Yosemite Trippin'

We have had two trips to Yosemite in the last two weeks. First was a day trip with my cuz Ward, his wife Cathleen and daughter Meredith and Beth and the girls. It was a glorious day and exceeded all my expectations. A photo -



The following week Rob and Emily Myallis came up and we were able to spend the night last Tuesday. The first day was 'perfect' weather, the second day was snow and rain making for a great mountain experience.

To see a slide show, click here

It really was an honor to have these folks as guests at our house.

My dear friend Emilio Garcia DDS was married today. He is not only a damn fine dentist, but one of the nicest people I have ever met. It was an honor to be invited and he really looks like a man in bliss.

Getting ready for Tahiti; otherwise nothing else to report.

Peace

Sundry

Couple of Things

The FDA panel on new drugs recommended approval for wide use of a Prostate Cancer Vaccine (Provenge). The drug is given to those with advanced androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC) and works by stimulating the immune system. There are virtually no side effects and I can see the day that this is given all men with prostate cancer. The FDA is expected to give final approval in May; if they don't there will a lot of pissed men heading to D.C.

Tonight the topic at my class at Fresno state was my friend Steve Hirasuna. Steve has been running an inner city Drug Rehab program for 10 years and has been doing Addiction Treatment for > 25 years. He is the best1

Here is a picture of Steve and I.

News Article

Bill McEwen, a columnist for the Fresno Bee, published a column 2 days ago. Bill is my favorite columnist at the Bee and can remember when he was a reporter for Fresno State Athletics. I am heavily referenced in the article and you can be the judge as to whether I come off as a snitch or just trying to do the right thing.

Anyway, the story (Click here to read) concerns a lawsuit that the former Fresno State Woman's basketball coach has filed alleging her firing was in part due to gender discrimination, and her attorney is trying to show that the attitude of the Athletic Administrators toward men with drug problems were different than the attitude toward women. Terry Pettis, former men's basketball star is the case in point.

Just before Terry Pettis was sentenced for the shooting of a young woman in a drug deal gone bad, he 'told all' to the Fresno Bee and alleged that his coach and administrators let him down by allowing him to play drug dirty rather than cleaning him up. Pettis was not alone in having problems complying with rules and regulations. Click for an interesting article published when Terry was suspended for good from the team.

Following the publication of the story and following Pettis' sentencing to life without parole, I wrote him a letter, having been asked not to by Fresno State Athletics until the matter was settled (I am OK with this).

In the letter I ask him to forgive his superiors so he could move on. Personally, I think that his coach and AD and President did what they felt best and only in hind site did it appear to be the wrong approach. In other words, I do not have any criticism of the Administrators since there is a much bigger picture to University Athletics and some decisions may not be in the best interest of an individual athlete but in the best interest of the University and community. This is a never ending dilemma: who should supervise the behavior of athletes - coaches?, administrators?.

For me there is little conflict since the Hippocratic Oath says: (I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone).

New Plans

I just returned from a visit with my Prostate Cancer Specialist, Dr Eric J. Small at UCSF Cancer Medical Center. Carole went with me and surprisingly, some old friends from Fresno had an appointment at the same time for the same issues with another clinic doctor.

The basic problem is that turning on and off my testosterone and adrenal hormones did not seems to change my blood tests, so we made a decision to try a new tact.

I am going off all oral anti-cancer medications, let things wash out, follow my PSA for about 6 weeks and then do some scans to see what is going on. If not much change, then I will enter the vaccine trial; if there is something aggressive then we will attack with WMD - some new chemotherapy. One of the biggest problems to deal with when you have these issues is not to have a plan but now we do.

Perhaps best off, I will not be getting anything toxic on our Tahiti-South Pacific cruise in May.

Stay tuned.

St Partrick's Day

Lots going on.

