Ok, so the CT scan came back clear. No more cancer. (at least yet)
They still have no idea why my liver function tests were that far off, but they don't seem too worried now that they've ruled-out cancer. I'll go back in a month and re-do the tests.
And, to make sure everyone gets a bit of a laugh, I'll also be going back in for another ultrasound. (yes, with the wand and gel) It's just another standard precautionary measure.
24 June, 2009
23 June, 2009
Man, that was easy
I just saved $30K on my house.
How did I do it? Fire the staff? Close-off the third floor? Rent-out the theater room for teenage birthday parties?
Nope. This one was even easier. My mortgage holder has a plan where they will pull half of my mortgage payment every two weeks.
So, right after I get my paycheck, they automatically get half of what I usually send them. I don't have to do a thing and don't even really have a chance of accidentally spending that money.
But the bonus is that since it's every 2 weeks instead of twice a month, that means that they pull 26 payments instead of 24. That means they apply an extra payment every year.
That means that over the remaining life of my loan, I'll pay it off years earlier and save almost $30,000 in interest. (and before you imagine that I've got some unholy interest rate, I'll go ahead and confess that it's a fixed 6% loan)
So, let's recap:
1) Mortgage payment is pulled a little from each paycheck automatically. I don't have to worry about forgetting to send it in.
2) Same payment as before
3) Save tons of money
4) Pay off house years early
Total time spent to save this money:
- 10 minutes: reading the plan specifics online
- 5 minutes: signing-up online
I'm having a hard time seeing any real problems with this plan.
How did I do it? Fire the staff? Close-off the third floor? Rent-out the theater room for teenage birthday parties?
Nope. This one was even easier. My mortgage holder has a plan where they will pull half of my mortgage payment every two weeks.
So, right after I get my paycheck, they automatically get half of what I usually send them. I don't have to do a thing and don't even really have a chance of accidentally spending that money.
But the bonus is that since it's every 2 weeks instead of twice a month, that means that they pull 26 payments instead of 24. That means they apply an extra payment every year.
That means that over the remaining life of my loan, I'll pay it off years earlier and save almost $30,000 in interest. (and before you imagine that I've got some unholy interest rate, I'll go ahead and confess that it's a fixed 6% loan)
So, let's recap:
1) Mortgage payment is pulled a little from each paycheck automatically. I don't have to worry about forgetting to send it in.
2) Same payment as before
3) Save tons of money
4) Pay off house years early
Total time spent to save this money:
- 10 minutes: reading the plan specifics online
- 5 minutes: signing-up online
I'm having a hard time seeing any real problems with this plan.
19 June, 2009
Grrr...
I went to MD Anderson this morning for my regular check-up. The good news is that my primary cancer marker has stayed-put. The bad news is that my liver function is whacked. (I'm not sure if that's the *exact* medical term they used, but that should suffice)
They don't know what that could mean, so they want me to come back in next week for a CT scan to see if there's anything funky re-growing. (that's one possible answer--and they one they are obviously pre-disposed to worry about)
A little Googling (and we all know that Google is as good as world-class medical specialists) indicates that this *could* be caused by my time at the gym. Intense physical exercise can cause liver function tests to look bad.
So, this could be anything, or nothing at all--they don't know yet. (or aren't saying)
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't sweat this a bit. One funky liver function test isn't something that I would let bother me. But with my history, I can't seem to help from freaking out a bit.
Fun fact of the day: because of my type of cancer, one of the blood tests I have done is a pregnancy test. (I am now prepared for the onslaught of jokes...)
They don't know what that could mean, so they want me to come back in next week for a CT scan to see if there's anything funky re-growing. (that's one possible answer--and they one they are obviously pre-disposed to worry about)
A little Googling (and we all know that Google is as good as world-class medical specialists) indicates that this *could* be caused by my time at the gym. Intense physical exercise can cause liver function tests to look bad.
So, this could be anything, or nothing at all--they don't know yet. (or aren't saying)
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't sweat this a bit. One funky liver function test isn't something that I would let bother me. But with my history, I can't seem to help from freaking out a bit.
Fun fact of the day: because of my type of cancer, one of the blood tests I have done is a pregnancy test. (I am now prepared for the onslaught of jokes...)
16 June, 2009
Sore
I've been putting it off for longer than I care to admit, but I finally found a way to get me in the gym on a regular basis. I hired a personal trainer. It's not nearly as fancy as it sounds, but knowing that I'm paying someone to get in shape effectively is enough to make sure I go in for every appointment.
