Witty humans

Don't you just love spontaneously humorous people. Love how this Louisville fan dupes the Duke fan w/ this on-the-fly addition to Duke's sign. Hysterical.

7.

Ramping up for numero 7 today. When I played soccer, way back in the day, I always wanted to wear number 7. Even before I knew of it's craps and slot machine ties, I liked that number. Felt kinda lucky.

So, hoping my love of #7 plays into a smooth and easier sesh than last one (side effects little worse on ol' 6er, one kinda real sick day on saturday).

Here we go on the downhill slope......

Cast boy.

First of all, thank you god for inventing deadspin.com. Whenver I need a break from anything monotonous, I'm bound to find something funny about something or someone in sports here.

Anyway, all this hype about Brady's footcast has been killing me. He is all over the news and a story or two for a day is fine, but give it up already. Duder will be slinging come SB sunday. The deadspin guys found some other 'faux' news ideas to make the week leading up to the SB more fun, at least for the press. It's pretty funny, and the peeps suggestions below are good, too. Check it:

Pats hatred

I just saw on sportscenter that about 90% of the states are rooting for the Giants. Only New England states and Michigan were pulling for the Pats. Funny how everyone roots for the underdog, if none of your teams are in it. And how everyone hates the teams that become dominant. I personally could care less who wins this year, but guess I'll jump on the bandwagon and pull for the underdog.

Also just saw the Falcs hired Mike Smith from the Jags to be the head coach. I have to say I know about nothing on this guy (except there's prob 250+ guys in the US w/ the same name) except he's been the Jag's defensive coordinator this last season. Sure hope he's good and helps the Falcons out.

On a semi-side note, saw a funny faux ATL jersey at the nugs game at the Pepsi Center last night: it was a Vick jersey that had "Atlanta Felons" on front w/ conVICKt on the back. don't see too many ATL jerseys out here, much less faux ones. Guess it musta been the Hawks in town bringing out the 'necks from the south.

Love this shirt.

Hilarious.

It's the most uber-indifferent sound a person can make, pretty much. "Do you like____" "meh."

Other people like selk bags, too.

Funny story, but I got an email from Christine in NY the other day saying that our friend Jake Schneider also posted about the walking sleeping bag on his blog- and took it one step further and actually bought one. NICE> check him out here wearing it.

So, as you may read there, he's clued me into a use I can't believe I didn't think of: if you're at a music festival and partying hard, and decide it's bedtime- well, you just lay down. Bam, there's bedtime. Now, Jake works as a band manager, so he's typically working behind the scenes at these summer music fests, but he's aspired to bring it to a fest, brave the summer heat, and pull the ol' dance-in-front-with-wookies move, directly into lay -where -you-are -dancing-and -pass-out-from -too -much-spin-dancing-and-nitrous-balloons move (another wook-patented move). Much like these guys do. (ps- i wish this site still had it's gallery up-- the best photos of passed out wooks, mid concert, ever. true hilarity. a wook is a crusty hippy, by the way, if you didn't know. Inspired by chewbacca.) Anyway, kudos to Jake for aquiring a selk 'walking-sleeping' bag. Looks comfy.

On the grass

No, not that type of grass (altho it has positive, doctor recommended use in chemo patients), but Wheatgrass. For Xmas Mega got me a kit, and we've managed (I mean she's) to grow a sweet tray of grass in our front room.

You juice it w/ a crank juicer (much like a meat grinder) and drink some VERY green juice. Tastes like you're licking the bottom of a lawn mower, literally.

Throughout this whole process, we've heard the benefits of Wheatgrass from a few diff cancer survivors, as they claim it really boosted their energy levels, and I gotta say, I'm feeling like I notice a difference. I'm only a few days in, but I'll keep you posted.

Aside from energy, it's got a whole lot of professed positive effects on the human body, and it's supposedly great for digestion and cancer treatments, so we're giving it a whirl, already to positive results.

