The Grif

I got a little fancy and did a motion blur effect on this picture of #2 son. It sort of came out like an oil painting.

06.30.05 - A Tear To Your Eye

Here's a truly heartwarming story about the bond formed between a little
girl and some construction workers that makes you believe that we CAN
make a difference when we give a child the gift of our time...

A young family moved into a house, next door to a vacant lot. One day a
construction crew turned up to start building a house on the empty lot.

The young family's 5-year-old daughter naturally took an interest in all
the activity going on next-door and spent much of each day observing the
workers. Eventually the construction crew, all of them
gems-in-the-rough, more or less adopted her as a kind of project mascot.

They chatted with her, let her sit with them while they had coffee and
lunch breaks, and gave her little jobs to do here and there to make her
feel important.

At the end of the first week they even presented her with a pay envelope
containing a couple of dollars. The little girl took this home to her
mother who said all the appropriate words of admiration and suggested
that they take the two dollar "pay" she had received to the bank the
next day to start a savings account.

When they got to the bank, the teller was equally impressed and asked
the little girl how she had come by her very own pay check at such a
young age.

The little girl proudly replied, "I worked last week with the crew
building the house next door to us."

My goodness gracious," said the teller, "and will you be working on the
house again this week, too?"

The little girl replied, "I will if those assholes at Home Depot ever
deliver the fuckin sheet rock..."

Kind of brings a tear to the eye

06.29.05 - Fuck!

Fuck!

Well, here I am sitting in Sloan Kettering in NYC. Just found out that I do indeed have cancer mets in my lungs. There are about 9 spots. The protocol is CPT11 every other week and this other drug (the one that Martha Stewart got in trouble for) every week for 2 months. Then another CT scan, then take it from there. More news as it happens...
meanwhile back home on the phone....
Right now I am on hold on the phone with United Health Care to see if I am covered for Erbitux (that was the drug they threw that criminal Martha Stewart in jail for). Well, after getting the usual runaround, I was connected with a nice woman named Karen. she explain to me that I have to have my Dr submit a predetermination (I guess it's like seeing if I'm "sponge worthy") Of course that could take 30 days, but after a little gently prodding, I was told to ask for it to be expedited and it could be done in 5 days. I'm still rather numbed and bummed, but not too angry. I was kind of planning for the worst and the worst side effects are constipation (everyone else on chemo gets diaharerra -I can never spell that word) and I may get acne! Great, my 11 yr old and I can share the Clearasil...

WOW!

Well, this is rather strange. Is this karma in action, the power of suggestion or just one of those things. I had made a post (06.22.05) where I was in rather rare form and was going on a rant about someone who goes to Gilda's Club. She (Ursula) always seemed to dominate the discussions and never came up for air. After making a post here (and getting some great feedback) and discussing this with family, friends and my shrink, I felt the time was right for me to bring this up at tonight's meeting. So I got to the meeting, and I was told that there was some sad news, Ursula died Sunday night of cardiac arrest! It was so weird. We started talking about it when other members came in and it seemed like there was a general consensus that, although we hate to see someone die, she was a pain in the ass and dominated the group. So we all agreed that when/if this comes up again, we will confront the person and not wait until they die before we talk about it...

06.28.05

This morning I did one of my top 3 favorite things to do. Numbers 1 & 2 involve Ice Cream and whipped toppings (I'll leave it to that). Number 3 is to go kayaking. It was special today because there was a light to moderate rain falling. It just makes the lake that much more tranquil. I got home, then went for a swim (possible enjoyment number 4). Which brings me to my next topic (lousy segway). Of all of you who Blog, do your spouses/significant others/close friends
A- know you Blog
B- read your Blogs
C- know what the hell a Blog is.

My wife knows I Blog, she's still not quite sure what that means, she's not terribly computer literate, but I have not shown her my blog. I don't feel I've written anything 'wrong' but yet I have not shared it with anyone I know. Just curious to see how the rest of you folks feel about this.

