Monday, November 28, 2011

DudayMind Post #5: Sometimes, being high-tech is not the way to go... and more

*  I haven't been watching Happy, Yipee, Yehey lately.  Well, we are on GMA-7 waiting for Pinoy Henyo and we don't switch channels until the game is done.  And last Friday, 25 November, 2011, I saw the last part of HYY's game, "Susi ng Kapalaran."  That's the time when the Filipino athletes were the ones playing.  As always, at the end of the game, they show which keys open which vault.  If you've been following me on Twitter, I have been tweeting about this for a while now.  That I do not like the high-tech game and would really prefer the real key to open a real door.  And this time, the key to the Happy vault wouldn't open.  I knew that this would happen, it's just a matter of when.  And that Friday was the day.  If you saw the show, you would have seen how John was so frustrated and very disappointed on how it wouldn't open.  After the commercial gap, they had on-air someone from their internal audit explain that there was a problem.  Sure, there was.  But no matter how they explain it, I would not be convinced on the integrity of those keys.  The first thing I didn't like about it is how every key turns on the red and blue lights, but never the yellow light.  I don't know but if it is the wrong key, it wouldn't have turned on any of those lights in the first place.

*  Still with HYY's "Susi ng Kapalaran."  I won't really be surprised if they will change the game again one of these days.  There have been so many games since this show started and nothing seems to click.

*  For weeks now, Ariel has been campaigning on the 3-D commercial.  That you should avail of your free 3-D glasses and how to get yours.  A few days ago, I saw their 3-D commercial and it doesn't look that appealing without the glasses.  I don't know what's going on with the minds of Ariel's ad agency.  TV commercials are supposed to be geared on as much market as you can.  But with the idea of having 3-D glasses, this slims down your target market.  Going high-tech I suppose?  But who would want to waste time just to get those glasses anyway?  And the commercial itself without the glasses on sucks.  It made me dizzy.  And the next time I knew that it was on, I'd rather not look at it.  I find ways to get my eyes off the tv until the ad is done.

*  On other ads, the Nescafe commercial with mommy and daughter is not really very appealing.  Well, the fact that the daughter now had different preference and the mother doesn't know.  And the mother ended up being offended(?) because she seemed not to know her daughter any more.  The mother-son tandem was more soothing.  It's a feel-good ad as compared with the other where mothers won't feel good that their daughters are changing and them not knowing.

*  I don't watch PBB nor "Nasaan Ka, Elisa?"  But I've noticed that their time slots have been switched to and from and from and to several times.  Then, I heard Ted Failon in his radio show talked about Elisa's time slot.  My BFF also said that there were a lot of senior citizens who are watching Elisa and was not happy about the switch.  PBB should really stay after Elisa.  Since it's the late comer, I don't know why the watchers of Elisa should adjust to it.

*  I remember the times when at the start of the PBB season, everyone seems to know if their cable providers are having it on 24/7.  I guess now, the hype is gone.  I guess no one cares if their cable provider even have the 24/7 coverage.  I am one of those who don't watch it anymore.  I did watch some time, but really, the setting did not appeal to me.  And I was really quite surprised at the set.

*  I am still wondering why Louis(not really sure about the spelling) Abuel doesn't seem to want to have a haircut.  I've seen him at "100 Days to Heaven," and right now he's on "Ikaw ay Pag-ibig" and I don't really like seeing this kid with his long hair being put up on a ponytail.  Sometimes I start to wonder is this child is gay.

Complacent


He's probably our most-photographed cat ever.  And this is his most-photographed post.  If you've been following my Tumblr (which I haven't been updating recently), you'll find quite a number of pics of this same pose.  That's why I think it's about time I do something about his complacency.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Pasalubong #33

Banana and Algesia
My friend was prescribed with the same medicine that I was taking.  But it was too strong for her.  She said she bought the total number required at the prescription that's why she's giving me those that she didn't consume.

And some bananas for dessert.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Daya's Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAYA!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Preparing for the seventh cycle

As I said earlier, I was off to see my oncologist.

The results are all clear.  The chest x-ray was clear and she didn't say anything about that aorta thing.  She said that everything is okay except for the CA-125 result.  All she said was just let's focus on these things, which were what the CT scan was showing.

