Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Me too. Hope you are both ok again soon.
Philip, we had a few breezes and showers but nothing like the Florida Big Bend got. Turns out all three NOAA Hurricane Hunter planes (Miss Piggy, Kermit and Gonzo) were grounded before Idalia made landfall -- an Air Force reconnaissance plane filled in.Some feeder band rainstorms from the Gulf of Mexico depression (Idalia) coming thru. It had been nice & sunny, then the sky went really-dark, and the rain began. It's still raining, but let up a bit. The weather reports say north of Tampa is gonna get hit. Cedar Key was mentioned and Tallahassee. Another day in paradise.
I just read up on your last few pages. I hope your oral surgery continues to heal. I'm glad Liane's false + Cologard was not another issue. And now at the end, I see you have some bone mass. Best wishes to overcome more health issues.
It's funny to read about your mass of old data electronics. I recall when Pentium was hot news, and the model numbers were just-over halfway to 100 (P-60, P-75). Before that, my brother who is a psychologist, bought an Osborne when they first came out. Keyboard in the base, and a small screen, but it was Hot Stuff.
When I was working fire-rescue here in southeast Florida, we were given Motorola 'bricks' (phones) to contact the E.R. at the hospital. We also had before that a 'strap-on' phone modem for our Motorola APCOR telemetry boxes. The technology got better, and our Lifepack EKG and defibrillation/cardioversion machines made some dramatic reductions in size and weight, going from the size of a woman's below-knee-length boot box filled with bricks, to something about the size of a thick briefcase. Fewer bricks.
I recall those 12" movie optical discs, great resolution, if you had a high-end screen to watch it on. I used to haunt some Ft. Lauderdale area thrift stores and would occasionally see the discs in inventory, as someone donated their old equipment.
One of my motorsikle-ridin' buddies lives off Big Blue Trace in Wellington (FL) and I understand that's a tribute to the IBM involvement in Palm Beach Co., and all the employees who lived here.
Wow the local tv stations are showing dramatic 'when Idalia hits' simulations, showing a 9 ft water rise in a residential neighborhood, and all that's showing are roofs on the 1-story ranch-style homes. Sarasota and Tallahassee airports are closing. Guess we're lucky to dodge another one, Bob.

Steve, if I had to rely on my smart phone skills to eat, I'd be dead in three weeks. If it included water, less than 4 days.This has been going on for awhile now, over here. It started when we went finally allowed out after covid. We just get the 13yr old to order on her phone. We mostly get three Capri-Sun drinks, with straws, and a pile of pancakes.
Beats starving, just.
Take care of yourselves Bob.
Steve![]()
Thanks Logan, I had my visit with the dentist this morning and I'm chilling until 12:45 for the oncology meeting.Best wishes to you tomorrow when you meet with the treatment team tomorrow sir!
Rian, I know you are! I would call you my brother but you're the same age as my son.I am closer to you than you ever realised.
Geoff, thanks for that and I thank Mother Nature for steering Idalia to the west and north of us.Like all GJ'ers I'm thinking of you Bob. I presume the hurricane left you alone as it hit land well away from BR.
Randy, grandkids are the best. Well, maybe second best; great-grandkids ask their grandparents for stuff so we can enjoy them without having to pay ransoms. I say this because our two oldest grandchildren just hit us up for $3K and $10K for surprise medical expenses.Speedy recovery to you!
We currently have 8 grandkids with another due in a couple weeks and another in March. Oldest daughter lost one at birth back in 2019.
Thank you @bugnut!Bob, thoughts and prayers today.
Thank you Shorty. I'll mention it to Liane but maybe I should write a note.All the best Bob.
Side bar.
On the hearing aids, shop around. I was paying $5k from the Audiologist, at Costco half of that price and they have the same features.
Scott, thank you for the kind words.Bob, you're in my thoughts today. Good luck.
Dan, we're hoping the same and doing everything we can to make it so.Me too. Hope you are both ok again soon.
Thank you Jon! I appreciate the prayers.I’m praying for a good outcome Bob.

Dan, that's my hope as well. It's a sneaky one because I had no symptoms.Bob, I really hope this treatment knocks that sumbitch cancer out of you.
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Fred, it's OK. I don't have a lot of power over this but I can unfriend everyone born under the sign of Cancer (June 21 - July 22). Damn, I just checked and two have already died. I may have to re-think this plan.Damn Bob. I can usually think of something humorous to say, but not right now. We are all pulling for you! Take care, both of you. You have too many kids, grandkids and great grandchildren depending on you.
Thank you Dennis!Bob. good luck with everything coming up.
Dan, I'm not sure I can beat it but I know I'm going to do my best. It was very encouraging that three doctors at the Lynn Cancer Center reviewed all the tests and scans and came up with a plan. My confidence in them has gone up because each has a specialty and all want the same result -- send the cancer to a warmer place and they're not talking Phoenix.Ah Bob. So terribly unfair that someone who has been through SO MUCH trauma and pain in their life is subject to yet another thing. Terribly terribly sorry.
