Monthly Archives: March 2017

So, what’s next?

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A week ago in my post ‘Central Florida Visit‘, I wrote the following –

This coming Monday I will have an appointment with a new Oncologist Dr. L. with Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.  Per U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Cancer rankings 2016-2017, Moffitt Cancer Center is ranked #1 in the Southeast and in the state of Florida and #6 in the nation.  After visiting their website and the recent communication I have had so far has me impressed with them and my hope is this feeling will continue after my appointment this Monday.

In a little over a week we will make our way back to Pensacola.  Depending on our visits next week, upon our return to Pensacola, our plan may well be to hook the RV to the truck and drive back to central Florida.

In today’s post, I write the following –

That appointment with a new Oncologist Dr. L. with Moffitt Cancer Center took place this past Monday.  This visit and the unplanned additional visits had Gary and I extremely impressed and enthusiastic about having my continued cancer care taken over by this new facility.  If you read my post ‘Pain Explained?‘, a couple of days ago, you know this week was filled with many tests at my new healthcare provider location.  Results of these tests and a course of action will be provided to me early next week.

This past week Gary and I had plans to view some possible locations to live and plant roots for a home base.  Because of the results of my CAT Scan last week, and the awaiting of results of this current week’s tests; our plans have changed some and the searching is on hold for now.  So, what’s next?

I mentioned in a past post that Gary and I brought his mom to Orlando, Florida back in December.  She lives with Gary’s younger brother who lives near Pensacola, Florida.  Because the younger brother is having health issues we brought mom here to Orlando to stay with the older brother.

Monday of next week, Gary and I will depart from Orlando and take mom back to the younger brother.  Tuesday of next week, I will have my last appointment with my current Urologist Dr. P. in Pensacola.  Wednesday of next week, Gary and I will hook the RV on the truck and make our way back to Tampa, Florida.

For the past 8 months we have lived at the RV park on the Naval Air Station Pensacola.  For the unforeseeable future, Gary, Roxy and I will live at the RV park located on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

Next week will be a busy week; we are moving to a new location, but more importantly test results and doctor’s visits to determine what is to come next in my battle with cancer.

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Yellow: the five percent

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I like yellow, it is my favorite color.

Wikipedia.org has the following –

Yellow is the color of ripe lemons, sunflowers, and gold. It is between green and orange in the visible spectrum, and a primary color in subtractive color, used in color printing. According to surveys in Europe, Canada, and the United States, yellow is the color people most often associate with amusement, gentleness, and spontaneity, but also with duplicity, envy, jealousy, avarice, and, in the U.S., with cowardice. In Iran it has connotations of pallor/sickness, but also wisdom and connection.  It plays an important role in Asian culture, particularly in China, where it is seen as the color of happiness, glory, wisdom, harmony, and culture.

I like yellow, my favorite color.

Google the word yellow and you receive the following results –

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Image Provided by: Google Play

Yellow is a location-based social search mobile app that allows users to find others to share their Snapchat and Instagram usernames. It also allows users to chat with one another in the app.

Who knew there was an app for that?

And did you know the group Coldplay has a song called Yellow?

There is an interesting article on psychologytoday.com titled  Why We Prefer Certain Colors that has interesting information about why we have a color preference and how it influences our lives.  If you are interested in reading, click the above article link.

Did I mention, I like yellow?

From bustle.com –

The most popular color in the world is blue, and it’s also the most popular color for men, everywhere in the world, to wear. (Women, on the other hand, mostly prefer wearing black.) Statistically, yellow isn’t preferred by many, with only five percent of people claiming it as their most favorite color, and apparently, as people get older, they start to shun orange.

Okay, I am in the five percent when it comes to preferring yellow.

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Image Provided by: Jodi @ https://lifeinbetween.me

I always mention my favorite color to Jodi over at THE CREATIVE LIFE IN BETWEEN because she has wonderful watercolors that have the color yellow.

Did I mention, I really like the color yellow?

A year ago, I published a video post ‘it’s a “Jodi”’, where I unwrapped a package.  The package was sent from Jodi; she sent me a watercolor that I really liked.  The water color is a red boat, but it also has my favorite color.

Did you know, I really, really like yellow – it is my favorite color.

Any guess my favorite fruit?  (hint: it starts with a ‘B’ and yes, it is yellow)

And if you have never heard Coldplay’s song “Yellow” –

Pain Explained?

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In several past posts, I have written about pain and other issues I am experiencing.

In my post ‘Pain‘, I wrote the following –

The pain is here today

For this one thing I know

As the days become weeks

The pain will come and go

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Image Provided by: NaturPhilosophie

In my post ‘Exactly 1 Month‘, I wrote the following –

I will admit though, I do not feel excellent as I am having difficulties with some pain and other minor issues.  I am not sure if they are related to the surgery or my cancer diagnoses and if over time I will overcome these minor issues.

