Susan's Benefit

Soon after I was diagnosed with cancer, I found out that a lady who works in the social work department was also beginning her newest battle with melanoma. She had apparently had a small battle earlier in her life with melanoma, and this time it had returned as a spot in her lung. She is currently putting up her battle with chemo and so it was her turn last night to have a benefit jam. Everyone at the school said that putting it together for me created a great model for coordinating such an event. I guess this time around all the kinks were worked out.

Anyway, here is some footage that Kimberly took of myself and a few colleagues from the school as we opened up the night of music with a brief acoustic set. Not great, but it was a nice time. Not sure if you can notice my shirt but it says "FUCK CANCER"...my motto for the past seven months. In the video is myself, J.K. Terrell (harmonica) and Bob McKinney (bass). There was a whole line-up of music last night, so this is just a snippet of the great time that was had last night.

Keep fighting, Susan!!!

Peace
Josh

Variation Is Reality, Measures of Its Central Tendency Abstract

The Median Isn't The Message

This is a great essay that I found on the web. For a PhD student who faces cancer it is a refreshing read. It also makes perfect sense for an aspiring social scientist attempting to understand empirical baggage and the seeming dichotomy between how we construct, understand, and perceive knowledge.

Josh

Also, someone turned me on to this last lecture video that if you have the time is really a great listen. "Last Lecture" series are invitations to faculty members to provide what would be their final lecture in life. This professor at Carnegie Mellon is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This is apparently a very popular video.

Last Week Of Chemo

Well, this is my last week of chemo (knock on wood). I have been taking this medicine off and on for almost seven months. I am really excited to be through with it. I started back to doing a little bit of work. I headed to Tuscaloosa yesterday and worked almost a complete day. I am not pushing myself really hard, but learning how to gauge my energy throughout the day. The hard part is reminding myself not to exert all my energy at work or school, but to leave some in reserve to help me feel better when resting.

On the medical side of things, I am scheduled to see my surgeon on the 15th of May. I will have a CT-scan that morning with some lab work and then I will hopefully get to schedule my surgery. I am not sure if I am going to ask for the surgery to be right away. As mentioned in an earlier post, Kimberly and I are traveling to the Carolina mountains in July. Depending on when the surgeon wants to schedule the sugery and what he tells me about recovery, I might want to wait until our trip is complete. I am not wanting to recover from surgery on a vacation. I can predict my day right now with my ostomy, but it may be a little less predictable for awhile after the surgery what my days are going to be like and what activities I will be able to participate in. Anyway, please keep good thoughts about my next doctor's visit and hope for the all clear sign!!!

Take care everyone!

Peace
Josh