Phew.

In the end, I only had to spend one night in the hospital. By midday today, I was feeling much better, I’d not taken any IV painkillers for several hours, I walked around visiting people, I ate a burger (I haven’t been able to do that for over a month!), and I sportingly took several attempts to access my new port (argh). Based on all of that, when I said I wanted to go home, there was a general consensus that I was up for it.

Thanks to everyone who wished me well, thanks to my new friends on the 9th floor, thanks to all my old friends from the other floors, thanks to the surgeon who described my insides as “stalagmites and stalactites of solid scar tissue,” thanks to my nurses who took great care of me, thanks to my family who saw me through and held my hand, and most of all, thanks to my body for not spazzing during this surgery business. It’s nice to have things go as planned once in a while.

–Reid.

Reid Levin reported still being in a great deal of pain this morning after last night’s surgery. Sources close to the situaton indicate that Levin hardly slept a wink last night–let alone a blink. More at 11:00.

We now return you to today’s television movie: Pancreases Away!

–argh.

Gallbladder: out. Port switch: done. Pain: lots. Narcotics: lots more. Sleep: now.

–iReid from hospital bed.

Thrust! Parry! Whamo! Take that you safe house of vile enzymes!

I am hereby heading out to the hospital for a surgery in which I will have my gallbladder removed, my current double lumen port (to my heart) removed, and a new single lumen port (to my heart) installed!

Haha! Take that, body!

–Reid.

It was an all around great birthday. Thanks for the birthday wishes on the phone, the computer, and in person.

We won the first two rounds of trivia tonight, and were just barely edged out in a tiebreaker for the third round. Despite our failure to win the third round, I took pleasure in hearing our team name read in full: “In second place, with 8 points: In First Place, the 26ers“. Hah. I think everyone had a good time.

–Reid.

I was just cut off in traffic by a very old lady who then FLIPPED ME THE BIRD!! My only satisfaction was knowing that her finger is now probably stuck that way. Hah!

–reid on iphone (safely parked)

I would bet I’ve named at least a few entries “Begin Again Today” before. It’s a line from a song Joe and I wrote before he went to Africa with the Peace Corps. It’s the song for which I really learned to play the guitar.

I played it last night after putting new strings on my guitar, which Amy recently returned to me. I probably haven’t played it since the last time I had new strings, which was at least two years ago. It just kind of played itself, words and all. Today, it seems not only an appropriate birthday ballad or even a chemo/cancer ballad, but a ballad of things upcoming. And things, as they say, they are a’changin’.

Yukon missed the boat at the eleventh hour
Twenty years have passed him by in this lonely bar
He says to write this down and to look at it when I’m feeling low
He says, “every ending is just another new beginning and so:
Begin again today.”

To all of my Yukons, new and old, who have taught me from their own life experiences: your wisdom and guidance have meant the world to me. There are a lot of you out there (who I dare not name for fear of omission), but if you think you are one, then you most certainly are. You’ve populated my life with love and compassion during a time I’ve needed both more than ever.

Today, I begin again. Healthier, smarter and, most importantly, loved.

–Reid.

—————-
Now playing: Queen – Friends Will Be Friends
via FoxyTunes

Whew. It was fun, it was refreshing, and boy was it exercise. Fun exercise! I could’ve stayed in the pool all day, if not for my sunlight restrictions. That’s all for the best, though. When I got back on dry land, I hardly felt like I could walk home! Luckily, my mom carried me on her back.

Between tennis, swimming, and PT, I am feeling good about my daily activity!

–Reid.

Today, I’m feeling much better. I was put on antibiotics, and am thankful we live in age where one pill can make your head, your stomach, and your balls feel better.

Hallelujah.

–Reid.

Despite three separate infections in my body (diagnosed yesterday–but no worries, I’ve got two doses of antibiotics onboard!), today seemed like the day that I needed to finally guilt someone into playing some tennis with me. Instead, my mom just said “Okay!” and there was no need for guilting of any kind. Nuts.

Mom said she hasn’t played since Kristina and Ivan’s wedding (2007), and the last time I played was 1999, which happened to be the the last year I was on the Creek tennis ladder. That year, I finished a respectable 168th out of 170 players and decided I had reached my prime, and thus retired at the top of my game.

Today was a good first day back for both of us, as measured by the fact that both my Mom and I worked up a sweat. I believe those Wii Tennis lessons have helped, although I did stop running for a few balls as I felt collision with the ground was imminent. I’m going to have to work on my balance a lot more than I had previously realized. Actually, I should’ve figured that out this morning when I made a jump shot for the hamper and landed on my nose.

Tennis was fun, and everyday we play, we can only get better! Or maybe stay the same. But at least we won’t get worse!

At least… I don’t think we will… hmn.

–Reid.