Vacation

BLOGNOTE 10.29.07 4:50 pm
We’re in Shanendoah National Park, Skyland Lodge Resort around mile 40 on the Skyline Drive. Yesterday we were with Becky and the kids in DC watching Greg run the US Marine Corps Marathon (32nd annual). Greg also ran it last year and bested his time yesterday by 30 minutes. He looked fresh as a daisy each time we saw him at 12 miles at the Smithsonian on the Mall, then at 21 miles at Crystal City. Then Carol and I took Ben and Maayan home on the Metro (after a quick stop at the inflatables and Sabaros Pizza) while Becky and Jamie went to cheer Greg at the finish line. By the way, the cheering all along the race is great fun. You cheer your own friends and others. So many “TEAM” runners (for Leukemia and Lymphoma). Hurray!! The trains were filled with exhausted and elated runners with bright shiny medals around their necks. Greg has one as well. He got 2 finishers medals for the kids. Sat. night we had dinner with Hadar and Raheem and the family at a Moroccan restaurant. Fun. Last night we left after dark which was a mistake not knowing exactly where we were going. We went 35 miles out of our way but finally got to speak to someone at the hotel who got us up into the mountains without having to retrace. Oi!! Dark empty country roads in western Virginia with little gas left you start thinking ………….(movie). As we entered the Park the temperature was 37 degrees F. We got into our neat cozy room by 10 pm. Tired enough to watch the end of the World Series and pass out. This morning I awoke to see the sun rise over the mountain behind us to glow into the valley and mountains in front of our western facing picture window. There was ice on our car. (As I write sunset is a creeping in). So then we walked to the dining room for breakfast. A good uphill climb. After breakfast we drove to a picnic area and hiked briefly on the Appalachian Trail which runs throughout the park. Reminded me of my boy scout days hiking the Kittattiny Mountains in western Jersey. Fun. After a nap lunch was terrific. Great menu. Then sit by a fire and read the papers. Made a trail ride horseback riding appointment for 3:15 tomorrow. Then back to our place. A deck off the back of the room overlooks this incredible valley and other mountains. Sooo quiet. Only hear chipmunks scurrying through the leaves. Beautiful air here in the mountains. We’ve needed this rest for a while. Very happy to be here. Thanks to Carol’s family for helping us with Mommy’s care. Love you all. Peace. More later. JIMBO
10.30.07 Happy Birthday Benjamin!!! No. 7!! Love you xoxoxo Grandpa and Grandma. 5:30 pm. Just got back from a horse back trail ride. Fantastic; on a pinto. See pix.Saw a Buck. Also had a picnic out on a field in the cool air and warm sun. Beautiful Fall day. Blue skies. This am after breakfast we hiked; more pics of scenes, skies, a buck and more. Perfect vacation. Nap too! We need this more often. Heaven man!! Later.

Clinical Trial/New Doo

Tues. Oct. 23, 2007. 12:50 pm. New haircut!! Continuing to perform. Past weekend played ArtsMaplewood's Jazz Weekend Concert at Burgdorff Sat. eve , then a Church gig Sun am (music of Duke Ellington) then Sunday eve SwingTown Dance Party. Alot of fun. Exhausted Monday, slept in!! Today trombone 4 rehearsal. So, resting between gigs. Must learn to do less, drop out and tune in to self preservation. Carol and I hiked the reservation on a beautiful Saturday morning. Must continue same. Next weekend to Bethesda then to Virginia to hike in Shanendoahs. Leaf peeping. Again, need to find time for self. Read, listen, paint and sketch, practice, hike etc. Bass is back. Fabulous sound and feeling. Thank you Arnold. Thanks Ronnie. Trying to keep in touch with many friends and relatives. Trying to work my way back to a normal life style. I'm pretty much there, but have to let some things go. Less volunteering. Go tomorrow to MSKCC for checkup and coaching on injections. Carol will prep the next Vaccination spot (a different extremity each time) for next 2 weeks. In about 1 month, before the 3rd Vaccination, I must undergo another Bone Marrow Biopsy. Ugh!! Donating myself to science here. I just tried to lookup my Clinical Trial on NCI website. There must be hundreds of clinical trials for AML patients. Couldn't find mine in the listing. It's going well though. No negative reactions so far.
Again, thanks for all your support. I've learned so much about people, life, cancer and the world in this process. I feel fortunate to be living in the NYC area for medical expertise (and of course the arts). I feel fortunate to have the support from Carol, Rebekah, my entire family and friends. I'm feeling good and really appreciate that. It's not an easy process physically or emotionally, but my friends and relatives have supplanted the hardships with love, prayers, and attention/support. As Devon said to me Sunday, "we're blood brothers now". Hah!! I guess John we're now "platelet brothers"!! Hah!! I miss my Chemo Sabbe Michael. Fortunately we have lots of his music to dig. Music is so healing; uplifting. Challenging. Its a wonderful family.. music.
I'm reading about violinmaking, guitar playing, piano playing while listening to country, Irish, Brahms Second, Mehldau etc. Then studying scores, preparing scores (Birkhat), playing trombone/tuba/bass. Carol and I skimmed Annie Liebowitz's book 1990-2005 retrospective last night. Breathtaking. Susan's last years/months/days/hours. Powerful. Mixed with new life, 3 babies at the same time. And longevity. And deeply revealing portraits throughout. Creative; thoughtprovoking; solid.
Enjoy this beautiful Fall. JIM

