May 14, 2012 05/14/2012
May 14th Blog Two weeks have passed since I last wrote any of my thoughts. I have no real reason for the delay other than I didn’t think I had anything worth writing. I have joined the photographic team for the Woodstock Relay for Life. I will be the staff photographer that takes survivor photos. I also met a couple of other prostate cancer survivors over the weekend while chasing motorcycles for Ministry of Transport Ontario. I help out with instructor re-certification that each signing authority must do every two years. It looks as if more and more people are getting through cancer. I don’t have any stats except to say it feels like we’re winning the battle. That said I also met a couple of people in the last week or so that have just found out that they now have to take on the fight for their lives. I pray they win. I have been busy trying to learn to use a new piece of camera equipment. This weekend I hope to make some more photos and prefect my technique. I am going to post my first photo with the new toy, a panorama the measures 12 inches by 72 inches. I am contemplating a new photo project. Between now and Dec 24th I hope to photograph 50 strangers. I should be able to accomplish this as I’m not shy and I love people. I will post these shots on my website for viewing. I will blog one more time before the weekend in order to keep you in the loop. Living strong as life goes on! Add Comment Monday April 30th 04/30/2012
Yet another blog installment Today for work I had to take a training session that I had missed while I was off for the radiation treatments. The course is a mandatory course for workers in Ontario and teaches how to deal with people with disabilities as well as making public places accessible. I learned a thing or two about myself while I was doing the computer based program. Having found the course a bit boring and thinking of what I would rather be doing instead, I found that I made many excuses not to stay at the keyboard and go through the material. First it’s up for water and to the bathroom, added to this a dozen other distractions I came up with, anything to keep from staying on track. What I have described here is the same approach I take to my new challenge of healthy living. I have more diversions and excuses for not getting down to the task of healthy living, survival for a guy who has been helped by many but refuses to help himself. Each day, no matter how she feels Penny gets up and makes a hot breakfast then packs a lunch for Noelle. What dedication and commitment she has. Penny also takes time to check in on two other grandchildren and their new puppy each day. Most days she makes her way there more than once to check in and lend a hand. Then there’s her taxi cab duties, running errands and driving kids and dogs around the country side. What a strong person she is! As stated in my last blog rant I ain’t in no hurry but I am getting at it right now. Living strong as life goes on! I Ain't In No Hurry 04/27/2012
Latest installment issue 2 So it’s been about a week since my last rant therefore it must be about time that I go at it again. I’m adopting a new philosophy in my every day routine as I see spring and summer approaching. I ain’t in no hurry. I know my old car needs washing and the front yard needs a trim, no matter anyway, cause I ain’t in no hurry today. Of course, this is a line from a Zac Brown Band song, with a little manipulation on my part. These words fit quite well with how I’m feeling and the way I’d like to ease through the summer. Hell it seems like a great model to live by until they put a guy in the ground. Why hurry, stress and fret over things that a hundred years from now won’t matter one iota. Why leave this world early because of a life of worrying about things you can’t change. The prayer of serenity comes to mind. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Many times life changes after a person realizes this. Have you ever seen a situation where a couple has a baby shortly after adopting one. It’s like they quit trying so hard and are blessed with a second child. Perhaps the same may be true for a person who wishes to lose weight or tries hard to find a job with no luck. Could it be that the frustration or fear of failure prevents a positive outcome? So there you have it. I may write another installment of this blog next week or the week after that. I may go for a walk tomorrow or maybe the next day. One thing is for sure I’m going to let off some pressure that I have placed on myself just to see what takes place. Until next time whenever that may be, I ain’t in no hurry. Living strong as life goes on! Third in a week In many of life’s situations support is extremely important. At work, in business or in school support is vital. When a person is ill support is a healing factor that although can’t be measured, is absolutely critical. I have often said that money is not the end all at work and a pat on the back for a job well done can go further sometimes than a raise in pay. A teacher that issues praise is likely to inspire his or her students to do their best at any subject. As a two time cancer survivor I know the power of support and positive thinking. Without these things I fear many people would fall short of their goals or not survive life threatening illnesses. Last evening I opened my email and found a message from a fellow whose name I recognized but could not remember from which area of my life. Was this gentleman an acquaintance from motorcycling, from work or someone that I had met through photography? As I opened the message I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the email had been sent by one of the radiation therapists just checking to see how I was doing. He had been reading the blog and wanted to say hi and wish me well. My medical team support continues even after the treatments have ended. Again, I must say the radiation staff at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre is second to none. Although I have had positive results on my follow up blood tests that email gave me a boost that can’t be measured! As is often the case it’s easy to be critical of others and always look at situations with negativity. I have tried to be a glass half full kind of guy who can see some good in even the worst possible circumstance. Small things like a pat on the back or a follow up email from a person who could have easily forgotten me by now sure reinforces my belief that many people are good despite what one reads each day in the news paper. Living strong as life goes on! Two posts in two days 04/16/2012
Another One Here I go two posts in two days. Let me assure everyone that I am well. I have no cancer troubles at this time and the posts have been delayed by a busy schedule at work. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Many who know me will doubt that my work could be too busy and likely attribute the lack of posts for three weeks or so to laziness. I can’t argue too strongly against that theory, in fact there is quite likely a small grain of truth to it. During a prolonged coffee break tonight with friends I was scolded, no taken to task is a better description. It seems my lack of blog activity has some concerned that I am not well or uncaring to the point of falling behind on the blog. I hope two posts in two days gets me back into their good graces. As for the photos they will have to wait a few more days until I find time and subject to shoot. So that’s it for now. I will try harder from now on to keep the readers of my rants fed with ramblings so they don’t become disillusioned and abandon me. I guess as long as people have an appetite for this I will keep on blogging. Living strong as life goes on! Late Again! 04/15/2012