First of all, I went thru a deposition a while ago. Seems that the former woman's basketball coach is suing he University for wrongful termination. I have no dog in this fight but I got dragged into it because I was in the middle of a drug crises with the men's basketball team a few years ago. I was deposed as well as Terry Pettis - a former player - who is doing a life sentence for murder. Fresno State elected to post the depositions on the internet. If you want to see the inside of drugs and Fresno State, check out this link. Click Here

Last Weekend

Beth, Bill, Marlee, Grace, Emily and Steve came to Fresno.


It was interesting have the kids stray at our house.

We had a great weekend and played in the Fresno State Golf Tournament - we did not win but got some prizes anyway.



I went to LA Tuesday and spent the afternoon and evening with Beth, Bill and family and my Philadelphia connection: Rob Godsall - my cousin from Atlanta - and his nephews - Rob Myallis and Jonathon Godsall. It was delightful to see them them again!. Hopefully I can get to Tim Godall-Myers wedding in Philadelphia in August.

Finally, we are taking a South Pacific cruise out of Tahiti for 10 days in May - balcony and all the trimmings.

Stay tuned.

I go to UCSF Medical Center Tuesday for another consultation as to what are my options in the treatment of my prostate cancer. Should be an interesting adventure. We are staying at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel - more to follow.

Plea Bargain

I went to criminal court yesterday for the impersonating a disabled person arrest (a misdemeanor). Looked like TV with guys and gals in handcuffs and chains, lawyers prancing about, the judge driving things forward. I took advantage of the Public Defender who pleaded me to an infraction. I pleaed no contest, payed a fine and can move on with my life without the tag of misdemeanor on my resume.



Anyway, if you are going to use someone elses disabled placard, be aware of the hassle if you get noticed.

Big weekend coming up - will post next week.

Bill

Yuk

I have been on a treatment strategy that wipes out any trace of testosterone as prostate cancer is usually sensitive to testosterone. However, the last two months my PSA has continued to rise. Ironically, I feel OK (except for not having any macho hormone and the meds I have to take) and enjoy every day.

So, next step is to go to UCSF to see the experts (again) and probably get into treatment with new drugs not available to the public (yet).

Needless to say, its a bit scary and unsettling but I suppose it is a bit of an adventure and an inevitable part of the 'long strange trip'.

On the other hand, I am really having a wonderful time teaching a class at Fresno State - the students are wonderful (i.e. full of wonder) and have a passion for learning.

No pictures today, but there should be plenty next post as we are having a housefull next weekend.

Peace

Bill

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day(click) - Punxsutawney Phil

The frost has melted but the scars remain. The water pump from our storage tank shredded - cold trauma? - and had to be replaced and the shard from the impeller jammed up the toilet floats and washer so Stan the Man the Plumber came to the rescue.

Then Millie got a big dose of reality. Every day she approaches the dog next door and yaps at her. The next door dog (Kayla) is fenced behind a wrought iron fence that Millie can stick her snout through - well Kayla let her know that her attention was unwanted and got a couple of bites into her. Of course the dachshund drama was unreal but she has calmed down a bit and the wound is healing better after she was placed on Amoxicillin.



My health is good. I feel well and my recent check-up was OK. I am on drugs to suppress my adrenal glands and its anti-cancer effects won't be know for another month or so, so it is nice NOT to be be chasing the PSA for a while.

My class at CSU Fresno is going well. The Rehab Counseling Department is really warm and fuzzy. Tonight I had Irv Dimont do a presentation on back anatomy and disorders and it was wonderful. I had to call the class to end - I think the students would have liked to gone another hour.



Superbowl weekend and then back to normal Stay tuned.

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Big Week

It has been a big week: three events.

First, I started my official duties as adjunct faculty at CSU Fresno with session one on Thursday. It felt good - energetic students and great support from Charles and Ray (my mentors).

Second, I was arrested for impersonating a disabled person. It turns out that because of the extensive chemotherapy I was left with neuropathy and myopathy in the lower legs and ongoing drug treatments has led to weakness. I also have chronic swelling in my left leg from blood clots due to chemo. If that is not enough, my left knee swells from arthritis due an old soccer injury-surgery.




