If I wasn't so busy here....

I would surely move to Key West! I am looking at two pics above and if they turn out it will be Anne and I at the "Raw Bar" note license plates in back and a pic Anne took from the sunset sail we took on our first day in KW. "Weather great, people friendly--and from all over the world--and lots of things--or nothing--to do!


Time surely does fly when you are having fun! That reminds me of all the "fun" I had yesterday in good old Columbus, Ohio. First of all up at 5 am leave at 6 and arrive at "the James Monolith" about 7:45 for an 8:15 appt. I guess I just can't believe one can make it there in less than 2 hours! Then the fun begins. Check in ground floor, up to 10th floor check in, sit, get blood drawn, sit, get weighed, sit. At 8:45, "Mr Chandler we have a room for you", sit some more.

Nurse comes in to get preliminary info. Except for lunch, this is probably the highlight of my day! She is very sweet and supportive and in the course of the conversation it turns out she loves KW! Just what I needed, it helped me get through the day. Then more sit, read, drink water, eat an orange until resident Dr comes in. Different guy, nice enough, he tells me I look a lot better than he expected from reading my records!! I took that as a compliment, but was it really? Then the real sit commences. At 11:00 the resident and the Dr come in.

A good session, my CT scan hasn't changed--if it had for the better, it would have been a great session. The Dr thought that was good and after answering questions, sent me to check in for next appointment and then up to floor 11 to--you guessed it--check in for chemo. Only an hour's wait there and the chemo will only be an hour (avastin only). So, for chemo I get my own room, unlike sitting in a large room with about 30 others. This room has a bed, chairs, TV, a great view, and a nice lady asking me what I wanted to eat?!!

As I said earlier, lunch might have been the highlight of my day. Not! Out of several choices, I picked the "all-American sub" thinking it would be lettuce, tomato, cheese, turkey, or similar.
It was a microwaved white bread roll with cheese and lots of sandwich meat. I guess most Americans eat differently than I do. Eventually, I found a menu and the choices are quite interesting: pop, ice cream, roast beef, something called "healthy choice" dinners and so forth. I just can't believe that what one eats doesn't have some effect on the cancer. Then chemo and outathere.

So, what do I know? I know that I have traded a very negative Dr for one who is more positive.
I also have traded on-time appointments for long, long waits. But, there is a large medical staff all of whom are supportive and very friendly. I think it worth it at this point.

So, in conclusion, please contact me if you want to take a trip anywhere (almost) as I am interested in seeing places and doing things--not having things.

Oh yes, and please don't blame me if the pics at the start don't work out again....

Is 65 too old?

...to try to write a blog? or even too old to use a computer?

If you only go to my last attempt at a blog entry from Key West, the answer might be a resounding YES. This guy doesn't know what he is doing! But, what the heck, I will continue on anyhow!

I had borrowed a computer from a 16 year old and was sitting in a hammock swing next to a swimming pool. I could hardly see the screen or clearly figure out what to do when the "call to sunset" went out. At that time, I thought I had placed my brief start at a Key West entry in the "draft" category. Well, you know the rest. Ooops, this morning I discovered it was posted--as a short confusing entry.

We returned to Charleston, WVa and then home very early in the am hours after another successful and enjoyable Key West trip. It was fun to go and return from the smaller Charleston airport--a bit closer and slightly less expensive as well.

Key West is--well--Key West. It is so different from so many places. I love the weather, the small town where you can walk or bicycle most anywhere, and most of all, I like the people and places--they are so unique! The sunsets, the ocean, the old buildings, the people from the dirty homeless to the "filthy rich"! It is all so interesting.

I am glad to be back "up north" where I can think about going skiing. Whoops again! It is 72 degrees and sunny here and skiing in WVa or Maryland probably won't be good for a few days. But, I will be going soon. Tomorrow we will do Christmas in Athens and then Monday I have a full day in Columbus with doctors and some tests. Basically, I am feeling pretty good, and doing everything as usual, although I do still have a constant slight pain in my right chest (lung, I guess).

I won't bore you with photos. Our camera stayed in Key West with our friends Bruce and Susan since they forgot theirs! Maybe next time when it returns to Athens with them I can try the photo thing again!

