I have been on double vacation from both treatments and work since July 4th. I start back at work Monday and treatment on Tuesday. I know what you are thinking didn’t I just take off two months from work. I did but I wouldn’t call that a vacation. I was sore most of the time and couldn’t really do a lot. This week was a proper vacation with sun and swimming. I even had my niece put my war paint on.

Saturday I got a call from my Oncologist with the results of the biopsy. The sample had under 10% of cancerous cells it was over 80% before we started treatments. He thinking one maybe two more cycles and I will be in remission. He also told me to make a appointment with the multi myeloma specialist in Burlington to discuss stem cell treatment. I have an appointment next Friday with that Doctor. As far as I understand it you have to be in remission for a certain amount of time before they will do the stem cell. Too soon to declare total victory but multi myeloma should start shopping tattoo shops for the “Keith’s Bitch” piece it is going to get on it’s ass.

The wife and I had a great vacation. I’ve spent a ton of time floating in the pool which has been good for my back. Went to the family 4th of July BBQ and got see some family I haven’t seen in awhile which was great. Last Sunday we went tubing down the Pemi river which with my siblings and had a great time. You drop a car at one end then drive up the river 4 miles and jump in.

I was a interesting trip. We got to the put in spot and realized we left the pump for the tubes in my truck at the pickup spot. We drove back and got the tubes all inflated. Then found that the tube that we had to hold our beer had a leak. So we are tubing with the coolers in the same tube. No problem, easier to get to my medicine. My wife’s sunglasses fell apart when we got to the waters edge. After all that we get on the water and find that we put in before a bit of rapids.

I get my core exercise by lifting my body out of the tube in a reverse plank with a cooler full of beer and ice while going over the rapids. It was a little dicey but we make it through and now it’s just float and relax. Nope my tube got punctured going over the rapids. My not insubstantial weight was making the tube sink in the middle while the sides out of the water. It was basically a Keith taco taking me down the river. We fill it back up and go ahead with the float as it slowly deflates. Second rapids come up and my tube taco can’t handle it and dumps me. I swim the rapids and find a nice rock on the other side to catch my breath. I turn around and see Grasshopper (my brother) swimming towards me. He gets to my rock and I ask why he isn’t in his float. His answer “I am saving you”. I swooned at his heroism. Another fun fact Cancer does not make you forget how to swim.

Spent a night at the Chasers Poker Room in Salem. About an hour in a guy sits to my left with 300 dollars and smelling like he might have bathed in whiskey. Jackpot! I had one hand where I get dealt two jacks. I raise to 20 my new friend to the left raises all in for the 125 he has left he gets two callers including myself. So for those math challenged out there that 400 in the pot before the flop. The flop, the other two Jacks. It’s a good day to be me. I played for about 4 hours left with over 400 dollars of other peoples money.

Thursday we had our work jam. If you have been following this blog from the beginning I’ve been looking forward for this for months and working to try to get healthy enough to play. I knew I was going to be able to play the big question was can I stand up and play the three hour set. Mission accomplished I was able to play all the songs standing. I rocked out with my.. well shorts on.. Come on how many times do I have to say this is a family blog. I had a lot of fun at the event. I don’t get to play with a full band often. By the time it was over I was gassed and my back was talking to me but it was worth it. This morning I am not even sore so that’s progress.