Authors Are Rockstars at the Virginia Festival of the Book
I am in Charlottesville for the 2014 Virginia Festival of the Book, the largest educational book event on the east coast. My expectations are high, but fair—to be the Ryan Gosling of books for a few days. I'm bringing a pen everywhere for autographs, and wearing my tightest sweater to impress the librarians.As a fanatic of the NCAA March Madness tournament which begins today, it takes an event like this to remove me from the television even for a couple hours. Even if I do not get hit on by a baby boomer librarian, I am super excited to be a participant in this wonderful festival. If you are in the Charlottesville area t...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - March 20, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: sports writing/speaking Source Type: blogs
Mansion Hopping: Cat Style
As soon as I began looking for places to rent as it looked like my house sitting aka Mansion Hopping journey was ending, a single woman, Mashuguna, contacted me desperate for someone to care for her 14-year-old cat, Teddy. She was leaving the country for three weeks, though allowed me to stay with her for two months, so I found myself living with human and feline strangers.While Mashuguna has been gone, I have worked hard for Teddy. I quickly found that he is a diva. Would he grow to like me? Would I get along with my roommate? Find out in my latest Mansion Hopping video, this one with my cat. (Source: I've Still Got Both ...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - March 16, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: animals living habits Source Type: blogs
The Couch I Chemo'd On
As published on The Huffington PostMom and I return home from clinic at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. Two days are down with three remaining in this chemo cycle, the sixth of 14 over 10 months. Mom throws her bag over her shoulder -- heavy with unopened water bottles; her black book containing labs, treatment protocol and doctors' contact information; and the sandwich I'll try to eat right away before nausea consumes me. Mom unravels my walker, opens my car door, helps me slide out with my leg brace, and carries my IV pump which will deliver medicine to protect my bladder.My heart rate accelerate...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - March 5, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: cancer treatment family life lessons Source Type: blogs
The Life and Death of My Make-A-Wish Gift
As Published on CancerFightClubBatmobile or bust, I thought, so when the Make-A-Wish Foundation denied my request for the Batmobile because it went over 10 miles per hour (and not because of its rockets), I declined any wish. Friends convinced me to reconsider. I became a sounding board for their fantasies: sitcom roles, championship sports events, and girls. Dates with divas escalated to strippers and then willing participants. “Tell Make-A-Wish you need her for your cancer… tell them to get another one for me, too,” a friend said.Time feels different in childhood. Three months later my entire left hip bone would be...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - March 4, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: family life lessons Source Type: blogs
"Secrets" is Coming
I am giddy with excitement for this new upcoming project, but shh, let's keep it a Secret. (Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog)
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - February 13, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: writing/speaking Source Type: blogs
Synapses
My memory failed me on Christmas when JD asked what movie we saw the Christmas before. Normally providing more details than JD wants, and able to relive most episodic memories, I couldn't recall and still can't now six weeks later.Many people who have read my book have asked what I used to detail my cancer journeys. For the first, my parents kept a three-ring notebook with test results, health research and correspondence. For the second, I emailed my friends Bubble and Hamburgers daily. Bubble saved my emails and printed them for me years later. I used those materials to write my book, but I had nothing else besides lightn...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - February 6, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: life lessons Source Type: blogs
My Donor May Not Have Been So Bad After All
No ice cream, or die: an unimaginable predicament and I wasn’t even given the choice. My bone marrow donor unknowingly transferred her milk allergy, which began affecting me six months after my transplant, leading to frightening episodes of hives, mouth swelling and chest tightening. I visited an allergist who administered a skin prick allergy test. Milk protein resulted in a 10-millimeter reaction, while just a 14-millimeter reaction would have indicated potential anaphylaxis. I had to give up milk products forever.I dealt by going through the classic stages of grief: denial (read: ER visits), anger, bargaining (read: b...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - January 28, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: living habits Source Type: blogs
Why I’m Only Kind of an Idiot, Now
