Time sure flies when you're having fun!

Of course that is another of "Honest Hollis's" familiar quotes. Until my father went broke during the Eisenhower "economic readjustment period", he had an appliance store and I always remember one of his ads touted "Honest Hollis trading wild"!

But let's talk about having fun. On the left you see Sherry our favorite "waitron" at the CASA sharing some fun with Lili, Evelyn, and me. This was at "breakfast on Sunday at the CASA" which has become a favorite thing for me. Anne, Lili, Evelyn and I are usually joined by John and Mary, but many times other visitors come along. Just a good time with the grandaughter and many times other patrons at the restuarant. It has come to my slow moving mind that it is most important to continue enjoying the things that one has always enjoyed whenever possible.

As anybody (both of you?) who reads this blog must know, I have been looking into lots of activities and interests since my unfortunate collision with cancer. I have had lots of great suggestions and I hope to get lots more. I have tried to love movies, meditate, surf the Internet, and lots of other things. I have not found anything that I completely dislike, but that is not today's point. The point is that while I am looking into all things that will help me cope with or cure cancer, I must not forget the things I already know that I love and enjoy.

Things like travel or at least dreaming about it and having beers or coffee with friends, although I am now drinking more tea than anything! Things like skiing--I hope to be well enough to go within the week. Playing with Evelyn--I need to do more of that--and other things that I know I love. Not to worry about new things, but to incorporate them when they fit in.

That said, I do know that working to fight this cancer is job one, but "gosh darn it" (don't you miss her speeches?) I need to keep the fun index high while doing that. I do want to thank all of you who have commiserated with me on the doctor thing. I am going back for my 6th chemo on Dec 8th and then I have an appointment with another doctor on Dec 15th and I plan on switching at that time.

Almost Turkey Day, lets all give thanks for what we have and try to have as much fun as possible--even with the "strange relatives" you may be dining with! I will be even more thankful when I can figure out how to add more than one picture at a time on this silly blogspot.
I giving thanks to all who read this--and I guess those who don't as well!

A clean car....

...runs better! Another one of my father's oft said sayings. I think it works, too and I vow to try it again someday. But today is really going to be about "Dr Downer". We'll do cars, trains, etc another time.

So, today three weeks was up and it was another chemo day. This was my 5th and I have one more in this series. You know the drill: first draw blood, then weigh in and talk to Doctor, then 4 hours of chemo (it always seems to take 4 hours no matter what they say). Anne took me up and brought a delicious lunch from Panera one of my favorite places. Of course I got to sleep several times for a couple of the hours (I wonder what Anne did during all that time in boring Columbus Ohio??)

With lots of confusion and consternation, I'm going to lay out my thought on my doctor. I have had several hours to think about whether I should write this or not. I have decided that throwing out our (Anne and I) thoughts on this doctor will be much better for me than "keeping it inside". Besides, I am sure he is not one of the three people reading these silly meanderings that I call writing.

Positive: He told me it was good that I hadn't lost any weight. Okay, that's the end of the positive reinforcements!

Negatives: Once again, he told me I could and should eat anything, just eat! That cannot be correct! There is so much information out there about diet and cancer.

He does not believe in any supplements except a multivitamin. While I am certainly not a "granola head", I wonder if he has heard the word "holistic"

I have lots of trouble with his complete lack of any sense of humor. I should have interviewed and looked for someone with "just a little levity in his heart"!

This chap seems very smart, but quite unwilling to answer questions he apparently doesn't like. In fact, we thought him downright "defensive" in his answers and demeanor today.

I asked if he dealt with lots of people in my condition and I wanted some feedback on how it went with them. He was not forthcoming with any info. The real downer for me came when I mentioned that I had seen statistics showing that only 15% of people with lung cancer live for two years. His response, "where did you get that? That figure is too optimistic!" What, says Wil, "too optimistic?" yes, says the doc. End of conversation!

So, if he believes (knows in his head) that my figures are erroneous I don't want him to lie to me. BUT, this is my life and I want him to give me some encouragement so I have the will (wil) to go on and work hard at health no matter what the outcome!

Maybe this is the way of the oncologist, but it seems to me that I really need to work hard at finding a new doctor--just to add a new dimension to my life when I don't need it. I don't want to become a vegan or have a vegan for a doctor, but I do want someone who believes in what I see as the "big 3". Namely that one's health should depend upon a combination of: 1)diet, 2)positive mental and spiritual attitude, and 3)modern medicine.

Oh boy, I just reread the above and talk about a "downer", I is one! But, you know we all have this kind of day where things don't go so well. I think these days are meant to wake one up and get off their butt in order to make some changes.

