Some fun in Ketchikan, and avoiding trouble in Seattle

I'll start with the fun...Faith got us into the Wearable Arts Show in Ketchikan again this winter, February 4 through 6. She created the image of a spirit of pictographs of the rock faces deep in the canyons, while I played the role of an Alaskan cousin of archaeologist Indiana Jones. We've done this several times, play parts as different as a fisherman chasing, and failing to ever catch, a seven-foot-tall Mother Halibut, and an old, leather-garbed 18th century trapper pursuing a furry black bear that turns out to be a certain gorgeous frontier lady. The people who watched it certainly seemed to enjoy us, and of course we had a grand time.

The other good happening in my life recently is the signing of my 2010 contract with The Nature Conservancy in Alaska. I've been working on a regular basis with them since 2008, and I really enjoy it. They are doing great work with the Tongass National Forest and others down here in Southeast Alaska, and I'm very happy to be able to help out and make a little extra income.

Sunday Feb. 7th we flew to Seattle for my 14th Avastin infusion, in really nice weather and feeling good that we were over the top and headed toward the finish. I had a really good nurse, Mark, and met with a newly assigned doctor -- Dr. Malpass. Everything went very smoothly, on that side. So the Avastin part went fine -- but, as we were beginning to fear from having heard nothing, the Temodar supply was not good news. Normally, every other Avastin infusion in Hematology-Oncology is followed by a quick walk over to Neurology, where I pick up the five days worth of Temodar and start it that Monday evening. Michelle or Piper acquire it from Accredo by Friday, and provide it to me on Monday -- which is a truly great service on their part. Unless, of course, the company supplying it from the East Coast is having "winter weather" and and doesn't send it out to them. And doesn't tell them until they call back on Friday to see where it is. Thankfully, the crew at Virginia Mason went after it, and over the course of very hard work Friday and Monday, managed to get authority to acquire it in Seattle, and located an appropriate and sufficient supply, in time for us to pick it up and drive to the airport to fly back to Ketchikan. We were very happy, if a bit stressed, to have it work out. For certain, we cannot thank the crew at VMMC enough.

And tomorrow -- we fly to Salt Lake City to attend the Mule Deer Foundation conference, where Faith will set up and operate a booth to provide information and attract support for Sitka black-tailed deer and the Tongass National Forest. Should be great fun; then on the 14th I leave for a week of feral pig hunting in Texas!

So life is good, if occasionally stressful. Thankfully, we're getting some very good help, which makes life a lot easier. Hope your life goes well too...

Dennis & Faith