ALOHA!

Lots of things have happened since my last update, so here goes. The latest news was not good. (It seems like I say that every time, but here I am, still living). I've got a very large lymph node in my neck which seemed to be shrinking for a while with the Gemzar chemotherapy, and then started to feel like it was getting larger. I had some other symptoms as well, night sweats and this recurring phantom pain in both sides where the leg bone meets the pelvic bone.

Dr. Zonder moved up my CaT scan, so we could get it in before I did another Gemzar treatment, because his thought was, if the Gemzar's not working, why suffer through another week of it? As it turned out, skipping it was a good thing, but the reason why wasn't. The Gemzar's effectiveness had worn off, and my CaT Scan showed growth in nearly all of the places I have tumours-stomach, pelvic region and chest.
Dr. Zonder came to the table with a few choices for continuing treatment, and we decided to go with a low dose of Taxol. My first treatment is tomorrow, and I'll do that once a week for as many weeks in a row that my blood counts are good, and my body is tolerating the treatment well. The worst side effect of Taxol is apparently neuropathy, where you lose sensation in your hands and feet. I've already had it due to the Graft Vs. Host Disease, meaning it will probably show up early on in the treatment.

They are literally scratching their heads down at Karmanos trying to figure out what to do with me. After all, Hodgkin's Disease is "The easiest cancer to cure." At least that's what we were told when this whole thing started back in February of 2000. After several rounds of chemo cocktails, radiation 3 different times, 2 Bone Marrow Transplants and all the crap that goes along with having cancer, I STILL have active disease. So now they're experimenting, trying to find something that will smash this stupid cancer down. As long as I get to keep on living with a high quality of life, I'm pretty much up for anything.

I do have a couple items of good news. I saw my cardiologist last week, and Dr. Glazier gave me the very good news that my ejection fraction is up to 35% from an all-time low of 7% in the winter of '03-'04. That's the percentage of how efficiently your heart pumps fluid away from itself. The meds are working. Also, I got the go-ahead from both Dr. Zonder & Dr. Glazier to go ahead and skydive again this summer! WOOHOO!! The 3rd Annual Easa Family Jump will happen sometime in late August after my little brother Joe turns 18, 'cuz he wants in on that amazing adrenalin rush. Since they don't seem to think I'm going to drop dead of a heart attack, I'm in! (Get it? DROP dead.)

Lots of the love goes to my amazing husband Steve who puts up with all my whiny crap and pulls us through the hard times. My family, friends and listeners get plenty of credit, too. I wouldn't be here now without all the good vibes I get from you.

Peace & Love,

Sabrina

If you wish to contact Sabrina, you may email me and I'll pass it along.
black@wrif.com
Black out.

Greetings everyone, I get the pleasure of filling in for Meltdown this week! So feel free to shoot me an email for "Rip & Rock" at 9:00pm and "Mandatory Metallica" at 10:00 all this week. The address is black@wrif.com

My only apperence this week, (as I'm working nights) is Friday afternoon, noon to 2pm at a Cingular Wireless location (check the events page for full details).

May I talk hockey for a moment? The NHL draft lottery, for the chance to select Sidney Crosby (the next big thing) 1st overall is this Thursday. The teams with the best statistical chance of winning the lottery are Buffalo, Columbus, Pittsburgh and New York. Most conspiracy theorists think Sidney will go to the Rangers (#1 market in North America) or Pittsburgh to play with Mario and maybe save that franchise? I think, for the sake of Hockey, Crosby's best fit is Chicago. Chicago is also a huge market, and the Blackhawks need help big time. Either way we will know on Thursday evening.

Black out.
¶ 3:36 PM

Friday, July 15, 2005
7/15/05 Welcome back NHL
First and foremost, welcome back to the NHL. I grew up a hockey fan like most kids in Michigan, and until 2 years ago I proudly claimed it to be my #1 sport.

