Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Activity in Inactivity

Strangely enough I have been busy...the niece has finally arrived and we've been everywhere from the local store to IKEA. I can't believe how young people these days are so oblivious to budgeting for the week. Singaporean are such instant gratificators! Unreliable...

Saw AME Recruiters last week and met 2 of the nicest people - they were brilliant with what they do...not your regular guys at Hays but you can't win all the time can you.

The new Ipod Touch is also great. I get some sparse coverage when I am doing my walk so I can check my location and the weather - dreaming of the holiday that is looming. The screen is also great and I am glad that I got the 32Gb rather than the 16GB. Apparently the resellers are still trying to push the 16GB without the software upgrade! Cheeky....

Apart from that the other half is in Melbourne for the next couple of days and Indra goes to have his chemo on Tuesday and I have an appointment on Mon at 9.30am. For that I still have yet to do my homework but I'll get them done tonight. The boys are currently asleep and I'm watching the Paper Sisters wondering when I am ever going to get through the boxsets.

Now I am also listening to Peter n Pinoyboy... I miss listening to various podcasts at work but I have a couple more weeks to look for work before going on vacation. Oh well c'est la vie!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

No blogging in 5 days

It's amazing but I haven't had the chance to write anything for 5 days. Not that there wasn't anything interesting happening...i.e. I finally gave in a bought a 32GB touch. The other half is in heriting the 8GB nano 3rd Gen. I like it and have been playing with it ever since.

I've also loaded up some pictures in there which is marvellous so that when I get a little despondent, I can look it up and enjoy the memories of better days.

The weather has also been atrocious in Adelaide from 39degrees celcius yesterday to 20.2 this morning with rain expected. It is becoming more and more like Melbourne!

On the work front, I saw some marvellous people yesterday and I believe that they will do a great job in finding me another placement. They have a very positive vibe about them and I am lucky in a way to have met people of a similar mindset.

Till then guys...hope you are having a great time Kevin, Peter/Pinoyboy still trying to download the podcast via wifi when I'm out and about, Andrew - where are you?, Keiran - lessons begin soon I hope and to everyone else - just be Happy!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Final Day @ Work

All is set...lunch is organised at the Sailmaster...champagne, Red Wine and Cabcharge. In the menu Oysters, Whiting and Fillet Steak MR. Why not since it is my very last day with the company.

Regrets - None actually...I thought I should be sad but I am more relieved than distraught. There is just so many other more important things to think about and my schedule for the next 3 weeks is jammed packed with interviews and family affairs.

I have an appointment with the Oncologist on Tuesday for Indra and he seems brighter. I hope remission will see for another 12 months. I am more distraught with that reality than the joblessness.

Just counting the hours now! Wish me luck and happy belated Valentine's everyone...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Australian Government and Communism...

Maybe it is just me or my undeniable 'admiration' for socialism but if we disguise Communism with Democracy then aren't we Socialists? In this day and age, I would think that Maoists are a dying breed but all 'faith' mongers hide behind rhetorics - at the end of the day "THINGS FALL APART!"

Yeats:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming!

Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of "Spiritus Mundi"
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast,
its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Chinua Achebe .... "THINGS FALL APART!"

Beware the silvered-tongue that cast shadows among the original people of the land OKONKWO!

Read on for this I fear is only the beginning and soon 'sleeping' with the 'enemy' will surely cause the Greens some grief:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23206448-5007146,00.html

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

6 weeks 10.4kg and counting.

Indra is at the doctor's today for his Chemo...

SURGEONS must be very careful
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the culprit,—Life!
Emily Dickinson (1830–86). Complete Poems. 1924.
Part One: LifeXLII

WHEN I hoped I feared,
Since I hoped I dared;
Everywhere alone
As a church remain;
Spectre cannot harm
Serpent cannot charm;
He deposes doom,
Who hath suffered him.
Emily Dickinson (1830–86). Complete Poems. 1924.
Part One: LifeLXVI

I am truly at my ideal weight of65kg...I was 25 when I last weighed this much. I have also started on my routine munching (OK snacking!) to see how it affects the metabolism. It has proven to be quite an awakening - apparently the body has adjusted itself to the likes of a well-oiled energy convertor and a little biscuit here and there have proven to be ineffectual to the whole plan.
Lets see what happens in the next couple of weeks with the family in town and all that eating that I'll be doing this Friday at the farewell party!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Brain Freeze...

