Tom Cheffo's "Walk in the park IV......THE RACE OF TRUTH....

NEWS

2009-06-18T12:00:00.004-04:00

to all................

last set of ct scanns showed tumors in lungs and liver shrinking.................ways to go but THIS IS GOOD NEWS

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT

CHEMO-SABI.........TOM

THE CHALLENGE

2009-05-31T16:12:00.004-04:00

THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN AMAZING.........EVERY DAY I FIGHT OFF THE BOREDOM WAITING FOR THE NEXT SET OF TREATMENTS.......I AM OFTEN REMINDED I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS BATTLE.....DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP THROUGH ALL THIS........I WILL NOT FAIL YOU

HEY WAIT A MINUTE I WILL NOT FAIL ME.......YEAH THAT'S IT

LOVE YA...CHEMO WEEK//////////UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

FRIENDSHIP

2009-05-02T09:41:00.004-04:00

this has been a subject on the blog many times................i know for a fact that many still read it and i am touched by that fact...................more so than that is how many calls and gifts i still receive daily.................i am honored and it does give me the will to continue this battle......these are the most difficult times i have ever been in but knowing all of you are with me makes it easier to handle..................thanks to all............love ya...........

tom"chemo-sabi" cheffo

CHEMO vs RADIATION

2009-04-26T21:07:00.004-04:00

it's like alien vs preditor........i mean who really wins out

in my book (and it is my opinion) radiation WINS.......IT KICKED MY ASS INTO THE NEXT WORLD....CHEMO IS A PIECE OF CAKE COMPARED TO RADIATION (AT LEAST THE STUFF I WENT THROUGH....................STILL REELING 4 WEEKS PAST MY LAST RAD....ONE SESSION OF CHEMO WENT SOOOOOOOOOOO SMOOTH (LIKE THE TOP OF MY HEAD) SESSION 2 TOMORROW.........OVER AND OUT

CHEMO-SABI

NEXT STEP

2009-04-11T14:21:00.003-04:00

it is one of the wonders of the world what the human brain can withstand......up until now i kinda took him for granted.....just something i carried under my hat.............gave it credit for witty comments and blamed him for the dumb stuff coming out of my mouth.......about the worst thing to happen to it was when you ate ice cream to fast and it went numb........

well i now declare April national Brain month.........so when your combing your hair (lucky you mines gone again)......think of what's underneath and smile.......it does everything for you.............even makes you smile................go on smile i will wait..............felt good i bet.........pat yourself on the head thank the old brain for keeping you going......i will never take mine for granted again

tom

GRADUATION

2009-04-02T17:16:00.005-04:00

well i finished what i started 17 days of brain radiation..........17 days or should i say daze.........well this stuff keeps working even if i am not getting zapped daily....................i mean you can at least put ice on a swollen ankle try that on a swollen brain.....feeling better every day and i made a promise to my kids to never give up.........never say uncle..........bring it on..i spit in it's face.(all the extra saliva will help).....................next stop...back to work...and chemo.................

all the peace you can handle........tom ...............soon to be chemo-sabi again (by the way it means trusty scout) in lone ranger talk............

RADIATION........

2009-03-16T00:58:00.008-04:00

ummmm.trying to think of something clever to say about this subject...bottom line...it SUCKS...YEAH THAT'S IT...IT REALLY SUCKS...oh and my doctor (who is excellent has just ordered 7 more treatments on the back of my head ..did not even offer me a menu...just placed the order with the radiologist....oh well i hope desert is at least in the chocolate form.......................

the treatments only last 5 minutes...but wow what a zap to the brain......................oh feel a list coming on...top 6 reasons to get radiation

1. you know how hoody doody felt

2. perfect the art of drooling (extra saliva comes with it)

3. short term memory loss has it's advantages

4.short term memory loss has it's advantages (oops)

5.wearing the same pajama's every day is quite liberating

6.feeling like you have been in you grandpa's still all day...priceless.........

till next time....peace......

READY..SET....GO

2009-03-01T20:47:00.006-05:00

well looks like we are gonna rad-i-ate........this week......i am ready....getting antsy to feel good again....brain and body are fighting on two separate fronts...just like Italy in the war....looks like partial brain and part bladder that spread

......been eating like crazy............wizards chicken cutlet and shrimp so far a highlight......neighbors have been so kind bringing food over.......

top ten reasons to get cancer

gifts arrive every day

speak to people you would never hear from

get to have people cook for you

can say what you want and not be held accountable (yeah right)

get to sleep all day

eat mc donalds and not give a crap

save on gas by not going out

catch up loading itunes

convince friends all will be fine and mean it

#1 reason......not knowing what food is being cooked tomorrow roids make me hungry)......put back 15 of the 22 i lost so far

bring it on..............radiation has no chance to defeat me with all of you standing by me

BRAIN SURGERY

2009-02-18T03:26:00.005-05:00

brain surgery ...not all what it's cracked up to be.................whom am i kidding it is all it's cracked up to be...i mean that is about as grown up a surgery that there is.......yeah that's it i feel so grown up now....the good news is i did not come out sounding like dick clark... although my head is rockin like new years eve.....huge scar down the back of the head.........healing well....vertigo seems to be leaving..man that was weird.......same old me but can't wait to get off roids..they are life saving but i do not like the aggressiveness of them....i mean you come near my ice cream and you might be missing a thumb kinda aggressiveness....this will pass i am being told

love and peace to all

tom

Steriods

2009-02-07T14:39:00.004-05:00

gonna get right to it.................looks like the steroids have given me some relief however we still need to remove the larger tumor so the swelling does not get worse with radiation......i am home until monday ..then being admitted into sloane kettering (my home away from home)....feel like otis on maybery who always had a key to his room in jail...looking forward to feeling like me again and are planning on surgery tues or wednsday..will blog if i can from court side....if not...keep em crossed and say a few for this ol brooklyn cowboy...........

tomstrong

the waiting..is the hardest part

2009-02-03T19:03:00.005-05:00

well blog world...looks like it's back again...just can't get rid of the pesky little bugger...i guess it likes me to much...it is like that kid in school who always wants to hang around you ...well not really i never minded that .....friends come in all sizes and shapes but this cancer is just mean and nasty....it is in the back part of my brain this time the part that controls balance and with some radiation(starts thursday) we should kick the crap out of it for good this time...been an in-tar-rest-ing month to say the least...would be laughing about it if it didn't make me seasick to laugh..........thanks for the e-mails and voice mails...would not know where i would be without you guys on my team.......

peace....love ....live..............tomstrong

LET FREEDOM RING

2009-01-19T22:32:00.004-05:00

Tuesday will mark the change i believe this country sorely needed........ to be apart of history in even the smallest part ..........well...it just feels good..........reset your values......smile on your neighbors...................we are all in this together.........no better ..no worse than those around us....

enough said today...........

hitting the road Tuesday .......heading to Utah.....it is just a case that the mind is willing but I need to convince the body to get on that plane..........will keep you posted
peace

tom

Vertigo

2009-01-11T18:37:00.003-05:00

i swear it was my intention to stay out of hospitals this year however there was this little virus that grew in my body that had a different path for me.....started out with just some stomach trouble and elevated to me being rushed to a hospital ( i kid you not) all the while my doctors were thinking i was having a heart attack....three days in a cardio unit seemed to prove them wrong (major dehydration may have been the culprit)however one doctor is not convinced i am in the clear and has ordered stress tests for this week....still dizzy from vertigo like illness and wish i could see straight ............not fun watching football with one eye closed.....oh well with the odds of me seeing about three doctors this week it seems like one of my wishes is already in the toilet....now there is the little matter of my CT scans to see if cancer is gone from lungs......put on hold till this week so i can lie down flat without the worlds spinning...whew...need to nap now.....

will keep you posted.....

tom

2009

2008-12-28T14:44:00.006-05:00

here it comes......a new year...my list of what i would like to do this year or have happen is growing every day.....you are going to see it no matter what so you may as well look at it now....

would like to free all my loved ones from the burden of worrying about my health and hope it becomes a non issue before to long.....

would like to see less of the inside of doctors offices and more of the outside world

would like to see at least three allmans shows at the beacon this year

excited that chris is graduating college this year

wish only the best of luck and the best of times to all my family and friends

turning 55 in February and always wanted to be as old as the speed limit

according to social security I can retire in 10 years...

may actually join ARRP just to get the discount card

go to the gym with the membership I just purchased

try to remember the fact that this is all just temporary so make the best of it

volunteer more of my time to the people in need..and less to the people who don't

get my open water diving certificate that i almost got before the big C came back

for the next 12 months (and beyond) have no one i know get the news that cancer has invade their body.............

have the mets or jets win it all

finally..........continue to live.....love and laugh until it hurts......and then laugh some more......

tom

2008

2008-12-14T14:46:00.006-05:00

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT ....2009 ALMOST HERE

22 days and counting.....it has been quite an interesting one......some things predictable (met's choking....Democrats winning big......brent farve throwing interceptions) some things not so.......(cancer coming back.......britney coming back...madonna not going away.......economy crashing.......Yankees missing the playoffs)....but i have to tell you there is something about a clean slate that has a nice ring to it......hey who knows what 2009 will bring........ i can only wish it brings all of you peace....good health ........stable economic situations and a boat load of love....that's right a boatload and that's a big boat ..not that little dingy that is tied to the side.... i mean a big ocean liner type with 50 life rafts on it to help with every situation that comes up....plenty of life jackets on board to keep you floating in rough times and above all i am wishing the world some sort of peace.....so protect what is yours.....help the less fortunate...do not stop having hope that as all good things have a life cycle so does all the bad .....the circle of life in in full swing....get on....gonna be a heck of a ride

NEXT CT SCAN JAN 6TH.......UMMMM WHAT SHALL I WEAR

tom....

SNOW FLAKES

2008-12-07T10:54:00.004-05:00

well I was a little surprised by the white stuff on the ground this morning ..pleasant surprise naturally...layla the one year old puppy full of energy and joy could not wait to run through the snow...beyond cute as you could only imagine...maggie the veteran made a quick turn-around to the warmth of the house....had to pick the old gal up and bring her out ....somewhat successful operation at best.....still marvel that no two snowflakes are alike....similar to people and the way we handle stress and adversity in our lives......i mean with everything that is being said in newspapers and tv about the state of the world and the economy it just goes to show what i have been saying all along ...we forget that we should not be defined by how much money we owe...how many toys we have.....how great is our credit rating .....but who we are and the impact we make on this world......i do not know about any of you but the human race seems to be getting a little ornery to deal with ..nobody is smiling ( even the ones that have jobs).....there seems to be love lacking in the world......ok here is a holiday challenge for all.... make an effort to spread some joy.....smile upon the less fortunate.....make your mark on this planet...be remembered as someone who rose to the occasion and made a difference.....REMEMBER THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE WHO IS LESS FORTUNATE THAT YOU ......so in the words of CHER.."SNAP OUT OF IT" better times are coming...................................

count-down to 2009 has begun....

tom

WEEK OF THANKS

2008-11-23T10:10:00.004-05:00

thank you for supporting this man's fight

thank you for the love you send my way

thank you for the three years of following my journey

thank you for the laughter

thank you for the tears

thank you for the calm before the storms

thank you for the encouragement you have shown

thank you for the doctors and the nurses from Sloane

thank you for the hope that you give

thank you for your friendships

thank you for your shoulders

but most of all thank you for being in my life......

