2013 Vacation

I was writing a novella about our vacation but decided to just post  the "short" version instead.
The short version being our photo book. There is a link to click to view it a bit larger.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly photo books  offer a variety of layouts and cover options to choose from.

We had a blast, ate too much, walked to much, looked too much but would do it again in a split second.

Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season.

Hartley & Mary Anne

Lauren's Visit

My daughter, Lauren, came for a visit. She took Amtrak from Florence, SC. The train was about 2 hours late arriving.
After settling in we discussed what she wanted to do with the week. Her number one request was to go Clearwater Beach. She loved this place when we went last year. We ate a really good lunch, talked, shopped & she went for a walk in the sand.
On the way back home we stopped at Bay Pines National Cemetery to visit the burial site of my cousin, James Wages.
A day of rest an we went to the Disney Studios & Epcot. I'm pretty sure that she enjoyed the excursion but I think we wore her out. 
On Friday we went to Seaworld. She got to see the touristy things there too. Tired but not like the day before.
Saturday was a "chill" & catch up day.
It was Sunday afternoon when she had to catch het train north. Once again it was late.
We really did enjoy this visit!! We love you and await your next visit.

Rant Day 10/01/2013

Insurance company sent me an EOB for services performed by a provider in June. They tell me that the procedure was done "out of network" and wasn't "pre-approved", therefore paid at a lower rate than in network care.
Spoke with provider office and they stated they would not have provided the care if it had not been approved by my insurance carrier. The provider is checking its records again.
We even checked when I "checked-in" for the procedure to be certain that pre-approval had been obtained and was told that it had been.
Received a billing from a provider the other day for services provided in JANUARY !! I called them and asked why the delay. They said my provider had just paid them so they weren't sure what to bill me until then. Great, now I am getting a bit slack in the memory department so what the heck did they provide in January?? I asked for an itemized statement.....I got one....one line that I can't decipher. No way in heck can I tell what the service provided was. Did you bill my secondary carrier? .....uh, no. Will you? Well, yes. Good, thank you very much.
Insurance wants it premium payments.
Providers want their billings paid on time and at a decent rate.
I want my providers paid on time an at a decent rate.
I want to be billed with an itemized statement that I can understand.
It would save the providers time and money if they did that to begin with. It would save the insurance company money if it paid on time (I wouldn't have to call their employe to see when they are going to pay).
Yea, I know gripe, bitch and moan. Blame the insurance industry!! If they did their jobs quickly and accurately everyone would quit complaining about poor service.
Other than that it has been a pretty good week.

Observations of a "Foreigner”

Observations of a “foreigner”

             I made a “quick” to North Carolina this week. It started out as a short trip to visit a dental hygienist that I trust with my aging teeth and grew from there. That's a story for a bit later.

             Along the way, to and from, I made some interesting observations. Drivers in Florida are very dangerous and will take a risk in a heart beat. While they may be dangerous in their own state it is exponentially worse when they cross the state line or even begin to travel on an interstate highway.

             Take for example I-95. When it is three lanes wide in both directions the lanes are arranged with craziness in mind. The outside or far right lane is for those “idiots” that would dare to drive at the posted speed limit or even a bit below. The center lane is for 10 plus mph over the posted limit (with an apparent limit of 20 over). The inside or far left lane is the “take your life in you own hands” lane. I’m not sure there is an apparent limit over there in “dead man’s land”.

               I-4.  Do I even dare get into a discussion about this death trap?? In the construction area near the eastern end it only two lanes, presently. Drive like “hell” in the right lane and “insanity” in the left lane. Don’t even presume to drive less than 10 miles over or you will get blown (by horns), or shot (the bird) or both. Craziness prevails.

              The “local” highways and byways aren’t a whole lot better. Florida spends untold amounts of money on these roadways. It just seems that the powers that be forgot to fund traffic law enforcement. It’s truly an “anything goes” atmosphere out there. 

              In Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina it wouldn’t be difficult to make a reasonable assumption as to which tags were on the cars that came past me like they were running on jet fuel. I used to wonder why all the accidents in Orlando and surrounding areas. Well, now that I’ve lived in Florida for almost three years it’s not hard to figure out.

              Be careful out there! Ya hear?

