tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35233437489763062142024-03-13T12:15:47.329-06:00Welcome to The Hotel MelanomaRich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.comBlogger622125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-67148098709683495992017-09-02T12:15:00.000-06:002017-09-02T12:17:47.566-06:00Senior Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jI3lgJnUQPY/War0pM8ClII/AAAAAAAAAzs/2yfWLO4LJCk8H5nuGxK7bPSc6OL4qrzkQCLcBGAs/s1600/golf%2Btan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jI3lgJnUQPY/War0pM8ClII/AAAAAAAAAzs/2yfWLO4LJCk8H5nuGxK7bPSc6OL4qrzkQCLcBGAs/s400/golf%2Btan.jpg" width="299" height="400" data-original-width="478" data-original-height="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
I’ve been playing quite a lot of geezer golf this summer (rather badly, I should add) while succeeding in maintaining a death row inmate standard of paleness. But just the other day upon completion of another ‘soaring’ round I noticed that I was rather sunburned. This puzzled me more than a little. I could have sworn that I’d applied my usual copious dose of sunscreen before hitting the links. But on closer inspection of the bottle of lotion I’d tapped that morning, I discovered that I’d managed to use a zero SPF moisturizing lotion from a container that looked only somewhat like my bottle of sunscreen. Should’ve had the reading glasses on, I guess. Oy. Fortunately, my next toga party with a dermatologist is several weeks away and I’ll have ample time to pale out by then and avoid any stern lectures. <br /> <br />
I’ll sign off with another ode to sunscreen, to the tune of “This Magic Moment” from Jay and The Americans…<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WpePWo56zm4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe <br /><br />
<i>This tragic moment<br />
So different and so new<br />
Was like any other<br />
Until I missed you<br />
And then it happened<br />
It took me by surprise<br />
I knew that you felt it too<br />
By the look of my fries<br />
Keep the pale hide (keep the pale hide) <br />
Softer than the summer blight (softer than the summer blight) <br />
Everything I wanna have (everything, everything) <br />
Whenever I rolled you right<br />
This magic moment (this magic moment) <br />
When my swings are all online<br />
Won’t last forever<br />
Forever till the end of nine<br />
(this magic moment) <br />
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh<br />
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh<br />
(this magic moment) <br />
Oh-oh-oh-oh<br />
Keep the pale hide (keep the pale hide) <br />
Softer than the summer blight (softer than the summer blight) <br />
Everything I wanna have (everything, everything) <br />
Whenever I rolled you right<br />
This magic moment (this magic moment) <br />
While my swings are all on line<br />
Won’t last forever (this magic moment) <br />
Forever till the end of nine (magic) <br />
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic) <br />
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic) <br />
Oh-oh-oh-oh (moment) <br />
Oh-oh-oh-oh (magic) <br />
Oh-oh-oh-oh (magic) <br />
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic) <br />
Oh-oh-oh-oh (moment) <br />
Magic, oh-oh-oh<br />
Magic, oh-oh-oh
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-86339922044985485362017-03-19T11:43:00.000-06:002018-03-22T19:09:25.007-06:00Seventh HeavenToday is the 7th anniversary of my little blog. Its continuing existence is either evidence of an excessive degree of self-absorption or a celebration of long term survivorship. You be the judge. I’d prefer to believe that because I’ve been blessed with good fortune, every so often I feel an obligation to hold my hand up and be counted among the still-living at The Hotel Melanoma. <br /><br />
My golf game still stinks, partly due to various effects of past treatments, but I’ve lived to a time when a recurrence would no longer be an almost certain death sentence. And I can live with my frequent 3-putts and travails on ‘the beach’. I guess my blogging still makes me happy, as I hope it does a few of you too. Maybe today I’m on temporary furlough from the Hotel Melanoma and am living in seventh heaven. And for that, I’m thankful.<br /><br />
So, I’ll sign off with The Hotel Melanoma rendition of Sheryl Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dyihQtBes1I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <br /><br />
<i>I've been long, a long way from here<br />
Put on an onc show, strayed from placebos <br />
And tanked till I was earthly again<br />
I went searching through scrips store jungles<br />
Found melanoma’s frightful, medicine’s snafu<br />
And many good men’s horrid bad end<br /><br />
Well, o.k. I made this up<br />
I promise you I'll never give up<br /><br />
If it makes you happy<br />
It can't be that bad<br />
If it makes you happy<br />
Then why the hell are you so sad?<br /><br />
You get down, real low down<br />
You stiffen your whole brain, derail your own pain<br />
Well who hasn't been there before? <br />
I come round, around the hard way<br />
Bring you comics in bed, scrape the moles off your head<br />
And serve you fresh post again<br /><br />
Well, o.k. I still get stoned<br />
I'm not the kind of pearl you'd take home<br /><br />
If it makes you happy<br />
It can't be that bad<br />
If it makes you happy<br />
Then why the hell are you so sad?<br /><br />
If it makes you happy<br />
It can't be that bad<br />
If it makes you happy<br />
Then why the hell are you so sad?<br /><br />
We've been far, far away from here<br />
Put on an onc show, strayed from placebos<br />
And everywhere in between<br />
Well, o.k. we get along<br />
So what if right now everything's wrong? <br /><br />
If it makes you happy<br />
It can't be that bad<br />
If it makes you happy<br />
Then why the hell are you so sad? <br /><br />
If it makes you happy<br />
It can't be that bad<br />
If it makes you happy<br />
Then why the hell are you so sad?<br /><br />
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-77609377479509267342017-01-17T14:01:00.001-07:002017-01-17T14:01:59.618-07:00Glow Your Own Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaDCO0Wf2sI/WH6FJzeZpMI/AAAAAAAAAyo/tcgSvKQKFkIyn8GrSQUAoh6B1erbIRf3gCLcB/s1600/will_ferrell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaDCO0Wf2sI/WH6FJzeZpMI/AAAAAAAAAyo/tcgSvKQKFkIyn8GrSQUAoh6B1erbIRf3gCLcB/s400/will_ferrell.jpg" width="304" height="400" /></a></div>
My spouse and I are contemplating a winter getaway, perhaps to a beach in Mexico or a golf course in Arizona, but probably not to Florida where we’re afraid we’d run into <b>way</b> too many other old people. The only thing I know for certain is that I won’t be coming home fried-- and if you too are contemplating a snowbird getaway I hope you won’t either because, trust me on this, you don’t want to be checking into The Hotel Melanoma. Your beach or desert golf ‘glow’ would much better come from your sparkling wit under the influence of a margarita or three than an excessive dose of UV rays. Okay? <br /><br />
Until next time, I’ll sign off with The Hotel Melanoma rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ul-cZyuYq4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<i>Loving U<br />
Isn't the right thing to do<br />
How can I ever change skin that I peel? <br /><br />
If I could<br />
Baby I'd give you hide pearled<br />
How can I<br />
When you won't take it from me? <br />
<br />
You can glow your own way<br />
Glow your own way<br />
You can call it another sunscreen day<br />
You can glow your own way<br />
Glow your own way<br />
<br />
Tell me why<br />
Everything turned a-brown<br />
Blacking up<br />
Placqueing up's all you shouldn’t do<br />
<br />
If I could<br />
Baby I'd give you hide pearled<br />
Cover up<br />
Paler skin’s waiting for you<br />
<br />
You can glow your own way<br />
Glow your own way<br />
You can call it another sunscreen day<br />
You can glow your own way<br />
Glow your own way
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-57152268225444677642016-11-22T12:54:00.001-07:002016-11-22T12:54:33.604-07:00The Skin Crowd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywRzcx_VlPc/WDSiNxC2aPI/AAAAAAAAAyM/FVWNSzjvOE46ZzxPqpSzrD-ishD9TwxzwCLcB/s1600/data%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywRzcx_VlPc/WDSiNxC2aPI/AAAAAAAAAyM/FVWNSzjvOE46ZzxPqpSzrD-ishD9TwxzwCLcB/s400/data%2Bmeme.png" width="400" height="300" /></a></div><br /><br />
Just for grins and the dancing pleasure of my molemates, here’s The Hotel Melanoma rendition of Dobie Gray’s “The ‘In’ Crowd”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OOWO--z1S8A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>I'm in with the skin crowd, I glow where the skin crowd glows<br />
