Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Fruit Trees
One of my favorite aspects of living in California is the horticulture. I love the wildflowers in the spring; the overgrown chapparal on the trails; the year round smell of lavender. But what I really love most is my own two fruit trees. The first is my lemon tree. It yields a couple dozen meyer lemons three or four times a year. It isn't the greatest yielding lemon tree in the world (I've seen trees with literally hundreds of lemons) but it's the centerpiece of our small backyard. I enjoy it so much that I recently bought another - a satsuma tree which yields clementines. This one is a baby and while it struggled at first it has recently started to really take off. According to our gardner it should bear fruit this spring. I'm thinking about a third one too and am considering apricot or maybe even pear.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Yom Kippur
Today was/is Yom Kippur; the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. In the spirit of the holiday, I hope that all of you -- Jewish and non-Jewish alike are inscribed in the book of life and have a healthy and prosperous year. During Yom Kippur it's tradition to fast for the day. Generally, it is pretty tough but this year it was oddly easy. I feel as if I could have gone on another day.
In other news, I also saw my cancer doc this afternoon. I know; probably a weird day to do this but I booked the appointment months ago and this doctor is hard to see, so I kept the appointment. Bottom line and I am sure I will post more on this subject when I'm not so tired, but he has decided he wants to do a three year full body scan. Which is great, but it is going to be a fairly big pain in the ass: I need to go through the typical drill - back on the diet from hell, off the thyroid meds and it culminated in a tracer dose of radiation and scan. Only difference is I will be given a two thyrogen shots (each of which costs $1,000) which will mitigate the effects of going off my meds. Should make for an interesting December; I am going to start the protocol the day after I finish (hopefully I will finish!) the Quad Dipsea.
Anyway, more on this later.
In other news, I also saw my cancer doc this afternoon. I know; probably a weird day to do this but I booked the appointment months ago and this doctor is hard to see, so I kept the appointment. Bottom line and I am sure I will post more on this subject when I'm not so tired, but he has decided he wants to do a three year full body scan. Which is great, but it is going to be a fairly big pain in the ass: I need to go through the typical drill - back on the diet from hell, off the thyroid meds and it culminated in a tracer dose of radiation and scan. Only difference is I will be given a two thyrogen shots (each of which costs $1,000) which will mitigate the effects of going off my meds. Should make for an interesting December; I am going to start the protocol the day after I finish (hopefully I will finish!) the Quad Dipsea.
Anyway, more on this later.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Beer Review: Blind Pig IPA
I had a long, long day in LA so too tired for much of a post -so - beer review time. Tonight's beer is Blind Pig, an American IPA from Sonoma County. Beer Advocate gives this one a straight up "A" based on 589 reviews, which I think speaks for itself. It's very hoppy and citrus-y and is very drinkeable. If you're ever able to find this one on the shelf (though I believe distribution is limited) - be sure to give it a shot.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Post 600!
I am astonished that this is my 600th post. Wow. That's probably enough writing to fill a volume or two. I'm pleased to have stuck it out thus far and to have been (relatively) consistent with my writing. But as I have said in the past, I'm far more pleased -- and proud of -- the little community that we have formed around this site. Things I really love about this cancerman.com include:
I love when y'all comment (so let's hear some comments!)
I love the Thyroid Cancer Run
I particularly love comments from my old man and my mother in law
I love when posts get picked up and posted throughout the Internet (that's happened exactly once by the way)
I love new TV seasons because it provides new fodder
I love my new cancer friends: Crazymama and Gail in particular
I love why The Wife posts (oh wait - she never has. Wink wink)
I love that I've reconnected with so many friends from high school (here's to you Geremy and Rookie)
I love when my college boys and Payro rear their head
I love when Finkel rants
I love my Hawaii/Singapore friends who are one and the same
I love when the Work folks friends past and present (hi Nick and Michael) say hello
I love when my Mill Valley friend pop on bye (what's up Megan and Hope?)
In short: I really do love you all.
And that is my Oscar speech. Or at least the closest I'll ever come to an Oscar speech.
