To the suprise of my doctors I am still alive and have only a tiny 2 cm wide spot on my cat scan. Just a few days ago my Oncologist said "I haven't a clue what to do with you. You're not like any other patient that I or anyone I know has ever seen."

I'm not sure how I should feel about that. 

Next week I get a CAT scan on Wednesday and an endoscopy on Friday. These are designed to find out if the remission is still holding. If I'm still in remission it will vindicate my oncologist's decision to try radiation in addition to chemo and his thought that he might actually be able to cure me rather than simply putting off the inevitable ( ( Read more... )

It's been a very long time since I've posted here. I switched my online activity many years ago to FaceBook. A romance that began on Six Degrees, moved to Livejournal and then to FB and became a live in situation. It went on for 13 years and then, abruptly, a few weeks ago, with about 15 minutes notice she was gone ( Read more... )

The great reality of so called conservative economics is that it hurts the very people who are often its loudest grass roots supporters.

This is part of a historical reality in which white working class people have routinely been gulled by demagogues into supporting the very things that kept them poor. Slavery was, in it day, no blessing to ( Read more... )

The party of stupid strikes again

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/17/gohmert_radical_islamists_are_trained_to_act_hispanic/

Today is my birthday. I am 66 years old. I frankly was not expected to live to see this birthday but I am, as my Oncologist said, "the poster boy for miracles ( Read more... )

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in
the inn.The gospel according to Luke ( Read more... )

At 11:00am on November 11, 1918 - the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the guns fell silent.

When they had begun to fire, in August of 1914, crowds in every major capital in Europe had cheered, waved their nation's flag, and marched to war firm in the conviction that God was on their side.

15 million died and another 22 ( Read more... )

Back in the USA after a very nice trip to Paris.

Discovered a new favorite restaurant the Comptoir Tournon which, back in the day, was the hangout for many figures in the African American literary movement. It was also the site of the first performance in Paris of the Duke Ellington band.

Back from a month in Paris. Only the feeling I really needed to vote kept me from staying for another month.