Kudos to the Feds

One does not often compliment the federal or state governments on their efficiency. Perhaps this will be one of the very few times that it happens. ¶ I’ve held a Global Entry card for the last five years. Global Entry allows one to bypass the immigration agents when reentering the country. It also provides access to the priority lanes when going through security. TSA lines are often long and clogged with persons trying to remove their shoes, looking for stuff that needs to be hand examined, etc. The priority lanes do not require removing anything, shoes, clothing or items in the bag. Hence, less of a headache when flying. ¶ When entering my number while purchasing a ticket a week or so ago, I noticed that my card expires in a couple of months. I checked the website and found that the necessary paper work for renewal is taking months to be processed. The wait is so long that persons are given a lengthy grace period past the expiration date.

¶ I shuddered with fear knowing that I would have to go to a larger airport for the interview. Last time I had to go to Chicago. As the government usually does, it makes no allowance for your schedule. You need to accommodate theirs. ¶ I struggled my way through the online application, which in typical government fashion was less than clear in many places. With a sigh of relief I hit the “send” button and settled down for a long winter’s nap. ¶ Again, in typical government fashion, the notice appeared that one would not be notified of anything. One must continually check in on the site and discover if any progress had been made on the application. ¶ Imagine my surprise when, not even 48 hours later, I received a message to check in on the site. When I did the good news was that my application had been approved and I would not have to appear for another interview. If that was not a large enough shock, one week later my new card appeared in the mail. So, congratulations to the U.S. Government for your efficiency! ¶ What a lovely peaceful week this has been. The only preparation I had was for the Tuesday evening service. There were no other necessary things on the agenda. And yet, and yet the desk is still not clean. I have hopes. Someday I will again see the surface thereof.

¶ Sophia has been occupied each day with her bevy of livestock. At one point 5 squirrels were cavorting on “her” deck, along with 10 or 12 birds. She was so thoroughly exhausted yesterday that she finally had to take to her couch about 4 PM and did not arise until 11 PM. ¶ I’ve just returned from the Live in HD broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera. This week was beautiful production of Rigoletto. The performances are always magnificent, first rate, top notch. The crowd in the Met itself was a little sparse do to the snow storm currently afflicting the northwest portion of the USA. There was a shot of the plaza in front of Lincoln Center. It looked pretty grim. Actually not unlike South Dakota in January. Conversely, it was 46º in sunny Sioux Falls today. The sunny and warm day made the decision to go to the darkened theater a tough one. Culture prevailed. ¶ Everything health wise has gone well this week. I’ve experienced no changes and have felt fine. ¶ Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. I’m grateful for everything done for me and for others.

Good News!

Sunday was as most Sundays are in the midst of the pandemic, a quiet day. The morning was spent in church and the afternoon attending other services via YouTube. Most days it does not seem that there is a good side to the pandemic. As a church music “junkie” and a liturgical “snob,” the ability to “attend” services in other places is truly a blessing. I can even go to church in England on Sunday afternoon and skip boarding a plane and the hours in flight! ¶ Monday seemed a long, long day. At least it felt that way when most of it was spent waiting for something to happen. The appointed CT scan was scheduled for arrival at 7:30. That is 7:30 in the AM! This is always preceded with two bottles of water, laced with something mild tasting. My port had to be accessed. Before that there is always the search for povidone-iodine which is used to cleanse the port site because I am allergic to the standard chloroprep. At the Imaging Center this seems to be a major issue. There is never any of the aforementioned in the cubicle in which the nurse operates. So she/he must institute a search for said substance.

¶ Finally, one is ushered into the CT scan room. It only takes a few minutes and freedom is regained. Then I had a few hours off until the appointment with the doctor. The scan revealed that there are no new lesions in my lungs, liver or any other portion of my anatomy. The lesions that were present seem to have died. This means the cancer is mainly active in my brain right now. I will need to continue the chemotherapy because I am treatable but not curable. The oncologist was amazed that I’ve been on the same chemo for two years and it is, obviously, still working. He said that is not usually the case. ¶ However, my platelets were low in my last labs which were drawn before the MRI last week. Unfortunately too low for chemo to begin. So it was down to the lab for another blood draw and then the wait for the processing. The platelet count was back up so chemo could proceed. Of course, the pharmacy had to be notified and then the wait for the medicine began. I finally got out of the cancer center a bit after 5 PM. I’m grateful for the news, tired because of the wait. ¶ The other four days went like a flash. Medicine was johnny-on-the-spot, the staff was efficient and I was pleased. ¶ One of the members of my Benedictine Community professed his first vows Tuesday evening. We hosted a few guests, including our Bishop. It was very nice that he could be present. I don’t think that I’ve preached before him previously. ¶ The weather has been weird, even for South Dakota. It was 55º in the middle of the week, then in the negative range for a couple of days. This is the reason we who live here must have a vast variety of outerwear to accommodate temperature swings. It is sometimes necessary to alter one’s clothing a couple of times per day.

