NYC Journal

Phil,

My analogy presents and mentions ambiguous headlines, but I can’t argue about your analogy of a cracked glass, leaking and unable to hold water.

A powerful metaphor…

Cal
 
I will confess that the good news today from my old geezer hematologist was a release of sorts that kinda created fatigue.

Pretty much since last July things have built up, and are still building. Figure in the end of July this year my radiation treatment will end, and I will still have more that a year and a half of hormone and Inhibitor treatment.

Then there is a year to 18 months for the hormone treatment to wear off to see if I’m cured…

My old geezer is right, I’m still recovering from the surgery, I’m only halfway through the surgical recovery, and there is still a lot of treatment to kill the Cancer.

Cal
 
I am cured of the blood clot.

Tomorrow I’ll drop off the remaining Eliquis blood thinner at the disposal at CVS.

As far as lifespan goes and Cancer I almost have assured at least 5 years. Also fact is I should or could have been killed many times. Fact is I already should be dead, perhaps many times. This is why I believe in divine intervention, but also know I’m not really religious. I’m pretty convinced there is something about my destiny that is kinda important.

There seems to be a reason why I am still alive because I embraced death, risk, and a lot of self destructive behaviors. Never thought I would live to be an old man…

Tomorrow gardening and some biking. I have a stockpile of 9-speed Dura-Ace. Because of Phil I loaded up the truck with cassettes when they were not costly. Have mucho 12-25, and already have Paul’s Thumbies and Dura-Ace bar-con shifters.

I’m thinking of taking the 8-speed XTR M900 bombproof shifters/brake levers off my road bike and putting them on a 1999 Fat Chance Yo Eddie (blue and purple fade) that has a Rock Shox SID. The Yo Eddy is a dream bike of many, and this bike came my way via AJ, and I bought it at a give-away price.

In 1999 Fat Chance used parts on hand to build out my bike. XTR brakes, XTR right brake lever, but XT derailleurs and shifters. The left shifter is a lever/shifter.

Seems that the Yo Eddie and IBIS Alibi have a seat tube that is 15 1/2 inches C-C and the top tube is a short 21 1/2 inches. The geometry on the Alibi though is set up for the less tall Rock Shox Judy.

Both these frames are a bit small on me, but I kinda like it. I’m more of a 17 inch center-to-center seat tube guy and this is my size.

I kinda marvel at “Maggie’s” Yo Betty, it is a 10 inch frame made for a woman under 5’2.” The wheelbase is short at 40 inches.

My Ti IBIS is a 17 inch frame measured seat tube C-C, and in 1994 when it was built the top tubes were 1/2 inch shorter, in 1995 Steel and Ti Mojo’s had 1/2 inch longer top tubes. The front triangle on my Ti IBIS Mountain Trials is the same as a 1994 Mojo spec, but of course with a 24 inch rear wheel the rear triangle is different.

The wheelbase on my Ti IBIS is 40 inches. Interesting to note that my steel IBIS Mountain Trials has a 39 1/2 inch wheelbase, and know that my Ti IBIS Mountain Trials is a prototype and one-off. Brutal. A dream bike for me.

Cal
 
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WOW. I’m seeing a lot of a pump and dump pattern going on. Seems like wild swings are almost purposely created.

Some of the bluster was to test Powell, and to test power, but now the economy has to get steady before the mid-terms. Good luck with that…

Spring really emerged yesterday. Gardening and hopefully some biking.

Cal
 
Great news is that my DNA test came out “negative” for Cancer. Basically Cancer is not in my genes.

I kinda knew that. My dad lived to 94 and had no Prostate problems. My sister died of Uterine Cancer. She had fibroids that grew to make her appear three months pregnant. Instead of having a hysterectomy she had the fibroids removed. She never had kids, but this medical decision likely took her out at the age of 72.

At one point my sister worked rotating shifts, and this stressful work situation wrecked havoc on her health.

In my case I think/believe I got Cancer because of stress and anger I had when young. In the black community they call this “Weathering” where damage to the ends of DNA leads to disease.

My dad aged well and did not look his age. Both my parents died of heart failure, both were overweight and had poor diets, both were immigrants… We were poor…

Only did 9 pull-ups today. Did a lot of gardening, digging and dosed out 20 cubic feet of cow manure.

My cholesterol levels are a bit high, slightly elevated, no need for medication, but some diet changes and exercise are needed.

“Maggie” did some research and I have to limit my exposure to the sun. Evidently sun exposure can increase my testosterone levels. It kinda sucks working in the yard sweating with a long sleeve shirt on.

More economic back peddling going on. Warnings of empty shelves… Gold futures receded down over $100.00.

So after my Cancer treatment ends I’m looking forward to working on the 1966 C-10. I’m still obsessing over my bikes.

