Pull Tight

Although I have been there dozens of times, I never fail to take the time to view the hand exhibit when at the main Baylor hospital in Dallas.  Bronze hand casts of many famous people from the last half century.   If you are in the area, it is worth seeing.

It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones. Jean Webster It is the little things that sometimes happen making travel with work a little brighter.  Found this place, Herby K's, in Shreveport surrounded by several blocks of abandoned buildings.  Crispy butterflied  fried shrimp on crusty bread, best onion rings I ever tasted, cup of gumbo and a bottle of Abita.  Perfect end to the day. This place has been serving the same kind of food in the same location since 1936. Hear it is standing room only at  lunch time (maybe next trip).

First, add one medium lizard.....

Pulled up behind this car today. The bumper sticker says "Don't blame me, I voted for Zappa"

Attended a talk by Lisa Ling tonight at UTA.  Very interesting and informative lecture mostly about her life in journalism,  womens' issues and her observations during travels over the world.   Made you think about how little we know in America of other cultures.  Even those of us who have had a chance to travel, rarely immerse ourselves in the cultures of our destinations more than very superficially.

Saw performances of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Ravel at Bass Hall by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.  Enjoyed all.  Although, have listened to Ravel's Bolero many times, had never seen it performed.   As a non-musician this is one of my favorites and seeing it performed it became apparent why.  Not being a musician, it is difficult for me to pick out the different instrument sounds.  Bolero has many solo performances within the piece.  And, seeing it performed, you could see the exact musician and instrument for each of these.  All in all, a very well spent afternoon.

Perhaps this should be called fiction and because the only name remembered isn't mentioned, it may well be. My son and I recently participated in an organized bicycle ride out of the small town of Glen Rose, TX near where I grew up.  This ride coincided with the first annual moonshine festival in Somerville County of which Glen Rose is the county seat.  Up until about 1970 the county was dry.  The area is infamous for moonshiners during and after prohibition and had many bootlegging operations up until finally voting wet.  I remembered this story as we visited the town square after the bike ride.  It was told to me by someone who died many years ago.  This particular night was probably sometime in the late 40s or early 50s.  Recalled here in 1st person as it was told to me......... We were all sitting around the square drinking one Saturday night with the sheriff.  About 10:30 we ran out of booze.  The sheriff said "What is this world c...

Found this guy crawling around some potted plants today.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/53412408?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4cbb7bf6a01ddfb1,0

First PSA blood test post radiation is in normal range.  Down to 3.5 from 4.3.  The chance of a complete cure with radiation for the stage of prostate cancer I have (had) is 85-90%.  Side effects from treatment are subsiding. Should mention, a brush with cancer helps with focusing on the important things in life.

"The better part of  valour is discretion" We went to a production of Henry IV yesterday.  Read somewhere that the Falstaff character was resurrected for future plays because the Queen of England enjoyed the part and asked Shakespeare to bring him back.  The actor playing Falstaff must have stolen the show in the original production as he did in Dallas.

Physalis alkekengi - Chinese lantern plant - flower of the day at our house

All children, except one, grow up. Peter Pan Opening words As Nancy and I were leaving the supermarket today she asked "Since my recent birthday, was I now too old to ride shopping carts through the parking lot?"   The answer is an unequivocal  no .  Next time you see an old guy with graying hair and beard coasting through the supermarket parking lot on the back of a cart full of groceries, put one foot on your cart and give a hard push with the other foot.  And, coast over to just say to hi or even better, challenge me to race.

 Received this piece of art from my daughter as a birthday present.

Some of you might not identify this if you came across it just south of downtown Hico.  Others will recognize it as an old loading chute for loading or unloading livestock into or out of trucks.  To me it is a time machine back to the  1950s. Drove past this recently and was immediately 8 years old again.  Every Wednesday in the 50s and into the 60s this chute was where livestock were loaded or unloaded for the auction that day.  There were dozens of adjoining pens and a barn.   The barn was set up with a pen (auction ring) for herding livestock in one gate and out another.  There was a raised semi enclosed area for an auctioner on one side of the ring and about 3 rows of bleachers on the other side for the buyers and sellers. On sale day when had stock to be sold, my dad and sometimes my grandfather would load up a few head of calves into a two wheel trailer or the back of a the pick up truck which had cattle frames. At this time many of the ...

