Since I last posted on things, I've been doing better. I last saw the doctor in November and he dosen't want to see me until February. I still have a little fatigue and I need to exercize more, but I'm up to around 170 lbs. and I'm concentrating on eating well, not just eating a lot like I was when I was just trying to gain weight.
I had that sinus cold that's been going around. I saw our family doctor for that and she said I should get a flu shot. I never had one before, but since my immune system isn't as strong, I went along with it. Within five hours I had the chills and shakes for a couple of hours before having a fever. After a rough night I was OK. Hmmmm...
So (knock on wood) things are going well.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Stop the War on Solstice
There’s a War on Solstice right now–-and the danger is real. Yes, these little “Baby in the Manger” displays seem harmless enough, but did you know they are religious displays? That’s right. Those harmless little figurines on the city library lawn are there to convert your children! Santa just wants you to buy presents you can’t afford; Jesus wants your soul!
What harm can it do? Can their little rituals hurt you? Eventually. These people practice what is called “Christianity,” and what they really want is to convert you and your children to their religion. Eventually, they want to convert everybody.
And if they succeed, what then? What harm could possibly come of it?
What if the year comes where nobody performs proper pagan Solstice rituals and the Sun dies for good? We’ll be plunged into an eternity of darkness, that’s what will happen! These little “Christmas Creche” displays are part of the anti-pagan plan to push Sol aside completely. Unstopped, this innocent Christian idolatry will destroy the world.
It’s time to put a stop to the “Creche Madness” and ban these destructive idols from city property. Before the darkness consumes everything.
-Tom Surace
© tekHedd for tekHedd -
What harm can it do? Can their little rituals hurt you? Eventually. These people practice what is called “Christianity,” and what they really want is to convert you and your children to their religion. Eventually, they want to convert everybody.
And if they succeed, what then? What harm could possibly come of it?
What if the year comes where nobody performs proper pagan Solstice rituals and the Sun dies for good? We’ll be plunged into an eternity of darkness, that’s what will happen! These little “Christmas Creche” displays are part of the anti-pagan plan to push Sol aside completely. Unstopped, this innocent Christian idolatry will destroy the world.
It’s time to put a stop to the “Creche Madness” and ban these destructive idols from city property. Before the darkness consumes everything.
-Tom Surace
© tekHedd for tekHedd -
Remembering Captain Beefheart
Capt. Beefheart's 10 Commandments for Guitarists
1. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS
That’s where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren’t going anywhere.
2. YOUR GUITAR IS NOT REALLY A GUITAR
Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you’re good, you’ll land a big one.
3. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A BUSH
Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush doesn’t shake, eat another piece of bread.
4. WALK WITH THE DEVIL
Old delta blues players referred to amplifiers as the “devil box.” And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you’re bringing over from the other side. Electricity attracts demons and devils. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub.
5. IF YOU’RE GUILTY OF THINKING, YOU’RE OUT
If your brain is part of the process, you’re missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing.
6. NEVER POINT YOUR GUITAR AT ANYONE
Your instrument has more power than lightning. Just hit a big chord, then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field.
7. ALWAYS CARRY YOUR CHURCH KEY
You must carry your key and use it when called upon. That’s your part of the bargain. Like One String Sam. He was a Detroit street musician in the fifties who played a homemade instrument. His song “I Need A Hundred Dollars” is warm pie. Another church key holder is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty making you want to look up her dress to see how he’s doing it.
8. DON’T WIPE THE SWEAT OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT
You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music.
9. KEEP YOUR GUITAR IN A DARK PLACE
When you’re not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don’t play your guitar for more than a day, be sure to put a saucer of water in with it.
10. YOU GOTTA HAVE A HOOD FOR YOUR ENGINE
Wear a hat when you play and keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house the hot air can’t escape. Even a lima bean has to have a wet paper towel around it to make it grow.
1. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS
That’s where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren’t going anywhere.