Man, and those guys know how to make you hurt. 30 minutes is enough to make me wish I'd never seen that gym before. But it's good. I don't know if it's a placebo effect or not, but it seems like my metabolism is already kicking-up a bit. I must have had 4 or 5 meals on Saturday.
Bonus: sometimes they page employees over the speakers at the gym. Twice now, I've heard "Robert Paulson, please come to the front desk."
Every time I hear that, I stop what I'm doing, look up and say "his name was Robert Paulson." (and then I giggle for a second)
Man, and those guys know how to make you hurt. 30 minutes is enough to make me wish I'd never seen that gym before. But it's good. I don't know if it's a placebo effect or not, but it seems like my metabolism is already kicking-up a bit. I must have had 4 or 5 meals on Saturday.
Bonus: sometimes they page employees over the speakers at the gym. Twice now, I've heard "Robert Paulson, please come to the front desk."
Every time I hear that, I stop what I'm doing, look up and say "his name was Robert Paulson." (and then I giggle for a second)
09 June, 2009
Yum
Ever since reading In Defense of Food, I've been on a bit of a "healthy eating" kick. I'm even looking into joining a CSA. (I'm waiting to hear back from one particular farmer)
In the meantime, I tracked down an item that was suggested to me. (by someone somewhere that I don't remember) Tasty Bite Madras Lentils.
Now, this is fast food I can get behind. It has an ingredient list I love: Water, Tomatoes, Lentils, Red Beans, Onions, Cream, Salt, Butter, Sunflower Oil, Chilies, Cumin. That's it! No preservatives, no food coloring, no "Enhanced with Vitamin X!"
It's just food.
And it comes in a little pouch that you pour into a bowl and heat up. It makes for a great, cheap lunch. (and good camping food, I would think) And it's dang filling.
Tonight I stopped by Whole Foods and bought every box they had on the shelf. (yeah, I'm a little compulsive at times)
In the meantime, I tracked down an item that was suggested to me. (by someone somewhere that I don't remember) Tasty Bite Madras Lentils.
Now, this is fast food I can get behind. It has an ingredient list I love: Water, Tomatoes, Lentils, Red Beans, Onions, Cream, Salt, Butter, Sunflower Oil, Chilies, Cumin. That's it! No preservatives, no food coloring, no "Enhanced with Vitamin X!"
It's just food.
And it comes in a little pouch that you pour into a bowl and heat up. It makes for a great, cheap lunch. (and good camping food, I would think) And it's dang filling.
Tonight I stopped by Whole Foods and bought every box they had on the shelf. (yeah, I'm a little compulsive at times)
05 June, 2009
Relax
Ok, that was a full couple of weeks.
First, I took a 4-day Memorial Day weekend to head up to Oklahoma and spend some time with friends hanging out at a cabin and then a weekend BBQ while lounging by the pool.
This previous weekend, I flew up to Indiana to hang out with the family. My nephew had probably the most stressful and full week of his life. He had his high school graduation, the giant family cookout that goes along with that, got married, bought a car with his wife, moved her into the house and left for boot camp.
And with all of that going on, we found time to sneak out and see some sights. I finally bought Left 4 Dead at a flea market and spent some time at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center where I got as close as I ever hope to get to some very large cats.
Very cool.
And during that time, I made my way through a good recommendation of Drain's--Lamb: The Gospel of Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. A heck of a laugh if you have a sense of humor about Christianity. (I'd offer it up for loan, but someone already grabbed it after hearing me laugh frequently when reading it)
First, I took a 4-day Memorial Day weekend to head up to Oklahoma and spend some time with friends hanging out at a cabin and then a weekend BBQ while lounging by the pool.
This previous weekend, I flew up to Indiana to hang out with the family. My nephew had probably the most stressful and full week of his life. He had his high school graduation, the giant family cookout that goes along with that, got married, bought a car with his wife, moved her into the house and left for boot camp.
And with all of that going on, we found time to sneak out and see some sights. I finally bought Left 4 Dead at a flea market and spent some time at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center where I got as close as I ever hope to get to some very large cats.
Very cool.
And during that time, I made my way through a good recommendation of Drain's--Lamb: The Gospel of Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. A heck of a laugh if you have a sense of humor about Christianity. (I'd offer it up for loan, but someone already grabbed it after hearing me laugh frequently when reading it)
02 June, 2009
Today's Forecast for Hell: Icy conditions with an 80% chance of sleet
AP - Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday he supports gays being able to marry but believes states, not the federal government, should make the decision.
"I think, you know, freedom means freedom for everyone," Cheney said in a speech at the National Press Club. "I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish, any kind of arrangement they wish."
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