Did anyone get the plate off that truck?

I knew I'd been slacking on the blog, just not by how much.

It's been a hellacious few weeks with far more lows than highs, but let me at least get one of those highs out there. Within the next few hours, I will be an uncle. :)

My bil called me just as I was about to sit down for drip number three today. I hesitated to answer because I was already depressed so I quickly took his call and explained I was at the oncologist. He told me he and Joanie were on their way to the hospital and that she'd be induced today. It must have been about noon their time, but it really cheered me up. I needed a few minutes to dry my eyes but the IV and the drip went nice and easy after that.

It was just the kind of news I needed after these last few weeks. I know it's not going to buoy me too far though but I'll still enjoy it. I'm not even sure who's reading this any more so I'm kinda doing this for my own therapy.

Yeah, drip number one pretty much crushed me. I was already defeated and it did not help that work had become such a strain. You see, when I'd resumed working I'd done so with the express direction that I'd be working with someone. My customer needed a full time person with my background but I was only available half-time. They okayed hiring a second full-time junior person and I'd be responsible for training him/her... kinda like training myself out of a job, but it would be honest work again.

The first guy they hired after I'd phone interviewed him and was confident he was a good guy. He quit after a month when he got an offer for more money and a muuuch shorter commute. I couldn't fault him for it.

The second guy they hired came on board as a total surprise. He showed up the day I was told he'd been hired... I never even got to see his resume'.

I could go on and on AND ON about what a complete ASSHOLE this guy was, but I'll let my rare use of such foul language speak for itself. I could sympathize with the guy if he had even the slightest work ethic, but he clearly felt justified not doing a single thing the entire time he was on my task. It wasn't the job he'd interviewed for so he didn't have to do it. An honest person would have done what was asked of him even while leaving no stone unturned to find a better job, but not this guy.

When I had finally had enough and began documenting his disappearing acts, refusals to work, playing games and watching Internet videos on government computers, and SLEEPING at his desk, it then took me nearly two months to finally get him fired. In his final two weeks, I found new and more creative evidence that he was sabotaging the lab, making deliberately wrong configuration changes to cause things to stop working.

Thankfully I was able to interview and hire a competent replacement. Even if he is not as skilled as I'd like him to be, he has a good ethic and is willing to learn new things. In his first three weeks alone, he's been a tremendous help as the chemo and the side effects have mowed me down like a runaway truck.

I am trying very very hard to stay ahead of my diet and fluids, but the smallest mistake costs me for days. I cannot recover fast enough and that drags my spirits down even further. I won't say I'm on an upswing now because I felt better a few days ago and know, with today's new round of pills, I'll be back down again pretty soon.

I just need to get through to the middle of May so this batch will be done and I can get a break to go see my niece or nephew even I won't be able to hold the baby. :'(