But seriously folks

First off I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and I hope a year with hope, love and triumph. Keep positive thoughts and everything will be OK. Don't sweat the small things This is my mentality and I am living a happier life because of it. Like I have said before, cancer has been a blessing in many ways. God will close a door and open another one up. You just have to have the foresight and want to go through it. 2009 didn't get off to a good start but it did end up being a good year. I have learned and grown a lot over the year. Cancer has been a life changing event but like I had said before I am a man with cancer but cancer doesn't have me. I have also learned not to plan my life away but to live it now. I thank God for blessing me with humor. I don't think I would have been able to make it this far without it. Sally or myself always find something to laugh at when things don't always go our way. Usually it's Sally finding something about me to laugh at but never the less one of us is usually laughing but usually both. The kids are a riot too, and help me through some of the tuff times.

I have a PET scan scheduled tomorrow at 12 noon(Jan 2). I will be having my CT scan on the 6Th starting at 3. Then, depending on the results, will start back up with chemo on Thursday. So I will have the results back by the end of next week. I am praying for the best, but will take any result with stride. Even if it may not be the best result, I will be OK, about a day or two afterwards. So remember me in your thoughts and prayers in the coming week.

Often family and friends make comments on how well I look and how well I am doing. As if I am fine and cured. The truth is I am doing well. The other truth is there are many days I get out of bed not feeling so well. I push myself to get dress and go to work and try to live a normal life. I don't want cancer to stop my life. Plus, I need to take care of my family sick or not sick. I also have a feeling people think that since I am in remission I made it. The fact is I made it this far. The longer I go the chances of my survival improves. The other truth is the longer I go the harder it is on me at testing time. I know the probability of something showing up is great. The longer I go cancer free, the more nervous I become thinking these results will be the dreaded ones. Yes I am positive as positive as I can be. I am realistic and that is important as well. I am not taking my life for granted but even when I didn't have cancer I should have never taken it for granted. Like most people out there,I thought it won't happen to me, guess what!

I haven't posted as often as I would have liked since I have been home the last 2 weeks. I have been trying to shorten my blogs a little so I didn't get to finish about my Christmas. Sally and I are often easily amused and Christmas night was one of those times. I went to bed earlier then usual. Sally followed a little later. A few minutes later Sally had gotten out of bed and came back shortly later. She mentioned about hearing some sounds. I heard silverware in the kitchen fall but I thought Michael was up. Michael was in his room. Sally also notice a curtain that we never open was opened. A lamp in our room was turning on and off. I actually had to turn it on, thinking maybe it was between on and off, it wasn't. Michael said his lamp was also turning on and off. So I decided to use my fine ghost busting skills to figure out what was going on and I couldn't figure anything out( my fine skills at work). So I went back to bed scratching my head. Sally and I were lying in bed and we than heard Michael in the bathroom. First he had the hiccups which lead us to the giggles. Then he starting coughing like he has been smoking 3 packs of cigarettes for the last 20 years. Then we calmed down a bit and heard Michael dropping deuces so we started laughing again (we are so mature).

After all of that we tried to go to sleep, by this time it was after midnight. Sally asked me if I heard music playing from outside. I couldn't hear anything. She was becoming annoyed because I couldn't hear it. So she had Michael lay in bed with us to see if he could hear it and he couldn't either. I finally kicked Michael out of bed and went to use the washroom. When I came back Sally was laughing again. She said not only she hears music but it sounds like either a cat in heat or the neighbor next door trying to sing. I listened again and I finally heard it. Sally sent Michael outside to investigate. We heard Michael on the neighbors driveway coughing away. Talk about trying to be secretive. Michael came back to report that in fact it was our neighbor trying to sing. So then Michael decided to prank call them. I told him to ask them if they can carry a tune. If they said yes, tell them if they can carry it somewhere else, so we can sleep. He called and blocked his number . They picked up and said "hello" the Michael said "Uuuuuuuu Hi can you uuuuuuuu carry uuuuu a tune?"." What did you want me to say?" I thought you got to be kidding me. It's not like I was asking him to recite the Declaration of Independence. Then we heard a click. Michael called right back the he heard another click. Soon after the singing stopped. In the mean time Sally and I laid in bed laughing at our neighbor's failed attempt to be the next American Idol. We laid in bed pondering if we should be the "good" neighbor and act like we didn't have a clue or do we be the ones that will never let it down. So we decided it was to good to let it rest. The next day is snowed so I spent a good deal of time shoveling the snow. I kept waiting to see them and when I did I had to say something. Our neighbor did inform me that their son got "Rock Band" for Christmas and that night his wife thought she was the next super star. I didn't ask how many drinks she had prior but I am almost certain alcohol had to play a factor for her singing debut. He also said that Michael better watch his back because he is going to get him good. If you know Michael, you know that isn't hard to do. Love you Michael.

I don't know why, but my coat smells like chicken soup. That's all I am going to say about that. Thank you for visiting and God Bless you all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!