One of the things I have gained from this experience is a taste for fresh vegetables, tomatoes in particular. I always loved tomato sauce, salsa etc. but I would not touch a fresh tomato with a ten foot pole!! Now, I can’t get enough!!! To top it off they are apparently extremely beneficial for better prostate health.

So last night we added a little twist to a recipe we have grown quite found of. I have listed it below. Enjoy!

Originally, we made this recipe with red onions. It was fantastic. Last night we cut thick tomato slices as well as sliced eggplant and yellow squash with the same breading and WOW!! I had to stop after a dozen tomato slices, not to mention the eggplant and yellow squash – try it, you won’t believe it!!! We served the veggies with grilled chicken breasts and french baguette bread. It was a delicious, healthy meal.

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Crispy Onion Rings
(You can substitute about any fresh vegetable – with thick tomatoes slices IT WAS AWESOME, LIKE LITTLE PIZZAS!!!)

2 Onions, peeled
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup non-fat egg substitute
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 T Oregano
1 T Dried Basil
1 1/2 t granulated garlic
1 1/2 t granulated onion
1/2 t sea salt

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray baking sheet once with cooking spray. Set aside.
2) Slice onions widthwise, break apart into individual rings.
3) Line up three mixing bowls. Into the first, put the flour. Into the second, put the egg substitute. Into the third, mix together the bread crumbs, herbs, spices and salt.
4) Dip each ring into the flour, then into the egg and finally into the brad crumbs. Place each onto the baking sheet.
5) When you have assembled all the onion rings on the sheet, bake in the preheated oven until the rings are crispy and light brown (about 20 minute, time will vary).

– Pre-baked rings can be frozen and used as needed.

Yield: 4 servings
Per serving: 196 Calories, 0.4g Fat, 0.1 Saturated Fat, 0 Cholesterol, 8.4 Protein, 39 Carbohydrates, 2.5 Fiber, 509mg Sodium.

(From: “A Taste For Living”, Beth Ginsberg, Michael Milken – the cookbook can be purchased through the prostate cancer foundation website. We have made several wonderful meals from this cookbook.)

Compliments to the Chef!

“August 2nd”
Today marks the six month anniversary of my blog, tomorrow the six month anniversary of my biopsy. I have told some of you that I can’t go back and re-read the early writings, it’s to hard and somewhat uncomfortable to cry at work. I just reviewed the first one, 2-2-05. It was written the day before my biopsy and my intuition at the time was right on, things were much worse. It’s a dichotomy however, since that time many good things have happened and continue to happen. I, we, are trying to make the most of each day, the help, thoughts and prayers of others goes a long way to make that easier. A few thoughts on this milestone:
> 1 hole in one
> 1 job lost, 1 job found
> 58 posts in the blog
> 50 lbs lost, never to be found
> 130 smoothies
> 180 days is longer than you can imagine
> 1,000 bracelets is awesome
> 14 years ago, seems like yesterday, seems like forever

“August 3rd”
Tomorrow marks our fourteenth wedding anniversary. Like usual, I am ill prepared! Lunchtime today will mean dealing with my favorite species, the Retail Worker! No offense to anyone, I’ve been there, in fact that is where we met! I stalked her for several months before moving in for the kill, she never saw it coming!

In all seriousness, as I have mentioned before, she is why I am everything I am today! A toast, a bobble, a gift of any kind all pale in comparison to her love, kindness, her beauty. I love her beyond words!

The following was sent by a dear friend of mine. I’m not sure of the source or validity, and honestly, who cares – it’s pretty cool!!
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A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.

Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in “Mom, let’s run through the rain,” she said.

“What?” Mom asked.

“Let’s run through the rain!” She repeated.

“No,honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,” Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: “Mom, let’s run through the rain,”

“We’ll get soaked if we do,” Mom said.

“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm.

“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”

“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!”

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured, so that it will bloom into faith.

“Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,” Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked.

But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I hope you take the time to run through the rain.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this to the people you’ll never forget. It’s a short message to let them know that you’ll never forget them.

If you don’t send it to anyone, it means you’re in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you’ll need each other — and don’t forget to run in the rain!

The plans are coming together, we have a date, a course and are expecting a big crowd!

All the details are available at: www.FLHW.org

We hope you can make it!
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Not a lot is new. We went to St. Louis last weekend. It was great to visit but we picked the hottest weekend of the year. We saw the Cardinals lose to the Cubs in 100 degree heat on Saturday but had a great time. Sunday we went to the Kirkwood pool/water park, the water slides made me feel like a kid again!!!

The second FLHW board meeting was held on the 28th. We dedicated most of the time discussing the golf tournament. We are confident we’ll have enough players (120-130) but will have to work hard to get sponsors lined up in time. The goal for the first year is quite lofty at $10k and considering we just got started, we will have to work hard to meet it! The link is above, let me know if you have any questions.

She is:

There when I need her,

even before I ask.

Constantly watching over,

beside me,

around me,

behind me,

within me.

My foundation,

My guidepost,

My northern star.

Without her I would still,

be sailing this world,

without a rutter,

without a purpose,

without Faith, Love or Hope.

I almost stayed in bed this morning. I haven’t struggled with the snooze button like that in weeks. However, as I made my way to the kitchen for ice water, and trudged to the basement to tape my right hand (calluses) it was apparent where this brief injection of apathy had come from, the funeral.

