Radiation – Day 1

Posted May 23, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: cancer, Health-Care
Tags: , ,

2018-05-23 09.41.18Today I had my first radiation treatment at Kaiser in Hollywood. It took a solid hour and a half to drive up there. The drive is worse than the treatment. My appointment was at 08:24, so I was driving at prime traffic time.

Starting tomorrow, I get to ride the shuttle from Harbor City. So I can catch up on my reading and podcasts.

The first appointment was different because they had to do some X-rays and fine tuning of the set up.

They have a mask that locks my head into one place while the X-ray machine does its thing.

Kaiser has about 7 machines in the basement of the building on Sunset Blvd. They gave each machine a name to help keep track of which is which. The one that I will be using is called “Megatron”. I am sure Jonathan will be amused.

If one looks carefully at the light above the machine you can see a picture of a leafy tree. I guess it’s to make one forget that you’re getting zapped with mega-watts of radiation to kill the cancer bugs.

They have a control center in another room with a bunch of computers with about 6 screens. They wouldn’t let me take a picture because another patient’s data was on the screen.

So I go back tomorrow and each weekday until the end of June. I get weekends and Memorial Day off for good behavior.

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Dodge Challenger

Posted May 22, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: Reviews
Tags: , , , ,

Just got back from out trip to Boston. As in the past, we rented a car. So I made a reservation with Avis/Budget Rent-a-Car for a Ford Escape. Why can’t Avis give me what I ask for? So this year they give us a Dodge Challenger. Not even close.

There once would have been a time that I would have loved to drive (or own) a car like a Dodge Challenger, but that shipped sailed a long time ago.

We are thinking about buying a new car pretty soon. Renting a car that is similar to what you  are looking for in a new car is a good way to get a good feel about the car. You get a better feel than a 10 minute test drive.

 

The first thing notices about the car is the sound of the exhaust. It has a deep throaty roar to it that makes you want to step on the gas and go fast. It has lots of power.

The only thing that bugs me is the controls for things like headlights, radio, AC, etc. Before I drive out of the rental car garage, I try to figure out all of the stuff I need to drive, like how to turn on headlights, how to turn on AC, etc.

2018-05-20 14.55.58.jpg

Most of the new cars have a setup like this with app buttons and interface to one’s smart phone, which is great. But it takes me time to get used to is. I can connect to my phone and play music from my iPhone. I don’t have to find a suitable radio station. This car did have “CarPlay” which is the Apple interface. I believe that there is a similar system for Android phones.

The steering wheel has more buttons than you can shake a stick at for cruise control, audio functions, make a phone call which is great but it takes a bit of getting used to.

And another thing that takes a getting used to is the “Start” button. Apparently, the put the key into the lock and turning is long gone. Step on the brake  and push “Start”. It will start as long as the key fob is somewhere in the car. Leave the key in your pocket, that way you won’t forget it.

Maybe next time I will try Hertz to see if they can give me the car that I request. Sigh.

Oh and by the way, I filled it up before I turned it in on Monday. What a pleasant surprise to buy gas for under $3 a gallon again. Haven’t seen that in California for a long time.

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Delta Airlines

Posted May 18, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: Travel
Tags: ,

2018-05-15 13.39.06Well, we managed to make it from LA to Boston all in one piece. No lost luggage, no accidents. This year we did the trip on Delta Airlines again. Big mistake.

At LAX Delta uses Terminal 2 and 3. Our flight was leaving from Terminal 3. But terminal 3 is under and one must go to terminal 2 if you had luggage to check.

We had luggage to check. So we got off the bus at terminal 2, went through security and took another shuttle to terminal 3. So bottom line, if you are flying Delta out of LAX,  use a different air line.

So we were at the gate in plenty of time and were waiting with a crowd of 200 people anxious to board.

We boarded and were wheels up pretty much on time. This was the first leg that stopped in Detroit. The distance between the arrival gate and the departing gate to BOS was not as bad as last year.

Arrived on time in BOS in terminal A. It was a very long walk to get to baggage claim. So we got our bags and headed for the rental car shuttle. Maybe I should have requested a chair.

Got to the rental car desk. I had reserved a Ford Escape with Avis. They never seem to be able to give me what I asked for. Instead, we got a Dodge Challenger. Forty years ago this would have a fun car for me. Right now I could care less. Got the car and hit the road. We arrived at the hotel at about midnight. It was a long day.

