No News is Good News is Trues...

Aloha Faithful Followers!

It's True, at least in part "No news is good news..." - although I've not reported anything here in nearly a Month, I can now report having heard that my Friend Nicole, (AKA Organic Nicole) an admirable Cancer Survivor had a recent Biopsy, following YEARS of extensive treatments and surgeries, and after comparison work at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital she's been informed she has No Evidence of Disease - and having NED on your side is a Big Deal in our World - so Hurray for Nicole.

Then there's that ever prevalent GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS side of things... I recently had a Gent on the East Coast, David Wald contact me, as he's been diagnosed with the dreaded Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and he too has started a Blog. His spirits seem high though, and although still early in his treatments, his tumor has already shrunken by half. Believe me Folks, EARLY DIAGNOSIS is every one's best Friends. Do yourselves a favor, and pay attention to your Body, and visit your Doctor REGULARLY. It does make a difference.

Alas, in my delinquency from the Keyboard, I was remiss in NOT making mention of Dear Daughter Amanda's Birthday, which was March 6th, and of which negligence I was severely reminded about last evening!!! Sorry Amanda, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! There is probably much else to apologize for, the least of which is not maintaining my correspondence here. I will simply say, "I AM SORRY" and offer no excuses, as really there are none, other that laziness. I won't even try and lay it off on my favorite malady Polynesian Paralysis or my old stand by, Aluminitus, both of which have been perennial favorites for a long time.

So - why the lack of input here-in? Well, there just hasn't been much improvement and I've been frustrated and admittedly a bit depressed about the slowness of recovery. By that I mean I feel pretty good, and everything SEEMS to be going well, except where eating is concerned, and I know I haven't been eating enough. Swallowing still is no problem, in spite of all I was told ahead of time it would be - but the irritation to my tongue, cheeks and mouth in general occurs with just about anything I try and eat.

Well, that culminated in a "chat" with the Nutritionist yesterday, and I have to say, I got a bit of a scolding, and a wee bit of a scare, in that she was insistent I have a feeding tube installed to augment my lack of nourishment. We've still put that off for the time being, in that according to her, there's no real difference between the supplements I'd take through the tube, and the Ensure or Carnations Breakfast I "should" be taking now. So, my mission is to hit a minimum of 2,800 Calories p/ Day - A real bummer realizing that "in the old days" I could exceed that mark in one meal!!!

Well, that's a quick up-date. It's time I think to refocus this Blog, with my penchant for travel or my wanderlust and daily adventures becoming the focus, and less on my health. To wit... I'm off tomorrow to Oahu for a couple of days. Taking a little junket with Amanda, in pursuit of education and recuperation. It'll also serve as a "test flight" prior to my departure for the Mainland next Month. Details to follow. Love you all. Oh, and don't hesitate to drop me a line or let me know what's going on in YOUR LIFE at: knowsalot@aol.com.

"There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness." - Carl Jung

Home Sweet Home...

Aloha Ya'll!



Yup, I've made it back to Lahaina (for the most part), and I'll bet as good as I feel about that, you're all even happier not to have to look at my goofy face and that "thing" on the end of my nose any more. Both Daughters, Kelly & Amanda insisted I change it. My apologies for leaving it for so long, but to tell the truth, I've felt worse this past week that any other full week during all the treatments. I'm laying it off on withdrawals from all the treatment "drama" and the fact that it's been darned cold here in Hawaii! I know, I know, no complaining about being in the Sixty's!!!



Well - today sees Birthday wishes for friend Bonnie Nelson and Son-In-Law Brooks Maguire - Happy B-Day you two. Bonnie's putting in an appearance at Sacred Hearts Bazaar this weekend to promote her Cheetah Alliance website, and her BIG FISH LITTLE POND children's tale, and Brooks continues to "wow" Lahaina's Visitors and Locals alike at CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE, Thursday & Sunday nights. Check out their websites for more info.



So, the surgeons seem to think my fingers are "looking better" and that I'm to just continue soaking in H2O and leaving them to "air." Which is scary, no band aids or interference with the obstacles of life one tends to disregard when not so sensitized to every little thing. So it makes me vary weary about venturing forth. My nose does seem to be doing pretty good, and healing nicely, hopefully back to normal sometime soon. Eating is still no bargain, and seems to be the biggest challenge for me right now.







The best is being back in Lahaina, back on my Porch, and watching the Rainbow's in the morning, the Turtles and Whales all day long, and of course, the Sunsets which most days are splendid. Well, I'm thinking it's "nap" time, so I'll be back later. Ya'll take care now, ya hear?!





"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

Epiphany in the Wee Small Hours...

February 25th, 2009 2:50am, Lahaina, Maui, HI - back Home.

