KEVIN ELMORE
  • Home
  • Music
    • Art Music
    • Hired Music
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Tumor Blog

One out of three - radiation treatments

4/30/2012

6 Comments

 
Today I did the first of three "Stereotactic Brain Irradiation" treatments.  It took about an hour of being locked onto a narrow table with the primary locks being on my head.  They wrapped my arms up, too, but that had to do with the table being so narrow that there was no place for my arms.  They had a nice stereo in there and I listened to some Brian Eno and The Mercury Program dealt out by Pandora, which was very nice - getting to choose your own music.  One of the techs was also a Brian Eno fan.  Anyway, afterward, I was not tired.  I was a tad wonky from lying in one place for 45 minutes, but after that, I felt ok.  Jai and I grabbed a sushi and then I drove home without any issue.  I took a little nap (2 hours) and got up to use the restroom and it was at that point that I was certain that I wasn't going to get anything done today.  I went back to sleep for another 2 hours.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.  The next treatment is Thursday.

In the meantime, I have been exposed to gamma rays.  ;)
6 Comments

Hi! Remember me?

4/27/2012

0 Comments

 
Sorry!  It's been two weeks.  I've been really busy and again, it's catching up with me.  But there's news!  I'll be slowing down next week for sure.  "Stereotactic Brain Irradiation" begins on Monday morning, then again on Thursday morning, and for a third and final time the following Monday morning.  I'm ashamed to admit that I've known this for a week or so and am just now posting to the blog about it, hence the apology at the beginning of the post.  All in all, things are going really well, except I can't keep up with what I need to do.  My average weekday now entails getting to work at about 9am (or so) and working until 1 (or 11 as it more often the case) and then taking a nap for an hour an a half, then working around the house, whether on housework or music, then dinner and chill-out time with Jai, then a little more work on music before going to bed at insanely early times (like 8:30 or 9pm.)  I was telling people that I was up to about 85%, but I think the reality is that that 85% only lasts for about 3 hours at a time.  The overal average is that I'm probably at about 60% of my former stamina and ability to get stuff done.  It's pretty frustrating and I just kicked a little depression about it, but now I'm looking forward to making some more music.  I'll post some of that soon.
0 Comments

And then sickness...

4/14/2012

2 Comments

 
So, I think I caught a bug, possibly a weak flu, starting on Thursday.  I've been asleep pretty much since then.  I've gotten a couple of emails from people and I want to say that I'm on it, but I'm just being really slow due to being sick.  I'll have more to post about soon.  In the meantime, for your listening pleasure, I'd like to plug my friend Eldon Hardenbrook's page at rumtoad.blogspot.com.  He's a great composer and he has a lot to say about music, as is evidenced in his podcasts.  So, if you think you're an expert on music, I challenge you to not find anything new to you on Eldon's site.  Ok, back to sleep for me. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........
2 Comments

A liitle slow......sorry!

4/11/2012

0 Comments

 
So, it's been four and a half days since the big benefit concert and I haven't posted about.  Sorry for being chump on that one!.  Well, here's the post!

The benefit concert was awesome.  Five bands, from Grateful Ted, who sat with his guitar and sang some great tunes, to Resonator, who played some nice slow-cooked-with-extra-sauce blues, to funky honky-tonk blues of Kenny Lee and the Sundowners, and Majik and their unique arena rock experience.  Wait, that's only four.  Brittany Woods (bless her heart) got a different job and had the misfortune of the 7th being her first day on that job.  I agree, not the best idea to try to weasel out of the first day of a new job.  But it's ok, you'll hear more about Brittany as I go about the task of producing her album (probably on a different blog, though).

But the concert was a success.  I will be able to cover my bills this month.  I want to thank Jai for helping organize it, John and Dana Gibson and Majik (Jai's band) for instigating it and making it run smoothly, Sherry Pittam for working the auction table, and all the donors for helping out.  There were (by my estimation) about 40-50 people at any given time for six hours.  It was fun for me and it appeared to be fun for almost everyone that was there.  (I did meet  with a few friends who simply aren't aesthetically in line with loud blues rock.)  I do have some more of the t-shirts available.  Go ahead a send me a note through the contact link and we'll work out shipping.  Mostly the shirts are either white or tan, with a few yellow ones.  Sizes available tend to be the smaller sizes, but check with me and I'll let you know.

