Ode to a Serious Sunday NOT! ~ October 19, 2014

While exploring the world of Pinterest 

I discovered the wonderful and whimsical pottery of Mitchell Grafton. 

The creative mind is a wonderful thing. 

Let your's out of the box to explore. 

You may just find a new path to travel. 

Oh Baby We've Been Floored ~ October 13, 2014

The new flooring and kitchen remodel took us about two weeks. Mayhem and laughter were the watchwords of the adventure. We discovered things we hadn't seen in years, created a vision of how we'd like to resettle and in the process got a whole bunch of exercise moving boxes and furniture out of and back into the house. 

Our home of 26 years went from Holy Crap to Stunning. We moved the last of our stuff in today, consigned the potential rotating art and furniture collection to my shed and filled up the Honda with one more round of donations. It's hard to remember how it was.

And so it begins

The Hall of Shame and Bad Carpets

Old Kitchen

New Kitchen Floor

New Chef's Central for Rod

Old carpet and collections circa 2010

 

New living room incarnation

One of the bedrooms

The other bedroom

There was method to our re-floor madness.. Those ancient carpets were a playground for who knows what. Once I have my liver transplant I will be on immunosuppressants for life and my warrior's immune system will be compromised. The house will be a lot easier to clean and thus keep me healthy. Of course, the other plus is that we created a thing of beauty to enjoy for years.

Someone once told me life is short: eat dessert first, dance in the kitchen, be spontaneous, don't look back and damn the torpedoes full speed ahead. We live that mantra. If you're thinking about taking a leap of faith, just do it. 

A Can of Worms and Silver Linings ~ Sept 29 -30, 2014

Sept 29th ~ The new flooring project is underway. The crew started tearing out the old living room carpet and installing the Rustic Koa laminate. It is simply gorgeous. However, they got half way across the living room and discovered the proverbial can of worms at the base of the alcove wall. We've always thought our home started out as a cabin and this seems to support that premise. The living room, kitchen and bath are all on a perimeter foundation, the bedrooms are a cement slab. 

There was a floor furnace here at one time and when it was decommissioned (and left in place) the space where the grate had been was framed in and covered with plywood that extended to both sides of the wall. We're thinking the wall was added when the wall heater was installed. 

Oh Boy! So everything comes to a halt for the day until we can get the framing and plywood lowered to sub floor level. We made a lot of phone calls this afternoon and late evening we got a phone message that our friend Paul would be at the house at 8 am. We must be doing something right! 

Sept 30th ~ Paul to the rescue, done and done just as the installers arrived. The laminate installation continues today and Wednesday and the new vinyl for the kitchen gets installed Thursday. 

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Highlight ~ We found some provenance on the house when we moved everything out into my studio. Each closet has four large drawers. We've never pulled them all the way out before. One in my room held a surprise:

This house built by P.J. Anderson

February 1959 

Post Script ~ It seems that whenever you get into a major project the natural thing to do is look past your initial goal and move on to "as long as we're here, we might as well address this" mode. We embraced the notion with abandon. The stove is 25 years old and having issues, the refrigerator is 15 years old. So off to TeeVax, our favorite appliance store, on a recon mission. We find exactly what we want, get a great deal and they'll deliver and install both on Saturday. 

We've never had a "back splash" behind the stove and counter. A painted and textured surface is not easy to keep clean and it tends to fall into the overlooked category by choice. My chef is the best in the world, but he's a messy one. I won't even tell you what was behind and under the stove after 25 years, thought we were going to need a whip and a chair. 

I was over at my neighbor Carol's house and noticed she had a stainless steel back splash behind stove and adjacent counter. There go my wheels again. Call Simpson Sheet Metal, they came out to measure and will install ours next week.

Camping at Home ~ We grilled vegetables outdoors Monday and Tuesday, figured out how to hook up the TV and camped here: sleeping bags on the mattresses on the floor, a step back in time.  

Go Giants!

Life is a Circus Going Somewhere to Happen or How I learned to Love Roller Coasters ~ Sept 25, 2014

Exciting News:The floors are getting redone starting on Monday so we're packing up and moving everything to my studio and the garage. It's the perfect time to sift out the flotsam and jetsam and thin the collection. So far we've donated four boxes of books, a box of collectibles that have been in a drawer for 6 years, clothing, gewgaws, knickknacks and throw pillows. They are dropping off 43 boxes of laminate in the living room this morning so it can "acclimate". Good thing we're off to an overnight adventure this afternoon, headed to the Kelseyville Pear Festival to see Dave Stamey.