I am always looking forward to hearing from any of you--comments here or at I promise to get some funny stuff or at least an attempt at it into my next blog. As we bloggers always say (although I only know one other blogger--Patty, but I sure she would say it too), "blog on through the rain, blog on through the night, and you'll never blog alone again."

love to all, wil

Wil, the plumber.

OK, OK, I am making great progress in organizing myself into something big. I have seen this guy Joe on television with his 15 minutes of fame and now I need to organize in order to get mine! I just need to figure out where and what!

Joe is going to pick between running for something and/or becoming a paid "pundit". I figure since I am now bald, opinionated, and have done lots of plumbing without a license that I am at least equal to Joe. In fact, I received a notice about a month ago that I owed some more state of Ohio taxes--just like Joe. The difference here might be that I paid up the taxes. So, hang on there because as soon as I really get organized you may hear more about me than even "Joe".

I am certainly feeling well enough to go on the "trail". I just don't know which trail. Roxie--the dog that even Cesar Milan couldn't train any better--and I have been doing the "2 steps". Can't explain entirely, but it involves going up the hill to the Fort St steps and then coming down the Grosvenor St steps. Good for an old carcinagenic but I want to do even better.

This is my good week in terms of feeling the best after the chemo so I am going to be out and about doin lots of things until chemo next Monday. This past weekend I went to some social/fund raising events and introduced myself to people who used to know me! You know, at first the "non-recognition" thing bothered me, but I am really getting quite comfortable with it. After all, when I look in the mirror it doesn't look like me, so why should other people know the hairless Wil?

Today is cool, but sunny and I need to get out in the sun and dream about traveling to other places in the near future. At this point I don't feel I need to deal with the far future even though I plan on gettin' there. Thanks for listening.

wil

Bloggers Block

I heard that we had an election. Did Goldwater win? That reminds me: When I was in the Army in Eritera and my first vote was coming up I wrote my dad to ask what to do.
He send a letter back (no email then) saying to vote for LBJ because Goldwater was going to "expand the war in Viet Nam"! Oh well. It just occured to me that maybe my dad had the same goofy sense of humor that I have........

On to the boring health report. I have recovered from the rough time last week and am really feeling pretty good. It doesn't hurt that we have had several 70 degree, sunny Indian summer days this week. Next week should be even better for me.

The ongoing experience that I am having as a "retired" sort seems to be my lack of an ability to organize and focus in order to get things done and stay on track. Of course it doesn't help much that in this automated age one can spend a hell of a lot of time either on the phone or trying to negotiate some "helpful" website!

Yesterday, I dealt with the VA and Verizon. All day the VA recording said they were too busy and hung up! Late in the day after several directions and button pushing I did get through and the person was very helpful. Now Verizon was different. At this time we don't have a home phone and are considering dropping it. But in order to figure it out, I had some questions. When finally I got through, the "snippy" woman did answer them and told me that my wife would have to call since the phone is in her name! Never did get through to the Columbus Dispatch paper!

So as anyone can see, I am having a "bloggers block" which is exacerbated (isn't that a great word?) by my inability to get anything done. I will be "a bloggin" again soon when I have something to say!! In the meantime, I am off to get organized!?!

...back soon

X rated blog

Can you say sphincter muscle? I am in some pain, but doing much better today. About Thursday evening I noticed that I was a bit constipated. Friday was not so good and Friday night was terrible (don't worry, no real X rated details will be given here). On Saturday morning early I quit dreaming--it was a nightmare anyhow--and got some medical advice.

So, Saturday was better, but not a good day. Sunday is much better, but let's just say that something in my recent past makes walking and sitting quite difficult. All this stuff has made me forget about the chemo effects although the recent condition was probably caused by the chemo. I think tomorrow will be a much better day and except for some joint pain, the chemo effects will be "pretty much gone".

This was Halloween weekend in Athens and the weather was beautiful. There were lots of young people in many costumes going by our house on the 4 block walk to the "uptown" party area. I am told that the uptown party was as crowded and weird as it always is. I guess this year had lots of Sarah Palins and "Jokers". I wish I could have been out partying! Two different friends brought by some hair--upper lip and head--for my costume. I would have made a great Wil Chandler! They were so sweet to help out and I feel so bad I couldn't participate in any way this weekend! Maybe I will pretend to be him another time as I go through life.

Today being sunny and 70 was a great day to spend a bunch of time on the front lawn playing with Evelyn and talking with relatives and neighbors. Certainly helped my healing process. I even made it to my two Sunday religious experiences today--more on them in another blog.


Speaking of nice people, it is so good of so many of you to comment on this blog and keep in touch with me. In case you don't want to comment here, you can always email at chandler@athens-realty.com

I feel back to the land of the living, love to all.

wil