Point Made

 It started with weepy, crusty eyes. Then my left leg started acting like it had a swivel for a knee. Suddenly, I was experiencing a lack of energy. To top it off, I wasn't getting a good night's sleep. Who do ya call? In my case, I'm calling my primary. My eye problem might need a specialist. Since I have CMT, my leg problem could be neuropathy or orthopedic. My cancer treatments might lead to my lack of pep. And despite using my pillows to attain perfect comfort, my aching legs and lower back keep me awake. I'm going to be cutting back a bit since my health seems to be melting before my weepy, crusty eyes. I've quit my tutoring gig. This hurts me. My student, six-year-old Aydn Collins, is a joy to be with. I had hoped my contribution to his education would be good for him. The biggest problem with the job is getting in and out of the school. Featuring long walks from and back to the parking lot and the mountain of stairs. The older schools are wonderful in almost ...

A couple of things have changed since I began cooking again. For you folks who click but don't necessarily read my missive every week, a few weeks ago, I began cooking for myself and my mate, Jeanne. Cooking for two opens up challenges that cooking for one never approaches. But first, a little background about life with Jeanne before I volunteered to take over in the kitchen. Jean owns a beautiful vintage home on the lower east side of Milwaukee. When she bought it, the upstairs was a separate apartment. Today, it's where one or both cats go to hide. Jeanne lives on the lower floor, which consists of a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and an enclosed back porch. Hanging from the handle of the freezer door is a towel. The inscription on the towel reads, "The only reason I have a kitchen is that it came with the house."  Jeanne admits she consumed frozen dinners before we agreed I would cook for us. She favors low-calorie meals with lots of fruits and vegetables. On the o...

 If you watch "The Bear," Hulu/FX's fabulous series about a long-time Beef Sandwich restaurant. After the founder's death, the restaurant is reluctantly taken over by the prodigal son, who has been off-educating himself in finer, more famous kitchens. One of the team-building things he insists on is the habitat of calling everyone in the kitchen Chef. It's yes, Chef, and thank you, Chef, to everyone on the staff, no matter their job. My lady, Jeanne, and I have tried to replicate this behavior as we prepare our meals. I braise the meat. "That smells good, Chef," she says. "Thank you, Chef," I reply. We even extend this to the improbable. Jeanne scoops up the ice cream. "Thank you, Chef," I smile as if to imply she made the ice cream. Health Report: We got the results of the scan I had last week. Verdict NED. No Evidence of Disease . My Doctor remarked that she was pleased and surprised at two aspects of my treatment. First, the comple...

 It was the perfect alignment of the stars that presented me with well-separated visits to my doctors and clinicians in one day.  First, a visit with my nurse to have a port inserted into my pod. Then, they will take a blood sample to inform the application of my immunotherapy later. Then, it's down to have a P-scan of my bladder to see if the treatments are affecting my Cancer. Here's where the baby fell out of the buggy. I was informed that the cup of coffee I had was okay, but the sugar and cream were not. After much consultation, we went ahead with the scan after testing my blood sugar. Was it low enough? Viola! It was. But, we had delayed the procedure, so the results couldn't be shared with me. My Doctor was overbooked. Come back next week.  That's one thing about Cancer: you get used to experiencing it. You're always waiting for the results of a test that determines whether you're going to live or die. To be fair, the technician who read my P-scan publish...

 Many of us in Milwaukee have put away the black armbands recognizing our grief for the Brewer's early exit from the playoffs. The Packers are going through their season, letting Jordan Love grow into the vacancy left by the departure of Aaron Rodgers. The Milwaukee Bucks are daring anyone to try and take this year's championship away from them. Marquette, UWM, and the Badgers have an abundance of hope. Marquette, however, has the talent. My Treatments We are at a checkpoint. Along with my immunotherapy next Monday, I'm having a scan. It's felt that my body has shed enough radiation so we can get a look at the infected area and evaluate the progress. Watch this space. I am feeling well. I had little reaction to the second round of the Keytruda and don't anticipate any from the next injection. I went to Walgreens to get my Flu shot and my COVID booster. Remember when we used to go to the drugstore because they had a soda fountain. Wanderings Jeanne and I decided to g...

