Ugh -but interesting

Today will be the 5th blast, and ugh, this stuff is not fun. I now know how lucky I was with my back, because this time I feel pretty crummy. Not 'can't function' crummy, just 'can't stand the though of food' crummy. And you know me, I'm a FOODIE. AAAGH! Got on the scale yesterday and I've lost 15 pounds since I started radiation on my back just short of 6 weeks ago. It's weight I could afford to lose (heck I was tipping 190!!) but this is a weight loss program I don't recommend. At 175 I fit into all my clothes and look fairly good, so I'm doing my best to try to not lose too much more.

Yesterday Andrea came with, and we had a meeting with the docs after the treatment. The Oncology Resident, Dr Barti, did a great job going over the radiation program on the computer and after I told how I felt they prescribed some anti-nausea meds and some steroids. Those should help with the anorexia (yep, they used that word...me and Karen Carpenter, who knew?).

And today I can say I feel a bit better. Not 100%, but not "shoot me" either.

I do have to say my vanity comes up when I think "Heck, I wish this thing weren't so damned ugly", but at least it's not in the middle of my forehead, so thank God, Zeus, Buddha or ______ (fill in with favorite deity) for small favors. I asked the docs about expected appearance changes and they think even if the radiation does the trick and slows this down a bit I'm still going to have the black splotch. So we'll just have to take care of it after the IL-2 does the job, eh?

My brothers arrive tomorrow. This will be the first time the 5 of us (the 6th, Nick, is still in jail in TX....don't ask, that's another blog entirely) have been together except for funerals since 1968. And I know what you're thinking, so put it out of your mind right now!! Jim (older) is now retired from a career in theater, having toured in the past with such luminaries as Tom Petty and Angela Lansbury; David (younger) has lived mostly in Texas and been a truck driver and dispatcher; Tom is a retired residential and commercial landscaper and John is a Lt Colonel in the US Army and I'm not allowed to say what he does, but it involves computers and we can all be grateful guys like him are on the job. All have swell wives and seem to have been better at that gig than I have been.

It'll be fun, especially that I don't feel quite as lousy. Got to jump in the shower and get ready for my afternoon zap.

I decided to post a picture of my current project, the Schooner Yacht America, 1851, in 1/8" scale. This was the ship that won the race and trophy in England that subsequently became the America's Cup. I hope to have all the construction and paint finished in the next couple of weeks and then will start the really fun part, the rigging.

Take care. Keep those fingers crossed.