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Great News!

Just a short note to let everyone know the good news: I have just had a CAT scan with good results!

The cancer has stayed away and I have graduated to the next step.

My next scan is in a year!!!
Written on 18 May 2018 at 12:08PM
Comments
Re: Great News!
I'm happy to hear that and that you are doing well.
Posted at 22 Dec 2018 at 1:12PM by safoocat
Re: Great News!

Thank you, but when I had my last battle in 2015 it wasn't an option here in NYC.

If I have another fight down the road, it won't be an issue, because we are getting close to legalization...

Thank you very much!
marc
Posted at 22 Dec 2018 at 11:25AM by marcmandy
Re: Great News!
I hope you are using medical marijuana when you have chemo; good luck with your recovery.
Michelle
Posted at 22 Dec 2018 at 9:18AM by safoocat
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Homeward bound
In the vernacular of our 20- and 30-something friends and family:
So!
After a month long photo- and then gaming- excursion, we are now homeward bound, or perhaps home by the time you see this (Sunday night NY time). There is no way to encapsulate this experience in a few words. It’s been a great month with VERY different experiences! We are so glad we went! Hawaii was phenomenal and, while we expect to go back at some point, I think we both feel as though we have seen some of the Hawaii we had not seen before and it was quite satisfying! The gaming cruise (JoCo 2018) was a revelation and may become a somewhat regular thing. It was a cruise filled with like-minded people of all ages, shapes, and sizes as well as some extremely talented and intelligent musicians and writers. We can’t go next year as we hope to be doing an entirely different trip next March, but the following year, health permitting, we hope to return.
Being away for a month was not insurmountable. We were able to pack enough of everything and do laundry a few times to get us through without a problem. There are things we missed, but it was well worth the sacrifice.
This was the dry run for our next planned trip, again- health permitting, to New Zealand in March of 2019!
Of course, we will have to learn how to drive on the other side of the road from the other side of the car!!! But that’s an issue for another post down the road...
At any rate, it will be good to be home and boyoboy (girlohgirl?), do I have a LOT of photos to go through!
I will ease my way back into games as I can!
Written on 25 Feb 2018 at 6:02PM
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Well! It’s time for fun news!

About 10 months ago, young son asked us if we’d be able to join him on a board games cruise run by an outfit named JoCo (after it’s founder Jonathan Coulton). It sounded intriguing. Despite my reluctance to plan beyond 6 months, the circumstances were such that we’d save a bundle if we booked then. Cheap almost always beats logic and we booked. The cruise starts this Feb 18th and it sails out of San Diego- land of the dreaded drizzle! (When we were there in 2000, the weather forecasters were in a tizzy about the imminent threat of dangerous road conditions that might arise over a threatened drizzle to light showers as though it were an impending blizzard!)

But WAIT! There’s MORE!!

On the heels of my good PET scan in November, I was asked by our good friend Michele where we were traveling to celebrate this one. I reminded her of the cruise, but she got me to thinking…
Y’know, NYC to San Diego is halfway… Halfway to what...?

Halfway to Hawaii!!

I wondered if we could change our plans and let Dev return to NYC whilst we headed west, but Cheryl had a commitment to a glass-class 2 weeks after and that seemed too short for Hawaii. She suggested going first, but I was hesitant because that would’ve meant trying to book flights and accommodations for a trip only 5 or so weeks away. I mulled it over and said what the HEY! (well almost that) and started the research. The end result was that with 3 days of intensive research and planning, we booked a 3 week vacation with multiple photo tours on 4 different islands!

We will start in Oahu, highlighted by a recommended photo tour by a photographer/tour guide of parts of the island that most locals don’t know about. Next will be 6 days on Kauai, which we’ve only been to once and very briefly. There will be 2 photo tours there as well as a snorkeling “cruise”. We then head to Maui for 3 days and 2 more photo tours. And we finish on the Big Island with 2 more tours in the Volcano area plus several other sites we want to see. It is nicely paced with many relaxing days mixed in. We will mostly stay at Air BnB’s, and they appear to be good.

When that’s done we will meed da Kid at the hotel in San Diego and then be off on the cruise!
So it’s all YOUR fault, Michele!!! (Thanks a LOT!!! Smiling )

We depart on Thursday January 25th on a non-stop 11-½ hour flight (whew!!)

A note to my GT friends and fellow gamers. While I have been trimming my games down, I expect to play my games, although somewhat more intermittently than normal, but I will have vacation days in place for at least some of the trip. Certainly during the cruise at the end where ‘net connectivity is spotty at best.
Written on 22 Jan 2018 at 5:18PM
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Whew!!!

11/17/17: This is just a quick note to all the pholks who are interested. I had my 6 month PET scan on Mon 11/13 and was told today that I remain clean of those evil little beasties!! There is much relief in my little corner of the world! No new travel plans.

Yet...

Written on 17 Nov 2017 at 7:25PM
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The Iceland pics are now ready for viewing!

At long last, after about a month that included a trip to Virginia to see my cuzzes, an incredible run by the Yankees, and several weeks of intense culling and work on my Iceland photos, I am ready to present them. I’m not finished, but I rarely am. I am including a few shots here, but you can go to one of my sites to see the whole presentation:

http://www.marcmandy.net/Travel/Iceland-2017

In most of the galleries there, I’ve written a bit about that day to give some context to the photos, but it isn’t required reading!
It was a wonderful trip and we hope someday to return. There is much that we haven’t seen, but we saw a great deal and it is an extremely photogenic region.

These two shots are pf the Northern Lights we experienced! We actually saw them on two different nights!

Aurora 1


Aurora 2
Written on 22 Oct 2017 at 2:15PM
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Pictures
One of many


Somewhere over…
Written on 22 Oct 2017 at 2:12PM
Comments
Re: Pictures
There is a Rainbow on this Waterfall. Cool!
Posted at 6 Jul 2018 at 5:22AM by Cheetah
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More Pictures

IR ocean


Black Sand Beach
Written on 22 Oct 2017 at 2:11PM
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Pictures

Exterminate


Mrs. Grimm, I presume?
Written on 22 Oct 2017 at 2:10PM
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Three for the price of one.
This is a 3 for 1 post, and, at least on one count, long overdue.

Not counting a wicked-bad cold that just went through our family, my health is good! I had my last PET scan in May and I was clean.

Other than some seemingly permanent chemically-induced neuropathy in my fingertips and feet, I am feeling fine and am living life to the fullest (at least, until the next scan in November).


This brings us to the second part of the post: We are headed to Iceland this Friday (9/15) in search of the Northern Lights and all sorts of other goodies!

We will be there for a week. When we return, we will then head to Virginia to visit my cousins, who will themselves be vacationing!

All in all, it’ll be two very full weeks ending 9/30. As such, while I won’t be out of ‘net range, my time will be limited and my play will be sparse.

So, don’t fear if you don’t see me play, know that me, my wife, and my camera will be very busy cavorting on vacation!

I have, incidentally, put myself on vacation here for the first full week. I may extend it if time requires it.

and finally, the Pièce De Résistance:

Do you remember how, a little under a year ago, and just below this entry, I wrote an ode to my sadly deceased K100 and a sorrowful piece called The End of an Era?

Well…

My plan to retire from riding only lasted until the first 70° day that we encountered last February. Only about 3 or 4 months.

I was feeling better than I had for a long time with the effects of the chemo mostly dissipated and opened the car windows and said

Why on earth am I in a 4-wheeled sardine can?!?

That started the process of looking for a replacement. I didn’t need a large bike anymore since most of my riding would be local.

No more trips to Nova Scotia or New England, but stuff in and around The City.

Long-story-short, It didn't take long to find a new ride: a 2-wheeler called a hybrid. This doesn’t refer to gas/electric, but to a blend between a bike and a scooter.

The BMW C-650 is not quite a bike and not quite a scooter. It's a full sized bike with a 650cc engine, but it has no clutch and no foot controls.

At all.

So I ride and my feet have nothing to do. And I have to be real careful not to squeeze the clutch that is now a brake with my left hand!

I have taken to calling it a “Booter” (or a non-gender-specific “Bootsy” for short)! Me and Bootsy have been toodling around NYC whenever appropriate. It’s not my K100, but it is still two wheels!

So, at least for now, life is good and life is fun!

Written on 10 Sep 2017 at 4:03PM
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The End of an Era


This is a long one. No apologies, but read as much as you’d like:

After 45 years of riding and 30 with the same bike, AND after a couple of years of vacillating over whether I can/should continue to ride, my bike made the decision for me. All of a sudden, in mid-ride, but very local, I lost my clutch. Something just went -pop- and the only way to move was extremely low throttle and eeeeeasy release of the clutch. This would get me up to 5 mph at best, but not uphill. At all. I was able to go to my doc appt and then nurse it home. I had it towed and the end result is that it will take over $2000.00 to repair. For a bike I've been riding less than 10 times a year, it simply made no sense to put out that kind of money. I am not a happy camper, but I'm also not distraught over it, which I guess says it all. I will obviously have my neuropathy issues for the rest of my life and that made it uncomfortable, mostly on my hands.

Machismo be damned... An era has ended.

