I chose the title of this blog to go with a Beatles song from 1969. The title made sense in October of 2009 because fighting cancer might be a drawn out challenge. I take inspiration where I can, and hope to motivate with my musings about music, my status and anything else related to life. Anyone can post comments; no sign in or account is needed, just click on the comments section towards the bottom of the post and write me a note. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. Live Happy- Greg
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain
Thursday, September 1, 2011
25 or 6 to 4
1968 North Portland Alan, Cathy, Greg
The title means just that, it is 3:34 AM and Robert Lamm of Chicago Transit Authority was trying to write a song in the Sunset Strip area of Los Angeles in 1970. Fast forward 41 years and I was wide awake for reasons that have become second nature to me at 3:34 AM myself- I found a song to go with my post based on time! Chicago began their big professional career as the Chicago Transit Authority, then shortened it to Chicago out of pure show business need. The video and one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded features Terry Kath who shortly after this concert would accidentally shoot and kill himself. Peter Cetera was the lead vocal and went on to one of those great balladeer solo careers. Robert Lamm is still touring with the band. Sue Reppen gets to see them soon as do I when Chicago comes to the Puyallup Fair Sept 13.
I had two bad days of excruciating pain in most of my joints, wrists, arms elbows, knees, Tuesday and Wednesday this week to go along with finding a small new bump on my head just above the tumor being radiated. It caused some extra concern as some of these pains in the past have indicated relapse. So as Ronald Reagan said to Jimmy Carter I will say to Leukemia: "There you go again." and hope like Ronald I am right and Jimmy is wrong. To be as prepared as possible Dr. Senecal suggested we start chemo early (today) anyway. Part of the protocol is to take a heavy dose of dexamethasone, another heavy duty streroid like prednisone. It has me just a little wired as I write this. I will infuse methotrexate this morning and learn the rest of the chemo protocol too. I thought I would share some old photos of me, Alan my baby brother, and Cathy my Angelic sister. Enjoy a laugh on me!
Alan, Greg, Cathy Dymerski 1972
21 comments:
Anonymous
said...
sorry to hear about the pains and new tumor. Here's praying the chemo works. I am taking dexamethasone for the pains and fever after chemo .....hope the other works for you like this stuff does for me. It does keep you up at night and I am glad mine is only two days a week. Keep up the fight and stay in touch....TRex
A shout out to your Chi Town sister? Why, THANKS! Yes, Greg, threatened legal action moved the band to ditch the CTA name. Let me know if Walter is on woodwinds when you see them, he wasn't at Ravinia and i keep forgetting to Google it. Did you ever have that giant Carnegie Hall boxed set poster up in your room? I was a huge fan before I met Steve. Turns out he was too, and also a trombone player and played for the Marching Chiefs of Florida State. That sealed the deal for me. I have lusted for Jimmy Pankow through puberty and menopause, THAT is a feat :) Two of my kids play t-bone, too. Their music is in our DNA. I am hoping your new chemo does to your leukemia what a cigarette ember did to my Qiana shirt in the 70's...on my way to my first Chicago concert here. Hugs to you, dear friend.
More than a shout out Sue- you were my inspiration today and many other days! T-Rex- I was wrong it is dexamethasone for me too, plus the prednisone. I take mine four days for the start of this chemo round, hopefully that is all. I have had methotrexate too many times to count Mary-Beth and the ECC- piece of cake... It's even in the 17 inter thecal spinal injections I have received!
I too am sorry about the pains and the tumor. Praying that the drugs will help and get you back to remission soon. Enjoy the band Chicago, one of my favorites, great pictures, too!
Just saw Dr. Senecal, the plan is to start vincristine and methotrexate today, a second infusion tomorrow, then a day 8 infusion. I will know more once the nurse hooks me up. Here's to some healing and thanks to all for the support. Yvonne is here in the infusion room and we have all the necessary tools to enjoy our stay...
A big "oh suck." This sounds really rough. The pain sounds extremely difficult. So wish we could just wave it away. Enjoyed all the talk about Chicago, Sue's comments were great. I saw them in concert, too, in Iowa as a teenager and didn't really know who was who except for Cetera. I'll have to check out Pankow!;) Really loved the pictures of you guys, those clothes! those faces! So cute and so much pull on the heartstrings. Thinking of more innocent times. Redoubling the prayers and love to you both. Mary D.
Didn't Margot Kidder wake up every day at 3:15 AM in the 'Amityville Horror'? If you find a lot of flies and a red room under the stairs, then I would start getting concerned. Capt. X wakes up at 3:30 AM quite often as well, but he simply uses the bathroom and goes back to bed. LiveSTRONG my friend, and trust the docs.
Hi Greg, You are so adorable!! I love the one you were all suit up, a very responsible big brother!! Thank you for sharing these Kodak moments with us. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Yvonne. Praying that you have the strength and the will to get through this round of chemo. Hugs from me too! Live Strong!! Keep your faith!! :-)
I think I had striped pants like those!! Ha, ha, very cool pics. My sister Jackie loves to find the old photos and post them - always puts a smile on my face. You need a blast of something good. The discomfort on top of everything else really stinks - so sorry to hear you are having a tough time. Only positive thoughts and prayers sent your way always. I agree with my BFF Mary-Beth.
