I ain’t working this week

Good morning fellow Burkittians:

Well I’m chilling today. I ain’t working at work. I took the week off. I’m gonna fish and not catch anything, attempt to remodel the bathroom and end up calling a contractor, go golfing and score way too high, and run like molasses for a workout. It’s gonna be glorious. After this post I’m drink too much coffee (if I haven’t already) and watch Morning Joe on MSNBC and shout liberal slogans at the TV.  After that it will be time for second sleep – second sleep is a morning nap, but it is second sleep because not enough time has gone by for it to be a real nap (that comes at 1 p.m.) I’ll update you guys on my lack of progress throughout the week. 

just in

http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_768b3b22-bdfe-11e2-9e03-0019bb2963f4.html

tired, but no big deal

Well I am on the verge of a week off. I need it; I’m beat.

Yesterday was our big employer conference and thank God that’s over. I keep reminding myself, “There is no limit to what a man can accomplish as long as he doesn’t care who gets the credit.”

That is my new mantra. There is no limit, there is no limit, there is no limit …

Crazy huh?

I have my fist big LLS board/committee meeting next week. It should be an opportunity to work with some good people for an important cause. I have skills that  can help.

I guess this is more of me, talking to me thing right now, than me talking to you. Oh well …

Nex week I’m going to putter around the house, play gold once, fish once, and sleep a lot. Shoot I need it. I’ll probably work on my novel.

You know, I was thinking, I need to re-title my book. I was in such a rush to get it done and available that I let it through without seriously getting the title right. I was more concerned about making sure it would come up in key word searches that I sacrificed what I really wanted to say.

It should be “Bill’s Stupid Cancer Book: From Lymphoma to Survivor.” That would have been way better. Poop!

I guess that’s it for today.

Bill

Angela Vicario

I am sad to report that God called home another angel yesterday. Angela Vicario, a very nice, pretty, funny, and intelligent lady, was killed by cancer. She fought long and hard sounds incredible cliché, but in her case it was true. There just wasn’t anything she could do to stop it; as soon s cancer got the upper hand it pressed the attack and never relented. Angela was one of my students at a local college. A very nice, pretty, funny and intelligent lady seems a fine epitaph for anyone I guess. I hope they speak as kindly about me when I leave. Darn, I guess Bill Joel was right, Only The Good Die Young. She had just turned 50. 

She is the fourth person who started this cancer journey with me that didn’t make it. 

No man is an island ... 

book reviews

The reviews are in. Cancer cells hate William J. Potter’s book. The Long Walk: From Lymphoma To Survivor.

“This book makes me as sick as we made Bill,” said Larry Lymphoma. “I hope people stay away from e-book retailers in droves.”

“After reading this tripe, I wish we had killed him,” Neutro Penia said. “Cancer is nothing to laugh about and this book makes far too many jokes at the expense of mutated cells; it’s in poor taste.”

squidgy stomach

Not a whole heck of a lot to report today recovery-wise. I’m feeling a bit better and had a good bike ride yesterday. I’m riding my bike until I nurse this hamstring back to health. It’s amazing really that my bicycle supports my rather large buttocks, but it does.

I think I look pretty good in my gym shorts, helmet and sneakers, but I bet I really look like the old guy I see around town riding his bike. I’ve seen a lot of heavy people lately riding bikes and it makes me suspicious about whether this contraptions can help you lose weight. I found this really cool calorie burn calculator, but wouldn’t you know it the URL won’t open this morning. Here it is. It just opened http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc -- it’s pretty cool.

I’ve felt a bit nauseous lately. Nothing like before, but still nauseous – no vomiting, just a squidgy stomach. Everybody gets a squidgy stomach from time-to-time so it’s probably no big deal. I have these flashbacks about the last time, but my plan is to wait and see. If it goes away – great, if not I’ll see a doc. I hate going to the doc. I think I what I really hate is trying to make an appointment – that’s the stinky part.

