CANCER FREE

well had a good day today ( but then again any day above ground is a good day..........)looks like we killed the bastard....there is no visable sign of cancer in my body........ya....whoooooooooooo..... i will repeat that to all of you in the back....THERE IS NO VISABLE SIGN OF CANCER IN MY BODY............I still need to remove and replace the bladder and that was a trip leaning about my recovery and surgery...( i will give up to the minute reports from the hospital)......using ghost writers and trying to go live myself...i will go into more detail about the surgery soon....... we need to remove the bladder due to the high reocurrence rate and the where the tumor was located......but man it feels good to know it is out of my body...........always used to joke and say "the big c will not get me" well it did get me .......but it can't kill me...........whats that saying ...what doesn't kill you ,,,,makes you stronger........i will be faster...stronger...happier...and dang it if i am not gonna keep on blogging................thanks to my doctors i'm gonna live to play some more....dance some more..pick and grin some more......laugh some more..cry some more ( and those who know me know that is quite often) but most of all see all of you some more............rock on people (rachel at work hates when i say people) but hey i can say what i want i got cancer...opps....can't say that any ....oh well it was good while it lasted ( getting away with saying stuff)....heheheheehhe........heee...haw...........tommy "cancer free" cheffo.............

NEWS ON MY OPERATION

when the monkey smiles ....all is good
turns out a good friend of mine knew someone who had the exact same surgery as i am going to have and is in his 18th week of recovery...well i gave my new pal a call and he was so helpful.......he said it is painless and a little uncomfortable......he has trained his new neo-bladder to work pretty good.....he did have a blood infection but that could happen during any surgery........he sounded strong and optimistic and made me want to get started right away.......one step closer to free.....need to remove this chain called cancer from around my neck....can't wait to say ....i'm a survivor ( and not from the tv show) ..loved that curb episode.......anywho....all is good ..even got to throw the SOFTBALL around sunday with some of the greatest bunch of guys.."THE RAIDERS' ...the softball team i am on ..they are holding my spot for me when i am healthy......."once a raider always a raider"......i pitched batting pratice until denis almost took my head off with a line drive......then i figured that was enough........long may you run...........................tom ...thanks cousin maryann...your a pisser..love to all

BLOG WORLD

ok i lied about the award....but who knows........................................................... right after i was told about the big "C" i had this idea of creating of a web site that friends and family would be able to check on for updates and progress......my good friend and neighbor rob ( and heck of a piano player) told me about the "BLOG" concept...and the rest is history.....never in my wildest dreams did i think it would evolve into what it has.....i honestly do not know where i would have been if not for being able to write it down at the end of the day and share it with all of you......so much has come out of this site.....it has been a light to me in the darkest of hours....a silent friend who takes what i have to say and share it with the world.......it is my intention to continue to blog from the bedside at slone kettering hospital.......5th floor.......i will own that floor in a few days......asked casey to sneak my guitar in .....her reaction ...daddy gotta think of the other patients ( gotta love her)......i said ok ...maybe i will bring my harmonica ...( just learning how to play it) that should keep them awake....hehehehe...most importantly chris is gonna sneak in a few beers....or maybe wine to celebrate easter and passover....( sure hope the big guy passes over me).......so to all that read my words everyday..thank-you....to all that live life to the fullest everyday....keep on keeping on........lots of stories to tell still....i plan on blogging long after this chapter in my life is finished ........... long after the stitches heal in my new bladder ....long after they kick my ass out of the hospital into your arms........the arms of life............................

"TO LATE TO STOP NOW"

YOU ARE MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS
ok now that i had a day for it to sink in...........i have to shout it out ...I AM GETTING MY FREAKING BLADDER REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH PART OF MY INTESTINE.....whew........ now that i got that off my chest i feel better...anybody else want to shout out something go right ahead or put it in my comments........you will feel so much better..........ok i can finally release the reins on the horse and move foward.......additional coaching is planned for tuesday april 4th....they will teach me ..diet .....excercise....work on the mind and how to cope...the ins and outs of the surgery.......new cheers to make the new bladder function better like...GIVE ME A P...GIVE ME A P.......GIVE ME A P....or.....YOU CAN DO IT.......or...COME ON CHEF-FO ...LET IT FLOW...... or HOW ABOUT RAH RAH SIS BOOM BAH...MAY THE P-P FLOW AS FAST AS A CAR ........if you'll have any good ones i be glad to put them in my routine......OK ALL KIDDING ASIDE FOR ONE MOMENT......I AM SCARED PEE-LESS (GET IT NOT SHITLESS).....BUT I AM MORE SCARED TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DO NOT DO THIS......TO WATCH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS GROW OLD.....TO HELP PEOPLE LAUGH AT THEMSELVES AND TO REMIND US NOT TO TAKE IT SO SERIOUS.....MANY RAINBOWS AND RAINDROPS TO RUN THROUGH....TREES TO LISTEN TO........CHILDRENS LAUGHTER TO HEAR.....AND MUSIC TO BRING IT ALL BACK HOME........REMEMBER...THE WEALTHEST PERSON IS A PAUPER AT TIMES...COMPARED TO THE MAN WITH A SATISFIED MIND..............LIVE IT......LOVE IT.....YOU GET ONE SHOT TO LEAVE YOUR MARK... TRY TO HIT THE BULLSEYE .......PEACE..........TOM

DAY BY DAY

SURGERY UPDATE......BROUGHT TO YOU BY KELLOGGS.................feel like a veteran when it comes to surgery now....up until these days i only had one and that was 26 years ago...Appendicitis was that tune....anyhow i was in operating room and my doctor said to the assistants in the room that i had one of the greatest attitudes he has seen and asked me what i did since i last saw him two weeks ago....proceed to tell all about the allman's concerts and the person handling my IV lines said he was at three shows also..turns out we were at two of the same nights together....two rows apart...so here i am about to be put under and we are yapping about the concert.....this is the bizarre world that i have moved myself into.....i mean it is freaky being put to sleep with all these people watching over you....well i woke up in recovery and was glad that part was over.........IT WENT REALLY WELL today......TUMOR HAS SHRUNK....WE KILLED THE BASTARD.....HOWEVER RECURRENCE IS VERY HIGH WITH BLADDER CANCER AND AS I KNEW WOULD HAPPEN THE BLADDER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE HAS TO BE DONE.........DRUM ROLL PLEASE..............APRIL 12TH..IS THE DAY.....RIGHT AROUND PASSOVER AND BEFORE EASTER...OK AROUND THESE HOLY DAYS IS A GOOD THING RIGHT......I MEAN WHAT THE HECK COULDN'T HURT ....other than a headache and feeling like someone is lighting a butane lighter around my privates...i did pretty good today.........ok let's see how much fun i can have in two weeks...any ideas?.......yahooooooo...let's get the ball rolling.........tom "almost famous" cheffo