This site has the '40 beneficial points of wheatgrass' if you wanna read all the specifics.

What I did today

Was update my personal work site.

It also became the temporary header for here.

Full body bag

god, those euros are clever. What will they think of next (perhaps something bacon related)? I found this 'wearable' sleeping bag to be pretty funny. Two benefits:
1- you can WEAR your sleeping bag. what else do I have to say?
2-If you're camping and a bear attacks, you can run like the dickens.

Order yours here.

Bacon placemat

How cool. And delicious, too. Found this on the instructables site...

Check out the image of step 3, the precooked mat. Sweet.

SIX.

Start numero 6 treatment tomorrow- and after I finish I'm halfway thru! HELL TO THE YES> that is exciting stuff.

I know everyone is going "wow, halfway done? that went fast." At least that's what everyone says who I tell this to. Well, it has NOT gone fast for me. I cannot wait to get to number 12 and put this poison in my rear view. The routine has gotten pretty regular for us, tho, and we seem to plow thru them like pro chemo patients these days, so that's good.

anyway, just putting it out there that I've reached my first milestone on friday: halfway done. After that the next big day is April 23rd- LAST DAY of chemo. Gon be a good day, and much celebrating to be done once the crud wears off that last time.

Crotch couch

seeing as how I worked until midnight last night and am midway thru a repeat performance tonight, I'm a little punchy. So, forgive me if this offends you, but I laughed so hard when I saw it:

click here to see the vagina couch. and its for sale. (This is not for kids, or maybe a great way to educate kids, I don't know)


Only in California.

Lance-a-lot

So, I just finished reading Lance Armstrong's "It's not about the bike" book. Firstly, I have to say I've always been a "bike guy", so I've always sorta foll0wed cycling and was framiliar w/ Lance before all the cancer stuff. I know there's been some recent Lance backlash w/ his divorcing his wife and apparently being a "dick" to Sheryl Crow (dumb move- she's hot), but I gotta say I really have a lot of respect for that guy. He was given a really slim chance of living, and he not only beat that, but came back to just dominate cycling. He really embodies that thought all cancer survivors have: If you get a second chance at life, you better give it all you got.

It was really nice to read his book and realize he had all the same thoughts and emotions I did going thru the shock of being diagnosed and immediately thinking "oh, god- I"m gonna die", thru the fear, anger, confusion, and dispair right up to the pivotal point where you realize you have two choices: fight like hell or give up. Then, like me, as he struggled thru his treatments, he started really noticing the good stuff this experience gives you. And man, when i say struggled, that poor guy had the most severe of chemo (they gave him a 40% chance to live to his face, but later admitted they were thinking more like 3%) where he was puking and in the fetal position for weeks on end. Makes my treatments seem like cake. Anyway, he got thru brain surgery, testicular surgery, chemo, recovery and went on to be a legend in what he does. A great inspiration for all the cancer community at large.

And, it was really cool for me to realize that the positive stuff I'm getting out of all this is somewhat universal to cancer patients. Lance says when he first got diagnosed a fan emailed him to say he was also a cancer suvivor and that 'we're the lucky ones'. Of course Lance thought the guy was crazy at first, but as he went on, he realized cancer is what made him what he is today- and that he WAS lucky. Even if his life ended prematurely, he was able to appreciate life so much more while he was alive that it was a gift. I agree wholeheartedly- even if i were to die tomorrow, the last few months I've felt myself able to be a more compassionate, complete, better and more appreciative man, and therefor have never felt so alive in my whole life. I wouldnt trade this feeling for the world, and know now that I was supposed to go thru all this to be able to appreciate the moments in life I once thought were just commonplace and not worth savoring and taking note of. Nothing could have changed my perspective (I am bullheaded and you could have talked until you were blue in the face and I would not have changed) like this but to be diagnosed with Cancer and be forced into a staring contest with death. Analyzing your mortality really opens your head up, and grappling with a soul paralyzing fear dealing with such a huge mystery (whether you'll be ok, whether it comes back, whether you beat it, whether you live or die) really changes a man. Impossible for it not to. I will forever be a different person, and hope I never forget what I've learned.

