Sunday, October 17, 2010
Birthdays all around
Lucy's 3rd birthday was October 8, and Tracy's 35th (!?!) birthday was October 15, so we celebrated both yesterday at the Jendrzejewskis. Andy and the boys came from Redmond (Ali was on a girl's weekend in Walla Walla). Pete cooked an awesome meal, Lucy opened her presents, and we had ice cream cake for dessert. Poor Tracy doesn't get quite the attention she deserves, but that's what happens with kids and grandkids.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Trip to Eastern Oregon
We went to Eastern Oregon (Wallowa Mountains, Wallowa Lake, Enterprise, Joseph) with the Jendrzejewskis on Tuesday of this week and returned Thursday. Spent the better part of two days traveling back and forth, with just one full day there. John did all the driving, so the rest of us just relaxed.
Joseph is the gateway to Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Confined within steep, eroded black basalt walls, the surging Snake River has carved North America's deepest gorge, measuring 7,913 feet from He Devil Mountain to Granite Creek below. Unfortunately we needed another day to drive to the 7,000' ridge overlooking Hells Canyon, and the tram to the summit of Mount Howard was closed for the season. The Wallowa Lake Tramway climbs about 4,000 feet to the 8,150-foot level on Mount Howard. It is among the steepest tram rides in North America; the vertical ascent is 3,700 feet from the base elevation of 4,450'. From this point the peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area, the Seven Devils of Idaho and the rim of Hells Canyon are visible. But enough about what we didn't see....
We had just a wonderful time, and the weather was simply spectacular Indian-summer, with warm and sunny days and cool nights at 4400' elevation in Joseph (population 1,000+). On the way there we stopped in Pendleton for lunch at Hamley Cafe, then went next-door to Hamley cowboy outfitters, voted most authentic western store in America. Then on to Joseph, where we stayed at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast, award-winning European-style lodging. Owners Heather and Bill were very nice hosts. The Bronze Antler was selected by BedandBreakfast.com as one of the Top Ten B&Bs in the West for 2008-2009. Marge and I stayed in the Mirror Lake Suite featuring private entrance, flat screen TV with Blue-Ray DVD, vaulted ceiling, spa-style bathroom, king-sized four-poster bed, and gourmet full breakfasts. We had dinner Tuesday evening at Mutiny Brewing Company in Joseph. (Mutiny is Brewing!) The dinner special was a Prosciutto-stuffed chicken breast, which was excellent. Who knew, in downtown Joseph. Wednesday morning after breakfast we took about a two-hour tour of the Parks Bronze foundry in Enterprise, about six miles from Joseph. We saw the many steps involved in transforming the work of an artist to a finished bronze sculpture; very interesting and educational. Then off to lunch at the R&R Drive-In in Joseph for milkshakes and a bite to eat. After lunch we drove out to Wallowa Lake, followed by some browsing of the downtown shops in Joseph, including a visit to the Valley Bronze Gallery. In the evening we first went to Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, the local microbrewery where we sampled the microbrews. Then on to El Bajio Mexican Restaurant in Enterprise for dinner and margaritas. Thursday morning after breakfast we packed up and headed home, but first we stopped in Enterprise at The Bookloft to purchase copies of " 'Twas the Night Before Round-Up," a hardback children's book for the grandkids. The publication of the book coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up. Our grand-pug Larue was pampered by our neighbor Pat Bartruff while we were away. Wonderful trip, good company, good food, good accommodations, perfect weather.... Thank you, John and Judy, for helping to make this trip a truly memorable experience. To top it all off, we saw a bald eagle soaring overhead on our way back to Portland.
Joseph is the gateway to Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Confined within steep, eroded black basalt walls, the surging Snake River has carved North America's deepest gorge, measuring 7,913 feet from He Devil Mountain to Granite Creek below. Unfortunately we needed another day to drive to the 7,000' ridge overlooking Hells Canyon, and the tram to the summit of Mount Howard was closed for the season. The Wallowa Lake Tramway climbs about 4,000 feet to the 8,150-foot level on Mount Howard. It is among the steepest tram rides in North America; the vertical ascent is 3,700 feet from the base elevation of 4,450'. From this point the peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area, the Seven Devils of Idaho and the rim of Hells Canyon are visible. But enough about what we didn't see....
