A Rude Intrusion :: Day 81

This is my blog for day 81 of cancer treatment and recovery, Friday, 29 Sep 2017.

Today I return to work!

No "regular" doctor's appointments until next Tuesday.

I was up early, having gone to bed early, as well. Had coffee, took in the news, did a little work and then got ready and left on time. It felt good to walk into the office for the first time in almost three months. I was warmly greeted by many people. It's too bad I couldn't shake all of their hands because of this infection I've got (not on antibiotics yet).

I did a bunch of different things, wrote a number of e-Mail messages and then had to get ready to go to the doctor. It was kind-of anticlimactic. Still, it felt like quite an accomplishment.

I met with the doctor at bout noon. They first took a bunch of vitals. It's amazing how good your blood pressure can be once you've lost 35 pounds! 120/72 . . . great! No fever, either, and my lungs were pretty clear. But I'm still hacking stuff up, so I was prescribed the "Z-pack" antibiotic, one I get almost once each year for almost exactly the same thing. Dr. Kotcherian thinks this was an "infection of convenience" brought on because of a weakened immune system.

After the doctor I got the prescription, then drove to McDonald's, where I grabbed a breakfast sandwich (I love that they have them all day, now), a water and a coke. (Azithromycin has to be taken with food.) Then it was on home to finish my work day.

All in all, not a bad day!

Nancy and I got gyro sandwiches from the local fast-food joint tonight. It tasted good to me, but I couldn't finish a whole sandwich. And it wasn't the easiest thing to eat. But I continue to try to eat normally. Perhaps it's now time to move on to salads, which were supposed to have been too difficult to eat early on in my recovery. Maybe a Julienne salad, with the cold cuts and cheese . . . ?

Tomorrow Nancy and I will be driving down to meet my birth-mother and my half-sister in Mendota, Illinois. Seems like things have moved so fast on this front! Naturally, this will probably take up a lot of tomorrow's post . . .

In honor of going back to work, today's YouTube music is Blue Collar, by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (aka "BTO") - Link.

For convenience sake, here a running list of all of the links I've posted to YouTube in the past many days:

According to Plan, Carolyn Arends - Link
Alabama Jubilee, the Firehouse Five Plus Two - Link

And I Love Her, The Beatles - Link
Angelina, Earl Klugh - Link
Apollo 11 launch - Link
Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar - Link
Astronomy, Blue Oyster Cult - Link
Atmospheres, Gyorgy Ligeti - Link
Back In You Own Back Yard, Al Jolson - Link

The Battle Hymn Of The Republic, The United States Army Field Bank - Link
Because We've Ended As Lovers, Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - Link
Blessings, Laura Story - Link
Blue Collar, Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Link
The Blue Skirt Waltz, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Brandy, Looking Glass - Link
Brotherhood of Man, Matthew Broderick and Lillias White - Link
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell - Link
Chapel of  Love, Bette Midler - Link
Chicago Bears fight song - Link
Chicago Blackhawks song - Link
Cold, Cold Heart,The Quebe Sisters - Link
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd - Link
Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Link
Crossroads, Eric Clapton and Cream Link
Cry Me A River, Joe Cocker - Link
Cry Me A River, Diana Krall - Link
Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest - Link
Dixie - Link
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request - Link, Steve Goodman
Eat It, Weird Al Yankovic - Link
Eclipse, Pink Floyd - Link
Evergreen, Barbra Streisand - Link
Galveston, Glen Campbell - Link
Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell - Link
Get Back, The Beatles - Link
Glen Campbell-hosted country music special - Link
Go, Cubs, Go, Steve Goodman - Link
Going For The One, Yes - Link
Groucho Movie Clips - Link
Heart Of The Heartland, Peter Ostroushko - Link
Hello in There, Bette Midler - Link
I'm Alright, Kenny Loggins - Link
I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit - Link
I Love Being Here With You, Diana Krall - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, from the movie Here Comes the Groom  - Link
In Good Hands, Carolyn Arends - Link.
Invercargill, United States Air Force Concert Band - Link
Jailhouse Rock, The Blues Brothers - Link
Josie, Larry Carlton - Link
Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1, An International Collaboration - Link
Lay Down Sally, Vince Gill and a cast of All Stars - Link
Lazy River, Dave McKenna - Link
Let It Ride, BTO - Link
Limbo Jazz, Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington - Link
Living in the Past, Jethro Tull - Link
Little Ones, Phil Keaggy - Link
The Logical Song, Supertramp - Link
Lookin' At The World Through A Windshield, Bill Kirchen - Link
Montana/We Are Not Alone, Univ. of Montana Percussion Ensemble - Link
My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains - Link

