First Chemo session.

[xelasnave]

I had the sense to ask Sandy to drive me in and push me around in my wheelchair.
The amount of walking in my current condition I now accept is impossible for me still unfortunately I would have made the walk if I had to...some how.

So all went well..I took some tablets as directed and man I was high as you could image but without knowing...happy positive and again full of hope..my doctor says really there is little chance the treatement will work on my cancer but the fact is it has given me hope and so the treatment has already done its job..hope can be so difficult to summon.

AND scored two hard cover books free..unbelievable really..one one chemotherapy and one on physics..so how happy am I..and free mouth wash, a digital thermometer cause a fever means straight to hospital as it is real dangerous as the treatment destroys somewhat ones imune system...AND I can turn up to the hospital with symptoms, I have a list, and get a few days holiday..breakfast in bed, morning and afternoon teas, nice folk to chat with...I am really just so lucky...but that is set up thank to Palliative Care.

I am just so impressed with our heath care system and scorn these conspiracy folk who bag it out...they are just ignorant of reality and make up rubbish about stuff they know nothing about...but they are the lossers so I really don't care as they don't know what they miss...



But that damn drug had me up until 12 buzzing about...I expected a major crash today but not too bad..even went down to the observatory and got a few things happening.

Plus had the best sushi take away ever in the car on the way home..it was so fresh and you could not expect better..so good....it really was a perfect day...

But I think them saying I could drive underestimated how that pill hit me...

So I have 16 sessions..four more than usual each day prior a hot trip in the red car for a 7am blood test to set up for the following day...just can't get better.

[xelasnave]

I notice that on my unit at least scrolling does not work and so editing can not be done...so remember that if something looks odd.

alex

[N1]

All the best Alex, keep at it mate.

[JA]

All the best wishes coming your way Alex.

Semper fortis.

Best
JA

[glend]

And still he finds time for astronomy, and the guitar. Looking past this problem.

[Crater101]

Hang in there mate, and never give up. Cancer is a word - not a sentence!

[Startrek]

Alex has the most positive attitude and I’m sure it makes a huge difference
Besides there’s so much more to do in astronomy and astrophotography
Patiently waiting for the next image from the Askar

Best Always
Martin

[TrevorW]

Alex all the best mate, always said if I get anything serious in my old age I'm taking up smoking, drinking and chasing women, might as well die happy, think positive, enjoy life :)

[gb44]

Good luck, Alex!
Have you got BorrowBox app on the phone so you can read a good e-book?

GlennB

[xelasnave]

You left out..microscope, drawing, fishing and the boat, and the garden:lol:

My belt is I realise each day is just so precious and once gone that is the absolute end...there is no more..so don't waste your time I say..and do.

And I can thank you my good friend for so much inspiration and purchase guidance to help me enjoy everything.

alex

[xelasnave]

I had another great day..did not crash as I expected and resolved to fix 115 mm ..I have stuffed the reducer by pulling it apart an unsuccessful in reassembling it...Glen has helped in selecting a new unit but of almost greater concern was the camera was refusing to give an image telling me so with a little message..so I was going to give that another go but I turned everything on and it worked..happy happy happy..the near six month rest was all it needed...so massive step forward.
I will order a new reducer tomorrow and get the 115 mm set up back in business.

alex

[xelasnave]

Thanks for all the support gentlemen I can assure you I really appreciate all your good wishes...I dont have any friends at all in the real world..they are all gone..the last three who pittied me with cancer three years ago all dead now...I have one mate who lives in my house in Sydney but he is crook and neither of us can make the trip...so you won'fearful people here are extremely important to me.

alex

[dugnsuz]

Thinking of you Alex :)
Doug

[GTB_an_Owl]

keep on keeping on Alex
my thoughts and wishes are with you

geoff

[glend]

Alex, this is the real world, we do exist and support your fight. You are not alone.
Glen

[xelasnave]

Thanks Glen...sorry it was not fight for me to call it that way...
alex

[xelasnave]

AND I receive personal message sometimes of support which really help kick start my day particularly when you wake up and it all seems just too much a message of support heads me in the right direction.

alex

[SimmoW]

Jeeze Alex, sorry to hear you going thru all this, but I'm enjoying reading your positive approach to life and its curve balls. Haha yes you've got some free vouchers to 'hot' meals at the hospital, but remember, it's not meant to be a restaurant! Meals are designed to make you want to leave....

[EpickCrom]

Good Day Alex! You are an inspiration for us all with your positive outlook and fighting will.

Keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you nothing but the best, stay strong and positive :thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

If someone else makes it for me it is the best...cooking is just so hard for me..I can do it but there is no will and I love hospital food...you get a menu and stuff comes often in little packets...I always set aside some bread and jam for later...bring it on.

alex

[Nikolas]

all the best mate

[xelasnave]

Thank you very much Joe.

I often say no matter how terrible something is one must look for the good and potential benefit and I cite say head lines of atrocities features poor inoccent victims of horror that as bad as that is that it must inspire some folk to do something to fight against such stuff and be inspired to make the world a better place.

I would like to think that others can benefit from the valuable lessons I have gathered thru my life..I am very lucky..just think law then real estate...how many new faces have I seen each day of my life and the exposure to seeing what makes someone a success...I know it is attitude...that is all you have...I remember making a client the equivalent to $5 million in today's money..in seven weeks..when I handed him the cheque he said " oh Alex, this is such a lot of money, how will I invest it wisely"...not "mate dinner is on me let's celebrate" " Thanks for your magic"...it was more a burden than joy...I took away from that more value than his $5 million I can assure you...