I'm in with the skin crowd and I grow what the skin crowd grows<br /><br />
Anytime of the year, don't you hear? Bless benign, baking nein<br />
We breeze up and down the street, we get respect from the people we meet<br />
They make way day or night, they know the skin crowd ain’t out of fight<br /><br />
I'm in with the skin crowd, I know every palest stance<br />
When you're in with the skin crowd, it's so easy to find long pants<br /><br />
Any time of the year, don't you hear? If it's bare, we say prayer<br />
We make every minute count, our care is always the biggest bum out<br />
Other guys imitate us, but the original is still the greatest, skin crowd! <br /><br />
Any time of the year, don't you hear? Spendin' cash, blockin’ rash<br />
I'll show you a real ‘good’ time, come on with me, leave your troubles behind<br />
I don't care where you've been, you ain't been nowhere til you've been in<br />
With the skin crowd, with the skin crowd, skin crowd!</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-16284008903839656082016-11-17T13:13:00.000-07:002016-11-17T13:13:03.059-07:00I Just Want To Thank You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5orhKyKLY9g/WC4O9ZzkWaI/AAAAAAAAAx0/mm50vv-igW43VWkaLNY6B7K8yELaM_XbgCLcB/s1600/tutu%2Bbobbleheads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5orhKyKLY9g/WC4O9ZzkWaI/AAAAAAAAAx0/mm50vv-igW43VWkaLNY6B7K8yELaM_XbgCLcB/s400/tutu%2Bbobbleheads.jpg" width="400" height="400" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
As a blogger and melavangelist, I’ve been quite the slacker of late, preferring to play a lot of golf (rather poorly I should add) over doing anything worthwhile and productive. But the Saturday before Thanksgiving is sort of a ‘cancerversary’ for me, because that was the day in 2003 when I was released from the hospital after completing my last round of biochemotherapy. <br /><br />
Thirteen years of “no evidence of disease”. I’m lucky and blessed, but so often perplexed and sorrowful that all too many of my molemates haven’t been as fortunate as me. <br /><br />
So today, I just want to thank all of the folks who’ve helped me get so many years and miles down Melaroad—especially the medics who talked me into an aggressive and toxic treatment regimen and all of my molemates, particularly my Tutu Brother Mark, who’ve made the journey bearable and, quite often, a joy. <br /><br />
From Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats…<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GEPc5l3vpI4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>Spend your years<br />
Spend your time<br />
With all these fears<br />
Not all were mine<br /><br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you sweet maties for getting me through<br /><br />
Can’t hide your fears<br />
I can’t hide mine<br />
In spite of all this drear<br />
I think we’re fine<br /><br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you gritty maties for getting me through<br /><br />
I was looking back there, Lord<br />
Could have been no one else<br />
I would have been so cold<br />
Graying here by myself<br />
Ever since you found me yeah<br />
Never be anybody else<br />
Yeah maties, yeah<br /><br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you<br />
I just want to thank you sweet maties for getting me through</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-83614444776912634452016-09-03T12:39:00.001-06:002016-09-03T12:41:21.829-06:00Cloudy DaysSo, I’ve been feeling a little glum since removing myself from a volunteer position in the melanoma nonprofit community. (And losing a stroke on my home course handicap hasn’t helped to improve my cranky mood.) Despite the good intentions of all involved in the endeavor, sometimes these things just don’t work out like you hoped they would and you come to the realization that it’s time to move on and hope you can be more effective elsewhere. But this aging melavangelist ain’t givin’ up just yet. I will seek and find another way to be actively and effectively involved in supporting melanoma research, education and prevention. Have blog and black tutu, will travel! <br /><br />
I strongly suspect I’m far from alone in the melahomie community in wanting to <b>do something </b>to defeat the Black Beast but finding it a challenge to figure out how and where and with whom to best do that. If you’re in the same boat, I’d love to hear from you with your thoughts and ideas on how we survivors can make a real difference. <br /><br />
Until next time, I’ll sign off with the Hotel Melanoma rendition of The Eagles “No More Cloudy Days”… <br /><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="//www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x22xtlk" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22xtlk_the-eagles-no-more-cloudy-days-live-2005_music" target="_blank">The Eagles - No More Cloudy Days (Live 2005)</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/olatoniggg" target="_blank">olatoniggg</a></i>
<br /><br />
<i>Sitting by a foggy window<br />
Staring at the pouring rain<br />
Falling down like lonely teardrops<br />
Memories of nothin’ gained<br />
These cloudy days, make you wanna cry<br />
It breaks your heart when somethin’ cleaves and you don't know why<br /><br />
I can see that you've been hurting, maybe I've been lonely too<br />
I've been out here lost and searching, looking for mole pals like you<br />
Now I believe the sun is gonna shine<br />
Don't you be afraid to try again, put your hand in mine? <br /><br />
Baby, I would never make you fry<br />
I would never change your hue<br />
I would never let you brown<br />
We would always seek breakthrough<br /><br />
I know a place where we can go where UV never preys<br />
There’s no more stormy nights, no more cloudy days<br /><br />
I believe in second chances<br />
I believe in angels, too<br />
I believe in new advances<br />
Baby, I believe in you<br />
These cloudy days are coming to an end<br />
And you don't have to be afraid to don golf glove again<br /><br />
Baby, I would never make you fry<br />
I would never change your hue<br />
I would never turn away<br />
We would always seek breakthough<br />
I know a place where we can go where UV never preys<br />
There's no more stormy nights, no more cloudy days
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-63067721887561523292016-08-09T13:02:00.000-06:002016-08-09T13:12:18.144-06:00Reaching Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAE7RYjgG7I/V6oq39R2MII/AAAAAAAAAxU/DgTbYV9k-8E9kL-fzwnMITPt1wV_a0q9wCLcB/s1600/carol%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAE7RYjgG7I/V6oq39R2MII/AAAAAAAAAxU/DgTbYV9k-8E9kL-fzwnMITPt1wV_a0q9wCLcB/s400/carol%2Bmeme.png" width="333" height="400" /></a></div> <br /><br />
A large part of why I’m so glad I eventually wandered out of my lonely, single room at The Hotel Melanoma is that I’ve had the privilege of getting to know one of the true gems of the melanoma community, (Rev.) Carol Taylor. As many of you know, Carol (a/k/a Southern Mama Preacher) founded the Facebook community page Melanoma Prayer Center and it’s been a source of comfort, support and inspiration to thousands of melahomies. Carol has lived a life of service to her family, her church, and the melanoma community—which has made it a great honor for a very flawed and less selfless fellow like me to have been adopted as her big (i.e. much older) brother. <br /><br />
Carol has had quite an influence on the musical content of my little blog, e.g. the occasional disco tune which I’d never have done but for her ‘requests’. But today I’ll stick with my roots in Classic Rock. For Carol, who has done so much to remind me that the true purpose of human life is to serve others, here’s Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jtIEYjNZgiU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<i>You may be an ambassador to England or France<br />
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance<br />
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world<br />
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls<br /><br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes<br />
Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody<br />
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord<br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody<br /><br />
You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage<br />
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage<br />
You may be a business man or some high-degree thief<br />
They may call you doctor or they may call you chief<br /><br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are<br />
