What the Chinese Do......................

What I refer to as my "dosage dance" is over for now. I went back for blood work on Wednesday the 13th, and my tach level had jumped to 10 which is a little high for me. I usually 'live' in the 7 to 8 range. Unsurprisingly, they lowered my dose by a little and I had to go back for more blood work on Thursday the 21st. That time, I was back at 7.8 so we'd leave it alone and scheduled my next visit for September. Now for the second part of the "dance".

I get my prescriptions filled by the Pharmacy at the local WalMart (Mr. Kim is excellent - in case anyone in the area is looking for a Pharmacist) and the cost is covered through Medicare and the New Jersey Pharmacy Assistance program - bureaucracies that you need to be aware of when you're in a position like mine. That Thursday night, I called in for a refill of my Prograf prescription, which is the brand name for my tach medication. Knowing what to expect, I stopped by the Pharmacy on Friday morning to make sure that they had the correct dosage. They did not. Mr. Kim and I discussed this and both of us wound up calling my doctor's office during the day. On Monday, I picked up the refill at the correct dosage. "Dance" over, for now.

Throughout all of this, I've still been thinking about Gordon and his situation. While I may find going back and forth for blood tests and having to follow up on prescription changes  to be very aggravating, at least I know that I'm being monitored - taken care of. He doesn't have that.

This has been bothering me, and it's not as if I can go to Doyle or his people and talk about it. They just want him stopped, and they don't care how.

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Yesterday, we started in on our 2nd heat wave of the summer. This one looks like it'll last several days longer then the last one. I had a problem during one in the first year after the transplant. I got severely dehydrated and was hospitalized briefly. When these happen now, I make sure I have plenty of water on hand. It dawned on me that this is a problem that I can do something about. Gordon and his situation is not. That's when I remembered some advice I'd gotten years ago.

When faced with a situation that you have no control over, do what the Chinese do when it rains - let it rain. You can't do anything about it. It's gonna rain and all the cursing and swearing won't stop it. Just let it happen, and concentrate on what you can do something about.

I'll try not to worry about Gordon anymore and just worry about me.

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This morning, though only Day 2 of the Heat Wave, seemed a bit cooler. It wasn't going to last. I went out early to get things done before the real heat came in. I drove up into Avenel, intending to have breakfast somewhere up there, but changed my mind. I cut through the parking lot of a landscaping business, driving around the back to get to the road that would take me to Metuchen. In the shade behind the building was a young man who'd obviously come out for a smoke.

In this heat, my windows were down already. I drove past slowly, and he glanced briefly in my direction. No one else was around.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on towards Metuchen. My plan was to have breakfast at the Friendly's there then stop at the library.

There are several mini-malls on the way to Metuchen. Many of the older ones are neighborhood-friendly and blend in well, with off street parking surrounded by trees. On a whim, I drove into one and stopped for the paper. I parked in the shade on the side of the building. On my way back to my car, I saw an older man who was just getting into his.

I had the Flasher with me, but my back was to the stores and I didn't want to draw attention to myself. I got in my car and drove off.

I got to Metuchen around 9:15, knowing that the library would not open until 10. I decided to park behind the library anyway, since the block was shaded, and parking there was for 2 hours. I walked towards the Friendly's which was several blocks away. On a side street, I came across a guy working on a fence.

This time, I could see that there was no one else around, and there were no cars going by. I came up to him just as he'd opened the door to his truck and bent into the front seat.

Point, press, Flash.

I kept walking towards Friendly's.

Afterwards, I walked back to the library, following a different set of streets, but found nothing of interest in the sale books.

I got back in my car, and headed for home. I turned on the radio.

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" came on.