Here's something interesting for you guys to read.....

Here's a quote from Charles Swindon I found and damn if it doesn't explain my feelings of what I am going through on a few levels! Check it out. Read it to yourself. Realize the power behind it and do something with it! Your outlook should change! Allright I'll quit preaching! lol So I quote:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company....a church....a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past....we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you.....we are in charge of our Attitudes."

That just kind of nails how I feel so far about my diagnosis of rectal cancer and my "attitude" in fighting the good fight. Whatever that means! I just don't feel like the disease defines me. Does that make sense? If this is my path I am going to walk it standing tall and pushing against the wind that comes at me. I don't think it's being strong or tough. It is just me being me because of my attitude!

THE GOLDEN TICKET THEORY

As promised today I will expand on my theory of the GOLDEN TICKET. When I was "diagnosed" with cancer I found that everyone around me was willing to do anything and everything to make my life a little easier! Family started sending gifts, friends called more and complete strangers were going out of their way to be nice to me! So all it took was a little cancer to get some love up in here? I should've got this years ago! I could've used it when my band was playing! Might've gotten a record deal! Seriously though the GOLDEN TICKET is just a funny way to make light of a serious situation. If we treated everyone around us like they were dying we might have alot more patience and compassion. Because everyday we are dying folks! This life will come to an end in some way, shape or form. So EVERYONE should have a GOLDEN TICKET in their pockets! Love a little harder, don't sweat the small stuff, stop and smell the roses and live like you are dying! I hate that damn song! lol. Couldnt get it out of my head for the first few days, but it's true! But you won't see me on a damn bull named Fu Manchu! The only bull I'm dealing with is the one in my ass!
For anyone that tried to get in touch with me yesterday I apologize for not answering texts or calls. I was feeling like complete crap! My hemorrhoids don't go away just because I have cancer I found out! I spent all day jumping in and out of hot baths, throwing up and all sorts of fun stuff like that! I looked and felt like shit!Back to normal today, but yesterday was NOT a good day to own Garys booty! By the time this is all said and done I will be ready to have a colostomy bag people! No more hemorrhoids are you kidding me? Sign me up and cut this ass out of me! I will deal with a bag of feces glued to my hip! I am not kidding! Only toothaches have kicked my ass more than these roids I get! Take 'em away! You can have them! Thats about it for now. I have radiation treatment again today. Only takes 10 minutes a day! Wish it was all quick like that!
Finally get to go to work and make some money on Saturday! My coworkers have been EXTREMELY cool to me! They've been donating money to help me get through this time. VERY VERY VERY COOL! I have some good friends there indeed! Looking forward to hanging with them this weekend!

First Day of Chemotherapy.....In the books!

Good evening everyone! Thank you for joining me for another fun-filled romp into the world of colorectal cancer! Today finds yours truly getting that first day of chemo under my belt. I was going to get radiation as well, but the first day of getting into a chair and having this oxiliplatin dripping into the port took almost 4 hours! At least they had cable TV and I was able to catch up on my Daily Show and Colbert Report episodes! I love me some comedy central! If you don't know that by now, you will never, never , never know me! Simply Red? Simply cheesy!

Like I said though first one down. I am only getting the IV chemo drug oxiliplatin once per week. Next time is on June 1st. Then they do a blood check the next week to check levels. White blood cell counts, red blood cell counts and platelets, that stuff. I feel normal. I find I don't go to the bathroom as much though. I don't know if I am afraid to get hemorrhoids again or if my intestines are trying to build up some "push" material since I cleaned them out with all of the laxatives I took over the last two weeks! If you don't mind "too much information" you came to the right blog people!

If there's going to be any side effects I dont think they will come right away, if they come at all. Mind over body people...check with me in a month and see if I am singing the same song!

Had a nice surprise from my wife this weekend! She kidnapped me and took me to McAlester for the I-Talian Festival! lysb! We stayed in a nice hotel, had some time to relax. It was very sweet and I think I needed it and didnt even realize it. She did good! If you know her, give her some props this week! My Golden Ticket strikes again! Have I mentioned my theory of 'The Golden Ticket?"

That will be the next blog! Goodnight everyone!