Praying Mantis having a snack. Some sort of small flies there to dine also.

To all who are needing or wanting to take off a few extra pounds, you might want to try cancer.   It seems to work pretty well for getting off a few pounds.  I'm down 8-10 pounds without too much effort.

With my diagnosis and beginning of radiation therapy, a mostly vegetarian diet was begun along with more frequent trips to the gym.  While I am losing weight, it is not at the rate anticipated.  Many mornings on my way home from treatment a stop is made for a snack.  Wonder if the slower than anticipated weight loss could be due to the fact that I am greeted by first name at Panera Bread and la Madeline?

Sunrise through Cowboy Stadium

This is my veiw leaving treatment each morning. If you look closely, the Dallas skyline is just to the right of the water tower, through the morning haze and air pollution. Downtown Dallas is probably about 20 miles away in these shots from south Arlington. This is my veiw for only 12 more times at which time my treatments are over.

"Peace Love and the Goat" was the theme of the 23rd annual Goatneck bike ride in Cleburne.  Sounds like one of my old hippie friends came up with the theme while in an altered state of mind.  If you bike this is a good ride - well stocked rest stops, good support, good roads, very low car traffic.  In spite of very hot weather, there were around 3000 riders.  Photos are the beginning of ride, going under the conveyer belt at the Lime Plant and Austin with his first flat in an organized ride. 

9500 Liberty | Film Synopsis Went to see a premier of this film last night. Regardless of your view on immigration and immigration policy, you should see this film. The social and economic impacts of what happened in Prince William County, Virginia will make you stop and think. The event was hosted by State Representative Lon Burnam and Lt Governor candidate Linda Chavez-Thompson. Eric Byler one of the film makers was also there as part of a panel, which included other community leaders and the Fort Worth Police Dept answering questions after the film. Interesting to see the show in Fort Worth. Fort Worth is very ethnically diverse and has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. See it, you will be glad you did.

Half way through with radiation treatments today.  Only side effect so far is a set of worn out toilet lid hinges from very frequent use.

Biked past an operating windmill yesterday and was transported back to rural life of  the 50s and 60s.  Some of you will recognize the dipper (ladle) above.  There was almost always one of these hanging somewhere on the windmill frame for getting a drink directly from the windmill as it was pumping.  One used by all with maybe or maybe not a quick rinse.  One of the most refreshing drinks you could have in the day and probably still.

Austin and I went out this morning for the Peach Pedal bike ride starting in Weatherford.  About half way through our 60 mile bike we rode through Cool, Tx.  One way to be cool for a July bike ride in Texas....

For the next 31 weekdays, my days start with a 6:30 AM walk past the lead door into the radiation room.  For the record,  my day would be off to a better start with a shot of espresso instead of being shot with radiation.

The other good news is that I only have 38 radiation treatments and not 44.  So 36 to go.

1 down 43 to go

Am I on the cutting edge of fads or what.  This old guy just got not one, but three new tatoos.  The tattoos are, however, in places you will never see unless we become very close friends. Along with the gold beads in my prostate, three small tatoos (dots really) are used to aim the radiation beam.  Actual therapy starts tomorrow. Wonder if I can interest my wife in a session of connect the dots when she gets home tonight.

Huh. Today was my appointment for my CT and MRI.  As I understand these tests are used to generate a 3D image used for therapy, which will begin in 2 weeks.  Was surprised to see one of the very 1st questions on the forms I completed "Do you have a do not resuscitate order?"  Maybe if you say yes you get to skip the rest of the paperwork.  Paperwork was a little lengthy, but..... CT and MRI were uneventful and painless.  This place seems to be very well organized and running smoothly.  After the procedures I was very tired, but I think this was just being over the stress of this first procedure.  Went home and laid down on the couch and woke up a few minutes later to the sensation of being licked on the face by 3 Westies (wonder if they knew I had been for a cat scan).  Yuk. My therapy starts in about 2 weeks.  Will be glad to get it started and then behind me.