Powneck.

Firstly, hello. Been a minute since I've had time lately to say hello here this week- busy at work and catching up with life on my "off " chemo week.

Next, the docs told me to wait until 08' to ride, and yesterday was my first trip to the mtns. Needless to say I was both giddy at finally getting back into it (and exercise in general), and nervous the pins and needles in my hands/feet/face brought on by cold (side effect from chemo) would make riding hard to deal with.

Well, success was had. Mere and I battled traffic and blowing snow friday night to get our butts up to Vail. Jules and Andy Perri had a condo and we crashed their couch (thanks perris!) and got up and hit the gondola on the earls. Vail has had more snow in the last month than most who've spent their lives there can remember- so you can imagine the conidtions up there: MEGA-UBER-SWEET. It had snowed every night this week and Friday was no different. There were moments Sat AM where i thought maybe it was just knee deep, but I think i was going way fast then and was floating up top, because when I really got after it and was pumping hard turns, there were moments where I thought my hips were dipping down under the fluff.

Powneck. Man, I was gettin' some powneck. Most call it a faceshot, but I like powneck. Not only is it funnier to say, but when you going and fast and just wrench a hard heelside turn and a huge cloud of pow just shoots up and slaps you in the face it's the best, and inevitably, snow shoots down your neck of your coat and finds some uncovered skin. When that happens and the cold on your neck gives you a little jolt, and if you weren't already doing it, you WILL yell: WHOOOOO-HOOOOOO! It's like some imbedded genetic code thing, you hear folks all over whooping and hollering- powder will do that to you. It's the euphoric bubbling up of pure joy when you link about 10+ untracked turns in deep snow that is constantly hitting you in the face b/c you are rocking it's world so thoroughly. What a heavenly feeling it is. Def worthy of a little primal scream.

Anyway, besides my face tingling in the wind, everything worked out well. Hands and feet were warm, and I just need to buy a facemask, and then I'm hoping pins/needles will not be a huge part of snowboarding for me. I'm SUPER encouraged by yesterday (my muscles were tired after 3+ hours of pow riding, but my stamina was still going strong) and cannot wait to hit the hill again. Mere and I are pumped. Stoked for our ski visits w/ folks this year- and really happy to be active again. MAN, am I sore today, tho.

SEC is pretty much giving everyone a forearm shiver

Good to see the SEC win so many bowl games.

dawgs.

Football songs

Have you noticed how most all nights/major events of football now have thier own songs? I remember when Hank Williams Jr. busted the "are you ready for some football?" (was this a monday night football song?) but you've got new ones I see for playoffs, sunday night, etc, nowadays, most with strange artists (wsp football song?).

I find it humorous that Pink is in any way related to football. Nice work network marketing.

Resolute?

So, with the advent of the New Year, do you load up on resolutions? Or do you just pick one or two and really try to make them come true? Sometimes I feel like I just make up a bunch I know I'll never do, but this year I think I'm really gonna try to make 'em happen. Of course mine include healthyness and life improvements, but I guess that's to be expected. Also to be more open minded and accepting. Oh, and to stop stuffing my cheeks as full of gummy worms as I can. And to stop wedgie-ing unsuspecting brief wearers.

Anyone got anything interesting or funny for their resolutions?

Feels good to be loved

Well, I'm home. Today was a test of endurance, as we woke in the 5am hour (3am our colorado time) and trekked to Atlanta Hartsfield to maneuver our way through security mazes. We successfully navigated thru the hoardes of half asleep travelers to land in Denver and pretty much B-line it for chemotherapy. A tiring day to say the least.

