Marrow for Tomorrow Concert

Here is the scoop on the Marrow for Tomorrow Concert.

Event: "Marrow for Tomorrow" Donor Drive Concert
Place: The Canopy Club, S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL
Date: November 9, 2008
Time: 4pm-11pm
Cost: Free

Bands:

4:00-4:45 The Tons 'O Fun Band
5:15-6:00 Doxi
6:30-7:15 Dr Wu's Rock & Soul Revue
7:45-8:30 Weapons of Mass Disfunktion
9:00-9:45 Connor Grant
10:15-11:00 Stone Creek

This event is to drum up awareness of the need for bone marrow stem cell donors. It is our hope that attendee's will voluntarily submit to a "cheek swab" and fill out a quick form to see if they would be potential donors. There is no cost to do this. All costs are absorbed by the National Marrow Donor Registry.

This is something I’ve wanted to do ever since the original benefit. You folks gave so much and I really felt humbled. I could never pay it back and I know you folks never expected me to, but I can pay it forward.

Thanks to Sadie at the NMDP who was the first person to whom I talked and told me what I needed to do. Which was find a point man to be in contact with her. Many thanks to Larry Fredrickson for being the point man and getting the ball rolling. Thanks to Pat for contacting Wu and getting the boys together again. The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts for their help in publicity (thanks Bridget). The Canopy Club for hosting the event. From there the work spreads out to people I’ve never even met. Catie Crosby, VP of Programming for Phi Delta Epsilon, and Shane Regnier, President of Phi Delta Epsilon are scheduled to appear on "What's Happening in East Central Illinois" on WCIA Channel 3 at 12:20pm on Friday November 7th. My main idea for having it on campus was to get the Greeks involved and they really took the ball and ran with it.

Of course I have to thank the bands also. TOFB, DWRSR, Doxi (amazing 4 piece band featuring Larry‘s son Drew), Weapons of Mass DisFunktion (my music friends from the U of I playing funk and fusion), Then we have a couple popular college bands playing: Conner Grant and Stone Creek. Thanks to everyone. When the time comes for my transplant (hopefully many years from now). It will be from donors found at events such as this.

The main point of this event (as I said earlier) is to drum up awareness about the need for bone marrow stem cell donors. But don’t forget to bring an extra $20 so you can pick up a copy of the Benefit CD. There is no charge for admission, but I’ll have someone there all night to sell the CD.

Old Friends

Well, the miracles of modern technology never cease. One of my best friends since high school has caught up with me on facebook. I teased her about finally joining the 21st century.

In an earlier blog I wrote about me and Richard, Joe and Dave being very nearly inseperable. But lest you think I had no friends of the fairer sex, I also hung out quite alot with Kim Bright and Terri Heller. They were my age, stayed in band all four years and we had many, many classes together. They were both friends in that special "High-School-Oh-so-platonic-but-I-wish-it-wasn't-but-I'm-too-inexperienced-with-women-to-move-it-any-other-way" kind of way. You guys out there know what I mean. Some of us had to get away to college and re-invent ourselves to be good with women.

Anyway, although they weren't my only high school crushes, they were two of my very best friends. And although we seldom see each other (I think it's been almost 15 years maybe more) I still think of them as two of my very best friends. They were both a few months older than me, so they were driving before me, which meant I caught a lot of rides with one or the other of them many, many times.

One time Mom & Dad were out of town, so I was staying with my brother and his wife. I needed to catch a ride home from a basketball game, so I caught a ride (I think it was Kim driving). She wasn't supposed to go out of town, but my brother lived out by Lake Paradise. I kept telling her, oh it's just a little further, turn left here, its just a little further, turn right, its just a little further.... Boy did I hear about that everytime I needed a ride afterwards.

Well, there's my trip down memory lane. I hope it wasn't too painful for you. It's hard sometimes reliving that High School awkwardness. Luckily the joy of being young takes the sting out of it a little while you're actually going through it. I look back and although I wouldn't go back, I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

Tomorrow, I'll tell you all about the big concert for the National Marrow Donor Program. Until then, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

Keep Pushin On

Fun gig last night. That was by far the best sound system I have ever played through. It was cool hearing my trumpet sound reflecting from the back of the hall. I only wish that this had happened before I got sick. I made it through, but there is a difference between making it through and making it through with chops to spare. I don't have chops to spare right now. But what can I do but "Keep Pushin On?"

REO sounded great. Keep on Lovin' You takes me back to High School. In fact, the concert was a trip all the way back to the early 70's and the Red Lion in Champaign. Kevin Cronin told stories of playing the Red Lion and when they started rockin' out to their old tunes, I could almost imagine being there. Except in 1971 I was just turning 5!

I also realized last night that Kevin Cronin likes to write songs that in some way use the phrase "keep on." Even Roll With the Changes uses "keep on rollin" as a chorus. It also hit me how many truly classic songs REO has.

People sometimes criticise classic rock tours because the bands don't have all original members. In REO's case, that depends on what you mean by "original." The only "original" member of the band is neal doughty, the keyboard player. He and some friends formed the band in 1967; I wasn't even a year old. If by original you mean people who were members during the period of their biggest hits (and the album Hi Infidelity, the sound track of my High school years), then of course you have to say that it is 3/5 REO. But even at that the "new guys" have been with the band since 1989 and 1990. It was a great show, the sound changed for the better about 20 minutes in.

I also sold a few CDs, thanks.

Now the weird thing: after a huge show like that, I dreamed about the constant rescheduling of my next appointment. I dreamed (and it seemed so real) that they wanted me to do the Bone Marrow Biopsy up here and send the results there. That, of course, would not happen; they want their own lab to do all the tests. Last night also marked the beginning of the last month of the clinical trial. On the notes section of my log book I wrote "My band opened for REO Speedwagon." I wonder if that will show up as a possible side effect on the official FDA report!