My Funny Valentine, Kristin Chenoweth - Link

My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis - Link
My New Philosophy, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Wayne Mathis - Link
Neighborhood, David Hidalgo - Link
No Time, The Guess Who - Link
On The Street Where You Live, Dean Martin - Link
One Is The Loneliest Number, Three Dog Night - Link
One More Last Chance, Vince Gill - Link
The Pennsylvania Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Popular, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Powdermilk Biscuit Break, Garrison Keillor, et al - Link
Questions 67 and 68, Chicago - Link
Rain, Uriah Heep - Link
Reaching, Carolyn Arends - Link
Redwing, Tiny Little, on the Ed Sullivan Show - Link
Rollin' Down The Highway, BTO - Link
Roly Poly, Don Kelley with Johnny Hiland - Link
Route 66, Asleep at The Wheel - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sisters, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt - Link
Sisters, from White Christmas - Link
Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford - Link
Slang of Ages, Steely Day - Link
Slow Poke, Pee Wee King - Link
Sometimes in Winter, Blood, Sweat and Tears - Link
St Louis Blues, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi - Link
Standing at the Crossroads, Elmore James - Link
Stars and Stripes Forever, United States Marine Band - Link
Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel - Link
Subdivisions, Rush - Link
Sunday's Child, Phil Keaggy - Link
Sweet Georgia Brown, Wynton Marsalis/Mark O'Connor - Link
Sweet Lorraine, Uriah Heep - Link
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Link
That's Jazz, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & The All Stars - Link
Time, Pink Floyd - Link
Time to Blow, From That Thing You Do - Link
The Too Fat Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Buck Owens - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, the Don Kelley Band - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Link
University of Michigan Fight Song, UM Marching Band - Link.
US National Anthem, US Marine Band - Link
Village of the Sun and Echidna's Arf (Of You), Frank Zappa - Link
Walk Away, James Gang - Link
War, Edwin Starr - Link
Vonetta, Earl Klugh - Link
Yankee Doodle, The Marine Band - Link
You Are My Sunshine, JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra - Link
You Can't Do That, Beatles - Link
Your Love Is My Saving Grace, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Zappa Medly, George Duke - Link

A Rude Intrusion :: Day 80

This is my blog for day 80 of cancer treatment and recovery, Thursday, 28 Sep 2017.

Late post, again! Apologies!

No doctor's appointments until next Tuesday, but I return to work on Friday!

The cold I think I picked up has turned into something worse, so I'll be calling to see if I can get into the doctor's office at the end of the day today. We're leaving from Amy and Matt's around lunch time, I think.

Congratulations, Cubs! Winners of their division for two years in a row . . . now let's get back to the World Series! The Cubs play the Nationals first, and are the "away" team, so it's a bit of a climb.

Couldn't get in to see the doctor, but made an appointment for tomorrow. Back to work one day, and another doctor's appointment the same day! Go figure . . .

The drive home was slow and un-exciting, though we did see a couple of accidents (which, naturally, slowed us down, though they were on the other side of the road).

I went to bed early, with my first day of work in the morning. Had fallen asleep on the couch. But when I went to bed I couldn't sleep, so watched some TV on my iPad. Stayed away from the god-awful Bears, though. Why don't they just shoot the team and put it out of our misery?

Today's YouTube music is The Logical Song, from Supertramp, though as played by Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band - Link. Fortunately, Roger Hodgson is singing. I can play this song, but if I want to sing it I need to bring it down at least two full steps. He has a great voice, but it's absolutely a high tenor, in the professional range.

For convenience sake, here a running list of all of the links I've posted to YouTube in the past many days:

According to Plan, Carolyn Arends - Link
Alabama Jubilee, the Firehouse Five Plus Two - Link

And I Love Her, The Beatles - Link
Angelina, Earl Klugh - Link
Apollo 11 launch - Link
Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar - Link
Astronomy, Blue Oyster Cult - Link
Atmospheres, Gyorgy Ligeti - Link
Back In You Own Back Yard, Al Jolson - Link

The Battle Hymn Of The Republic, The United States Army Field Bank - Link
Because We've Ended As Lovers, Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - Link
Blessings, Laura Story - Link
The Blue Skirt Waltz, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Brandy, Looking Glass - Link
Brotherhood of Man, Matthew Broderick and Lillias White - Link
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell - Link
Chapel of  Love, Bette Midler - Link
Chicago Bears fight song - Link
Chicago Blackhawks song - Link
Cold, Cold Heart,The Quebe Sisters - Link
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd - Link
Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Link
Crossroads, Eric Clapton and Cream Link
Cry Me A River, Joe Cocker - Link
Cry Me A River, Diana Krall - Link
Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest - Link
Dixie - Link
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request - Link, Steve Goodman
Eat It, Weird Al Yankovic - Link
Eclipse, Pink Floyd - Link
Evergreen, Barbra Streisand - Link
Galveston, Glen Campbell - Link
Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell - Link
Get Back, The Beatles - Link
Glen Campbell-hosted country music special - Link
Go, Cubs, Go, Steve Goodman - Link
Going For The One, Yes - Link
Groucho Movie Clips - Link
Heart Of The Heartland, Peter Ostroushko - Link
Hello in There, Bette Midler - Link
I'm Alright, Kenny Loggins - Link
I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit - Link
I Love Being Here With You, Diana Krall - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, from the movie Here Comes the Groom  - Link
In Good Hands, Carolyn Arends - Link.
Invercargill, United States Air Force Concert Band - Link
Jailhouse Rock, The Blues Brothers - Link
Josie, Larry Carlton - Link
Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1, An International Collaboration - Link
Lay Down Sally, Vince Gill and a cast of All Stars - Link
Lazy River, Dave McKenna - Link
Let It Ride, BTO - Link
Limbo Jazz, Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington - Link
Living in the Past, Jethro Tull - Link
Little Ones, Phil Keaggy - Link
The Logical Song, Supertramp - Link
Lookin' At The World Through A Windshield, Bill Kirchen - Link
Montana/We Are Not Alone, Univ. of Montana Percussion Ensemble - Link
My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains - Link