Happy Thanksgiving to all ................Tom

RIGHT AS RAIN...for u paulie

2008-11-04T21:39:00.005-05:00

i always wondered where that saying came from my buddy john looked it up but i still am confused about it..but my doctor told me that after my last round of chemo and my body started aching like i was hit by a truck without the truck...body slammed to the pavement without the pavement or the slam itself.....played a game of tackle football only no ball ...no tackle..you get the picture..worst case of migratory joint pain they have ever seen...my luck...i mean it hurts to even think about it ..but he said in a few days i will be "right as rain"....yeah right do not see the end in sight yet.....what a way to end my chemo..with the body ache of the century....slowly i am coming around......

was strong enough to vote and very excited about it ..i mean 8 years of this way had to be enough..either way "change is good" and my the better man win this time without any hanging chads....or other improper shanagins......

ok back to the cancer part of the story...looks like it shrunk down to a very small cel..one that we will keep both eyes on .......i think it dead......i will make sure it's dead before the next c/t scan.....

tom..

STAND UP TO CANCER

2008-10-21T20:08:00.006-04:00

Well i did just that ........stood up and spit in it's eye (i know i am jumping the gun a little) but hey if my ct scans show any sign of it in my body ...well we will just have none of that .....i won fair and square....no do overs....you lost ...i won ...enough said.......

had the pure joy of going to see my aunt Connie last night ...97 years old...97...such joy in those eyes when she saw me.......97 years old..wonder what i will be doing at that time.....hopefully still rocking on my guitar....singing songs about love and changing the world......watching my mets blow another big lead.....playing with my dog on a wrap around porch....loved ones all around....97...let see that will be the year 2051...wow.....not to far fetched....imagine that ...2051......has a nice ring to it ..yep that is my new goal in life to live to that year........who's in with me...i tell you what...... party on my porch date feb 20th year 2051 place....my porch......( has to be warm it's the middle of winter).......bring a blanket just in case ( or vodka)

rsvp....asap....no presents.......just you .........

tom

round 5..and in this corner......

2008-10-12T13:08:00.005-04:00

ALI

chemo round 5 starts tomorrow....it really feels like a boxing match....chemo in one corner and all of us in the other...now we know who is going to win this round......... team cheffo and friends with a knockout punch in the 5th round.....bruised and battered but still standing never even knocked me off my feet (ok i lied some nights were a little rough) but hey do not let chemo know that ...you can never give in..always keep the gloves up...deflect most of the blow and not take a direct hit was my motto.......i will keep u posted about results and upcoming plans to monitor the journey......I will be on QVC this Wednesday night (oct 15) "shoes on sale" our company (Yaleet..Naot) and many others will donate all the proceeds of sales that evening to breast cancer research ( ladies.....all shoes 1/2 price)...i will be the spokesperson for a brief while talking about cancer research and what it means.........over 1,000,000 people watching ..you know i will get the message out.....hope my bald head does not reflect to much into the camera......i might have that chemo glow because my last teatment is scheduled for that morning ..ironic?....nah just part of the plan.....peace ......tom

CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA

2008-10-03T20:06:00.003-04:00

when i went to pick up ice cream the other day i was amazed by how many flavors there were...i mean i remember just two choices growing up...Chocolate or Vanilla.....and make no mistake about it you were either a chocolate lover or vanilla lover ....no in between....i myself was a chocolate kinda guy.....now i find myself eating a cherry garcia that has everything but the kitchen sink in it....i do remember the simpler times.....times when it was a or b ...not all the way to z.....times when the most important decisions of the day was how long could i stay outside while playing ball with my buddies....times when a slice and a coke was just that and the slice did not have meat hanging off of it...don't get me wrong i think we live in a fantastic time...overkill galore...it is just that it is fun to think of the early years and see how far we have come.....i do have to admit i am partial these days to a chocolate and vanilla swirl cone and don't tell anyone it was frozen yogurt..................................told to lay low a little BY MY DOCTOR THIS WEEKEND and stay away from people with the sniffles......white counts are pretty low and you need those puppies to fight infection..............good thing got a good supply of rocky road........peace tom
draft

"the love you take is equal to the love you make"

2008-09-27T09:28:00.004-04:00

i was thinking about this great line from the beatles and thought well if this is a balance you look for in life then that is not to bad....if you can give out a certain amount of love to people and get back the same amount then i guess that's pretty good....but what if you gave out more love than you received in return.....well then that is pretty good also...so I am determined to give out more love this week than i expect in return (which in my case is not possible.... because everywhere i go people have been ...wonderful to me)... to see if i can turn this sour taste of the economy,the housing industry, the war, the mets,the illness, the bad drivers, the telemarketers, the voice mails, the poor service, the mets (did i mention them already), the people who refuse to hold open a door for you , plastic bags, pepsi, anything that has diet on it, richard simmons, OJ,global warming and the mets..( ok we still have a shot)...we can pay it forward..tighten our belts and plow on .......plow on .......because if you do not plow the fields..nothing grows.....and isn't life just like that....so here to all of u who still read me .....I LOVE YOU...........twice as much as you think.....

those who see me daily know that this was a tough week and the chemo is accumulating in my body and is pulling me in a direction i am not used to .....however i will pull out of it and only have one set of treatment left......yahooooooooo....i will keep you posted ....leukemia fund raise huge success..over $6,000 raised ...love you all .......tom

The Hope.....

2008-09-15T22:55:00.003-04:00

got this title "the hope" from one on my dearest friends, paul cartwright..seems like his young daughter tess has one of top fantasy baseball teams in the country...out of 75,000 teams she is in the top 4...now that is pretty amazing ......

also what is pretty amazing is the results of my last ct/scan ...seem like this crap i am putting in ,my body is working and the spots on my lungs are disappearing....looks like two more treatments and i will be off the sauce....so (six more fun filled times in the chair)...kinda getting used to being totally bald and will be sad to see my shinny head go ...yeah right ,,,,,

so here is to "the hope" in the world.......smile..love ..live

tom

TREAT-MINTS

2008-08-29T23:31:00.004-04:00

my brother dom thought it was funny that the word treat is in what i am going through ..i can tell you that it is anything but that ........i mean where is the treat part....maybe they should put some beer in my IV during the session..now that would be a treat...well- round three is finished and "I'm still standing"....it tried to knock me down but missed the knock-out punch this time around......it is amazing what the human body can put up with when your a stubborn Italian from brooklyn.......63rd st between 17-18th ave..1756-63rd street......roots of where i began......and 54 years later still missing that front stoop in brooklyn with every passing day........this battle is going to come out victorious and I will stand the test of these times not allowing my will or determination to falter for more than a brief moment during my day.... if i ever feel that the walk is getting to long i have to remember to put my feet up sometimes and just enjoy the moment that i am in and remember that all of you would be more than happy to finish this walk for me.......i am now going to take the advice from my dearest friend and put those feet up and rest for three days.......happy holiday ......Tom....

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

2008-08-22T12:38:00.004-04:00

well i pulled it off ...record breaking trade shows in terms of sales and activity.....and i could not have done it without the support of all those i come in contact with....it is like you all lifted me up and carried me on your shoulders when i was dragging (although most of you felt i was carrying you sometimes)...it was not uncommon to hear someone start complaining about something in life only to stop in mid sentence and look at me and suddenly stop and say ."compared to what you are going through my problem seems so small"...however i make it clear that one thing has nothing to do with the other and problems are problems and sometimes people need to vent....i have always felt that this journey is such an amazing adventure...full of hardships and highships (is this even a word)?...and i swear to all that i am the luckiest man alive when it comes to all the friendships i have made in this period on earth...but it kinda stinks now because most of you do not burden me with your problems and i miss out on all the juicy stuff in your life..........so please burden me ..bring it on ..let me be the judge if it is a big or small problem..that's part of the fun....

round three starts monday 8/25....till 8/27/.......ps totally bald is the way to go...freedom of the follicals.........save on shampoo.........

chemo-sabi......out

SALT LAKE CITY-trade show

2008-08-11T13:11:00.003-04:00

blue skies...massive mountains......clean air.....bright sunshine......it could very well be the most beautiful city in the nation...happy to be in such a place

i am still in the grips of the "chemo" it is kinda funny how you look in the mirror in the morning and the person staring back looks like a complete stranger....it is amazing what a baseball cap can do to your appearance.........people are happy to see that i have not allowed the "inconvenience" to stop me from doing what i am doing......had to laugh the other day when i thought of a title fro a book on this journey....."Cancer"..the inconvenient illness........it is such a drain on your daily way of life.......however it is no longer a death sentence and i fully plan on kicking it's butt clear across this country...heading to Atlanta tomorrow.......keep you posted my friends the amount of people still following my journey is amazing ....thanks for the love and music..........tom..........

VIVA LAS VEGAS

2008-08-02T22:14:00.003-04:00

well i did what i had to do and was able to maintain a certain about of dignity during the shoe show in vegas....i was able to keep up with the trade show pace and still have some time to play some music of my own after the day was done....my good buddy (brother ) kent and I was able to jam some tunes and that was one of the highlights of my trip.......you see it is not always about selling the worlds best sandals and shoes...it's about those moments during the day that makes dragging your body out of bed and facing the day head on ...it's that one moment that defines what separates just living from.....really being alive.....that one good belly laugh...that one good hug....that one good minute when everything is .....perfect in the world......that is all it takes ...when your body is fighting the fight it sure is good to know that so many people care about you and so many friends are truly there for you .......i am protected like the tree under the rainbow.....roots are strong....branches are reaching for the sky.........oh and by the way had a treatment yesterday.....not gonna lie to you ...it su..ks... and you feel like crap..however it means i am one step closer to the 1/2 way point.....monday and tuesday will end treatment two...yahoooo...then it's back on the road for this brooklyn cowboy.......

tom

MANY RIVERS TO CROSS

2008-07-19T10:07:00.004-04:00

i always liked that saying..it has a special meaning to me these days....i always think about our ancestors on their journey through life and when they had to deal with hardships and problems how they managed to overcome them and hold their heads high...when they came to that river in their way how they managed to "cross" it and move on in life always amazes me......

the "rivers" we need to cross sometimes have a bridge that makes it easier for us to manage....however as was the case with our ancestors sometimes we have to figure out how to make it by building our own way across.......all of you and my family are my bridge across this river i am now wading through......i sometimes feel you pushing me across..stopping with me as i rest.....moving with me as the sight of the shore gets closer and closer.............i may be only 1/3 there however with so many people as my "bridge" you know i will make it ..

you know that i feel your hands on my back.....I know that my late ancestors are helping me along with the rest of you ...............................just wish they would lower the tolls a little........you see i forgot my e-z pass this round so i guess the lines will be a little longer than usual.....