I've just awoken from an evidently pleasant 1 1/2 hour sleep segment, to discover that for the first time I've got a totally dry mouth. And I mean TOTALLY, tongue, gums, cheeks, throat, rough of my mouth, everything. Now, the remarkable thing is, nothing is stuck together. There is no pain with movement. Tongue slides easily over and between every surface, and again I say, there is no pain! It is at this point where I'm finally able to make the distinction between SALIVA and MUCOUS. And that's got to be the key.


So, before anything worse can happen, I jump (read that slowly roll) up out of bed, grab the ever handy bottle of water and take a swig, still marveling at what I've just experienced. Can you tell the focus of my world has narrowed? Careful not to inadvertently swipe the dingleberry on the end of my nose, I rub my eyes and continue to swish the mouth full of water as I get up to head to the lua to spit it out. And so I'm up!

Yep, this is pretty much the night time routine I've settled into. Sleep an hour or two, up to do maintenance, and back to bed for another short snooze. It's been a real good thing that I'm a good cat-napper, as I've had no real trouble falling asleep, and then I also awake pretty easy, and as long as I don't let myself get distracted by sitting down to the computer or turning on the TV, it's no great chore to fall back asleep again.

And so yes, by the way, I'm back in Lahaina. Good Friend Marcus is back in town, and will be spending the night Wednesday, and I'll be catching a ride back to Amanda's with him on Thursday.

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway

A Few Bumps Along the Road...

Hmmmmm, Saturday is it? Where did this week go? Well, I have a clue, out the window is where. I think I mentioned that even though "recovery" had started, about all I could say I'd noticed was that I wasn't feeling any worse each day. So, while things have stabilized I've not yet noticed the "feeling better" part quite yet! But that's to be expected, so I'm told.


All in all, I guess I’m doing pretty good. Nothing about the Radiation treatments or chemo therapy were fun, and I’m really glad it’s over. Now, if I’d start feeling better that’d be nice too. I guess just not feeling WORSE every day is something, and I’m good with that too. My last radiation treatment was Feb. 10th, and I still can’t do much more than a totally liquid diet, which is getting pretty old, I don’t mind telling you.


One of the side effects of the Chemo was that I got infections in several of my fingers, pussy little things on the sides between the nails and the quick. Last Wednesday I wound up on a Surgeon’s table, having my two thumbs and right index finger lanced (that’s sliced open and drained) which was no fun whatsoever, and not something I was exactly ready for. The photo doesn't quite do the "thumb job" justice...


Thursday was my first follow-up with Dr. Makishi, the Radiation Oncologist, who pretty much said, "I'd done good!" He will see me two more times I guess, and get me started on coming down off the Pain Patch and the rest of the pain meds - which I flip-flop back and forth over. Sometimes I'm feeling pretty good, and am ready to be done, other times, feeling not so good, and wondering what else I could take to make things seem better.

Then on Friday I had the end of my nose snipped off (skin cancer which started the whole thing - and this is the "before" photo) and now I am the proud possessor of a little “dingleberry” kind of thing sticking on the top of my nose. I’m a real site… I’ll try and get photos up on the Blog soon, no reason why EVERYONE shouldn’t be able to laugh their ass off at my expense!



So, this little gem comes off Friday, and hopefully that will be the end of it. If the skin graft has taken that is... As for the fingers, they're coming along. The Left Thumb is just about healed. The Right has a ways to go, and the Right Index finger is still a bit of a bother. I have little minor flare ups on other fingers, and my Right toe on my foot seems to be barking for attention - I suspect wearing shoes as the major culprit there however. At least back in Lahaina slippers work just fine. Although we have Rain on the forecast, so we'll see.



"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

A Little Appreciation

Recovering from Recovery…

Yesterday went fairly well, as “days go,” I guess; especially so, considering it was my 61st Birthday (oops - had mistakenly previouslu had this as my 60th... hada be the drugs!), and first follow-up appointment with Dr. Coty, the Medical Oncologist. Naturally, his office is in the Oncology section over at Kaiser Wailuku, where I had been undergoing my 8 weeks of Chemotherapy and all in all, I received a GOOD report, and will see him once more before leaving for California in May.

Awhile ago, it occurred to me, that it would be a worthwhile gesture on my part, to acknowledge or express my appreciation to the surprising number of Medical Professionals it took to provide and maintain the care I’ve been under. The first thought I had was the timely result of something I stumbled over, on the Internet. I came across a site, where you could make your own HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD STAR, the so called “Star’s” Star… And weeks ago Amanda had helped me to collect all the names and with correct spellings.