He's Back....

Paula, this one's for you!
I think I've probably run this image into the ground

06.27.05

Well, today seems like a rather blah day in blahgsville. i got up at 5:30 to kayak, and yes, there is more garbage, but ,my sign is still standing. Thank God they can't read. I saw another Blue Heron this morning too. I got real close to it too, but unfortunaltly, the batteries in my digital camera died. Speaking of dying (nice segway) I'm rather nervous about my CT scan on Saturday. I wish I would have the test, then that day get the results. but no, I have to wait until Wednesday. At least I have an 8:30-ish am appointment. I don't feel particuarlly good about it, I've just got a funny feeling. I guess there are a few possible senarios that could play out.
1-I'm fine, cancer in remission
2-I'm not fine, either colon cancer is back or those spots on my lungs are indeed cancer.
3-another inconclusive
4- get mugged in the city

06.26.05 - Litter

Good Morning all, This has been an issue for me for a while. It really bothers me that people litter. I think it shows a great lack of repect for the environment (I'm no tree hugger, but I love nature) and for other people. I usually get up and go kayaking every morning. It just amazes me how many fishermen/women just throw their empty coffe cups, beer cans, twinkeis, etc all over the ground. So, i usually pick their garbage up, and carry it the amazingly long distance of across the street, and throw it in the dumpster. I'm usually so exhausted by the strenuous task, that i must go home and take a nap. During a rather slow day at work on Friday, I made a sign that I put up this morning along with the other NO LITTERING sign that is already there. I wonder what the result will be. My guess is that some clown will rip the sign down and not throw it in the garbage.
New Sign

06.25.05

Hello, It's a slow day in Bloggsville. I did go into NYC to Sloan Kettering for a CT scan to see whether or not I have cancer in my lungs. That's exciting, isn't it? I will find out on Wednesday when I have my consultation with my oncologist. Today, it's REAL hot in NY state, so I am going to go swimming for a while in my pool!


-Phil

06.24.05 Karma, Forgiveness, and maybe other stuff

Well, It's been an interesting week in Bloggerville. Ive been getting some cool people visiting my site. I don't want this to become a site about ethics, but I thought I'd create a post about Karma and Forgiveness. Does not forgiving create bad karma? When something bad happens to you, is it karma? When something bad happens to people you have done you wrong, is that karma?
As always, all comments are welcome...

06.23.05 - Trust

This is an interesting subject. How do you know whether to trust someone or not. There could be someone that you have known for many years and never trusted because he/she has proven that they can not be trusted. Or, you may have known them for many years and just have a 'gut' feeling about them. Then, there are people you know who seem normal, but they usually turn out to be axe murders or something. "Well, he/she seemed to be so normal" I think 'so normal' can be unnerving for me. There are also people who seem like they are definately psychopaths, like that guy they just let in to the USA from Canada with the bloody chainsaw. But I seem to have gotten off track here. There are also people that you may meet on the internet or through blogging. You really don't know anything about them except what they tell you, and that's totally on the honor system. I'm rather skeptical of people, but I feel I'm usually a good judge of people with just having a little interaction with them. How much do you folks trust people?

06.23.05

What a great morning it was today

First, there was the Sunrise

followed by a Full Moon Setting

with a side of Mist

or two.....
A very remarkable morning on Walton Lake. the full moon was setting as teh sun was rising. there was this tremendous mist rising from the lake. The pictures can not capture it. It really gives a feeling of being alive! Then I went home for a swim and there was mist coming off of my pool after I took the cover off. The air temp was mid 50's. A great way to start the day....


Then I saw the strangest sight...

SHARK!

This is Funny!

http://www.zefrank.com/
Some great stuff on here. Check out the dancing.

