Skip to main content

Reflections on the year 2006

As I look back over the past year, not a lot has seemed to happen of any consequence, at least not a lot good, and it certainly was not how I perceived it occurring when I was reflecting on 2005.

The biggest disappointment was Edie's diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma. And as if that wasn't bad enough, it looks like it is progressing at a fast enough pace, treatment is imminent. (Here I was diagnosed almost 5 years ago with lymphoma, and I still haven't needed treatment, nor see any in the near future.)

I know, no one ever said life was fair, but some things just shouldn't be.

On a good note, I have managed to stay accident free on the bike. (Knock on wood, I haven't spoken too soon since there is still one more day, and one more ride left in the year.)

We did managed to get to Italy in 2006, which we had been wanting to do for years, but were a little disappointed in the whole experience. I had heard so much about Italy, I think I set my expectations too high. I also did too much planning, which I think took some of the spontaneity out of the experience.

At least we got it out of our system, and from here on out, we plan on concentrating our travels within the US. Besides the fact that the monetary exchange rate is less than favorable, just the hassle of traveling between airports has just made air travel no fun anymore.

Other than that there isn't much more to reflect on. Edie's myeloma and my lymphoma, seem to have occupied just about every other aspect of our lives, and I don't think I need to bore you with all those details. Besides, if you're a regular reader of this blog, you already know most of them.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. One good thing, worth mentioning again, did happen.  After 12 years of Republican control of Congress, the Democrats finally managed to win back control. Hopefully, and I don't want to alienate any of my loyal readers by getting too political and stating,
maybe now the US can get back on track, concentrating it's efforts on helping the citizens of the US, and not squandering our precious resources, on some crusade to spread democracy throughout the world, while ignoring the plight, and the security of American citizens at home.

So here's looking for better things in 2007.

And let's hope the weather starts turning a little warmer here in southern California, like Al Gore keeps claiming it's supposed to be.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The results are in

And I am iron deficient, big time. [Which would account for my low hemoglobin] Test Result Ref Range IRON 30 59-158 mcg/dL TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY 231 250-420 mcg/dL IRON SAT 13 20-50 % My Ferritin levels were good, but that could be because Ferritin is also an "acute phase reactant", that is sometimes increased with acute or chronic disease. Folate and B12 levels were also within the normal range. The only problem now is determining what is causing the iron deficiency, which in the case of men, is [very] rare. My oncologist has given me a Globin Fecal test to perform, and has scheduled me for a consultation with a colorectal surgeon to discuss performing a colonoscopy, which could be problematic because of my large spleen. In the mean time, I've decided to start taking an iron supplement, it's only the quantity that is causing me some consternation. I've been told by a very knowledgeable person that to overcome an iron deficiency, I need to be taking 300 mg o...
5 comments
Read more

This is just one of those days

It's one of those days you just want to sit around the house and do absolutely nothing, or watch some movies you have recorded. It might even be a good day to read a book, if you were so inclined, which I am not. As you should be able to see from the view out my bedroom window, it is raining outside. The rain started last night, and hasn't let up since. I can't complain too much though, as this is the rainy season, and we do need the rain. Plus Monday's are typically my day off from exercise, so I will surprise everyone, and not complain. I just feel sorry for anyone who might be visiting from, say Argentina, like a friend of mine (fellow MCLer), who happens to be in Cambria today. He might be a little disappointed. Fortunately the rest of the week, when he will be in LA, will be nice, and the real intent of his trip was to visit his son in Tahoe, who works at one of the ski resorts, and ski, so I know he's not complaining too much either. This weather will actually...
6 comments
Read more

When is enough, enough?

Today I learned, Lance Armstrong, the most drug tested athlete in the history of sport, is being accused of doping, again . This time by the US Anti Doping Agency (USADA), who claim they have collected blood samples from him in 2009 and 2010 that were “fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions.” Really! What took them so long? The French have been trying to make allegations of drug doping stick for years, ever since he won his first Tour d'France, but to no avail. And now the USADA claims to have evidence to support that claim, and they've waited almost 3 years before releasing this evidence. Needless to say, I am skeptical. Then there's this from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO): Increasing the federal excise tax on cigarettes by 50 cents per pack eventually would increase Medicare and Social Security spending, slightly. Eventually? What is the CBO suggesting here? That we should encourage smoking, because if we don't, in...
11 comments
Read more