House Painting Finished

Here is how the house looks today. The blue is a little darker than before and I think it came out very well. The painters did a good job and even did the little things - the details that are noticable to me but probably not noticable to passers by.

Now I have to think a bit about landscaping but maybe wait for a while because of the drought.

House work

Now I am catching up on all of the things I was going to do before surgery, and then some. First the plumbing was replaced. It started out as a $850 job and ended up at about $2,000. One thing and another. But at least it is all done and should last a while.

Then a smaller job - cutting down a lot of a huge tree in front of the house - $100 job.

Now I am in the middle of getting the house, painted including scraping, some stucco repair, some wood repair and primer - $3,000. Plus another $500 for some eave work. The house should look beautiful, though, and I will post pictures. I wanted to do this before the surgery but couldn't find anyone to do it. These guys work really hard and take a lot of pride in their work.

I am also working hard to get my department's Expo going again this year and more and more I think we will be successful.

A motto I put up at home and work when I was facing surgery was:

NEVER,

NEVER,

NEVER

GIVE UP.

Thoughts

I took an IQ test and the results were negative.

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.

Give me anbiguiuty or give me something else.

Proof of back to work

I am really back to work. This picture was taken on the receptionist's cell phone on Friday. The paper I am holding in my hand is "work". It is now the weekend and we just got back from lunch at Sizzler where I ate too much. Before that we had to take my dog Heidi to the vet cause some insect bit her and she started to swell up. She is OK now.

Back at Work

Today is Wednesday and I have been back to work for three days now and doing very well. I am doing my exercises and doing a lot of work. I went right back to my regular schedule of 9 hours without doing part time work. Also feel good to be out of the house and not watching 30 year old game shows on the Game Show Network.

People were happy to see me back, and now it is like I was gone for just a short while, and that is good. I just want to work without a lot of fuss. The cancer is gone and I am still here.

I have been trying to put narratives of my recovery on the various bladder cancer support where I am a member, to give other people encouragement and support as they deal with bladder cancer and possible bladder removal surgery.

Getting Ready for Work

Saturday went great. Friends took me to Appleby's in Alhambra for my birthday. Had shrimp pasta.

Now am shooting for Monday, April 14th for a return to work and am now trying to get up earlier to prepare. Today I tried getting up at 6:15 and getting a shower and was able to be "ready to leave for work" by 7:07 am. That timing should work. I can have a breakfast at work at my desk - maybe McDonalds. I am realizing now how bored I am staying at home all of the time, watching tv and reading the New York Times.

Today I see the doctor and have some blood taken. Then I might have lunch with an old friend but not sure. I didn't realize I had a doctor's appt. until after my friend callled and I don't know his phone number to call him back, just his email.

What A Two Day Period!

This has been a red letter week. Yesterday I got dressed in suit and tie and went into the office to say "hi" to all, and to see if I could sit in my chair for work. It was a great day and very successful. They also had a birthday cake for my 69th which is Saturday. It was nice to be dressed up for work and I think I will shoot for April 14th for my first day back, exactly 3 months from the day I went into the hospital!

Today I great news from two sources. A friend of mine in the Wellness Community reported that the new chemo she was having is working perfectly and instead of just giving her some more time, it is PUTTING HER IN REMISSION. A wonderful answer to many prayers.

Also a dear friend in Chicago sent pictures of her and her brand new baby girl. She had had a couple miscariages and I hadn't heard from her for a long time and was worried about her health and the baby. Again this was an answer to many prayers and I can't imagine anyone who could be a better mom that her.

Saturday I will be going out to eat Chinese for my birthday. WOW!