In my post ‘It’s 2:16 in the morning‘, I wrote the following –

I also have pains not associated to my surgery and recovery that make it difficult at times to find a comfortable position to sleep.

In my post ‘I don’t know‘, I wrote the following –

So, I have aches and pains and other issues that bring me down and I think to myself; are these pains associated with cancer spreading or they a result of my surgery and I am still recovering; or are they result of inactivity on my part because I am restricted to a certain extent to exercise and being more active?

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Image Provided by: http://www.causes.com

In today’s post, I write the following –

A week ago I had a procedure and a CAT Scan performed to try to find out the cause of my continued pain and other issues.  I will be honest here, as I am always honest and sometimes blunt on my blog.  The other issues I have referred to is my bowel movement; yes, we all have bowel movements that is part of our bodily functions.  Mine are no longer considered normal and go from one extreme to the other and at times has caused disruptions in my daily life.  I saw a Gastroenterologist early last week and he believes I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome; most likely resulting from my recent surgery.  He indicated it usually corrects itself over time and medication was prescribed to help with the symptoms.  He also suggested a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (Flex Sig) to rule out cancer.

Tuesday of last week the Flex Sig was performed as well as a CAT Scan.  The results of the Flex Sig indicated no appearance of cancer in my rectum which was near my bladder, when I had a bladder.  This is good news.

The results of the CAT Scan were not so good.  I have several Lymph Nodes in my lumbar region that have increased in size since my last scan took place in early January.  Because this scan only showed the lower part of my chest, there was one Lymph Node in the thoracic region that is also larger in size.

These results have changed everything.

This past Monday upon my initial consultation with my new Urologist Dr. L at Moffitt Cancer Center, I proceeded with blood tests and a Chest CAT Scan.  Today I am having a MRI on my Lumbar Spine, and Echocardiogram, and a Whole-Body Bone Scan.

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My friends, it is a good bet the cancer is in other Lymph Nodes in my body and based on other symptoms I am experiencing, it could also be in my bones.

Could the pain I have experienced for 10 weeks now be a result of Lymph Nodes and Bones?

I will receive answers and have more information next week.

There is a mirror

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There is a mirror you see

Right in front of me

And as I look at the current me

I am reminded of what I use to be

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The daily shower to clean the body

Now the body seems so shoddy

There once stood a man who some thought a hottie

But now that changed man he considers himself a nobody

 

The shower stands in front of that mirror

The doors open I am not far but nearer

I have changed much it is so much clearer

And times I see myself as inferior

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You see that mirror it sees the truth

It tells me my reflection is so much different from my youth

As I open the doors, that shower that booth

You see that mirror it sees the truth

 

But it only reflects the outside of me

There is much more to me, than one can see

My mind will wrestle with the reflection of me

But I remind myself, that, that I can still see

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The body is unimportant, because I have changed

Yes, the inside is a little rearranged

But the personality that cannot be exchanged

It remains positive and it remains unchanged

 

There is a mirror you see

Right in front of me

And as I look at the current me

I am reminded of what I can be

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Stop & Listen

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Back in December of last year, in my post ‘Reveille‘, I wrote the following words –

In the mornings after reveille, the National Anthem is played.  In the United States, we play the National Anthem before sporting events and sometimes other types of activities where large amounts of people are gathered.  I would acknowledge the song and maybe sing along with it or, maybe not.  Since living at NAS, that has changed; I feel differently when I hear this song now.  The song has more meaning for me.  Why?

No matter where on the base one is – when the National Anthem is played in the morning or evening, everyone stops what they are doing and gives their attention.  Military personal both active and retired salute and civilians with their hand on their heart.  My heart pounds as I am stopped in my tracks and begin singing the National Anthem – what an honor.

In today’s post, I write the following –

From Wikipedia –

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from “Defence of Fort M’Henry”, a poem written on September 14, 1814, by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large American flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the American victory.

My friend and fellow blogger Jennie over at A Teacher’s Reflections published a wonderful post back in November of last year about the significance of this song with children.  I did not realize there is a book The Star Spangled Banner by Peter Spier that depicts the words to this song in full color illustrations.  Please stop over to Jennie’s blog and check out her wonderful post Children and “The Star Spangled Banner”.

Having lived on the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida – I heard this song every morning.  We sing it many times in our lives without much thought into the words and the meaning of the song.  I realize the following video is rather long (11:38 minutes), but if you have time to watch it, please do.  I hope you listen to the words and watch the video today, and learn something you may have not known and maybe just maybe, it brings to you a new significance; and the next time you hear it, a since of honor and pride will fill your heart.

