Yesterday I started cycle seven of eight of my nasty chemotherapy. It gets cumulatively worse as far as side effects go so I've been doing a lot of sleeping since I came home from the hospital and little else. Two weeks from tomorrow they'll disconnect me from this dreaded pump for (hopefully) the last time. Hooray!
Next step is radiation again. I have an appointment with the radiation oncologist tomorrow. Apparently they're going to try some narrow beam radiological surgery thing that is aimed at controlling the tumor growing into my pelvic bone. That's the one that they believe to be inoperable otherwise so I have my fingers crossed it will succeed.
After that it's probably back onto some chemo orally along with avastin orally. The doc tells me the side effects of the oral drugs are very mild so I should be able to function fairly normally. And he promised that if they do make me sick he'd give me a reprieve for a few weeks while we go to Europe this Summer.
That's about it on the medical front. Nothing much else to report. I've embarked on a new book, Atlas Shrugged. It's about 1500 pages so it should keep me occupied for a while at least. I'm also going to start a writing class down in Chicago later this week. We'll see how that goes.
Be well and Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Avast ye mateys
There's no explaining why something catches my fancy and latches hold from time to time. None whatsoever. On my recent trip to New Orleans my friends and I came across a large contingent of pirates carousing in the French Quarter. Geoff struck up a conversation with a particular female pirate as she stumbled across Decatur Street and we learned the tale of this crew (What's the word for a collection of pirates? I'll go with crew for now.).
It seems there is some national or international group of hundreds of people who are way into pirate lore, culture, history, dress, etc. They come from all over and meet annually (for the last few years anyway) in New Orleans. They dress in full regalia period true costumes, carry cutlasses and boarding axes, and speak in pirate-ese. They also apparently take pride in emulating real pirates habit of drinking to excess.
Later that evening we crossed paths with subsets of pirates enjoying their bacchanal throughout the Quarter. My friend Paula even had her picture taken with a gaggle of them dressed in pink pirate gear. Hmmm. Predictably and happily these folks didn't create much of a stir in New Orleans. It is New Orleans after all and I'm sure they see a lot stranger things than a hundred pirates marching down the street all the time.
During our questioning of the female pirate of Decatur Street (What was her name?) Geoff, ever the scholar, asked her what book or books she might recommend to learn more about real pirates beyond what she taught us in her brief street side lecture. She tauted a book called Under the Black Flag, by David Cordingly.
Well, since I sit here with relatively little to do I wandered into the library and checked out the book. I also checked out another called Empire of Blue Waters and read them both this past week. So if you ever have any questions about pirates just ask me.
The first book is a rather academic factual history of piracy through time and across the world but primarily focusing on the golden age of pirates in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. I learned a lot but found most of the book rather dry. Nothing like a table in one appendix listing all the major piracy trials and subsequent hangings. Suffice to say they hanged a lot of pirates in the early 1700's.
The second book was much more entertaining. It chronicled the life and times of one Henry Morgan or Wales and later Jamaica, one of the most accomplished privateer/pirates in history. Morgan, BTW, would cut off your head if you called him a pirate and did in fact sue the author of a book about him who did so. Privateering was, apparently in his eyes, much more respectable. He eventually became so respectable he was knighted and made lieutenant governor of Jamaica.
If you like history and adventurous tales of the high seas mixed with Pirates of the Caribbean I recommend the book wholeheartedly. Jolly good. Jolly Roger good.
I think my pirate phase is over though. I may seek out another book or two but I think I've got the gist of it. Reading these did make me think back to one of my longtime fantasies; learning to sail, buying a boat, and cruising around the Caribbean during my retirement. Doesn't that sound like fun? Sort of a Jimmy Buffett thing? Now if I can just convince Stephanie how much fun it would be we can set sail as soon as Connor leaves the house. And I learn how to sail a vessel I'd trust in the open ocean. To be continued.
It seems there is some national or international group of hundreds of people who are way into pirate lore, culture, history, dress, etc. They come from all over and meet annually (for the last few years anyway) in New Orleans. They dress in full regalia period true costumes, carry cutlasses and boarding axes, and speak in pirate-ese. They also apparently take pride in emulating real pirates habit of drinking to excess.
