Ups and Downs...A December to Remember

December 2010...it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. December started off tough for the Behler clan. Laela caught a cold and I was just generally run down from my treatments. Miranda finally got over her pneumonia and that was the good news.

Santa Steve sent me a new (to me) transmission for Wheezy, so now all I have to do is find someone to help me install it to I can continue with some motorcycling adventures this spring.

December 16-19, Dan, Kevin, Tim, and I met up with Isaac at Anthony's house in New York for a four day "Mancation" in the big apple. It's always good to get out of town with the fellas for some bonding time. We did lots of stuff while we we were there, but honestly most of it involved drinking. We went to a bunch of skateshops and record stores. There were trips to different restaurants most notably the New York Ninja. The patrons at the Ninja were totally bummed on us. A bunch of loud obnoxious guys, hellbent on maximizing our Ninja experience did not make for friendly confines. I think that we were REALLY close to being escorted out by the end of our meal. Sight seeing wise, there were only two things that I hadn't gotten to do in July that I had wanted to: see the Ground Zero site and see Time's Square at night. Since Ground Zero is now a giant construction site, there was not a lot to be able to see there other than fences and ads for the Ground Zero memorial. Time's Square at night was absolute mayhem since it was the weekend before Christmas. It was shoulder to shoulder people as far as the eye could see and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. There was also souvenir and Christmas shopping to be had while we were there as well which required two separate trips to Tiffany's on Wall St. Saturday the 18th was our last night there and it was decided that we'd amp up the evening by starting it off with Four Loko. We went to a bodega that is close to Anthony's and bought two 24oz cans a piece. Let me tell you, it was absolutely vile. I finished about 1/4 of one of my cans and I was done. They were terrible. After everyone had their fill of the Four Lokos we ventured out to a bar. It got to be about midnight and I was just too tuckered out. Three days of traipsing through New York had taken it's toll on me and I decided to head back to Anthony's to turn in early about midnight. I'm glad that I did, I needed the rest. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful and we were back at LaGuardia by 4:00PM on Sunday for our 6:00PM flight.

So we got home and everything seemed alright until Tuesday December 21st. I came down with a raging fever, body chills and was coughing up copious amounts of blood. Laela called the oncologist and he suggested that I go to the emergency room at Riverside. That's exactly what we did. So they admitted me to the hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia and I ended up staying until the 26th on a steady diet of IV antibiotics. What a lousy way to spend Christmas. I was; however, adamant with the staff that they not rush me out of the hospital just because the calendar said December 25th. I'd have rather been in the hospital on Christmas than have to go be re-admitted because we messed around with the it just to get me home by a certain date.

Laela, Miranda, and I decided to postpone our Christmas gift exchange until I got home so that we could continue our Christmas morning traditions. Laela got me an "Adventure of my choosing to be redeemed prior to June 12, 2011." and Miranda got me an AWESOME Simpson's World Episode Guide Seasons 1-20 book.

Here it is two weeks later and I'm back on my therapy regiment and feeling pretty good. I'm trying to avoid public places and being exposed to children as much as possible just to give myself the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully we'll have some more ups in 2011 than we did in 2010 but as for now, we'll just take it one day at a time.

I hope that you and yours have a happy and prosperous 2011.