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Well, I encountered a bit of a setback today regarding my cancer. When I went to the General for my appointment with Dr Anstee of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, I learned my hemoglobin has dropped off and I need a transfusion. Friday at 8am, I'm booked for 4 hours. Of course I kinda knew I was in trouble. I'd been very tired and out of breath climbing stairs. As well, it seems I need another chemo treatment before I go high-dose prior to my transplant. So I'm waiting to get booked for that - it'll likely be the first week of August. Then we'll plan the rest of the procedure for after Megan's wedding, September 2. The following is a lengthy overview of hemoglobin from Wikipedia. The important part is the section "Role in Disease". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobin Book: Lisey's Story by Stephen King Music: Anchored in Love - A Tribute to June Carter Cash

I babysat Miko while Megan worked today. What a sweet, happy grandson. We played, we ate, we watched Barney on TV! And of course we took a few pictures... Book: Lisey's Story by Stephen King Music: Time on Earth by Crowded House

Well, Philippe's new address is MTL. Maryse took some pictures when she was down on the weekend. Here's a shot of his apartment... And the view from the back of the apartment.... Les gars... He's settling in and currently looking for a summer job to save up before starting UQAM in the fall. Good luck Philippe! Here at home I was supposed to spend the day fishing with Pierre. Don't know what happened...I was ready to go but no sign of Pierre. So, spent the day undertaking a very different activity - putting together 4 new CD towers. The "wall of sound" continues to grow. Held off buying these. Seems IKEA discontinued the ones I had and I had to decide on an "off-colour" model. I chose a darker wood model and it actually looks quite good. Not bad for a day's work... Book: Lisey's Story by Stephen King Music: Recurring Dream - The Very Best of Crowded House

It's called despair but it's actually a very humourous website at http://despair.com/indem.html Book: Lisey's Story by Stephen King Music: New Guitar Summit (Jazz Thing II) by Randy Bachman

Hey there. How you doing? I'm back. Feeling a little better but I still have that sensation of being overmedicated...kinda dopey - watch it with the smart-alec comments you guys, you'd probably say "so what else is new?" Had my appointment with my family doctor, Dr. Granger, today. He's really a helpful, gentle man. He's got some ideas on managing pain that he wants me to raise with Dr. Ansti and then follow up with him next week. That would really be great. Unfortunately, pain is a big part of what I'm going through and if there's something we can do to control it that would be great. The after effects of last week's chemo kinda blew off the weekend. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go to Montreal with Philippe and Maryse and see Philippe's apartment. I spent most of Saturday and Sunday either in bed or on the couch. The upside is I'm getting a lot of reading done. I finished The Knights of the Black and White . It was good - an easy,...

Megan gave me some pictures that she took not too long ago and which I scanned into the computer. Two are from a lunch, just before I started chemo... And the other two just reflect on how cute and happy little Miko is... (love the chapeau!) Book: Knights of the Black and White by Jack White Music: The Salvation Blues by Mark Olson

Well, the moving truck has come and gone; the basement is virtually empty; I've never seen Philippe more excited, nor Maryse more emotional. The big move is pretty much accomplished. Maryse went down to Montreal yesterday with Philippe to help him clean the apartment and get him settled. I had chemo and several medical appointments and couldn't go, so apart from pictures, I haven't seen the apartment yet. Philippe's back today for a dental appointment, then Saturday's the big good-bye. If I'm doing well, post-chemo, I intend to motor down with him and Maryse and see Philippe's new digs. This all makes for some big changes in all our lives. A new beginning, really. As David Clayton Thomas once put it "smiling phases". Book: Knights of the Black and White by Jack Whyte Music: At My Age by Nick Lowe

Last night we had an excellent meal at Cyrano's , Selo and Meg's restaurant. A kind of good-bye to Therese who leaves for home in Kelowna today, and for Philippe, who moves to Montreal to go to UQAM in the fall. Matt, Selo, Mamee, Maryse, Philippe and I all had pasta dishes. Meg had sea bass. The portions were immense, but not too immense for desert which also was delicious. Being diabetic I had Blackberry Sorbet. Philippe had pecan pie, Mamee had Creme brule and Maryse had the very lemon lemon cake. Again, contentment all around. Of course what's a gathering such as this without some pics? Mom begs son "Philippe, don't go!" Poses with Montreal-bound Philippe (nice pic!) Philippe and Mamee... The Bray-Kahrimans (Meg, Selo and Mikayil) - our congenial hosts! "Hi! Hi!" Maryse flicks water at poor Miko (who doesn't seem to mind). Matt, Philippe, Mom, Dad, Mikayil, Mamee Maryse, Grampa (Mamee Therese is smoking!) Meanwhile, yours truly is once more ...

Well Day 2 seems to have gone much better than Day 1, most of which was spent in bed with the sweats or asleep. I took anti-nausea medication yesterday, a first, which I suspect was the reason for the sweats which started in treatement and lasted much of the day. Today I turned the medication down and I'm feeling fine. So good, in fact, we're off to Megan and Selo's restaurant for dinner tonight. Maryse's mom loves the food and just has to go before she leaves for Kelowna, Wednesday. So, too, does Philippe, who leaves for Montreal and university Thursday. It's going to be a pretty empty (and quiet house). These pictures of the basement are for posterity. Maryse and I will have to get used to his smiling face not being there. I guess we'll just have to make do with the excitement (not) that comes with having cats chasing mice, like Cleo this afternoon. The hunter: The hunted: The audience ("Hey I saw it first!") That was my day. Ah, it beats spending it...

The hospital (Bone Marrow Transplant Unit) called late last week and Cycle III of my chemo begins July 2, running through the 3, 4 and 5. In my last visit to the Unit last week, Dr. Ansti told me how happy she was with how things were proceeding and that this 3rd session of "induction" chemo will likely be my last. Then, in another 4-6 weeks the high dose chemo and stem cell harvesting will begin. Here's some depictions of chemo I found on the internet: Maryse and I have tickets to the Bluesfest July 4, to see Van Morrison. I hope I can make it. I've been looking forward to this for some time. Book: Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson Music: Unchained by Johnny Cash

It's a gorgeous clear day here. It's 11 degrees, with an expected high of 19. Not all that warm, but the sun and air this morning reminds me of one morning in particular in January, in Maui. I went for an early walk along the beach and watched the sun come up. And snapped some pictures. Imagine having a beach such as that right out your front door! What a view! Book: Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson Music: Fragile by Yes