I blogged on this topic about a year ago, but after watching the video below, and considering everything going on in the country now, I thought it was worth repeating. I even learned a few things I didn’t know before.
Admittedly it isn’t much, but it is something, and ‘you never know’. At the very least maybe it could help save the US Postal Service from additional cuts.
I’m not feeling good [haven't been for the past several days], and I blame it on golf, and the weatherman.
I’ve hardly been playing any golf lately, and if I hadn’t already committed to playing with the one golfing group I belong to, I wouldn’t have played last Monday either. I would have also likely skipped out on the tournament had the weather forecast been just a little more accurate.
You’d think weather.com could at least get the forecast right 4 hours in advance. But noooooo, that was not the case.
The night before rain was predicted to start early in the morning, and extend till about 9 AM, and had that been accurate, I would not have gone. Instead, when I awoke that morning there was no rain, and the forecast changed to cloudy with only a 10% chance of rain until about noon, when the rain was to return. I figured by that time I would be done with the round, so I headed out to Corona for my monthly golf fix.
When I arrived at the course, it was a little cold, but I planned for that. It was also cloudy, and the sky somewhat threatening, but I was confident in the weather forecast. So I hit a few practice balls, and then proceeded to the first tee.
Everything started out fine, until the 3rd hole, when as you might guess it started to rain. It didn’t last long, but it was long enough to make it relatively uncomfortable. Still I ventured on, and while it never rained that hard again, there was enough moisture in the air to make it not enjoyable at all. I eventually decided I’d had enough half way through the 11th hole [when I was still close enough to the clubhouse to walk back], which was fortunate, since it started raining as I was driving off the parking lot.
It wasn’t until the next day, after going for an afternoon bike ride into the Whittier hills, that I realized what a bad decision it was to play golf that day. My throat was sore, and I was not feeling up to par [no pun intended]. I did go for a short bike ride the next morning, and even went to work on Thursday [I am such a dedicated employee], hoping it was nothing, and would soon go away.
Such was not the case though, as my cold [at least I hope that's what it is] seemed to be progressing. And while my throat is no longer sore (I think the tea and lemon helped that), my nose has started running profusely, and I have been relegated to carrying around a box of Kleenex and a small trash bag everywhere I go.
Hopefully with the sore throat dissipating, my cold is finally starting to run it’s course, and I can get on with my life, but in the mean time I’ve decided to give up on golf. I really have no interest in playing any more, preferring to concentrate on cycling. I enjoy that so much more, and believe it or not, I’m actually better at it.
I ws going for a 1000 miles this month, but after yesterday’s PV ride, which in my opinion is the toughest club ride (60 miles and 3000 feet of climbing), I decided 965 miles (about 1550 km) was plenty.
If you haven’t guessed by now that I was talking about how many miles I’ve ridden my bike this month, then you obviously have never read my blog before, since that subject typically makes up the greatest proportion of my posts.
So today is a day of rest, but rather than just sit around the house doing absolutely nothing, which is never a good thing, I’m heading out to hit some golf balls at the range.
I might even play a round if I’m feeling up to it. I haven’t done that in a long time, and I’ll ride of course.
NOTE: See My Journal for an update on todays round of golf.
Even though I was tired yesterday after my bike ride, I felt good. I didn’t do much after the ride, other than eat and rest, hoping I would be recovered enough tomorrow to maybe play around of golf.
Well, I am recovered today, but I have absolutely no interest in playing golf. I don’t even have any interest in going to the practice range.
Of course, I’m not sure why I should be so surprised, as it’s been about 2 months since I last played, and well over a month since going to the range to practice, and I haven’t had any burning desire to play all that time.
I’ve even turned down a few opportunities to play, because it would interfere with my bike riding, and even now that I’ve been sitting around the house all day today doing absolutely nothing, I still have no desire to golf.
It’s seems I’d rather be posting to my blog.
What has gotten into me?
I just have to get out of the house.
Maybe I’ll go to the gym. Believe it or not, I have more interest in doing that, than playing golf.
Those were the exact words used by Edie’s oncologist to described her latest Free Light Chain test results.
Edie’s Kappa Free Light Chains is now within the normal range. Her Lambda Free Light Chains were below normal, but we’re not really sure if that is of any significance. I guess that will give me something to do for the next hour or so.
Of course we can’t forget the old adage “one test does not a trend make”, as evidenced by the fact, Edie’s creatinine went back up to 3.4, from the 2.1 reported last week.
Still, all things considered, it is encouraging, and it appears progress is finally being made.
In fact, I was so elated by the news, I wasn’t even upset yesterday, when I lost my second Mens Club Match Play match yesterday, on the second hole of a sudden death play off, after being tied at the end of regulation play.
I don’t know how others manage, but for me it’s just getting harder and harder. Ever since Edie informed me of her latest test results on Monday, I have really been in a stupor.
Just getting out of bed this morning was a chore, and I didn’t even enjoy the round of golf with the Eldorado mens club yesterday.
Even riding my bike offers little enjoyment, although when I am on my bike I seem to be able to forget most of my troubles, as I struggle to climb a hill or just to keep up with the other riders. It also helps in controlling my weight, as I have this almost uncontrollable desire to eat. So I force myself to ride.
Still that only lasts for about 3 or 4 hours a day, after which reality sets back in. It’s one thing to be sick yourself, and deal with the consequences, but when someone you love is sick, dealing with that also, well….. that’s a whole ‘nother issue.
Edie does manage to put on a happy face most of the time, as I do, but I know how that is. It doesn’t mean your problems aren’t in the back of your mind constantly, it just means you don’t want to burden everyone else with your problems, and have them feeling sorry for you.
I know this post doesn’t sound much like I’m trying not to bother everyone else with my problems, but I just had to get that off my chest.
Oh well, such is life! Enough with the frustrations, now it’s time to get ready for my bike ride.
Hi, my name is Marc [that's my wife Edie beside me], and I have Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a typically aggressive form of lymphoma, except it so seems in my case.
I was diagnosed over 9 years ago, and have managed to survive since then without treatment, by following a few simple rules. Eat a [mostly] well balanced diet, exercise (cycling, at least up until recently), abstaining from taking supplements or any medications, drinking 5 to 6 cups of [Japanese] green tea a day, and most importantly [lots of good wine], flossing and brushing my teeth twice a day, everyday.
I started this blog mainly to chronicle my life, putting down in writing what goes through the mind of a cancer survivor (although I have been seen straying into unrelated areas on occasion), and along the way help educate others about lymphomas and other blood cancers, and filter out some of the hype and misinformation so often associated with the internet, which unfortunately there is plenty.
You can read a lot more about me by clicking here