In Memoriam: Cagliostro

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Thu Jul 29, 2021 11:09 pm

Let me know! Any day that works for you works for me.

Post by **Skyweir** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:02 am

Oh Cags - sounds grim but don’t feel old cuz of the hernia - I had a hernia removed in my 30s and again in my 40s so you get a new belly button lol

My son did a GoFundMe for my “niece” who has a rare brain cancer - to help raise money for the things she is going to need but aren’t covered by insurance - could we or a family member do that for you - to expand your chemo options???

Take care dudely - we’re gunning for you - let me know if you’d like any help with getting a GoFundMe up and running - you may be surprised by the tangible support that friends and family desperately want to give.

Be good to access treatment options and not be confined to only what is covered by your insurance.

Sending love n hugz

Post by **peter** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:24 am

Good to hear from you Cags!

The whole thing sounds wretched for you my friend and you have my profound sympathy. I wonder what the reasoning is behind the insurance companies decision to limit their coverage to the three forms of chemo you mention? Possibly that they are very conservative in their approval and newer/ the newest treatments are simply not supported by enough data to satisfy those demands. Sky's idea of a GoFundMe pitch in these circumstances might be a good one.

Good that you are able to maintain remote working in both your current and proposed 'new' job; having to drag to the office each day would be a nightmare. But I absolutely get your desire not to be doing it at all.

As to Christmas- have no fear, you'll be there! Us stubborn old mules don't get told what we can and can't do that easy!

Take it easy my friend. Respect and good wishes in buckets from this side of the pond!

Post by **Avatar** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:32 am

Ah, mixed feelings...great to hear from you, wish the news was better.

Like Peter though, I'm pretty sure that you'll continue through sheer stubbornness.

Really hope you manage to meet up with Fist, and as always, keep us updated. We're railing at an uncaring universe on your behalf.

Sterkte!

--A

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:14 am

It was an absolute pleasure meeting you.

Sorry to interject some joy into this depressing thread. I just spent the last couple hours with Cags. As I said, I'm in Denver on vacation, did a search for Denver, and look who's here. I don't expect to meet many Watchers for the first time at this point, having met so many already, so that itself was a treat. I drove over to his house, and we talked about all manner of things. Started with Star Wars. No idea how we got there, but it was really fun. We shared our memories of having met many of you, and meeting SRD at our respective 'fests. Spoke a little about TCTC, although not much left to say on the topic after all these years here. Spoke of Earthsea. A little bit of our life histories. Just on and on. It was very easy and comfortable, as it should be for people who have been hanging out here together for 16 years.

You can see my three failed attempts to post a fucking picture of the two of us. Resizing it hasn't helped yet. I'll try again tomorrow.

Post by **peter** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:37 am

Excellent! Get that picture up Fist!

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 4:05 pm

Post by **deer of the dawn** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:44 pm

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 2:42 am

Hope this works.

Post by **sgt.null** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:03 am

Great pic!

Cags - continued prayers.

Post by **Skyweir** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:46 am

Awwww how wonderful

sooo lucky you can get together!!

Sounds like a fabulous visit

Post by **Avatar** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:26 am

Glad to hear y'all managed to hang out.

Seems the album is glitching out, I have mailed Vain about it.

There is no longer any difference between virtual and meat space I feel these days.

--A

Post by **Skyweir** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 8:46 pm

True that … another good incentive for a virtual elohimfest of some kind.

Post by **Cagliostro** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 7:34 pm

Sorry I have been so quiet since we met, Fist. Work got busy, and I was dealing with some shoulder pain that was mostly keeping me from wanting to do any additional typing than necessary. If you spotted me reaching to my shoulder several times while we talked, that was kind of the start of my week of awful. I'm still kind of having it, but it feels MUCH better today after a nice sleep finally delivered by Oxycodone. Sure made waking up this morning for work hell though.

So Wednesday I find out the results of the test we did to get the immunotherapy drug, or whatever. Fingers crossed. I'm nervous as shit about it.

Had a really good weekend with the kids.

As for a GoFundMe or whatnot, I wouldn't feel good accepting money from others, and have felt uncomfortable whenever someone has given little things so far. I just wasn't raised to accept anything except from family. And since my chance of survival from anything from here is pretty much nil, I'm just delaying the inevitable anyway. I'd love to make it until Christmas, but with what I'm enduring lately, I'm definitely preparing myself for the end. I've fought the good fight, and if there is something affordable, then sure I'll try to prop myself up until Christmas because of the kids. If it doesn't happen, it'll be scary, but also strangely a form of relief. I'm honestly not ready to go now, but I'm also not entirely opposed to it either. I just selfishly want a little more time to tell my story to the kids, and want to spend more quality time with them, but I know it's bumming them out too. I'm sure they will look back at this time with mixed feelings - great to spend more time with their dad, but also burdened with this long slow deterioration as horribly painful to their psyche. Still, can't be helped, and I'm digging every day we get to hang out and actually have fun.

And yep, the report from Fist on this was accurate - very easy conversation for someone who has suffered from social anxiety. But I've definitely had very easy conversations with a lot of Watchers, and it still seems like almost all of you imaginary friends of mine are especially good people, and every time I meet a new one of y'all, it seems to further this theory.

Anyway, take care, and I'll update when I can after Wednesday.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:07 am

I'm glad I joined the ranks of those who are no longer imaginary.

Post by **peter** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:36 am

Trust me - I look better in the imagination than I do in the flesh (particularly in comparison with you two handsome beasts in the picture!)

But joking aside, absolutely the best of wishes for a good result on Wednesday Cags. Keep us up to speed as and when time permits. We're with you all the way!

Post by **Skyweir** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:34 am

I get and respect your thoughts about gofundme … it’s hard accepting help … but to give a little perspective, it’s not money - it’s love. Just love.

… if there’s a drug that will make a difference but you couldn’t access it cuz of a limitation of your insurance .. please reconsider.

So glad you are memory-building with the kids

sending lots of love n cyber huggles

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:49 am

Plus, you know, we're not talking about accepting help because you need to paint the house, or need new tires on the car.

Post by **Skyweir** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 6:01 am

100%

Post by **Avatar** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:25 am

Fist and Faith wrote:I'm glad I joined the ranks of those who are no longer imaginary.

Zen Solipsism for the win.

Seriously though, the whole GoFundMe / whatever thing for medical care is a sad damn indictment of the US medical system IMO.

--A

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

In Memoriam: Cagliostro