Additionally, at night I have fallen down due to the neuropathy, especially in low lighting. I never got a disabled placard because we already had one from Carole's Mom; however, I generally did not need it since I park in the State garage at the Dept of Rehab, Doctors parking at Northwest Medical Group, and faculty lots when I was with athletics but now do not have a faculty permit and the my paperwork had not been processed to get one. Rather than risk a long walk in the dark (class ends at 7 pm) I used the placard at home and got busted - it actually can be a misdemeanor. The following morning I received both a faculty permit and my doctor filled out the paperwork for another placard, so I know longer have to impersonate a disabled person. I was hoping the meter maid guy who confronted me and the cop might listen to reason, but their sympathy was about the level of Saddam's hangman. Hopefully the judge will be a little more open minded.

Third, my two year old grand daughter - Grace Ann had her second birthday at Chuck-E-Cheese in LA - great time with the family getting together with friends.



My daughter Beth and husband are in Las Vegas for a convention for a few days so we are staying in LA to watch her kids, Marlee and Grace.




It seems there is always some adventure around the corner.

Stay tuned.

Happy New Year

Well, the holidays are over and the winter freeze is on!

Christmas was celebrated in West Hills (north of Los Angeles) with my children and grandchildren. My son Steve was supposed to join his wife Jen and daughter Emily at his in-laws in Alexandria VA but could not get out of Santa Barbara due to fog in connecting cities.

(Steve - Emily -- Jen)

Instead, he celebrated with the rest of us but eventually was able to connect with his family the the early hours of Dec 26th.

After returning to Fresno Carole and I became ill with a nasty upper respiratory infection that carried into the new year.

However, undaunted we went to San Francisco for a huge - larger than life - String Cheese Incident NYE. We hooked up with Peter and some friends and Polly and Scott - it was a wonderful time of excess and hedonism and community of the happy.....and great music.

(Peter and Friends at the Pre-Show Party)



(Carole and Randy)

(Is Scott havin' Good Time ... or what!)

Healthwise I feel pretty good. I am having some mild side effects of the pills I am but no real problems.

The exciting news is that I am now adjunct faculty of The School of Counseling at CSU Fresno and will be teaching 3 hours a week to those working on a Master's in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. School starts next week - I am truly honored and excited to be teaching post-graduates but am a little unsure of things like homework, testing, etc.

Carole and I are going next week to LA to watch Beth's kids while the parents are away at business meetings.

Stay tuned!

Maui Vacation

We just returned from 8 days in wonderful Maui. We stayed in Waialea at the Ekahi Village Condominiums - this is a wonderful place for families. Beth Bill - Marlee and Grace and Fina stayed in one condo and Carole and me, Steve Jen and Emily stayed in the other.

Click here for a slide show

I played golf 4 times and ate incredibly wonderful meals - at Longhi's, Joe's, Roy's, and Mama's Fish House. The weather was wonderful.



We can't wait to get back.

-------------------------------------------

It looks like I will be teaching a class at CSUFresno next semester to the Mater's class in Vocational Rehab. I always wanted to be a teacher, and had I not made into or thru Med School, I would have looked at Education.

We have lots of Holiday functions coming up - probably will spend New Years Eve in San Francisco.

Happy Holidays!

Busy Two Weeks

Last week or so was full of excitement.

First of all, I was given some recognition for my 23 years as team doc at Fresno State. After this school year (2006-2007), I am going to step down. With the permanent closing of my office, it is time to recruit new blood at Fresno State. At half-time of the New Mexico State game, I was given a jersey with my name and number of years by Dr Welty and Thomas Boeh, the Athletic Director.



Also last week we drove to West Hills and grand child sat for Bill and Beth as they both had to go to business meetings. It was a great time. Grace is so engaging and playful.



....however, she is not dialed in on lipstick yet...



This week we went to see the famous and infamous Dixie Chicks at Save Mart Arena. They were everything I expected and more.

Tomorrow I am driving to San Francisco for an appointment Tuesday with a Prostate Cancer Specialist (Dr. Eric Small). I want to see if he has any bullets for my problem and get his advice. I will let you know how it goes.

