I win...

It was nice to get away to Vegas and escape the routine. For all of you who aren't familiar with the tournament, once you're 21 or play with a team of 21 year olds you have basketball games on friday and saturday. It's a japanese american intergenerational mingling of drinking, eating, gambling and catchin' up with people you haven't seen since last vegas tournament. Most of the people I ran into were aware of my situation and were happy to see I was looking healthy. I ran into a lot of people and they were saying they check my blog everyday....it's cool that you guys are checking up on me.

Anyways I decided to play some blackjack on Friday night, went on a nice couple of runs and cashed out up almost $200. I went and watched our bball team play on friday and 1st game on saturday....we ended up winning consolation...way to go fellas. Some people were asking if I was dying sitting on the bench watching my team play. But I wasn't, I think my mindset and physical capacity has shifted. I have no energy and don't have a desire to play bball until I can go all out. Usually if I'm on the sidelines I have an injury and would physically be able to handle the game if it weren't for the injury. Sitting on the sidelines with a long term condition puts things in perspective. Basketball will be there when I get back, the key for me is to maintain my health and not exacerbate any of my symptoms (swelling in the left arm).

Looking around the bball gym, in the casinos and restaurants I saw tons of people with shaved heads. It made me feel a lot more at ease, I'm still self conscious...I just need to tan my head. I ran into a couple of people and made the kind of small talk you engage in when you haven't seen them in awhile. They weren't aware of my situation and I was wearing a hat so I just didn't let them in on my little condition...it wouldn't have really added much to the conversation. I feel it's a bit much to unload onto just an aquaintance, you know?

Our family went big on Saturday night and had dinner at Lawry's. Very nice experience, had great food and service. We're taking adavntage of my normal appetite while I still have it. My parents had a great time that night too....rolled out to the Celine Dion concert. They enjoyed it, and then my dad got a royal flush and made enough money to cover the trip. Great times.

I finished the first treament of my second cycle of chemo this morning and things are going okay so far. The side effects didn't kick in until about wednesday last cycle and lasted almost a week. My mom and I had a lot of cancer conversations with various patients today. One pilipino lady had breast cancer and was talking to us about herbs, this other lady was yappin' about insurance companies and all of their denials, back in the chemo lounge my latino buddy (has testicular cancer w/metastases and getting same treatment) is finishing up his last cycle and was talking about his side effects and kids (went to disneyland for his kid's bday yesterday). The last lady was receiving chemo and a while back also during chemo her 19 yr old son had a stroke. She seemed to have a strong character and was able to get through the situation with no problem. She said her son is functioning perfectly now.

Seeing other people and their situations with nagging injuries, multiple side effects and especially their age makes me grateful that I'm fighting this while I'm young and in good physical shape. Medical technology is amazing and everyone being treated at the infusion center looks to be in solid shape. It was nice seeing everyone in vegas this weekend and it's always great reading your guys' comments, I love reading them. Fran....the apple pie was awesome...had 2 pieces last night.

Oh yeah I gained some weight on my two weeks off. Before chemo I was 177, dropped to 170 at the end of the week, 172 at beginning of my first week off, and my mom's milkshakes and good cooking got me back up to 177.5 today. The plan is working.