So, here I am, post chemo, couchbound, reflective. I sit here, remembering what chemo feels like (after describing it numerous times back home, it's funny, you still don't REALLY remember how it feels until it's coming back on), thinking about how much fun I just had. And, wow, how much I feel loved right now. I marvel at what a privilege it is to feel such love. It's a really amazing thing. The visiting alone, with fam and friends throughout the trip, was enough to warm the heart- but last night's event at Smith's really took the love over the top.

To say I get so motivated and pumped up by you people and your outpouring of support and love is quite the understatement. Kinda like just saying "we beat Hawaii". What an ass-stomping that was. Loving it.

Anyway, the point I'm driving at is that you folks are truly amazing, and I love and appreciate you all so much. It's strange to say I'm lucky, what with the cancer and all, but I really am. First of all I have health insurance which only has me paying a super-mini portion of my 140K in bills so far. Yes, say it with me "holy shit". Medical care is very expensive. I couldn't imagine dealing with cancer while worrying about the bills. Or doing this alone. And you people are right there to insure I'm not- and I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world to have such an amazing group of family and friends. You people rock and I love you.

And I also just want to take a quick second to say how lucky I am to have Mere. She is the best coach, care giver, friend, partner, and rock to lean on that a man could ever ask to have. She is truly my team mate thru this. Had to just mention that- you know, with me being all reflective and what not.

Aside from thanking you guys for your support, I really wanna say how cool Entropy and Adrian from Dubconscious are. To come out and play, to me, is a real show of what kind of people they really are: good ones. Good people and good friends. I also want to thank the people who organized the event and got the stuff to auction off- there was some really cool stuff. (forgive if i leave anyone out: but steve vance, andy dorsett, brent roper, the guys at smiths, eric pretto, larry turner, tony landis, eddie brown, and whoever else got or gave donations that i'm leaving out). Because of them, and you, we're gonna be able to help out some folks who really need it, and it makes me feel really good, and hopefully does you, too. I mean, how cool: you see great music, and are in turn helping folks out. There's a lot of folks out there that are young and dealing with exactly what I am, just without financial or emotional help- and that just breaks my heart for them, and I'm so glad we're helping them out a lot.

I will soon post how much we raised and who we'll be helping out. Stay tuned and I'll keep you guys in the loop. I think we raised a lot!

Thank you all once again for your outpouring of love. It really makes me feel so good, and is gonna get me thru this next four months. Much love to you all. You are truly special people.

also forgive me if you read this then maybe get a similar email- i just don't know who looks at this anymore, and I really want to thank everyone for coming...

Whirlwinds whirling

Been a full trip. Each and every day was packed full of visits, which was both really really nice and tiring. Was super fulfilling to spend a lot of time with my family, and managed to also squeeze in a few visits with old friends. Even tho I'm very sad it's over (and that I go immediately back into chemo when I get home tomorrow), I'm somewhat looking forward to getting back to the regular routine of life back home. I will miss everyone terribly, but some good down time will be nice (and nec w/ the chemo kicking back up). very whirlwindy, it has been.

Feeling great, seeing as how I'm now over a week out of chemo- so good i could almost swear nothing is wrong....wish it was this way always. Can't wait for April 23rd, when it will be like this forever! Gon' be good. Vacation will be imminent.

So, I find NYE to be especially pertinent to me this year. 07' was a real bitch of a year for me, and I'm feeling like 08' will be a drastic improvement. How can it not be, right? I had a great moment with mere as the clock struck midnight and I was surrounded by a bunch of good friends in Phillips Arena this year. I just knew it felt like thing will suddenly be different- that this is a year of rebounding...a year of improving health, life, love. I just know it. 

Here's wishing that all of you have a wonderful year, full of health, love and success. You all deserve it. Much love to you all.

ALSO- tonight is the Entropy show at Smith's. If you're in ATL,  come by- we'll have lots of cool stuff to bid on for the auction, and Entropy and AZ-IS busting some great tunes. Be there or be square.