" To understand water is to understand the cosmos, the marvels of nature, and life itself." - Masaru Emoto in "The Hidden Messages in Water" - At the end of bike rally yesterday; lunch for about 2000 was served with warm bottles of water.  Drinking the less than cool water parlayed into a discussion with my son about drinking water growing up on the farm in the 50s and 60s.  Insulated coolers were not yet common enough to have made it to Paluxy Texas.  We did have a flowing artesian well providing cool good water. Mom would take a glass jar or jug and sew a layer or two of fabric around it.  I seem to remember old jean legs were used sometimes.  We would fill up the jugs with water at the flowing well an and then wet the outside fabric.  This made a pretty effective evaporative water cooler for a few hours in the fields.  The water would get warm at a much slower rate.  We all shared the same jug with relatives, hired ha...

We have no simple problems or easy decisions after kindergarten. Wednesday afternoon, markers were placed for radiation. Three 3mm gold pellets where inserted into my prostate. This whole procedure lasted less than five minutes, but the discomfort lasted a few hours. The photo here is of the ultrasound image of the last pellet being inserted. The pellets are used (as I understand) to line up the radiation beams for each treatment. The gold becomes a permanent part of me. The cancer diagnosis seemed surreal up to the point of making the appointment for this procedure. Setting the appointment was sort of a transition to really admitting diagnosis and accepting something needs to be done.

He who fears something gives it power over him. Moorish Proverb Of my choices - Cut (Surgery), Burn (Radiation) or Watch (Monitor for change) - I have decided burning is best for me. As I have talked to survivors; most involved with support groups had surgery and experienced or are currently experiencing side effects. Maybe the side effects are a constant reminder of the disease and this is why they are involved with the support groups. Could be for many, they hear the word cancer and want it cut out to be rid of it. The survival rate is about the same for radiation and there are usually fewer side effects. Watching or Active Surveillance seems to be mostly for guys older than me, with shorter life spans and more likely to have complications from the procedures themselves. If you are older and the cancer grows slowly, you can probably outlive it. But for me it looks like 8 weeks of radiation. Physicians tell me the only side effect during radiation treatment will be getting a li...

Symptoms, then are in reality nothing but the cry from suffering organs ~Jean Martin Charcot, translated from French You never know what life is bringing next. Would not have imagined a month ago, I would be spending the day as I did. Met with a Radiation Oncologist, a surgeon and some members of a cancer support group. In spite of the company I kept today or maybe because of it, I feel better today than yesterday. Nancy and the kids went with me for the physician visits. We are all, now quite optimistic about the prognosis. Austin and I went to the support group and this was helpful as well. I will probably continue to attend support group meetings for a while as it was good to talk with guys who had gone through the same experience as me.

About 2 months ago I went to a physician because of trouble sleeping. The sleep problem was probably just due to work/life stress and some very long hours. The physician suggested some lab work. It had been 4-5 years since I had any lab work. When she discovered this along with the fact all of my lab work was free because of where I worked, she ordered an extensive battery of tests. Although a PSA would have nothing to do with insomnia, it was ordered also. Everything came back pretty much normal except the PSA. The value was 4.3 (upper limit of normal is 4.0). Next was a visit to my General Practitioner. He and I talked about the assay. He told me how there was controversy about using PSA and GPs aren't trained well for digital exams. Then he had me drop my pants for the exam anyway. He didn't think I should be too concerned. I was placed on a regimen of antibiotics and asked to come by for retesting when completed. It came up in conversation that although there was not much t...

  In spite of all the predictions for bad weather, it turned out perfect for a bike ride. Cool, cloudy and very light wind. Ride started and ended, for a few hundred riders, in the infeild at Texas Motor Speedway (no speed records broken today). My son rode with me, had a great time and met some interesting folks along the way.