A Rude Intrusion :: Days 105-111

This is my blog for days 105-111 of cancer treatment and recovery, Monday, 23 Oct 2017 through Sunday, 29 Oct 2017.

Sorry that this is late, but I had a lot going on Sunday. Actually got over 15,000 steps in, that's how busy I was!

I signed up for the MedFit program at the Northwest Community Hospital Wellness Center on Monday. I'll be concentrating on some strengthening exercises (though I'm not going to try to turn myself into Charles Atlas - "the most popular bodybuilder of his day" per Wikipedia) and turning fat into muscle. My BMI is too high, but five full points lower than it was last year. Guess that's what happens when you're 48 pounds lighter.

The week at work went well, and is getting easier to do. I ended up by working from home on Friday - Monday I work from the hospital and Friday from home (a nice perk) - and put a few extra minutes in here and there. I feel like I'm making a difference - a positive difference - to our team, and hope to stay "relevant" during these last four years.

I want to leave Hollister better than I found it, so to speak. That's why I document everything, to share knowledge, and, even more, to get my teammates to think about things by reading what I've written. We do so much, but sometimes don't get a chance to sit back and reflect on what we've gone through, both the good and the not-so-good, so discussing internally helps.

I've told my boss that I plan to retire at 65, which will happen in July of 2021. There's an outside chance that I might stay on until 67. But we'll see. Nancy is lobbying for 65, of course.

Eating has gotten better and better. I've had orange juice this week, and it did not result in any discomfort. Had a Guinness, too, though I didn't finish it completely. The first beer (stout) I've had in months, perhaps since May. Next thing I need to try - apples. We have several Honey Crisp apples in the fridge, so that'll be easy. I know I've already come a long way, but hope that eating becomes the "second nature" activity it is for most people.

Things aren't better with the dry mouth/saliva glands issue, but hopefully I'll see improvement in that regard soon. I keep a bottle of water at my bedside at night, now, and always have a glass of water with dinner. Milk works even better, so I guess I'll continue to be that 1950's kid and have three glasses of milk each day.

On Sunday, Tim, Andy, Eric Wheaton, Paul Kelderhouse and I took the carcass of the shed to a dumpster, which had been delivered into our driveway on Friday. So now the back yard is completely clear of the old shed, but some of its contents are still lined up against the fence. I also took down a bush which had grown behind the old shed. Then I laid out a perimeter for the base of the new shed, a replacement from Menard's made by Suncast. It's the same 8' x 10', but oriented differently - 10' deep and 8' wide as opposed to 10' wide and 8' deep. I'll do the work necessary to get the permits from the village next week.

This year's World Series is certainly entertaining, but I haven't really been watching much of it. Nor of the Blackhawks. And certainly not the Bulls. The Bears kept it close this week, but still lost, and lost a good player to a terrible injury in which he might have lost his leg! Ouch! Let's hope Zach Miller recovers, fully, and decides to retire with a career-ending injury. Will be sad to see him go, but it might be best for him.

I learned how to play two songs recently, from opposite sides of the musical spectrum. First is "It's All Your Fault", a song written by Cindy Walker and made famous by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. The version I heard, which prompted me to learn the song, is by Asleep At The Wheel (here, on YouTube). The other is "These Dreams" by Heart (here). The latter is interesting in its use of chords which I had to infer from the melody. They aren't straight majors and minors - I can do a lot of interpreting various 7th, 9th, suspended and other structures to make it a little more fun to play. The former is a honky-tonk song, which poses certain learning issues for me, as I don't really play in that style and in the keys country music uses. I'm having fun, though!

I guess that's it, for now. Stay warm, everybody, Winter's exerting its influence now!


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
Runnin' Down A Dream, Tom Petty - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sister Golden Hair, America - 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
Smile, Kristin Chenoweth - 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
Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot - 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 :: Days 98-104

This is my blog for days 98-104 of cancer treatment and recovery, Monday, 16 Oct 2017 through Sunday, 22 Oct 2017.