December 1972 – Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul

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December 1972 – a song popular in this month – Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul

This song is about marital infidelity.

Interesting facts about Me and Mrs. Jones & Billy Paul

A hint about this song’s subject matter is cleverly “hidden” in its intro: the saxophone is playing the first line from a 1953 Doris Day hit entitled “Secret Love,”.

The song came to life after Billy Paul took it with him on vacation and came back to deliver the powerful, emotive vocals that many people could relate to.

When this hit #1 on December 16, 1972, it knocked Helen Reddy’s female-empowerment anthem “I Am Woman” out of the top spot.

The Dramatics took this song to #47 in 1975; in 2007, Michael Bublé included it on his album Call Me Irresponsible.

After Billy Paul died on April 24, 2016, the Gamble and Huff team released a statement saying, “Our proudest moment with Billy was the recording of the salacious smash ‘Me and Mrs. Jones.’ In our view, it is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded.

This information was provided by Songfacts.com

Dank

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My category ‘Pictures & Stories’ are posts with me writing a fictional, creative short story about a picture.

Dank

Dank –

Once again alone, Dank the duck sat quietly waiting for their approach.  Would they come this time?  He had forgotten when the last he saw them.  And how did he get left behind?

It seems like yesterday, but no it was already a couple of seasons ago, they were all here on their trek to the south, to the warmer climate.  Dank as usual would not stay with the group, but instead go exploring the surroundings.  He had been there before, but still the exploring brought new exciting adventures.  It only took 1 exciting adventure and they left and he was left behind alone.

Now it was time.  Would they come back this way?  Dank the duck sat quietly waiting for their approach.  Would they come this time?

Central Florida Visit

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A couple of weeks ago in my post ‘Look Forward‘, I wrote the following –

This past Tuesday in my post ‘Seeking a Home Base’, I mentioned Gary and I are searching for a location to plant roots and use as our home base.  A trip is planned in a couple of weeks and we will be visiting different locations that best meet our needs.  The trip will also include visiting a major Cancer Center located in Tampa, Florida.  A referral is submitted and a consultation appointment is in place.

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Image Provided by: thewholeworldatyourhands.blogspot.com

Currently there is much planning taking place for a future move to a more permanent location and finding a new medical facility for my healthcare.  As indicated a couple of days ago in my post ‘Exactly 1 Month‘, I am feeling good with my recovery.  I will admit though, I do not feel excellent as I am having difficulties with some pain and other minor issues.  I am not sure if they are related to the surgery or my cancer diagnoses and if over time I will overcome these minor issues.

In today’s post, I write the following –

We left the Naval Air Station Pensacola RV Park 2 days ago, and stored the RV for the next couple of weeks.

Gary and I are driving to Orlando, Florida today and we will be staying at Gary’s older brother’s home and taking care of his mom while his brother and wife are out of town for a week.  This coming week we will be visiting locations for a possible permanent location to call home base.  I will fill you in on what we are looking at for a permanent residence in a future post.

This coming Monday I will have an appointment with a new Oncologist Dr. L. with Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.  Per U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Cancer rankings 2016-2017, Moffitt Cancer Center is ranked #1 in the Southeast and in the state of Florida and #6 in the nation.  After visiting their website and the recent communication I have had so far has me impressed with them and my hope is this feeling will continue after my appointment this next Monday.

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Image Provided by: moffitt.org

In about 10 days we will make our way back to Pensacola.  Depending on our visits this coming week, upon our return to Pensacola, our plan may well be to hook the RV to the truck and drive immediately back to central Florida.

We feel strongly about locating ourselves in central Florida and we still have plans for some future travel adventures.  The period of our initial stay in central Florida depends on my health because the first part of April is when the next round of image tests will take place.  The results of these tests will dictate our immediate future plans upon our relocation.

The Yellow Dot

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In my posts ‘Look Forward‘ and ‘Seeking a Home Base‘,  I wrote about the future planned trip to central Florida in search of a possible location to relocate to.

That trip will begin tomorrow.

Many activities have already taken place this week and my time on WP has recently been limited.

Today, I am spending most of the day alone with hopes of catching-up on reading posts and writing posts.

What does the yellow dot have to do with today?

Come & Go

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One Lovely Blog Award Border

Come & Go, I see it often

Sometimes I think about is it them or me

If it is me than I cannot be soften

One Lovely Blog Award BorderI am me & they are them

And we cannot all agree

But is it me, her or him

One Lovely Blog Award Border& I try my best to be for all

Though I know this is beyond my control

I do my best to make the call

One Lovely Blog Award BorderCome & Go, I see it more and more

But that is ok, because I myself sometimes

Will take advantage and even the score

One Lovely Blog Award Border