Biking has been in my system for more years than I've ridden:
-from the long walk to the Woodstock Festival when I watched with envy as bike after bike cruised past us where no car could go,
-to my first ride of learning on a tiny Suzuki 125cc;
-to passing my Bike license test because I had the good fortune to follow my still best-bud who had a rough time starting the bike because of a wrongly set petcock (I, the worser rider, passed- he did not, for which he has yet to forgive me);
-through my romance with Cheryl which ran through five different bikes before we wed;
-to seeing the Dead at Englishtown and BEING the bike that was watched with envy as we cruised past people where no car could go;
-to my commutes to school in Brooklyn and then Lehman College;
-taking several tours through New England and then Nova Scotia (some of the prettiest country I had ever seen up until then);
-and to the Alps for 3 weeks of riding in heaven on the BMW touring bike that would inspire me to buy my own Beemer;
-through the birth of our young-un, who always had a spot reserved for him on my bike- I even measured the trunk to see if he would fit in it (LOL), but, shucks, no helmets available in that size;
-through years of a nightmare commute to the Times plant in Edison, NJ [which I still think of as the "Curseded Place"] passing though the fumes of Elisabeth, NJ or the dumps of Staten Island;
-with year upon year of winter riding as well as summer;
-getting me to my last work location at the Times in College Point, where, when we were all moved to a temporary parking location during construction of a new press, the Times laid down a cement pad just for us motorcyclists so we could park safely!
-and then, finally, to my moments of escape as I fought through the cancer. They were few and far between, but boyoboy were they welcomed…

The photo above was taken by my good friend Andi. It’s the absolute best shot I have of me ’n’ my Beemer.

My heart is sad, but it's been a great run. I may not be riding anymore, but I am still a biker.

Some vignettes:

I recall the astonishment of my co-workers waaaay back as I rode off after a night's work into the snowy sunrise to get my bike home in a couple of inches of snow.
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There were many winter rides to Fort Lee, NJ or Pearl River as Cheryl and I froze our way home in co-o-o-old weather on the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
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I got so many stares and laughs as I carried a Boston Rocker on the back from the store to our apartment.
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Whenever I had a longing for Bagels and Belly Lox, I would get on the bike, go over the 59th Street Bridge (Feelin’ Groovy all the way!) and up to 81st Street and 2nd Ave, park between cars and walk in with a smile and my helmet under arm to a big welcome from the employees. Could be summer or winter- it mattered not, the lox must be had!
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I still recall the disguised look of Horror! on Cheryl’s father’s face when this long-haired, bearded biker brought his daughter to visit on an evil Suzuki 250…
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I spent hours and hours rigging a wiring system to accommodate the CB’s and Walkman output so we could listen to both on our earplugs or speaker phones in our helmets, long before there were speakers on motorcycles. It looked really strange with our portable CB’s attached to the handlebars, but WoW! it worked like a charm for at least three different tours!
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Before my sister-in-law’s first marriage, I rode from NYC to Baltimore solo (my longest ride to date) without the benefit of a fairing or windscreen. It took a ½ hour of massage to get the kinks out of my shoulders. This was despite a half-hour lay-down and stretch on the grass at a rest area half-way down. That was my last trip ever without some form of windscreen!
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My father first rode the bike with me to Yankee Stadium and had an absolute ball! I took him to work a few times and his co-workers were astonished!
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My mother stopped calling it a “thing” after her first, but short, ride. Her bad back wouldn’t allow her more than a couple more rides, but I b’lieve she finally understood after those rides. (She even offered to help me with the cost of the repairs to revive the bike, but the money wasn’t the point, the value was…)
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I remember well young son’s first ride with a helmet that fit him. If I recall correctly, I even took him to school a few times. He and I rode to Connecticut see God (Bob Dylan) in a phenomenal concert!
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There were a few spills that I’d rather not recall too well, but I invariably got back in the saddle and continued onward. My shoulder, with it’s slightly torn rotator cuff will always remind me of my bike…
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There was one dark mid-winter morning’s ride to the Times at the 43rd St plant in Manhattan where the temperature was below zero, but the roads were dry. I was going garage to garage, so starting the bike was not an issue on either end. As long as I rode, there was a bubble around me and I didn’t really feel the cold. Unfortunately, I finally hit a red light at 5th Avenue and 57th Street. For those of you unfamiliar with the location, it is just below the foot of Central Park and the Fifth Avenue Wind Tunnel, where the winds come down from the north unfettered. In the 30 seconds or so that I had to sit there, I lost any semblance of warmth, despite my layers of clothing and commenced the Longest Mile I have ever, in my entire life, ridden.
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In that same vein, I had a choice of a 2-½ hour subway ride or a ½ hour bike ride to get to my dentist in the Bronx. I chose the bike ride. In five degrees. It took me an hour to warm up to the point that I could sit still in the dentist’s chair. The ride home saw a 10 degree increase, and it was a piece of cake.
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The bike was my errand machine. I never had to worry about parking. ever. Saddlebags and Backpack covered almost all contingencies. A shopping cart in the garage got me and the stuff the rest of the way home.
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It was also my instrument of commuting whenever possible.
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I used the bike to go to ballgames at Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, and Citifield. Traffic and parking were never a concern. And parking was free at Yankee Stadium, because I could park 2 blocks away on the street. I have taken ‘most everyone to games there. I never had vandalism or theft issues when I parked there.
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Riding as the Over-the-Hill “gang” Jim, Cheryl, and our close friends Michele, and Michael rode to Nova Scotia on 3 bikes one summer. We even had t-shirts designed for us. Sadly, the wood sprites were unhappy with one of our party always knocking on wood and contacted Thor, who apparently has close ties to Nova Scotia, and he gave us more rain in 9 days than we ever hope to see again! When we got to the ferry terminal there were several long lines and one short line for tickets. I went to check out the short line and it turned out to be the line for cabins. I grabbed the last cabin and we got to take showers, HOT showers after a week-plus of camping and lukewarm showers. It was also a good thing we got the cabin because it turned into one of the roughest ferry rides I’ve ever taken! When we got off in Bar Harbor, Maine, the sun was shining and we found a place to lay out all of our gear and watch as they steamed dry. Incidentally, the CB rig was up and functional for that tour.
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In 1984, we were going to do a Motorcycle Tour of the Alps, covering Germany, Austria, Italy, France, and Lichtenstein. My sister-in-law, Dale, and her hubby wanted to join us, but they didn’t even have bike licenses at that point. I made a sort of condition that they had to get their license through the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) and that we would also take a tour of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This would give them an idea of the kind of riding to prepare for. On that trip, one evening we found ourselves in the middle of an enormous herd of deer in fields surrounding the road. Of course, they didn’t recognize the road as any form of border so we had to crawl our way through the fearless herd. It was absolutely fascinating!
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On the tour of the Alps there are a ton of remembrances, but three stand out:
- Over the preceding 12 years or so, my best bud and I developed our own style of riding. The style was not up to MSF standards. Thusly, when we were on our very first switchback in Austria, in the deep turns, I put my foot down in a balance maneuver. Oops. When Walt (sis-in-law’s hubby) saw that he thought I was going down and came to an awkward stop almost causing Jim (best-bud, and caboose) to almost go down. I continued merrily up the road and was completely baffled when I reached the top and there was nobody behind me…!
- Through the first half of the trip, Jim rode caboose while I took point. The theory being that you put the least experienced riders in the middle. During that time, he was convinced there was something wrong with his bike. It didn’t seem to respond right and felt very awkward. Until… Dale and Walt decided to take a side trip while we went up the backside of the Matterhorn. All of a sudden Jim, who customarily, from a navigational standpoint, rode behind me, charged up from the rear and shouted “There’s nothing wrong with the bike!!! I’ve been following the wrong rider!” and zoomed ahead! It turns out, that after riding with me/us for all these years, he knew my cues intimately and was subconsciously following Walt’s cues which was throwing him off balance.
- and lastly there was the time on that trip when Cheryl pointed up at a beautiful mountain view, Jim looked up from the rear and then watched in astonishment as Walt turned right thinking that we had signaled a right turn… If anything it would’ve been an up-turn, but these bikes weren’t choppers, so there was no rotor to go up…
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Whenever there is one of those perfect 70-ish days with white puffy clouds, I call it a Nova Scotia Day and threaten to get on the bike and just head north.
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I know there will be more vignettes that I will think of- there’s 45 years of riding in me, and mayhaps I should write a book that probably 5 of my closest friends might read, but this all sort of sums up those wonderful years. As I said above, I may be sans bike, but I’m still, at heart, a biker!
Written on 19 Dec 2016 at 8:59AM
Comments
Re: The End of an Era
Just trying to add, to see if it works
Posted at 13 Sep 2017 at 1:29AM by Jools
Re: The End of an Era

Thanks, Ginny!

I think I fixed the response issue now.

It should be a fun trip and, yeah, knees would be just as much of an issue on a trike, but they do look like fun, don't they?
Posted at 11 Sep 2017 at 4:29AM by marcmandy
Re:Three for the Price of One
There was nowhere to put a comment on your latest Entry.. so here it goes.

