Trousered Ape

An exercise in presumption.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Six Months Later

Six months since I was diagnosed with cancer. In a sense we've gotten used to it: we've established new routines that take it into account, and the remaining symptoms are minor.

I'm on the parish list for First Friday visits by one of our priests or deacons, bringing the Sacrament. Last time it was our pastor, who heard my confession as well. The current sins were, I believe, venial; but I had to bring up one from the past (in ordinary confessions one includes in the list “any sins which I have forgotten,” so the sin in question had been forgiven; but upon remembering it, one is supposed to mention it the next time). This has happened several times in the past few years, twice this year; I’m developing a superstitious fear that when I run out of them God will say “Okay, Bob’s done, it’s a wrap.” Silly, of course, but the sort of idea that would come naturally to a writer.

My attack of The Plague (which, we think, was picked up at the book signing — the sacrifices one makes for one’s Art) has stopped my writing dead for the time being; hopefully it will restart soon. The Bride, God bless her, has been keeping up with NaNoWriMo through hers, even if falling behind.

We would be grateful for continued prayers, especially since both of our daughters and our long-term house guest (a friend of our elder daughter who moved here from California to finish her education) have come down with it as well. Deus vult.

Posted by Bob the Ape 11:03 PM

Saturday, November 19, 2022

ANOTHER Prayer Request

Once again we need your prayers. The Bride and I have both come down with THE PLAGUE. God willing, the girls will escape. Thank you.

Posted by Bob the Ape 12:57 PM

Monday, November 14, 2022

State of the Ape VII

Not much new to report.

I underwent a couple of MRIs to see how the radiation treatments I received in late May / early June worked out. They did very well: the growth on my spine is no longer threatening the spinal cord.

I can take longer walks now. Last Friday (11/11) I accompanied the Bride on our biweekly grocery shop for the first time since May. I had to lie down and rest when we got home, but I did get through it.

Still trying to write every day. My routine before all this started, and which I had eventually gotten back to, was to work from 9 to 12 each day (more or less). My working hours have expanded into the afternoon; not so much because my health has improved as because I feel guilty when I’m not writing (since I don’t know how much time I have left).

The Bride and I had a joint book sale and signing at a local craft fair yesterday (11/13) and it went very well. She sold 5 copies of her latest novel, and I sold 8 (!) copies of Unexpected Tales: mostly to the Bride’s friends and contact who stopped by, but 2 to total strangers who fell for my sales pitch. I also picked up a couple of ideas about publicity that should be useful for the next event.

Mom is doing well. Thanks once more for all your prayers.

Posted by Bob the Ape 9:58 AM