Happy Valentine's Day!
It's tomorrow, I know, but I just wanted to be among the first to offer the salutation. To celebrate, tomorrow we're going out to breakfast with my mother-in-law. That's certainly a lot better than last year when I was in the hospital awaiting my bone marrow transplant.
It was a somewhat quiet day - just working on my bathroom. As I said before, I've got a long way to go. When you have to spend the time to strip out yellowed caulking compound that some idiot used instead of grout to finish between tiles - you have a lot of work in front of you.
Time marches on and I have noticed that I am beginning to close in on 500 postings. I nevefr thought that that would be the case. I always thought that I would run out of anything that might be interest to people long before then. Actually, I probably have, but people are too kind to let me know. So, I guess that I will continue to bore you to death for a little while longer, anyway.
I received the next mailing in the series dedicated to tracking your recovery period. Today's edition was for the 12 to 18 month period. It's interesting to note that they still bring up depression and a full list of graft vs host side effects that continue to plague people. One other item mentioned the ever present worry of having the disease come back. I certainly don't want that to happen to me, but I can't worry about things that I have no control over. If it comes back, I'll deal with it then. Otherwise, I'm going to live as normal a life as I possibly can.
Comments were also mentioned about how we are not the same people that we were before. There is still some concern about crowds, infections, slowly integrating yourself back to work, etc. But, more importantly, you now tend to look at life a little differently.
But, I have been so fortunate. Other than the three hospital stints and the forced house arrest, I have been fine. Calling this period a "vacation" is not really the right choice of words. Maybe it's more like I've taken a hiatus from everyday living for lo these past 16 months.
Well, tomorrow marks my last Sunday of not going to church.
Thank God that's come to an end...
Bob
February 13, 2010 12:30 AM 8 days to go
Sorry for the late post!
But I have a good excuse! We had company over to play cards and we were watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. It's strange to think that we have been doing this with our friends for over 20 years since we first came to New Hampshire. We have known them over 40 years. But that's the best part about life - having friends. We have been blessed with some great friends that we have known for a long, long time. From what I hear that's not all that common.
But I have a good excuse! We had company over to play cards and we were watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. It's strange to think that we have been doing this with our friends for over 20 years since we first came to New Hampshire. We have known them over 40 years. But that's the best part about life - having friends. We have been blessed with some great friends that we have known for a long, long time. From what I hear that's not all that common.
As for the rest of the day, I worked on my bathroom project. I still have a long way to go but I have to remember, as "they" say, Rome wasn't built in a day. And, at this point, days are one thing that I do have. I guess that a year ago I might not have been able to so boldly make that statement as I was waiting for my bone marrow transplant and I had no idea how I was going to react to it.
What can I say? The miracle continues and is now about to be documented on TV as well. My interview with Channel 9 is scheduled for February 22nd at 3:00 here at home. Of course, I really don't think that I am the story here. The real story is about my compatriot in Norway - Janne Offerdal - who will be here that weekend to help me celebrate my first rebirth anniversary. But she can also celebrate her first anniversary(which was yesterday) of her donating her bone marrow. She's the hero here - not me! She has been a constant support for me and we are kindred souls in a number of ways so I cannot wait to meet her when she arrives next week.
Until the next time...
Bob
February 11, 2010 11:55 PM 10 days to go
Not much to say!
As mentined in my last post, today was movie day. However, choir practice was cancelled for basses and tenors as there were really going to be none in attendance. Even though I said that I could be there tonight, I had already stated that my first Sunday back would be the 21st.
Today marks the first anniversary date of my entry into the hospital to prepare for my bone marrow transplant. I went back and read the entry for day. I seem to be so "talkative" in some of those postings. But, then again, a lot was going on and there was a lot to share with all of you. That is not quite so true any more.
But it is interesting for me to go back and read those posts -to recall my thoughts at the time and to relive those moments that certainly have had such a major impact on my life. Now I find that, in retrospect, I was really writing those entries as a keepsake for myself as well. It's amazing how many different ways that this blog has served me as well as all of you.
