Life and MDS

I haven't been around for a while due to the birth of my third son. He is doing very well, and his older brothers can't stop playing with him. My father also came out to visit his third grandson, who he couldn't wait to see.

However, the real reason I am writing this concerns my father. Unbeknownst to me, he has been living with a debilitating disease for the last 6 years, MDS. It is a more serious form of anemia, and in some circles it is known as pre-leukemia. While only certain strains of MDS lead to leukemia, it nonetheless kills in other ways. For information put together by a patient with MDS see this page.

Anyway, my father tries to keep things to himself as much as possible, so he didn't want to tell us what he had. He was able to hide it too for quite a while since the symptoms weren't too severe most of the time. Alas, this past week when he came to visit his latest grandson, he was barely able to get out of bed because he was so tired. When he saw that we noticed he finally told us. Based on what I have read, it seems like the disease is really advancing. I think he knows, but he is only telling us what the doctors have told him (his next appt. is in 2 weeks.) Anyway, even if he doesn't have much longer, my wife and I are much appreciative of the time he spent with us this past week and the fact that he was able to see our three sons. While the 10 year old will be the only one with good memories, we can tell the little ones about their grandfather. The 3-year old I am sure will have some fleeting memories, but I doubt the newborn will have much interaction with Grandpa. It doesn't matter, as my father's spirit will always live on with us.

Like I said, I think he knows he may not have much time left, but he will never let us know unless the doctors tell him. I also think he knows that my wife and I have already figured it out. I am sure my brother will too, and I hope he doesn't go too hard on Dad. I really respect my father's outlook on life as he doesn't even think of himself as a senior citizen. He hates senior centers ("too many old people"), and just wants to do the things he loves. I don't think it will change even if he has only days or years. He will live his life until the end. It makes me think of the Shawshank Redemption, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." My father has always chosen the former, and that is what he has instilled in me as well, which I appreciate so much.
I know that even if he were completely bed-ridden he would find a way to live with dignity. I think the world of him, and I only hope I can live like he did.

Finally, I needed to get this off my chest. I don't know how many people even read this blog, but I just want some to know how much I respect my father. Finally, I also want to mention my wife, since she has been so supportive. Even though she and my father have their heated political arguments, they have the utmost respect for one another. She has grown to love my father, not just because he is my father, but because she truly loves him. She is wonderful, I love her, and I truly am very lucky to have her.

Snow melt thunderstorms my a$$

I wonder how this term started. From what I hear, a local TV meteorologist came up with the term 25 years ago. However it started, there is no such thing as 'snow melt' thunderstorms in the real world. Theoretically, it could happen under just the right conditions, but in reality, Rick Ankiel has a better chance of hitting the strike zone from the moon.

I don't know what anyone really means by using the term, but I am guessing that melting snow is the main source of moisture. Doesn't happen. At most, 2 inches of water is lost from the snowpack on the warmest days (90 or above in Reno). Most of that water percolates down and runs off on the surface or goes into the groundwater. How much of this 2 inches actually evaporates? Not much considering that the snow and melt water is at 32 degrees. Then, if there is any wind, this moisture will get mixed out pretty quickly. Especially considering you have to moisten a depth of 5000+ feet to get any thunderstorms. Finally, add in that snow reflects a lot of sunlight and is a moisture sink during the day. How will you generate enough lift to pop a thunderstorm? Upslope winds are weakened until the snow melts.

Want some proof? Look at today's satellite at 4 pm PDT. The cumulus clouds were forming over the foothills of the Sierra, not near the crest where all the snow is. The convergence and lift was at the edge of the snow, where the cool air from the snow was causing downslope flow, not upslope. Where it met the upslope flow is where the thunderstorms formed.