I started back at work on Monday, half time and light duty.  I'm exhausted, so I don't know how much I can really do just yet.  I also don't know how much I'm just spoiled at the FMLA leave 'workday'.  I do know that I'm tired and need to pull back again.  :\

Here's some random bonus music I found while looking for another tune of the same name:
0 Comments

Tomorrow at the Rabbit's Hole in Dallas, OR!

4/6/2012

0 Comments

 
So, tomorrow is the big night for the first benefit concert.  I have to admit that the number of people who really do care is astounding me.  While I contemplate it, I get very quiet and solemn.  Words fail me in the expression of my gratitude.  Other than a quiet, slightly teary, "Thank you," I think I'm toast when it comes to putting it eloquently.  Given the way my life has gone so far, this means that there is a piece of music that will be the expression of this.  I only hope that I can do the sentiment justice.

The other night I was working on a separate webpage for the concert, but it never got put up.  So, I've copied the code and embedded it below.  It's going to be a great time.  Very many of my social realms are going to converge in a bar.  This could get interesting, especially for all my armchair sociologist friends. :)  And I promise, you don't have to "behave".  If you've known me a long time, then you know how to forgive some pretty serious social weirdness.  So, come on out and if you're feeling werd about not knowing me too well or whatever, then just come out be yourself.  Trust me, it's easier that way. ;)
April 7, 2012

Hard Rock for a Hard Knock


FEATURING


Majik

Resonator

Kenny Lee and the Sundowners

Grateful Ted

Maybe even Brittany Woods

Starts at 5pm at the Rabbit's Hole - Dallas, OR





SILENT AUCTION DONOR LIST (SO FAR)

Paul Marché

Normandy Guitars

Pyrate Llama Recording Studio

Justin Smith

Santiago Uceda

Petals and Vines of Monmouth

ABC Music in Salem

Clockworks Cafe in Salem

MINET Communications services

Susan Guthrie of Elite Cleaners in Independence, OR

MAJIK, whose idea this benefit concert was. Thank you to all of you, with much love!

The Peters Family

While they haven't donated anything to the auction as a company (the services provided by the company are not your everyday kinds of services), I must thank them for the incredible support during this time. It's been super amazing to walk into the office to turn in paperwork for insurance and other generally mundane tasks and find so much care and concern. Partnerships in Community Living, Inc. Perhaps I shouldn't be so amazed thinking that it comes from a company who's employees are professional caregivers. But as we say at work, "Work at work, home at home". I've heard of several co-workers who are planning to make it out. Thanks! See you there!

There are more to post. I'll put them up asap!

 

Benefit event for Kevin Elmore

Kevin Elmore is an area musician whose life drastically changed in the past few months when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and told he needed surgery to remove it. He went from playing in several area bands, doing what he loves, to shifting his focus to the treatment and healing of what turned out to be a melanoma tumor. His surgery on March 8 of this year was a success, but his journey is not over. He still has recovery ahead of him and will be undergoing gamma knife treatments followed by very close medical scrutiny the next couple of years to make sure that all cancerous cells have been removed. Kevin has remained brave, positive, and kept perspective on the important things in his life - music and the people close to him - throughout this ordeal. His musical community, friends, and family are inspired by his courage and perseverance (he played guitar as soon as he got home from the hospital!).




T-shirts with the above graphic are available. Send size requirements and your request here.


How Your Donation Helps

As you can imagine, Kevin has lost time from work and accrued other expenses not covered by insurance. It is times like this where as a community, people can step in and lend a helping hand. A donation of goods and services for our auction, or just a cash donation can make a big difference. It truly is all about community these days. We can accomplish great things when we all pull together!






Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. -Lao Tzu







Copyright © 2012 kevinelmore.com. Designed by Free Web Page Templates, so don't blame Kevin. ;) We're gonna party (and design webpages) like it's 1999!



0 Comments

A break from the advertising...

4/3/2012

4 Comments

 
So, it feels like all I'm talking about is the benefit concert.  I'm going to stay on topic and get back to the main point of the blog: how I'm doing and what I'm doing about it.