Not blogging due to Brain Freeze:

1. Indra at Vet tomorrow.
2. Writing up Resumes.
3. Finishing work on Friday.
4. Move mobile plan to Personal on Friday ? N95 on a $49/- plan? Not too sure.
5. Pick up books @ borders on Indian Cooking.
6. Manfrotto Tripod bag purchased.
7. New BOSS shoes...couldn't help it (they were orange).
8. Ordered Nikon BM-7 lens cover from HONGKONG.
9. Contact Employment Agencies.
10. Answer a whole load of Ads.
11. Booked nature tour and restaurant on Friday 22nd (done).
12. Need to find new sunglasses.
13. Need additional camera batteries.
14. Need to sort out health cover and Superannuation this week. Need to rollover Super and get lost super from UniSuper (UNSW) consolidate into AMP.

Need a holiday desperately!!!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Not Well Darling?!



Recovering from Chemo...still feeling lousy but at least he hasn't lost his appetite. I love you darling!

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Monday, February 04, 2008

Oncologist

We arrived early this morning and took a nice walk while waiting for the surgery to open. Indra, though a little tired, went willingly around the block + sniffing around to check whether there were hot girls out there for him to play with. He is a real boy I tell you!

The chemo should take 15 minutes and observation for the next 6-10 hours. I will pick him up at 4.30 this afternoon with a short consult with Dr. Davies on his blood test. I had to fill out all this waiver papers which just intensified my concern but they seem to be on top of things. The receptionist was really pleasant and she reassured me that at any time when the chemo is not going well she will ring me.

I spoke to the hubby last night and we both realised that it will be difficult loosing him but giving him the chance to live with the prospect of a normal quality of life is the only thing we can offer. He will go eventually, sooner than we anticipated but we hope to have some grieving time as the cancer progresses. Remission? Well I really don't know where we stand with this at the moment but in the next couple of weeks, we will see a difference if the treatment has worked.

I spoke to the breeder yesterday to explain to her of Indra's predicament. Like surrogacy, we thought it polite to inform the breeder of his condition and to see whether they'd like to see him over one of the weekends. Lynn and Barry are good people and they love their dogs as much as we do. I didn't want to tell them that we've lost Indra in September where we usually catch up with them at the dog show. I can still remember Indra winning his first ribbon - I was such a proud dad!

Thank you Peter, Kevin and Keiran - my dear friends for your concern and prayers. I know it will go a long way. I haven't given up just as yet.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Beginning Treatment

Treatment starts tomorrow and will take 17 weeks. Multispectrum chemo drugs fourth stage that will hit the cancer cells extensively. There should be some improvement by the 4th to 5th week and at the same time an ultrasound and some Xrays will be done to look for tumors etc. I have asked to work from home on Wednesday seeing that I will probably fall into deep depression at the thought of him being all alone at home when the drugs kick in.

Alas such is life...

The sad news...

I am devastated...Indra my boy have been diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. I guess its like hearing from your doctor that your child is gravely ill and there is no cure. I do not blame the Vet though this is the 4th time I am seeing them. I guess I wanted the Vet to have all the answers but apparently because Indra was still looking so alert, they didn't think to check.

To keep my composure I have decided to focus on treatment so that I can improve his quality of life. Lymphosarcoma is not genetically influenced and no one seems to know how it come about but sometimes it happens to middle and older aged canines but Indra on the other hand is only 5.

So I have to say that I am ill-prepared. Everyone that I know have somewhat been touched by Cancer and I think 2008 has had a real bad start for me. I have been preparing half-boiled eggs over the weekend and mixing it with some wet food...as long as he is eating, he is still getting the nutrients he needs.

We took him to the park yesterday and he was happy though exhausted from the whole affair. The Vet called Saturday with the bad news. I have tried to get out of the mourning mode but it is like a whirlwind...sometimes I am delighted that he is not in pain and at times I feel helpless because I cannot do anything.

I am still unsure whether Chemotherapy is the way to go but I am calling the specialist to book a consult. Hopefully this afternoon coz without treatment I will loose him in 2-4 weeks. Next is to call the breeder to inform them of the bad news as well. They too will be devastated - any dog lover would.
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