Surgery Update

photo taken two weeks after being diagnosed
.............i think i have to clear things up ....WEDNESDAYS SURGERY is just another look see into the bladder ( i think my doctor likes looking inside my bladder for some reason).....just kidding..he wants to see the effects the chemo has had on my tumor...this information will help him when the main surgery will take place...(soon ) i hope.....need to get this on and over with...the journey has been a long one and part of me wants to relieve all of you of your daily concerns about me...........this is the surgery i will have on wednesday....if your squimish stop reading from this point on.....Cystoscopy Test Overview
Cystoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the interior lining of the bladder . The cystoscope is a thin, lighted viewing instrument that is inserted into the urethra and advanced into the bladder.
The cystoscope is inserted into your urethra and slowly advanced into the bladder while your doctor looks through the scope to examine the inside of the urethra. Your doctor then examines the inside of your bladder for stones, tumors, bleeding, and infection. Cystoscopy allows your doctor to look at areas of your bladder and urethra that usually do not show up well on X-rays. Tiny surgical instruments can be advanced through the cystoscope that allow your doctor to remove samples of tissue (biopsy) or samples of urine from each kidney. ok i have shared with all of you my hell ....with you all by my side i just learn to deal with it.......knowing you all are in my world...makes it easy to get through...tom

ONE STEP DONE AND THE OTHER BEGUN

ALLMANS...LIVE AT THE BEACON.....
met with all the specialist ..took some more blood...took some more x-rays..took some more ekgs...looks like i am fit for surgery ON WEDNESDAY..rats..... they will take a one more look see before the cutting and pasting begins.......i hope he does not hit the delete key......should have hooked me up to an ekg during the last set at the allmans show...my heart was racing .....they truly are one of the greatest live bands of all time ( in my opinion) and we know that opinions are like butt-holes ...everyone has one ...heeeheh....any-way Stephanie from loose lucy's fame (who along with Jason ) is not only with child but was wearing a really cool duane allman tee...she wore it just for me...and the back said and i quote duane allman ..( he was killed in a motorcycle accident at a young age)..Here's the quote and i wish i said it but i sure felt it...." i love being alive and i will be the best man i possibly can...i will take love wherever i find it and offer it to everyone who will take it....seek knowledge from those wiser....and teach those who wish to learn from me" .....d.allman ..................................long may you run my friends and family............i will get through this as a dear friend warned me if something happens to me she will have to kill me and besides so many people will be pissed off...so i kinda have to get well or suffer the consequences......later....dudes ( as casey called me) and dudeettes,,,, HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEWART......YOU ARE ONE OF THE REASONS I AM SO BLESSED.........those who wish to send stewart a birthday wish can do so at stewart@joeblowtees.com his daughter jesse was on will and grace last thursday.....congrats jesse........

Desiderata

Request for a re-print from paul cartwright..this poem is a big part of who I am and i try to follow some of it's teaching written by max ehrman.....................................................................................Desiderata ......Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence.As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant;they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain and bitter;for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs;for the world is full of trickery.But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;many persons strive for high ideals;and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love;for in the face of all aridity and disenchantmentit is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,gracefully surrendering the things of youth.Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.Beyond a wholesome discipline,be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,no less than the trees and the stars;you have a right to be here.And whether or not it is clear to you,no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,whatever you conceive Him to be,and whatever your labors and aspirations,in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,it is still a beautiful world.Be cheerful.Strive to be happy. Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952

HERE COMES THE SUN

light the light
how many people look forward to daylite savings time.....april 2nd we push that clock ahead.....i love that feeling ...always have......another winter on the notch on our belts....in our case it was a heck of a winter and i really loved having you all with me......the basketball league that i have been involved with started up last night....chris (my son) has long since graduated from this league and he asked me wht am i still involved...i kinda laughed and said it keeps me off the streets at night but in reality i love helping my friend pete (who runs the the division) and we are keeping over 120 high school boys,,,er men off the street 3 days a week........120 kids and only 12 parents stepped forward to coach....i mean it's not rocket science...i tell them to shoot the round ball into the round hole....and smile when your doing it.....teach em to work together.....and sweating is a major part of the fun....could not coach this year do to my date with a new bladder.......but somehow just being their lifts my spirit....i plan on making as many games as possible ....just to see ..just to laugh with my buddys.....just to see that one kid smile....just to make a difference...........see you all on the flip side......i am in 2nd place in our NCAA office pool....i will keep you posted on that....look out sandy i am right behind you.....finally off anti-biotics...yeah........looking foward to be off drugs for a few days......looks like i will get one more allmans show under my belt.......ya know life is what you make it...i have made mine pretty good...welcome on board Stormy..........

THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART

oh that is me at work yesterday...kinda just through it together......thanks for the hat rachael......hey candy i am still loving what i do........
tom petty said it best.....the waitng for the next phase to begin is like a small drip of water on your forehead ( i think i am like a small drip on my wifes forehead these days)..the first few drips are not so bad......but after a while i mean come on.....well the drips are on my head for a while and i would love to turn off the water faucet and put theis behind me........it is so strange that even when i go to the bathroom these days (#1) only .....i get a little nostoligic and say good bye to my exisiting bladder......and thank it or 52 years of indentured service....it is like i should have a going away party for my bladder....you know a real send off.....spare no expenses......i mean we go way back...why i remember the early days....when i was just in a diaper....it was with me from the begining of THE CIRCLE"...and i guess its circle is complete.........i'm gonna miss him (or her) are bladders female?....we went through a lot together.......sorry i held it in at those long car rides and concerts in the front rows where a trip to the bathroom was an adventure.....we have been on many a airplane together...seen lots of porcalin and trees together......i 'm gonnna miss ya...more than you know....i hope your replacement does as good a job as you.........pisser...er i mean peace........tom...........................p.s thanks for enjoying my poem......it was touching that it touched some of you deeply......

THE CIRCLE

MONDAY.......WELCOME TO THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING....

ANOTHER CONCERT UNDER MY BELT....CASEY JOINED ME AT THE ALLMANS BROTHERS CONCERT....THEY DRAW THEIR MUSIC FROM THE BLUES OF THE SOUTH....PERFECT BLEND OF OLD AND NEW......GOT TO THINKING OF THE LIVES WE LIVE AS I STARED AT MY TYED DYED BRACLET WRAPPED AROUND MY FRIENDS & FAMILYS WRISTS...I MEAN WHAT ARE WE IF NOT FOR THE PEOPLE SURRONDING ONES LIFE.....I FOR ONE ENJOY THE STAGE CALLED LIFE....I AM READY FOR THE SECOND ACT...( IT IS NOT WRITTEN YET) BUT WILL PLAY OUT TO BE A DOOZY I AM SURE.....ENJOY ( OR NOT ) A POEM I WROTE TODAY....THINKING ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY......THANKS FOR JOINING ME IN MY JOURNEY........TOM..............THE CIRCLE ....... POEM BY T.CHEFFO

IT HAS BEEN SAID TO ALL THAT IS …IS
IT HAS BEEN READ THAT TO LOVE IS TO LIVE
IT HAS BEEN TOLD THOUGH WORDS OF OLD
IT HAS STARTED BEFORE IT BEGINS

