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Some very funny, topical cards at someecards.
Celebrities' Baby Naming - Somebody stop them. Think of the children!
Hey, Cinderella, how big is your carbon footprint? Find out here.

Big C Update, Part Twoth

The good news is, not only do I get a chemo "vacation," but it was the doc's idea. I'm sure he sensed that I was on the verge of throwing in the towel.

The bad news is, that's the only good news. My numbers are almost the same as they've been for the past four months, and a few of them are creeping in the wrong direction: IgG, IgA, IgM, Monoclonal Protein and those pesky Free Light Chains.

So, enough, at least for now. I get a month off. Meantime, I will have yet another scan, and try to figure out why my hips are giving me so much trouble. (I refrained from saying "My hips don't lie!") Depending on where the numbers are a month from now, Doc thinks I should either go back to Revlimid or maybe get on a clinical trial. I'm not so sure, but maybe after a month off, I'll be a little more amenable to the idea.

Mini-rant: I'm tired of radiologists who try to justify their outrageous bills by writing their reports in impossible medical-ese. Schmorl's nodes, Scheuermann-type changes, Multilevel spondylitic ridging. One of my favorite terms: grossly stable. I can -- and have -- spent an hour with a medical dictionary, but it would be so much easier if they would just climb off their pedestals and write their reports in English.

Stargazing

If you live somewhere dark enough to see a beautiful summer sky at night, you might want to know what you're seeing. Go here, and type in your zip code and the date to see a map of your night sky:
www.wunderground.com/sky/index.asp

There are also some beautiful photographs of weather/scenery.

Big C Update

In the early 80s, there were two recurring characters on Saturday Night Live that were particularly memorable. Joe Piscopo and Robin Duke played Doug and Wendy Whiner, a couple who -- as you might guess -- whined about everything. (Well, in the early 80s it was funny, especially if you were stoned.) I haven't said much about The Big C lately because, even to myself, I'm starting to sound like Wendy Whiner:
My baaack hurts.
My nuuumbers suck.
My riiibs hurt.
My hiiips hurt.
My nuuumbers still suck.

I justify my crankiness by reciting to myself my litany of treatment over the last 18 months:

• radiation
• chemo
• prep for stem cell harvest
• port insertion
• blood clot from port insertion (which felt like a rusty harpoon sticking out of my neck and was probably the worst of the whole stem cell experience!)
• stem cell harvest
• big, hairy mega-chemo followed by stem cell transplant
• port explosion and replacement
• spinal surgery
• more chemo
• and yet more chemo

But so what if some or all of the whining is justified? What's the point? Doesn't endear me to anyone. Doesn't make me feel any better. I skipped my support group meeting last month, afraid that if I opened my mouth, Wendy would speak. I'm feeling a little more confident today, especially after venting here, so I'm going to a meeting tonight. My feelings about the group's usefulness to me fluctuate wildly, but they are all wonderful, sincere people. Even if I did channel Wendy Whiner, they'd probably still be caring and supportive (at least the first time).

Following my post about what I believe was my last chemo, I received a note from a fellow MM patient who has been through a rough time recently. I was comforted to hear her say she knew what I was feeling, but she cautioned me not to give up yet, and I know I will at least hear what the doc has to say, and listen with an open mind.

$1.4 million per day fighting health care reform

The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records. The tactic is so widespread that three of every four major health-care firms have at least one former insider on their lobbying payrolls, according to The Washington Post's analysis.

And that's the problem right there. Our Congresspigs need us for elections, but then they discard us like a used tissue. We can't ante up like the big boys, the lobbyists.

The health care industry is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying. And most of the lobbyists are barely-former politicians and political aides. Overall, health-care companies and their representatives spent more than $126 million on lobbying in the first quarter, leading all other industries, according to CRP and Senate data.

Didja get that - $126 million in the first quarter? This is why, when those drug companies and health insurers vow to help cut costs, we have a hard time believing them! This is also why every discussion about health care must include a discussion of campaign finance reform. It looks like I'm in good company with the folks at Change Congress:

Here at Change Congress, we believe that politicians should work for the people, not special interests. But it’s not enough to push politicians to stay out of the system of corruption—we have to reform the system itself. That’s why we support a hybrid of small-dollar donations and public financing, to keep big money out of politics.

I would like to see this administration completely upend the lobbying industry. The Supremes decided (wrongly, in my opinion) that imposing restrictions on lobbyists infringed on their freedom of speech. The result is an engorged, constipated Congress that has abandoned the business of The People, focusing instead on its next meal. Now that we see what a dark, dirty place that path leads to, I think it's time to revisit that decision.

Al Franken gets the Senate seat and the last laugh

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. And I get the second-to-last laugh!

After 8 months of whining, wrangling and challenging, former SNL writer Al Franken has been declared the WINNER of the Minnesota Senate Race.

And it gets even better: Republican Norm Coleman has been ordered to pay Franken almost $95,000 for his appeal of the election results. Minnesota law required Coleman to cover some of Franken's court costs because the race's outcome didn't change. As far as challenging the election results yet again, Experts Agree: Norm Coleman Doesn't Have a Chance. Give it up, buddy, it's getting embarrassing.

The flip side, of course, is that with the Democratic majority, "the age of excuses and finger-pointing is over." Don't blame your inertia on "bipartisanship," boys and girls, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Job One: Take American Health Care out of the hands of Health Insurers. The charge has already been leveled, by an Independent: Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Demands Democrats Commit to Stopping Health Care Filibuster. Go, Bernie!

An intellectual and closet policy wonk, I believe Al Franken can only elevate discussion of this and other critical issues. And I feel safe in promising you that he will never, ever tell anyone to "go f*ck yourself" from the floor of the Senate.

(Has anyone checked Bill O'Reilly's blood pressure lately? A girl can dream...)

Crazy Comes Back

Incredible, I know, but not only was Crazy back on my porch yesterday, she brought two little nutjob offspring with her. I answered the door, and Lunatella was busy doing something with her cell phone. She said something about coming back to thank me for letting her use my phone the other day (and rifle through my charitable donations and select several for herself)... but I believe we covered that already.

Luny never makes eye contact; meanwhile, the little nutters, around ages 4 and 6, are literally jumping up and down hollering the whole time, causing Miss Molly a serious Freak. She starts barking her Mean Bark, something I might only hear once a year or so. "Uh, okay, you're welcome," I mutter. Before I can shut the door, Nutjob One is trying to open the screen door, yelling, "I WANNA PET YOUR DOG!" Really? This viciously barking, teeth-baring little beast? "Sorry, she doesn't to be petted right now," I say, and this time succeed in shutting the door. I watch her through the shade, making sure she doesn't help herself to anything else on the way out.

Is she casing the joint? Is this just an unstable person who'd skipped her meds for a few days? I honestly could not hazard a guess, but it was clear that something is off. And if by some chance she comes back a third time, I will have no hesitation about calling the police.
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Speaking of crazy... what's the real story behind the resignation of über-Conservative love monkey and professional victim Sarah Palin? Award-winning journalist, filmmaker and historian Geoffrey Dunn has some interesting theories. I'm fascinated that pundits believe the resignation is either (a) a clear indication that she's ready and willing to start working on a 2012 presidential campaign {{{shudder}}} or (b) a clear indication that she's giving up politics and moving to the private sector to make real money and avoid having to resign if certain ethics issues bubble up to the surface.