Friday, February 06, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
That's what it's all about...
Nothing like a comment from a new reader to jolt a writer back to action. Thanks KraftyKay.
:)
*****
So Tim was trying to get Josh dressed the other morning, and as usual Josh was mentally a million miles away. It went something like this...
Tim: holding his pants
Put your left foot in... Put your left foot in... Josh! Put your left foot in!
See how we stay on message here... Arent you proud of us? Consistency, people...
Josh: a little mystified at first, but then game...
And you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about!
Tim: !
*****
So. My dad.
Turns out, this is harder to blog about than I thought it would be. Perhaps because it's not an anonymous blog.
Anyway. Here goes.
There was some good news from the scans. It has not metastasized to the chest or abdomen. Or doesn't appear to have. This means the primary tumor may be operable. A good thing, because Sarcomas respond poorly to chemotherapy. So, surgery and radiation are your best hopes. There does also appear to be some secondary development, but it's nearby. Which gets us to:
The bad news. It is very large. And may involves both tissue and bone.
And that the surgery will at best have a pretty profound impact on his mobility, leg length, stiffness etc.
The next step is a biopsy to determine the type, I believe. And then more meetings. And then surgery.
See, my folks live in the UK, so they are moving slowly through the torturous system that is the National Health. And actually, the journey so far has been positively breakneck speed for the Nash. But, it's sortof ludicrously slow by private medical standards.
(In contrast, the US Government produced Sam's passport in two days. Two days. Color me stunned.)
Watching this unfold from a distance, adds a layer of unreality to the whole affair. I've certainly experienced the initial shock of the news, but, now, with all the waiting, it's hard to absorb what it all means.
Perhaps when we have a complete diagnosis.
I'd hoped to be more eloquent and thoughtful, but Sam is *SHOUTING* at me.
:)
*****
So Tim was trying to get Josh dressed the other morning, and as usual Josh was mentally a million miles away. It went something like this...
Tim: holding his pants
Put your left foot in... Put your left foot in... Josh! Put your left foot in!
See how we stay on message here... Arent you proud of us? Consistency, people...
Josh: a little mystified at first, but then game...
And you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about!
Tim: !
*****
So. My dad.
Turns out, this is harder to blog about than I thought it would be. Perhaps because it's not an anonymous blog.
Anyway. Here goes.
There was some good news from the scans. It has not metastasized to the chest or abdomen. Or doesn't appear to have. This means the primary tumor may be operable. A good thing, because Sarcomas respond poorly to chemotherapy. So, surgery and radiation are your best hopes. There does also appear to be some secondary development, but it's nearby. Which gets us to:
The bad news. It is very large. And may involves both tissue and bone.
And that the surgery will at best have a pretty profound impact on his mobility, leg length, stiffness etc.
The next step is a biopsy to determine the type, I believe. And then more meetings. And then surgery.
See, my folks live in the UK, so they are moving slowly through the torturous system that is the National Health. And actually, the journey so far has been positively breakneck speed for the Nash. But, it's sortof ludicrously slow by private medical standards.
(In contrast, the US Government produced Sam's passport in two days. Two days. Color me stunned.)
Watching this unfold from a distance, adds a layer of unreality to the whole affair. I've certainly experienced the initial shock of the news, but, now, with all the waiting, it's hard to absorb what it all means.
Perhaps when we have a complete diagnosis.
I'd hoped to be more eloquent and thoughtful, but Sam is *SHOUTING* at me.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
We've got nothing but time...
So this blog of mine seems to subscribe to the happiness writes white school of thought. You know, things are good, eh, what's there to say.
Well. I wish I wasn't here. I wish I had nothing to say.
We've been waiting for more than a week now for some test results on my dad. What everyone thought was a dodgy sciatic nerve, or maybe a slipped disc, or just old age isn't.
What it appears to be is a Sarcoma.
An unusual cancer in adults.
As a rule, a fast-moving, hard to corner kind of cancer.
So we wait to hear. To learn the exact nature and disposition of this cancer. Probably tomorrow.
Well. I wish I wasn't here. I wish I had nothing to say.
We've been waiting for more than a week now for some test results on my dad. What everyone thought was a dodgy sciatic nerve, or maybe a slipped disc, or just old age isn't.
What it appears to be is a Sarcoma.
An unusual cancer in adults.