In the meantime we are preparing for our annual trip to Maui at the end of the month.

Click Here To See Something Cute For You


Take care

Fear and Loathing -- NOT

Dateline: Las Vegas, Nevada





We just returned from 5 days in Las Vegas, mostly dedicated to the doins' at Vegoose at the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl. The most insane day for me was Sunday:

Sunday October 29, 2006
Las Vegas Nevada

10:20 am

Awoke at Terrible's Hotel, showered, went down to the casino to check the latest betting lines. The Steelers were playing the Raiders - so we located a Steeler Fan Bar on Flamingo Ave - Play of the Day - voted one of the 10 best Sports Bars in Las Vegas.

1:30 pm

Arrived at Play of the Day. The bar is filled with die-hard Steeler fans and has a lot of space and probably 20 TV/flat screens.







We (me, Scott, Polly, Peter, Nichole, Carole) found a table and were dismayed to find the Steelers were losing to Oakland. We had two rounds of Jagermiester, beers and mixed drinks.



2:15 pm

We headed out to Vegoose and managed to have the celebratory drink of Jagermeister in the parking lot.




3:00 pm

Stubhub.com has created a Sports Bar with every football game on a projection 82 inch TV. We had more drinks as we watch Pittsburgh lose to Oakland and Denver lose to the Colts.




4:45 pm

I was able to get to one the smaller stages to catch Fiona Apple and her brand of angst. Great show. Sun went down at the close of the show.



6:30 pm

The Black Crowes took the stage and there was a strange feeling with the crowd, lights and energy.



8:00 pm

Widespread Panic came on for a continuous three (3) hour set. It was chilly but everyone was have a good time.



10:00 pm

The ladies were having a good time!




11:30 pm

We left the venue and found a couple of folks selling fun-fun baloons and walked back to the car. A group from New York were impaled on a dirt mound in the lot, but Peter figured out how to lift them out and get them on their way. They ended up with big hugs of graitude.

12:15 am

We were back at the hotel, dressed up and headed to the Orleans for String Cheese Show. String Cheese came on at 1 am with a Jungle themed show. Two sets, lotsa wierdness (Axel rose impersonator), acrobats and fun.

5:00 am

The show was over there was a huge line for cab rides so we connected with a limo and rode to the MGM Grand.

5:45 am

We ended ed up in the lobby bar at the MGM Grand Hotel - great time.



We made friends:



7:00 am

Back home at the Terrible's Hotel and to bed!



More to come.

Monday 10/30 -- Widespread Panic at the MGM Grand Arena

Tuesday 10/31 - Halloween at the Wynn

It Has Been Awhile

Back in August, before I went on the Alaskya cruise, I had some lab work done. It turned out that my PSA had started to go up sharply indicating that (a) I was clearly in relapse and (2) Dr Flam was running out of 'bullets'. The suprise is, of course, that any symptoms I feel are the result of the long term chemotherapy, not a malignant metastatic tumor.

Dr Flam realized that the data could wait until after my cruise, so he did not tell me about the PSA until after the cruise so I did not have to go through the What Now and What If scenarios. However, once it was apparent that Plan A, B and C were not going to put me in a remission, we came up with Plan D: a trip to UCSF to see the superspecialist in Prostate Cancer - and that visit is coming up just before Thanksgiving. The main reason for the trip is not only a consultation but the opportunity to participate in recieving new treatments not available to the general public because they have not been approved by the FDA; although classified as experimental, they have been fully researched and have been found to be both safe and effective and are the drugs of the near future. The good news is that I have plateaued in that my last test showed the PSA had not changed after a month.

Through all this you make great friends, one of who is Harold. Here is a
photo of me, Dr Flam and Harold at a lunch at Dr Flam's office (Dr Flam is the one not smiling).


I have formally retired from office practice as of 9/30/2006 and that is a relief. However, I am not retired as I continue to work daily at the Department of Vocational Rehab and do some Long Term Care work, as well as consulting in Addiction Medicine.

