this post is for friday, but it may show as saturday, since it is after midnight friday.
great day friday, had first course of radiotherapy at 11.30 am - very professional staff.
before that at home i was completely comfortable in bed - just relaxed and amazingly calm - happens rarely to be that comfortable.  Hospice nurse came, so filled her in on progress.

didnt take in my new leg into radiotherapy since there are computers in the knee and ankle which i didnt want to affect by stray xays - he staff thought it might be just fine, but why take the chance.  chris stayed in the waiting room, but i think saturday she can come and watch the procedure.

after radiotherapy course we went and had a capaccino at the java house just above - first coffee for 8 weeks, and it tasted like coffee - very impressed, i drank about half.

then went to the imaging institute offices - saw kim glyn there and got a lot of work done, including IGERT reviews, etc.  will do conflict of interest forms next tuesday.  caught up with Allysa, Ryan and Majed (students) in he break room - this was really really nice for me to just chat with them.  they all have great futures, and their work is wonderful and important.

amanda came along from her summer internship, preparing for her MD/PhD - she seems to be thriving; and has finished her additions to the lung cancer paper - impressive i think.

Edwin van Beek (radiologist) came in to see me - he is now based in Scotland - but back in Iowa for  few days - we had a meaningful discussion, and then emotionally parted company - i likely will not see him again.

Still in the imaging institute offices - chris and kim glyn are working on a lot of stuff - Dwight Look came by to discuss COPD research - i might have talked too much, but he was very attentive, and i thought the interaction was very positive.  He might turn up with a blackberry (pie).

Left the offices around 4.00 pm - felt good - not many people around as 4th july weekend.  Ran into Lashkmi - asked her about Indian food take-out - she suggested Exotic India.

We decided to eat a late lunch at the Olive Garden - me on crutches.  Had their spicy soup (potato and sausage - tasted fine, plus some salad.  we have done this  before over the years.  they have good salad dressing, but salad is mostly lettuce.  felt good.

Went home, had a nap to rest my back.  Felt hungry so Chris went and got Indian take-out - lamb vindaloo (we shared) with rice.  This was just terrific - the best quality lamb.  The only problem for me was the potato texture was like flour.   Had a mango lassi - drank the whole thing and enjoyed.  Skyped with Mum and cousin Bev in Adelaide for quite a while.  Skyped with Rebecca and Declan in Kansas city.  Rebecca (Ben's wife) dropped in for a few minutes - that was nice to catch up.

Then I started to crash a bit - got upstairs, with Chris's help - into bed by 11.30 pm.

So a very good day - this of course is the effect of the dexamethasone, which i am still on - but really great to see all those people - and get to out first in resturant eating in 8 weeks - better that take out.  Almost no back pain today either, even though tumor is growing backwards through the chest wall.  but it is nice to feel almost good.  chris remains an indispensible help - puts up with a lot of requests from me- amazing really.

Tomorrow - Saturday - radiotherapy at 9.30 am.  Then we might eat-in Indian for lunch.  Will see.