Later that evening we crossed paths with subsets of pirates enjoying their bacchanal throughout the Quarter. My friend Paula even had her picture taken with a gaggle of them dressed in pink pirate gear. Hmmm. Predictably and happily these folks didn't create much of a stir in New Orleans. It is New Orleans after all and I'm sure they see a lot stranger things than a hundred pirates marching down the street all the time.
During our questioning of the female pirate of Decatur Street (What was her name?) Geoff, ever the scholar, asked her what book or books she might recommend to learn more about real pirates beyond what she taught us in her brief street side lecture. She tauted a book called Under the Black Flag, by David Cordingly.
Well, since I sit here with relatively little to do I wandered into the library and checked out the book. I also checked out another called Empire of Blue Waters and read them both this past week. So if you ever have any questions about pirates just ask me.
The first book is a rather academic factual history of piracy through time and across the world but primarily focusing on the golden age of pirates in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. I learned a lot but found most of the book rather dry. Nothing like a table in one appendix listing all the major piracy trials and subsequent hangings. Suffice to say they hanged a lot of pirates in the early 1700's.
The second book was much more entertaining. It chronicled the life and times of one Henry Morgan or Wales and later Jamaica, one of the most accomplished privateer/pirates in history. Morgan, BTW, would cut off your head if you called him a pirate and did in fact sue the author of a book about him who did so. Privateering was, apparently in his eyes, much more respectable. He eventually became so respectable he was knighted and made lieutenant governor of Jamaica.
If you like history and adventurous tales of the high seas mixed with Pirates of the Caribbean I recommend the book wholeheartedly. Jolly good. Jolly Roger good.
I think my pirate phase is over though. I may seek out another book or two but I think I've got the gist of it. Reading these did make me think back to one of my longtime fantasies; learning to sail, buying a boat, and cruising around the Caribbean during my retirement. Doesn't that sound like fun? Sort of a Jimmy Buffett thing? Now if I can just convince Stephanie how much fun it would be we can set sail as soon as Connor leaves the house. And I learn how to sail a vessel I'd trust in the open ocean. To be continued.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Big Easy, Big fun
I just returned yesterday from my trip to New Orleans. As I mentioned in my previous post, I went there to meet my great friend, Eric, for some fun and relaxation. The trip turned out to be even better than expected. Eric had secretly invited two of our mutual friends from Kellogg, Geoffrey Souser and Paula Smorynski to come down and join us.
Wednesday Eric and I hung out in the French Quarter, had dinner at Coop's, one of my favorite New Orleans dives, and listened to some great music on Bourbon Street. Thursday we took a self guided walking tour of the French Quarter. The place is heartbreakingly beautiful and has the most colorful history of any place I've ever been. We then walked along Royal Street and checked out all the antique stores, art galleries, voodoo parlors, and other exotic New Orleans type establishments.
We headed over to Mother's in the CBD for lunch. We were standing in line when Geoff walked up. You could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather. Eric had been excusing himself all morning to take calls and read texts. I thought he was just being rude but he was just secretly conniving with Geoff. I was so glad to see him and we had a great lunch. Less so for Geoff since he's practically vegan and didn't find much to eat on Mother's animal fat laden menu.
We left Mothers and walked around for another couple of hours then headed to the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone. The bar is a literal carousel that rotates while you have your cocktails. Somewhat disconcerting after a few of them. Now in walks the last member of our former dinner club, Paula.
Back when we were in school together the four of us worked together in some classes and hit it off immediately. The dinner club formed when we started dining together with our respective spouses once a quarter and became fast friends. We also went out together after our last night of class as Kellogg students. I hadn't seen Paula since that night and had only seen Geoff once or twice since. Eight years ago.
It was amazing that Eric thought to bring us all together again. And amazing that Geoff and Paula took the time away from their lives and families to come down to New Orleans and hang out. Thursday night we went to the home of one of our former professors, Georgios Bakamitsos, who teaches at Tulane now. We had a great time at his house. Less so for Geoff since he suffered from some serious food poisoning from a bad falafel and had to leave early. He was, thankfully, recovered by the next morning.
