There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. Steven Wright

A very fine line, if I do say so myself.  What an incredible weekend!  First Anchorage broke the all time record for snow.  I hit the "refresh" button on the NOAA website continually for 2 solid hours, I think, even though it stated clearly in black and white that the next update would be at 4pm.  However, there was another note which added "unless the record is broken before."  Well, the record was broken long before, but there was no update until 4:00.  No matter what, it was, and is, exciting and thankfully over. Now for the snow to melt and be gone.  This in-between stuff drives me bananas.  Sam and I worked on my bike, too, getting some "stuff" to make it better on top of the gear I picked up at REI with one of my team members, Violet, on Friday.  We are going to look good, if nothing else!

Sunday was beautiful and you will never guess what we did!  Our vacuum decided to take a break, so we ended up devoting a large portion of the day competing with each other in our attempts to make the darn thing work again.  Finally, we managed to combine our efforts and get it up and running, much to the chagrin of Rocky & Sweet Pea who run the second the closet door is opened because they are just certain the big green monster that lives in there is going to come out and get them!

In addition to all that fun and excitement, Sam took the opportunity on Sunday to inform me of another interesting thing which is happening to him. He told me that he experiences a pain "of sorts" in his left pelvic/thigh region.  Not quite sure what "of sorts" means, but it must be annoying enough for him to bring my attention to it.  He did call his doctor this morning and told his office about the nausea and everything else. They have put him on an anti-nausea pill for now.  Next week is his Xgeva treatment for the bone mets and an appointment with Dr. Rabinowitz, so we will know more at that time.

It has been several months since any change in Sam's cancer has occurred, so these new issues do not come as a surprise.  We just hoped it would be later rather than sooner before anything else changed.  Sam seems to think it is possible the doctor will suggest another Alimta (chemo) treatment.  Sam did 6 treatments last fall, 1x every 3 weeks for 6 treatments.  It wore him out and I do not know if Sam is really interested in doing that again.  We shall see.

Thank you again to all who have contributed to the Clean Air Challenge. I am really started to look forward to it.

Ciao!

"The happiest people in the world are those who feel absolutely terrific about themselves, and this is the natural outgrowth of accepting total responsibility for every part of their life." ~Brian Tracy~

Another bright and sunny day in Anchorage but where's the warmth that is supposed to go with the sunshine?

Sam spent a couple hours at the shelter today and I am sure the dogs loved walking outside with him. Or maybe he loved walking outside with each of them more.  Who knows?  He is always in a great mood in the evenings when he's had his dog therapy.

Yesterday I noted Sam searched for a place to purchase some new glasses; however, I did not mention the reason why.  The other morning he told me his vision is getting a little bit fuzzy and he is needing to wear his glasses all the time. When he told me this, that little voice of panic inside me started trying to decide if this is due to age or to other possibilities, including the cancer's arrival in his brain. I do believe it is that good ol' aging factor, but that other possibility hangs in there and probably always will until the end. Since the cancer has spread to pretty much everywhere else in his body, the odds are good it will one day spread to his brain. I have to admit that thought lives with me day in and day out. I just try not to focus too much on it because it does not do either one of us any good if I do.

Hiking Flattop for the first time.  May 2008

Tomorrow he sees Dr. Rabinowitz ( www.alaskaoncology.com). Sam always has interesting tidbits to tell after he sees the doctor, but it usually takes a couple days for me to get it all out of him.  I am not sure why, but perhaps it's because Sam has to wrap his mind around it all first and then filter it before he tells me.  Who knows...all I know is that it drives me crazy because I want to know now!  I always get a little anxious before each appointment because we do not know what the doctor is going to say.  On the other hand, he has already told us there is really nothing more that can be done at this point unless a clinical trial becomes available.  So Sam just continues taking the Tarceva in hopes that it is doing something.  Even if it is not, I think it is another of those mind over matter situations.

We are headed to Homer for the weekend as I have Monday off in honor of Seward's Day.  One of our favorite places to visit.  Last weekend was the first fishing derby of the season.  We were hoping it was this weekend because we are ready to fish.  Last year we had way too much fun and plan on having even more this year.  I can't wait!

Now I am getting all excited and won't be able to go to sleep thinking about fishing.  How crazy is that?

If only it would warm up a bit.

Ciao!