in the meantime enjoy the day......smile upon the sun........tom

p.s thanks for the coments yesterday....truly was humbled by them

THE RIGHT STUFF

2008-07-13T11:17:00.004-04:00

hello world....chemo foggy here and coming out of it little by little...trying to explain how one feels after a treatment is difficult because every person reacts differently and within a minute you can be feeling "normal" to feeling like crap in a flash........YOU TRY TO JUST PUT ONE STEP IN FRONT OF THE OTHER TO GET THROUGH THE DAY....maybe the blog should be called "one step at a time"...i pulled off going to work most of the time because heck those who know me know i do not like to take sick days especially when i would rather take days off when i am healthy....looks like i still plan on hitting the road July 25Th to a trade show in Vegas and that will be a monumental task at best ...........so here's to "The Right Stuff" in your life to get you through ..............thanks for the love ...........tom

HONORED

2008-07-08T20:59:00.004-04:00

well like i said before ...life is full of wonderful moments and to see all my old school mates on my blog comments is just one of those moments..............it is like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow... .... my journey of life is full of amazing days that the memories of those moments get me through these tougher time,...........

had two treatments already and the third is tomorrow..(wed)..............feeling ok although yesterday was a doosey.........my beautiful cousins (and i do mean beautiful) came all the way from NJ to sit with me during chemo .............their voices as i closed my eyes helped me relaxed as the chemo flowed through my veins on it's way to the spots in my lungs to seek and destroy them forever.............my dear cousins barbara and loraine........thank you so much for taking the time to see me as i travel to the cure.............i will cherish those moments forever......

with so many people are pulling and praying for me i wonder if it would be possible to save some prayers for my beloved mets....... (oh yeah say a few for sue too)

....

tom

HISTORY OF CHEMOTHERAPY

2008-07-06T09:30:00.004-04:00

YOU DID NOT THINK THIS SITE WOULD BE ALL FUN AND GAMES.......NEED TO PUT SOME SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION in once in a while..........round one starts MOnday....looks like tues and wednesday is also on the bill ..will let you in on it as i go through it......

Chemotherapy, in its most general sense, refers to treatment of disease by chemicals that kill cells, specifically those of micro-organisms or cancer. In popular usage, it will usually refer to antineoplastic drugs used to treat cancer or the combination of these drugs into a standardized treatment regimen.The first drug used for cancer chemotherapy, however, dates back to the early 20th century, though it was not originally intended for that purpose. Mustard gas was used as a chemical warfare agent during World War I and was studied further during World War II. During a military operation in World War II, a group of people were accidentally exposed to mustard gas and were later found to have very low white blood cell counts[2]. It was reasoned that an agent that damaged the rapidly growing white blood cells might have a similar effect on cancer. Therefore, in the 1940s, several patients with advanced lymphomas (cancers of certain white blood cells) were given the drug by vein, rather than by breathing the irritating gas. Their improvement, although temporary, was remarkable.[3] [4] That experience led researchers to look for other substances that might have similar effects against cancer. As a result, many other drugs have been developed to treat cancer, and drug development since then has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry. The targeted-therapy revolution has arrived, but the principles and limitations of chemotherapy discovered by the early researchers still apply. [5]

still awake?....oh well that concludes the educational part of the story.....tom

DRIVERS START YOUR ENGINES....

2008-06-29T10:13:00.007-04:00

here we go again..there is nothing like a "metastatic urethral carcinoma" description showing up on your pathology report...couldn't be a " it's nothing or oops we made a mistake" but no mine has to be a positive test ...now i am a positive kinda guys (most of the time) but for once can't these tests be negative but noooooo......ok for those of you who need to get in the loop (if you do not want to be in the loop it is ok and it will not hurt my feelings)..those spots on my lungs that were showing up in my early ct scans started growing and after a needle biopsy ( i will fill you in on that in a later Blog) the cells turned out positive for cancer...( i am thinking of a new name for cancer..cancer is so negative)..maybe we should call it......lollipop or sunshine.... "hey i was tested positive for sunshine sounds better".....so chemo treatment starts soon......"put me in coach i'm ready to play"....i've survived much worse......so plan on this being anti climatic as compared to the "neo" moments.....they say the sequels are not as entertaining as the original....you can always go to the beginning and review the story....or wait for it to show up on the turner classic network.......either way enjoy the ride with me.....man if i lose my hair (ok no wise cracks)...that is gonna be a sight.......

tom......break-out the Tye dyed....i'm backkkkkkkkkkk

a day in a life

2008-05-29T23:03:00.003-04:00

layla our new puppy

hello my cyber-world friends and family......well it still seems like this little part of my world has had an effect on some of you and you still enjoy reading me from time to time...well it was what kept me going in those darkest and brightest of times.....in some ways i am exactly the same person i was before the big c-entered and then was ripped from my body.....but in other ways i have changed a little........I cannot put my finger on it exactly yet and will spend the next few blogs and months trying to figure out exactly how I have changed...so if you have any ideas or observations on why i am different i am up for the listening......here is a list of things i still do like i always do.....1. still feel i give people respect (even if they do not deserve it) because after all they are clueless to that fact....2. still like a good laugh now and then...3. music and my mets are still apart of my life...4. when i look up at the sky at night i am still as amazed as when i was a little man....5. my close friends are closer than ever...5. i still pull the ball in softball....... 6.oh yeah I still play softball....well i will think of more as the summer goes on........here are some of the ways i have changed...1..food is more of a burden than a joy......2. well having a neo-bladder is ..different...3....after 2 beers i am full...4.seems like i am tired more than before....5.....let's be honest the people i say i give respect to and don't deserve it ..... well they are getting on my nerves more and more.......6. when i laugh....well it is hard to describe..it is not totally back yet where i can say where it was before....and that i am working on......expect more from me in the next few weeks

tom

REUNION

2008-05-04T19:56:00.003-04:00

shallow jr high

just imagine not seeing some childhood friends for over 40 years and then meeting in a restaurant in NYC on a friday night.....well my brother and I did just that...it was everything i expected and more.......i mean 40 years is a long time.......and the one thing that remained the same with all of us was our eyes...that was the first thing i recognized we we started to feel each other out....all we had to go by were memories and old photos.....we meet about a dozen old mates and it was as if time stood still on us....it did not take long for the girls to huddle together and the guys to smile and hug..( yeah guys could hug to you know)....... when my dear friend michele started to laugh i remembered that laugh as if it was yesterday.......photos, year books, good food and drinks.....and old classmates..... priceless......it will go down in my book as a night to cherish ......although were were there to celebrate our 7th -9th grade class ( we skipped 8Th) and to figure out a way to launch an even bigger reunion.. to some of us it put a closure on the mystery as to how everyone was doing and for that I will be forever grateful that i made that trip.....

tommy

spring time for hippies

2008-03-22T08:35:00.003-04:00

well looks like we made it through another winter...it seems like the older we get the colder it feels even with a snow less winter (at least in NY) i know some of you got walloped (cartwright).....i mean long-johns were part of my everyday routine.....ummm should i wear white or white?...anyway looking forward to putting those away and breaking out a pair of shorts...

I have another useless trivia for you ....it is the earliest Easter since i think 1909...and i wonder what that year was like..when i was young i always thought the Early 1900's were in black and white because that is the only photos i remember seeing.....

i wish you all the peace you can handle in your lives.......enjoy the coming warmth.....make your time on earth light the way for others.....Happy Easter and Happy Purim....

tom

daylight savings

2008-03-09T20:18:00.003-04:00

you just gotta love the extra hour of light ....it does kinda throw you off a little ....hope all is well with all out there in cyber land...had a great phone call from an old friend from grade school and jr high...looks like we are trying to put together a Reunion of sorts and it is cool tracking down old friends...i volunteered to help and even located my best buddy from that era...we talked for over an hour just catching up ..it was about 20 years since we spoke and he is a grad pappa already......sure glad lois from that speciall group of friends gave me a call and excited to see who we are able to locate....oh yeah i did locate someone else from that crowd but my twin brother does not count since i see him all the time..hehehe

well health wise we are trucking along.....always in the back of our minds..but never seems to hold us back......enjoy the warming weather.......make your days spectacular.......

CLEAN BILL

2008-02-13T21:47:00.004-05:00

ok time to get on a soap box....i feel real lucky these days....my body is getting back that spark that i have been mis-firing on since the walk began.....i feel real lucky these days.............my brain is enjoying the new clarity it is feeling and sharing with the rest of my body...i feel real lucky these days.....i heard of some horror stories of my cancer left untreated and where i would have been if not for a piece of paper turning a different color.....that was the turning point.....a little dip and wham.......buckle up and hang on for the ride.... i feel real lucky to have all of you in my life.......bar none the biggest reason why people survive these life altering situations is the support and love they recieve....and for that reason alone...I am the luckiest man that has ever walked this earth.......

heading back out on the road tomorrow ..will check in soon.....

tom

THE ROAD IS CALLING

2008-01-18T22:49:00.000-05:00

well after a quick trip to a trade show in orlando to get my feet wet ... i am hitting the road for about a week or so starting in atlanta tomorrow (sat 1/19)and then heading to Utah......the salt of the earth.......i have to tell you it is getting a wee bit rougher to be on the road...but i still love it ...in quoting dan fogelberg (whom we just lost.. sad day indeed)..."the audience is heavenly...but the traveling is hell"............ i love seeing my brothers and sister of the road.........i love the thrill of the trade show and i swear there is a TV show in this way of life....i have to pitch it someday ......what goes on at trade shows is like no other business on earth ...it is the closest thing to the markets of the olden days ....buying and selling ...making it or breaking it.......just look for me on the selling side...and oh by the way i will be the one doing all the talking ...well because that is what i do....
peace.............
tom

BRING IT ON...2008

2007-12-31T09:22:00.000-05:00

well i was thinking about a new way to say happy new year and with a little help from word perfect i came up with some new ways of saying it..... so have a joyful, content, blissful, exultant, ecstatic, cheery or delightful new year either way it is from the bottom ...no from the top...ahh.... make that from my entire heart....i wish you all nothing but a peaceful and loving 2008 (oh and by the way it is going to be real easy to convert the 7 into an 8 when we write the wrong year for the first few days).... oh how the little things in life get me through..

like i said in the begining ......BRING IT ON........

