Good News for Dad

My dad got some great news today.  There is currently no sign of the tumor that had been overlooked during his first surgery for colon cancer, and was later discovered.  The tumor disappeared during the time he was taking chemo and radiation and food supplements.

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At the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Marian found a staff of caring people, and some help for alleviating the nausea and pain she has had ever since her surgery nearly seven weeks ago.  The "staging" sounds more worrisome than it did earlier--not necessarily because her condition has worsened.  There is more mystery about why the staging was at one earlier, than about why it is now several notches higher.  She has an appointment in Tulsa next week again.

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Betty Y. is released from treatment now, having had only surgery and no chemo or radiation.

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And now, moving beyond medical reports--Today's Hutchinson News contained an article about an interesting  development with Pleasantview Academy (formerly Elreka), where all the children from the Pleasantview area attended during grade school from 1958 to some time in the 1990s.  The Haven school district no longer has plans to make use of the facility, and it will likely be offered for lease or sale.

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We're in the middle of some dramatic weather.  At school today, it got so dark outside that the security lights came on.  Lightening, thunder, downpours, and marble-sized hail all stole the show at various times.  Tonight freezing rain is predicted.  It will likely turn to snow by morning and continue into tomorrow.  Most troublesome of all is the prospect of temperatures falling to 27 degrees tomorrow night--for a record low for this date.  Farmers are worried about their wheat.  A recent freeze was thought to have been timed so that there was little damage, but things are farther along now, and the damage could worsen accordingly.

Last year we saw people harvesting wheat on our way home from Kingman Lake on Memorial Day.  That will certainly not happen this year, even if the crop escapes freeze damage.  It's a much later season all around.

Later:  The latest prediction is 25 degrees here tonight.  I'm feeling a little sick for all my farmer friends and family, and am praying for a miracle.

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Shane made an unwelcome discovery within the past few days.  A large quantity of beef, pork, and chicken that had been processed for sale to retail customers thawed while stored in a walk-in freezer that malfunctioned.  The meat quality has not deteriorated so far, but will need to be refrozen.  The packaging doesn't look very good, and he is selling it for half price.

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I'd better shut this off before the lightening does a number on our phone (and internet) connection.

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Later:  I'm mourning the "passing" of my 1998 Mercury Villager minivan.  Only 15 months ago, the timing belt was replaced for a pretty price, but it went bad again and apparently broke while it was running to warm up on a cold morning, creating havoc when it did so.  It looks like I might switch from driving Li'l Red to the Infiniti.  For those who can't picture either one, you can just think redneck mini and aging sporty--neither of which I fancy as self-descriptors.  I am grateful though for the availability of these vehicles, and for our generous sons who offered them.