Wanted to share something I was given before I forgot

I don't really have anything to share today other than a link to a web site that I was given by a woman that Patty and I have come to know during the past week. It is a story about a lady with Lupis, that when asked how it feels to be sick without really looking sick by her best friend, she came up with this response. I think this works for a lot of us that on the surface don't appear to be in too much distress, it may also help some of us not to pre-judge some people that park in handicap stalls (with placard) that don't look like they need to. Here is the link http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ I hope you can figure it out. if not, let me know and I can send you a .pdf. Let's just say that Patty and I are watching our spoons, some days I have alot, some days I don't. Patty has to be careful with hers, but it's hard not to over extend yourself. Not too much else, we are getting ready to descend on Bruce and Cara in Parowan for the Labor Day, Iron County Fair weekend. Looking forward to seeing everyone and having a great time with family and friends. Can't wait for those Lion's Club Pancakes Monday morning before the parade. I had to go to my dentist, Dr. Kintonis to get checked out and cleared to do the transplant before I go back to SLC. I didn't have any cavities, but I've got some pretty old crowns in my mouth and he found that one of them needs to be changed because the tooth underneath it is wearing away and creates a problem, so tomorrow (Thurs Aug 28) he is going to prep me for the new crown and then get the permanent one in a couple of weeks. I think the tooth already has a root canal, so it shouldn't be too bad, but hopefully it doesn't get in the way of enjoying all the food and activities in Parowan. I'll be giving some blood the Friday after Labor Day in preparation for my next appointment with Dr. Te the following Friday. I hope the numbers improve from last time. So I had nothing to say, but rambled on for a few small paragraphs. Hope you are all well, safe and healthy. Until next time

Went to Cedar City for test results

I got up Thursday morning and made a quick trip to see Dr. Te. He goes to Cedar every couple of weeks and so this Thursday happened to be one of his travel days. I decided to change my appointment because we have care givers for Patty all day on Thursday and I would have had to make special arrangments if I would have kept it on Friday like always. Besides, it gave me a chance to have lunch Cara and also run over to Parowan and see mom and dad for a while. It was a long day, but a decent day. Unfortunately, all the numbers stayed about the same, so that's the good news, everything is working pretty well, but the M-Spike number remained at 0.4 so that was a little disappointing, hopefully the numbers drop a little bit next month, I'll be giving my next round of blood work right after Labor Day. We are planning on at least 2 more rounds, the first one will start next Monday August 18th and the second one about 4 weeks after that if all works out OK. We are all looking forward to going to Parowan for Labor Day and as I undertand Linda will be in town, we are looking forward to seeing her over that weekend. I really don't have too much else to add this week, Patty and I are still bouncing back from our Salt Lake Trip and then her visit from Pat Nichols the following week, we have been a little worn out, but starting to get our wind back again. Just in time for Labor Day to get tired again but it's all good, we'll have a great time with everyone and it will be great to spend time with he families. Until next time. Hope everyone is well, healthy and happy. Enjoy life, it can be quite fragile.

Back in Vegas to rest and refresh

As I wrote last week, I didn't get any of the tests that we had originally gone up to get done accomplished because Dr. Petersen wants to make sure my autologic transplant has the best chance of success because we really only have one shot at it. So I'll be back at Dr. Te's office Friday after next to see what the current numbers are and then most likely have at least one more round of Pomalyst before going back up for the tests on or around Oct 1st or so. So, that gave us a couple of days to rest up and relax before the long day of Saturday and the wedding festivities would happen - or so I thought. Wednesday we got up and Patty said why don't we go to Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon for lunch and then maybe ride up to Park City to look around, Donna had never been up there and we thought she might enjoy it. So after a good lunch at Ruth's, we rode up the canyon and made our way to Park City, we rode around for a while to look at all the growth that has and is happening. It is a far cry from the late 70's and early 80's when the main street was almost a ghost town with boarded up building and some other run down businesses and homes. I guess Mr. Redford and his dream of a Sundance Movie Festival had to help that situation. I'm sure there's other reasons, such as the surge of popularity of Utah's Ski industry, but the area is truly grown up now. Then as we were leaving I got the idea to drive up closer to the ski ramps left from the Olympics that you can see from the freeway. When we got up there, I didn't realize that there were so many things happening around those ski ramps that you can't see from the main roads. We didn't get out of the car but pulled over and watched what has to be one of the most Extreme zip lines anywhere that happens right next to the ski jump. It has over 500 feet of fall. First they pull you up the line at a speed that is faster than most zip lines go down hill, then they turn you around and let you fly down the hill at speeds up to 50 mph. In a better day, I think I want to try it. We watched skiers training on several ski jump hills and another zip line that isn't quite as extreme as the tall one. It's at the Utah Olympic Park complex just off the freeway exit to the Park City area. You should go look at it at least once. Then we left and started down the mountain to head back to the hotel, but unfortunately Patty remembered we weren't too far from IKEA, so guess where we ended up. Luckily it was a pretty quick trip through it, but it still put a little dent in my wallet. Thanks to Donna for pushing Patty's chair quickly and staying towards the center of all the isles, so it could have been worse. After making it back to the room, we go to bed and I as hoping for a nice quiet Friday to rest before all the Saturday wedding festivities. We didn't get too fast of a start on Friday, but ended up going downtown to the City Creek development to look around and people watch for a while. It was a pretty good day not too taxing on Patty, but after going all week, she was still pretty wore out buy the time we got back to the room. So Saturday came, early, very early, I almost turned off the alarm and went back to sleep figuring we'd say our apologies later at the luncheon. I am very glad that I didn't. For those that maybe don't know about LDS temple marriages, and the usually LDS Lunches and receptions that follow - none are too exciting to most non-LDS because of the lack of parties, dinners and etc... that occur at most of the world's wedding celebratons. Well this wedding was pretty typical LDS, so it would have been pretty boring for most, but it was good for us. I joke around with many of my non-LDS friends that we don't do very good wedding celebrations, but we do great funerals, some of you will get that. Anyway, the wedding/sealing ceremony was very good, the sealer that performed the service did a very good job with what can be a very short but very important ceremony. He explained some items that we learn in the temple to the couple and honestly I felt pretty good to be there because I hadn't thought about them for a while. I was really happy that Patty had got up and gone with me. We went back to the hotel and rested, when it was time for the luncheon, Patty was pretty tired out, so she stayed at the hotel with Donna and I went to represent us. It was a nice lunch and Cara and Bruce did a good job finding the place. It was a very nice place with a lot of character and a very nice yard for pictures. Then Patty and I went down to the Sugar House area for the reception in what I think is Liz's parent's ward area. It was in a pretty old meeting house on south Highland Drive just south of I-80. Nice old building with lots of character that we don't see too much of any more - especially in newer cities. It looked like a very good turnout of friends and family. We got to see mom's sister Marie and son Drew that I hadn't seen for at least 2-3 years - mostly my own fault. Dad's brother Kent that I also haven't seen for a couple of years since we were both in Huricane at the same time and got to talk for a while. I also got to talk with Lance and Suzy, we decided that I hadn't seen Lance for at least 4 years since they went back to Florida, We also got to have a good conversation with Daniel that I haven't have for some time. Chris and Liz looked very happy, but tired after a long day and after starting before 8:00 am, by the time reception got over after 8:00 pm, everyone in the wedding party had to be very happy, but very, very tired when it was over. looking forward to seeing everyone when we all end up in Parowan over Labor Day. We usually invade Cara and Bruce for that weekend and probably will until they start complaining too much or have another place to invade some day. This has been a lot longer that I intended, I guess the steroids took over again. Until next time.