Forward

Thurs. 10/11/07. 10:30 pm. Bob and Bonnie and Ben and Barbara just left. (That's Bonnie and Barbara with me at dinner). Carol made a "Thanks" dinner for friends who have helped us out . We'll have others. Yesterday I had a Birthday morning first with singing from Benjamin , Maayan and Greg. Then a trip to MSKCC to get poked and shotup. A+ report from Dr. Berman on the CT Scan results. Mini fungal at best, we're pretty much clear. Then visit with Jon F. Then Vaccination shots. No issues. EZ. Got home and napped by 4 pm. Wed. night Concert Band rehearsal. Carmen Suite. Finlandia. Stars and Stripes etc. Fun. Birthday Cake too. Today I napped some more. Tomorrow guitar lesson and NJ Symphony Concert at NJPAC; Neemi Jarve and Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg. Tschaikowsky program. So, we're doing good. Finding a routine. Still trying to catchup with folks I haven't seen in a year. That's coming along. See ya. Thanks for all prayers and support and love. JIMBO

Start'er Up

Mon. Oct.8,2007. 5:35 pm. Went to MSKCC at 53rd St. for the CT scan. Due to holiday no traffic. We were done by the apptment time. Had to drink a liter of the juice. EZ. Then over to York Ave. to begin the Vaccination trial. 3 pokes today. 1st 2 are like a skin test, similar to your TB test under the skin. 3rd poke on other side is a shot designed to draw in certain elements of my Immune system. 48 hours later (Wed am) we will introduce the vaccination. Then again in 2 weeks.
Tomorrow Tbone 4 in the am. Guitar lesson at 1:30. Then Tuba/Dixieland Gig from 5-9 for the opening of a new Target in Wayne (Riverdale). I guess I'm back!! Hah! See you soon. JIMBO

Under 3%

Thurs. 10/4 8:30 pm. Yanks 2/Clev 4. Oi!! Phone call from Coco today says I'm in Remission, under 3% blasts (you and everybody else has that count). So, on to a CT Scan (checking fungals still) and another meeting with Suzanne (nurse with Clinical Study) Monday for pre Vaccination inoculation (which is designed to draw in certain immune system cells). Then Wed. a checkup with Doctor Berman and the 1st Vaccination. What a birthday that will be. I'm ok with it. For me and science. Carol and I enjoyed ribs and chicken at the new Indigo Smoke here in Maplewood. Tomorrow we play tbone 4's and rehearse with the Jazz Trio. Sturday is GreenDay here. Sunday to hear Chanticleer at SOPAC. Peace. Thanks for your support. JIMBO

#6

Mon. 10/1/07. 6:00pm. Number 6 Bone Marrow Biopsy (or Aspiration, both today) to be used as the baseline for the Clinical Trial. Also had blood tests (12 vials; not as much as a pint) and urinanalysis. Signed all the paperwork etc. Once these baseline tests are examined and I'm totally accepted into the trial we'll begin the prevaccination shots and the vaccinations (in a couple of weeks). So while they are shoving needles and drill like tools into my hip bone I tried to lighten things up: "so you use Lidacaine instead of Novacaine in this procedure? Yes. Must be the female version of the drug". Hah!! Both Carol and I had to miss our Lifelong Learning classes today. Next week as well since I need another CT Scan to monitor the fungal material on the lungs and the liver. I keep turning red at times. I swear this condition existed before my illness, from either blood pressure meds or some other sensitivity. But...we've got to stop the Voriconizale (antifungal) for now and see if it eases up. Doc doesn't like to see skin changes. Indicates a (negative) reaction. So, it was nice to see Dr. Berman and Coco and Lola and Mona. I was going to stop up to 12th floor to see Mariah, Katrina etc. but ran out of time. Next Monday we'll get up there.
Played a wedding ceremony at a pretty park/lake in Morris County (Kinnelon) Saturday. Enjoyed a party yesterday. Tonight will dig Antiques Roadshow while we wait for the beginning of the playoffs Thursday. (Maybe Monday Night Fball). Picked up the October Better Homes and Gardens which has a feature on my cousin Rick Wogisch (Architectural Landscaper) in his home garden. Also books to send to my students who graduated from high school while I was in the hospital. Finally!.
Still feel good and am enjoying the energy and ability to start playing etc. (Played Trombone Quartets Friday as well). Love. Peace. Keep Healthy. JIMBO