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I’m attempting to get to sleep at an earlier-than-usual hour tonight on account of the big day that is in store for me tomorrow.  I can promise two things about Wednesday.  1) I’ll be in no mood for April Fool’s Day jokes.  2) I’ll hold my head high as always.

With Jessie and Chrissy by my side, we arrived at Duke without much fanfare tonight.  I had an unfortunate run-in with a Virginia State Trooper on my drive; a school teacher masquerading as a cop who seemed like a nice woman, but who gave me a ticket anyway for traveling 84 mph in a 70 mph zone, presumably to fill her quota on the last day of the month.  Lesson learned…I hope.  Don’t speed in Brunswick County, VA.

Aside from that, I’m hoping for a rewarding day tomorrow, with great ‘no news’ anticipated in the morning.  On the day of my third post-op MRI, I thought that luck might continue to be on my side at night, so I purchased four Powerball tickets to keep the good times rolling.  I’ve decided that despite the billions-to-one chances of me winning, someone will win the jackpot eventually and there’s a good chance that it will be me.  The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke can expect a massive donation if that’s the case.

GBM

As you read this, I’ll either be packing for, driving to, or resting at…Duke! It’s been eight weeks since my last MRI, so I’m scheduled to return to the loud, narrow machine early Wednesday morning for another scan of my brain. Similar to last time, I’m quite certain that all is well up there, but the doctors need reassurance that I’m truly doing as well as I tell them that I am.

The MRI is scheduled for 9:00 am on Wednesday (I report at 8:30), and I’m expected at the Brain Tumor Center at 11:00 am for blood work, neurological testing, psychoanalysis, etc. Stay tuned for live blogs throughout the day as I make my way through the obstacle course of physicians, needles, social workers and nurses.

GBM

I came to a realization tonight.  Since I’ve decided that I’ve been cured of cancer - as Wednesday’s MRI will surely suggest - why have I been compelled to continue to speak on the topic as much as I have?  Yes, it is topical - and it’s true that over one-third of all cancers are preventable - but I also had chicken pox once and I’m not writing about Calamine lotion on a daily basis.  So with that in mind, this particular entry will speak of cancer no longer, and will instead offer commentary on something else that has helped me pass the time in recent weeks.  American Idol.

Until this year, the total time that I spent in my life watching American Idol amounted to exactly 0 minutes.  I insisted that I didn’t like it even though I had never seen it, and when the morning DJs on the radio on our ride into work began to talk about the previous night’s episode, I barely had time to mutter ‘who cares?’ before I changed the channel.  I can’t identify a single factor that made me decide to give it a try this season - perhaps it was Jessie that lured me to watch - and while I watched it somewhat passively in the early going, I am now officially hooked.

Thanks to Tivo - America’s greatest invention, in my opinion - we can breeze through three hours of weekly American Idol programming in nearly half that time on the weekend.  Without commercials, Ryan Seacrest, and Kara DioGuardi asking herself questions and then answering them, we’ve reduced Idol to what it should be…a showcase of undiscovered talent.  As I rode the stationary bike today, time passed quickly as I enjoyed last week’s show.

Feel free to read no further and cast me aside like I used to do to the morning DJs - I won’t be offended - but if you choose to read on then here are my thoughts.  I think that Kris Allen is going to win, not because I like him or because I think he’s the best, but if the winner is picked by the fans then he seems to me to be the likely choice.  I’d like for Allison Iraheta to win, though not because I think she’s the best either.  I just like her style.  For the record, I think Adam Lambert is a step ahead of the rest, and though his style has taken him this far, I think it will ultimately cost him in the minds of the voting public - which I still vow that I’ll never become.

As for the rest of the candidates…I spend too much time wondering what possessed Megan Corkrey to get a full sleeve tattoo to really pay attention to whether she’s any good or not.  I find Danny Gokey to be overrated and annoying.  Anoop Desai bothers me as well, though I can’t put a finger on why.  Lil Rounds is impressive, and could be a sleeper candidate to watch.  I’d be happy if she won as well.  I’d be ecstatic if the inspirational Scott MacIntyre won - and I might even break my vow and vote for him if he was in the finals - but he seems destined to go home soon so I won’t waste the time by backing a hopeless candidate.  That would be like voting for Ralph Nader.  As for Matt Giraud, the judges comparisons of him to Justin Timberlake have ruined his chances in my book.  I’m looking for the first so-and-so, rather than the next whomever.  

Tivo has afforded me the opportunity to not know exactly what day, time or channel that American Idol airs on.  Whenever it is though, I’m already looking forward to next week.

