OK, the truth is....

......my days got worse. Really tired, sick to my stomach--even dry heaves, dry because of no appetite, very itchy scalp, and really sore feet--especially my left heal. I could go on, but that would be too much "acting my age" by citing all my maladies.

Luckily there is a number I can call at the James Cancer Center to talk to the nurse. (I guess the Doctors there are too high up to talk to patients!) The advice I got was to lubricate the feet very well and very often, take anti-throwup pills more often (I can't remember the name for them.), and lubricate the scalp---now, that is a tough one! But best of all, they told me to stop taking the Nexavar pills twice a day and take two of them once a day!

I do feel better now and I am even eating much better, but I am still under 190! Although it is kinda neat in a goofy way to eat anything without regard to calories.

Well, today is Halloween evening in Athens and the party is usually large including a closed-off main street for bands and people and parties everywhere. Unfortunately, my sore heel precludes me walking up town so I guess I will miss it all--although not really.

The kiddies had trick-r-treat in the neighborhood Thursday evening and Anne and I tagged along with Evelyn--actually Daphne and Scooby Do! It was fun, but cut short again do to my sore feet. Otherwise, not a lot happening, so I thought I'd enclose some pics from Key West from some months ago, we do love it there.

That's my health report for today.

I know where I have been.....

.....I just didn't feel good. Actually, I still haven't been feeling very well. So, that always leads me to the usual questions. Am I just ill? or is it the cancer showing up more and more? Or perhaps the fact that I am getting to be an old person? I vote against all of the above--well, maybe the cancer a bit. Anyhow, I think this lack of interest in food, headache, sore muscles, itchy scalp, and tired feeling all day long are most related to the new chemo, Nexavar. I think it is a chemo but I really don't understand "chemo or not".

Anyhow, did manage to take a trip to Northern Michigan with my friend and yoga boss, Linda, although we really work on "breathing" more than yoga. Oh yeah, Northern Michigan. She went to see a friend in Kelava--I love the sound of that little Finnish community name. I went on to the "Empire" which is a little village almost in the middle of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. Anyhow, my friends Lanny and Lea Ann built a beautiful house high over Lake Michigan. I have enclosed a few "self-portraits" of me at the Dunes and at the beach near Empire. Also a pic of two old guys at Lanny's fireplace, he is almost exactly my age. It is always nice to make contact and remember our days as little boys running around Crystal Lake, Wisconsin.

They even have a great guest quarters for me called the "Snug". Should have been ideal, except for only Friday wasn't rainy and I felt ill the whole time. Brought home the realization that from now on I can only travel with another driver. Linda had to drive most of the way back.

So now I am home--feels good to be home. However, I still don't feel well--no dog walk and several "doze offs" in the easy chair today. Actually after Anne making a good meal tonight and some homemade ice cream, I feel better than I have felt all day. ......and the days can only get better.

I was very disappoiinted......

.......but now I don't know what to think! Last Monday, I arrived as directed at the James Cancer Center and the clinician who told me I would be starting the clinical test wasn't available!!

Well, my doctor showed up and told me that that I wasn't eligible for the trial they tested me for and said I was ready to start on Monday. All bad news. The good news is that he said we are going to do it anyhow "off study". The head nurse my dear Jocelyn came in and told me that it probably would take up to 2 weeks to get insurance company approval--more bad news!

Well, turns out that 2 days later the pills were shipped via Fed Express---great news! So, I started taking the pills--a hour after eating and 2 hours before eating, twice a day. Well, so far these pills have left me feeling not well and pretty run down! Bad news, I guess--or maybe I will get better.

Anyhow I have been coughing a lot and not feeling better so I sure hope that situation reverses sometime in the near future. A little bit of good news is that the Martha Morehouse James Cancer center now has music! On Monday it was a flute and keyboard doing show tunes, really nice! See pic.

