With time now awaiting, seems like I need a bucket list. There are domestic and international trips to take, people and places to. See at least once more; and crazy experiences to embrace. I’ve already done stand up twice, so if thats an item, check. I am making a long term travel list and inviting people to join me. I’ll post the travel opportunities as I have them figured out. I don’t want to skydive, but maybe do the I Fly indoor skydiving ( which looks like the thing that got Charlie Good and GrAndpa Joe in trouble in Willie Wonka.). Must remember to wipe the ceiling, and not steal the gobstopper.. there are also some Austin things I want to do at least once more- like Peter Pan mini golf, bowling, SXSW next year, and to try out a “smash room”, where you pay to go all Office Space on things. I’ll. Sprinkle those in with travel. Next up - my problems with algorithms.
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
A bit behindcertainly,I’m remiss in updates
I have several post a to add, but all mostly related to thr top level news. A couple of pesky spots in my brain have been growing, necessitating more aggressive treatment and a recalculation of prognosis overall. Two months ago, I went to Houston to visit my mom. I had scheduled a dinner with an old colleague. After missing the dinner entirely, I decided to just go to my moms house. All visual clues I have used before failed miserably. And since my phone was dead,I couldn’t call anyone or use maps. Fortunately, Jill still tracks me on her phone,so mom, Jill and colleague figured out I was not in Mexico and started brainstorming ways to help. I didn’t quite warrant aSilver Alert,but you can report someone as “expected and not arrived.” Apparently, that means that if any law enforcement person found me on the side of the road, they could look me up and say “your mom is expecting you in Magnolia.”eventually,,I pulled into a Super 8, checked in,plugged in my phone, and saw the extent of the concern to find me. I let everyone know I had been lost, but fine. The next morning, I am getting dressed and see 3 missed calls and 3 texts from my mom. Then the hotel phone rang. That’s a jarring sound- when was the last time you got a call in a hotel room? It was Mr. Patel from the office.
“ your mother is here.”
Props to mom and Tom for tracking me down.
I met them in the Super 8 lobby and followed them back to their house, which I had missed by more than 15 miles. The last bit of the story - when my mom came in, she told Mr. Patel, “ I am Russell,s mom.” Which likely confusedhum, but she ultimately convinced him to ring the room.
Frightened for my safety, Abby drove Jill to Houston, then went back to San Antonio from there. Jill drove me and my car back to Austin, the first of my full “Driving Miss Daisy” new reality.
Jill and my brother talked and decided I likely needed more help. My car keys have been taken, and I am being visited by a rotating visitation of daughters and ex wives. Dr. V prescribed a steroid and then changed up my chemo drugs. Stacy got me a zoom appointment with Stanford medical, and Dr. V said there was one more thing we could try to extend my time, but if I started this infusion chemo, it would likely disqualify me for any trials Stanford might know about.after digging into pros and cons, I started Avastin 2 weeks ago, and several people say they see a difference. I won’t be racing F1 anytime soon, but I may be able to be more independent again eventually.
Still looking at a much shorter runway, I decided I should have a “1st annual last birthday ever. Jill made that happen out at Stacy’s lake compound, and 70 friends and familymmbers attended. I’m going to do this every year, but will add swag. Like a tshirt next year, shot glasses, and other giveaways as years pass.
Though I say I am full on Miss Daisy, I tend tend to define my help by the variety of Downton Abbey characters I need to get me through a day. Starts with Tom the driver. Buttons are tough, so I also need Bates the valet. Jill and the girls often act as butler, maid, and footman, snd even sometimes Miss Patmore the cook. Of course, I am being visited by my 3 daughters: Sybil, Mary, and the middle one (Jan perhaps?).