A Nice Walk

Hay all
Mango and I took a walk tonight and I can't tell you how nice it was to be in the cool air, quiet neighborhood and have the Fall breeze in my face right around sunset. 33 Miles song "One Life To Love" was flowing through my ears and filled my soul with good stuff. Dogs are great:)
Also, on the way to Laguna Middle School this morning with the kids all the horses in the area were talking to each other....pretty cool.
Tommy and I enjoyed the dvd "Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden" by the same guy who did Super Size Me (funny and interesting actually) and Laura and I saw FireProof at the theater (great date night movie but we stuck to less crowded matinee). Also, took Mom and Katy to the movie "The Secret Life of Bees" (warning-serious chick movie) and it was really an enoyable, nice movie...another date night recommendation I have to admit.
My relatives team, the Phillies, are in the World Series so they are excited.
So despite the grind of daily junk that creeps in to our/my life now, it was nice few days and I felt really blessed and fortunate so I decided to "spread the wealth" (sorry-couldn't resist so close to the 4th).
I hope you all enjoyed them too.
Rich
PS: Excuse me now while I go watch a few Gladiator clips.

Day by Day

Hay all

Well, this has been an up and down week but, overall, good news for my cGVHD. My eye specialist said I was getting much better and my BMT docs also said things are progressing nicely so each lowered my medications...I am on my way to a more slimmer trimmer facial profile. My PFT's or pulmonary function tests were also unchanged and if you would like to hear a great story of God's grace then ask me about my PFT's. It is slow progress as expected and my Stanford team said the best case scenario is it is all a bad memory is 12-15 months! The other scenarios are ok too so far but time period is obviously longer. I should follow the economic recovery almost to the month....ha ha Well, maybe not so funny to some I am sure. It is art treating this so I am patient, stay informed, ask questions and pray continuously.

My mom came for a short visit which was wonderful and Laura and I got to visit with Curt (see my links) while at our Stanford appts. He looks great and he is less than a month away from his 100 day BMT freedom ride.

Tommy's football team is doing great (won by 1 point last Saturday in last 2 minutes) and Katy and Meghan are busy with Nutcracker rehearsals (see my links again). Katy also gets her driver's license this week too....yah!

Don't forget to attend a performance on the weekend of December 13th and anyone you know who is battling cancer then the the specially prepared performance is for them. Call the Civic Ballet for time and info. On that same subject, the fundraiser at Salsbury Vineyards for the Special Oncology performance was a success and it was great to see everyone, break the rules for one night and chat it up with you all.

I am able to get out and exercise regularly despite the 100 degree weather here is SLO lately. Jeez, I am so ready for Fall! This is crazy. Ok Al G. we believe you...ha ha

Thanks for visiting the blog and don't forget to sign in and say hi.

Mango was feeling left out

Hay all
My Mom gave me a book recently written by Trixie Koontz, the dog of author Dean Koontz. The book is titled Bliss To You-Trixie's Guide To A Happy Life. He put Trixie, his Golden Retriever, who passed recently, as the primary author and all proceeds go to Canine Companion International (http://www.cci.org/).
It was a easy read and a very nice book that made you smile and laugh, especially if you are a dog owner. Another great book geared more for kids but our family laughed out loud reading it every time was Chewy Louie. My advise-get a dog and go get both books:)
Otherwise, I am doing ok adjusting to my new normal and my face gets rounder with Prednisone as the culprit. Meghan thinks I look more like Santa Clause everyday which made me laugh...good timing too as temporary cosmetic changes shouldn't really rank as high on my list as they do sometimes.
My Phillie relatives are up 1-0 and as a former San Diego native, any Dodger loss is a good one.
If you see me (and recognize me), say Hi and we can even shake or hug if you are feeling good-just don't tell my docs:)
Not much else to report but blogs are good for mundane and rambling too right?
Miss you all at work and hope to back in some capacity after the turn of the year.
Day by Day

Rich

PS: pictures up top are my Mango (pup & now) and bottom is Mocha in Maui & Elle in AZ, my sister's new Golden...and she is definitely the cutest:)

Nice Weekend Visit

Hay all
My sister and her daughter came to visit this past weekend joined by my Mom. We got to catch up, go to Tommy's football game and just hang out. She lives on Maui and misses her mainland family and was able to visit Cyndie in Sedona too (other sis). It rained here in SLO and it felt great to have a little weather and cold as we have had a pretty good Indian summer period so far. I continue to truck along with my this cGVHD stuff with no real changes to report. My eyes are improving according to my Optho doc and the weekly conference call on cGVHD out of the University of Michigan continues to provide me with some really great insight and info. Please pray for my friend John as he struggles through these first few weeks of his BMT. His blog is listed on my site.
It was so great to see you Beth and Emily and if my face gets any rounder from prednisone, I will have to steal political pundit, James Carville's nickname from him (Captain Cueball).
Halloweens coming-'cool'

Rich

Emily & Katy Beth & Emily Me & my future best man, Colin 1977

PS: Go Chargers...please!