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Yesterday morning I got a great surprise - my INR jumped up to 2.2! The surgeon came in to tell me that I could go home. Of course, had to complete the other test about noon. Oncologist came by, the paperwork was completed, and I was on my way home.

Got home about 3 in the afternoon. Did not even stop in town to buy groceries - just wanted to be home.

Got a pretty good night of sleep (just used some Tylenol) Got up early and headed to Panera Bread for bagel & coffee.

Busy day today. Restock groceries. Pick up mail, call doctor offices fro prescription and appointments, and hopefully stop by the bike shop.

Doctors say I can ride my bikes. The problem is loading the bike on the car. The hospital gave me a lifting weight restriction of 10 pounds - more than any of my bikes! The Doc yesterday said "no heavy lifting".

We are supposed to get some snow today, anyway. Maybe I will have to just bundle up tomorrow a take a walk in the woods. Just to the same as riding my bike.

Depression is Kicking in

As if not riding my bikes since December 12th isn't bad enough, we have had 2 full blown blizzards. Add in bitter cold, gale force winds, and piles of snow. Snowbound at the house 3 times this winter.

Last month I spent a week in the hospital for biopsy and colonoscopy. The biopsy showed that I have a malignant tumor on my left shoulder blade - Extraskelatal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma. There were concerns with nodules on my lungs.

Another stint in the hospital for lung biopsy and possible shoulder surgery. Monday I got the word that nodules on the lungs are also malignant - the same cancer as on the shoulder.

Recovery from the lung biopsy has not been easy. I left the operating room with a drain tube in my chest cavity. That came out Thursday (without medication and with some pain).

The thought of surgery to remove the cancer on the shoulder is now out the window. Looks like a combination of radiation and chemo therapy for the shoulder. This type of cancer is difficult to treat with radiation. That's why the plan is the combination approach.

Since the lung nodules do not seem to be growing and are very small, the plan is to monitor the lungs with x-rays and CT scans.

So, that's the medical situation here. All of this has weighing on my mind. Have been trying to keep a positive attitude but it has started getting too much. Retired social worker stopped by this morning while I was sleeping. I did not get to chat with him. Bored in the room, another overcast afternoon. Nobody to vent to.

I really need a good cry. Closed the door to my room for some quite. Have not eaten since early breakfast (and not really hungry). Today they started another test -- collecting my urine for the next 24 hours. Looks like at least Monday until I can get released from here.

The cancer, dealing with heparin and coumadin, here in the hospital - I just want it all to go away.

I Am Soooo Over Winter

Two blizzards and temperatures in the deep freeze, I have had enough of this winter. As of the start of the new year, the Omaha/Council Bluffs area has received more snow than we normally receive the whole winter. Yesterday we got another 5 more inches.

Add that to we have had one day above freezing since Christmas. The winds have been blowing the snow all around, closing the roads. Christmas Eve I got home in a freezing drizzle. The road was closed here from then til Sunday 27th. Today, the road closed again - my car is stuck in a drift about a mile from home.

More photos and my commentary on The Winter of 09-10 is posted on my web site.

Playing with PhotoShop

I have been in the hospital since Tuesday. Nothing major - biopsy and colonoscopy. Just that being on coumadin, it take 2+ days in the hospital before and procedures and 3+ after.

Anyway - so I have been playing with the filter effects with PhotoShop and Microsoft Picture It! Really like the glowing edges filter.

Downloaded filters from Filter Forge and The Plugin Site. Its amazing the artistic effects with PhotoShop filters.

I was able to get the hospital to bring a stationary bike into my room. Been getting some time on the bike - just not like riding outside. Still have to finish my Christmas cards. Other projects had with me in the room - so lots of stuff to do. But really want to be back home. Hopefully tomorrow.

First Snow Ride of the Season

Well, yesterday I tried to.

The intention was to ride the snow in the dirt at Lake Manawa. The snow was just too deep. I could not get moving to keep my balance. The depth of the snow and the snow packing under the tires was just too much. So, I moved over to the parking lot by the nature trail.

While I was unloading the bike, a couple came by with their dog, making a comment that I would need snow tired. I told them the bike had studded tires. They had not heard of studded bicycle tires.

Anyway, I headed West along the Lake Manawa trail to Indian Creek. The Lake Manawa trail was plowed. Instead of just turning back, I rode Indian Creek to Hwy 92. That trail was not plowed, but the trail was wind swept. just a coule places I had to push trhough drifts.

The Hwy 92 bridge over Indian Creek was a mess. All of the snow from the plows was piled up over the trail. Brought the bike over to the hyway and rode there until I could duck down into Manawa streets.

Little raw and cold when riding along the lake into the wind. But, made it and got in a 7 mile ride.

Was a Snowy Week

Last weekend we got some snow - just a couple inches. Then Tuesday the big storm hit. About noon, I got home for breakfast and errands. The roads were getting bad. The Omaha/Council Bluffs area received about 8-10 inches of snow.

Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning the winds kicked in, redistributing the snow. There was basically no one moving. It appeared a couple of high clearance vehicles made it through on the road. The end of my driveway was blocked with a big drift.

Wednesday, the sky started to clear and I ventured out to survey the situation. Brought out the newer D-SLR camera and took a couple photos of the snow and drifts.

In the afternoon, the wind was abating so it was time to start clearing the driveway. I was planning to take my time - shovel a little, back inside for rest, then back out to shovel. The neighbor lady was out blowing their drive. She came over across the road and asked if I needed help. Since she had a snow blower and I had a snow shovel, I accepted her offer. I did a little shoveling, she ran the snow blower. I took a little break to grab the camera to take a couple shots.

Thursday morning was computer coffee at Panera Bread. When I got out, I could see that the road had not plowed yet - but it appeared lots of vehicles have gotten through to the south. Made it out, just barely, as the road was only "passable" with the drifts.

Today (Friday) I stopped at the bike show, mostly to see what the city trails look like. The Valley View trail has not been plowed. (In contrast, I had heard that some/most of the Omaha trails have been plowed). Looks like no riding on the paved trails yet.

Tomorrow I will check out at Lake Manawa - paved trail and perhaps the dirt trails. Getting cabin fever and withdrawal. My last ride was last Friday night for the Full Moon Ride.

Familiar Trails

The last couple days were awesome, weather-wise. Monday I rode the hybrid for a pavement ride. Just wanting some miles, again.

Yesterday it was back in the dirt at Lake Manawa. I had not ridden my hardtail (Trek4300) for a couple weeks, brought it for the ride. Besides, the trail bike (Fuel EX7) was along for the trip to Wisconsin. Didn't want the hardtail think I didn't like to ride it!

Perfect wind direction - WSW. Was into the wind on the way over to Manawa. Rode the west side first. The peeps have been busy building the log fence again. Have to talk about that in the next time we do a trail day here. I do not like the "fence". It is "confining". Have problems riding that section.

I had heard that there is a tree down at Manawa - Tony's Playground. It is a good sized tree - one that can't just be moved - will need to be cut. Across the trail in 2 section just at the exit of Tony's Playground.

Was good to be back on familiar dirt again. Couple days off, now. Then Full Moon Ride Friday night at Lake Manawa. Charge up those lights!