"A Day in the Life" Neil and Sir Paul

It starts with "I read the news oh boy."  The sing along starts in Hyde park London as Neil Young covers the Beatles A day in the Life with a surprise visit from Sir Paul June 2009. I almost posted a non Beatles tune today, until I ran into this gem on a whim. I had a great day in the life today- finishing session 7 of 8 tonight with Vincristine and Doxorubicin. I will go home tomorrow AM and hope to have a good breakfast with family on the way. I still feel like Lou Gehrig (the luckiest man alive!) and can't wait to get to full remission very soon.  

The Carpenters do "Ticket To Ride"

Karen and Richard did it well. The Carpenters version was actually releaqsed in 1969- probably before most people would've thought. Look at Karen's hari in the video! They do a completely different take on a classic John Lennon song from 1965's Help album.
John and the Paul were in dispute about what "ticket to ride" meant. Paul said it was related to a ticket on British Railways to the Isle of Wight; John said it was related to the cards carried by Hamburg prostitutes indicating a clean bill of health in the early 1960's. The Carpenters probably didn't care. Natalie and Sam flew out this morning and now my Dad, Alice and my sister Cathy are visiting for a few days. I did a stair climb this morning and am feeling good here at St. Joes.

"Rain" Grateful Dead's version

Howdy y'all. I made it to chemo session 7 of 8 here in Tacoma's St. Joseph's. Our daughter Natalie and son in law Sam are still here, room 10A1. Enjoy a classic 1995 Seattle version of Rain, the Dead and their jam style fills the bill for today. We are due for some rain in the NW this week after a week of sun and mild temps. I wish everyone well this week! Talk later- Greg

"The Fool on the Hill" covered by Sergio Mendes/Brasil '66

Yvonne's Big Climb team is up to 43 members and fund raising for the March 21 event is progressing nicely. You can still join the team and we will still buy you a nice team shirt. Here is the link: http://www.llswa.org/site/TR/Events/BigClimb?team_id=25870&pg=team&fr_id=1110
I start chemo session 7 of 8 this Monday or Tuesday, I can see the light in the end of the chemo tunnel!

Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 covered the Beatles quite a bit. This cut of "The Fool on the Hill" is a nice late 60's look at their music. Paul was the force behind Fool, it was released on the Magical Mystery Tour album- and written during the travels to India period. Sergio Mendes also covered famously the Hal David/Burt Bacharach standard- The Look of Love. I hope you enjoy the jazzy treatment given by Sergio and company.

"Dear Prudence"

Happy Thursday evening! We've been visiting with our Daughter and Son in Law from Hawaii for the past few days, so no blog entries for awhile. I had to find a good cover to come back to the blog with and found a beautiful John Lennon song, "Dear Prudence" covered by Kenny Rankin. It was recorded in the summer of 1968 by the Beatles- for The Beatles or White album. Trivia: Paul played drums, bass, piano and some horns on the Beatles version due to Ringo taking a small hiatus during some of the album recording sessions. Kenny Rankin does it justice and makes some changes that fit in nicely. John was trying to write a song to Mia Farrow's sister Prudence who had taken up Transcendental Meditation very seriously and was holed up in an Indian Maharishi's compound... Click on the link to see/hear the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAfJH81uY8c

"Let Me Out"

The Knack's 57 year old lead singer/ writer/guitarist Doug Fieger died of brain and lung cancer yesterday- he had been battling cancer since 2006. For those not remembering the disco days, a group came along in 1979 at the height of disco to fill a niche and return a power pop sound to the music industry. The Knack released their debut "Get The Knack" and comparisons to early Beatles came about immediately. The group all wore the same white shirts, skinny black ties, and appeared as tight as the early Beatles. The songs were short and flowed from one to the next as you listened to the whole album. Get the Knack contained a huge hit "My Sharona" and many others catchy tunes. I had the good fortune to see them live in 1980 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis when they were just starting- a great concert.

"P. S. I Love You"

Happy Valentines Day! I hope you all have a great day planned as I look out on drip-drip-drip and our typical gray Seattle skies. My way of staying positive is to listen to some upbeat music, look at old pictures, and hope for a break in the rain so Yvonne Sadie and I can go for a nice walk. I couldn't find a good cover version of the song of the day, so the original will have to do. This attached video shows the early Beatles including Pete Best on drums as they sang a live version of P. S. I Love You for the BBC. Paul McCartney was the primary writer of the song in 1961, they recorded P.S. in 1962 as the "B" side to their first single, Love Me Do. Yvonne and I want to send a lot of love to everyone on this special day...

 

Saturday Afternoon Looking Good

As many groups covered Beatles songs, Johnny Cash covered Ray Price who covered singer-songwriter Kris Kristopherson's Sunday Mornin' Coming Down.
*I made it home and am feeling much better. We recevied a great Valentine's gift today that I will talk more about tomorrow. Here's to a great Valentine's Day for everybody!