Air travel is getting to be a real pain. The stress level is way too high. Maybe when we have more time we might try taking the train. Paula’s Dad used to do that. Her mom was mad at him because she couldn’t get a hold of him. (ie. before cell phones)

At any rate it is good to be away. We fly home on Monday on the non-stop.

TTFN

Joe

 

 

 

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It’s Flying Time Again…

Posted May 14, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: Massachusetts, OES, Technology, Travel
Tags: ,

It’s time for our annual trip to Boston for MA Grand Chapter OES.

I did a few last minute errands this morning. Picked up shirts at the cleaners. Picked up Rx for Mary and went to the USPO to hold the mail.

So the main USPO in San Pedro is this beautiful old Art Deco building. So I took a picture of the lobby. It’s worth a look.

All of my computer gear is packed. My function at GC is to do the recording of the session. To do this I have an interface that patches into the sound system and connects to my laptop via USB interface.

Of course, I am bringing iPad, iPhone x2, iPad mini (for Paula). Plus all of the applicable chargers and cables.

I checked in at noon with Delta. Boarding passes loaded on phones. Got note from Delta that I have to check bags at LAX Term 2, then off to Term 3 due to construction. What a PITA.

I would have liked to do non stop both ways, but to do that on LAX-BOS would mean flight leaves to 0800. To early for us, so flight leaves at noon and change planes in Detroit. Arrive in BOS at about 10 pm EDT. We will be at our hotel by about midnight give or take.

So we expect to see many friends and relatives. Fly back on next Monday.

TTFN,

Joe

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Date Night

Posted May 10, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: Family, Food, Kids

Thursday was a different kind of date night. It was date night for our son Mike and his wife Theresa. That meant that we would be watching the kids. Jonathan is 6.5 and Sarah is 3.5. We seem them quite often. There was not a single peep out of them when they were dropped off. They are pretty used to us now.

So while Mike and Theresa were celebrating their 10th anniversary, we played with the kids and fed them a fine meal.

2018-05-09 19.17.29We started with a snack. Cheese and crackers and Pretzel Goldfish. So the main menu for tonight was chicken fingers coated in Bisquick, tater-tots and green beans. Dessert was cookies and ice cream. We splurged and got Ben & Jerry’s. Pint of Chocolate Dream and a pint of Strawberry Cheesecake.

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1SE for April 2018

Posted May 2, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: 1 Sec Every Day, 1SE
Tags:

This is the fourth installment of my 1 second a day videos. I try to take at least one or two pictures a day for the video. It sometimes is hard to explain to people why I want to take their picture. I need to work on that. Perhaps leave most of the people out.

Without further ado,

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Isle of Dogs

Posted May 2, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: Movies, Reviews
Tags: , ,

Last night was date night again. Our friend Roberta was visiting from San Diego and promised that she would sit with Mary so that Paula and I could have a night out at the movies. So Tuesday is $5 night at AMC theaters and Mother in law sitting free. You can’t do better than that. We paid more for the popcorn and bottle of spring water than we did for the tickets.

Isle of DogsSo we decided to go see “The Isle of Dogs“. This is a Japanese animated film that tells the story of dogs that had been exiled from the city of Megasaki to trash island. So, apparently Mayor Kobayashi is a cat lover and has ordered all dogs exiled to Trash Island.

The film tells the story of a boy who is search of his dog. So the boy (Atari) is aided by a pack of five dogs that together run into many obstacles along the way.

So the people spoke Japanese with subtitles, but the dogs all spoke English.

The film is PG13 for some violent images. Just because the film is animated, doesn’t mean it is suitable for children.

I was unimpressed. I would give it about 2 out of 5 stars. I would have been upset if we had paid full price. It was mercifully short (1 hr 41 min.)

chops and salsaDinner was at Taxco Mexican restaurant just around the corner at Western and Capitol. Excellent food as always. We both had Margaritas to wash down the food. Very tasty.

They had an excellent spicy salsa to go with the chips.