...P.S .... craig (naot) & joel (fad)..we shall walk with you in your fight.......and fight with you in your "walk in the park"

peace
tom

2007.....WHAT A YEAR

2007-12-14T23:30:00.000-05:00

first off i just want to wish everyone on the planet a joyous and spectacular Christmas and new year and belated Hanukkah......forget all the hype and and pressure and really enjoy what is going on around you .....i still forget to do that sometimes and i really do want to enjoy this time of year ...hey i know its cold and wet in NY and not easy to be comforted in these crazy times....however we must understand that life is truly a remarkable gift.. and not just a gift under a tree or after lighting a candle...as this year winds down another chapter in my life is coming to a close....i cannot wait until the next one begins.....in the words of michael douglas in romancing the stone ..." whooooo what a ride"..........cannot wait to see what is in-store next year.....because if this is all that is gonna be thrown at me ................man what a piece of cake.......

my dear friends and family who seem to still check in once in a while........rock on..live on....make a difference......a special shout out to all the loose lucy gals this holiday season......you really do make a difference in peoples lives.....tom

"MAY THE ROAD RISE TO MEET YOU"

2007-11-21T22:47:00.000-05:00

I was going to say things that we already know ..that this is a time to take hold of what we have ..who we are.... and be thankful for all the good in our lives.....it really seems that this journey of life has amazing highs and crazy lows for so many people i have been fortunate enough to cross paths with.....i do know this and i speak from my heart....there is a connection that has happened that allows me to continue understand the true meaning of what love and friendship means...we sometimes take for granted even the breath that we are allowed to breath...we sometimes take for granted the food that we are being fed...we sometimes take for granted the love that is given our way....but i do know this ...i have tasted your love and friendship to the max and each and every time you have risen to join me in my battle to remain on this planet..you have lifted my spirits by your continued love ,cards, phone calls and e-mails..i did not know if i would ever feel like myself again...but there is a new bounce in my step these days....there is a new light at the end of my tunnel and all of you have been holding the flame........thank-you from the bottom of my heart and neo- bladder.....

tom......146 lbs and gaining.....turkey here i come........

ANATOMY OF AN ILLNESS

2007-11-07T22:54:00.000-05:00

sounded like a good title to me...well i did get home on saturday and i tell you 5.5 days in a hospital is just about the perfect time...i mean any more and well let's just say we would have to go there this time.....surgery went well ..my intestine was twisting around inside me due to some scar tissue that formed on the outside of the intestinal wall and attached itself to some other part of my body ....freaky stuff.....the area behind the twist was severly swollen 6" had to be cut out and that will take some time to calm down so i should feel "normal" in about three months.......in the meantime....... i am real sore..how sore you ask..well like i just finished telling one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world...it only hurts when i sneeze,cough,smile,walk,sit,run,ride a horse, a minibike, or regular size bike, swing a bat,catch a football, play my guitar (no that hurts other peoples ears),yodel,canoodle,skinny dip,mountain climb, change tire, and lastly high five just about anybody with a little gusto......

what gets me when all this started...my intestine was perfecly fine....and then i kinda asked it if it would not mind if we ripped some of it out to build me a pouch ....i mean come on can you imagine how humilated it felt ...this was one way to get back at me i guess.....will hopefully i learned my lesson and will leave it alone for a while...untill next time
Tom

GREETINGS FROM SLOANE..PART 3

2007-11-02T15:21:00.000-04:00

this will be short and sweet....surgert went very well....intesines were VERY dialated (stretched open) causing my food to hang around to long in the tube...this was caused by scar tissue that twisted my intestine from th eoriginal surgery ( happens quite often).....all looks good from here..a little weak and getting stronger daily....thanks for the visits call and e-mails...means so much to me.....i am just so glad i have all of you in my world......
tom...should be home soon

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

2007-10-23T19:35:00.000-04:00

my favorite flower..birds of paradise

hELLO ALL,

well it looks like the rumour is true ..i need some more surgery...scar tissue is building up in my small intestine and if nothing else they will try to clear that up so i can get back to living normally...it has been quite uncomfortable some days in the digestive area...it appears that my intestine behind the blockage has fallen asleep and causing me all sorts of problems...well it is time to wake it up ..or take part of it out....let's get on with it......

surgery is monday the 29th...at Sloane kettering....will try to update from there.....

looking foward to all expenses paid vacation in nyc......round the clock nurses....room service.....i don't even have to take out the garbage....they not gonna know what hit them.....i am returning to the scene of the crime...........( man i bet the insurance companies hate the cheffo name....

see ya ..tom

516-946-1134...cell

e-mail thunderbyd@aol.com

...

ANNIVERSARY..........

2007-10-13T08:55:00.000-04:00

2007 leukemia fund raiser "walking tall for the cure" over $4,500 raised

oct 13 2005.....the day i was told i had cancer......

i still remember those words like it was yesterday....."mr. cheffo, we have even a bigger problem you are going to have to have your bladder removed......but the good news is we are going to be able to replace it with a piece of you intestine"..you can only imagine my reaction " are your freakin kidding me" was what i think i said.....well two years have gone by and i would be amiss if i didn't mention it here in the very format that got me through most of the dark days...you see when i was able to write about my day it took a huge load off what my body was going through....i still remain humbled in the reaction and support of family and friends...

well i am here to say that my NEO_BLADDER is working fine although i am still not gaining weight (due to the fact that scar tissue has built up in my intestines) that is a conversation for my next blog....(looks like they need to go back in to fix it)...stay tuned for PART ll OF "MY WALK IN THE PARK"...............part one was such and adventure part ll is gonna be a piece of cake........

all my love

tom.........

I'M BACK

2007-09-19T21:32:00.000-04:00

well it has been a longgggggggg road trip 6 trade shows...two footwear clinics all in 7 weeks... and i still have the energy to type this out......i have come a long way...but enough about me....just kidding.....ct scans this week are on the plate.....gotta keep getting checked out ........so i am getting on the soap box again ..please get a check-up yearly it is still the best way to beat this thing.....if you are feeling a little off take the time to figure out what is wrong......if you don't like your doctor ..find a new one......if you need advice just ask....i am living breathing proof that early detection saves lives.......don't ignore a lump and think it will go away......wear sun screen...give up cigs.....drink less and love more.....or is it drink more and love less...ahhh i forget.......october is the month i was diagoneed almost two years ago.......what a long strange trip it has been.........live......love.....long.....

tom

HOW YOU DOING?

2007-08-18T11:37:00.000-04:00

This question has been asked to me asked to me a lot lately ......i used to answer it with one simple statement when i was recovering from surgery "i will be ok ....someday" well that someday has arrived...

most days i feel Like .....confident...defiant....rambunctious.....worldly....anchored..... rebellious....hippieish.....and down right ornery (even hitting that softball like the old days)

The story is now lengendary...... enduring what no single family should ever have to .....surviving the thunderous events that would crumple most to their knees...... doing so with dignity and pride.....
this would not have been possible without the love and support of so many people.....I have said this before.....I will spend the rest of my life re-defining what friendship should be...the people in my life have shown me one simple truth.....one that was passed on from my parents to my children.....if you are sincere in your way.....if you can endure the hardships and allow them to feed your soul to spread good will throughout the world.....it will come back to you in the form of love and support and in a sureal sense that you will live inside all those you have touched......
this has been the most difficult blog i have written ...being ever so careful as to be sure to translate the fact that "this walk in the park" we are all on cannot be walked alone.....doctors....family...friends...complete starngers....have held hands each and every day in a way that has made a difficult situation bearable.. the waiting rooms of our hospitals are filled with people looking for the answer.... if they only knew when looking at me that all of my world was sitting along side me....step by step.......they would see what i have seen......they would feel what i have felt....they would know what i have known...... that i am truly honored to have taken my "walk in the park " with you.........

the battle we are in now will be fought with the same passion we have been preaching............seek out the internal terriorist and destroy it's will to live inside the body......it really does not have a chance with the network we have built.....

my dear friends and family....."LONG MAY YOU RUN"...TOM

I WILL NOW ATTEMPT TO PUT THESE JOURNALS TO GOOD USE.....LOOK FOR THEM IN A BOOK STORE NEAR YOU...IMAGINE?

WOW

2007-07-19T21:46:00.000-04:00

casy and dad...man i remember when i had hair......

has it been a month since i last blogged ...wonder if there are any of the 100's of friends and family out there still checking.....i do hear comments here and there that it really made an impact on some of your lives...i know it did on mine......and for that i will be forever thankful for having you in my life at such a crossroads......we are at another crosroads again and dealing with it as best we could...i do send bi-weekly updates on sues condition and if you are interested in getting it just e-mail me at thunderbyd@aol.com

as far as i am going ...well i am still adjusting to my new "body and bladder"....it does thae time i am told....i seem to have more energy and am thankful for that as i will be traveling soon and will need all the strength i can muster to keep up with the youngins........

man i missed my dose of bloggin......might just have to get back into it.....

happy trails....to all

tom

FATHERS DAY

2007-06-17T19:48:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone sorry i have not posted ...... i have been a little busy these days....needed to post just to wish everyone happy fathers day........if you could see my kids and how they pampered me tonight....great food and fun talks...... well it makes the new trail we are on a heck of an easier one............

just letting everyone know we are attacking the problem head on......and i swear it does not have a chance against this family........

i will leave you with this.......

the tears we have cried were cried by all

the love that we felt was felt by all

the hope that we share has been shared by all

the fight we will fight will be fought by all

we are not alone

love ya

tom

MEMORIAL DAY

2007-05-25T13:46:00.000-04:00

JUST A REMINDER ....HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND LEFT THEIR LIVES BEHIND FOR ALL OF US.........................

just left the scene of the crime..... SLOAN KETTERING NYC ...where i had my surgery over 1 year ago....seems it was years ago.......left some blood and some other fluids...got a clean bill and made another appointment for next year......what a difference from the last time i was in there......i look around the waiting room and can always spot a rookie....uneazyness in their chair...concerned look on family members.....the look in their eyes..."whats next"....ahhhhh rookies gotta love em......i feel like walking over and putting my hand on their shoulders and saying...........look at me ..i made it ...so will you ..............well as most of you know the cheffo family will be in for another fight for the next few months and i will be sending e-mails to family and friends about the situation.....every few days or so,,,,,,,in the mean time "if you can't be with the one you love...love the one your with" (s stills).......hug your kids and pets extra hard tonight..........blog you later.....tom

GOING STRONG

2007-05-03T21:48:00.000-04:00

you be the judge......on how i am feeling these days......

10 hours of work
1 hour soft ball practice
3 hours coaching basketball
all in one day...............yahooooooooooo

i am getting there,,,,,,,still climbing uphill some days....but i can see the the plateau down the road

oh yeah had a blast at the merlefest..
read vansmans comments from last post ...........tells it all......

sad news to post a good friend of vansman's Neal Van Winkle's young son has been diagonesd with leukemia.....aghhhhhh it hits home when i hear that ...the Van Winkle family has set up a blog to keep family and friends posted.....Neal is a Rep For Vans footwear and the father of little Branbon..please send the great vibes their way ......check out the site....what a batttle Brandon is fighting...what a battle he will win.............. www.caringbridge.org/visit/brandonvanwinkle

MILES AND MILES OF SMILES

2007-04-25T22:47:00.000-04:00

mERLEFEST HERE I COME......BIGGEST BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL IN NORTH CAROLINA IS STARTING THURSDAY...I WILL BE THERE SLINGING SHOES AND DANCING WITH MY FAVORITE HUMANS......

THERE IS A SAYING IN THE BLUE GRASS WORLD ..MY GRASS IS BLUE.......AND FOR TWO DAYS IT CERTAINLY WILL BE......

