FOLFOX - 11 UNDERWAY

We are down to the last 1/6th  (11 of 12) - another wonderful few nights with my friendly pump and trying not to roll onto the needle which will be removed tomorrow to complete the 11th administration.  Of course the real thrill is that we are getting closer to saying goodby to Alf - i am hoping by the end of March - so it will be probably first week of April...we'll see.  Spring Break is in there so that may screw of the scheduling as we are hoping to go to Sunriver for the week - both Sebby and Connor are in the middle of their lacrosse tryouts this week so depending where they end of may also influence the plans  since the Varsity teams typically like to travel to preseason tournaments.

Well i tried knocking of an item on my bucket list which yielded good news and bad news.  We were having such unseasonably warm weather here in Portland this winter so i enrolled in a motorcyle training class - it included 6 hrs of classroom with an exam and 8 hrs of track work on the bike also with a road exam.  So of course this is the week winter decides to arrive - my Saturday morning driving class started with snow - transitioned to cold rain and ended with cold and wind - not exactly ideal conditions for a chemo patient.  Sunday was no better - snow, rain (not as much as Saturday) and 38 degrees.... I was so cold i couldn't feel my fingers.  Needless to say i was as bundled up as one could be - unfortunately it required i wear two pairs of ski gloves which is not conducive to very good hand controls.  So needless to say i passed the written exam but did not the road exam - they said i need to be more "in one" with the hand controls - all i could do is laugh.  Anyway i get a free retake on the road test which if passed which give me my endorsement.....  where's Joey Bag-O-Donuts when i need him.  My oncologist (who apparently ride a Harley) laughed when i told him - couldn't believe i did it.  So we'll see what happens - trying to determine if someone upstairs was giving me a sign which was my original thought - but it was so much fun - i can only imagine what it must be like without snow and freezing rain.  Aidan snuck up and too the following pictures.

Well wishes/condolences out to:

Betty Carroll (Grandma) - our prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time with the loss of your brother Charlie - we miss you and are thinking of you.

Dick Carroll (Poppi) - we are all thinking of you and hope all gets better quickly.

Sandy Mangine - hope you recover from the latest complication quickly.

Joey Bag-O Donuts - hope your recovery gets better and you get back to fully functional - or we may need to fly you out here to help me with my bike skills - oh yeah bring a bike.

Diane White - happy birthday and welcome to the 49 club - let's all hope it is maybe shall we say a little less memorable than 48 was - the good news is it is not the 50 club (no offense J).

Stay healthy -
Best
C-

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes etc...  We spent the evening at an Aidan Bball double header  - lost his school game 17 -15 (you can tell by the score it was a school game - lots of kids without a clue........) and ended the evening with him winning his club game 65 - 32 (sounds like a Celtics score).  We ended the day with Amy's homemade Banana Creme pie - the very one the Carroll girls won me over with back in the day.

The infamous Banana Cream Pie

Me with the 3 Crazies

Amy is smiling because I am older once again.

Thx again for the cards, calls and emails.

Best
C-

FOLFOX - 10 COMPLETED

10 Down - 2 to go (5/6 completed)

Finally into the double digits - just two more to go before the days of reckoning when we find out if all this worked.  Counts are all holding so all systems go.  The reduction in the oxaliplatin from the last round has really helped out with the neuropathy side effects (and guitar playing)  - hopefully it means the healing of the nerve endings will be quick once we complete no. 12.

Looks like Alf will need to be around for at least 3 - 4 weeks after the no. 12 administration.  I will meet with the surgeon 2 weeks after no. 12 and hopefully have the surgery within 2 weeks of that so it is looking more like the beginning of April.  Not sure of the surgery to remove the power port - i was told that it was bad luck to have it removed before the first clean CT scan - so you know that's all i needed to hear with all my superstitions.

All for now - stay healthy

Best

C-

FOLFOX - 10 UNDERWAY

We have made it to the double digits and the infamous "Final Third" - it is starting to be everything they said to expect.  The whole process is really starting to take it's toll on me - energy level is in the negative range along with an amazing decrease in strength and I am starting to experience balance issues which is quite interesting - never thought i would need to deal with physical issues in my life - c'est la vie.

One more night with the pump and it get's removed tomorrow to complete round 10 and start to look forward to number 11.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope all is well
stay Healhyy
Best-
C-

Clearing up (The) Chief mystery

Ok - seems to be confusion amongst the troops regarding who was "(The) Chief" - so i have been asked to clear the air -

Boston Bruins #9 - John Paul "Chief" Bucyk (played for the Bruins 1957 to 1977)


Was a member of one the greatest power play lines in NHL history - he played the left side accompanied by Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, John "Pie face" Mckenzie and Fred Stanfield.  Chief's #9 was retired in 1980.  John is the original "Chief" in the Boston sports circles - ironically he was not Native American but hailed from Edmonton to Ukranian immigrants - he was given the name because he looked Native American - can you imagine that happening now!!

Fun Fact - Chief's name is engraved on the 2011 Stanley Cup marking his 53rd season affiliated with the Boston Bruins organization.

Boston Celtics #00 - Robert Lee "The Chief" Parish - (played for the Celtics 1980 to 1994) 


Was a member of the original "Big Three" (sorry Miami you copied that too!!) which included Larry Bird and Kevin McHale - his number was retired in 1998.  The distinction between the two Chiefs lies in the use of the term "The" - John was "Chief" and Robert was "The Chief".  Again, ironically Parish was not Native American either - he was given the name by Cedric Maxwell who thought he looked like Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Fun Fact - the setting of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was Oregon State Hospital in Salem Oregon where the movie was also filmed.

Hope that helps - no comment regarding yesterday's Patriot debacle - Gisele said it all!

Stay Healthy
C-

Folfox - 9 Completed

9 Down 3 to go (75% Complete)

The Chief

Number 9 completed - onto the double digits - March cannot get here quick enough.  Time to head back into the funk.  

Joey Bag-O-Donuts hang in there - you will be vertical before long - hope the ice cream gets you closer to your goal - i think it is helping me - at least i keep telling myself that.

Lastly, before i go i must payback my skate mates for the apparent bias they are suffering from reading this blog and wanting to lay claim to some of Boston's finest - so this one is for you Billy!!!

Orr as a Blackhawk (ouch) - don't forget he gave his paychecks back.

 

Orr as a new Bruin

Orr as a mighty Bruin

Orr as the top Bruin

Orr as the Biggest Bruin

Stay healthy - 

Best

C-