As a rule, a fast-moving, hard to corner kind of cancer.
So we wait to hear. To learn the exact nature and disposition of this cancer. Probably tomorrow.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Here's looking at you, kid
You wouldn't think it would be possible to look that happy with as little sleep as that baby is getting...
*sigh*
Thursday, December 25, 2008
What not to wear...
It is suddenly rather warm again in Georgia, after some downright cold and nasty days.
After (illegally) filling up his paddling pool and going for a dip, Josh (who grows increasingly lawless in a mostly funny way... He filled up the basin on the bathroom with sand and made a large batch of mud, also yesterday, and when I hinted that he should stop, because he KNOWS what tomorrow is... He thoughtfully walked away saying, in a very small voice... "Hmmm... I think it's Montessori...") was marched upstairs for a shower.
He came down in a T-Shirt and undies, and proceeded to scamper out the front door, roaring loudly.
Tim: You need some pants!!!
Josh: RAAWWWWRRRRR! Dinosaurs don't wear pants!
Merry Christmas, interwebz
After (illegally) filling up his paddling pool and going for a dip, Josh (who grows increasingly lawless in a mostly funny way... He filled up the basin on the bathroom with sand and made a large batch of mud, also yesterday, and when I hinted that he should stop, because he KNOWS what tomorrow is... He thoughtfully walked away saying, in a very small voice... "Hmmm... I think it's Montessori...") was marched upstairs for a shower.
He came down in a T-Shirt and undies, and proceeded to scamper out the front door, roaring loudly.
Tim: You need some pants!!!
Josh: RAAWWWWRRRRR! Dinosaurs don't wear pants!
Merry Christmas, interwebz
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
I know you love a little pre-Christmas Drama...
And I have some!
(Sorry - the blogging mojo is almost gone...)
So. Christmas. Josh has been requesting this one item. And I really didn't want to get it because it's noisy and obnoxious and expensive. Don't make me say what it is. Oh. OK. It's A VERY large, robotic dinosaur.
So I hemmed and hawed and eventually on the 15th, I decided to return the other things in favor of this ONE! BIG! THING!
And of course. Target was sold out.
!!!
Which meant that Amazon was sold out.
!!!
But I found it available online at Wal*Mart and ordered one to be shipped to the local store. Partly to save the shipping, but also to have some secure off-site storage of the Much! Requested! Present!
On the 19th, I get an email saying it's arrived, and for various reasons, Tim can't get to it until last night.
So he goes to the store. After Almost deciding to just wait until today.
And...
They can't find it.
!!!
His phone battery dies, and basically he comes home an hour later. Empty handed. We don't have anything to give to Josh, apart from stocking stuff.
In the meantime, I've called TRU and Target just to be sure. They are all out.
Then I call a couple of 24-Hour Wal*Marts.
No... No... No... YES!!!
There are two left in a store 35 minutes from us. No they won't take my credit card number, but Nicole promises of one sells, she'll hold the other.
Off Tim zooms into the night.
He calls when he hits the highway.
And then, when he gets to the store. Because there's no Nicole working, and no dinosaur being held. Do I know what the box looks like?
"Nooooooo! Just run and loooooooook!!!"
Minutes tick by...
He calls again. There was one on the shelf.
It is now in the garage. This misadventure began at 8pm, and ended around midnight, because you now the checkout process was a 45 minute experience.
*sigh*
If it's at all possible. I hate this toy even more already.
Merry Christmas.
PS(The store called this morning - they still can't find it. Glad we went with plan B.)
(Sorry - the blogging mojo is almost gone...)
So. Christmas. Josh has been requesting this one item. And I really didn't want to get it because it's noisy and obnoxious and expensive. Don't make me say what it is. Oh. OK. It's A VERY large, robotic dinosaur.
So I hemmed and hawed and eventually on the 15th, I decided to return the other things in favor of this ONE! BIG! THING!
And of course. Target was sold out.
!!!
Which meant that Amazon was sold out.
!!!
But I found it available online at Wal*Mart and ordered one to be shipped to the local store. Partly to save the shipping, but also to have some secure off-site storage of the Much! Requested! Present!
On the 19th, I get an email saying it's arrived, and for various reasons, Tim can't get to it until last night.
So he goes to the store. After Almost deciding to just wait until today.
And...
They can't find it.
