It's been a long run without being on the forum this time. Softball ended at the end of October, but some what spilled over into November. It took me some time to spin down this year from it. At the end of this year, I might just be done running the league. I'll coach my daughter's team, but not run the league any longer. Drama has snuck it's way into our league, and I said that if it ever did, I'd be done. I am no closer to getting my three plan in place. Well that is not entirely true. The log splitter is in the garage, and I am servicing it. The oil plug has a square head that 9/32. There is not enough room for leverage with a small 9/32 wrench to get it off. Since it's a square head, a standard 9/32 socket will not fit. I'm told I need an old 8 point or 12 point socket to make it work. Unfortunately no one around here has one. It's been recommended to try and get a silkcock 9/32 to get it off. Though I don't think that will work as you'll not have enough torque to turn it. In the end, I am willing to bet that we drill it out, and replace the existing oil plug. The chainsaw went to the shop to be serviced. I'll be starting on the load of logs next weekend. I bought a ton of ENVI-8's ($310 a ton this year) to get me started for the year, and I'll most likely have to purchase a second ton. My son and I cleaned the chimney, and it was downright spotless from burning just Envi-8's last year. Something to be said about that. Though I'd much rather burn the wood. Master bedroom update: For those that remember I am still heating our bedroom with an electric heater. A roofer was due to come yesterday to put a rubberized roof on, but Thursday night's snow put him off a day or two. Once the roof is done I can contact RISE to come run an assessment on our bedroom. They will help pay for the insulation, and they offer a 0% loan that would allow us to put in a mini-split in that room. That should solve our heating/cooling in the bedroom. This has been a longtime and coming solution, but I feel good about the end result. Updates: CANCER SUCKS I did'n't go back to see my last update on my Dad's Esophageal Cancer. If I repeat some stuff sorry. Last winter in February my dad completed his chemo/radiation with our local hospital. Unfortunately that did not rid him of cancer. The chemo oncologist who told us that my dad was too old for surgery at the onset had the balls to tell us after the chemo/radiation that he felt surgery was now a good option. When I asked him what changed, he used his hands to illustrate that the treatments had put my dad in a good place for surgery. Had the treatments put him in this zone(using his hands to show a certain position), no surgery, but because the treatment put him in this zone (you need to image him using his hands showing the zones), surgery is now a good option. When I asked him about the age factor that he claimed disqualified my dad prior to the chemo/radiation treatments, he merely went back to where the treatments put my dad. This idiot must have thought I just fell off the turnip truck. To assuage my dad (who had no interest in surgery), we went to see the surgeon. When we met with him, he essentially fed us the same age line that the chemo oncologist did from the beginning. He did say that if we really wanted it, he would do the surgery. At this point we were at a point where my dad would live with the cancer until it killed him. Though I was pushing for him to go to Boston to get a second opinion from the start of this hole process, and I brought it back up after seeing the surgeon in Providence. I felt like Boston works with 1000s of cancer patients a year where locally they deal with 100s. Big difference. Plus Boston is known for being on the leading edge. He was not really interested in going up there. About two month after the appointment with the surgeon in Providence, you could start see changes. He was having a harder time clearing his throat among other signs. My uncles brother-n-law had lung cancer, and it was operated on by robotics. Dad hearing that came over and told me to make the appointment in Boston. He was all about his surgery being done by robots. Even though I told him Esophageal cancer surgery was not done by robotics. Off to Boston we went. This was mid July. Long story short, Boston thew out all of the records from the previous oncologists. They couldn't tell what was done from them. I had to explain to their nurse exactly what was done in order for them to get a better understanding. Boston decided to run all of their own tests. Considering that the PET CT Scans in RI (2 of them) had shown nothing, I was all for this. Wouldn't you know that the PET CT Scan in Boston showed that something right away. In fact, it showed the team in Boston that their only option at this point was surgery. This test was the begging on August. I received a call the following Tuesday Mid August and they made an appointment for that Friday for us to meet with the surgeon. At this point, I