THE CENTER REMAINS THE SAME
THE CIRCLE SURROUNDS Its LIFE
THE BEGINNING IS THE END
THE END IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

MY VISIONS ARE NOT NEW
MY SEEDS STILL SEEM TO GROW
MY WORLD TURNS IN HARMONY
MY FAILURES ARE MY SUCCESS

STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF TIME
STANDING IN THE STEPS OF ALL.......STANDING FOR ALL WHO CARE TO BE
STANDING FOR ALL WHO DARE TO SEE

THE CIRCLE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT
THE CIRCLE IS HOW YOU LIVE
THE CIRCLE IS DRAWN FOR YOU..........THE CIRCLE IS …….. THE CIRCLE IS…..LIFE

TOP O' THE MORNING TO YA

HAPPY ST PAT'S DAY.......NOT THE NEW ENGLAND PATS
had a small glich in my home computer last night....needed to call internet computer doctor ...he (voice on end of phone).....diagnosed the problem....walked me through the fixing process....and i am back on line......just like my doctors are doing for me now.......doctors...dentists....lab techs.....nurses........blood suckers......ultra sounders.....cat scanners.......insurance forms filler outters.....the list of new people in my life goes on and on...... oh yeah if i get another "i wouldn't worry about it" speech someone is getting hurt.....seems like that has been said to me from day one...i mean when does one start worrying about it.......hehee....but you know be .....don't worry ..be happy......( cool title for a song) i know it has been done before..my mind is still working.......every day is closer to "the day".......if i were alive 100 years ago...would i have bladder cancer....i think not but i would not have all you amazing people in my life and be able to communicate with you with the push of a button.......would not trade this life for anybodies in the world.......gearing up for another allmans show....life is ......because i choose it to be.....tommy " the godfather" cheffo ......(due to swollen jaw)

ANNIVERSARY

fred and barney says:happy anniversary
5TH month since i was diagnosed.....5 months...first month to get all the ducks in a row....3 months of chemo-sabi....one month to recover strength..right on schedule i must say.......i really have to say it has been a heck of a ride.......kinda trying to figure out what the last 5 months would have been like without cancer in it.........Regardless of the outcome ( and we all know what that is gonna be)....i would like to think it has made all of us think of life a little different....... at least that is the word on the street.....i will enjoy every sandwich a little more (warren zevon)......the notes of music will sound sweeter.......hold my loved ones a little tighter.....oh yeah and dance like there is no tomorrow at michele wedding in oct................i read a saying once and it said..."when you wash the dishes....wash the dishes"......it kinda means if your going to do something do it with passion....look i know that it is impossible in this world to be on all the time....but man i saw a sunset tonight that was beautiful....that moment made the whole day worth it...that one moment......when i am at a concert or a movie i always pick one moment during the event that tells me it was worth the hassle and the tix price to be there....allmans concert it was when they played soul shine...the neil young movie...was when he played old man........i know it sounds bizzare but that is what gets me through.........i look for that one moment in a day (or nite) that brings it home.....oh well i guess i made up for not talking much today....enjoy the flowers starting to come up.........see ya tomorrow...........tomstrong

WALKING TALL

one thing i have noticed when an illness invades your body you tend to shrink a little ......your shoulders hunker down and you kinda shuffle when you walk...it is normal i guess that this happens.....i have so many things to lift me up...old friends...new friends......keep popping up.....as neil young says "one of these days" i am gonna sit down and write me a long letter to everyone i know...well i think i am doing that with this blog and let me tell you i feel closer than ever to all of you and i am determined to stand taller knowing you all are holding me up.....oh yeah where the heck were you guys when the dentist was going to town in my mouth for over 45 minutes....that is an entire other chapter one that i am glad is over..... i was thinking to changing my name to anti-biotic for it looks like another 7 days on that crap...........coming up on 5 months since i was diagnosed with cancer......ok is it me or does the chemo seem to be a long time ago......body will be tall again i promise....the number is still growing on the amount of people tuning in to the blog.... thanks.......................have a great wednesday.......tommy" the man who is bankrupting the insurance companies" cheffo...p.s......check out what i had for dinner due to mouth surgery..mashed potatoes....creamed spinach and a chocolate shake...i mean come on ......mix a vicodin in with that and stand back....feel bad that sue had to find those things on such a short notice......( all except the vicodin..seems i had some left over.........god i hate pain pills...but needed them this time.....

CAN ANYBODY PLAY THIS GAME?

man the knicks were brutal.....started off good but melted into the hardwood .......i did predict they would score 96 points before the game started but i said they would win..oh well one out of two ain't bad..they lost 108-96.....i think my tooth abscess is just a distraction for my mind to get off the real deal.........but i am craving a steak dinner real bad....the only way i could eat it now is in a blender........thanks for all the encouragement on tomorrows dental trip .....should be a breeze.....a slam dunk..a walk in the park..a hole in one....you get my drift.......wearing my heart on my sleeve these days...it's like i need to tell you guys everything going on in my body.....full disclosure......see you on the flip side .....top cat ............my journey to the cure is going well....it is difficult sometimes because i want it to move much faster......however i am in good hands and they tell me one step at a time.....i know you are with me each and every part of the way.....too late to stop now....

MY LAST 72 HOURS

sopranos.....****worth the wait**** two thumbs cut off...... errr i mean two thumbs up...t cheffo.........................................................................................................a weekend in my life......see below
two dentists friday morning-afternoon...trip to nyc to meet with my doctors to discuss plan of attack....allman brothers concert friday nite..... saturday memorial service for dom's sons grandmother..saturday night watched "walk the line" fantastic i might add...sunday went to see neil youngs move "heart of gold" one of the better concert films in my lifetime..entire new album and some really good early stuff...... ....all this while still on antibiotics from the tooth..i told you all i would be living life to the fullest until my surgery....so let's do the math ( my favorite part of the blogging experience)........dental visits...around $200.00 ( ins pays some) sloane kettering visit ($250.00) ins pays most ......allman brother tix $96.00 ea....walk the line dvd..$21.00.......neil youngs movie....priceless.......finished the weekend watching the sopranos.......season opener....worth the wait.....if you missed it catch the re-runs during the week ..it's that good....really gives us italians a bad name.....bum rap i tell ya..oh teah almost forgot..going to the knick game monday night with chris...thanks for the free tix steve........................anyhow......tooth surgery on tues afternoon.. (related to the chemo i was told).....that should be a freakin blast........if anybody had a sist remove from below the gum line e- me what to expect thunderbyd@aol.com or put it on comments for all the world to see........i tell you antibotics do a number on my strength....could hardy twist off my 6th beer in 3 months........oh i guess i should not be drinking while on that crap......oh well..like i said.....living life...is ..what....i......do................enjoy the sunrise.........tom........ps happy st pattys week....watch the open containers............

