Prostate Cancer Doesn’t Stop

Microscopic image of invasive prostate cancer.

Another telephone call. Another new diagnosis of prostate cancer. I see so many cases of prostate cancer each day, but some are more personal to me than others.

This time the worried young man on the phone is a friend, and he is indeed young. Carefully followed because his father is a prostate cancer warrior (survivor) his diagnosis has been made before his 40th birthday. He will benefit from all the advances in diagnostic techniques, prognostic methods, and therapeutics that have been developed in the last decade or so. Testing of the abnormal genetic material in his tumor, as well as his “germline” genetics (the genes he was born with) may assist in some decisions, as well as serve as a guide to family members about their own potential risk for prostate and other cancers.

Something else that will be available to him as he begins his prostate cancer journey is the presence of information seminars and support groups sponsored by UsToo, an international organization based in Rosemont. (Full Disclosure: I am on the Board of Directors of UsToo.) These resources bring prostate cancer patients updates on the latest in medical, surgical, and radiologic advances, as well as the ability to discuss with peers what to expect and how to deal with the life changes that the diagnosis and treatment may bring.

One month from today, on September 26th, UsToo along with UroPartners (More Full Disclosure: I provide pathology services to UroPartners) will be sponsoring the SEABlue Race/Walk in Lincoln Park, to raise funds for Support, Education, and Advocacy related to prostate cancer. I would love to invite you to join in on a fun-filled morning by the lake, but with no knowledge of what COVID restrictions we might be dealing with in a month, I will instead ask you to support me in my personal fundraising campaign. You can donate (any amount is welcome) by clicking here. Donate in honor of all the men you know–those who have prostate cancer, those who have lost a battle to prostate cancer, and those who just by being a male are at risk.

To my young friend–keep your hopes high and know that there are many resources to help you. Your dad is a success story, you can be too!

Just one note in closing. UsToo is merging with Zero-The End of Prostate Cancer in an effort to combine the strengths of each of these two great non-profits. You can learn more about the merger here.

Thank you for being a supporter.

Once more, the link to donate to my fundraising is Ustoo.rallybound.org/sea-blue-2021/lesraff

The opinions expressed above are the opinions of the author and not necessarily UsToo or UroPartners.

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Answer: Me. Question: Who Should Be the Next Jeopardy! Host?

My first game show appearance (1971) Photo courtesy Sullivan Navillus

OK readers. You knew this blog was coming. You knew that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. My life’s goal is once again obtainable, and you knew I was going to speak out–or at least write about it.

What am I talking about? Of course, it is the chance of a lifetime to be the permanent host of Jeopardy! For those of you who have been more concerned with other important matters (Afghanistan, COVID, politics,) let me fill you in on the J! host saga.

The parade of guest hosts to replace Alex Trebek resulted in the show’s executive producer, Mike Richards, being named the new main man. Now, being a showbiz novice, I am not exactly sure what an “executive producer” does with their time. But I am pretty sure Mr. Richards had more than a bit of influence in deciding who the answer-and-question guru would be.

Do you think that a few steps were skipped in the process of making the choice? Things like reviewing previous public comments the guy had made on his own podcast a few years ago? Comments that would not be suitable for America’s favorite quiz show. (Note in passing: Way back in the last millennia, when my episode as a contestant of Jeopardy! was being taped, Alex fat-shamed one of my competitors during a commercial break. But that was then…)

Once Richards’ remarks came to light, it took less than a week for him to step down from the moderator role. A new search will begin. And once again I ask the question. Why not me?

In addition to my game show credentials, I promise that a search of all my writing will produce an absence of non-PC, non-woke comments. Any film or digital photography or videography available for perusal will only show me keeping my hands to myself, and my eyes clearly focused on appropriate parts of others persons’ anatomies. I swear I have never touched, groped, fondled, or mauled anyone who I was not invited to touch, grope, fondle, or maul. (And believe me, there have not been many of those invitations!)

Sony Pictures Entertainment, I am and will be your Boy Scout. Now is your chance. Pluck me from obscurity. I want this gig. And I won’t stop writing until I get it!

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The Drake Wedding Rap

Give me a beat, boys!

I read the story, ‘cause it’s in the newspaper
About a building up for sale, no it’s not a skyscraper.
Yeah the Drake Hotel, it’s at the edge of downtown
Is on the trading block, it’s got Barb and me down.

The Drake is where we married in the distant past
After lots and lots of planning it happened at last.
November seventy-eight was the month that we did it
Just a few winter weeks before all the snowy white shit hit.

We got married in the ballroom in the hour after noon
Walking down the aisle while a flautist piped his tune.
“What I Did for Love” was the song that he was playing.
“We hope this all goes well,” is what the two of us were praying.

We had faml’y we had friends in the wedding party
And our Rabbi’s name was Ox, the dude was big and he was hearty.
Said our vows, put on rings, read some lines of Jewish prose
Then I smashed the crystal glass to the shouts of “Mazel Tov.”

We served a fancy lunch, I’m a guessin’ it was chicken
And after every course the big orchestra would kick in.
They played a slow waltz then they played a fast hora
It was fun in those days, no Spotify and no Pandora.

The band kept on playing and our friends they all kept dancing
And through the goings on, the daytime hours were advancing.
Some people made some speeches and more people made some toasts
And we gave a big shout-out to Barb’s parents who were hosts.

Now it’s been 42 years since we all partied at the Drake.
Did I forget to mention–we had a chocolate wedding cake?
The crumbs have long been eaten but the marriage stays strong
Barb and I are always knowing with each other we belong.

So whoever buys the Drake, don’t you dare go and destroy it
You gotta give new couples a fun day reason to enjoy it.
And we’ll come and have a drink and lead some lusty cheers
“Cause we’ll not forget the Drake after all of our years.

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Those Darn Geese are Leaving and Other Good News!

I told you about our anti-goose dog silhouette project. Most of you doubted it would work. People regaled me with their own experiences. “The phony dogs won’t keep away the real geese,” our readers honked.

But guess what. It has been two weeks now. And our driveway is poop-free (most of the time.) There have been two exceptions, but those have been on days that I didn’t have a chance to relocate the silhouettes. (The instructions state to move them daily.)

As long as I follow the rules, the geese do seem intimidated by the black cut-outs as they rotate in the wind around their wooden stakes. The foul fowl will still approach our driveway but not venture onto it for the purpose of leaving a deposit.

As a secondary benefit, the geese seem to be spending less time in the subdivision. They are making less of a racket and not snarling as much traffic. The feathered freaks haven’t evacuated the area entirely–two phony dogs aren’t enough to clear a couple of hundred acres. But the Homeowners Association may consider adding a few more of the silent sentinels around the neighborhood next year and turn our little corner of Riverwoods into a goose-free zone.

Follow-up #2: The Lettuce Entertain You Dining Points. Our hosts on the evening in question read the original blog. They graciously suggested I contact LEYE and claim the points for my own Frequent Diner account. I did, and I have received a tidy number of credits. Thanks, Cara and Ken, the next time we dine out it’s on us!

Follow-up #3: The producers of Jeopardy! have made their selection. It takes two–Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik–to replace the late Alex Trebek. As for me, I am still waiting for my phone call for a tryout. I guess I will need to create my own game show in my quest to be a TV quizmaster. Does anyone have any suggestions?

And on a closing personal note, congratulations to our daughter and son-in-law Laury and Alex on the birth of their beautiful baby daughter. This is grandchild #4 for Barb and me and we are thrilled. Being Nana and Baba is such a wonderful part of our identity.

To all our readers, be kind, get vaccinated, stay well. Talk to you next time.

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