with enthusiasm…

Today I write with enthusiasm.  Enthusiasm for life and all that it is.  How many times have you talked with a client, student, friend, loved one or neighbor with enthusiasm.  Sure we can’t be entusiastic about everything all the time but we can try it occassionally.  When you have a passion for something, one of the best times to visit that passion is when you or someone you know or care about is at their lowest.  I’ve had the best success cheering people up at times or making them feel differently about a situation when my delivery is done with passion.  You want to make an impact on someone? When you talk with them do it with enthusiasm.  My friend KC called the other morning.  He was my little brother in our fraternity in college so you can imagine some of the history we’ve shared.  No need for details!  Anyway, he called to say he wanted to come to Charleston and visit this weekend.  We had our typical jabs and quick laughs.  What made the call great was him sharing his enthusiasm for our friendship.  He told me that when we talk he laughs and giggles like a little kid.  Ever notice how easy that it is when you talk to someone with enthusiasm.  It’s infectious.  Try that with an enemy or someone you’ve had differences and talk with enthusiasm about mending your ties.  Usually the phrase, “how did that work out for ya’?” is used with cynicism.  Well, now with enthusiasm and belief in resolution and more effective action try mending a friend in need or a damaged relationship.  I think you will find new levels of trust and respect with a smile on your face.  Try this one.  Look in the mirror and smile.  Compare your smile wrinkles to the wrinkles on your face.  The most prominent wrinkles probably reflect your enthusiasm for life or approach to it.  This may be the only instance when it’s good to have wrinkles.   Based on having smile wrinkles. 

 All the Best with Love,

Chip

Psyche!

Well, doc didn’t take bone marrow yesterday!  Said it wasn’t necessary yet.  In the last appt he told me he was taking it.  I don’t mind waiting.  Who would?  Instead they took a blood sample looking at BCR/ABL.  I think that is a leukemic cell count.  All my blood work came back GREAT!  He was satisfied with the progress and doesn’t want to see me again until January.  Then he will take marrow.  That one will be from the hip bone again.  Fairly painful but not high on the scale.  I’ve had more pain from Tai Chi then I did from the last one.  I guess it’s just the idea that there is actual tissue being removed from deep within the bone.  Ok, enough of that.  Got a busy day at work and a very busy weekend.  Moving Kate in Saturday.  Yes, we’re both a little nervous, both a little head strong and both open communicators that seek compromise, sometimes.  We love each other and are both looking forward to it!  That’s what matters.

Chip

You’re gonna feel a small prick…

Getting a bone marrow test tomorrow and I’m not looking forward to it.   It shouldn’t be too bad though.  This one will be taken from an arm bone and the Doc says it shouldn’t hurt much at all.  That makes it a little more tolerable.  It’s not the pain that has me thinking though.  It’s the test results that make me a little anxious.  The word is that within 3-6 months there should be a cytogenic response from the Gleevec.  As I’ve said before, the best case scenario is that the drug works and I stay on Gleevec.  I recently heard that Ms. West Virginia from about 15 years ago died from CML.  Considering the new drugs on the market and the ones under development, the chances for a long life are very promising.  Sheesh.  Someone change the subject.  Oh, I guess that’s me.  Been raining here a good bit lately!  Heh heh.  Looking forward to it passing soon.  I’ve been feeling very strong urges to be in nature.  The camping trip was AWESOME for many reasons but I’m looking for something even more remote.  I’ve been wanting to hike the Cranberry Glades area for years.  I think I’ll have to make that a project in November.  Any takers??  I’m serious.  The world series starts tonight.  Hope your pullin’ for the Rockies.  Would love to see them win.  Don’t like Boston at all!  Go figure, I’m a Yankees fan.  Why you ask?  In 1983 my dad was driving for a bus company called Mid-America in Chicago.  The big highway buses.  Occassionally he would carry celebrities.  Once he drove for Phil Donahue on the companies private coach.  How many remember him?  Plenty, I’m sure.  Anyway, one evening he said I needed to go on a run with him.  I had many times before.  Once we hauled a group of school bus drivers to Topeka, Kansas to pick up school buses and bring them back to Chicago.  That was a long trip.  Anyway, the next day I went with him to the depot and did the usual.  Dad would let me start the bus, check the systems and once air pressure and appropriate gauges were ok he would let me pull it out straight out of the garage.  Fun for a 13 year old.  So, we made our way to downtown Chicago.  It always amazed me how he could drive that massive bus through traffic without even a hint of hesitation.  So we parked in front of the Hilton.  A few minutes later THE New York Yankees began filing in.   Willie Randolph, Ricky Henderson, etc.  The whole lot of them!  That was exciting!  We watched the Yanks beat up on the White Sox and later we loaded up and took the players back to the hotel.  Here’s the most entertaining part.  I thought everyone was off the bus so I jumped up out of my seat filled with excitement and awe.  I had just met the Yankees!  Then I heard a voice.  “Excuse me.”  I turn around, look up and in front of me is this massive man with a small afro and a big black mustache.  I just cut line in front of Reggie Jackson.  We laughed.  Shook hands.  Of course mine got lost in his.  And I introduced myself.  He responded, “Hi.  I’m Reggie Jackson.”  I said, “Yes sir!  You are!”  Not too witty or memorable but none the less, I met Reggie.  His candy bar quickly became my favorite after that.  As you can imagine, I’ve been a die hard Yankees fan ever since.  Cool, eh?

