Labs Rechecked

Had my three month f/u labs drawn again. The elevated liver enzymes improved slightly from last time;

ALT of 181 compared to 297 in Feb. and AST of  110 compared to 105 in Feb.

Results were faxed to Dr Zhang and I’m awaiting his advice.

I did not have the Viral Count repeated at this time since my medical insurance will not pay for a repeat check of the Viral Load this soon and the $500 cost of this lab test would not change the way I feel or the prognosis in any way. Have felt a bit better than I did in Feb. Still have a day or two each week were I feel tired, run down and achy but not as severe as back in Feb. Plan on continuing current herbal protocol until I hear Dr. Zhang’s current recommendation.

Golf Lesson

It is more satisfying to be a bad player at golf. The worse you play, the better you remember the occasional good shot. ~Nubar Gulbenkian, 1972

I'll shoot my age if I have to live to be 105. ~Bob Hope

My swing is so bad I look like a caveman killing his lunch. ~Lee Trevino

It took me seventeen years to get 3,000 hits. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course. ~Hank Aaron, 1971

I took my first golf lesson this past Saturday. I started hacking at the ball a little bit last summer, played a few rounds at a local 9 hole public course, all par 3’s which makes it a good beginner’s course to practice on. Of course, the golf pro on Sat. changed everything about my game, he’s trying to change my grip, my setup, and my swing, I’m sure he’d even change the way I tie my shoes if I would let him…lol..God knows I can’t argue with him since I have become increasingly frustrated as I’ve tried to teach myself to play. Without a doubt it has to be the most difficult of all things which look easy! I’m sure anyone who has tried golf for the first time would agree with me. I was definitely encouraged by this weekend’s lesson though as I went out and hit the ball better than I ever have on Sunday, though admittedly that’s still not saying too much. Played 18 holes on Sunday and scored a 100. That’s not as good as it sounds though, since we played on the aforementioned course which consists entirely of all par 3’s. I shot a 45 the first time throught the nine hole course and a 55 the second time through. Perhaps it's true what my step son always says, "9 holes of golf is fun but 18 holes is work". At any rate, my dad and I signed up for a series of 4 lessons so the plan is to take a lesson every Saturday for a month…..I can definitely see how one could become addicted to golf.

Dire Paranoia

It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Discuss here.

The Honeymoon Continues

I learned a new word today. My betrothed said it is Eternanublious ;-)

Ukulele Festival This Weekend!!!

This is enough to make one want to attend the New York Uke Festival this weekend. This is a sentence I never thought I would use, this guy is a virtuoso of the ukulele!!
Seriously, check out this video clip of a version of George Harrison’s, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, it’s actually quite impressive…Two Thumbs Up…..

Honeymoon

  I’ve been so busy of late I haven’t really had time to post here or anywhere else. The last few weeks have been awesome! On March 12th in a very moving, inspiring, heartfelt ceremony performed by Bishop Rosamonde Miller my love Linda and I were wed. Thank you Linda for always being there for me, sharing our lives together has been the happiest days of my life.
  Linda and I just returned home from Arizona this past Sunday. Watched some MLB Spring Training games at Scottsdale Stadium. We enjoyed the sun, ballpark, and hotel swimming pool, it was a great way to welcome the Spring. The highlight of our trip was however, without a doubt, the trip we took a little further north to Sedona, Arizona. The hiking we enjoyed among the massive red-rock formations was stunning in it’s beauty. Simply awe inspiring.
  
  

www.flickr.com RegentLynx's Sedona, Arizona photoset

Led Zeppelin Legends Reuniting?

First noticed this on Ross Halfin's blog, Page and Plant to reunite? I know a lot of Zeppelin fan's who don't care that much for Page and Plant's subsequent work but I really loved No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded, Walking Into Clarksdale et al.

Viral Count Has Improved

The rest of my labwork came in on the 15th. These results were more positive, interestingly enough my viral count has lowered considerably since beginning the herbal protocol. I had a viral count of 12,600,000 before beginning the Chinese Medicine protocol and the labs just received on the 15th show a viral count of 4,540,000. Began taking the Cordyceps this past Friday, so it’s too early to tell if it will help the aches and pains or not? They certainly didn’t help today, as I had another day of not feeling well. Still staying positive though, I have a lot in my life to be thankful for.

