Wow, it's been a LONG time since I've written, but it's honestly been nice to take the time off and not "think" about everything for a while.  I feel great and have been thoroughly enjoying the summer, my family and my friends!  And my hair is growing back ... yahooooo!

OK, so what's next.  I start radiation on Monday.  I've already been twice to get examined and "marked" with little tattoo dots so they know where to line up the machine each time I go.  It was a bizarre ritual in that they had me lay down on a table "just so" with a huge round radiation thingy staring down on me and laser lights coming out out of the walls and ceiling.  I was waiting for a voice to say, "Please remain seated until the ride has come to a complete stop."

They did a cat scan to understand where my vital organs are (so they miss them when they zap me) and studied the lights and table and dots and my scar so intently ... it was an interesting and time consuming effort.  But it's all to make certain they don't zap anything they shouldn't so I was patient and stayed perfectly still for what seemed like forever.

When I go on Monday the treatment will last only 10 minutes, but that will be the first of many as I have to go five days a week for six and a half weeks.  Between travel (Dover - about 20 minutes from home) and prep time, I can count on a good hour and a half everyday, which I'm not looking forward to, but it will be a total picnic compared to chemo.  Side effects are minimal ... fatigue and possible skin burn.

I'll continue to write as I go through this next process.  In the meantime, following are some photos taken at different functions / events since I wrote last.

 Me donning a red wig while singing "Almost Like Being in Love" at a play put on by Senior Moments and held at the Seacoast Repertoire Theater.  Kevin liked the wig.  :>)

 The play was a reflection on "radio days" and my Dad, Jim Dodge, is seen here (on the left) being the sound effects guy during a skit.

 When we took our bows at the end of the show, I took off my wig to great applause.  The woman on the right is my mom, Joanne Dodge, who is very involved in this theater group and senior causes in general.

 Kevin with his son, Sean, at Bow Lake, NH.  Kevin's brother owns a cottage there and it's a wonderful getaway.

 Me and Maggie enjoying some smores by the fire.

 Me and Tom Gentry ... a friend and wonderful arranger (also at the men's contest).

 Me and Eric Bergeron at the men's International contest in Louisville, KY over the 4th of July week.  Eric sings with the Nashua Granite Statesmen.

 We went to a Japanese Steak House with the Wheatons and had a blast.  Our chef was so much fun ... we laughed quite a bit!

 Me, Kevin and my daughter Britt on the stand-up roller coaster at Six Flags Kentucky.  You can tell by our faces that we are having some fun!

 The chorus I direct, Sounds of the Seacoast, performing at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH.
(My mom and son, Ryan, are holding up the flag)

 My Dad's chorus, the Yankee Clipper Chorus, also performed and here we were singing America the Beautiful together.

 The Wheatons and Dores came down from Montreal for the weekend so we had a party!  Here I am singing with Lori while her husband, Andy, and my good friend, Fred, accompany us on guitars.  I'm still trying to talk her into moving here so we can be the next Indigo Girls!

 Singing some blues with Fred.  He played along using a beer bottle ... he is so talented!

 Kevin and I went to Puerto Rico and this is us on a catamaran, having just come in from snorkeling.  We went through his work and had an amazing time!