Technically it was a wake, but nonetheless this one grazed a little to close to home. We didn’t know her well, in fact I believe I only met her twice? She went to our church, her husband is a fellow Knight of Columbus. Upon entering the church I picked up the prayer card….she was 1 year and 3 days older than me……she battled cancer several times over the past several years, Sunday she returned to the Lord. 43, teenage daughters, damn life is cruel. One of these days His plan will be revealed to us all, I for one can’t wait to see why it is that the good one’s are taken so early?

During the Rosary I kept saying to myself “it’s not going to be like this for me or for Mary”. I know that to be true, I believe that to be true, it’s those thoughts that get me through the day, it’s those thoughts that won this mornings battle with the snooze button.

When we got into the car afterwards, the first thing I said to her was “THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TO US!”
I pray that I’m right, it has to be……

Sleep lately has been restless, hot flashes again keep waking me at times. I usually fall right back to sleep but it can make for a long might. When we’re little we go to bed reciting “Now I lay me down to sleep……”. Lately I find myself dozing off to “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee..…..”

I almost published this without commenting, but it was too tempting.

I like the Chiefs a lot, but don’t any of you ever assume that many years from now that this would be a good idea. The answer now is NO and the answer then will be NO!!! (Note to Gary G. and Mike R. ~ I always knew that there was something wrong with you Steelers fans!)

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“Body of Steelers Fan Viewed in Recliner”
Wed Jul 6, 1:44 PM ET

James Henry Smith was a zealous Pittsburgh Steelers fan in life, and even death could not keep him from his favorite spot: in a recliner, in front of a TV showing his beloved team in action.

Smith, 55, of Pittsburgh, died of prostate cancer Thursday. Because his death wasn’t unexpected, his family was able to plan for an unusual viewing Tuesday night.
The Samuel E. Coston Funeral Home erected a small stage in a viewing room, and arranged furniture on it much as it was in Smith’s home on game day Sundays.

Smith’s body was on the recliner, his feet crossed and a remote in his hand. He wore black and gold silk pajamas, slippers and a robe. A pack of cigarettes and a beer were at his side, while a high-definition TV played a continuous loop of Steelers highlights.

‘I couldn’t stop crying after looking at the Steeler blanket in his lap,’ said his sister, MaryAnn Nails, 58. ‘He loved football and nobody did (anything) until the game went off. It was just like he was at home.’

Longtime friend Mary Jones called the viewing ‘a celebration.’ ‘I saw it and I couldn’t even cry,’ she said. ‘People will see him the way he was.’

Smith’s burial plans were more traditional he’ll be laid to rest in a casket.”

I’ve slacked off here over the past week, 4th of July, a little golf (both kinds),
an extra day off and now a lot to do here at work!

The FLHW board met, more on that in my next entry.

Just today I ran across two headlines:
Aspirin-cancer study shows benefit for men, not women

Study: Soy protein-rich diets may lower prostate cancer risk

Where were these studies when I needed them?
If you’re making smoothies, add a scoop of Iso-Soy (available at Whole Foods etc.), it does nothing to change the taste, I’ve been using it for almost two months. It’s somewhat expensive (about 80 cents a scoop, $20 a can). Also, go get yourself a jumbo jar of aspirin from Costco or Sam’s Club (we use Ecotrin 325 mg) and do I like I do, take one every day! They are also supposed to reduce the risk of heart disease and colon cancer!

It’s now been nearly five months. So much has changed, so little has changed. On one hand, I am such a different person, on the other hand I am the same. “Who” I am will never change, “what” I am is in a constant state of flux. What I mean by this is my beliefs, values etc. are constant. However having cancer has changed so much. I’m more cognizant of nutrition, exercise, prevention, friendship, faith, family and how precious life is and what a wonderful gift it is. I still go through the motions like the rest of you. Those moments when you say “I can’t believe summer is half over?!” But I am trying to slow down more and more and take moments in. Now that I write it down, it sounds like a cliché – I’m trying though.

There are still moments I struggle to imagine this going on and on for years, I want it out of my body, now. I tell myself that when I exercise each morning, “one more sit-up, one more curl and maybe it will be gone?” At times I struggle with not wallowing in the “why me, why now?”. At mass on Saturday, I heard my name for the 21st week in row, and thought “when I’m still included in intentions 5, 6 or 8 years from now, what will people think?”.

So, if you asked me today, “How are you doing?” I’d have to say “I’ve had better days!”…..like tomorrow!

As I mentioned previously, Mary and I had a little wager on the PSA test results (I won, my guess was within 0.05!!!). The payoff? She let me purchase a little red sports car I’ve had my eye on!

No it’s not the Mustang, it’s a 2005 Saab 9.3. I just picked it up at lunch so I can’t provide much feedback at this point. With the GM “Employee pricing for Everyone” deal it was too good of a deal to pass up. (Sorry bro, no Chrysler product this time). Sorry for the boasting, but as you know I haven’t had much of an opportunity to do so in the past 4 months.

Tonight the FLHW board meets for the first time. I am unbelievably grateful to Rich, Mark, Steve and Chris for agreeing to help Mary and I with this effort. I’ll provide details in future blog entries.

Have a happy 4th and Happy birthday to my brother Dan and Buck (our very large black lab!!).