I certainly don't miss being in the hospital. But, I had made so many connections with so many on the staff that I really do miss the dedicated nurses and staff that took such good care of me.
However, those were other days and I have to thank God for all that He provided me during that time.
I've moved on from there, with God continuing to move with me...
Bob
As mentined in my last post, today was movie day. However, choir practice was cancelled for basses and tenors as there were really going to be none in attendance. Even though I said that I could be there tonight, I had already stated that my first Sunday back would be the 21st.
Today marks the first anniversary date of my entry into the hospital to prepare for my bone marrow transplant. I went back and read the entry for day. I seem to be so "talkative" in some of those postings. But, then again, a lot was going on and there was a lot to share with all of you. That is not quite so true any more.
But it is interesting for me to go back and read those posts -to recall my thoughts at the time and to relive those moments that certainly have had such a major impact on my life. Now I find that, in retrospect, I was really writing those entries as a keepsake for myself as well. It's amazing how many different ways that this blog has served me as well as all of you.
I certainly don't miss being in the hospital. But, I had made so many connections with so many on the staff that I really do miss the dedicated nurses and staff that took such good care of me.
However, those were other days and I have to thank God for all that He provided me during that time.
I've moved on from there, with God continuing to move with me...
Bob
February 11, 2010 12:30 AM 11 days to go
Sorry for the late post!
I got wrapped up doing something else on the web that just took an inordinate amount of time and still was not resolved.
As for the day itself, I spent it completely at home working on my bathroom project. I still have a long way to go but things have been done. One of today's tasks was to put in a bead board ceiling. This I started - I'll look to finish it over the next few days. We're planning on a movie tomorrow so that will delay my getting back to work on it.
Tomorrow night is choir practice #2. I'll be thrown right into it because two of the other basses will not be there leaving me to shoulder the load by myself.
Not much else to report other than we did not get the snow that was initially forecast(yay!!!!). I guess that the storm tracked about 30 miles farther south than was initially predictd by all the computerized forecasts. We ended up with a dusting instead of 2 to 5 inches. At this point, spring is just around the corner and every day that it doesn't snow gets us one day closer to when it can't snow because the weather is too warm.
I guess that you can tell that I am not a fan of winter anymore...
Bob
I got wrapped up doing something else on the web that just took an inordinate amount of time and still was not resolved.
As for the day itself, I spent it completely at home working on my bathroom project. I still have a long way to go but things have been done. One of today's tasks was to put in a bead board ceiling. This I started - I'll look to finish it over the next few days. We're planning on a movie tomorrow so that will delay my getting back to work on it.
Tomorrow night is choir practice #2. I'll be thrown right into it because two of the other basses will not be there leaving me to shoulder the load by myself.
Not much else to report other than we did not get the snow that was initially forecast(yay!!!!). I guess that the storm tracked about 30 miles farther south than was initially predictd by all the computerized forecasts. We ended up with a dusting instead of 2 to 5 inches. At this point, spring is just around the corner and every day that it doesn't snow gets us one day closer to when it can't snow because the weather is too warm.
I guess that you can tell that I am not a fan of winter anymore...
Bob
February 9, 2010 8:15 PM 12 days to go
"I don't know what to give you!"
This was what I heard from the post office clerk after the following sequence of events. I bought $3.28 worth of goods and gave her a $5 bill. Not wanting all the change in return, after she had entered the $5 and the machine calculated the change, I said that I thought that I had the 28 cents. This not being true, I gave her 35 cents instead. Now, of course, the change as calculated by the machine was wrong and she was hopelessly lost. I said give me $2.07 (which she immediately did) and, in the process, I guess I blew my opportunity to make some money.
What have we come to? I'm used to having teenagers not being able to make change - but a postal clerk?
