ok, i have been beyond slake here

I've been in remission for a while now. Seems that this blog turned into "how's the cancer?"

i guess that the point of this blog changed too much.

i'll leave it up for a little while longer.

i have been remiss

In keeping up here. Little photography and little music. Did see Jeff Sipe Trio here in Davidson a few weeks back.

Cancer report: brain found to be free of mets following the last surgery. Going to have a CT on Tuesday. Not feeling sick these days, just achey and fatigued.

Playing guitar most every day. Katie is turning out to be a good dog. Drove to Charlott yesterday and had lunch with Brad Kuntz. I didn't even think of Rynne.

Got my student loans dismissed due to my disability. Medical bills falling. Love medicare.

One mornings radiaion, $49,000, my part $100. Wacky system.

no new mets.

Saw Dr. Burri on the 30th (of Aug.) and no new mets. I'll get a CT in Oct. Not worried.
So, five years and 2 months since first being diagnosed. Still here.

i know, i know

I've been poor at keeping up this journal.

Back to the MRI machine and consultation on Friday. Should I go ahead and get the whole brain radiation again? While I felt quite damaged from the first time, however I was met free for three years.

Today is my deceased  father's birthday.  Maybe Katie and I will walk up to the cemetery this morning.

Last treatment really took it out of me. Pushing on.

more treatment

Made it through another stereotatic  focused proton beam brain cancer treatment. That makes 3 different episodes of brain tumors with the last 13 month. No obvious damage from the treatment this time.

I guess we can go on like this for a while to go. Made it 5 years so far. 4 episodes of brain cancer (usually 3-8 mets per).

Can be hard to keep a good attitude. But I push on.

another week has passed

Let's see. Jeff Sipe Trio was excellent. Maybe 30 in attendance. only single amp for bass and another for the guitar, No PA, drum mic, etc. Very organic for electric jazz.

New MRI show no new tumors, but we have decided to go ahead and zap the three that are there, rather than waiting until there are 6 to do. Not like they are going away on their own.

When asked about my prognosis, Dr. Burri said, "who knows, we are in uncharted waters here." Very few live this long. Of all hidden talents, who thought I d be able to suppress the growth of cancer so well?

Next week treatment and maybe a  nice long break from this crap.

Katie is doing well.

wow, haven't been here in a while

Hi friends,

same old around here.

new brain scans and likely radiation treatments in the next couple of weeks.

Jeff Sipes trio at Carrburito tonight

Katie changing almost daily. She misses Russell.

grow project going well. all males removed. flowering now.

Still pretty excited to still be alive.

think I'll go play the guitar now.

goodmorning

Hi.

 I have been quite remiss in writing. Been a tough time lately. New mets means more radiation soon. Finally had to put Russell down. He was hit by a car. The damage was too severe. That took two weeks. Katie is having trouble adjusting. She is lonely.  I took her to a dog bar yesterday so she could play with other dogs. She appeared to enjoy it.


It's now 5 years of cancer. What a life changing event.  Sometimes I feel as if I am fading away.

Time to make waffles.

russell is better

hernia repaired.  pelvis fracture repaired. nerve damage appears minimal. might come home today. tough puppy.

Russell

My 4 year Corgi, Russell, was hit by a car yesterday evening. He pulled the lease out of my hand and ran in front of a car. A large hernia and a broken pelvis. He's at the emergency vet and will be for about a week.  They want $6-8,000. Ouch, there goes Amsterdam.

I hope he will be able to chase the ball when this is all over.

CT clean! Continued remission.

All this mess started in June of 2008. So that makes 7 months in remission. I'm happy to be further from that nasty disease.

Rainy Monday

I have a chest CT tomorrow with the results on Thursday.

Still ain't feeling too good. May be just an infection.

We'll know soon.

Listening to The Who's Quadraphenia. Best rock album ever.

Dogs itchin' to run, fightin' on the couch.

Finally Spring

Temperatures are finally into the 60's and 70's for tomorrow. Mostly looking forward to sittin' in the back yard with my neighbors and friends.