¶ Sophia continues her heightened degree of interest in the livestock on the deck. A beautiful cardinal joins us for a snack at least once each day. Multiple squirrels eat peanuts by the pound and some corn. I think the corn is more work than the peanuts so the easy way is sought. All of this observation of the local wildlife is tiring beyond words. Inevitably a nap must be taken. ¶ Herself was exceedingly happy that the Amazon delivery came. It’s always good to know that there are foodstuffs in the larder. ¶ Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I’m grateful for what you do for me and for others.

It Didn’t Amount to Much

There were winter storm watches and warnings for a few days this week, leading up to Friday when things were supposed to get really bad. Well, they didn’t get really bad around here. I’ve not heard how much snow fell. There was some wind so it’s really hard to tell how deep the pile is. The snow shovelers came so we must have had more than two inches. If it’s less they don’t show. ¶ The precipitation started with freezing rain which always makes a nice underlayment for the snow. It picked up in the afternoon and was basically finished by evening. The city didn’t declare a “snow emergency” so the side streets will not be plowed. ¶ I was out and about this afternoon and encountered no problems although the side streets are a bit slick in places.

¶ Tuesday was the appointed day for the MRI preceding the Gamma Knife procedure. The doctor did order another to make sure he was not missing anything. It did turn out that there was another very small spot. The initial spot had not grown in the last two weeks. ¶ Thursday morning was the appointment with Erik the Red, the radiation oncologist. He explained in great detail what would happen. Then he sent me off to the physicists who would form the mask. ¶ I was asked to place my body on the bed of the machine which looks much like the CT scanner. It actually does have a CT scanner attached to it. They had a small pillow heating in the oven which they placed under my head to mold it to fit the contour of the back of my head exactly. ¶ Then the mask was brought forth from the oven and placed over my face and bolted to the machine. They massaged it to fit my face exactly and tightly with a hole for my nose. Following that I was set free for a few hours.

¶ I returned mid-afternoon, placed my body on the machine and the mask was placed over my face. It was really tight but that’s the purpose of it. My head could not move at all, neither could I speak. A sticker was placed on my nose. A camera, attached to the machine would focus on that and it would detect if I moved at all, thereby cancelling the procedure. ¶ A CT scan was taken and then the machine swallowed me for about 30 minutes. Another CT scan was taken as I exited the machine, they released my bonds and I was free to leave. Considering all things it was not a bad procedure. I can see that it would be awful for someone who is claustrophobic. In retrospect the mask is better that the frame bolted to the head. No drugs are involved in the procedure with the mask. Pictures include the Gamma Knife machine itself, and a picture of a patient with the mask on. It is not I. No one volunteered to take my picture.

¶ Next week begins with a CT scan to find out how the rest of me is doing and then a visit with the oncologist and chemo for a week. ¶ Sophia has continued her concern with the livestock on the deck. She was so busy yesterday she missed out on her long afternoon nap so she is close to exhausted today. At one point in the afternoon there were five squirrels entertaining her. In the meantime her devoted servant is going to go broke buying peanuts, corn and birdseed. ¶ Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers this week. They are much appreciated. I’m grateful for what you do for others.

Week One of 2022

I do not understand how chemo week takes such a long time to pass and the chemo-less weeks fly by. It seems like just yesterday that I was writing about the new year and now it’s a week old, already. ¶ Last Sunday in church was a new experience. The Cathedral congregation is used to having what I refer to as “open mic” time. The celebrant asks if there are any other announcements and people pop up to make their entreaties, announcements, greetings, etc. I’m used to this from the Sudanese congregation. Anyone who has anything to say is allowed the time to speak at length or briefly. In one sense the liturgy is a community meeting. The liturgy focuses on the reason we are there. Excessive talking on the part of the congregation does interrupt the flow of things, and at times lengthens the time in church. ¶ Back to last Sunday. We had a substitute celebrant because of the dean’s recovery from COVID. At the “open mic” time a gentleman who is not a regular attendee at the 10:00 service took the opportunity to go on about his own particular peeves, wishes, whatever else. I couldn’t hear most of it because he was not on a mic. It took quite a while before he simmered down and we could get on with things. He obviously was disturbed and this disturbed the congregation as well. One of the deacons is a trained mental health counselor and was able to deal with the situation.

