After the game Rob and I were standing at the entrance to White Hart Lane waiting to see if we could get a couple of pictures with some of the players as they left. We met this young brother and sister who were obviously doing the same thing as us. They started to tell and show us about all the autographs they had gotten and people they had met (i.e. Sir Alex Ferguson). Somehow during the conversation the sister, by mistake, started to mention her brothers health problems and then abruptly stopped. The brother then took over and proceeded to tell us that he had Leukemia and that he was currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. I thought to myself, what an awful common bond I had with this unknown kid. I told him of my treatment and we high fived and wished each other well. Now for the weird twist. He told us his dad was currently in treatment for the same disease. Wow!
Cancer knows no boundaries or limits. Awful and indiscriminate with no regard for rich or poor, young or old, black or white yadda, yadda, yadda.
So I arrived early Friday morning after a delightful cell phone/airport fiasco. I spent over two hours in the immigration line and my cell phone did not get a signal. Needless to say, dad, Russ and Gerry were pretty worried. I finally found my driver and got to the Bass house at around 10 in the morning. My dad was the only one there in his PJ’s. Very nice. Anyways, we took the tube to Camden to meet up with Lunney for lunch. We were supposed to go to a Gordon Ramsey restaurant but the only time they had was 2:30, so instead, we went with a suitable alternative, Wagamamas. It’s a delicious noodle joint that we hit up usually every time we are in town. After that, we headed to the clinic to get my teeth whitened (my dad already had his done). We were helped out by the lovely staff and Russ’ friends Gemma, Chloe and Karen. My teeth are brighter than ever. When I got back to the house, I passed out for a few hours and then we went out to dinner to Russ and Ger’s friends Mike and Jackie. Obes, Lunney and Carolina met us there and there was some lovely and delicious food. Sadly, the only thing I could eat was the chicken because any colored foods would stain my teeth.
Saturday morning, I wanted to sleep some more but we had hair appointments with Russ’ guy Peter at a salon in the city/ Peter did Russ’ hair, which looks lovely, and then fixed mine up. I said I wanted hair like Cheryl Cole’s. He cut it a little shorter in the front, but left the back longer, and he managed to thin it out, treat my scalp and give it some body to boot. I love it and it looks amazing. Thanks Peter! And Bobba’s friend, the Duchess of Kent was there as well. After that, we went with the boys for a quickie hamburger lunch before heading out to Peter Murphy’s house to go to the soccer match. We arrived promptly at 3:15 and picked up some more on the way. When we got to White Hart Lane, we got to park inside the stadium, where only players, staff and VIPs get to park. Many fancy cars all around. Then the Manchester United coach pulled up and I tried to snap some pictures of them getting off the bus. I yelled at Giggsy. Then, James, Peter’s son, told me that if I had said I was American, I could have gotten to meet them. But that’s a horse of a different color. After all the players had gone inside, we headed up to the box holder’s lounge, complete with a bar and a betting station, where my dad and I placed our bets. We bet on a 2-1 United win, with goals from Defoe, Berbatov and Fletcher. We were close, but I’ll get to that later. Then we headed to the box, which was awesome. A great view, a little to the left of the center pitch, above the team benches. They served us a delicious four course meal consisting of soup, salad, a beef dish and a cheesecake desert. All delicious. There was a TV in the box which Peter used to check scores of other matches. Then the players came out on the pitch to warm up and the starting lineups were announced. My feeling was that if Rio Ferdinand played, we would win. Here were the lineups:
So the game kicks off. Peter, perhaps unwisely because he is the Spurs fan and box holder, has brought 7 Manchester United fans with him. After 52 seconds, he was ecstatic as Jermain Defoe scored a SICK bicycle kick. Everyone else in the box…pissed. At least we will win some money. Then, United settled into the game, Berbatov getting booed on every touch. He won a free kick about 5 yards outside the area. Who would it be? Not Ronaldo. Rooney or Giggs, Rooney or Giggs, Rooney or…GIGGS! YOU BEAUTY. Giggsy scores a brilliant free kick to draw us level! Didn’t bet on that, but I was ecstatic. My all time favorite player happens to score when I’m there. After that, United really took control. Berba missed a sitter and Rooney had a few chances as well. A few minutes before the half, Spurs failed to clear a corner and the ball rolled to AndersonRio and Vidic defended him well. Alan Hutton came on for Spurs in place of Corluka, and Keane came off as well. Then, after sitting deep and defending, Fletch on the right place a beautiful curving ball into the path of Rooney, who cuts past one defender and nutmegs Hutton and then proceeds to put the ball through the wickets of Cudicini for our 3rd goal! How brilliant! Bloody Rooney is 6 for 6 so far this year and United come from behind to win-even with a man down. Nani comes on to relieve some pressure and does some nice crowd pleasing tricks. Tottenham were stunned and created nothing and United grabbed the points and jumped them in the table. 3-1 the final score. So we didn’t win a lot on the bet, but trust me, I am much happier with the result. I told my dad to bet on Rooney as well and he wouldn’t! outside the box and he smashed it past Cudicini, who had made a few good saves, for his first ever United goal and a 2-1 United lead. Brilliant stuff. Our score was right on. In the first half, Keane and Lennon were non factors, but Crouch had been a bit of gangly trouble. The second half started and United were still bossing. Jenas had come on for Palacios, who had been booked, to add some attacking edge. Scholesy picked up a yellow for a silly tackle so Carrick started to warm up. But as he was ready to come on, he was given a harsh second yellow for a quite silly tackle and he was off. The United fans in the box looked glum. A one goal lead, half an hour to go and a man down. Carrick did come on for Berba to sit in front of the back four. Despite the man advantage, Spurs didn’t make any clear cut chances. They tried to go through Crouch a lot, but nothing came of it.