SAM BUSH HERE I COME...........................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY BLADDER

2007-04-12T23:01:00.000-04:00

WELL I MADE IT .....ONE YEAR....RELIVING THE "ORDEAL" THE LAST FEW DAYS...AND RE-READING THE BLOG AND WONDERING HOW I MADE IT PRETTY MUCH INTACT.........IT WAS THE DEEP ...DEEP LOVE FROM ALL MY WORLD THAT DID IT.....

WAS GONNA RE-PRINT THE INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT WERE SAID ABOUT ME DURING THAT INFAMOUS DAY.....BUT A LITTLE HUMBLED TO SAY THE LEAST....SO IF YOU WANT GO TO ARCIEVES AND CLICK ON APRIL 12TH.... BE MY GUEST .................. THE REST IS HISTORYTHANKS FOR EVERYTHING..II WILL CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY......WITH ALL OF YOU BY MY SIDE..

RE-PRINT...APRIL 11 2006...ONE DAY BEFOE SURGERY

2007-04-10T21:43:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, April 11, 2006
TILL THE MORNING COMES
ok this is officially my last blog for a few days.....so heres what i have to say.........nothing.......that's right i am saying nothing...you guys have said it all....your phone calls...e-mails...gifts.....poems...prayers and promises (sorry.... john denver song snuck in)...your amazing strength to support my family in such a way that could never be equaled ........as i continue to say nothing about how today i was talking about my surgery as if it were happening to someone else .....but i figured it had to be me in this situation.....there had to be a reason why i have been surrounded by the likes of you.......my network of family and friends ........ co-workers....business associates is second to none.......it has to be me tomorrow because i would not want this to happen to any of you whom i love so dear......so raise your glass tonight.......take a look at the moon tonight ...it would be an honor if everyone looked up at 1 :00 pm tommorow and thank the earth for keeping us alive and bringing all of us together...you all have spent so much energy on my journey...relax tomorrow...i am in good hands..............WE ARE LOCKED AND LOADED TO BEAT THIS THING....ALL FOR ONE ....ONE FOR ALL...... to sue, casey, chris, maggie, cocoa mo, stormy and reese ( can't forget frida fish)...it has be a heck of a ride....thanks for steering the ship........Dad & TC....SURGERY 12:45 WEDNESDAY..........MAY BE OUT LATE IN DAY MICHELE WILL UPDATE BLOG...HER WORK pHONE # 516-465-6268
# posted by tom cheffo @ 8:02 PM 7 comments

RE PRINT OF BLOG APRIL 10TH 2006

2007-04-09T22:14:00.000-04:00

T MINUS 36 HOURS...TILL BLAST-OFF
well my friends the time has come...i will be in the hands of a gifted surgeon( if he screws up do i still have to pay him ?).....one small set back today....i spiked a fever (SUNDAY NIGHT FEVER) up to 101.5.......plus i am fasting and craving a cheese-burger like you would not believe..MED RARE...NO PICKLE....SWISS CHEESS...SIDE OF FRIES...CLOW SLAW..........dr said take two tylenols and call me in the morning...really thats what he said......funny guy.......i love him....i love you guys....i love the crack in the sidewalk these days......what can i say you have made it up until this point a journey to remember........one i will tell my grandkids about.......i plan on one more blog before wedesday and michele will take over.....be kind to her.....she tells me everything.........thanks for the phone calls..... gifts....love....hope...peace.....cards.....music....prayers....yeah yeah all that is good but not one of you snuck me in a chese burger today........and to think i get to fast all over again tomorrow......call me at home around three tomorrow and you will see exactly how ornery i can be...............THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS..( on one of chris from nomatic state of mind shirts).....I LOVE YA.........TOM

To all I love

2007-04-07T10:56:00.000-04:00

APRIL.....

2007-04-01T19:17:00.000-04:00

back top front,,, brother mike,my dad,brother dom,mom....and me.......check out that turtle neck and beatle hair cut...

well the anniversary of my surgery is coming up real quick...never was one guy who was big on that stuff but hey what the heck gotta celebrate some things April 12th ..one year has passed...i have to say it has been an eventful one.......spent the first few months just getting to know my new body......still some hurdles to jump..but all in all happy with the outcome....all ct scans were clean.....always a in-tar-resting- moment waitng for the outcome

up date on life

Allman shows at the beacon are amazing still
Mets are kicking off the season tonight........
College basketball was fun to watch
Sandal season is coming
Skywalk is open at the grand canyon
Merle fest in Carolina is at the end of the month

Passover starts monday.......

Still have one more night of the allman brothers to go to

hug a piece of the earth today........it feels so good...........

will have a birthday party for my bladder on April 12...one year old....clowns..horses......the whole 9 yards.......

tom

HO HUM-ANOTHER CT/SCAN

2007-03-21T22:15:00.000-04:00

KING OF THE WORLD
RED ROCK LAS VEGASFEB 2007

had a ct/scan at sloane kettering this week........

wow going back to the scene of the crime as paul cartwright puts it was ......ummm a little unreal at first ...but i settled in drank some stuff...poked my veins....put me in a machine...just your ordinary run of the mill day on this earth......said hey to some familiar faces....some not so familiar ones and noticed that they added a new area...added some more nurse stations....must be big business this cancer thing.........get my results on monday....expecting the best...excepting nothing less...........

keep dry my fishing buddies........rock on my allman brother peach heads........

tom.....

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2007-03-15T19:45:00.000-04:00

sent by my cousin maryann..

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

HAPPY ST PADDYS DAY

ALL IS WELL ..FOLLOW UP VISITS NEXT WEEK RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.....WILL KEEP YOU POSTED

PEACE

MILE HIGH

2007-03-06T20:58:00.000-05:00

melting ice caps

just got back from denver and i have to tell you what a beautiful city denver is..i mean i have been there before but never before seen the mountains a beautiful as they were last weekend..... oh yeah i was there to work and that was biz as usual...people happy to see me.....intrigued by my surgery....almost a surreal existence sometimes.....like they can't believe i made it and just want to touch me....gotta love it...just gotta love it

i happened to rent " the inconvenient truth" the movie al gore made about global warming and i think we owe it to ourselves to see this movie...it is a real opening of the eyes so to speak...not to get on the soap box but it is just an amazing movie and it has to make you think about how we live.........the fact i was watching the movie 35000 ft above land on a plane that was burning fossil fuel..well it just kinda made me think.........

love and peace...tom

FEB 15TH HAS COME AND GONE

2007-02-27T20:49:00.001-05:00

red rock las vegas..2007

ok here is why i wrote that date feb 15th down..that was my last chemo treatment a full year ago.......(seems like only about 365 days have past) hehhe ...but a weird thing happened last week in vegas..a waitress notice my tye dyed braclet and asked what was it for and i kinda said something like "it is for me" and to make people aware of bladder cancer..she smiled and said she was a survivor (she was only 32) and she survived ovarian cancer.....and her last treatment was a year ago...you quessed it Feb 15th..... we smiled and realized these moments were meant to be,,,,,,so to my new pal kristy....we will be forever linked to that faithful day in Feburary.......

i am still not quite there (where i have no idea) and i do not think i will ever be....but those of you who know me know that i love this life and cherish it even more.......i still get phone calls everyday just checking up on me top see how i am......i am forever grateful for your love and friendship....see ya all at the concerts coming up...ALLMAN'S at the beacon,,,will be peaking

row s seat 26.......rock on......tom

53 AND COUNTING

2007-02-21T21:12:00.000-05:00

thanks brad for bringing up my birthday....loved spending it with you and our wonderful customers ( well most of them anyway).....driving through the farms of iowa was an awesome site with some snow on the ground and the clean and i mean clean air..(so clean it is see through)....
celebrating everyday is where my head is now......hey i know it cannot always be zippy-do-da fantastic everyday....but hey if there is one or two moments that make it worth while...then bring it on........loved seeing all my buds this week.....adam ..be as you are.,...fad...alan and donna and joel...love ya....blue sky......phil you rock...loose lucy's crew....as close to family as i can get......you all make the road........roadable....

my co-workers......what can i say....it has been a heck of a year.......you make me want to come back to the office........oh yeah michele at work is turning 30 friday.....our little girl is all grown up...love ya kiddo.........love you all..........mucho...tom....good luck rachel.......we will miss you.....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

2007-02-13T09:02:00.000-05:00

GREETING FROM ...LAS VEGAS NEVADA

WISHING YOU A HEALTHY AND HAPPY VALENTINES DAY...........GIVE YOUR VALENTINE A HUG FROM ME.....HUGS ARE FREE.....COME TO THINK OF IT SO ARE SMILES.....SO SLAP A SMILE ON FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS ALSO......IT KINDA FEELS GOOD.............PEACE....TOM

WHAT A ROAD TRIP

2007-02-08T19:24:00.000-05:00

key west...fl... sk sent me this great photo

miles and miles of smiles.....loved seeing everyone....loved being told....but you look so good......better yet i felt so good (most of the time) after two beers mexician food and a birthday cheese cake for gary and michele..well let's just say i did keep it all in....bearly......i cannot believe 9 months have passed since my bladder was replaced and everyting is feeling so much better......head is clearer.....pain is at a mimimum....like they said...one year from when that first knife went into me and i will be like my old self...........but in the mean time heading back to vegas for another trade show and hopefully i hit 4 jacks again on the video poker game,,,,,,i came home with more money than when i left...like i said.i am the luckiest man in the world and you are all the joy of my life.....

tom............bob,gene , lisa and doug......fight the fight.....we are with you my friends..........................

LEAVING ON A JETBLUE AIRPLANE

2007-01-24T14:28:00.000-05:00

heading to utah......strange but beautiful place....salt lake is situated in a valley surrounded by the wonders of nature.....i love just getting up and looking out at the mountains and wondering how it was all those years ago.....ok now you know what i do during my free time.....will be checking in from the road....seeing most of whom i love to see in the next two weeks......the journey continues...........

after utah heading to Vegas...more on that later

tom

WHITE STUFF ON THE GROUND

2007-01-19T21:12:00.000-05:00

woke up..got out of bed...draged a comb across my head...ok beatles thing going again....what a great band.....anyway where was i ,....oh yeah it snowed a little and it was so beautiful on the ground ......it melted soon after.....but nice while it lasted.................heading to utah...then to vegas....trade show /muscic/////friends...continuing my victory tour......so much stronger this round......looks like the doctors were right it will take a year to feel like my old self agin ...a whole year....wow.....april 12th will be the day....the day to celebrate..........the day i will finally be able to say.."it's been a year' far out.........so from the florida keys..to the mountains of maine..( are there mountains in maine?).......to the red woods and the rio grande......watch out americas....here i come and you never know where me and my neo-bladder will appear......so when you least expect it......poof i will be there......go new orleans saints...help your city heal........the world is watching......to my buddy gene.........saddened by the news,,,,you will be in all of our thoughts........gene begins the fight this week....he has been a dear friend for 20 years....and so much apart of my lfe..i love ya pal...if your reading this...24/7 i am here for you.............................tom......enjoy the sunsets..i hearkey west has some beauties,,,try buffets new land shark beer.......outstanding......

