The Chaotic Life of a Future Cancer Survivor

My Letter to Dennis Glasgow, VP of Operations at ESPN980

2010-03-18T14:25:00.001-04:00

Mr. Glasgow,

You have no doubt by now, seen the firestorm of comments in response to Mr. Kornheiser's comments on March 11th advocating violence against cyclists. I'm sure you've also heard, as have I, the excuses of "satire" and "but he only said 'tap'". Both of these excuses do not wash. There are many comments that are simply unacceptable, regardless of the tone or intent. Among these are advocating violence against the president and other public servants, yelling "fire" in a crowded theater, and joking about weapons and bombs in an airport. Second, even if someone would go as far as to say that a "tap", really is acceptable, we are talking about a multi-ton vehicle striking a cyclist who may weigh a couple hundred pounds, if that. With a matchup that uneven, even a tap can maim or kill the cyclist.

It is clear that Tony Kornheiser has not learned his lesson from the multiple times that he has been sanctioned and suspended for his comments. Because of this, Mr. Kornheiser should be terminated. Then, he may just get the message that joking around with a person's life is never acceptable.

Thank you,

Jeffrey Meyer

I'm baaa-aaack

2010-02-15T10:29:00.006-05:00

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted last. Between the pain and the chemo, it's been a rough 4 1/2 months. The good news is, I had a surgery on the 4th and it has eliminated all of my pain. I'm already reduced my narcotic intake by 2/3rds and I'm hoping to reduce that as I continue to heal.

On January 30th, I went to the Ulman Cancer Fund's Blue Jean Ball. I had a great time and below is a picture of some of the people I met there. In a word, they were awesome!

From my left: Jonny Imerman (founder Imerman's Angels), Kaitlin Sighinolfi (survivor from the DC area), Chris Otepka (suvivor from the DC area), Doug Ulman, Brock Yetso (Executive Dir., Ulman Cancer Fund)

Fundraising Deadline is Friday Sept. 11th at 11:59 PM!

2009-09-10T02:14:00.001-04:00

Greetings everyone!

Over the last few months, I've told you about the people and the reasons that have inspired me to undertake both this fundraising effort, and the ride itself. Now, I want to know, who would you like me to ride for. Email me at jeffrey.meyer14@verizon.net and tell me their story and if you have one, send me their picture as well. I will take those stories and pictures and put them on business card sized pieces of paper. Then, on the day of my ride, I will carry those cards with me for each of the 200 miles that I plan on riding. Each card will be a small yet significant reminder of the importance of organizations like the Lance Armstrong Foundation, The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and hospitals like Johns Hopkins. After my ride, I will send those cards to you as my way of saying thank you. Thank you not only for your support, but for sharing their stories with me.

If you've already sent me a donation, just send me an email with the story and picture that you wish to share. If you haven't donated yet, just send me a separate email when you send in your donation. Speaking of donations, if you plan to donate but haven't yet, the deadline for your donation to count towards my fundraising goal is now less than 48 hours away. This means that you will need to donate on the 24 Hours of Booty website at www.24hoursofbooty.org. And, I'm pleased to announce that thanks to the generosity of those of you who have already donated, I am very close to making goal.

Finally, if you're going to be in the Maryland area on September 26th and/or 27th, I invite you to join my pit crew for however much time you can spare. Better yet, go to the 24 Hours of Booty website at, once again, www.24hoursofbooty.org and sign up to volunteer so everyone can enjoy your presence.

As always, I thank you for your support.

A Blast From The Past

2009-09-01T23:37:00.003-04:00

I spent part of my day restoring the insoles of a pair of circa 1970's Vittoria World Champion cycling shoes. Black leather, yellow details and made in Italy. I acquired them back in the late 90's, at the Gainesville Cycling Club's Christmas party. We did one of those crazy gift exchanges where you drew numbers, stole gifts from each other, the works. Well, at the end of the night, I came home with these. I might even wear them for a few laps of the Booty Ride, and only a few, since they're a size or two, too small.

Heck, looking at these makes me want to do the whole nostalgia thing. Wool kit, steel frame bike with Campy 10 speed downtube shifters, and one of those cool leather helmets from American Flyers. Oh yeah, I can see it now!