 Now here’s what I would like you to take away from this.  How many memories will never be had because someone couldn’t find the bone marrow they needed to live?  I’ve asked several times before, just yesterday in fact, would you please sign up to be a bone marrow donor.  They don’t take bone marrow.  They take stem cells from your blood.  It’s an easy procedure that could save someone’s life.  Hell, I’ll even pay the $50 for you to get tested.  I just want one person to say they’ll get registered.  I was hurt and frustrated that no one volunteered before.  At least not to my knowledge. I can’t make anyone do it but it seems to me that it’s a valid request.  There’s a lot of ways you can save a life.  This is the least risky and probably the easiest.   Please visit the links below to find out more and would someone PLEASE step up!!

Donor video…

Donor web site…

 All the Best with Love,

Chip

Time does fly..

Kind of surprised it’s been a week since I last posted.  Not much has been happening.  Health is great.  Been getting caught up on some other bodily concerns.  The highlight was definitely to be the weekend.  Tai Chi too.  Kate and I met up with cousin Tommy, Carly, Amber, Laurel, webkins, pooh bear and tigger at Shawnee State Forest for some camping.  They were fantastic hosts and we had a great time.  Tommy and I went kayaking at a small lake nearby.  That was absolutely fantastic!  We paddled into a small cove and hung out with about 25 Mallard ducks for what seemed like hours.  It was rather cool in the shade but out on the lake it was interesting.  There was a rather stiff wind at times.  Once you get used to finding your rhythm kayaking is big fun!  While we were out paddling all the girls went geo cacheing.  They had great fun and had the chance to give and receive.  Amber and Laurel are truly sweet little girls learning life from great, fun loving parents.  It went by so quick.  Tommy and I always enjoy catching up.  We can go a while without hanging and just pick up again like it was yesterday.  Can’t wait to visit Loveland some time!  Thinking about fall foilage more and more lately.  Sure there is some now but I’m really lookiing forward to when the colors really pop.  For my birthday Kate said I could have a weekend at Snowshoe so I’m thinking we might try to go up there sometime in the next few weeks.   Nothing better than hiking in brisk fall weather with the foilage at it’s peak. 

ATTENTION:  Spoke with a friend today.  There is a gentlemen with Leukemia from Kentucky that can’t find a  match in the international bone marrow donor program.  There is a Marrow Donor Drive at the Charleston Civic Center this Saturday from 8a-6p.  This may be his chance to find a donor and it only takes a little time to find out if you can save a life.  THEY DON’T TAKE ACTUAL BONE MARROW FROM YOU TO BE A DONOR.  IT’S THE STEM CELLS FROM THE BLOOD THEY TAKE, SILLY!   See this flier to find out more.

Bone Marrow Drive flier

 Please take the time to read the flier.  Also, you can visit this video to find out more about how easy being a donor is.

You may be wondering how I’m feeling.  My mood, emotional and mental state is pretty good.  I’ve been revisited by one of the Gleevec side effects lately which slows me down at times but, excuse the pun, this too shall pass. Ha ha!  Good thing I make myself laugh.

Lots of Love,

Chip

  

Catching up….

