I find with the closer tomorrow gets, the more apprehensive I become. I know that Obama is ahead in the polls but, 8 years ago, so was Gore (I believe it was by 8 points pre-election day) - we all know how that turned out. Part of my concern is that frequently the polls make teetering, would-be voters stay home if their candidate of choice is the one who is ahead; or makes voters come out if their candidate is behind. A combination of these two things causes really bad things to happen, ala 8 years ago. Thank god I’m off work tomorrow because I just don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep tonight.
On the brighter side, after tomorrow, come what may, it will all be over. No more phone calls, no more flyers, no more dreadful negative TV ads, and on and on and on... that in itself deserves some celebrating.
Gardenmama's Journal
My Podcast Link
11/03/2008 18:32 #46498
ELECTION WOEs11/01/2008 23:36 #46470
Heating systemDoes anyone have one of these infrared heaters, or has anyone heard anything about them? I was speaking to someone recently who heard good things about them, but I would appreciate some additional opinions. They’re supposed to help save money and be safer than regular space heaters. I keep my heat pretty low and the back of my house tends to be colder than the front- it’s pretty chilly. Also, heating costs are supposed to go up this winter and frankly, I prefer not to have to pay outrageous gas bills. Of course, I don’t want to pay outrageous electric bills either.
Science is not necessarily my strongest knowledge area so maybe if someone can even tell me if the whole premise of the infrared heater as an energy saver makes sense?
Thanks.
http://greenisbetter.org/
Science is not necessarily my strongest knowledge area so maybe if someone can even tell me if the whole premise of the infrared heater as an energy saver makes sense?
Thanks.
http://greenisbetter.org/
tinypliny - 11/02/08 00:37
Basically, these heaters are an all-heat-very little/minor-light-emitting versions of those crazy energy wasting incandescent bulbs - which are now being replaced by CFL spirals.
While a bulb's primary job is to provide light (which it does terribly inefficiently by converting only 5% of the energy to light and the rest to unnecessary heat), the infrared heater's primary job is to provide heat. 95% of the energy that is converted to heat in an incandescent bulb filament is also converted to heat in an infrared heater. In a heater's context, however, this energy efficieny is pretty good. That, and the fact that the heater filament gives out very little light as compared to a regular incandescent bulb filament - thus upping the 95% energy-heat conversion rate (<5% is converted to a very dull glow)
But apparently all this is not enough for efficiency ->http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1137854/infrared_heaters_vs_conventional_heaters.html?cat=15
So the bottomline is I am confused as well...
Basically, these heaters are an all-heat-very little/minor-light-emitting versions of those crazy energy wasting incandescent bulbs - which are now being replaced by CFL spirals.
While a bulb's primary job is to provide light (which it does terribly inefficiently by converting only 5% of the energy to light and the rest to unnecessary heat), the infrared heater's primary job is to provide heat. 95% of the energy that is converted to heat in an incandescent bulb filament is also converted to heat in an infrared heater. In a heater's context, however, this energy efficieny is pretty good. That, and the fact that the heater filament gives out very little light as compared to a regular incandescent bulb filament - thus upping the 95% energy-heat conversion rate (<5% is converted to a very dull glow)
But apparently all this is not enough for efficiency ->http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1137854/infrared_heaters_vs_conventional_heaters.html?cat=15
So the bottomline is I am confused as well...
10/31/2008 18:17 #46453
H A P P Y H A L L O W E E N ! ! !Here's wishing you all a very happy, spooky, silly, haunted halloween! Hope you all have a blast at the party - I, regretfully, will be unable to attend. ENJOY!!
P.S. - My costume was going to be Dr. Seuss' Thing 1 - maybe next year.
P.S. - My costume was going to be Dr. Seuss' Thing 1 - maybe next year.
gardenmama - 11/01/08 17:15
I was sorry to miss the party too. Glad you all had a good time - costumes look great. I'm looking forward to the holiday dinner party (and to meeting everyone) - I love pot-luck.
I was sorry to miss the party too. Glad you all had a good time - costumes look great. I'm looking forward to the holiday dinner party (and to meeting everyone) - I love pot-luck.
paul - 11/01/08 13:46
Ya sorry you missed it. We will have a holiday dinner party.
Ya sorry you missed it. We will have a holiday dinner party.
tinypliny - 11/01/08 10:39
Hope you had a good one! You were sorely missed!!!
Hope you had a good one! You were sorely missed!!!
