My pro-time (INR) level has fallen again to 1.2, which isn't a good thing. I may have to take Lovenox shots to get the level back up. I will have my blood checked again next week and if things haven't improved or the level falls once more, then it's more needles for me. It's interesting how things can go awry, but I will follow the doctor's orders and hopefully things will get better. I'm feeling fine, wouldn't be able to tell you things are going badly with the Coumadin. Speaking of Coumadin, it's time for me to take my daily dose.

Tonight I will be going to see the fireworks down at Summerfest. I stopped at the hospital on the way home and got my blood drawn to check my pro-time (INR) level. It bleed more than it has recently so hopefully that means the Coumadin is thinning my blood and I will reach the therapeutic level.

As I stated in an earlier post, one year ago, I went to the hospital to have a biopsy done on a swollen lymph node. What a year it has been. All sorts of conflicting emotions are running through my brain as I recollect, but I am amazed at the difference between then and now, just how good I am doing. Summer's here and I plan on doing all that I didn't do last year. Today is a scorcher, oppressive, yet wonderful. Each day is wonderful no matter what the experience, I'm alive, have an extraordinary family, and an incredible group of friends. First and foremost I will be going down to see the big bang fireworks opening night of summerfest. I can't think of a better way to start my summer.

Monday went by as quickly as the weekend. I'm busy at work, which is a good thing. I can't believe how nice the weather has been lately, nice to get outside to walk or bike ride. I'm looking forward to watching some good fireworks this week at the big bang and the 3rd of July. Last year I missed the big bang because I was in the hospital (after the biopsy) so I definitely want to go this year.

The weekend has been busy, fun, and now I'm ready to relax. I went out by Kim's Friday night and we all went out to the new McDonald's in Waukesha for dinner ($1.00 Quarter Pounders) then to downtown for Friday night bands. We wandered around, listened to music, watched a pottery demonstration, looked at tattoos, and had gelato. Saturday I helped out at Kim's rummage sale to raise money for the 88th Signal Battalion, then we went to Scott's sister Melinda's Summer Solstice party. I had a really good time hanging out with Kim, Scott, Sarah, and Nicholas. I got home around 10:00am this morning. I plan on relaxing, reading, doing a puzzle or two, watching TV. It's been a great weekend.

My pro-time is hovering around 1.8 and I need to be at 2 or above to be therapeutic. My medicine has been increased to 10mg a day to bump up my levels. I have to get my blood checked again this coming Thursday. Yay, more needles.

The food at work was delicious. For lunch I had a shredded beef sandwich, deviled egg, shrimp salad, chips and dip, fruit pizza, and of course, some of my banana cream trifle. I got compliments on my creation and it was almost gone by the time I left at 3:00pm. I stopped and had my blood drawn, to find out how my counts and pro-time are doing. I'll get the results tomorrow. Tonight I'm going to watch some TV and read a bit. I'm doing well, feeling great.

Tomorrow is food day at work. It is a picnic/pool party. I just made a banana cream trifle. I hope people like it. It contains layers of banana bread chunks, bananas, banana cream pudding, chocolate pieces, and cool whip. It was really simple to put together. There's going to be beef barbeque and shredded turkey sandwiches and whatever sides, snacks, desserts people bring in. I love food days!

An open audition to the producers of The Price is Right and CBS executives: I am interested in hosting the game show. I am witty, entertaining, and engaging. I can relate to people easily, am confident, secure, and knowledgable. My family, friends, cohorts, and their friends can attest to my genuine character. Please contact me for further information, I look forward to standing in front of a test audience. Thank you.

Stopped and got more prescriptions refilled after work (Coumadin and Nexium). Dragged the bike out and rode the trail for about 40 minutes. Napped on the couch for a while afterwards. Now I'm wondering what I'm going to do for dinner tonight. Too lazy to cook, but even lazier to get in the car and go through the drive-thru. Microwave cooking it is!

Just got to work, thought I'd post before the day begins. I am relieved by the drop in humidity, opened windows in the apartment, there was a nice cool breeze off the lake. Storms rolled through after I went to bed, woke me up briefly, but I went back to sleep immediately. I just remembered I was going to stop at the store on my way in to pick up something for lunch. Guess I will be running at noon.

