Some good news, and some bad news

 Edie, Life  1 Response »
Feb 282007
 

The good news is Edie’s Serum Free Light Chain reading dropped to 14 from 16, which at first glance means the Thalidomide is working. Of course, one test does not a trend make, so we really need to do another test, in a month, to see if the trend continues.

Still it is encouraging, and now Edie has decided to reduce the dosage of the Thalidomide to 75 mg per day from 100. I’m not so sure that is the best idea, but since the side effects are causing other problems, it is at least worth a try for a month.

And now for the bad news.

On the way home from work this evening, Edie ran into a tow truck and dented the hood of her car. It isn’t catastrophic, but in my attempt to fix it, I did so in such a way that now I can’t get the hood open, to try an fix it some more. (Fortunately, she didn’t cause any damage to the tow truck or herself, except emotionally).

I only need to be able to open the hood, and have it look somewhat respectable, so I figured I would take it into work to see if Bud, our maintenance guru, and resident auto expert, could help out. Unfortunately, Bud is off racing his dragster this weekend, so now I have to wait till Monday.

I’m not sure there is much Bud can do, but short of taking it to the auto body repair shop, that is the best I can hope for. Of course I may end up taking it to the auto body shop anywaze.

In the long run, that may be the easiest solution.

BIG SIGH

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

It’s a good thing I don’t have to work for a living. In my infinite wisdom, I forgot that I have to release the hood from the inside of the car, before I can expect to open the hood from the outside.

Bud called and reminded me of that. He also thinks he can get it back to looking somewhat reasonable. So since the car drives fine, I can wait till Monday.

 Posted by at 5:39 pm

International Pinot Noir Celebration

 Food & Wine, Life  No Responses »
Feb 282007
 

I just made reservations for the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC), in Oregon at the end of July. I even made reservations at a local B&B.

I typically don’t like making such plans so far in advance, especially when I have to pay for everything in full at the time, for fear that something will cause us to change our plans. (Remember I am very superstitious).

But this event appears to be particularly well attended, and attendance is limited. Plus the first three B&B’s we chose to stay were already completely booked, so we decided it was best not to take any chances, and make the committment.

So if anyone else is going to the event, I hope to see you there, and if you think you might like to attend, I suggest you get your reservations in early.

 Posted by at 5:51 am

Sometimes change is not so good

 Life, Off Topic  1 Response »
Feb 272007
 

I’m a metallurgist. I even have a degree in metallurgical and materials engineering to prove it, and at one time in my career that was all I had to worry about. That, however, was when I worked for a larger company.

Now I work for a much smaller company, and as others who may also work for smaller companies know, it is not unusual for one individual to perform more than one job.

At the company I work for now, our president is also the chief engineer, our production control manager is in charge of maintenance as well, and in addition to being the company metallurgist, I am also responsible for quality and planning.

I never complained before, because I have always been able to perform all those functions, with little if any problems, but as the old Bob Dylan song goes,

the times they are a changin’.

With the advent of AS9100 (comparable to the automotive industry’s QS9000), the quality portion of my job has become considerably more difficult, but most of those problems are easily manageable, especially with the aid of an able assistant, as well as cooperation from everyone in the company.

But recently, there have been some changes, as the result of the company winning its first order on the new F35 AKA Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft, that are starting to create real consternation with the planning portion of my job.

You just can’t imagine the amount of paperwork we have been inundated with to produce these parts, which I started attempting to go through yesterday, including new quality documentation and specifications requirements.

What was wrong with the old specifications and documentation requirements? They accomplished the same task, and in a much easier to understand format.

Now I’ve got one document that refers to another document, that refers to yet another document. And then there is a document that has some vital information, but the document has no name, nor is there anything directing me to use that document.

And there’s more, which I won’t even bother trying to explain. I have just become so frustrated, I have resorted to asking the customer for help understanding exactly what is required of us.

What has caused this trend for over complication, where more focus is placed on the paperwork involved, rather than the actual job being performed?

It’s obvious to me, the people devising these requirements have no concept of what goes on in a manufacturing environment. If they did they would be spending a lot less time focusing on generating more paperwork, and instead focus on the quality of the parts, and the integrity of the suppliers.

Does that sound familiar to anyone in any other industry?

 Posted by at 6:09 am

I’m really feelin’ it now

 Cycling, Diagnosis, My MCL  No Responses »
Feb 252007
 

When I was first diagnosed with MCL, one of the first articles I read was by an eccentric doctor, Arthur B. Robinson, who reported on a case of supression of squamous cell carcinoma in mice, simply by restricting nutrient intake.

