August 2005

- Monday August 29, 2005 -
Petra had her last pre-radiation blood test today. We also took the dog KC to the kennel (summer camp) and the cat Kitty-Tah to her kennel (the crazy cat lady). Our friends Larry and Robin arrived and we are all ready to go to Seattle tomorrow for the big vacation! Yes!!

- Saturday August 27, 2005 -
It was the second annual Sacramento Art and Wine Festival. We went to the first one last year and had a great time. We did, however, end up fairly toasted at Isabellas for dinner, which we got 'to go' due to Petra's apparent narcolepsy. I guess that's why her head kept laying down toward the table. Anyway, we swore that wouldn't happen this year. So, we went and met up with friends Cal and Laura. We talked and sipped some wine, looked at the art, had a good time, sipped some wine, talked, and sipped some wine. We all ended up at Isabella's, getting our dinner 'to go' once again, with Petra's head again laying down on the table. I think there may be something about the wine that makes her head more succeptible to gravity. Next year maybe we will get it right ;-)

- Friday August 26, 2005 -
Happy birthday to Petra!! Wowie Zowie!!! To celebrate it, she suggested that we go to the State Fair, which we did. We had a nice time, looked around at all the exhibit buildings, ate some pretty good junk food, and sort of wandered around. Afterward, we went out to dinner with friends Karl and Betty to Celestin's for some great food. The margaritas weren't bad either, as I recall. Anyway, Petra had a nice birthday and she really deserves it at this point. It's been a rough year with that pesky cancer rearing it's ugly head. But the birthday was good and the vacation is right around the corner!

- Thursday August 25, 2005 -
7:45 AM, CT scan for Petra. Damn that is early.

- Wednesday August 24, 2005 -
Today was the six-month follow-up with the surgeon, Dr Raja. Was it really six months already? Wow. Anyway, Petra is healing ok and cleared for vacation. Yes!

- Tuesday August 23, 2005 -
Today was the assimilation appointment for Petra. It was pre-radiation, they fitted her for a 'cast' to be in so that the radiation will get the same spots each time. And other prep work. She had felt-pen lines all over her chest.

- Sunday August 21, 2005 -
We went to see folk-pop singer Jack Johnson (web site) at Raley Field (web site). Very nice show, good music. but we were not too close as you can see from the really crappy cell phone photos 1 and 2.

- Saturday August 20, 2005 -
In the evening we went to an all-ages rock club, The Underground (web site), to see the CD release show of our friend Jared's band Trackfighter (web site). It was a rocking show, with five bands. Best of the bunch, to my ears, (not counting Jared) was The Pale Pacific (web site) and we picked up their latest CD. But Trackfighter rocked pretty hard. Here are a couple crappy camera phone pictures pic1 pic2.

- Friday August 19, 2005 -
Ah, another work week done. Time for a nice glass or two of red wine. Petra's parents invited us over for dinner and a game of 'Mexican Train Dominoes'. It was actually a pretty fun game. They saw that we liked it and gave us the game!

Also Petra's fourth (of 5) visit to the Lymphodema Treatment Center.

- Thursday August 18, 2005 -
Another day, another dollar (though Arnold wants to reduce that amount). Also, Petra had a support group meeting tonight.

- Wednesday August 17, 2005 -
The monthly Save Ourselves (web site) meeting, this time with an expert on Lymphodema treatment and prevention. After the presentation Petra (and others) were able to draw the entire lymphatic system with colored markers on a white t-shirt.

Less than two weeks until we leave on vacation...

- Monday August 15, 2005 -
Petra had the third (of 5) appointment at the Lymphodema Treatment Center. Thing are progressing smoothly.

- Saturday August 13, 2005 -
Cheers (more) to Cindy Sheehan (web site): "I want to know what the noble cause is that my son died for like [Bush] always says," she told reporters. "I don't believe dying in a war of aggression on a country that's no threat to the United States of America is a noble cause."

We went out for the evening with friends Karl and Betty. First we had dinner at Paesano's in midtown. My pizza was very good and previous visits yielded good food too. It is always a bit noisy in the place but worth it. Then we went to the IMAX theater (web site) to watch an IMAX film of a 1990 Rolling Stones concert. The screen is huge and the sound system is state of the art with speakers everywhere. It was pretty cool, nice to see a concert up close and big with great sound and not have to be in the middle of a mosh pit or have a bunch or tall people if front of you, like at a real concert. Recommended, although it has already left town.

- Friday August 12, 2005 -
My RDO (Regular Day Off). I work an extra hour every day so that I can have very other Friday off. It is well worth it. One of the best parts is not having to get up at 6:00 AM! Anyway, today Petra had a dentist appointment (what, not cancer related?, cool!). We had a nice lunch at Thai Basil (web site). Very good food, check it out.