Good night and thanks for coming!
(Ps. Think it's time for me to change the name of this site?)
I love when y'all comment (so let's hear some comments!)
I love the Thyroid Cancer Run
I particularly love comments from my old man and my mother in law
I love when posts get picked up and posted throughout the Internet (that's happened exactly once by the way)
I love new TV seasons because it provides new fodder
I love my new cancer friends: Crazymama and Gail in particular
I love why The Wife posts (oh wait - she never has. Wink wink)
I love that I've reconnected with so many friends from high school (here's to you Geremy and Rookie)
I love when my college boys and Payro rear their head
I love when Finkel rants
I love my Hawaii/Singapore friends who are one and the same
I love when the Work folks friends past and present (hi Nick and Michael) say hello
I love when my Mill Valley friend pop on bye (what's up Megan and Hope?)
In short: I really do love you all.
And that is my Oscar speech. Or at least the closest I'll ever come to an Oscar speech.
Good night and thanks for coming!
(Ps. Think it's time for me to change the name of this site?)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
New TV Season
The new TV season is upon us ,and none too soon. Couple of random tv-related thoughts.
While Entourage is always as entertaining as hell, nothing has really happened this season. It's getting stale. And E's girlfriend (or ex, as the case appears to be) has GOT to be the most annoying character ever.
Trueblood is the best (relatively) new show on TV. It's approaching Soprano's level good. Only thing: I am glad that freak Miriam is gone. That was getting a bit old.
The Office: Still the funniest show ever. It's the new Seinfeld.
Community: This one has promise -- what's not to like about Chevy chase, but was that pilot episode not a bit disappointing? Any thoughts/predictions on this one?
Hung: Never took off and won't live to see another season.
Fringe: I like it alright, but might need to give it up unless there's some sort of interesting breakthrough.
Survivor: Watched religiously for years, then gave it up but did watch the first episode of the new season. Watch out for this villain dude. He has potential.
The New Melrose Place: Worst show in the history of television. But Heather Locklear is coming aboard so big ups for that.
Did I cover all my bases here? Anything else egregiously missing?
While Entourage is always as entertaining as hell, nothing has really happened this season. It's getting stale. And E's girlfriend (or ex, as the case appears to be) has GOT to be the most annoying character ever.
Trueblood is the best (relatively) new show on TV. It's approaching Soprano's level good. Only thing: I am glad that freak Miriam is gone. That was getting a bit old.
The Office: Still the funniest show ever. It's the new Seinfeld.
Community: This one has promise -- what's not to like about Chevy chase, but was that pilot episode not a bit disappointing? Any thoughts/predictions on this one?
Hung: Never took off and won't live to see another season.
Fringe: I like it alright, but might need to give it up unless there's some sort of interesting breakthrough.
Survivor: Watched religiously for years, then gave it up but did watch the first episode of the new season. Watch out for this villain dude. He has potential.
The New Melrose Place: Worst show in the history of television. But Heather Locklear is coming aboard so big ups for that.
Did I cover all my bases here? Anything else egregiously missing?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Random photos
I'm too exhausted to post anything of substance so instead you'll have to bear with some photos from the past few days. In no particular order we have a few pictures of the kids tearing it up on their bikes; the Little Boy pitching during his Fall baseball league (he pitched surprisingly well) and an amazing heirloom tomato/mozzarella salad that the wife whipped up tonight. The tomatoes are in season here in California and man oh man are they good.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Marincello Trail Run
My training for the Quad Dipsea (28 miles with almost 10000 feet of climbing) has begun in earnest. Yesterday I ran the Dipsea Steps three times (brutal) and then the Cascade Trail. About an hour an a half total. Today I ran from Tennessee Valley up the Marincello Trail (1.3 miles of straight climbing) all the way down to the Bobcat Trail (where I saw - go figure - a Bobcat) to Rodeo Valley. About 2 hours in total with just a ton of climbing. Must have been 80 degrees today so pretty hot as well.
All in all a good training weekend.
All in all a good training weekend.
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