For Your Cure is in London

London, what an amazing city I can't rave enough about it.

I do have two problems with it though, the food is absolutely horrendous, unless your willing to spend $50 a meal.

And this exchange rate is killing me, I changed over $200 US. and got back 105 pounds. fucking awesome.

This city is expensive as shit.

A quick recap of things we have done so far.

Use the Underground for all travel = Highly Recommended

Went to Stonehenge = a must see for history buffs, but b prepared for shitty weather.

Castle of Windsor = We saw the Queen!

The Roman Baths in Bath UK = Amazingly beautiful, I could swear I was in Greece.

London's Eye = Great way to see the city

Imperial War Museum = Best museum in the city, and it's free! All about WWII, and that stuff gives me a major hard on.

London Bridge = Coolness factor is still there but declining.

Big Ben & Parliament = Makes you realize how young the good ole' U.S. of A is.

Nights partying in Canary Warf and Piccadilly Circus = Cool Yuppy factor, but got so drunk I got lost on the Tube.

Tomorrow we go to Liverpool and Abbey Rd. = should be amazing.

I've only gotten light headed once here, and I think it's because I forgot to take my meds. My eyebrows are thinning, but at the moment that's a good thing b/c I have bushy de-go brows.

Oh Bl Di Oh Bl Da Life Goes On!

Some information

Hey guys, I'll be in London all next week so there might be a break from the action. But I wanted to post two e-mail's I sent out earlier this week, if anyone is interested (far and wide) don't hesitate to contact me @ stephenfogg@yahoo.com I might not respond right away b/c I'm not sure the internet situation we will have but ohh well, I'm done rambling. Enjoy

E-Mail #1

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day/night and getting ready for Thanksgiving coming up. I am reaching out to you guys because you all have expressed interest in helping out with For Your Cure, and I want to let everyone of you know how grateful I am to have such a wonderful support group around this whole premise.

Anyways I will be out of town till November 29th, and I would like to set up a meeting with everyone on this list who is still interested in helping out so we can all get on the same page and start getting the ball rolling.

I was thinking of shooting for Dec 3rd as the day to get everyone together, but I'm still stuck on time and location. I want to ask each of you if your 1. still interested in helping out 2. would prefer to meet during the day, or night and 3. would you guys like to meet for dinner and discuss FYC or have me hunt down a conference room for an hour or so?

It's completely up to you, but I will chose the majority (which will be a theme of this organization) and then we'll go from there. I would really appreciate it if everyone who wants to be apart of FYC come to this, that way we can start organizing and not have to have meetings all the time. We can set some preliminary goals in this meeting.

Anyways I'm just rambling on at this point, so there it is guys!!! You ready to jump in head first....... I am.

Also I have the domain name www.foryourcure.org so we're money there

Let me know what you think and please don't hesitate to pass this along to any people I might have missed, I know there's some out there.

From the bottom of my heart,

Thank You

Stephen

E-Mail #2

Hey guys,

I think we're going to have 2 separate meetings one during the day and one at night both on Dec 3rd. You would only need to come to one of the meetings.

What I plan to do with this time is to outline everything I plan to do with FYC and what I will need help with. I would also like to give out 'assignments' for everyone (either as an individual or as a group of volunteers) Anyways, once I get that rolling we can be more flexible with future meeting.

I have the Clear Channel Large conference room tentatively scheduled for 1pm and 7pm. Their address is

801 Wood Ridge Center Dr.

CLT, NC 28217

The studios are next to the Charlotte NBC affiliate off of Billy Graham.

Anyways plan to attend one (or both meetings if your head over heals with wanting to help out) and we will go from there.

As always please feel free to forward this to anyone you think I might have missed.

Thank you guys again for everything,

Stephen

I bet...

I had at least 20 of you guys googling the song "Bald Headed Hoes" from my previous post, all wondering "who must sing such a kind hearted melody"

Did this come up?

God Bless Hip Hop.

I spent today (actually taking a break from at the moment) working on For Your Cure, paperwork, research, all the fun boring redundant mess that is government paperwork.

Filing my EIN was easy, then I see the Tax Exemption forms.............. Holy Fuck Lord are you kidding me?!? The expected time to complete the research for these forms is 89 hrs. 32 min. (according to their Paperwork Reduction Act Notice on page -24- of the INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORM 1023 not the 97 page form) learning, preparing, and copying will take an additional 15 hrs. 48 min.

All I can say is Holy BeJesus this is going to take a minuet.

Back from my Break

Bob Marley - Stir it up

Bald Headed Hoes

That's the name of an amazing rap song I was introduced to while riding the College Tour Bus my Junior year at Benedictine. Thank You Todd Williams for that little delight!

Here is it.... More pointless dribble to follow.

Normal, somewhat.

