New York New York Thread 2025

[Calzone]

The kid’s house in Carmel is a tiny cottage on a tiny plot of land. Big dollars does not get you a lot today, but the house is turnkey, and not a fixer upper like our 1912 Baby-Victorian. A large lake is a few blocks away and they have lake rights.

The basement is a walkout and is not considered living space, so their taxes are low. It will be crowded though for a family of 4.

I see lots of potential, but also limitations. A simple life is not a bad thing…

Loews and Home Cheapo have their annual mulch sales. $2.00 a bag, or $10.00 for 5 bags. Today I think I’ll load up.

The temperatures are suppose to dip below freezing. Winter is still around.

Today I have to take “Maggie” to the eye doctor. Cataract surgery was 2 years ago, and there is all this follow through still going on.

Friday I have my appointment with the radiation hematologist. An inhibitor will be added to my treatment plan that offers an additional 6% chance of surviving a prostate Cancer that is Stage 4A and metastasized locally to other areas in my pelvis.

I already have had the chemical castration injection, and so far no hot flashes or side effects except maybe a little less energy.

The chemical castration with radiation treatment has a 72% survival rate. Instead of 4-6 weeks of radiation I’ll be getting 7-8 weeks. The addition of the inhibitor adds another 6% onto the survival rate to be 78%.

Pretty good chance I’ll be around to annoy Maggie and MFM.

Cal

 

[robert blu]

...

Pretty good chance I’ll be around to annoy Maggie and MFM.

Cal

...and to play the electric guitars...

 

[Calzone]

Robert,

I’m not such a great player yet. When I play I likely annoy people.

“Maggie” says I need to learn new material, and does not understand the repetition required to develop craft, skill and fluid spontainaity.

Pretty much my guitar playing annoys her.

Then when I play blues she says it sounds like whining. LOL.

I take this as a compliment…

She has little understanding of discipline required to be great. She does not understand Jazz the way I do.

The Jazz classic/standard “Round Midnite” My friend Tim says is a difficult song. I transposed it into a different key to exploit double-stops, playing the same pitch/note twice on two adjacent strings, to get it to sound like a horn section. Not easy to do, but a kinda crazy style has evolved that displays great promise.

I also have great tone because I can build/assemble great Tele’s and Strats along with restoring vintage amps.

From Maggie though I get no love that involves guitars. She talks about and worries about when I die what is she going to do with all of them. At that point I don’t care…

Hopeful that the grandson recycles them…

A three year envelope exists of treatment to find out if I am cured or not. The outlook is 78% chance of survival from my aggressive prostate Cancer. Pretty good odds. I’m not so worried about dying from Cancer, but Woman-Factor and panic from her surely is shortening my life.

The house needs to be turn-key, and the fact is that there are many small jobs that need to get done, but then there are all these distractions… Family childcare, woman maintenance, and of course my Cancer treatment.

Maggie promotes what I call “virtual work” talking about work. Pretty much a waste of time. I try to make the point about how these little tasks are being amplified, and that pretty much I need to be given the chance to execute them. She uses the collective “We” but really it comes down to “Me.”

So now I will be helping The kids move into the new cottage. Maggie watches too many HGTV shows and is brainwashed into thinking that a house gets remodeled and finished in an hour episode.

Meanwhile she kinda gets in the way and makes getting work done. I like concentrating and having momentum. If you are of no help, please get out of my way.

“Please give me a chance,” I have to say.

So give me hormone therapy and external beam radiation for two years and 8 weeks respectively. Less side effects than the difficulty of woman-factor.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

“Maggie’s” eye doctor appointment is tomorrow and not today. Rather than argue with a woman with a PhD, I went with the flow. The date in my calendar stated that the appointment is tomorrow, but you know women don’t like listening to men, especially one’s that have a PhD.

So in the doctor’s reception area I let the drama play out, and her mistake was revealed. Know that I did mention that my date differed from hers, but of course this was of no regard.

“Ha-ha,” I say. No big deal because I needed to go to the bank and we needed to go to Trader Joe’s.

So the CF in me kinda made me intervene with the fence the kids need at their new cottage. An estimate for a vinyl fence was $10K, and in my book a lot of money, especially when it is not so big a job to handle and is mucho low skill. I figured that I could do the job for at least half the cost.

I was wrong, the cost of materials I figure is about $3.3K and that is for 288 running feet of fence that is enough to fence a complete 40x100. Know I already have a post hole digger, but the only problems might be tree roots or rock.

BTW I hate vinyl fences. I think they are cheesy. I paid $1.5K for two eight foot sections of cedar fencing along with a decorative fancy topper and cedar posts. We own a 1912 house, and a vinyl fence is just plain wrong.

