Monday, June 27, 2005

Some people are simply mean spirited

Today is a great day. I feel better than I have for a long time.

I guess I am boring one of you because I am still getting comments to that effect. Well this may not be a place you want to continue visiting.. I created this site for the purpose of letting my family and friends know how I am doing and also to learn how to create a site. If you have a site I would like to visit it so that I am free to comment on it’s contents.

Thanks for all the personal emails I enjoy them.

Today is overcast and we have had some serious rain today. I feel trapped here in the house as I am not supposed to drive for 2 weeks. They placed a plug in my artery and they fear I could pop it out. Chris has been helpful taking me places and Tim visits also.

I have started on my treadmill again and I will continue doing that each day. The doctor said it would be good for me and that I could extend the time a little each week. I have really gotten week and need to strengthen up some.

Chris is moving this weekend and I will surely miss seeing him and his car everyday. We have lived across from each other for 10 years so this will be new for me.

Hope all of you are well.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Another issue dealt with!

Monday they placed 3 stints in my heart and I was home tuesday morning as though nothing had happened. I feel great and they have told me they may want to go back in and place some stints on the othe side of my heart. Thats Okay with me.
I hope all of you are doing well and don't mind my telling you about all of my issues.

Please don't hesitate to let me know how you are doing. I don't expect anyone other than my closest friends and family to be reading this blog. However, on occasion I get a comment from someone I don't know. I am sure the strangers must think I am an arrogant person to be writing of myself all the time and never dealing with any other topics.

Well for now that has been my whole life and I hope all of you haven't thought I was arrogant to talk of myself so much.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Radiation Treatments are over!

Finished Radiation and I feel no side effects so far. Next will be the stints in my heart on Monday the 20th. I will spend the night at the hospital but it is not supposed to be much of an ordeal.

Chris and I are looking at the possibility of taking a short trip up north. He is going to Greece for 10 days in October with his girlfriend Tina and he doesn't want to take too much more time off from work. I think we'll go to Ohio and visit with you folks up there, prepare yourselves. I may still make another trip on my own later in the summer or early fall. We'll just have to wait and see how everything goes.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Last week in treatment

Well I have 3 treatments to go and looks like no real side effects as of yet. I understand the radiation has residual affects for several weeks beyond the treatment period and they will be watching the treatment progress during that additional time frame. Next Monday they are going to use Angioplasty to place a couple of stints in my heart. I sure have a lot of things wrong with me. It seems like as one treatment ends another will begin.

Would like to take a trip this summer but I will wait for awhile before making that decision.

Hope all of you are doing well.

Monday, June 06, 2005

A week and a half to go

Yes just a week and a half to go on my treatments. I still have no symptoms or discomfort of any kind. I am very glad about that. I didn’t lose any weight to talk about, either.

Birds are still trying to build a nest but haven’t made much progress. They would rather just argue. I have never heard canaries chatter at each other so much. They must be suffering from a newlywed issue. You know, like who sleeps on which side of the bed and who does dishes and takes out the garbage or something like that. They seem to be arguing all the time.
The way things are going I believe I can go away for a little vacation this summer but I don’t know where, any ideas out there? I just replaced the intake manifold on my car because it cracked and I have new brakes and new tires. Of course the car is getting old and I have lots of mileage on it, so maybe I shouldn’t go far in it. I do feel like getting a way though so who knows I may just show up one day

Friday, June 03, 2005

Another Egg today

Yes one of the birds laid another egg and again it was on the perch so you know what happened. Which bird builds the nest? The female or the male? the spotted one has been trying but now the yellow one is also trying to build a nest. Neither one is very skilled though so the nest isn't finished yet.

Talk with you again later.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Looking Good

Finished my 22nd treatment and things are still looking good. There has been continued reduction in the size of my tumor and I am happy about that. The doctor says I will receive a total of 33 treatments which means I have 11 treatments to go. thanks for your many emails and kind thoughts.

I have a couple of canary birds and today I discovered an egg in the bottom of the cage. A little blue egg. So I put a nest with some nesting materials into the cage and the one canary is busy tearing the materials apart but I am not sure making a nest is ever going to happen. The material is all over the cage and very little is in the nest. I am not even sure which canary is the female and which is the male. I have one which I purchased (bright yellow) that I was told was a male. The other is a spotted canary and thats the one which is so busy throwing the nesting material all over the place. I was told the spotted one was a female but it is very aggressive and the 2 of them are howlering at each other all the time. The bright yellow one is always running away from the spotted one. What could that mean? Has any of you ever had canaries? Any advise?

Friday, May 27, 2005

Things are good

I have completed 20 treatments and continue to feel good. Tim and Chris are taking me out to dinner for my birthday this weekend and I plan on eating a 2 pound lobster. We are going to the Salt Rock cafe on Reddington Beach. That should be fun.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Hello!

This blog is going to undergo some changes soon. I have not enjoyed the current features and have talked with Chris about making some changes. All is well here. I have completed 18 treatments now and I still feel fine. It is going along pretty well.

Monday, May 23, 2005

16 down and 16 to go

Today I completed the halfway mark in my treatments. Still no side effects that I can notice. I have lost 8 pounds and maybe I'll lose another 8 pounds. Thanks for all the good will.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Are there books you recommend?