One doctor appointment coming up, but just a routine, annual physical. Also, I'm going to talk to the NCH folks about their MedFit program, for which I can sign up only because I was referred by my doctor. But if I join the program, I don't have to work out only at the NCH gym, I can go anywhere. They'll put a program together for me for $60, then give me the $60 back when I complete two month's workouts. Nice deal.

The Cubs went out with a whimper this week. I think they "hit a wall" - long season after winning the World Series last year and all. So now I've been watching the Yankees try to come back against the Astros. Which they started to, winning three at home to go up 3-2 in the series, but then failed at, losing games 6 and 7 in Houston.

What's been going on with my illness, you might ask. Well . . . a few of things. First, I'm not gaining any weight, but rather am maintaining in the 230's, at 233.2 this morning. Not that I'm not eating, but I'm not eating that much. Some days I'll have a big lunch, but no real dinner. And I'm not snacking at all, either, especially at work.

Second, my salivary glands appear to be getting worse, which the ENT said they would do. So now I sometimes wake up at night with a completely dry mouth. I need to have a glass of water with me whenever I eat anything, in order to help get the food down. Especially if there's bread or crackers. So soups, stews and salads are best for me right now, as they are generally "wetter" than other foods.

Third, my mouth is still healing, but getting better all the time. I can generally eat without discomfort, now, but stay away from salty, spicy and hot (temperature) foods. I've had pepperoni pizza without issue, so the problem with spaghetti sauce looks to have dissipated. Milk is still "good to me", helping with any sore throats and with eating, better than water does.

Fourth, my strength is returning. I was nowhere near as tired this week after work than the prior week. The MedFit program should help with this, too.

Fifth, I have a funny taste in my mouth all the time. I suspect it's from my taste buds having been "whacked" by the radiation treatments. I certainly hope I don't have bad breath at all times. But this may be a "new normal" for me, or it may get better. I'm guessing that it's all tied up with the salivary gland issue, and that if it's not better by the end of the year it will be permanent.

So, I go with another week!


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
Runnin' Down A Dream, Tom Petty - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sister Golden Hair, America - 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
Smile, Kristin Chenoweth - 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
Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot - 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 :: Days 91-97

This is my blog for days 91-97 of cancer treatment and recovery, Monday, 9 Oct 2017 through Sunday, 15 Oct 2017.

Had a CT scan "with contrast" on Monday. The "contrast" goes in with a really big needle. In fact, the nurse doesn't say, "little stick now"; she says "big stick"! Will get the results on Tuesday, with Dr Gordon.

And the results are . . . lookin' good. Dr Gordon says I'm recovering well. Port looks good, still; feeding tube looks good, still. I see the ENT tomorrow, and will get his take on how things are going.

Meanwhile, I've worked both Monday and Tuesday.

The visit with the ENT went well. I have two small lymph nodes which may have to be removed surgically, if they don't disappear on their own. Other than that, things look good!

How 'bout them Cubs? I went to bed before the game was over, but woke to find out they had triumphed over the Nationals in NLDS game 5! That's pretty cool! I don't know how they'll do against Los Angeles, but they have sure shown us how to fight through obstacles this year, including being down 4-1 in that final game. Third straight year for the NLCS, too, which they have never done. I'll try to watch a game or two of the LA series, but make no promises that I won't fall asleep before they're done.

I see that the Trib picks the Dodgers in five . . . perhaps, but that's why they play the games!

But here it is Sunday night, and the Cubs are down 0-2. They turned a close 1-1 game into a 4-1 loss last night, in the 9th inning. Too bad.

At least the Bears won, even if in overtime . . . and Aaron Rodgers got hurt, so it looks like either Minnesota or Detroit is going to take the division this year.

So what else happened this week? I worked a full week, and felt pretty good doing so. Went out for lunch with my boss on Thursday, and went in on Friday, as well, to do some production turnover with one of our contractors.

Tim and Kate came over for dinner Saturday afternoon. We had a nice visit.

Tim and Andy helped me demolish the shed Sunday! It was a big job, and I have to say that I did little of the work. Both of the boys really took care of things for me. Now I just have to arrange to have the carcass removed from the back yard.

