Media Blackout Soon

In 20 minutes they are gonna take me down to install my Chemo Direct Liver Link. They call it Intrahepatic Arterial Chemo. Mine's easier to spell. It's up through an artery in the "groinal" area. They stick in a catheter and start a drip. OOPS They're here. Be incommunicado for rest of day.

Roy Gene Master Control Media Center

Just getting all my equipment installed, both for communications and medical procedures. Got my laptop PC with the WiFi (Thanks Tom Fussell), my Kindle book reader (Thanks Dave Decker), my Camera, MP3 player, noise-canceling headphones, portable Hard Drive(s) and cell phone. Got the cable TV and radio (with DVD player attached).My nightstand drawers contain books, newspapers, magazines and pens.

They got my vitals: dropped 5 lbs already!? Temperature? 98.3! Really-no coaching on my part. Got me an IV installed and dripping. Took a fistful of meds, gave a few vials of blood. Got stuck for a blood sugar test. Talked to the floor nurse, the RN and Social Worker. I had hoped to get names and /or pictures for my entourage, but they tend to appear and disappear quickly. In fact one will usually be talking to me to distract me from the other one who is busy poking me with a sharp object.

As is typical of my hospital visits, I get conflicting information. The first thing I had been told this morning is that I was just staying overnight. Well, I had already been dropped off by Grandbaby Momma, who was on her way back to B/CS. I was waiting to get started here before determining when I'd be leaving. My main Doctor told me last week this would be at least a Mon-Fri ordeal. Luckily, he dropped by to reconfirm the time frame. After they analyze my blood works, They'll wheel me out to get a Chemo Drip direct to my liver.

I don't get to eat until then. I have been NPO (Nothing Per Oral - it's hospital jargon) since midnight. Now it's near noon with nothing to consume but an ounce or two of water to wash down the pills. Supposedly , I will have a "normal" menu and be able to #1 and #2 solo. Well, me and a couple of IV bags.

Not only that, but I feel a nap coming on. I made notes and have other stories to tell, but it will have to wait until I'm semi-coherent again.
I'm Roy Gene, broadcasting? - typing? -TYPECASTING live from the Baylor Medical Center in Dallas

Roy Gene's Health-O-Meter

I've been trying to post an update to my medical shenanigans, but Facebook and Text messages only leave so many characters and I usually go over those allotted. Maybe it's time to RESURRECT the BLOG! I had been attempting daily updates about Roger & Roy and the morning show until about the time that the in-studio computer failed and is somewhere way down the list of important things to repair or replace.

First off, again, thank you so much to all the neighbors, framily, acquaintances and total strangers who have called or written in the last few day. Here is a synopsis of my situation to date.

A few years back I was recommended to Baylor Hospital in Dallas for transplant on a liver that was not responding to medication. There are certain criteria one must meet before getting on the list. The information collected in 3mo, 6mo and annual intervals make up a "MELD" score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease. Scores range from 6-40. A score of six indicates the least ill patient and a score of forty indicates the sickest patient. I have been holding around 10-11 for three years.

In that three years I have experienced some episodes, mainly when I started leaking ammonia on the brain and went a little nutty (for those of you listening that morning-a LOT nutty). Anyways all the sudden on last weeks sonogram, they find a tumor. A big one. In fact, because of the size it has become and the speed it occurred , they pronounced it cancer. I went back this past Monday for full range of tests and pictures and secret ray gun analysis.

On Tuesday, they upped my tumor count as a twofer, with a chance that a third one was trying to move into the neighborhood. It was either that or some spice or condiment accidentally spilled onto the picture.

I met with a transplant Doctor and the Oncologist on Tuesday to plan a course of action. Originally the plan was to burn them babies off and put me at the front of the line for transplant. For one reason or another, they couldn't or didn't wanna do this and so alternate therapy was suggested.

Let me interject here to answer the same question I had: Why couldn't they just replace the cancerfied liver with the transplanted one? As long as the Big C was confined to the liver, wouldn't it make more sense to just cut it and flush it?

Turns out that when you have multiple tumors of the size and stature I'm growing, the RECURRENCE of Cancer IN ANOTHER PART OF THE ANATOMY is like 20% greater if you do a transplant. Therefore, they want to shrink the tumors at least just long enough to pronounce them "within limits" and then remove it and sell it on E-Bay.