My Studio

Outstanding News: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2011. It was caught early due to an annual mammogram. At the time I had a lumpectomy and a four week course of radiation. I had my anniversary mammogram last week and am delighted to report there is no sign of it's return. This means I'm 3 years clear, two go. 

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Icing on the midweek's cake: Our plumbing backed up Wednesday evening. Good thing we have no qualms about peeing in a bucket for the night. Our great neighbors gave us access to their facilities once the sun was up and until Santa Rosa Plumbing solved the problem late afternoon. 

Life is a Journey ~ Enjoy the Ride

Top of the Sixth ~ Life Takes a 180 or Maybe Not ~ Sept 9, 2014

Sorry about the dearth of updates on the the De-Liver Me tour. I was shocked to see my last update was Top of the Fifth dated June 8th. Most of June we were on the Great Northwest Tour, but July and August, that's another story. I didn't feel much like writing and I wanted to wait until I had the whole story before I committed anything to paper. Call it the Summer Smack Down, Sparing with Ali or Who Wrote this Script Anyway? 

July 8th ~ TACE #5  I won't say it was the Comedy of Errors, but the day's journey left me scratching my head more than a few times. This wasn't my first Hospital Rodeo, so to speak, but a new patient going through this procedure for the first time might have been taken aback. 

Cowboy Kitty

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When you change from street clothes to hospital gear you get a stylish set that includes a mismatched set of draw string pants, a top and a light robe. Part of the fashion package should include a pair of skid proof socks. They were out of hospital issue so I had to walk around in my own socks. Good thing I didn't wear sandals that day. 

I walked down to the procedure room with my nurse and hopped up on the table. Oh darn, the mechanical and modified computer interface isn't working.  I'm listening to the two guys, squatting under the table, discussing options. Might have to change rooms, but they're pretty sure they can get it fixed. Seriously? Kudos to said geek squad they got things up and running in no time. 

The nurse who is setting up for the procedure and a soon to be sterile environment was grousing to someone in the background that the supplies hadn't been restocked. The person who usually takes care of these details is on vacation. Really, no one to fill in? This so instills confidence. 

The procedure goes well and I'm moved to the outpatient recovery dorm. I'm at the opposite end of the room from the feral ice machine and the self closing door that slams. There is a goddess after all, or so I thought. About 4 am a woman arrives from the Emergency Room, she too has been sentenced to an overnight for observation and is in the bed next to me. As she's being set up with monitoring equipment all possible alarms are going off. The irony of a poster on the wall that says "Shhhh, Healing in Progress" is not lost on any of the other inmates, I mean patients.

Not whining just observations, I can find humor and silver linings in most every situation. The staff, doctors and nurses are outstanding: efficient, friendly and supportive. It just seems like they are sometimes working in less than optimum conditions.  It was just one of those days, no harm no foul and some blog fodder to boot. 

I left UCSF on the 9th feeling a little under the weather, but that's nothing unusual. These treatments are all in my best interests, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. It only took me a couple of weeks to recover and I'm thinking I'm a pretty tough cookie. 

One Tough Cookie

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July 31st ~ I had a follow up MRI scan and that revealed "numerous additional foci of enhancement". In English that means nine, yes nine, little points of light that may be additional hepatocellular carcinomas. Shit oh dear, not what I wanted to hear. 

August 5th ~ TACE#6  The plan was to be very aggressive with these newcomers. At the time I wasn't sure how that would translate, but all I can say is No Shit Sherlock, it's taken me five weeks to recover. One of the recurrent and amusing side effects of the TACE treatments is that you suddenly have the attention span of a six year old and reading or writing aren't really an option. However, a three week regimen of sleeping and of daytime television will force you out of the barcalounger and on with life, no matter how much it hurts. It was definitely time to cowboy up, dust myself off and move on. In case you didn't know were fans of Professional Bull Riding.