Remembering One of 20,000

2009-08-27T19:19:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, we lost one of the most influential Senators in this country's history when we lost Ted Kennedy to brain cancer. He fought a valiant fight, but as it is often the case, that fight wasn't enough. Yet, on that day, as it was the day before and the day that followed, Kennedy was just one of the 20,000 people around the world who lost their battle with cancer.

Each day, 20,000 families say good-bye to a spouse, a parent, a grand-parent, or even a child who lost their battle with cancer. That number is simply unacceptable. That number means that for every mile of the 200 that I plan on riding next month, 100 people will die of cancer. That number means that for each lap of the two-mile course that I will ride, 200 people will die of cancer.

This is a battle that we must win, for each day that we do not, we simply lose too many.

August Update: Less than two months away from the ride of my life!

2009-08-11T15:17:00.002-04:00

Greetings!

After a long hiatus, I am back. First off, I'm pleased to announce that my pain is now mostly under control. I'm able to sleep at night, and I have some level of productivity during the day for the first time in more than a year. Because of this lengthy time between "Booty Updates", this letter is a little lengthy. I promise that it is an easy read though and packed with important information. For those of you who are too busy to read the entire letter right now, please read the first few sections at least.

Progress: I am proud to announce that I am more than halfway to my goal of $3000 and that I'm currently in 6th place for total donations received. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart to those who have already donated. To those who are waiting to donate, the deadline for donations that will count towards my total goal is September 11th. Should I be in the top 3 when the deadline has passed, I will be awarded a Trek bike with an MSRP of at least $900. If I do win one, I will auction it off on eBay with 100% of the winning bid going to the Lance Armstrong Foundation!

Corporate Matching: If you have donated or are intending to do so, don't forget to inquire about your company's corporate matching program. The 24 Hours of Booty is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. If needed, the 24 Hours of Booty’s tax ID or EIN number is 20-3768277
Happy Birthday to Me! Yes friends, I turned 35 on Aug 2nd. As one friend put it, I'm now closer to 40 than I am 30. Uh, thanks, I think. I like how my Mom put it instead. She reminded me that I have now had 2 birthdays since my initial diagnosis. Now for those of you who I've made feel guilty for missing my birthday, I humbly request that in lieu of cards and gifts, you make a donation to my ride.

What do your donations support? The 24 Hours of Booty supports the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, nationally and The Johns Hopkins Hospital, locally.

First off, I can personally attest to the great things that the Lance Armstrong Foundation (http://www.livestrong.org/) does. Back in 2008, shortly after I was first diagnosed with cancer, I contacted the Lance Armstrong Foundation seeking out information on possible research studies and more information in general about my cancer. They immediately provided me with numerous possible studies and they also put me in touch with the Sarcoma Alliance. When I joined Twitter earlier this year, they noticed I was tweeting about cancer and they started following me. Then, last month when I tweeted about how my chemotherapy would be $10,000/month (remember that number) if my insurance didn't cover it, they sent me a message asking me to call them. I did, but they were busy and I left a message. They called me back only an hour or so later and talked to me for a full 20 minutes telling me about all of the resources that were available to me. They included travel vouchers from airlines and hotels if I have to go to Indianapolis for treatment, pharmaceutical companies that provide hardship assistance and even legal help should I need it. They talked to me like an old friend and showed genuine concern for me.

In addition to the critical help that the Lance Armstrong Foundation provides to cancer patients and their famlies, they also promote cancer research. In 2004, they helped to found the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials or ENACCT (http://www.enacct.org/). ENACCT is the only national organization devoted solely to identifying, implementing and evaluating innovative community-centered approaches to cancer clinical trials education. The Lance Armstrong Foundation even provided my talented doctor with her first research grant.

Second is the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (http://www.ulmanfund.org/). Started by Doug Ulman, the CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Ulman Cancer Fund provides young adults and their families with a unique and comprehensive system of support. Its mission is to provide support programs, education and resources, free of charge, to benefit young adults, their families and friends, who are affected by cancer, and to promote awareness and prevention of cancer. And, since The Ulman Cancer Fund is located just a short drive away from where I live, I intend to start volunteering for them in October, once I have completed my ride.

