Category Archives: Friends

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Health

Day 2.5

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Day 2.5 of three. Shabbat shalom.

Writing. Eating. Sleeping. Reading. Watching TV. Not a lot different from my usual days except: no Shadow. No leaving #308. People talk to me from the door. Meals show up three times a day. Also, much ice water. The nights have been cool enough for good sleeping. It’s been sunny. Not much of a burden-this radiation granted retreat.

What can’t be seen or felt. Tiny prostate cancer seeking nuclear warheads coursing through my bloodstream. I’ll not know their effectiveness until my next PET scan. Probably after the third infusion.

Shadow will return a week from today. She’s sleeping on a doggie bed at Camp Ginny and Janice. She shredded the first two I got her. Stopped buying beds. May try again.

I’m excited (and anxious) about Tuesday. May it be the beginning of the end. We’ve had barbarians in D.C. for way too long.

Cancer, Family, Friends, Health, Sport

Deep to Deep

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A good weekend. Rich on Saturday morning. Ruth Sunday afternoon.

A rainy, cold night here in Evergreen. Mid-30s.

Watched the whole United States Grand Prix. Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Kimi Antonelli, a 20 year old Italian driving for Mercedes, won the race. He will probably take the driver’s championship at the next race in Mexico City, making him the youngest ever to capture it.

Pluvicto on Wednesday. The next five days I have to drink 68 ounces of water per day. Ensures the gamma radiation gets flushed out of my kidneys and bladder. Otherwise it can damage me, possibly creating new cancers.

Ruth’s visit was wonderful as always. She’s in mid-terms right now, holding all A’s with one A-. She loves organic chemistry and the path she’s on. I’m excited for her.

She and I can talk deep to deep. A rare gift. Last night we talked about death. Mine. How cancer can take a sudden turn down. Told her I planned to use Mt. Evan’s hospice when that time comes. I’ll stay right here at Elk Run.

She said I’d be the first person she knows to die naturally. The others she said were found. Her dad, found by her. Her grandfather, found hanging in his garage.

She will be with me all the way. As I have been with her. Family.

 

 

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, The Move

Transition

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Not sure how I missed yesterday. But, I did. I’m here now.

To chatgpt: My dog, Shadow, an Aussie Cattle Dog/Border Collie mix, moved with me from Shadow Mountain to Elk Run. She gets walked at least 5 times a day from caregivers. They love and treat her with kindness. She learned pooping and peeing while on a leash quickly. She no longer pees inside at all. She has regressed on pooping, now pooping in my bedroom and not outside. Looking for help to get her back on track.

A transition for both of us. For me: meeting new people. Regular meals. Smaller space. Much less daily responsibility. Getting help with dressing and showering. For her: many new friends– caregivers, staff, other residents. Regular walks on a leash. Less personal freedom.

We’ll get it worked out.

Yesterday Robin worked away while I chatted with Alan. I saw both Rubin’s this week. They leave next Thursday for a luxury cruise featuring Athens, Istanbul, and several Greek islands. They will have a butler. Of course they will.

Long term care claim working through its process. My house is very popular on the MLS. That’s fine. Though. I need one of the lookie loos to commit.

 

Elk Run, Friends, Health, Recovery

Lunch Out

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Yesterday. No resolution yet on Shadow and the night. Crystal, unlike Nashay, has no problem taking her out after dark.

Most staff here work 4 twelve-hour shifts. That means the rhythm of their appearance changes often. I get the reason for a day shift and a night shift. It gives us residents continuity of care throughout the time we’re awake. Even so it would be nice to have caregivers on a more predictable schedule. Maybe I’ll get used to it.

Petscan results delayed. Appointment now on Monday.

Lunch out yesterday. Ginny and Janice. Ashley, Janice’s three year old niece. Patrick and Allen? Two men with great white beards. Felt at home.

We went to the Hummingbird, the Creole restaurant opened by Josh and Sarah, two CBE members with New Orleans roots. I had beignets (of course) and blackened mahi mahi po-boy.

We laughed and talked for an hour plus. By that time I’d grown weary, but happy. I can go out for lunch. Breakfast. Not too often. It did wear me out, but a big advance for my life.

 

Cancer, Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Health, Shadow Mountain

The Dark

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A bit of a kerfuffle right now over Shadow. Nashay, the caregiver who described the dangers of the dark-bears, racoons, rabid foxes-with such quavery passion refused to take Shadow out. l protested. She said nobody would take her out. Devolved into her “calling her supervisor.” Who has not showed up. Gonna be a bigger issue as we move toward Samain, then the Winter Solstice.

Telehealth call has me a little anxious. How far has my cancer advanced? Could be minimal; could be a lot. Affects my longevity.

Lunch with Ginny and Janice and two of their friends from Milwaukee. One of them, Janice’s former student at the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana, has become a well-known costume designer. Looking forward to it.

Feeling a little down today. Nashay, whom I dislike. The only staff person here I don’t like. Since she’s my assigned caregiver on certain nights… Then, come to Jesus time about cancer. As well as selling my house and still in the midst of unpacking, settling in.  A lot. Glad I’m talking to Tom today and having lunch out.

 

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Health

Now

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All the book boxes have been unloaded and their content shelved. Thanks Ginny and Janice. This means my living room has begun to take shape. The chairs have been moved back so there’s more room in front of them, yet enough space to access my books.

