Show #38: Pre-show Discussion

Show #38 will cover “The Forever War” by Joe Haldeman.

Originally serialized in Analog magazine in 1972, it was first published in novel form in 1974, and it won the Nebula Award in 1975 and the Hugo Award in 1976.

The original story as read in Analog, and the first two versions of the novel contain an abridged and “more upbeat” version, different from the author’s original vision for the middle of the story. In 1997, the “Author’s Preferred Edition” was finally published, and comprises the first part of a trilogy, followed by “Forever Free” and “Forever Peace”.

A discussion topic will appear in the forums soon.

Clowns Will Eat Me

There are many who fear the clowns…

Joe Murphy Memorial Fund

Tell everyone you know.

Joe Murphy Memorial Fund

Thank you to Leann’s mini-geek army for helping her put this together:
P.G. Holyfield
Chris Miller
Donna Mugavero

Latest Joe Update

Joe has been moved into hospice care and he will not be with us for much longer. That’s about as straightfoward as I can make a very painful and fucked up situation.–

During the last Sunday visit, Mike got a call from Leann Mabry regarding getting Penn and Teller to make a visit. She was able to get Teller Joe’s cell phone number and Mike got word that Teller gave Joe a call. They talked for several minutes. Joe had a spark of excitement for the first time in a long while, and we all need to give Leann huge props for pulling this off.

Leann called Mike and told him to check the WI voicemail. There was a message for Joe from Penn. He had called in and left a long, in very Penn fashion, personal message to Joe.

Things are by no means good, but this little bit of excitement today sure made the world a bit better. Thank you Leann.

————————–

Monday Mike took up the message that Penn left on our voicemail line for Joe to listen to.

Joe was in much improved spirits and Mike attributes it all to the conversation that he had with Teller. He was jabbering up a storm and Mike was told several times by his dad and his aunt that Joe talked about it for quite some time.

This is a big change from the last few days where he would only talk to everyone for a couple minutes before asking us to leave so he could rest.

The message that Penn left also brought a smile and some comments of how amazing it was to have them do that for him. Mike and everyone had a long conversation about the well wishes and comments he had been recieving during his time in the hospital, and he was able to relay many of the good thoughts and prayers.

Joe knows that you all care and that you have sent in your love. Just know that your messages have not gone unheard.

As Mike would say “Again, Leann, you dun good!”

The post-surgery Kuato update

Sorry, I should have posted an update a while ago.

For those who haven’t heard, Kuato has officially kicked my ass. The doctors couldn’t remove the tumor, as there was not one, but six of them, and they were all in love with some major organs of mine. They took enough to verify that the cancer is indeed Leiomyosarcoma.

So, I’m at Mike’s and Lorrie’s, vegging out and slowly getting better. The doctors were unable to do much when then performed the surgery, which sucks beyond belief, but makes the recouperating easier. My main complaints are constipation and very, VERY swollen legs.

I’ll be staying here for the next three weeks or so. Then I have NO idea what’s happening next. Since we know now that this is inoperable, my options are a bit limited. I’ll be working on getting an oncologist this week, and a general physician. I’ll probably go back to work, perhaps in Tucson, perhaps in Phoenix, as a position with Sonus just opened up here.

My further care depends on whether chemo is an option for buying more time, or if the best course of action is to go for comfort and just ride the wave as long as I’ve got. I’ll let you know how those discussions go.

I can’t believe the outpouring of love and generocity you have given me through all this. You have no idea how much it has meant to me. Thank you.

The most recent Kuato update

Ok, here’s where I’m at.

Just talked to my new surgeon this past Thursday. My case is still a mix of good and bad news.

The GI doc biopsied a piece of the tumor back when I had the endoscopy and colonoscopy in Dec. He came back with a diagnosis of Leiomyosarcoma. Which is very nasty. To be frank, I pretty much thought the game was over, time to move into the mountains and call it quits.
Continue reading The most recent Kuato update…

Show Discussions open

Those of you who’ve been around since we started this show know that I’d implemented a plugin that automatically closed the comments form after 4-5 weeks, basically to save me from having to clean up as much comment spam.

With the newer and better comment spam filters out there, I’d been thinking about removing that plugin and opening up the comments for the older posts, since new listeners wouldn’t have a chance to comment on an older show they’d newly come across.

Note, I said “thinking about”. Oddly enough, a software upgrade has pretty much forced me to abandon that policy. The plugin doesn’t seem to be compatible with newer versions of WordPress. Interesting, that… it looks like it might be an SQL error from a database change, but it’s pretty much is a moot point now.

So, if there’s an older show you’ve always wanted to comment on, now’s your chance!

Happy New Year, folks!

A brief Kuato update.

Did the laxative on Wed. Went easier than I thought it would after what people told me.

