**

Hell's fire flashes as demons laugh. Dark, viscous venom cutting rivers in their chins. Nails flaying skin, shredding, wailing into the night. The demon taunts me, "God is calling!"

The demon slumbers. And I? I rise to save the world.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 10:21 PM | Permalink | (1) Shot back

... and I can't fucking wait for this movie! May 2, 2008. Yeah, it's on my calendar. By the way, Happy Leap Day and congratulations to Sandi and David ... they're having TWINS! w00t! Have a good weekend, ya'll.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 9:52 PM | Permalink | (1) Shot back

The mesothelium is the lining in the abdomen that surrounds the lungs and organs. It secretes small amounts of fluid that allow the lungs to expand and organs to move smoothly against each other. The cancer in these cells causes the cells to go crazy and divide uncontrollably. This also causes the cells to secrete more fluid into the abdomen than normal. So far, they have taken two gallons out of him and he is full again.

There are only about 2,000 cases diagnosed in the U.S. every year, so they know less about this kind than they know about ... say, lung cancer. They do know that it is mainly caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Dad has been a mechanic since he was a boy. Brake pads and clutches in cars used to be made of or contain asbestos. He also lived in a house that had asbestos throughout it (according to mom.)
They say that the earlier it is caught, the better chance of survival the patient has but he has been full of fluid since before Thanksgiving. Is that considered caught in time? I don't fucking know.

There are four stages of Mesothelioma. He is either in the first or second. We're hoping (praying) he's in the first.

He goes back next week to have the chemo port put into his chest, then the week after will start the chemo treatments. They are really worried about his weight loss as he has lost almost 45 pounds in the past couple of months. Shit, he lost eight since last week when he had his gall bladder out. The doctor wants him to eat about six meals a day and none of that sissy Weight Watchers shit either ... red meat, starches, carbs ... whatever will put weight back on him. He'll need it to fight the fight that he's in for. I guess we'll see and know more next week.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 9:00 PM | Permalink | (7) Shot back

In other words, the new header is up. I'd like your opinion on it. Thanks!

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 6:00 PM | Permalink | (3) Shot back

that I announce the death of Grim the Rat.

Grim was a good and faithful servant who lived a life of relative ease. He was loved by one and all in the Gunn family. Well, except for Mommy Gunn. Did I mention he's a RAT? Yeah, she noticed that little fact, too, Sherlock Holmes that she is ...

He developed a huge tumor-looking thing on his jaw recently which signaled the beginning of the end. Eventually, the tumor-looking thing went away and it looked like he was going to be okay. He got his pep back and was more like the Grim of old in his latter days. I guess we could have taken him to the vet and seen if anything could have been done to prolong his life ... but did I mention? He's a fucking RAT!

Grim grew lethargic today and family gathered around, knowing the end was near ... but then Mythbusters came on and I had to go to the store, plus Ryan and Josh were playing World of Warcraft so Grim was on his own.

When I got back, we noticed that Grim had passed into that good night. So a funeral was held ... okay we dumped him in the bags I just got from the store and threw him in the trash can. Did I mention? He's a fucking RAT!

Rest in peace Grim. You will be missed ... until we can get to the pet store and replace you with a hedgehog. Of course, that may take a while beings how the transmission in my second car just blew up today. $1400-$1600 to fix. I mean Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot! But that's another post, this one is dedicated to the memory of Grim.

Godspeed, Big Guy!

Hmmmm. Wonder if I could take him to a fast food joint and order some ... nah, it'd never work. *sigh*

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 6:47 PM | Permalink | (3) Shot back

... which gave me a chance to do something I have been meaning to do for a while. I told you a while ago that I am working on a new template. I want to redo my header also and last night I got the means, motive and opportunity to take some pictures. I think this is the one I am going to use for the header. Obviously, I have some photoshop work to do, but I think this is a good start:

What's your opinion?

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 4:32 PM | Permalink | (2) Shot back

Just talked to dad. They are on the way back from Shreveport where he had his gall bladder removed today. The surgery went well. He's a bit weak and doesn't feel like talking much. We know what was causing the fluid buildup now ... during the operation, they found cancer on his abdominal wall. I have no idea how bad that is or can be. He has an appointment with the oncologist soon. I guess we'll know more then.

*Update* Just talked to mom. The doc wants dad to start chemo immediately. She is a wreck, but holding it together through her faith in God. Dad is in good spirits. He joked about the three kids getting on a conference call to divide the spoils. I already called the double barrel shotgun and the 30.06 (that's a rifle for the uninitiated.) He goes back next Friday to get the gall bladder stitches out and i guess we will know then. Thanks again for your prayers.

Posted by Tommy Gunn at 3:17 PM | Permalink | (4) Shot back