The CT scan showed that the mass along my recto-sigmoid region decreased by almost a centimeter as well as the nodules on my liver.

So, this means that I have to have another cycle.

I am now gearing up for the seventh.  As always, I'll be admitted on Monday evening and the session would be on Tuesday.

The X-ray result

We only had to wait for an hour for the chest x-ray result.

From what I saw, there is nothing to worry about.  At least, it's not showing anything like new growths and all.

This is what was written on the paper:

  • There are no active lung infiltrates.
  • The heart is not enlarged.  Aorta is tortuous.
  • The cp sulci, diaphragm, and bony thorax are unremarkable.

Impression: ATHEROMATOUS AEORTA

If there is one thing I had to think about it's the impression.  So, I googled it and found out that this goes with aging, except if there are any other remarkable result.

And one of the things that could prevent this from getting worse is exercise.  Aside from being careful in what I eat.

I guess my oncologist will be repeating what she told me the other day (in which I didn't write about).  She gave me a go-signal to attend my sister's aerobic classes.  But only if I have to control myself and not overdo it.

On the other hand, I don't know how it's going to be with regard to my CA-125 result.  The x-ray result only shows that the high CA-125 is not coming from the chest area.  I wonder what's next to this.

But of course, I have yet to show the result to my oncologist today and see what she says.  I'll post whatever she says later today.

ROYGBIV on the ceiling

The spectrum on our ceiling

I was busy on the internet yesterday morning.  Then, I do not know what made me want to look up.  And I found this on our ceiling.  I must admit I had a series of shots since it disappears when the sun hides behind the clouds.  And this is the best shot amongst them.  I don't really know what was created this image.  I didn't want  to check for I might ruin the moment.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

We need to find out where it's coming from

Before I went to my oncologist yesterday, I needed to find out the result of my CA125 blood work.  Since we are a little short of time, I just called the lab for the result and get the paper later.

Last August, it was 135.00 and the normal range is 0-35.  It was above normal although I thought there was really nothing to worry about.

But this time, it's 487.6.  It's higher.  And we are quite surprised.

My oncologist said that we need to know where this is coming from.  The CT scan showed good results but we need to look into this.  She said that although the CT scan is more accurate, we still have to find out what makes the CA 125 result high.

Today, as per the request of my oncologist, I need to have a chest x-ray.  She probably want to know if there are new growths, growths around my lungs and my breasts.


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Something about Dr. Jekyll

I tried reading the local illustrated edition of one of those classic novels, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

One of the illustrations in the book

And here are my few notes about the book.

(I thought and tried of integrating the above blog link on this blog.  But I still think that separating it is still the best way.  Just saying.)

Monday, November 21, 2011

While we are young

That coffee shop was my friends and I's favorite hang out.  It was quiet and we could have our conversations amidst a few cups of coffee.

The last time we were there - which was some time last week, there was a group of friends that were having a good time.  Really good time.  This group were men and women about five or so years older than we are.

Their voices were loud enough by the time we got there.  Their voices and laughter fill up the place.  It was only a little later that I found out they were having a few rounds of drinks.  And I realized that was probably the reason why their voices were growing louder and louder.  Probably one note higher with every round.  I later said that there was very little difference between not having a drink yet and after a few drinks.  They were boisterously talking and not caring about the other people on other tables.

My friends and I just continued to talk with our normal voices and wait for them to finish their loud laughter before we say what we wanted to say.  After a while, we could just sigh and say, "Nakaka-stress magsalita."  So, we just waited for 'their gap' before we continue with our conversation.  But we have to rush with our topic lest they start again with a new one.

Then at some point, we started to look back.  Back on our youth when we were the ones who were like them.  But it was back then, when we were young.

Then, I said.  It's good that we were able to do a lot of things while we were young.  Back when we were young, I guess being young was an excuse.  And apart from that, we've already been there, done that.  And  looking at these people and hearing them laugh out loud (even louder than how we used to do it when we were young), I guess I could say that it was rather inappropriate for their age.  Please note that I didn't say it was wrong or that it wasn't right.  It's just inappropriate.  I know and I can relate that we sometimes need to unwind and that there is no such age for that.  But I guess they are also in an inappropriate place.