My Funny Valentine, Kristin Chenoweth - Link

My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis - Link
My New Philosophy, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Wayne Mathis - Link
Neighborhood, David Hidalgo - Link
No Time, The Guess Who - Link
On The Street Where You Live, Dean Martin - Link
One Is The Loneliest Number, Three Dog Night - Link
One More Last Chance, Vince Gill - Link
The Pennsylvania Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Popular, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Powdermilk Biscuit Break, Garrison Keillor, et al - Link
Questions 67 and 68, Chicago - Link
Rain, Uriah Heep - Link
Reaching, Carolyn Arends - Link
Redwing, Tiny Little, on the Ed Sullivan Show - Link
Rollin' Down The Highway, BTO - Link
Roly Poly, Don Kelley with Johnny Hiland - Link
Route 66, Asleep at The Wheel - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sisters, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt - Link
Sisters, from White Christmas - Link
Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford - Link
Slang of Ages, Steely Day - Link
Slow Poke, Pee Wee King - Link
Sometimes in Winter, Blood, Sweat and Tears - Link
St Louis Blues, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi - Link
Standing at the Crossroads, Elmore James - Link
Stars and Stripes Forever, United States Marine Band - Link
Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel - Link
Subdivisions, Rush - Link
Sunday's Child, Phil Keaggy - Link
Sweet Georgia Brown, Wynton Marsalis/Mark O'Connor - Link
Sweet Lorraine, Uriah Heep - Link
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Link
That's Jazz, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & The All Stars - Link
Time, Pink Floyd - Link
Time to Blow, From That Thing You Do - Link
The Too Fat Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Buck Owens - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, the Don Kelley Band - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Link
University of Michigan Fight Song, UM Marching Band - Link.
US National Anthem, US Marine Band - Link
Village of the Sun and Echidna's Arf (Of You), Frank Zappa - Link
Walk Away, James Gang - Link
War, Edwin Starr - Link
Vonetta, Earl Klugh - Link
Yankee Doodle, The Marine Band - Link
You Are My Sunshine, JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra - Link
You Can't Do That, Beatles - Link
Your Love Is My Saving Grace, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Zappa Medly, George Duke - Link

A Rude Intrusion :: Day 79

 This is my blog for day 79 of cancer treatment and recovery, Wednesday, 27 Sep 2017.

No doctor's appointments until next Tuesday, but I return to work on Friday!

I think I picked up a cold from the wedding and/or hotel this weekend. Go figure. At least I don't feel too bad. Nancy said I coughed a lot during the night.

Nancy and Amy went to downtown Grand Rapids with the kids. I decided to stay behind as I had already fallen asleep once this morning, just before noon. Still, I had gotten up-and-around earlier, showering and dressing, so I was okay to lounge around. Even put my shoes on and took Piper (their dog) outside and sat in the sun for a little bit. The July-August level heat has gone away, and more normal temperatures have returned. I think it must be in the high 60's or low 70's right now. I know that the weather lady reported that it was 70 degrees at 4:00 AM, but was only 64 at 8:00 AM, and the expected cold front had moved through.

Royal Empire apples are due to be ready for picking this weekend at the orchard we go to (Royal Oak Farm). It's funny to think about it, but the last variety due to be ready is the Granny Smith - another favorite of mine - and that won't be until 27 Oct, almost on full month later. I'd love to have two Royal Empire apple trees at home, but it's probably never going to happen. (You need two in order to  cross-pollinate the apples, I believe.) The number of bees in our yard would increase dramatically, too, I understand. Still, I'd like it! Would have to learn how to best preserve them - wrapped in separate bits of newspaper in the darkest, coolest corner of the basement, I believe.Or fridge.

We are so very fortunate to be able to have apples all year, from all over the world. It's sad to think that there are places in the city of Chicago ("food deserts" they call them) where there are no grocery stores for blocks and blocks. I know there are various reasons for this, including the high cost of doing business and crime, but it's still sad. I think once a child got to eating fresh fruit, they'd not go for the sugary snacks, as our children were taught.

Another thing that caught my eye today - a family of three (dad, mom, 12-year old child) was attending Great America Fright Fest this past weekend when a group of nine black kids assaulted them when it was pointed out that they cut in line. The story is here in the Chicago Tribune. As far as I'm concerned, all of the things that are being done to point out issues between the black community and the police have been un-done by this one incident. These black kids not only attacked the father, they attacked the 12-year old and the mother. Who does that? This kind of behavior puts the lie to what these football players are kneeling down for. Perhaps these players can go into the neighborhoods these kids came from and educate them on proper behavior. That would make a difference.

Otherwise, things have been quiet, though I have picked up some kind of a cold.

I'm back to thinking that I'm running out of choices in music, so I'm leaning on one of the good old good ones: Alabama Jubilee, by the Firehouse Five Plus Two - Link. This band was composed of a number of Disney artists and animators and was active in the 50's and 60's.