Friday morning we went for a tour of the Garden District and saw some beautiful homes and the homes of some notable New Orleans residents like Anne Rice, Archie Manning, Trent Reznor, John Goodman, Nicolas Cage, and many other amazing Victorian beauties. We went to the fabled Commander's Palace for lunch. Georgios met us and we had a fabulous meal and even sampled their 25 cent martinis. Even Geoff had the best plate of sauteed vegetables ever according to the waiter.
After some recovery time in the afternoon we hit the Quarter again. Eric was jonesing for a muffaletta and though Central Grocery was closed we managed to find him one. We went to Pat O'Brien's and then heard an amazing set of Dixieland Jazz at Preservation Hall. Later it was off to Cafe DuMonde for a nightcap of cafe au lait and beignets. We also came across a convention of pirates marauding throughout the Quarter. Only in New Orleans.
Sadly, we all had to get up and go Saturday morning. I did get a great plate of red beans and rice with andouille, cornbread, and collards at the airport on my way out of New Orleans. It was a really memorable trip. I can't thank Paula, Geoff, Georgios, and especially Eric enough. I've mentioned in this space in the past what an amazing man Eric is and his arranging to bring this together is just further proof. Thank you Eric.
I'm glad to be home but I'll never forget this trip and my friends for making it so fantastic. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Better late...
It has been almost a month since I posted to this blog. Shame on me. I'd like to say that it's because I've been hard at work on my novel. Or that I've been busy stripping wallpaper (eek). Or that I've any good excuse for not doing something productive. But I haven't. I've just been lazy. And sometimes sick and tired. Mostly lazy.
I hereby resolve that I am going to start assigning myself writing and other projects so that I don't go completely crazy. My lovely and wonderful wife has been ever so gently suggesting that I find things to do since I'm prone to depression when I don't have purposeful endeavors. So there you go. Whether you like it or not I'll be posting something here at least once a week. Putting it on my calendar right now. I'm also going to do my darnedest to write some fiction of some sort. It's nice that people think I have a knack for writing enough to suggest I do more of it and even to suggest they might read it. A memoir seems so self indulgent so I'll confine the memoirish ramblings here where they can't get out.
As for other "things to do" I'm taking suggestions. I'm considering golf but it's expensive. I'm willing to do some volunteer work if I find the right thing to do. There's also my see sawing health which makes committing to things difficult. Perhaps when my current chemo treatments are over I'll find something.
And now to the news: One week ago today I began chemotherapy treatment cycle number five of eight. If you're at least as good at math as I you'll calculate that I'm more than halfway done. Yippee! The plan remains to rescan and reassess after the cycles are complete. Dr. Alex mentioned at my last meeting with him that he's been talking with the radiation oncologists about my case and that they might try to treat my pelvic spot with radiation. Not that I look forward to that, having been radiated thoroughly in the past, but he seems to think it holds promise. So I got that going for me, which is nice. I'm really looking forward to being done with this chemo and feeling good for a while.
Connor and I recently visited Disney World with my mom, her husband, his daughter, and her family. It was an excellent trip. Mom rented a very nice house and her other two grandkids, Griff and Lily, were delightful. We visited all four Disney parks and I only had to go home early once. I was very pleased with my stamina. We rode everything and even did all the roller coasters multiple times. Big fun.
This week I'm going to New Orleans with my great friend, Eric Solberg, for three days. Eric and I have been close since we went to business school together. He has been amazingly supportive throughout my whole cancer battle and is just an amazing man. He has lived in San Diego for the past five years or so and we don't get to see one another often. So we're going to hang out, see some sights, eat some good food, listen to some great music, and generally have a good time. Stephanie has been wonderful about suggesting I do things like that. That's incredibly generous of her since we rarely get to travel together as a family. And since I'm on the government dole and we're poor wards of the state. Thank you, dear wife!
