• A date with an Oncologist

    The beginning of the end of my uncertainty is slated for May 4th. That’s my first appointment with the Hematologist/Oncologist – and it’s when I begin the process of verifying the Leukemia diagnosis. I’ve been told I should expect a bone marrow biopsy. That’s where they take a long, thick, hollow needle and drive it into your pelvis – to extract some of the spongy marrow from the middle of the bone.

    I wonder how much leverage it requires to drive a needle into a bone. Is it a two handed operation? Is an open palm utilized? Does it require more than one qualified health services provider? Do they use a mallet, or a similar hammer like tool?

    Good stuff, eh?

  • News from the front

    I’ve just now discovered a reason why I should not let my children play in my bedroom; although I must admit I share some of the blame.

    It has to do with the way I lay my head to sleep… usually in an unsubtle manner. Imagine plopping your head down, expecting a soft pillow… only to find that some enterprising toddler has apparently found a new sibling-proof hiding spot for his toy cars.

    You guessed it friends. That place would be my head’s favorite place to hang out: my pillow. Or more precisely: inside my pillow case (my head likes to stay outside the pillow case – the cars were inside).

    And here I thought I was just about ready to fall asleep. No more my friend. A few ounces of die-cast metal is a pretty good alertness aid. It’s working pretty good for me.

  • The fruit of this evening’s surfing

    Here’s a fascinating collection of photos taken in Iraq:

    Unembedded