Bull Rider
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The UCSF Tumor Board recommended follow up CT scan in early September. There was a concern that these were new tumors and if so there was a chance I would no longer be eligible to be on the transplant list. They coded me as "pink" for the month of August, which meant was that if a liver offer came up I would not be eligible. As hard as that sounds they must weigh the benefits and risks and my number is only at a 33, not yet high enough to qualify. I have the most common blood type "O" and transplant numbers often need to be between 35 and 38 before you're at the top of the list.

I was supposed to start Hep C medication in late August. Since the Code Pink took me out of the running for a month I asked my doc if I could delay the Hep C meds until late September. That would give me time to recover from TACE #6 and get in a few adventures while I was feeling good. She said absolutely. Ah, a breather and further evidence that (1) it never hurts to ask and (2) always be your own advocate.  

September 3rd ~ The follow up CT scan and THE WAIT until the 9th when the Tumor Board meets. 

September 9th ~ Got a phone call from my doc in the late afternoon. The CT was clear, no evidence of my posse of lights. I'm to have another CT scan in December. She said she hoped I would have my liver transplant by then. Yeah Team! It could be mid December if the numbers work out. If that's the case I'm thinking Trisha's birthday on December 15th. I'm just going to put that out there and see what happens. 

Jump for Joy

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What's next:

Time Out ~  Three days at Emandal Farm outside of Willits for Not Just Cowboy Poetry and the annual Apple Pie Smackdown (must taste many pies and vote on winner) and then to the family cabin at Stinson Beach for a few days. More on these adventures to come.

Clear the Decks ~ Once I have the transplant I'll be on immunosuppressents for life. The things that now wouldn't normally be of concern now because of my healthy immune system will become an issue. Our carpets are 40 years old and the linoleum we installed in 19 ought 90 needs to be buried. In late September we move everything out of the house for a few days while a local company installs the flooring. We box up the books and small stuff they move the big stuff. My first major post TACE workout and maybe a good time to thin out our stuff. 

Getting back to normal ~  The hard part of the TACEs and recovery is being so out of shape. I'm back at my high school weight, which is fine with me, but my muscles are following me around like pets instead of actually working with me. Back to walking 1-2 miles a day, but need to look into creating some upper body strength over the next few months. Damn, it's the no excuses tour!

On the medical side ~ In early October I'll start the new drug regimen of Ribivarin and Sovaldi to make the Hepatitis C virus undetectable in my blood. This will continue until the transplant so that the new liver won't have to contend with the virus. 

Food for Thought ~ I've learned a lot about myself and those around me: family, friends, doctors, nurses, acquaintances and even strangers with whom I've had brief conversations. All have had something positive to share including prayers. Though I am not a religious person I truly believe the universe watches over me. 

From Burney to Home ~ June 26-28, 2014

Sorry for the delay in finishing the Great Northwest Tour story. Life has a habit of getting in the way now and then. More on that later. Glad you could come along for the ride. 

Up to Burney Falls after breakfast. A light rain just before we arrived left that wonderful fresh smell and jewels on all the trail side sentries. We took the Falls Trail down Burney Creek to Lake Britton. The loop is about 3.4 miles. 

Falls Overlook

Burney Creek

If you've never been to McArthur Burney Falls put it on your bucket list. We posted a short movie on youtube. The link is: http://YouTube/-TEqxkQ_4G8

From Burney we backtrack a few miles to pick up Hwy 89 south to Lassen National Park. There is little or no traffic throughout the park. We pulled over at Devastation to read about the May 1915 eruption. 

Photo Credit National Park Service

Several groups of hot springs and fumaroles, remnants of former volcanic activity, exist in the park: Bumpass Hell (love the name) and the Sulphur Works are two of the better known. We stopped at the Works to read about it's history. Pillars of steam from fumaroles billow across the road, the mudpot bubbles next to the sidewalk. Ah, the smell of sulphur in the morning.

The brilliant coloration of the area is from clay minerals, formed when hot, acidic water percolates through the volcanic rock. Standing next to the mudpot visitors are actually standing in middle of an ancient volcano called Mt. Tehama that once towered at 11,000 feet half a million years ago. Five miles below the ground lies a giant pool of magma. 

Head down out of the mountains on Hwy 89 to Chester and Lake Almanor for the night. The clouds have pulled back to reveal a beautiful afternoon drive.  