That's all the news for now. The children are doing magnificently. Summer is almost upon us. So I'd better get going. ttfn.
I hereby resolve that I am going to start assigning myself writing and other projects so that I don't go completely crazy. My lovely and wonderful wife has been ever so gently suggesting that I find things to do since I'm prone to depression when I don't have purposeful endeavors. So there you go. Whether you like it or not I'll be posting something here at least once a week. Putting it on my calendar right now. I'm also going to do my darnedest to write some fiction of some sort. It's nice that people think I have a knack for writing enough to suggest I do more of it and even to suggest they might read it. A memoir seems so self indulgent so I'll confine the memoirish ramblings here where they can't get out.
As for other "things to do" I'm taking suggestions. I'm considering golf but it's expensive. I'm willing to do some volunteer work if I find the right thing to do. There's also my see sawing health which makes committing to things difficult. Perhaps when my current chemo treatments are over I'll find something.
And now to the news: One week ago today I began chemotherapy treatment cycle number five of eight. If you're at least as good at math as I you'll calculate that I'm more than halfway done. Yippee! The plan remains to rescan and reassess after the cycles are complete. Dr. Alex mentioned at my last meeting with him that he's been talking with the radiation oncologists about my case and that they might try to treat my pelvic spot with radiation. Not that I look forward to that, having been radiated thoroughly in the past, but he seems to think it holds promise. So I got that going for me, which is nice. I'm really looking forward to being done with this chemo and feeling good for a while.
Connor and I recently visited Disney World with my mom, her husband, his daughter, and her family. It was an excellent trip. Mom rented a very nice house and her other two grandkids, Griff and Lily, were delightful. We visited all four Disney parks and I only had to go home early once. I was very pleased with my stamina. We rode everything and even did all the roller coasters multiple times. Big fun.
This week I'm going to New Orleans with my great friend, Eric Solberg, for three days. Eric and I have been close since we went to business school together. He has been amazingly supportive throughout my whole cancer battle and is just an amazing man. He has lived in San Diego for the past five years or so and we don't get to see one another often. So we're going to hang out, see some sights, eat some good food, listen to some great music, and generally have a good time. Stephanie has been wonderful about suggesting I do things like that. That's incredibly generous of her since we rarely get to travel together as a family. And since I'm on the government dole and we're poor wards of the state. Thank you, dear wife!
That's all the news for now. The children are doing magnificently. Summer is almost upon us. So I'd better get going. ttfn.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Lion in Winter/Spring
It snowed here yesterday. And the forecast calls for snow again today, Sunday. Thursday and Friday the temps were in the sixties, the sun was shining, the top was down on my shiny convertible, and all was right with the world. It is amazing to me how folks' outlooks on life itself are impacted by the weather. Myself included. Why don't we all live in California, Florida, Arizona, or some other sunkist spot?
Somehow, that old argument about seasonality always comes up. "I like the change of seasons!" Well, so do I but I think I'd be perfectly content with just a week or two of Winter and a smaller smidgen of Fall. I'll put that in the old suggestion box. Along with a few other suggestions.
I'm starting to believe one's age can be determined by the percentage of his/her thoughts and conversations that relate to weather. My kids never talk about the weather. I don't think they even think about it at all. They just (sometimes) don the appropriate clothing and gear and go out and face it. I hereby determine to speak and think less of the weather. And hopefully think less about it. I've always been a fan of that serenity thing: God give me the wisdom blah blah blah, don't fret about stuff you can't effect anyway, etc. There, I feel younger already.
Along that same line I find myself, somewhat disturbingly, feeling tranquil about my medical situation/cancer. Oh, I'm certainly efforting to take much better care of myself than I have in the past. But beyond that I feel like it's out of my hands. In the hands of the "higher power". And I'm really OK with that. I just completed chemo treatment number 3 and I'm coming out of the funk and sickness. My existence now is really sort of bipolar. On the week I have treatment I feel like total crap Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday then slowly ramp out of it the rest of the week. I'm conciously trying to push myself physically more each day. I'm no Bear Grills. I just try to walk a bit more or do some curls with my immense ten pound barbells. Feel better and better each day until that dread Monday when it's back to the chair for another treatment.
