Dad’s Surgery Update

People have asked me for updates on Dad’s surgery. I’ve given updates on Facebook, but not everyone is on there. Why is that? So, here’s the run-down for everyone else.

Dad was born with one kidney. This wasn’t discovered until he had surgery in the late 1980s. Everything was fine for most of his life and many people live long lives with one kidney.

A couple of years ago a doctor discovered a mass on his one kidney. They monitored it and then this year decided that something should be done. The mass was most likely a tumor. The tumor, in addition to rising creatine levels, made surgery necessary.

The typical surgery for a kidney tumor is partial or complete nephrectomy, or removal of the kidney. In this case, this was not an option given that he only has one. Kidney tumors are always treated as if they are malignant because they do not respond well to traditional cancer treatment like radiation and chemotherapy. Thankfully, they rarely metastasize. Dad, Mom and the doctors opted instead for a Laparoscopic Renal Cryoablation.

Cryoablation is essentially the freezing of the tumor, in place, until the tissue is dead. The surgery was on Tuesday, March 10th and Clarian North in Carmel. It involved the insertion of several needles and scopes into his side and a carefully controlled injection of -40 degree Celsius inert gas into the tumor. The surgery went well and as far as everyone can tell the tumor is completely dormant.

A couple of days after the surgery, the kidney shut down. He stopped producing urine and his creatine levels shot up. The doctors immediately ordered him to start dialysis. Fortunately, this was something he and Mom were prepared for. He was in the hospital longer than we would have liked, about a week, before he went home. After returning home he immediately started a dialysis routine in Lebanon.

The dialysis center in Lebanon has only been open a few years. Without it he would have had to drive to Indy 3 days a week. Mom opted to not return to work to care for Dad and get him back and forth to treatment. He was on dialysis for about a month when he got the surprising news from the doctors that they were going to take him off the treatment! Turns out that his kidney function has bounced back after the stress of the surgery. His kidney is still failing, but he is no longer in end stage failure. They’re going to monitor him every couple of week, but at least for now, no more dialysis!

So, that’s the update! Dad’s doing well we’ll hopefully see him, Mom, George and Dawnielle this weekend. Oh, and happy 76th birthday to Dad and happy Earth Day!

Why aren't you on Facebook?

It's been nearly two months since the last post on the Roach Family Blog. This has been brought on for various reasons. Weddings, funerals, holidays, surgeries, baseball, new U2 albums. But mostly it's been brought on my Facebook. Seems like nearly everyone we want to keep in touch with is on Facebook now! So, the question is, why aren't you? Cathy and I have been posting regular updates, pop culture jokes, family photos, political ramblings, movie trailers and all that other fun stuff over there. Check us out here:


Jim's Facebook
Cathy's Facebook
Parker's Facebook: Coming 2018

We'll still likely to post on our blog, but not as often. I'll likely post longer articles and rambling here. I need to write up something about Dad's surgery soon (he's doing well).

So, see you all on Facebook!

Hilarious!

Here is a funny video about Governor Jindal and how he sounds like Kenneth from 30 Rock! A pretty good comparison!

Parker and Daddy with Scarfy

Here is a picture with Scarfy the Snowman-a Parker and Daddy creation!

Parker Update

I think it is time for a Parker update! This might involve some bragging- but I am completely entitled, I am his mom!! Look at that face! I can't believe how big he is getting! He wants to do everything for himself - if we accidentally do something for him, he will completely redo it just so he can do it. It can be really hilarious! The other night he wanted to get his blanket from his room and I got it. He got so mad and then took the blanket all the way back to his room just so he could get it.

He is in this eating phase where all he wants to eat are pancakes-microwavable baby pancakes. I can't let him eat all that enriched flour and sugar all the time. So I have tricked him a little. He does find the whole wheat blueberry waffles acceptable and I even was able to talk him out of using syrup! And he will drink the drinkable yogurt with it - so I don't feel as bad. I think he likes to eat this stuff because he can make it himself - he can open the freezer, put them on the plate and push the buttons on the microwave. A few more weeks and Jim and I can start sleeping in on the weekends - he can fix himself breakfast and work the tv - why does he need us? JUST KIDDING!

His other phase right now is that he wants to know how to spell everything. Everything he looks at he asks you how to spell it. So far, from memory, he can spell: Parker, stop, go, off, pool, open, on, no, hot. It is exciting to watch his little brain working. It is fun to watch him make connections between things and how things work. And to know that he really does hear us even when we don't think he is listening!