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With tonight’s Wizards-Pistons game now officially in the books, so concludes a busy week for me at Verizon Center. After three games that kept me at work until nearly midnight each night - and my late evening with Britney on Tuesday - I thought about sleeping in my office with all of the time I spent in DC’s downtown arena this week.

I’ve made it home safe and sound though, and will enjoy the comfort of my bed well into the afternoon hours on Sunday. I’m not sure if sleeping will help to raise my depleted blood counts at all, but I plan on giving it a lengthy try on Sunday.

As for our NCAA challenge, shout out to my ‘Little Cousin Lindsay’ - and her boyfriend George - for taking a commanding lead in the challenge. The Final Four will be set on Sunday. Do you still have a chance at glory?

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It just wasn’t to be for Syracuse on Friday as they were out-hustled, out-shot and generally out-played by a better Oklahoma team tonight. With the overwhelming majority of the team scheduled to return next year though, like myself the Orange will be even stronger in 2010.

As for the Ultimate Prognosticator Challenge, another S.U. alum and Deke product - Brian Richards - has grabbed a share of the lead entering Elite Eight action. Brad Young…you have company.

I’d prefer to discuss college basketball, but as I mentioned that I was scheduled for blood work today, I suppose it is germane to give an update on my situation. The good news is that my counts weren’t the lowest they’ve ever been, and that I have another week to ‘meditate’ them higher.

The other news though is that my neutrophil count measured equal to its lowest ever reading, and that if I was scheduled for chemo today, it would’ve been postponed…but I wasn’t, so the point is moot. A better week is ahead next week.

GBM

Will the success of the Orange alum in the Ultimate Prognosticator Challenge bode well for their younger brethren on the court tomorrow night?  The boys in orange will square off against Oklahoma on the hardwood on Friday night, and they’ll look to follow in the footsteps of four proud Syracuse grads.  Paced by ‘Cuse grad Pat Muffley who has seized control of the overall lead, Ricky Mullen, Jessica Scott Wolfanger and Brad Young are close behind.  With three Dekes and a fellow Britney fan leading the way, how could I be anything but encouraged?

Aside from the twists and turns of college basketball, my life has been fairly routine since Tuesday’s ‘Circus’.  It’s been long on work, and short on play, but when work can be as fun as play, how can I complain?  Tomorrow will bring a trip to the oncologist’s office for the weekly check of my blood counts.  After last week’s slightly disappointing numbers, I’m hopeful for a better showing from my WBCs this time around - but I won’t fret if things don’t go my way, as I’ll still have a week to meditate my counts higher before my next scheduled IV next Friday.  Before then though I’ll return to Duke next week for another MRI on Wednesday.  I’m certain that I’ll dominate Duke like Villanova did tonight.  Stay tuned for the details.

GBM

Though I caught a significant amount of flak today for my unapologetic enjoyment of Britney’s Circus on Tuesday night, it did give me the chance to re-live and recap last evening.  I’ll move on now - reluctantly - but updates on the other happenings in my world will have to wait until tomorrow.  Last night was obviously a late one for me, and after tonight’s Wizards’ win, I find myself writing this at a late hour once again.  

It also pains me to admit that I didn’t exercise today for the second day in a row, thus ending my streak of exercising at least six days a week - a streak that must date back for close to three months by now.  That said, I am going to try to get a workout in before work tomorrow morning, and to do that I’ll need some rest.  Ever cognizant of not wearing myself too thin, I’m bordering on that now.  

I decided to postpone my plans to attend my first-ever NHL game on Friday night, in favor of a more restful evening of watching the Orange dismantle Oklahoma on TV.  March Madness returns on Thursday night, and I don’t want to fall asleep in the middle of the action, so I’m finally off to bed.  Until tomorrow…

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All of the details of my day today prior to 8:00 pm escaped my mind tonight, as I cleared my mind and sharpened my senses at dinner to be ready for the night’s extravaganza.  When evening set in, as if there was ever any doubt, Ms. Britney Spears did not disappoint.  Through countless outfit changes and close to two hours of pure entertainment, the “put-on-a-show-kind-of-girl” did exactly that.  Though the temperature inside the arena climbed to sweltering highs, nothing could diminish the sheer performance value of Britney and her traveling band of ‘Circus’ freaks.  The lights, the dancers, the cast of characters that roamed the massive stage…it was a show worth every penny and more, that I’m delighted that I saw.  I’ll resume blogging about me and my trials and tribulations tomorrow, but tonight belonged to Britney.  Welcome back, BS.