I get a week's respite this time to go to Disney World/Orlando with my son, Mom, stepdad, and stepsister/stepbrotherinlaw/theirkids. Should be a lot of fun. And the weath...It will be warm! We're off this coming Saturday until April 2. Then back to the chair April 5. It will be a good exercise in pacing. I'm so looking forward to it.
At the risk of diving into one of the three unswimmable pools of philosophy; love, politics, and religion I'll just randomly dangle my feet in the last puddle for a moment. It's something one thinks about in my situation. At least this one does. And these are my musings, right?
If you asked me today, "What is your religion?" I would quote one of my heros, Honest Abe Lincoln, who said; "When I do good I feel good. When I do bad I feel bad. And that is my religion." Sort of a golden rule/karmic ideology that I honestly adhere to. I know I have done bad, many times in my lifetime. And I'm genuinely sorry for all the pain I've caused my friends and loved ones by doing so. So sorry. But I also know I've done a lot of good and my concious aim every day is to continue to do more and more good and less bad every day. If I can continue to do so I'll feel I've lived a good and valuable life and made a positive impact on the planet.
OK. Deep. How about that NCAA tournament? I love me some March Madness. I kept thinking about my friend John as I watched the stunned and defeated Kansas players exit the arena yesterday. John bleeds Jayhawk blue. Since I've never really had any strong allegiance college basketball wise I can only imagine how that felt for him. Maybe like I felt at the end of the epic Miami-San Diego playoff game? Anyway, I felt for you Johnny B. And you have to admit it's hard not to pull for a team with a guy named Lucas O'Rear. If he doesn't make it in the NBA he might have a future in gay porn with a name like that. I do root for the underdogs in the tournament and it's heartening to see a St. Mary's or Northern Iowa make a run. Here's hoping one of them makes it to the Final Four. When does football season start?
Somehow, that old argument about seasonality always comes up. "I like the change of seasons!" Well, so do I but I think I'd be perfectly content with just a week or two of Winter and a smaller smidgen of Fall. I'll put that in the old suggestion box. Along with a few other suggestions.
I'm starting to believe one's age can be determined by the percentage of his/her thoughts and conversations that relate to weather. My kids never talk about the weather. I don't think they even think about it at all. They just (sometimes) don the appropriate clothing and gear and go out and face it. I hereby determine to speak and think less of the weather. And hopefully think less about it. I've always been a fan of that serenity thing: God give me the wisdom blah blah blah, don't fret about stuff you can't effect anyway, etc. There, I feel younger already.
Along that same line I find myself, somewhat disturbingly, feeling tranquil about my medical situation/cancer. Oh, I'm certainly efforting to take much better care of myself than I have in the past. But beyond that I feel like it's out of my hands. In the hands of the "higher power". And I'm really OK with that. I just completed chemo treatment number 3 and I'm coming out of the funk and sickness. My existence now is really sort of bipolar. On the week I have treatment I feel like total crap Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday then slowly ramp out of it the rest of the week. I'm conciously trying to push myself physically more each day. I'm no Bear Grills. I just try to walk a bit more or do some curls with my immense ten pound barbells. Feel better and better each day until that dread Monday when it's back to the chair for another treatment.
I get a week's respite this time to go to Disney World/Orlando with my son, Mom, stepdad, and stepsister/stepbrotherinlaw/theirkids. Should be a lot of fun. And the weath...It will be warm! We're off this coming Saturday until April 2. Then back to the chair April 5. It will be a good exercise in pacing. I'm so looking forward to it.
At the risk of diving into one of the three unswimmable pools of philosophy; love, politics, and religion I'll just randomly dangle my feet in the last puddle for a moment. It's something one thinks about in my situation. At least this one does. And these are my musings, right?
