Amen to that Ziggy!

And when you do kick it Mike, I think a block party in Miami would be an appropriate celebration for that new found freedom! Hell, you are only about a 10 hour drive from me. No big deal!

_________________
Bill

"Show me a crowd where the band is loud and my drunken ballet is in fashion!" Jerry Riopelle

About a 4 hour drive for me... I'd drive to that party!!!

_________________
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...

Hehe, I used to live in St. Pete when I was a kid. Of course that was 35 years ago, but still! Yeah, party at Mike's seems like a good idea to me!

_________________
Bill

"Show me a crowd where the band is loud and my drunken ballet is in fashion!" Jerry Riopelle

Mike,

I know this is a tough time but keep in mind you're almost over the hump now! Having been there, it doesn't mean that I couldn't be there again, if I get hit with the leukemia side effect that people get from the treatment I had. So, I'm not talking like somebody who's totally out of it and separate from it, but as somebody who's been there and may be there again. There's a leveling off of the side-effects after they get bad. I mean, I remember I got to a point when I was just very tired and at that point I stayed tired. I didn't go down further into a coma or something. You know, you can only go so low, and then you stay there for a longer time between treatments, is what happens. The only thing to do is relax, rest when able, exercise with long walks when restless, and do what the doctors say. Irritability is one thing that can happen when we get the chemobrain, and especially the kind of like "who took my glasses" kind of reaction to things that are missing. What's actually happening is some changes in our central nervous systems in the way our short-term memories work, and the way our attention works. So, if that's happening to you, the best way to cope is to keep lists of things and keep calendars and that way you know what you're supposed to do and when. The other thing that causes irritability is a kind of shortening of the fuse that's related to the chemobrain impact, which is actually an effect on the same brain area as memory - the hippocampus. Forewarned is fore armed. It's very important to realize that even if you used to be mellow, you may have a short-temper now, especially with the wife and kids who you never want to act wrongly towards. So, extra effort to stay cool and even using the chemobrain to distract and forget the immediate irritant is a good idea. With chemobrain, if you get that, a thought can sort of get stuck in the short-term memory because the other stuff isn't there, particularly an irritating thought, and then that can be annoying, but a distraction will dump that corrupted data. One thing people don't realize is you can basically use anything as a tool to get to be the person you want to be, even a disability. Look at FDR. His wife said that, after he had Poliio, he was never afraid of anything again, and that's why he was the perfect President in his time. Plus, no need to drink to forget. I mean, basically, a lot of people spend a lot of time drinking and getting high to forget or be wasted, and I don't have to. It's a good life, post-chemo. I'm different, but in a lot of ways I'm better with more perspective and more of an inclination into music also. I spent a lot of time jamming last night with another guitar player. He plays an Ibanez but he's not arrogant about it. Man, my Strat sounds so good, it makes the player. We used both the Blues Junior and the GDec and had a lot of fun with some Blues tunes. The Blues are great because you can play improvising and even adding a guitar to what's written and it sounds good as long as you're in rhythm. Everything you love and everything you love to do in life is still here. It's all going to be there when you get strong again.

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

Fatigue, Neuropathy and Intestinal issues seem to be the worse side effects as I'm going through the 5th cycle.

For the fatigue - rest and naps
For the neuropathy - room temp food & drink, b-complex & folic acid
For the intestinal stuff - senna & fiber

My oncologist told me today, that even though I finish my treatments by January, it may be well into March or even longer before many of the symptoms have subsided enough to feel 'comfortable' at doing most things the way that I used to.

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

Don't leave home without it!