Afterwards, we had to wait for everyone to clear out. I was mulling the area looking for players, and apparently, I missed SIR ALEX, Sir Bobby Charlton and David Gill! Silly me. James also said he saw Crouchy and we just missed cutie David Bentley. But I did snag a photo with Alan Hutton and he was very nice. His Lambo’s plate number is “X HU77ON” haha. No prizes to guess whose car that is. Then we loaded into Peter’s van and headed back to his house, where we played with the dogs before Gerry picked us up and we headed back home. When we got back, Ruth and David/Doody were there so we spent some time chatting but I was tired so I headed upstairs to pack and went to sleep.
This morning, got up relatively early to head out to the airport. Said bye to Russ and Gerry drove us. Didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to the boys though! It was so great to see everyone even for such a short period of time. Next time, I will be back for longer to spend more time with the gang. I had a GREAT time, especially at the game. What a wonderful experience and we got some good photos. Now, I have to head back to school. I haven’t done any work and I have to get a doctor’s note and make up a lab. I might be in trouble here…
I felt it best to try and explain the game of cricket to you all while here in London.
Cricket: As explained to a foreigner... You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game
I can't sit still for 5 minutes so off I go, again, to London. I will hang out with the Bass gang again and go to the obligatory Footy game. This one will be special as it's Tottenham vs Man U at White Heart Lane (in London). I leave tomorrow (Monday) and Robyn will be joining us this Friday for a rather short weekend London visit. We are both really excited about the game and of course, spending time with the family.
The car was officially declared a "submarine" and consequently, written off. The sport court was repaired so things are mostly back to normal at home!!! Believe it or not, Diana and I are sort of enjoying this almost empty nest. We still have to hang out with Max. Having said that, it's still great seeing the Knoblets (kids) when we can.
Mike came home this weekend. It was good to see him again (even after 1 week). So far, he says school is going just fine. Diana's Laundry service was in full swing today. Even Robyn sent stuff home to be washed. No visit from her this time but I will see her Friday in London for an action packed few days. We will both return to the States on Sunday September 13th.
After 12 long years Trechtobal Gomes (prounounced Gomez) had his first hamburger patty from McDonald's. In case you didn't know, Mr. Gomes is Max, our dog. That's his Portuguese name. He has many names!
We took a couple of new printers to Rob and Mike at University and decided to take Max with us. He had a ball and on the way home we stopped to eat. Yes, I had something too!!! Rob (Junior) and Mike (Freshman), best of luck for the new school year.
I had a day free in Louisville between trips, so I came to visit Adrian and Diana for a day and a half. I expected a quiet time discussing old times and trying to offer support for our friend. How wrong I was. This place is action packed. Ade picked me up at the airport, and we drove home for a happy reunion with Diana and Mike. Robyn left 2 days ago for university. She went back early so she could teach the soccer referees that she supervises at the school. I think that's so cool. Diana asked whether we wanted her to cook chicken for us, and Adrian stood behind her and mouthed NO so she wouldn't see him, but that I would get the message. Ade, let me assure you, is in very fine form, and despite the horrendous battles of the past 2 years, he is as funny as ever. He told me afterwards that he prefers to eat out rather than savor Diana's cooking. We met up with Mike and his mate Kevin at the hamburger joint, and had a darn fine meal. We came home, and chatted until about 10pm I had flown through the night so I was very tired.