06.22.05

Let's see,
I went to 3 different therapists yesterday. (Oh-boy, lucky me). I did my usual psychologist, that was rather productive. Confession can be good for the soul (if you trust the person, like Paula said). I had to 'fess up' to my own shit so I could bring up something that my wife did. Tit for tat. Hey, I'm not perfect. Then I saw my psychiatrist who put me back on a different med. Geeze, I never did drugs that were actually precribed for me, what a concept! Then i did my weekly dose of Gilda's club. Thank God Ursala was not there! That lady NEVER shuts up and I really don't give a shit about her dogs or whatever, and I didn't ask YOU the question, I asked someone else. If we want to know what you think about something, someone will ask you. Got it?????

Sunrise on Walton Lake

06.21.05 - Sunrise on Walton Lake
This is how I started my day! There was the coolest mist rising from the lake this morning, the lake was like a sheet of glass. I think I'd totally lose my mind if I didn't have this place to go to every day. I went 81 consecutive days last year.

06.21.05

I knew he did this for a reason!

Look out!

shark

06.19.05 Dogs

Let's start with dogs. I always wanted to have a dog. When I graduated kindergarten, my parents told me they were going to get me a dog. For some reason, I wanted a Bassett hound - not sure why, maybe because of Hush Puppy shoes? At any rate, I never did get the dog. Sure, I had hamsters and fish and at one time, we actually had a canary. But no dog. I remember getting biten by 2 different dogs when I was a kid. One dog belonged to Patty Scully (with a pimple in her belly). He got me right on the fleshy part of my ass. I remember a cop came to our door and I had to show him my ass. I guess I'm lucky it wasn't a priest! The other was my friends Frankie's dog. That was a psycho/hunting dog. I guess I was fair 'game'. Then when I got older and had my own place, I decided to get a cat. Of course, when I went to get it, there were 2 left so I didn't want to break up the family, so I got them both. They were great, they played with each other and kept each other company. I think that was when I really became a cat person. Cats just seemed so much easier to take care of. Plus they are more independent, a lot like me I suppose. Now, I live upstate NY and EVERYBODY has a friggin dog. The people behind us have two monster dogs that bark all of the time, plus those beasts have escaped their yard and got into ours. I have not seen this, but when I do, I will make a big stink about it. I have kids and don't need this moron's mutts over here. Also, my sister-in-law just got a dog. I still can't figure this one out. She's got 3 kids, trys to home school, and now has the dopey dog to care for. And it is one of those that jumps all over you and barks. It makes the hair on my neck stand up sometimes. And now, of course, my kids want a dog. I just don't see this happening at all. My wife is not keen on this either so at least we are together on this.......

06.18.05

This site started out as a way for me to get out some of the stuff I'm feeling about having cancer, but I just don't want to be pissing and moaning about it. I mean, we all at one time or another get dealt a shitty hand in life. So what can you do about it, not a whole hell of a lot. Christ, I could get hit by a piece of 'Cosmic Debris' or frozen excrement for a jet liner and be taken out lit that! So why fret about it. What I would rather try to do is to use this to try my hand at writing (or typing as the case may be). Or maybe give my opinion on current events or some shit like that. It's strange because I can be very funny or witty, but when I try to think of something funny, I draw a blank. Hmmmm, I could use this as a practice place and see whawt happens.....Well, nothing so far.
I do find this whole Blog thing very interesting. I mean, you can just go from one person's blog to anothers. There is some funny stuff out there. I saw Paula's blog, great stuff. there also seems to be some rather sick-o stuff there too. I hope to be more entertaining than sick-o although we all have a little of that in us, don't we?

friday 06.17.05

well, friday is here. Got up at 5 am, kayaked at lake and saw a few giant snapping turtles. Got back home and did some swimming. The air temp was 51 degrees, but the water was nice. Getting ready to see Les Paul this Sunday at Carnigee Hall, should be great. It's a beautiful day, only a half day of work. Maybe I'll add something more interesting later.....

    Sunrise on Walton Lake