home again, home again

We are back in snowy Cache Valley. We are unused to plowing, blading, and blowing snow every day. Turns out it is a pretty good workout. We are grateful, however, to exchange all this snow for the incredibly low temps  and horrible air that occurred in our absence. Perhaps we planned correctly? Not likely; more just lucky. However, I had a colleague/fishing partner, now long deceased, who would leave CV for Mexico each Xmas and return Feb 15. It always seemed to me that his return coincided with perceptibly longer days and ameliorating weather after the dark and cold of each January. So perhaps a vicarious lesson was osmosed. In any case, we had little choice but to return as my booster/maintenance infusions start next week and run for the month of Feb. In addition jazz band rehearsals recommenced last eve and Jan has already conducted a board meeting at Sunshine Terrace. So we stayed as long as we could. IT COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER! Alas.

I have already fallen once--fortunately into a shoveled snow bank so that only my dignity was bruised. That is to say, that getting around here is treacherous for the old. My balance is the pits. I  did put in 6 weeks of strengthening my core while in PHX and feel much better for that. I have been able to wrassle the snow-blower without ill effects. But parking lots and byways are essentially unplowed at this point and feel dangerous. We look forward to a by-week, by which I mean some time with warmer temps and no snow. I believe that is the current long-term forecast.

The time at the snow blower and plow driving has led to daily naps while  I get accustomed to the new schedule and exercise. While in PHX I would guess my naps were down to one a week.  I believe that there are additional gains in the neuropathy in my extremities. My right foot feels more alive. Still tingling in the fingers. I have started taking osteo-biflex on the recommendation of my sis-in-law's personal trainer. I believe it may be working on the joint pain. He sees about half his clients report a good effect of that stuff. The rest of my health seems good.

I did hear a rationale for the booster infusions from another non-Hodgkins sufferer: The main chemos were to attack the aggressive form of the cancer cells and the maintenance infusions are to keep the indolent variety in check. Interesting...

sunshine, funshine

Basking--not really because it has been too cool--in Scottsdale AZ. Relatively speaking, however, we are very well off compared to home where it is well below freezing and there is plenty of snow. So whilst we are in the high 50s and mid 60s, but not yet 70s, we are riding high.

There are too many good restaurants here, all of which it appears to be our goal to sample. And there has been additional hemorraging for clothing which I will probably never wear. Nearby there is a tailor selling Italian suits for $100. Too good to resist. And there are shoe outlets we just don't have in the frozen north. Plus, I am getting a couple collectible trumpets restored. Hope to pick up the first one today. So, life is good right now.

There is the usual arthritis and neuropathy and I don't know whether my work on my core strength is helping with the lower back. But I'll keep on. Sleeping well, and not napping very much--once or twice a week is all. Thus, I am at least maintaining, if not progressing, and that may be all one can hope for.

Our daughter joined us here for Xmas and returned north just a couple days ago. Next week we will venture to NM via Tucson with the goal of visiting good friends who are ex-pat Loganites.

Home beckons at the end of the month for meetings (Jan) and rehearsals (me) and maintenance infusions (me). All good things must end eventually...

Hope all of you reading this have a good and healthful new year.