Three Month Follow Up

  Phone consultation with Dr. Zhang today, three month follow up consultation discussing lab results and symptoms. He reported that my liver enzymes have elevated since last checked in September. In September labs showed an AST of 61 and an ALT of 95. Labs drawn this past Tuesday, Feb. 7th show an AST of 105 and an ALT of 297. He said it was impossible to tell if this was a pattern of fluctuation which existed before we began the herbal protocal or not since only one lab sample was tested prior to commencing herbs. He wants me to retest labs again in May.
   As far as my physical condition goes I reported to him that the first two months on the Chinese Medicine the results were phenomenal an almost complete disappearance of the symptoms but over the last month or so symptoms have worsened again and become more frequent. They still are no where near the level of severity they had progressed too back in September but lately I’ve frequently had days like today where I simply don’t feel well, tired, achy, malaise. He advised me to continue the protocol of HepaPro Group 1, Olivessence, and Herbsom but to discontinue HerbLipido and replace it with Cordyceps.

Feels Like Spring

The weather here locally was absolutely beautiful today, a bright, sunny 70 degrees. Adding to the light hearted mood of the day is the fact that I’m feeling stronger again, after going through the recent downturn in vigour, feeling much stronger again now.

This blogger's essay is spot on and I'm glad this was said, Is Suicide Redundant In Kansas?

Wedding Plans

Despite a few struggles the last few months I am an extremely happy man. The date has been set, on March 12th I will marry my beloved Linda. Though words can’t truly convey my happiness the following poem by Gibran really hits home:

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Waiting For The Wheel To Turn

I don’t know if it’s because my body has been a little run down from my recent bout with the flu or not but this last week has brought a relapse of the symptoms I’ve always associated with the Chronic Hep C, extreme fatigue, achiness, muscle cramps. It wasn’t anything to keep me from being able to work this week  but still a bit depressing and frustrating. This week is the first time I’ve felt this bad, since beginning Dr Zhang’s recommended protocol. I felt really wiped out today and mainly just rested. I always resent these periods because it makes me feel as if I wasted a day off from work when I don’t have the energy to be doing anything fun or constructive but instead just lay around all day in a funk. Oh well, I’m sure the Wheel will turn and I’ll eventually be feeling better.

“Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains.”
--Liber Legis-Cap. II, v. 9    

My Existence This Past Week

Well, I think we've definitely established that the Modern Chinese Medicine I've been taking will not help protect against the flu virus. The last 4-5 days is the sickest I've been from the flu in a long time.....can do nothing but head back to bed now...Poor Linda :-( ...she's had to put up with me and I'm so tired and grumpy I can't even stand myself.....Thank goodness she's been here for me this week though, she has made sure and pushed plenty of fluids and provided me with what little I've had the appetite for......Thanks Hon, I love you!!!

As the New Year approaches I am feeling very optimistic for the future. I am more and more convinced my decision to forego combination interferon/ribavirin therapy and instead pursue Modern Chinese Medicine was the right one for me. I continue to sustain my new found sense of well being and high energy levels since beginning Dr. Zhang's Chinese Medicine protocol. Recently I had a conversation with a nurse who happens to work in the same medical clinic as I do. Even though she underwent a successful course of interferon treatment last year she told me that if she had to do it again she would not pursue interferon treament. She said this even though she was one of the lucky ones who did acheive a negative viral response with interferon treatment. Despite this she was emphatic that she would not make the same choice again because the effects of the interferon and ribavirin were so ravaging. Why would anyone make such a statement? One factor in the decision whether or not to pursue conventional combination therapy is the consideration that one should be aware that a negative viral response after interferon treatment does not mean "total eradication" of the Hep C virus! Most of the patients after "successful" inteferon therapy will still have HCV in their liver. Relapse can, and does in some cases happen at a later time.

Please understand, I am in no way advocating just sticking one's head in the sand and ignoring their HCV infection. Rather, a comprehensive approach is needed to treat chronic viral hepatitis, including proper herbal treatment, rest, and nutrition. I do believe it's possible using Modern Chinese Medicine to halt the progression of the disease and restore general health.

