Raking Leaves

Hello everyone,
We have figured out how to put in pictures.  Here is the crew hard at work

                                                           First 100 Feet Completed

                                                          DOT Worker Hard At Work

                                                          Rake and load - Rake and load

                                                         2 workers hard at work

                                                       Another DOT Worker Hard At Work

                                                            Getting nowhere fast

                                                                   Only 150 more feet to go

                                                                   Super Raker!

                                                                 Where's the cart ?

                                                                  Almost to the end

As I stated in my earlier blog, I can't thank my family enough for the help. Next time I will make sure the photographer gets into the pictures as she raked leaves along with the rest of us between taking the pictures. Thanks Connie. I have received a number of emails from you folks about liking the blog, however, only two of you have left a comment on the blog. Just hit the comments tag and leave me a comment rather than taking the time to do a separate email. Look forward to hearing from you. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)

On THe Chemo Roller-Coaster

Hi Everyone:

Today Gina, Dick, Jackie, Bud and Tom arrived to give Connie & I a hand with moving leaves. In a little over 3 hours we raked and hauled over 20 large yard cart loads of leaves, removed the outboard motor from the Great Canadian Canoe and put that in the top of the garage and placed the Canoe in the back of the car port behind the barn for the winter. We did more today than I could have done between now and when snow will start flying. Sure is nice to have such a loving family. I am too tired tonight to go any further, however, tomorrow when I am more awake, I'll make another entry with pictures taken of the leaf festival. Talk to you again soon.             

Love, Dad (Al)

On the Chemo Roller-Coaster

Good Evening Everyone:

Been a couple of days since I signed in. Busy working on Fire Department and Lions business as well as a new forensics case that I recently picked up. Also 18 large yard carts of leaves have been removed from the driveway and to look out into the yard you wouldn't think that we had done anything. Looking forward to my kids coming Saturday afternoon to give me a hand. Should get at least another dozen cartloads of leaves hauled off. The price of living in the woods. Taking one or two power naps a day in order to keep up the pace. Feeling OK except for the fatigue. I can live with that. Next Chemo infusion is next Wednesday so trying to get things around here caught up before I get nailed again. Talk to you again soon.

Love, Dad (Al)

On the Chemo Roller-Coaster

Good Evening Family and Friends:
I first want to thank Connie for finally sorting out the blog process for me after John's suggestions. If it hadn't been for her, I would still be mucking around with this. 2 days out of the second Chemo infusion hasn't produced much change. The only change from yesterday is that I have been exhausted all day today. Took a 40 minute power nap this morning and by 3:00 this afternoon I was down for another 45 minute one. I feel like an infant eating and sleeping. Not pooping or peeing in my pants however. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more energy so that I can get something accomplished. Received my notice today for my next infusion and it is moved back a day so that next Wednesday rather than Thursday is when I'll be in the barrel. With that I'll only miss the opening day of deer season and Norm Roy and I can head up to camp for the first week of hunting on Sunday. Also, I won't be in the Cancer center on Thanksgiving day for my infusion which is nice. That's it for tonight. Stay tuned.

Love, Dad, (Al)

On the Chemo Rollercoaster

Hello Everyone:
I have finally mastered the blog process thanks to young son John. For the three quarter century old computer moron this has been quite a task. When you grew up in the era of learning the Morse Code Signals this is like being in another life. I have sent out several mass emails to family and friends since my surgery on August 11th and regarding my first Chemo infusion starting on September 30th. You will recall that I advised that I would be doing a blog while I am on the Chemo-Coaster and here we are.
This past Thursday, October 14th I reported for duty at 10:00 AM at the Alfond Cancer Center going through all of the medical checks and balances before the 4 hours infusion of 6 bags including the likes of Palonosetron Dexamethasone, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Sulfate, OXALIplatin, & Leucovorin. Then the battery powered Chemo pump was hooked up with 92 mililiters of 5 Fluorouricil and I was sent on my way at 4:00 PM. From the sounds of these names they should kill more than cancer cells! Yesterday, Saturday, at 2:00 PM I reported back in and had the pump removed. Today at high noon I reported back again and had a shot of Neulaster in my belly. The Neulaster jump starts your bone marrow to work overtime building new red blood cells to replace those killed by the Chemo.
So far this time again no nausea or diarrhea, however, I am having a sensation in my finger tips of touching a live 120 volt wire when touching anything very cold. As I am not a fan of electric shocks, I have purchased a new pair of cotton gloves and Connie has amputated the right little digit so that they fit and that solves that problem. Mickey and Minnie and I have a terrible time being able to purchase 3 finger gloves that fit us. I will keep you posted about every day on where I am on the roller-coaster. I now need to mass email everyone with this link so that you can check in. Love, Dad (Al)