Scott

Kitchen Remodel – Eventually

I convinced my wife I had no time to remodel the kitchen, but if we waited two years until I retired – I should have much more time.

I retired a year ago, but moving grandma to assisted living, preparing and selling her house (and the estate sale) was a significant delay.

Replacing an upstairs bedroom carpet became a room remodel, and then sprucing up our stair well was another detour.

I learned that the roof of our rental house needed attention before the rainy season begins – the kitchen would have to wait a little longer while we do that repair (and extend the roof over the deck).

And then we can remodel the kitchen – except we plan to have visitors for most of December, should we begin tearing the kitchen apart this late in September?

I have a new website. I wanted it up and running in time to show pictures from my favorite annual car event (which is also my favorite photo event) – Cruising McMinnville, formally known as I Dragged The Gut in McMinnville. Missing my deadline would be like releasing a new Christmas movie in January.

This event is unique for me because I get to take low light, slow shutter pictures of classic (and other) cars driving on the street, resulting in still pictures that convey motion.

I wanted a website where I could show my pictures, and if anyone was interested, a picture could easily be purchased as a digital download.

After posting pictures on my new site, I began seeing them on the internet. People were simply saving screen shots and re-posting, so I branded the pictures with watermarks.

I don’t have delusions of fame and riches from my pictures, but at this point in this digital world, how can I show/share my pictures online without essentially giving them away?

I saw one of my pictures copied, edited, and re-posted on Face Book as if the copier was the original photographer. He posted it with complimentary words. I left a reply that it was also one of my favorite pictures from the event.

I was taking pictures at a local car show this summer, getting in very close for details in some shots. The owner of one car approached and asked rather accusingly what I was doing. I told him I was taking pictures.

He said he’d never seen anyone taking pictures like that (so close to the car). He harrumphed quickly and walked away before I could say- then you’ve never seen pictures like mine!

If you visit my new site, scottcanfieldphotos.com, you’ll currently find mostly car pictures, but be sure to check the Fireworks Galleries.

My last cancer check / blood test said the previous wobble in my Multiple Myeloma numbers was not a change in direction or status.

I continue testing for the cause of my constant sinus drainage and the resulting effects – currently we are eliminating(?) food allergies from the suspect list.

The living have so much to do!

Runnin’ Low

Living requires a lot of energy – physical energy. I didn’t realize this when I had more than I needed. Most of the time now, my energy needle is surprisingly past the “E” and I wonder where I will finally run out and roll to a stop.

Is this due to the side effects of medications? The side effects of Chemo, or radiation? Is it due to Diabetes, or is it simply a normal part of getting older?

I’m learning to cope, to compensate, to not over-do. I don’t mind walking away, pacing myself to finish a project tomorrow, or maybe just get back to it tomorrow (or soon).

When my body proposes a nap, I’ve learned it’s beneficial to take one (unless I’m driving). It’s a use it or lose it invitation.

The Big Guns medication (Singulair) prescribed by my ear-nose-throat doctor has sadly lost the shoot out with my chronic throat clearing and cough.

When I asked him what’s next, he said we’re going to hit it hard with The Blunt Instrument! That blunt instrument was Prednisone, a steroid that failed to obliterate. I’m scheduled now to see him again to discuss a “Sinus Procedure.”

I survived the treadmill stress test (with nuclear imaging) for my heart doctor. At our follow up appointment, he explained that the stress test was negative, but my nuclear imaging was positive, and that is a contradiction.

He explained how that could happen, and how he prefers to proceed as though I have some arterial blockage and the risk of a heart attack. He doubled one of my daily medication doses and replaced another with something better.

He also led a horse to water with diet and exercise recommendations.

My brother rebuilt the Triumph Trike he’s owned for many years. We took it and my Chevy to a Show & Shine while I was visiting him in Brookings.

I love taking and editing car show pictures. You can see some of my favorites here.

Life is good (and very busy!). I am blessed, and I remain thankful to God.

I phoned my brother

He’s very busy and making good money by setting mobile homes in a mobile home park in his town. He asked how I was doing and I answered with my usual, “Very busy.”

Doing what? He asked. I fumbled for an answer as I realized that the things I am busy with are of no real consequence to anyone but me. He’s busy making self-employed money. I was busy at work until I retired, but that was not the busyness I feel so rushed about.

I’m not sure I can explain why I feel so busy, or in such a hurry. Most everything I do or most everything on my list(s) reflects my effort to get as much done as I can before cancer makes a move and slows or stops me.

My list items aren’t grand, important things. They are just things I would like to finish. Do folks who don’t have cancer have a more leisurely outlook on life?

My latest cancer test results showed a, “slight variation” from my beloved, stable, “No Change.” I’ve had previous slight variations, and the doctor said it was hardly worth noting.

I’ve been testing my blood sugar almost daily since my diabetes diagnoses. In 64 finger-stick tests, my average glucose level is 117. I’ve had some high readings, but nothing anywhere near the number that won me the diagnosis – making me increasingly suspicious of that high test result.

My wife and I recently returned from a wonderful vacation. We haven’t been gone from home for three-weeks in 20 years. We enjoyed precious time with kids and grandkids in Florida, and on a cruise,

with stops here and there,

and in Disney World,

and in Lego Land,

*That’s a Lego ’57 Chevy on the Lego Land Drag Strip*

and, stalking wild butterflies and flowers to photograph in our grandkids back-yard.

It was all wonderful, but someday a vacation without schedules and deadlines might be nice. Maybe that’s what retirement is supposed to be.

Diabetes

I was with my family doctor in the exam room. He was pulling up my records on his computer and asked rather rhetorically, “Why am I seeing you today?”

I explained that my quarterly cancer check blood test showed that my glucose level was “elevated.” I could not see the computer screen, but I did see his head jerk back ever so slightly when he saw my glucose numbers.

“You have diabetes.” He announced. Not pre-diabetes, not early diabetes, he continued, “You’ve probably had it a year or longer.”

He proceeded to sketch a rambling diagram on the wax-paper cover of the exam table in an effort to explain the basics of diabetes, how my sugar is not getting into my muscles to become energy. I asked how I might have suspected I had diabetes – what are the symptoms?

He asked if I was often thirsty or if I peed frequently? “How could I ever be thirsty when I received a dump truck load of Mt Dew for a retirement gift?”

He asked, “Do you often feel fatigued?” Yes! I answered quickly with surprising energy for someone so fatigued, “That seems to be my natural state since the stem cell transplant years ago.”

How about tingling in your feet? He continued. Yes! I’ve had neuropathy in my feet since the chemo treatments with the stem cell transplant.

We realized I already had the symptoms that might have tipped me off to diabetes, and properly credited them to side effects from previous cancers or treatments.

He put his hand on my shoulder and offered a heart-felt, “I’m sorry” (about this unhappy diagnoses). “It’s not cancer,” I told him. “I’ve had three cancers, one of them twice. Diabetes is not cancer. That’s good news, I can live with it.”

I’ve taken the diabetes classes, was prescribed Metforman, learned to test blood sugar, and have been monitoring my blood sugar levels.

Most importantly, I have greatly decreased my Mt Dew intake (also candy, pastries, ice cream, etcetera that I have been freely consuming as if I had immunity).

My glucose numbers have been in the normal range since I began testing at home, roughly half the score that preceded the diabetes diagnoses.

Apparently, being diagnosed a diabetic is similar to being determined an alcoholic. Once an alcoholic, forever an alcoholic; even if you never drink again.

I asked the diabetes class teacher, “If my blood sugar numbers return to and stay in the normal range, will I continue to be a diabetic?” Yes, but a diabetic under control.