You must have been reading my mind.
First of all Great to hear your Pet Scan went well and I'm sure November's is going to turn out wonderful also..
Oh wow Northern Lights. What a beautiful time for you and your camera. I'm sure you are going to get some awesome shots for that time.

And going back to Virginia Another awesome vacation for the two of you and can't wait for the pictures of that vacation. Enjoy the both of you and take a bunch of pictures there too.

And for the last of the news.. Once a biker always a biker. and bootsy is so cute. Have been dreaming of getting a trike but I think these ole knees would probably not allow me to lift them up to get on top of one of them so I'll have to pass on it.. but I have to say whenever I see one my head goes back and checks them out big time......

Good luck and have fun the two of you.. and ENJOY.Hugging
Posted at 10 Sep 2017 at 10:23PM by GinnyB
Re: The End of an Era
I just read The End of an Era for the second time. What a story, marc. I can relate well since I am an old biker from way back. Always a tough decision to pack it in. But, as you say, we have the memories forever. And no one can take those from us. Thanks for your posts.
Posted at 8 Apr 2017 at 10:17PM by BettyAnn
Re: The End of an Era
Wonderful! I look forward to ongoing biker tales Smiling
Posted at 30 Dec 2016 at 3:47PM by smiler5
Re: The End of an Era
When one doors closes, another opens! Wait for it! Enjoyed reading your blog!
Posted at 21 Dec 2016 at 9:52AM by LittleTree
Re: The End of an Era
Marc, I read this entire Chapter of your life on Facebook and it was the most interesting thing I've ever read. It captivated me to no end. As it was mentioned above you should be a writer and write about your life. It would definitely be a best seller as I'm sure the entire Goldtoken membership would most definitely purchase it. You have such a way with words no one can believe it. I'm a ex biker myself, so I know that feeling.. but not to the extent that you are. I loved the thrill of that wind blowing in our faces. The excitement of passing people on the "highways". Going down the highway with a group of our friends, especially with my parents riding down with us. Yes my parents had a bike also. We didn't have Beemers but we had Motor Guzzi's. They were so smooth back then. I'm sure your Beemer is smooth too. Farewell to the Bike but a biker at heart will never fade away.. Hugging
Posted at 20 Dec 2016 at 11:34PM by GinnyB
Re: The End of an Era
Wow, wonderful story, wonderful memories/life. Smiling
Posted at 20 Dec 2016 at 8:54AM by laura lee
Re: The End of an Era
After reading this, I realize you have the basis for a book. If you don't write for a living you should. Please, at the least, keep up this blog because I intend to continue reading it.
Posted at 20 Dec 2016 at 6:31AM by Po1son
Re: The End of an Era
I am reading this and enjoying it Marc, still have a way to go, lol.
Posted at 20 Dec 2016 at 3:33AM by CarolP
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A Good-News Pronouncement!
Roughly a year ago I posted a pre-holiday upbeat update. I think it’s time to do the same this year! As in last year there will be no holiday music in the background. At the moment, my music is of Leonard Cohen.
Last Friday, I went for my 6 month PET scan. Because my doc moved up in the world to a new position at a new hospital, the process was slightly different. He got to see the images that same day before he saw me, but there was no written report until later. He looked at the images and they looked good, but there was still the uncertainty of it not being properly pronounced by the Radiologist.
There is no longer any uncertainty. A year out of chemo and I remain clean! Yippee! Deep sigh of relief! I can relax for six more months until the next scan.
For those of you who haven’t been in contact lately, know that I’m physically doing well, so much so that I’m taking a “Spinning” class, and have been for about 2-½ months. Mind you, I’m ‘the old guy’ and can’t even dream of keeping up with the rest of the group, but my endurance has greatly improved and it really seems to be making a strength difference!
My mind has also finally shaken off most of the effects of the chemo and I’m in a much better place. The neuropathy in my extremities is still a thing and I now expect it is a permanent thing to get used to.
It’s been a good travel year for us which has included a week in Aruba (soon to be repeated- a week from Saturday, as a matter of fact!) a wonderful trip to Florida for a cousins visit and an absolutely phenomenal trip to Paris! I also spent an agonizingly hot and humid weekend in South Carolina learning a great deal about Long Exposure photography. I’ve updated my website a bit to show my LE stuff.
We had our kitchen redone, a process I wouldn’t recommend to anyone, but the end result is phenomenal! We have spare cabinet space! Who’d o’ thunked it possible? We still are trying to remember where we put stuff, tho…
I also celebrated my 65th b’day this past February and our 36th anniversary this past October and am looking forward to 66 and 37! It’s a pleasure to be able to say that!
I hope all is well with all of you and that you have a happy holiday season regardless of your persuasion!
Written on 23 Nov 2016 at 2:41PM
Comments
Re: A Good-News Pronouncement!
I am so happy for you and your family. So very happy. I am all ok to for a year to. I just had my test last week. All ok.
Posted at 11 Dec 2016 at 10:43PM by Marge44
Re: A Good-News Pronouncement!
Oh what good news. I am so happy for you and your family!!
Posted at 10 Dec 2016 at 10:05PM by Trish41
Re: A Good-News Pronouncement!
Super news Marc. What a great Christmas gift, and glad you could share it with us!
Happy holidays, and have a great trip!
Posted at 30 Nov 2016 at 8:46PM by oldog
Re: A Good-News Pronouncement!
Great News, Mr Marcmandy!.
Posted at 27 Nov 2016 at 8:37AM by kuebari
Re: A Good-News Pronouncement!
So great that you are doing so well Marc.
Posted at 25 Nov 2016 at 6:31AM by CarolP
Re: A Good-News Pronouncement!
Hugging
Posted at 24 Nov 2016 at 4:54AM by marcmandy
Re: A Good-News Pronouncement!
Now way to go Marc, didn't know what a SPINNING class was so YOUTUBED it and seems like it is just a bike. lolol. Looks like fun to me. I look forward to your blog updates every time you put one up. I'm a bit nosey. yeah me. I'm so happy about your Pet scan and that the doctor was able to view them right away. Modern technology is pretty awesome. Nice that he got a new position so he was able to access it so quickly. Happy that you were able to take so many trips this past year and the both of you enjoyed each and every one of them. Oh I know all about a Kitchen remodel they are the Pits. but when done totally awesome. And all those cabinets are even better. Betcha can't figure out what goes where anymore. LOLOL. But anyway. will let you go and Hope you both enjoy your next trip up and coming. Happy Holidays to you both also. Hugging
Posted at 23 Nov 2016 at 11:33PM by GinnyB
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Home! but too soon!!

We are home! but not necessarily as pleased to return as wishing we had another week in Paris! Be forewarned that this is a bit lengthier than I might normally do, but, well, Paris, y’know…! Read on at your own risk.

Where to begin without giving a travelogue… I will grant that we were tourists in a tourist laden area, but I can’t think of a single time where I was made to feel unwelcome or a burden. Even when I did touristy things like stop in the middle of a sidewalk for a photo I never heard the grumbling that I freely admit I would be guilty of doing when encountering a tourist here in NYC who did that!

We spent the first week in a resort in the suburb of Paris immediately next to Paris Disney courtesy of my sister-in-law and her hubby. They graciously put up with our idiosyncrasies so that we could get the most out of this trip. It was a nice resort with helpful, attentive staff and well thought out accommodations. Interestingly, their 3 bedroom time-share was a 2-bedroom (2 story) town house adjacent to what I laughingly called the “maid’s quarters”, which was essentially a 1 story studio apartment- just right for our needs. The only thing lacking was enough outlets for all of the device and battery charging we had to do. Unlike US outlets, each outlet is a single-tap, so we had two free outlets and (L O L) had to unplug things left and right!

With no children present we managed to almost completely avoid Disney, only passing it on the way to catching the 45 minute suburban rail ride into Paris. Even though we travelled the trains at slightly off hours, they were remarkably uncrowded by NY standards. At no time going in did we have to stand at all and on the return, someone would Always offer Cheryl a seat and almost always offer me as well. My funky feet appreciated that, but, as an aside, my neuropathy had almost no effect on my ability to walk so long as I was careful to take breaks. We made good use of the excellent metro (subway) system, but found it entailed a great deal of walking and many stairs in transferring between the suburban rail and metro, and often between metro lines as well. The stairs were harder for Cheryl with her knees, so we tried to find accessible stations whenever possible and made use of cabs as well.

The second week we were in the heart of Paris, thereby eliminating the need for the commute and were able to learn how to take advantage of the extensive, if complex, bus system. Thank goodness for my phone and iPad where I could load PDF’s and enlarge them on the screen to see the details! I paid to have data accessibility on my phone so we made good use of Google maps and the Parisian Metro app for guiding us around- an absolutely invaluable modern tool!

Without going into details, over the 2 weeks, we took extensive hop-on/off buses on several days to get the feel for and lay of the city, we saw Notre Dame both outside and inside, we covered museums (the Musee’ D’Orsay- WOW!!!, The Louvre- tooooo much to absorb and too large to comfortably traverse), did neighborhood walks, the Eiffel Tower, The Montparnesse Tower- “The ugliest building in Paris- the best place to see Paris from above, ‘cause it’s not in it!”, saw the requisite sites and did night-time faerie-light and long exposure photography- with sunset at 10:30(!!), I truly didn’t have enough time for that. When next we go it will be closer to the equinox rather than the solstice. We made it to the top of Montmartre via public bus, thereby avoiding the incredible number of steps both up and down! I heard one young man saying he counted over 1600 steps (the kind of thing I’d do!). When you consider 10-15 steps per floor in a building, that’s a lot of steps!