10/30/2008 17:50 #46432
Life's cruel twistsOne of my dearest friends (my daughter’s god-mother) called me at work yesterday a.m. to tell me that her brother had died from a massive heart attack. He had just turned 56 years old earlier this week. I had been friends with him for 23 years and my children referred to him as Uncle Albert. His family is very close and my heart is breaking for them and, selfishly, for me too. I hate that people have to die. Today I am so very, very sad.
Of Albert...
Wine and tears and music flow...
family and friends (so many) gathered in disbelief
so full of life, how could it possibly be
a heart so strong, so full... should cease
Father, brother, husband, lover, son, uncle, friend
he gave so much to so many
Waves of joy and sadness intermingle,
as, between the tears, love and laughter fill the air,
a reflection of memories so sweet
Together, seeking solace and understanding
we mourn the loss of one so loved and loving, yet
we celebrate a life that touched ours so uniquely
knowing, the gift that was Albert shall live on...
forever in our hearts and souls.
by: KAZ 10/30/08
Picture of Albert toasting - enjoying life at Allegany State Park
Of Albert...
Wine and tears and music flow...
family and friends (so many) gathered in disbelief
so full of life, how could it possibly be
a heart so strong, so full... should cease
Father, brother, husband, lover, son, uncle, friend
he gave so much to so many
Waves of joy and sadness intermingle,
as, between the tears, love and laughter fill the air,
a reflection of memories so sweet
Together, seeking solace and understanding
we mourn the loss of one so loved and loving, yet
we celebrate a life that touched ours so uniquely
knowing, the gift that was Albert shall live on...
forever in our hearts and souls.
by: KAZ 10/30/08
Picture of Albert toasting - enjoying life at Allegany State Park
gardenmama - 11/01/08 17:17
Thanks folks.
Thanks folks.
tinypliny - 11/01/08 10:39
:(
:(
libertad - 10/31/08 08:57
I'm very sorry. Are you KAZ? That is very touching.
I'm very sorry. Are you KAZ? That is very touching.
mrmike - 10/30/08 18:32
Knew the Saladinos a little bit through Al's music and through another family, seemed like good folk. My condolences...
Knew the Saladinos a little bit through Al's music and through another family, seemed like good folk. My condolences...
matthew - 10/30/08 18:00
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm sorry for your loss.
10/28/2008 20:25 #46395
Cancer questionsI have a friend who is battling esophageal cancer. Her sister sent me the following update, which I received today:
A few weeks ago she had a lung drained and they were going to drain the other the following week. After a week's delay due to the stomach flu she went in to have the procedure done. They determined the same lung had filled up again (worse than the lung they hadn't touched yet) and drained it again. As per (patient), they have no intention of draining the untouched lung. They stopped chemo (fluid in lung is side effect of chemo) and don't plan on resuming it until after Thanksgiving. They're keeping an eye on her lungs and she'll have a CAT scan just before Thanksgiving to determine how to proceed with chemo so that her lungs don't continue to fill with fluid (other side effects are tearing eyes, which (patient) says are much less teary since stopping chemo and thick crusty nails which she is grateful it's glove weather so she can hide her hands now, and also total exhaustion which she hopes, with these weeks off, will help her regain some strength).
I am curious as to why they wouldn’t drain the second lung, especially if it’s causing her pain, as is my understanding. Also, is this really a side effect of chemo (I don’t remember this being a problem with my husband)? Does anyone know?
A few weeks ago she had a lung drained and they were going to drain the other the following week. After a week's delay due to the stomach flu she went in to have the procedure done. They determined the same lung had filled up again (worse than the lung they hadn't touched yet) and drained it again. As per (patient), they have no intention of draining the untouched lung. They stopped chemo (fluid in lung is side effect of chemo) and don't plan on resuming it until after Thanksgiving. They're keeping an eye on her lungs and she'll have a CAT scan just before Thanksgiving to determine how to proceed with chemo so that her lungs don't continue to fill with fluid (other side effects are tearing eyes, which (patient) says are much less teary since stopping chemo and thick crusty nails which she is grateful it's glove weather so she can hide her hands now, and also total exhaustion which she hopes, with these weeks off, will help her regain some strength).
I am curious as to why they wouldn’t drain the second lung, especially if it’s causing her pain, as is my understanding. Also, is this really a side effect of chemo (I don’t remember this being a problem with my husband)? Does anyone know?
gardenmama - 10/28/08 21:49
Thank you both for all the info. Tiny, yes, she used to be a smoker, but not an everyday smoker, usually only an occasional social smoker. Whatever her form of cancer, the dr.s said it was some rare type and that she doesn't really fit the demographic for it at all. Yes, the treatment has been primarily pallative and trying to buy some time. She has a teenage daughter whom she's pretty determined to see graduate from H.S. next June; though she has already surpassed what they initially expected - I'm guessing out of sheer stubbornness.