Cannabis growing is slow. New seeds in all pots. Two crapped when the plant fell over and died early. water now 24 hours a day, light 16 hours. Feeling better about the grow cabinet, now need to learn to grow plants.

Feeling a little better today. Been feeling rather fatigued lately. Ironic that I am able to afford to travel, but lack the strength for a trip. 

Baked blueberry muffins for breakfast.

May 16th CT and 18th results. as usual, I'm cautiously optimistic. 

Been reading about "Free Will"lately. I don't think we truly have free will. Quite freeing really. 

No April 1 joke, a blog

I have been quite remiss in adding notes here.

I read a blog recently, by a physician who was suffering Alzheimer. He knew what he felt but wasn't sure why or if he should trust that his feelings were appropriate to the situation. I think about that sometime.

Easter came and went. Spring is threatening. I suck at growing marijuana.

Found myself pretty sick during the last three weeks. Gastronomical distress and a noticeable shortness of breath.  PCP sent me to a cardiologist. All good with the heart. He also said he saw no evidence of lung disease. I've been feeling better slowly. Don't know what caused all this.

April is scheduled lightly. CT in the middle of the month. Trying to stay healthy and enjoy the change of weather.

Good Sunday morning

I haven't really jotted down much here lately. Felling a bit worse for the wear. More trouble breathing under load. The dry skin on my hand is preventing me from playing the guitar and has for weeks.

I'm wondering if the cancer hasn't returned. Just tired. I'm not sure when the next CT scan is scheduled.

Decided to grow my own marijuana. Who know it would be so technical. Bought a turnkey system (hydro and LED) (which wasn't all that turnkey and introduced seeds. Five are up. Shall replace the three that didn't. Lost both "Northern Lights" so I shall germinate new ones, hoping they catch up with the others. By cloning I can create a self-generating system. Nice to have another project.

Wow March already

17 days until Spring! 14 days until the ACC Basketball tourney!!

good morning ya'll

Wow I haven't had much to write of late.

Burri (radiation oncologist) checked my latest MRI and found a shadow where they'd vaporized a tumor. He said the only way to determine what it is would involve visual inspection. We'll wait to review the next images in 3 months.

Been about 2 months in remission. Still tired.

Speaking of fatigue, my brother will be retiring in June. I think it is time, as he complains of being tired all the time.

slow life

Still have little to say today. Getting over cancer seems to take a while even after the tumors are gone. Just takes time and no way to rush it. 40 degrees and cloudy today. The eczema on my hand keeping from playing the guitar. Looking forward to Spring and a serious house cleaning. Maybe even the windows.

I'm re-reading Orwell's 1984.

I am missing lots of shows. Is that part of my life over?

guess I haven't had much to blog

Been almost a month since I had anything to say. Well, longer than that, lol.

Next MRI on Thursday. Worried somewhat. I don't like stereotactic radiation treatments.

Otherwise just making through each day. 

wait, gonna grab a beer

Hi folks,

Thought I'd pen a note real quick. Let's see.

Got a bill from the IRS requesting funds. Seems I screwed up my 2011 return. Oops! Figured out the mistake. Getting it fixed. Working on getting my student loans forgiven. They did not respond to my first attempt.

Hypnotized a fellow today for weight loss. Tranced out really well. I do enjoy hypnotism. It can be an amazing tool.

Man getting better takes a long time. At least I don't hurt all the time anymore.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Eric and Dawn took me to see The Mantras and YMBFBB at the Neighborhood Theater Sunday night. I just seem to require live music to live. I'm counting that evening as my new year celebration. Managed to hang on until after 1am. Go me.

One year ago I finished chemo for lung cancer. 25 radiation treatments followed. From March until August I worked on getting my body back into some kind of shape. I could barely walk up the driveway. Worked hard.

Then in August another round of brain mets. This time they used stereotastic radiation, rather than actual cutting. Last one killed 3 weeks ago.

Starting 2013 in remission. First goal; get in the best physical shape/heath possible. Second; who knows.