FOOD!!!!!

I was able to eat some tofu and veggies tonight at a Vietnamese restaurant! It was an amazing moment and quite emotional for me when I realized I was actually able to eat food again. All I could do was give thanks for the ability to be able to eat something through my mouth again.

RJ

On The Air Tonight

Hope you can join me tonight as I make my return to the airwaves with some fresh new reggae sounds for you. I am looking forward to it!

Reggae Evolution on KAZI 88.7 FM 7-10 PM

There is an open invitation to anybody who wants to come by during the show and see the brand new studios that were just finished.

Have a blessed day!

RJ

Good Weekend

Had a great weekend. On Saturday, I went to KAZI's 25th Anniversary Celebration at the station. I had not been to the station for about 6 weeks, so it was nice to reconnect with my radio family. Lori, John and the boys went along with Anne & Kalaiah. Got to hang out with Anne on Saturday night. We watched a great DVD called The Ultimate Gift. Check it out if you can. Sunday, Alexandra and I went to The Domain, Austin's new urban living and shopping community. What a cool place.

Seems like my hair loss has slowed quite a bit. The saliva and phlegm continue to be my biggest issues to deal with. Other than that I feel pretty good. I have part of my voice back, not full strength though yet.

RJ

What "One Song" Can Do...

Today, I bumped into a an old song from 2002 that I had not heard in awhile. It was a song called "Music Is Everything" by High Contrast. I played it really loud at least 5 times and it really just lifted my spirits up. That song led me onto iTunes where I did some digging and found some new Drum & Bass songs that took it even higher. High Contrast' "If We Ever" is currently the number one song in the UK on 1Xtra's DnB chart. That one I played loud too and just drank it into my soul. The beautiful strings & piano riffs of the intro are just so sweet. I'm sure I have played it at least 10 times today on this TV-free day. Later I found out that the vocalist on the tune is Diane Charlemagne, who used to be a member of 52nd Street. I used to play their records back in the 80s on my R&B show so that made it even more cool to tie her in.

I discovered Drum & Bass music back in '94 on a trip to London when it was then called 'Jungle.' I've been hooked ever since and occasionally check in to see what is happening with this music. There are many sub-genres of DnB, some with reggae & R&B influences and some that are a little darker and not as accessible for my ears. Much of the stuff I really dig now comes from Hospital Records. It's cool, clean and grooves so hard that my mother says I shouldn't even listen to it while I am recovering. I have to remind her what it means to me and how it helps me keep my vibration high so I can do the healing that must be done.

I just burned it onto CD for the car and I am excited about taking a drive tomorrow. Here is the playlist:

Artist	Name
Nu:Tone	Beliefs
High Contrast	If We Ever
High Contrast	Everything Is Different
Cyantific	Good Weather
Commix	Be True
Blame + The Pedge	Avalon
Apex featuring Ayah	Space Between (Featuring Ayah)
Akira vs. T-Ak featuring Ellie	Change
Akira	Expedition

Check out some of them on iTunes and let me know what one song can do for you. Or maybe you'll come by and I can play them for you?

RJ


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Now playing: High Contrast - If We Ever
via FoxyTunes

Miso Hongry !!!!!

Well I guess I have to just go ahead and accept the fact that today was a great day for me! I went out to Hutto to see my nephews. We watched the Imax Space Station DVD and hung out for a good portion of the day. I went to the pool with them later and got to take some shots of the kids. While there, I met an amazing 3 year-old boy named Stone who has Downs. He had such a happy spirit that really touched and inspired me. He was a great swimmer too. After that, I went to Zen and got some miso soup. I was actually able to sip some of it before putting it in my tube and also had some water earlier in the day so let's just call this progress and give thanks!

RJ

Over One Big Hump

I finished radiation today and was showered by confetti by the staff and my family. I gave all of the staff hugs and thanked as best as I could with no voice. I had hoped to feel great today and my body had other plans after a morning feast of phlegm. I got sick right before Mom and I left for treatment. It has been quite a journey and we're not quite finished yet. I have a followup appointment in 6 weeks when I hope to be declared cancer-free. Until then, I guess I am in limbo as I await my body to return to some state of normalcy. Looking forward to a meal of some real food I can put in my mouth and savor. Giving thanks for the healing I am given every day--a gift!

RJ

Good Monday

Did chemo today and it was easy once the phlegm party in my throat settled down. Slept through most of it until about 1:00 when my uncle David showed up. Got my radiation after that and I only have three more to go! Hard to believe how 8 weeks has just flown by. My neck is healing up incredibly fast from the radiation burns and I am happy about that. Now if I can just get my voice back before Saturday's wedding...

RJ

Almost Done

Well, apparently there are one or two people that read this thing and every so often they bug me to blog... so I will give some updates about how tings been runnin' lately.

It is now Friday afternoon. Mom and I just returned from Whole Foods and treatment. I thought the day was going well until I very violently threw up everything in my stomach. It was no fun at all. Keep thinking I am getting used to that, and I am not. Still not as bad as the day last week when the docs put me on the Fentanyl patch. It was 50mcg/per hour and way too much for my sensitive system to handle. Threw up 8 times that day trying to get it out of my system. It was pure hell. Seems like there have been those days lately, hence my not blogging. My body is creating so much phlegm and mucus that I don't what to do with it. I wake up around every 20 minutes gagging on it and it's all over the place. Real fun I'm telling you! I'm just glad my body is making saliva and that all the suffering with the Ethyol looks like it paid off.

I have only 4 more radiation treatments to go next week and then I will be on to some serious healing. I may have two additional chemos, I am praying that maybe I won't need them.

I want to thank every person who has helped see me through this. Especially my family, for putting up with me and also Anne. Also, the people who came out to the benefits and pitched in, the bands & DJs who played and also Ruta Maya & Flamingo.

All for now, gotta go lay down and see what's on the tele.

RJ