The Week Ahead

It's Sunday. The Vikings played on Thursday (winning just their second game of the season), so I've got the NFL red zone channel on. Instead of me flipping channels to find  a decent game to watch, the red zone channel does the work for me. They go to games that have imminent scoring opportunities. It's good stuff. And I'll say this, if there is one thing that makes me want to have a cold beer and betting ticket in hand, it's the red zone channel. I was thinking I'd make a Vegas trip this football season. I'm up for it. But time and funds aren't allowing it.  Well, there is always basketball season. 2014...Vegas here I come.

I'm not complaining though. I've got a Minnesota trip coming up in December with my brother. Vikings game, live and in person.  And in a couple of weeks we're off to Hawaii for Thanksgiving. An old friend lives in Maui and invited us and my uncle Jan to come on out.  Practicality, rationality and guilt had me leaning heavily to not going. We'll hopefully be done with our bathroom construction. Money is tight, but as I said in a recent post, my scare last month has me focused on living life right now. I can't wait around for myeloma to possibly come back.  Always looking over my shoulder is no way to live.  So thanks to my credit card, Maui it is. 

I did blood work yesterday. Just the basics. I should have results tomorrow. Today I am tuckered out. The dex from Thursday's chemo has worn off. The chemo drugs are working. I'm beat, physically and mentally.  I was going to go on a bike ride with Matt Arms today and perhaps even stop at Buffalo Wild Wings (Lemon pepper and Asian zing are my faves).  But I don't have the energy.  And the dex crash and chemo drugs have hit my mood. I've got the blahs today. This past Friday I was on the dex high. Felt great. Productive at work. Truly felt on top of the world. The crash has me feeling a bit overwhelmed and underwhelmed. Overwhelmed by stuff...so much to do and think about. Underwhelmed in that nothing seems that exciting to me. I can be a moody person in general. I've always needed Matt quiet time. This chemo crap simply exacerbates that feeling.  File this under Mental Challenges of Myeloma.

I have a big week ahead of me. Tomorrow is blood work results. Tomorrow is a pot luck at work. I'm bringing stuffing. Usually I like to do a unique stuffing. I love stuffing and it's fun to make different stuff. But just not feeling it, so I'll go the stove top route and simply add a few different ingredients.  Tuesday is my work's employee of the year luncheon. I'm one of 10 finalists. I'm pretty happy with that, but I'd be thrilled to win. For me, it would reflect another blow to myeloma, in that I've overcome it and have kicked some ass. I'm pretty darn happy at my job right about now. But Friday is my interview for the city's bike and healthy living coordinator. It's probably the only job I'd realistically leave my job for. I think in that position I can do some real interesting and beneficial projects, and again, I feel like I'd b sending yet another message to myeloma that I'm still alive and kicking. And that's a big part of the myeloma battle. we need to do stuff that reminds us we're alive. We need things to motivate us. I know that a lot of fellow patients have kids and seeing their kids make their way into adulthood is what motivates folks. I'm actually a bit envious of that.We don't have kids. I don't have that sort of legacy to focus on. I've got Leslie and Gracie, my family, my friends. I've got fellow cancer patients. But I imagine having that blood connection to kids is uniquely special.

The point is, it's a big week ahead of me. It's a big two months ahead of me.  Then it's 2014. Then I re-evaluate again.  I'm feeling like I want to learn something new. Can I turn myself into a top notch sports photographer? Can I become an advertising and branding genius? Can I create a fund raising event to raise funds for myeloma research and support?  Yes to the last question.

Having said all the above, I'm good. Been feeling good. Back to working out after my flu. Good good good.