PEOPLE CAN YOU FEEL IT

LOVE IS IN THE AIR..or else something else is in the air..must have been the beans for lunch......that saying "people can you feel it"...is from a great allman brothers song called revival..........and we felt it ........the music was perfect as was the night..we had a blast...opened and closed with mountain jam for you brothers freaks...(stephanie and susan k) with susan tedesci singing three songs (sorry casey) maybe she will be there saturday night for you and chris.........oh yeah doctors visits...should i bore you with this stuff..ok you twisted my arms..here goes...mouth surgery is on for tuesday...removal of sist.....sounds painful as is the removal of anything in the body..........dr russo (sloane) feels the mouth problem is a result of the chemo but as i quote him " your looking pretty good tommy".....march 29 another look see inside the bladder ( man that has to look disgusting) then with all the facts in front of me for my next paln of attack......replacement is still at this time my best form of a total cure of this type of cancer....cat scan from the other day was encourging as the tumor has gotten smaller...... so 15 days to get my body back in shape after mouth surgery ( they finally figured out a way to shut me up)..........tommy boy "the toothless wonder".......thanks to all the hundreds of people who read my blog everyday ...i hope you know your as big a part of my journey to the cure as any doctor in this world........my last blog will read...cancer free......5 years now

PHASE TWO BEGINS

friday's schedule
12 o'clock my 5th visit to the dentist to calm down my infected tooth...does not look good and mouth surgery is a possibility...more pain than all chemo treatments combined,,,ughhhhhhh

3 o'clock.....visit with my doctor at sloane kettering....... this visit should set the tone for the months to come......( hopefully the tooth problem will not off-set my schedule....

5:30 meeting my buddy johnny nor and brother dom at espn zone for dinner....

8 o'clock.....allman brothers concert at the beacon .....peaking at the beacon

I have been looking foward to this concert for months and not........rain..sleet...snow..cancer....infected tooth....plague..........oj......wild horses......or a visit from the pope is gonna stop me from seeing my band........we go back almost 36 yrs together and they still rock on.......
i will keep you posted over the weekend....tom

what a long strange trip it's been

where my tumor is located..........looks like a space creature
it has been three weeks since my last chemo treatment and i just took my last antibiotic bill from my infected tooth...i am so wanting to get these drugs out of my body so i could feel like my old self again it just for a few days....i keep looking for me to re-appear ( although i did surface at the show for a little while)....if all goes according to plan i will have a much better idea as to the dates with surgery and even more drugs ( i hope the good kind) will be ......i have one bit of advice for my doctor...use a sharp knife and leave a little on the top.......i was hoping for a scar in the shape of a peace sign..now that would be a conversation piece..........you heard of scarface......i will be scarbelly.......hey that's a cool name for a band 'THE SCAR BELLIES" with their new hits...."soggy bladder breakdown" and "bye bye bladder" (we hate to see you go) and "the chemo-sabi blues" ok i will stop now....peace out...tom..........p.s aunt marie & uncle vinny...awesome card...i am so blessed to have had great relatives & role models like you guys growing up..uncle vinny...your poems and proses always got us through good times and bad.....honored to call you uncle.........see you in cheesequake park some day

HOME ON THE RANGE

manchester on a quiet sunday morning......worlds longest main street..not a soul in sight......strange site
what a trip...5 hour drive home....jeff at the wheel and i am not a good passenger type.....need to be in control i guess......the show was successful as always and seeing a lot of my friends and customers was just what the doctor ordered,,,,that was as close to being a rock star as i will ever be......some even thought they were seeing a ghost....one of my friends printed the entire blog and was passing it around the show...lots of quotes were coming my way from my own writing....tears flowed freely and kindness was the norm.....many people said ...hey you don't look sick so stop pulling our legs...( where did the saying pulling our legs come from i will never know) google anyone?.....tyed dyed bracelets were on many wrists and that always leaves a lump in my throat (as opposed to the lump in my bladder).......Explaining the next phase of my journey was met with awe and amazement...eating out three night in a row took it's toll however i would not have changed a minute of those three days......andy,patty,ellen,scott,paul,michele,jeff,frankalino,danny,sean ...thank you for making every night memorable...bob pearl & sheldon your guys touched my heart..... greg henderson (you always make me smile),anthony and his crew..thanks for the encouragement..T & woody thanks for listening to my stories and enjoying coming to our "in room concerts" in vegas...you guys are as much apart of possum as we are...and to all my dear friends, co-workers & customers .....I can not even imagine my world without you in it.....you made this last show one to remember. ( SOUNDS LIKE AN OSCAR SPEECH)..i will keep every one posted......... major meeting with dr russo on friday...right before the allman brothers at the beacon..........tom " too late to stop now" cheffo ....HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELICIA..WE LOVE YOU

new hampshire

live from the convention center in beautiful downtown manchester.........................................all going well here....the show slowed down somewhat..opps the food cart just spilled an entire tray of sausage an the floor...i will never eat sausage again after seeing that.......oh yeah i am on a wireless computer and typing direct from show site.....modern tech is the way to go,,,,,,,,keep me posted on what is happening in the real world.....happy birthday to my beautiful friend felicia...long may you run.......keep the fires burning my friend........tom......welcome home lucy's congrats on your amazing finish in the tournement.....

WELCOME TO WINDY DOWNTOWN MANCHESTER

............well i made it it was touch and go for a while .....the freaking tooth problem gave me a wild ride but i made it and it has felt a little better tonight......man o man the chemo was easy compared to an abcessed tooth...oh well it is taking my mind off of the upcoming events.......did not even have to set up the
show michele,paul (my rommie) jeff,sean and scott rocked on and i napped right through it.....already saw a a lot of friends and there were as happy to see me as i was to see them.......god i love these shoe people....as real as real gets.......full circle has been achieved today...........i will keep in touch.........tom.........p,s it is cold and windy here what i would not give to be in key wesy right now with the manatees and a cold beer...

MANCHESTER HERE I COME

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM

snow flake
...if you say the office last night you would know why i put that quote up...........cat scans went smooth...no results until next week......they are re-examining the tumor to see if it shrunk or if its gone.....either way surgery is my only option....that or just ignore it and maybe it will go away...not........had some snow yesterday...kinda pretty 2-3 inches...just enough.....my road trip is on...as long as my tooth does not flair up again (found out yesterday that i have a huge abcess in my gum line and need a root canal...it just keeps getting better and better.......dentist opended up infected area and anti-boitics are on my menu now....just when i started to feel somewhat normal...they keep pulling me back in.............oh well......"you either curse the darkness...or light some candles".....( it's amazing what you can read in doctors waiting rooms) that's where i fould this quote...........................peace now....tom

cAT SCAN IN THE AM

i was going to bring reese my cat in and say i thought you wanted scan my cat but i chickened out.....i looked up on Google and decided to share with you guys exactly what machine i will be laying down in today ( thursday).............What is CT Scanning of the Body?
CT (computed tomography), sometimes called CAT scan, uses special x-ray equipment to obtain image data from different angles around the body and then uses computer processing of the information to show a cross-section of body tissues and organs.
CT imaging is particularly useful because it can show several types of tissue—lung, bone, soft tissue and blood vessels—with great clarity. Using specialized equipment and expertise to create and interpret CT scans of the body, radiologists can more easily diagnose problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.......ok now that the science class is over ( you will be tested on all this when i am all done with this crap).......let's get down to what is really important.....only 30 days to baseball season.....i can feel it in the air.......it's our year....l-e-t-s go m-e-t-s......can't wait to hit the road saturday......all systems go ........tom"willie nelson" cheffo....p.s nice joke kev martin on comments yesterday...awesome gifts from magic people.....the card was beautiful too.......see you when the sun shines.......