!!!
His phone battery dies, and basically he comes home an hour later. Empty handed. We don't have anything to give to Josh, apart from stocking stuff.
In the meantime, I've called TRU and Target just to be sure. They are all out.
Then I call a couple of 24-Hour Wal*Marts.
No... No... No... YES!!!
There are two left in a store 35 minutes from us. No they won't take my credit card number, but Nicole promises of one sells, she'll hold the other.
Off Tim zooms into the night.
He calls when he hits the highway.
And then, when he gets to the store. Because there's no Nicole working, and no dinosaur being held. Do I know what the box looks like?
"Nooooooo! Just run and loooooooook!!!"
Minutes tick by...
He calls again. There was one on the shelf.
It is now in the garage. This misadventure began at 8pm, and ended around midnight, because you now the checkout process was a 45 minute experience.
*sigh*
If it's at all possible. I hate this toy even more already.
Merry Christmas.
PS(The store called this morning - they still can't find it. Glad we went with plan B.)
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Implausible deniability
*Flush*
*Clink, clink*
*Whoooooosh*
*SMASH!!!*
*rapidly retreating three-year-old*
A: Josh!!! Did you just break the cistern lid?
J: Nooooooooooo.
That would be a falsehood. He did. After lifting the tank to observe the water rushing back in, his release turns out to have been not as gentle as the porcelain required.
No biggie, I think. So last night I sat down to Google a new lid, because my God, how I love to shop online.
Find a site. How odd, I think. They're kindof a salvage business. Perhaps these are just for rare and vintage lids. Holy cow. They cost $200 and up.
Try the manufacturer. Nothing
Poke around. Slim pickings.
Can't find anyone else selling lids...
Do a "can I buy just toilet tank lid?" query.
No.
Or at least, I can. If it can be found. From these salvage type guys. In California. For about $200.
I know what you're thinking. Replace the whole toilet. It will be cheaper. Well. There's labor. And then there's the fact that there's wallpaper on the wall, but I know it doesn't go behind the tank. And there's wood on the floors, so we'd have to match the footprint too. And from what I can tell, this toilet model is no longer being made...
So I send an email to one of the sites.
And he tells me he can't ID it. I need to trace my tank lid, and send it to some other guy who will ID it for me. And then I can see if anyone has one, or wait. They'll keep me on a list for two years.
Oh. My Ghetto Fabulous Bathroom.
So here's the PSA, people.
Unless you want to end up doing a full remodel of your bathroom... Make sure your kids do NOT bugger about with toilet tank lids.
And if you have a Crane one-piece in white with:
"Made in USA 4008 G78 Oct 7 '04" stamped under the lid...
I'll buy it.
*Clink, clink*
*Whoooooosh*
*SMASH!!!*
*rapidly retreating three-year-old*
A: Josh!!! Did you just break the cistern lid?
J: Nooooooooooo.
That would be a falsehood. He did. After lifting the tank to observe the water rushing back in, his release turns out to have been not as gentle as the porcelain required.
No biggie, I think. So last night I sat down to Google a new lid, because my God, how I love to shop online.
Find a site. How odd, I think. They're kindof a salvage business. Perhaps these are just for rare and vintage lids. Holy cow. They cost $200 and up.
Try the manufacturer. Nothing
Poke around. Slim pickings.
Can't find anyone else selling lids...
Do a "can I buy just toilet tank lid?" query.
No.
Or at least, I can. If it can be found. From these salvage type guys. In California. For about $200.
I know what you're thinking. Replace the whole toilet. It will be cheaper. Well. There's labor. And then there's the fact that there's wallpaper on the wall, but I know it doesn't go behind the tank. And there's wood on the floors, so we'd have to match the footprint too. And from what I can tell, this toilet model is no longer being made...
So I send an email to one of the sites.
And he tells me he can't ID it. I need to trace my tank lid, and send it to some other guy who will ID it for me. And then I can see if anyone has one, or wait. They'll keep me on a list for two years.
Oh. My Ghetto Fabulous Bathroom.
So here's the PSA, people.
Unless you want to end up doing a full remodel of your bathroom... Make sure your kids do NOT bugger about with toilet tank lids.
And if you have a Crane one-piece in white with:
"Made in USA 4008 G78 Oct 7 '04" stamped under the lid...
I'll buy it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
