tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36669032024-02-08T09:26:34.234-05:00the site formerly known as Gail On The Web<b>This blog has since moved to: <a href=http://gailatlarge.com/blog>http://gailatlarge.com/blog</a></b><br /> [December 15, 2005]Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comBlogger1097125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134616356857211992005-12-14T22:05:00.002-05:002008-03-20T21:37:41.256-04:00Moving NoticeI'm closing this Blogspot and transitioning to my own domain. I'm going to close Haloscan, too.The new site is a work in progress: http://gailatlarge.com/blogGail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134537802266452702005-12-13T23:47:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:44.983-05:00Month FourI realised after reviewing my post on Month Three, I started counting from the 16th, when we met with the oncologist and David started treatment. The diagnosis was actually Friday, August 12, otherwise known to me as Black Friday.Month Four was another turning point in David's health; chronically low blood counts weren't a problem before. David had his first blood transfusion in the hospital Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134445866429857262005-12-12T22:51:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:44.428-05:00handiwork (Pentax K-1000) [photo by gail on the web] I've discovered it simply isn't possible to take care of David properly, get him to his appointments and therapies, look after the house and cat, communicate with everyone I'd like, take photos or write, make up cards and packages, and hold on to my sense of humour or sanity at the same time. Something had to slide down the priority ladder, and that Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134155812511548412005-12-09T14:15:00.002-05:002008-03-20T21:40:54.613-04:00Hugh's (Almost) Big Snow AdventureDefinitely an indoor cat, Hugh makes two attempts at venturing out into the first big snowfall of December '05, then decides snow is overrated.Music: "It's a Marshmallow World" - Dean MartinGail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134105982994745282005-12-08T23:42:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:43.888-05:00Airline Socks and Ridiculous Health Insurance PoliciesWho keeps airline socks? Anyone? I found some in a drawer this morning and they were PERFECT for putting over David's swollen ankles to go to clinic this morning. Who knew?It's been a long, tiring day. Both of us had a hard time getting through the prolonged time at the clinic, where the radiation machine needed maintenance and consequently delayed all the appointments. We were late getting over Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134044340384523982005-12-08T07:19:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:43.613-05:00Christmas Tomfoolery.flickr-photo { border: solid 1px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } a German, a Canadian, a Dutchie, and an Englishwoman walk into a bar... [Photo by gail on the web] December 1997 - Volendam, the Netherlands.It sounds like the beginning of a joke:"A German, a Canadian, a Dutchie, and an Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134037181631259872005-12-08T02:38:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:43.306-05:00Un/Medicated Ratio Now Back to 1:1As you've probably guessed, the other major reason why I haven't updated this space for a while is medically-related. I write about myself, but I hesitate to write about David because I prefer if he writes about his own condition. The patient/caregiver perspectives differ, and I strive to keep a balance between us regarding the reporting of his health in the public domain. Then again, I'm always Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134021611433302932005-12-08T01:00:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:43.032-05:00I did a double-take. I did a double-take. [photo by gail on the web] It looked more like a system crash than a mileage reading!Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134020331725688782005-12-08T00:14:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:42.744-05:00'I Wouldn't Belong to a Club That Would Have Me As a Member'Famous words by Groucho Marx.I did, in fact, join a photography club earlier this evening:Northeast Photography ClubThere was a mixup on the website, so I actually showed up an hour early along with two others, so we three had a good natter while waiting for the rest to arrive. The club formed in 1989, so it's a well-established organisation with a board, critiques, competitions, themes, Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1134013775241737542005-12-07T22:49:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:41.908-05:00We've Been Pulling Overtime Here at Santa's Workshop Reindeer twins [photo by Allan & Cheryl] I've been absent around these parts for a number of reasons... ... but let's start with the good stuff, shall we? Yesterday the five Ms (Maribeth, Megan, Madeleine, Michael, and Melissa) received Christmas package 1 of 2. Which was a complete surprise since I only mailed it last FRIDAY. For a box, four days between Pennsylvania and BC is remarkableGail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133672726637330282005-12-03T23:26:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:40.942-05:00The Fieldings Are MedicatedI don't recall ever taking Nyquil before, but its sedative properties are legendary, I've been told. Thusly, I spent much of the day in an unconscious state. Deservedly so -- I can't cough or sneeze in my sleep, right? It was a pleasant reprieve. When I sleep, it's just like sleep mode on a computer: things happen in the background, functions requiring motor skills cease and desist. Sheer geneticGail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133549621844289052005-12-02T13:37:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:40.646-05:00Friday Update: another blood transfusionMixed news from the bloodwork:1) Platelets up2) White blood counts up3) Hemoglobin barely movedAfter the shot of the growth factor, Neupogen, an order was written up for another two units of blood at Mercy Hospital right away. We just had enough time to grab lunch (yes, Mercy Hospital's food is that bad), then run home and grab a book and David's hospital bracelet from Wednesday so they don't Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133504018256284402005-12-02T00:22:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:40.363-05:00The Week Thus FarI've been meaning to write up the rest of the story of my first trip to the vet with Hugh, but I've been feeling under the weather the last couple of days with cold symptoms. I've been trying to head them off at the pass because the last thing I want to do is to infect David. A bad cold would likely send him to the hospital.So far it started with a sore throat, now cold symptoms like sneezing andGail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133500428902115232005-12-01T23:55:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:40.111-05:00How We Are NOT Going to Dress Hugh [photo by rustyrabbit] I mentioned a yarmulke, possibly, but not this.This is Rustyrabbit's cat, Buddy, putting on his "cheese" face. The kitty's giving Hugh a run for his money in the photogenic department. See here and here to see what I mean. He's a real... er, poser.Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133382996001716572005-11-30T15:36:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:39.856-05:00You brought me to the vet. I hate you.Since David is busy having a blood transfusion, I committed the ultimate act of bravery: taking Hugh to the vet for his shots. Believe you me, I wasn't looking forward to it, especially after all the stories I heard about previous trips to the vet. But I suspected he was having some other problems, so it had to be done.To make a long story short, we survived. More on this later.Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133296202354346352005-11-29T15:30:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:39.589-05:00Chemo Today Chemo Today [photo by gail on the web] ADDITION: Tuesday, 11pmDave's Logbook: Name, Rank and Medical ReportGail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133280751468119032005-11-29T11:12:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:39.329-05:00An Ode to the Lowly Hydrant in front of Rockefeller Center [photo by gail on the web] Hey! My photo of this hydrant in front of the Rockefeller Center was featured in Utata!Utata: in front of Rockefeller CenterFunny, that. I shot this hydrant specifically for the Flickr group called The Birdsill Holly Society, and it ends up here.'The Birdsill Holly Society' is one of my favourite Flickr photo pools; I actively seek outGail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133278689226056342005-11-29T08:23:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:39.067-05:00Three Cheers For RecyclingHip!Hip!Hooray!The other night I successfully completed my first attempt at creating a photo book, and I used recycled materials: cardboard from Amazon.com shipments ribbon from gifts received an old tablecloth dug out of David's junk storage containers It's amazing how much stuff can be recycled rather than buying things new. At the same time, I can't believe the things that people throw Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133238820533328052005-11-28T23:33:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:38.773-05:00Because Nothing Says 'Thanksgiving' Like Inflatable Advertising [photo by gail on the web] We stayed in the perfect location to see the parade, less than two blocks away. We didn't even have to check out first -- we had enough time to see the parade, have brunch, return to the hotel, then check out. It's a good thing, too, the subways along Broadway looked pretty crowded.We got showered, dressed, headed down the street and lo and behold -- there was Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133066064821481202005-11-27T09:20:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:37.626-05:00NYC Recap: Hudson Hotel glow of the city wash from the bathroom My cousin who lives in upstate New York is moving to California in a few weeks, so we decided to spend Thanksgiving together in New York City before she left the East Coast and David would have dinner with his mother.David's health during the week made me reassess the feasibility of this trip, but after monitoring the situation on Tuesday night Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133099073064110472005-11-27T08:36:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:38.455-05:00For the Record, I'm a Bit of a Grammar NaziOK, I confess: this is one of my grammar pet peeves, perhaps the biggest one of all -- the usage of 'and I' versus 'and me'.It drives me bananas when people take the 'and I' combination too far. For example:My boss gave him and I tickets to the show.No! Take out 'him' and see what you get? My boss gave I tickets to the show.If you don't believe me, how about AskOxford.com? Here's what they say Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133036871999423322005-11-26T15:27:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:35.537-05:00Canal Street Chooks and Their Fellow Fowl Canal Street chooks [photo by gail on the web] chicken dance [photo by gail on the web] Continuing along what appears to be a bird theme, it seems I have a thing for taking photos of chickens trussed up and hung in windows.I took the photo at left along the south side of Canal Street near Broadway the other day with the Pentax. On a lark, I clicked on the 'chicken' tag and brought up the Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1133011790630734672005-11-26T08:29:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:35.278-05:00More Packbawkies indecisive gull [photo by gail on the web] Pentax K-1000I took this from South Street Seaport, New York City, on Thursday -- Brooklyn Bridge is in the background.In the previous post I asked for a caption for the open-mouthed gull, and Socar's poem "The Packbawky Anthem" was the first on the list (click on the photo to see the rest of the suggestions/comments -- they're all pretty good!). Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1132892803744081552005-11-24T23:26:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:35.001-05:00{caption me} {need a caption} [photo by gail on the web] Any suggestions for this squawker in front of the Brooklyn Bridge? (If you're in Flickr, click on the pic and add it there.)Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666903.post-1132862080711076252005-11-24T14:54:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:21:34.726-05:00Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade [photo by gail on the web] Gail at Largehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05152443926372602487noreply@blogger.com