The funniest thing he does is ask why -constantly! We still haven't come up with a pat answer that will satisfy him. We use "Because God made it that way" alot but then we get "Why did God make it that way" He is fascinated with why the Hulk only wears pants. "Why does the Hulk only wear pants for" (and yes he ends ever sentence in "for" we are working on that!) "Because he gets angry and grows out of his clothes" "Why does he get angry for" "Why did his clothes get too little for" "Why did he turn green for" This usually ends with "I'm not sure, you should ask your dad" Super Heroes are really Jim's area. The cycle is just so funny and it is usually the same set questions every day!

And I think that by far though best thing that he does is the spontaneous "I love you Mommy" and "I love you Daddy" that he says several times a day. He says it in this sweet little voice with a tight hug that just makes all right in my world.

And there you have it! A Parker update...

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U2 and the inauguration

This was a big week for U2 fans. Starting out on Sunday with U2 performing at the "We Are One" concert on the Mall in Washington DC. HBO convinced the major cable providers to allow people without an HBO subscription to watch the broadcast, which was great. AT&T U-Verse actually opened up all of their premium channels for the entire weekend. We stocked our DVR full of movies!

Other performers included James Taylor, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, and John Mellencamp. Other than U2's performance, the highlight for me was Bettye LaVette and Jon Bon Jovi's duet on Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." Herbie Hancock, will.i.am, and Sheryl Crow's take on Bob Marley's "one Love" was also memorable.

U2 were the last performers before President-Elect Obama took the stage. The played "Pride (in the Name of Love)", which was very poignant given the concert was the day before the MLK holiday and the Lincoln Memorial was the location of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and "City of Blinding Lights", which had been used by the Obama campaign last year. Bono cheesed it up a little, performing partly seated, giving a mock political speech at the podium and singing directly into the camera as he's known to do. At the end of "Pride," Bono told the crowd that Dr. King's dream is "not just an American dream, also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream, an Israeli dream, and also a Palestinian dream." Bono's not one to mince words, even in front of the Pres-dent-Elect.

Watch the full broadcast on HBO.com.



Bono speaking about his experience in Washington.



On Monday, Will.I.Am premiered another patriotic/inspirational song, called "America's Song", on Oprah. It's a pretty pedestrian song, but Bono is featured on it, so I had to check it out. :) Other performers are Will.I.Am, Seal, Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill, and co-composer David Foster.

Lyrics



Then Tuesday, fans get to hear "Get On Your Boots" for the first time. More later.

Details emerge about new U2 album

U2 finally released details on their new album, No Line on the Horizon, today. This is their 13th album in 28 years and their first since 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. It's due out March 3rd, the day after my birthday. the first single, "Get on your Boots" should hit the radio early next week. I'm stoked! Still trying to decide which of the 3 deluxe formats I'm going to buy. Normally, I'd buy the "most deluxe" version with the hardcover book, DVD, and poster, but $95 is pretty steep!

From Billboard:

U2 Reveals New Album Track List
January 16, 2009 12:01 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

U2 has unveiled the track list for its new album, "No Line on the Horizon," due March 3 from Interscope. The 11-song set is led by the single "Get on Your Boots," which premieres Monday (Jan. 19) on Dublin's 2FM. It will be released digitally Feb. 15 and physically the following day.

The new album blends such classic U2 rockers as "I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" and "Get on Your Boots" with more experimental fare like the seven-minute "Moment of Surrender" and "Fez -- Being Born." The former is an electro-leaning track with an Eastern-inspired scale in the chorus, making it one of the weirder U2 tracks in decades.

Sources say U2 recorded enough material with producers Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite for an entire separate album, but it is unknown if any of it will see the light of day.

As previously reported, "No Line on the Horizon" will be available in five different incarnations. Japanese artist/photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto shot the album cover, viewable by clicking here.

U2 is expected to tour this summer, its first outing since signing a multi-rights deal with Live Nation last March. The group will perform "Get on Your Boots" Feb. 18 at the BRIT Awards ceremony in London.

Track Listing:

1. No Line on the Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez -- Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars of Lebanon

Planning meets primetime!