You're gonna have to serve somebody<br />
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord<br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody<br /><br />
You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk<br />
You may be the head of some big TV network<br />
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame<br />
You may be living in another country under another name<br /><br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are<br />
You're gonna have to serve somebody<br />
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord<br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody<br /><br />
You may be a construction worker working on a home<br />
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome<br />
You might own guns and you might even own tanks<br />
You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks<br /><br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes<br />
You're gonna have to serve somebody<br />
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord<br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody<br /><br />
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride<br />
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side<br />
You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair<br />
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir<br /><br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes<br />
You're gonna have to serve somebody<br />
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord<br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody<br /><br />
Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk<br />
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk<br />
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread<br />
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed<br /><br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes<br />
Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody<br />
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord<br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody<br /><br />
You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy<br />
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy<br />
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray<br />
You may call me anything but no matter what you say<br /><br />
Still, you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes<br />
You're gonna have to serve somebody<br />
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord<br />
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-86239681698487171552016-05-27T13:26:00.000-06:002016-05-27T13:32:33.075-06:00Forever Young<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm9sOa0URwQ/V0igtoJT7GI/AAAAAAAAAw8/nADgAWZejm4LjI2-HEccAhXdA9vtJCiEgCLcB/s1600/angry%2Bold%2Bman%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm9sOa0URwQ/V0igtoJT7GI/AAAAAAAAAw8/nADgAWZejm4LjI2-HEccAhXdA9vtJCiEgCLcB/s400/angry%2Bold%2Bman%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div>Next month I’ll turn 63. And in the “I’ll never-grow-old” fantasy world of this Baby Boomer, that’s middle-aged. <br /><br />
During my first decade or so of living at The Hotel Melanoma, my life planning horizon didn’t extend beyond my next 90-day or 6-month checkup etc. at the melanoma clinic. And I don’t think that’s the least bit uncommon among my N.E.D. melahomies who are also living with a high risk of recurrence. <br /><br />
But slowly yet surely over the course of the past couple of years I’ve started to contemplate the possibility that I might, just might, actually grow old. Really old. (Although I’m convinced there will always be the ornery juvenile delinquent brain of a seventeen-year-old trapped inside an increasingly frail body.) And if I do, where will I live when I can no longer manage my two-story home in the often-snowy woods? Will my retirement savings keep me stocked with single malt scotch? Will self-driving car technology keep me mobile? When do I start teeing off from the ladies tees? I know that I’m quite lucky and that I ought to be grateful to have such questions rolling around my chemo-fogged brain, when all too many younger lives have been cut way too short by the Black Beast. Meanwhile, I’m still just a ‘kid’ who’s hoping we all grow much, much older while somehow remaining forever young at heart. <br /><br />
For all of my molemates who’ve been laboring so hard to build melanoma awareness this month, here’s The Hotel Melanoma rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Frj2CLGldC4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>May God bless and keep you always<br />
May your skin checks show pale hue<br />
May you always do for others<br />
And let others do for you<br /><br />
May you build a ladder from your scars<br />
And climb on every rung<br />
May you stay<br />
Forever young<br /><br />
Forever young<br />
Forever young<br />
May you stay<br />
Forever young<br /><br />
May you grow up to spread whiteness<br />
May you grow up ‘til C’s through<br />
May you always know the truth<br />
And flee tan lights surrounding you<br /><br />
May you always be courageous<br />
Stand upright and be strong<br />
And may you stay<br />
Forever young<br /><br />
Forever young<br />
Forever young<br />
May you stay<br />
Forever young<br /><br />
May your scans always be pretty<br />
May your tweets always persist<br />
May you have a strong foundation<br />
When the winds of changes shift<br /><br />
May your heart always be joyful<br />
May your song always be sung<br />
And may you stay<br />
Forever young<br /><br />
Forever young<br />
Forever young<br />
May you stay<br />
Forever young</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-8599531340952704962016-04-16T14:08:00.000-06:002016-04-16T14:18:12.918-06:00Just Rewards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djAElQWPriI/VxKd4NQWxaI/AAAAAAAAAwo/I2U4FnIWxKQGVlHggg7-P5nv0ZQ7A159gCLcB/s1600/gump%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djAElQWPriI/VxKd4NQWxaI/AAAAAAAAAwo/I2U4FnIWxKQGVlHggg7-P5nv0ZQ7A159gCLcB/s400/gump%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div> <br /><br />
Many of we residents at The Hotel Melanoma are all too familiar with ‘Dr.’ Joseph Mercola and his quack claims about the health benefits of exposure to ultraviolet light, false advertising claims made to promote and sell his own line of tanning beds. But it seems that Lyin’ Joe is about to receive the just rewards of his quackery, as this past week the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement of its false advertising lawsuit against Mercola. Settlement terms include making refunds to buyers of his tanning beds in an amount up to $5.3 million and a promise to stop selling his cancer incubators. Read all about it <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-sunbed-doc-settles-0415-biz-20160414-story.html">here</a>. <br /><br />
Mercola is reportedly unrepentant and standing by his claims of the cancer-fighting benefits of tanning bed use. So I can imagine him singing this Hotel Melanoma rendition of Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CdqoNKCCt7A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <br /><br />
<i>Hey, hey, hey, hey<br />
Ohhhhhohhhhhohhhohhhhwooooo<br /><br />
Won't you come see about C? <br />
I'll be a-prone, tanning you know it baby<br /><br />
Tell me your troubles and doubts<br />
Giving me everything inside and out and<br />
Small change, I’m still a doc shark<br />
Think of the cancer things that we were working on<br /><br />
Glow change may pull us apart<br />
When the light gets into your parts, baby<br /><br />
Won't you, forget about C<br />
Don't, don't, don't, don't<br />
Don't you, forget about D<br /><br />
Will you tan and love me? <br />
Cook my way, never shove me<br />
Rays keep calling, rays keep mauling<br />
Brown, brown, brown<br /><br />
Will you idolize me? <br />
Fall for claims or balk on lies<br />
Rays keep calling, rays keep mauling<br />
Brown, brown, brown, brown<br /><br />
Hey, hey, hey, hey<br />
Ohhhhohhhhohhhohhhhwooooo<br /><br />
Won't you fry and be friend<br />
It's my feeling I’ll win in the end<br />
I won't warn you or touch your pretenses<br />
Vanity, insecurity<br /><br />
Won't you forget about C<br />
I'll be a-prone, tanning you know it baby<br />
Going to take you apart<br />
I'll put us back together at heart, baby<br /><br />
Don't you, forget about D<br />
Don't, don't, don't, don't<br />
Won't you, forget about C<br /><br />
As you walk on by<br />
Will you call my name? <br />
As you walk on by<br />
Will you call my name? <br />
When you walk away<br /><br />
Or will you walk on rays? <br />
Will you walk on fries? <br />
Come on, buy my claims<br />
