Dalai

After spending the last 18 days sleeping at the hospital (only been home 4 times during this time to do the lawn and resupply clothes) I'm back to work in the morning and back on the bike commuting.

Radiotherapy sessions done, off to rehab hospital tomorrow for another week or so which is fortunately close to both work and home.

Then another MRI in about 6 weeks to see if the Radiotherapy was succsessful or if additional treatments are required...

Heathpack 

Good luck with the MRI, @Dalai! It's nice to be home I'm sure.

Here's a joke for your wife:

Snake 1: OMG, are we poisonous?
Snake 2: I don't know, why?
Snake 1: I just bit my lip.

revchuck 

Fingers crossed that the therapy was successful, Dalai!

happybday29475

+1

And, YogaKat, where's the race report?

LAJ

Positive thoughts, @Dalai!

YogaKat

Thanks Richard. I noticed that about the lead pack. I had to check out Strava to see how fast they flew by everyone at the rest stop.

Haha, I did go watch the Wheeler Crit a couple of weeks ago. They turned to the left a lot! It was very exciting to watch, although one guy went down during one of the races... he was okay thankfully. Good meatball truck too!

Also went to the middle of nowhere west Texas over the weekend and found that my little bike fits perfectly in the back seat so I don't have to use my bike rack for it. I got to ride around a little town where I went to elementary school and take pictures of the things that aren't really noticed while in a car. It was a nice break from the hordes of relatives that I have (and love.)

@Heathpack, that train story is crazy! I was thinking of hopping on the Amtrack some weekend and just go riding around for a change of scenery.


PS... the more I ride the faster I get. I flew down the road at 36mph yesterday... that is some fun stuff!

sarals 

@Dalai - thinking good thoughts!!!

sarals 

@YogaKat - it's no surprise to me you're getting faster. Your comfort level is getting pretty high, it seems. Good stuff!!

YogaKat

After I ditched the clipless my confidence and comfort level are much better than before - including the turns that I still had a little mental block about are more relaxed now. Really enjoying the nice weather these days. Glad to see the cold weather go away in this neck of the woods.

I know, I know... I still have the pedals and cleats tucked away until I decide I want to go back to them. Just not for now.

Been too busy to ride a much as I would like for awhile now, but it's looking like things are settling out again and I can get out more. Kiddo is now in wrestling practice after work 5 days a week and we are moving to a new house in June. Other than that things are looking good.

By the way, I am such a proud momma! Who would have ever guessed my quiet little daughter would be taking down the boys in wrestling.

Hmmm, just had a thought. I might just bring my bike with me when she has her 1.5 hour practices. New roads to ride.

revchuck 

Dammit!

I bought my Allez Comp Race last year because it had the components I wanted and the geometry is close to perfect for me. I would've really liked to get a Ridley Fenix, which has almost the identical geometry. Since I work in a Specialized/Giant LBS, the Allez was the logical choice.

Now I found a 2015 Fenix frameset on closeout for $700. I can afford it. Gotta break the news to my boss.

Heathpack 

Game over for a long term patient of mine. Owner has very little money and we have been doing the best we can to treat the dog's encephalitis with a less-than-ideal-but-heck-it-was-keeping-her-alive treatment protocol. I even talked a cardiologist friend of mine into diagnosing and treating the dog's serious (but unrelated) heart disease for minimal cost. Super nice lady, the kind of person you really don't mind fudging the numbers for.

Now my meds have caused diabetes in the dog and she's sick from complications of the diabetes. We can't take her off her neuro meds without that whole piece of the puzzle falling apart. Treating the diabetes and its complications is honestly going to expensive and could put the dog into heart failure again.

Sad conversation, lady was crying and wanted to know how much it would cost to euthanize the dog. OMG no charge for that.

valygrl

That's so sad. Must be a tough part of your job.

Heathpack 

However this dog is doing well:



Apple of her person's eye and she deserves it.

Heathpack 

The hard thing is not so much coming to the end of the road, because all dogs die eventually.

Its just a situation like this, where the owner wants to know isn't there just a little something we could do? Something less expensive?

Yes, there is. We could just start insulin on an out-patient basis and hope for the best. But that's still going to require follow-up care and the chances it goes well because of her neuro meds is low. Then in a week when she's not doing well, we will need more tests to figure out exactly what's going wrong. There is no way this will not be expensive over time. We can try to ghetto treat the dog and maybe get lucky but still put this lady into debt. Or we can treat it right and it will be expensive by anyone's standards and things have a better chance of going better.

But no matter what we do, the dog will die from some kind of complication of trying to treat three diseases what are almost unmanageable when seen in combination. So the hardest part is getting this lady's head wrapped around that. Its just really hard to take her money any longer when her dog has a set of problems that I know I cannot fix. Ethically at what point do you encourage someone to stop, even though there is in fact more that you can do? That's the hard part of the job, because it seems like its about the money even though its really not.

LAJ

That's understandable, @Heathpack. When you find a good Veterinarian that can walk that line, you found gold. Ours is that. She's very upfront and honest, and will be straight with us as to what kind of time the treatment at hand will buy. Quality of life, and all else plays into it, and ultimately, the decision is ours.

YogaKat

I cannot even imagine what that must be like. There is so much emotion when dealing with our pets, you have to be part counselor as well. I am thankful for people like you in the world.

sarals 

@Heathpack, it is true, though, that all dogs go to heaven. I'm looking forward to seeing a few that I've known through the years when I get there (if I get there).

Cleave

@Dalai, hoping for the best outcome.

Bandera

Having (sorta) actually followed my (witch) doctor's instructions the incantations, amulets, charms, ritual sacrifice of many $ and a series of steroid injections banished the evil spirit of shoulder bursitis enough to get back on the bike.

A few days of gingerly plootering about on the town bike and a winter/wet bike test on a short real route: so far so good.

The fixed gear is off limits unless I change the position I've ridden on it for last 39 years for less drop/reach.
Being both willfully stupid and pig headed that may be a bridge too far.

Preparing a Mother's Day meal today, for Mother's Day Observed vs. Actual:
Cod prepared Sous Vide finished in a Med inspired sauce, Cous Cous w/ Veg, Mixed Salad and Ice Cream.
Happy Mom's Day to All on the Actual Day.

-Bandera

Heathpack 

Welcome back to the bike, @Bandera.

However please do not freak me out like that. Mothers Day is next Sunday.

Bandera

Sorry about that Ms. HP,
This is the Mother's Day observed meal to resolve schedule conflicts.

-Bandera

Hermes

Leaving for OC tomorrow and hopefully attend a 4PM racer session at VSC. Santiago Canyon TT on Saturday.

Cleave

I'll be at VSC for my usual Roger's Session interval session. Will be at Santiago Canyon. We can ride from the finish to the start if that fits your timeline.

Heathpack 

@Hermes @Cleave

Ill see y'all at Santiago Cyn and this time wait for you to ride back. If there's anything you want to put in the SAG wagon, Mr H will meet me at the finish with my recovery drink.

Any interest in lunch afterward? I can try to come up with a place if there is interest.

Hermes

I made it to VSC recording my fastest time from NorCal. I drove through some rain. Now I get to kill a couple of hours but better than sitting in traffic.