All that said, please engage the hard fight you had inside after your train accident. The man that did that is still inside you. Fight this DAMN cancer with a strong positive attitude. Prayers for your fight and recovery. We're all pulling for you! Best, Dan
Don, my biggest regret is not making it to your birthday party. I had enough frequent flyer miles but prior commitments stepped in and made my plans for me.I like what Dan Wrote.
Bob I've been lax at following along and thought I'd check in tonite only to read of your situations
Glad you were spared from the weather and pray you will be blessed in your health issues
Don
@bugnut, the best part of it is all the doctors and specialists are young -- a couple of years older than my grandchildren. They know how to use all the latest high tech equipment, including their smartphones.Bob, hopeful and prayerful that the procedures and treatments, work as planned. Thinking of you and Liane today. All the best!
Rick, if it weren't happening to me, I'd be enjoying the process. It is certainly educating me. In the US, the death rate from cancer is down 33% since 1991. It's also encouraging that prostate cancer has one of the highest survival rates:Bob, I'm glad it's treatable, and going under the Cyberknife five times sounds a lot better than 40. I'm praying for good results from treatment, for both you and Liane.
Cody, thanks for that. Maybe I should bring one of the wifi extenders I have that's just taking up space in a garage cabinet.I hope the cyberknife is hardwired to the server so it don’t loose connection due to poor Wi-Fi coverage in the room.
Here to positive thoughts and prayers that everything goes well during treatment. Hopefully you can fight the urge to wear dresses in public during your hormone treatments
Seriously, hope everything goes as planned.
Marc, I have a lot of faith in these doctors. They were all very positive and never mentioned my insurance or financial condition.Sounds like they have a plan in place, praying it is the correct course!
Alan, thanks for stopping by and the kind words.Bob, I'm thinking of you and Lian through all this. My best wishes for you. You are always teaching us along the way.
Leonard, there was a side benefit to my consult yesterday. Liane accompanied me and when the surgeon came in, he asked Liane how she was doing. When she said she was nervous and anxious about my situation as well as her own upcoming surgery. He asked if moving the date of her surgery up would help. He had his team re-check his schedule and it's going to happen 10 days sooner (September 26).Bob,
I am thinking of you and LaIne. I am sure you both will be up and at them in no time.
Best to all of you!
Leonard
@86turbodsl, I'm with you. Prostate cancer killed my maternal grandfather a month before his 79th birthday and my paternal grandmother when she was 64. Medical care has improved since their demise and I'm turning 79 in 17 days. I do hope this hormone therapy doesn't drive me to a pink or purple paint scheme on the '72 Corvette. I was thinking black but red might be a good compromise.i hate cancer. Takes out everybody on my dad's side. I pray you get the treatment you need Bob.
Mark, I'm going to stay positive and bank on the team at the Lynn Cancer Center. I keep thinking I'm stupid lucky so often. When we were looking at houses back in 1996 we almost bought one a block from the ocean in Vero Beach, FL. That would have meant a 200 mile drive for each appointment with this team. A 1.8 mile round trip seems a bit more convenient. I may even get some exercise when the weather cools off and walk to my appointments.Modern Medicine is pretty amazing stuff. Having said that, so is cancer. You know what's more amazing? Bob is!
Good vibes headed your way, sir.
Thank you Pete.Fingers crossed for both of you Bob.
Pete
Roger, I think these cancer centers are game changers. Instead of a team of surgeons who see a knife as the treatment for everything, they have multiple treatment options. I was curious how the Cyberknife works and it turns out it's not just a precise X-ray machine. The table they put you on is capable of re-positioning you based on movement of the tumor or your body movement from breathing or shaking (from fear?). I didn't know tumors could move but like Mark (@Trapps) said: "Modern Medicine is pretty amazing stuff. Having said that, so is cancer."@Bob Heine - Wishing the best for both of you. Having a world class comprehensive cancer center in your backyard is a godsend if/when you need it. They've seen it all and done it all many many times.
When I was diagnosed two years ago with kidney cancer, I did see my local doctors/surgeon but my first thought (and, where I ended up) was City of Hope which is only 30 minutes away from me. It's much more comforting knowing your doctor does a dozen or more of a particular operation per month versus the local guy/gal who does 1 or 2. Two years cancer free as of my scan a couple of weeks ago!
You and Liane are in good hands and I'm sure a good outcome awaits both of you. I know it has to be a comfort for Liane to get the date moved up. To quote Tom Petty.... "The waiting is the hardest part".

will September 11th be the first session of tumor removal?Thank you Pete.
Roger, I think these cancer centers are game changers. Instead of a team of surgeons who see a knife as the treatment for everything, they have multiple treatment options. I was curious how the Cyberknife works and it turns out it's not just a precise X-ray machine. The table they put you on is capable of re-positioning you based on movement of the tumor or your body movement from breathing or shaking (from fear?). I didn't know tumors could move but like Mark (@Trapps) said: "Modern Medicine is pretty amazing stuff. Having said that, so is cancer."
I'll be meeting the Cyberknife system on September 11:![]()
Cody, that's my understanding. It's a 9:30 am appointment and the Cyberknife treatment takes between 30 and 90 minutes. According to the doctors it's a small tumor so I'm guessing it'll be the half hour end of the scale.will September 11th be the first session of tumor removal?