We also spent far too little time at Monet’s Giverney (a 1-hour trip from the center of Paris). Where we spent 2 hours, I could’ve spent the whole day. We were lucky enough (although my compatriots would disagree, I suspect) to have a damp day with one cloudburst making for extraordinary plant photography! I did fog up my lens and it took fifteen minutes to defog…

I also got a 2-day loan of a new lens that will be released late this summer. It was a wonderful opportunity and will be in my arsenal when it is released. It was, however, quite a trip trying to locate the store!

As an aside here, Paris is a round city with very little in the way of grid-work, and streets change names unmercifully, so in a 3-block walk you could conceivably be walking on 4 different streets without turning a corner!

We found some marvelous food and found that cafe’s are as prevalent in Paris as dirty-water dog stands are in NYC. They are remarkably consistent in quality, yet each having their own preparation for their standard foods. I lived on Omelettes and Quiches and Croque monsieur and madams (basically open grilled cheese and ham sandwiches-madam has an egg on it as well. You could make it a closed sandwich by moving the bottom slice of bread to the top. I was in heaven doing so. We had too much (welllll, not enough really, but too much) of the wonderful baguettes with ham (jambone) and cheese (most often emmentale). The French take on cold cuts is different from ours as they don’t put things like salami on the sandwiches. Occasionally we’d find prosciutto, but that was rare. We sampled breads and cookies (biscuits) and had some fun in markets and supermarkets.

Incidentally, the travel to Paris and back to NYC was a delight and without complications.

There is, I hope, another trip there in our future. In the words of the immortal Roland Burton Hedley, III (of Doonesbury journalistic fame) “Only time will tell.” In the meantime, I am keeping my towel and guide readily available! Never Panic!
Written on 24 Jun 2016 at 6:40AM
Comments
Re: Home! but too soon!!

Thank you one and all! I'm still working on the photos! I may have had a few successes...
Posted at 17 Jul 2016 at 2:40PM by marcmandy
Re: Home! but too soon!!
Tres bien, Monsieur Marcmandy!
Posted at 11 Jul 2016 at 6:53AM by kuebari
Re: Home! but too soon!!
It's nice to go and it's nice to come home.. That's the way it always is..
But truly happy that the both of you had a marvelous time and got to take a lot of pictures. can't wait to see them..

Welcome home.. Been off line for 2 weeks to sorry it's so late..
Posted at 5 Jul 2016 at 10:55PM by GinnyB
Re: Home! but too soon!!
You certainly made the most of your stay in one of my favourite cities! Delighted that it was such a great trip! Can't wait to see the pics! Smiling
Posted at 28 Jun 2016 at 3:45PM by smiler5
Re: Home! but too soon!!
Glad you got to go and have such a good time!
Posted at 27 Jun 2016 at 10:27PM by oldog
Re: Home! but too soon!!
I read all you had written. It was great. I am so glad you enjoyed you vacation.
Posted at 27 Jun 2016 at 7:12PM by Marge44
Re: Home! but too soon!!
Welcome home, and so glad you had such a great time.
Posted at 25 Jun 2016 at 9:42AM by CarolP
Re: Home! but too soon!!

We took some naps, and a day off, and at least a zillion pics! Now I have to go through them!
Posted at 25 Jun 2016 at 4:42AM by marcmandy
Re: Home! but too soon!!
Wow... sounds like you had a great, but very busy time while you were there. Can't wait to see some pictures.
Posted at 24 Jun 2016 at 3:28PM by RabidWolff of the Wolf Pack
Re: Home! but too soon!!

Just be prepared to walk a lot. and if you avoid nyc traffic, do NOT drive in Paris!
Posted at 24 Jun 2016 at 9:41AM by marcmandy
Re: Home! but too soon!!
It sure sounds like y'all had a wonderful time there. Some day I would like to make it there as well.
Posted at 24 Jun 2016 at 9:30AM by Trish41
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Paris!!

We hath arrived!

We had a nice, uneventful flight. We left the gate at JFK on time, but waited to take off for most of a half hour. I think I slept a total of almost 4 hours with a break in the middle when I woke up ravenous. Cheryl slept only a little at best, but stayed reclined and resting. We are both in okay shape now, so I guess it was enough. We got to see a very hazy Eiffel Tower as we were landing.

The line for passport entry was a literal mob scene; there must’ve been 7 or 8 flights arriving at the same time, but strangely after we got through that, there was no customs for our luggage. Probably all thoroughly x-rayed.

We thought we just missed the bus that would take us most of the way, but it turned out that it was 15 minutes late and we ended up waiting all of 3 minutes! It brought us to the train station that we will be frequenting this week (we will be taking a bus to and from the resort) and after a bit of a wait it was a 15 minute bus ride to the outside of the resort.

It’s nice to be here!

Tomorrow, the adventures start!

marc
Written on 14 Jun 2016 at 9:06AM
No comments have been posted yet. (You must be logged in to post comments) (Only the owner can comment this blog)
Paris!!

We hath arrived!

We had a nice, uneventful flight. We left the gate at JFK on time, but waited to take off for most of a half hour. I think I slept a total of almost 4 hours with a break in the middle when I woke up ravenous. Cheryl slept only a little at best, but stayed reclined and resting. We are both in okay shape now, so I guess it was enough. We got to see a very hazy Eiffel Tower as we were landing.

The line for passport entry was a literal mob scene; there must’ve been 7 or 8 flights arriving at the same time, but strangely after we got through that, there was no customs for our luggage. Probably all thoroughly x-rayed.

We thought we just missed the bus that would take us most of the way, but it turned out that it was 15 minutes late and we ended up waiting all of 3 minutes! It brought us to the train station that we will be frequenting this week (we will be taking a bus to and from the resort) and after a bit of a wait it was a 15 minute bus ride to the outside of the resort.

It’s nice to be here!

Tomorrow, the adventures start!

marc
Written on 10 Jun 2016 at 3:39AM
Comments
Re: Paris!!
Have a wonderful time! Vive la France Smiling
Posted at 16 Jun 2016 at 10:47AM by smiler5
Re: Paris!!
So happy for both of you. Takes lots of pictures and post them here. Please.
Posted at 11 Jun 2016 at 9:07AM by Marge44
Re: Paris!!
So happy you are both there safe and sound.. Hugging

and not too bad about the trip. although flights like that can be a bit of a pain..

Enjoy your new adventure...
Posted at 10 Jun 2016 at 11:50PM by GinnyB
Re: Paris!!
Happy to hear that you arrived safely... and it sounds like your antlers didn't poke any holes in the fuselage Thumbs up
Enjoy your vacation!!
Posted at 10 Jun 2016 at 1:32PM by RabidWolff of the Wolf Pack
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May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
Smiling

I am a very tired camper today, but I must send this out: I just had my 6 month PET scan. All is good! I'm clean! The doc likes what he doesn’t see!

We can go to Paris on June 9th without this hanging over our heads. No morbid thoughts and no short term fears! I can look ahead a bit again. Still going day to day and week to week, but still going!

I will sleep well tonight…
Written on 25 May 2016 at 6:04PM
Comments
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
Awesome...I am very happy for you. Enjoy your vacation!!
Posted at 1 Jun 2016 at 8:08PM by oldog
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
Great results, I am so happy for you and your family. Enjoy your trip to Paris.
Posted at 30 May 2016 at 6:39PM by Marge44
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
So happy for you Marc, and your family.
Posted at 28 May 2016 at 6:54AM by CarolP
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
That is the "bestest" news in the world.. Now go to Sunny Paris and enjoy the whole trip.. All those Vibes and thoughts going eastward has helped. Hugging
Posted at 26 May 2016 at 11:55PM by GinnyB
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
Great News.
Posted at 26 May 2016 at 8:09PM by aprildawn
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
That is such good news... I am so glad to hear it too
Posted at 26 May 2016 at 11:58AM by Trish41
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
That is really great!!
Posted at 26 May 2016 at 10:48AM by Bullets9mm
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
Awesome news! Can't wait to see some great Paris Pics! High five
Posted at 26 May 2016 at 6:56AM by ladyvic
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!

Isn't it!

Thanks!
Posted at 26 May 2016 at 4:02AM by marcmandy
Re: May 25, 2016 - Great Big Smiley Face!!
Really great news, marc! Thumbs up :WTG: Congratulations
Posted at 26 May 2016 at 3:25AM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
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2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...

We are back! It was a fun cruise and would’ve been much more so had we not both gotten sick… Cheryl developed a cough and cold that hasn’t gone away yet, and I got the cold and cough for a week in the middle. We’re pretty sure this didn’t come from any contact on the ship, tho’ I might’ve gotten it from her (4 days later).

There were 4 days before the first island, so we got to feel the growing warmth and it was very nice to shed our jackets after a day. As described in the previous entry, we had to skip the first one (San Juan, Puerto Rico) because we had a sick patient and had to divert for a helicopter pickup. sigh...