Did the scope on Thursday. Don’t remember a thing. Gooood drugs.

Mass didn’t seem to penetrate the colon, but does invade the duodenum. I guess that’s where the stomach meets the small intestine. Screw it, if you’ve never heard of it, you don’t need it, I say.

The scope couldn’t go in as far as the doctor would’ve liked, due to the size of the tumor pressing against the colon. So, oh joy, I get to do a barium x-ray of the colon next week, to see what might have been missed. I’m going radioactive!

Another Kuato update

Just to give everybody a idea of what’s up.

I talked to the surgeon this past week, and we decided on a colonoscopy, and based on those results, determine whether to start with surgery, or do chemo first to shrink the mass. I’ll have the colonoscopy on the 21st (these docs are lightning fast, eh?) Won’t know more till then.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who called and emailed in. I haven’t you answered you all individually, but I have read every one and am very greatful for your thoughts, prayers, and advice and support. Really, you have no idea.

Don’t nobody bring me no bad news

Because I’ve had more than enough this week.

Turns out that Kuato is malignant. So I have one big ass cancer inside me.

Next step, get it out. Then they’ll do more tests on it.

I don’t know when the surgery is, not sure if it’ll be here in Tucson, or in Phoenix. Don’t know what stage, not sure how malignant it is.

I’ll be talking with the surgeon soon to plan the next step.

Kuato update

Just to keep everyone up to date. I was hoping to find out the results of the biopsy last week. I called the doctor’s office today, and I was told they were still working on it, and the doctor wouldn’t be in until Wednesday. So, at best, I’ll find out something Wednesday or Thursday.

Thank you all for your kind calls and emails. They mean a lot to me.

I’ll let you all know something as soon as I do. Know something, that is.

Got some bad news this weekend.

Ok, where to begin?

About a week or so ago, I could feel a hard lump on the left side of my belly. This past Saturday, I felt a second lump, so I went to the emergency room. I had a CT scan of my abdomen. Turns out I have a tumor. A big one.

How big, you ask? Imagine, if you will, a tumor the size of a baby. We’ll call him Harry. Harry the Tumor Baby has two little eyes to see with, and a cute little mouth with which to speak.

Imagine if you will, little Harry the Tumor Baby turns over while taking a nap, opens his eyes, sees MY tumor, and yells, “God-damn! That’s a big tumor!”

That’s how big my tumor is.

The doctor says it measures 22cm by 25cm by 12 cm. A cantaloupe, he called it.

Since I have virtually no symptoms other than anemia, the doctors let me go, and we’ll do this on an outpatient basis. I’ll have a needle biopsy tomorrow, and should have the results by Wednesday the 22nd. What we do next depends on the results of the biopsy.

There’s good news and bad news about the tumor, so right now I think I’m 50/50 between coming out of this ok, and being fucked.

I’ll keep everybody posted.

If you want to contact me, email me at “joe at kickassmysticninjas dot com” or “joe at dragonpage dot com”

P.S. Because Evo’s a genius, we have named the tumor Kuato.

Knights of Arcadia

This week’s episode of Galacticast is just too good to pass up.

A Summer Moving Sale

I asked the folks in the Wingin’ It chat room about this, and there seemed to be some interest in it, so I’ll ask here as well.

I’m going to be moving at the end of July. Don’t worry, I’m staying in the area… but it’s past time for me to clear out some stuff.

So here are some options:

1) list books, cds and possibly dvds on Half.com, and post the links here
2) give folks here first dibs on stuff that won’t list on Half, before listing them on eBay or Craigslist

Yes, I have odd stuff I need to get rid of, too, like the remnants of a coin collection, and of a baseball card collection, a wide range of posters, and some random toys. And then there’s that extra laserdisc player and a bunch of laserdiscs that need to go.

I’m really not sure what the baseball cards are worth anymore, but many of them are graded so an eBay search should give me a good idea. Is it even worth my time to look up what Griffey Jr and Bonds rookie cards are worth?

And yes, I’m keeping all my Babylon 5 cards, old school Battlestar Galactica cards, and signed Xena cards… don’t even ask

I also have a lot of artwork, mostly limited edition prints, and a couple of originals, that could go. I just don’t know any of the stores around Scottsdale that deal with consignments of art for sale. I’m also wondering if some of these might not sell better in Sedona or Flagstaff. I still have some research to do on that, but it might have to wait until after the move.

So, what do you guys think?

update: Okay, here’s the link to the list of items I have for sale at Half.com, and the inventory there will be growing over the next couple of weeks. As for the items that won’t list there, I’ll put them here or on my writing/personal blog, Desert Words.

Unbelievable

Not science fiction related, I know, but if you want to see amazing talent, check out this juggling video featuring Chris Bliss.