This is the strategy. Next Monday 5/10/2010 I will go back to Baylor where they will poke a hole and insert a hose to mainline my liver with Chemotherapy for five days in a row. Then unplug and check me; rinse and repeat- if necessary. When they get 'em shrunk down to size I will be placed high atop the transplant list. Then I will be on standby (must arrive within 6 hours) for when one becomes available. Then I will live happily ever after. Unless another organ fails...

Anyway, I will be on the air as much as possible through this ordeal. I'm consulting with our KORA Krack Engineers to see if there is some way I might be be able to do the Morning Show from a remote hook-up in my Dallas hospital room. Maybe our Krack Sales Team will offer Sponsorship packages.

Anyhow, that's all I know for now. I will keep in touch. Watch this space for more information.

And, thanks again for your support, prayers and love

Roy Gene Munse
Legendary Local Broadcaster and Positive Role Model

M*A*S*H MOMENTS 2009

Another radioMASH for the archives and history books. Our biggest yet and therefore, our most successful attempt. Over 5,000 Brazos Valley families (not INDIVIDUALS) were serviced in a year that we had every reason to suspect a shortfall. There are, as always, no adequate words to relay our gratitudes. Here are some brief recollections I collected:
For me, the highlight of every year is seeing some of the same staff and personnel that operate this function every year. Not the radio station peoples - they come and go - but rather The Intangibles, Civic, Service and Business organizations (Sam's Club), and just regular folks. It's always good to meet alums who were once on our list and now make contributions to The Toy Drive.Specifically this year I liked talking with the teacher from Bryan High. His students did a "5 for $500" collection, begging, borrowing, just-short-of-stealing change from fellow students through five days worth of lunch periods with a goal of Five Hundred Dollars. Plus they volunteered at the Toy Tent over the weekend. And it was all THEIR idea.
Also this year it was fun for me to be Santa Gene (at least for the kids who weren't scared). Elizabeth Martinez' daughter kept hugging me every time I got in her vicinity. I spent a lot of in-between-break and after-shift time standing on the Mall Hill (The Grassy Knoll as it's known to Conspiracists) waving to and at traffic. Observation: BCS needs to PUT DOWN THE CELL PHONE AND DRIVE.

Saturday, the most climate-friendly of our days, was the best time to be Santa Gene (aka, Tex Kringle), except for the early day cold temperatures when I was buzzing around the heater like a moth to a flame. I was talking with Toy Queen Liz in the KORA tent when she said "Somethings burning". A statement, not a question. It was me. Or my boot, anyhow. My borrowed boot was smoldering and flaming. After quickly extinguishing the Yule Tide Blaze, I began formulating some good story to tell Julie from The Chamber who graciously provided me with the Claus Accouterments. Maybe I'll be buying her a new outfit. Will those be on sale AFTER Christmas?

One last thing: Snow. We've had monsoon rains, wind and ice storms, but I don't think we've ever had SNOW. An estimated 38 flakes fell on the compound Friday and two of the flakes were JUST ALIKE. It could only happen during MASH.

Holidazed and Confused

Happy December. Right smack in the middle of the official "Holiday Season". Thanksgiving just passed where I did multiple friend/relative visits. I spent time at four feasts and coulda made it to five if my pudding would have hurried up. I have one signature dessert dish that I generally tote to the Holiday gatherings: Sugar Free Banana Pudding. I use the old-fashioned cook and serve pudding (instead of instant), so it takes longer to make, stirring constantly for about an hour. Anyhow, I found these little pastry shells (that were DEFINITELY NOT sugar or carb-free) and filled them with banana, vanilla pudding and low-fat cream cheese. This will surely be on future menus, but it threw off my schedule to go to North Zulch where my friend TOW invites me to dinner every year. One year I shocked her and actually showed up. That was the year she didn't invite me. I was planning to put in a live appearance this year, but for the cook and serve pudding and the fact she lives just outside of Egypt in relation to my other stops. So I hadda make do with a phone call.
Stopped in at The Garrett Ranch for a pre-meal, pre-game pep talk; then to my stepdaughter's house (where we have been main-mealing for several years and she had prepared...sugar free banana pudding! Just for me!), then to Grandbaby Mama's house to visit and pick up RG3, my grandson, and make a final stop at my son's place. The noted chef RG2 wanted to prepare the meal. We had more food than table space and more butts than places to park them. Our radio show friend, David Decker - the Fiddlin' Financier - provided us with pheasant (mind the buck shot). I like when all three Gene Generations get together. And a great time was had by all.