It was enjoyable once you get beyond the colds. The room, sadly did not have a comfy chair to sit at with my computer, but the boat had a nice little library with a desk and chair.

I got to do some of the photo experimentation I set out to do, though I didn’t have it in me to do some of the more major stuff that I was fantasizing about, and, in addition to the class, I finally got to complete going through all of last year’s shots! More work to be done, but the junk is junked!

We got off for exploration of 3 different islands, and I got off at Tortolla just to not be sitting on the boat (while Cheryl napped on the boat). They had a museum about the island that gave a pretty good and concise history. I also enjoyed about an hour on the pier just soaking in the air on solid ground. On Barbados we ended up taking a taxi tour by a driver who was not pushy, but knew some very nice photo stops. That one we’ll remember for a long time. Horace the driver was a big Hillary fan and was absolutely delighted that we like her as well. We also visited a Botanical Garden on the island of Martinique that was very hilly, but equally beautiful and had fun cable suspension bridges to traipse across.

By the time we started back on Wednesday, I was pretty much ready to be home. Two weeks is a long time, especially if you’re not feeling well, but overall, I would call the cruise a success. There are always little things that bug you, but we were able to get by all of that and enjoy it. As has been our consistent experience, the crew were all incredibly friendly and helpful. Norwegian is also very good with the little amenities. We found where the good food was hiding, found the good places to go to sit and read, and, most importantly, found out when the cookies came out!

We were fortunate to have the fun of coming home through a low pressure system with active seas, and even more fortunate not to face what the poor folk on the RC Anthem went through. It was fun watching the wave action and the sea smoke and the brief blizzard-like snows from the fully insulated ship. It was odd how little motion we felt compared to what we were seeing. It did, however, delay our return home by a couple of hours.

The egress from the boat was, as always, a long, drawn out, and cluttered affair, but once we got out we were “accosted” by a livery driver who convinced us he was the man to drive us home. He was right. and as Dorothy says, oh-so very often: “There’s no place like home!"
Written on 14 Feb 2016 at 5:58PM
Comments
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...

yupyup_Ubetcha!
Posted at 25 Feb 2016 at 8:57PM by marcmandy
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...
(unknown photo) A bit large....my apologies!
Posted at 25 Feb 2016 at 7:39PM by oldog
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...
Glad you both are home safe but you should both get checked out to be safe.nice youu got that tour of the Island and found where thee goodies were stashed lol..Good to get away but great to be home!
Posted at 15 Feb 2016 at 7:50PM by GinnyB
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...
We don't got some snow. Sad
Posted at 15 Feb 2016 at 6:07PM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...

LOL!

Still glad to be home!
Posted at 15 Feb 2016 at 4:57PM by marcmandy
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...
Welcome back to the cold and snow, Marcmandy!
Posted at 15 Feb 2016 at 4:56PM by kuebari
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...

Thanks for your concern, Dave. Cheryl is seeing the doc tom'w at noon. She suspects bronchitis. My cold is virtually gone and the persistent cough is an unfortunate by-product of the esophagectomy. Annoying as all hell, but essentially harmless.
Posted at 15 Feb 2016 at 4:42PM by marcmandy
Re: 2/14/16 Home! A bit wordy. Apologies...
Welcome back! I am happy for the enjoyable parts of your cruise [I've had 2 cruises and loved them.], but I'm concerned about the persistent coughing. Persistent coughing is a symptom of whooping cough, and there are currently outbreaks of this maddening infection in the U.S.A. Please consider getting yourselves checked out. One reason for the outbreaks is that the vaccine doesn't immunize for very long. My best wishes to you both. Dave
Posted at 15 Feb 2016 at 1:34PM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
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Sailing, sailing...
Good morning people!

We are now in our fourth day at sea. On Monday we had a sick passenger, clearly critical, and we had to slow down and divert about 170 miles east so that we could be in range of a helicopter to pick up said passenger and remove him/her to the mainland and a real hospital. The unfortunate side effect of that was that we would not be able to get to San Juan, Puerto Rico in time to make the stop worthwhile, so we have to bypass it. This is sad 'cause it was something we were both looking forward to. Ah well, such is life. We have no idea how the ill passenger fared...

I had one last assignment to complete in a Photoshop layers class and was able to spend some hours in the (relatively) quiet library working on it. I'm including that and the one from the previous assignment just 'cause they're fun!

In the first one, Mickey and Minnie were shot from a moving train in Skagway, Alaska. Apparently, one of the engineers sets something different up every day as a sort of easter-egg for observant passengers. It was my job to pull them out of the background and put them on the arm of a man shooting a butterfly a few days later.

The second and last was to add my clowning niece Shannon and her most S-O to a composite I had created earlier of a creepy christmas decoration peering through a bedroom window. Lotsa fun.

Cheryl caught a cold and spent a lot of time sleeping, so I was able to neglect her and she never knew I was doing so!

We are settled nicely and I've done a little experimental shooting as I had intended with some moderate success. More on that in another posting perhaps.

At any rate, we are doing well and are enjoying putting last year behind us and getting this one off to a wonderful start!



Written on 3 Feb 2016 at 7:02AM
Comments
Re: Sailing, sailing...
Awesome, and cool pics. I hope the rest of your trip goes as planned. Smiling Enjoy!
Posted at 3 Feb 2016 at 6:05PM by oldog
Re: Sailing, sailing...
Cruises are wonderful, and you so deserve one!
Posted at 3 Feb 2016 at 3:07PM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
Re: Sailing, sailing...
Love the photos and the blog too! I also hope the passenger is recovering! Enjoy every day! x
Posted at 3 Feb 2016 at 9:43AM by smiler5
Re: Sailing, sailing...
Lovely to see you having fun.
Hope the passenger is OK now.
Posted at 3 Feb 2016 at 8:17AM by CarolP
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Sailing, sailing...
Good morning people!

We are now in our fourth day at sea. On Monday we had a sick passenger, clearly critical, and we had to slow down and divert about 170 miles east so that we could be in range of a helicopter to pick up said passenger and remove him/her to the mainland and a real hospital. The unfortunate side effect of that was that we would not be able to get to San Juan, Puerto Rico in time to make the stop worthwhile, so we have to bypass it. This is sad 'cause it was something we were both looking forward to. Ah well, such is life. We have no idea how the ill passenger fared...

I had one last assignment to complete in a Photoshop layers class and was able to spend some hours in the (relatively) quiet library working on it. I'm including that and the one from the previous assignment just 'cause they're fun!

In the first one, Mickey and Minnie were shot from a moving train in Skagway, Alaska. Apparently, one of the engineers sets something different up every day as a sort of easter-egg for observant passengers. It was my job to pull them out of the background and put them on the arm of a man shooting a butterfly a few days later.

The second and last was to add my clowning niece Shannon and her most S-O to a composite I had created earlier of a creepy christmas decoration peering through a bedroom window. Lotsa fun.

Cheryl caught a cold and spent a lot of time sleeping, so I was able to neglect her and she never knew I was doing so!

We are settled nicely and I've done a little experimental shooting as I had intended with some moderate success. More on that in another posting perhaps.

At any rate, we are doing well and are enjoying putting last year behind us and getting this one off to a wonderful start!



Written on 3 Feb 2016 at 5:22AM
Comments
Re: Sailing, sailing...
Sorry to hear about the sick passenger and having to divert and not get to your first destination, hope he/she is doing better on the mainland, also about Cheryl being under the weather also. But good that you were able to get some work done on those awesome pictures.. Great job on the both of them. I know how time consuming they can be because I've watched my brother go through the process of it and it's pretty intense. Just enjoy your trip and take whatever pictures you can while you are out on the deep blue sea.
Posted at 3 Feb 2016 at 9:08PM by GinnyB
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1/22/15

Hi and happy new year! It certainly is for me!

It’s been over a month since I’ve given an update, so now is a most appropriate time to do so. As we approach the 3 month point since my last chemo, I continue to improve in stamina and general health. The daily nap is now more of a luxury than a requirement, general walking is much easier and I don’t really require a cane anymore. My appetite is better and I’m once again able to eat slightly spicy foods without my whole mouth blooming in pain! I am still taking Neurontin and still dealing with neuropathy issues on my hands and feet, but I think there is improvement. I still have some of the side effects from the Neurontin, but the trade-off is worth it. I continue to shoot frequently and have a looooong list of photos to look through and process! I just successfully did a shoot for friends of their collector plates for possible sale, and I’m very pleased with how I was able to stay with it and properly plan for it. I am taking (and absorbing!) another on-line photo class; this time dealing with Photoshop layers and masking. and most importantly, when I look at myself in the mirror, I don’t see a frail old man, but my old bearded self! As a dear friend pointed out, I have eyebrows again making it a LOT easier to see my facial expressions! Yay hair!!

So, as the northeast is about to get pummeled by another potentially perfect storm, Cheryl and I are going to spend the blizzard-time packing. (We’ve already bought our requisite 17 loaves of bread and 7 gallons of milk to get us through the approximately 12-hour storm. But, uh ohhhhhh… We only have 2 jars of peanut butter and 3 packages of Oreos! Back to the supermarket we go!)

