OK, now I can worry.

A little fire in the building last night. As you can see, I didn't follow instructions to leave the building. Are you surprised?
A little fire in the building last night. As you can see, I didn’t follow instructions to leave the building. Are you surprised? I didn’t think you would be.

But, on to more serious things. Bad news from the Big Cancer Doc. It’s Back. Or it sprouted up in a new place. Big Cancer Doc might attack the thing tomorrow morning in his office. Somehow, I think he’ll wimp out and we’ll have another round with out patient surgery and the operating room. Hope I am wrong.

He went to see the Little Cancer Doc today. That guy cut some cancer out of his chest – a few inches above the area that concerns the Big Cancer Doc. And, some stuff was cut out of his leg. It is all squamous cell cancer.

We are not happy campers tonight. Not happy at all. But, as Mr C says – Whatever is supposed to happen happens.

Hawai’i is scheduled for Nov 10. I’ll not be able to convince him that we should cancel the trip. But, I think I can shorten it the stay to say 6 weeks…

I am not dealing with this too very well. But, not much I can do about the situation. So, I’d best deal. As best as I can.

Thinking about not thinking – Part 4

I saw Carlton’s Big Cancer Doctor at the hospital. He asked me how did I think Carlton was doing. Well, Doc – I think he is going to be OK. I asked the doctor what he thought. He said he was mildly optimistic – but that optimism wasn’t based on anything more than hope. The lab results are expected tomorrow. But, until then, I too shall be mildly optimistic.

How cool is this anyway?

Screen Shot 2013-10-08 at 6.57.47 PM How cool is this? (Durham was my name before I married “The 1st Mr Bethany”).

I was busy “not thinking” about Mr C’s still undetermined medical issues… Our apartment building is having a little photo contest and I decided to enter this film noir favorite of mine. It will not win anything. A cute dog will win.

Day 45 - Arlington Funeral Home Lot

But, I was really surprised when the “Durham” Captcha appeared when I submitted my entry. Maybe it is a dark omen.

Thinking and Not Thinking, Part 3

Sunset After A Day of Rain
Sunset After A Day of Rain

Mr C went to see the “Big Cancer Doc” this AM. He had a sonogram – inconclusive. And a biopsy. Nothing back from that yet. Doc didn’t say “don’t worry”. He did say “this will not be as bad as the last one.”

Mr C has decided to watch the Howard Hanks, John Wayne Rio Bravo, El Dorado, Rio Lobo trilogy. I have decided to keep not thinking about it. Soon enough there will be something to think about.

I got drenched today. Found myself walking home from work when it started raining about 5 inches per hour. Fortunately I had an umbrella, raincoat and Dansko shoes. And, it was nice and warm. Reminded me of June in Japan. But we had a great sunset.

Thinking about closing out all of my equity positions. Insanity is rampant. And, this do give my brain something to think about.

Even our near neighbor buildings look nice and pinky.
Even our near neighbor buildings look nice and pinky. The shorter square buildings are the FDIC headquarters. The taller one is a condo.

 

Thinking and Not Thinking, Part 2

Still not thinking about Mr. C’s potential medical problem. Of course any time you have to think about not thinking you are thinking. But, it is sort of compartmentalized. His appointment is at 8AM tomorrow. And, on Thursday, he has an appointment with his “Little Cancer Doc”. He will be having more “little” skin cancer removed.

I was a cooking fool today. It was 90 degrees – but I made turkey and veggie soup for later in the week when fall-like weather returns. And, I made bread pudding and egg strata from all the bread scraps in the freezer. Also, grilled fish and cauliflower for our lunch today. It is time to clean out the fridge in prep for our winter migration to Kona. And today’s kitchen work finished up lots of scraps and leftovers.

Thinking and Not Thinking

We have agreed to not think about Mr C’s condition real or imagined until he goes to see his “Big Cancer” doctor on Monday morning.