  Twice, I have attended a hootenanny in Kenosha. My access to this event came from my girlfriend, Jeanne Kornkven. While she is no longer active, her mother, Marialyce, was a founding member and organizer of this group for over 30+ years. Jeanne and I attended for my first time this last spring.  As it turns out, It is similar to my association with The Expansion Band  in the Fox Valley. While The Expansion Band meets in members' homes every week on Wednesdays, this group meets once a month in a public museum on the Lakefront in Kenosha. The format is similar. In each case, They use a huge book of songs built over the years, almost like the fabled songbook of the participant's lives. In the case of Kenosha, the songs are scripted on a theme by the leaders. Later it's open to suggestions from the members. The selection in The Expansion Band is made by going around the room and asking each member what they would like to play. In both cases, talent and experience are appr...

 My lady, Miss Jeanne, went shopping one day. She was driving a KIA Soul. Since there was an ongoing rage of thefts of this model by mostly joy-riding teens, who were well versed in the flaw in the ignition system that allowed the car to be started without the key quite easily, Jeanne reinforced her defenses by using the 'club' to immobilize her steering wheel. After a trip to the grocery store, Jeanne took time to put away her groceries, thinking her car was safe in the driveway outside her kitchen window. It was when she saw the blinking of her hazard lights that she went out the door to investigate. She saw only the car with the driver's side door open and evidence that the ignition wires had been tampered with. The thief had failed and ran.  Flabbergasted by the audacity of the assailant, she mentally kicked her own ass for not placing the club on the steering wheel. Surely, the attempt would have been quilled, knowing there was no way to steer the car even if they star...

  Why I didn't publish and why you might have thought I died. My life has been full of activities for the last week and a half. My tutoring responsibilities and return to facilitating with the Zeidler group took much of my time since, besides the classes, there is prep and travel time involved.  Then there was the time Jeanne and I sat in her living room holding our breath as we waited for the Milwaukee Brewers to clinch the National League Central Division. To some, it was inevitable. For us, it was possible. We saw three plays last week.  Laughing in Spanish performed by the Milwaukee Chamber Theater at the Broadway Theater. Then, a couple of days later, Splash the Hatch On The E Going Down at Next Act. A weekend in Door County included a Penninsula Players production. This last week, I had to put together an "About Me Bag" for my K5 student, whom I will be helping learn to read. The contents are items that represent my interests. More about that later, but for now, I...

 When I received my first dose of Katruda, an Immunotherapy drug for my bladder cancer, I was advised about specific side effects. I was dosed on Thursday and was aware of one of them creeping up on me by Saturday. Having to be a few steps from a bathroom wasn't the worst thing I could have suffered. However, the weakness and nausea that accompanied it put me down and put me down hard for roughly twenty-four hours.  As Jeanne and I often remind ourselves, the alternative is unacceptable. I'm feeling better as I recovered reasonably quick with a good night's sleep and a few healthy meals.  Tutoring: I wander into new territory this week as I begin a volunteer gig, tutoring young people in reading. I've been assigned a K5 student. I hope the youngster looks forward to our journey as much as I am. As a member of the Golden Book generation that moved on to the Classic Comics and a Minneapolis Library card in the fifth grade, I'm anxious to share my love of reading. The ...

 Unlike Lake Wobegon, my life in Milwaukee presents a bit of drama. I don't mean the opening of the theater season, although that's also happening. I was going to begin immunotherapy last week. What I didn't know was if my treatment had been authorized by my Medicare provider. After a nug from my doctor, the authorization has been granted. Good news? Not yet, anyway. I'll see my Oncologist on Thursday (9/14). I'm delaying publication so I can fill everyone in.  One of the significant issues is my cost. The stuff they are using is expensive. I should be okay this year because I've exceeded my out-of-pocket expenses. The question remains: what happens next year? Results of Doctor visit. My concerns about the cost were resolved. I had my first Immunotherapy injection of Katruda. I will have further doses every three weeks. They will do a CT scan in about three months to monitor progress. Theater Again We kicked the theater season off by attending a table reading at...

