She Said She Said

First off, I am not commenting on the character from "The Office" Michael Scott, and his now famous double entendre comment; "That's what she said."    Since October 2009 I have explored most of The Beatles catalog and their breakthrough 1966 album Revolver.   She Said She Said was a John composition and according to Paul the only Beatles song he didn't play or participate on.  John called it an acidy song, probably because he credits some of the lyrics coming from a meeting of members of the Byrds, The Beatles, and Peter Fonda and the escapades they had while doing an acid trip in 1965.   That sure seems like a long time ago huh?   George lays down the bass track, John plays guitar and Hammond Organ, and Ringo is steady on drums.   I like the sound, the lyrics really don't make any sense but the change incorporated in "When I was a boy, everything was right" part was ground breaking at the time. 
My dad and his wife are visiting just now, we are planning on watching the Atlanta Braves complete a series sweep against the Mariners today and tomorrow- night game then a Wednesday day game.   Hopefully the roof will be open...   Dad is such a Braves fan that he drove here from Utah in one day (13+ hours) just to see two of the three games.  
I seem to be holding steady, if I forgot I did receive good bone marrow biopsy results a few weeks ago, no detectable cancer then. I am very weak/fatigued I think because of the prednisone they use to treat my chronic graft vs. host disease.   The GVHD manifests in skin rash, face discoloration, liver and gastric attack, and maybe my lungs now too.  The Fred Hutch folks made a strong suggestion that I stay on prednisone and begin to taper it down some until March of 2012.   How's that for a long term battle plan?   I rip my skin open very easily and bleed like a stuck pig while this particular steroid works it magic, then there's the uncontrollable outbursts, lack of sleep, shaking, electrical impulses, etc. At least the liquid skin stuff helps.   Enough about my fun- get ready for a good July 4th. I was very fortunate to have Christina from work give me her tickets to a Chateau St. Michelle club private event Saturday, the group 1964 is playing (Beatles tribute).   Probably the best retirement gift I could receive! 

I'm Looking Through You

Sadie on the first day of Summer

I can't believe it, but as of today I am officially only 10 days away from retirement.  After working a job non-stop since age 13 this feeling is finally hitting home.  I know I am nowhere near any kind of longevity as a working person, but the feeling still hits me.   I talked to a friend last night and after sharing some laughs I could not get the Beatles and "I'm Looking Through You" out of my head.   We were discussing how people quit talking to you or change when they know you can't influence or help them out.   I said it is a natural human thing, true friends and all of that.   I got this lyric stuck in my head... "You don't look different, but you have changed I'm looking through you, you're not the same."   I am sure we all have thought similar thoughts.  Paul wrote the song about his soon to be ex-girlfriend Jane Asher in 1965. The introspective lyrics were newer for Paul at the time, John had been writing some more meaningful lyrics as the Rubber Soul album was progressing too.  
I have been busy with the doctor, went in for a chest C.T. scan yesterday and see my oncologist today for results.  I swam 3000 yards both Monday and Tuesday, took Sadie for a walk, and am paying the price with fatigue.   But... it felt good.   I am not liking the prednisone and hope to get some results on biopsies and perhaps tapering off of it as soon as possible.   I had to post this photo of Sadie too, as she is finally healing up, getting her dark hair back after getting on some thyroid medicine.   Here's to a great weekend, it's summer!