So, I have been thinking about a smart-ass phone. Again. I went to see the Note 3 and the iPhone 5S this morning. The Note 3 is a big Naugahyde and plastic thing. The iPhone 5S is an iPhone. Period. Small, sleek, metal. Think I’ll wait and see what Google has to offer in the Nexus 5.

The Note 3 has been rejected because of the Naugahyde. The iPhone is still in the running.

Or I might just keep with my current dumb-ass phone solution – a vintage cell phone and an iPod.

Accidental Panorama

Somewhere in New England - 1986
Somewhere in New England – 1986

Here we have an accidental panorama. I found two snapshots. Apparently taken from a gondola – somewhere in New England in 1986. They seemed like they could become a panorama. And, sure enough they worked fine.

The scanning project is on hold. My USB extension cord was called into service at my volunteer job. I may have mentioned, only computer that will drive the scanner is in the kitchen and the scanner is in the living room.

Oh, panic – Mr C just came in the living room and showed me an alarmingly large lump near his left tit. How long has it been there, I ask? I just noticed it, he says. But on Tuesday, he went to see his “big cancer” surgeon. And, he said that that doctor looked at his chest and checked out his lymph nodes. How could he have missed something the size of a cherry tomato on the chest of a 6 foot tall 145 pound man? Maybe this is just some side effect of all the surgery he had done in that area. A side effect that just popped into view. I’ll hold on to that happy thought as much as possible.

I too have a little (small pea size) something near my left tit. But, I took myself to see my doctor yesterday and she agreed with me and my nurse friends that it looks like a little harmless cyst. Especially since I aced my mammogram in April.

This getting old business isn’t fun. I should have studied medicine.

Happy 123rd Yosemite

Yosemite 1996
Yosemite 1996

What a way for the grand old park to spend a 123rd birthday. With your doors locked. And your website down.

Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 5.27.52 PM

Note to NPS: Even the extremely Orthodox BH Photo keeps their website up on shabbos. You can not buy anything – but you can look at the stuff.

Shame on you, Congressional hostage takers. Shame on you.

PS – I hope the park rangers that live in the park who are not getting paid at least enjoyed a lovely tranquil day in their park without visitors. Actually I hope this for all NPS employees.

Saturday

Somewhere in New England in the 1980's
Somewhere in New England in the 1980’s

Boys and Girls – tag your photos. Because 30+ years from now, you won’t have a clue.

About “wealth”. When I was young – I desired the accouterments and perquisites of wealth. Mega houses. Haute couture clothes. Jewels from Graff. Camera by Hasselblad. Etc. Now that I am old – I no longer crave houses, clothes, diamonds and custom cars, or even Hasselblads.  But, I still crave a NetJet share. A big fat NetJet share. Not a little bitty dinky share. But a huge lavish go anywhere anytime I want size subscription. I don’t want my own personal private jet. Just a supersize NetJet share. NetJet = Timeshare for the super rich.

1992 – Grand Canyon

Carlton Checks Out The Grand Canyon - 1992
Carlton Checks Out The Grand Canyon – 1992

In the late winter of 1992 we crossed the USA. From the looks of my photos from that trip – I was starting to take better pictures. I came to photography late in life. An employee of mine told me that I would be a total failure as a retired person. He predicted that with in 6 months I’d be photo engraving US currency in my basement. At that time, I didn’t own a camera. Or a basement. But, he wasn’t far off the mark. (That would be you Dave)

I am appalled by the performance or lack thereof by the Congress.

Bad Photography Karma Today

Fortress of Louisbourg - 1986
Fortress of Louisbourg – 1986

I am having bad old foto karma today. I got a book back from Shutterfly today and it was an epic fail. Half the pages were upside down. I emailed Shutterfly and they promised to send a replacement post-haste.

Then, I fired up my scanner and for some reason it ate 23 of the 62 images that I scanned today. Fortunately, I noticed it and rescanned the 23. But, it do make one wonder how many other images were eaten…