On January 31st, we will be taking a 2-week cruise to the Southern Caribbean! It will be a combination “escape from the cold”, “rest and recuperation”, and “get some projects done without the distraction of daily life” (like maybe go through all of these photos I’ve taken?). It’s the longest cruise we’ve taken to date, but I think it’ll be an absolute delight to just unwind after all of the fun and joy of last year!

All is good. The next PET scan is the end of May, so there is no further thought being given to it until that time!

Incidentally, on the cruise I will have only limited 'net access, so I will probably be putting my games into mostly vacation mode for the 2 weeks. Until I figure out how much it will cost to play, I will play very sparingly. I will check in periodically, and if it doesn't eat up too much data, I'll play some games.
Written on 22 Jan 2016 at 5:39AM
Comments
Re: 1/22/15

Thank you one and all! So glad to be doing well!
Posted at 3 Feb 2016 at 5:14AM by marcmandy
Re: 1/22/15
Oh boy this is going to be a wonderful tine for the two of you,, and hopefully we will see some Extra pound put on that bod of yours after those 2 weeks of cruise time.. boy oh boy oh boy,. eating all that yummy food. go boy and enjoy yourselves. I know my parents went on a 7 day cruise and they came back mighty hefty. LOLOLOL. Imagine what 2 weeks will do??? Hugging
Posted at 24 Jan 2016 at 11:30PM by GinnyB
Re: 1/22/15
Enjoy your trip!!
Posted at 24 Jan 2016 at 1:17AM by Ruache
Re: 1/22/15
That's super news, Marc. Have a wonderful time on your cruise!
Posted at 22 Jan 2016 at 9:25PM by oldog
Re: 1/22/15
Lovely optimistic news.
Posted at 22 Jan 2016 at 1:38PM by CarolP
Re: 1/22/15
It is so wonderful to hear that you are doing great!! Enjoy the cruise!!
Posted at 22 Jan 2016 at 9:26AM by Bullets9mm
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12/13

Very quick note to explain my delayed play.

We are having a recuperation vacation. Cheryl's sister invited us to join her for a week in Aruba. I am currently spending my Sunday afternoon sitting on a back porch (veranda?) protected from the sun and taking time away from my time-intensive photo work to play games here. It is beautiful today with temps in the high 80's but with a very steady breeze to keep it from feeling tooooo hot!

This will be a gym-less "gorp" week wherein we get to just-plain unwind. Of course, my 'puter is never far from me, but today the mind unwinds. And who knows where my camera will take me?

I am continuing to improve overall, but the neuropathy is still an issue. I'm trying to ease back on the neurontin, but that brings it's own issues. Nothing's easy, but everything's workable, so I'll just keep on pluggin'!

Back in a week!

marc
Written on 13 Dec 2015 at 11:46AM
Comments
Re: 12/13
Glad you had a safe trip. Now you can relax and
Posted at 15 Jun 2016 at 6:51PM by oldog
Re: 12/13
Enjoy!!
Posted at 17 Dec 2015 at 10:08PM by oldog
Re: 12/13
Enjoy every moment........you deserve it! X
Posted at 16 Dec 2015 at 10:09AM by smiler5
Re: 12/13
Hope you're having a great time enjoying your R & R!
Posted at 14 Dec 2015 at 8:16AM by katja
Re: 12/13
Have a lovely time Marc.
Posted at 14 Dec 2015 at 8:04AM by CarolP
Re: 12/13
Chillax my dear friend. take your pics, play your games. have fun .. do your thing. enjoy the warm air away for NYC... Luv ya babe Hugging
Posted at 14 Dec 2015 at 12:17AM by GinnyB
Re: 12/13
Enjoy the break from everything!
Posted at 13 Dec 2015 at 1:01PM by RabidWolff of the Wolf Pack
Re: 12/13
Way to go!!! Soak up the relaxing time and be safe!!
Posted at 13 Dec 2015 at 12:59PM by Bullets9mm
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12/2- Good Stuff!

To be perfectly honest, I still haven’t absorbed this, but the results from the PET Scan were negative! All is good! Everything that I went through was worth it for this result.

I am overwhelmed by this and not thinking clearly about it yet. I went in prepared for the worst, having heard about “virulent” cancer cells, so I was fearful that something else might’ve popped up, and I would have to go through more treatments, but it didn’t! All of the chemo and the radiation worked! I will not have to continue treatments! Now, if only the neuropathy would clear up…

That nets a big WHEW!!

Now I have to completely change my mindset and focus my concentration on my own personal rehab program that I started in earnest a couple of weeks ago. Oddly, I did not lose very much upper body strength and I’m pretty much back to my pre-April levels, albeit with a bit more resting between sets. However, my leg strength is significantly lacking. On the Elliptical, I’ve managed to work my way back to half the duration of the pre-April levels, and I find it more tiring, but I will be able to get back. I know this because I’ve already doubled the elliptical from where I was a month ago!

Once again I thank you for all of the support and help I was given through this 8 month ordeal! This would have been a great deal more difficult without the help, support, and incredible good vibes I got from sooooo many friends, family, and acquaintances.

Onward and Upward! Time to go celebrate Life, the universe and EVERYTHING!!!
Written on 2 Dec 2015 at 2:15PM
Comments
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
I am so happy for you and the good news you have received. Words cannot express!!!
Posted at 7 Dec 2015 at 9:55AM by Trish41
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
So happy for you and your family Marc.
Posted at 4 Dec 2015 at 5:02AM by CarolP
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
I'm so happy to hear that you have received such positive news! Happy Holidays ahead for you! Go check some more things off that bucket list.
Posted at 3 Dec 2015 at 6:57PM by katja
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
Awesome news, Marc. I am extremely happy for you! What a wonderful Christmas present for you and your family.
(unknown photo)
Posted at 3 Dec 2015 at 6:25PM by oldog
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
Wonderful news!!
Posted at 3 Dec 2015 at 10:38AM by Bullets9mm
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
Well Now this is the news that I've been waiting for.. I'm so very happy to hear this news but the strange thing is why has it only popped up till Now!!!!. I just got this news at 8:10pm Pacific time.. and I've been here for a long time now.. Marc, You know we have all been right there beside you holding you up and sending you those glorious vibes from all over the world, and see it all has worked out. Now all you need to do is keep up the work and do what ya gotta do my friend and keep strong.. cuz we are all standing there for ya. Hugging
Posted at 2 Dec 2015 at 8:13PM by GinnyB
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
Hurrayyyyyyy! Being prepared for the worst then getting great news is definitely the way to fly. I don't think I've mentioned that I'm a survivor [prostate-ectomy in 2002]. Truck'n truck'n truck'n!
Posted at 2 Dec 2015 at 6:32PM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
great news Marc....prayers do help.

now for a pizza!
Posted at 2 Dec 2015 at 3:21PM by *Doc Holliday
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
That is great news! Dancing
Posted at 2 Dec 2015 at 2:47PM by hoot
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
Awesome news! (unknown photo)
Posted at 2 Dec 2015 at 2:37PM by ladyvic
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
Me too. So great news!! Thumbs up
Posted at 2 Dec 2015 at 2:31PM by Ruache
Re: 12/2- Good Stuff!
That's great news, Marc! I'm so happy for you! Hugging
Posted at 2 Dec 2015 at 2:29PM by heyred72
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11/23
It’s time for a pre-holiday upbeat update! There will be NO holiday music in the background of this particular missive. Let’s simply imagine a Ripple-fest going on in the background. (For the uninitiated, "Ripple" is a wonderful song on the Grateful Dead album "American Beauty" written by Robert Hunter and covered by many other performers).

As I get further from the chemo - 3 weeks now - I'm getting much more clear-headed. The physical will return and I've been going to the Y twice a week at minimum to aid that. My leg strength and stamina were weak (but now getting stronger), yet, surprisingly, I haven't lost much upper body strength. I use the Elliptical as both my first and last exercise of the “workout.” The first one has me doing as many as 4 minutes plus at a medium stress level (which is less than half of what I had been doing when this started). The second go at it has me doing a minute plus of going backwards on it- and that’s the exclamation point of the workout. In between I have a series of upper body and abs exercises which I am doing just about as well as before at the same satisfactory weight levels. I also have a series of stretches that are mixed in. When I'm done w/the gym, I'm wiped, but I feel better for it. A lot of my lower back and leg soreness eases or disappears afterwards. It’s probably related to my relative dormancy during the treatments. I’m going to be doing a more intense version of my workout as the weeks progress to better build up my stamina and hope to have this all behind me once my hair and beard come back...! Mind you, a true body builder would laugh at my regimen, but it works for me!

My wife says I'm my more-normal goofy self, which is a good thing! My writing is clearer and it flows more freely and my mind is allowing me to focus better on things that need doing. Slowly but surely the house is returning to some semblance of organized and I’m more able to work on my photo projects.

The medication Neurontin (for the below-mentioned neuropathy) still has side effects like light-headedness and grasping for words that I normally wouldn’t (sort of chemo-brain magnified), and I'm still dealing with the Stage 2 neuropathy, which involves numbness and tingling on my fingers and my feet. I have to be careful handling things from silverware to heavy kitchen things (like somewhat slippery bottles) because I can’t really feel how much pressure I’m putting on them with my fingers, but as long as I’m careful, all is good.