This weekend was Homecoming at OU and a good time was had by all. Even a Wil who didn't feel all that well. I have enclosed a pic of me with Kasey(Colin's dog) waiting for the parade to start and a picture with one of the cutest one year olds ever. Anne's great niece and her sister Amy's grandaughter--a real doll.

Well, enough for tonight. I am still working on a trip to Northern Michigan. Beautiful country!

Another week gone wizzing by....

......ho hum, not much happening in "sunny" Athens. It was lousy earlier in the week, but the past few days have been buutiful! But not a lot seems to be happening since the big wedding!

There is a football game at Ohio U today and they are winning easily--somewhat different it seems.
For most of the years I have been in Athens, the motto has been "But we have a better band!"
Anyhow the day is great and leaves are falling. Fall is here and I love it! Next week is homecoming at OU and some of the relatives are coming. It should be good fun and then I want to try to take off for a trip to Northern Michigan before it gets really cold. I need some travel.

After some days of exams and lots of questions, my clinical trial will be on full blast starting Monday. It will be too early to assess the results for a while, but I sure hope it helps. I have been feeling generally weak and very short of breath. My weight has been holding pretty well. I kinda wish I hadn't been ordered to stop the Tarceva so soon as I do feel a bit worse for the wear of having nothing for a few weeks. Hey, I don't need to complain too much, I am still kicking and complaining--both good signs. But, even better, I am still having some fun with friends and the more fun and friends, the better!

Haven't done much to get some new pictures so I will throw in several of a variety sort including one from this morning's Athens Farmers Market with my girlfriend Susan. It is one of the very best in the whole state of Ohio. The Farmers Market is always good fun and a social event as well. Susan and her husband have a condo in Key West and I have been fortunate to have been there a few times!

Another pic is Colin and his brother Gavin in front of Lili's store the day before the wedding--he wasn't very nervous. Anne and I at the wedding and me beginning to get cold! But it was a great time. And finally a pic of Evelyn in our drive with her then new skate board--of course she already wants to take off the handle! She sure looks and acts a lot like her mom--truly a handful.

I just know I will feel better next week!

A good time was had by all.....

at the Lili and Colin Wedding!

Last Saturday was the big day for all of us as it was "wedding time" outside at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center in sunny Athens. Many, many people were there and all in a good-looking, festive mood. They had lots of food, great cakes, lots of celebration drinks including a "whiskey fountain"--see pic of Colin getting a drink while Anne tries to get her camera rolling. They had a great band although because the evening became quite cool and I am not feeling that well, unfortunately I had to leave early.

It was truly a great event and many of our relatives showed up from long distances including Annes son Michael and Annie too, Anne's sister and Bob, my sister and Ted, her son Bob and Dawn, and her daughter Mindy. It was so great of them to travel long distances since Athens is on the way to just about nowhere! It was great to see them and meet Colin's relatives as well.

Since I have been blogging, I have struggled with pictures and their placement so today I have decided to just throw in several pics and let them "fall where they may". If anyone has questions about who is who, they can email me at the usual chandler@athens-realty.com or use a guess! I have included a great pic of Lil and Uncle Mike.

As for my health, I had an upset stomach for most of the weekend. Was it "nerves", old age, or the damn cancer. Well, who can say! At any rate, I will start my new clinical trial next week as I am not on anything right now. This is an Ohio State Test and is given in pill form once a day. I will then need to check in with them every few weeks to see how we are doing. It will not be a placebo.

There was an article in the Columbus Dispatch featuring my oncologist last Sunday. Among other things he pointed out that even though lung cancer cases are way up, the national institutes of health funding still lags behind breast cancer research by more than 50%! Speaking as one selfish individual, I sure wish more could be done. The breast cancer people seem so organized and everywhere. I have given up looking for a cure, I just want something to make me feel better and stay that way.

Oh well, as anybody can see and tell, I am still out there kicking and having a good time. Stay well and keep in touch. love, goodwil