It’s been a while since I updated.  Things have been going very well on many fronts.  I’ve been busy working on the house and with work.  Enjoying the changing weather as well.  Haven’t travelled since going to Deep Creek and that is one of my favorite things to write about.  Anyway, Kate and I spent the weekend repainting the living room.  It’s been long overdue but you know how guys are.  We typically don’t care how our homes are decorated or the paint on the wall.  We spent Friday evening taping, covering, sanding, picking up supplies and prepping the house.  It took several coats of primer and two coats of the final color and it came out great.  The long hours and sore muscles were definitely worth it.  In between priming and painting on Saturday we went to Kanawha State Forest for a nice but difficult hike.  We stayed at Kate’s apartment that night because the fumes were too much.  Because I was keyed up from working so hard that day that I couldn’t sleep.  So, I took the short walk to the Capitol and practiced Tai Chi for about 40 minutes.  It was about 1:30a so it was very peaceful, quiet and the air was brisk.  I love being outside when it’s not too cold but cold enough to see your breath.  Anyway, it was a perfect evening for enjoying the Capitol and practicing breathing, stance and moves.  I really enjoy Tai Chi!  We’re going on Monday and Thursday evenings now and it really helps with the learning of it.  So far, we’ve learned about half of the short form which is about 24 different moves.  In another four weeks we’ll have the short form down.  After that we will begin to learn the long form.  Only 108 moves.  Heh heh!  Brother Phil is coming to visit tomorrow to help with some home improvements and a short visit.  I’m really looking forward to seeing him.  This weekend Kate and I are going camping with cousin Tommy and the girls.  We plan on doing a little kayaking too.  On a still, calm water lake though.  Can’t get into the water but I sure can still enjoy it!  Mom’s birthday was last Thursday. It wasn’t day of celebration though.  Andy’s daughter Reba passed away that morning from a heart attack.  So they spent the next few days tending to those affairs.  Please take a moment to pray for them and especially Reba’s son.  He’s 15 so you can imagine that it’s difficult for him.  Thankfully, Reba’s sister will be taking care of him now.  I’ve been reading a book, The Prayer of Jabez lately and have found great peace in it.  In short the prayer of Jabez is simple.  “Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ’Oh that Thou would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast [territory], and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!’ And God granted him that which he requested.” 1 Chron 4:10  Hope your day is filled with blessings!

All the Best with Love,

Chip

new things….

I think most of you would agree that in many cases “new things” can be a real blessing.  Change is inevitable and how we work with change can be a true reflection of our perspective in and on life.  How many times has a new thing made such a dramatic change in your life that there is a permanent mark in your psyche that identifies the event?  There have been many permanent marks on me this past year that I won’t articulate about but most could name the top four.  They’re pretty easy.   So what was learned from these new things?  What did you learn when you thought about the new things in your life the past year?  I could write for hours using many wonderful adjectives and adverbs about the emotions experienced, the sights seen, the joy expressed, the sensation of a lunker bass on a very light tipped pole, friends reaquainted, family seen and embraced and many more. The new thing today is centered.  If your hips are not square when you repulse monkey then you don’t have the optimum balance to repel such monkey.  Tai Chi cracks me up sometimes.  I can just imagine a couple of old Chinese Tai Chi masters creating names for the moves in the form.  So, if you ever want to know how to “repulse monkey” I would be happy to share with you my best “repulse monkey”.  By the way, when using Chinese characters Tai Chi means supreme ultimate force.  I’m sorry but it makes me think of those old Godzilla movies.  Ha!  Anyway, things are well with me.  Not too much excitement since my last post.  As always, enjoying friends, family, acquaintances and life.  Speaking of which my brother Rex just called.  Imagine what new things he’s seen in the past year.  As a pilot he sees sunsets, sunrises, full moons, star filled nights, big thunderstorm clouds, and many more scenes that I can’t even imagine.  So, what does he learn from seeing new things?  What do any of us learn from new things?  Guess that depends on our perspective on life. 

All the Best with Love,

Chip

 PS.  Check out the Pic Page….I’m working to improve it.  Click on links for full size pics.

Not quite Quips

In essence, to be brief and then design it from there.

commuted in a bath robe…your welcome

Call to the 20th power, take call to the 13th power

One call in particular really lit up the day.  Hi Libby!

Effective action and humor at Rotary BOD….All in favor?

Applebutter for the soul….it is grand. 

How about another sale for that man?  Great job!

Bring effective action over and over again.  Lead it until your end.  (No matter what game your in!)  I know, I know, slow it down and take action again.

Good luck with the swing, you’ll be in the fairway again.  If you get the bounce off the barn!

Move with balance, peace and release.  Tai Chi with friends.

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  Thanks, dinner was yum!

That’s all folks!  I’m done….

All the Best with Love,

Chip

Good moods…

Since I last posted Kate and I went to Deep Creek Lake to spend time with good friends, Brent, Cheri and Lillyanna, their beautiful, fairly new baby.  She is absolutely adorable.  At 3 1/2 months she’s recognizing “touchdown” and is doing well with the accompanying “arms in the air.”  Brent and I have been friends since about 1986.  Plus roomates and fraternity brothers in college.  Needless to say that we have seen, celebrated and experienced mnay things in life together.  All the while we’ve remained the best of friends.  The cabin we stayed in was fantastic!  Kate and I slept with the windows open and waking up to clean mountain air and birds chirping was very peaceful.  We hiked to and around Swallow Falls and met up with Mom to bless baby Lillyanna by the lake.  It was a wonderful time.  We went to Mom’s church Sunday morning and got a chance to meet everyone that has been praying so much for my health.  We had lunch with Mom and Andy and then headed out for home.  Along the way we stopped in Weston, fished for a little while, took a quick ATV ride and spent time with T & Charly.  We got home around 7:30p Sunday night, just in time for another installment of “The War”.  All and all it was a fantastic weekend!  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend to.  Check out the few pics added on the pic page.

All the Best with Love,

Chip