LIVING WITH MCL

At last, a day that went off without a hitch. Arrived at the airport at 6 AM in plenty of time for our 7:35 AM flight, which even managed to leave on time. The best part was Delta had sent our bags ahead last evening, and they were waiting for us at baggage claim at LAX when we arrived. No waiting or fighting everyone to grab our bags. Delta finally got it right this time. It feels so good to be home! Especially since we were out of green tea.

How difficult can it be to get an aircraft off the ground, on time, when the aircraft arrives the night before? Well, leave it to Delta Airlines to accomplish the near impossible. Not only did the aircraft leave late from Roatan, but it left so late, we missed our connecting flight in Atlanta, which had a 2 hour cushion. So here we are in the Atlanta airport Double Tree hotel (courtesy of Delta Airlines) spending yet one more night away from home, awaiting our 7:35 AM flight home tomorrow morning. Hopefully by around 10:00 AM tomorrow, we'll finally be able to put this ordeal behind us.

As it turned out Delta Airlines (the airline we are flying) was the only airline not flying in or out of Roatan today, so we're stuck here [Roatan] for one more day. At least they decided to fly in an additional, and bigger, aircraft tomorrow morning to relieve the situation, and fly everyone out of here.  Unfortunately they didn't give Edie and me, and one other in our group of 8, our business class tickets for the Atlanta to LA leg, despite having paid for them. Everyone else in our group got their business class tickets, but for some reason Delta decided the two sickest people on the airplane didn't need theirs. Go figure. Anyways, I complained, and of course played the sympathy card, and I think I remedied the situation. At least I'm hoping that's the case. I didn't get a 100% written confirmation, but the Delta customer rep (Jenna) assured me it was fixed. I'll know tomorrow for sure when we check in. I'm not sure what I'll do if it isn't fi

Here it is our last day on Roatan, and tropical storm Alex is bearing down on us.  It's raining, the wind is blowing at a brisk clip, and the seas are a liitle rough, even in the normally tranquil lagoon, and we've just been informed our flight to Atlanta has been canceled. Our only hope for now is the Continental flight doesn't make it in this morning, so we'll at least have a place to stay tonight. Oh well, such is life.  [BIG SIGH]

I used to think there was no greater sensation than scratching an itch, but after spending 5 days in Roatan, Honduras I've discovered something at least equal to that. And that is entering an air conditioned room after spending any length of time outside in 90F heat and 100 percent humidity.  I'm sure it's possible to get used to, afterall there are millions who live in this type of climate, and profess to love it, but do they really? Or do they just have no other choice? Now don't get me wrong, Roatan is beautiful (at least where we are), the diving (the principal reason for coming here) is great, as is the resort (although the food is a little lacking), and it has been a fun trip, so far, but none of that changes the fact it's freakin' hot and humid here. If nothing else, it sure serves to remind me just how fortunate I am to live in southern CA.  I know I often complain about the weather in southern CA, with its continually changing weather patterns, but de

Another person expressed some concern today, after my last post, that I may be starting treatment soon. Well, let me clear up any confusion. That isn't the case. It's just I get into these moods every now and then, when I can't help but question how much longer can I be so lucky? Especially when I look at Edie, and so many others in similar situations to me. Why have I been so fortunate to be so active, and not require any treatment for over 8 years, despite having a terminal illness? It just boggles my mind, and I find it difficult to believe it can go on much longer, but ............. Anyways, I had an appointment with my oncologist today to review my latest BMB and cytogenetic test results, and guess what? I have Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Actually I knew that all along, but if you remember back in April, I posted how my new oncologist was convinced I had Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma. Well, he's now convinced otherwise. We also discussed my low hemoglobin/fatigue, and

It seems the longer we go, the worse things get. The fiasco in the gulf is just one of many example.  We're so busy politicizing this, and trying to place blame and fault (often where it doesn't belong), little focus is being placed on the real issue, and that is an ecological disaster that will linger on [for uncountable years], creating unimaginable consequences from which the southeastern coast of the US may never recover, and place an undue burden on the rest of the country. [note]Another example is the politicization of physician reimbursements for medicare patients by the Republicans. But I'm not going to get into that. It would take up way too much of my time, and result in even greater aggravation.[/note] Then there are the customers [at work] who are becoming more stupid by the day, designing systems that are so complicated and convoluted, and change by the minute, they guarantee errors, and non compliance with requirements, forcing suppliers to change procedures

Went to Tom Colicchio's venture in LA, Craft restaurant, last night, and I have to say I was pleased. I was a little skeptical after reading some of the reviews, and while it didn't make it to #1 on my list of favorite places to eat (that award still goes to a fabulous bed and breakfast in Chablis, France), I was not disappointed, and it exceeded my expectations. The one thing of note is sharing is encouraged here. All the food is served family style. Of course you could just put what you ordered in front of you, and dispense with sharing, but then you'd might miss out, as I will describe later. The only problem with that [as I see it] is you miss out on the presentation aspect of the meal, which is something I look forward to when I go out to eat. But what you lose in presentation is easily made up in flavor. Edie ordered the braised beef short rib, and I ordered the Alaskan Halibut, which I have to say was one of the most perfectly cooked pieces of Halibut I have ever e

Just got the results of my bone marrow biopsy, and while nothing seems to have changed MCL wise, the report did indicate "Stainable iron is present" in the marrow. Despite the amount of stainable iron not being quantified, and my having started taking an iron supplement prior to the biopsy, there are other indicators (MCV having always been in the normal range for one, and no increase in my hemoglobin on my last blood test for another) which would lead even a layman, such as myself, to conclude I am not iron deficient. So it's back to the drawing board, and the realization that if I was stronger on the bike, as I originally thought, it was either because I was training more and with greater intensity, or the more likely scenario after considering today's ride, it was all just the "placebo effect", and I have not gotten any stronger at all. Oh well, at least I can stop going through all the gyrations I concluded were necessary to insure I was absorbing the