The River, Gambling Robots, Huge Needles, The Big Show
Progress with my treatment.
The short answer. I am taking a new injectable medication that appears to reduce my fluid loss by 20 to 30 percent. That puts me at the high end of normal. This is a welcome range.
The long answer TMI warning: For the last few months, I have been taking a test dose of a medication that slows down kidney and liver function. It's called Sandostatin. It's been a challenge because it was three shots a day with a tiny little needle like you would use for insulin. My tummy was covered with penny-sized bruises. It was later explained to me this was a test run to make sure my body would tolerate the drug as a once-a-month dose.
This week I am taking my second dose of Sandostatin. Now, like I said it's a once-a-month shot. It comes in a kit with a syringe of plain water that I inject into a bottle containing the drug in powder form. This combination needs a shake to mix. After a few minutes, I will draw back the combined powder & liquid into the original syringe. Lastly, I stick this rig into my backside. Did I mention the needle? The kit is sporting a daunting needle. The first time was scary, but the needle went in fast and painlessly. It hurt a bit for a few hours afterward.
The progress is good, I am not dehydrated as quickly. My organs are stable.
Showings and Shopping
In July, my supervisor called and asked me to help at a building around the corner. It's a bit more work than I was ready to take on. See the building here. I expected to collect rent, be the key holder, and help with some repair requests. Right out of the gate, there are pressing issues. First, there is a move-out coming up. Next, two empty apartments to show. Thirdly, cleaning to catch up on. I stop daily to pace myself and decide what portion of this I can tackle. The good news is there is a permanent manager in the works. My ability to shop for fixtures and schedule vendors is a skill set I enjoy using. I met Frank, who is the last building manager, he is 82, and decided it was time to retire. At 82 he could run for president next? Also, it is fun to meet the people who live in the building. It's easier for an introvert like me to have some building business to discuss with a new person to make conversation. But spending time at the other building is not popular with my home team. So, I will happily slip back into sweeping my courtyard and watering the plants at home next month.
What am I reading this week?
On The Edge, The art of risking everything |Nate Silver
Okay, to start with, I am excited that I finally took the time to figure out how to resize images in this software. It's been a mystery to me, but it's simple in Ghost.io. Next, I need to explore how to justify the picture's location right, left, and center, but let's go with the resize for this week's win.
You may know Nate Silver from his association with the 538 website, which makes predictions about sports and politics based on the available polls. The website is a bit infamous for its predictions that led people to believe Donald Trump would not win in 2016. But the thing about predictions is that they're all a gamble.
I enjoy how many gambling activities he covers and the candid conversations his contacts are willing to have about the risk and lifestyle of a professional gambler, be they a poker player on a gambling show or a NASA scientist. He is a good storyteller and a thoughtful man. There are bonus chapters on Crypto and Artificial Intelligence. I am looking forward to my second read-through.
A special shout-out in the audiobook for his cartoonish voice for Elon Musk as a bad card player and maybe a bad gambler.