Since I have so few people coming to my blog I have not had any comments on my book recommendations. I was wondering if any of you have a book you would like to recommend for me to read. I don't read much fiction so you can hold those recommendation.

Let me know if you have read anything worth while this past year. Maybe you are all too busy to fit reading time into your schedule.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Have a laugh!

A bus station is where a bus stops.
A train station is where a train stops.
On my desk, I have a work station.
what more can I say.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just assholes.

If You Can Read This Bumper Sticker, You're In Range.

A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.

Hello friends

So how are all of you? Good I hope. I have completed 13 treatments and I have 20 to go. The doctor told me yesterday that there has been a reduction in the size of my tumor so that is a good sign.
I have had no side effects as of now and I hope that continues.
I enjoy hearing from all of you by separate email but it is ok to comment here on the blog.

Saturday, May 14, 2005

For my friend Tom

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Would you repeat the question?

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.

ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.

ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminate?

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.

ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK?
What school did you go to?

WITNESS: Oral.

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.

ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Huh?

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

ATTORNEY: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Yesterday when I was young

Yesterday when I was young the taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue. I teased at life as if it were a foolish game, the way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame. The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned I always built alas on weak and shifting sand. I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day and only now I see how the years ran away.

Yesterday when I was young so many drinking songs were waiting to be sung, so many wayward pleasures lay in store for me and so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see. I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out, I never stopped to think what life was all about and every conversation I can now recall concerned itself with me and nothing else at all.

Yesterday the moon was blue and every crazy day brought something new to do. I used my magic age as if it were a wand and never saw the waste and emptiness beyond. The game of love I played with arrogance and pride and every flame I lit too quickly quickly died. The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away and only I am left on stage to end the play. There are so many songs in me that won't be sung, I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue. The time has come for me to pay for yesterday when I was young.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

8 down and 25 to go

I have had 8 of the 33 treatments as of today and I am not feeling any side effects so far. I will complete treatments on the 15th of June. I think I will manage the treatments just fine. My bigger concern will be if the treatments stop the spread to other parts of my body.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

A call from my Cardiologist today

I received a call from my cardiologist today to inform me that they will be doing a Cathorization on the 20th of June. They will use angioplasty and stints to clear the blockage in the arteries of my heart.

Monday, May 09, 2005

Paliative Treatment

That was not what I wanted to hear. Today I received a call from my Pulmonary doctor (in response to my call to her) who stated that the treatment I am receiving (Radiation Therpy) is paliative and not expected to effect a cure for my lung cancer. I have so many doctors it is very hard for me to stay on top of things. My radiation Doctor is a private Radiation Oncologist and was careful not to state anything about the possibilities for my recovery or longevity. I will now speak to him and have him give me a more realistic time frame to plan on. It is difficult to make plans when you don't know how long you have or how uncomfortable you may be. I am not complaining but I would like to be able to make some realistic plans. I may have told myself that since my cancer is not a stage 4 but rather a stage 2 that a cure is likely. That doesn't appear to be the case. Radiation Therpy will only lengthen the time and no one wants to predict anything.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Who has the most crude oil in the world?

Answer: In the order of quantity
1 Saudi Arabia
2 Iraq
3 Kuwait
4 United Arab Emirates
5 Iran
6 Venezuela
7 Russia
8 Mexico
9 Libya
10 US
If that is true what does this mean?????
http://www.rense.com/general37/petrol.htm
Why the hell aren't we making a deal with our neighbor instead of these fools in the middle east who want to kill all of us?????
Interesting ehh?

Income Tax, is it necessary to run the government?

Check this website listed below:
http://www.devvy.com/notax.html

More book recommendations

I have recently read several books which I would like to recommend.

The first is "Winning the Future" by Newt Gingrich "A 21st Century contract with America" This guy has a firm grip on the workings of government and our society in particular. This is a must read.

The second "They just don't get it" by Colonel David Hunt" This book is not for the faint of heart. It is for those who believe in action and not rhetoric.

The third is "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder" by Michael Savage. Not a tongue in check book. A serious look at liberalism.

I recommend each of these books along with my previous recommendation "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman.

Most of you don't have the kind of time that I have so I know it wil be hard to read all of these books. But you might look up a review if nothing else.

If you have read one or any of these books please let me know. I loved each of them.

Friday, May 06, 2005

Happy Birthday Tim

Well Tim's birthday is really May 7th we celebrated tonight. Met some friends that I only see once in a while. It was a fun evening. Chris and I gave Tim a night at a local hotel on Clearwater beach (he can even bring Angela) if he wants. Chris and I will share the baby sitting responsibilities. Tim is now 38. He has almost as much grey hair as me.

5 down and 28 to go

I had my fifth treatment today and to be honest I don't notice any side effects as of yet. I was called into the cardiologist office yesterday and they are going to do a "Roto Router" their words on my heart in June. If all goes well they are going to reconsider open heart surgery. they claim they can clean out the primary blockage with this procedure without an operation. Catherization is how they do it. I hated the cathorization I had in January. It didn't hurt until it was finished and then they had a male nurse hold a pressure bandage on the spot of the cathorization for twenty minutes and it hurt like hell.