At about 1am, even though, I was wearing earplugs, and the room was dark from the blinds, I was woken by flashing lightning and booming thunder. I was exhausted, so I went back to sleep until 8 the next morning. Adrian and Diana didn't. Firstly, their mad dog Max was terrified of the storm outside, and he kept walking over Ade and Diana in their bed. He was panting and salivating and Adrian was trying not to become annoyed with the clearly afraid dog. Then at 1:30am, Mike sms'd to say that he was with his friends, and didn't want to come home in the storm. The plan for the next day however, was to take Mike off to move into his dorm at university. Adrian had Mike wait for the storm to subside, and when he sensed that it was over, Adrian sms'd Mike to "COME HOME NOW, and to be careful of the water from the storm." I slept though all of this.
At about 2:15am Ade received a frantic phone call from Mike to say that he had inadvertently driven his car into a huge puddle (stream) that stretched across the road, that the car had stalled mid-stream, and that the water was rising in the car. Ade told Mike to get out of the car. Ade then jumped out of bed, put on some jeans and a t-shirt and went tearing out of the house to help is son, not knowing where he was exactly and whether he was safe. They stayed on the phone together until Ade located, parked next to the fast moving stream, waded poopick (shtritzel) deep into the water, rescued and placated Mike. He brought him home, and then with Diana, went back to the river to call the police who he had called en route. The car was now being buffeted around in the river, so the policeman arranged the car to be towed away, and for the road to be closed. Ade came home and fell asleep at 3am. I slept through all of this.
At 4am, the police called to tell Diana where the car had been towed to. At 7:30am, Diana's tennis partner called to enquire whether Diana wanted to play tennis. She did not. I slept through all of this, but I woke up at 8am to see Adrian working at the computer. He told me about the night's activities by telling me that Mike had become the Suskins' first U-Boat commander. Then he told me to look outside. A eighty foot tree had come down in the storm (that I slept through,) and it fell on the tennis/sports court. The branches and trunk fell onto the fence around the court collapsing it like it was made of paper. The court is destroyed.
The day was a lot less eventful. We took Mike off to school when he woke up at 10am. He has a beautiful room with a very tall roommate. They came to university well equipped for study with a 27 inch flat screen TV, two of the latest video game systems, electric guitars and a nice refrigerator in the room. It ought to be a most productive year.
This evening, we sat eating dinner ( a delicious dinner that Diana cooked,) and they came to the cold realization that they are now empty nesters. They had a good giggle about it, and that's how this day has been. Some pretty heavy incidents and significant realizations, but Adrian and Diana deal with this with humour and gratitude. I have really enjoyed being with them today, and leave this evening happy in the knowledge that their love and humor is intact, and that through this, they will win this battle.
I just want to thank all those who donated to ZimKids via the GlobalGiving site. We have met the US$4000 requirement and are now 5th in the GlobalGiving bonus competition. A very special thanks to "the Large Asset" (meant well) for his incredible generosity.
Oh yea, it's never too late to donate. Hey, that rhymes.
Today I met with Dr. Haile (the MRSA doctor). Everything looks good but he wants me to stay on the antibiotics for another couple of months. No big deal.
Then I met with Dr. Alikhan (the Heart doctor). My ECG was good and he has cut back on one of the 2 meds I'm on. The tougher of the 2. In a couple of months we will meet again and after a 24 hour heart monitor, if all goes well, he will take me off of all the meds. Yee Haa Ole.
Another one down and who the hell knows how many more to go! Overall, a pretty good day. My vitals were all good and so was my blood work. The chemo went fairly smoothly and best of all, "Porky the Pig" has put on 10lbs. in a month. Soon I may have to start a diet!
In the afternoon we met Dr. Sadransky (the Mouseman). He briefed us as to where we were with the MouseSkin family and generally what should be happening over the next few months. Out of the 100+ page report he explained 2 relevant and important pages to us in detail. I'll be honest with you, I still have a headache from trying to understand all of this. It's both fascinating and very, very advanced. Lets hope the results will be good. The only interesting and slightly unsettling thing was that he explained to us all drugs have a somewhat limited time of usefulness. Simply explained, the Alimta and Avastin may reach a point where they are no longer helping me. Hopefully that is when they will have the MouseSkin study and trials ready. Plus, there are lots of other options available. Anyone understand these charts? Good luck!
Diana and I got back to Baltimore after lunch. I got a really funny card from the kids and a dozen red roses from Diana. I was treated to a P.F.Chang dinner that night and it capped off a really wonderful and memorable couple of days. The most enjoyable thing is I'm still here. Thanks to all of you. You know who you are!!!
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At least I think so.