I may have Cancer but I could not let this go. Meanwhile I have my own house to take care of. The husband is “sausage-fingers” meaning not handy or mechanically inclined at all. Pretty much had to man-up…

Oh-well. This can be done before Memorial Day which is early this year. Around Memorial Day radiation treatment will start…

I do this for the grandkids…

Cal

 

[boojum]

The best of good fortune for a successful outcome with your cancer treatment. I know treatment works starting with my grandmother in 1910 and then my aunt, mother, cousin and wife. So we know treatment works, we just need it to work for you. I am betting it will and that you will be around to torture folks with that guitar for a long time. Buy some new picks, you are going to need them. ;o)

 

[Calzone]

B,

I am mighty annoying. Ask “Maggie.” LOL.

Some good advice given here and by others. At times I was advised that others will have their breakdowns. Maggie had another one this morning.

Pretty much I have great medical care, and it looks like I have a 78% chance of a cure. If not a friend named Frank has been alive for many years with his Cancer (prostate) being treated. He has stage 4B Cancer.

I guess about 3 years from now I’ll find out if my Cancer is 4A or 4B. 4A translates into the metastasizing being local. 4B is a different story. There are so many treatments. One can live with Cancer, but it comes down to quality of life…

Know that I kinda have also a low grade B-Cell lymphoma that was first diagnosed when I was 49, 18 years ago. I also have Cold Agglutinin Disease (CAD) a rare disease that shortens the life of my red blood cells. My blood thickens with exposure to cold, and this damages the red blood cells.

My primary hematologists agrees with others that I am a bit of a medical mystery because I have high levels of IgM antibodies that would suggest a very ill patient, but I’m kinda asymptomatic because my bone marrow and health is such that I avoid severe anemias.

I might have had CAD my entire adult life. The source of this disease is idiopathic, meaning for no known reason. Usually this disease is a result sometimes from having hepatitis, but I never had Hepatitus. At one point I was tested three times to make sure the test was not a false negative.

Could be from a childhood disease…

So I have been living with Cancer already for a long time. They say a cure for CAD is moving to a warm climate. Problem is Maggie is Northern European and can’t handle heat and humidity. Oh-well.

If you follow my threads you would know I’m lean and muscular. At age 67, 5’10 I weigh about 157 pounds, and have a body of perhaps a 16 year old. I have no chronic diseases and take no meds other than Eliquis for a blood clot that is post mid January surgery.

My doctors want me off this pronto before radiation treatment. Radiation can cause bleeding and a blood thinner complicates things.

In two weeks I’ll see my primary hematologist and a blood test will definitively indicate if I have an active clot or not.

I’m also lucky that we have a branch of New York Columbia Presbyterian right here in Peekskill about 2 1/2 miles away. I don’t have to go to NYC for treatment. EZ-PZ…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I tweaked the Pinecaster by cutting the nut slots deeper. I gave the new guitar time to take a set before doing this kinda last adjustment. Final tweak will be to adjust the action a tad higher on some of the wound strings for a bit more ring.

I am very pleased on how musical this Esquire (single pickup Tele) is, and it is mucho lively. Note separation is vast for clarity.

So tomorrow is the real eye doctor’s appointment for “Maggie.” Looks like it might rain.

Saw a crane take off from our marsh today.

“Maggie” got a bit triggered by the kid’s moving 45 minutes away. It is about 21 miles to Carmel.

Having so much contact with the grandson is kinda wonderful. What they say about having a sense of purpose for grandparents is true, and I can see why grandparents that have mucho contact and interaction with grandchildren live longer because life is very fulfilling.

His new house (cottage) he says is his sister’s house, and his house is our house.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I am getting thinner, but I likely weigh the same. More tone in the torso.

Pretty much my push-ups and pull-ups max sets every day is working. Does not require a lot of time, and consistency does me well.

My vanity is pretty big, and the fem-out that is part of hormone therapy seems mitigated. Can’t wait for milder weather to get on my bikes.

I have cut carbs a bit and increased protein intake.

*******************

We will concentrate on details to first finish the first floor. The attic is going to become a big walk in closet for us to store clothes and shoes. In 1912 people had limited closet space, pretty much their Sunday best and their work clothes.

The smallest bedroom now we want to develop into a sewing room. Know I own a commercial JUKI sewing machine, and it is one of the last models still built in Japan. Remember 0% APR financing? Pretty much I bought this JUKI for a monthly payment of $75.00 for a year, or $900.00.

I was attending FIT and learning how to sew a man’s dress shirt. I used my art approach and developed skill and craft.

Anyways I’m mucho glad I bought the JUKI, and I’m glad I got one that is not made in China made in Japan.

One way of accumulating wealth and treasure is to buy to keep. I tend to buy the best.

I can make many things, and sewing is relaxing. I can also be mighty creative. Making clothes is a bit like engineering.

“Maggie” has her own consumer sewing machine. This works for me. The JUKI only does one stitch, and it is really good at only one thing. Powered by a half horsepower motor and around a heavy table. Set up it weighs close to 150 pounds and the shipping was free.

