Hello again!

Well, I'm back at 1224 and back at work...yuck!

I took last week off because I had some major tasks to attend to. Plus, aweek off of work is a great way to start a new year. Seems like every other year, the first week is a week off for me due to medical problems. In 2003, I had kidney stones; in 2005 I thought I had chest pains, but it turned out to be only high stomach yuck and stress. This year, 2007, started no different.

Back at the end of October, I went to a new internal medicine doctor. My previous doc had decided to go into hospital administration so I went to see his replacement. I had already decided I wasn't going to like him. But, I did like him...he sat and talked with me for 45 minutes on the initial visit. He actually asked questions and listened. He asked about hobbies, activities, family history, eating history, nationality...he tried to find out what exactly I am doing or not doing. Of course he did the routine blood work and chest x-ray. In November he called with the results...cholesterol 176, sugar 97, everything good and within the normal range. I was surprised, but happy. He also saw a mole on my back that didn't look right. BUT, he saw something on my chest x-ray that wasn't right. He saw a fullness in my right lung. He asked if I had any past chest x-rays done so that he could have them compared by a radiologist and see what it is. I did have the ones taken in January 2005 when I had the stomach flare-up. Actually, he pulled the report up on his PC since it was at St. Thomas. The report also mentioned this fullness, but did not carry it further.

So, on the day I went to the dermatologist, I stopped and got my x-rays to give to Doc Kayser. The derm snipped nine skin tags and looked at the mole on my back. He said it needed to go. So I scheduled that for December 15. I didn't hear anything from Dr Kayser until December. He had thought I sent the x-rays to the radiologist...like I knew who it was?? The week before Christmas he called and said that the radiologist said the spot had increased in size and I needed to get a CT scan. It could be anything from scar tissue to an infection to mold to a tumor. Needless to say, I was devastated. With cancer running in the family, I knew someday I would probably have that fight, but I wasn't happy it was so early in my life. I scheduled the scan for January 2. Christmas came and went, and as my nerves and mind thought through all the scenarios hourly, I was a wreck. As you know, I am a compulsive worrier. If I don't have something to worry about, I worry why something hasn't gone wrong so that I would worry about it.

The 2nd dawned and at 7:30 I was at Premier Radiology in West Nashville. By 8:15 I was out the door. Simple procedure, except they shot me with iodine to make the blood vessels show up. I asked if it would make me pee orange or purple or something. Nope...just regular ol' yellow.

So I paced and worried all day Tuesday. At least I had scheduled my final exam for the English Paleography class I had taken by correspondence from BYU for Wednesday morning. That took my mind off things studying for it. Wednesday morning rolled around and I went to Nashville Tech for the exam. It has to be administered through a college testing center now. So I was in there from 9:30 until 11:30. At least I retained what I studied and I think I did great! Still waiting for the grades to be posted for it.

By 2:30 no word from the doc. After the CT scan, I asked the tech what it showed. Hey, it doesn't hurt to ask. He grinned and ran the line, "You know I can't say anything." I then asked how long it would be before my dr would get it. He said their staff would look at it and make a determination within 24 hours then courier it to my doctor. COOL! But by 2:30 and nothing to keep my mind occupied, I was freaking a bit. I was leaving for a trip to Chicago on Thursday afternoon and didn't know if the doctor had my cell number. So I called...no answer. Was he even there this week??? I waited 15 minutes and tried again...finally, someone answered. I told her my story and gave her my numbers and added that I was a worrier and dying while waiting to hear from him. About 45 minutes later, while I was on my land line with Paulette from the office, my cell rang and it was Dr. Kayser. OK, here it goes...

He said I have a calcified granuloma in my right lung. I must have had an infection, possibly histoplasmosis, and the remnants calcified over time instead of disappearing. It is benign, and should pose no health problems; it will always be there and need not be removed. WHOA! I'm going to live!

I didn't tell alot of folks about this. If you are someone I told, thank you for your concern and prayers. I am deeply appreciative!

So Thursday I went to Chicago. Flew Southwest (thanks to my godsons Alex and Sam!) and stayed downtown at W City Center. It's a Starwood Hotel and used to be the Midland Hotel on Adams between LaSalle and Wells. My Great-Aunt Mayme used to be the head of housekeeping there in the 1960's. It was a great place...a little small and a bit youthful. Lights and music in the lobby or "living room". Candles burning everywhere, and fresh amaryllis in all the vases. Colors were a simple black and white.

I did some genealogy research on my Grigal and Wozgard families. I found a lot of info, mostly obits. I also did some shopping and a lot of walking. I didn't rent a car, so I hoofed it up and down Adams and State and Michigan and Wabash. Walked Millennium Park. Walked Wacker Drive along the river. Went to the Preds/Hawks game Friday night. Preds won 8-3. Meet some nice guys at the game. Had a great chat with them.

Went to St. Peter's on Madison for Mass on Saturday night. St Peter's is a great church tucked in the middle of the block between Clark and Dearborn. The Franciscans who run it are from the same province as the ones I had growing up at St. Christopher's. There is a nice gift shop downstairs from the church and I found the book I was looking for. It is put out by the Archdiocese and has photos and a write-up of every church in the Archdiocese. It's great!

After Mass, I went to Bennigan's to watch the playoff game. Sunday, my flight was at 2:30...checkout was noon. I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare...alas, my flight was an hour delayed. So I finally got home about 5:30.

So here I sit after watching Nashville beat Anaheim 5-4 in OT. Nashville played pretty pathetic. Vokoun was back in goal and I know that Mason would have stopped at least 2 of the 4 goals. But it was Vokoun's first game back from the broken hand...

So that's life recently. I am sad to know that I have a hard spot in my lung...but overjoyed that it should pose no problems. My incision on my back from the mole removal has healed nicely. It was a good 2 inches long. The pathology tests on it were negative. Have to go back to Dr Kayser on January 23rd for a 3 month check-up. He gave me a checklist to do last time...see the dermatologist, get my blood pressure down to 130/80, lose 1/2 pound a week, exercise more and try to eliminate "whites" from my diet--potatoes, rice, sugar, white flour. So I have exercised more, bought a bp monitor and try to take it everyday to see what's what...although it has been high throughout the past weeks..., saw the dermatologist, been off potatoes and eating whole wheat bread...and have lost a total of 23 pounds since mid-September. So I'll see what he says on the 23rd.

Well, time for bed...I am worn-out. Oh, Monday we got a new boss...our new Commissioner of Revenue will be Reagan Farr, our current Deputy Commissioner....ehhh. Today, a historic vote was taken in the state senate. For 36 years, John Wilder was Speaker of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor. He is 85 years old. In Tennessee, the Lt. Governor duties are assumed by the Speaker of the Senate. In most states, the Lt Governor and Governor candidates run on a ticket and are popularly elected. Here, only the Governor is elected...the Lt Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Comptroller, Secretary of State are all elected by the Senate (Lt Gov) or the legislature as a whole. Since the Republicans have a slim majority, 17-16, in the senate again, it was going to be a battle for speaker. Wilder is a Democrat, but had two Republican senators broke ranks and vote for him last session, and he won the contest 18-15. Today, all Republicans and one Democrat voted for Ron Ramsey for Speaker and he beat John Wilder 18-15. So, the legislative process may get some new twists this session...and get some work done!

OK, enough for tonight...have a pleasant and restful night!