Fans of Greg Daniels, Amy Poehler, SNL, The Office, and surprisingly city planning and the Hoosier state have something to look forward to! Speculation has been all over the boards about Amy Poehler's TV show since she left SNL. It was originally slated to be a spin-off of The Office. Looks like they are keeping the mockumentary type concept, but situating it in a City Hall in fictional Pawnee, Indiana. One of the characters is supposed to be "charismatic city planner Mark Brendanawicz, whose outlook has been soured by 15 years of public service." Hey, that could be me! I'm looking for a contact name and number at NBC to try to get on as a consultant! Maybe my 10 years of small town Indiana government work is valuable in Hollywood?! Anyone have any leads? They say California is the place you outta be! I'm guess this will be must see TV in our house.

From e-online:

Amy Poehler Show Details Finally Revealed!

Thu., Jan. 15, 2009 4:42 PM PST by Kristin Dos Santos

The Untitled Amy Poehler Show, one of the most highly anticipated new shows of the season, still doesn't have a real title, but it does have scoop! For example, Amy Poehler says of the show, set against the backdrop of small-town government, "There is a scene in the show when they are trying to come up with a name for their council, and they say the name is crucial." Hee!

Seriously, though, we just heard from Poeher, her costars and producers, and here's what this show is all about...

The documentary cameras follow Leslie Knope (Poehler), a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana. In an attempt to beautify her town—and advance her career—Leslie takes on what should be a fairly simple project: help local nurse Ann Logan (Rashida Jones) turn an abandoned construction pit into a community park. Opposing them are defensive bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, real estate developers and single-issue fanatics—whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes and the very democratic process that Leslie loves so much.

Leslie is alternately helped and undermined by her colleague, Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), who cheerfully exploits his government position for personal gain. She is also thwarted by her boss Ron Swanson, who is philosophically opposed to government in any form.

If they can pull it off, Leslie hopes that she also will have inspired her uninterested college intern April (Aubrey Plaza) and April's whole generation—all while moving one step closer to her ultimate goal: becoming the first female president of the United States.

Amy Poehler for president? Hell yes. But don't be fooled. According to cocreator Greg Daniels, this is not a grandiose enterprise: "If the setting is very ordinary, the characters can shine against that. I'm interested in doing character comedy. We're keeping the background really plain so the humor of the actors is set off nicely."

Indeed, it sounds like there's a definite Tracy Flick thing going on with Leslie:

According to Amy, "I think in most comedies the lead character suffers from not being self-aware. Leslie is an optimist, and she's really ambitious, she's hoping the place she is now is not that place she is going to stay. I think we're supposed to like her, but I do think she decides, she wants to run with the big boys, and you have to take the hits. It's going to be very easy to humiliate and be mean to me on this show. It's going to make you feel good. You'll see people be mean to me, you'll be satisfied."

No word yet on other actors or castmembers for those open roles, but I can tell you one star who won't be appearing. Amy's husband, Will Arnett, told us exclusively on Tuesday, "I will not do a guest spot on their show until they get a title. I will not do an untitled show! Sorry, that's just me, but you know, get a title, OK? Get a title! Disgusting."

Right? What should they call the show? Post your suggestions in the comments!

—Additional reporting by Natalie Abrams and Jennifer Godwin

Obama Inauguration on Hulu

Watch Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th President streaming live on Hulu on Tuesday, January 20th, Noon EST! Now, if I can just find a way to watch the WE ARE ONE inauguration celebration featuring U2, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, among others, on Sunday. Unfortunately, it looks like this is just being broadcast on HBO.






UPDATE; Looks like this will be broadcast on an open channel, so people who don't normally subscribe to HBO can watch! I hope AT&T U-verse has this set up correctly!

Wilco meets Radiohead

This made me smile the other day. Jeff Tweedy and John Stirratt from Wilco, performing Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees" along with members of Radiohead. This is part of Crowded House frontman Neil Finn's "7 Worlds Collide" project to benefit Oxfam International. Oxfam is a confederation of 13 organizations working to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. The project includes 3 concerts in New Zealand and a future CD and DVD. Participants include the already mentioned Tweedy and Stirratt, plus Glen Kotche and Pat Sansone from Wilco; Johnny Marr from The Smiths and Modest Mouse; Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway from Radiohead; Sebastian Steinberg formerly of Soul Coughing; former John Mellencamp fiddle player and Hoosier Lisa Germano; Neil Finn's son Liam Finn; Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall; and Kiwi singer/songwriters Don McGlashan and Bic Runga. I'm really looking forward to hearing the results of this collaboration!