Those zero APR deals are over… Mucho glad I took advantage of them…

I learned from designer friends that the best way to learn design and tailoring is to take apart clothes and reassemble them. No need for school. Pretty much I can self teach how to become great and develop my own style.

I’m not a fashion hound. One reason is that men sizes start at a size 40, and I’m a size 38. Thing is that when I dress up I look mighty fine, but that requires either Prada or Paul Smith tailoring.

A young beauty at FIT complimented me by saying I looked like an “Asian version of James Bond” when she saw me dressed up in a Paul Smith suit. Pretty much have a license to kill…

When I look in the mirror I don’t recognize myself.

My real style though is athletic and sportswear, and also jeans and a T-shirt. I’m 67 and I still can look like a rocker, but I wear tight rock climbing knickers from Patagonia and look the part. That boyish build…

I see saving lots of money, and making denim versions of knickers as being a trademark. I always had problems buying clothes. My waist is a size 28, so I’m not kidding when I call myself a “skinny bitch.”

So part of me already is fem. I’m 67 and still have good looks.

I’m vain for a reason…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

9 pull-ups in a first max set, then 8 in a second set. 60 dirty quick push-ups in a max set, so far.

I’ll see if I can squeeze out another max set of each today.

A beach body is emerging and I’m 67 years old.

The grand daughter has some school event tonight. It will be good to see the kids. They are a big part of our lives.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Some intermittent fasting, cutting carbs, along with higher protein intake with exercise is part of my recovery.

I eat a lot of eggs, but I cut down the yoke intake. Also been doing more plant based protein via nuts. Decades ago when I was poor I ate lots of peanut butter sandwiches. Cheap protein…

The exercise I do for strength training are all out max sets that are high in intensity.

Meanwhile “Maggie” uses a trampoline set up in our back-backyard to do her steps. Less shock and wear and tare on her hip and knee. She has had a hip replacement close to 20 years ago, and has a bunion that effects her stride.

Anyways blood flow is important, and it can reduce the risk of dementia by 50%. This is a concern because she has the risk factor in her family history.

I think the afterburn from my strength training also helps starve the Cancer. The hormone treatment also not only starves the Cancer, but can also shrink the tumor. This is why hormone therapy is used with radiation. Hormone therapy alone though is not a cure. Radiation is required to kill the Cancer.

I remember perhaps 40 years ago a friend at Grumman who was an Software Engineer made a passing comment, “Cal, you are so skinny.”

And my response was, “Mike, you are short, fat and bald.”

“Didn’t mean to fend you,” Mike said.

“Neither did I.” LOL. Mike laughed too.

I have a long history of annoying people. Pretty much my ability to eat and stay thin annoyed a lot of people that are overweight. You suck factor because I ate a lot while they struggled with diets.

Even Maggie complains… Seems like nobody likes a skinny bitch. LOL.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I killed a pair of ”Chaco’s” and threw them out.

Chaco’s are these shoes that “Maggie” calls “Slides” that are kinda like clog like slippers. I define them as slippers that have soles.

My old Chaco’s were well worn, and pretty much the stitching wore out or decomposed. They were likely two years old, and I bought them at DSW when they had some inventory blowout.

Shoes are imported and are expected to rise in price, but I have a 55 gallon bin filled to capacity with shoes, sneakers, and boots. Most I bought from the clearance racks and then I compounded the savings by using coupons.

Right now I have a $10.00 off coupon and the only requirement is that I have to spend $25.00. Pretty easy to do. When you walk and see a $10.00 bill laying on the sidewalk do you pick it up? I could double my savings to $20.00 if I spend $99.00, but why would I do that?

So I go to my stockpile of mostly DSW shoes I bought at bargain prices, and I discover that I have another pair of Chaco’s that are brand new. Pretty much I like loading up the truck when I find a good deal. So now it seems that those Chaco’s are about 4 years old or older. They looked ratty, but ask me if I care…

“I am a cheap but greedy American,” I say. If I remember correctly I paid about $30.00-$35.00 a pair.

Did I mention that they are mucho comfortable.

Now I kinda remember that I use to use these “slippers” for work. Likely not the dress code. Oh-well. I kinda remember my bull-boss Howard being annoyed with me, and complaining about me wearing Patagonia rock climbing knickers to work in the spring, summer and fall.

How cool is it that I walked around Madhattan wearing my slippers, and wearing them at work. Of course no soxs.

Anyways after annoying him by wearing my knickers for many years, he finally wrote out a complaint to bully me. Soon thereafter he kinda got the push and retired, and as soon as he was gone I went back to my ways.

“Ha-ha,” I say.

I got the last laugh.

How-Weird was a very strange guy. Socially awkward and not a happy guy. Boy did I annoy him. I was cool, and he was not. LOL.

BTW How-Weird hated me. Anything and everything I did aggravated him. What an unhappy guy. In fact there was little to do at “work” so I pretty much made aggravating him my job.

Brutal…

Cal