Gated Community Crazies

We live in a "Gated" 55+ community very near Walt Disney World. I have watched in awe as the inmates disregard most of the regulations and all of the traffic signs in this neighborhood.

Let's see . . . the speed limit is 15 MPH. You would think that with the golf carts the people use as their major mode of transportation that sign would not be too difficult to obey. WRONG!

I'm of the opinion that these carts have been modified by the tenants that had "muscle cars" as teens. This includes the ladies that drive these things too. Does anyone know how to say "little ol' lady from Pasadena"?? These gals will run you and your car off of the narrow streets. Don't even think about not letting them get through the gap between the speed bumps before you. You just might hear some language unbecoming emanating from these "grannys".

STOP SIGNS !! 

What in the world are they for? The golf carts don't obey them and neither do the real, street worthy, vehicles in the neighborhood. These geezers and geezerettes will blow through one faster than you can say "BOO!!"
The traffic control signs in this over fifty-five community should all say "Drive at YOUR own risk". That same sign should be posted far enough ahead of the entrance to give any sane person the opportunity to make an informed decision on entrance into the world of traffic crazies!!

No parking on the grass, don't count on it.
No parking in the street, don't count on it.

(About the only rule they do follow is "Pick up after your pooch", thankfully.)

Just keep your eyes wide open and watch out for a golf cart or street vehicle.
Oh yes, the UPS drivers that deliver in the community don't know the meaning of 15 MPH either.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!!

Until next time . . . .

It is Finally Fantastic Friday !!

It's been a busy week for me. I think I recall three 9 hole rounds of golf. I'm not a golf player, just a ball hitter. It's good to get outside and get some exercise. I enjoy it more because I was playing with my Bride (who enjoys the game immensely).
We watched the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels play football last night on ESPN. The Gamecocks scored the first touchdown of the new NCAA football season. Don't think all the hype about Clowney was lived up to. He just didn't appear to be the Heisman candidate that he is touted to be. Not a pretty game but the Gamecocks won, and a win is a win.
This weekend is Labor Day weekend. We have been invited a co-worker of my Bride's for a cookout on Saturday. Food, pool, people. Sounds like fun. Sunday will be Church and after lunch, maybe a movie (Redbox anyone?). Monday my Bride is on 2nd call at the hospital. Hopefully she will not be called in.
I am thinking it is time to start making the purchases necessary for our trip in November. Since it will be cool in Rome I'm thinking jeans and long sleeve shirts. Of course one pair of Weejuns and one pair of athletic shoes. (Remember when all athletic shoes for the public were either "Keds" or "tennis" shoes?). Thinking we need to upgrade our luggage too. Saw a set at Costco that were some type of plastic but seem to be strong enough to hold up. Light weight (until loaded). Of course we will each have one carry-on which will probably be a backpack. Need to get copies of prescriptions from my Docs and labels from the pharmacy. Just going to carry enough to cover the trip plus 5 days. Hopefully there won't be a real problems getting thru the checkpoint(s).
Leave Orlando in early November and fly to Miami. Leave Miami and fly to Madrid, Spain. From Madrid we will continue to Rome, Italy. The return trip is exactly the opposite, Rome, Madrid, Miami, Orlando. We plan to visit Vatican City and it's museum, St. Peter's, the Colosseum, Forum, Fountain of Trevi and other sites.
Oh well, enough for today. Have a great weekend and a relaxing Labor Day !!

Camp Thunderbird

    My Bride and I visited Camp Thunderbird the evening of August 20, 2013. It was a joy to see the YOW DANCE volunteers working and dancing with these very special campers.

    The  campers were divided into groups and presented a dance routine that they had been taught by the Yow dancers. They all had a great time doing this! Great team spirit and effort.

    Yow Dance has participated in this Camp Thunderbird event for several years and I can say that the dancers get a real sense of accomplishment and have a huge amount of pride in being able to do this.

    *Since 1969, Quest's Camp Thunderbird has been dedicated to providing recreational programs for children and adults with special needs. Because of the physical and behavioral challenges associated with Down syndrome, autism, Cerebral Palsy and other developmental disabilities, the opportunities for these individuals to relax, socialize and have fun are often very limited. This is their chance to learn new skills and focus on the remarkable things they can do, while making new friends and unforgettable memories.
(* http://www.questinc.org/camp.html)

Seaworld & the "Killer" Whales

Yesterday, August 18th, my Bride and I went to Seaworld Orlando. There was a crowd but it wasn't as tightly packed as I have seen it!
The main attraction of the day was the visit to Shamu Stadium to see the Orcinus orca, better known as the killer whale.