It's interesting having a month off work.  The last couple of weeks I've felt pretty strong, at least for a few hours at a time.  I get stuff done, kinda.  Mostly I follow my muse and play some guitar or build a computer for a friend.  Both are very enjoyable things for me to do that aren't time sensitive: I can work until I don't feel like it and then continue after resting.  Plus, it gives me joy and keeps my mind off things.  Although, lately, "things" hasn't meant the normal concoction of worry, frustration, fear, pondering  of possible (mostly unpleasant) outcomes, etc.  It's been a trip about how amazing well I seem to be doing.  My guitar hands are more than what they were before the surgery (a month of relatively intense practice will do that.  I hope I can keep it up after I return to work).  I've had time to watch oodles of tutorial videos about recording and that aspect of what I love doing.  I even got to go hang out at my friend's studio (who's donated studio time to the ...woops, sorry I wasn't going to talk about that in this post) and listen to what he's been doing with his new gear.  It sounds truly amazing.  He's really built up a nice space and it's only getting better.  

But I also have time to reflect on what I'm doing, rather than before where I was desperately failing to just keep up.  I could recognize that I was failing, but was too busy to be able to think of alternative behavior.  Enter brain surgery and a month of doctor approved Family and Medical Leave Act protected time off work, and I see that the previous attitude is likely what got me into this fix in the first place.  I'm convinced that the pace of life that I tend to keep is itself a carcinogen.  Always working to attain the next goal in life seems to backfire on the potential of living long enough to enjoy that attainment.  I've been learning to take small chunks of time out each day to just chill out.  Sometimes I need to do a full Vipassana meditation and sometimes it just takes loading some Bartok onto my phone and sitting in the chair with the headphones on.  I have a book that I started a while back, too, that I would like to finish before I return to work on light duty, possibly part time, on April 9th.  I'll see the doctor today about those details.
4 Comments

Hard Rock for a Hard Knock - Benefit concert on April 7th in Dallas, OR.

4/3/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
Picture
My friends Alan (drummer for Kenny Lee and the Sundowners) and Deb designed a t-shirt for the event.  They're asking for $10 each, all going to the benefit effor.  If you'd like one, click the contact link above with your size and shirt color preference and I'll pass it on to them.  We can also discuss delivery that way.  Thanks Alan and Deb!!!
1 Comment

    Kevin

    It's me, Kevin, but with a brain tumor.  Disclaimer:  I have a very dry and twisted sense of humor.  This is a scary situation.  The jokes ("tumor humor") could be a little dark from time to time.  I intend to keep this rather interesting for you, but if I get a "how could you SAY that?!?" response from you, know it's just, well, I hesitate to use "gallows" humor, but I don't have better phrase for it.  Enjoy, and thanks for your support through this time.

    Archives

    February 2015
    February 2014
    February 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    :0)
    After Surgery
    Annie
    Ary Barroso
    British Accent
    Brooks & Terry's Coffee
    Cardiologist
    Carrots
    Cedar Sinai
    Change
    Christopher Guest
    Crisis
    David Banner
    Debussy
    Diabetes
    Double D Music
    Driving
    Emergency Room.
    Flyers
    Fmla
    Foley Art
    Fundraiser
    Fundraising
    Gamma Knife
    GammaKnife®
    Goes To 11
    Gratitude
    Guitar
    Hearing
    Hold Music
    Hope
    Iris Dement
    Jack Mcduff
    Jazz
    Koncert For Kevin
    Led Zeppelin
    Live Jazz
    Love
    Majik
    Mcminnville
    More Pictures.
    Mri
    Music
    New Stuff
    Normandy Guitars
    Poeme Electronique
    Posters
    Rabbit
    Radiation
    Risk
    Sesame Street
    Sheilding
    Slowing Down.
    Stereotactic Radiosurgery
    Stereo Tactics
    Sweet Peas
    Tanks
    Thankful
    Trees
    T-shirt
    Tumor
    Tumor 20120209
    Update
    Varése
    Venue
    Vipassana Meditation
    Waiting
    What We're Fighting For.
    Worry
    Xavier Rudd
    Yoga

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Music
    • Art Music
    • Hired Music
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Tumor Blog