Vince's Journey

As many of you know (at least those of you who check out my blog from time to time) today was a big day. i was scheduled to meet with Dr. Leming to get the results of my recent CT scans. The only problem was, when I called to tell them I was running a little late I was informed that I didn't have an appointment in their system. I don't know why I would have put it down if I didn't make the appointment but I wasn't going to argue with the woman. I made a an appointment for next Tuesday and that was that. Then I got to thinking, I really don't want to wait until next Tuesday to get the results - I mean, I told everyone I know I was getting the results today and it's somewhat cruel to wait 5 more days when I should be getting the results today. So I called back and asked if someone could call me back with the results...so arounf 4:55 I got the call and it was worth the wait...I was informed that the scans look great and with that, I started honking my horn down Tylersville Road. I know the people in the car next to me had to think I was crazy but short of having someone to hug, that's all I could think to do. WHAT A RELIEF!!! I'll still meet with Dr. Leming next Tuesday to see how we'll move forward but for now at least we know the treatments have worked and for now, I'm feeling like a million bucks! Thanks to everyone for your prayers, thoughts and support; we are so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful family members and friends - we wouldn't be where we are today without all of you.

So I have to admit that I've been a little pissed at my wonderful Alma Mater, THE Ohio State University. Abbey applied for admission there and has been on the evaluation list since December. Obviously, I'm very biased but I can't imagine any school not wanting to have this fine young lady as a part of it's student body; she is a wonderful kid, works her butt off and someday she will be a very loyal alum to whatever school she decideds to attend. Well today Abbey got a big package in the mail from OSU and she has been accepted - my faith in the people who make admissions decisions at TOSU has been restored. Unless they offer her full tuition (as the University of Dayton has) I doubt she will wind up there but at least she knows she passed the grade. She's still waiting to hear from St. Louis and Marquette on their tuition offers but I think it may be hard to beat the offer Dayton has made - and Julie and I would be perfectly fine with that!!!

I think I'll end for now. It's been a great day, I think I'm going to have an nice, ice cold beer!

Peace and blessings to all!

Vince

We're getting a little preview of things to come this week as Abbey is on a trip to Italy as part of the Model UN program at her high school. She is one of 12 girls on the trip which will take her to Rome, Florence and Genoa over the next 8 days. I can tell you it's pretty quiet around the house when Abbey IS home so you can imagine how quiet it must be without her. I have to say I don't like her being gone but I'm sure she's having a wonderful time and hopefully soaking in as much of Italy as she possibly can. She actually paid for half her trip and we're really proud of how hard she worked to come up with her half of the money. She'll come home next Sunday so until then, it's just Jules and me at 3354 Paddock Lane.

This is a big week as I'll get the results of my recent CT scans on Thursday (February 24). It's been 11 months since I learned my lymphoma had resurfaced so hopefully we'll get some great news on Thursday. My appointment is at 2 pm and I'll be sure to post the results as soon as I'm able. I feel great so hopefully that is a sign of good news to come.


I continue to participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. This year I'll be heading back to Lake Tahoe for another trip around that beautiful body of water. I launched my fund raising effort last week and the response has been overwhleming. Here is a link to my web page which also provides additional information about the past year and ways you can support this effort. Thanks for checking it out and for all your support...

http://pages.teamintraining.org/soh/ambbr11/vhopkins

With the Academy Awards set for Sunday night, here are my final predictions for this years winners....I plan to see 'The King's Speech' sometime this week and see it being the big winner when the awards are announced on Sunday....

Best Picture - The King's Speech
Best Actor - Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Actress - Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress - Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Best Director - The King's Speech
Best Animated Feature - Toy Story 3

If there is an upset, it will be Annette Bening for Best Actress but Portman has been winning everything else so I think it's Portman's year.

I think I'll end for now. Thanks for checking in and I should have a health update Thursday night or Friday.

Well I think the side effects of treatment #6 have finally worn off! I felt pretty bad for most of last week but by the weekend I knew I had turned the corner and today I'm feeling pretty close to normal. I got good news on my blood test last Thursday (everything looked normal) and now I'm waiting to have my CT scans done next week. Other than that, things have been pretty uneventful.

