charles statman

just to stop any blackmail plots, you saw Tarzan, here is his dad

thanks mom!

I ran across this website today. PostSecret.com I think it is a brilliant and wonderful idea.

I am no good at secrets.

In August of 2003 I started a journey through testicular cancer, removal of one, and chemo. When I finished, the joke was: "I can only get it one more time!"

I've been trying to keep this quiet, but I can't. I have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow morning. My remaining testicle is swollen and painful. I am scared.


What if I DID get it one more time?

My brain has been spinning for a week with what ifs:
Could it just be an infection?
What if it IS cancer?
What if they have to remove my other testicle?
What if it is not caught in time, and has spread?
What if I have to do chemo again?

It'd be a horrible, horrible addition to the punchline if I did get it one more time.

Saul & Sara. They are the blessings in my life.

But I would not be honest if I did not say, I feel cheated. WHY ME? Why won't my kid drink? What did I do to get cancer again? Is there a GOD? Is GOD mad at me?

I'll know more tomorrow morning. Please don't call. Just hope for good news. I just want to rest.

and by the way, it is FUN to stick your tongue out!

so there is a ratty 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am 400/4 for sale. $1,500. It SEEMS like a good idea. My beloved Uncle Irv had a 400 Firebird. I remember it as an amazing vehicle.

HOWEVER, because I live in the nanny state of Kalifornia, the car has to be smog checked.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/ftp/pdffacts/vehicle_model_years_subject_to_smog_check.pdf

there was some deal where any 30+yr old car was exempt from Smog Check. However? they stopped this for anything newer than 1976.

SO?

I cannot buy it. Mixed blessing. I'd love a $1500 hot rod.
But I ne
ed another rojct ike Ineed a hole
in my hea. If Sar
a does not stoer
p playing with korboard, I will spank h

Last night we drove up to San Francisco to see Sara's pals. We all had fun, although Tarzan was a bit cranky, and ended up sleeping most of the time. This morning? I did not go dirtbike riding, and he helped toss cookies all over me at 6am.


By Request, more pix

sittin on the bed with mom



reflection in the mirror, notice handprint on the left side of mirror





and a video of Our man reading the newspaper




and this hot news. Taking baths is now FUN!

Tarzan's still sickly. He has a runny nose, pukes up, but has lots of energy.

I am staying home with him today, so Sara can get some work done.

I put him in the crib, so I could use the bathroom. He likes to watch his mobile, and will kick his feet a lot, and squirm around.

I came back in the room, and saw this:





YIKES! Did he run away?


Nope! He was hiding up in the front of the crib! Hooligan!






so I put him in the mini swing in my room. He pulled all the toys off the hangars, tossed them on the floor, then grabbed the siderails so the swing won't swing.

He is on a rampage I tell you. A RAMPAGE! BABY RAMPAGE!

and there is NO napping in the immediate future.

so, tarzan is sick, like NORMAL kid sick

head cold, snot, puke


2 nights in a row. I feed him at midnight (by feed, I mean pour 120cc of formula in his nose tube)

then he bubbles some out his mouth,
and barfs

2 nights ago, i am cleaning the barf, and he shits
not normal, but loose, runny and with force,
so it squirts UP his ass, past his diaper and all over his back

clean that up, and?

he barfs again


It is very difficult to be a dad


and?

repeated last night

Uncle Louis sent some fancy shoes.



Then we played with Tia Julia at Todai for her birthday. She did not eat as much sushi, cause she was entertaining the monkey.







in a rare talkative moment

I had a Red Robin cheeseburger for lunch

and I am feeling very good about myself right now

:)

Years ago Chris Cook told me, "Charles, it's really hard to screw up a cheeseburger, and they usually taste pretty good."

He is right.

a certain iraqi dictator had a cat?



I did not know.

Spent this morning out at Metcalf riding the KTM. Got home, and I am insanely sore. The trails are all rutted, many 'whoops' and the ground dried, so it is very very hard and unforgiving.

SHOULD have come home earlier, but was having fun

Saul has a little bit of a runny nose. Last night we took Mark & Julia out for sushi, cause it was Julia's birthday last week. Tarzan had fun watching the spectacle. Then he sneezed and blew snot rockets. Yuck. Of course we cleaned him up

my pal Mr. Darwin?

Seems to be sleeping on the job. But every so often I read something that makes me think he isn't.


did I mention how cute MY son is?

very!

Tarzan in the bouncy Chair




Sara still photos here

with all the cold weather, it seemed like a good time to share with others.

This in from our pal Alfred David Carpenter (of God's Bats fame).


On a cool winter day a cup of hot chocolate is very
refreshing. Here is my recipe for a cup of hot chocolate:

1/3 cup of milk + 1/3 cup of Creme De Cacao + 1/3 cup
of chocolate syrup, thoroughly stir mixture and pour
into cup. Microwave on high for 1 minute. shave some
nutmeg into cup.

You are now ready for some pleasant sipping.

Note: Cup sizes and microwave heating times vary.

This just in from my sister Sherry, regarding the Austin, TX Congress Avenue Bird Scare:

Charles,

Even CNN doesn't have these pictures. They show the HAZMAT teams and Homeland security securing Congress Ave. from the great bird scare of 2007

Sis










Now I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Andre the Giant wow


My drinking pals, you now have a goal. 2 liters in 2 hours, warm & fuzzy

no, that is not a challenge, but what a read.

it's JUST like my old roommate Bill used to say

"Aim Low, Score High"

Go Denmark!

party party party, then stop and rest

Saturday Sara went for a motorcycle ride with Jack, Tarzan woke up and wanted to start some trouble. 9 out of 10 citizens surveyed think a motorcycle shop is a good place for hooliganism!

we went to Ken's shop, and Saul sat on the BMW. He rocked back and forth, and was apparently excited.

Saturday night was the yearly Epiphany party at the Turner's house. Whee!

Sunday Sara went snowboarding, so I made about the day. Laundry, bath for baby, shower for dad, food, etc.

Rebecca called, and said "lets make blankets!"

(note, these are not traditional blankets like the baby quilt Tia Julia made, no, these are what you use to restrain the wild monkey when you want him to sleep! Swaddling)

So we drove over, then back to a fabric shop, and got fabric. Rebecca taught me how to cut fabric for imprecise application (baby blankets and things)

then we tried to use Sara's sewing machine, but the dog foot dropped. I think I got it wrong, but the thing that is supposed to push the fabric through dissapeared. It may be a setting feature, will work on it

So we used Rebecca's mom's machine, and sewed one blanket. We cut out 2 more, but I had to go home.

Saul yanked his tube out, so I took some snaps before I reinserted it.

here he is, MASTER of the HOUSE! In his NEW blanket. Holding the sleep button.

cow spots and buckin' broncos! woo hoo!

according to blogger, this is post #1001 for me. Wow, what a lot of junk! :)

pics pics pics

Saul riding daddy's head.




Sara's New Years Eve Pics Here!


Me on Sara's bike, in Matt's Back Yard on New Year's Day



Spin the tyre and GO! (I am on the blue bike)





Sara with Saul