For convenience sake, here a running list of all of the links I've posted to YouTube in the past many days:

According to Plan, Carolyn Arends - Link
Alabama Jubilee, the Firehouse Five Plus Two - Link

And I Love Her, The Beatles - Link
Angelina, Earl Klugh - Link
Apollo 11 launch - Link
Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar - Link
Astronomy, Blue Oyster Cult - Link
Atmospheres, Gyorgy Ligeti - Link
Back In You Own Back Yard, Al Jolson - Link

The Battle Hymn Of The Republic, The United States Army Field Bank - Link
Because We've Ended As Lovers, Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - Link
Blessings, Laura Story - Link
The Blue Skirt Waltz, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Brandy, Looking Glass - Link
Brotherhood of Man, Matthew Broderick and Lillias White - Link
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell - Link
Chapel of  Love, Bette Midler - Link
Chicago Bears fight song - Link
Chicago Blackhawks song - Link
Cold, Cold Heart,The Quebe Sisters - Link
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd - Link
Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Link
Crossroads, Eric Clapton and Cream Link
Cry Me A River, Joe Cocker - Link
Cry Me A River, Diana Krall - Link
Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest - Link
Dixie - Link
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request - Link, Steve Goodman
Eat It, Weird Al Yankovic - Link
Eclipse, Pink Floyd - Link
Evergreen, Barbra Streisand - Link
Galveston, Glen Campbell - Link
Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell - Link
Get Back, The Beatles - Link
Glen Campbell-hosted country music special - Link
Go, Cubs, Go, Steve Goodman - Link
Going For The One, Yes - Link
Groucho Movie Clips - Link
Heart Of The Heartland, Peter Ostroushko - Link
Hello in There, Bette Midler - Link
I'm Alright, Kenny Loggins - Link
I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit - Link
I Love Being Here With You, Diana Krall - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, from the movie Here Comes the Groom  - Link
In Good Hands, Carolyn Arends - Link.
Invercargill, United States Air Force Concert Band - Link
Jailhouse Rock, The Blues Brothers - Link
Josie, Larry Carlton - Link
Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1, An International Collaboration - Link
Lay Down Sally, Vince Gill and a cast of All Stars - Link
Lazy River, Dave McKenna - Link
Let It Ride, BTO - Link
Limbo Jazz, Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington - Link
Living in the Past, Jethro Tull - Link
Little Ones, Phil Keaggy - Link
Lookin' At The World Through A Windshield, Bill Kirchen - Link
Montana/We Are Not Alone, Univ. of Montana Percussion Ensemble - Link
My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains - Link

My Funny Valentine, Kristin Chenoweth - Link

My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis - Link
My New Philosophy, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Wayne Mathis - Link
Neighborhood, David Hidalgo - Link
No Time, The Guess Who - Link
On The Street Where You Live, Dean Martin - Link
One Is The Loneliest Number, Three Dog Night - Link
One More Last Chance, Vince Gill - Link
The Pennsylvania Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Popular, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Powdermilk Biscuit Break, Garrison Keillor, et al - Link
Questions 67 and 68, Chicago - Link
Rain, Uriah Heep - Link
Reaching, Carolyn Arends - Link
Redwing, Tiny Little, on the Ed Sullivan Show - Link
Rollin' Down The Highway, BTO - Link
Roly Poly, Don Kelley with Johnny Hiland - Link
Route 66, Asleep at The Wheel - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sisters, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt - Link
Sisters, from White Christmas - Link
Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford - Link
Slang of Ages, Steely Day - Link
Slow Poke, Pee Wee King - Link
Sometimes in Winter, Blood, Sweat and Tears - Link
St Louis Blues, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi - Link
Standing at the Crossroads, Elmore James - Link
Stars and Stripes Forever, United States Marine Band - Link
Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel - Link
Subdivisions, Rush - Link
Sunday's Child, Phil Keaggy - Link
Sweet Georgia Brown, Wynton Marsalis/Mark O'Connor - Link
Sweet Lorraine, Uriah Heep - Link
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Link
That's Jazz, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & The All Stars - Link
Time, Pink Floyd - Link
Time to Blow, From That Thing You Do - Link
The Too Fat Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Buck Owens - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, the Don Kelley Band - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Link
University of Michigan Fight Song, UM Marching Band - Link.
US National Anthem, US Marine Band - Link
Village of the Sun and Echidna's Arf (Of You), Frank Zappa - Link
Walk Away, James Gang - Link
War, Edwin Starr - Link
Vonetta, Earl Klugh - Link
Yankee Doodle, The Marine Band - Link
You Are My Sunshine, JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra - Link
You Can't Do That, Beatles - Link
Your Love Is My Saving Grace, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Zappa Medly, George Duke - Link

A Rude Intrusion :: Day 78

 This is my blog for day 78 of cancer treatment and recovery, Tuesday, 26 Sep 2017.

I had a follow-up with the PA at the oncologist's office today. nothing really new came of it, except for the OK to return to work Friday. That will be nice, as I think I'm ready to go back.

Nancy and I drove to Grand Rapids right after the appointment. Traffic on 294 was heavy, with a lot of trucks on the road down near where I-80 and 294 come together. As my dad used to say, "I wish I had a nickel for every truck I saw on the road!" Of course, that's getting rather dated, so perhaps it should now go up to a buck, or five bucks. "I wish I had a fin for every truck I saw on the road today!"

We went out for a nice dinner tonight at a place called "Rose's" on Reeds Lake, a short walk from the kid's house. I was able to eat a cheeseburger without much of an issue at all, though the top of the bun was removed, as I went at it with a knife and fork. Used ketchup, too, though sometimes it stung me pretty good when it got in along the right side of my mouth, in the back. I'm hoping this issue fades away soon, but it may still be a month before it heals. We'll see.

In any case, we're here in GR for the better part of three days, returning home Thursday afternoon. So, nothing much to report, other than Matt and Amy are fine and the grandchildren are adorable!