It is exciting that the Fat Chance Yo Eddy and IBIS Alibi share similar geometry, but for different suspension forks: The Yo Eddy has geometry optimized for a longer Rock Shox SID; and the IBIS a shorter Rock Shox Judy.

These bikes are still kinda raw, meaning not built out, the Yo Eddie is “as-is” except for new tires; and the IBIS Alibi is almost just a bare frame.

I’m mucho glad I have these bikes. They are mighty cool.

Cal
 
I’m 3 months into my recovery for surgery. It seems that they account for 6 months to fully recover. I got back bladder control in about a month.

Radiation therapy can irritate the bladder and rectum. Usually this irritation subsides in 6 weeks after treatment is stopped.

About a third of men who do hormone treatment don’t ever regain any testosterone level. I’ll be on homone therapy for two years, and then it takes a year to 18 months for testosterone levels to normalize if they do.

In my case I’ll be on hormone therapy for an extended time, so I figure I might be at a higher risk of loosing and not regaining. Oh-well… For three or 3 1/2 years I’ll have already made that adjustment by doing regular strength exercises, eating less carbs, and being more physically active to maintain my health.

Being sick is not cheap.

The out of pocket for the DNA test was $250.00. BTW on my plan the co-pay is $40.00. I see so many doctors that this adds up quickly.

Cal
 
Although gold took a big dip it rebounded over $75.00 in Thursday’s trading already.

I see no reason for gold not to continue it’s upward momentum. Volatility and uncertainty continue. Things are untidy and a mess, lots can go wrong, and pretty much things are looking evil.

Cal
 
A red screen today. The $75.00 gain on gold settled down to a $50.00 range.

My money tree has three long and lanky branches. In another post I wrote about how another money tree yellowed, shed all its leaves, and died. Pretty much an early indicator that coincided with 2007-2008.

This second money tree we have owned since we bought the Baby-Victorian. Following Asian aesthetic it had either 5 or 7 branches. Asian aesthetic does not support symmetry BTW. Either 2 or 4 branches died off, only 3 remain, The longest stem is about 3 feet long with a canopy only at the very top. As it grows taller, leaves yellow and then fall…

So near the base is some new growth on one of the three branches. Since I last posted about this growth the leaves have grown bigger, and it looks vibrant and healthy.

I wrote that this money tree is a good metaphor for what is going on in the economy. Growth at only the very top along with death and decay, but the new growth near the base seems to have a toehold and is prospering.

There is no middle and no middle growth. Clearly this is not like any typical money tree. Mighty lanky, and it strongly resembles a palm tree, except for the recent new growth at the base.

Color me superstitious, but I believe I’m being sent a sign. Although I am not religious, I do highly believe in divine intervention. I’m sharing the clear message…

More gardening today, a Home Cheapo run, go to Trader Joe’s.

Cal
 
The gains in past three days on the S&P 500 translate it not being in correction territory anymore, but do you think things are really resolved?

China says there were no negotiations today, and pretty much says there is no need to negotiate, just remove the tariffs.

Someone blinked because of empty shelves would happen at Walmart.

The economy is still on death row, its just the day of execution has been pushed forward.

Cal
 
Pandemic like shortages predicted if there is no tariff truce. Shortages imply higher inflation. Simple demand and supply laws.

Gold is getting a “haircut” today, the market futures are mixed, but lately these bets at the beginning of the trading day is no longer a reliable hint to when the markets open.

Looking forward to not having any doctor’s appointment till May.

Cal
 
I feel like the past month has seen a weekly pattern set up in which bluster and words slightly boost short term confidence by Wednesday/Thursday, then the dives happen, with the overall direction of this trend being downward. The regime will tell you nonsense like the stock market had its greatest earnings ever in a single day, but not looking at the big picture and even mentioning that the aforementioned day didn't get close to half of what was lost in the three days prior. (Few are talking about the insider trading that occurred during the initial dump/buy before "record earnings" right as the Orange Julius said "it's a great time to make a lot of money")
It's a manufactured problem and straight out of Orwell's 1984.
It's as if the dystopian horror of post war fiction served as the actual playbook for what is happening in real life. Heinlein, Orwell, Huxley, Atwood, et al, were warning us about power in the future, and have become the unwitting authors of our present.
Phil
 
There is a NYT columnist who considers DT a man of great destiny in his time, though he concedes the awful consequences for so many people; his speech and behavior that violate the tenets of most religions, including his own, not to mention the constitution he swore to preserve. I have a hard time swallowing that viewpoint and many of that columnist's beliefs, clothed in his take on history and mankind. Our system of government may be due for some major changes, but not in this chaotic, autocratic, destructive way. Dante would give DT a circle of his own to stew in.
 
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