What’s to Talk About

I know that there are several people that anxiously await my news posts. They check the blog daily and sometimes twice a day. It is funny as I think I do not have much to say and so I can go for a few days without posting anything. However, when I do, I can’t seem to stop and I spit out paragraphs of stuff. Again, when I sat down today, I did not think I had much to say. Whoops!

So, throughout this path there have really been only two things that keep me up at night. First one: The cramping in my adbomen, the same ones that I felt in the fall that provided me with a reason to get checked out in the first place. They tend to come and go, from mild to severe. I am still trying to trace the source of these cramps so as to minimize their impact and frequency. The working theory right now is that the chicken wings at the bar on Thursday may be the source. I really enjoy this treat that I have after hockey but I may need to give them up this week. I do notice that the cramping seems to come more so near the weekend but can last for several days but I know the wings are long gone from my system within 24h so I am not sure why the cramps last so long.

The second one is night peeing. OMG, I turned into an old man overnight. Since my diagnosis and treatment, I am finding that I am more thirsty than usual. If you spend any length of time with me you will quickly realize that I drink a lot of water, probably more than most fish. This is why I often joke with the medical staff when, after a procedure or treatment, they ask me to drink a certain amount of water and I reply with “so I have to cut back?”. With this unsatiable thirst, I have to, at some point, part ways with the water. That now seems to happen more and more at night. Normally, I get the job done and I am back in bed and sleeping quickly. However, last night was the exception. My creative brain woke up this time so now I am at my kitchen table writing this post for the next hour or so. Too bad, since I need to get up early tomorrow for a pulmonary test at the hospital at 8:00 AM. Figures! Depending on when my editor and lovely wife wakes up, you may hear about the test later in the blog. [Finally done at around 3:30 AM]

It has been almost two weeks since I started my holidays (a.k.a. sick leave) and I still have not fallen into a routine yet. I had figured by now I would be doing all these things that I wanted/needed to do but never found the time to do. Instead, I find that I am busier than ever between my appts., MA’s ankle break and subsequent appts., and doing all the driving for the kids to all their activities.

(Ed. Note: Boss, if you are reading this blog, please skip this next paragraph. There is nothing here you need to know about. I will let you know when to come back later on in this post.)

One of the big reasons why I know I am losing track of time is that I am really enjoying reading my paper with my coffe in the mornings [when it is not late, wet or some other screw up that this new carrier has been doing. Several years ago, I broke in my last carrier and we had a great relationship. She would deliver my paper on time and in a plastic bag everyday, regardless of the weather. The reason for this is that, when I am working, I do not grab my paper first thing in the morning. Though it is housed in an open faced plastic box at the curb, there were days when I received it wet from either the morning dew collecting on the box or the melting snow that was left inside it. Ironically, just prior to me starting my time off, my lovely carrier, for the last 5 years, retired and now I need to break in a new one. As such, the delivery has been anything but consistent and stellar.] Anyway, getting back to why I am losing time in the day. When the paper does arrive, I can spend up to 1-1.5h reading it with my coffee. Something I used to enjoy doing on the weekends but now I get to do everyday. As my mom can attest from when she spent a few months with us at the house, it is very enjoyable everyday. This is going to be something that will be very hard to give up/explain when I go back to work. “Yeah boss, [with paper rolled up under arm], just going to the washroom… Yes, with a WHOLE pot of coffee!”

(Boss, you still there? You can start reading from here even though I know you too well and you did not listen to me!)

I got a bit of bad news on Monday. Back in early March, shortly after I was told about the mass but prior to me knowing the exact cancer I had, Canadian Blood Services called me for an appointment to donate blood. During the call, I mentioned my situation to them and was then transfered to a nurse. Talking to her had left me with some hope of continuing to give in the future. She stated that, depending on which cancer I had, I could possibly be able to give again after some period of time after my treatments ceased. Now that I know my official diagnosis, I called on Monday to see if I could continue to give so that I could finally catch up to the number of MA’s donations of 27. I got to 22 and can no longer give for the rest of my life. Too bad as I enjoyed the periodic oil change to help clean things up inside. I guess I will have to settle for leaches, Not!

I do have some good news about the kids to share though. With all three going to a newly built high school next year [their fifth one in their short careers], Isabelle and Cassandra both tried and were accepted into the enriched program offered by the new school. Geneviève has been in the program at their current school for the last two years but the other two did not qualify for it this year. It is a program that is offered for grades 7-8 only so that is why Gene is not in it at the new school as well.

And more good news to share. I do not think I provided much detail as to why Gen was in Toronto the weekend MA broke her ankle. She was there competing in the provincial finals for Destination Imagination. It is a competition that centres around the creativity and problem solving skills of the student. Feel free to talk to Gen about this as I do not fully understand exactly what it is, what they do and how it works. Anyway, their team finished third at the provincials. It was a great showing and they had great scores in individual competitions but not good enough for the school board to pay for the trip to the international competition which is being held in Knoxville, Tn, http://www.globalfinals.org/.

With that, we thought the dream was done however the school board has decide that since they did so well at the provincials, they would allow them to still go to the International Finals. The only catch is that they need to raise the funds on their own. This means that six kids need to raise $1,500/each in two weeks! Not an easy challenge but still doable. There is a parent-team meeting on Thursday to discuss how we can raise the funds in time for them to go. Being off work right now, I have already thrown my hat in to participate with the fundraising and have suggested raffling off a relaxation gift basket which includes a 1h massage from MA, wine, cheese, charcuterie, chocolates and crackers. I am expecting the basket to be worth about $300-$350 once I finish making it. Tickets are expected to be $5/each or 3 @ $10. So, with all the Cantins and Ethiers reading the blog, I expect you all to step up and buy at least 50 tickets. I know that if it was a Texas Mickey, I would be able to make enough to not only send all the team but their families as well with just the tickets sales from my family alone! We are also looking at other avenues to receive donations and sponsorships. I will keep you updated on those opportunities in case you would like to participate in them. (Hey Boss, here is your chance to make up for not listening to me earlier! Hint, hint, nudge, nudge)

BTW, pulminary test is done. Nothing to say. My lungs still work. Going to bed soon.

That is all for now. Thanks again for some of the new comments and jokes. MA says I need to keep the channel on the fishing shows. Not sure what she means. Richard Bottos, any comment?