Will you buy my claims? <br /><br />
I say<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah<br />
When you walk on by, and you call my name</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-37381835795528068292016-03-28T12:19:00.003-06:002016-03-28T12:19:52.111-06:00Something Good ComingBack in the Dark Ages of melanoma treatment, 2003 to be exact, I had a close encounter with a Stage IV diagnosis. A CT scan showed a large mass next to my cervical spine. The initial prognosis was quite grim, as further metastasis to my spine, brain and heart was likely. I was told that the only treatment options available at the time, radiation and chemotherapy, might extend my life a few months but would not commute my almost certain death sentence. Lucky for me, and against all odds, the mass turned out to be a benign nerve tissue tumor, not a melanoma tumor. It’s been one troublesome sonofabitch requiring extensive neurosurgery and radiation treatments (and permanent nerve damage has wreaked havoc on a golf swing that was never pretty) but it isn’t a killer. <br /><br />
The state of metastatic melanoma treatment has so very, very much changed for the better since 2003. Today there is real and thoroughly rational hope for long term survival after a Stage IV diagnosis. And I have to believe that we’re nowhere near done with treatment advances and there is something good coming to The Hotel Melanoma. Soon, very soon. <br /><br />
Thinking of my friend Donna today, I’ll sign off with my take on “Something Good Coming” from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers… <br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rSvlJe1mwlw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>I'm watching the bloggers<br />
Watching the posts<br />
Suddenly I know <br />
What I want the most <br /><br />
And I want to tell you <br />
Still I hold Black <br />
I need some time <br />
Get my life on track <br /><br />
I know that look on your face <br />
But there's somethin' plucky about this place <br />
And there's somethin' good comin' <br />
For you and me <br />
Somethin' good comin' <br />
There has to be <br /><br />
And I'm thinking 'bout Donna <br />
And about her kids <br />
And the way she lived <br />
And the things she did <br /><br />
How she never had a chance <br />
Never caught a break <br />
And how we pay for our skin mistakes <br /><br />
I know so well the look on your face <br />
And there's somethin' plucky about this place <br />
There's somethin' good comin' <br />
Just over the hill <br />
Somethin' good comin' <br />
I know it will <br /><br />
And I'm in for the long run <br />
Wherever it goes<br />
Ridin' the river<br />
Wherever it goes<br /><br />
And I'm an earnest man<br />
Hope’s all I know<br />
You take that away<br />
Don't know where to go<br /><br />
And I know that look that's on your face<br />
There's somethin' plucky about this place<br />
There's somethin' good comin'<br />
For you and me<br />
Somethin' good comin'<br />
There has to be</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-83381355296307227342016-03-19T15:22:00.002-06:002016-03-19T15:22:43.517-06:00A Blogoversary Oldie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smGBAFEpaqQ/Vu3Co9GnZ6I/AAAAAAAAAwU/QEjdDyDNI94kxfcDkWwrWPJwkFIrpZD9Q/s1600/angry%2Bold%2Bman%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smGBAFEpaqQ/Vu3Co9GnZ6I/AAAAAAAAAwU/QEjdDyDNI94kxfcDkWwrWPJwkFIrpZD9Q/s400/angry%2Bold%2Bman%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div> <br /><br />
I’ve been quite the blogging slacker of late, but I’ve been aroused today from my winter torpor because it’s the 6th anniversary of the ‘grand’ opening of The Hotel Melanoma. I often wonder (while my chemo-soaked brain wanders) just why it is that I keep doing this. I guess I do it because I just ‘love’ the Black Beast and every so often (like this past January) I’m reminded by some vigilant medic that I can’t ever breakup with her. And because I feel obliged to continue to stand up and be counted among the ranks of the very lucky, long term survivors of a complicated relationship with this b***h. <br /><br />
Hoping and praying that the next six years is even better for treatment advances than the last six, I’ll sign off with a little ‘love’ song to our adversary. To the tune of “Let’s Hang On” from Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons…<br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8782KIj_rKw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>There ain't no could in our goodbyein'<br />
New drugs take a lot of tryin'<br />
Oh, my fryin’…<br /><br />
Let's hang up on what we've got<br />
Just let go, girl, we've fought a lot<br />
Got a lot of ‘love’ between us<br />
Hang up, hang up, hang up on what we've got<br /><br />
You say you're gonna go and call it quits<br />
Gonna chuck it all and break our ‘love’ to bits<br />
Break it up (I wish you'd ever said it) <br />
Break it up (oh yo, I’ll not regret it) <br />
That little blip of shining on old scans<br />
Cost a fortune, baby<br />
But you know it stands for the ‘love’, (a love to tie and bind ya) <br />
Such a ‘love’ (we just can't leave behind us) <br /> <br />
Baby (don't you know?) <br />
Baby (won't you go) <br />
Think it over and stray<br /><br />
Let's hang up on what we've got<br />
Just let go, girl, we've fought a lot<br />
Got a lot of ‘love’ between us<br />
Hang up, hang up, hang up on what we've got<br /><br />
There isn't anything I wouldn't do<br />
I'd pay any price to get all good from you<br />
Pack it up (give me a second learnin') <br />
Pack it up (don't fuel spots while I'm burnin') <br /><br />
You've got me cryin', dyin' at your door<br />
Just shut me out, ooh, let me out once more<br />
Open up (your arms, I need paroled new) <br />
Open up (your heart, oh girl, I drugged you) <br /><br />
Baby, don't you know? <br />
Baby, no, no, no<br />
Think it over and stray<br /><br />
Let's hang up on what we've got<br />
Won't let go, girl, we've fought a lot<br />
Got a lot of ‘love’ between us<br />
Hang up, hang up, hang up on what we've got</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-7161360872871756652016-01-23T07:46:00.001-07:002016-01-23T07:53:18.438-07:00A Sneaky S.O.B.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iDqYzS1VgZg/VqOTvo1-ltI/AAAAAAAAAwA/ZGT43vl3t_M/s1600/fuck%2Bmelanoma%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iDqYzS1VgZg/VqOTvo1-ltI/AAAAAAAAAwA/ZGT43vl3t_M/s400/fuck%2Bmelanoma%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div> <br /><br />
Last Sunday I was looking like I’d taken a hard punch to my right jaw. (I can think of several people- including my wife- who might want to take a punch at me, but nobody did.) My primary care doc’s diagnosis on Monday was “lymphadenopathy, cervical”. So, after the primary care doc talked to my dermatologist, who in turn talked to my oncologist, I’ll be trucking up to the melanoma clinic next week for a checkup and likely a bonus “fine needle aspiration”, which they always seem to do in the breast cancer clinic where I draw some very quizzical looks from other patients. The initial plan was to do a head/neck CT scan prior to this checkup, but my wonderful insurance company refused to authorize it; but that’s okay with me, I guess, because I would’ve had to pay for it thanks to my sky-high deductible and now maybe I’ll dodge a scan expense. <br /><br />
The strong odds are that my lymph node(s?) are merely enlarged by an excess intake of chocolate over the Holidays. Or single malt Scotch. But then again we all know that melanoma can be one sneaky S.O.B and pop up after years of lying dormant. Be vigilant my friends. No matter how long you’ve been in “no evidence of disease” status, please be watchful and have regular monitoring checkups with a melanoma specialist. <br /><br />
Feeling a touch of melanoma paranoia, I’ll sign off with the Hotel Melanoma rendition of “S.O.B.” from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats…<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1iAYhQsQhSY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>I'm gonna need some docs to help me<br />
I'm gonna need some body scans<br />
I'm gonna need someone to hold me down<br />
I'm gonna need someone to care<br />
I'm gonna writhe and shake my body<br />
I'll start pulling out my hair<br />
I'm going to cover myself with more splashes of goo<br />
And mole buddies gonna give a damn<br /><br />
Son of a bitch, get me a shrink<br />
One more fright is shaking me<br />
Son of a bitch<br />
If I can't scan clean I'm gonna drink my life away<br /><br />
Now for seventeen years I've been growing them black<br />
Seventeen more will bury me<br />
Can somebody please just tie me down<br />
