Lucy the Red-Headed Volcano

Sometimes these things just happen naturally.

4th of July, 2005

I made this last year at the fair. I have to figure out something bigger and better this year and I am running out of time.

The RX appointments will never end

I have one set up for August and September already. I also have a dentist appointment in December.

It's about time

Marly & Delia's Claymation Spectacular!


Here is another video from my nephew Marly and his sister Delia (she would be my niece).

Surgery date has been set

We go under the knife early Monday morning, July 24. It should be quite an event.
This is what I am hoping for.

Lucy and Shandy go to Pluto

We did this in the spring. Mostly the work of Lucy. I helped with the scissors.

The Cancer Comic

It is kind of sad that I can find time to do this stuff.

Newest Joke for my Cancer stand-up comic routine

Last Comic Metastasizing

You must have read the news story about the 11 cousins who had their stomachs removed to avoid an hereditary cancer.

Last I heard, six of my cousins had their asses cut off.

I'll be here in the chemo-suite all week!

If Lucy, Mary and I played soccer in Brazil

Scheduling is the battle

Yesterday I was supposed to find out my surgery date.
I got a call around noon. The nurse says we have a date for you, July 24.
"What!?"
July 24, I explained was a full 8 weeks after my treatment had ended. Every doctor I have seen said the surgery should be between 2 and six weeks after treatment.
The problem is that I have two very busy doctors that need to operate at the same time and the kidney guy isn't available until then.
I felt sick.
I can't risk letting the rectal lesion start growing again, but I also don't want to have two operations when I can have one.
I implore them to figure something out - they promised to call back.
I had a date with the radiation clinic - a followup.
There, I met with a doctor I had not met with before.
I explained to her my frustration.
she says, "eight weeks is good."
Now, she says, a lot of papers are saying that the lesion continues to shrink through 8 weeks so waiting is better.


aaaarghhhhhh!!!!!!!

I am waiting to hear back. Hopefully they will call on Monday.
I might have to mow the lawn ten or 12 times this weekend to maintain my sanity.

No news yet

Still waiting to hear from surgeon's nurse as to a surgery date and the final decision on the treatment of the kidney. Looks like everybody is leaning towards doing everything at once. I am for that, but they have to hash out how to do it.
Did I mention that I hate waiting?

I got this photo over at Ashvegas


A guy with a lute, a girl playing the accordion and a fellow playing the musical saw is about the most Asheville thing I have seen in a long time.

Report from Columbus

Doc took a little peak where the sun don't shine and said I responded well to treatment.
He said we should expect a call this week with a surgery date for early July.
He said he would try to avoid a colostomy but would make no guarantees. Believe it or not, that sounded positive to me.

I know that many of you are wondering which is worse, the rigid sigmoidoscopy, the rectal ultra sound, the trans-rectal needle biopsy or the digital rectal exam.

They go in this order from worst to first (in my opinion):

Worst - the rectal ultra sound - it lasts a long time and they blow a balloon up in your butt.

Not quite as bad - The rigid sigmoidoscopy - it is fairly quick but in addition to the probe, they blow air up your butt to expand your rectum

Not too bad - the trans-rectal needle biopsy -- this lasts a long time but there is no expanding the probe once it is in you, so you kind of get used to it. You hardly feel the needles.

Best - The digital rectal exam - it has gotten so I don't expect to leave a doctor's office without this happening. I can't say that I like it, but I will take a finger over an ultrasound probe Any day.




This is how doctors learn.

Today is the big day, so far.

I see the surgeon in Columbus today to get things started. I have three medical appointments scheduled this week, so far. Probably more coming.
Father's day was nice. Lucy and I went to Tim Hortons to get doughnuts. We washed the car, watched the World Cup, read my new Bar Book and had chicken for dinner.
I am very nervous about today....

Joke from the North Country Pineapple King

What do you do if you are attacked by a circus?


Go for the Juggler

Comics from my brother

He is very funny

Real Reason for Watching the World Cup

These guys are studs.

A few more reasons for watching the World Cup

Even more reasons for watching the World Cup

More reasons for watching the World Cup

For those of you wondering why we are stoked about the World Cup

More coming ... The U.S. is about to play Italy!

here is what I am constantly thinking about

three weeks today

Treatment was completed three weeks TODAY!!!!
I hate waiting.

Last one tonight! I gotta sleep!

Give it the old clickety click!!

another comic

click on it to read it!

The power of the World cup bra

I had a record number of visitors to my little blog yesterday.
The vast majority were visiting the archive where last summer in the midst of World Cup Qualifying frenzy I posted this picture:


It was on the eve of the game with Mexico and I made some lame joke about U.S. supporters.
Apparently it gets picked up on a google photo search and people are clicking on it.

This photo has been picked up by a World Cup blogger on Flickr.



It's a photo from our seats at the qualifier in Columbus.

I am seriously thinking of taking my cancer comedy act on the road.

Here's my closer:

"Thanks, you've been great! That's my time! I'll be in remission here all week! Goodnight, don't forget to tip your nurse ... er waitress!"

Pleasant video

it's a try

The Good News

The scan shows that nothing is going on. Lymph nodes look normal, liver, pancrease, all the other tasty organs all look normal. Mass on kidney has not changed.
So it's off to the surgeon we go to see what's what!
It really is good news.

Big Day Today

Had a Cat Scan yesterday.
An dose of radiation seems to knock me flat.
Then I stayed up too late messing with a video file from work. (I don't know what I am doing)
Anyway, the doc will tell me the results of the scan this afternoon at 3 p.m.
Hoping it shows much shrinkage in the rectum and little or no growth in the kidney.
Hope, hope, hope, hope.

Graser Sport

puny effort. puny result

it's the weekend

Lucy in New York

Friday fun

White Blacula

Marly is White Blacula. He is my sister Carol's son.

High Five - A Zebro Sketch

The kid with the sideburns is my nephew Marly. Very funny

more appointments

I have a Cat Scan scheduled for Monday and I see the oncologist again on Tuesday.
We mainly want to see what the shrinkage has been in the rectum and if there has been any growth in the kidney.
A week from Monday I see the surgeon in Columbus. My doc here says the surgery will be very soon.

The Hip

For those of you wondering about my affection for the Tragically Hip

Out To Get Me

This is the first "Like Young" song I ever heard, back in Asheville.

Lucy's Nativity

This one just flowed out of her one day.

The Cat Under the Bed

Finally figured out how to share videos...

The Like Young-Snobs And Slobs

this has been around for a while. I like it. Girl drummers rock.

Photo from the weekend

This photo appears in a Marion Star photo gallery.
I am the guy in the hat. You can see Lucy - she is the little girl in blue.
Our balloon was purple.

Random athletics

Here's Lucy receiving her ribbon for winning the season ending soccer tournament.
That's J.T. the youth director from the rec department giving Lucy the medal. Lucy knows how to spell his name, but she claims to be too shy to tell him.


Here's Lucy in an unusual baseball getup. Not sure what she was thinking when she tucked that shirt in.