Nancy and I picked up Kerry and Luke from the airport Sunday, with them having come home from their honeymoon in Hawaii. We brought Luke's car out to them, so they would be able to drive straight home without coming out to our house, with Nancy driving my car there, as well, so we could head directly home, too. And so Bailey the dog ended her week with us, going home with mom and dad.

So there we go. A productive week, for the most part. I'm afraid that I'll be writing about the end of the Cubs season this week, but they've had a good one, no matter how it ends. Looking forward, I have no doctor appointments for a while, and will work a full week, too.

I don't have any new YouTube music to post, so I'm going to let this blog go without. Enjoy some of the music below!

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
Runnin' Down A Dream, Tom Petty - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sister Golden Hair, America - 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
Smile, Kristin Chenoweth - 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
Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot - 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 :: Days 85-90

This is my blog for days 85-90 of cancer treatment and recovery, Tuesday, 3 Oct 2017 through Sunday, 8 Oct 2017.

Have had to go to a weekly blog, now, as I'm back and work and busy!

I had a doctor's appointment with the radiation oncologist on Tuesday. He looked inside my mouth, and felt around my neck. I reported on what was going on with me, including the fact that I'm taking all of my meals by mouth, for the past 2-3 weeks. He indicated that things were moving along well, and that I should see him at the end of the month. But that all seemed like it was going along well.

Next doctor appointments: Monday, 9 Oct 2017, CT scan. Tuesday, 10 Oct 2017, with the oncologist. Wednesday, 11 Oct 2017, with the ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor).

Once again. I want to thank everyone who sent a card or made a phone call to me while I was out. It helped brighten my day, that's for sure!

Being home showed me one thing, though: I'm not ready to retire. You can only read so many books or magazines, and watch so much TV. It got to the point where I was waiting for the mail to arrive so I could go see if there was anything new. Naturally, I was laid-up, but I think it still holds true that I'm not ready to be done working.

Speaking of working, I'm only working Mon-Tue this week. Am taking some of the 13 full day's vacation I still have to use Wed-Fri. And what did we do? We went to Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL, staying overnight Tuesday and Wednesday night. And we went to a concert Friday evening.

Our daughter Kerry and her husband Luke were married in Dubuque earlier this year, but I was unable to make it to the wedding as I had been in the hospital, and was advised not to travel. So I wanted to see the winery where they got married, and explore Dubuque.

We drove out after work, taking IL route 176 to Marengo, where we picked up US 20, which took us the rest of the way. The drive was un-eventful, through fields of corn and beans, then climbing up to the town of Elizabeth and back down into Galena. We arrived at our airBNB rental, got our bags into the neat-and-tidy one bedroom apartment and decided we needed to find something to eat. So we started looking for something that would still be open, and ended up at the bar in the Holiday Inn. Dinner was good. For me, it was a salad; for Nancy, a flatbread. Which we shared, of course. Note to self: Honey Mustard salad dressing can sting! Nancy asked for some Ranch, which I also used to finish my portion of the salad. Then it was back to the rental.

The next day we explored Dubuque, getting coffee from the shop downstairs (at a 20% discount, thank you very much), then heading out to Cable Car Square, an area of small shops near the Fenelon Place Elevator, a funicular set into a ridge which overlooks a portion of the city (see here). We purchased a couple of things from one of the shops - candleholders and candles which now grace our dining room table - and then went to Stone Cliff winery for lunch. Nancy had a glass of Sangria, which she liked, and so we purchased a bottle of that, and two bottles of their Riesling. We also took a walk along the Mississippi river. Sadly, no trains came by the entire time we were there.

We went back to Cable Car Square to go through a couple more of the small shops, then headed back to the room, stopping for a cup of coffee and a cookie. We took up a conversation with the owners of the coffee shop and BNB (thereby, the discount), asking them what they would do in Dubuque if they were visiting. We determined that we would go see a couple of comedians at the Diamond Jo Casino, and have dinner there. Neither of us was very hungry, so we split a burger at the sports bar inside the casino. The first comedian was terrible; the second, Patrick Garrity, was funny. All in all, it was an entertaining day.