I do continue to have extremely bad luck on the car front. Last Saturday I went to my bike training class and since Judd has the RAV up at UD and my usual ride wasn't going to the class, I had to load my bike into our Sebring convertible. Everything went fine going up to Wheelie Fun (where the class was being held) but when I went to load the bike back into the car following the class, the rear window shattered into a million pieces as I was lowering the hood. This made for a very cold and wet ride home as I had no way of covering up the gaping hole where there used to be a window. On Monday I got out the trusty duct tape and rigged up what I thought was a pretty good cover for the window but it blew away somewhere on 1-71 just south of Kings Island so my drive in to work was equally wet and cold. Fortunately I was able to get it fixed on Monday and much to my surprise it was covered under our insurance.

I'm enjoying the basketball season; Xavier is playing well and Ohio State remains the only unbeaten team in college basketball. Hopefully they won't go to Wisconsin this weekend and lose their #1 ranking like the football team did back in October. If they do, Wisconsin may unseat Michigan as my least favorite team in the Big Ten. I also hope XU and OSU don't wind up playing each other in the NCAA tournament again - talk about a no win situation.

There really isn't much else going on. I am going over to Pittsburgh this weekend to see Xavier play Duquesne on Sunday but other than, I've been staying pretty close to home. I hope all is well with you and will let you know the results of the CT scans as soon as I can. Also, be looking for news on this years LLS bike ride....I'm heading back out to Lake Tahoe in June!!

Thanks for checking in!

I'm having my blood tested this morning so before I head to the appointment I thought I'd provide a quick update. Last week I had what should be my 6th and final treatment - there were no real surprises, everything went smoothly and I anticiapted feeling bad for a couple days and then back to normal. It hasn't quite gone that way. I still don't feel 100% and up until late last night I've felt downright crappy. I got sick on Tuesday and spent all night in bed, yesterday I just felt completely worn out. I guess we'll see what my blood counts are later this morning, maybe that will explain why this has been such a rough week. Nevertheless, I'm hoping the worst is behind me and from here on out there is nothing but gruadual (or swift) improvement.

As you'll recall, I made my predictions for the Academy Award nominations and didn't do too bad, correctly prediciting 27 of the 35 nominations including 9 out of the 10 Best Picture nominees. I stll need to see a couple of the movies but right now I'd sat The King's Speech will win best picture, actor and director; The Fighter will win both supporting awards and Toy Story 3 will win Best Animated Feature. I'm still not ready to project the Best Actress winner which will come down to the Black Swan's Natalie Portman or Annette Bening from The Kids Are Alright. Portman keeps winning all the other awards but I still believe there's a chance Bening could get the Academy vote. I'll make the call in the next couple weeks.

As for the Grammy Awards, they are wide open, but Bruno Marrs better win something for his song 'You're Amazing' or whatever the title is - the best vocal I've heard all year.

It's been a rough week of weather - Aaron had 2 snow days at SLU - I don't think Judd missed any days but his heat went out Tuesday night - that couldn't hsve been pleasant. Abbey's school only had a 90 minute delay when all the other schools were out - those girls at Mt. Notre Dame are tough!!!

Speaking of Abbey, we're very proud that she was recently offered full tuition exchange at the University of Dayton. This is connected to my benefits at Xavier but the selection process is highly competitive and based on grades, service and leadership. We are still waiting to hear if she will be selected for the same benefit at St. Louis and Marquette but they are saying we probably won't hear until late February or early March. She also has the tuition package at Xavier but since she wants to study Engineering, X is most likely out of the running. It's a very exciting time for Abbey and Julie and I are silently pulling for Dayton to be the choice. It's the closest, Judd has had a great experience there and we feel it is a perfect fit for Abbey. I guess we'll have more on this as the story progresses!

I better get down to the doctor's office. Thanks for checking in and here's hoping the worst of the 6th treatment is behind me!