My daughter Beth and my daughter-in-law Jen are both pregnant and expected to deliver in June of 2007. Fantastic.

We are going to Las Vegas for Vegoose thru Halloween and heading to Maui for 9 days after Thanksgiving.

In the meantime I am working on my golf game and am about to start playing in the 90s.

As SpongeBob says: This is the best day ever.

Peace and Health.

Oh yes...the grandkids



Marlee Jean Hazelton and Grace Ann Hazelton

--------------------------------------------------------------



Emily Elizabeth Kennedy

Alaska Cruise

We have been at sea on the Celebrity cruise ship Mercury. We left Seattle on Friday, Aug 25 and stopped at Juneau on Sunday – greeted by cold rain. Juneau is the State Capital of Alaska, yet there are no roads to Juneau - you have to arrive by plane or boat! Despite the inclement weather, we were able to get a good visit with the Mendenhall Glacier and the Visitor Center and a fascinating look at a Salmon Hatchery – this time of year, salmon are returning to spawn and the hatchery was full of fish swimming upstream.

A photo of Carole and the glacier:
























Our second port was Skagway, very pretty in an almost unbelievable setting. The mountains and the water and the appearance of the town were wonderful. The shops had lots of personality as many were owned by locals. The locals said the problem in the winter is not the cold, not the snow, but the absence of sunlight. They do not X-county ski until March since it is so dark. The town is so small you can walk the breadth of it, although shuttles are available. Here is one of my favorite photos.



















We entered the Hubbard Galcier at 6:30 am - cold but no wind and clear skies - spectacular. Thjis is the only glacier that is expanding and yoiu cna hear and see the ice falling into the bvay (calving). this was probably the eco-highlight of the trip.

A phot0:





















Thursday we visited Ketchikan and took a local tour. This city is livable although they can get up to 200 inches of rainfall per year. However, it did not rain today.

I could put up pix of totems, etc, but I thought a picture of the oldest bar in town would do. This is the SourDough Bar - the oldest ongoing bar in Ketchican - no tourists in the place - the wall are decorated with pictures of shipwrecks!

Here is the the picture:




We pounded a few drinks with the locals and marveled at the photos on the wall.

This rustic bar with locals is right on the dock - stop by and introduce yourself...









Finally, transit thru the mysterious inner passage where every vista is spectacular and the Orca whales are everywhere.

To see more slides: click here

Stay tuned.

A Big Week

Music
We saw the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience in Hanford, CA last week. The venue was a restored FOX theatre in a Central California farming town. David Grisman has aligned with three incredible bluegrass musicians with his son on bass, and has released an album of pure bluegrass music.

The show had two sets as David went thru the new CD and then some with lots of educational banter. It was really an elightening experience and nice to see instruments unplugged. We sat with Steve Hirasuna and his wife and hooked up with Allan FiField.

Ben Harper
Damien (Jr Gong) Marley

This was an unforgetable musical experience. My daughter Beth saw them at the LA Greek, my sons at the Santa Barbara Bowl and Carole and I caught two shows at the Greek Theatre at CAL - my favorite outdoor venue. Thje first night, Carlos Santana joined and the crowd went berserkeley i.e. very very excited - excitement that lasted thru the evening. The second night was more subdued but they played some of my favorite tunes (Like A King, Sexual Healing, Burn One Down). We ended up sitting with some show friends - Allison and Todd and their son - even the better. The Greek is the best place to see Ben - the libertarian attitute combines with his social justice agenda. At the end of the second show he came out and made a little thank you speech and said "the last couple of shows were out best ever" and said it was due to the fans.

Click to see a pan video of the venue.

Retirement
A few more parties for Carole: a Nursing Management party and a hospital wide party and she has turned in her badge and cell phone. She feels a bit lioberated.

Anniversary
We celebrated out 40th wedding anniversay at Erna's Elderberry House -the only 5 Star Resturant and Hotel in California.

Check out he menu - it was spectacular.




We celebrated in Berkeley, at Erna's and we are going on an Alaskan Cruise in 5 days to keep celebrating.

