2016: YES!

Dr. Hugh Tildesley

 Status Update: Status quo, weight, appetite, stable. There will be a 3-week hiatus between therapies, thus I have an extra week of recovery. The usual next Monday and Tuesday (Blood work, MD apt, poison infusion), CT on Wed Jan 6, the report card of the last 3 months, clinically should be ok, but I will not get ahead of myself.

Temperatures here cold and clear, I am avoiding chills, thus not walking as much as I should, I hope for warmer temperatures. I have determined anything below 6 degrees C invokes neuropathic symptoms.

The Arts Report: Creed

Following Concussion we saw Creed. The reviews said it was not a boxing movie, well it is. The Rocky franchise is alive and well. Having just seen “ Concussion”, I was expecting to see slides of the combatant’s CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).

Well written. Good character development and in general a good story. I promised, based on the reviews it was not a boxing movie, Deborah, although not enamored was impressed with the movie save the boxing scenes. I recommend this flick for its entertainment value and character development. If violent blows to the head are disconcerting, skip it.



Gratitude: Oliver Sacks

A short book filled with emotion and some level his personal catharsis. Historically he would write long hand his books, they would be voluminous and his long-suffering editor would have to edit and edit. On average he would take 6-7 years to finally finish a book. In my mind they were always worth the effort. This, his last book, was different. He did have the luxury of time. He said what he had to say, it is not as smooth as his previous publications but from the heart. It is the bookend of his life (this time no pun intended). A worthwhile read if you are an Oliver Sacks fan.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A biography of Cancer, S. Mukherjee

A comprehensive work following the history of cancer from Egyptian times to the present. A few historical facts are incorrect but do not detract from the message. The repeated message is the fixation of chemotherapists on attacking cell division and not the differences of cellular metabolism; in my view a silo mentality that represents lost opportunity. There also remains the abyss between basic science and clinicians. Repeatedly in the book cures, and effective treatments are stumbled upon outside of the FDA rules. AIDS activism has helped establish a template to get therapies to patients faster in spite of the FDA.

A good read to help understand where we are. History remains an important component of this process.

Tesla Titillations:

One foot at a time! (Keeners will note this was the motivational line used in Creed by Rocky to motivate Adonis (Creed’s son). It has been frosty and I had parked on a hill. My usual habit driving a gas-powered car would be to have my foot on the brake and engage the gas to avoid rolling backward. Not necessary with this car, it does not roll backwards, just put your foot on the power pedal.

If you utilize both feet, the car alarms, potentially embarrassing as it communicates your incompetence on your screen for all to see.



Social: The out of towners are home and recharging. Wonderful to have them home and to catch up. Great visit from brother-in-law Ted, dinner with a second brother-in-law Chris, and his daughter Cassandra, and her partner Andrew.

I am looking forward to our trip to LA later this month with UV exposure, we have rented a small house on Redondo beach, so easy access to beachside walks and close to Torrance where Deborah’s sister Judy and brother Dan live. Hamish will be back in LA and I look forward to hanging in Santa Monica as he shows us the hot spots.




 
Bragging: Donovan spent a couple of days in Whistler in mid December shooting a promotional video for  Destination BC. Beautifully done , in spite of my obvious bias please have a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0NT4-6f49k

Until next time........