Or somebody get me a goddamn shrink<br /><br />
Son of a bitch, get me a shrink<br />
One more fright<br />
This can't be C<br />
Son of a bitch<br />
If I can't scan clean I'm gonna drink my life away<br />
Hey, Yeah now<br /><br />
My heart is quaking, hands are shaking<br />
Docs are pawing all over me<br />
My heart is quaking, hands are shaking<br />
Docs are pawing all over me<br />
My heart is quaking, hands are shaking<br />
Docs are pawing all over me<br />
My heart is quaking, hands are shaking<br />
Docs are pawing all over me<br /><br />
Son of a bitch, get me a shrink<br />
One more fright<br />
This can't be C<br />
Son of a bitch<br />
If I can't scan clean I'm gonna drink my life away<br />
Son of a bitch, get me a shrink<br />
One more fright<br />
This can't be C<br />
Son of a bitch<br />
If I can't scan clean I'm gonna drink my life away<br />
Yeah ah
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-60946152265707683102016-01-07T16:31:00.000-07:002016-01-07T16:38:33.162-07:00Poke-a-MoleJust for grins on a wintry day here in the Rockies, The Hotel Melanoma rendition of “Kokomo” from The Beach Boys… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fJWmbLS2_ec" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>Keytruda, can quake ya, ooh I wanna take ya<br />
Intruduh, skin trauma, come on pretty mama<br />
Opdivo, doc ego, <br />
Baby why don't we go, <br />
Fake-bake ya<br /><br />
Off the Florida Keys<br />
There's a place called Poke-a-Mole<br />
That's where you wanna go<br />
To get away from it all<br />
Bodies never tanned, <br />
Topical zinc melting in your hand<br />
We'll seek awning in sun<br />
To the rhythm of a steel drum band<br />
Down in Poke-a-Mole<br /><br />
Keytruda, can quake ya, ooh I wanna take ya<br />
Intruduh, skin trauma, come on pretty mama<br />
Opdivo, doc ego, <br />
Baby why don't we go<br />
Ooh I wanna take you down to Poke-a-Mole, <br />
We'll get there fast<br />
And then we'll take it slow<br />
That's where we wanna go, <br />
Way down in Poke-a-Mole. <br /><br />
Doublespeak, that doctor rap mystique... <br /><br />
We'll put out the C<br />
And we'll perfect our chemistry<br />
By and by we'll deny<br />
What’s little left of sanity<br />
Afternoon delight, <br />
Cocktails and moonlit nights<br />
That dreamy look in your eye, <br />
Give me a tropical contact high<br />
Way down in Poke-a-Mole<br /><br />
Keytruda, can quake ya, ooh I wanna take ya<br />
Intruduh, skin trauma, come on pretty mama<br />
Opdivo, doc ego, <br />
Baby why don't we go<br />
Ooh I wanna take you down to Poke-a-Mole, <br />
We'll get there fast<br />
And then we'll take it slow<br />
That's where we wanna go, <br />
Way down in Poke-a-Mole. <br /><br />
Port’s all rinsed, I wanna scratch the PICC... <br /><br />
Everybody knows a little place like Poke-a-Mole<br />
Now if you wanna go to get away from it all<br />
Go down to Poke-a-Mole<br />
Keytruda, can quake ya, ooh I wanna take ya<br />
Intruduh, skin trauma, come on pretty mama<br />
Opdivo, doc ego, <br />
Baby why don't we go<br />
Ooh I wanna take you down to Poke-a-Mole, <br />
We'll get there fast<br />
And then we'll take it slow<br />
That's where we wanna go, <br />
Way down in Poke-a-Mole. <br /><br />
Keytruda, can quake ya, ooh I wanna take ya<br />
Intruduh, skin trauma, come on pretty mama<br />
Opdivo, doc ego, <br />
Baby why don't we go, <br />
Fake-bake ya<br /><br /></i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-9659933159443878772015-12-23T11:00:00.000-07:002015-12-23T11:07:46.012-07:00Helpless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glnh32jRck8/VnrixoIF8cI/AAAAAAAAAvs/F7IBwePtCTs/s1600/holy%2Bcross%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glnh32jRck8/VnrixoIF8cI/AAAAAAAAAvs/F7IBwePtCTs/s400/holy%2Bcross%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div>
<br /><be />As a blogger I’ve been quite the slacker this past fall season. I suppose I could blame it on the distractions of a couple of long road trips, outdoor chores to complete before the snow flies here in the Rockies, and a two-year-old golden retriever who craves long walks in the nearby woods. But the real reasons are a lingering state of hollowness following the death of a dear melahomie, my first Imerman Angel mentee, and sorrow for the deep pain of loss being suffered by her family, a pain I feel helpless to ease. <br /><br />
There will be a newly emptied seat at the table at oh so many family Christmas celebrations this week, be it from disease, accidents, acts of terrorism, or the wars our soldiers have been fighting for over a decade. Please honor the true meaning of Christmas, love, by taking a break from all the Holiday hustle and bustle to say a prayer for these families and their lost loved ones. <br /><br />
I’ll sign off until the New Year with a new rendition of “Helpless” from Neil Young and The Band… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2z7LXpAX3Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>There are some homes in North America<br />
Dreams comfort, mem'ries to share<br />
And in my mind I still need a place to go<br />
All my angels are there<br /><br />
Blue new widows resigned to scars<br />
Mela gloom on the rise<br />
Big herds trying to stop the fry<br />
Healthy tanning is salons’ lies<br /><br />
Leave us<br /><br />
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless<br />
Babe, can you hear me now? <br />
The chains are locked and tied across the door<br />
Baby, sing with me somehow<br /><br />
Blue new widows resigned to scars<br />
Mela gloom on the rise<br />
Big herds trying to stop the fry<br />
Healthy tanning is salons’ lies<br /><br />
Leave us<br /><br />
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless<br />
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless<br />
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless<br />
Helpless, helpless, helpless, helpless<br />
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-27147269486586054532015-11-19T12:39:00.001-07:002015-11-25T15:52:44.728-07:00Have a Drink on Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEIwn-7wNug/VlY7oan3VbI/AAAAAAAAAvY/Iq0o88l4__4/s1600/drunk-turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEIwn-7wNug/VlY7oan3VbI/AAAAAAAAAvY/Iq0o88l4__4/s400/drunk-turkey.jpg" /></a></div> <br /><br />
This Saturday is my 12th “cancerversary” of completing biochemotherapy treatments for Stage IIIc melanoma and beginning a very blessed run with no evidence of disease. I so wish I could bottle my good fortune and hand it out by the case to my melahomies. Obviously I can’t, but the drinks are on me Saturday night at the Hotel Melanoma lobby bar. <br /><br />
Hoping that the F.D.A.’s recent approval of <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/853413">Yervoy</a> as an adjuvant treatment for Stage III patients will lead to many, many more treatment success stories like my own, I’ll sign off with my take on AC/DC’s “Have a Drink on Me”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e7v0V58V3Uw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>Frisky, skinned and dandy<br />
With the sass I'm pretty handy<br />
I'm trying to walk the pale line<br />
With panache and cheap rhymes<br />
So join me for a drink, boys<br />
We're gonna make a big noise<br /><br />
So don't worry about tomorrow<br />
Take it today<br />
Forget about the check<br />
We'll get Mel to pay<br /><br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Yeah, have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me (on me) <br />
Come on<br /><br />
Dizzy, ‘drunk’ and fightin'<br />
On the chemo quite frightnin'<br />
My mass will get no quarter<br />
On risky nights of slaughter<br />
So come on and have a good time<br />
And get blinded out of your mind<br /><br />
So don't worry about tomorrow<br />
Take it today<br />
Forget about the check<br />
We'll get Mel to pay<br /><br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me (on me) <br />
Get stoned<br /><br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me (yeah) <br />
Have a drink on me,come on<br /><br />
Oh<br /><br />
Gonna roll around<br />
Gonna hit the ground<br />
Take another swing<br />
Have another drink<br />
Gonna drink it dry<br />
Gonna get me high<br />
Come on all the boys<br />
Make a noise<br /><br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br />
Have a drink on me<br /><br />
Have a drink on me
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-63235237630348885242015-11-10T12:53:00.002-07:002015-11-10T12:55:15.132-07:00Fun with Free Skin Checks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Up3PZaJHtHo/VkJK_5XuFhI/AAAAAAAAAvE/y3BDVfQ_JIU/s1600/Tucson%2Bwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Up3PZaJHtHo/VkJK_5XuFhI/AAAAAAAAAvE/y3BDVfQ_JIU/s400/Tucson%2Bwalk.jpg" /></a></div> <br /><br />
