Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Much News: Even Some About Writing

We left the house a little after 8:00 this morning and got back a little before 7:00 in the evening. Lana had an appointment with another doctor about her cancer and they ended up doing another needle biopsy. Before they could do that, though, I had to run to a couple of other hospitals to pick up some of the scans she's already had. It made for a nice little 200 mile or so round trip, but the news was generally encouraging in that we are being told the cancer cells appear to be encapsulated, which is a good sign. We celebrated, if that is the right word, with dinner at Red Lobster before coming home.

A couple of nice things happened in the blogosphere today too that I want to mention. Over at Adventures Fantastic, Keith has a very nice review of "Harvest of War." He picked up on some of the elements I was particularly happy with in the story. Thanks, Keith. I appreciate it.

Then, out of the blue, Jess, over at Praise, Prayers and Observations did a post called "C is for Charles." I'm pretty humbled by that, and very appreciative. Thanks for the kind words, Jess.

Lastly, Harvest of War is now FREE for Amazon Kindle. This should run for about four more days so if you have any interest in the story, or think you might at some point in the future, now is the time to get it. Since the story is dedicated to my niece, Tammy Kalb, who died of brain cancer only a few days ago, I wanted to make sure the piece was free at some point so her family could download it if they wanted to.

Thanks again to Keith and Jess, and also to Scott, Tom, and Randy, who also did reviews of "Harvest of War." I'm lucky to have all of you as friends, and everyone else in the blogosphere who has been so supportive of me.
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38 comments:

pattinase (abbott) said...

So happy that things appear better than a week ago!

sage said...

Glad to hear the bit of good news with Lana and this is the second time today I found myself wishing I had a kindle instead of a nook!

Terrie Farley Moran said...

Continued prayers& hugs.

Adventuresfantastic said...

Charles, glad to hear the good report about Lana. And thanks for the shoutout.

Sage, I have a Nook but downloaded the Kindle app on my computer so I could read things (mostly short fiction at this point) that were only in Kindle format.

Lisa said...

C for Charles that is certainly nice and much deserving. So happy with the good news all around and Red Lobster sounds just wonderful.

Cloudia said...

Glad you are well carrying on -



Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral

><}}(°>

SQT said...

Glad for some good news- hope it only gets better.

Rick said...

That is absolutely great news, Charles!!!

I'm so happy for the two of you.

Snowbrush said...

"C is for Charles."

And we need not ask,"Charles who?"

Doctors' visits and the associated tests can so quickly become a major--and disagreeable--feature of one's life. I've been there, as I guess everyone does at one time or another if they're lucky enough to live so long. I would just say that, inasmuch as possible, only deal with doctors for whom you feel an affinity. I say you in the singular, because Peggy and I never once disagreed, the marks of a really crummy doctor being so obvious. You always hear that a person can be a brilliant doctor and a miserable human being, and I guess this is true after a fashion, but miserable human beings make a person's stress level rise appreciably, and you really want to avoid that when you're already weak, in pain, and frightened.

Charles Gramlich said...

Patti, yes, so much so.

Sage, Only Amazon is offering this strategy at the moment. Maybe Nook will one of these days.

Terrie, thanks so much!

Keith, I downloaded both the kindle and nook apps and use em at times.

Oceangirl, yes, that was pretty cool. red lobster was great. Lana had the ultimate feast!

Cloudia, thank you.

SQT, yes, we are both feeling a bit better.

Rick, thanks, man. I appreciate that.

Charles Gramlich said...

Snowbrush, Lana and I mostly remarked today how our entire day was taken up by doctor's agendas. Not something either of us like, but not much other choice at the moment.

Ron Scheer said...

I'm taking all of this as good news, right down to the Red Lobster. And ain't it nice when a reader "gets" what you've written? Carry on, bud. All will be well.

Liane Spicer said...

So glad to hear the news on the medical front is encouraging, Charles.

Love Red Lobster!

Charles Gramlich said...