Although next year, I think I'll choose one location to stay throughout the whole day.

Remind me to tell you about the return of the Roy Gene Christmas Light Show, half completed this weekend as well, after a three year lay off.

Up next: Radio M*A*S*H #26 begins Thursday at Post Oak Mall. See ya then and there.

POTPOURRI POSTING

Been trying to post for many days now but I keep getting sidelined, criss-crossed and just plain distracted. Also I tend to forget more things more oftener. So I not only forgot to post, I forget what my cryptic notes mean.

Anyhow, I say that because I had several really good subjects I was going to write about, but many of them have lost their timeliness and relevance. I've got pages of notes and scraps tucked into my attache case (it's actually a beat-up back-pack, but "attache case" sounds classier) that were going to help remind me of my detoured wit and wisdom, but now I can barely decipher the handwriting - much less the meaning.

So in order to clear my files and conscience, I'll just transfer the information from my notes and that way I won't feel like I've completely abandoned the blog. Feel free to attach any significance you like to any of these thought starters:

Germs
Deer Season - Butch
Butterball hot line now open
Blueberries (it had something to do with dropping them on the floor)
Mideastern
Google is hiring
Red Lights/ Munson (short-lived)
Traffic: Dave and Stop Signs
Texas Constitution
ID for voting
Modern technology
Roger's S Save
Blue Ray/ Internet
Facebookings
Dave South and football delays\Political asylum

Okay, now it all gets downloaded to the trash and I'll start fresh tomorrow. Or when I remember. Now if I can just figure where I stashed the Questions/Answers/Winners of the day.

Trick Or Treat in the Modern Era

11/2/2009
Went out with RG3 and assorted associated other varmints and parents to Trick or Treat Saturday Night. RG3's given name is Kelan. He was dressed as "Elmo" from Sesame Street. Therefore he became "Kelmo" to me. We tricked or treated in College Station near Grandbaby- Mama's house because (1) It was fertile ground last year and (2) the neighborhood had a Halloween Party nearby in a park where you could play kid-games and such. The problem was with the adults. Due to a lolly-gagging RG2 (my son) our quest didn't even begin until 7pm. The kids only did a couple streets worth and then we returned to find the Carnival In The Park was already over. So, for all that preparation we only got about an hour's worth of treat-time. We were also slowed down by RG3 being scairt at some houses and trying to invite himself into others.
Now, I don't want to go all Cranky Codger and start complaining about "thewaywediditbackinmyday", but I recall making a night of it. We'd go out, fill a bag, come back and dump it, then start again until we'd made several hauls and proceeded to Step 2: sorting. I can't recall any specific Halloween Parties I attended (that doesn't mean they didn't happen - maybe I wasn't invited) and the biggest danger I faced was leaving my booty (in the Pirate sense) unguarded while I went back out. When you have other brothers and sisters who might be pilfering your stash it can lead to accusations, incriminations and retributions.
The point is RG3 did not fetch ONE SINGLE PEANUT BUTTER CUP for all his efforts. Which he had promised to me. He actually had promised 4 pieces for me, but since he couldn't fill my request (no Kit Kats, either) , I absolved him of his obligations. Not counting the ones I stole when he wasn't looking.
The other point is even though I know now how bad all that sugar is for you (I got the teeth to prove it, or DON'T have the teeth) and I keep an active restriction on RG3 when he's with me on a "normal" weekend, Halloween is the one Holiday to go nuts and consume massive amounts of sugar unfettered and uncontested. It just seems to me kids should take more advantage of that.
Next year we start at NOON!

*A couple footnotes: In modern times a slow-roiling fear has set in among the parents of the Little Monsters regarding tainted or poison candy. Did you know there has never been a documented, certified instance of a stranger giving bad treats to a child? Not just here, but Nationwide.The Lone Instance of tampering with candy came from a Father poisoning his OWN son via Pixie Sticks. (Why did have to be in Texas?)
Not to say there ain't crazy, deviated sumbuckets out there. Just they are not in the quantities we're led to believe.