 Jeanne and I couldn't wait for the local theater to begin their season. We spent the weekend in the driftless zone in and around Spring Green. From a distance, we viewed Telisand, House on the Rock, and various other Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired buildings.  We found our favorite outdoor relaxation at the Wisconsin Riverside Resort. We sat on our bag chairs on the lawn, looking over the river while watching the tubers, kayakers, and canoers come ashore while we were listening to live music being performed.  Did I mention we were in the shade? Did I tell you the temps were in the nineties? I should say they served an excellent Fish Taco. We both enjoyed an Arnold Palmer or two. In fact, we liked it so much we went back on Sunday. We saw three performances at the American Players Theater. (APT) Given my reluctance to rate these kinds of things, I will only tell you why you should see these Plays if you have the opportunity. First, They are produced by APT. The acting, stagin...

 It's a busy week in The City By the Inland Sea. Doctor's appointments, our free film from Milwaukee Film, Brewers vs. Cubs, lunch at Libby Montana's to celebrate my friends Janet and John Brownson's 42 wedding anniversary, attending a major meeting of Common Ground in our fight for tenants of public housing and preparing for our trip to Spring Green for the American Players Theater.  (I got tired just typing that agenda.) There is little let-up next week as I will be starting the Immunization phase of my treatments, and we begin the theater season in Milwaukee. For some reason, this is a time of the year when I'm writing Happy Birthday emails to many friends and family. However, when you consider their conception date is sometime in the dead of winter, it does make sense. I'm spending a lot of time keeping myself relevant in the eyes of some public services. Because of COVID and my volunteering with the All Saints Hunger Booksale, I haven't used my library ...

 Health Report: My oncologist tells me we are going to start immunotherapy on September 6th. We are waiting for this procedure because of the continued action of the radiation treatments despite having completed the round of treatments. That is also why we are not doing evaluative scans (CT, MRI, PET). They would be unreliable and probably unreadable because of the radiation activity. However, I can have a camera inserted into my penis for evaluative observation and possible mass removal. I can't tell you how excited I am about that procedure. There are two things to celebrate. My stamina and cognitive functions are noticeably better. I can even keep the characters straight in my favorite Brit Box dramas. The Doctor tells me not to expect any side effects from the immunotherapy except for diarrhea. ( I'm aware I might be oversharing here. ) On The Easel: Bench by the Birch Tree Pastel 12 x 16 If you saw the photo Jeanne took of me sketching, this is the scene I was working on. ...

 Jeanne and I took a tour with the SWAN, affiliated with The Riverkeepers. We boarded a lengthy pontoon boat and began an exciting trip through the harbor and the three rivers that flow into it. We listened to the Riverkeepers' representative, who gave us too much information to absorb, but certainly conveyed the need for all of us to support revitalizing our water resources. Many of you remember my days as a historic tour guide on the Vista King, run by The Milwaukee Boat Company. The last time I was on the rivers or in the harbor was when I returned to Milwaukee in 2019. I must admit that while my tour relied on the historical influence of these waterways, I needed to be more educated on the present-day issues we face.  Most of the problems are from past abuse by industry, runoff from upstream farms, and unregulated dumping of wastewater by smaller communities. The headline grabbers are the chemicals lying in the riverbeds. Many of these areas have been identified and are in...

 For those of us who labor in the belly of the beast, The All Saints Hunger Booksale starts in late June and concludes in early August. This over thirty-year-old tradition started with a challenge from a pastor to his congregation to do something for the less fortunate. As it has ever since, the group accepts donations, sorts, prices, and displays them. The group of volunteers assembles in the basement of the church Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. I started volunteering two years ago at the invitation of my friend Michelle Mooney. I found that the skills I acquired working at the bookstore and my lifelong love of reading made me useful with this gang. I was hampered a little this year because of radiation treatments, but I was a full-timer for most of the trip. We are on a route toward another record year and will contribute to Milwaukee's various food assistance programs, something north of twenty-five thousand dollars. Silly Aside About The Booksale : Jeanne ad I...

