a few extra pounds

I just finished packing the bag for our trip. According to the airlines, 50 lbs is all you can take per bag, with a two bag maximum. I only want to take one bag since we are doing planes, boats, and trains and will have to roll the bag everywhere. The first trial clocked 64 lbs and a stern lecture about extra weight. My bag had to go on a diet. Harry Potter...sorry you have to stay behind... pretty tie, not happening. I took one of everything and managed to bring it down to 56 lbs.

Next try was to wear on the plane the blue blazer, a sweater and take a t-shirt, a bathing suit and another tie out. 52 lbs. j

Hope the person at the check in counter confuses 52 for 50.

Bubbly drinks

I have been told lately that I don't look happy. I guess I am happy in that sort of stable kind of way, but not in my usual manic one. I am happy that I am alive. I am happy that those around me are alive and well. I am happy I have Paul, and my sister and brother. I am happy my mother is not driving us crazy. I am thrilled when I see people that I haven't seen in ages.

However, I am pensive about things that used to be easy and now are a pain in the ass, or things that I have a feeling I won't be able to do anymore. Roller coasters came to mind.

Being my effervescent self takes a lot of energy, so you need to catch me in the morning; by late afternoon, most of the bubbles are gone and I am thinking of going to bed!

no more drugs for me...

first day with no drugs... yippeee. They have been reducing the dosage of the steroids slowly but surely. There are a few things of interest. The steroids gave me a very clear boost in energy, particularly at the end of the day, say about 4:00pm. Nowadays the body sends a very very clear message of when it is time to take long brake. First you get the chills, then shortness of breath and the the chest pain. Don't fret, the chest pains are all around the muscles and bones on the incision. Since I am still coughing the phlegm out, the chest has been particularly active.

All in all, I do feel pretty good, just learning to read my body better.

Yet another visit.

Today was my follow up visit at the BI Hilton. Let me start by saying that a) the have become a great experience with my sister since we go to lunch or dinner and then we go to the doctor, b) I do like my doctors; they get my humor and understand my brain/mood. They rarely make statements that you would say "Get a clue!"

First as usual X-Rays. At this point I could run the damn machine. Then upstairs to the doctor's office area. The bottom line is a) the pneumonia is as gone as it ever will be b) I am off all the meds except aspirin c) once the cold is finally gone, I am as good ass I'll ever be.

In August after we come back from the Baltic cruise and Paris, I have the CT Scan that will determine if I am trully cancer free. For the time being, I can't think about that since I have a bag to pack and tours to think about.