Finally, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, the 24 Hours of Booty's local benefactor, and where I receive all of my treatment. The money raised by the 24 Hours of Booty participants not only promotes cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art medical treatments, it also enables Johns Hopkins to provide critical financial assistance to patients including in some cases, completely waiving any medical bills not covered by insurance. As I am still unemployed, I am fortunate to benefit from this assistance while I'm trying to find a job.

$10,000/month Chemotherapy: A couple paragraphs back, I asked you to remember that number. Understanding that I have friends and supporters all across the political spectrum, I am not going to take a side or advocate one particular plan. However, I ask you to think about that number. Do those 300 pills that make up a month's prescription really cost more than $30 a piece? Or, do the people at my insurance company really know more than my doctor who has treated me for the last 3 years and is world-renowned in her field ? These are questions that must be answered. The answers to these questions are the cornerstone of the healthcare system that this country desperately needs. A system that makes it unacceptable for anyone; young or old, healthy or chronically ill, married or single; to be denied the care that they need.

Some YouTube videos for you: Below are links to a some videos, between 1 and 5 minutes that will give you more insight into the charities I'm asking you to support, and the people behind them.
The 24 Hours of Booty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70_DCjlAdKs&NR=1
Lance Armstrong Foundation Manifesto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNLs-zMvnlc
The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIgnst3BwU8
Lance Armstrong on why he's returning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G0C26o4O2U
Lance Armstrong on WHO he's riding for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8Y0uL-4oA

Twitter: As I stated before, I am now on Twitter and I keep a live feed on my desktop. For any fellow tweeters out there, I encourage you to follow me and chat with me at anytime. My username is jpmeyer74.

200 miles!?!? You read it right. I have rethought my ride and what I feel like I'm capable of, and I now believe I'll be able to do 200 miles. I realized this in July when I did the ride for Sarcoma research. Over a 1 hour ride with rolling hills, I averaged 13 MPH. The "Booty Course" is relatively flat and I'm feeling stronger every day. So take my intended time on the bike of 16 hours, multiply by 13 MPH and you get 208 miles. That's 96 miles longer than any other ride I've done.

Cancer and Firefighters: For those of you unaware, the incidence of cancer among firefighters is higher than the incidence for nearly every other field, and MUCH higher than those for the public as a whole. FirefighterCloseCalls.com, a.k.a. The Secret List has just posted an article detailing the incidence of cancer among not only the firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center disaster, but police officers and EMS workers as well. To see the article... http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?91080

Finally, I will close with a link to a video by the band Wideawake. They are from Austin and have dedicated their song, "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow" to the Livestrong movement. The song is available on iTunes and the proceeds support the Lance Armstrong Foundation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoPb_KS39u8

So now, in the words of those wine cooler hawking porch dwellers from the late 80's, "Thank you for your support".

Some Pictures From The Archives

2007-08-18T23:51:00.000-04:00

I've posted a lot of the photos I've taken recently, but here are some from the past. ENJOY!!!

Hockey warm-ups from the stands.

I was at an outdoor concert at UF and was able to bring my SLR and the telephoto lens. I'd estimate I was about 50 feet away.

My friend Jeff, who was one of my photography mentors got me onto the sidelines for a Florida game. Here are some of my better ones.

The picture that led to me working with Gainesville Fire Rescue and my first involvement with the fire service.

I did a practicum with Gainesville Raceway. The day after Gatornationals, one of the teams stayed to do some testing. They let me take these shots right behind the wall.

Artistic Renditions of Last Night's Training

2007-08-14T14:02:00.001-04:00

I decided to play with the Contrast, Brightness and Tonal Controls on my photo editor to make these. Kind of like Andy Warhol meets Leroy Neiman on film or in this case MB's. Click on each photo to see the full-size versions and get the full impact.

Providence Training

2007-08-14T13:18:00.001-04:00

We had some live fire training last night. Unfortunately, I couldn't participate because I'm not certified. However, I was able to get some great shots. I haven't gotten a chance to download and edit them all yet, but here's the winner of the night.

Station 29

2007-07-23T18:29:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture of my fire station. From left to right... (Brush 294 (behind the door), Utility 298, Truck 297, Floodlight 293 and Engine 292 (Engine 291 is behind).

Truck 297. At 110' it is the tallest aerial in Baltimore County and we have it!

It's Preakness Baby!