Did you ever have a day............

When nothing was funny? How about this.... did you ever have a day when everything struck you as funny and you simply laughed at everything. Well I used to have both of those type days, not any more.

Now I see things with such a lack luster shine. I don't seem to be able to laugh or cry. I know it's the drugs I am on but I need to laugh more. I don't need the opposite but I do need to laugh. Some friends send me jokes and some of the jokes are funny but others don't seem to move me much.

Maybe I should take fewer drugs. I think I'll mentioned it to my doctors. What the hell, right now I want my manic side to play a bigger role. I am never excited the way I used to get. I know all the pitfalls of that but at least I laughed more then. Any suggestions?

Monday, May 02, 2005

Jenifer Wilbanks

I believe she should have know the extent to which everyone would care. My god she invited 600 people and was spending money like a mad women. If she didn't know the affect she would have just disappearing, she was simple minded. The whole country became involved. She should be made to pay. Her Fiance' had better take a close look at weather he pushed to hard and that guest list was simply a plea for help. Didn't he object to any of her outlandish needs. These are clues folks. She was hoping he would bring this thing to a stop. She just didn't know how to say so.

First Treatment today

It went well and was no biggie. I am marked up all over. They do 3-d radiation now so you end up with 3 indelible marks your chest. Today took a little longer than will other days. Thanks for the good cheer.

Saturday, April 30, 2005

She should pay for all cost associated with trying to find her

Jennifer Wilbanks should pay for all the cost of trying to find her. Her finance' said it might be a hell of a case of cold feet. Yeh, well it might be a hell of a cost to the citizens of Diluth Ga as well and he/she should pay for all of it. In every picture I saw of her, you could see the whites of her eyes all the way around the pupil. Does anyone know when this usually occurs? that's right, uppers........could be over the counter, but uppers none the less. Oh well, I am slightly cynical....No? Oh and by the way, I am totally happy she did not turn out to be abducted. I don't want to hear about anymore of those kind of cases, how about you?

Friday, April 29, 2005

Politics leave me cold

Where are all the good Orators. Neither the President's speech nor the rebuttals did anything for me. It has been some time since I felt enthusiasm for a politicial point of view. I always feel someone is trying to pull the wool over my eyes but they don't know how. Are they nuts or are we? I want a person who can lead and keep me routing for him at the same time. I like Bush but he leaves me cold. There is no excitement in his voice. It's almost as if he is not sure of what he is saying but he wants us to believe it. Why all the him'n and hoahing and stopping and starting? Doesn't he practice his speeches before hand? I believe I could have delivered that speech better than he did. And I believe I have more enthusiasm for the changes in Social Security than he has. And as for those who asked how is it going to be paid for? What a dumb question. Isn't that the reason for the changes in the program in the first place. The government broke it's fudiciary responsibility with the collections so far and there is no money to pay the benefits. If we put the money into Private Retirement Accounts the government can't get it's hands into our cookie jar. And the earning have a chance of being big enough to afford a proper retirement.

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Does anybody know what time it is?. Does anybody really care?

Well yesterday came and went and I feel only slightly more informed. Actually, it was mostly anti-climatic. I will be starting my Radiation therapy on Monday and as we all knew it will last for about 33 sessions. Yesterday was mainly spent in marking me up for use on Monday before my first treatment. They now use a 3 dimensional computer generated type of treatment which is said to be much more accurate. My doctor was a low key fellow and he asked a lot of questions that I had hoped he would have had answer for from my other doctors. None the less I have good confidence in him and he is not without humor. I was able to jibe him and he took it pretty well. I don't know why I always seem to do that with everyone I meet (jibe) must be left over from my early days with my dad. He never could talk without pulling your leg and never being totally serious about anything. I think my dad was affraid he might be quoted and he always wanted to make the excuse that he was only kidding. I feel pretty good. I have good energy and I am not depressed at all. I have stayed close to home for nearly a week and I am due to get out more and I need to stay busier than this. There seems to be some confusion amongst the doctors as to the treatment for my heart. Such as, will I be able to undergo open-heart later, or how long from now will it be. I am a little confused myself. I think they are going to confer about this issue and I will be informed eventually. Right now, I simply want to start my Radiation and see what happens. This doctor did say that upon completion there could still be a dark spot where the cancer was but it may just be a callous and that it would take months to make that determination. In fact he said, they will not be able to do cat scans or pet scans for a few months because they would get false readings. He also added that there is a danger of doing some damage to the lung where they have applied the radiation and that could be a problem. They will keep a look out for matastisation afterward as that is the biggest concern. Spreading

Saturday, April 23, 2005

Treatments begin Wednesday

I was notified that my radiation treatments will begin on this coming Wednesday. Can't get started any too quickly for me. I will post on Wednesday for sure if they tell me anything worth passing on. I believe the treatment will last about 30-35 days. I will receive a treatment 5 times a week for 6-7 weeks. If they get it all I would like to have my heart surgery in the fall.

I corrected the video file for Bobby. It wouldn't open and it was my fault.