Hope you are getting some rest along with the intense Tx. Finally cooled off here last night, down to 50F. Darren from Logan got here last night and we are going to Spearfish today for the Dakota50 mtn. bike race/ride/tour. The race is tomorrow. Usually around six and a half hours for me! My friend Perry who is race director says"the further you go the better it gets" I'll try and remember that and wish you were riding with me. I'll let you know. Love, Big A
Thanks for the nice words everyone, good luck on the race Alan, and yes those were the days. Two days of chemo is leaving me tasteless but all in all feeling good. We are taking Sadie and Yvonne swimming soon, I will probably watch from the shore of Deep Lake. I might jump in too, as my knee is finally healed up. It is supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny here for ten days straight- here goes! :)
Sounds like a good way to spend the day. Les had to work:( precision cast parts doesn't be,rive in holidays. Enjoy the nice weather, close to 90 here and me and the dogs.
Greg were those pants bell bottoms.... They bring back memories. Mine were blue striped and bell bottom. Now that I think about it the style never made a come back hmmmm. Capt. Ron
21 comments:
sorry to hear about the pains and new tumor. Here's praying the chemo works. I am taking dexamethasone for the pains and fever after chemo .....hope the other works for you like this stuff does for me. It does keep you up at night and I am glad mine is only two days a week. Keep up the fight and stay in touch....TRex
"Oh Crap", it's the best way I can put it.
Sending you strength to get through the day and many prayers coming your way.
Mary-Beth of the ECC
A shout out to your Chi Town sister? Why, THANKS! Yes, Greg, threatened legal action moved the band to ditch the CTA name. Let me know if Walter is on woodwinds when you see them, he wasn't at Ravinia and i keep forgetting to Google it. Did you ever have that giant Carnegie Hall boxed set poster up in your room? I was a huge fan before I met Steve. Turns out he was too, and also a trombone player and played for the Marching Chiefs of Florida State. That sealed the deal for me. I have lusted for Jimmy Pankow through puberty and menopause, THAT is a feat :) Two of my kids play t-bone, too. Their music is in our DNA. I am hoping your new chemo does to your leukemia what a cigarette ember did to my Qiana shirt in the 70's...on my way to my first Chicago concert here. Hugs to you, dear friend.
More than a shout out Sue- you were my inspiration today and many other days! T-Rex- I was wrong it is dexamethasone for me too, plus the prednisone. I take mine four days for the start of this chemo round, hopefully that is all. I have had methotrexate too many times to count Mary-Beth and the ECC- piece of cake... It's even in the 17 inter thecal spinal injections I have received!
PS: Sue, I have never seen Chicago live! But hell or high water won't stop this show as it is just a few miles away and very soon.
I too am sorry about the pains and the tumor. Praying that the drugs will help and get you back to remission soon. Enjoy the band Chicago, one of my favorites, great pictures, too!
Greg, will see you for the concert. We are hoping for the Chemo to work Our prayers for you and Yvonne, Love Dad and Alice
Praying and wish I could do more
Hank
And OH YES !! there you are barely out of diapers and you already look full of mischief ! :-)
Just saw Dr. Senecal, the plan is to start vincristine and methotrexate today, a second infusion tomorrow, then a day 8 infusion. I will know more once the nurse hooks me up. Here's to some healing and thanks to all for the support. Yvonne is here in the infusion room and we have all the necessary tools to enjoy our stay...
As my old supervisor who is a proper LDS convert would say, "Oh suck" Love and healing thoughts are in order. Funny old pictures, I enjoy them. Big A
A big "oh suck." This sounds really rough. The pain sounds extremely difficult. So wish we could just wave it away. Enjoyed all the talk about Chicago, Sue's comments were great. I saw them in concert, too, in Iowa as a teenager and didn't really know who was who except for Cetera. I'll have to check out Pankow!;)
Really loved the pictures of you guys, those clothes! those faces! So cute and so much pull on the heartstrings. Thinking of more innocent times.
Redoubling the prayers and love to you both.
Mary D.
Didn't Margot Kidder wake up every day at 3:15 AM in the 'Amityville Horror'? If you find a lot of flies and a red room under the stairs, then I would start getting concerned. Capt. X wakes up at 3:30 AM quite often as well, but he simply uses the bathroom and goes back to bed.
LiveSTRONG my friend, and trust the docs.
Hi Greg, You are so adorable!! I love the one you were all suit up, a very responsible big brother!! Thank you for sharing these Kodak moments with us. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Yvonne. Praying that you have the strength and the will to get through this round of chemo. Hugs from me too! Live Strong!! Keep your faith!! :-)
I think I had striped pants like those!! Ha, ha, very cool pics. My sister Jackie loves to find the old photos and post them - always puts a smile on my face. You need a blast of something good.
The discomfort on top of everything else really stinks - so sorry to hear you are having a tough time. Only positive thoughts and prayers sent your way always. I agree with my BFF Mary-Beth.
Hope you are getting some rest along with the intense Tx.
Finally cooled off here last night, down to 50F.
Darren from Logan got here last night and we are going to Spearfish today for the Dakota50 mtn. bike race/ride/tour. The race is tomorrow. Usually around six and a half hours for me! My friend Perry who is race director says"the further you go the better it gets" I'll try and remember that and wish you were riding with me. I'll let you know. Love, Big A
Sending hugs and healing thoughts and prayers your way. Love the old photos. Those WERE the days (my friend)... :)
Thanks for the nice words everyone, good luck on the race Alan, and yes those were the days. Two days of chemo is leaving me tasteless but all in all feeling good. We are taking Sadie and Yvonne swimming soon, I will probably watch from the shore of Deep Lake. I might jump in too, as my knee is finally healed up. It is supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny here for ten days straight- here goes! :)
:-)
Sounds like a good way to spend the day. Les had to work:( precision cast parts doesn't be,rive in holidays. Enjoy the nice weather, close to 90 here and me and the dogs.
Greg were those pants bell bottoms.... They bring back memories. Mine were blue striped and bell bottom. Now that I think about it the style never made a come back hmmmm. Capt. Ron
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