BREAKING NEWS

I am going on the road again....i decided to tag along with jeff and michele and head up to manchester new hampshire for the bsta shoe show sun,mon.tues.....huge for me to get out and do what i do......smooz and sell ......in that order...drive up saturday morning.......set up and shake hands and kiss the babies......cannot wait to see everyone .........i am feeling stronger every day and what the hey..i could always sit on my ass there as well as home........it really picked me up when i decided to go......it is full circle you see it was the manchester show in late september that i really was not feeling that well and the rest is history now.......so it is only fitting that manchester is the one show i get to do before "mac the knife" does his job on me....had almost 7 hours of energy today ......chemo is slowy leaving my body and i can feel it waving bye-bye......still waiting for my diploma for graduating from the top of my class in chemo-therapy.........not a bad place to be........chemo free.......p.s thanks for the southern invites my buddies.............i will take you up on that soon.................have a great one today.....wish our good buddies loose lucy luck in the key west fishing tournament......hook em dan-o.....................tc

bABY,iT'S COLD OUTSIDE

ok where did this ice age come from...global warming..i think not...i mean it was a fairly mild winter until the last few weeks and all during my treatment it was pretty amazing how warm it was....if i had to be in the middle of treatment and deal with this cold i would have moved to the southern states real quick ......even there i got lucky.........you see as i have been saying all along....I am " the luckiest man alive "..................frozen body and all ........tip of the day for all northeasteners...........layers......dress in layers and cover the dome.......that's what my momma used to say....if that don't work....your shit out of luck....heeeee.......feeling better everyday.............smile at the sun..it is what keeps us....burning..........tom-tom

THE AWAKENING

it is official..i am feeling more like myself than not..(don't know if that's good or bad)......energy levels are up .....food tastes great again...had this Chilean sea bass tonight at a local restaurant that was as good as food gets ...imagine that taking even the taste of food for granted before all this went down.......so let's see what i have learned from all this so far..... in a segment i like to call "things i will never take for granted again"
1. waking up
2. sleeping
3. life
4. going to the bathroom normally
5. friends
6. friendship
7. other peoples feelings
8. you
9. me
10. food
11. water..turns out i really never drank enough before .......and last but not least
12. assholes ( well maybe i will take them for granted) because they is what they is

now that i got that off my chest....wishing you a really happy sunday/monday morning..round two starts this thursday morning with the first of many pre-surgery tests..will keep you posted.....out from blog land..tea sea....p.s congrats Apollo .....you skated awesome in the olympics.......to willie nelson impersonators everywhere......"i can't wait to get on the road again".........

STRANGE EFFECT

I guess the chemo had a bigger effect on me than i thought...i woke up this morning and looked like this.......i am hideous i can't even look in the mirror..( i don't know about you guys but i got a good chuckle out of it)...............................................had a cold beer tonight ( yuengling lite) rare in these parts and it actually tasted like a beer and not wire and steel wool going down my throat.......how sweet it is..........still dragging this beat up body to work setting up the final trade show of the season....it will take place in manchester new hampshire......" little know facts about manchester"..... it has the distinction of having the longest main street in the country.......and also has some fine dining establishments i might add .....so if your in the neighborhood please stop by i won't be there but i am sure you will find it to your liking.....this has been my first winter home for almost 13 years and i might also add i am freaking going stir crazy....so watch out world i am ready to break out soon and when i do........well i will fill you all in when that happens.....now if i only could just stay awake ..man i would give my kingdom for 8 straight hours of uninterrupted sleep...
tommy "rip van wrinkled" cheffo

ENERGY LEVELS

before and after chemo ( self portrait)





i
now know what it must be like to be a drug addict and coming off of drugs....my body is tired all the time now....it is waitng for the next treatment and i keep telling it it's over ( even show it the restraining order) but i still think it does not believe it yet.....feeling tired is better than feeling chemofied i tell you....other than the metal taste in my mouth and a little vein pain ( mysterious lumps that come and go) and this bald spot on the top of my head ( oh i had that before chemo) i mean i loved my dad and he gave me speed when i play soft ball....a good batting eye.... an italian view on the world ( whatever that means)......he also gave me his hair genes......no he couldn't just leave me his blue jeans.......oh well like i always say...who need hair when i have just about everything else and man could want..............untill next time..........t c.............p.s happy b -day ron and michele...hope you guys know how special you are to me......

2-22-06

love those trollys (last year in san fran...with casey)
as i am writing this on tuesday evening i am hoping that on wednesday morning when i wake up the chemo- fog will start lifting....man what a ride it has been....the roller coaster in coney island has nothing on these drugs...but as my son said in my birthday card " its a freakin awesome day and soon your going to have all that crap out of your system.....i call it crappy-chemo but even though it poisons it still heals"......well so long crappy chemo it was good while it lasted but i am going to have to say good bye now ....... i tried to let you down easy but sometimes you just gotta pull the band-aid off in one....swift....motion.....even if we have only been together for just three months i feel that i have learned so much from you.......please do not call or write or else i will have to get a restraining order to keep you within 20 feet from my veins......tea....sea.....p.s real good to see ben and ricky today (friends in the shoe world came by work for a visit)....andy great talking to you also....your voice was just what the doctor ordered .........make someone smile today......it really does not take much

GOOD MORNING WORLD

world's tallest tree ...muir woods san francisco .....................................................now i know why i was born with a big head.......it's to house this ego you guys are feeding me.......it was the 52 birthday of my life ( actually it is the 53rd because the 1st if you think about it is the day your born)..i mean if that ain't your "birthday" then i don't now what is........so for all in blog-land....thanks again for your kind wishes.....gifts...cards.....e-mails..comments....songs from the mountain tops....greetings from the trade shows.....kids singing on my cell phone about looking like a monkey "and i smell like one too".....to my family for making this day......remarkable........to my co-workers for remembering and caring.....in loving memory to all those who have touched my soul and are no longer with us........and to my mom and dad.....i mean with out them..i never would have met all of you.... and mom .... although you were only in my life for such a short while...you have left an incredible mark on all you touched and i am so glad that the first person to look into my eyes was you...... for i am the mirror of that moment......................tom john cheffo....p.s for all of those traveling to vegas for the trade show......safe travels.......35 & 6 black...thanks loose lucy's for making me a part of your world.............................michele....keep your cash in your pocket....your gonna need it for your wedding......