From the same series of shows, here's KT Tunstall's take on the vocals:

Didn't Make the Cut Part 8: Weird Al

"Weird Al" Yankovic was the first musician that was "mine" apart from my parents. I was probably 9 when I started listing to Al's classic albums "Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D" and "Dare to Be Stupid." Weird Al's parodies and polkas were a good primer and introduction into popular music for me as a pre-teen. And I still enjoy hearing his parodies like "White and Nerdy"! Over his 25 years of recordings he's produced a couple of Christmas songs. Christmas at Ground Zero was from his 1986 album "Polka Party!" The second song, "The Night Santa Went Crazy" is one I didn't know of until pointed out to me by my sister-in-law Dawnielle. It's from 1996's "Bad Hair Day" album.


Christmas At Ground Zero:



The Night Santa Went Crazy (for Dawnielle)

Didn't Make the Cut Part 7: Ben Folds

I used to be a big Ben Folds fan. I've seen Ben solo once and saw him with the "Ben Folds Five" twice. His latest album, "Way to Normal" does nothing for me. Ben has released two very odd Christmas songs that have never made the cut onto our CD. "Bizarre Christmas Incident" is an obscenity laden song about Santa getting stuck in a chimney. The second, "Lonely Christmas Eve" is from the soundtrack to the remake of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." It's sung from the perspective of the Grinch, pre-reform.

Bizarre Christmas Incident live (Chicago, December 16, 2005):



Lonely Christmas Eve:

New Heroes Webisodes: Hard Knox

Another new series of webisodes started Monday as part of NBC's Heroes. Unlike previous webisode series, this one featured main characters form the TV show.

Part Four:



Part Three:



Part Two:



Part One:

New U2 for my birthday!

U2's new album finally has a release date. Their 12th studio album, "No Line on the Horizon", will be released on March 3rd, the day after my birthday! This'll be their first since 2004's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb."

2008 Roach Christmas CD

The 7th annual Roach Christmas CD is finally done. I think this is the latest we've finished one so far. But hey, we've had a lot going on, right? I think it turned out really well. We always try to have a good balance of songs. A balance between spiritual and secular, classics and modern songs, rock and county, upbeat and mellow, crooners and soul singers.

This mix has a couple of new favorites of mine. The track by singer/songwriter Brett Dennen is a good one. You may have heard his latest single, "Make You Crazy", on the radio. "Spotlight on Christmas" by Rufus Wainwright is a great one as well as "Christmas Must be Tonight" by The Band. And of course the new U2 track.

• Christmas Times A-Comin' - Emmylou Harris
• The Reindeer Boogie - Hank Snow
• Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band
• Christmas Time All Over the World - Sammy Davis Jr.
• The Holidays Are Here (And We're Still at War) - Brett Dennen
• Behold That Star - Pete Seeger
• Christmas in Killarney - Bing Crosby
• Jolly Old St. Nicholas - Chet Atkins
• All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
• Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters
• Spotlight on Christmas - Rufus Wainwright
• Love Came Down at Christmas - Jars of Clay
• Angels We Have Heard On High - Sixpence None The Richer
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Nat King Cole
• Do You Hear What I Hear - Andy Williams
• O Come, O Come Emanuel - Belle & Sebastian
• The Star Carol - Aaron Neville
• O Holy Night - Sheryl Crow
• I Believe in Father Christmas - U2
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -Melissa Etheridge
• Auld Lang Syne - Roger McGuinn

You can download a .ZIP file here for a limited time.

Send me an e-mail if you have problems with the file or would rather have a hard copy.

Bourbon Balls

Since I'm on the topic of Christmas candies, I made a batch of bourbon balls for the party also. My Mom used to make bourbon balls around Christmas almost every year when I was growing up. She had a bottle of Canadian Club whiskey she used and that was the only liquor we ever had in the house. Over Thanksgiving we finally said goodbye to that bottle after probably 20 years. We poured some into the gutter and then George mixed some strong whiskey and juice. The recipe I made was nothing like Mom's. Hers was more of a candy in the Rebecca Ruth or Ruth Hunt style. These are two prominent candy companies in Kentucky that make a bourbon ball that has a creamy center, covered in dark chocolate and topped off with a pecan. The ones I made required no cooking. Bonus.