Blessings to all in the New Year.

The Nativity Of The Divine Light

Christmas Eve, sometimes called Holy Night, celebrates the ageless story of the birth of Christ. As the divine light of Christ incarnates in a tiny babe in a lowly manger, to us this story represents the nativity of the divine light within the Gnostic soul, the coming of the royal light into the lowly frame and darkness of this world. When the outer world grows cold and dark it is even more necessary to keep the spark of divine light kindled and bright.

Though the light shines in the darkness, the darkness can not itself give birth to the light. The earth would be naught but cold damp clay without the life coming from the light of the Sun. Even so, the spirit which gives life comes from somewhere else, a mystical dimension beyond time and space. The alchemists assure us that “nature unaided always fails.” Without divine assistance in the Hermetic art the alchemist can not achieve the goal of the Great Work, the Philosopher’s Stone. In the same way, our human natures can not transform our ego personalities without the assistance of that spark of our Divine Self and the birth of that consciousness within us........more

Wishing you and yours all the best this Holiday Season. May the New Year bring you much Light, Love, and Health.

Happy Holidays

C’mon people can’t we all just get along? This is the one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read, “Religious conservatives are threatening lawsuits and boycotts to insist that store clerks and advertisements say Merry Christmas”. I myself prefer “Happy Holidays”or "Seasons Greeting's". It’s much more inclusive, what’s wrong with including the Jewish Faith, Buddhists, Moslems, Pagans or any other ism’s in one’s best wishes for the Season and New Year? “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men” should be directed to all regardless of race, color or creed.

Of course, the major mistake in the Christian conservatives line of reasoning is the assumption that the Holiday Season began with Christianity. Celebration of the Winter Solstice far predates any form of Christianity.

Perhaps maybe we should all just celebrate Festivus.

Wishing everyone Happy Holiday’s as I cue up my cd player;

Artist: Jackson Browne
Album: Rarities And Duets
Title: The Rebel Jesus

Original recording from the chieftain's album "the bells of dublin"

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
They'll be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thanks for all god's graces
And the birth of the rebel jesus

Well they call him by the prince of peace
And they call him by the savior
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that i worshipped in
From a temple to a robber's den

In the words of the rebel jesus

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They get the same as the rebel jesus

But please forgive me if i seem
To take the tone of judgement
For i've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So i bid you pleasure
And i bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel jesus.

Jimmy Page receives the OBE

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has been honored by Queen Elizabeth II - but the award was for his work with poor Brazilian children rather than his music. Page, 61, went to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to receive an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE.Page said he was overwhelmed to be given the accolade. He recalled how he first became involved with Brazilian children in 1994 when fighting broke out among street gangs while he was in Rio de Janeiro promoting an album. "At that time in Rio, the sun wasn't shining. The army was going into the favelas (shantytowns), and I heard about the plight of the street children," he told reporters.Page joined forces with a British charity, Task Brazil, and set up a safe house, which has supported more than 300 children. Task Brazil offers medical and psychological support, food, clothing and job training. "I think when you're faced with a plight that's inescapable, and there's something you can do about it, you hope you can make a difference," Page said.

Ready For Spring

I know it’s not even Winter yet but I’m all ready for Spring. Last week I booked an itenerary online at Expedia.com for the week of March 20th to attend some San Francisco Giants Cactus League Spring Training games in Scottsdale, AZ.  We’ll be there for 5 Days, 6 nights, enjoying the warm weather and the baseball rites of Spring.
Also nearby is Sedona, Az which I’ve always wanted to visit, so the plan is 3 days in Scottsdale and 2 days in Sedona which should be lovely after weathering the winter season.

Robert Plant BBC Interview

Discovered this recent interview with Robert Plant in RealPlayer format provided by the BBC.
In this interview with BBC WM's Paul Franks, Black Country rock legend Robert Plant talks about living with the legacy of Led Zeppelin, writing with Jimmy Page, and how he's able to make sense of the past with his new band, The Strange Sensation. 
He also describes one of his most treasured memories - his meeting with Elvis.