I would like to thank All for the good wishes in all forms that people have sent to me. I hope everyone had a great Holiday and will have a happy and prosperous 2009.

cheeseburger.....

.....in Paradise? you betcha!
No great surprise, but we are having a great time here!

So, you ask, what do you do there? Well...I think the answer is, not much! And that is probably the good part.

We took a sunset cruise on an old sailboat--beautiful.
Ooop

Is this guy French or what?

......I think just "or what". But at least I am continuing the Holiday Season image!

So, I've had a fun week--going to Columbus on both Monday and Wednesday. What could be more fun than that? Maybe going on Tuesday and Thursday as well?

On Monday Anne and I went armed with cards to write, books, newspapers, apples and oranges(in case the waiting time went thru the dinner hour). Sure enough, the waiting time was long--but we were ready and it didn't seem too bad.
"The James" is one hell of a big place and you do get to visit with lots of people! One funny main check-in lady, another check in person at the 10th floor, the nurse to take me in for my vitals (which were not nearly as high as with Dr Doom). Then back out to wait for a room, then ushered into a room and brought a bottle of water (next time I'll check for a beer), then the Resident Doctor comes in for a long time with lots of questions (a nice guy) who returned a long time later with Dr Otterson who is obviously a "grizzled slightly over-weight veteran" of the doctor patient wars.

His first question is something like: "why switch to me after such a long time with the other doctor"? We indicated that we had received nothing but "gloom and doom" from the other doctor. Dr O quickly went over the fact that I have an incurable disease and he could not change that. We gottcha doc, but still would like some encouragement. Or, as Anne put it, a cheerleader or a coach. He ventured that he had never been called a "cheerleader" before!

We talked further and I became his patient. I then waited for a nurse to take us to yet another very pleasant really over-weight woman to sign me up immediately for CT scan and then another appt with Dr O and some treatment that same appt day. Dr O said 6 of what I have had is enough since my feet were losing all feeling. Seems like a good guy, I liked him.

Wednesday back alone for the CT scan armed with lots of things to read and the apple and orange. Into another large building--that OSU is one big place--where the pleasant surprise was that they took me 45 minutes ahead of time and I was on my way home by 1 pm. ...clutching my bag with the unread book, apple, and orange. Is it too cynical to say that "the James" is only one and 1/2 hours from Athens?

The size is intimidating, the wait can be very long, but I think the James will be good for me. I need to continue working on understanding my condition and anything I can do to help change it for the better. Even the woman at Dr Doom's office said that I should be at the James when I told her I was leaving!

Now, in the interest of mental health, I must report on the trip that we have to take to Key West. We are leaving Sunday and returning the following Saturday. When in Key West, one always is exposed--sometimes literally--to new vistas and horizons--the daily sunset is beautiful. I will miss much of the Christmas season in Athens (at least a little) and the opportunity to go skiing. But sometimes one has to sacrifice!

More Holiday Cheer to All!

Ah, the Holiday Season is upon us......

On the far left you can see Anne and I with Roxy, "the Christmas Dog". You remember her, instead of coming down the chimney, she is the one who digs a hole in the backyard and then comes in through the basement with all kinds of bony presents.


This is definitely "that time of year" as you can see on the above right. That's Evelyn and I doing what every child loves to do. Namely, putting "Sugarplum Barbie" and "Tinkerbell" in the coal car of an electric train and running them numerous times around the Christmas tree! I can't quite remember how often I did this as young boy, but I am sure I must have.....I wonder what my mom ever did with all my Barbies? (!!!)

This has been a busy time for all I am sure. It seems as if there are parties everywhere and us shy lads sure do love a party! Unfortunately, I can only make it to some of them and this week and then not for long. Chemo on Monday (number 6) has hit me harder than any of the others--I guess that is what they mean by "cumlative" when they talk about this chemo #%*+#&! I am definitely not doing as well as in the past.

Anne and I are off to the James Cancer Center in Columbus tomorrow and I am most hopeful to see what they have to say. I am certainly ready to keep up the fight in any way that I can. Including more skiing and more trips! However, I might have to work on my "disquise" as Wil Chandler since the TSA guy at the gate in Atlantic City said I don't look like my picture!