Hockey has not been what it used to be, there have been so many BAD changes to the game.
In recent years we’ve seen the defensive clutch and grab style of play, the stupid instigator rule, and the leagues failure to call interference led them to making up a new rule, which is EXACTLY the same as the old rule, and calling it obstruction…and then ignoring that rule as well.
And now we get to look forward to the exciting, but incredibly inappropriate shoot-ous, and the big mistake of removing the red line, which will force coaches to keep defencemen back and limit their contribution to scoring. Add to that the greed & Stupidity of canceling an entire season and the NHL has been replace by the NFL, as may favorite league.

But even with all that, I find I’m still pretty excited by the news. I look forward to watching those first games on TV (you can’t expect me to give them any of my money…yet) and all the great hockey conversations with friends and family. NHL Hockey was missed, as screwed up as it as been, it will be great to see the Red Wings back on the ice.

My prediction by the way is Sidney Crosby goes to Chicago to revive a huge TV market and an original 6 team.

Black Out.
¶ 9:42 AM

Friday, July 08, 2005


The Rest Stop movie, coming soon.
¶ 8:16 PM


7/8/05 A Movie Called The Rest Stop
Several weeks ago, while eating dinner before the Mars Volta show at the State Theatre I met a Writer/Director/Actor named Rich Hardacre. Rich just happened to be filming a murder movie based on real murders that took place in rest stops through out the U.S.

I know what you’re thinking; I somehow weaseled my way into the movie, right? Not exactly.
In-fact I told rich unless he had a need for someone to be a voice on a radio station, I would be worthless to him, seeing as I have no acting abilities of any kind.

As it turned out there was indeed a need for a radio voice….2 as it turned out. So both my wife Sabrina and I have donated our voices to the cause. We both recorded our parts and have put them in the hands of our director, or is that producer?

Either way we wish Rich and his crew all the best. You can’t imagine how much hard work goes into a low budget independent film. I’ll post a release date when the movie is finished..

Black Out.
¶ 8:13 PM

Wednesday, July 06, 2005


Chop Shop Hall of Fame is accepting votes.
www.chopshopradio.com
¶ 4:53 PM


7/6/05 Chop Shop Hall of Fame.
As you may have discovered by now I host a one hour weekly guitar show called the Chop Shop. As of today I’m asking all music fans to elect a guitar player each month into the Chop Shop Hall of Fame. Once elected their will be a separate page on the site with exclusive art work and audio about each Hall of Fame member.

If you would like to vote in this the first ever Chop Shop election go to www.chopshopradio.com
Thanks for your vote.

Black out.
¶ 4:50 PM

Tuesday, July 05, 2005
7/5/05 Guitar list
The other day Tiny asked me to give him a top 10 list of my all-time favorite guitar solos.
I told him that was impossible, but then I started to think of a few that really stood out in my mind.

So keeping in mind that this is not a deeply researched list, but rather a collection of songs that any guitarist or passionate musician must have in their collection, here it is.
Also please note that I could not find it in my heart to exclude instrumentals so there are two lists…in no particular order.

Great Solos

Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
Heaven & Hell – Black Sabbath
Mama I’m Coming Home – Ozzy
Ghost In The Ruins – Savatage
Shapes of Things (Live) – Gary Moore
Don’t Tell Me You Love Me – Night Ranger
Powerslave – Iron Maiden
Let Me Go Rock & Roll (Live) – Kiss
Wisdom – TNT
I’m The One – Van Halen
A Fool For Your Stockings – ZZ Top
Still My Bleeding Heart – Steve Vai

Great Instrumentals

For The Love Of God – Steve Vai
Kings of Sleep – Stu Hamm
Icarus’ Dream Suite, Opus 4 – Yngwie Malmsteen
Hibernation (Live) – Ted Nugent
The Snake – Joe Satriani
The Explorer – Shotgun Messiah
The Loner – Gary Moore
Little Wing – Stevie Ray Vaughn
Cryin’ – Joe Satriani
Echoes – Vinnie Moore
Guitar Shop – Jeff Beck
Clifs of Dover – Eric Johnson

That is all I’ve got off the top of my head.
Black Out.
¶ 10:14 PM