Encountering potholes

The past 3-4 weeks I've been on a rough patch of road of the rather unpleasant kind — and I don't mean only Pennsylvania highways.

Just like this past winter has been hard on PA highways and byways with more potholes than I've seen in my five years here making for some very rough patches, forcing drivers to continually swerve - like going down a slalom course - dodging the deep damaging holes, I have been on a similar rough road - that is ... seeking out and sitting on "pot holes" of a different kind - if you get my drift.

Actually, you don't want to "get my drift". I've been seeking out new more effective air fresheners and candles. Barb and I even bought a small bottle of "Poo-Pourri", the latest technology in bathroom odor control with the greatest marketing video I've ever seen. I'll leave it at that, only to add the label on the bottle reads: "Silencer not included".

I've been taking chemo - Abraxane - which has diarrhea side effect - for some time. But not had such severe side effect before. I had an Abraxane infusion last week. But I can't seem to lick this malaise. I've been working with my oncologist to try and get things under control. I've lost 9 pounds over the past three weeks and do not recommend this weight loss method to anyone.

My blood tumor marker has come down from 232 to 169 which is supposed to be good news. I'm scheduled for chemo March 26 but will decline if I'm not feeling better by then. I am trying some new medications and diet to maybe help control things.

Yosemite National Park. Taken with an iPhone. Ansel Adams is turning over in his grave.

On the sunnier side of things Barb and I had a wonderful trip to California earlier this month. Barb and I stayed at Yosemite Bug Mountain Resort and Spa with fantastic sauna and stainless steel hot tub. It is 23 miles from the entrance to Yosemite Park. We enjoyed two nice day trips into the park. The weather was beautiful and there was some snow, but not enough to keep us from seeing what we wanted to see.

The ever-alert Owen at 5-1/2 months and Fuzzy Grandpa. He's not sure what to think of me.

From Yosemite we went to Fresno to visit some of the biggest lights of my life: little Owen and his mom and dad, Annie and Adam. What fun! To see how Owen has changed just since Christmas when we last saw him.

My next journey is back to Freeman, South Dakota during the second weekend of Schmeckfest. I look forward to visiting my mom, Verda, who's 92 and doing remarkably well, my brothers, Reed and John, and sisters-in-law, Susan and Sara, and son Charles and friend, Anna, are flying in from Seattle, too. And let's not forget the nephews and nieces. 

And there will be numerous other friends and neighbors to visit. Schmeckfest is a great gathering meeting, food, art, entertainment. I highly recommend it. I plan to fly to Sioux Falls Thursday, March 27 and return to PA on Monday, March 31. Wish me well and pray for no major travel events.

As always, I appreciate your emails, comments on the blog and calls. They really lift me up. And give me encouragement to keep on keeping on.

Ricky