2007-05-19T20:09:00.001-04:00

It was wet. It was wild. And it was all Preakness.

For the last four and a half years, I've lived within about 5 miles of the famed Pimlico track, but have never seen the Preakness in person. Part of that of course is that up until recently, I haven't had a Saturday off in the last 6 years. Today, I decided to take advantage of my new found free time and finally see the Preakness.

After getting to track and placing my bets, I looked for my spot to watch the race. I asked someone at one of the gates where the general admission section was and they said, "just find a place to watch". Everywhere I looked, I saw colored sections and people with colored tickets heading to those sections. Then I noticed that the ushers really weren't paying attention to those tickets. So about 15 minutes before post-time, I just decided to walk out into the seats on final stretch and see what happened. I'm still not sure if I was supposed to be there, but no one stopped me. Not wanting to push my luck, I just stood in the large aisleway between the box seats and the rows of temporary seats next to the track. And that is where I watched the race. It was awesome, but it was over way too quickly. Preakness truly is about the experience because the race itself is over in the blink of an eye. I was so close, I even managed to get some great photos.

Just seconds after the start of the race.

And down the stretch they come. Street Sense is still leading at this point, but Curlin is closing fast. My pick for show, Hard Spun is right behind.

No Prescription Necessary!

2007-05-08T00:22:00.000-04:00

I'm sick right now. Actually, I'm finally starting to feel better, but Thursday, Friday and Saturday were pretty rough. While I'm with out a doubt ready to get back to work, I must say that as bad as I felt this weekend, I don't mind the time off to get better.

Back in my previous job, we didn't have sick days. With only one manager on duty at a time, if another manager called in sick, that meant that another manager would have to either work on their day off, or work a full day (about 14 hours). None of us, especially myself ever wanted to do that, so I developed "The Elixir". Simply put, this is designed to allow you to function, albeit in a slightly comatose state and make it through the day.

To make it, pour a full dose, or dose and a half if you're really feeling bad of NyQuil (or generic substitute) in a water bottle. Add a can of Red Bull, pouring it out over the dosage cup so that ALL the NyQuil is rinsed out. Finally, fill the remaining volume of the water bottle with Orange Juice. Because we live in the days of meth labs, NyQuil no longer has a decongestant in it. So, for the full effect, take a dose of Sudafed with your first sips.

Severe? Yes. Powerful? You bet! But when you have to work this is a great option. Actually, since this is designed to be consumed over 30 to 60 minutes, it creates a bit of a time release effect on the medication as well. I wouldn't recommend doing this often, but when you're sick as a dog and you have to work, it will help get you though the day.

A Little Project To Pass The Time

2007-05-01T20:52:00.000-04:00

Problem: I really don't feel like my back-up lights are bright enough on my truck.

Solution: 1) Buy a set of driving lights. 2) Mount them under my rear bumper, create a custom wiring harness/switch to make it all work. 3)Enjoy a much brighter reverse experience!

Part of the custom harness included tieing the switch into the stock back-up lights so that the new lights can only be turned on when in reverse.

Here are some pictures. I'll post some daylight photos of the overall set up later on.

One of the lights under the bumper.

Part of the wiring harness with custom relay visible.

The light from the stock set-up

The light from the new system

Awesome CD!

2007-03-26T00:04:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it took me nearly three years to finally buy this. As a certified "Hazelnut" or Sister Hazel fan to those of you who don't know, I have made it a habit to buy their new albums within the first week of release. Yup, I own them all. Some how though, I missed Drew Copeland's solo album, "No Regrets". Well, I can say this much...I regret that I didn't buy it sooner. I knew it existed and I even saw it for sale at the Sister Hazel concerts I've attended, but for some reason, I never bought it. Well, today I decided that enough was enough and bought it off of iTunes. All I can say is WOW! There are obvious Sister Hazel influences throughout the album (actually, I guess what becomes obvious are his influences on each Sister Hazel album) as well as those from another North Florida musical legend, Tom Petty, but the album is decidedly unique. For me, the first track, "A Little Like Heaven", brought back a stream of memories from my times in Gainesville. Track 6, "Over You" is a break-up song that struck a cord with me because of it similarities to my recent break-up. The final song on the album, "Once Again" has a decidedly country music sound to it with an upbeat rhythm and positive theme. If you are a fan of Sister Hazel or Gainesville music in general, Copeland's "No Regrets" is a can't miss purchase.