Thank you both for all the info. Tiny, yes, she used to be a smoker, but not an everyday smoker, usually only an occasional social smoker. Whatever her form of cancer, the dr.s said it was some rare type and that she doesn't really fit the demographic for it at all. Yes, the treatment has been primarily pallative and trying to buy some time. She has a teenage daughter whom she's pretty determined to see graduate from H.S. next June; though she has already surpassed what they initially expected - I'm guessing out of sheer stubbornness.
tinypliny - 10/28/08 21:41
Thanks for clearing stuff up, (e:jenks).
Good luck to your friend (e:gardenmama). She will be in my prayers.
Thanks for clearing stuff up, (e:jenks).
Good luck to your friend (e:gardenmama). She will be in my prayers.
jenks - 10/28/08 21:25
p.s. I've never heard of cancer cells in the saliva, unless I suppose it was cancer of the salivary glands...
Won't say it's impossible, but i haven't heard of it.
Unfortunately, esophageal ca is a 'bad actor'.
And stage IV anything is usually inoperable. I'd have to check the guidelines, but even chemo/radiation is usually more palliative than curative at that point.
Even if surgery were an option, an esophagectomy is no joke.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this... best wishes to everyone.
p.s. I've never heard of cancer cells in the saliva, unless I suppose it was cancer of the salivary glands...
Won't say it's impossible, but i haven't heard of it.
Unfortunately, esophageal ca is a 'bad actor'.
And stage IV anything is usually inoperable. I'd have to check the guidelines, but even chemo/radiation is usually more palliative than curative at that point.
Even if surgery were an option, an esophagectomy is no joke.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this... best wishes to everyone.
jenks - 10/28/08 21:21
I must have felt you calling my name tiny, after four months away, I'm baaaack....
minor correction tiny- fluid in the lung like that (technically in the pleural space, between the lung and the chest wall) is called pleural effusion. Pulmonary edema is a little different. But nonetheless...
I don't know side effects of all chemo all that well, but effusions (malignant effusions) are unfortunately pretty common in advanced cancers (particularly breast). May well also be due to chemo. Usually they will tap the fluid a few times, but if it keeps reaccumulating, they will try a procedure called pleurodesis, in which they put a chemical irritant (usually talc, or sometime doxycycline or bleomycin) in the pleural space- it makes the lung 'stick' to the chest wall, so the fluid can't accumulate. If that doesn't work (it doesn't alway) they may have to do surgery to accomplish the same thing, or if surgery isn't an option for whatever reason (patient too sick etc) they may just leave a tube in to drain the fluid.
As far as only doing one side... Any time you stick anything into the chest, there's a risk of collapsing the lung. Which is bad enough, but collapsing both is even worse, so usually they'll only do one at a time, just in case. But if they really have "no intention" of EVER tapping the other side... I'm not sure why that would be.
But side effects depend on the specific chemo regimen- which may be why her husband's experience was different. Nausea/vomiting/fatigue are pretty universal, though.
And one last comment, effusions aren't usually PAINFUL per se, but cause (sometimes severe) shortness of breath.
Hope that helps!
I must have felt you calling my name tiny, after four months away, I'm baaaack....
minor correction tiny- fluid in the lung like that (technically in the pleural space, between the lung and the chest wall) is called pleural effusion. Pulmonary edema is a little different. But nonetheless...
I don't know side effects of all chemo all that well, but effusions (malignant effusions) are unfortunately pretty common in advanced cancers (particularly breast). May well also be due to chemo. Usually they will tap the fluid a few times, but if it keeps reaccumulating, they will try a procedure called pleurodesis, in which they put a chemical irritant (usually talc, or sometime doxycycline or bleomycin) in the pleural space- it makes the lung 'stick' to the chest wall, so the fluid can't accumulate. If that doesn't work (it doesn't alway) they may have to do surgery to accomplish the same thing, or if surgery isn't an option for whatever reason (patient too sick etc) they may just leave a tube in to drain the fluid.
As far as only doing one side... Any time you stick anything into the chest, there's a risk of collapsing the lung. Which is bad enough, but collapsing both is even worse, so usually they'll only do one at a time, just in case. But if they really have "no intention" of EVER tapping the other side... I'm not sure why that would be.
But side effects depend on the specific chemo regimen- which may be why her husband's experience was different. Nausea/vomiting/fatigue are pretty universal, though.
