This morning I got checked into Lahey for a fantastic two week package that includes chemo and stem cell transplant. Vomiting and fatigue optional. So far I like my new digs, as far as hospital rooms go it’s pretty damn sweet. I got my own room with a fridge and microwave. A brand new Keurig which I may have bought specifically for this two week stay. I got my new piping plugged in and I think the chemo has started. Maybe it’s the pre-drugs that have started tough to say the nice lady comes in hangs bags up, connects them to the piping in my chest and the only question I have asked is if I can get some cups and sugar packets for my coffee machine.

I got all moved in, got my Surface to blog on, some coloring books, deck of cards and oh yeah I brought my guitar to chemo. What guitar you ask? Well you didn’t ask because you don’t care, but I will tell you anyways. I got this Reverend guitar to keep me warm at night while I am going through the Chemo. I am tentatively calling her T-Mac after my sister but the naming rights definitely can be bought at the right price.

https://www.reverendguitars.com/guitars/reeves-gabrels-signature

For the few guitar geeks out there click on the link above for the details on this beast. She’s got a few features that are not on your standard Fender/Gibson variety. For those non guitar people thinking”how many guitars are you going to buy?”. Well first off I am currently pipped into four bags of Chemo and god knows what else so slow your roll. Secondly I currently own 7 one of which I built so that doesn’t count. The guitar’s tentative namesake (did I mention this could be bought) has NINE Cats. My thinking is as long as I keep the guitar number under the number of cats she has we are good. Does that make sense? Of course not but sense is never the end goal when purchasing guitars or cats. Either way by my math my sister either has to murder a cat or I need a 8th guitar.

This weekend I spent prepping for this week. Got my lists of what to take, bought the aforementioned T-Mac (seriously make me an offer). Hung out with the wife Saturday and Sunday went to see my cousin Seth to do a preemptive strike on my hair. Yep cancer can’t have my hair because it’s already gone. If my hair is going, it’s going to be taken out by family not by chemo.

I got a great shaped head!

I got three late breaking fun facts for you. Since I am blogging while doing chemo new information is coming in as I sit here. Fun fact number one. I am now only 5ft 10inches tall. The compression fractures took away over 3 inches of height! There goes my chances of becomes a CEO. Second fun fact, chemo drugs are sensitive to light so they put a little tinted tent over the bag. Third fun fact is that I am currently sucking on ice. Why am I sucking on ice, and why is that a fun fact? Apparently the chemo can cause mouth sores. I am not real clear what that means but it sounds very methy to me so we are going to try to avoid it. Sucking on ice keeps the chemo out of your mouth. Yeah I know it sounds absurd but I just had a doctor and a registered nurse tell me that. I assume they know what they are talking about because if they do not I have some bigger problems then a little ice in the mouth.

I just got me this picture with the nurse Fani, suited up for chemo and my new friend the IV stand. Apparently for the next 14 days me and that IV stand are going to be connected at all times. Yep when I shower Mr IV stand will be creeping on my outside the curtain. Yep all that stuff is running into my sleeve where there is a brand new set of piping. This set was put in Monday and pops out about an inch below where they pulled the six inch main from last week. At this rate they are going to install traffic lights in my neck to make sure none of these guys crash while laying the pipe. Oh yeah no Leroy pics this week if I don’t get see Leroy all week, you all will have to do without. It’s like you are going through treatment with me, except you are giving up cute dog pics and I am doing chemo. Also I got visitors, my aunt Susan stopped by and my proof readers went home to look after my pups so I am just firing this off.