So overall, I’ve gotten over the hump I believe, and as we approach the December 2nd PET scan, I improve in almost visible increments. I shall enjoy and participate in Turkey Day (tho’ we’ll be having a rib roast instead- no stuffing sadly, but Yorkshire Pudding in New Jersey instead!) and shortly after the scan we will be returning to Aruba for a week’s vacation and photo expedition! We are all getting back on track and having a muuuuuch better time of it!
Written on 23 Nov 2015 at 7:31AM
Comments
Re: 11/23
You assume correctly! I didn't realize it was a book rather than a song.
Posted at 28 Nov 2015 at 8:19AM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
Re: 11/23

Thanks, Dave!

I assume it was from The Little Engine That Could, a nifty children's book.

Nope. I'm not familiar with those. I'll go take a look.
Posted at 27 Nov 2015 at 7:29PM by marcmandy
Re: 11/23
Greetings to you marc, and as one recoverer to another, I applaud your attitude and cheer your progress! Do you recognize the children's song that Wendy has depicted? Are you aware of author Nora Roberts' "In Death" series of books? They are set in NYC in the near future. They are mysteries, often "Who dun it?" style. I just love them. Cheers! Dave
Posted at 27 Nov 2015 at 6:45PM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
Re: 11/23

Laughing

I love it!! I will indeed endeavor to continue onward and upward!!
Posted at 25 Nov 2015 at 8:27PM by marcmandy
Re: 11/23
I'm very happy to read your good news and wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving and a super vacation. Relax, enjoy and make sure you stay on track!! Smiling
Posted at 25 Nov 2015 at 8:24PM by oldog
Re: 11/23

Thank you and Thank you! I am pleased to be able to write this!
Posted at 23 Nov 2015 at 10:10PM by marcmandy
Re: 11/23
That makes great reading! So glad you are starting to feel better,,,,,,,sending positive vibes for Dec 2nd across the pond!
Posted at 23 Nov 2015 at 12:24PM by smiler5
Re: 11/23
It is so wonderful to hear that all is going so well for you! May you continue to get more goofy and normal!!!! lol
Posted at 23 Nov 2015 at 9:18AM by Bullets9mm
Re: 11/23
Laughing
That's pretty convenient!
and Thanks for the kind words!
Posted at 23 Nov 2015 at 9:13AM by marcmandy
Re: 11/23
Lovely to hear that you're doing so well. I am so proud of you and so happy for you.
Enjoy your Yorkshire pudding. We love it here and aren't too far from Yorkshire.
Posted at 23 Nov 2015 at 9:11AM by CarolP
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Good News!

11/2

Okay gang! Good news at last! or mostly good news at any rate: The chemo and all other treatments are officially over! (Great BIG sigh of relief here in our household and mostly from ME!) We won’t know anything about it’s success or failure for 1 month.

On December 2nd I have a PET Scan and see the doc later that afternoon. I will also have a follow-up visit with my Oncologist the following week to check on my various blood levels and get his take on the scan. We don’t expect anything to show on this scan. It’s more the subsequent scans that we need to pay attention to, but we’re in new territory here, so I’ll probably dip into my pool of scariness as I go in for the scan on the 2nd.

As of now, it is my intent to take it easy for the next week or two to allow my body to clean out as much as possible. I’ll go to the Y a few times in that period, but once I feel strong enough I will kick it into a higher gear. I have a lot of stamina to regain and a lot of strength to re-find. I’ve not lost as much as I did last time, and my mental clarity is significantly better than it was then as well. (I can still write a coherent sentence or two!)

The path back is much more clear, and, I think, easier. I know what I need to do and I am not in a state of depression at all. I need to regain my appetite for the foods I normally love. overall, as of this morning I lost about 8 pounds, which under normal circumstances would be fine. However, hard as I tried, my protein and vitamin intake was reduced, certainly in the last few weeks, because the foods that provide ‘em were too rich for my mouth to accept. Back to V-8 and cheese ASAP! Might even try tonight. As the Xeloda cleans out, my appetite usually returns.

So, even though the original plan would’ve had me ending next Monday, I am quite satisfied that I did all I could to make this happen, and my body just plain could not handle it. I come out of this with temporary (fingers crossed!) Stage 2 hand and foot neuropathy and an almost total loss of all my hair (beard included). We are treating the neuropathy as best we can and I’m putting extra effort into re-growing my beard! After all, winter approacheth!!

So! Onward! Upward! Excelsior! and all of that-there stuff! I’m done with the ick and it’s time to return to Life, the Universe, and EVERYTHING!!!

Written on 2 Nov 2015 at 4:08PM
Comments
Re: Good News!

Thanks! That's very much appreciated!
Hugging
Posted at 14 Nov 2015 at 8:00PM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
I am so happy you have all your chemo done. Time to to rest and get on with your life again. Prayers are with you.
Posted at 14 Nov 2015 at 7:10PM by Marge44
Re: Good News!
Laughing
'tis you who should take it easy on me! After all, I'm siiiiick...
and Thanks!!
Posted at 6 Nov 2015 at 9:08AM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
Stay strong, Mr MarcMandy. And take it easy on me in Square Crossdowns!!!!
Posted at 6 Nov 2015 at 8:36AM by kuebari
Re: Good News!

yummmm
Posted at 5 Nov 2015 at 6:09AM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
Philadelphia Cream Cheese coming up Thumbs up
Posted at 5 Nov 2015 at 3:45AM by Cheetah
Re: Good News!
Don't forget the cream cheese too.. Love mine open faced..
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 11:09PM by GinnyB
Re: Good News!
Oh boy, Lox one of my favorites so are Bagels, count me in. :Blinking
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 9:27PM by Cheetah
Re: Good News!
Soon we'll be eating bagels and Lox together,.lolol
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 8:46PM by GinnyB
Re: Good News!
Thumbs up
Yup! That's the plan!
Hugging
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 8:36PM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
It's good that you went to the Y and got something done better then nothing.. just take it one step at a time and you will get your energy back slowly .. just like I said one step at a time. baby steps. same with the eating part. little portions a nibble here and a nibble there don't over do anything. nash a bit every hour or so and your body will get used to the foods that you were used to eating before. Hugging
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 8:34PM by GinnyB
Re: Good News!
Onward and upward!!
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 7:15PM by oldog
Re: Good News!

LOL! Consider it sent!
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 4:32AM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
I know that Marc but it looks like there are 3 Columns for a post. I just like to follow the thread. Guess I will do it right here in the top Column.
Have a great day Marc make the best of it. Florida is still very, very warm. Send some of that cool air my way. If you can...... Overnight delivery guaranteed. Blinking
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 4:24AM by Cheetah
Re: Good News!

Underneath each entry there's the small red phrase "add a new comment". You click on the one under the entry that you want to comment on. Once there are responses to the entry, the link to "add a new comment" moves below the new comment.
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 3:59AM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
I need a little bit of direction here where to post future Comments. Right here in this space or below ?
Posted at 4 Nov 2015 at 3:27AM by Cheetah
Re: Good News!
Great news....now get going in the right direction, and on that road to recovery!! Smiling
Thinking positive thoughts for you....
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 9:49PM by oldog
Re: Good News!
Wowzers_Again!
So many kind words! They are all very much appreciated.

Repeating what I said below:

The Mets helped to make this month bearable. They were a wonderful diversion and it was really invigorating to go to the playoffs and the World Series!

My appetite is slowly returning. Old faves are interesting me more and I'm being careful to be gentle in eating.

It will take a while, but maybe not so long as I imagine. I went to the Y today and was able to do a full, if lighter, workout and was very pleased with how I felt afterwards. Full personal rehab starts in a week or two. Starting gently of now...
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 9:42PM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
Way to go Marc.. Keep on Truckin. and you know we are all right there standing beside you and the thoughts keep coming to you. go Marc Go....
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 8:09PM by GinnyB
Re: Good News!
Great news Marc
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 11:53AM by nylady41
Re: Good News!
I am so glad for you and proud of the way you face it head on!!! You are in my prayers!
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 9:16AM by Bullets9mm
Re: Good News!
Wonderful news, Marc. So happy for you.
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 6:56AM by Genie
Re: Good News!

Some mornings are harder than others, but it's what I try to do!
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 5:01AM by marcmandy
Re: Good News!
Keep going my inspirational friend.
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 4:12AM by CarolP
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New updates of my battle

!0/20

An eventful week. For one thing, I've got this blog going! For another, the Mets have moved on to the League Championship, and, well, more in a few...

On Friday, I was suffering enough from the foot pain that was making it difficult to walk and experiencing more ill-effects on my fingertips and mouth that the docs decided to skip the last 5 pills of the chemo drug Xeloda. So I started my week off a bit earlier and basically did nothing until Saturday evening, when we bundled up and went to the Mets game to see them take on and defeat a very good Chicago Cubs team. It was a lot of fun but a lotta wind and cold!


