Lately

Thought I'd post a few recent pics rather than writing...

Guess where this is...


Looking south from Point Roberts toward the San Juan Islands


This is the new marine park there at Lily Point


Now we're on the west side of PR looking at Lily Point in the distance. If you click on the picture and look to the right, you can see a very faint Mount Baker on the horizon.


Ian trying to photograph a very unphotogenic Finnegan.


Me trying to be creative...


Our new project...attempting to restore a '92 Boston Whaler.


Pressure washing is very satisfying...look at all that dirt!


All clean...


Making s'mores. I dropped about three marshmallows into the fire.


Finnegan unhappy to be stuck on the log, but he kept eating dead starfish so we had to do something.


Writing on Bowen Island.


Ian on our half-finished deck.


Our new roofless shed (we really need to complete something).


Speaking at the Callanish Garden party. There were no pictures where my mouth didn't look weird.

Hangin'

Well, after sulking briefly over my underwhelming CT results, I got back to the business of enjoying the return of my energy. How wonderful it is, too, to not be itching like a kid with head lice.

Last Friday, my third dose of SGN-35 was delivered without incident by a sane nurse who didn't feel the need to chastise me. She also got the IV in my hand without my feeling so much as pin prick, which proves how important competency is. Nurse Ratched, you may want to take note.

During my infusion, I began talking to a woman beside me named Ruth Anne. She was busy knitting a six-foot Prayer Shawl for her friend who was also there receiving treatment. I'd never heard of the idea before, so she told me the history behind the project.

Now undertaken by people of many different faiths and beliefs, the shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient and holds these intentions throughout the creation of the shawl. Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on its way to "wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, and give solace" to its recipient.

What a beautiful concept.

On We Go

Ok, so, I still don't have a complete picture of what my recent CT revealed as all my go-to people are away.

However, the results are good enough to continue on the trial and, really, at this point, that's all I care about. I will have my third dose of SGN-35 this afternoon.

Apparently, in terms of the size of the various areas of disease, there were only minor changes, some slight increases and some decreases. Initially, I felt disappointed with these results as it was really hard to imagine that such a dramatic improvement in my physical symptoms would not coincide with an equally significant decrease in disease.

Regardless, these are still early days so I like to think that the Hodgkin's is indeed suffering a slow and painful death...(followed by a not-so-pleasant descent into Hell).

Shame about them flames.

Stir It Up

Aah, we're just sitting on the newly rebuilt patio of Caffe Capanna in Point Roberts enjoying lunch and lattes.

While Point Roberts itself is usually somewhere we come to get away from it all, sometimes it's nice to check in with "civilization" via fee wireless once in a while. I also wanted to write a quick post about my scan results.

While I don't have the full picture yet, I do know that things are at least stable. I wasn't able to connect with my doctor on Friday who, very courteously, phoned to discuss the results with me. However, I was on Bowen Island in Jan's gorgeous "Secret Garden" with many dear friends to write for the day. There was no way, results or not, that I was going to interrupt that.

So, for now, I just have an email to go by (as I'd forgotten to empty my voicemail box), but will be seeing the doctor on Thursday. I could phone to get more information but, quite frankly, I'd rather just enjoy the next few days unencumbered by the details and in a state of pure summer bliss.

Happy Hour has officially been reinstated. See you on the patio.

The Week Ahead

Well, it is scan time tomorrow, the first since beginning the SGN-35 trial.

I am very curious as to what we will see, but am also not wanting anything less than a significant reduction in disease to "quash my vibe, man."

I have been feeling so good that the results are almost irrelevant, except that they aren't. Tomorrow's test is, however, only a CT, not a PET scan, so it won't measure actual disease activity, just size. I'm going for gold, so we'll see.

I'm also interested to know what my hemoglobin is. Having had disease-related anemia for years now, my hemoglobin has been hovering in the low to mid 80's the past few months and rarely peaks over 90. A few weeks ago, after beginning the trial, it was 94. The normal range is 120-150 and I simply can't imagine what I'd be like if it got that high. Really annoying, probably!

It will take a few days for the scan results to become available, so I will likely have to wait it out over the weekend. No matter, as on Friday we have another wonderful day of writing planned for Callanish, this time in my friend Jan's garden on Bowen Island.

Speaking of which, the Callanish Society website has just been beautifully redesigned by my friend Allison. Click here to check it out (and, yes, that is me, the giant wood nymph writing in the forest on the home page slide show). We plan to get a writing page up soon.

Beyond Friday, we will be heading down to Point Roberts again on the weekend as Ian officially begins his summer holidays (and I continue mine).

Aah, sweet freedom!

Sunshine, Swedes and Solstice

Summer is upon us!

Although, you wouldn't know it judging by the weather in Vancouver the last few days. I returned to clouds and showers after a great time out on Kalamalka Lake Saturday and wonderful visits with my sister, in-laws, and Josefine, Chad and Erik.

I also had a chance to celebrate Swedish Midsummer's Eve in Armstrong at Josefine's parents. Notice the rainbow (always a good sign...)


The table is set for pickled herring and Schnapps...Skol!


This is right before we danced around the, um, maypole...


I'm still feeling great and have loads of energy. I have a CT scan scheduled for Thursday that will indicate the current state of affairs with my body; however, I don't want to attribute too much importance to the results (unless, of course, I am in remission).

Whatever is happening, things are good.

Vacation

Being back in the Land of the Living, I've barely had time to write.

It seems pretty clear that the SGN-35 is doing something pretty fantastic as I cannot remember when I last felt this good. The only side effect I've noticed is fatigue for about 24 hours post dosage (which I like to attribute to some ass-kicking going on in there).

Nonetheless, I got up at 5:30 this morning, full of energy and ready to take the dog for a walk. Then I remembered that Finnegan isn't actually here, but at my parents for a few days while our deck is being renovated. So while I may be losing my marbles, at least I'm full of beans.

Wanting to take advantage of this new found energy, I'm off to the Okanagan tomorrow for a few days to visit family and friends. I hear it's been above 30 degrees there lately so we hope to get out on the boat on Saturday. However, I've already been warned not to over-do it. Does that mean no slalom on the water skis? Just kidding, mom. Sort of.