Health Update

[silverscreenselect]

When I had my surgery, they did an MRI and detected some suspicious growths on my spine. So, I went back recently to have a second MRI to look specifically at that area. It turns out that what they found was benign. It's just the normal wear-and-tear you get when you get older. (I hadn't had any spinal pain.) My last tests for both the colon and prostate cancer were also good, so it appears I'm cancer free. I've got to go see a geneticist on December 26 to see if what I have might be heritary. In addition to notifying my brother if that's the case, a positive finding might mean I'm more susceptible to other forms of cancer and would affect my future treatment regimen. I'm also going back to both the colon and prostate doctors for checkups in the next two months and have another colonoscopy next summer.

I saw Anthony Anderson's special earlier this week The Real Full Monty which was to raise awareness about prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer. Every one of the celebrities who took part had lost someone close to cancer (and James Van Der Beek had been diagnosed and was in treatment). It's sadly amazing how many men don't want to get checked regularly. I'm very fortunate my cancers were detected early enough. Having a chunk of your colon cut out is no picnic, but it's better than the possible alternatives.

I have been seeing a therapist since earlier this summer, before I heard about the colon cancer. I've had to deal with depression and general aimlessness at times, but she's been a help. She insisted that my daughter contact her to let her know the results of my surgery. I've actually got a bit of a "business" connection with her. She's an older woman, and she and her husband have both been extras in several productions in the Atlanta area. A couple of months ago, they attended a cast party for the Saturday Night movie that filmed here (he played one of the production crew for the TV broadcast) and they'll both be appearing on an upcoming episode of the Found TV series.

But she's been a lot of help and has me back working on my website. I got way behind on book reviews when I was out of action, but I'm close to being caught up. I'm working on Marcia Clark's new non-fiction book about the Barbara Graham murder trial now, and I've only got a couple more this month to catch up. I've got Scott Turow's Presumed Guilty on the January schedule, along with my first virtual book tour since my first site crashed five years ago. I've finally made some money off the site (not enough to re-retire on but it's a matter of personal pride.) And I've also struck up a correspondence with "Uncle Creepy," a well-known horror cult figure, whose autobiography I just reviewed.

So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but things are looking up right now. I appreciate all the kind words from everyone on the Bored. I'm glad you all have been here for me.

[Beebs52]

Yay!!!

[tlynn78]

Sounds pretty good, SSS. Keep it up.

[a1mamacat]

Great news all around. Keep up the great work.

[Ritterskoop]

Nice to get some good-ish news for you.

[BackInTex]

Great news Steve! Glad things are working out so well.

[mrkelley23]

Glad to hear the news is as good as can be expected.

[mellytu74]

Woo Hoo!!

Great news on all fronts. Glad to read it!

[Vandal]

Great news, 3s.

[Earl the Squirrel]

But she's been a lot of help and has me back working on my website. I got way behind on book reviews when I was out of action, but I'm close to being caught up. I'm working on Marcia Clark's new non-fiction book about the Barbara Graham murder trial now, and I've only got a couple more this month to catch up.

Trial by Ambush? I'm currently reading that as well. It's on a brief hiatus because a bunch of my hold books at the library became available to once and they have a due date to finish, whereas this one does not. A little bit left of the Oscar Wilde book I'm reading and it's back to it.

I've never read anything by Clark (from her foreword it seems they are all or mostly fiction), but I'm liking her writing style on this one. Ever since i saw the Susan Hayward movie as a kid (on late night cable, not when it first came out!) I've been borderline obsessed with this. My mom had the paperback of the I Want to Live! book that I read right after seeing it and I've read several others in the ensuing years. Each one seems to present a wildly different version of Graham, so I'm interested to get into the nuts and bolts of the actual trial.

My biggest gripe so far in the book is the Mabel Monahan being described as an elderly widow at the ripe old age of ....64! Funny how I never really thought about that in my early years, I recalled her actually being an old, feeble senior citizen when that was far from the case.

[silverscreenselect]

My biggest gripe so far in the book is the Mabel Monahan being described as an elderly widow at the ripe old age of ....64! Funny how I never really thought about that in my early years, I recalled her actually being an old, feeble senior citizen when that was far from the case.

The point that Marcia Clark makes is that it was the press and, later, the prosecution who portrayed Monahan as a feeble, elderly woman to make the crime seem more shocking and stir up public and jury opinion against the defendants, especially Graham, in the case. I'm actually writing my review today, and I'll post a link here when I update my site.

[silverscreenselect]

My biggest gripe so far in the book is the Mabel Monahan being described as an elderly widow at the ripe old age of ....64! Funny how I never really thought about that in my early years, I recalled her actually being an old, feeble senior citizen when that was far from the case.

The point that Marcia Clark makes is that it was the press and, later, the prosecution who portrayed Monahan as a feeble, elderly woman to make the crime seem more shocking and stir up public and jury opinion against the defendants, especially Graham, in the case. I'm actually writing my review today, and I'll post a link here when I update my site.

I've posted the review on my website. I gave the book an A-.

Here's the link: https://www.silverscreenvideos.com/trial-by-ambush/