Happy 70th Birthday, Dad!
Today my Dad is 70 years old. Unfortunately, he's not in the best of health. This morning at about 6:30, he was sitting on the edge of the bed and fell hard onto the floor. Not a nice way to start your birthday. He scraped his knee and banged his head. God it sucks to get old. He is stubbornly independent and he won't ask for help. I was here in the next room when I heard him fall. Now I'm staying in the same room with him to make sure he doesn't try to move without some help.

Prostate Cancer

My father is dying of prostate cancer. He turns 70 on August 5th. He was diagnosed about 6 years ago and chose not to have prostate surgery. I think he realizes now that it was a mistake not to do the surgery.

A warning to any man who is diagnosed -- in my opinion, getting the surgery is the lesser of two evils. If you take the course of inaction known as "Watchful Waiting", then you will suffer a slow, agonizing, painful decline to inevitable death. I don't know if doctors make this clear as they tend not to advocate one way or another since none of the choices are ideal, and they'd rather not be held accountable if the advice turns out to be bad.

Really, only you, the paitent, can make the decision. If I'm ever diagnosed with prostate cancer, I will not wait. I will get the surgery rather than wait for fate.

You just don't know how bad this disease can get until you see it happen to someone you love and care about.

Setting Your Thermostat

Cooling - Cost of keeping room temperatures above and below 78 degrees F
80 degrees - 15% less
79 degrees - 8% less
78 degrees - Typical Setting
77 degrees - 8% more
76 degrees - 16% more
75 degrees - 24% more
74 degrees - 32% more
73 degrees - 40% more
72 degrees - 48% more

Heating - Cost of keeping room temperatures above and below 70 degrees F
75 degrees - 29% more
74 degrees - 23% more
73 degrees - 17% more
72 degrees - 11% more
71 degrees - 6% more
70 degrees - Typical Setting
69 degrees - 6% less
68 degrees - 11% less
67 degrees - 17% less
66 degrees - 22% less
65 degrees - 26% less

* Please note: Percentages of change are approximate and are for air conditioning and heating costs only, not total energy bill.

Source: TXU Energy pamphlet

My Space
Why would anyone want to use My Space? It sucks! It is ugly. It isn't refined. It is garish. Now don't get me wrong. I'm blogging about the style, not the people. I have no problem with people posting on the web, but of all the places to do it, why do it on My Space. Instead, this tool, Blogger, is the way to go. It is so powerful. I haven't been a consistent blogger, but yesterday while I was pulling an all-nighter at work, I rediscovered how cool this tool is.

Should anyone ever do a blog? If it is done well, it can be quite revealing. Is one's ego that great that they blog? I guess this is ego driven, although maybe it is just one trying to leave something for the world to know they were here. We live for such a short time and then we're gone. It is the eternal question of why am I here? Is blogging the answer? (just kidding -- I'm not serious about that last sentence.)

Well, the Mexico trip was the hottest vacation ever. I never sweated so much. Puerto Vallarta was nice. We had good accomodations, but the humidity was unbelievable. This was the low season so it wasn't crowded, but I'd rather go back when it is cooler. Food was good. Some of the best meals we've ever had in Mexico.

Finally taking a break from work. Liz and I are going to Mexico for a vacation.