Short and sweet update:
- the 15 radiation sessions on the big lung tumor went off without a hitch for the most part
- no significant side effects – I was okay biking 10 miles each day of radiation until day 8, when I seemed to tear something in my groin/hip (yikes, but it’s getting better)
- we won’t really know how well the radiation worked on that tumor for several (6?) months
- I am getting another scan in the next few weeks to see where we are at with everything else
- they (the doctors) are leaving it up to me to decide whether I want to try more chemo (there’s no clear evidence that it’s helped, but there’s no clear evidence that it hasn’t helped, either)
- it’s a tough call to make, as chemo comes with a price (short-term suffering and long-term collateral damage) … I’m confident God will help me sort it out …
Now, for the important stuff: I am done with the short film I’ve been messing around with off-and-on for months. By now you probably understand that I have to have a creative endeavor going at all times. Some of these projects are serious (like the novel, All Good Quests), some are absurd (like this film, The PR). Anyway, it’s time to put this one away and move on to something new … I’ve got a few ideas that have been cooking for a while …
There’s a link to the film below. Do not attempt to watch it, unless you are completely okay with losing a whopping 28 minutes and 34 seconds of your life that you will never get back. I sincerely mean that. What is the movie about? Damned if I know, exactly. I suppose I’d call it a mockumentary about my obsession with beating a meaningless personal record (PR) on the short bike ride I do almost daily. It’s also a kind of tribute to 80s music and pop culture (complete with a few guest appearances) and an introduction to my doppelganger, a guy I had a lot of fun working with. If you do decide to watch it, I recommend sticking around through the credits.
One last thought: I recognize that both the making of the film and the personal record on the bike are, on paper, entirely meaningless pursuits. Nevertheless, I want to stop right now and thank God for putting these kinds of things in my life. They are blessings. I don’t know how to explain it, other than to say I feel God’s presence when I’m creatively inspired and when I’m on the move, pushing myself. So, thank you, God. And thank you all, once again, for the prayers and support. Until next time, peace out …
P.S. It may be time to put the film away, but not the PR itself … I went after that sucker again this morning and failed epically. No worries, the record will fall again soon enough …