Monday, October 08, 2007
The thing I've been dealing with front and center these past few days is to recover the household goods that I still have in storage in Guatemala. After considering several shippers, FedEx and DHL and Matthew's results scouring the internet, it is pretty clear that the best way turns out to be going there with a friend and bringing stuff back as excess baggage. That way I calculate the cost for all 730 lbs or so as roughly $1000 plus two round trip air fares, some supplies and transit expenses, and living for a couple of days. Not so bad. So today I put a notice on Craigslist to find a partner. I'll also talk to people at the Temple U. Retiree's Program, the Univ. of Penna. International House, and at my church. I feel sure something will show up. Bill was very interested, but is just facing a hernia operation, and I would like some physical help too, so that is out. Too bad, it would have been fun traveling with him.
I've got to go re-pack all this stuff - there isn't THAT much of it, really - into the standard 50 lb 62" length+width+height containers. Or bigger ones, paying extra for bags #3, 4, and 5, plus more for additional weight, and still more for larger size. All charges are cumulative Still, it is all a good deal and I will just be glad to have this handled.
Guess I can also mention that I decided to UNSUBSCRIBE from the Waldenstroms Macroglobulinia listserv. That was the mailing list for people with Waldenstroms to talk to each other. That feels like an Event, because the listserv was very important to me during the past three months. All those questions and discussions about every possible problem, treatment, side effect as well as summaries of professional and anecdotal presentations. I learned a great deal from all that, including identifying who I wanted to see for a second opinion.
But by now I've talked to the experts I wanted to talk to, and read more than enough from other patients and colleagues. I've done my homework, and gotten my treatment underway. Enough already. So now I can gladly stop reading those 10-20 emails about WM every morning and put my cancer in perspective instead of having it looming there front and center, and move on with my life. Got myself a two new swimming goggles and some Speedos today. It does feel good to be swimming again.
I've got to go re-pack all this stuff - there isn't THAT much of it, really - into the standard 50 lb 62" length+width+height containers. Or bigger ones, paying extra for bags #3, 4, and 5, plus more for additional weight, and still more for larger size. All charges are cumulative Still, it is all a good deal and I will just be glad to have this handled.
Guess I can also mention that I decided to UNSUBSCRIBE from the Waldenstroms Macroglobulinia listserv. That was the mailing list for people with Waldenstroms to talk to each other. That feels like an Event, because the listserv was very important to me during the past three months. All those questions and discussions about every possible problem, treatment, side effect as well as summaries of professional and anecdotal presentations. I learned a great deal from all that, including identifying who I wanted to see for a second opinion.
But by now I've talked to the experts I wanted to talk to, and read more than enough from other patients and colleagues. I've done my homework, and gotten my treatment underway. Enough already. So now I can gladly stop reading those 10-20 emails about WM every morning and put my cancer in perspective instead of having it looming there front and center, and move on with my life. Got myself a two new swimming goggles and some Speedos today. It does feel good to be swimming again.