Slow Down

One of the really early Beatles rockers. Slow Down was written and performed by Larry Williams in 1958. The Beatles recorded the 12 bar blues song in 1964 as a B side of Matchbox 45 single for the U.S. Just a rousing early rocker, John sang lead as at the time he was clearly the leader of the group. I chose Slow Down as an accompaniment to my being back on prednisone as of yesterday. I had some pretty good outbreaks of Graft Vs. Host Disease (skin rash all over) so back on the steroids for awhile to control/stop the outbreak. Pred as it is know makes me hyper, and gives me an almost euphoric "I can do anything" attitude. This on again off again use of pred will probably continue for the rest of my life. I am trying top get used to it by being more active, which in turn will help me sleep. The up and downsides of this powerful drug are hard to measure to make sure it is worth it, what I do know was the addition of pred completely ended my leg pain that was keeping me up more than pred does now.  I am alive, hopefully able to thank my donor personally very soon and that is that. I swam and did some other exercise today, am going to do some household stuff to make sure I am good and tired by tonight. I might even make dinner-  I hope the fathers out there have a great weekend! Mikhael my youngest is coming home for at least part of the weekend with us.  The triathletes are going north to Victoria for the 1/2 ironman Sunday- I wish all of the Team N Training team well. Praying for some sun!   Greg
PS: I hope you like the nostalgic video- worth a watch"

Mean Mr. Mustard

I didn't say a lot about Sun King, my last post. It is an integral part of the medley of songs on side 2 of the Abbey Road album, recorded in 1969. Mean Mr. Mustard was recorded to follow Sun King immediately. Abbey Road's side 2 did that with eight songs as a matter of fact. When asked about my favorite Beatles song I sometimes say Here Come's the Sun, (song 1 of side 2 but not part of the medley...) sometimes it is The End, if allowed I would say Abbey Road's side 2 medley which starts with You Never Give Me Your Money and ends with The End.   Mean Mr. Mustard was a John song that he said he wrote on the quick after seeing a story about a miser while the group was in India. I won't disagree with John, it is a simple song but works well in the middle of the medley.
To follow up Sun King from this past weekend it works for my medley too!
I was hospitalized on my first day of complete freedom from work Saturday June 4. Since then I have had quite a few blood tests, x-rays, C.T. scan, a pulmonary scope (like a vcr cable down your nose into your lungs) and a bone marrow biopsy. I had fevers that were not going away coupled with some strange leg/thigh pain, almost like a charley horse.  The C.T. showed unexplained patchy areas in my lungs.  Yvonne has been a champ as I am sure my grumpiness level has increased with each new day in the Hospital.  I finally got some good news last night that early indications show my bone marrow is 100% clear of the bad blast cells.  There will be a follow up much more detailed report in a week or so... So far the blood infection concern is coming up blank, this could be another case of they just don't know. In the meantime, this graphic, at times funny cartoon is not meant to be anyone in particular, more of a metaphor on what kind of person we should not be. I know I am considered a cheapy-cheaperson, I am finally learning to get rid of that moniker. Please bear with me!

Updated June 11: I was released from St. Joseph's Saturday morning. Am home for the first time in 8 days, feel much better but still unsure of what pneumonia I had. Mikhael is home for a bit, we will be making the best of a cloudy day. :) 

Sun King

I wanted to be the Sun King on my first full day of work free status today. The Seattle area is experiencing 78 today and 79 tomorrow with full sun, not a cloud to be seen. I worked my last day yesterday, turned in all of my gear, car, etc. and thought I was free and clear. A little Deja Vu hit us this morning, and sure enough I had a fever that continued to climb and felt pretty crummy. So off to the St. Joseph's Hospital E.R. at the request of my doctor. We got here at about 10AM and later admitted to the cancer floor, where Yvonne and I sit in another Deja Vu situation in room 10A1 (the first room I occupied when I was first diagnosed in October 2009.)
I have had some blood tests, x rays, and now am waiting for an MRI for a strange pain in my left leg. Tylenol took my fever down to a low manageable level pretty quick. The doctor wants to see what is causing these fevers and fatigue so I will stay overnight at least. John was the primary force behind Sun King, Paul George and John sang the three part harmonies. The Italian and Spanish words were thrown in for reasons only known to John. Part of the medley of side 2 of Abbey Road, Sun King is haunting even if it doesn't mean a whole lot. Please enjoy- like I am from my sunny room! My phone number is (253) 426-4101 room10A1