NO SNOW

2007-01-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

STILL NO SNOW IN NY ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER IS TURNING.........LET'S SEE HOW LONG THIS CAN CONTINUE......SNOWLESS IN NEW YORK..........PRICELESS

FLA HERE I COME

2007-01-08T21:38:00.000-05:00

ah well the jets played pretty good so gotta give them a pat on the back (not a new england pat that is)...heading to orlando to a national trade show and some of my best buds in the universe will be there.....so here i come.......and let the sun shine ..perfect timing as the weather gets a little colder in New York....i mean it was only 72 degrees on saturday..what's up with that.....down to low 40s today ..feels more like winter.....nobody has won our snow pool at work ...looks like it will be lou and he has 2/14...see ya on the south side of the good ol usa.......good luck danielle on your bat mitzpah saturday...can't wait to party with the rockmans.................tom.........

J-E-T-S...JETS JETS JETS

2007-01-06T21:08:00.000-05:00

ok time for some football...playoff football...due or go home...imagine any other job like that....if you don't make the sale your going home...or if you can't fix the plumbing your done...get outta here.....playoff football....win and move on....so here's what we have to do....root for my jets......i promise if you do a thousand miracles will befall on to you....(ok maybe just a couple)..i know that is going to be rough on you new england fans.......but hey a man has to try to do what ever it takes.....so i know where i will be at one o'clock.......right in front of my tv.......smiling just happy to be here watching "the game"...........considering if i would have lost the last "lifes" battle i would have been sent home for good...and we all know how that game ended up...i won and i got to move on......enjoy the weather in new youk..it cannot last....heading to orlando tues.....as willie nelson says.....on the road again...i can't wait to be on the road again,,,,,.....

2006

2006-12-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN.....................................

a year to remember.......well just about ready to put this one in the books.....it has been a heck of a ride................so many moments........ so many roads traveled by all......thanks for taking the walk with me......i never once felt alone in this journey.....(ok those two days and nights when i woke up from surgery were kinda freaky) but even then, thanks to the "fund" i was able to have someone by my side ...... i have to admit a year did really fly by ......the chemo treatments are a thing of the past and the healing although slower than i thought is on target....friends and family it is an absolute joy when someone comes up to me and says " i read your blog all the time" and "by the way thanks it really helped me through some things"......do you have any idea how that makes me feel...i mean i started writing to heal myself within and i know that it helped me through the toughest of times....but never did i imagine that it would take on a life of it's own...i am and i really mean it so fortunate to have
the most beautiful people surounding my world....family -friends-pets-and ememies i wish you a wonderful happy over the top new year....may 2007 be what ever you need it to be......my journey continues. i know 2007 will be..........awesome .......................................p.s congrats to timmy and rachel on the birth of their beautiful baby boy named cahal..check him out http://www.cahalmckeefinch.blogspot.com/ ..WISH YOU ALL THE JOY IN THE WORLD..............................................TOM................

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

2006-12-22T22:12:00.000-05:00

I always like to see what holiday card effects me the most or the one that i feel captures the moment or the feeling that i am feeling....well i love them all ..all the photos....sharing of love and peace ....pets and children....misle toes and menaurahs.....santa and mrs claus.....but the card to the left is from one of our customers from texas captured it all.....and to all i wish love...peace..health.......most of all HOPE......please enjoy the moments....enjoy the time of year......smile on your brother...everybody get together and try to love one another right now (youngbloods).....Tom...ooooxxxxoooo...... to all and to all a good night

hAPPY hANAKKAH---2006

2006-12-14T22:43:00.000-05:00

i just have to say it has been a heck of a year....one for the books........i for one have learned much about human nature and what a person can or cannot endure......as my doctor said to me today....and by the way i am really doing good......she said..." your body has been through a major change and it may never be back to where it was"..i plan on fooling them all....but she also ended her sentence with "but you look so good".......it is in the days that i return to the hospital for these tests that it all floods back......but i have to say i really do not mind going to see everyone there..they are amazing...truly amazing.........i even stuck my head into the patients room next door just to say hi and wish him well......we smiled and compared battle scares.....wished a happy holiday to each other and just kinda smiled knowing we are just happy to be apart of this world....and in such great hands......oh well i plan on commenting and blogging year end news....please keep those comments coming either to thunderbyd@aol.com or this site......i have kept everyoneof them and we have a hell of a story being told......happy Hanukkah to all and to all a good night ....please send good vibes to my buddy bob and to stewarts cousin neil who are fighting the battle now...........peace on earth

Cat Scan

2006-12-11T20:27:00.000-05:00

(storm cat )
ok it seems like they like to keep an eye on us former cancer patients..thats right former i am......and former i am gonna stay.....i just put enough distance from me and sloane ketttering and they pull me back in......my 1/4ly check up is here again and i have to get scanned tues dec 12th.,...results on thursday......i am told the the new bladder is working mighty fine so i do not expect any set-backs...............................listening to the jj cale and eric clapton cd...awesome music....i recommend it highly.....those of you into peace and music i recommend the old bobby darin tune ...a simple song of peace.....right on today even though it was written in 1969.......(itunes 99 cents..live at the desert inn version)........all the news that fits.........tom cat

Beautiful quote

2006-12-07T21:53:00.000-05:00

every once in a while i receive something via e-mail from a wonderful friend that just has to be shared,,,,enjoy...read it slow....read it twice ..tom

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer).
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing a way nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's" More "I'm sorry's." But mostly, given another shot at life,
I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it.. live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who doesn't like you , who has more, or who's doing what Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what we are blessed with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day.

naTIONAL sALES mEETING

2006-12-03T20:09:00.000-05:00

just finished 3 days of meetings-partying and paintballing..will not bore you with the meeting stuff....but paintball now that was a blast ..it was only my 2nd time (but will not be my last)....split into 2 groups....learned now to use the gear.....reminded to never remove eye shield....200 miles an hour paint ball will do some major damage.....first game i settled in looked out over my bunker and splat right in the face shield it splattered..........what a rush....by the third game i was really into it....my body is coming back...first real test of the new bladder......decided to hang back and give cover fire to my teammates.... it seemed to be a stalemate and time was ticking.....i decided to run across the entire indoor field and flush them out....thats right ...i ran ...the fastest and furthest i have run since the surgery......got behind a huge bunker and traded shots with my co-workers.....ran out of paint balls ..rushed up behind a wall and force one to surender....(he did not know i was out of bullets)......well i should have looked to my right because sean, michele and scott were hiding behind a bunker and i was plasted with paint.....game ended in a tie.....smiles all around......i quess i am telling you all this is because my body was glad to get some new energy and excersise in it....oh yeah meetings went well....it was so good to see everyone.............and so good to be seen........blog you next week......trade show in NYC all week.................peace...

ONE YEAR AGO

2006-11-26T23:07:00.000-05:00

self portrait
this tues the 28th marks the one year anniversary of my first Chemo treatment. i cannot believe a year has gone by. i re-read the blog and comments of that day and was, as always deeply touched.....i am feeling better but different....people always ask me "how are you feeling" and i seem to always say...i will be better soon.......it seems that i still am in someone else's body and i am on the outside looking in......i am sure that will pass as my strength returns and my spirit lifts me past all this......my weight is up and my energy comes and goes.......and i do get by......but like i said....it is something that i still cannot completely understand all the love and support that i received during this difficult yet amazing year........i will celebrate many anniversary's in the years to come......landmark days and events that marked this "walk in the park" i celebrate them with you.........always ........tom

THANKSGIVING

2006-11-14T21:09:00.000-05:00

hi my fellow americans.............next week is going to be a special holiday...........i mean it is a holiday without all the b.s that comes with most of them.............i mean no hidden agenda......just to be thankful for what we have...just be thankful for our families and friends....pets and music.....food and air....water and love..........health and happiness.....mets and jets.............toilet paper and chocolate (not in any order) memories and forgetfulness..............nieces and nephews..........ice cream and beer........bikinis and beer........doctors and medicine.....gleevec and neo-bladders.....rolling stone and relix ........hippies and well just about everything that makes up this world on the peaceful side...........oh yeah that would be the best thing to be thankful for if it were possible......peace this holiday season....my friends......let me offer you at least that..........peace and love to all i know...i know it is something that is always said............but i really really mean it .....i love you all so much.............. may your homes this holiday season be filled with all that is good in this life.............oooooxxxxoooooo TOM

PART OF THE PLAN

2006-11-05T10:08:00.000-05:00

thinking about the past year......still feel like i am one of the lucky ones..with all the support and love i had...i mean this has been such an incredible journey full of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows......but isn't that what most people have to deal with everything they do .....look i am not saying i recommend that everyone gets their bladder removed and replaced with their intestine
..that my friends might be a little extreme.....what i am saying is i think coming through all this and seeing what an inpact it has had on so many people has lead me to believe that it was all part of the "plan"...i mean really how many of us took this "walk" together.....how many of us rode the "wave" of emotion together....how many people have taken "stock" of what they have and love........I was thinking about closing out "WALK IN THE PARK" AND CONTINUING THE JOURNEY maybe call it " a run through the jungle" or something like that....maybe share some insight on what it is to live with my new body...my new mind....my bladder.... i mean my story is really not over and can never have an end ...... i hoped that i have made an impact on other peoples lives that i will be apart of this world for a long time.......my mom has been gone since 1970 and she lives in so many of us still....i decided a long time ago that i wanted to have that same impact on this world as she has had ..... i just wanted to say that all that are in the sound of my blog....i will carry you in my heart and soul.....and feel you touching my shoulder ...as my Journey Continues....... i will take it easy ....but take it (words of woody guthrie)..........TOm

WORLDS GREATEST DAD

2006-11-02T20:23:00.000-05:00

From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly] hey i think i am a good pops...but you have to read this story and watch the video with sound....i was deeply touched..take the time...amazing
But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an Institution.'' But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes Followed them around the room. "Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed Him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want To do that.'' Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran More than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he Tried. `` That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, It felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!'' And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon. ``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a Single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few Years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then They found a way to get into the race Officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?'' How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried. They did 212 of them.
Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with A cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together. ``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a Mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life. ``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once
watch th is video...with the sound up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE

HOPE ALL WAS HAPPY THIS HALLOWEEN

2006-11-01T08:13:00.000-05:00

Blogs Birthday

2006-10-26T20:01:00.000-04:00

well it was exactly one year ago I started this Blog.....now they say most blogs peter out after 3 months.....they say ( i have no idea who they are) most blogs never even get people to comment......well we certainly broke that mold................yOU HAVE BEEN SUCH AN AMAzingGROUP OF PEOPLE...........i know now that my words have reached hundreds of people.....but what you also must know that your comments also have reached so many and in many times were just as entertaining as i tried to be.................i have saved every e-mail to my business account tcheffo@yaleet.net, my personal account thunderbyd@aol.com and to this blog and i have to tell you i still am amazed by the support that i was given.....i mean i know it was not your everyday,run of the mill, slam dunk kind of situation...i mean you all stood by me as the chemo entered my veins...you all sat right beside me when my bladder was removed and replaced with a piece of my intestine...you all held my hand when i took those first few steps to the computer in the hospital to tell you all i was gonna make it........you all stopped any tears from flowing before they even tried to leave my eyes (although a few drops just managed to escape just now)......i cannot even begin to thank all of you but i have to try..........to my wife, casey and chris your humor and love got me through the toughest of times......... you guys rocked...to all my cousins i love you so much and feel like i was so blessed to be part of this family , to my friends ,brothers and sisters of the road....... ....... i could not have made it without knowing we would all be together again......to my dearest friends what can i say....i tried listing all of you all but was to choked up so i just have to tell you something..." i have been to the darkest place a man could ever go, i have looked through these eyes and saw what never should be seen, i have been lifted from my dream to become whole again and you have been part of the reason why.........i will spend the rest of my life never ever taking our friendship for granted.................your hearts were so giving,caring convincing.......i had no other choice but to survive."......to everyone within the sound of this blog.....THANK_YOU from the bottom of my new bladder......................................tomstrong..........