It was that report that caused me to eliminate all vitamins and supplements, restrict my dietary intake, and increase the amount and intensity of my exercise routine, but after losing about 40 pounds, and seemingly stabilizing my blood counts, I have pretty much “fallen off the wagon” lately.

Now I’m not sure if it was the eating, or the higher intensity exercise which seemingly helped control my MCL, but I decided restricting my diet, of everything I love to eat and drink, was just too extreme.

So I decided it was the increased exercise that did the most good, and for the past month, I have again increased the amount and intensity of my exercise. So far this month I have ridden over 530 miles (which is the most I’ve ridden in a February since 2003, the first February after my diagnosis), and have even added some weight lifting and running 2 to 3 days a week for anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes.

I just hope this is working (I have another blood test scheduled for March 7th), because today was a particularly hard ride, which I am really feeling the effects of now, having just awoken from a 30 minute nap, while watching the last stage of the Amgen Tour of California on TV.

I was only able to watch two laps of the race live!

 Posted by at 4:44 pm

I’m tired

 Edie, Health Care, Life, My MCL  No Responses »
Feb 232007
 

Lately (and as I previously posted), I seem to be stuck in a rut, having very little interest in doing many of the things I used to enjoy doing. Eating, drinking wine and even golfing just don’t seem to generate the same enthusiasm they once did.

Part of the reason is my concern for Edie. Her treatments seem to be taking a toll on her taste buds and appetite, leaving her less enthusiastic about eating and drinking wine. (it’s no fun drinking wine by yourself.)

Then there’s the uncertaintly I face, as treatment time appears to be approaching ever so rapidly for me, as well as the fact my golf game sucks!

But mostly, I’m just tired.

I’m tired of the polarization of America. I’m tired of the influence pedaling by special interests, looking out only for what is best for themselves, rather than what is best for the country.

I’m tired of being identified as living in a red or blue state, and labeled either Republican (conservative) or Democrat (liberal).

I’m an American, short and sweet, and I care about the United States, and those living in the United States, above everything and everyone else.

I’m tired of the proponents of the war in Iraq, who have never spent a day in harms way, sending thousands of young Americans to fight and die in a foreign land, and accusing opponents of the war, who have put their lives on the line, in Iraq, Viet Nam and other war arenas, as being unpatriotic and supporting terrorism.

I’m tired of living in a culture of fear, perpetuated by proponents of the war, in order to justify the continuation of a failed policy, and who by doing so, have already handed the terrorists a victory.

I’m tired of the fact that so many in this country, have so little concern for their fellow man, they think health care should be treated as a commodity distributed according to the abililty to pay, as opposed to a social service distributed according to medical need.

I’m tired of opponents of universal health care coverage, citing only extreme examples from Canada and the UK, as representative of the ills of such policies, yet at the same time neglecting to mention all the similar and even worse problems existing within the US health care system.

It’s just the same arguments over and over and over again. Sometimes they dress them up in different clothing, but the message is always the same. It’s a message of special interests, and I’m tired of it, and I don’t need to worry about it anymore.

If most Americans approve of wasting billions of dollars, sending its youth to fight and die in a foreign country, while neglecting real problems and dangers existing at home, then I am fine with that.

If most Americans are content with the knowledge they are only one lost job away from not being able to afford health care, or one serious illness away from facing bankruptcy, then I can live with that also.

And if most Americans are satisfied with a government controlled by special interests conveying the arrogant belief, the US is the moral authority for the world, that we are right, and everyone one else in the world is wrong, then so be it.

Who should I worry about it, when I don’t need to?

I’m going for a bike ride!

 Posted by at 7:30 am

New shoes

 Cycling, Life  2 Responses »
Feb 202007
 

In an attempt to combat the general feeling of malaise I have been experiencing over the last several days, I decided to splurge , and treat myself to a new pair of DMT Flash cycling shoes.

These are some really nice shoes, with carbon soles (for stiffness), and the softest, seamless leather uppers, making these the most comfortable shoes you can imagine. I just couldn’t resist.

Even at $220 (normal retail $350), which is twice what I would normally spend on shoes, and is more than a lot people would spend on an entire bike, they are still a bargain.

And besides, I’m worth it.

I even went and purchased another set of pedals, just in case I decide to treat myself to a new bike as well.

 Posted by at 1:07 pm
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