I guess that’s it.

Peace,

Strong Language Alert! Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy – Ah, an old friend that has not been away long enough. MY time without you passed much too quickly until you made and unexpected return to remind me just how far I’ve come and have yet to go. I didn’t miss you at all – fucker!

Weekend fucker!

There I said it. F-bombs! I’m F-bomb happy today – or actually F-bomb unhappy today. What an f-bombed up weekend this was. It started strange, got depressing, and turned out debilitating.

It kind of started on Wednesday, although weekends don’t normally start on Wednesday. I was running like the wind up Kirkwood Highway in Newark, like the wind on a breezeless day. Yeah that’s about right. Anyway I was going for a new super world record and I got this twinge in the back of my leg. Being without any sense I continued to run and this twinge turned into real pain after another minute or two and I ended up hobbling back home. It felt like I had pulled a hamstring, but not really. Anyway I’ve kept off it so far and will give it a walk at lunchtime today. I figured it was just one of those nicks 56-year-old poorly conditioned runners get.

I had the usual maladies I get until Friday when I went to the Relay for Life at Newark High School in Newark, Delaware. Kate and I signed up for the survivor walk at 1900 and a reception at 1730. Earlier in the day I sent a press release to a gagillion people and got a nibble from the Newark Post and Cecil Whig. I did the interview, but the reported wanted to come by at about 1700 to chat and take some pictures.

He got to my house at about 1720 and we chatted in the backyard, because if I let him in the house the headline probably would have said, “Grown Man Overrun With Dogs, Teddy Bears, and Recycling Bags.” Yikes!

It all went pretty well except for Buzz trying to eat his pant leg – several times. What are you gonna do? If the story doesn’t come out good I’ll throw Buzz in the office and hold the door closed. BTW the story is about the incredible book The Long Walk: From Lymphoma to Survivor by celebrated master of sarcasm William J. Potter.

We got to thing a little late, but there was plenty of food there for the royal survivors. It’s like getting VIP treatment and a T-shirt and all you had to do was not die. Kate and I bought one of those luminaria things – you know a white paper bag, with some type of ode on it for one of the cancer fallen, a candles in the bag, weighted down by sand. We bought one in honor of Melissa Torres.

Well, the survivor lap of this thing was set to begin at 1900 and they call all the survivors up to the starting line and proceed to talk and talk, and talk. I understand there are props to render, but don’t call a bunch of neuropathy, waddling cancer survivors up to the starting line and then don’t start anything. Well after and extended introduction of people who nobody knew except for the inner circle of Relay for Life folks we were off. The survivors made their way around the track led by the New Castle County Paramedic, who by the way were superb as Color Guards.

As we wound around the quarter mile people shouted and chaired for us. I was happily taken aback by the number of young people who had dedicated their time to watch a bunch of cancer folks stagger like “Walking Dead” extras around the track. It was cool. They were sincere, joyful, and a pleasure. BTW, I hate young people by-and-large. They’re just so … young.

Kate and I went around a couple of times got our applause for not dying and went home. I was achy all over. I went to bed kind of early after taking a muscle relaxant and Saturday was uneventful. I didn’t do much, but read and go grocery shopping.

Sunday started out weird. I checked my Facebook page and learned another friend of mine is near the end of her cancer journey and will soon die. That makes quite a few people I started with that have ended their journey before. Almost all of them younger.

Kate and I went to Lowe’s and that’s where it happened.

I was pushing my cart and my legs got tingly, and then numb. F-bombing neuropathy. It hurts, numbs, and tortures all at the same time. There is no cure, but waiting it out and letting run its course. The only thing that helps is a foot massage from Kate. I bought my two pieces of wood, went home and sucked my thumb for the rest of the day. By about 1830 it cleared up and everything was working again. It figures, just in time for work.

I guess that’s it for today. More tomorrow.

Peace BIll