Single Speed Pics and a Few Details

2007-03-25T21:37:00.000-04:00

As promised in my usual timely fashion, here are some pics of the single speed along with some details on the parts used.

Late 90's Trek Cro-Moly frame. Deore hubs on a basic wheel set. My always present Specialized saddle. I'm not sure about the fork right now. I don't know if it is "suspension-corrected" or not. So far it seems to ride well, so I won't make a final decision until I get some real trail time in.

The heart of the drivetrain is all Surly. Surly Cassette Spacer Kit, Surly 22T Rear Cog and Surly Singulator.

The other part is the Shimano XT crank and Race Face BB that I pulled from my XC bike. In their place went the sweet new XTR crankset. VERY SWEET. I'm running a 34T chainring with the outer ring acting as a chainguard. I don't really have a choice though since this crank is one of those with the integral spider. I'm also running yet another set of Crank Brothers pedals...the Mallets this time. Since I may use this bike for a variety of purposes, it's nice to have a clipless pedal that is also a solid platform. This will also come in handy should any friends need to borrow a bike.

The cockpit consists of Avid Speed Dial Levers, Profile Grips, a sweet set of FSA XC190 (as in 190g) riser bars and a short Rocky Mountain stem.

THOSE brakes. Don't get me wrong, I love Cane Creek stuff, but the Direct Curve brakes are just lacking a little power. I finally got them dialed in after I trued the wheels and they feel OK now. They just don't have the feel that I've gotten so used to with my XT V's.

And the single speed makes four!

2007-03-15T00:57:00.000-04:00

Great news! My fourth bike is complete. I just took an old steel mountain bike frame that a customer gave me and turned it into a single speed. The frame is a mid-late 90's Trek Tru-Temper steel frame. As some of you may already know, I just love steel. It might be a touch heavier, but nothing rides like it. The component mix is also good. The wheels are a little on the cheap side and I'm having a tough time dialing in my Cane Creek Direct Curve brakes, but I'm very happy over all. What made tonight even better was that a few of my guys that were in the store (real bike guys, too!) rode it and told me how much they loved the bike. One of the guys even said it was nicer than one that we sell for $1700! It's going to be a fun spring. Oh...and this weekend, I'll be sure to post some photos and a full parts list.

New York City -- Thanksgiving

2006-01-14T22:01:00.001-05:00

I visited New York City just after Thanksgiving. Although I spent a great deal of my first three years in NYC, I hadn't been back since. The sites, the pizza and the public transit were all just amazing. Did I mention the great pizza? Here are some pictures.

In front of the famous Rescue 1's House

A section of the fence around Ground Zero. Probably one of the most chilling and moving experiences in my entire life. Just to the left of this section was a man playing Amazing Grace on a flute over and over and over again. That was the only sound you could really hear. I think this sticker says it all.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Letting the Cat Out of the Bag

2006-01-14T21:50:00.000-05:00

Never a good idea! Trust me! Cute? Try EVIL! She may look sweet, but this is only a ploy to bring you in closer so that she can attack. BEWARE!

The Flat Black Bike

2006-01-14T20:56:00.000-05:00

There she is. My work in progress. Done except for buying the wheelset, installing the computer and replacing a brake cable. For those interested, here is the parts list:

-1987 Schwinn Road Frame made of Columbus Tru Temper Steel
-Old Anatomic Handlebars cut off and flipped over
-Salsa Grip Tape
-Profile Aero Bars
-Lizard Skins Bar Wrap
-Cane Creek 200TT Brake Levers
-Waterford Quill Stem
-Old 105 Caliper Brakeset
-Sun Race Downtube shifter (left side only)
-Black 105 Front Derailleur
-Ultegra Octalink Bottom Bracket
-FSA Gossamer Crank 53/39
-Old Cut Off Seatpost
-Specialized Avatar 155 Saddle
-Paul Components Melvin (The KEY to a "Dingle-speed"!)

My wheelset when built will have Paul High Flange Hubs, Velocity Deep-V Rims, Black 14/17 Double Butted Spokes and Gold Nipples.

I'll have more pictures up as soon as she's done. Stay tuned!