Winter Notes

We had fiercely winter weather (for the Northwest) last week, and now December is not looking much better.  The bad weather was accompanied by info from the FAA that it does not choose to provide Ed with the medical certificate which he needs to keep his pilot license current.  Its policy, apparently, is that if he survives for 3 years from a diagnosis of metastatic cancer, they will reconsider his application.  There is apparently an appeal process, but it is hard to see what information could be provided that they did not already receive.  It makes one irritated, but there is not much to be gained in that, so he will see what the appeal process is when he gets the official letter from them, which has not yet arrived.  In the meanwhile, Jerry is happy to fly with him, which is acceptable practice.

Also, three weeks is up, so there was another Avastin infusion on Tuesday, and another CEA reading, as well.  Last month it was 3.0.  Currently, it is 4.0.  Don't know what that means.  It's in the wrong direction, certainly, but not much.  Ed sees the doc in another 3 weeks (every 6 weeks) and there will be another reading then, so we will see.

On the "what's actually going on" front, Ed remains the same.  (Mia and interested others: the storage room now has drywall and will soon be mudded and taped if we don't all go crazy, which mudding and taping seems to bring out.)  His weight is steady, energy is reasonable for this time of year (the greyness and wet/coldness of November always takes some getting used to...one definitely feels like not getting up until the sun does, which some days seems like not at all).  And we are overall of good cheer, although we neglected to do much about Thanksgiving or Ed's 75th birthday.  Noticed them, said 'Hi!.'  Then moved on to other things. This is not special for this year; it's what we have done for decades.

We spent a few days up at the Canada house, which remains unsold, but still loved by us.  Hope it is warmer and sunnier, wherever you are.