As time went by I remembered having some "certificate" blanks somewhere in storage, and was actually able to find them, and added that to the mix. In talking with Amanda and Kelly we came up with the idea that one thing Nurses and anyone in the Medical profession would appreciate would be a Foot Massage & Pedicure, so we got gift Certificates for them all. Since two of the Radiation Techs were Male, I had concerns that a "pedicure" might be a little too effeminate, but turns out both are married, so I left them the option to pass the certificate on to their Wives, and maybe pick up some Brownie points in the process.

Topping the package off with a letter to just say THANKS, and a little toy windmill for fun, we packed them all up in an envelope, and had Amanda deliver them. Turns out they were a big hit, and it was definitely the right thing to do.

And then we met with Doctor Coty, and Amanda brought up the issue about my "fingers" and he didn't like what he saw. Said he was going to send me over to see one of the surgeons, and have them take a look. Well, the look turned into LANCING three of my tender little digits, both thumbs and my right index. OMG, I wasn't ready for that. So now I've got even bigger bandages on my fingers, and typing has gotten even more difficult. And on that note, it's time to rest 'em.

"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing." - Elbert Hubbard

Yessterday The Presidents, Today Paris, Tomorrow Me!

Yep! In addition to Sweethearts, February is a good month for Birthdays! Just ask any Aquarian... So Paris, I hope you had a good time on your Birthday, today. Sorry I couldn't make it to the Party, but I just couldn't get away. I know you'll understand. Maybe next year!





Normally I tend to "play down" mine, to the extent that I simply dissappear, and that't the end of it. Surprisingly enough, my Family's even kind of given in after quite a few failed attempts to have it matter. But that ain't gonna happen this year, I'm not even gonna try and fight it. Still, I don't think we've got any great plans. Fortunately for me, they've all got such full lives of their own, it keeps them busy enough, and besides, "Dad's" gotten more than his fair share of attention this year.

Now, as far as my "health issues" I guess we're kind of at the boering stage. I suppose there's still some drama remaining, awaiting the post-treatment diagnosise of the different Doctors, but I don't see how it could be anything but good at this point. Hopefully I'm not being over optomistic, but it sure seems like the cancer should be whooped. Presumeably just removing the one tonsil was to have gotten all the identifiable cancer cells, and the Radiation/Herbitux surely reduced the "lump" in my neck, as it's definately gone.

Well, I guess that's what this week is all about. Tomorrow I meet with Dr. Coty, he's the Medical Oncoligist, and Kaiser's Cancer Guy, for his follow-up & evaluation of the Chemotherapy. Then Thursday it's Dr. Makishi, he's the Radiation Oncologist, over at the Pacific Cancer Institute, for his evaluation of how well I've "cooked." And last, by the end of the week I should know from Dr. Neuman, my ENT, when he's going to do the Nose Excision (oh, you knew about that right?), which will probably be next week. So, that's about it for now. Ciao!

"I have finally arrived at the age at which the things I remember most clearly never happened at all." - Mark Twain

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY YA'LL

Hello Sweethearts Everywhere!

Here's wishing a good day to all, and wanting everyone to know that for sure, THIS GUY LOVES YOU! I have been so fortunate these past few weeks, to be on the receiving end of so many kind thoughts and good wishes, I can't begin to thank you all enough.

So this is one feeble attempt. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!

As to recovery progress... well, we haven't started making much yet... but, the good news is, I don't think things are continuing to get a bit worse each day, which from my perspective is GREAT! I'm more than happy to have finally reached the HIGH PLATEAU of PAIN and DISCOMFORT, if in fact this is it. And then it's just hanging in there as things improve, which I don't expect to be exactly easy, but it will be a welcome change. So, although I wouldn't want you all to just forget about me entirely yet, I do think it's about time to lower every ones "concern levels" on my account, and shifting the focus of some of that positive energy to others, who might be more in need of it than me now.

And there's no doubt there's too much of that in the world. for example, I recently learned that the Sister of my Uncle Rich's wife, Mary Ann, has just had hip replacement surgery, and isn't doing all that well, and our prayers should go out to her. On the other hand, ol' High School Pal, Derick Moss has just come out of the Hospital after having his SECOND hip done, and he's doing pretty good, or so he says. Then there is my first Wife, Kristie's son Jon, who's having a terrible bout with undiagnosed abdominal pains, which are evidently more than just a teenagers raging hormones. And so he's in need of a Prayer or two.

Now, over on the good side of Life, another High School Buddy, JC Agajanian's (and wife Franci's) eldest Son, JC III and his wife are expecting their first the end of May. Hurray Jay! So, again we're reminded that LIFE IS GOOD. The good Lord gives us highs and lows, and it's up to us to make the most of them all. Again, I say Thank you to everyone, your support and encouragement have meant the world to me. I'm not sure I could have done it, without it.

Oh, and I would be remiss, were I not to mention that the clever little composition of John 3:16 was sent to me by my Dear Sister, Karen. - Thanks SIS!

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery