LIVING WITH MCL

I just hate it when people ask me for advice about what I've done [and am still doing] to keep my MCL at bay for so long. I hate it because I really don't have a good answer, and I don't want to mislead anyone. Sure I drink a lot of green tea, and a lot of red wine, but I'm not really convinced they have been effective in holding my MCL at bay. There just isn't any scientific evidence proving their efficacy. I am hopeful, and believe that in moderation, taking only what can be obtained naturally, can't do any harm. I won't take and EGCG or Reservatrol supplements. [note]The main reason I drink lots of green tea is to ensure I hydrate myself enough, and I drink red wine, well... because I like it.[/note] There are however, some practices I follow which I believe have been effective in extending my longevity, i.e. restricting caloric intake, and intense exercise, but I haven't seen any scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of those practices eithe...

It's hard to believe I've actually made it to another birthday. My 61st to be exact. When I was diagnosed with MCL over 7 years ago, I said I would be happy if I could just get 5 good years. Well, I've far exceeded that goal, and now have come to realize, that another 5 years won't be good enough.  And why should it? I'm not feeling significantly different than when I was first diagnosed. Sure I'm 7 years older, and I've slowed down a little, but who doesn't once they get over 50? The only real problem is always dealing with the fact of an incurable disease hanging over your head, and never really knowing when the shoe is going to drop, and things start to get worse. [Fortunately I've got a good support group close by to help me with that.] But at least for now, everything is the same. My latest blood work is in, and everything is still stable, essentially the same as it has been for the past 18 months. My platelets and LDH were even slightly improve...

And I'm having them a little more often than I would like. The hardest part about getting older is realizing how profoundly everything changes, and this mornings bike ride just seemed to emphasize that point way too much. Now while I've only been a member of this bicycle club for the past two years, I've been riding with them regularly for at least the past 5 years. Still as I surveyed the parking lot of riders this morning, I realized a few of the usual riders, ones I have come to enjoy socializing and riding with, were missing, and this wasn't the first time. Plus it's not just Saturday's ride, but the Wednesday ride, has changed, as well, with new riders participating, regulars not, and even going to a different destination. Admittedly, the Wednesday rides have mostly gone back to the ride I've grown accustomed to , but this past Wednesday, none of the usual riders, who push the pace, showed up, so it was slower than it has been. Plus one of the regular r...

How much are two nights at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, one 6 course and one 7 course dinner at Charlie Palmers Aureole restaurant, and three midday food preparation demonstrations, all accompanied by no less than 69 French, California and Washington wines worth? I have to admit when I first received the email describing this event, I was skeptical. There was no way to know how big this event was going to be, nor were there specific description of the dinners, or wines that would be served, to really make an informed decision about the event. Still, after considering the package included 2 nights at the Mandalay Bay, and 2 dinners at Aureole restaurant I didn't think we could go too wrong by attending. Plus it just sounded like a good excuse to get out of town for the weekend. So we decided to go, and headed out early Friday morning, as the first event, a pate preparation demonstration, was scheduled for 2:30 PM. Well the only thing I can say is the event was definitely wor...

Ever since screwing up the transmission in the Camry, getting back from Grand Turk, and learning Becky was going to be off work for [up to] two months, I seem to have succumb to a general feeling of malaise. And those aren't the only things. Over the past month, I've managed to lose 7 pounds.  That has helped my climbing prowess on the bike, but has resulted in a loss of speed on flat ground, so now I don't know if I should continue to my goal of 145 pounds (another 6 pounds), or just maintain this weight, but train harder. Then of course, there's the switch to 'real' caffeinated green tea which may be having an effect. Now while I haven't been experiencing any of the heart palpitations I was concerned about, I do think I am drinking a lot more of it, and maybe the caffeine is having some other side effect I can't quantify. And finally there are the changes that are just inevitable, that come because time doesn't stop, people move on, for any number ...

I've started writing 3 different posts on 3 different subjects this past week, but haven't finished any of them. I just don't seem to have any drive to inform the world of what is going on in my life.  And who really cares anywaze? So instead today, while I sip a bit of green tea this morning, I thought I would discuss some of the things I've learned, during this past week or so, about drinking the good stuff, i.e "real" green tea, not the stuff from Trader Joe's or Fresh and Easy, but the loose leaf variety, that actually looks green after brewing. The best thing I've discovered so far is the extra caffeine, I've been getting, hasn't resulted in any heart palpitations, and I've drank over 40 cups this week. But more importantly I think I've finally come up with the perfect brewing technique to optimize flavor and EGCG intake. I use two (2) grams of tea for every eight (8) oz of water, and I don't reuse the tea leaves. I use onl...