52 "nice round number"

that's me on the right......dom on the left...look at the size of that head on me...mellon
Feb 20th 1954...let me take you back in time with a story that was just sent to me by my beautiful cousin/sister barbara ..........Tom, I am talking with my mom right now and she says she will never forget the night you and Dom were born.
They told Uncle Mike(my dad), Aunt Connie and my mom that they were going to perform a cesarean section and they needed blood from the blood bank.
They drove from the hospital all the way to the blood bank and didn't stop at one light. They took your mothers blood to match it. Imagine!!!
They saw a policeman and they showed him the blood and the policeman said to go, go, go and go and they never stopped.
By the time they got back to Adelphi Hospital you and Dom were born. To their surprise your mom had already given birth to twin boys.
And that's the way it was. She said it was a great moment in her life.............52 years ago. That mean my mom was 26 years old, three months pregnant with me.
We love you Tom !!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!
Barbara ...thanks barbara for this great story and always laughing at my jokes..........oh yeah almost forgot.......barbara's twin boys luke and gabriel told me that "bald" in german means "white" so when they say bald headed eagle they mean "white" headed eagle...so no rogaine for them...hehehehe...love ya boys.....still in chemo foggo...sue made a wonderful beef stew tonight and i think my taste buds are returning........right on track to start feeling myself on 2/22.......you see you only have to deal with me during the time i write my blog...i am sure it has not been easy for the family here....i have to say it has had some rough moments and for those i appoligies for ..............tough to be on 24/7 when your seeing double sometimes...does that make it 48/14?.....oh well i'm sinking in the creek mud now....need to crawl into a hole for a while...when i see you all again i will be one year older...and one day closer to begining phase 2...love ya all............. tomaso..oh yeah happy birthday to my twin bro ....two for the price of one.....he's 5 minutes older than me ( does that mean i was concieved first)? or i kicked him out when it was time..........hey luke & gabriel...your not the only twins ya know............

PHASE TWO

manatees..another one of my favorite animals........still feeling the effects of wednesdays treatment ..like i said i will start feeling better around 2-22 ron rockmans birthday...and build on that....cat (ct) scans are scheduled for march 2...meeting with surgeon march 10th....from there who knows ..but i tell you i will make the next 30 days memorable.....enjoy each sunrise and sunset for what it is .......a pure gift.....i have walked this earth for almost 52 years.(monday) well i think i crawled for the first year and a half....but anyway the point is as crappy as i feel these days i have so much to be thankful for..the list is to long and i have gone over my love for family...friends ( to many good one to write down)....life...love......vibe water (plug for satsunder's new venture)....dogs..horses....manatees...eagles..(thanks brad for reminding me)......a cold one....music.....sunrises/sunsets...rainbows..trees....rain.....snow.....winter ..spring ..summer or fall...( sorry james taylor for stealing your lines) ...selling ...customer service....peanut butter....tyed dyed nation..playing music with my neighbor rob ( we have to jam soon)..playing with kent & kev (possum) and kevin..butts..nor..and now offically casey (blackhorse) ......play and singing for all who will dare to listen..........but the feelings and emotions that you all have sent my way has been.............humbling to say the least ( and those of you who know me...know i can never say the least)....i mean i woke up at two this morning and had to tell you all how much i really ...really....really needed you all in phase 1 and ..you truly made it a "walk in the park"..a labor of love......thanks for taking the first part of the journey with me....ON TO PHASE 2................................... tom...p.s whoever just sent me roger mcquinns folk den cd fess up..no card just the music..awesome gift..from unknown person or persons....steph & jason you guys rock for the awesomest grateful dead button down collared shirt.....love it.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

had to re-post eagle shots again so rare to see.....it is sad they are called bald eagles i wonder if rogaine would help them...or if they feel inferior to eagles with hair......oh well at they are making a comeback.....i plan on soaring like an eagle the next few months and get myself off the extinct list also....been reading about my neo-bladder.... pretty heavy stuff i will be up against and i will share some of it with you'll complete with diagrams and color glossy photos with arrows (alices resturant movie) quote.......i will get more into that at a later date.......took today off after my booster white count shot..did not quite have my sea legs back after that lone treatment yesterday....just watching the drip drip drip...could make you drippy....glad it's over.....thanks for taking the ride with me...planning on 30 days of fun and music..before i let them cut me open......in the merry old land of oz ( that's what it feels like sometimes)....... Tom "somewhere over the rainbow" Cheffo

BLOG WORLD

(rare eagle shot above)
OFFICIAL START TIME OF DRIP WAS ABOUT 10:04....official stop time 5:35....ladies and gentlemen a new world record and now for a playing of our national anthem and a coment about the blad eagle (from brad) In 1963 there were just 417 known nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. In 1967, under a law that preceded the 1973 Endangered Species Act, the bald eagle is declared an endangered species in the lower 48. Today, at least 7,066 known nesting pairs exist in the continental United States.GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS TOM CHEFFO. and now back to our regulary scheduled program ...when i looked across the room and started talking to a fellow club member( some club my insurance payed $27,000 dollars for my membership last month and there is not even a pool)..... turns out my twin brother dom I made him a sheepskin coat (well dom made it ..i sold it) we were like ying and tang...tweddle de dumb and tweddle dee dom......frick and frack....tom and dom..i quess my mom had a sense of humor) dom still has a version of our store going strong..the sheepskin coat is still holding up....thats why i got into the shoe biz....women always need a shoe and they do wear out..... WHEN I FINISHED MY CHEMO I GOT LOTS OF SMILES AND GOOD LUCKS FROM THE NURSES AND STAFF....AND DANCED A JIG WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GET IN MY SON'S CAR......AS TO HOW I FEEL...HAPPY .....ELATED...JOYFUL..SICK...FABOUSI ( NEW WORD FROM ASHLEY).....stupendous..pissed ( i lost the first version of the blog to a web crash)......relieved.....weak... a slap in in the head wally world kinda happy.........looking forward to getting my body in shape for round two..in which doris gets her oats)...john lennon quote.............looking foward to 2/22 to start feeling better...happy birthday week....me and dom ..monday..michele,ron rockman ,satsunder (i think) ashley...patty hurst ( born on the same day as me)....love ya .............. tommy "no mo chemo" cheffo

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE

CHEMO-SABI
sitting here on the eve of my last treatment to beat up to comprehend the meaning of tomorrow ..........it is like i am so used to this rollercoaster ride that i cannot believe it is almost over......the fat lady is warming up her vocal chords one last time...it ain't over till it's over kinda feeling.. .........bottom of the ninth 2 outs.....( expect for the red sox against the mets in 86) sorry scott,sean andy and paul.........rounding third and heading for home.........ok i will stop while i am ahead.......my mind is starting to clear up some..i know this is gonna sound weird but i really had a strange vibe running through me (other that the chemo) all week it was like my ears were ringing kinda feeling.....i know that my name keep coming up all week in vegas and it was like jim carey in bruce almighty when he heard all the voices in his head at one time ( thanks sk for the jim carey analogy).....and with the full moon whew i was feeling real wacky ... now i know why i was picking up all the friends and associates feelings and comments about my situation...steve and michele said i have no idea how many people stopped by to ask how i was doing ( good publicity for the brand) i guess...but i do have an idea ........you see i heard everyone of them........so now i am thanking you all for the help in this "first part " of this amazing journey......part two will be more entertaining that the godfather 2 and rocky 2 combined........i hope it does not flop like so many sequels have in the past......but i will try to keep you guys and gals up to date........will be in the chemo chair tomorrow as i told the nurse last week when i sat down....just take a little off the top..........( and leave room for milk)..chemo sabi