MOURNING FOR MY METS

2006-10-20T20:15:00.000-04:00

photo one 2006 ..... photo two 2005.. exactly one year apart photo was taken wednesday night going to the QVC BREAST CANCER FUND RAISER.......(MORE ON THE EVENT LATER)...... as the saying goes ...you can't win the all (BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I WON THIS BATTLE i fought over the last year)...but all us mets fans wanted was to win 4 out of 7 and advance to the center stage......well i want to thank all my pals for pulling for my mets...........even though your loyalty was to other teams..red sox...atlanta..seattle.etc....but you all wanted my mets to win for me....it was suppose to be our year,....but as chris said to me in the top of the ninth..."dad at least your alive to see this"..ya gotta love him.....ok the event wednesday night was amazing....our industry raised over 3,000,000 for breast cancer research...we got to hang with carmen electra,stephon marlberry (Knicks) meadow from the sopranos... and many more.........we had a blast....it looks like October is officially CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CHEFFO CIRCLE and i am so glad all of you are a part of that circle.......together we will make a difference....i swear............... there is a really special shout out to the birthday blogger extrodinair susan k (oct 14)...casey and i and a bunch of friends surprised her (a party was given to her by mike her husband) in myrtle beach and we danced the night away....casey got to sing with the live band the zen tricksters and really stole the show with her version of "me and bobbie McGee"...it was one of the top ten moments of my live..you see casey was celebrating her 5th years from being diagnosed (we are one day apart) and she really shined i mean really freaking shined up there.....the house just roared for her.........oh well i cannot end this weeks wrap-up without wishing karen m a happy birthday and my dear friend bob good luck with his "walk in the park" that started this week... let's get them next year......................love you..official member of the "soggy bottom boys"..tom

ANNIVERSARY & BIRTHDAYS

2006-10-14T09:24:00.000-04:00

well today i celebrate my one year anniversary from being told "houston we have a problem"....i of course i said "what you mean we"....those words echo in my head..."tom your gonna have to lose your bladder"...i said" did you just say i gonna have to loose my bladder?" and the rest is history....i hope i set an example to those who will follow in my footsteps.....and for those who are up against the "trials of life" i can only say if you have the family,friendship and support that i have had....it truly will be a "WALK IN THE PARK"........ 5 years ago this weekend was also the "day the earth stood still" casey will celebrate her 5th year after being told she had CML.....5 years ....wow......casey i know how hard it has been but you have been my inspiration through my ordeal...your strength and courage has been amazing........ mom and dad love you so much..............LAST but NOT least...it is queen of the bloggetts birthday today SUSAN K..(karen m is next week ).......she is off fishing somewhere so post your birthday wishes...and anniversary wishes here........where the news keeps coming....27/7. thanks for coming along on my journey.........it has been a "long strange trip"......full circle.....think you should re-read yesterdays last comment it is a tribute to us all,,,,,,,, i will try to re-print it...TOM....good luck bob in your treatment

A WEDDING ,A BABY AND TWO KITTENS....(THREE UNRELATED TOPICS)

2006-10-09T21:01:00.000-04:00

cASEY...MICHELE...SUSAN K..KAREN........well we sure had a great time this weekend...michele (from work ) got married and we let our hair down...(well whatever hair i got left)...she invited everyone she has ever met in her entire life.....we danced the night away..... she did the most wonderful thing you could imagine...joe and michele in lieu of favors donated in everybody's honor and in honor of the Cheffo family......money to sloan kettering hospital (best cancer care anywhere)...we were blown away and mr and mrs meier (michele and joe) we are forever grateful for what you did ........I wish them an incredible ride throughout their lives.....enjoy hawaii you guys......ok the second part of this post..stephine and jason of loose lucy's fame had a baby this week....beautiful baby boy..jackson is his name......good luck in life jackson.....your mom and dad are the cooliest people around........ TOPIC THREE......... CASEY BECAME A grandma yESTERDAY...her cat rockstar had two kittens....(that means sue and i are great grandparents...proud to say mother and kittens are doing fine..........enjoy the weddiing photo and it was so good to see everyone and some of my bloggetts in person...the doobies,the cartwrights..rockmans..grossers... larris & larris....krypels ....candy girl....kaminsky and murphy........tina.....everyone form work......old and new.......i had a blast seeing you all............lots of good memories......lots of good times......smiles....tom...................................................................ps.....coming up on one year ....oct 14th.....the day i was told....."tom we got a big problem"......I'm still standing.............better than i ever did....first on the dance floor...one of the last to leave........

WALK FOR THE CURE

2006-10-01T00:56:00.001-04:00

PHOTO OF TEAM CASEY ...... we had the most excellent time at the "light the night " event thursday night..the event was put on by the leukemia/lymphoma society to raise awareness and funds for all blood cancers ..it was packed with special events and survivors and supporters everywhere....we raised thousands of dollars and walked a few miles to raise awareness ..i do not have to tell you how thankful i was to all of the people who donated and walked...it also was my "first" walk as a survivor.....yeah that's right i am a survivor..and dam proud of it.....survivors carried white balloons and supporters carried red..all the balloons were light up ..it was a sight to see and feel......i was never one for fundraiser and these types of events until we started doing the breast cancer event and the leukemia walk once a year "oct 18" is the day to raise money for breast cancer research (OUR COMPANY DONATES $120,000 worth of footwear to be sold on QVC ALL PROCEEDS for BREAST CANCER research ) WE JOIN OTHER FOOTWEaR COMPANIES TO FIGHT THE FIGHT .....it has made a world of difference in my life to do these events.........it kinda makes you feel that you are making a difference.......we know TEAM CASEY made A DIFFERENCE LAST THURSDAY NIGHT ON THE CAMPUS OF HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY...............................................oh yeah..forgot to tell you i had my ct scan results last week...looks like you gonna have me around for a while...all systems are a -go..... new bladder is taking a liking to me.....think i will keep it for a while...........next test in three months.......they are keeping an eye on me i guess............tom ......micheles (from work) wedding is this week.....saturday is going to be a blast.......

LIGHT THE NIGHT

2006-09-24T23:18:00.000-04:00

This is a week for us to help join the fight against blood cancers....casey had a fund raiser at a local bar (beau's in greenlawn) and raised thousands of dollars to be donated to the leukemia/lymphoma society ........several bands ( even my old band blackhorse played there) see photo.... along with rob seiler my dear friend and neighbor who is now an official member of Blackhorse...we were missing kevin ward who is still slowly recovering from hip replacement........ but enough about us even though with casey singing with us we rocked the house...or should i say bar...other people donate raffle prizes and the bands included gun barrel city and the man himself peter toh and the royal tease.....marc opened up with some brilliant piano work.....we had a blast and i thank all who attended or donated so far.........we will be taking this fight againt blood cancer to hofstra university on thursday night for an incredible walk around the campus with surviors and family's & friends carrying balloons white balloons for survivors and red for supporters......it is an amazing night for a tremendous cause.....i know you will all be there in our hearts.....the cheffo's ......special thanks to beau's bar & all who attended a really special thanks to loose lucy's ,huntington village leather,fad of huntington,station coffee,body and sole,naot sandals ,denise hubley & the leukemia society for their incredible raffle gifts..........the fight continues.........

FLORIDA PART II

2006-09-19T20:05:00.000-04:00

What a fantastic trip......two trade shows... biz was real good.....visiting stores....kissing babies and shaking hands....my victory tour was in full swing....then all my buddies started to arrive......smiles all around......music seeping in.......beer started flowing......jokes started flying........and that was just in the first 5 minutes.....seeing stewart, mo and kev m, all my surf expo friends and the beautiful loose lucy gals was all that it should be....good friends and no bull.....hearing kev martin play the mandolin to our songs is something everyone should hear......i mean he just nails it every time.....to see tears in the eyes of the people i love is humbling at best..........sitting by the pool playing music after a long day smoozing shoe-people is i quess what pools are made for...even the security guard thanked us for playing and breaking up his night..... even told us where we could continue the jam after the pool had to be locked up........i reprinted the comments that were directed at part II take a look ....please send more...it is always a pleasure to hear from you'all......oh yeah try kissing the wind....you never know where it might end up.......all the peace you can handle.......tom....congrats to my Mets.........all the way boys

FLORIDA

2006-09-14T10:11:00.000-04:00

well spending a week in fla (working ) mostly has been a real eye opener......i have seen more people traveling around with rolling walkers than i care to admit (not in south beach where a different kind of wheels was the norm) mainly roller blades....i say if there would only wear our sandals the would not need walkers.....except for my dear friends gene and gladys....they retired down here 5 years ago and the look younger than ever......i loved seeing them and had a good time as always......in orlando now heading to tampa to sell some shoes ( i kinda just show them ...they sell themselves..heehe) then back to orlando for a national trade show.....it is great to be on the road...my body is saying what the heck i thought we were through with this travel stuff....not in a million years...although as fogelberg says..the audience is heavenly ...but the traveling is hell...........big music jam planned for friday night.......will be missing kent.... a card carrying member of possum but will rock on.......as the saying goes...if the room is a rocking......please come a knockin........please be safe you'all....good luck barry & bob with your surgeries

HELLO WORLD

2006-09-06T22:46:00.000-04:00

I still cannot get over the feeling of the wide open spaces of the mid west....it always stays with me for a long time...........i am heading on my first extended road trip (9 days) heading to miami saturday and doing a trade show in south beach fla......(lucky me)......then heading up to orlando to the surf expo show..gee all the new bathing suits for next year will be shown...(even luckier me).......best of all will get to play music with the 'VANSMAN' himself....kev martin....one of the card carrying members of 'POSSUM' and hang with the best group of people a man could ask for...........................friday night kev if your reading this,,,,,,....all is well internally...different but well.....if i have one thing to say to you today.......embrace it...whatever it is embrace it.......love ...music....work...friendship.........the latest issue of playboy........embrace it........take nothing for granted....for as quick as a sting-ray to the heart it could be over.........(somehow it was a fitting death for the croc-man)...god i hope i don't go in the middle of selling shoes ......i could see it now......yes we have this in a size uggggggg..........but if i did it would be doing what i love to do .......playing with ladies feet... errrrr no i mean working with people..yeah that's it working with people...............................TOM.........good luck lucy...we are pulling for you...................

