Hey Mike! I am continuing to send you Major MOJO and Prayers.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Mike,

I hope you're feeling well and are enjoying your Gdec30. I've got a Gdec Jr. and despite the less precise setting of the tempo on the knob instead of the digital readout, the controls are easy for somebody technically challenged like me to use. One of my kids got a Gdecjr. in a Strat pack as well. So, I'm pretty impressed with the sound, considering it's a 8 inch speaker, solid state, and digital effects. The different settings for varieties of music, such as rock 101, chicago swing blues, swing, shuffle etc. are crucial. One big difference, imho, between blues-rock and blues is the rhythm. SRV with his shuffle was blues. Playing 4/4 time all the time is rock, even with the riffs. With the Gdec, you can work the metronome-like rock 101, and the many other choices, and work on rhythmic dexterity. I hope you're well and enjoying and drinking deeply of living.

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

Doc pretty much nails it. I'm not posting *all* of the things that have been goin' on. Still, I'm trying to remain positive, but it *is* gettin' a bit tougher each week. What I'm learning is that you have to make the most of the times when you're feelin' okay because there are a lot of times when you don't feel very well at all.

I do really appreciate the well wishes and support though and it does really help me a lot!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Hey Mike, I have to step in and agree with my brother on this one. You are in my prayers constantly!

_________________
Robin F. - Master of my own density.

Karaoke - the Japanese word for "death by music"

Mike,

Hang in there. I've been there, through the whole thing, with major ABVD chemo. That's adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine. I had the nurses with the multiple smocks and rubber and the thick rubber gloves to keep even one drop from getting on them injecting me. I didn't have a port, and so my arms got chewed up from IV injections, and got to hurting quite a bit from the chemo irritating the veins. It passed. It passes. Seven years later, aside from a cold today but I had a cancer of the immune system and so mine will never be up to snuff again, I'm healthy. Cancer's dead. I'm alive. The adriamycine and vinblastine cause chemobrain but not all drugs do to the same extent and you may avoid it completely and anyway it's something I can live with. All that bad stuff is going to go away in just a few months, and you can relax, do what the doctors say, and slide through that pipeline to daylight.

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

Mike, my prayers and mojo have never stopped coming your way. I just wanted to tell you that because of you I went to the doctor today and I'm scheduled to undergo all of the testing proceedures on the 6th of Oct. I owe it to you Mike as I'm one who will put off things as long as possible.
THANKS!! and wishing you well in mind and body my friend.

Remember what the man said "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now! "

fhopkins my sincere wishes that all is well with your health and wellfair .i would like to meet you someday ,hopefully at fender university,i hope Ike is not to destructive and you and your loveones are safe and dry .good luck with the checkup ,your friend Paul

Same goes here man I'd love to met you and yours. It looks like Ike is headed toward the unfortunate people of Texas. My heart goes out to them. Take care my friend!!

fhopkins, I wish you the best on your procedure!

And thanks to all for the positive feedback!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I'm into my 5th cycle this week and if all goes well will be 50% finished my treatments by October 2nd.

Then it will be all downhill, so to speak, from there with a tentative completion of treatments by around the 1st of the new year!

Still, I don't really want to get ahead of myself, but I find that it helps to know where you've been and where the end is.

Best wishes again fhopkins and now that Ike has come and gone, here's hoping for no more hurricanes!

Again, I thank you all for the positive comments, thoughts, prayers and mojo.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Best wishes Mike! Stay strong, you have a whole lot of people in your "corner."

_________________
http://twitter.com/cu_jarrett

That's good news Mike. It's great to look down the tunnel and "See The Light!" Best wishes to you my brother!!

best wishes mike.stay strong .diet is everything always eat fresh food

Thanks Guys!

I can see why they give you some time off between treatment cycles now. The side effects seem more intense and take longer to subside. After this week's 5th cycle, it might take me most of next week to start feeling somewhat normal again.

The main combined side effects so far are :

1. Neuropathy
2. Fatigue
3. Digestive system issues

Some of the minor side effects have been :

1. Bloody noses (haven't had one since elementary school!)
2. Dizziness
3. Mouth sores
4. Irritability

All of these are tolerable so far, but I can see that it's gonna get a little bit more uncomfortable in the future. My oncologist told me that even though the treatments will end around January 1st, I may not see real improvements from side effects until March, 2009.

At any rate, I remain positive that I will kick this cancer and be free to live my life again and continue to play, teach and record music as well as work on guitars and amps.

Thanks again for this great community support!!!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

We're all positive of that as well. The two most important things are positive attitude and support... and you've got plenty of both!!!

_________________
Well, yes, I am a pirate
A few hundred years too late
The cannons don't thunder
There's nothing to plunder
I'm an under 40 victim of fate
Arriving too late...
Arriving too late...