Today's YouTube music is in honor of the state of Michigan. It's the University of Michigan Fight Song, as performed by their marching band - Link.

For convenience sake, here a running list of all of the links I've posted to YouTube in the past many days:

According to Plan, Carolyn Arends - Link

And I Love Her, The Beatles - Link
Angelina, Earl Klugh - Link
Apollo 11 launch - Link
Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar - Link
Astronomy, Blue Oyster Cult - Link
Atmospheres, Gyorgy Ligeti - Link
Back In You Own Back Yard, Al Jolson - Link

The Battle Hymn Of The Republic, The United States Army Field Bank - Link
Because We've Ended As Lovers, Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - Link
Blessings, Laura Story - Link
The Blue Skirt Waltz, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Brandy, Looking Glass - Link
Brotherhood of Man, Matthew Broderick and Lillias White - Link
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell - Link
Chapel of  Love, Bette Midler - Link
Chicago Bears fight song - Link
Chicago Blackhawks song - Link
Cold, Cold Heart,The Quebe Sisters - Link
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd - Link
Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Link
Crossroads, Eric Clapton and Cream Link
Cry Me A River, Joe Cocker - Link
Cry Me A River, Diana Krall - Link
Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest - Link
Dixie - Link
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request - Link, Steve Goodman
Eat It, Weird Al Yankovic - Link
Eclipse, Pink Floyd - Link
Evergreen, Barbra Streisand - Link
Galveston, Glen Campbell - Link
Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell - Link
Get Back, The Beatles - Link
Glen Campbell-hosted country music special - Link
Go, Cubs, Go, Steve Goodman - Link
Going For The One, Yes - Link
Groucho Movie Clips - Link
Heart Of The Heartland, Peter Ostroushko - Link
Hello in There, Bette Midler - Link
I'm Alright, Kenny Loggins - Link
I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit - Link
I Love Being Here With You, Diana Krall - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, from the movie Here Comes the Groom  - Link
In Good Hands, Carolyn Arends - Link.
Invercargill, United States Air Force Concert Band - Link
Jailhouse Rock, The Blues Brothers - Link
Josie, Larry Carlton - Link
Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1, An International Collaboration - Link
Lay Down Sally, Vince Gill and a cast of All Stars - Link
Lazy River, Dave McKenna - Link
Let It Ride, BTO - Link
Limbo Jazz, Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington - Link
Living in the Past, Jethro Tull - Link
Little Ones, Phil Keaggy - Link
Lookin' At The World Through A Windshield, Bill Kirchen - Link
Montana/We Are Not Alone, Univ. of Montana Percussion Ensemble - Link
My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains - Link

My Funny Valentine, Kristin Chenoweth - Link

My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis - Link
My New Philosophy, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Wayne Mathis - Link
Neighborhood, David Hidalgo - Link
No Time, The Guess Who - Link
On The Street Where You Live, Dean Martin - Link
One Is The Loneliest Number, Three Dog Night - Link
One More Last Chance, Vince Gill - Link
The Pennsylvania Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Popular, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Powdermilk Biscuit Break, Garrison Keillor, et al - Link
Questions 67 and 68, Chicago - Link
Rain, Uriah Heep - Link
Reaching, Carolyn Arends - Link
Redwing, Tiny Little, on the Ed Sullivan Show - Link
Rollin' Down The Highway, BTO - Link
Roly Poly, Don Kelley with Johnny Hiland - Link
Route 66, Asleep at The Wheel - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sisters, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt - Link
Sisters, from White Christmas - Link
Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford - Link
Slang of Ages, Steely Day - Link
Slow Poke, Pee Wee King - Link
Sometimes in Winter, Blood, Sweat and Tears - Link
St Louis Blues, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi - Link
Standing at the Crossroads, Elmore James - Link
Stars and Stripes Forever, United States Marine Band - Link
Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel - Link
Subdivisions, Rush - Link
Sunday's Child, Phil Keaggy - Link
Sweet Georgia Brown, Wynton Marsalis/Mark O'Connor - Link
Sweet Lorraine, Uriah Heep - Link
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Link
That's Jazz, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & The All Stars - Link
Time, Pink Floyd - Link
Time to Blow, From That Thing You Do - Link
The Too Fat Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Buck Owens - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, the Don Kelley Band - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Link
University of Michigan Fight Song, UM Marching Band - Link.
US National Anthem, US Marine Band - Link
Village of the Sun and Echidna's Arf (Of You), Frank Zappa - Link
Walk Away, James Gang - Link
War, Edwin Starr - Link
Vonetta, Earl Klugh - Link
Yankee Doodle, The Marine Band - Link
You Are My Sunshine, JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra - Link
You Can't Do That, Beatles - Link
Your Love Is My Saving Grace, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Zappa Medly, George Duke - Link

A Rude Intrusion :: Day 77

 This is my blog for day 77 of cancer treatment and recovery, Monday, 25 Sep 2017.

I have one doctor's appointment this week, a follow-up with the PA at the oncologist's office, then multiple appointments the following two weeks, at one of which, I hope, the oncologist has me go in for a cat scan, as a first step to determining how well the treatment worked for me.

Took Nancy to her treatment today, then returned home to run a couple of errands. As I return to work this Friday (did I mention that before?), this is my last "free Monday". I'll be working from the hospital again, from now on into the foreseeable future. But the errands were run, breakfast and dinner were consumed, a few tasks were completed around the house and I headed back to the hospital to pick Nancy up.

