Stable!

Even though I had to take a break to get my Thyroid balanced again, The break has been useful for re-staging the disease. My nodes are stable since my last CT and the amount of cancer in my bone marrow is down to 10%. So this is all very good news.

Healthwise, I'll be starting the protocol again, I think. I'll be waiting to hear from Dr. Keating. And I should be getting the CPAP machine soon. I think the trouble with my sleeping was mostly due to the thyroid thing. I was really swollen and I think I was even swelling in my throat. Now that things are more regulated, I've been sleeping very well, even without the machine.

I am feeling great now. My energy is back and I've been using every available minute in the recording studio. Ideally, I'll have all the tracking done in a couple weeks (mid December) and then I'll let it sit for a while before I mix it down. That way I can make any changes.

In the mean time, I really need to get my video funded. I need to be at 50% funding by day 45 (1/2 way) and that is less than a week away. If you've already funded the album, thanks. If you feel like helping me a little more I really do appreciate it. My time table runs into April. By Late March/early April the video should be done and the Album should be up on itunes and Amazon and ready for official release.

I posted a more detailed table for backers on my project page at grooveduke.net.

For those of you interested in the long view, I am already funding the next album at Sellaband (again). Sellaband's website underwent some changes and during that time, I really couldn't reccomend it and I was debating whether or not to withdraw. But by all appearences, they have fixed the site. So even though it is competing with my video project, I am still using it as a fundraising site. I am doing comparisons between it and Kickstarter. To see which website will get my continued business. And I think that will largely depend on you folks.

The one where I am able to get people to actually support my nusical projects will be the website I use. So if you have any preferences, please write and let me know. I may do a compare/contrast article soon.

In the meantime, I am in this weird place: I have to be prepared for a coupkle eventualities. On the one hand, I need to be ready for the transplant, even though I don;'t know when it will be. On the other hand, I need to continue to promote my music and work on projects as though it weren't going to happen. My biggest worry in all of this is continuing to make a living. I know that when I'm in Texas, I won't be able to teach. And when I come back I'll practically have to start from scratch building my trumpet studion again. I am trying to be in a place were at least the selling music aspect will not be back at square one.