As some of you may have surmised from certain unauthorized photos posted on social media, I participated in a melanoma walk last weekend at The University of Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson. (Yes, golf was most certainly a factor in my choosing this particular event, although the way I played down there I don’t know why.) Having arrived at the event with time to kill before walking, I decided to sashay into the dermatology clinic to take advantage of a free skin check. (And with my new sky-high insurance deductible, courtesy of Obamacare, free is a very good thing indeed.) The looks on the faces of various clinic staff members that were ‘attracted’ by my black tutu were simply priceless. <br /><br />
Until next time, I’ll sign off with the Hotel Melanoma rendition of “Daydream Believer” from The Monkees…<br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3BKt07B3A6U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>Oh, I could hide 'neath the strings<br />
Of the blue gown as she clings. <br />
The skin check doc’s alarm would never ring. <br />
But it rings from my fries, <br />
Wipe the weep out of my eyes. <br />
Thy shavin' razor's cold and it stings. <br /><br />
Fear the freebie screen. <br />
Oh, what can it mean. <br />
To a rayscreen believer<br />
And a Sol shunning ‘queen’. <br /><br />
You once thought of me<br />
As a white fright on news feed. <br />
Now you know how sappy I can be. <br />
Oh, and our ‘good times’ start and end<br />
Without dollar one to spend. <br />
But how much, baby, do we really need. <br /><br />
Fear the freebie screen. <br />
Oh, what can it mean. <br />
To a rayscreen believer<br />
And a Sol shunning ‘queen’. <br />
Fear the freebie screen. <br />
Oh, what can it mean. <br />
To a rayscreen believer<br />
And a Sol shunning ‘queen’. <br /><br />
Fear the freebie screen. <br />
Oh, what can it mean. <br />
To a rayscreen believer<br />
And a Sol shunning ‘queen’. <br />
Fear the freebie screen. <br />
Oh, what can it mean. <br />
To a rayscreen believer<br />
And a Sol shunning ‘queen’.</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-54845325292673023032015-10-29T14:34:00.000-06:002015-10-29T14:34:17.519-06:00Our Girl <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-By4dgG_JUmw/VjKCVxGg5mI/AAAAAAAAAuw/eIWYekVCr-s/s1600/donna%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-By4dgG_JUmw/VjKCVxGg5mI/AAAAAAAAAuw/eIWYekVCr-s/s400/donna%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div> <br /><br />
Happy First Birthday in Heaven, my friend! For Donna, to the tune of “My Girl” from The Temptations… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6IUG-9jZD-g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>We've got sunshine on a cloudy day<br />
When it's cold outside we’ve got the month of May<br />
Well I guess you'd say<br />
What can make us feel this way? <br />
Our girl (our girl, our girl) <br />
Talkin' 'bout our girl (our girl) <br /><br />
We've got so much honey the bees envy we<br />
We’ve got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees<br />
Well I guess you'd say<br />
What can make us feel this way? <br />
Our girl (our girl, our girl) <br />
Talkin' 'bout our girl ( our girl ooh) <br /><br />
Hey hey hey<br />
Hey hey hey<br />
Ooh yeah<br /><br />
We don't need no money, fortune, or fame (ooh hey hey hey) <br />
We’ve got all the riches baby her fans can claim (oh yes I do) <br />
I guess you'd say<br />
What can make us feel this way? <br />
Our girl (our girl, our girl) <br />
Talkin' 'bout our girl (our girl) <br /><br />
(Talkin' 'bout our girl our girl) We've got sunshine on a cloudy day<br />
With our girl (Our girl) <br />
(Talkin' 'bout our girl our girl) We've even got the month of May<br />
With our girl (our girl, woah) <br />
She's all we can think (our girl) <br />
(Talkin' 'bout our girl our girl) <br />
Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout our girl (our girl, woah)
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-62309569941690977672015-10-24T13:17:00.001-06:002015-10-24T13:33:09.586-06:00For Donna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ1AsJFvE44/VivY-hmJmpI/AAAAAAAAAuc/wh1iWJAFFoI/s1600/donna%2Bpost%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ1AsJFvE44/VivY-hmJmpI/AAAAAAAAAuc/wh1iWJAFFoI/s400/donna%2Bpost%2Bpic.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />
Too sad and hollow to find the right words of remembrance right now, so just my rendition of James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”…<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ALnh3w32VE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>Just yesterday evening, they let me know you were gone.<br />
Donna, the fans you made did descend on you.<br />
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song,<br />
I just can't remember all the friends of you.<br />
I've seen fire and I've seen rain.<br />
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.<br />
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,<br />
But I always thought that I'd see you again.<br /><br />
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus,<br />
You've got to help me make a stand.<br />
You've just got to see me through another day.<br />
My heart is aching and my soul’s in crash land,<br />
And I won't make it any other way.<br />
Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain.<br />
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.<br />
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,<br />
But I always thought that I'd see you again.<br /><br />
Been walking my mind to an easy time,<br />
My back turned towards the sun.<br />
Lord knows when the mole wind blows it'll turn your head around.<br />
Well, there's hours of time, got the megaphone primed, to talk about things to come.<br />
Sweet dreams of frying machines in pieces on the ground.<br /><br />
Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain.<br />
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.<br />
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend,<br />
But I always thought that I'd see you lady, one more time again, now.<br /><br />
Thought I'd see you one more time again.<br />
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now.<br />
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain, now. </i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-55348720771402950062015-10-20T14:01:00.001-06:002015-10-24T13:29:20.783-06:00I Love Doctor Mole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_3jaewH5ls/ViadNGAQDTI/AAAAAAAAAuI/FmTmNrHJyoc/s1600/skin%2Bcheck%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_3jaewH5ls/ViadNGAQDTI/AAAAAAAAAuI/FmTmNrHJyoc/s400/skin%2Bcheck%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div> <br /><br />
I finally stopped procrastinating and made an appointment with my favorite university hospital dermatology clinic (where I don’t compete with tattoo removals and other cosmetic stuff for an appointment slot). So next month it’ll be time to get naked in front of young female dermatology residents who look to me like they’re young enough to be my granddaughters. I should feel sorry for these kids for having to make a close inspection of my tattered and unprepossessing carcass. But I don’t, because they chose this line of work and on completion of their residency training will be making the big bucks. And some melanoma researcher friends have placed dibs on any melanoma tissue samples I may spawn in the future, so if I have a new primary at least some good may come out of this appointment. <br /><br />
Looking forward to having the most fun an old fellow can hope to have in public without risking an indecent exposure charge, I’ll sign off with The Hotel Melanoma rendition of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xL5spALs-eA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>I saw her standin' there by the mole map machine<br />
I knew she must a been about seventeen<br />
Heart beat was goin' strong<br />
Wearin' my fav’ sarong<br />
An' I could tell it wouldn't be long<br />
Till she was with me, yeah me, <br />
An' I could tell it wouldn't be long<br />
Till she was with me, yeah me, singin'<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me<br /><br />
She smiled so I got up and asked for her name<br />
That don't matter, she said, <br />
'Cause “Skin Doc”’s nickname<br />
Said can I show you mole where C can be ingrown<br />
An' next we removin' on<br />
She was with me, yeah me<br />
Next we removin' on<br />
She was with me, yeah me singin'<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me<br /><br />