See ya when we get back.

Bill

Imeach The President

We are Getting In to Serious Trouble

Federal courts and the Supreme Copurt have ruled that Mr. Bush has commited unconstitional acts. The American Bar Association has taken a position that he has ignored congressional madates by his signature letters, jeopardizing the balance of power, and taking the law into his own hands

Accordingly I have written the following letter to our Senators:

I think it time to consider impeaching the President. Mr Bush took an oath to uphold the U S Constitution but has performed grave unconstitutional acts and has abused his power. The first is his unconstitutional handling of the POWs at Guantanamo Bay. The second is his warrentless searches of millions of American's e-mails.

Of course his inability to use Intelligence Information correctly, his waging war and destroying the infrastructure of a sovergein nation that presented no threat to the USA, in and of itself, should be impeachable.

This is not political - I am worried as is the American Bar Association, that Mr Bush has ignored the Constitution and taken powers that do not belong to him, jepordizing the nation.

Thank you.


W Kennedy MD
----------------------------------------
Also, the New Yorker magazine has published a well researched article that points out that Israel was going to attack Hezbollah regardless and they used the kidnappings as a ruse. Bush was in on it and encouraged the attack and did nothing for 30 days to allow the Israelies time to destroy the Hezbollah arms. It seems that the US is planning for a probable attack on IRAN in 2 years and the White House is worried that Hezbollah will launch a missle attack on Israel if we attack IRAN, hence the US wants to nullify the threat.

Click here to read this scary article.

Happy Trails to Carole

Saturday night, Lynn Bennick hosted a Retirement Party for Carole at her house. Approx 100 people attended; those not in attendence were working in the St Agnes ER. The food was great (Mexican), the refreshments were tasty (Margarita machines) and Carole was presented with a beautiful ring.

A slide show was presented, including a video clip of a TV shoot in 1992 recognizing
Carole as Nurse of the Year. To see it click below.

Carole Video


Last night I finally made it to a TOOL show. For those of you are not familiar with TOOL. it is hard to describe. It is sort of a fusion of Metallica, Sublime, STP, and Rage. It is intense, personal and not for the weak of heart. One TOOL show and you are hooked (if you are under 40).

Healthwise, I am fine - played golf in the morning and a TOOL show in the evening - both requiring a modest amount of energy.

To be noted is that all the Grandchildren came for Carole's Retirement Fiesta and we had a wonder time at our house.

Pictures to follow.

Peace

Hot Times

Well it is hot times in Fresno - 108 degrees as I write this.

Couple of weeks ago I got out of the heat and travelled to Berserkely to see WideSpread Panic at the CAL Greek Theatre. It was awesome - band, venue, crowd, karma. I plan to catch Ben Harper and Damien Marley there next month. This is a venue aboue venues.



We are finishing our travel plans for the rest of the year: an Alaskyn cruise at the end of August and a post-thanksgving trip to Maui.

My health has been good. During the last month I have been exercising and losing some weight and the best news is that my PSA has dropped 25 % - which means my prostate cancer is in neutral to reverse.

Carole is a 'short-timer' with less than twenty working days left. In two weeks her staff is having a retirement party (ER people like to party!)

Take care.

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High Sierra

For the past 13 years we have been going to the High Sierra Music Festival and recently we have been changing the time to include some R and R and some golf.

This time around we stayed in the town of Graeagle and I managed three days of golf. There are several excellent courses nearby and one (White Hawk) was voted one of the 10 best public courses in California.





The Festival was a bit more sedate than usual and there were no 'BIG' headliners; the music was wonderful and the venue well maintained.

We atayed in a lovely vacation house with a giat deck and big back yard. Marlee likes to tell stories. clcik the arrow to hear one (29 seconds)




Marlee and Grace were in the Children's Parade.

Here is a video of Beth and Grace before the parade. (click arrow to start)





Despite the fun, it is nice to have it over so we can catch up and rest.

I do not see the doctor for two weeks and my health seems about the same.

Stay in touch.

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