I'M GOING TO DISNEY LAND

this little pig was never the same after i huffed and puffed and blew his house down..........taken many many moons ago....oh i would say i was 21 years old......living the good life...just hanging with the pigs......i have know idea who that little girl is in the picture but i hope her parents have the same picture of us in their scrap book...could you imagine them getting home and developing this picture..............let's do the math $25.00 all day disney pass......favorite football jersey....$14.95.....hair cut...$00.00....hippie hanging with pig......priceless....this is casey's favorite photo of her pops............. rough week but what the heck.......i have really had a pretty easy time of it compared to my forefathers....body is beat up though and ready to finish this crap and move on.......last treatment is wednesday....can i get a whoop whoop?.........full moon tonight and it makes me wacky i think........what i would give just to feel normal again.........man i am in the mood for a roast pork sandwich..........ouch..bad pig joke..............hope u guys and gals didn't spend all your money in vegas and saved some for a rainy day..........tom "big bad wolf"
cheffo

BLIZZARD OF 2006...special edition blog...will update all day

photo by susan....chris in background

WINTER STORM UPDATE...........

...saturday nite....we are getting walloped here..looks like over a foot of snow.....Visibility is zero.....with winds over 35 miles an hour..airports canceling flights......babys are being born...life will end as we know it......noah is building an ark......the earth will swallow us whole...and the beatles will never get back together...sad but true as long as john and george are no longer with us........ i will keep you'all updated on this special storm track edition...stay tuned through-out the day ...............................sunday morning...lots of white stuff coming down...winds are high ( not as high as robert downey jr used to be)....8-10 on the ground already and it will continue for a while......so hang on to your hot cocoa (whoever she/he is) and watch the olympics if your caught in the storm....more updates later ...... sunday night official tally 26.9 inches fell in nyc.....we got about 16..it was a mellow snow real calm day...good it fell on a sunday ...less traffic...able to plow tall building at a single bound...(there i go quoting superman again) i really need to get a life .......thanks to chris we got all of the show shoveled in record time...just thinking about susans homemade waffles hurried us along....finger lickin good........so from snowbound long island...may the fires in your heart be as warm as the fires in the hearth

tommy"the weatherman" cheffo ...oh yeah almost forgot..safe travels from vegas my buddies.......could use some of that southern sunshine myself real soon

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

i could not wait for the olympics to start this year...i guess it is because i am home this winter for the first time in almost 13 years and before that i was in my own leather store and if you ever worked retail you know that your never home anyway... so this is really quite a shock to my system..... i am being told that there are plenty of well wishes coming by the booth in vegas concerned about my health...even competitors are wearing the "tomstrong" tye dyed bracelets that susan k started and i am forever grateful for that........missy and britt hope you enjoyed that beer you had with me in spirt tonite...to my cousins reading this..i love you all so much...thanks janine & gary for the grateful dead movies...awesome gift...kent and felicia for the "mad dogs and englishmen" dvd...great band.......what i am trying to say is......this having cancer....it's not so bad....you get these freaking unreal gifts every other day......need to move to a bigger house to fit all the swag i have been collecting (swag for those of you who must know is short for really cool free stuff)....i will leave you tonight with what seemed to be the theme of the opening cermony from torino tonite....passion and peace......in the words of john lennon.......imagine all the people ...living life in peace........imagine that.......tom ...p.s....michele 35 & 6 black in roulette

THE DAY AFTER

What an emotional roller coaster ride i have been on...i mean you have to understand that when the chemo enters your body it has a daily effect on you the likes i have never experienced
..it should take about four weeks to be completely out of my body...so like i said last treatment is the 15th..i should start feeling better on 2/22.....and each day thereafter..getting my stamina and strength back....The wheels are in motion for my surgery as i type...should be around mid to late march.. to which means i get to see my beloved allman brothers band at the beacon in nyc march 10th....i hope casey and chris will be at my side.....nothing like a brothers concert......except a black horse or possum..the guys i play music with...we always have the best time and i am missing that part of my travels mucho...that and my incredible team and friends on the road.....i should be in vegas right now.... eating at the grand lux..staying at the venetian..going to the show party tomorrow nite...chicago and earth wind and fire...all you could eat and drink..now we shoe people really know how to throw a party......to all who read my blog...you know i always knew how charmed my life was....even through all the personal tragedies i will never and have never taken anything or anybody for granted....i learned at a very early age that laughter and love will carry me through.....to this i owe all to the way i was raised and how amazing my family was in difficult times...we just embraced each other and gathered strength from the event and moved on....we knew what we had or have and never and i mean never failed to to say "i love you" and really mean it.... so to my blog world of family and friends i leave you tonight with this " i love you" i love you for caring so much about my health and well being...... i have so much to be thankful for..i know joni mitchel once said " you don't know what you got till it's gone"....well i always knew what i had......sorry joni..... does not apply to this brooklyn cowboy
chemo "6 days to go " sabi

ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER

stewie...a new tee shirt for u.....
8-7-6-5-4-3-2- ....ONE FREAKING TREATMENT LEFT....i had a funny feeling today towards the end of my treatment.,... i am really going to miss my chemo nurses..they have been awesome to me and my fellow chemoettes....making sure we were getting the exact amounts we needed ...always smiling......real genuine humans....my hat is raised now to the health care people..those who really make a difference in so many lives each and every day.....i am in awe of your deadication...compassion.... not to mention you keep great cookies around...... and to my dear dr.xaio and nurse kathleeen who will be with me in my after care program ( after my surgery)....every three months for two years....and still more after that...i look foward to seeing you every time i am in your office,,,you are my true saviors.....i am in such good hands........the best of the best.........sorry it is so mushy today.....but it's my blog and i'll cry if i wannna cry if i wanna. ..( grammy nomination) ?.......speaking of which..did you hear mirah sing...not a huge fan but what a set of lungs...i mean that girl can sing......(did i mention her set of lungs)?...................................................................................................to my buds in vegas....long may you run....great job michele,jason,steve,susan k,scott,gary,pat,bruce ed and i think brad......man it took all of you on day one...wish i had the help all these years heehhee......special thanks again to michele for keeping my dream alive and working her butt off...i love ya kiddo...............................tom "one to go" cheffo...p.s it' chad pennington the quarterback of the ny jets you saw at the airport susan......guess i have to teach you about football now.........lol..man i miss you all in vegas..... have a a beer with me tonight.......at the venetian round bar say around 10 o'clock........

