That's right, this blog is coming to you straight from the Gonda building in Rochester MN - home of the mayo clinic cancer center and oncology. And no, I am not writing this as a patient here - thought I should go see if I can access my records, this is where my official diagnosis was made - I am actually attending a conference and the Khaler Grand hotel, which is across the street. This building has a lot of meaning and takes me back to when I used to visit my grandpa in the hospital. We used to watch the construction of this building from his window when he was at Methodist hospital for treatment. The building is gorgeous, to say the least. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tradition-heritage/gonda-building.html you can check it out here. sorry my links aren't more fancy.
It's been a much more difficult day since i have bee here - I have seen so many people who are clearly going through chemo and suffering the side effects, I have heard the words that cancer patients so frequently hear, and the nerves as families sit here in the waiting room anticipating news about their loved ones. The room is filled with such a strange energy, it could drive one crazy.
And grandma, just for you - remember the blown glass hanging from the ceiling - in greens, blues, yellows and browns. I am sitting in front of it writing this now. I bet I even have the pictures back home we took of it on your camera.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Research? Oh yeah!
Hi everyone,
Two posts already this month - yeah, I clearly need more to do. When I think about the amount of work I did in the last six months and what I am doing now, it seems like I have nothing to do. I went from teaching five classes and five preps, helping host the relay for life, planning comm day for my dept, mentoring in the brother sister program to teaching two classes, one prep, and coaching a speech team. My life seems so much more peaceful not - wait until tournament season starts.
For those of you who are academically excitable, I would like to tell you about my new research project. I am doing an analysis of messages aimed at young cancer survivors and how they need to to differ compared to messages that are aimed at older adults. I got my inspiration from a few different places. One was from a pastor that stopped by my hospital room last April and asked me what was my sickness. I explained it to him and he commented that his wife was also having her thyroid out and it became apparent that facing this issue at 27 is much different than 67. I have also been listening to a podcast from a website called "I'm too young for this" that talks about the dirty little secrets of being young and dealing with issues such as dating, fertility, hair loss, body image, etc. I am excited to be working on this project and hope to help others who have dealt with issues related to their age and cancer.
Have a nice weekend everybody! Good luck to my little brother as he will be playing football this week and also to Jason who is training for the Twin Cities marathon!
Two posts already this month - yeah, I clearly need more to do. When I think about the amount of work I did in the last six months and what I am doing now, it seems like I have nothing to do. I went from teaching five classes and five preps, helping host the relay for life, planning comm day for my dept, mentoring in the brother sister program to teaching two classes, one prep, and coaching a speech team. My life seems so much more peaceful not - wait until tournament season starts.
For those of you who are academically excitable, I would like to tell you about my new research project. I am doing an analysis of messages aimed at young cancer survivors and how they need to to differ compared to messages that are aimed at older adults. I got my inspiration from a few different places. One was from a pastor that stopped by my hospital room last April and asked me what was my sickness. I explained it to him and he commented that his wife was also having her thyroid out and it became apparent that facing this issue at 27 is much different than 67. I have also been listening to a podcast from a website called "I'm too young for this" that talks about the dirty little secrets of being young and dealing with issues such as dating, fertility, hair loss, body image, etc. I am excited to be working on this project and hope to help others who have dealt with issues related to their age and cancer.
Have a nice weekend everybody! Good luck to my little brother as he will be playing football this week and also to Jason who is training for the Twin Cities marathon!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Happy September
Happy September and completion of the first week of the new academic year! Summer is (almost) over and school is back in session. It is so refreshing to have an actual schedule again after being in change for so long. I missed having a dept to belong to and a working office (piles of books at home) and being unpacked.
Work is fabulous and I love teaching at a private institution. While I will admit to having been pretty anti -private school up to this point, I have changed my tune. I enjoy my students, my office (double the size with awesome furniture) the culture and everything else. The dining center is pretty amazing also. I am only teaching two classes, which is a significant change from the 5 I taught last spring, I am also back coaching forensics, which I love. I missed every aspect of it, from the coaching to the literature and topics to the people you meet. I am very glad to be back and am looking forward to travel.
Healthwise (since it was the original purpose of this blog, things are going well. We almost have med levels figured out and I feel 100 times better than i did before. In fact, I am often confused when I know longer need to sleep for 12 hours and just get up early and feel fine. I am in the process of picking a new doctor ( I have it narrowed down to three) and just need to make some calls. Two speacialize specifically in thyroid cancer so I am hoping to work with one of them. I know I am nearing my first six month check (ok, November, but still - it's been four months already!) and need to find somebody I am comfortable with. I guess this is one of the benfits of living in a city, rather than going to the one person around, you get to choose who is best for you.
speaking of the city, I am finally getting used to not living in Mankato. I have realized that sitting in traffic is not a choice but a way of life and it is easier to just accept than to get frustrated. I went to the statefair last weekend wit my brothers and karie and had a great time! I am still disgusted by the amount of food we all consumed (nothing on a stick for me, ironically) but it was well worth it the one time a year it happens. Looking towards teh rennasance festival and a play in the next couple weeks.
tata for now, it's time to get back to work.
Work is fabulous and I love teaching at a private institution. While I will admit to having been pretty anti -private school up to this point, I have changed my tune. I enjoy my students, my office (double the size with awesome furniture) the culture and everything else. The dining center is pretty amazing also. I am only teaching two classes, which is a significant change from the 5 I taught last spring, I am also back coaching forensics, which I love. I missed every aspect of it, from the coaching to the literature and topics to the people you meet. I am very glad to be back and am looking forward to travel.
Healthwise (since it was the original purpose of this blog, things are going well. We almost have med levels figured out and I feel 100 times better than i did before. In fact, I am often confused when I know longer need to sleep for 12 hours and just get up early and feel fine. I am in the process of picking a new doctor ( I have it narrowed down to three) and just need to make some calls. Two speacialize specifically in thyroid cancer so I am hoping to work with one of them. I know I am nearing my first six month check (ok, November, but still - it's been four months already!) and need to find somebody I am comfortable with. I guess this is one of the benfits of living in a city, rather than going to the one person around, you get to choose who is best for you.
speaking of the city, I am finally getting used to not living in Mankato. I have realized that sitting in traffic is not a choice but a way of life and it is easier to just accept than to get frustrated. I went to the statefair last weekend wit my brothers and karie and had a great time! I am still disgusted by the amount of food we all consumed (nothing on a stick for me, ironically) but it was well worth it the one time a year it happens. Looking towards teh rennasance festival and a play in the next couple weeks.
tata for now, it's time to get back to work.
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