Friends -

Thank you for all your emails and calls the past two weeks. It has been a very trying physical and emotional time. The support from all of you has really been wonderful!

It has been a long road but after another good MRI last Thursday we decided Friday that 8 rounds of Temodar was enough. As I probably indicated earlier there is no set protocol for my type of tumor and most doctors have been doing 6 to 12 rounds and stopping when there is no change in an MRI or your body becomes toxic. My MRI did show a slight improvement between July and September but my body definitely cried uncle in August. I am very relieved to be done! It is now rebuild and recovery time. We celebrated last night with an incredible Spanish red called Numanthia. If you are into big reds it is wonderful.

Barb, Max & I were up in Ely, MN on the Canadian border over Labor Day weekend and it did wonders to rejuvenate my mind, body and soul. I even got in a 20-mile ride, a few beautiful walks in the wilderness and a paddle in a canoe. Wild rice was at its peak and grains would fall into the boat as we paddled through the stalks. As for cycling, I am taking Jon Workman's advice and spinning in lower gears for a while as my muscles get accustomed to working again. After fabulous rides, swims and runs for months, August was almost totally sedentary.

My sister's mother-in-law is down at the Mayo today and they may enter a clinical trial for her pancreatic cancer. We continue to hope and pray for the best.

Jim