These are absolutely beautiful creatures. It baffles me that they can actually survive in the environment in which they find themselves. Don't label me as an animal rights activist, I just don't understand how they can live this way. Seaworld did make the statement that most of their animals were born and raised there. This would indicate that these magnificent animals have never known any other life.

Updates . . .

Well, here it is at the end of July. The first of August will mark our first year of living in Kissimmee. Living this close to Disney/Seaworld has its advantages. Of course there are also disadvantages...hot, humid, Spanish, stupid drivers, extraordinary crime. 
I have begun to take short walks (1/2 mile) a couple of times a week. It's time to try to get back into some kind of shape other than wrecked. .
Medically things continue along. Have a complete metabolic profile (blood work) done once a month. Talked my primary care physician into writing a standing order for this. It can be shared with any physician that has access to the hospital system. That would include my oncologist. I have lost my GI doc. He has left the practice here and has gone to Orlando. Of course he is now "out of network" as far as my insurance is concerned. The other docs in his former practice aren't going to see patients at the hospital so it's not going to help me there. No other GI guys in town or "in network." Had a scheduled oncology office on August 1st. I got the report from the PET/MRI scan that was done
earlier in July. It was all negative. No signs of tumors anywhere at this time !!!
Looking forward to a visit from my youngest daughter in the next few months. We can "catch-up" on 
stuff and maybe even day-trip to spend some time taking some photos.
Then my Bride and I have a vacation planned to Rome, Italy. That's in November. Of course, currently there is all this caution about foreign travel due to the threats to our embassies and consulates. Hope that is cleared up by our travel time.  My older daughter and her family are hoping to get here for a visit in late December. It's a long drive for them so I hope they plan some time to visit Disney or Seaworld. I can hardly wait to see the the girls and the Grands.
Hope everyone is having a great summer.

It's been a heck of a year ....

Well, here it is almost the end of September. January started out with with a cardiac stent being installed in my heart. That was followed a couple of months later with a possible diagnosis of a rare cancer growing in my bile duct. No one could get a definite biopsy and they weren't sure exactly what to do. They did decide it wasn't operable. Finally they placed a stent into one of the bile ducts and an external drain in the other one. I have spent about six to eight weeks in hospitals since April. I did get a "good" biopsy the first week in August. It is a Klatskin tumor, which is a fairly rare cancer. Have started chemo. Went back into hospital five days after the initial treatment. Docs don't think the two were related. It appears that I keep having electrolyte imbalances that make me really weak, dehydrated and really sick. I'm home again and seem to have a great appetite. Once again it is time to take life one day at a time and have faith that my God will take care of me as it is in his plan. Sometimes it is hard to maintain a positive outlook but having faith and hope is the only path to take. As long as the blue side is up and the green side is down I know that I'm surviving.

November 15, 2012

Well, second round of the battle with cancer. I have what is called a KLATSKIN TUMOR. This bugger is located in the liver and is slow growing but inoperable. Treatment options?? Chemo and radiation. Have had several chemo treatments which lower my white cell count and my red cell count. No radiation, yet. Meeting with medical oncology tomorrow. Will voice my preference for radiation treatments in the future. Don't know that it will do any good but that is my preference.

Happy Monday

Today is chilly and rain, again! Ya know, rain is an absolute necessity. I know that, you know that. I have just seen too much in the past weeks. I have taken up the "hobby" of riding a bicycle (OK, not too far or fast) and it has been either too cold or too wet. Tried walking instead but the same applies.
I did discover that I can take a stroll around the outer perimeter of SuperWally and get a mediocre workout. Have you ever measured just how long that stroll is? You might be surprised.
This all brings me back to my medical oncologist. When I was down 30 pounds in weight he said to gain. When I started gaining I told him that I was getting too much weight on. "Nope, you're doing fine. Not to worry" Next visit "Doc, I'm beginning to weight too much.", again the same response. Couple of visits later ( 6 wks ), "Hey, you're gaining too much weight"!!. Well, you said to continue when I told you that the last time I was here.......Well, you need to stop now. Gee whiz, can you please make up your mind?
The off-shoot of all of this is that now I'm overweight and sedentary. Gotta get moving and loose this extra weight. Gotta get my svelte, pre-food figure back (HA !)

