It's Official!

[Stegosaurus37]

As many of you may know, it is my desire for my ashes to be scattered in a vineyard - so I can come back as an exceptionally fine year.

Well, you don't just go and scatter used people parts, no matter how well toasted, willy-nilly. You need permission.

Since I am a part owner in a local winery, I asked them about scattering my ashes in one of their vineyards that they do a single bottling of. They were very receptive and my wife and I joined with the vineyard manager today to pick an area for me to add myself to the vineyard fertilization schedule. The vineyard manager is a gentleman of Mexican origin who has been working in this vineyard for his entire working career and is training his son to follow him. A great story!

The closest town is Forest Grove, Oregon. The geographic coordinates are

45 degrees, 36.068 minutes north

123 degrees, 10.360 minutes west

Elevation is 328 feet MSL

It's in a block of pinot noir grapes, south facing (with a beautiful view, not that that will matter to me). In consultation with the vineyard manager, we agreed the scattering should be in the late fall, after harvest, and at a time such that the winter rains will be able to fully settle my ashes.

So think of me not as dying, but being recycled. And it is fully organic. Perhaps in a few years, one of my relatives or friends will say "It's a festive occasion, let's drink a bottle of Stegosaurus."

It's a pleasant thought.

On a more medical note, I've been off taxotere and on XTandi for three weeks and my PSA has continued to drop from 3.89 to 2.6. So the Veterans Admin doc thinks I'll be around until the New Year. Since they will be recommending more chemo once the XTandi stops working and I am not going back on chemo, the prognosis is still fairly short term.

My last chemo infusion basically turned me into a zombie; I'm making a good recovery from the chemo but see no reason to go through it again. If it were going to get me some remission, it would be worth it, but nobody thinks that would be in the cards. It would be just dragging it out and, if my chemo recovery continues, I'll get some good quality time. So take that time and enjoy it!

[erjlg3]

I wish and pray for you....a complete miraculous remission but if that doesn't happen......Then that sounds absolutely magical stegosaurus!!! Sending peace and love to you and your loved ones.

Most sincere,

🤗Jackie

[Stegosaurus37]

My pathology has been checked and I'm not a candidate for auto immune therapy. I am questioning my providers about alternatives and I am in the fortunate position that I don't have to be overly concerned with the financial side.

But there is another factor - should I spend more time trying for more life and therefore not living the life that I have? I agree you should never give up, but also you souldn't forget why you are fighting.

On a totally different subject, I read on this group that some statins can interfere with XTandi. Since my primary care physician has me on atorvastatin, I brought this up with the VA oncologist. He checked with the pharmacist and XTandi decreases the effectiveness of atorvastatin, but XTandi is not affected. Thanks, guys!! I'll gt my primary care to change things.

[leswell]

We’re going into our organic garden. Who can prevent us? We live here. But you’ve done us one better! Hope to have a Stegosaurus37 Pinot before I’m planted or rather scattered.

How about a case? As I said to my brother tonight about pigging out on walleye years ago, “Oink, Oink”. Pinot Noir and walleye. What a pairing. I’m turning into a veritable j-o-h-n tonight. It’s been a painfully long day. For him it has been a long painful day. But tonight I read many who concur with our doctors’ choice of Zytiga, Prednisone, and Xgeva which increases my hope of lower PSA and less bone pain. We’re leaving in the Vantas and continuing with Avodart, Proscar, DIM, and Metformin. Hope you’re feeling better by now yourself. Not at all sure about statins and the possible connection with ALS, but everyone else in the family is taking them. One brother-in-law turned white-haired overnight. Strictly anecdotal, but one physician I know, who was somewhat overweight, took statins, lost weight, and died of ALS. Not for sure the cause, of course. Go well. Enjoy the vineyard. I’m jealous. Mrs. S

[leswell in reply to leswell]

Oh my. This was too much levity in the middle of the night for your and our serious situations. Apologies and sincere wishes for renewed hopes. I’m calling our pharmacy in an hour to find out when we can pick up the Zytiga. Praying for your well-being today. Mrs. S

[j-o-h-n]

I'm coming back as a cork.

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Sunday 05/13/2018 1:49 PM EDT

[Caring7]

My husband was on Xtandi with great results for two years!

Loooooove the wine plan!!