Said can I show you mole where C can be ingrown<br />
Next we're viewin' on<br />
She was with me, yeah me<br />
And we'll be viewin' on<br />
An' singin' that same old song<br />
Yeah with me, singin'<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me<br /><br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So put some younger eyes on my boondocks, baby<br />
I love Doctor Mole<br />
So come an' take your time an' lance at me</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-18584599593519801422015-09-29T15:41:00.000-06:002015-09-30T15:32:35.340-06:00We Can Be Together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNXmA1bFQxM/VgsD14nrFgI/AAAAAAAAAtw/Zu_p6DuSzPw/s1600/pinktober%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNXmA1bFQxM/VgsD14nrFgI/AAAAAAAAAtw/Zu_p6DuSzPw/s400/pinktober%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div> <br /><br />
Pinktober is kind of a tough month for the inmates at The Hotel Melanoma. It’s not that we don’t detest breast cancer (and every other cancer) and hope and pray for a cure. We surely do. It’s because Corporate America will be sticking a pink ribbon on just about anything and everything in hopes of pushing more products out the door, while claiming it’s to promote breast cancer awareness, and then continue to largely ignore melanoma and every other form of cancer for the next eleven months. The unintended (I hope) message is that the rest of us at The Hotel Carcinoma just don’t count. And that sometimes hurts more than a bit. <br /><br />
But I think we at The Hotel Melanoma will continue to hang together this coming month and not let up on our individual little campaigns to educate the uninformed about the Black Beast and tear down the walls of this place. I myself am considering a counter-revolutionary campaign of getting a few thousand black ribbon stickers and randomly placing them on products displayed down at my local Kroger chain grocery store. Anyone care to join me? <br /><br />
Until next time, I’ll sign off with The Hotel Melanoma rendition of Jefferson Airplane’s “We Can Be Together”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m4vg2uOR3fk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>We can be together<br />
Ah you and me<br />
We should be together<br />
We are all outlaws in the eyes of America<br />
In order to survive we heal, treat, cry, gorge, shed, guide and feel<br />
We are sunscreened, flawless, beauteous, stage 4 pests, shirty, not silent and young <br />
But we should be together<br />
Come on all you people standing around<br />
Our life's too fine to let it die and<br />
We can be together<br />
All your silent mockery is<br />
Target for your enemy<br />
And your enemy is<br />
We<br />
We are forces of chaos and anarchy<br />
Everything they say we are we are<br />
And we are very<br />
Proud of ourselves<br />
Up against the wall<br />
Up against the walls (motherfucker) <br />
Tear down the walls<br />
Tear down the walls<br />
Come on now together<br />
Get it on together<br />
Everybody together<br />
We should be together<br />
We should be together my friends<br />
We can be together<br />
We will be<br />
We must begin here and now<br />
A new confidence of worth and fire<br />
Come on now gettin higher and higher<br />
Tear down the walls<br />
Tear down the walls<br />
Tear down the walls<br />
Won't you try </i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-32450504231074988742015-08-25T14:41:00.000-06:002015-08-25T14:41:37.912-06:00A Captive Audience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpwW8MTYwcg/VdzSv9lgfKI/AAAAAAAAAtM/PW2aKlC9YNY/s1600/melanomia%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpwW8MTYwcg/VdzSv9lgfKI/AAAAAAAAAtM/PW2aKlC9YNY/s400/melanomia%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div><br /><br />
Last week’s sad news of President Carter’s metastatic melanoma diagnosis reminded me once again, “there but for the grace of God go I”. Although I’m a very lucky Stage 3c survivor now in my 13th (yikes) year of N.E.D. residency at The Hotel Melanoma, I nevertheless yearn to break out of this place and run away as fast and as far as possible. But I can’t because the nature of the Black Beast is that folks like me will forever be at risk of disease recurrence and progression. Like it or not, we’re all captives of this place until there’s a “cure”. And perhaps that’s why we received the news of Jimmy Carter’s check-in with quite mixed emotions-- deeply saddened that he’s joined our ranks, yet guiltily grateful that a renowned public figure has spoken out about his disease and cautiously hopeful that his public candor and courage might bring us all just a little bit closer to the saving grace of a cure. <br /><br />
Wishing this blog’s ‘captive audience’ health and well-being, I’ll sign off with The Hotel Melanoma rendition of “Saving Grace” from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers…<br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vPYFWnzjIy0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>I'm ‘passing’ peeping CT’s<br />
Waiting for disease<br />
Not believing all I see to be so<br /><br />
I'm cryin' over Black’s scars<br />
Funky moles cause blanches<br />
Wanting life between the scanning bestowed<br /><br />
And it's hard to say<br />
Who you are these days<br />
But you run on anyway<br />
Don't you baby? <br /><br />
You keep running for another place<br />
To find that saving grace<br /><br />
I'm living in unknown, Hotel grounds that no one owns<br />
Blast treatments can’t atone for fry sins<br />
There's a guard on every door<br />
And a drink on every floor<br />
Overflowing with a thousand amens<br /><br />
And it's hard to say<br />
Who you are these days<br />
But you run on anyway<br />
Don't you baby? <br /><br />
You keep running for another place<br />
To find that saving grace<br />
Don't you baby? <br /><br />
You're strolling up the carpet<br />
Of this Hotel’s new expansion<br />
No bedroom in McMansion no more<br />
And there's some quarters on this floor<br />
They're telling you are yours<br />
You're provident but not really cured<br /><br />
And it's hard to say<br />
Who you are these days<br />
But you run on anyway<br />
Don't you baby? <br /><br />
You keep running for another place<br />
To find that saving grace<br />
Don't you baby? <br /><br />
You keep running for another place<br />
To find that saving grace<br />
Don't you baby?
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-55334338501348588122015-08-04T16:22:00.001-06:002015-08-04T16:25:23.272-06:00Procrastination RockI was reminded this past weekend at Colorado Melanoma Foundation’s Mallets for Melanoma fundraiser that I’m a month (or three) past due to get naked at my favorite dermatology clinic. Yes, I’ve been procrastinating because I just don’t wanna go. I’d rather play golf, although Lord knows why the way I play, or hike or even pull weeds than spend a fine summer’s day under the gaze of a dermatology resident who looks to me like she’s not old enough to score a medical marijuana card from the Great State of Colorado, much less practice medicine. And thank you so much Mr. President for my skyrocketing health insurance deductible that’ll make anything they do at the clinic short of total skin replacement surgery completely out-of-pocket. So maybe I’ll get around to it this fall, or maybe I won’t until Medicare kicks in or I think I might be experiencing some urgent dermatologic emergency. And then I’ll complain about how long it takes to get an appointment. <br /><br />
Which brings to mind the extortion potential of a fundraising idea I’ve been mulling over. What if I threatened to post on Facebook an album of selfies of every square inch of my mole-covered old carcass and asked for your expert medical opinions as to whether any of said moles are abnormal and in need of a biopsy? Would you make a donation to my favorite melanoma nonprofit to avoid seeing such a disturbing visual assault in your newsfeed? <br /><br />
I know, I know, I need to take care of myself so I’ll make that derm appointment soon and before it gets urgent. And so should you. <br /><br />
Until next time, I’ll sign off with another ode to the Black Beast to the tune of Foreigner’s “Urgent”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FHnNIoNUZig" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>I’m lot shy, I hate blue gowns<br />
I used to fry, don't want more treatment go ‘rounds<br />
I ‘screen up, I won't come brown<br />
I wanna live, I wanna shoot lower rounds<br /><br />
Got fire in your veins<br />
Burnin' tots but you don't feel their pain<br />
Your desire is insane<br />
You can't stop until you do it again<br /><br />