Mike,
Havent been able to get time to get on as of late, been trying to catch up on your progress. Hang in there, It sounds like many prayers are going up for you. I wish the best for you and yours. We are all pulling for you!
I can't imagine how many people you have helped by doing this thread and I have the utmost respect for you. God Bless and I pray for a speedy recovery for you. I hope you get to teach others music, I am in the process of the self teaching regimine. My extent of practice is the standard scale patterns, etc. then I put in a cd of favorite band and try to work out the solos after I learn the rythm. I wish I had the time to take lessons, but my job never affords that. So I get stuck draggin the ol Wasburn WR120 out on the road, cause I don't want to get my SE Strat stolen. One of these days Ill figure out how to post pics and send you one.
I have been playing(more like the Fender playing me) for about 2 years. I used to play the drums and was pretty good at it. That seems to help with my timing. I went to Guitar Center close to Boston, and got that all too familiar feeling of intimidation from a Steve Vai impersonator. I couldnt wait to get my slide and get out. This guy couldnt be more than 19 and what a ripper! Now Steve Vai is great at what he does, its just not my type of music. Then you pick up Guitar World cause they bait it with one song you've been dying to learn to play. In the "how to play" section you get a collage course on how to play. I pass by Berkley collage every day and see ALOT of guitarist packing gear. Wish I had the money they drop for that!! WOW I should have posted this in the Endless Blather section!!!!
Sorry I got carried away! Anyway just wanted to touch base and let you know I hope the treatment gets better and that you get well soon.
Thanks for posting and being a tremendous inspiration to this aspiring musician.
Talk to ya later
J

Thanks J! If you ever get inside Berklee and find Joe Lynn, Tell him I said hello. I've jammed with Joe on several occasions. He's a multi-talented guy who plays several instruments and works there.

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

Don't leave home without it!

Hey Mike!
It's great to hear from you, and to read the updates.
Hope you have MANY good days soon, and I know I don't need to tell you to enjoy them. Relax, and take it easy.
Prayers, Mojo, and Positive Vibes continually sent over to ya!

-David

_________________
"#1"Highway 1 Strat - Sunburst
Classic Vibe Tele
Squier Strat -GFS 60s P'ups
Hot Rod Deluxe
Pearl Export Series Drum Kit
Rogue Ukuleles
-----------------------------------------
The only guy on FLF who plays reggae

I think that I'm just now starting get over the shock of hearing about my diagnosis and with the next cycle of chemo finishing on Oct. 3rd, my halfway point of treatment, I'm feeling more positive and upbeat these days.

There are days, even hours, that can be quite uncomfortable and it makes you think about the things that really matter in life.

Sometimes we all take too much for granted, I know that I did, but that has all changed now and I hope to be a stronger person when all is said and done.

Thanks again for the well wishes, 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!

that is so true Mike, I understand your way of thinking! A couple of years ago I had some personal problem and it did make realize and appreciate some things that I took for granted.

But the thing is with every day life and the pace of it, it's inevitable to take some things for granted. I think the most important thing is to be happy with yourself and your life and try to get the best out of it. never give up!

my best wishes!

_________________
2010 Gibson Les Paul Studio (Silverburst)
2007 Fender CD-60 (Sunburst)
G.A.S-ing for a Fender Stratocaster HSS with floyd rose

Mike, as said so eloquently above, prayers, mojo, positive vibes.

When you are fully cured, with strength to bench press Volvos, do Ironmans and playing guitars boldy, you...and we... will remember your class and courage in these days.

Peace and love from an oulde hippie, Bro.

"There are days, even hours, that can be quite uncomfortable and it makes you think about the things that really matter in life.

Sometimes we all take too much for granted, I know that I did, but that has all changed now and I hope to be a stronger person when all is said and done."

Mike, imho that's the great gift of cancer survival. We see what life is a little more clearly than we did beforehand. When going through the diagnosis and treatment, you face very clearly the ultimate reality. It's almost as if the world is full of moles digging holes without the ability to see what's in front of their face - life is short. The petty competition and backbiting that goes on in the world is pointless - just chasing after the wind. Surviving cancer can make you a person who sees a little more clearly towards the heart of the matter.

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

Still praying for you Mike. You will pull through this.

All the best Mike. Your 50% through the treatment, the uphill slog is over now. Here's to plain sailing through the rest of the treatment.
May every bit of good karma ive got coming my way go to you mate. Still praying for ya.

_________________
No no and no

Thanks again to all and with this being an off-week, my wife and I are planning to get outta town for the next few days, but I'll be back!

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

Don't leave home without it!