And one last comment, effusions aren't usually PAINFUL per se, but cause (sometimes severe) shortness of breath.
Hope that helps!
tinypliny - 10/28/08 21:17
What I meant was PCR is very sensitive and picks up EVEN small number of malignant cells in the saliva.
Based on what you are saying, it would seem that this patient had large number of shed malignant cells in the saliva. So PCR may not have been necessary.
What I meant was PCR is very sensitive and picks up EVEN small number of malignant cells in the saliva.
Based on what you are saying, it would seem that this patient had large number of shed malignant cells in the saliva. So PCR may not have been necessary.
tinypliny - 10/28/08 21:15
Some more questions - was she a smoker? Did the lung have any traces of cancer? Sometimes malignant cells can be detected in the saliva when you carry out a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) assay on the saliva. But this technique picks up small number of malignant cells in the saliva.
:/ I need to read up about this!
Some more questions - was she a smoker? Did the lung have any traces of cancer? Sometimes malignant cells can be detected in the saliva when you carry out a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) assay on the saliva. But this technique picks up small number of malignant cells in the saliva.
:/ I need to read up about this!
tinypliny - 10/28/08 21:10
If she didn't have surgery, it does sound like she was receiving neoadjuvant (to shrink the tumour to a manageable size) before surgery. I am not really familiar with the treatment protocol for advanced stage esophageal ca so I need to read before I say anything completely inaccurate.
Hmmmm.... were the cancer cells shedding in her saliva? I need to read up about this.
(e:jenks)?
If she didn't have surgery, it does sound like she was receiving neoadjuvant (to shrink the tumour to a manageable size) before surgery. I am not really familiar with the treatment protocol for advanced stage esophageal ca so I need to read before I say anything completely inaccurate.
Hmmmm.... were the cancer cells shedding in her saliva? I need to read up about this.
(e:jenks)?
gardenmama - 10/28/08 21:01
No Tiny, no surgery. I'm not sure of all the details but when she was diagnosed it was stage 4 and she had a tumor the size of a golf ball. Also, there's something about the "type" of cancer that it is that's not the "usual". I could have this messed up but I believe it involves something with there actually being cancer in her saliva/her saliva being cancerous? Anyway, she's been through radiation and was in some type of chemo study but then had to stop it because she became too ill. So they went to a different type of chemo.
No Tiny, no surgery. I'm not sure of all the details but when she was diagnosed it was stage 4 and she had a tumor the size of a golf ball. Also, there's something about the "type" of cancer that it is that's not the "usual". I could have this messed up but I believe it involves something with there actually being cancer in her saliva/her saliva being cancerous? Anyway, she's been through radiation and was in some type of chemo study but then had to stop it because she became too ill. So they went to a different type of chemo.
tinypliny - 10/28/08 20:50
And to answer your other question, yes, it's possible that pulmonary oedema is a side-effect of chemotherapy (neo-adjuvant/or otherwise) but no, it doesn't always occur is all patients.
With regards to your question about why they are not attempting lung drainage again or even in the other lung, I don't really know. Maybe the bonafide surgeon (I am looking at you, (e:jenks)) could give us some insights of postop/post-chemo edema management?
And to answer your other question, yes, it's possible that pulmonary oedema is a side-effect of chemotherapy (neo-adjuvant/or otherwise) but no, it doesn't always occur is all patients.
With regards to your question about why they are not attempting lung drainage again or even in the other lung, I don't really know. Maybe the bonafide surgeon (I am looking at you, (e:jenks)) could give us some insights of postop/post-chemo edema management?
tinypliny - 10/28/08 20:37
Did she have esophagectomy - surgery dissecting out the cancer + lymph nodes before chemo? Pulmonary edema is the #1 postop complication after esophagectomy for thoracic (lower-part which is in the chest cavity) esophageal cancer.
Did she have esophagectomy - surgery dissecting out the cancer + lymph nodes before chemo? Pulmonary edema is the #1 postop complication after esophagectomy for thoracic (lower-part which is in the chest cavity) esophageal cancer.
Yes it being over is a good thing. Being ahead in polls doesn't mean shit. First of all people don't allways tell the truth in them. Not everyone votes. Not to mention the polls are not given to everyone and I'm sure there selection process could be biased based on who is doing the poll. But see there is another factor that I don't think the polls cover what states will be won. For example you might 10% lead in the polls and even in the election but you win the states you win by a large number of people then you can win the popular vote but if those states don't have enough points then you can still lose.