Ginny will pick up Shadow sometime after nine for doggy time with Annie and Luna. Shadow has a chance to run, visit friends. I’m grateful for that.

Still very weak, but as Janice pointed out, “Yes, but consider where you were two months ago.” Two months today I had just gotten out of rehab, tripped coming into the house, and felt like I should have stayed in rehab. So, fair enough.

I can navigate with the cane. As I said, stamina and leg strength are priorities. In rehab the standard line for recovery had a formula: 3 days recovery for every day in a hospital bed. Roughly 3 months for me. This is the end of month two. As Janice rightly pointed out, I’m much further along now than then.

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Health

Hearing

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Settling in at Elk Run. Until the place gets put together, a while yet, that process will continue.

It will take longer to settle in with the people. In part due to a fundamental problem–poor hearing. In the dining room the clank of glasses, rising and falling chatter, the ping of silverware on plates, makes hearing a challenge. It also interferes with thought. Hard to think with all the noise. As Mike said, waving his hands over his ears, distressed, “I can’t think with all this.”  Bothered me, too.  As a result, we often trail off mid-sentence, giving over our conversations to the chaos.

Shadow seems happy. She likes her walks, her times with Annie, and playing with me.

Alan and Joanne came by yesterday. We spoke of many things. The marginalization of creativity; whether an AI doomsday await us all, my doggie. It was a delight to have them here.

Stamina sucks. Need to workout in long hallway. Thighs are weak. Strengthening my legs and increasing stamina: priorities.

Elk Run, Fourth Phase, Friends, Health

LTC policy

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Big event of the day. I filed my claim with Allianz. Long Term Care policy. The initial intake took about 45 minutes. Chronic illness? Prostate cancer. Trouble with activities of daily living, aka ADLs? Showering. Dressing. Other questions. These were the important ones.

Allianz now sends queries to Elk Run, Visiting Angels, Sue Bradshaw, Dr. Bupathi. At some point a decision gets made. Often a first denial, sometimes a second, then my financial people will step in. Help me.

Once approved there’s a 90-day waiting period before payment begins. That means I have to pay for Elk Run on my own for at least three months.  I will get a check covering all of Visiting Angel’s invoice. The LTC policy will also cover my bill at Elk Run. Can’t wait.

Carol, my physical therapist, came by for our last visit. As I mentioned before, her entire department, Mt. Evans Home Health Care, got axed. Announced only three weeks ago. September 30th is her last day. I snuck in as a last patient to be fully discharged.

Exercise has been hard to keep up as I learn a new routine, have visitors, and remain fatigued. I need it though or I will never dig myself even part way out of the deep hole left over from my medical July. Note to self: do it.

The cardboard wall of book boxes behind me has vanished like the Berlin Wall. Ginny and Janice. Many boxes remain; many have left the building empty. Closer and closer to moved in.

 

Elk Run, Friends, Judaism, Politics, US History, World History

Ginny and Janice. Rabbi Jamie.

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Yesterday. A flurry. Ginny and Janice came. Their usual work ethic. Opened about half the boxes in my living room. Books on shelves horizontally. I look forward to organizing them. Lot of action.

Rabbi Jamie came by. We talked about his Alaska trip. The final days of his sabbatical. The Top of the World highway. Rough enough it shattered his rear window. Hearing and seeing a Golden Eagle launch itself into the air. Visiting Wrangli-St. Elias National Park which some compare to Switzerland. Except the park is bigger than Switzerland!

Also talked about the why of my move to Elk Run. Safety. The shock of pneumonia, then rehab. How weak I remain.

Asked him about his talk I missed, Judaism After Gaza. His main point: American diaspora Judaism shaped its post-holocaust self through Zionism focused on a safe place for Jews. Israel. And expected it to be a liberal democracy.

It was. For awhile. Of late its right wing factions have turned it into a dominant military power willing to exert itself through hostile, brutal acts in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Iran.

Its actions have divided American Jews. That division and how it plays out over the next few years is Judaism After Gaza. At least in the U.S. Not clear what it will be like.

Later, beef stir fry over rice. A quiet evening.

Dogs, Elk Run, Friends, Judaism

Polynesia?

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Yesterday we had the last cookout for the year. A Polynesian theme. If you call tikka bar themed decorations, paper leis, and fire dancers Polynesian. Not my thing. The former elementary teacher, Marsha, though leaned toward me and said, “We’ve got a lot of action today!” Different strokes.

Working my regular zoom calls into the breakfast schedule: 7:00 to 8:30. Makes things tight for an 8 am call. Probably going to a 9 am MT start time. Depends on others.

Ordered Starlink yesterday. Only 100 mpbs available in Evergreen. Should be adequate. Also ordered a new duvet. Thinking winter.

Braelynn did my laundry. Nashay helped me get dressed for bed. Both of them walked Shadow. Good people. The staff here.

Discovered that Michelle, head of health services, served as a nurse for Kate. She remembered Kate’s signature red glasses, her J-tube wound, and how lively she was. She also remembered me as Kate’s caregiver. Mountain world is a small town.

Ginny picked up Shadow for a playdate with Annie. A chance for her to run, play. At least once a week. Ginny and Janice also opened and cleared out six boxes, when they brought Shadow back. Coming this morning to help some more. My sisters from another mother.

Rabbi Jamie’s coming by this afternoon. First time I will have seen him since he got back from Alaska.