You're a mean one, Mister Grinch

Well it wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit from the Grinch.  Ours this year came in a letter from the Columbus Radiology Group threatening to send us to a collection agency.  Yes, those same grifters who have been hounding us since my original diagnosis.  Johnny had to make yet even more phone calls to our insurance company and then to the Radiology Group to try and get things worked out.  He believes they have it right now, but like Fox Mulder* – I trust no one- so after the first of the year when these clowns decide to come back to the office I’m insisting on a zero balance statement. He says the insurance company has its phone call to the group recorded and they clearly say we don’t owe the money but they certainly keep on trying.

Thursday morning came way too early at 5:30 am once again for our trek across town.  The Zangmeister Center was packed with chemo patients and I didn’t have my usual chemo nurses.  The subs were great also, but both Johnny and I felt a little off.  We’re creatures of habit and we like our little routine that we’ve established there. But hey they were buried since they were only open half a day Tuesday and closed all day Wednesday for Christmas so I guess we’ll get over it.

Friday, Nephew Allen came to town along with Ashli and Rylie.  They purchased a new car for Ashli and we had a few minutes to visit and catch up. The old car almost made it in the nick of time, but not quite. It broke down just north of Delaware, putting BJ and Camden on the road for a rescue run. It was just one of those Fridays.  Somehow earlier in the day a contractor managed to cut through a major WOW line.  That left Johnny with no phone or internet service for the entire day.  Not a happy boy since the business relies on phones and internet. But the guy who dug will really pay since the word is the lines were clearly marked. It cut off something like 20,000 customers. And the lines were marked!

*reference to the old X-Files tv show for the uninitiated

Merry Christmas from Rose and Tillie

It was a nice quiet Christmas. Tomorrow, up two hours before dawn (actually a little more than that) for the weekly trip across town. The good news is that after tomorrow, only two more of those trips.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Jake, Elizabeth their beautiful daughter Caroline have invited John and I to spend a little time at their house on Christmas Day.  We’re looking forward to seeing them and getting out of the house for awhile.  Due to cold/flu season we’ve been staying in and away from people in general. Chemo just does a number on white blood cells and they’re the key to the immune system.

Our day started at 5:30 am and is just now slowing down at 8:00pm. Johnny’s been busy this week so I’m giving him a little time off from the blog.  I don’t know what I would do without him.  He helps so much around the house and it’s good just knowing he’s here if I need anything.  The greatest gift is that he’s here.  So often there’s really nothing he can do for me.  And because of steroids, I can get a little testy. Only three more chemo treatments, three more iv doses of steroids and Benadryl with a poison chaser.

Crisis and mystery, joy and redemption, all around the corner – Jon Katz

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo

Last night we were at the zoo, which is this year marking the 25th anniversary of its Wildlights program. Somewhere along the line the folks at the zoo were thinking what can we do to get people out here in the winter. And the answer was to decorate the place with Christmas lights. Great answer too. Naturally it's grown over the years, to the point where they have somewhere in excess of three million lights. Sponsorship is everything in this era. So AEP changed them over to led lights, got to put their name out there, and in the process cut the electric bill for the event by something like 90%.

Anyway this wasn't just any ole visit to the zoo. It was actually a present from our friends Jim and Mariann.  Mariann is a docent at the zoo. And as the Wildlights program grows like wild they somewhere along the line decided to start offering guided tours after hours limited to groups of 28. They have small trams that hold 8 people and drive you around the zoo to check out the lights and of course the animals (and the fish since the official name is Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).

So this turned out to be pretty educational as each tram had a couple docents. These people are well versed in all things zoo. While I knew the Columbus Zoo has grown phenomenally over the years I had no clue it was the third largest in North American behind only San Diego and Toronto. Or that they could pass both zoos next year when the new African exhibit opens. I did know that the Columbus Zoos first claim to fame was when they had the first baby gorilla born in captivity many moons ago. I did not know that gorillas really REALLY value their beauty rest. So much so that they’re cranky the next morning if they don’t get the requisite amount of shut eye. Suffice it to say that the gorilla exhibit is off limits to late night tours.  

Here’s another fun fact. Many of the animals are trained to cooperate for their well being checks. Like the bears will actually present their claws for trimming and actually appreciate it. Or the bats will spread their wings to be checked for injuries.

It was 22 degrees last night but as long as you dressed for it the cold wasn’t that bad. The snow cover really made it especially scenic. We were both pretty excited about the whole deal yesterday and the tour didn’t disappoint. It ended with a light show synchronized to music at the lake which provided a couple photo opportunities, although the pics really don’t do the scenery justice.  Thanks again Jim and Mariann.


 
 

Thursday chemo day update

This will be a short post, it was a long week with little sleep, but we wanted to keep everyone up to date.

Ok, another day started at 5:30, so maybe 5:40, but in any event the National Weather Service said the wind chill was 1 degree this morning and I really did not feel like being packed in ice for several hours.  But off we went for yet another round of taxol.  Beth and Kim my chemo nurses were great as they always are.  The Zangmeister was closing early today for their company party…everyone was excited until they realized that the schedules were being compress to make the early closing possible.

And what a difference a week makes.  Momma and baby deer needed to find a new home after the doctors at the Zangmeister decided that people driving by on the freeway couldn’t see their sign so they bulldozed the south end of the woods where the deer had been living. Here’s to hoping they at least found a home a little farther from I670.