HAL Sailer

@rafinmd Thanks for continuing my DSIL on the Rotation List. She did have her first chemo infusion Friday. Chemo is planned every third week for a year. My DH talked with his sister yesterday. She was very tired but having no other side effects. Before her next chemo appt, she has 8 other medical appts related to the melanoma. I'm 20 years younger and that schedule makes my head spin. No wonder she's tired! -Melisa

And, there he is... Stay safe all, -M.

@kazu Glad to read that you are safe and your home/property mostly unscathed. What you didn't get done today will be there tomorrow. For tonight just luxuriate in your bath, dine, and wine, wine, wine. -M.

@aliaschief and all: Well, that didn't happen. TWC has a different reporter, Paul Goodloe, on Clearwater Beach now and it just said Jim Cantore will be there "tonight". - M.

@aliaschief and all, The Weather Channel just announced it: Jim Cantore will start reporting from Clearwater Beach at 9am this morning. (That's 90 miles north of my beach.) - Melisa

With all of Florida counties now under a State of Emergency, with almost the entire state falling within Ian's cone of uncertainty, and The Weather Channel suspending regular programming to report on Ian, we'll likely see Cantore on somebody's beach very, very soon. Stay safe all...

Found this website. It has interactive views of Fiona plus many live view webcams situated around the area. https://www.windy.com/?46.225,-63.105,5 And, scrolling many miles further SW, you can see Ian's development. -M.

🙏Prayers for their safe return.🙏 -M.

It's in the mid-50°s here with steady rain and, slightly south, in Midland it looks like the same weather pattern has set in for @dfish 's National Hunting Day -- 🏡House Hunting🏡 that is! Good luck and stay dry, @dfish & sis! -M.

It's a sunny 50° here and predicted to climb to 70°. I'll enjoy the sunshine today as both Saturday and Sunday are predicted to be low 60°s with rain both here and, unfortunately, also in Midland where @dfish will likely be dodging raindrops while 🏡house hunting🏡. I'm also keeping my eye on Tropical Depression #9 that is now expected to intensify as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico and come into SW Florida as a Cat 2 - Cat 3 hurricane early next week. Yesterday, #9 was a very disorganized storm but, overnight, all storm model predictions merged with its path now headed toward our family place south of Sarasota. Hoping it veers away... -Melisa

Twenty-dix years ago, DH and I toured three Kenyan game parks as part of a 17-day African Safari + Isles of the Indian Ocean cruise. The safari was with Micoto Safaris (highly recommended still); the cruise was on the Orient's Marco Polo (that went to the breakers in 2021). The majority of our elephant spotting was in the Amboseli National Park where we stayed in a bungalow at Oltukai Lodge. From my travel diary: "Herds of elephants wandered throughout the Amboseli. Their speed and mobility was surprising. One minute a herd was spotted miles away; the next minute the same herd was crossing in front of us." Eating was a never-ending activity. They pushed and pulled trees over in their endless search for food. Near our bungalow was a swampy area where the elephants frolicked like toddlers in a wading pool. Then the elephants would wander off with their high water mark showing. And, speaking of toddlers, mother and baby elephants travel together. Babies can walk under their mommy's tummy until two-weeks of age. We were blessed to see such a very young baby. It was an amazing experience and lives in my memory as if yesterday. -Melisa

🙏 Our condolences and prayers. 🙏 -Melisa

🚘Go, @dfish Go!🚘 🏡Happy Michigan House Hunting!🏡 Have safe travels, too. -M.

@dfish as I said yesterday: Oh, NO! Or as I really wanted to say then & now: "Oh, H-E-🏒🏒 NO!" -Melisa

@dfish Oh, NO! Or as I really want to say: "Oh, H-E-🏒🏒 NO!" -Melisa

@*Miss G* 🙏Prayers for you and your DH as you each travel and deal with all you've been dealt.🙏

@kazu Thinking of you as you prepare for Fiona but with prayers that Fiona changes course. -M.

We just received 'the best news possible' from DSIL. Her full body scan and brain MRI show that the melanoma has not spread beyond her arm and nearby axillary nodes. The correct chemo port has been located at a metro area hospital, so she will travel there tomorrow for insertion under general anesthesia. And, her first chemo is now planned for Friday at an infusion center near her home. We know DSIL has a long road ahead, but this is truly the best news possible! Thanks for all your prayers, -Melisa

🙏Adding my prayers.🙏

You put into words exactly how I've been feeling and thinking. Here's hoping we are able to go to sea when our land based duties are complete -- "whether in a couple of years or ten." -Melisa

DH and I had not thought of it that way. Thanks for the different perspective. -Melisa

Thank you! -Melisa

DSIL still doesn't have her Sept 13 full body and brain cancer scan results. She anticipated learning the results tomorrow but that appointment has been cancelled by her doctor because the surgical center doesn't have the chemo port she needs in stock. You may wonder why she needs a chemo port if the scan results aren't known. We did, too. DSIL has agreed with her oncologist to start chemo later this week (plus every 3rd week for a year) based on just the melanoma locations found in her Aug 22 biopsies. However, if the needed port can not be located, this treatment may not start as her veins have been found too weak for IV chemo. What she faces when the body/brain scan results are known is definitely unknown and we are very surprised she isn't waiting for those results before agreeing to start treatment. But, it is her choice and as a retired RN, she is not an uninformed patient. DSIL still says she isn't strong enough for even a short visit. My DH isn't able to drive, so we offered that I'd drop him off to allow them, as sister and brother, to have a few private hours together. She declined that, too. Our prayers continue. It seems it's all we can do… -Melisa (Note to @rafinmd: Thank you for having DSIL on the Care List. I don't know whether she should move to the Rotation List or remain on the main list. I trust your wisdom.)

Thanks @Quartzsite Cruiser for your recipe and the freezing suggestions, too! A quick question: Is the "1 can (16 oz.) tomatoes and green chilies, undrained" in your recipe often called by the brand name RO✴️TEL? And, if RO✴️TEL (or similar) is correct, do you suggest using the 'Original' or the 'Mild' version? Thanks again, -Melisa

And, my Ohio born and raised dad (who was permanently stationed in Michigan following WWII) always donned the Scarlet & Grey on game day! -M.