This is my 301st post. I can't believe I've been writing all this time. I want to thank everyone for their continued support and interest. I am doing great. Things are so different from a year ago, when I was sick, but didn't know what was going on yet. At this time, I had the enlarged lymph node, low grade fevers, night sweats, and weight loss. Now I only sweat from the humidity and can't seem to lose the extra pounds I have since put on. Today is Father's Day and I am going to meet Mom and Dad for breakfast. Later on I hope to get in a bike ride, if the weather holds up. It has been beautiful out this past week. I'm off to start my day.

My DVD surround sound system died last night while I was watching Finding Nemo. Not sure what happened but the movie cut out and none of the command buttons worked. I couldn't even open the player to retrieve the DVD. I used a screw driver and unassembled the box to get it out. Needless to say it's still in parts on the floor. I will not attempt to reassemble it, but will start shopping for a new system. It's a good excuse to get out shopping!

What a beautiful string of days. It's the weekend, which looks good, nice temperatures. I plan on hanging out, keeping busy, riding my bike, visiting my parents. Nothing stressful, just enjoying the nice weather while it lasts.

I managed to get in a bike ride, do some laundry, and am now wondering where I going to pick up dinner from. I'm doing well, everything is fine, not anything too concerning. Considering a year ago I was in the beginning stages of my illness, anything that happens now pales in comparison. The weather has been beautiful, I'm glad I got my bike out. I'm still receiving disability checks from the government, which baffles me. I have contacted them about returning to work, have provided the information they requested. I'm not cashing any of the checks, waiting for notification from them that my payments have stopped. We shall have to wait and see.

Tonight is laundry night. Tonight is biking night. I have decided to start by biking two blocks south, two blocks west, four blocks north, then two block south. Every week I will add two blocks as I strengthen up. My legs are still sore from my biking adventure on Saturday.

Why do weekends fly by? Never enough time to do what you want to and sleep. Yesterday I bowled for a MS benefit. Three games, 113, 100, and 116, good for me. I had a good time, won a door prize and a raffle prize. Today I did a lot of running around, got outside. Now I'm ready to lounge.

I'm up early, going to head out on my bike shortly. I went over by Brian's after work yesterday and got the bike tuned up and we went for a short ride. I definitely have to rebuild muscle mass. It was great getting on the bike though. My blood counts are still low, more monitoring. I'll have it checked again in two weeks. I got home last night, had some dinner, then proceeded to fall asleep on the couch. Guess I was tired. Well, I'm off to the bike trail.

I got my blood drawn, will find out results some time tomorrow. I've been watching the news, they are being vigilant about the approaching storms. The reports are making me nervous, I hope things aren't as bad as they are stating. I have my flashlight next to me, water, and shoes ready to head down into the basement if I need to. Tomorrow I am finally going to go for that elusive bike ride. It's supposed to be a nice day.

It seems like I'm always hungry and tired. Today especially. Not much to rant about, it was a quiet day at work, kept busy. Tonight I am going to read. Not too exciting. I'm feeling good, hungry, and tired. Got a nice walk in after work, took a short nap, and had dinner. Tomorrow I will be getting bloodwork done, checking levels and Pro-Time. I'll stop after work to have that done.

Very cranky right now. About 2:30am the smoke detectors in the apartment started going off. It seems the drunken guy in apartment 1 fell asleep with a pizza in the oven. While there wasn't an actual fire, the halls were filled with smoke and the horrible smell of burnt pizza. I finally fell asleep around 4:00am. Up at 5:20am and out the door by 6:00am. What a loser. I'm sure the manager and owners will be getting lots of complaints today. I stopped and picked up a mocha at Starbucks on the way in and right by work there were four deer along the creek. Calmed me and actually made me smile. Now I'm ready for a nap. Back to work.

After work, I stopped at home, got the mail, and headed over to Mom and Dad's for dinner with them and Michael. Shredded Beef, yum! When I returned home, the news was covering a plane crash. I watched the coverage and wondered if the plane had flown over my apartment building on take off. What a terrible tragedy. The news will be covering this story for days.

I went for a long walk on the trail along the lake, got caught in the rain. I got soaked, but oh well. The doctor told me to increase my physical activity. Going to Steve and Tracy's son Ryans 2nd birthday party in a while. Jody and Kim will be there. I'm doing well, feeling good, it's the weekend after all.