REO SPEEDWAGON

Tomorrow is a big day for TOFB. We open for REO. If you haven’t gotten your tickets you still can buy them at Assembly Hall’s Ticket Office. It is going to be a great evening. They are allowing me to sell the benefit CD there so, if I can convince a couple hundred people to buy a copy I’ll be in good shape. (Like that will happen.) Still, one never knows and those trips to Texas are getting expensive.

Also don’t forget November 9, will be the Marrow for Tomorrow Concert at the Canopy Club. Krannert Center is printing posters and we have a lot of people behind us on this one. I don’t have the names of all the bands or the final schedule, but there will be 5 bands. Doctor Wu Rock and Soul Revue will be playing as will the Tons of Fun Band. I’ll be selling the benefit CD, but the impact of the day will be far reaching. The donors signed up will grow the Marrow donor list and maybe someone who came out to hear a band and get a cheek swab, will save someone’s life by donating.

Everyone here is invited, of course. Many people have asked how to get on the donor list and this is the super simple way. No muss, no fuss, no cost and you get to hear some great bands! Advertising will start very soon. So listen for it.

My follow up date keeps changing. I was originally scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving. I changed it to later in December, the nurse in charge of the protocol told me I had to do it earlier, so I started to change it back to November 26, but Dr. Keating’s assistant Alice talked to the protocol nurse who then said we actually did have a little more time. So, my appointment has been moved back to December 22. This means my butt will be hurting for Christmas. But wouldn’t it be a great Christmas present to have my bone marrow test out cancer free? That is what I am hoping for.

I Know, I Know, I know

I know I'm not writing as much as I should. I know the last post was pretty despondent. I know people are wondering how things are going.

I'm still alive, and doing pretty well. In spite of the fact that I have lost several people close to me to cancer and now my sister also has cancer, I still believe I will beat this thing in the end.

My next evaluation is in mid November right before Thanksgiving. I won't get the results until the next week. That will involve a BMB. I'll have another CT scan here sometime after that. I hope this stuff works.

Of course, we all know that in the end everyone has an end. So I can only repeat what I've said so often before.

Do it now. Don't wait. If it is important, do it now. If it isn't important, why are you doing it at all? Make decisions. It is the habit I have been trying to live by. So, when I get worn down, I take a nap. Yes, it's important. When I'm hungry, I eat. When my kids need to see me, I take the time.

Harrison has been helping me put things together in my office. He helped me build a shelving unit and if he hadn't been there it would have taken me and hour longer. Plus he learn how to put nuts and bolts together.

I went to Darius' writing celebration at school the other day. He wrote a story about our day at Lake of the Woods.

I went with Kaitlyn to hear the French ambassador speak (she got extra credit for her French class.

Jana and I had a dinner out last night.

All these relationships are important. I am a little behind where I wanted to be as far as my office and private teaching goes, but still in very good shape.

Then I thought of you people. It is important to write and let you all know what is happening, so I did it now.

And even more sad news...

I am sorry I haven’t been posting. I know that just a word or two would let you all know how I am doing, but I’ve been moving into my office and putting a great deal of thought into my immediate future. And now, I am sorry to say, I have had sad news. Scott Doty, my friend and fellow cancer patient passed away this morning.

Scot has been exhibiting a great fighting spirit and truly was a hero. Remember Sharon, his wife and his little boy, Nick. I can’t imagine losing a father at such a young age.

Also, in keeping with the health nature of this blog, My best friend from High School has had an abnormal blood test showing elevated liver enzymes. We are all praying it is just a fluke, but keep Dave Alumbaugh in your prayers. I know first hand what it is like to have something wrong and not know exactly what it is.

Dave and I have been friends since Jr. Hi. He played trombone. There were really four of us who were close to in inseparable in H.S. Dave, Joe Ingram, and Richard Rittis. We all had similar interest shared a lot of classes played a little Dungeons and Dragons (yeah we were those kids). One year at a birthday party, Dave had fireworks and when we were setting off the roman candles, we held them and pretended we were shooting fireballs, I guess. But, of course, mine blew up in my hand right next to my ear. Although my hand was fine my, ear didn’t quite make it out so well. I have permanent “notch” in my hearing in my right ear. Crazy kids. A little while later that night, someone called the lake patrol who came and confiscated most of the rest of the fireworks. We hid quite a few. I wonder how the patrolman disposed of those fireworks? Hmmm….

Dave also plays bass in a Christian band and has a video on you tube.
Check it out:




Please keep Sharon and Nick an your prayers.

Moving In (Revlimid day 36-38)

I've been moving into my new studio space the past few days. I made a couple big trips today moving most of my instruments and music. I still have a lot of sorting and putting away to do.

I taught quite a few lessons last week and I'll be looking to enlarge my studio enrollment. So if you know anyone in Champaign or Urbana looking for brass lessons have them give me a call.

I just found this and realized I forgot to post it. It will probably post on the original day for which it was dated.

Cancer Strikes close to home Again. (Revlimid Day 35)

Will bad news never take a break?

My sister, Lydia has had some bad news to deal with. She’s been diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve been reluctant to announce it here, but she got the treatment advice from her doctor today and really needs your prayers. So please remember Lydia.

The family has been busy, Jana had a birthday and we got together with all the kids tonight and had pizza.

I officially got my new studio space today, so I have to move in yet. I taught several lessons today in the space. All I have is a couple chairs, a music stand, a phone, my computer and the internet.

Say a prayer.