Incomplete shard 1

Yesterday morning I watched in utter awe as a beautiful creature made his way across the grassy knoll outside my apartment.  Low to the ground, straight and determined, moving fast. 

It was a fox.  It is a life changing moment for me whenever I have the privilege to encounter a non-human predator higher on the food chain, alive and fighting for more, in this human-battered and decimated natureless world that you and I have decided to make.

Within thirty minutes, I was driving to work, and found the fox dead on the road.

I cannot capture the despair.  Crushed,

Truth (thanks Phil)

I’ll always hold Peta partially responsible for the judgement against and lack of converts to Veganism. There will always be those among us who have none of the bravery or intellect to divert from their parents’ choices, no matter what they were. But there is a real segment of the human race that is rational and reasonable and intelligent and open to this kind of information. Peta’s methodical antagonism of everyone who wasn’t already vegan, over the course of decades, has done more harm to the growth of Veganism in this segment than anything else, imho. But… truth will out. So here we go into the future, with eternal optimism.

“Ring my bell”

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, said Dr Levine.  He installed a bell last year for 5+ year survivers to ring.  10 years out, I qualify!  What a great guy.  The last paper I found from him details how patients that got CRS with IPHC (the “mother of all surgeries”) live longer than previously suggested, by considering that the farther out you are, the better you do.  Thanks Dr. Levine, you will always be my personal hero.

UPDATE: the following Tuesday, I went to see Dr. Vig at Rex (following Dr. Bloom’s referral to a local laproscopic surgeon).  He works with Dr. Sturdivant now, who used to work with Dr. Cline (and had removed my port while I was in twilight, THAT was fun, like someone rooting around in your chest causing great pain while you watch – but he’s a great, sweet guy).  He doesn’t think it’s a good idea to poke around with laproscopy.  The first step is to blow up your peritoneum with gas, to separate all the organs and intestines – and that probably wouldn’t work with all my adhesions, it would just all stick together.  He suggested a contrast study, where they take X-rays over 3 hours watching the dye go through – or maybe later, a camera-in-a-capsule – but I think I’ll just leave well enough alone for now.  On with life!  :-)