As a result of the rest before and the cream I mentioned below, the Neurontin and a good dose of Advil all of my symptoms continued to ease. For those of of you who know Lil Moosie of the Wolf Pack, he and I went to the game the following night armed with even more layers and I once again I got to see my Mets win! This time the temps were about 10 degrees colder and we had a steady wind of 10-15 mph. A nifty wind chill.



Overall, I am steadily improving. While I still have numbness in my feet and fingertips, the pain seems to be completely gone, and the side-effects from the Neurontin are far lessened as my body adjusts to it. We have come to our place in Shawnee, PA for a few days of rest and relaxation. It's away from home and "stuff-to-do". I slept 8 hours last night which is absolutely unheard of for me and woke up feeling much better!
If I had to guess, I will be resuming the chemo on Monday, perhaps with lower doses, though unlikely, I suspect. It will be the final 2 week round and then it'll be over... It's possible that it might be delayed a week if my platelets and white blood cells are too low, but, the way I'm feeling now, I would guess they won't be.
Tonight I get to watch the Mets in Chicago in the warmth of my house and may get through the game without a single shiver!

Beware The Murph and Let's Go Mets!!

10/14

Monday was “Just-show-up day” (name courtesy of a neighbor- thank you Pam!) and I (reluctantly) did. I had my scheduled iv chemo session, but it was only half of the previous weeks dosages. Apparently the regimen is somewhat altered now (I am maxing out on one of the meds) and in 2 weeks, assuming no delay due to bad blood-work, I'll have a final full dose and then in 3 weeks, the same as this one.
What that did for me was significantly ease the side effects such that it was possible for me to not only drive to and from the Mets playoff baseball game on Monday at CitiField that I was so lucky to get tickets to, it also allowed me eat with an appetite! We left the game after 7 innings (and after midnight!) assuming that a 9-run lead would hold. Fortunately it did. We got to watch the post-game stuff in full when we got home. and still get to bed at a (halfway) reasonable hour. We also went to last night's disappointing game, but ya can't win 'em all- hopefully the Mets win Thursday night.

This morning I am still feeling much better, but am also still under the influence of the oral meds that continue. A bit wobbly and jittery - I keep missing keys on the keyboard without realizing it (thank goodness for red, squiggly lines under mis-spellings!) - and a slight headache, but overall, I do feel more sharp and functional than I have after previous sessions!) Overall, I’m feeling better! The foot pain that I’ve been experiencing has also been greatly reduced thanks to an (icky-sticky) new cream that was designed specifically to fight this chemically-induced neuropathy. The mouth pain has dissipated except from some fairly extreme sensitivity at the tip of my tongue requiring me to eat very mildly.

The bad pill has one more week to go and then I get another full week off all chemo drugs before starting the final cycle, so the end is within sight. What comes after that will be dealt with then, but some pretty intense rehab is pert-darn likely. Not to mention a follow-up PET scan a month after the end of the chemo. (oops- I mentioned it).

10/4

Well, it's time for yet another one of my periodic updates.
This segment of the treatment has been rougher. I've been getting mouth soreness, foot pain, and lightheadedness. And that is after 5 days off. On the days that I’m supposed to take the pills, it is getting harder to open my mouth to ‘em, and it’s all a general drag. When they sang “Kind of a Drag” way back when, they had no idea!
It turns out my pulse is a bit low, as is my white blood cell count. My platelets are still ok. As a result of this, my restart of the treatment has been delayed by a week.
I cannot say that I am sorry. I think I welcome the extra week to recover. I have been given a new drug, called Neurontin, that has helped with the foot pain and the mouth. It made me a tad more light-headed. I think I can handle that. The additional week has improved the rest. I am now ready to face the chemo again. We shall see if my blood and body are, too tom'w...
On the upside, I am very pleased to say that I have tickets for the Mets post-season run and the Yankees (maybe) run as well. So I have something good to look forward to!
Unless both teams disappoint…
I am trying to stay upbeat and engaged as much as possible, as was evidenced by my recent posting regarding Hot Tuna and music in general. I am continuing to work on my photographs from the summer trips (I may have gotten a few good shots…), and I am of course following my baseball teams with great interest!!
I am getting incredible support from Cheryl, Lil Moosie and all of you. You cannot know how much it helps and I thank you very, very much for it!
more as the fun continues... Excelsior!!
Written on 20 Oct 2015 at 4:18PM
Comments
Re: New updates of my battle
Wowzers!
So many kind words! They are all very much appreciated.

The Mets helped to make this month bearable. They were a wonderful diversion and it was really invigorating to go to the playoffs and the World Series!

My appetite is slowly returning. Old faves are interesting me more and I'm being careful to be gentle in eating.

It will take a while, but maybe not so long as I imagine. I went to the Y today and was able to do a full, if lighter, workout and was very pleased with how I felt afterwards. Full personal rehab starts in a week or two. Starting gently of now...
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 9:39PM by marcmandy
Re: New updates of my battle
Sending good thoughts your way Marc. You have been fighting a tough Battle. I like to see you come out the Winner that your are. As you well know, loss of appetite is normal having had the treatments you have undergone so far. I know that Protein is important and so are your Veggies. Can you take little bites to stimulate your appetite again ? Keeping my fingers crossed for you and as always you are included in my prayers.
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 5:28PM by Cheetah
Re: New updates of my battle
Hi marc! So glad you got to see your Mets actually at the game. As you say, 0ctober is a special time for baseball fans. I still miss the Expos [sigh]. Thanks for all your support during my horrible down time; you are a special friend indeed. God bless you.
Posted at 3 Nov 2015 at 5:09PM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
Re: New updates of my battle

It has throughout this past month! and we have tix for next Fri Sat and Sunday!
Posted at 24 Oct 2015 at 9:51AM by marcmandy
Re: New updates of my battle
Go Mets! I hope you get that thrill of victory!!
That will surely give you a recharge. Smiling
Posted at 23 Oct 2015 at 6:38PM by oldog
Re: New updates of my battle
So glad to read your blog, thank you Marc.
Keep staying positive, you will get there.
Posted at 23 Oct 2015 at 9:45AM by CarolP
Re: New updates of my battle
GO METS.. AND GO MARC with this treatment. and you know all those precious THOUGHTS are going your way every day. from way out here to your side of the states..Hugging
Posted at 22 Oct 2015 at 12:25AM by GinnyB
Re: New updates of my battle

Thumbs up

Hugging

Thanks! I thought so too. It was a momentary bit of inspiration that I think will payoff well!
Posted at 21 Oct 2015 at 5:44AM by marcmandy
Re: New updates of my battle
It seems to be easing now and I'm on my off-week. We shall see what the docs say on Monday about how we proceed from here...
Posted at 19 Oct 2015 at 8:53PM by marcmandy
Re: New updates of my battle
thx for keeping us up to date. This is an excellent idea, and look what a great cheering squad you have!! ....praying for you and always wishing you the best!
Posted at 19 Oct 2015 at 7:41PM by oldog
Re: New updates of my battle
Thank you so much.
Posted at 19 Oct 2015 at 6:39PM by marcmandy
Re: New updates of my battle
I also am glad to be able to see updates quicker. I pray for you daily to get better and to be able to withstand the bad effects of the medical treatments.
Posted at 19 Oct 2015 at 7:27AM by Trish41
Re: New updates of my battle
Thanks! It all helps!
Posted at 18 Oct 2015 at 9:56PM by marcmandy
Re: New updates of my battle
Great Idea to have this Blog Marc. This way we can keep up to date with you. I know the chemo takes a lot out of you. Hopefully what you are enduring now will bring good results. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hugging
Posted at 18 Oct 2015 at 4:31PM by Cheetah
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Goldies and Jigglers
Written on 1 Jan 2010 at 6:32AM
Comments
Great News!
Magnificent, Mr Mandy! Again you keep the Beast at bay. It is such a pleasure to see good friends actually get healthier, a phenomenon which happens all to seldom, it seems. I guess your Mets are pretty glad they don't have to deal with the Expos any more!
Posted at 20 May 2018 at 8:11AM by Sir Silver of the GoldTable
Re: Goldies and Jigglers
Wow Marc....you'd better get packing!! Have a super trip!
Posted at 23 Jan 2018 at 7:49PM by oldog
Re: Goldies and Jigglers
I really enjoyed my tour of Iceland! You got some fantastic pics.
Strangely, some of my favorite ones were of that simple, little black church sitting out there in the in the midst of the mountains and beauty of the open land.
Posted at 30 Oct 2017 at 7:58PM by oldog
Re: Goldies and Jigglers

No prob. I'll delete 'em.
Posted at 21 Oct 2015 at 9:11AM by marcmandy
Re: Goldies and Jigglers
Think I posted my last comment in the wrong place, sorry about that.
Posted at 21 Oct 2015 at 8:25AM by Cheetah
Re: Goldies and Jigglers
There's something very special about October baseball. An air of extra excitement to keep you warmer!
Posted at 21 Oct 2015 at 8:19AM by marcmandy
Re: Goldies and Jigglers
At least you had good time at the Mets game. You guys are die hearts to watch a game in that kind of Weather. Could not drag me out there. I would be at home watching it on Television. LOL.....Hope your treatments will be easier for you to take and you get somewhat of a break from it. Thumbs up
Posted at 21 Oct 2015 at 6:08AM by Cheetah
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