no mo chemo

has a nice ring to it....two more to go....yahooooo........gonna miss feeling like crap some daze...not.....i guess all good things must come to an end someday.......first wave of personel left for the shoe show today....i will not miss setting up that massive show...it is in the hands of michele and jason and i know they will get it right ....it will be weird for me i must admit but it is the right choice to stay home and finish my treatments ......i will miss the friendship and passion that could only be found in our world of shoes..it is an amazing industry and one that i am glad i got into full time 13 years ago ...i have met the most wonderful "shoe dogs" one could ever hope to be around....young-old-male-female//all one big club........all have one thing in common,,,,,,we have a foot fetish..no just kidding...we love the excitment of the changing styles....the new seasons ....and we have a foot fetish....ok you got me now..............keep on keepimg on....treatment should be a breeze on wednesday...don't forget to write.......i know where to fine you......

tommy "vegas" cheffo

BLAME IT ON THE STONES

forgot to mention the half time show.......i thought the stones put on a good effort but the sound system stunk up the joint.......man are they some aged looking beef.....but they have been rocking a long time and ya gotta give them credit....i thought micks boob was gonna pop out (gotta give that line to ashley boyfriend chris ) from work........had a ton of energy today....and it will carry over into tommorow,,,,,,back in for a quick fix wed afternoon while my team is heading for vegas.....stinks about sheryl crow and lance breaking up let's give them an ahhhhhh......oh no now i am turning into the hollywood reporter......news at 11.......keep on rockin in the free world....see you on the flip side ....... joke of the day.......what do you call a gay dinosaur........ready for it........a megasoreass.... ok now that just plain silly....sorry.....tom "CAN'T GET NO..SATIFACTION"cheffo

SUPER bOWL

congrats pitts
i tell you seattle had more chances to win than i have ever seen...i guess it was pittsburgh's year.......hats off to them..sorry gary on your teams demise...but hey 2nd out of 32 teams is not to shabby.......oh i got good news my phone (that i washed) started working .....seems like the phone gods really like me...
i am having a small problem holding on to things ( side effect of chemo) is numbness in the fingers and i dropped a plate yesterday.....and been dropping things all day....the sound of the plate hitting the marble floor..man that is loud ( another side effect is sensitive hearing)....two moments for the price of one......
heading into final chemo phase.....i feel like it went by so quick...but that is how life seems to be anyway......part of me wants to slow down ....and part of me wants to fly through the next few weeks ( the part of me that wants to slow down does not want the surgery yet).....man my head is spinning some days...but you know what...it is all good......you see my cell phone is working again...and it's all about the little things that get me through......( i need my cell ..how else would i talk to you) most of my team is heading to vegas this week for the huge shoe show....i am going to be lonely being left behind.........just like the dog in the kennel.......thank goodnees some cool people will still be in the office this week.....i would be lost without them......
Tommy "fido"Cheffo

lazy day in new york

ok my body just shut down today....i guess from the crap that has been building up and the huge shoe show coming up...(preparing for it is as tough as doing it)....i could not drag myself out of bed.....had to e-mail work that i was taking a Tom day off....no treatments...no doctors...no meetings...no x-rays.....No ct scans......no needles.... no waiting rooms.....no 2nd little room you sit in and wait........no one looking up my privates ......just a day for me to rest during the week..it was just what the doctor ordered....other than washing my cell phone i'd have to say it was a good day ( phone seems trashed even though i had this drying device).....ok here is the outline of my day..woke up...( that is always a good thing when that happens)....made fried eggs (sunny side up) with whole wheat toast......napped.....watched tv..Really is crap on ...ate lunch....(chicken cutlet on toasted italian bread..a little salt and mayo).......napped......showered....did a dark laundry ( trying to accomplish something)....left my phone and wallet in pocket of sweats....wallet ok.....napped......watched tv.....( seeing a pattern here)?....had home made soup........you guessed it...napped..no tv read this time......had a salad with sliced chicken cutlets.....cranapple juice......watched a western......ate popcorn.....typed my blog........man i am exhausted from this day...heheehe......glad i do not hit lotto because this is what i would always do.......not a bad way to spend the day....get to do it all over again......saturday.........lets hope we have a good game sunday...will predit the score now...pitts 24- seattle 17.......or maybe i will just take a nap during the game.........see ya.....tommy"the napster" cheffo

ground beef hog

had to post paul cartwrights comments from yesterday......as a matter of fact all the comments have been amazing from the beginning.............................. here is the story of the ground hog GROUND HOGS. INTERESTING LITTLE BUGGERS THEY ARE. TURNS OUT THAT RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE ALL STILL ASLEEP IN HIBERNATION. WHEN HIBERNATING THEIR LITTLE HEARTS BEAT ONCE EVERY FOUR MINUTES, AND IN THE DEAD OF WINTER THEIR BODY TEMP DROPS TO AROUND 37 DEGREES. WHO KNEW? ALSO, IN THE SPRING THE MALES TEND TO "WAKE UP" ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLY THAN THE FEMALES, THE MALES THEN GO OUT TO FIND THE FEMALES ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY ARE STILL NAPPING AND INSTEAD FIND MORE MALES AND THEN THEY FIGHT OVER THE SLEEPING WOMAN. DUMB ASSES, THEY SHOULD JUST REST A WHILE LONGER AND CHILL OUT. TURNS OUT THE HOLE IS JUST THE BEGINNING - THEIR PAD IS QUITE THE UNDERGROUND MAZE. O.K. ENOUGH ABOUT GROUNDHOGS... .......this blog has been part of my journey to the cure...it has brought so many people together from so many states......with one common ground...live.....love....cherish the world we live in.....i am a better person because of what has happened to me....and a much better person with all of you in my world...rock -on...jazz on...country on.....live on...ride-on........oh yeah ...my body is getting a little whipped out ...but i feel the worst is over and it is just around the bend of the bridge to solid ground....wish i could bottle the feelings i have been going through....and if i ever think in the future that i am not feeling so good all i would have to do is remember these last few months and smile.......will never complain again ........hey possum..get ready here i come..... man oh man i am in the mood for mac & cheese...but alas the cupboard is bare of the packaged kind.....bummer..... thanks for reading ......Top Cat

MY TOP TEN ALBUMS

( i took this photo in nyc..my shutter got stuck.. it is a bronze man on a sewing machine..off 42nd street...my top ten records.....
10. Full moon fever….tom petty
9. Untitled …..byrds
8. Eat a peach..the allman brothers band
7. Workingman’s dead…the grateful dead
6. Saturate before using….jackson browne
5. Alone together…dave mason
4. Sergeant pepper……beatles
3. Blood on the tracks…bob dylan
2. The white album….beatles
1. Live at the filmore…the allman brothers band

honorable mentions…neil young prarrie wind…the band …the last waltz……springsteen …born to run…abbey road ..the beatles….all things must pass..george harrison...american beauty..the grateful dead.......................... as i get closer to the end of chemo...i have this feeling in my gut that cannot be described....i mean there are times that the tunnel seems so long to get through but as we all know there is a light towards the end..at least i hope it is a light and the ground hog can see it's shadow .....or does he not want to see his shadow..could someone clear me up on that..and why it' s a ground hog and not a rabbit or a ferret i wonder?....oh well happy ground hogs day..imagine that we have a ground hogs day and not a day to celebrate horses...i think without horses to build this county where would we be?....ever try to saddle a ground hog...i think not...later my friends....tom'"t the hog"