Happy Monday

I'm on the upward trajectory now, after my last chemo treatment. That platinum based stuff is so toxic, and each time I get it it takes longer to recover from the side effects.  The maintenance drug I'll be on now is not so hard on the body, luckily. It targets the reproductive system of cancer cells rather than outright killing them. I suppose since the chemo has been so effective in reducing the lung tumor sizes, from three large masses in my right lung to two 12-15 millimeter spots, it seems safe to use something that works against the tumors more slowly. There are other things to be concerned about, though, such as the status of metastases in my lymph nodes and possible bone and liver involvement.  So I expect there will be more diagnostics down the line.

I was looking at some new chemo  drug that is being advertised, but when I read the side effects I decided I'll take it only as a last ditch measure, because it sounds dreadful. What's the point, if it makes you feel that awful and yet can't guarantee you a cure? I'd probably have to pay for it out of pocket, too. Well, the way forward is not clear, but that's how it goes. I will ask my doctor friend what he thinks.

The lab technician who draws my blood says that I should eat liver to get my red blood cell count up so I can be peppier. I do like liver. Add onions and bacon and I'm in heaven. I never fix it, because Terry, like most people, hates liver, so luckily there is a restaurant, Kens, that we can go to where he can have a hamburger. Ken's is one of the (many) things I like about Hilo. Do they serve liver at restaurants in your town? I'll wager not. They also have tripe stew and oxtail stew! This is the kind of place that has survived the arrival of the fast food chains, because it has so many standard and  local favorite dishes and preserves its pleasant 70's diner vibes. And the corny menu is fun.

Sadly, I missed the big 70th birthday party for my friend Mary, but luckily she was here on Saturday, so I could give her her present, at least. 

It is tough to read on Facebook about the trips people are taking. I get so jealous! But if I have to be stuck somewhere, this is an excellent place to be. As long as the North Koreans don't drop a missile on us, anyway.

There seem to be no plans to restore Houston. Rescues are going on in a hit or miss way; authorities hold press conferences, the President thinks it's all about him...This is the fourth largest city in the country. 6 1/2 million people are at risk. It's not just the immediate death toll or even the fact that Houston has been an economic driver of the New South;  the human cost will be beyond belief. Will the rich be interested in pouring resources into restoring the city? Of course not. They can go to their ranches in Montana or whereever. Their money is safely stashed away in offshore accounts.

Oh well. Seize the day. Or, if you live in drowning Houston, seize the carp! You can make a meal out of it.

Comments

[Brandon]

Finishing another column; down to the deadline.

I'm glad you're feeling better.
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I love liver and onions, and tripe stew too. Ken's, I think, was actually part of a mainland chain when it opened ca. 1971, but became locally owned long ago. I went to Pond's for lunch last Thursday with a few friends. It's the first time I've ever been there.
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An update to the Joel Osteen story. It's too bad it took this for him to do what should've been immediate.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/prosperity-gospel-preacher-joel-osteen-to-open-megachurch-to-hurricane-harvey-refugees-after-public-shaming/
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[Cheerful Monk]

I'm guessing Houston will be restored, and we taxpayers will no doubt pay for a lot of it. Hurricane to Cost Tens of Billions, but a Quick Recovery Is Expected.

[Z]

But restored to what? The restored New Orleans is useless, it is as though the place had been replaced by Disneyland. I used to have 2 real cities and now I have 0, it appears.

[Hattie]

Z: I shudder at the horrors to come. If I were you I would get the hell out.

[Janininsanfran]

Well we may not agree about religion (a communal experience in my world and so UnAmerican) but we sure agree about liver. Love it. My peers think I'm nuts.

Be well.

[Hattie]

Jan: Yes, I understand.

[Brandon]

According to this, Baton Rouge is built upon a set of bluffs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baton_Rouge,_Louisiana#Geography_and_climate

[Marianna]

Brandon: Yes. They are probably safe from flooding.

[Michael Strickland]

I hate liver, but if you're trying to heal tissue, there's probably nothing better in your diet. Go for it, repeatedly.

[joared]

You sure zeroed in on this whole Houston disaster and it's only the beginning. I'd forgotten all about liver -- my husband didn't like it so rarely fixed for myself. Don't know of any place here that offers liver on the menu. Expect research and determining treatments you want to follow is a time-consuming decision-making challenge. Glad you're feeling better after the last of the regular chemos and all continues to go well, especially with the unknowns.

[Brandon]

Speaking of food, what was so shameful about the tuna? And where did you get the mac salad?

[Sabine]

Coastal flat areas will suffer more and more. I wonder what restoration the government has in mind. Mitigating and preparing for the effects of climate change takes much more than rebuilding.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/29/hurricane-harvey-manmade-climate-disaster-world-catastrophe

I hope there will be a happy week following happy Monday!

[Z]

B.R. floods badly and is hard to get into/out of, and most of it is a lot lower than where I live.

Leaving Louisiana / Houston for reasons of future weather, I guess. But everywhere interesting has great difficulties, I need to work, and I have projects I am involved in. Where do you think it is best to live for the global warming / weather situation?

[Hattie]

Right now we are subject to a uniquely American form of stupidity that is making it impossible to own up to the real nature of the Houston catastrophe. People are good; men are heroic, pets must be saved, send money, we will rebuild on the flood plain and the Lord will bless us.

[Mage Bailey]

So glad you are done with the really toxic stuff right now. Poolie is just starting over. Yes, I will be using mind control on the missiles so they miss you.

[Brandon]

"Well we may not agree about religion (a communal experience in my world and so UnAmerican)"

Jan, can you elaborate?

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Don's Grill also serves liver.

[nick]

I couldn't believe how when Trump visited Houston, he was only interested in the turnout and how much attention he was getting. The man is despicable. As for the reconstruction, if there's money to be made out of it, big business and the wealthy will be piling in, I'm sure.

[Marianna]

Mage: Is this another course of chemo she's getting? I'm glad she is getting care. It sounds like her condition worsened rapidly, which is what happened to me in January. I would be long gone if I hadn't had treatment but am instead in pretty good shape for the time being.
Nick: My feeling is that the rich will abandon Houston. I also think that people who can leave the Gulf area should get out. I could be wrong, but that's how I see it. Houston has been a big money maker for polluting industries from all over that have enjoyed the lack of regulation, like that French-owned factory that is blowing sky high as I write this.

[Marianna]

Z: That's a tough one. We live 150 elevation and back from the water and have made our place as safe as we can, but extraordinary weather circumstances could wipe us out. Although we have a cement slab basement, bolted to the frame and sealed against water, and a metal roof bolted to the frame also, the frame itself is single wall redwood and might not be able to withstand hurricane force winds. We could manage for quite a while, though, due to the easy climate and knowing how to gather water, having a camp stove, etc. Our neighbors are similarly prepared. I don't think anywhere is safe, but the relatively small population works in our favor here.

[Marianna]

Sabine: I'm finally getting around to reading the Monboit article, which is in the Guardian Weekly, which we subscribe to.

[Brandon]

East Hawaii hasn't had a hurricane in decades, I think.