 My Fourth Year Living In Milwaukee 2.0 When my marriage was beyond repair, I had a decision to make. Where would I live? I could count on some of my friends and relatives if I stayed in Appleton. But the way things were lining up, that prospect seemed slim. I visualized a lot of embarrassing accidental encounters with people who no longer wanted anything to do with me. A few friends from Milwaukee saw my dilemma on Facebook and encouraged me to move back to The City By The Inland Sea. I'm happy that I did. Many of my friends in Milwaukee rallied around me and helped me build a life worth living.  COVID allowed me to expand on my creative life while I remained in limited contact with my friends. I've lost some friends, Harry Mosely, Bill Sell, and a kindly neighbor. But it gave me a chance to celebrate their lives with their other friends and relatives, which I may not have been able to do otherwise. This coming August 15th will mark my fourth anniversary. From My Sketch Book:...

 It appears there is a tradition in the radiology department at Ascension Hospital that patients, upon completing their course of treatment, ring a bell. ( We know not for whom this bell tolls.) Ring the Bell with My Sweetheart Jeanne. Jeanne drove me to all but two of the appointments. Pam Frautchi took me to the other two. Today, after being zapped thirty-two times, I rang the bell. This begins a roughly one-month recovery period where the effects of the radiation abate and, I'm assured, a return to normalcy occurs. In my case, I anticipate more energy and greater awareness. Books, Books, & More Books I am simultaneously celebrating the end of the third year of volunteering for the All Saints Hunger Book Sale. Next week, we will wrap up the preparation for the sale and open our doors on August 3 for the public. I ran into this humourous but quite accurate cartoon on a T-Shirt that shows most of the volunteer's sentiments at this point. If you think the printed and bound p...

 My radiation treatments will be finished by July 28th. Aside from the anticipated fatigue and numerous bathroom visits, the side effects have been minimal. I will have a break for a month. When we resume treatment in September, it will be immunization therapy. By then, we will have a progress report from Radiation Therapy, as I will be getting an MRI today. On The Easel Bird On A Flower Pastel 9x 12 Question : One of the most asked questions this week in Milwaukee is why are the Blue Angels flying around the lakeshore. Answer : Like most Eastside residents and visitors, they are looking for a parking spot. Movie Choice : I said I wouldn't, but now I'm going to anyway. We are not going to double feature watch Barbinheimer. We will watch them on separate days. But watch them we will. However, my no-Tom Cruise vow is intact. Tony Bennet I 'm very sad that Tony Bennet has passed away. As a singer and artist, he was an outstanding performer. My good friend Anne Wilde gave me a ...

  On The Easel: Lady On A Train Pastel 12 & 16 Ref: E. Hopper Buck Moon Pastel 9 x 12 Ref: Photo by M. Desisti Update On My Health: As the radiation treatment continues, my ability to stay focused and endurance fade. My energy level is significantly lower than before the treatments. While I seem to paint and sketch, I am losing some inspiration to write. It's scary, but I've been assured it's only temporary. The caution here is no one wants to commit to how long it will be before I recover. I'm seeing my Primary to find out why this vicious cough and chest pain persists. It is a gift, I believe, from our friends to the north when they supplied the smoke and debris from their wildfires.  Lake Park Concert: Jeanne and I ventured out last Monday evening to the opening of the Lake Park Concert series. The Steely Dan Tribute band, Black Cow, performed. It was a beautiful evening and an appreciative crowd.  I remarked that thought their guitarist was exceptional, only to ...

Report from The One Hundred and Twenty Days of Possible Good Weather In Wisconsin  Gradually but consistently, the dew point temperatures are getting higher. That means that the percentage of humidity is increasing into the uncomfortable environs of what is referred to as the muggys. When the dew point is n the sixties, we feel sticky, and the damp air seems to suck the energy out of us, to say nothing of the perspiration. On the Easel I did This self-selected arrangement of leaves and a flower for practice. I'm happy working with pastels, but I have much to learn. Mountain View Pastel 9 x 12 Here, I practiced different application, blending, and color selection techniques. The first sign of stress with my new love. Jeanne and her family are diehard, dedicated Milwaukee Brewer fans. I, for many years, hoped for the Chicago Cubs. ( Note: I said I hoped.) I picked up the habit many years ago while traveling the state of Wisconsin; I followed the lovable losers on WGN radio.  I ...