If you asked me today, "What is your religion?" I would quote one of my heros, Honest Abe Lincoln, who said; "When I do good I feel good. When I do bad I feel bad. And that is my religion." Sort of a golden rule/karmic ideology that I honestly adhere to. I know I have done bad, many times in my lifetime. And I'm genuinely sorry for all the pain I've caused my friends and loved ones by doing so. So sorry. But I also know I've done a lot of good and my concious aim every day is to continue to do more and more good and less bad every day. If I can continue to do so I'll feel I've lived a good and valuable life and made a positive impact on the planet.
OK. Deep. How about that NCAA tournament? I love me some March Madness. I kept thinking about my friend John as I watched the stunned and defeated Kansas players exit the arena yesterday. John bleeds Jayhawk blue. Since I've never really had any strong allegiance college basketball wise I can only imagine how that felt for him. Maybe like I felt at the end of the epic Miami-San Diego playoff game? Anyway, I felt for you Johnny B. And you have to admit it's hard not to pull for a team with a guy named Lucas O'Rear. If he doesn't make it in the NBA he might have a future in gay porn with a name like that. I do root for the underdogs in the tournament and it's heartening to see a St. Mary's or Northern Iowa make a run. Here's hoping one of them makes it to the Final Four. When does football season start?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Oscar
A few notes on last night's Oscar telecast then probably some random babbling.
First, am I the only person who's shedding no tears over Baba Wawa's hanging up the steps after 29 interview shows? I have never understood the woman's appeal. If we consider asking Ricky Martin about his sexuality hard hitting journalism then OK. But I just don't get it. Please go quietly into that dark dark night, Barbara. I realize tradition dies hard but she's almost as painful for me to watch as Dick Clark at this point.
And now for the obligatory style points. I don't claim to be Mr. Blackwell or any fashion plate myself but...Who dresses some of these people? Since I do know a little bit about men's formal wear (based on my three years working in the schmata business and my yearlong senior year gig as sales representative of Nick's formal wear during which I wore tuxedos to school every day. And no you can't see any of those pictures) I'll start with the men.
I wasn't taking notes so forgive my not knowing the fellow's name but let's just call him "That tall sound effect guy who clearly picked up the wrong tux at the cleaners then didn't know how to dress himself". You know the one I mean. Black tail coat with a vest six inches too short and no cufflinks. How do you not stop at the Circle K for a pair of cufflinks when you see your cuffs flapping in the breeze. I really felt for the guy. He was only the most glaring example of the truth that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him tie his tie correctly.
As for the ladies, well, I'll just say there were a lot more gowns that made me say Hmmm? than those that made me say, wow! At least there were no Cherlike, or Swanlike costumes to really heap ridicule and scorn upon.
Now for the awards themselves I didn't see all ten nominated films. Did anyone? But I did see Avatar and Hurt Locker. Now usually I'd step up on the artsy fartsy platform and applaud the "serious" film's multiple victories. But I have to say I really thought Avatar got gypped. Backlash against all its box office success? Anger over the way Jim Cameron treated Kathryn Bigelow? I dunno. All I know is I personally thought Avatar was the superior film. I do think Bigelow's victory (for femaledom) is way overdue. So congratulations to her.
As for the acting awards I haven't seen Precious (based on the novel whatever by whoever) or Crazy Heart. I loved the Nazi in Inglourious Basterds and also thought the joke about him was the best of the night. BTW, could someone fill me in on all the Hitler/Meryl Streep references? Also happy for Sandra Bullock though she knows as well as I she can't carry Streep's compact case.
Finally the first production number with Doogie Howser worked for me. Some excellent jokes in there that seemed to go right over the audience's head. The last one with the dancers (spotlighting the musical scores) was amazing. And I somehow liked the combination of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. I can't figure out whether Baldwin's sliminess is good slimy or bad.
All in all an entertaining show. It served its purpose in my case. I saw lots of smidges of films I want to see now. So let's all go to the movies.
And to hell with any further babbling. I've babbled enough. For the foreseeable future I expect I'll only update or post about once every two weeks since in the intervening week I'm feeling like crap. Until the chemo is over!