 

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Comedy and Magic Club

Posted April 27, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: California, Humor, Reviews
Tags: , ,

Comedy and Magic outsideLast night was date night again. This time our OES Chapter was doing a fund raiser night at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA. So, our sitter for Mary arrived at about 5:30 and off we went for dinner and a show. [For you East Coast folks, Hermosa Beach is about half way between LAX and San Pedro]

We arrived and got one of the last parking spaces on the roof and got in line to enter the club. Doors opened at about 6:30 and we got prime seats right up next to the stage.

We proceeded to order drinks and dinner. Paula had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and I had Chardonnay. We should have just ordered appetizers. We had way too much food for the two of us to eat.

The club holds about 100-150 seats. Tables are small but not uncomfortably so. Food service was decent, though a bit pricey. There was a requirement that everyone buy at least two items on the menu. Fair enough.

Celebrities Visit SiriusXM Studios - September 30, 2015The headliner last night was Paul Reiser, best known for his appearances in “Mad About You” and more recently in “Stranger Things“.

He did a couple of very funny bits. One was about a dead goat on the beach and the discussion he had with his wife about how said goat came to be there. That led into more discussion about conversations with ones significant other. Very funny.

There were also three warm-up acts. The names of which escape me. Luckily for me I found a scrap of paper in my pocket that listed the performers.

  1. Keon Polee
  2. Michael Palascak
  3. Alonzo Bodden
  4. John Carney (magic)

While we were waiting for the show to start, they were running a slide show of the many artists that had appeared at the venue. Alas, many of the stars pictured there were dead. There were pictures of Robin Williams, George Carlin and many more gone too soon.

They also have displays of comic trivia on display, costumes and the like, some recent and some not so recent.

Apparently, Jay Leno does a regular gig there on occasional Sundays. That might be worth going to see.

Seems like we spent a small fortune including sitter for Mary, dinner and show, but it was worth it. We’ll probably do it again. Maybe one of the days when Jay Leno is performing.

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Oncology

Posted April 20, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: cancer, Medical
Tags: ,

2018-04-20 08.49.06I had an 8:30 AM appointment with the Radiation Oncology Dept at Kaiser. The appointment was up in Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. For all my friends on the East coast that is a long haul. Paula and I were out the door at 7:15 AM and arrived at 8:45 AM. Brutal Friday traffic. I’m glad I don’t have to do that every day.

So after the usual pleasantries of step on the scale, roll up your sleeve for the BP cuff and what’s your temp., we got to meet with an Oncology resident who talked about the plan. We talked about my history with respect to squamous cell carcinoma.

I am to do six weeks of radiation, five days a week for six weeks. The idea is to knock out any remaining squamous cells before they have a chance to settle in and get all comfy.

So then I told him that we were going to be traveling to Boston in May. Trip paid for and non-negotiable. He agreed to start the treatment on the day after we return on May 22. So far so good.2018-04-20 11.24.16

Here’s a pic of my oncologist. Actually, he is a resident. So even though he looks young, he’s got some supervision.

Two other visits were scheduled. First to see the Kaiser dentist to create some sort of gadget to keep me from moving my teeth during the treatment.

Second was a final get together with the oncologist to review the details.

One bit of good news is that Kaiser has a shuttle from their offices in South Bay and the medical center up in Hollywood. So I won’t have to do the driving myself. I wasn’t looking forward to doing 1 1/2 hour drive each way every day.

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Treatment

Posted April 19, 2018 by joebowker
Categories: cancer, Medical
Tags:

2018-04-18 21.51.29So now that the surgery is behind me, it is time to look at treatment. I will be meeting with the Radiation Oncology Dept (aka the Tumor Board) at Kaiser on Friday. It is becoming a struggle to get Paula free to accompany me. The appointment is at 8:30 AM in downtown LA. So that means that I will probably have to be on the road by 7:00 AM. Ugh.

Well, we managed to get Dawn to watch over Mary tomorrow AM. So Paula will be coming with me. That also means that I can use the diamond lane.

Then next week I have an ultrasound scheduled on my thyroid. Did that last week but this time they need to do a dye. They were supposed to both last Friday, but the department that does the dye is a different group. sigh.

After the surgery, Dr K told me that he thought that he would be recommending just radiation and not chemo. I suppose I will find out on Friday.

I guess the assumption is that there are still some squamous cells on the lose up in my head somewhere. We’ll see.

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