Day 30 - My Sabbatical

August 21

I think my sabbatical officially started today because people had to go to school this morning for our mandatory administrative days. Not me. Sabbatical = stay home and do something useful before the end of the semester. Oh boy. Useful. I'll have to think on that.

Wait, I already submitted my sabbatical project proposal and it was approved. Maybe I'll have a look at it so I remember what I am supposed to do over the next four months.

Wait, I did that already and then submitted a change request. Yes, after my proposal was submitted and approved I decided I should do something else. That, with the support of my Dean (you know who you are...Jess), was also approved. I do remember what I am supposed to do over the next four months.

Honestly, as much as our "opening days" can be kinda painful (after being around for 20 years I am becoming a little crusty about the use (or misuse) of my time), I miss being there with my friends and colleagues. I feel like I should be at work today. I feel like I should be pulling my weight in my department.

Oh ya, and then there's cancer. Shake that off. Today was the end of week 6. Only five more radiation treatments to go. Of course, the downhill slide will continue for a couple of weeks before my system tries to reboot and heal all the shit radiation has caused.

Yesterday, I refrained from sharing pics of the sores in my mouth. Just imagine a bad canker sore and multiply the size by 6 or 7. Put that on the side of your tongue against your teeth. Have a matching sore of equal side on your cheek, exactly across from the one on your tongue. If they don't rub your teeth, they rub against each other. Guess what. I'm stuck with them until they heal. Maybe 6 weeks? Eight weeks? Oh, and the soft part of my throat that you can see if you open wide is a wall of that canker looking shit. Officially it is called radiation mucositis. Unofficially it is called WHAT THE FUCK!

The doctor had nothing useful to say other than there's nothing more they can do about pain, helping the sores heal, nutrition, etc. He was offering up the banal, "Hey, only 5 more treatments to go" and "You're doing well." Thanks, Coach. Do I get a trophy just for participating?