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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 491
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 491 |
John, Truly wonderful news! You must be really Happy. Regards, Joe G.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,342
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,342 |
Fantastic news John! Congratulations!!!
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,840
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,840 |
Hey John, That's stunning news. I have a great deal of respect for your resilience - the phrase "tough cookie" springs to mind  I've been reading your posts for a long time now and I've got to say that I'm in awe of the way in which you've traveled your journey with such a positive outlook and such an incredibly amazing sense of humor. To my way of thinking, you've entered the realm of " absolutely awesome role model"! Best wishes, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
Thanks to all above. When I met with the team of people who were to care for me, 5 specialist doctors, their primary nurses, dietitian, a 'spiritual consular' (because I put Deist on my 'form'), the head of oncology told me that the treatment they were proposing was the most difficult intervention that is used, surpassing many of the burn therapy treatments. He told me the team would work together so that I could contribute by remaining positive. The pain specialist told me that his job was to ensure that any pain level, no matter how small was to be dealt with, and that I was to get to the clinic any day and priority would be given to solving pain problems.
As this is public healthcare, they concentrated all the resources in one place. Most of the top docs from there teach at the local university subjects related to medical oncology. During the 12 weeks of treatmeI nt I saw 2 docs a week.
I will admit the low point, with 10 days in the hospital, 4 of which I missed because I never really woke up, even when they took me to radiation. I made peace with the eventual outcomes the day I arrived, but one day, with 6 bags hanging from the IV pole, a tube stuck into my guts 2 inches above my belly button for feeding and a catheter in me, I was sure I was at the end. 100 pounds gone, dehydrated and emaciated. Alarms kept ringing, my blood pressure and O2 levels were too low. Then they made a tent and I got O2 and humidity and went into the deepest sleep, I saw glowing lights and heard for the first time what is now my constant companion, a high F, the top one on the piano.
I'm 60 in a few months. I counted on retirement as a 'lark'. A doctor I worked with in my final days at the Fire Department doing Carbon Monoxide testing for a week, was a specialist in Health and Safety in the Workplace and the coroner. On the second day he asked me if I would mind if the got a list of my medications and took my blood pressure and watched me for the rest of the week. At the end of the week he told me that based on my health, weight, blood pressure and work situation, that I would probably not live until 60. I was 53. We had an early retirement package on the table for about 3 months, and after consideration I took it, leaving a job that paid 100k a year and getting 20k less in pension that had I stayed. But the math worked, I could leave without the need to work and I did it.
I was fortunate, as most guys on the Fire Department never rose to my level, I was a Captain or above for the last 15 years, and 2nd from the top in the pay scale for the last 3, which influenced my pension.
My advice to those who are under 50. Go the places you want to go. Do the things you want to do. Retirement is more of a period where you try and keep going, and have enough energy to make the doctors visits. You can no longer dance like you did, stay up late, be crazy and have fun. Fun becomes a morning coffee in a housecoat, often with no ambition at all.
Join a group that is active. Doesn't matter what it is. I know thousands of people as a Shriner. NOT ONE GUY I know from that group, and most are older than me, has had Dementia of any kind. It's the constant activity, going places, parades, and fun. You might get that through Kiwanis or some other club, but I'm convinced that is the key. They made a huge support group. Each of my groups called me every week, and gave an update to the rest. I got hundreds of cards and letters, and I had at least 50 offers of rides to doctors etc.
So I'm back from the dead. Now to deal with my voice and hearing issues. I spent money on a home theatre system yesterday, I was having real issues hearing the TV.
I hope I can figure out next year in a way that I can take some music courses at the University. I should have done that years ago, instead I have the requisite courses for some degree but in that 2/3 are Fire Science and add to that Theology, Philosophy,Early English Lit, Ancient Greek, Poly Sci, Sociology, History, French Lit, and Humanities (The last 5 were at a French University), none of the aforementioned can match my desire to take music. Yet they formed a basis for my desire to push forward.
Thanks to my PG support group, who supported me in their own way.
My Mom who's 83 said, on hearing the news..."I prayed and God healed you."
I asked, "then is should have just not taken those terrible treatments where they burned every inch of me from my nose to my chest, open seeping wounds and all and just let God do it Mom?"
"No she said, you have the treatments and God does the rest."
My answer when she pushed me was.."God gave me a brain, and when they offered the treatment that was the worst thing you can go through, but has a high rate of success, I used that brain and said OK."
I just never felt God going through and picking off cancer cells. LOL...
Now its' one day at a time, and find a way to make each day a great one.
I want to be able to say when asked "how are you doing?"
Me.."not great, no better than that, I'm fantastic!"
So much for that, if anyone needs advice on oncology I know quite a bit now......I wish they could have cured my understanding of duple time....
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,033
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,033 |
Great news on the health John, "So I'm back from the dead. Now to deal with my voice and hearing issues. I spent money on a home theatre system yesterday, I was having real issues hearing the TV" if still having problems a cheap set of wireless headphone might be the answer. You can hook the transmitter up to the socket of the tv, and signal is loud and clear in headphone. You can even hear tv away from the room
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193 |
John, I haven't been around for a while, haven't been following your progress, although the few times I stopped in I saw you had posted something, so it meant you were still alive. Personally, I figured you were too ornery to give into the stuff, and you had way too much left to do just to roll over and die. Obviously, I must have been right.  I am VERY pleased to hear that you are doing so well. Congrats! Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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