• 2 c. powdered sugar
• 1/4 c. Jim Beam
• 1/4 c. light corn syrup
• 2 c. crushed vanilla wafers
• 4 tbsp cocoa
• 2 c. chopped pecans

Stir together powdered sugar, cocoa, Jim Beam and corn syrup. Then add the crushed wafers and chopped nuts. Mix until evenly moistened and pinch a walnut sized piece and roll it firmly between the palms of your hands, repeat until all balls have been made. Roll the balls in additional powdered sugar until evenly coated. Refridgerate a couple of days before serving.

Visions of Sugar Plums....

...dancing in my head. Cathy's boss made a batch of sugar plums from a recipe from the newspaper last week. I've always wondered what sugar plums were and way kids would dream about them and why they would have a fairy queen. I had to try them myself for the office Christmas party. They're good, especially if they are small enough to pop them in your mouth whole. Kind of like a miniature fruit cake, but they won't break your toes if you drop them.

Here's the recipe, with a couple of minor variations by me:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup pistachios
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1/2 cup dried apricots
• 1/2 cup dried plums
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons Triple Sec

Combine the sugar, cardamom and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix well, then set aside.

In a food processor, pulse the pecans until roughly chopped. Add the pistachios and pulse again until both nuts are finely chopped. Transfer the nuts to a bowl and set aside.

In a food processor, combine the dates, apricots and plums. Pulse briefly until roughly chopped. Add the raisins and cranberries, then continue pulsing until the fruit is evenly chopped and begins to clump.

Return the nuts to the processor and add the Triple Sec. Pulse until just mixed. If the mixture does not stick together, add additional Triple Sec. A teaspoon at a time, roll the mixture into balls, then roll each ball in the sugar until well coated.

Enjoy!

X-Men Origins: Wolverine trailer

After the rather lackluster "X-Men: The Last Stand", I didn't think much of the promise for this movie, but the trailer looks intriguing. Especially with the inclusion of Gambit. He's a great character. He was created by Chris Claremont & Jim Lee right around the time I stopped collecting comics. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" opens Memorial Day weekend.



As interesting as this trailer is, it pales in comparison to the Watchmen trailers. Opening March 9th.

New Heroes Webisodes: The Recruit

New webisodes are starting today as part of NBC's Heroes. "Vol. 3: Villains" finished last night, with "Vol. 4: Fugitives" starts in January. Heroes has been good this season, but I hear the ratings are now. Syler, Hiro and Peter Petrelli are all great characters, but Nathan Petrelli changes sides way too often for my liking.

Part Five:



Part Four:



Part Three:



Part Two:



Part One:

Didn't Make the Cut Part 6: "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"

Next up on my list is the Christmas novelty song everyone loves to hate, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." (I'm posting this one for Brad Hasler. I hear it's his favorite.) The song was written by Randy Brooks and was originally performed by the husband and wife comedy team of Elmo and Patsy Shropshire in 1979. After the Shropshire's divorce, Elmo re-recorded the song several times as "Dr. Elmo." This novelty song has spun several parodies including a pseudo rap version of the song by Dr. Elmo himself from 2008! This one was a favorite in the Roach house when George and I were about 10. My parents also liked Ray Stevens, so that explains things a little.

Original (not sure if this is the 1979 version with Patsy or one of the subsequent re-recordings without her):


Story of the song:



Irish Rovers cover:




Da Yoppers' parody "Grandpa Got Run Over by a Beer Truck":



Cledus T. Judd's parody "Grandpa Got Runned Over by a John Deere":



Lyrics:

Chorus:
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve.
You can say there's no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.

She'd been drinking too much eggnog,
And we'd begged her not to go.
But she'd left her medication,
So she stumbled out the door into the snow.

When they found her Christmas morning,
At the scene of the attack.
There were hoof prints on her forehead,
And incriminating Claus marks on her back.

Chorus

Now were all so proud of Grandpa,
He's been taking this so well.
See him in there watching football,
Drinking' beer and playing cards with cousin Belle.

It's not Christmas without Grandma.
All the family's dressed in black.
And we just can't help but wonder:
Should we open up her gifts or send them back?

Chorus

Now the goose is on the table
And the pudding made of fig.
And a blue and silver candle,
That would just have matched the hair in Grandma's wig.

I've warned all my friends and neighbors.
Better watch out for yourselves.
They should never give a license,
To a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves.

Chorus