We had just a wonderful time, and the weather was simply spectacular Indian-summer, with warm and sunny days and cool nights at 4400' elevation in Joseph (population 1,000+). On the way there we stopped in Pendleton for lunch at Hamley Cafe, then went next-door to Hamley cowboy outfitters, voted most authentic western store in America. Then on to Joseph, where we stayed at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast, award-winning European-style lodging. Owners Heather and Bill were very nice hosts. The Bronze Antler was selected by BedandBreakfast.com as one of the Top Ten B&Bs in the West for 2008-2009. Marge and I stayed in the Mirror Lake Suite featuring private entrance, flat screen TV with Blue-Ray DVD, vaulted ceiling, spa-style bathroom, king-sized four-poster bed, and gourmet full breakfasts. We had dinner Tuesday evening at Mutiny Brewing Company in Joseph. (Mutiny is Brewing!) The dinner special was a Prosciutto-stuffed chicken breast, which was excellent. Who knew, in downtown Joseph. Wednesday morning after breakfast we took about a two-hour tour of the Parks Bronze foundry in Enterprise, about six miles from Joseph. We saw the many steps involved in transforming the work of an artist to a finished bronze sculpture; very interesting and educational. Then off to lunch at the R&R Drive-In in Joseph for milkshakes and a bite to eat. After lunch we drove out to Wallowa Lake, followed by some browsing of the downtown shops in Joseph, including a visit to the Valley Bronze Gallery. In the evening we first went to Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, the local microbrewery where we sampled the microbrews. Then on to El Bajio Mexican Restaurant in Enterprise for dinner and margaritas. Thursday morning after breakfast we packed up and headed home, but first we stopped in Enterprise at The Bookloft to purchase copies of " 'Twas the Night Before Round-Up," a hardback children's book for the grandkids. The publication of the book coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up. Our grand-pug Larue was pampered by our neighbor Pat Bartruff while we were away. Wonderful trip, good company, good food, good accommodations, perfect weather.... Thank you, John and Judy, for helping to make this trip a truly memorable experience. To top it all off, we saw a bald eagle soaring overhead on our way back to Portland.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A word about dexamethasone
Interesting to observe side effects of drugs first-hand.
Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment of brain edema (swelling) in brain tumors. Dexamethasone is the steroid given in the majority of neuro-oncologic patients, at varying doses. Fortunately I am on a low enough dose (2 mg twice daily) to avoid the well-known and serious side effects of corticosteroid therapy.
A retrospective chart review of 88 patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy was conducted for a 6-month period to document steroid doses prescribed, tapering schedules, and steroid side effects. The most frequently documented steroid-related side effects were increased appetite (32%), proximal muscle weakness (28%), and insomnia (21%), which is pretty much consistent with my experience.
A survey of oncologists who manage patients with brain metastases was conducted at the same institution. The most common side effects noted by physicians were increased appetite or weight gain (46%), insomnia (24%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (20%).
Sturdza A, Millar BA, Bana N, et al. The use and toxicity of steroids in the management of patients with brain metastases.
Support Care Cancer 2008;16:1041-8.
Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment of brain edema (swelling) in brain tumors. Dexamethasone is the steroid given in the majority of neuro-oncologic patients, at varying doses. Fortunately I am on a low enough dose (2 mg twice daily) to avoid the well-known and serious side effects of corticosteroid therapy.
A retrospective chart review of 88 patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy was conducted for a 6-month period to document steroid doses prescribed, tapering schedules, and steroid side effects. The most frequently documented steroid-related side effects were increased appetite (32%), proximal muscle weakness (28%), and insomnia (21%), which is pretty much consistent with my experience.
A survey of oncologists who manage patients with brain metastases was conducted at the same institution. The most common side effects noted by physicians were increased appetite or weight gain (46%), insomnia (24%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (20%).
Sturdza A, Millar BA, Bana N, et al. The use and toxicity of steroids in the management of patients with brain metastases.
Support Care Cancer 2008;16:1041-8.
Happy 70th birthday, John Lennon
"Imagine"
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Priceless quote of the day
In today's Wall Street Journal, Matthew Kaminski, a member of the Journal's editorial board, writes an article about U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold from my sister Myrna's state of Wisconsin, "Wisconsin sours on its self-styled maverick." He quotes Mr. Feingold's opponent, Ron Johnson: Most of all, he adds, "people get" the threat from ObamaCare. "I really do think that health care is the single biggest assault on our freedom in my lifetime," he adds, "designed to lead to a single-payer system, a government takeover, Canadian-style...."
Brilliant.... You read what he said, but what does he mean? Does he think health care reform is the biggest assault on our freedom, or that expanding health care coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans is bad, or that health care in this country is just fine as it is, because he has health insurance? You've got some 'splaining to do, Mr. Johnson.
Brilliant.... You read what he said, but what does he mean? Does he think health care reform is the biggest assault on our freedom, or that expanding health care coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans is bad, or that health care in this country is just fine as it is, because he has health insurance? You've got some 'splaining to do, Mr. Johnson.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Lucy is 3 today, October 8
Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! We will celebrate Lucy's birthday next weekend when Pete and Tracy are in Portland, killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, since Tracy's birthday is the 15th of October.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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