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
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
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
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
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