First, am I the only person who's shedding no tears over Baba Wawa's hanging up the steps after 29 interview shows? I have never understood the woman's appeal. If we consider asking Ricky Martin about his sexuality hard hitting journalism then OK. But I just don't get it. Please go quietly into that dark dark night, Barbara. I realize tradition dies hard but she's almost as painful for me to watch as Dick Clark at this point.
And now for the obligatory style points. I don't claim to be Mr. Blackwell or any fashion plate myself but...Who dresses some of these people? Since I do know a little bit about men's formal wear (based on my three years working in the schmata business and my yearlong senior year gig as sales representative of Nick's formal wear during which I wore tuxedos to school every day. And no you can't see any of those pictures) I'll start with the men.
I wasn't taking notes so forgive my not knowing the fellow's name but let's just call him "That tall sound effect guy who clearly picked up the wrong tux at the cleaners then didn't know how to dress himself". You know the one I mean. Black tail coat with a vest six inches too short and no cufflinks. How do you not stop at the Circle K for a pair of cufflinks when you see your cuffs flapping in the breeze. I really felt for the guy. He was only the most glaring example of the truth that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him tie his tie correctly.
As for the ladies, well, I'll just say there were a lot more gowns that made me say Hmmm? than those that made me say, wow! At least there were no Cherlike, or Swanlike costumes to really heap ridicule and scorn upon.
Now for the awards themselves I didn't see all ten nominated films. Did anyone? But I did see Avatar and Hurt Locker. Now usually I'd step up on the artsy fartsy platform and applaud the "serious" film's multiple victories. But I have to say I really thought Avatar got gypped. Backlash against all its box office success? Anger over the way Jim Cameron treated Kathryn Bigelow? I dunno. All I know is I personally thought Avatar was the superior film. I do think Bigelow's victory (for femaledom) is way overdue. So congratulations to her.
As for the acting awards I haven't seen Precious (based on the novel whatever by whoever) or Crazy Heart. I loved the Nazi in Inglourious Basterds and also thought the joke about him was the best of the night. BTW, could someone fill me in on all the Hitler/Meryl Streep references? Also happy for Sandra Bullock though she knows as well as I she can't carry Streep's compact case.
Finally the first production number with Doogie Howser worked for me. Some excellent jokes in there that seemed to go right over the audience's head. The last one with the dancers (spotlighting the musical scores) was amazing. And I somehow liked the combination of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. I can't figure out whether Baldwin's sliminess is good slimy or bad.
All in all an entertaining show. It served its purpose in my case. I saw lots of smidges of films I want to see now. So let's all go to the movies.
And to hell with any further babbling. I've babbled enough. For the foreseeable future I expect I'll only update or post about once every two weeks since in the intervening week I'm feeling like crap. Until the chemo is over!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
In like a lion...
March 1 has come and gone and the old man didn't exactly come in like a lion. So I guess that's good. It's actually sunny today here in the great white north. Yippee!
I did have to start out the month with another chemo treatment. That's never fun. Actually this one seems to be characterized by a most wicked case of hiccups that I can't seem to make go away no matter what I try. And those tend to make it impossible to sleep which makes me grumpy and otherwise irritable. Ah, well, could be much much worse.
Aside from that crazy symptom just the usual fatigue and nausea. If form holds, they will all improve over time so that by this weekend I should feel pretty decent. I guess i'll take it. Dr. Hantel seemed encouraged this week by the CEA scores and reduced pain. He's optimistic that this might actually work for a while.
I'll write more as I feel better. Right now I'm sure I've bored you to tears. Ho hum.
I did have to start out the month with another chemo treatment. That's never fun. Actually this one seems to be characterized by a most wicked case of hiccups that I can't seem to make go away no matter what I try. And those tend to make it impossible to sleep which makes me grumpy and otherwise irritable. Ah, well, could be much much worse.
Aside from that crazy symptom just the usual fatigue and nausea. If form holds, they will all improve over time so that by this weekend I should feel pretty decent. I guess i'll take it. Dr. Hantel seemed encouraged this week by the CEA scores and reduced pain. He's optimistic that this might actually work for a while.
I'll write more as I feel better. Right now I'm sure I've bored you to tears. Ho hum.
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