Then afterwards it was off to the reconstructive surgeon for another ounce in the expander in Petra's chest. The expander had been giving Petra some problems, it needed to move a bit more freely in the 'breast' pocket. So, after adding the ounce of saline fluid, while Petra was lying down the doctor held it and shook it around. This was a very bizarre thing for a husband to see and Petra was pretty darned surprised too! But sure enough, after a few hours of discomfort she had been feeling for two weeks was gone and she felt pretty good. Yow!

- Thursday August 11, 2005 -
Petra's second appointment at the Lymphodema Treatment Center, learning ways to avoid the condition and what to do if it occurs. In the evening we went to a meeting of the North Natomas Alliance (NNA). A representative from the City Parks Department spoke about development plans for the 200 acre regional park nearby. Actually, about 140 acres remain to be developed. He said a sidewalk is being put in soon along Natomas Boulevard to get to the high school, and that about 10 acres more of the proposed park could be developed, with the process starting next year.

- Wednesday August 10, 2005 -
The third consecutive night of spraying. Four more hours with no air conditioning or opened windows. But that's better than taking your chances with the poison in the air and falling on the ground. Hopefully this is the last night.

We went to a meeting tonight at Cafe Bernardo in midtown in preparation for the upcoming PACER Adoption Unity Gathering. You can visit www.adopteerights.org or www.pacer-adoption.org for more info. Petra and friends are working to make this a successful event. Check it out. BTW, PACER is the Post Adoption Center for Education and Research.

Today was also the first of five appointments for Petra at the Lymphedema Treatment Center. They are teaching her massage and exercise techniques to help prevent this disease that attacks cancer patients and others.

- Tuesday August 9, 2005 -
The day after the first spraying and the day of the second spraying. Our dog, KC, threw up in the late afternoon. I don't think she has done that in the seven years or so that we have owned her. Coincidence? They spray again tonight after 8 PM. We are not looking forward to it.

We had an appointment with the oncologist today. This is a follow-up to the chemotherapy. He called Petra's cancer 'in remission' at this point and the next step is the radiation treatments, about 25-30, every weekday for 5 or 6 weeks starting September 7th. He said things are looking as well as possible at this time, which is a good thing. He also prescribed the drug that Petra will take every day for the next five years.

- Monday August 8, 2005 -
The spraying started tonight. Concerned about the West Nile Virus, city leaders decided to do an airial spray of the entire county. The northern part is first, and that is where we live. So with very little advanced notice, from 8 PM to midnight tonight, we are supposed to stay indoors, keep the pets in (and their food and toys), keep the windows closed, and leave the air conditioner off. Unfortunately it has been over 100 degrees or just under every day for the last few weeks! Hmmm, I wonder if it will be warm?

- Sunday August 7, 2005 -
We went out to dinner with friends Karl, Betty, Larry, Brian, and Robin, to PF Chang for some americanized chinese food. Lots of very good food and conversation. A good time was had by all.

- Saturday August 6, 2005 -
Garage sale. 104 degree heat. Somehow those don't mix. But we had the garage sale anyway, and we got a LOT of people. We got rid of a lot of junk, uh, I mean valuable collectibles.

Friends Larry and Robin came into town for a few days to stay with us. We went to a luau given by Mike and Jamie, friends and coworkers from where we work (see career).

- Friday August 5, 2005 -
Petra's eye appointment was today, the opthamologist gave her some drops but the good news is that there is no permanent damage and no need to insert stints in the tear ducts (yikes!). Then, after that, she headed over to the DMV. They wanted a new picture from her for her drivers licence renewal and they got one. Bald, dialated eyes from the earlier appointment, and weary from the chemo. She's still beautiful, of course, but I think the folks at the DMV got more than they bargained for!

- Thursday August 4, 2005 -
Petra's eye problems from the side effects are better but still there, she has an appointment soon. She was able to take the cat, Kitty-Tah, to the vet so that we can get the papers and shots to kennel her during our upcoming Seattle trip. She had a support group meeting this evening too, husband's not allowed at this one.

We had dinner (524 again!) with friends Karl and Betty. They live three houses down the street and are having a garage sale on Saturday also.

- Wednesday August 3, 2005 -
After I finished work, we went to a new, weekly, evening Farmer's Market that opened up in the South Natomas area but only about 10 minutes from here. We bought some vegetables and a little fruit. Nice to support the local farmers instead of always buying from the big corporate stores. That farming is a tough life but we helped a little bit. And we DO like to eat.

- Tuesday August 2, 2005 -
We sorted throught more stuff in preparation for the sale. After doing that last night and tonight, of course we needed some Mexican food, so we had a late dinner at 524. Pretty good stuff, watch out for both salsas though, you may be sorry!


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