Had a business and pleasure lunch today with an old colleague of mine. It was great fun talking about my favourite subject (Enterprise Architecture) for hours.
It was also fun to have another religious discussion with a serious Christian. It seems to be common interest amongst very intelligent architects and strategists, maybe I really need to take this seriously. So I have another book to read, but this one is at least is smaller than the Bible :-)
Friday, 14 December 2007
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Keeping up with the Meyers
It is highly advisable when entering our Cul-de-sac at this time of the year to don one's shades for fear of permanent retinal damage. I do believe that the local power distribution centre pay special attention in case just one more magnificent pulsing reindeer or giant Father Christmas comes on line. At least in true Swiss style any flashing is very subtle, and only white lights are deemed to be acceptable. But the closer to the big day the Lumen's increase, and I'm convinced that the ambient temperature along our small lane will rise at least a degree, our own direct contribution to Global Warming.
At number 28 however we refuse to participate in this escalation and have limited ourselves to one (admittedly quite impressive) waterfall of lights on the valley side balcony with a couple of accompanying stars. Oh, and there is the recently added garland around the patio, but that's it.........perhaps after I've filled that bare patch on the other side of the patio, but then that is definitely it!
At number 28 however we refuse to participate in this escalation and have limited ourselves to one (admittedly quite impressive) waterfall of lights on the valley side balcony with a couple of accompanying stars. Oh, and there is the recently added garland around the patio, but that's it.........perhaps after I've filled that bare patch on the other side of the patio, but then that is definitely it!
The ultimately subtle number 28Monday, 10 December 2007
Chemo in 3rd day
Three days into the 1st (post Radiation/Chemo) Chemo cycle and I'm feeling fine.
Apart from the annoying pill regime in the mornings I'm noticing no significant side effects. I was at least expecting some nausea (as on previous occasions) but nada, so it looks like the Zofran Zydis (Ondansetron) pills work better than the Paspertin (Metoclopramide) even if they taste like pure Aspartame when they dissolve on your tongue (yuck).
Add to that only one little seizure last week, and everything seems to be going well.
Apart from the annoying pill regime in the mornings I'm noticing no significant side effects. I was at least expecting some nausea (as on previous occasions) but nada, so it looks like the Zofran Zydis (Ondansetron) pills work better than the Paspertin (Metoclopramide) even if they taste like pure Aspartame when they dissolve on your tongue (yuck).
Add to that only one little seizure last week, and everything seems to be going well.
Dance Event
Went to a friend's Dance School event yesterday evening. One of our friends has been tap dancing for some years and it was the big end of year show for her school. Can't think of a better way to spend a couple of hours than watching a load of good looking (mostly) women prancing around a stage, and the dancind was good too.
Indian food rounded off the evening to perfection.
Indian food rounded off the evening to perfection.
Friday, 7 December 2007
Chemo Prep - So Soon
Had an appointment with Proffesor Neuro and Chemo Man today (my real life comic books heroes). This was to make sure that I'm fit enough to start the 1st cycle of chemo treatment tomorrow.
For those that have forgotten (pay attention now): I will be on 6 monthly cycles with the first cycle consisting of five days of Temodal (temozolomide) at 300mg dosage and 23 days rest. The second and subsequent cycles will consist of five days of Temodal at 400mg dosage followed by 23 days rest.
Apparently I am fit enough for my next dose of Toxins so I start with the tablets tomorrow morning an hour before food and half an hour after my anti-nausea pills (Zofran Zydis from planet puke). Oh well, just the next steps towards becoming Captain Toxic (I hope the resulting super powers are worth it)!
I have been taking enough pills recently to rattle, but there are none that upset me more than these. You wouldn't believe how hard they are to swallow, metaphorically and otherwise. The thought of what they are doing to me is in itself sickening. This is made even more difficult when I know how little our medical friends know about their effectiveness, and I know that all we are trying to do is kill the symptoms of an incurable disease.
But hey, if there is a chance the stuff can buy me another year or two, being poisoned is a small price to pay, isn't it?
For those that have forgotten (pay attention now): I will be on 6 monthly cycles with the first cycle consisting of five days of Temodal (temozolomide) at 300mg dosage and 23 days rest. The second and subsequent cycles will consist of five days of Temodal at 400mg dosage followed by 23 days rest.
Apparently I am fit enough for my next dose of Toxins so I start with the tablets tomorrow morning an hour before food and half an hour after my anti-nausea pills (Zofran Zydis from planet puke). Oh well, just the next steps towards becoming Captain Toxic (I hope the resulting super powers are worth it)!
I have been taking enough pills recently to rattle, but there are none that upset me more than these. You wouldn't believe how hard they are to swallow, metaphorically and otherwise. The thought of what they are doing to me is in itself sickening. This is made even more difficult when I know how little our medical friends know about their effectiveness, and I know that all we are trying to do is kill the symptoms of an incurable disease.
But hey, if there is a chance the stuff can buy me another year or two, being poisoned is a small price to pay, isn't it?
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Things to do before you die
Bought a couple of books on things you should do before you die. I don't mean visit the Taj Mahal and join the mile high club although I should probably think of those too, I mean stuff like deciding how and where you want to die (yeah I know, you don't really get a choice), writing wills to avoid arguments, What are the (Swiss) laws on inheritance. How to donate organs and all those other morbid subjects.
Now all I need to do is read them and act on them........Maybe next week.
Now all I need to do is read them and act on them........Maybe next week.
A bit of Relief
Got over the toothache on Sunday. I don't know what the cause was.
Carol's chestiness still hasn't recovered, I wish she would go to the doctor.
So we just sat around the house over the weekend (mainly reading, The Algebraist by Iain M Banks on my part) with occasional visits from various family members including the Kayleigh clan on Sunday.
Monday was the first day since August that I'd actually attended a full day of work in the local office, although I'd done odd bits of work before, they had been in the home office or one to one meetings. So, I was still worried that I wouldn't be able to "perform" in public (in this case an account planning meeting including an evening meal). I shouldn't have worried, I really enjoyed the day and found myself falling back into my old ways with no limitations to my thought processes (which is what my job is all about), and I didn't get tired one bit.
As usual there were a few people wanting to know how I was but now I have got back to how we humans usually answer that question "I'm Fine", and if they wanted to know more I brought up this blog (where they can find out anything they want to know). I hardly thought of my cancer all day, and that was the best bit.
Carol's chestiness still hasn't recovered, I wish she would go to the doctor.
So we just sat around the house over the weekend (mainly reading, The Algebraist by Iain M Banks on my part) with occasional visits from various family members including the Kayleigh clan on Sunday.
Monday was the first day since August that I'd actually attended a full day of work in the local office, although I'd done odd bits of work before, they had been in the home office or one to one meetings. So, I was still worried that I wouldn't be able to "perform" in public (in this case an account planning meeting including an evening meal). I shouldn't have worried, I really enjoyed the day and found myself falling back into my old ways with no limitations to my thought processes (which is what my job is all about), and I didn't get tired one bit.
As usual there were a few people wanting to know how I was but now I have got back to how we humans usually answer that question "I'm Fine", and if they wanted to know more I brought up this blog (where they can find out anything they want to know). I hardly thought of my cancer all day, and that was the best bit.
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