Murphy

                                            
Now for the real news. Kat finally talked me into another cat. We picked up a Black DSH (domestic short hair) on the 23^rd from the Arizona Humane Society. Good deal too. I guess this is kitten season and they have an overabundance of cats right now. They are taking donations on any cat adoption. We opted for a locator chip which was $25 and gave a $25 donation. Still a good deal and we didn’t go there knowing that, but it was a nice extra incentive. HARRY !!; his kennel name, is a very handsome with shiny black coat with two white spots on tummy and chest, although not visible standing, 4 year old (Best guess) male. Even declawed front and back. Mild mannered and as I said quite handsome. The introduction process is difficult for Jade. She is being a real bitch so far. Not surprising if you know Jade.  But it’s a done deal and she’ll have to get over it. She’s showing a little progress and Harry is trying and I’m good with it.  The first night we locked Jade in the bedroom with us but now they’re having to make do. We did put out another food and water dish and temporary potty box.  But now there sharing, Jade, reluctantly.

You may be handsome but..             OH Jade                                 Wanna play???
I think the name is Murphy although that is not cast in stone. Jake was in the lead for a while but we also have thought Tank, Angus (Gus) Abrams (the Army tank) and a few others.  Big Guy gets used a lot as does Hey Handsome and just plain ol’ Murph.  Jade has other thoughts but they’re not for use in polite society.  She is still into hissing and spitting.  And she is not declawed.  Murph respects her limits mostly.  But sometimes he can’t seem to resist.  Yesterday he trapped her in the litter box and didn’t want to let her out.  You should have heard that one.  Sometimes he just runs up to play or say Hi! They keep getting closer and closer.  Jade too!  She was playing with his tail a couple of days ago when it was swinging down from the dash and he had his back turned.  So…..  It’s not a problem but they are not ‘Best Buds’ as of yet.  Jade still spends lots of time outside until she turns into Coyote bait but Murph is an inside man.  Mr. Inside and Mrs. Outside.  And Jade has taken to sleeping above my head on the pillow, for protection I think.  Its OK unless Murph gets too close and then I hide under the covers.  Jade is my girlfriend still and Murph is really attached to Kat.  He even paws the bathroom door when she’s in there.  The good news is that Kat has her cat boyfriend and it seems to be a good fit and real easy. 

Chemo

A rock from Stone Impressions.  A business owned and operated by my daughter and Son in Law.  It says it all and, as you may remember, chemo sucks!  But here we are again. As figured, I’m going to have some more. For the curious, this time around I will be on Docetoxel. This is different than the Texas treatment which was some kind of a cocktail.  And I get four treatments at three week intervals.  The last being July 26th.  Then I have 6 weeks off and a reevaluation.  So the schedule is real good and my doctor is trying to coordinate treatments and other visits to cut down on the 80+ mile trip from Dewey.  Real nice.  And If you didn’t catch that last, we did make the move north to Prescott Valley. We are staying at Orchard Ranch RV resort in Dewey. 

Orchard Ranch                        Between here and there                 Good ‘Pie and Ice Cream’

It is a resort.  Nice place too.  All the usual stuff, pool, library, breakfasts and lunches, typical activities like cards and Bingo, pool tables, Bocce ball, shuffleboard, a putting green, and my two favorites, woodcarving and Pickleball.  It’s an outdoor court but well shaded and protected from most of the wind so it ought to play well.  Unfortunately I haven’t been able to play yet, but we’ll see.  I did go to woodcarving and it’s a good group.  We have a dedicated room for woodcarving and there were 12 folks there on my first visit.  They also meet at a church on the 2nd and 4th Saturday.  Missed the first one, but I’ll get there.  That is the Prescott Valley woodcarvers club I think.  I’ll probably join.  We have a nice site.  Not the one we thought we reserved but it is still nice.  We were a little perturbed at first and caused a little bit of a kerfuffle but its over now.  They just have a real stupid reservation policy.  But not one to cut off your nose to spite your face for.  Anyway we have good shade trees, birds to feed and I even got two container tomatoes to grow.  A Big Boy and a cherry tomato.  We’ll see!  You sure don’t dare and forget to water daily.  Oh, I forgot.  They even have a community garden here.  All raised beds.  Something I haven’t done yet but should check out.  The trip up here was kind of cool, I think?  Don’t tell Kat!  We had reservations to be here on the ‘1st and that was a week after my first chemo treatment.  And a week after chemo I am pretty much chemo brain and in a fog.  But I gotta’ tell ya’, I was not wanting to stay another day in the ‘Valley of the Sun’ at 100o’s plus.  So I faked it and we made the drive in the RV.  Poor Kat!  She worked her but off packing up down there and setting up here.  But! We made it OK.  I just don’t remember much about driving, although I did.  It was worth the move.  It is so nice up here.  Last night I sat out until almost dark carving.  Very pleasant with a cool breeze and then at night it’s about 55o or so and we can open doors and windows.  Just real nice!  I can sit out just about any time I want and carve, read, or brush the cat.   
Chemo curmudgeon!
As to the actual treatment, it went very well.  We had to watch a film about the whole thing.  With the change in drug the individual treatments are a little more involved.  I have to take a three day prescription the day prior to chemo for my immune system and another prescription after treatment and as long as needed for nausea. I also have to administer a tummy shot for six days after chemo to assist in taking care of my bones and bone marrow; we got instructions and demos on all that. Even had a private room for the first go around. So all in all this in a much more involved treatment plan and sounds so far a little more aggressive. But as I said, I like the schedule much better. As to side effects, we’ll see. I know to expect hair loss again. Sounds like that’s definite. And I got some stronger pain killer. Oxycodone, and it works real well compared to hydrocodone. No complaints yet. Heavy on the ‘yet’, I guess.