 ...she will pay for Brunch. I'm just saying. (She did.) Radiation Treatments: I'm not glowing in the dark yet. As I write this, I've had seven radiation treatments. Besides being on a first-name basis with Earl, the guy that follows me in the treatment lineup, there is little to report. Aside from getting my shoes off, lining me up on the table, and cautioning me not to move, it's a short process. The scheduled time for this procedure is fifteen minutes. Baseball Report: Because the Brewer game with the Pirates was not accessible to us, we ended up watching the Wisconsin Women's Softball High School Div 3 championship game featuring Brodhead and Mayville.  The game featured two teams with different approaches. Brodhead had a pitcher, McKenna Young. She pitched the entire game (7.5 innings, One inning longer than the regulation 7). Mckenna recorded 16 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 2 hits in that span. Mayville counted on their defense. Their pitcher, Allie Schwartz, poste...

 Let's take a look and see how my favorite teams did this year. PGA Golf: Sold to the Arabs in an effort to sports wash their human rights violations. NFL: Green Bay Packers. Aaron is gone, and all we've got is Love. How they will do is up in the air, but the divisional title and the playoffs are unimaginable. MLB: Chicago Cubs . Spectacular moments are interrupted by spurts of disaster. Milwaukee Brewers Second place in the weakest division of the national league. Since I started to become a fanboy, they have yet to play well. Their bats and pitching are sporadic. Premier League: Leeds United . They fired American Coach Jess Marsch and were relegated down to the championship league. NWSL: Angel City . I see a coaching change coming here. MLS: Seattle Sounders , Not good, and the future is not bright. UW Basketball: New coach. We'll see. UWGB : Where is Dick Bennet when you need him.  Call me if you have an opponent that your favorite team can't overcome. I buy and wea...

 WARNING! This post contains a photo of my neighbor bathing nude. This may be inappropriate for some viewers. Discretion is advised. Doctor's Report; As I've previously posted, I have bladder cancer. After numerous doctor visits and seemingly no end to imaging, I can report what we will do about it. First, I will go through radiation treatments. Starting next Wednesday, I will receive a daily dose of increasing power to be administered Monday through Friday until August 3. Because the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the pelvis, It's unlikely to get rid of all of the cancer. After a break and more imaging, I will receive three treatments of an immunotherapy drug. This is not Chemotherapy in the sense that we are not searching for whole-body effects but targeting cancer in the bladder. Right now, no cancer is seen in any area of my body except in the bladder. We are likely to see the cancer in remission at this point. Although I may have to continue immunotherapy to k...

No, you weren't inadvertently dropped from my Blog mailing list. I took last week off. Several activities, including doctor's appointments, got in my way. So I skipped school, so to speak. Doctor's Appointments It's official and hardly surprising I have bladder cancer. The tumor has progressed to a stage, so removing it is not an option. Over the next two months and a half, I will be treated with radiation and chemotherapy. The success rate of this course of treatment is high, and I anticipate complete remission. Theater Just when you think it's over, there appears one more performance. Broadway Theater is having a preview of a new play, Significant Other . Since Jeaane and I are still scratching our heads about explaining our relationship, this seems like research rather than entertainment. On The Easel This is in progress. Red Headed Girl Pastel 12 x 16

 We attended a showcase for songwriters. As an unpublished writer of fiction, except for my self-publishing efforts, I know many people have stories in the drawer of their desks or on their hard drives. Why it never occurred to many that there are as many or maybe more songwriters with the urge to tell their stories.  The themes of these folks were as scattered as pillow feathers in a windstorm. One fellow even bragged he could write a song about a grocery list, and I don't doubt him. They sang about life and love, disappointment and happiness. The music was from Broadway show style to blues, country, rock, and folk. Many of the songs were humourous, and some were sad, while most of them were thought-provoking. All in all, it was an evening well spent and something to look forward to. On The Easel   Looking South at Sunset Pastel 12 x 16 Health Report It's a week of recovery from the bladder scrap. I'm eliminating less blood than I had been, and the post-op pain is signif...