Happy New Year!!!

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas, happy Hanukah or is enjoying Kwanzaa. Sorry for not posting in more than a week. I was not feeling well during that time and I stayed off the computer for the most part. I am happy to report that my stomach is feeling much better, and I have a new medication to try following my next Doxil treatment. Hopefully that one will work without giving me a rash or other side effects.

Our friend Ward sent me this link today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiXy55OHyY I enjoyed this humorous summary of the year's news and hope you will, too.

As we close out 2008 and look forward to 2009, I hope you remember more positive moments than negative. Although my health status has deteriorated with the discovery of the multiple bone metastases, I lost the hair on top of my head, Dr. K switched me to a more toxic chemotherapy agent and added Zometa, and following the radiation therapy the medical bills have grown by leaps and bounds, there is much to be thankful for this year. We spent time with many of our "far away" friends (Skip and Kathy, Chris and Ian, Anne and Andy, Ward and Melinda, Steve and Kate) and, of course, with our local friends. We visited several new places -- Paris, Venice, and Kerrville, Texas -- and several old favorites -- Las Vegas, Barcelona, Florence, and Rome. We sailed on two of our favorite ships, Brilliance and Liberty of the Seas, enjoyed our pool, ate delicious food and drank delicious wines all over the world, managed to pay all our bills, and bought a new car before the credit market dried up. My mom is still in relatively good health. I continue plugging away at my job and Ed is successfully doing his thing. We are looking forward to some trips in 2009 (perhaps we will end up in your neighborhood!) starting with our cruise on Solstice in March.

I wish all good things for you next year: happiness, the love of family and friends, good (or improved) health, and prosperity. And I'm sending you all a huge hug.