Our tenth-grade English teacher offered extra credit to students who made a video based on the dystopian novel we were reading. I don’t remember which book. HollaAtYoBoy, Zeke, TaxiSide and I also procrastinated until the final weekend. Can you tell I needed that extra credit?During our planning session that Saturday, while playing football in the snow, I backed out of our video. We would have to record the following day, on NFL Championship Sunday, with the games playing in the background. Having a blast with my best friends and improving my grade fell below in priority to watching the NFC and AFC Championships uninterr...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - January 16, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: sports writing/speaking Source Type: blogs
Farewell to My Make-A-Wish Foundation Gift
Thirteen years ago I received my wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation--a 53-inch high definition television and accompanying electronic devices. It is now in its final days, so I made a video tribute to the greatest gift I've ever received. (Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog)
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - January 1, 2014 Category: Cancer Tags: living habits Source Type: blogs
To My Next 30 Cancer-Free Years
As published on The Huffington PostMy friend did not want to celebrate her 30th birthday. She hadn't accomplished what she had expected. She drowned in a void -- her hollowness filled with a ticking clock, save-the-date cards, movies and shows with typical American happy endings. To her, 30 was not part of the linear ascent but rather a cliff. "You can either feel young or wise," she said.***There are many things to count besides years of living. As a boy I counted my baseball cards; specifically the ones with Ken Griffey, Jr., and Cal Ripken, Jr. I counted the minutes until I was allowed to finish practicing piano. I coun...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - December 15, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: life lessons Source Type: blogs
Overcast with a Chance of Showers
Summer 2012After my rock-climbing group vacation last summer, my new friend, KMac, read my memoir. My last chapter is an excursion into self-discovery—the boy who grew up with immense suffering becomes a man without much. I list all the people in my life who have passed away resulting from cancer: three grandparents, some patients I met in treatment, a friend’s dad, and some others. The list was shorter than expected because until recently, I pushed the cancer community away.Of the 15 cancer “survivors” on our vacation, some were still in treatment and some would begin again soon. This is the nature of young people...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - November 26, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: life lessons Source Type: blogs
My 'Short' Experiment in Online Dating
As published on The Huffington Post
The only way short guys survive is by knowing that we live longer and can weave through Costco aisles faster than our taller, wealthier, calmer, happier and more powerful, popular, employable, educated and sexually active counterparts.
Shortness is great when we are four years old and get to hold the plaque in our soccer team photo. And when every other kid on the field piles on the ball, short boys wait for it to pop out and score a goal on the opponent's or our own net. In baseball, pitchers can't come close to our smaller strike zone so our on-base percentage exceeds 1.000. We learn...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - November 11, 2013 Category: Cancer Authors: noreply at blogger.com (Benjamin Rubenstein) Tags: girls Source Type: blogs
My 'Short' Experiment in Online Dating
As published on The Huffington PostThe only way short guys survive is by knowing that we live longer and can weave through Costco aisles faster than our taller, wealthier, calmer, happier and more powerful, popular, employable, educated and sexually active counterparts.Shortness is great when we are four years old and get to hold the plaque in our soccer team photo. And when every other kid on the field piles on the ball, short boys wait for it to pop out and score a goal on the opponent's or our own net. In baseball, pitchers can't come close to our smaller strike zone so our on-base percentage exceeds 1.000. We learn to ...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - November 11, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: girls Source Type: blogs
Climb or DIE
9:51 a.m.: I don’t feel like rock-climbing, but I had spent hours planning the event under the email subject “Climb or DIE” so I have no choice. After waking, I sip my protein shake and as much water as my wretched stomach allows. Our noon climb 30 minutes away in Golden, Colorado, isn’t nearly accommodating to recover from the Great American Beer Festival. I still must:
Wake Pumba next door
Get Pumba ready to climb
Get Pumba ready to drive
Get Pumba to pick up the rope
Get Pumba to pick up quick draws from McScuses
Get Pumba to pick up our other friend, Princess
10:26 a.m.: I email Princess, “Do you know McSte...
Source: I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog - October 29, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: a day in my life bodily function Source Type: blogs