Other than this adventure, the bulk of the rest of the day was spent shopping for the party on the 21st. It's a little difficult to do so when we have no idea how many people are going to be there. But, in true Greek fashion, the amount of food and drink will be far more than is necessary. So, I am sure that no one will starve or die of thirst.
I guess that my talk on the 21st is all done. I've massaged it so many times that I don't think that there is much more that I can do. Besides, for all these types of talks, it's not what I want to say, it's what God wants me to say. Over the next twelve days I'll just polish up the delivery and I think that I'll be fine.
Tomorrow, back to the bathroom project...
Bob
This was what I heard from the post office clerk after the following sequence of events. I bought $3.28 worth of goods and gave her a $5 bill. Not wanting all the change in return, after she had entered the $5 and the machine calculated the change, I said that I thought that I had the 28 cents. This not being true, I gave her 35 cents instead. Now, of course, the change as calculated by the machine was wrong and she was hopelessly lost. I said give me $2.07 (which she immediately did) and, in the process, I guess I blew my opportunity to make some money.
What have we come to? I'm used to having teenagers not being able to make change - but a postal clerk?
Other than this adventure, the bulk of the rest of the day was spent shopping for the party on the 21st. It's a little difficult to do so when we have no idea how many people are going to be there. But, in true Greek fashion, the amount of food and drink will be far more than is necessary. So, I am sure that no one will starve or die of thirst.
I guess that my talk on the 21st is all done. I've massaged it so many times that I don't think that there is much more that I can do. Besides, for all these types of talks, it's not what I want to say, it's what God wants me to say. Over the next twelve days I'll just polish up the delivery and I think that I'll be fine.
Tomorrow, back to the bathroom project...
Bob
February 9, 2010 12:30 AM
A great way to meet women!
I went to the group session tonight and there were 13 people there - 11 of whom were women! I was glad that it was not a big pity party. On a whole, people were very upbeat and positive. There were a few that stated that they did frequently think about their situation and were looking for ways to "get away from it all" at times.
I think that for me, the most informative part of the session was detailing what organizations were providing what resources to help those with leukemia meet some of the attendant expenses that go along with the disease and keeping you abreast of various and sundry events that are going on in the area. The rest of the meeting was just a roundtable of people introducing themselves and giving a brief medical history of their particular ailment(s) and treatment. They meet once a month - so I'll probably take it a month at a time and give it a go next month.
The rest of the day was allocated to working on my bathroom project...
Bob
I went to the group session tonight and there were 13 people there - 11 of whom were women! I was glad that it was not a big pity party. On a whole, people were very upbeat and positive. There were a few that stated that they did frequently think about their situation and were looking for ways to "get away from it all" at times.
I think that for me, the most informative part of the session was detailing what organizations were providing what resources to help those with leukemia meet some of the attendant expenses that go along with the disease and keeping you abreast of various and sundry events that are going on in the area. The rest of the meeting was just a roundtable of people introducing themselves and giving a brief medical history of their particular ailment(s) and treatment. They meet once a month - so I'll probably take it a month at a time and give it a go next month.
The rest of the day was allocated to working on my bathroom project...
Bob
February 7, 2010 11:10 PM 14 days to go
It's finally over!
Yup, the Super Bowl hype and game are history. But it was a good way to end the week end by watching the game at a friend's house.
Didn't do much the rest of the day as we relaxed until we left the house. Tomorrow I'll start working again.
And, of course, later on tomorrow I'll go to that leukemia group session and see what that's all about -giving a full report in tomorrow's entry.
I'm still searching for whatever it is that my future is to be...
Bob
Yup, the Super Bowl hype and game are history. But it was a good way to end the week end by watching the game at a friend's house.
Didn't do much the rest of the day as we relaxed until we left the house. Tomorrow I'll start working again.
And, of course, later on tomorrow I'll go to that leukemia group session and see what that's all about -giving a full report in tomorrow's entry.
I'm still searching for whatever it is that my future is to be...
Bob
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