Genealogy

I have dabbled in the search for my ancestors for years, never getting really serious about the quest.
During the past six months or so I have taken the quest up again. I have dug around and have found people that I didn't realize were related, by blood or marriage.
This weekend I have been given a true and exciting thrill !! With the assistance of the wife of one of my cousins I reconnected with a person that I have not seen or heard from or about in over 60 years! Thanks to Anita I now know where my long lost (to me) cousin, Carmella is. Carmella is almost 9 years my senior. I remember her because she took time to play with me when I was only 3 or 4. I remember her as being a beautiful girl (even as youngster I had an eye for the girls). When my Mom, Dad and I moved from the North Carolina mountains to the South Carolina Pee Dee area we seem to have lost most of our contact with the mountain folk. That was/is tragic. My sister and I missed out on knowing our grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. It is something that we would love to reclaim but that's not possible. We can, however, strive to make as many connections as we can with those that are still alive and remember those that are no longer with us.
Thanks, Anita and Carmella for putting a really bright spot in my day.

Bike Ride

Today I attempted my first bike ride in a gazillion years. Surprisingly enough, it was my legs that wanted to quit first. Lungs did exceptionally well (I think) all things considered. This is where I rode. It is at the Northwest District Park just west of Leland, NC. The surface is paved and it was dry. Not much activity there today but it will be a different story when softball and tennis seasons start up.





This map shows 0.0 miles but the actual route is 0.56 miles.

Now, if I can just get myself into the habit of doing this at least 3 times a week !!!!

CT Scan 4 weeks ago.

I have now had three (3) "clear" scans. My oncologist is happy, my children are happy, my wife is happy and I'm ecstatic.

Looking forward to Christmas. My shopping for gifts in complete! I still have one or two to get wrapped but that is the small stuff that we have all be told not to sweat.

May you all have a wonderful and merry CHRISTMAS (yes, CHRISTMAS, not HOLIDAY) and a very happy New Year.

February 2010 SNOW

We had snow last night. First time in several years we have had any accumulation.
My darling Bride had to go to a Trauma Seminar this morning in Wilmington. The roads
were actually in good shape. The NCDOT had ample time to spray the main and secondary roads before it all started.
I took a side trip to Wrightsville Beach after dropping her off at the Hilton. Got some pretty nice pictures there. One is of a SNOWMAN on the beach !!


I have several others so check them out on my Facebook page.

Stay in, stay dry, stay warm.

Still Kicking

I had another CT scan about a month or so ago. My Oncologist said that things continue to look good in the lungs. Scar tissue, decrease in size of the affected lobe and corresponding increase in size of the opposite lobe.
It's been a 12 1/2 months since I finished my CHEMO and RADIATION. I'm back up to my "pre-treatment" weight. How much is that, you ask? Too much, I say.
Always remember, PRAYER WORKS, don't give up hope, and be kind to your care-givers.

I have to learn to watch what/how I say things. In the previous post I mentioned "last CT" and my wonderful sister wanted to know why I was NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYMORE. I guess a better way would have been to say the "scan I just had". Last doesn't always mean "Last = FINAL".

Today I got the results of my last CT Scan...................
It was a GOOD report!! Doctor says everything looks like it is supposed to look.
I know that my Bride has been on pins and needles awaiting this report and now she can rest a bit easier.
Over the weekend we bid farewell to the Bride's first husband's sister and my step-son's best-est aunt. Duger was like the older sister that she never had and a second Mom for him. She "adopted" me into the fold too. She was a wonderful and great lady. She will be missed by all that knew her.

Wal-Mart - Don't ask me what I really think......

