate out after I closed my P O Box.  I’m now legally a Webbervillan.  Driver’s License arrived today.  I also dodged jury duty (a second time) in Brazos County.  Why am I always slipping jury duty when I legally move?  Not that I mind….

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Helen a little tired on the return home, partially because she is still not producing blood cells at sustainable levels.  But enough to slip free for a few days.  She will get to watch the jam this week.  I’m thinking indoors.

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Paid the hospital today, $400.  Conflicting statements on what the hospital covered.  I need to dig deeper into this.  Grrrr.

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Today was as lazy as I could make it and not go nuts.  Helen is continuing to enjoy being home.

The return home

Posted on Friday, August 3rd, 2012 at 5:00 pm

Helen is due back home at any minute.  Then I get to go shopping.  I am under orders to make chili.