Am watching the first episode of the new season of The Big Bang Theory, and the first ever episode of Young Sheldon. The first was not that good. The second . . . not really certain. I think the ideas of "young Sheldon" I have are better coming from the first show, and exploded into deeper context by my own mind, than being presented directly, as it were, on the screen.

Something else for you to read, another blog entry: "White Privilege - What?" - Link.

Nothing much else to add, at this time. So here's today's YouTube video: Astronomy, by Blue Oyster Cult - Link - somewhat inspired by The Big Bang Theory. Koothripali is an astrophysicist, at least.

For convenience sake, here a running list of all of the links I've posted to YouTube in the past many days:

According to Plan, Carolyn Arends - Link

And I Love Her, The Beatles - Link
Angelina, Earl Klugh - Link
Apollo 11 launch - Link
Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar - Link
Astronomy, Blue Oyster Cult - Link
Atmospheres, Gyorgy Ligeti - Link
Back In You Own Back Yard, Al Jolson - Link

The Battle Hymn Of The Republic, The United States Army Field Bank - Link
Because We've Ended As Lovers, Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - Link
Blessings, Laura Story - Link
The Blue Skirt Waltz, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Brandy, Looking Glass - Link
Brotherhood of Man, Matthew Broderick and Lillias White - Link
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell - Link
Chapel of  Love, Bette Midler - Link
Chicago Bears fight song - Link
Chicago Blackhawks song - Link
Cold, Cold Heart,The Quebe Sisters - Link
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd - Link
Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Link
Crossroads, Eric Clapton and Cream Link
Cry Me A River, Joe Cocker - Link
Cry Me A River, Diana Krall - Link
Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest - Link
Dixie - Link
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request - Link, Steve Goodman
Eat It, Weird Al Yankovic - Link
Eclipse, Pink Floyd - Link
Evergreen, Barbra Streisand - Link
Galveston, Glen Campbell - Link
Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell - Link
Get Back, The Beatles - Link
Glen Campbell-hosted country music special - Link
Go, Cubs, Go, Steve Goodman - Link
Going For The One, Yes - Link
Groucho Movie Clips - Link
Heart Of The Heartland, Peter Ostroushko - Link
Hello in There, Bette Midler - Link
I'm Alright, Kenny Loggins - Link
I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit - Link
I Love Being Here With You, Diana Krall - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, from the movie Here Comes the Groom  - Link
In Good Hands, Carolyn Arends - Link.
Invercargill, United States Air Force Concert Band - Link
Jailhouse Rock, The Blues Brothers - Link
Josie, Larry Carlton - Link
Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1, An International Collaboration - Link
Lay Down Sally, Vince Gill and a cast of All Stars - Link
Lazy River, Dave McKenna - Link
Let It Ride, BTO - Link
Limbo Jazz, Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington - Link
Living in the Past, Jethro Tull - Link
Little Ones, Phil Keaggy - Link
Lookin' At The World Through A Windshield, Bill Kirchen - Link
Montana/We Are Not Alone, Univ. of Montana Percussion Ensemble - Link
My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains - Link

My Funny Valentine, Kristin Chenoweth - Link

My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis - Link
My New Philosophy, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Wayne Mathis - Link
Neighborhood, David Hidalgo - Link
No Time, The Guess Who - Link
On The Street Where You Live, Dean Martin - Link
One Is The Loneliest Number, Three Dog Night - Link
One More Last Chance, Vince Gill - Link
The Pennsylvania Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Popular, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Powdermilk Biscuit Break, Garrison Keillor, et al - Link
Questions 67 and 68, Chicago - Link
Rain, Uriah Heep - Link
Reaching, Carolyn Arends - Link
Redwing, Tiny Little, on the Ed Sullivan Show - Link
Rollin' Down The Highway, BTO - Link
Roly Poly, Don Kelley with Johnny Hiland - Link
Route 66, Asleep at The Wheel - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sisters, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt - Link
Sisters, from White Christmas - Link
Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford - Link
Slang of Ages, Steely Day - Link
Slow Poke, Pee Wee King - Link
Sometimes in Winter, Blood, Sweat and Tears - Link
St Louis Blues, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi - Link
Standing at the Crossroads, Elmore James - Link
Stars and Stripes Forever, United States Marine Band - Link
Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel - Link
Subdivisions, Rush - Link
Sunday's Child, Phil Keaggy - Link
Sweet Georgia Brown, Wynton Marsalis/Mark O'Connor - Link
Sweet Lorraine, Uriah Heep - Link
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Link
That's Jazz, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & The All Stars - Link
Time, Pink Floyd - Link
Time to Blow, From That Thing You Do - Link
The Too Fat Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Buck Owens - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, the Don Kelley Band - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Link
US National Anthem, US Marine Band - Link
Village of the Sun and Echidna's Arf (Of You), Frank Zappa - Link
Walk Away, James Gang - Link
War, Edwin Starr - Link
Vonetta, Earl Klugh - Link
Yankee Doodle, The Marine Band - Link
You Are My Sunshine, JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra - Link
You Can't Do That, Beatles - Link
Your Love Is My Saving Grace, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Zappa Medly, George Duke - Link

White Privilege - What?

This blog post will certainly make some people mad, and I'm sure many will disagree with me, but I'm writing it anyway. I've decided to provide my take on so-called "white privilege".