But sometimes I wonder as I look in doc’s eyes<br />
Maybe she’s wishing for some younger guy<br />
But she knows, yes she knows, how to treat you right<br />
That's why she studies in the middle of the night<br /><br />
They say it's urgent<br />
So urgent, so oh oh urgent<br />
Just wait and see<br />
How urgent my moles can be<br />
It's urgent<br /><br />
You play tricks on my mind<br />
You’re everywhere but you’re so hard to find<br />
You’re not warm or sentimental<br />
You’re so extreme, you can be so temperamental<br /><br />
Yes, I'm just looking for some drug that will last<br />
I know what we need and we need it fast<br />
Yeah, there's one thing in common that we all share<br />
That's a need for ‘screen cover anytime, anywhere<br /><br />
It gets so urgent<br />
So urgent<br />
We know it's urgent<br />
I wanna tell you it's the same for me<br />
So oh oh urgent<br />
Just you wait and see<br />
How urgent new drugs can be<br />
It's urgent<br /><br />
We say it's urgent<br />
Make it fast, make it urgent<br />
Do it quick, do it urgent<br />
Gotta rush, make it urgent<br />
Want it quick<br />
Urgent, urgent, emergency<br />
Urgent, urgent, emergency<br />
Urgent, urgent, emergency<br />
Urgent, urgent, emergency<br />
So urgent, emergency<br />
Emer... emer... emer... <br />
It's urgent</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-83122802619927294052015-07-22T15:09:00.003-06:002015-07-22T15:09:41.803-06:00We Will Not Be Broken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQeLxuYUzR8/VbAF4r-26aI/AAAAAAAAAsw/BFp4BMwm96Q/s1600/fuck%2Bmelanoma%2Bmeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQeLxuYUzR8/VbAF4r-26aI/AAAAAAAAAsw/BFp4BMwm96Q/s400/fuck%2Bmelanoma%2Bmeme.png" /></a></div> <br /><br />
Today’s is my 600th blog post, believe it or not. I know why I keep postin’ on and it’s for one simple reason: the badass melahomies I’ve been privileged to meet during my extended stay at The Hotel Melanoma inspire me. You may bend, but you never break under the burden of battling an unrelenting beast of a cancer. And I hope my lyrical efforts provide a few moments of respite from your battles. <br /><br />
For all who refuse to be broken, here’s an ode to melanoma to the tune of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Will Not Be Broken”… <br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TKZ8KlAwPhs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<i>
Tan was then and pale is now<br />
I found my way black and fears abound<br />
Pray you'll someday let me go<br />
I told you once, I told you so<br /><br />
Take me down<br />
You can hold me but you can't mold what's within<br />
Pull me 'round<br />
Push me to the limit, maybe I may bend<br /><br />
But I know where I'm not going<br />
I will not be broken<br />
I will not be broken<br />
I will not be<br /><br />
Someone other than who I am<br />
I will fight to make my stand<br />
'Cause what is livin' if I can't live free<br />
What is freedom if I can't be me<br /><br />
Take me down<br />
You can hold me but you can't mold what's within<br />
Pull me 'round<br />
Push me to the limit, maybe I may bend<br /><br />
But I know where I'm not going<br />
I will not be broken<br />
I will not be broken<br /><br />
I won't let you near it<br />
I will let my spirit fly<br />
Fly high<br />
Oh, take me down<br /><br />
Take me down<br />
You can hold me but you can't mold what's within<br />
Pull me 'round<br />
Push me to the limit, maybe I may bend<br /><br />
But we both know I'm not going<br />
I will not be broken
I will not be broken<br />
I will not be broken<br />
I will not be, no no Black C</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-32596939585447574742015-07-14T14:51:00.000-06:002015-07-14T15:00:24.571-06:00Goin' Out of My Head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYGh4fVbRfY/VaV15mp1z7I/AAAAAAAAAsY/_go3z0ZIhig/s1600/miles%2Bfor%2Bmelanoma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYGh4fVbRfY/VaV15mp1z7I/AAAAAAAAAsY/_go3z0ZIhig/s400/miles%2Bfor%2Bmelanoma.jpg" /></a></div> <br /><br />
This past weekend I had the great pleasure of meeting up with some dear melapals at Miles for Melanoma Chicago. It was a joyful and sometimes raucous weekend, which included the group being ‘invited’ to vacate the bar area of a semi-famous chain steakhouse. But there were tearful times as well, because the folks pictured above run the gamut of the community touched, and often hammered, by the Black Beast. A couple of exceedingly fortunate, long term survivors of metastatic melanoma. Parents grieving the loss of a young son and a daughter grieving the loss of her mother. And badass melanoma warriors in the thick of battle with a seemingly unrelenting foe. <br /><br />
Now more than ever, I’m craving for a cure, sometimes to the point of getting just a little bit crazy about it. So until next time, I’ll sign off with a song for a cure, to the tune of “Goin’ Out of My Head” from Little Anthony & The Imperials…<br /><br />
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<i>Well, I think I'm goin' out of my head<br />
Yes, I think I'm goin' out of my head<br />
Over you, over you<br />
I want you to haunt C, I need you so badly<br />
I can't think of anything but you<br /><br />
And I think I'm goin' out of my head<br />
Cuz I can't explain the tears that I've shed<br />
Over you, over you<br /><br />
I seek you each morning<br />
But you just mock past pleas, you don't even know that I exist<br /><br />
Goin' out of my head over you<br />
Out of my head over you, out of my head day and night<br />
Night and day and night, wrong or right<br /><br />
I must think of a way into your heart<br />
There's no reason why my being fried should keep us apart<br />
And I think I'm goin' out of my head<br />
Yes, I think I'm goin' out of my head<br /><br />
Goin' out of my head over you<br />
Out of my head over you, out of my head day and night<br />
Night and day and night, wrong or right<br />
Night and day and night<br />
Wrong or right, day or night<br />
Every day, every, every day
</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3523343748976306214.post-25903242744932772752015-07-05T14:01:00.001-06:002015-07-05T14:01:31.985-06:00For My Melahomies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P7m4Wb9InvA/VZmMyrYwSbI/AAAAAAAAAr8/QK6jzEbXBgU/s1600/melahomies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P7m4Wb9InvA/VZmMyrYwSbI/AAAAAAAAAr8/QK6jzEbXBgU/s400/melahomies.jpg" /></a></div> <br /><br />
There’s no getting around the fact that living at The Hotel Melanoma sometimes just bites. But my life in the ‘scan lane’ has also been a time of bonding with some of the finest, kindest and most giving and supportive folks I could ever have hoped to call friends. <br /><br />
I’ll be blessed to travel to Chicago next weekend for a Miles for Melanoma Run/Walk, but the event itself will just be a minor diversion from something far more important-- getting to share some hugs, fellowship, and adult beverages with some of my melahomies. <br /><br />
With gratitude for all in the melanoma community who’ve made the journey down Melanoma Road anything but a solitary one, I’ll sign off with The Hotel Melanoma rendition of John Mellencamp’s “We are the People”… <br /><br />
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<i>If you're feelin' shut down<br />
May my thoughts be with you<br />
If you're a black ‘fan’ bein' beat down<br />
And shoved all around<br />
May my thoughts be with you<br /><br />
If your world's gettin' a little too tough<br />
You know our thoughts are with you<br />
Hey, I know that it's crazy in here<br />
And my thoughts are with you<br /><br />
We are C people and we give forever<br />
We are C people and our future's written<br />
On the skin, on the skin<br /><br />
If you are one of the mole-less<br />
May our thoughts be with you<br />
If you are scared and alone<br />
You know our thoughts are with you<br /><br />
If you are one of the fortunate ones<br />
We all know it's lonely up there<br />
We understand that nobody's got it made<br />
So our thoughts are with you<br /><br />
We are C people and we give forever<br />
We are C people and our future's written<br />
On the skin, on the skin<br /><br />
See yourself as a leader<br />
May my thoughts be with you<br />
If you try to divide and conquer<br />
We'll rise up against you<br /><br />
We know some of the strong won’t survive<br />
But the meek will not bear it<br />
So if you've got a coat of arms, oh friend<br />
I suggest we wear it<br /><br />
We are C people and we give forever<br />
We are C people and our future's written<br />
On the skin, on the skin</i>Rich McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022970468253019578noreply@blogger.com0