Thursday was our day to visit Galena, so we checked out of our BNB, drove across the river and stopped in a couple of shops before eating at The Golden Hen Cafe. At that point we decided we were going to simply drive home, and forgo additional shopping. I suggested that we could drive through southern Wisconsin, going up to WI 11 around Monroe, and had Googie (my name for Google Maps) set me up a route. We started out, and Nancy slipped away into the Land of Nod. The drive was quite scenic around Galena, but turned into typical southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois after while. Then we were back on IL 173, picking up US 14 in Harvard. Then we were home.

After a day of doing a little of this-and-that in the morning, we went lunch with Nancy's childhood friend Laura, and Kathy and Greg Lansdowne. Nancy, Laura and Kathy all went to school at Eastern Illinois University, and lived together in the dorm at least one year. It's always fun when they get together, for them and for "us spouses". We went to the Green Street Cafe in McHenry, where they, too, have installed slot machines. I'm getting a little tired of everyone having them - seeing the advertising, that is, because I never play them - but I guess it isn't hurting me, personally. It's just tiring.

Friday night we joined our friends Ron, Edie and Susan and attended a concert at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan featuring Al Stewart and the band America. Stewart's monologues between songs were really funny, and he had a quite talented guitar player with him playing lead. (He played guitar, as well.) America was America - they were good, playing the songs we all know pretty well. They were somewhat business-like in the beginning, but warmed a bit by the end. all in all, it was well worth going, but I know I don't need to see America again. It's a one-and-done experience.

One of the things I've been waiting for was my return to the Sing-A-New-Song group (SANS) at church. That I did on Saturday and Sunday, with practice and two services, respectively. It was fun to play with the guys again, and I know my return was well-received.

Sunday afternoon was spent at our friend's the Kelderhouse's for dinner. We've been pretty close for a number of years now, and it felt good to catch up!

So that's been it for the week. Still recovering, still waiting for good news from the tests and doctor visits that are coming up. Sorry that I've had to limit the blog, but going back to work has taken up my free time . . .

From YouTube . . . Sister Golden Hair, by America - 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
Runnin' Down A Dream, Tom Petty - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sister Golden Hair, America - 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
Smile, Kristin Chenoweth - 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
Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot - 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 84

This is my blog for day 84 of cancer treatment and recovery, Monday, 2 Oct 2017.

Next doctor appointment: tomorrow.

Back to work again today!

Naturally, my enthusiasm was tempered by the horrible news coming out of Las Vegas. I cannot imagine how somebody, anybody, picks up a rifle and guns down as many people as he did, 58 as of this time. With over 500 injured. How in the world do you plan to get all of the ammunition up to the room? I guess in the coming days we'll find out if he had help . . .

And his brother said he hadn't had as much as a parking ticket . . .

I worked from the hospital today, where Nancy was getting her treatment. Sat in a little alcove in the morning, where my ears cleared from the infection I had. And what happened? I believe that all of my hearing came back! It had been down about 10% or so (not the results of a test - my guess) and, for a few minutes, at least, I had all of my hearing back again! So I'm hopeful that once the infection completely clears up, all of my hearing will be back.

If you read about the wasp stings I received (the little bastards!) I can tell you why they came at me like they did. Turns out that the shed has a hole in the siding, near the bottom, though not really noticeable from the outside. This hole led into the space where the peat moss leaned up against the inside wall. Perfect spot for . . . a wasp's nest. So when I moved the peat moss, I moved the nest, and carnage ensued.

I've left the shed open since then, and the peat moss is in the open air, leaning up against the fence, so I think the wasps have taken their business elsewhere. But before we take it down this coming weekend, I'm going to make sure that we have two cans of wasp killer ready, just in case. I'm also a little worried about what might be waiting for us underneath the shed base, which I have to move and re-seat. Hopefully no little black-and-white striped critters with smelly artillery. (There's probably not enough room and no obvious egress for them, but . . . )

Nothing much else to talk about. Quiet end to the day.

Today's YouTube music video is in honor of Tom Petty, who died today: Runnin' Down A Dream - Link. He wasn't a favorite of mine, but he did write some good songs. This is one of them.

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
Runnin' Down A Dream, Tom Petty - 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
Smile, Kristin Chenoweth - 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
Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot - 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