A hard Days Night

For an unknown reason I developed a slight fever Monday afternoon that ended up becoming a bit more concerning into the evening. So- back to the hospital again with alternating 102-103 fevers, the shakes and antibiotics/fluids. I am in room 10C4 at St. Joes's.  The phone number is 253-426-4100 ext. 127-1034. I will get back to some proper postings when I get this fever/infection thing taken care of, after receiving some blood transfusions too. Have a terrific Tuesday!

Greg 

"Please Please Me"

Up first- A great big Thank You to Team I Got A Fever! Fund raising is going great led by Phil as an individual. The team has almost tripled our goal. We are still accepting new team members: http://www.llswa.org/site/TR/Events/BigClimb?team_id=25870&pg=team&fr_id=1110 to join.   For those not familiar with instrumental music, Link Wray was a pioneering guitarist from the late 1950's into the 1960's who influenced a new guitar sound using distortion and effects. His breakthrough was a song aptly named "Rumble." His version of Please Please Me sounds much different than the original- it is worth a listen.
I hope everyone survived all of the men not wearing pants commercials, and the other silliness that is Superbowl Sunday. I had to deal with a work mini retreat all day Friday which probably influenced me hitting the sack early Friday night. I woke up Saturday with shrinking white blood cell and platelets counts- Sunday was worse so I had to arrange for a platelet transfusion.  The transfusion was scheduled for about the same time as the Superbowl :)  Enumclaw Hospital came through and I was able to finish in time to watch the Superbowl from home. I rooted for the underdog Saints, and it all worked out. I am feeling much better today, will be back at work and am looking forward to a good week coming out of the chemo fog. Hang in there Colts fans- the sun will shine eventually.

"Eye Of The Hurricane"

Good Thursday Morning! I hope everyone has a great Superbowl or some sort of family weekend. I am in a thankful mood today, our Big Climb team has more than doubled our fund raising goal and the team is up to 30 members, the kids are still talking to me, my Sister Cathy http://mylifewithmnd.blogspot.com/ inspires me, and finally thanks to Ted- I can share a great video of an intimate folk song written and performed by singer-songwriter David Wilcox of Asheville NC. Some have probably heard this song as it made it to adult contemporary stations a few years ago. You should check out his website, there is a great music section where you can listen to songs based on mood, how you might be feeling at the time, etc. www.Davidwilcox.com

Live, Love, Laugh :)

Big Climb Update

Sadie says hi, and here is the update:

With just under 7 weeks to go for this year's Big Climb on Sunday, March 21st, the organizers (Leukemia/Lymphoma Society) are diligently working to make sure you have an enjoyable experience.  They would like to share some items plus give some reminders so without further delay:...

• The Climb is more than half full and expect to sell out again this year.  Please tell your teammates to register now.
• Start times will be assigned late this month and will be posted on our "event updates" section.  Everyone will be notified once start times are posted. (we asked for 10-10:30 AM)
• A reminder that everyone over 21 must raise a minimum of $50 each or you may not be allowed to participate in future Big Climb events.
• Baldface has partnered up with both the Big Climb and the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb.  Click here to find out how you can win a 3-day snowcat skiing trip for two!
• X Gym is offering free stairclimb training clinics around the city.  Click here for more information.
• Team captains:  If you have questions and/or want to request a start time which will get priority over teams that we haven't met, please plan on meeting us this Saturday at Panera Bread's Redmond location from 10am-1pm.  Also, if your team will have over 50+ members please contact wilma.comenat@lls.org with your team name and the number of anticipated runners & walkers.
• We place patient posters in the stairwells honoring those who have battled or are battling blood cancers.  If you would like one made please complete this form.
• We did not print event posters this year, but feel free to download and print this 11x17 poster or legal size poster.

If you have any questions, please contact andi.barber@lls.org or wilma.comenat@lls.org.  Thanks and you'll hear from us again once start times are posted late this month.

"Do You Want To Know A Secret"

Interested in doing the Big Climb with Team "I Got A Fever?" I have two secrets for you this AM. One is a song, another a tip. I chose to get back in the water this morning, walked in the shallow end for about 45 minutes and it felt similar to climbing stairs. The intensity and effort is totally up to the individual, I got a sweat going, (due in part because but I had to try to show off to the people I used to swim with including Yvonne!)

  

I found this from a fitness magazine: 1. Another way to pump up a workout is to walk in the shallow end of a pool. The water’s buoyancy will support your weight; reduce stress on your bones, muscles and joints; and provide resistance as you move. Here are some other water based ideas including photos: http://www.mc.edu/aquatics/exercises.html

 

John Lennon and the Beatles wrote Do You Want To Know A Secret in 1963, sold it to Billy J Kramer (with the Dakotas) who released it in England charting all the way to #2, and #1 in an often used European chart. The Beatles version came out in 1964 going to #1 as well. Happy Monday- back to work for me. 

 

1963 was so long ago...