THEY LIKE ME...THEY REALLY LIKE ME

2006-08-31T18:47:00.000-04:00

ah shucks you guys are making me blush.....or is that still the after effects of the chemo.......i really don't think i could ever stop completly.......it is such apart of my being these days.....my trip through the corn fields of iowa has reinforced to me how beautiful this country is.......seeing those cows munching on the grass was so peaceful to me.......( the fact that i wanted a omaha steak after passing my 2,000 one had nothing to do with how i felt)......seems to me that everybody should take a ride through iowa someday..........it smells so clean (except around the cows).........oh yeah speaking of cows...sold a heck of alot of shoes while i was there ...well brad did most of the work(get it our footwear is made from cows) .....great job brad....a pleasure to hang with you.........gotta go ..steaks just about done .......p.s has anybody not seen what an amazing team the mets are this year..............

CLOSER TO MYSELF

2006-08-25T19:43:00.000-04:00

i am still feeling real good from last week and i left that photo up to keep me smiling.....went to the met game tues night and they won with a walk off homer.....chris and my bros were by my side and i thought my son was gonna crush me after the hommer to win.......i realize in those moments i am still not 100% and have to turn it down a little......i dragged all day wed and was in bed early wed night........don't know why i am telling you all this but i guess it stll hits me sometimes as to what i went through...and where i am going......when i think about it only being about 4 months ago that i had the surgery it boggles my mind...it also boggles my mind that i used the word boggle......oh well off to trade show on sunday...beautiful downtown shendoah iowa...corporate home of brown shoe fit,,,,,if you sneeze you drive right past it........(if your lucky)......anywho still need to post the rap song and poem that was written in my honor....but that is for another time.....coming up on 1 year anniversary on being diagonsed....oct 13th........i was thinking i will end my "walk in the park" blog then ............but who knows what i will begin that day.......stay tuned my beautiful friends and family

TYE DYED SUPRISE

2006-08-20T22:08:00.000-04:00

..................let me start by saying that i have the most amazing family a man could ever ask for....kindness was bottled by these relatives and always ready to be served...chilled or warm it is all i would ever need to drink.......what started out months ago with trying to figure out a date that all the "cousins" could get together to the actual drive to new jersey (getting lost again even with a gps sytem and two extra humans to guide the way)......to driving up the driveway of my beautiful cousins loraine and donny..(ok donnie is handsome) home.......thinking it was our typical family get together....i knew this would be special because most of them read my blog every day and lived the journey with me and it was going to be "good for the soul" to see and feel their hugs.....as we turned the corner of their driveway i heard my favorite grateful dead song playing (ripple) i knew we were going to have a real good time....but never did i expect to see the sight i saw that day........it was a sea of pink tye dyed shirts...cousins wearing afro wigs...all in my honor.......all out of love......all for one...truly one for all.......( turns ou all the hand made ..hand dyed shirts did not start out pink but when they washed them to stop them from bleeding thay kinda ran together) it was like a flaming breast cancer awareness moment only it was for me......the photo above only tells half the story ..the day was filled with music i love.....( not a single complaint from the sinatra crowd)....food i really love knishes..chicken....bean salad.....home made italian ices....cookies...cake......beer.....pulled pork..beer......brownies........ice cream...beer.................i know i forgot something oh yeah everthing except the beer was made by one of my relatives......the highlight of the day is when you have a pome written about you from my uncle vinny..... i am honored to have one written for me ( i will post it this week)...man oh man did he nail it on the head....my writing pales in comparison to his and was honored to have him think of me so fondly,,,,,,,,ok just when i think i cannot be suprised anymore my nephews luke and gabe (who are next to me in the photo) wrote and sang (and played drums) a rap song to me........it is the highlight of the day...........thank you family......aunts and uncles thanks for being great role models growing up .........i only hope i have been able to be the same for all your grandchildren whom i love and hold so dearly............barbara......loraine...diane......steph.......jan...christopher.....anthony........you have the most beautiful familes and "continue to bless me with your undying love and support throughout my journey.......you have made my "walk in the park"...........remarkable......you all are park of my "post-op" recovery......saturday i was the "luckiest man on the face of the earth".......tom

TODAYS MAIL

2006-08-17T22:33:00.000-04:00

just received a letter from my hospital asking me if i wanted to attend classes on post cancer seminars........i thought about it for a minute and was thinking about how everyone i know has been there for my post cancer treatment and i have the greatest support team anybody could ever have..so i passed....i will try to offer my support to anyone who needs it.......on sept 28 our family will be walking in the "light the night walk" at hofstra university that supports the research to help find a cure for leukemia if anyboby wants to join our team in this walk i will post the sign up sheet soon......we march as surviors and friends........we are so close to getting rid of certain types of leukemia that i could taste it...imagine that ....in my lifetime my beautiful daughter Casey with be free of this burden...........i will live to see that day.........we will live to enjoy that moment.................drinks are on me when that happens........peace for now.........can't wait to see my cousins this weekend......................enjoy the concerts casey and chris.........out for now

HOME ON THE RANGE

2006-08-14T22:21:00.000-04:00

i like to consider my home like a ranch only without the cattle,rolling hills,big fences,a place to tie up my horse, a well on the property (you get the picture)....but a place to ride up upon after a long road trip and a place to settle in after landing in the sunrise.....getting onto my horse...errr car and riding through the rolling road called the southern state parkway.......pullin up when i turned onto my block it was almost like i rode under the big wooden sign posts that used to identify the big ranches of the old west.......i felt like i was bringing the cattle home (billy crystal quoted curly in city slickers "there's nothing like bringing the cattle home") only that cattle was only me getting back to the ol homestead and into my bunk to settle down and shake off the jet lag that our cowboy of old never really felt.....i am sure as i sit here and type to hundreds of people at once that some of those old cowboys are sitting up there watching us run around this planet, getting from salt lake to nyc in just under four hours and are wondering how i could possibly not stop and sleep under the stars tonight and watch the most natural light show in the world...that sun that has now set and melted in the sky.....and will rise over us to offer us the light of a new day...........a new day for peace on this planet..........lets keep the rockets asleep for a little while .............to all i know thank you for all the love and affection as i slowly get back to where i once was and thanks for the prayers to my family in one of the most difficult times we have had..................tell someone you love them today.......it's good for the soul..... tom.."the last of the brooklyn cowboys"

trade show heaven

2006-08-11T13:44:00.000-04:00

we are having a great trade show....this is an amazing market......everyone is into a healthy lifestyle......but everyone has a beer in their hand around 4 pm......show party had the band flock of seagulls..(80's) party band and they were a blast..........michele decided not to eat and had a liquid dinner last night and got vip passes to g-love.......kent and i ended up playing guitars in his room and had a magic night......we ended the set with a song called satisfied mind.........fitting ending to a great day......errr night.................peace tom....oh yeah craig still has not shut up............love ya

greetings from salt lake city

2006-08-10T01:23:00.001-04:00

well i am back out on the road.....thanks for all the well wishing and prayers....i felt them through the screen........we will carry mathew with us always...........went to park city tonite for a good meal with good friends and great wine,,,,,,,i expect a very busy show and love the action..............michele and her crew worked hard getting the booth set up and i am forever grateful for that...............i will keep in touch......the show must go on.................tom

greetings from salt lake city

2006-08-10T01:23:00.000-04:00

SAD NEWS

2006-08-06T22:52:00.000-04:00

the trade show was a huge success and i was on top of the world.....friends and co-workers were happy to see that i was back to my old self again (almost)...customers were smiling as was the competition...you see it is not only about the shoes in our industry and everyone proved me right...........right down to the multi-brand-jam-band that performed in the hotel suite...it was my return to glory so to speak........however that world came crashing down with one phone call from family......my nephew and godson Matthew Cheffo Nowicki was killed in a tragic accident at the young age of 22 ........matthew was the son of john (Nor) and rosemarie whose photo graced my blog only two entries ago.......although rosemarie is my first cousin i have always considered her like a sister because when my parents passed on it was with rosey and her family that took us in and we lived like brother and sister...Nor is and will always be one of my best friends...and brother -in law......the pain that our family is feeling now can only be explained as devastating......my sister lost her son ..my best friend lost his son and i lost my god-son.......I was chosen to read the eulogy at the service and i will always honor and cherish that moment as long as i live....Matthew blazed a trail through life and he will be missed...he will be missed by all .........he also leaves behind two beautiful sisters who loved and adored his way of life......I love you Matthew....you will live in my heart........forever.....uncle tom.......

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

2006-07-28T23:14:00.000-04:00

THE side of willie nelson tour bus & back stage at a willie nelson/grateful dead concert..that's willie in the flesh
Like willie says.....cant wait to get on the road again.....but i have to admit i am a little nervous about leaving the santuary of my home......i am excited about being surounded by my dear co-workers and road warrior friends i have an amazing group of friends in my industry........i know thay are just as excited as i am to be back out there......there is something about trade shows that cannot be duplicated any where else....i swear there should be a reality tv show about them......but back to me for a second.....this is a huge challenge and one that i am ready for ..it's like riding a bike you never forget how....but if you take a spill on one it takes a little while to be comfortable again....that is how i am gonna feel ..........but i proved it to myself by going back to work full time on june 1st earlier than i expected.....i worked through my chemo treatments for the most part .....so gosh darn it there is no reason that we will not have a KICK BUTT TRADE SHOW IN LAS VEGAS ......AFTER ALL THEY DON'T CALL ME VINNY VEGAS FOR NOTHING................................ so far 20-22-35 are the roulette #'s last chance to pick a number.................happy birthday paul.......could not have done this without your love and support....................see you when the wheels touch down.....will report in from vegas........cell # 1-516-946-1134........ and don't forget to light a candle for all the injustice in the world......may it light the way for all the see ....tom

pRETTY COOL WEB-SITE

2006-07-27T00:13:00.000-04:00

my cousin roe and johnny nor .......many moons ago.....we had a get together at their home tonight.....thanks for a real good time..
click on the site below.....type in your birthday and year and it will give you pretty cool stuff www.paulsadowski.com/birthday.asp here is only a part of what it says about me....................... As of 7/27/2006 12:05:32 AM EDT You are 52 years old.You are 629 months old.You are 2,736 weeks old.You are 19,150 days old are 459,600 hours old.You are 27,576,005 minutes old.You are 1,654,560,332 seconds old. pretty wild stuff.......anyhow my dear friend ronnie came "home " from new mexico to visit......a few of the old gang got together and had a blast down memory lane............smiles all around.............no tears on this night........we will always be friends.....no doubt about it................... my aunt gloria was there....we told her stories about what used to happen in the basement .........i swear aunt gloria it was incense ......what a great reason to be alive.......old friends and budwiser..................yahoooooooo...tom........love ya johnny nor.......