2. YOUR GUITAR IS NOT REALLY A GUITAR
Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you’re good, you’ll land a big one.
3. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A BUSH
Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush doesn’t shake, eat another piece of bread.
4. WALK WITH THE DEVIL
Old delta blues players referred to amplifiers as the “devil box.” And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you’re bringing over from the other side. Electricity attracts demons and devils. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub.
5. IF YOU’RE GUILTY OF THINKING, YOU’RE OUT
If your brain is part of the process, you’re missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing.
6. NEVER POINT YOUR GUITAR AT ANYONE
Your instrument has more power than lightning. Just hit a big chord, then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field.
7. ALWAYS CARRY YOUR CHURCH KEY
You must carry your key and use it when called upon. That’s your part of the bargain. Like One String Sam. He was a Detroit street musician in the fifties who played a homemade instrument. His song “I Need A Hundred Dollars” is warm pie. Another church key holder is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty making you want to look up her dress to see how he’s doing it.
8. DON’T WIPE THE SWEAT OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT
You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music.
9. KEEP YOUR GUITAR IN A DARK PLACE
When you’re not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don’t play your guitar for more than a day, be sure to put a saucer of water in with it.
10. YOU GOTTA HAVE A HOOD FOR YOUR ENGINE
Wear a hat when you play and keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house the hot air can’t escape. Even a lima bean has to have a wet paper towel around it to make it grow.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Good Health News
I saw the Doctor yesterday. Not only is the red cell count up, but the WHITE CELL count is up for the first time!!! He's taking me off the steroids (slowly) and keeping me on the same chemo drug. I'm up to 158 lbs. I'd had one shot to boost the red cell count about a month ago (they were going to be weekly), but I haven't needed anymore and no more shots are scheduled. I don't have another appointment to see the Doctor until November so things are going right.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Music, Sweet Music, There'll Be Music Everywhere...
One thing good about being on steroids, is that my energy level is back up. I can actually lift the P-Bass, something I couldn't do a few months ago. For the last few months, I've kept a guitar in the living room next to the couch so I could pick it up and play it whenever I could. Slowly it's coming back. I bought a couple of instruction videos for playing Chicago style blues guitar and I'm working with them.
The other night I went to Tuatha practice. We have some gigs coming up, but the substitute bass player will be taking care of the low notes. We played the songs that I don't play bass on and then got out my slide and kind of noodled in the background. It was fun! Maybe I can do that at some of the upcoming shows.
For the last couple of Mondays Paul, Tom & the Green Band have gotten together. The band consists of Tom Surace on fretless bass, Deb Braynt on drums and myself playing acoustic guitar. Everyone sings. It's a groovy little combo playing a lot of "Reefer Music" from the '20's to the present as well as some country-blues, folk-rock and original material. Think early Hot Tuna as a rough analog.
We thought of adding a fourth member, but it sounds good as is. We're going to carry on as a trio until the right person comes along. Ideally that would be someone who sings and plays a solid rhythm acoustic guitar but also plays fiddle, accordion, Dobro or ???
I think we'll be gigging soon. A My Space and/or Facebook page will be forthcoming.
It feels good to be making music again.
The other night I went to Tuatha practice. We have some gigs coming up, but the substitute bass player will be taking care of the low notes. We played the songs that I don't play bass on and then got out my slide and kind of noodled in the background. It was fun! Maybe I can do that at some of the upcoming shows.
For the last couple of Mondays Paul, Tom & the Green Band have gotten together. The band consists of Tom Surace on fretless bass, Deb Braynt on drums and myself playing acoustic guitar. Everyone sings. It's a groovy little combo playing a lot of "Reefer Music" from the '20's to the present as well as some country-blues, folk-rock and original material. Think early Hot Tuna as a rough analog.
We thought of adding a fourth member, but it sounds good as is. We're going to carry on as a trio until the right person comes along. Ideally that would be someone who sings and plays a solid rhythm acoustic guitar but also plays fiddle, accordion, Dobro or ???
