what Up 2021. ok boomer

What does it mean to be a Libra?

With a symbol of the scales in the zodiac, the sign of Libra is the sign of justice, balance and harmony. ... Libra's are highly intuitive, although they often ignore their own inner voice and must live with the regrets of such actions.

 

 Its my first real update of the new year.  The Myeloma remains under control. This Friday is my monthly Darzalex infusion and I'm not looking forward to it in the least bit. For most of the pandemic I actually looked forward to the 5 hour drip, once in a month. I'd get loopy from the giant dose of benadryl. I'd chat with a friend. I'd nap, watch a movie, read and be alone with my thoughts. But, the thrill is gone. First of all, my left leg twitch after my Dex is annoying as heck and makes it hard to get in a comfortable nap position. Plus it's getting a bit too loud and busy in the infusion room. Too many people, too much cancer. I prefer quiet. And most importantly, I'd rather get loopy, chat/not chat, nap, watch a movie, read and be alone at home. But, the potion continues to work like a charm, so I suppose I can tolerate five hours once a month. Darzalex can now be adminstered sub q, i.e. a shot in the stomach. It's a slow administration, five minutes, and with the check in time, waiting, I could be in and out in an hour. I'm a creature of habit when it comes to my treatment, so I'm not gonna change to the sub q any time soon.

 May 2 is coming up. Kicking off on February 21, we'll be doing a virtual fundraiser to raise money for the Institute of Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research. Feb. 21 marks the 10 week countdown to May 2. May 2 will be the ten year anniversary of my diagnosis. It's called the Virtual 10 x 10 x 10....10 years, 10k and $10,000.  The 10 k can be completed any way you like. Walk, run, drive, imagine it. And it can be done in segments. You've got ten weeks to complete it. My goal is to raise a minimum of $10,000. Ambitious, but doable. 

 It's pretty wild that I'm hitting ten years. Wild in a good way. Truly I'm pleased as punch to get to this point and pretty fortunate to be doing as well as I am. I've got some loose ends to take care of and ten years isn't enough. But ten years of cancer, a year of quarantine and nearing 60 years old make me relatively ok with things.

For many years, my top five of favorite animals has gone like this:

1. Dogs.

2-Infinity. All the rest.

Reading Carl Safina motivated me to change my top five. Of late, the list has been:

1. Dogs

2. Whales

3. Wolves

4. Beavers

5. Macaws tied with Donkeys)

However, I'm reading a book called Coyote America by Dan Flores. It is an amazing read and has accomplished two things. 1. Moved Coyotes to number two on the list. (Beavers, Donkeys and Macaws now share number 5). 2. Informed me that Coyotes are my spirit animal. I didn't know I was looking for a spirit animal, but I have one now. 

 

 

Note, I walk a lot. The unofficial sponsors of my walking are Altra Shoes and Osprey Packs. We live near Cal State Long Beach, which has gone virtual, so it's the perfect place to walk and be away from cars and non-mask wearers.Critters have taken over the university and on my walk I see various animals including skunks, raccoons, and coyotes. The coyotes are interesting. One moment they are there and the next they are not. I'm making a habit of imagining meaning in various things, and I wonder if I'm really seeing them. Also curious, Coyote America references Moby Dick, which I also happen to be reading currently. ooohhh, what's that mean? Continuing in the curious realm of things, I often see things moving in my periphery that aren't really there. Don't worry, I'm not losing my mind, I think my glasses are pretty much consistently dirty, largely due to mask wearing. I digress.

What else is going on? I haven't had a vaccine yet. It may not it even do much for me, but I'll get it as soon as I can. I completed a lunar lander lego model. I'm cutting out carbs big time. I really need to trim down. I can't drink IPAs much anymore, they give me horrible headaches. It's pale ales for me now. I'm bruised all over like crazy. Fucking steroids suck, but gotta stick with them. I feel good though. I miss Gracie powerfully and Leslie and I are both still mourning. I feel her presence in the house quite often. But as I said before, I'm fairly certain there are bad spirits in this house and I wouldn't even consider another dog till we live somewhere else. Living near a freeway and on a busy street are not good for human and animal health. I suppose I'll watch the super bowl. It's not the Vikings, but that's cool. I'm rooting for Kansas City. I finally mastered matzo bowl soup. I have not learned a language, a musical instrument or astrophysics during the pandemic. Two out of these three are on my list though. Maybe I'll get to them in 2021.

Oh shit, how could I forget?! I binged the Mandolorian. Loved, loved, loved it. I'm not even a Star Wars person, but the Mandolorian kicked ass. So good!!!!