Harbinger

This word, harbinger, has played around in my head for the last little while.  It is a neat word and rolls off of the tongue rather smartly.  I had heard it said that the robin is the harbinger of spring.  When you think about it there are lots of harbingers in our lives.  The other day I saw one and it made me laugh out loud.  From the kitchen sink I am able to see Bob come out of the garage when he gets home.  On this particular day, he was carrying an orange gallon container.  This container had been placed in a majorly translucent bag so the container is very obvious.  That is when the word harbinger popped into my head.  This orange container is the harbinger of all the upcoming lab tests that Bob needs to have done....again.  I am so thankful that the doc keeps him on such a close cancer watch even tho the numbers are low and point to really---no active cancer---those tests come around with such regularity.  This is the last week of chemo for this cycle, next week---is test week-- which is the harbinger of the visit to Tom Baker for the test results.

Check up

Today Bob was back at Tom Baker Cancer Center.  This was his monthly check up--mostly so he is able to get the chemo drugs for another three weeks.  We are so thankful that all the lab work that is done before these appointments--keeps the docs up on what the cancer is doing.  Glad to have that watched so closely.  All this means that he is almost done the week of being chemo free.  We don't miss some of the side affects but the drugs do keep some of the aches and pains in check.  This very wet, cold weather could also be the reason that extra pains are showing up.  Either way today was positive, some of the markers have dropped a wee bit---so much better than going up!!!!!!  He has the appointment for the next PET scan which will be Aug.2.   Looks like it could be a calm summer for Bob health wise.


Ta Da---the numbers  HGB--145
                                    Monoclonal #1--1.7
                                    Kappa/Lambda Free Ratio--1.14

Student Bob

One of the definitions of student, in my old dictionary, is "an attentive and systematic observer".  Bob spent last week studying and observing at Mount Royal University.  These were full days--8:30-5:00 which is a real stretch to sit for that long each day (stretch-sit??? he he).  By Thursday Bob was tired and sore but persevered and finished the course.  Bob was in school with nine other people who came from various employment backgrounds.  Engineers, a city planner from Ft. St. John who had a dairy farm in western MB???, a couple of building managers, builder reps, and Bob's designation-- operations manager.  The course that these folks took  was called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). " The course presents green building concepts and strategies and introduces the ideas and practices that serve as the foundation for more detailed study of green building, particularly as it relates to the green building rating systems of the LEED program and to individual market segments, such as homes, commercial new construction, and neighborhood developments."


Now Bob is studying in order to take a two hour exam that will attest to his knowledge of good environmental practice and skill and reflects his understanding and support of green design, construction, and operations.  Passing this exam would give Bob the designation LEED Green Associate.  Firstly, this is to help Bob with his job as the buildings, that he is involved with, are slated to undergo testing and research as to how they can become more sustainable.  Secondly--it is good for Bob's grey matter.  Thirdly--he loves this kind of learning.
Looks like win , win.


Those snickers that I hear from Bob's "old" friends---well I can only say: "Times Change."


Plus Bob was able to get in all of his lab work---works well going to school closer to the hospital!!!!