Ron, thankee, man.

Liane, me too. Thanks.

Shauna Roberts said...

So glad to hear another good piece of news about Lana! Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Very sorry to hear about your niece.

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Charles, I am very happy for Lana and you. I hope good news keeps rolling your way always. On a sombre note, I am sorry to hear about your niece. I will read HARVEST OF WAR in her memory. Thanks for making it available free. Best to Lana and you.

laughingwolf said...

yay - on lana's condition, hope she continues to improve til the beast residing in her is defeated!

prayers/wishes, til it is killed...

tears for the loss of tammy :'(

grats on the rest of your stuff!

Deka Black said...

Good to know about the news for Lana. And for the review too. But mostly, is good to know about the news.

Btw: You writing about something so standard about orks is interesting. is like jazz: A melody could be a standard. but the way is played is what it counts ;)

G. B. Miller said...

Good news about Lana and my sincerest condolences about your niece.

Pretty cool to have a blog post written about you. Only means that you're a continuing positive influence on the people that you meet during your travels on this journey called life.

ivan said...

Sudden improvement.

And Kentucky wins at the NBA.

Charles Gramlich said...

Shauna, my niece went through a really bad time the last couple of weeks. I'm glad she's no longer suffering that.

Prashant, thanks. I appreciate the kind words.

Laughingwolf, weird how life goes on. You think things would stop when certain events happen but they never do.

Deka, I always kind of wanted to write such a tale but never had a reason to before.

G.B. Miller, yes, it's been a strange week or so. My mind is kind of reeling from one thing to another right now.

Ivan, it would have been better if Arkansas won the National championship but Kentucky handled everyone else pretty easily.

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Best wishes for Lana

Gotta go do my review pronto.

Randy Johnson said...

Glad to hear the promising news, Charles. best to Lana and You.

Richard Prosch said...

All good news, indeed. Continued blessings, friend.

jodi said...

Charles-What a long, hellish day for both of you. Hospitals tend to eff with your head with all their details and long waits. I'm happy the news was encouragings and that you could relax and enjoy the news. A little lobster makes the medicine go down! Hang tough, Babe.

Charles Gramlich said...

David, thanks, man.

Randy, yes indeed. We're grateful for it.

Richard, I appreciate it.

Jodi, I know. You feel like a cog being ground down, but at least we were able to get something good to eat.

Merisi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Merisi said...

You two are going through so much lately, and it is hard to find anything to say. I am so sorry about your niece. It was my sister's birthday yesterday, or should have been, and all I can say is share how - through all the sadness - I felt relieve at my sisters passing because her suffering was over.

Good to hear about the good news, from Lana and your friends and your writing.

Charles Gramlich said...

Merisi, life has been a bucking bronc of late, for sure. I am sorry about your sister.

the walking man said...

you need to read Candace's post here Charles.

Ty said...

Charles, congrats on the good news. I hope it only becomes better and better news in the weeks to come.

Snagged my copy of "Harvest of War." Looking forward to it.

Charles Gramlich said...

Mark, thankee. I'll check it out.

Ty, Thanks, hope you enjoy!

Golden Eagle said...

Glad to hear the good news about Lana!

laughingwolf said...

indeed...

still dealing with deaths of mother, sister and father - over 20-odd years - mom to alzheimer's, first... sis to cancer some 10 years later... dad to congestive heart failure about 4 years ago... huge holes in my soul, never to be filled... it leaves me, with sis' two kids, and my three, as survivors

Charles Gramlich said...

Golden Eagle, thanks, we are as well.

Laughingwolf, eventually I guess we all become survivors. The wounds are deep and lingering.

Barbara Martin said...

Chalres, nice to hear that things are looking up. I'm glad to hear that Lana's results are positive.

Travis Cody said...

Thanks for sharing the encouraging news for Lana. Positive thoughts to you both.

Charles Gramlich said...

Barbara, thanks. We too, of course.

Travis Cody, thanks, man.