¶ Tomorrow I will not be at the console but at the altar and in the pulpit instead. The dean is still suffering the after effects of COVID. With a little more rest he will be able to return. It is frightening because he has had three shots of vaccine. It’s the Omicron variant that got him. ¶ Our county is still leading the numbers in the state for reported infections. I’ve noticed a few more people wearing masks in the shops. All staff and volunteers are required to mask at the Pavilion. We are required to wear masks in church, by the church. It is a good thing, especially when this variant spreads so easily. There are still vast numbers who seem to think they are immune. ¶ The highlight of the week was January 6. I’m speaking of the highlight of the church week. January sixth is the feast of the Epiphany, the day when the arrival of the mysterious visitors from the east appeared to the young Jesus. The wise men took their place at the manger in the crèche.

¶ January 6, is known for another event, the insurrection at the seat of our government. The event of last year was such a shameful, disgusting and frightening thing. It’s literally beyond belief that many in the congress think it meant nothing. The investigation continues and some of the findings of the committee are cause for even more concern. ¶ Sophia has been very busy with the livestock on the porch. The squirrels have their new feeder. One of the squirrels is quite adept at operat

ing the thing. Another seems to be baffled by it. Just like people, I guess. Some get it, and some don’t! When the birds move in at feeding time it’s quite a sight. I find it interesting that they all seem to be hungry at the same time. Someone in the flocks must be in charge of announcing that it is time to eat. ¶ I’ve felt fine and have enjoyed some leisure time this week. It felt good after the busy-ness of the last two. ¶ Thank you for your prayers, your thoughts, your kindness. Next week is the Gamma Knife procedure. I’ll try to get a picture of “the mask.” MRI will be on Tuesday morning. I’m hoping no more spots have shown up. If so, the team will deal with them.

The New Year Begins

Welcome to 2022. Around this house the year began quietly. I did stay up to welcome the new year. In the midst of viewing a movie it happened and I didn’t even notice. I guess after as many new years as I have welcomed, one more doesn’t make a whole lot of difference! ¶ Nevertheless, we could hope and pray for a number of things in this new year come upon us. It would be lovely if Congress and the Supreme Court could do their business without succumbing to partisan strife and stonewalling. It would be a wondrous thing if our state legislature and governor could decide that the education of children is worth an investment in teachers and schools. It would be amazing if the drivers of automobiles in Sioux Falls would recognize that a red light does not mean drive faster so one can get through the intersection before the cross traffic starts. I don’t mean using the yellow light to cross. Lately, many drivers start through the intersection on the already red light. And, for the health of all of us, if the antivaxers and antimaskers would give up their exercise in futility and think of someone other than themselves, get the shot, wear a mask, and quit being a royal pain in the lower region. One can only hope.

¶ Chemo week has come and gone. TUG the persistent pharmaceutical robot went about her business with aplomb decked in her Christmas decorations. The pharmacy was a little slow this week except for Friday. Friday was a holiday for the Cancer Center staff, but a couple of nurses work so that those of us who need infusions can have them. Bless them. It is a wonderful act of giving that they give up their holiday time with their families. No side effects of the chemo were experienced by this patient this time around, which is usual. ¶ The Gamma Knife procedure has been scheduled for the 13th of January. The grotesque mask will be confected in the morning and I’ll return after it has “dried” for the procedure in the afternoon. The doctor says the procedure should take about 15 minutes. More on this adventure will follow. ¶ The week has been more peaceful than the preceding one. Only one service for which to play tomorrow. I have practiced and still have a few more hours to work out some of the bugs. ¶ Sophia has taken to supervising my practice on the piano. From the look on her face she is not terrifically impressed. I think several of my previous piano teachers were of the same opinion. ¶ Sophia is occupied, other than sleeping, eating and drinking, with the livestock on the

deck. There are several birds who enjoy nibbling on suet. There is also a squirrel who has discovered that he/she can hang upside down from the suet cage and have a snack. This, evidently, causes the birds to assume they can help themselves the peanuts that have been put out for the squirrel. They seem to prefer this menu option over the bird seed in their feeder. ¶ Winter has descended upon us. Currently it is -2º here at noon. Tonight’s low is predicted at -8º. ¶ I’m prepared for short, cloudy, wintry days with a new light panel, a Christmas gift to me. I can bask in the full spectrum light and feel like I’m on an isle in the Caribbean sunning myself on the beach. It takes a bit of imagination. It is nice and certainly helps with my SAD. ¶ Another thank you for the holiday greetings, the prayers and messages of thoughts directed this way. You are appreciated. Thanks for reading. Happy New Year!