I think we'll be gigging soon. A My Space and/or Facebook page will be forthcoming.
It feels good to be making music again.
Back to the Blog
Finally I figured out how to get back in here to post on the blog. Yee Haw!
So, here's the latest update.
In March, after being sick in February, I found out that I had Large Granular Lympocyte Leukemia. What that means is that my white cells are not dying off, they aren't fighting off infections and they aren't letting young healthy white cells get in and do the job. I started a pill form of chemotheropy and went through a lot of different stages of illness. I had fevers, fatigue and slept a lot.
In late April I went to Jackson Hole and ended up in the hospital with secondary infections. They filled with antibiotics and kept me in ICU. I transfered to Poudre Valley Hospital here in Fort Collins and stayed a few more days before going home. The following ten days I had home care and recieved IV antibiotics twice a day. That's when my stomach freaked out. I couldn't eat much of anything without feeling like a war was going on in my belly. I could eat rice, and a few other things. That was mid May. Slowly over the months I figured out ways to eat more and settle my stomach (ginger ale, MMJ, Noosa Yogurt, Kay Williams' chicken soup...), but in the meantime I lost weight and was at one point down to 134 lbs. I also went through a period of severe dehydration around the fourth of July and was going in for IV's. I looked like a survivor of a POW camp.
At the beginning of September, they put me on a daily steriod. Something clicked. My stomach got better, I can eat about anything now, my weight is up to over 150 lbs and I have energy again. I hope it lasts when they take me off of them.
I'm still doing chemo, but while my red cell counts are up, the white cells are the same. It looks like they're going to change my chemo drug. We'll see what happens next!
So, here's the latest update.
In March, after being sick in February, I found out that I had Large Granular Lympocyte Leukemia. What that means is that my white cells are not dying off, they aren't fighting off infections and they aren't letting young healthy white cells get in and do the job. I started a pill form of chemotheropy and went through a lot of different stages of illness. I had fevers, fatigue and slept a lot.
In late April I went to Jackson Hole and ended up in the hospital with secondary infections. They filled with antibiotics and kept me in ICU. I transfered to Poudre Valley Hospital here in Fort Collins and stayed a few more days before going home. The following ten days I had home care and recieved IV antibiotics twice a day. That's when my stomach freaked out. I couldn't eat much of anything without feeling like a war was going on in my belly. I could eat rice, and a few other things. That was mid May. Slowly over the months I figured out ways to eat more and settle my stomach (ginger ale, MMJ, Noosa Yogurt, Kay Williams' chicken soup...), but in the meantime I lost weight and was at one point down to 134 lbs. I also went through a period of severe dehydration around the fourth of July and was going in for IV's. I looked like a survivor of a POW camp.
At the beginning of September, they put me on a daily steriod. Something clicked. My stomach got better, I can eat about anything now, my weight is up to over 150 lbs and I have energy again. I hope it lasts when they take me off of them.
I'm still doing chemo, but while my red cell counts are up, the white cells are the same. It looks like they're going to change my chemo drug. We'll see what happens next!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas
Holiday greetings, one and all!!!
Not much to say right now. Due to colds, we had to cancel our vist to the relatives. Instead we slept or watched strange Holiday TV specials. Had soup for dinner and went to bed early. I don't think it cleared 20 degrees and the wind was howling. The half block walk to feed the neighbor's cats was a struggle. They seemed happy to be fed and petted.
Still the spirit of the season shines. Hope it touches you.
Keep the Sol in Solstice!
Not much to say right now. Due to colds, we had to cancel our vist to the relatives. Instead we slept or watched strange Holiday TV specials. Had soup for dinner and went to bed early. I don't think it cleared 20 degrees and the wind was howling. The half block walk to feed the neighbor's cats was a struggle. They seemed happy to be fed and petted.
Still the spirit of the season shines. Hope it touches you.
Keep the Sol in Solstice!
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