Post Thanksgiving

Fri., Nov. 23rd. 7:30 pm. We had 27 for dinner yesterday.Even Lori and Ty flew up from Florida for the dinner. Delicious. The food, the people, the love. Carol did a great job. The kids came up Wed. Also Wed. we went to hospital. Excellent bloodwork numbers. 3rd vaccination. Going OK. Feel good. Playing music, both trombone and basses. Studying guitar and enjoying. Oh yes, we stopped by the 12th floor to see Catriona. She was busy but could stop for a quick hug. Mariah was off. Saw Chrissy too. Also hit the 15th floor. We may bring a group to the 15th floor to play a set for the patients and for some of the staff who want to hear us work. Hope you all can enjoy this beautiful Fall weekend. We went to the Farm today. My cousins in Princeton. Saw the whole family. Great joy. Gotta go. Love. Peace. Thank you for your spirited care.JIMBO

Cold Lifting

Fri.Nov.16th. 7 pm. We're off to hear Steve and the Newark Elders playing Jazz at the Priory and eat dinner. Most of the cough is gone. Cold as well. Just a touch in the am. The vaccination spot is still angry red and itchy and a hard lump. Oi!! But that was expected and I was warned I might have lumps for quite a while. Not a bother. CB gives me a shot Mon., then to hospital Wed. early for bloodwork, Drs. exam, and 2 other Vaccination shots (3rd round). On Dec 5th for the 4th round I also get a bone marrow biopsy. So, all is proceeding ok. Had a wonderful talk with Bill Sempier in Vermont this week. He's doing great after Chemo, Radiation, Pneumonia etc. Back to lecturing and hopefully soon to sing again. I'm performing again in December. Working up to it. Am playing trombone and tuba again as well as basses. Surfed web re: survivors stories, or as Brad says "conqueror"'s stories. Interesting . Tough. The more I read the more I feel blessed and grateful.
Getting ready for Thanksgiving. Last year I had my 5th day of Chemo on Thanksgiving and the stomach erupted!! Oi vey!!
1st time we missed our tradition at home in over 25 probably 30 years. Back to it this year. We have 25 guests again. Fun. The kids will be up for the weekend to see their cousins. It's a gas!! Pete is sending me pumpkin pie again from the diner.
Did I tell you I got my bass back from Arnold's shop??? Sounds better than ever. At Gage's shop last Fri we saw John Pattitucci and an old bass owned by Jack Lesburg. History all over the place. The Concert Band wailed at the Veteran's Day ceremony Sunday. Good vibes. SwingTown is readying for Holiday parties in December. Also big Jazz fundraiser in February, then a cabaret in March. We'll play the Veterans Hospital again in January. We're keepin' at it. So, gotta go. Love and Peace. Keep healthy. JIMBO

Finally Cold

Thurs. 11/8 12 noon. Finally cold weather to slug through with my cold/cough. Yesterday to MSKCC for another blood test, chest Xray (both OK) and vaccination. It's a bit wearing (wearying??) with a cold. I was sick by the time I got home. Got into PJs and cancelled out on the Community Band. It was ok, Shelley conducted. Feel better today. Meeting this am re May gig with SwingTown, doing a Cabaret at Bloomfield College. Then this afternoon back to NYC to Gages shop to look at basses with Ian and Bob.
Would like to get to Blue Note this week to hear Clarence with Basies band but I'm still struggling with cough etc., especially at night. Maybe Sat. night. We'll see. Stay healthy. Drink hot tea!! JIMBO

Sunday Blues

Sunday. 11/4/07 11:30am. Down with a cold/cough. Drag. Wanted to play music this am but can't get out. Didn't sleep well. Went to hospital Fri to get chest xray, blood test etc. I'm ok, but have to wait for this cold to lift. Checking out NYC Marathon on tube. Air etc. is beautiful here. Digging Joni Mitchell w Jaco, Pat, Michael etc. on the DVD now. So, I have to slow down. This makes up for all the gigs I played when I wished I could be out in the air, park, or just home. And so it goes. I'm home wantin' to be out, when I'd sometimes be out wantin' to be hanging out here. The constant balance battle. We talked about all that years ago at Westtown, Caldwell etc. Spoke to Maayani this am. She cheers me up.Monday. 11/5. 5:00 pm. Clocks back. We did go to hear the Ahmad Jamal Quartet and Ramsey Lewis Trio at NJPAC with Bonnie, Bob and Ian. Fun. Reported to Docs today I still have a cold/cough. Now nasal drip is annoying. This cold is taking a while to clear. Staying close to home, resting, drinking and using cough meds. Back into MSKCC on Wed. for Vaccination shot. Enjoying the ball games. JIM