Thursday, April 23, 2020

Meanwhile, back on the ranch....

As I said in my last post I'm feeling better, more chipper and at least theoretically energetic.  The blood work shows a vast improvement, with most levels at or at least closer to normal.  That includes the cancer marker test, which is the lowest I've ever had.   Excellent!  We're going to keep on with the current pills (no IVs) and see how we are doing COVID and blood work wise at the end of next month.  And I'm sure there will be a CT scan in my future.  

I got to go to a private ranch again today, and though the birds were slow to come in initially (rain and lightning before sunrise) they were entertaining as always.  Bird of the Day though was a beautiful snake, two came into the blind making almost no disturbance (where were you Green Jays?).  Things really heated up later in our stay, with a quail and turkey invasion among the flocks and flocks of Northern Cardinal and Green Jays.  It's so peaceful to just go sit in a blind and see what comes in - of course my host was great at keeping food in front of the birds, if artfully hidden for her pics!  

Monday, April 20, 2020

Another couple or three weeks in isolation.

So I’m definitely feeling ok but still having allergy issues.  I’m back on drug A after two weeks on Drug B with no issues.  I have blood work and a doctor visit (or call) week, but I’m expecting we will let it all ride another month as we hope to get back to the next normal.

I normally work a few hours on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, with no human interaction beyond one paperwork handoff.  I was invited to see a new private ranch (new to me, the ranch has been there a long time).  This photo ranch is closed for the month.  One of the guides invited me to visit, and it was a glorious day.  Nice cool weather  helped, but peacefully sitting and watching birds come to the photo pond was very relaxing.

Unfortunately I found that my car was vandalized the night before.  It must have happened at home in my driveway which doesn’t make me comfortable.  They took a hammer to my wheel well and a punch of some sort to my license plate.  Last week I found my front plate sticking way out as though someone tried to pull it off, and the same plate had several holes punches in it.  Kids I suspect but I am not happy about it and feel violated.

That's about it for now.  I slept throught he night the last two nights, for the first time in months.  I feel pretty good but wilt in the humidity.  I am still having trouble mentally with starting projects.  Once started I can complete them but starting is hard, procrastinating wins.   Getting harder to blame the chemo drugs for that.

If it wasn't cancelled the Weslaco Spring Chirp Birding Festival would be this week.  We made the right decision.