It might also be the fault of the establishment for serving liquor.  But I still think it is up to the clients to know their limits.  In this case, I think they went over the limits and forgot about courtesy and respect for other clients in the place.  This makes me think that old age doesn't go with wisdom.

A lot of you may not agree with me on this one.  But wait until you sit beside a table with this kind of people.  In a place where all you expect and want is to have a cup of coffee and a good conversation with friends.    Then, you'll probably understand what I am talking about.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

To sit down and write

It's been hard to do that lately.  I guess because our country has been loaded with lots of news.  Well, that's apart from the fact that I kind of lost my mood for writing after my sixth cycle.  I just checked my blog for my last entry with written text and it's about Tom Cruise and Dubai.  And it's short.  And it's not about me pa.

I had coffee with one of my friends and I wanted to write about those things that we talked about.  But again, it was hard for me to sit down and write about it.  Add laziness to the fact that Twitter occupies me, informs me, feeds me.  The news do not stop when you're on Twitter.  And I really find it funny when some people talk about Twitter as if it's just a source of gossip.  And they don't even use it.  Funny how people say something about what they haven't even tried.

Anyway, a few days ago, I had my CT scan.  And I tell you, before that, I was really worried about the result.  I even told my best friend and doctor-friend that if it turns out not-so-good, or there would be no changes at all, I'd like to stop going through chemotherapy.  They both told me to just sit and relax and wait for the result.  And so, I did.  I find it amazing that I can now bring myself to worry less during these times.  I don't know if it's something that is learned or it's something that you just get used to in a matter of time.  

To talk about the result briefly, the nodules on both lobes of my liver are almost gone.  The mass along my recto-sigmoid region decreased in size.  And there are no other things to worry about.  No new growth whatsoever.

I was actually worried about that mass in my butt.  I thought it got bigger but it's a good thing the CT scan showed that I was wrong.  It actually got smaller, although the decreased was only barely a centimeter.  But, THAT, is still good news.

I'd also like to talk about the books I read, reading and about to read.  But then again, I couldn't bring myself to do it.  I've read "Catcher in the Rye" as I got out of the hospital after my sixth cycle and they say perhaps it's one of the best books ever.  My Tumblr post of that book even got a lot of re-blogs; and it actually surprised me.  I just posted a picture and it has 70+ notes and counting.

I should really write more often.  (I am actually telling that to myself.)

Pasalubong #32


Pasalubong #31: Mamon at Kalamay


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Pasalubong #28: Hand sanitizer


A friend shares a bottle of hand sanitizer/antiseptic... or whatever you choose to call it.

To My Dubai Friends

So, it's Mission Impossible:  Ghost Protocol

Image copied from this page

Tom Cruise will be there in Dubai. If you happen to be there at the Madinat Jumeirah for the opening of the Dubai International Film Festival, take pictures with him.  I hope this won't be a mission impossible for you.

Read more about the event here.


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Pasalubong #27


Pasalubong #26: Puto Bumbong


I have been craving for puto bumbong  since I went to Koko's party last October.  My plan was to actually buy some after the party since McDo was just near the plaza where they sell it when it starts to get dark.  But it rained so hard that night that we just wanted to get home and I totally forgot about it.  I wasn't even able to tell them that I wanted to get some.

How my friends are able to know what my cravings are amaze me.  Remember the pizza that I got a few weeks ago?  It also came as a total surprise!

Pasalubong #25: Banana Cake


Monday, November 7, 2011

A week after the sixth cycle

*  I was sleeping almost the whole week after the sixth cycle.  I almost didn't realize that it was already Friday. I spent most of the time sleeping and eating only about two spoon full of rice and some dish during the first three days.  When I eventually got my appetite back, there was still something wrong with my taste buds.

*  Since it's the sixth cycle, I am due to have another CT scan in a week or two.  This is another significant thing since I will find out what is happening on my treatment.

*  The past two days, I have been craving for something sweet during breakfast.  So, the easiest and the best thing I could thing of are French toasts, and I have been cooking it for the past two mornings already.

*  I have been missing a lot of shows, but not '100 Days To Heaven.'  I know this would end soon, and just this morning I learned that there are only two weeks left before the teleserye ends.

*  Oh, the news.  Well, I have been updated.  It's just that I am not just in the mood to write about it, comment about it or anything.  Too bad the news might have been spoiled already before I get my writing mood back.


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