Those of you who have read this thing from the beginning know of my disdain for WallyWorld.
They have proven, once again, that they are NOT worthy of my money. Bride and I went shopping Sunday before last, gathering a smidge more than $200 worth of groceries (mostly) and a few other things. When we went to the register we told the clerk that we wanted to put $100 on this card and made certain that she heard and appeared to understand. NOT !!! She ran the whole kit and kaboodle in on the card. I asked if she had heard what we requested and she told the Bride that she (the Bride) had to put the amount in......we've done this enough to know better. We went to Customer "Service" to get this straightened out but the best they would do is tell us that we would be able to get a credit on our account in 10 to 14 days. NO WAY!!! I was steaming by now and told them to refund me in CASH. They did this but not liking it. If their service department hadn't already completed the oil change I would have canceled that too.
We went to Harris Teeter to start over on our grocery shopping. I will try very, very hard NOT to visit Wal-Mart again.

We are in for some thunderboomers this afternoon/evening. We need the rain, or so I've been told. I don't really want it to rain because then the grass will grow and it will have to be cut......
I long for a green concrete lawn.

Today. Why today??? Why not?

Several have asked what's going on since I don't update very often.
Let's see, my Bride murdered her motorcycle, breaking her arm in the
process. Of course it goes without saying that her pride was injured,
probably more than anything else. I think that I can safely say that
she has given up riding the motorcycles.
As for me, I think I'm doing fine. My oncologist told me that I could
have my porta-cath removed (May 6th !!). I actually take that as a
good sign. Clinical trial is moving along. I have "graduated" from having
injections each week to a 6 week schedule. Feeling good, still working
5 days a week. I have realized that I am old enuff to retire but have no
idea what I would do if I did.
Today was my Bride's birthday and we went out for dinner. She gets to pick
where when it's her birthday. Next week is our anniversary. She gets to pick
where when it's her anniversary too.
Weather is beginning to remain warm. Skies have been clear lately. Hope they
will stay that way. I actually want to ride my bike to work a couple of times.
Here's hoping that everyone has a great week and if I don't update very often,
a wonderful summer.

Valentine's Day

Yesterday was Valentine's (candy, flowers, etc) Day. My wonderful Bride
spent the day at a Trauma Symposium and I spend the day on call (& shopping).
I bought very little but did a lot of window shopping. Found lots of things
that I really would like to have.
We went to a "Valentine's" Dinner @ our Church. Cost the guys $15.00 and the
gals ate for free. They had a game that was kinda like "The Newlywed Game",
we won. The lady sitting next to me said they had been married the longest
time and we had been married the shortest time.......I told her that I did
not have as much to remember.....We got a huge basket filled with chocolate
stuff and cookies and mugs and other goodies. The food was also great. We
both ate the chicken breast and decided to pass on the prime rib. I just
can't eat a piece of meat the looks more alive than I am.
Time to get ready for Church, then I'm going to take my Bride shopping for
some printer paper that she is looking for....It has pre-printed backgrounds
with beach/ocean theme (dolphins in particular). Any one know where to find
such???

CT Results

Had a CT scan on Monday of this week and got the results from my Radiation Oncologist yesterday.
After he looked over the report from the guys who read these things he told me to take my Bride out for a small celebration.
Everything looks much better in the lung. Lesion has shrunk (could be scar tissue from the radiation treatments per the RO) considerably. Nothing in the head (never doubted that, never was anything there to begin with), abdomen, pelvis or bone and nothing new in the chest area. Mediastinal nodes are now non-remarkable.
We went out to dinner......my waiter asked if I wanted ICE in my requested "room temperature" water......hated to tell him NO.
Things are looking up........

New Year !

Well, it a new year and things are moving along.
Had very welcome visits from the daughters and
grand kids over the holidays. Always good to see
all of them.
Nothing much new with me. Had my porta-cath flushed
the other day. $188.00 !!!

Finished with Radiation

Well, now I've completed the radiation treatment schedule. Actually finished
last Wednesday.
Still having pain in the esophagus but I've been assured that will diminish
and go away in time. Still, it's tough to eat solid food. BOOST, ENSURE, etc.
are the worst tasting things I can think of, right now.
Have a follow-up radiation oncologist appointment on Wednesday and a follow-up medical oncologist appointment next week.
Thanksgiving weekend did me in. I "caught" a respiratory infection of some sort and had to go on a "Z-PACK" treatment for a few days.
Took two weeks vacation and finally went back to work today. Not as bad as I thought it would be. Still, I'm a bit tired. All in all, it was a good day.
Have fun, get the Christmas gift shopping done early and then relax.