Oh and i had to ask the hair stylist to shave my ears for me. Seems I'm growing hair on the outer lobe these days!!!
Thanks Kay. I hope you are getting the lung thing under control. I understand they are important organs. Liane keeps saying: "I only need one kidney." I have to remind her they are taking out the tumor, not the kidney.Crossin finners for ya both.
Drives, it seems the latest hurricanes are forming to the west of us. West coast of Florida and west coast of the US. I can live with that. It would be nice if we get through to December without having to put up the storm shutters.I’m happy the hurricane missed you or the terrible part anyway cause you’ve got more than enough on your plate at the minute.
Best of luck to both of you and of course it looks like you have some great doctors and facilities that hopefully will send this C out of your lives.
Lyndon, thanks for the visit. You should be taking care of that growth of yours in Yass about now. Is the Yass project underway or still in the planning and permitting stage. You're going to need a remote camera to keep an eye on it. Either that or an on-site caravan for Irene to supervise from.Bob
Been thinking of you and Liane over the weekend (Father's Day here yesterday), but I have been too busy to look in. Both regarding the storm and the health issues.....
Good to hear the experts ("ex" as in was, "spirt" as in drip under pressure) are confident they have it all under control. And that you dodged the storm (from reports here it looked dreadful).
Reminds me I might be due for another blood test too......
Stay strong.
I'm watching on from down here.
Lyndon
@86turbodsl, all the years of upgrading PCs I've seen decent incremental improvements but this NVMe is a game changer.You are doing exactly the right thing with the computer Bob. software/os on the nvme and files on the ssd. Perfect.
Shorty, I plan to be laughing all the way to the furnace.Milwaukee Eye Brow Clippers
Thanks Bob for showing us a great attitude.
Mark, I use the National Hurricane Center website. Their interactive map works well for me. Those spaghetti models confuse me and I never know which one I should worry about. I also check the Microsoft weather site to determine whether or not to turn on the sprinkler system (it allows you to run the predictions for the next few hours).Bob
What is your favorite source of hurricane tracking? I’m sure you’ve found the best.. I usually try mikes weather page aka spaghettimodels.COM. One of his links is to tropicaltidbits that seems to have good charts as well
I’m always looking to learn!
Hope the doctor visits go well.
Hewey, between the robot probe they used for my cardio ablation, the robot used in my prostatectomy and this Cyberknife I'm feeling a lot like the folks who claim to have been abducted by aliens. As much as she hates technology, I think Liane is glad they are using a robot for her surgery. The traditional surgery involves a 12-inch incision in the flank along with removal of a rib. There's a good chance her tumor is benign because she's had no sign of blood in her regular urine tests and no lower back pain. I'm not a doctor and I haven't stayed in a hotel in years but Liane had a Lipoma removed from her back years ago and: "Lipomas are rare renal tumors originating in the fat cells within the renal capsule or surrounding tissue. Lipomas typically occur in middle-aged women."That Cyberknife machine is pure science fiction! Glad to see you're getting such good treatment, and close to home too. Fingers crossed for both of you guys.
Cody, you're making me feel bad. I have five laptops (3 Dell Latitudes and 2 Gateways) and the newest one was manufactured in 2012. My newest Gateway has an i5 processor and like yours, it refused to boot. It's a pretty beat up machine with redneck repairs that have bolts sticking through the case. With the flurry of upgrades and repairs to the desktop systems I had an extra 1TB SSD that has a copy of Windows 10 Pro that refuses to work. I swapped it into the Gateway and plugged in a USB drive that has Ubuntu ready to install.My old Dell laptop I was using in the garage has been giving me trouble. This past week it wouldn't even power on. I'm thinking it's about time to upgrade the house laptop since it's 4 years old and send the old house laptop to the garage. I thought about taking it apart to see what was failing on it as I did suspect it was the power button itself. But when it did come on it was searching for the driver and throwing error codes saying something about drive was corrupted or something. Probably not worth messing with since it's maybe 10 years old.




Tom, I can't find the price for the RoboCouch but the CyberKnife is $3-5M. Your luck the RoboCouch is the option that adds $2 Million. I'd be happy with one of those power lift recliners to stand my lazy *** up. If it weren't so big and ugly, SWMBO might consider the $360 option.Forget the CyberKnife, I need to know more about this RoboCouch! I've been looking for ways to take my laziness to the next level, and this just might be it!
Truth be told, I've been putting off this thread for a while because I didn't want to read bad news. Glad to read that everything is still under control and there's a treatment path forward. Good luck to both of you!
Cody, I'm with you on the new high-end laptop prices. The good news is refurbished high-end Dell laptops sell for pretty attractive prices. An i7 processor, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD and Windows 10 Pro can be had for $330 or less.I wouldn't know where to start for upgrading this Dell if I could. Last time I ever upgraded a computer was 2010 or so. I use to be a Gateway fan but then I switched to Dell. Now adays I can't justify paying for the most expensive laptops as they get obsolete as soon as you buy them.
Just curious, where does one get a copy of Window 10 these days to start up a new hard drive?