NYC Journal

An illustrated NYC Journal would be great, but you are pretty busy right now, I know. There is a lot of information on here about camera digitizing existing film and prints, and I post some images from this iPad by using the built in camera and posting out of the iPad photo library for cheap shots. The icon above between the link and happy face will get that done. See the link the administrators have added at the bottom of the reply box for a similar function. Or as you often say….Oh-well.
 
This afternoon it has been hard to stay awake. On other days it seems my day wears down around 4-5 PM.

I think the 40-45 minutes of walking around the hospital while “Maggie” got physical therapy did me in.

I note a loss of body hair, my arms are bald, and my underarm hair is very scant and close to looking shaven. I noticed less facial hair, even though the hormone treatment is not suppose to affect the hair on your head.

So the fatigue is setting in…

Maggie reports that my skin looks “beautiful,” and I laughed at the word. Overhydration, some lack of sun, and likely the UBER healthy diet.

Pretty much the morning was at the hospital, and my first cup of coffee was at 11:30. At that time it seemed I never really woke up, and I’m still groggy.

Went to Trader Joe’s to stock up on food. Seems like my day is done.

We talked of doing a mini-farm. The garden grown zucchini I grilled last night using a balsamic dressing as a marinade was like visiting heaven with a nice cut of pork. Pretty much a game changer to the way we want to eat.

We talked of getting a greenhouse and protecting the crops from animals. This year the birds, rabbits and chipmunks ate all our berries.

I’m kinda done for the day.

Just checking in so people don’t worry.

Cal
 
Today I am among the living. Radiation treatment did not take me out. I was so fatigued yesterday I could not read without nodding out. The same with the guitar. I was able to use internet videos to keep me awake.

I’m enjoying a coffee.

Great news is my friend Bobby was able to repair my 1960 Tele bridge pickup. It remains original except for new leads.

The 1960 neck pickup needed a rewind, but it seems the forensics were that the pickup was a rewound pickup anyways, and now it sports a “reverse” wound for hum cancellation when both neck and bridge pickups are used together. This is a big deal upgrade that is kinda modern.

Bobby rewound the 1960 pickup to spec otherwise.

These pickups are in the mail today. This is a project that I put off for many-many years, and it is coming together because of the neck and body I acquired at a savage discount: the 1-piece alder body; and the quartersawn flamed maple neck. This Tele will be made of all cherry picked parts.

Also the 51 No Caster reissue pickup got rewound and will be returned.

I kinda miss my Lawn Guy-Land friends who I have known for decades. Most of them are musicians.

As far as the “fem-out” goes not only am I loosing body hair, but I can see some loss of muscle mass. My arms are looking lean and toned, but in a buff woman kinda way. My face I think is softer and less angular. Perhaps I look less like a criminal.

I’m cool with being kinda like David Bowie from the Ziggy Stardust era. I realize I’m becoming and evolving into a different man.

I think I might be able to get a long ride in on Saturday. I’m on the fence If I should call Chris a new friend to join me. I’ll give him a call.

I will mow my crabgrass today.

Cal
 
Looks like Chris and I will go on a ride Saturday early. At 7:00 AM he will be at my house, and then we will head to Brewster to start the ride at the Great Swamp. This is an 18 mile out and back alone and for the entire 9 miles there are no street or road crossings.

Much of the swamp and lakes are a preserve, the second largest wetland downstate where I think the largest is Jamaica Bay refugee near Kennedy Airport.

The railroad grade is all flat, and I want to head further north. I figure at least a 30 mile ride, but I’d like to do 40.

We are cool with slow miles. Chris is a retired real estate lawyer who lives in Cortlandt, which is the suburbs surrounding Peekskill, the city.

I need to pump some blood…

Going early to beat the heat. This is the first real ride this year. I am in a weakened state, so nothing strenuous.

Cal
 
Hope to continue further north towards Poughkeepsie. I do know if I exert myself I’m kinda done. Flat railroad grades, no cars, asphalt and far enough north where there are no runners, walkers or dog walkers.

Chris is a Rond-O-near guy who did 200 mile rides, but he hasn’t been on a bike for a while. He is a caretaker of his wife.

Chis is kind of a new friend who I met at AJ’s shop.

Two old men doing what they can…

This makes me feel alive.

I wonder, buy a Burly bike trailer to do the family thing with the kids. Carmel is very near Brewster. The 3 year old’s birthday is at the end of August.

Hmmm…

Cal
 
If you get a bike trailer, make sure to ride a bike with as long a wheelbase as possible. Same rules apply to bikes that apply to automobiles. Short wheelbase bikes will tend to want to wheelie. Aggressive geometry bikes will want to oversteer. Also you may want to have a dual braking system as seen on tandems and good cargo bikes. You want a really durable, fat tire in the rear since you will have the extra weight from your trailer tongue pushing you both forward and down into surface imperfections.
Phil
 
I’m past 13 radiation treatments and this means I’m 1/3rd done.

There are good days and bad days, but generally around 4:00 PM my day is winding down and I’m pretty much done for the day.

On one hand the side effects of the Inhibitor and steroid seems to be subsiding, but the fatigue from the radiation is accumulating. Then it seems my side effects from radiation treatment are very minor.

Today I set a record for bladder capacity. It seems my bladder that had a max capacity of 350 ml somehow had 391 ml measured at the end of my radiation treatment. The bloating and holding the pressure it seems has made my bladder larger/extended.

I talked with “Maggie’s” daughter today about getting a Burley bike trailer. She is going to look at both the single and the double to figure out which is best. The single can load 75 pounds; and the double 100 pounds.

Phil’s advice involving gravity and momentum is good advice.

Winding down…

Cal
 
Joe,

I have about 20 packs of Fuji FP-100 that have been basement stored for the past/almost 5 years. Devil Christian gifted me a 4x5 Polaroid film holder that I have to dig up.

