November 7, 2009
Got you excited there, huh?
Well, let me bring you back down. There is no prize. You will not receive a prize in the mail, nor should you have expectations of such (a statement which frees me from any legal obligation to send you anything 
).
I will say this, however: my two favorite holidays of the year are coming up this month. (more…)
October 20, 2009
…and, after a long radio silence, I can happily confirm the boring-ness of my latest MRI scan! No new tumor growth, and just some normal post-surgical fluid weirdness on the outside (have run it by several doctors, and none of them have any concerns, so I’m good with that). As my oncologist (cancer doc.) put it, “Boring is good in this office.”
Thanks to all of you who prayed for those results, and haven’t got tired of my drama-queen head and its occasional health tantrums… (more…)
September 29, 2009
…but I just wanted to reassure people that (a) I’m still alive, and (b) I’m still healthy. This fall finds me mixing Grad School with full-time employment at a Middle School – a combination with a similar effect on my free time as that of mixing mentos and diet coke. But, hey, I chose this path voluntarily (or, rather, I finally heard that it was the right one), so no whining!
Later in October, I’ll be getting my next MRI scan, with (in the words of my last report) more “unremarkable” results; I’ll keep you all posted (probably not many posts before then, though).
How about you? Anything interesting going on lately? (you can always leave a comment with the words “personal note” or something like that, and I’ll delete it as soon as I read it, for you cowards that don’t like to post online ).
Have a great week!
September 16, 2009
Looks like today marks exactly two years since this “Felipe Beach” thing has been in existence. Why did I start a blog? (more…)
August 24, 2009
Brief Health Update – I’m doing great after my latest (and hopefully last) surgery, as my energy slowly returns to 100% and that dull pain disappears. I’m getting ready to return to work when the school year begins in just over a week; as hard as it is to close the door on another abbreviated summer, I am actually looking forward to this school year, and all the opportunities within. Thanks for all your prayers, encouragement, and support!
August 24, 2009
One of the few positives of being stuck in a doctors’ waiting room for an hour, is that you can actually read those articles in the magazines (rather than just skimming over the reviews of new movies and other lite fare). My latest reading session had me stumbling across an article in Afar Magazine about the tragically-underreported Welsh sport of bog snorkeling. Bog snorkeling? I thought as I read. Those wacky UK folks think of all the good sports!
Naturally curious about this, and other sports of my ancestral UK, I decided to do a little research on this and other Odd (not just) British Sports:
*pardon my all-inclusive use of “British” to include Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, and Australia. It’s just easier for me that way; if you’ve got a problem with that, I just had brain surgery, so back off!
**All links & videos looked fairly family-friendly at first glance, but, nonetheless, I claim no responsibility for their content.
***Any less-than-correct information I’ve got on here is the result of a very hasty research process; a simple comment stating these corrections would be sufficient, as opposed to other forms of one-upmanship that will instantly delete themselves. (more…)
August 17, 2009
Health Update: (I hope to not have to do too many of these anymore) As I posted earlier, I’m back at home and resting comfortably following my latest surgical adventure. The surgery appears to have been a success, with no recurrence of the infection that got me here (nor the tumor that started the whole thing).
Of course, recovery from brain surgery (albeit, a minor form of it) never comes without it’s kinks: I ended up fighting off a bout of walking pneumonia last week, and have had the usual issues with a rapid change in medication. Thankfully, there are still a few weeks of summer vacation left before I have any real responsibilities to carry out.
Now, as I figure out what my body’s capable of after a year of 3 major surgeries, radiation, chemo, and a lot of pills, I hope to be able to transition away from an existance centered around doctor visits and health updates, and towards other adventures (like working in a middle school while taking Graduate level classes online. Hmm. Chemo doesn’t sound so bad anymore…). Your notes, encouragements, prayers, & support have all been appreciated of late and always.
OK, on to other less-important pursuits… (more…)
August 12, 2009
(well, Mom & Dad’s home, at least…)
I just wanted to let people know that I’m out of UWMC, will be back at my place tonight, and am feeling pretty good at this point. Seeing as this was essentially plastic surgery, the recovery time won’t be nearly as long or as painful as the last surgeries; I’m walking around (limited for awhile), and should be back up to speed before too long.
Thanks for all your notes, encouragements, & prayers! They seem to be doing the trick…
More soon.
August 10, 2009
Good News! Phil’s surgery went well this morning. Phil has a plate now, and is “hard headed” again. If recovery goes well, as expected, he may be able to leave UW Med Center tomorrow (Tues) for a few days recoup time at our parent’s home. We’ll try and post an update Tuesday or Wednesday.
Ruth (Phil’s sister)
August 10, 2009
…Monday morning, 10AM-ish, I’m having what will hopefully be the last of my recent string of wacky surgeries. In effect, I’ll be able to ditch the helmet after this one (but not before milking it a bit…): (more…)