Enough for now, I will report in very soon---in fact, it might be so soon again that some of you will need my nausea medicine if you read too much of this crap.

wil

go to Atlantic City and grow instant hair!

I did want to include some pics in my last blog---but couldn't figure it out, so one quick try!

...and while on a roll, let me show most of us basking in the sun "on the boardwalk by the beach"!

I tell you, it sure is great to get over to the tropical seashore for a break. But, I would also tell you that this blogsite is just as difficult to add pics to as ever could be. Because of that, I need to re-write the blog I meant to write and sent it next!

"Under the Boardwalk......

down by the sea" You all remember that by The Drifters don't you?

So, last week I went on my first "junket" and had a great time. Here is the story. On Tuesday evening I was minding my own business (you do believe that don't you?) and my friend and neighbor asked me if I wanted to go to Atlantic City for a two day free trip including Airplane and Hotel! Well, not being much of a gambler I was non-committal. He called me the next morning (twice!) and said there was still room to go.

I decided that this is definitely the time in my life to do things I enjoy--and some thing I hadn't even thought of. On Thursday at 11 am I found myself on the way to the Columbus airport for the chartered flight directly to Atlantic City. Our little group had 5 fun-loving people and we stayed at Harrah's, quite a nice place. They had a huge pool with bamboo growing around the 6 hot tubs and a bar nearby. Nice for the two of us who weren't gambling.

We had great food for great prices and spent some quality time walking on the Boardwalk and visiting the Pier. Saturday at 1 pm it was on the bus and back to the Airport and Columbus. Even with the snowy roads we were back in Athens in time to catch the end of a party designed to "save a Christmas baa humbug person". I do enjoy parties and NO, that person was not me!

Truly an enjoyable--and fast moving--couple of days. I am ready to go on lots of trips--hopefully some will be skiing. Anne and I already booked for Key West at Christmas time.

Yesterday was a chemo day (did I mention this would be a long blog?) and one of my former partners and my yoga teacher took me up there and witnessed my doctors M.O. I have been pretty lucky to have good friends, at other times my doctor's wife and my insurance man have taken me to appts. I haven't asked the garbage man yet. I did not feel it necessary (or was I "chicken") to tell my doctor I am leaving. Anyhow, I have an appointment with the OSU James Cancer clinic next Monday and then I can call and cancel this doctor--or maybe write an explanatory letter.

Today the party season continues with the Athens Realty party and we are expecting about 200 people. Fortunately the great staff of Athens Realty is putting that together while I rest. Then it is time to rest up for the holidays and Key West!

I am so glad that I have heard from many of you by email
or on the blog messages. I clearly understand that this blog is not "user-friendly"
as you may know from my picture problems, but for me it is a great vehicle to vent.

Here's hoping we all have a great holiday season.

wil

When I was in the Army.....

....the worst base in the world was the one where I was stationed and the best base was the one where I had just left! I still think the "base" where I am now is not as good as the last one(!), but I am enjoying it as much as I can!

Life is always funny (and not usually "ha! ha!" funny). For the past several months I have been feeling hurt, angry and that I was on my way toward the "end." My right side hurt a lot (still does some) and the chemo gives me headaches, tired feelings, dry skin and no feelings in my feet much of the time.

Somehow the just-passed Thanksgiving period has changed me for the better. This time and this "base" is going to be the good one. It was lots of fun traveling to Maryland and being with Anne's family for the holiday. Last Friday I was able to go skiing and I can still do it! Also, we built an 8 foot snowman--see our "family" portrait above. It was wonderful! I have been going to yoga and while I am not good at it, I enjoy it very much and I will get better and healthier. Tomorrow I am traveling again for two days and I will talk about all the fun(?) I've had in the next blog since I really don't know what to expect! An adventure to be sure!

I am going to change doctors and be with the OSU cancer hospital. My last chemo in this series is Monday and then the following Monday I am changing to OSU. While nothing works perfectly, I know this will be a change for the better.

Anybody within range of Athens should know that our annual Athens Realty party is next Tuesday at the Ridges Auditoriun from 5-8. ya'all come now.

wil

ps the other photo above is Evelyn at Artifacts Gallery--the monster store as she calls it!