Today begins my recovery, 6 months the doctors say will take to get my body back into normal shape. My mind is clear, but my body is still so tired.

I went to the mall today to pick out some hats for my bald ass head, got all the way there and nearly passed out from exhaustion. I guess I'm still not 100% Still... I'm better than yesterday, and that's enough for me.

I now have F U Cancer wristbands in, so if you haven't already gotten your hands on one, now is your opportunity. I leave for London on Friday, and I intend to ship out everyone who has sent in donations before I leave (just in time for the holidays!)

Thank you to everyone again, not much excitement to this post hopefully next one I'll be good and dopy for some slanted humor. Bald Ass Foggy pics will be up by tomorrow too.

Till Then

I can't go.

The nausea is killing me, things would feel better if I could just purge. The Nulasta shot did this to me last time too, sore bones, nausea, jitters, and exhausted. I'm tired, but I can't fall asleep.

Good news is tomorrow is my last day of treatment... For now, Dec 2nd I will retest my body and see if the chemo has truly done it's job. From the looks of my hair, and the exhaustion in my body it's working, but only time will tell.

Julie is excited for tomorrow to be over with, and so am I to a point. I just don't believe it to be over with, something inside of me is telling me to be patient with excitement, this roller coaster has been going on too long and I'd just like for the rest of the ride to be smooth sailing.

Life is progressing, tomorrow should be better.

~ On my iTunes right now - Sly & The Family Stone - Stand!

4 Days and Counting,

Till my chemo might be complete, 4 more sessions in the messhole, hopefully. Dec 2nd I go back in for blood work and testing, then we see how happy I shall be.

But damn, 4 more days...I'm shaking and I'm not sure if its the drugs or the utter joy that is! Yesterday I was able to see Matisyahu in 106.5's green room, his music puts you in a calm tranquil and I think that just started everything off right. The kind folks at Clear Channel donated a ton of CD's, Books, and DVD's to F.Y.C. So looks like now I need to start doing an inventory or some cataloging, shit this could get progressively redundant.

I'm held-up at the house for the next couple of days, body is weaker than yesterday, but yet I feel somewhat at peace with my condition. I'm back to not tasting food again, even my "go-to" meal of greasy ass Burgers from McDonald's tasted exceptionally bland. Only for a little while longer

Just Worn Out

My body is sore and weary, I'm having small tremors, the chemo is working again. My hair is thin like the stereotypical combover of the middle aged man. I have slept the day away, and I could fall back asleep any minuet now.

Julie's mom has been here since Monday, and it's already been a blessing to have her here, if just to talk to someone during the down time. I had my first person going through treatment reach out to me, and I'm so excited to help them in any way I can. Starting this non-profit feels like a calling from god, and I am so ready to jump in heads first. Each and everyone of you guys and your support are the leading cause for this. My way to pay forward inconceivable acts of kindness.

I worked on the non-profit till I fell asleep on the couch with my MacBook glaring @ me on my stomach.

I took my first Marinol today, it makes me so sleepy and really doesn't help like pot does for the constant nausea.

My body is so tired, and it is shutting down my brain

“I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.” - Kurt Cobain

Deja Vu

My hair is significantly thin, and I have patches of baldness everywhere. I think I'm going to bet my over/under is Thursday I will be completely bald. Not Sinead O'Connor Bald, more like the Blue Man Group.

I'm still jittery and my mind isn't cloudy, I feel ok right now. The doctor gave me a script for Marinol, and I'm looking forward to it. I won't have to buy my way into eating again.

I look down on my shirt and notice that roughly a bakers dozen of hairs have fallen out since I sat down to type this. The end is near.

I was still able to taste food, I'm not sure how long that will last but I like it, I actually gained a few lbs this week.

Any takers on a bet?

"I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect, I say let... lets evolve, let the chips fall where they may."

Back to the Frontline

I'm droopy, wait maybe drowsy.

I'm on a regiment of Lorazapan and Benedryl every 4 hrs. If I don't take my Loraz, then I shake uncontrollably, if I don't take the benedryl, my sink rashes and burns. So it's be in a cloud mentally, and perpetually drowsy or have my body feel crazy. Both, sound pretty shitty to me, but I'll choose option A.

I'm starting to dose off, but I don't feel ready for sleep. Tomorrow I'm shipped back off to the front lines to the messhole for 7 days of constant battles. My body is going to take a whoopin' but I think I'm recharged for the fight.

Stay tuned kids.

Oh Indeed

I'm jittery, have a rash all over, and my hair is falling out, it should all be out by next week.

The shaking was so bad today that I had to take a Lorazapan just to be able to type this. It freaked me out, I was nervous, I didn't call (or want to) my messhole doctor b/c his usual response on the weekend is "go to the ER"

Well I hate the ER (and try to avoid it at all costs), especially weekends. Your nurses are bad or rookies, usually stuck there overnight, and they poke you with more needles than you can stand.

