In May, my older sibling was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and given two to four months to live! It was a shock as he lives in Cleveland and I in Baltimore! No warning!!! You all have offered your prayers and for that we, Pixie and I, are eternally grateful!

We just found out, this weekend, that he is at home and "day-to-day" - some SEVEN MONTHS after the diagnosis!

It appears that this Christmas may be bitter-sweet for me and my family but we celebrate my brother as a courageous man who fought the good fight for 69 years and accomplished much!

On November 10, 2008, Case Western Reserve University's Department of Chemical Engineering (which he chaired) dedicated the ROBERT V. EDWARDS STUDENT READING ROOM in his honor! We are extremely proud of his body of work, which he loved!

Thank you, NN Family, for all your prayers and well-wishes!

Dragon & Pixie

...ya cum-suckin' dawg!!!

12:20 - Call from out security monitor [ADT]!

I was alerted that my back door had been breached and motion monitor registered an intruder!

Left the job, speeding,... calling Pixie by cell!

1:10 - Arrived at home to find the back gate open, back door closed but obviously jacked,....

BOTTOM LINE: New laptop and old digital camera gone, house somewhat disturbed!

2:00 - Police crime lab dusting window sill [possible entry/exit point], cabinet [they put the items in a garbage bag], back door and storm door [entry/exit point?] and fingerprinted both Pixie [who had screamed home from her job] and I!!!

Thankfully, both handguns and rifle undisturbed, sword collection undisturbed, jewelry undisturbed!

Dragon,............ Fuckin' DISTURBED!!!

I promised Pixie, over 26 years ago, that I would keep her safe [she had a batterer before me]! I am true to that promise today!!!

The Blessing: We're safe, a laptop and old digital camera, easily replaced by our homeowner's insurance! House is secured! I am on 100% alert!!!

P.S. This ain't over,...

Pixie and I are in Mohegan Sun Casinos & Resorts, Connecticut for a nice little respite and, hopefully, a chance to have dinner with some NNers from the past, Kittenmmm & Wolf!

We're liiking forward to spa treatments, playing the ponies and some down and dirty gamblin'!

Oh,... and some nicety pics,...

The place is a dream,... especially the toilet! What a lovely place to ponder,.............

[url]http://prem.newbienudes.com/A/0999/660132504r.wmv[/url]

The funeral was definitely a CELEBRATION of a life well spent!

Aunt Lula was 99 years old and the last sibling of 12!

I remember, at the repast after one of my uncle or aunt's funerals years ago, my mother remarked about Lula, "She'll close the book on us all!"

She did!!! What a grand lady!!!!!!!!!!!! She'll be missed!

An aside!

I wrenched my gawddamn back lifting her casket upon the bier at the gravesite. My cousin leans over, as I clutch my back in pain, and says... "Lula just kicked you in the ass one more time for the road!"

Reckon so!!!

Went to check my email and see a mail from a name that I hadn't seen or heard from in 29 freakin' years! Not a common name, but can it be two of them! I open cautiously!!!

OMFG!!! The writer apologizes for the intrusion on the blind but asks if I am the same guy sitting on the sandbags in shades? He put a Colorado telephone number in the email!

I have just spent the last 1+ hours, teary-eyed, catching up!!! WHAT A GREAT START TO A SATURDAY!!! BTW, I didn't remember this pic but I remember Phu Bai, Republic of Viet Nam and the 3rd "Turd Herd" Platoon, Delta Co. 1/3 1st Mar. Div.! He has given me names and emails of other buds, as have I to him! We have promised to keep in touch from here on out! OOH-RAH!

P.S. He's the bottom, right, scrawney warrior, hand on chest!

Pixie's gone to her bi-weekly beautician/pedicurist ritual and I have to tell somebody!



Gawd Bless Chesty Puller and Gawd Bless our Corps!!!

Dragon

A necessary evil for a "baby boomer" the yearly, full physical is like combat: endless hours of boredom and aprehension followed by scant seconds of TERROR!!!



Dragon

Hiya,...

Pixie and I just got back from a [well needed for me] fishing trip to Buzzard's Bay, Massachuetts!!!

MAN, OH, MAN! I thoudht Maryland had some quaint and picturesque little villages but this place was breattaking!!!

We had a great time aboard the Lady F charter fishing for porgies, black bass and tar-tar but that little town was a picture postcard!

You New Englander's really impressed these Mid-Atlanticans that time!!! Plus, we were smiling and snapping pics, wondering how many NNers live near or around Buzzard's Bay? We saw some fantastic places for outdoor antics!!!

Dragon

He wants maryland blue crabs!

Gotta luv him!!!

First, We want to thank everyone for their prayers, concerns and kind words both here and through PMs. It means alot coming from fine human beings such as yourselves to take a moment and send a smile to someone whose worried about and helpless to aid a loved one!!!

Pixie and I spend Saturday and Sunday with my brother, along with other family memebers who came from Cali, Fla, Chi-town, PA and elsewhere!

My brother, who's originally from our burg sat for a video message to family who couldn't make the trip.

More importantly, ever though the ravages of cancer were physically apparent, the disease couldn't put a dent in his spirit! He battles on!!!

Thank you again from my heart!

And,... as my brother would certainly say, "[Dragon] are you still alive? Then, dammit, act like it!"

Dragon & Pixie

Pixie and I are driving up to Cleveland this Memorial Day weekend. What would normally be a time for us to honor our ancestors has taken on a new and uncomfortable meaning.

My older brother has been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas that has metasticised. He's coming home form the hospital Saturday and we'll be there with other family to greet him.

He's seven years senior to me and my hero. When I spoke with him after the first notice, I said, "Man, I always thought you invincible!"

In his usual cool, he said: "Yeah, well, I fucked up!" Gawd, I love that guy!!!

Dragon