*PSST.* PART ONE

++ (I THINK I just bought a condo.) I'm going giddy!++

ALL NATION'S CUP

++ ALL NATION'S CUP
I'm playing for the Iranian team. Here's the nitty gritty:

Full tournament schedule here.
07/14 - 12:30 PM - Field 3 - Iran vs. El Salvador
07/14 - 8:00 PM - Field 4 - Iran vs. Brasil (Quarterfinal Team last year)
07/15 - 4:00 PM - Stadium - Iran vs. Vietnam

Championship Game : 07/29 - 5:30 PM - Memorial Stadium (Seattle Center)
Games are at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. Tickets are $5/day.

There is also a bunch of other world festivities going on besides soccer throughout the two week tournament. ++

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

++ ARE WITH YOU. I've had to to do research on leukemia as I know nothing about it. Some facts I've found:

• There doesn't seem to be a complete and whole cure for Leukemia.
  
• There are four types of leukemia. I think (hope) he has the 'mildest' case (is there such a thing) which is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). CLL is a type of cancer where the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes, which is a type of white blood cell. Basically, as the unhealthy white blood cells divide, they make less room for healthy white and red blood cells as well as platelets, which results in the body's inability or decreased ability to fight infection. This also can bring on anemia and easy bleeding.
  
• Life expectancy is 3-20 years, depending on how far it has progressed.
• There are five stages of progression. The doctors think it's only in it's first stage, which I suppose is the best as far as options and treatments.
  
• At least five different kinds of treatment are options: 1. Watch and wait. 2. Radiation. 3. Chemotherapy. 4. Surgery. 5. Monoclonal antibody therapy. For some reason I always thought chemotherapy involved being exposed to some sort x-ray or radiation, but turns out that's Radiation Therapy. Chemotherapy, as it turns out, involves drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells or stopping the cells from dividing. There seem to be clinical trials of alternative treatments out in the field, but they are clinical in nature, so there is no assurance the treatment will have any affect, let alone a positive affect as each person is likely to react differently. They've sent away for pills, so I guess the treatments they are using are a combination of watch and wait and chemotherapy.

How does one tell someone else that they may have a disease which could be fatal?
How would I respond to someone telling me I had an 'incurable' disease?
What a sad thought. ++

PS AND THE OC

++ FIRST TIME STAYING in a hotel by myself. There are so many stations with cable TV!
103 degrees at 11 AM.
"Copper wire theft puts you in jail!"
"I'm paying." "FU." "TFB."
El Pollo Loco fastfood.
MJ followed by Devo over the speakers in Denny's.
First sit-down meal in a restaurant by myself.
Guy driving golf cart down the sidewalk.
Rocky Theme Song as a ringtone for the 65 year old guy.
"I can't wait for all of this to be over."
"Is that a name?"
Overbearing wedding co-ordinator who likes to make fun of the wedding party.
9.14 PM and it's 99 degrees outside right now.
"Hi Jay. It's Roger Thomas, Jay..."
"Are you nervous?"
"Congratulations Cheryl and Todd. I mean Mark! Cheryl and Mark!"
"I'm mad at you for breaking girls' hearts."
"You're one button and one clasp away from a good night."
"Is he alright to drive home?" "Probably not, but I've seen him worse and still drive home?"
"No, Top Pot Doughnuts ships them every morning fresh from LA."
"So BW3 is about 40 minutes out of the way each way." "Perfect, let's go."
"Wow! Rainn is so small!"
Crowded Laguna Beach.
Cranky baby.
Grete with a fever of 101 degrees.
Agora Churrascaria. Tasty skewered meat.
Old photos and childhood stories.
Oh the cot.
A walk around the lake at the park with Grete and Rainn.
Laguna Niguel Bakery and Cafe. California Panini.
Rainn likes riding in the car.
A refreshing afternoon nap.
"(Are you) John Wayne Airport?"
"Any more seats left on this flight?"
First time (and second time) flying in Economy Plus. Extra leg room. How spacious!
Delayed flight at SFO. Does anyone else sit and people watch while waiting for their flight?
The classic Boudin's Bakery clam chowder in a bread bowl. How could I resist?
First game of Sudoku. It's much harder than I thought it would be.
Flight delayed even longer.
3 hours late, but all in one piece.
Shuttle bus. Car.
Home! ++

PALM DESERT MADNESS

++ HOLY SCHMOLY, THE next couple of days is going to be a far cry from the weather I've grown accustomed to.

Thursday - high 112 degrees . low 76
Friday - high 113 . low 79
Saturday - high 111 . low 73

Orange County is much better.

Sunday - high 79 . low 56
Monday - high 76 . low 56

I think I only own one pair of shorts, but I'm going to have to go digging for it. ++