It 1:56am and I'm no where ready to sleep, it's not my mind, because that is tired. It's my body, it's fighting chemo again, and I can feel every battle.

Last night Julie & I went to Gin Mill to feel normal again. It was great, we both needed that feeling of normalcy, if only for one night, we accomplished it. Great seeing the gang again.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better,

The Messhole

Back in this seat again, a nice polyester recliner, staring at no one like myself, or everyone like myself…… depending on how you see it.

I’m bummed, made a huge lunch for fear it is my “last meal” with any real taste for now, realizing Monday I’m slated to go through the week of hell…again.

More shots, steroids, IV’s, drugs, more or less of the same. This week off really spoiled me.

Messhole doctor finally told me what they ‘suspect’ landed me in the ER 2 Sunday’s ago, a case of phenomena, infection and possible beginning of H1N1.

They just injected me with a test shot of the drugs, it burned like hell going in.

I hope I can do this… I’m not mentally prepared for this again, not yet, not now, not ever.

Adios

Fuck the Suck

Just got a call from the messhole doctor. He wants me to come in today @ 1:30 to start treatments again. Fuck me, I thought I had more time.

This really bums me out, I'm going to come out of this shit tired and weary again. A new IV will be started, and I will have the pleasure of staring at old dying people. I am fucking excited!!!

I'm paying attention to this mass rapist/murderer in my hometown of Cleveland, and it makes me absolutely sick and saddened, He did all of this just down the street from my High School. God that's fucked up, I hope he gets the shit beat out of him in prison, every day until he is sentenced to death.

That's it for now, more to report on tonight.

My Ride in the Pope Mobile

Had my breathing test today, and as you can see from the picture I was in the Pope Mobile for this thing.

I was able to see my results from the last test today, I scored a 68% last Sunday. Meaning I was breathing at a D+ level. Today I scored a 96% I get a Gold Star.

I can tell the difference, I couldn't even finish the first test... my breathing was too short & I couldn't stop coughing. This time it was a piece of cake.

Anyways, I checked out some space to rent @ the N.C. Music Factory, and signed up for a P.O. Box today. Tomorrow it's paperwork and building this non-profit from the ground up.

I think I'm starting chemo on Monday. I mean, I don't know.. messhole Doctor hasn't called yet, and I'm in no hurry to hear him say so.... I just have this gut feeling in my stomach, life is pretty good right now, and I don't want to fuck it up with that mess....please messhole doctor, don't tell me anything till Monday morning.

later taters.

Address (Intermission pt.2)

Ok, so I've been blown up about these bracelets and how to get one. Just send me an email @ stephenfogg@yahoo.com and I'll shoot you an address or get yours.

Thank you all,

Stephen

Intermission

I think of life right now as a soldier getting off the front for a few days of R&R back at the base. Life is as normal as it's been in awhile, and I feel like I'm resting up to be shipped back off on the lines the fight the good fight.

There's still the routine (basic training) of doctor apts, pills and tests. But no real front line battles.

On a different subject matter I have a bit of important information to announce. It has come to my attention that a group of friends have created a FU Cancer bracelet, and all the proceeds of the sales of these bracelets are going in my direction to do with however I please.

First off, I can't describe how grateful and honored I am to have friends to even think up a concept like this. But I wanted you all to know that I will be starting a non-profit with the funds raised from sales.

I'm just now working on a mission statement, but I know the premises of the idea... to help and give back to others. I'm leaning on an artistic/mind occupying angle, give art supplies, music, books, to people going through surgeries and treatments. My mom also suggested a food and dietary angle, which if this thing picks up might be incorporated down the road.

If your interested in getting a bracelet, let me know I know they are being sold @ the Gin Mill for $5. I don't have my hands on any, but if there is some response I'm sure I can get a bunch and ship them out to you.

I say good day.

"all I got was a black face & a pregnant 13yr. old"

is what Julie said our only trick or treaters said they were for Halloween.

I've been hesitant to write all weekend long, for the first time my head isn't in the clouds and life is normal. I'm worried there's not much to report.

I've been off meds since Saturday and my head is already coming down, my body isn't jittery anymore and my thoughts are thorough and concise again. Something new for me, now-a-days.

Tomorrow, I get the H1N1 shot. I told my physician to give it to the kids and moms first b/c I'm in the house all day long. He smiled and said ok, the very next day I received an urgent voicemail saying I need to come in and get the shot sooner rather than later. The urgency in his nurses voice put everything into perspective, my immune system is still critically weak, I'm now categorized as feeble.

I ate my weight in food this weekend, all weekend long. I can't remember the last time I put down so much. I have the help of some good pot for that, I'm not even stuffed.

Julie saw me today stretched out without my shirt on and saw my rib cage, I can't gain weight and it's starting to bother me.

For now.