June 27th ~ We leave Chester in the morning and head south on Hwy 89 to pick up Hwy 119 west: a varied terrain of lava, woods, wildflowers and stunning views to the west as you come down out of the mountains.

When we come in along the eastern side of Lake Oroville we are totally shocked. The waterline seems to be at least 100 feet below the dam, it's under 35% of capacity. Further evidence of drought conditions in the West. 

Last stop on this adventure is a visit with my Aunt Betty and her husband Bob in Durham. We have a delightful dinner with them and spend the night in Chico.

June 28th ~ Time to head home on our last set of back roads: miles of walnut, olive and fruit groves, rolling hills, aqueducts and farmland. Hwy 45 to Hwy 20 to Hwy 29 to Hwy 12 and home. 

We've been on the ultimate full circle tour of almost three weeks: 23 rural highways in California and Oregon. From the ocean to the high desert, along the Cascades and Sierras, from sea level to 9,000 feet. A grand adventure and a superb time out: songwriters Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Huesen may have said it best lyrics excerpted from their song It's Nice to go Traveling:

It's oh, so nice to go trav'ling, 

But it's so much nicer, 

Yes, it's so much nicer to come home.

It's oh, so nice just to wander,

But it's so much nicer

Yes it's oh, so nice to wander back.

Back into California ~ June 25, 2014

We took off from Klammath this morning and continue south on 97. The weather is cloudy and warm, great for driving and walking. Another side trip is in the offing. We head east on 161 to Tule Lake and Lava Beds National Monument. 

On the way into the park, before the ranger station, we stopped at this wildlife overlook with the idea of doing a little bird watching. Rod started to get out of the rig and I yelled at him to close the door. There were swarms, clouds, coruscating columns of mosquitoes all around us. Made me think of a scene out of "The Birds" except this was "The Mosquitoes". When we reached the ranger station we asked about it. She said the swallows were working overtime and that the migrating bats were due back in a couple of days. Too long as far as many were concerned. 

We head northeast to Petroglyph Point to photograph some of the primitive art of the Modoc and do a little bird watching. The petroglyphs are carved along the face of a former island of the ancient Tule Lake. Most estimates date the carvings back to between 2,000 and 6,000 years. Up to 14 species of birds have been recorded roosting in spring and summer: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Prairie Falcon, Red Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel and Canadian Geese to name a few. 

The Big Picture

Photo Credit ~ Scott Harris

At the end of the fence line, protecting the petroglyphs from the public, I started chatting with a woman named Rosalee who just moved to Oregon. I asked her where she moved from and she told me Healdsburg (20 miles from my home). When I told her I was from Sebastopol she said "I kind of got that kinda vibe". We both had a good chuckle, wished each other well and headed off in separate directions.

On the way south we stopped at the Lava Beds Visitor Center. Both of us have achy knees today so we decided we'd do some cave exploring next time. Descending out of high desert the vistas are incredible. Snow capped mountains, ponderosa, sage brush sea, mountain silhouettes, Just stunning, no traffic.

We head south to pick up Hwy 139, then Hwy 91 to Hwy 299. Back roads one and all. Our destination for the night is the small town of Burney. We plan to visit McArthur Burney Falls in the morning and do some hiking. We've been there a number of times and never get tired of the experience. 

Burney ~ small town USA

Okay time to listen up ~ if you are 62 and don't know about the U.S. National Park Service Senior Pass you are missing out on a great opportunity. For $10 you get a lifetime pass into National Parks and Federal Recreation Sites. We got ours on a trip to Montana years ago and have used it many times. You can pick up one a National Park entrance or on line. 

Time Out for the Fair ~ July 31, 2014

Today I'll let the pictures do the talking. A perfect day for the Sonoma County Fair. It was 75 degrees and breezy. Back to the 1960's for us grey beards with a peace, love and free admission. There are perks to aging!

 This could be anywhere in Cazadero according to Rod

 The murals are stunning

 Go Ask Alice

 Blue Meanies

 The Love Bug

I could dream this into the back yard

Homage to the Grateful Dead

Logged two miles wandering around the fair. Sat in the shade to share a corn dog and french fries. Good music and people watching at its best. Dessert was our annual vanilla bar dipped in dark chocolate and nuts from the Ginsu Knife Building. Bottom line the Hall of Flowers stole the show. A delightful way to spend an afternoon.