Latest installment It has been several weeks since my last blog posting. As you might imagine work is busy and when I am done for the day, I’m done for the day. I have in the last couple of weeks found myself still working at 11:15 PM trying to stay on top of emails and course reports. As with the blog posts I am so far behind in my photo posts that I may never get caught up. Having said that, I can tell you I have one collegue even further behind at work than I am. I have made time for walking although I have not been able to walk every day. I have also made some personal goals revolving around photography. I am setting out to make twelve wall art photos this year, at the same time I will attempt to photograph fifty strangers. I heard of a challenge recently were a photog wanted to shoot one hundred strangers in one year. What a great concept! I think fifty is enough for me for now. I am posting this blog installment and one print shot last Monday. It is my hope that my ambition level will stay strong enough to continue next week. Living strong as life goes on! Late Again 03/31/2012
Week 16 I’m late with the blog posting and three weeks behind on my weekly photograph. Being back to work it seems like there is not enough hours in a day. Tomorrow I will be posting the three photos that are lacking although I’m not sure yet what they will be. It seems work is busier now than ever. I was out of my territory twice last week, once in Guelph for a meeting and once in Chatham for a day long course. When I get home I’m too lazy or perhaps tired to work at the blog or photo. I did find time last week to do some motorcycle dealing. We now have his and hers 49cc Honda Ruckus’ in the stable. Just as with being too tired to blog I’m also too tired to walk or even go for a coffee most nights. I’m going to try to fit walking into my daily routine, perhaps at lunch. No excuse at that point as I should not be overly tired at that time of day. I guess there’s always next week. I will try harder to find the time and energy to get it going, making my way toward my goal of walking. Living strong as life goes on! Sorry! 03/22/2012
Week 15 I have always believed in the power of positive thought. Back when I was a kid I was a 50% partner in a mini bike which we had apart several times. After each rebuild we used positive thought to help get that little thing running and to prevent it from blowing up once it did start. Throughout this prostate cancer journey, along with expert help from my medical team and many prayers and good thoughts from family, friends and co-workers, I stayed positive in my thinking. I admit there were days when I hit some ups and downs. The past week has had many mood swings leading up to my doctor’s visit today. My mind was on the outcome of recent blood tests that would determine what if any treatments would lie ahead. Strangely enough I was not so worried about what the doctor might tell me rather, about how I would handle it. Did I have the character and fortitude needed to take it like a man if the outcome was bad news? Would I break down and give up the fight to beat this insidious disease? I have been just a tad tense with these thoughts ever in the forefront, distracting me from day to day activities and preventing me from being my normal jolly self. In fact for the last week I have been a downright jerk. Just ask Penny and Noelle, the poor souls have had to put up with me! So, with that said I want to apologies to Noelle and to Penny for my actions. Further I apologies to them and to all other who thought they may be rid of me once and for all. I’m sorry to disappoint but it seems I’m going to live! I’m on track my PSA has dropped significantly from 7.17 to 1.2 with an 80% likelihood that a full recovery is at hand. The radiation is working as intended. I now change doctors from a radiation oncologist to a prostate oncologist with my next routine visit six months from now. Thanks to everyone who helped me through this and thank God for miracles and for the marvels of modern medicine. Now that I know that a positive outcome has been achieved, I will try not to be a pest or to wear out my welcome. Because you see I plan on being around for a long time to come! Living strong as life goes on! Think About the Future 03/16/2012
Week 14 I don’t have a lot to report this time around. I have been walking a bit and Penny has started to make some of the recipes that we received from Vicky and Dave when we went to Michigan. Most of the dishes we’ve tried have been hits. We had a chicken and broccoli dinner the other night that was low fat and fantastic. My walks are getting a bit longer and I try to get out every day, easier said than done. I see the oncologist this Thursday. By then he will have had time to check out my blood work up that was done last Thursday. I hope everything is back to normal and that the radiation has worked as expected. I have been preoccupied thinking about this visit to the doctor who is located at Grand River Cancer Centre. Thursday’s visit will be the determining factor as to what if any other treatment options are needed. Since I have been consumed with the “what if” factor, I have done a fair bit of reading over the last week or so with regard to other possible treatments that may be necessary and what side effects to expect. Truthfully, I am likely more afraid now than at any other time in the treatment process. I relate it to studying for a final and not know how well you did until you get the mark. The obvious difference is I am not dealing with a school test result but a quality of life/life or death situation. On a positive note the colonoscopy went well. As I have said here before I will keep everyone informed as to the outcome, positive or negative. Being a glass half full type of guy, I think the results will have a positive outcome. Living strong as life goes on! Post Title. 03/07/2012
Week 13 Here I am in week 13 and I have made no significant improvement in lifestyle. Not to sound like I’m making excuses but for some reason I have experienced a lot of pain. It seems as if the pain is keeping me from doing the exercise that I need to do in order to see any change come about. I have concerns about the pain as it is located in my hips and pelvic area. I found myself using a cane around the house one day last week as it was difficult to walk. I see the doctor soon and will mention my concerns to him. I know that the pain is real however I’m not sure the concern is justified. I went for a colonoscopy today. I was thinking about it, it turns out to be the nine year anniversary of my first procedure, which I failed. I’m now on a five year rotation as I have been cancer free in that area for nine years now. Today’s outing was successful as a notation was made no polyps, no biopsy. Although I have endured four such procedures now it is still taxing with the preparation and after effects of the sedation. For this reason I am going to end this issue now as I’m just to t i r e d Living strong as life goes on! | AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesMay 2012 Categories |
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