Made some decisions...

Just got back from meeting with Dr Margolin and I've decided to discontinue the chemotherapy.  I'm also discontinuing all of the other prescription drugs I'm taking for cholesterol, blood pressure and acid reflux.  My thought process is this: the temolozomide makes me feel really crappy, requires anti-nausuea drugs, supresses my appetite and for all that has virtually no chance of prolonging my life.  So I'm not going to do it.  The rest of the drugs are not really needed - my weight loss has taken care of my blood pressure and if I have a problem with acid reflux again I'll deal with it.  Right now I want to de-toxify my body from all these drugs as much as possible and hopefully that will help me feel better, at least in the short run.  And that includes my recent experiment with marijuana brownies.  A loving friend who will remain nameless helped me in that experiment and it's just too much trouble and too hard to figure if it even works and not needed once the chemo is ended.

So the only drugs I'm keeping are for pain management and sleep and I'm loaded for bear there.  When my body tells me something bad is finally happening we'll deal with it then.  At least (hopefully) until then I can operate normally, eat and enjoy it and get around without too much trouble.  I don't want to or expect to put much weight back on, but my taste buds are much better and without the chemo maybe I'll get an appetite back.  We'll see.  I'm just looking forward to my body cleansing itself for now, tomrrow is another day.  If I start feeling better maybe I'll get a little bit more travel in.  So that's it for now.  All my best to you.

My second Breedlove Ukulele

Thought it was aobut time to post the pictures I took of my walnut cutaway Breedlove.  It has wonderful, warm tone and plays like a dream.  A real treat.  Enjoy.

Here are a few pictures of Amy's third Portage Bay Cafe. It's in Ballard, just before you get to the Hiram Chittenden Locks. Opens July 8th or so and these pictures were taken during construction, obviously. I'll post more after it opens.

Some more houseboat pics

My new houseboat in Seattle

I moved from Bend to Seattle in May '09. Here are some pics of my new digs. The housesboat is owned by long time friends Rick and Joyce Miner, who now live next door in a larger one. She's a leukemia survivor, so I consider this a "lucky housevoat"! Just a few minutes from downtown and in between two of my older daughter's restaurants, the Portage Bay Cafe. Here are a few pics. I've got more on my Facebook page if you are on facebook. Enjoy!

YouTube links

Here is my first YouTube of Misty, recorded by Gordon Mayer at their home in White Salmon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqH3b-YZBzI&feature=related
Here I did it again at home, adding a variation. Video's could be better, but I'm just a beginner at this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXOEmZ0-60s
And here is 'I Only Have Eyes for You", done on one of my Mele ukuleles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb19F4tHiig

And here's my own arrangement of "I've Got You Under My Skin", my first posting using my new Breedlove: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIFYu7zd8AU

Mya-Moe Ukulele

This was my first really nice uke and the maker, Gordon Mayer of White Salmon, WA and his beautiful wife, Char, have become good friends. I recorded my YouTube of "Misty" on this uke and it has a lovely tone. It's made of Zebrawood and spruce and has the distinctive Mya-Moe headstock inlay. Gordon is making fabulous ukes, especially resonator ukes, and has made lap steel for James Hill. Visit their website http://www.myamoeukuleles.com/