CA-125 on the way down, once again

This morning we received excellent news from Dr. P's office. After four weekly mini-rounds of chemo and a week off, Judy's CA-125 dropped from 140 in late March to 114 on Tuesday. Of course, we hope that this trend will continue. Judy is scheduled for another mini-chemo next Tuesday before we go on our mini-vacation to Jamaica. She'll be off the following week before going to three-weeks-on, one-week-off.

We had an inkling that things were working with the current mixture of poisons as Judy's hair has once again started to fall out. The photo of Judy and Alan shows how "light" her hair has become, and next week we may have to go back to the all-bald look.

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Back from New Orleans

Judy and I made it back from New Orleans Monday night and have been busy with work since. We had a great time with all the race action, super volunteers, and attentive race management. Here are a few pics, courtesy of Lucas Barrios.

The first one was taken at the VIP Party that PEM threw on Friday night. Pictured with us is my motorcycle driver, Brian.








The next one shows Judy instructing the motorcycle drivers while Wanda and Gail, two of our referees, look on.

Once again back in New Orleans

For the second year in a row, Judy and I are working the Ochsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans half-Ironman triathlon this weekend. We arrived very late last night (OK, early this morning). We're tickled to work with some of the best in the triathlon business, with Bill as race director, Ashley as the person who runs it ALL, Dave who is the very best professional announcr in all of triathlon, Adam and Roberto making sure that transition is tight, Carl keeping the water crew in check, Brian and Phil taking care of the motos, and Scott being the ace timing dude that he is.

After PEM's fabulous VIP party at Le Phare, Judy and I strolled down Bourbon Street, and you see the spoils: That woman is shameless when it comes to begging for beads!

Tomorrow (Saturday) will bring more meetings and indoctrinations (refs and penalty tent volunteers) and an early bedtime since Sunday morning looms ominously with a 4:45 a.m. opening of transition. Still, it's fun to be head ref!!!

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A new record?

When Judy had her fourth chemo treatment in four weeks yesterday morning, Dr. P.'s office staff opined that they had never had anyone get four back-to-back treatments. Oh well, who thought Judy was normal, eh? Since we will be in New Orleans this upcoming Monday and Judy will not be able to get labwork done--making chemo on Tuesday impossible--Dr. Phillips though it better to go with a four week on, one week off cycle than to have two weeks off. We'll see.

Last weekend we were in Ft. Davis, in Texas' beautiful Davis Mountains, to help officiate the Hammerfest road stage race. (The photo above shows Judy before the time trial with race director David from Midland; below, Judy and Kelly wait for racers at the turnaround of the TT.) We hadn't been down there in several years because the date always overlapped with a mountain bike race, but this year we were free. The weather was beautiful, and as "Indians" rather than "Chiefs" we had a relaxed weekend, without the usual worries when one of us is in charge of the crew.

That will change this weekend when I'll be chief for the New Orleans 70.3 half-Ironman triathlon, which last year attracted somewhere around 3,000 racers from all over the US and abroad. We will be in NO from Friday through Monday, and I am sure there will be the usual challenges. However, working with a great race director, Bill, and his right-hand help, Ashley, plus six well-trained referees will make my task much easier--and in Judy I have about the best assistant I can ask for.

Look for an update next week.

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Might as well have some fun with the blog for once, despite another round of chemo today. Look at that ham: Can you smell it? Can you taste it? This baby was in the backyard smoker for hours on end, and it was just perfect.

Judy and I had a nice Easter weekend at home, and the ham dinner on Sunday night—polished off with some good Cameron Hughes wine—was the fitting finale. Of course, a huge ham like this is not eaten in one sitting, and now we (=mainly I) enjoy smoked ham sandwiches. Yummy!

Otherwise, life's rolling right along. Judy stays busy at work, I've taken on yet another freelance job (it's about time that I get done with Tech!), and next weekend we'll be in Ft. Davis to help officiate one of Texas' most spectacular road races. The treatments that Judy has to endure are no source of great enjoyment, but she never complains. Right now she is enjoying some knitting-cum-television time while I have been mopping up odds and ends.

You won't hear either one of us complain—especially as long as there's some ham left in the fridge!

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