This could make your Linoff into a Louis Mendez camera.

The grandson will be three at the end of August. The weight limit on a “Bee” is 75 pounds so use for towing him around is time and weight limited.

Pretty sure you could give me something to get it back.

Also I have a Litespeed Ti stem to gift you.. 140 mm length for a 1 inch steerer.

Cal
 
One third of my radiation treatment has been performed. Today I start my second third.

There are good days and bad days.

My gold miner happens to be the 9th largest silver producer in the world. Silver is a by-product of gold mining. And the thing is that all the mines are domestic right here in the U.S.

Problem with mines in third world countries is that a government can “Nationalize” a mine, meaning confiscate the property. I purposely bought this stock for lack of this risk, and now for other reasons (no tariffs) it suddenly got a big boost.

I held onto this stock as an insurance policy, just in case the crap hit the fan, such as now.

Silver is an industrial metal, and it has been lagging gold. For many years this stock languished, but I’m happy-happy I held on.

They say a broken watch displays the correct time twice a day…

Cal
 
I wonder how much silver is in the alloy solder of the brazed joints on this Puch Mistral frame I'm building up. Gorgeous lugged joints. Austro-Diamler-Puch was known for beautiful silver brazing on their mid to high end frames. The one I'm building is a Mistral SLX team bike. Not sure who rode it, but it was formerly decaled with sponsor names, including Michelin. Research points to this being a 1987 team bike, or at least a sponsored pro rider.
Phil
 
A historic beef shortage and high prices mean an alternative for me.

The sprouter rig I used to soak white beans, and instead of having to simmer for an hour and a half to two hours they cooked in only 45 minutes after a full 24 hour soaking.

The large mason jar allowed EZ-PZ rinsing, and the volume of the one pound bag doubled.

“Maggie” made some pesto, and with the white beans it was as satisfying as Mac and Cheese.

Last night I had leftover beans with pesto and a huge bean salid made from beans I sprouted.

A side benefit is no fat and lots of fiber to lower my cholesterol. No need for meat, cost effective, and satisfying.

I walked to CVS nearby in the high heat index to ensure my refill for my steroid will be ready tomorrow. I also called about my Inhibitor refill. Still early for the Inhibitor and Monday my pharmicist will be calling me about a delivery.

Today I had a gusher in the last 4 minutes of my treatment. Was able to cap the gusher and retained 240 ml, so nothing bad happened except a saturated male Kotex.

Some people when they gush can’t shut it down, but I retain some control.

It’s 1:05 PM and I will likely nod out. Feels like I never woke up. Coffee can’t make up the shortfall of energy.

Made a jumper for the National 1210 amp that dates back to the mid 60’s. A simple circuit of three tubes. Jumpering two of the three inputs increases the gain and grind.

The amp is only 5 watts so really just a studio or practice amp

Cal
 
With the 5 watt National amp I had buyer’s remorse, but after it appreciated greatly in value I have other thoughts.

My sample is in 100% original condition, even has the unsafe and obsolete ungrounded plug, and original “death-cap.”

Never been updated to a modern three prong. Could get shocked or electrocuted. LOL.

So this is a good studio amp and good for recording. Has a nice breakup at low volume.

“Layla and other love songs” with Eric Clapton and Duane Allman used a Fender tweed Champ to record the entire album. The sound of the guitars is all from a small 5 watt amp “dimed” out.

The speaker is an 8 inch Jenson with an Alnico magnet.

My little National uses the same three tubes and the same 8 inch Jenson speaker with a smooth cone. Valco was a company that manufactured amps, and National was one of their brands.

They were built cheaper than Fender.

Supro was another Valco brand and the first Led Zepplin albums, Led Zepplin 1 and 2, Jimmy Page used old Supro amps in the studio to record those classic albums.

I use a Nikon shopping bag I got from PhotoPlusExpo as an amp cover for my National. Very cool.

So now this amp is in my studio. I have 6 amps in this small bedroom with 14 electric guitars. Looks awesome.

Cal
 
Friday’s leave me in a state of limbo. Not fully awake and in a state where I can nod off at any moment.

My guess is that the cell damage that accumulates over 5 days adds up, and there is a need to rest for a recovery. Over the weekend my body gets rid of the bloat from overhydration.

I have the belief that eating good and consuming protein helps with my recovery.

The jumper I made to connect two inputs seems to broaden the sound by adding in more bottom end. I set the volume at 10:00 and got a sweet clean sound that I can dwell in. Slightly compressed only because the 8 inch speaker is small. I like this amp because it is intamate.

Over the weekend I’ll test it for breakup at higher volume levels.

The heat today reminded me of North Carolina. Kinda brutal.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Today I had a gusher in the last 4 minutes of my treatment. Was able to cap the gusher and retained 240 ml, so nothing bad happened except a saturated male Kotex.
Click to expand...


Hi Cal, When I had my radiation treatments it was pants fully down, so a male Kotex would not have helped in a gusher. The radiation technologists were women, and they would put a small cloth over my genitals for modesty's sake. Pretty ineffective. But really, seeing an 80 year old man's penis would only make them appreciate their husband's/boyfriend's member even more.
Robert
 
Robert,

My coffee training helps.

My bladder is growing. When they sized me up my max capacity was 350 ml, but after a radiation treatment they once measured 391 ml.

At the end of the week I’m very worn down, and I am a bit of a mess. Today I went biking with a new friend Chris who is almost 75. After the ride I had a yellow piss. Feels great being a bit dehydrated.

My blood pressure has been recorded 180/90 from the 40 ounces of water required to ensure a full bladder.

If I had any underlying condition this over-hydration could aggravate chronic conditions.

Cal
 
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