I still consider myself to be the luckiest man on the planet and would not change my life for anyone else's because well I have had a real big serve of life but I have an attitude that makes me tolerant happy and able to turn the worst event into an adventure...I only hope some of my treasure can be used by others and the world can be a little better for some folk who can understand the secret I have found...within..that is the key.

It is so easy to be sad but easier to be happy...we are just so lucky to be in this time in history, on this planet, to be the ruling species and somewhat aware of reality and for some of us free of superstition that has ruled many for milenia...and to be doing astro...one day of such a life is worth years of the poor devils who lived only centuries ago...

What is not to like ...

Do not let one single thing take away from this wonderful life you have.
When it's over its over but think off the great experience you will have had.

alex

[wavelandscott]

Thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way!

[strongmanmike]

Speaking of hospital food and I know you like culinary photos, this was breakfast a couple of weeks ago at Eagleview, after a night of imaging.

Also, last weekend was the first time we had hung a load of washing out to dry up at Eagleview, on what, at ~ 1440m, is likely Australia's highest Hills Hoist!...I just had to get a happy snap :P

Hang in there Alex...and keep enjoying the food, can never have too much food...and beer! :D post a photo :thumbsup:

Mike

[xelasnave]

Thanks Scott...I hope your and yours are well.

alex

[xelasnave]

Thanks Mike..you have motivated me to make dinner..that is a huge help.

alex

[AstroViking]

Sending lots of positive waves your way, Alex.

V.

[xelasnave]

Thanks Steve and I am feeling it...I can't get over just how good I am feeling given I have been expecting some sort of negatives from the treatment.

alex

[xelasnave]

Had another yesterday.
I got sandwiches and a hot blanket and no one else did..what should I take from that...

AND to boast...I give complete strangers unsolicited pep talkes both for their good and mine as I get such joy to find I have uplifted someone's spirits.
Well yesterday there was a student doctor and after my rev up I had a new disciple..he came back later to shake my hand and thank me...simple stuff to use every day as if it's your last, makes your goals by what you what not what is expected..he was Japanese so it was probably most revolutionary.
I read a book about a young Jalaneses man planing a sail from Japan to USA and the peer pressure whatever was such that he could not tell anyone in his sailing group and had to build his boat in a different town ...so maybe just maybe I helped him.
So things are not great but I am as happy as you could not believe.

I found out assisted dieing is legal now which means my carefully laid plans will not have to be implemented if the suffering gets past a joke...civilized and honorable.

Had a great morning..no side effects..mowed the grass broke the drive belt and took joy that I outlasted the mower..you must make any lose a total win..
Got the shed electrics working so as not only supply the observatory but the van as well...and having replaced the batteries in the van I set up another system using the old batteries which could do some jobs like phone charge and take a little burden of the main bank approach...well happily the old batteries after slow charging are just now passing 13 volts so they look like they can assist at the heavy end as well...
AND Sushi for lunch as she Got me two boxes yesterday...live each day as it it's your last...you betcha.

alex

[Startrek]

Alex,
Glad the treatment isn’t knocking you around too much
Japanese folk are generally lovely people , my wife’s younger sister use to provide food and lodgings for young Japanese students who studied at Universities in Sydney. We would often meet them at family BBQ’s and they were most humble and appreciative of the fact they were given an opportunity in our country.
Your last sentence is definitely words of wisdom !!
Did some imaging last night down south in my Dome , the full moon was spectacular overhead , a beautiful sight , not so good for my Oiii filter though.

Best
Martin

[xelasnave]

Your are lucky to get a sniff Martin...I am taking your advice and adding dithered subs next opportunity and try and really do everything right for this Eta to see just how good I can make an image after all the stuff I have been thru to build my skills...my first serious undertaking you might say.

alex

[Startrek]

Yes definitely add data whether dithered or not , you will still improve SNR after stacking
As your a loyal Startools user like me , why not give ASTAP a whirl for stacking , it definitely improved my images and whilst DSS and others are fine , the ASTAP stacked image is so much cleaner and less noisier. Done many comparisons with different data sets ( Sydney Bortle 8 and South Coast Bortle 3 )
I’ve only used ASTAP for my Mono data so far ( broadband and narrowband) but I’m sure it will equally perform well with OSC.
It’s a snack to use and there’s no groups , reference frames and endless settings to stuff around with like DSS.
It just works !!
Happy to send some procedures if your interested, if not no problemo

Martin

[xelasnave]

Thanks Martin...I feel my next stacking change will be to the one I bought ..Pixel Processor?..I think..which enjoys good reviews for one thing but money paid and all that..plus it able to stack from multiple scopes which I would love to master...and a decent star reduction feature that seems to work..I come back to that after StarTools so as not to break ST rules...in any event getting more data seems like just a pipe dream at the moment...and I am just so happy with my results because they are way past my expectations...and of course a background in law and real estate as opposed to some sort of computer field has made things quiet difficult ...together with old age, laziness and mediocre intelligence I sometimes wonder...the only quality I get by with is just not giving up really and not getting frustrated when things just won't work...

Anyways my goal is more data ...and flats and stuff;)

As my Mom always told me "you only have to do your best"...problem is I can't give in unless I have given the very last drop...nothing less for Mom...die trying, no problem and only option...


alex

[Startrek]

Since you bought APP then it’s best to use it’s excellent capabilities
Wishing you clear skies
Martin