I had to look this up - I'm not kidding - as the concept is used everywhere, but is not really ever explained. I went to good ol' Wikipedia and got this:

"White privilege denotes both obvious and less obvious passive advantages that white people may not recognize they have, which distinguishes it from overt bias or prejudice. These include cultural affirmations of one's own worth; presumed greater social status; and freedom to move, buy, work, play, and speak freely. The effects can be seen in professional, educational, and personal contexts. The concept of white privilege also implies the right to assume the universality of one's own experiences, marking others as different or exceptional while perceiving oneself as normal."

First off, let me ask if the use of the term "white people" is not, in and of itself, prejudiced? As defined by Merriam-Webster, this would mean "an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics". And what I hear from the Left is nothing, if it is not hostile.

After all, is everyone who is "white" a member of the same homogeneous group? (In this, I assume that "white" equals, roughly, Europeans and Slavs.) Aren't we different by nationality, from Russians on the east, to Greeks, Italians and Spaniards on the south, to Finns, Swedes and Norwegians on the north to Irish on the west? Aren't we Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Buddhist and no religion whatsoever? Don't we hail from very different parts of this country?

Take Chicago, where I come from. There were Germans, Poles and Italians in various neighborhoods. Being Czech, was my father, for example, welcomed with open arms into each enclave simply because he was white? Hardly. Mount Prospect tried to keep Catholics out in the early 1950s (so my dad said). And while some are liberal, some are conservative, and some are Liberal while others are Conservative, and everywhere in-between. Does this seem like whites are a single group? I think not.

I can tell you, from the little bit of traveling I've done, that I was not readily accepted into certain places. At our plant in Kirksville, MO, for example, I had to work with people for quite some time before I felt accepted. In Stuarts Draft, VA this was not the case. When traveling in West Virginia, I got the feeling that my every move was being watched, and I never felt comfortable there. And, in all these cases, I was among only "white people".

So let's not pretend that "white people" are some nameless, faceless group. That's simply wrong, with a capital "W".

Next, let's look at the rest of the Wikipedia entry. Where would I possibly get a "cultural affirmation" of my own worth? Where does that even come from? I may get a shot of self-worth from a job well done, or a song or poem I've written, or something I've fixed at home or in my car, or one of my children's achievements, or the love of my wife, or even possibly from a co-worker, neighbor or church member, but culturally? No, the culture I see tells me that all white people are evil, at the worst, or simply wrong. And I also get the dual-whammy of being white and male, so I'm doubly wrong.

"Presumed greater social status?" Not hardly. Social status comes from the car you drive, the neighborhood you live in, the places you're seen, the way you spread your cash. And being a conservative person, I am not "flashy", so have little in the way of "social status". I am fully middle-of-the road . . . middle class I suppose. Is this greater than the social status I should have? Hardly. I know where I'm accepted and where I'm not. I don't go to Barrington, for example, or to the North Shore and experience anything more than being looked down on by those who are in the upper class. I get no bonus points for being a white guy.

Do I have full freedom to move, buy, work, play, and speak freely? Yes, and no. I can only move where I can afford to move, though my conservatism keeps me from spending all of the money I otherwise could on housing. In this, though, I must admit to the historical presence of red-lining and "steering", and various other forms of housing discrimination. But I believe that a family of any race, creed or national origin would be welcome to move into the neighborhood I live in. I know that my wife and I would welcome anyone. And if the respect we would show to everyone was returned in kind, there would be no issue. (More on that later.)

Freedom to work anywhere? Yes, I think so, though, again, I choose to work near to home (and my working years are running down). The company I work for is populated with people of all "races, creeds and national origins". The unit I work in includes "white people", a Sri Lankan, East Indians, a Russian, a German and a Wisconsinite (that's a joke). My department is run by a female vice-president, includes Hispanics, an African American, a Greek, Danes, British, Irish, people of various religions (or none at all) and of differing sexual orientations. What we are, though, is a team, both at the unit and departmental level. We don't see differences when we work together. We are simply working together.

The last point, "speak freely", is the biggest joke - since when have people not been able to, at a minimum, speak freely, or, more recently, protest? They protest all the time! There are protests everywhere, by people all across the spectrum of races, religions, national origins, sexual orientations and political affiliations. And this includes black folk - certainly in parts of Chicago, in St Louis, in Baltimore and in other locations.

Finally, "The concept of white privilege also implies the right to assume the universality of one's own experiences, marking others as different or exceptional while perceiving oneself as normal."

Really? Personally, I knew that my life was my own. After all, I was adopted. I was always different. But let's look at this more closely. Why wouldn't one perceive "oneself as normal"? Or as other than normal? There are only two choices, after all. Or normal is some things and other than normal in others? It is with this point that I think the argument completely falls apart. We all compared ourselves to each other in school - no matter that we were all Caucasian - with some few exceptions - and, in grade and middle school (1-8), were all Catholic.

The girls knew who was pretty and who was not. Who had the best hair. Who had which boy's eye. Who was in what clique. The boys knew who was the fastest. The strongest.  Who was the funniest. Who had which girl's eye. Everyone knew who was smart. Or the best singer. Or musician. Or actor. Who the teacher's pet was.

None of us was "normal" - we were all different - for good or ill - and some of us were exceptional in one thing or another (or in none, as was in my case).