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I understand that there is an inherent risk to authoring a blog.  Clearly I’ve opened myself up to the masses, and I’ve revealed some details of my life that have proven to become quite topical in the aftermath of the announcement.  My escapades as “Loopy Nudeness” immediately come to mind, and now there is my admission yesterday that not only will I be attending a Britney Spears concert on Tuesday night, but I am greatly looking forward to it as well.  It’s the truth, and as I’ve said before, the truth is all that I have to stand on as I divulge what I’m going through each day.  I suppose that I could leave out certain details, and I’m certain that I’m not lacking for credibility, but it seems to me that if I’m going to tell you that I was tired and slightly queasy this morning for a long time after I awoke (which I was), or that I’ve developed an obsession with desserts (much to Jessie’s chagrin as she now scours the ends of the earth for healthy dessert options), I should also share with you some of the sillier things that I do.  It’s only fair.  Thus, while I am looking forward to work tomorrow as it’s been awhile since we’ve had the opportunity to host the media at Verizon Center for a normal day of Wizards practice, the highlight of my day will certainly come tomorrow night sometime after 8:00 pm when Britney takes the stage for The Circus.  Look, you like what you like.  I don’t like wrestling, Dancing with The Stars, college football, or Lost. I don’t smoke. I don’t ride ATVs. I don’t wear cologne, and I don’t play computer games.  However, I also don’t judge those that do.  You like what you like, and you do what you do.  Go in peace to do as you please.  Life can be too short to do it any other way.

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With an action-packed weekend now all but gone, I’ll return to work for a game day tomorrow and rejoin the normalcy of everyday working life.  It’s been since last Thursday that I’ve been in the office - on account of my Friday regimen of IVs - but as the Wizards were out of town all of last week, it’s been much longer since I’ve worked the long, full day that comes with game days.  I’ll admit to feeling significantly more run down in recent days than at any other time since this ordeal began, but after a day today in which I slept for the majority of the afternoon, I feel appropriately recharged not only for tomorrow, but for a busy week ahead.  More on that later.

As for the weekend that’s now in the books, it was much too short as always, but forever memorable nonetheless.  With close to 20 old college mates having descended upon DC for the weekend, our annual get-together was another rousing success.  We’ve gathered before in New York City, Atlantic City, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago and Syracuse, and while I wish that we didn’t repeat DC as the host city this year (thus snapping our streak of visiting a different city each year), I am eternally grateful that we did.  I simply wouldn’t have been able to make the trip had the group decided to go elsewhere.  It was a great show of unity. 

I almost wasn’t able to join the fellas on Friday night after a less-comfortable-than-usual chemo treatment on Friday.  I wasn’t exhausted, but I was tired…and though I wasn’t exactly nauseous, I was far from hungry.  I’m quite certain that nobody would ever say that it’s ‘their day’ when chemo is involved, but Friday certainly wasn’t my day.  Fortunately for me, Jessie was by my side as always for the duration of the treatment, and the Dekes were there to embrace me with open arms when I met up with them later that night.

Saturday brought another great day with the guys, from just after noon until well after midnight, I enjoyed their company, devoured my first steak in almost a month, and showed great self-discipline by staying true to my new lifestyle of diet and exercise despite the temptations to stray.  I felt good about my effort.  As a result though of my busy day on Saturday, my Sunday didn’t start until the late afternoon.  When I finally awoke, I watched basketball on TV for as long as it lasted, before continuing my ride on the health train with my nightly regimen of exercise.  I’ve found a good balance.

On the subject of the BrianSereno.com College Basketball Ultimate Prognosticator Challenge, former Wizards PR intern extraordinaire Chris Younes and my dear, old friend Pat Muffley lead the pack into the Sweet Sixteen.  Chris and Pat have staked an early claim for the trophy, but plenty of hoops action remains.  Stay tuned.

The rest of my week won’t slow after tomorrow, though much of it is my own doing.  I’ve vowed to not push myself and to ‘listen to my body’, but on Tuesday night I’m going to listen to my body listening to Britney Spears live in concert at Verizon Center.  If you think I’m kidding, you’re sorely mistaken.  Britney cancelled on us last time we had tickets to see her live, and I wasn’t going to miss out on this second chance.  Wizards games follow on Wednesday and Saturday, and I’m hopeful to take in my first ever NHL game on Friday night as we’ll go root on the hometown Caps.  

I’ll be busy, but ever mindful of my health.  Details will follow.

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