did not think my dad would go through with the surgery. I thought we'd go hear out the surgeon, and come home. Instead we met with the surgeon and with all the confidence in the world, he told my dad that he could do the surgery, and that he has done it on others my dad's age(81) successfully numerous time. To my surprise my dad opted to do the surgery. Originally they scheduled it for a week later. However; considering the risk, I had him push until after Labor Day weekend which was his 82nd birthday. Plus he goes to a local concert with his girlfriend that weekend, and I figured he might as well get that in before his world was turned upside down. I want to stop here and point out a few things that I feel are very important. One: Our local hospitals efforts were not a team effort. The oncologists were never on the same page, and we always felt like we were getting different stories every time we met with them. It was frustrating, and not what you want in a situation like cancer. Boston was always a team. Whenever we met with them, they all were there to discuss the case together. Two: while I felt that the local hospital did their best, their best does not compare to Boston. A local hospital has a cancer area. It handles all the different cancers in one area. A handful of oncologists cover a growing number of cancers. It's impossible for them to keep on the most recent procedures for each type of cancer. At Boston you have areas for each type of cancer where the oncologists concentrated on a specific type of cancer. You don't take your Ferrari to a regular mechanic. You take it to one that specializes in Ferrari's. Three: The local hospital personnel work just as hard as those in Boston, and I get that. However; it comes down to the oncologists. I found our local hospital staff to be outstanding, and absolutely loved them. If given the opportunity to do this all over again, I would not allow my dad to go local. It would be Boston. Period. I met 4 other families in my travels back and forth to Boston that had similar experiences, and said exactly what his paragraph says. This already rather long. I'll wrap it up with a quick post surgery. The surgery went off without a hitch. They said 3 days in ICU, he was there for 2. The stay in Boston was to be 10 days, he was there for 8 days. I could not have asked for a better result. My dad is regaining his strength each and everyday. His biggest adjustment is going from eating 3 meals a day to eating 5-7 smaller meals a day. If he eats too much, he throws up. That has to do with the change in moving his stomach, making is smaller as part of the stomach is now part of his esophageal track. Glad to be back while I have the time. Hope everyone is doing well. Jason from RI.
Sorry to hear about your dad's cancer but glad to hear the surgery went well and you dad is on the mend. Take care
Cancer does suck!! Ive been through the whole chemo thing many years ago. What i have found is something that serious needs the absolute best team even if that means being a bit of a jerk and a bit demanding Good to hear about surgery going well!
Good for you sticking up for you dad and getting him to think about other options - and then getting him in to see the team that got the best results. Glad to hear he is much better, must be a huge load off your shoulders.
Very happy to hear of the successful surgery for your dad, and hope n pray for continuing good health.
Very glad you have your dad and he is getting better. Cancer sucks for sure. Please continue to let us no how you and dad are doing Jason. Hang in there.
On two fronts, being a softball dad and watching both my dad and my wifes dad deal with cancer, best wishes. You are absolutely right ,Boston is the only place to go. Technologically they are so much further ahead. Best of luck and I hope things work out for the best.
Sorry to hear your dad had to go through this ordeal. I understand the importance of a need t get to the best hospital for cancer. My wife had a rare skin cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, that needed an expert opinion. At that time there were only two recognized experts. We traveled from NY to Dana-Farber in Boston, and we're so glad we did. Because of their expert advice they told our doctors at home how to proceed with follow up radiation after surgery. She is now ten years cancer free. At the time this cancer claimed 66% percent of its victims. Im glad you made this decision to get your dad to Boston. I hope others may read this and make a similar decision to visit the best of the best if they need cancer treatment. Best wishes for your dad's continued improvement and long term health.
Glad you are back Jason and that really is quite the story on your dad. Sounds like it is working out much better now and that is great. As for the ball team, that has to be a tough thing to deal with for sure; not so much the kids but the parents, no doubt. The saga continues on the house. Hope that works out.