To be perfectly honest, the nuns and teachers told us that others had it worse than we did, and that was the reason for the societal changes going on (with the Great Society programs) and for certain other monetary drives in church. But, to a person, I believe, we hoped that everyone had it as good as we did - though we were not children of privilege - but we knew that was not the case. We saw the news, heard about the city slums. We were lucky, not privileged.

So, to the idea of "white privilege" I say - it's a load of hooey!

Let me think back to my own life. Yes, I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, adopted at six weeks of age into a loving family. We were a fully middle-class family, though we were probably middle middle-class at best. We didn't take expensive vacations. We didn't have the best of everything, or the most of everything. We didn't have extra of anything, really. My parents had to save to buy the things they wanted. They could pay their basic bills, but extras weren't in that budget. So my mom saved a dollar here for this, and two dollars there for that. And when they had the money, they waited for a sale, then bought the thing they had saved for.

I went to a good high school, but studied hard to get good grades and get into college. I did nothing other than what kids today (of any category) can still do, if they choose to. And colleges have special programs to accept kids from the worst parts of Chicago (for example), regardless of their level of achievement, so everyone has a chance. The difference is, as I see it, that they need to take that chance.

Anyway, I went to two years of college and dropped out. (And since I got into computer programming, I have never stopped going to school to learn about new programming languages, tools and techniques.) What kind of job did I get? One at or just above minimum wage. I made very little money. But I worked hard, stayed late, learned everything I could about the job I was doing and made myself valuable to the company. And to each and every boss I had while I worked in these entry-level jobs. Nothing that anyone else could not also do.

I met my wife Nancy in 1978 and got a chance to work for one of her father's friends as a representative for Met Life. Again, at a fairly low salary. Now, here is where someone might say, "See! His white privilege got him that job." To which I reply - baloney! Anyone in the same position - daughter's new boyfriend needs a job, and one of your friends can hire him - would do the same thing. Talk to that friend and see if he'd help your daughter's boyfriend out (if the boyfriend actually wanted the help). This is not a white thing - this is a family thing.

But what did I do once I got the job? I got the highest grade on the first week's exam at "Met Life Career Success School". I worked to get the skills I would need. I came out of that school and promptly failed at being an insurance salesman. Why? I had the technical knowledge, but not the sales skills. So after nine months I switched jobs to another low-paying position, but with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.

Fireman's had offices in Chicago and Rolling Meadows, and I know that their Chicago office, especially, was an integrated one. Ours in the suburbs? Not so much, as it reflected the composition of the general area - Chicago suburbs. But most of the supervisors were female, as was the personal lines manager, the claim department manager and, eventually, the administrative manager.

Again, I worked hard, learned everything I could, made sure the boss's boss knew I had career aspirations and got a promotion after three months - my immediate boss left and they decided I was good candidate for the job. I did nothing that anyone else could not have done. Anyone else.

From there is was continued hard work, continued education and a couple of opportunities to move up - yes, by getting an opportunity to interview, provided by friends - but I was the one in the interview room, not the friends who had taken my resumes in to the HR department. In point of fact, I was told more than once that it was my hard work and determination that opened further doors to me.

Fortunately, my wife Nancy supported me all along the way.

Having four children, there was a time when Nancy and I worked five jobs between us. I worked at Kemper Insurance, as a computer operator Tuesday and Thursday nights and on Saturday afternoon, and did some programming work on the side, as well. Nancy worked at the local preschool and local grocery at night (other than Tue or Thu) and on Sunday. Why do I bring this up? Just to show that "white privilege" has had nothing to do with our current success. Nobody gave us anything. It was only through hard work that we have now gotten to a place where we are relatively comfortable.

I shan't further belabor this point.

People can think what they want to think, and they do. That's my assumption. But let me boil this down to one point, one which, if everyone applied it, would get us past this mess we're in. And that point is respect.

Personally, everyone I meet, from the start, gets a certain level of respect. This should be true of all people, I believe, to everyone else they meet. We are all human beings, and so should be treated with this minimum level of respect until such time as we do something to earn less, or, as relationships deepen, earn more.

Think about the police. If an officer started from this point there might be fewer instances of police brutality (up to and including police shootings). I know that policing in various parts of the country is difficult, and officers take their lives in their own hands on a daily basis. But when things spiral out of control bad decisions can be made, and lives can be lost.

It works from the other side, though, too. Last time I was pulled over (for a burned-out headlight), I had my wife and a disabled friend in the car. But, when the lights went on and I pulled over, I quickly rolled all of the windows down, turned the inside lights on, got out my driver's license, registration and insurance card and laid them on the dash. Then I put my hands up on the wheel (ten and two) so to give the officer no reason to expect trouble. (Not that he was going to have trouble with a 60-year old, gray-haired, fat guy.)

He walked up to the car from behind, on the driver's side, shined his flashlight into the mirror in order to see who I was, then looked at my wife and my wife's disabled friend, then asked for my license and other documents. I asked if I could reach up to get them from the dash. He agreed I could do so, and I handed the documents to him. Basically, I said "yes, sir", "no, sir", "please" and "thank you". I gave him respect.

The rest of the stop went out without a hitch. I got a warning. (In Chicago, I would have gotten a ticket, I know.) I replaced the bulb that night, though I passed by the same cop on the way back home!

I would hope that this minimum of respect, which appears to be lacking in our society, could change some of the failed meetings (re: police misbehavior) into successful ones. Some of them. And then we'd all have human privilege.