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GFMPH Gathering #11, Baton Rouge LA, Apr 16-19 2015, Meeting Minutes

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Posted 4/19/2015 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
What a wonderful weekend. We rekindled old friendships and started many new ones. Lee and I had a wonderful time.
Mama Pat and Cajun Jeff were the consummate hosts........we so appreciate and thank you for opening your home and hearts to us. Thanks to so many others that make this possible.

Best wishes to all,

Lee and Jack

Changed the title, as requested. -- PeterDisAbelard

Post Edited By Moderator (PeterDisAbelard.) : 4/21/2015 10:51:55 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/19/2015 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
From the other comments, it sounds like everyone had a great time. We're planning on Rochester in September. Is there a firm date for Rochester? I need to get on the vacation schedule.
Posted 4/20/2015 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Wish I coulda been there. I am hopeful about Rocester in the fall.
Posted 4/20/2015 8:40 AM (GMT 0)
Fun time had by all.
Posted 4/20/2015 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
I saw all the pictures, looks like you all had fun despite the weather.

I loved the quilt!! I want one!!

Sorry I couldn't make it. I have a PCa walk planned for the end of Sept. so I will miss Jeff's in Rochester AGAIN! We will see you at Sonny's in 2016.

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 4/20/2015 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert: Sept GFMPH is always the last weekend in Sept.

JNF thanks for the kind words. The people are the ones that make this gathering. We just gave a location.

To all that attended we can not express how grateful we are that you took the time from lives to be with all of us. It has been a really joy to have you at our home.

Next week we will get the minutes to of the event posted.

Just wanted to say the GFMPH Cajun Style 2015 is a wrap. 142 is the only one left at the house. Yesterday we did cleanup and found enough neighbors to get all the trash put out for the Trash Man this morning. Party central looks a lot larger with everyone gone, tables sent back, chairs back in place and kitchens cleaned.
This morning I led the Worried Guy out facing New Orleans to the Air Port and I went on to work. Not that I am counting but I now have 44 day of work remaining.

I will tell you that our house was very quiet last night and this morning. It was like revisiting empty nest syndrome all over again.

It is very sad seeing everyone headed back to their homes and at the same time we had a big sigh of relief that

YES IT WAS VERY GOOD AND SUCCESSFUL

See all of you in September.

Cajun Jeff and Mamma Pat
Posted 4/20/2015 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Jeff: (Looking at the Calendar)....it would then be Thursday 9/24 through Sunday 9/27?
Posted 4/20/2015 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
I wish I could have made the gathering, but my schedule said otherwise!

Nick
Posted 4/20/2015 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Like everything else GFMPH Cajun Style, the CD was wonderful. It worked fine in my car and to listen to the 65 musical selections related to Louisianna that Cajun Jeff arranged, it lasted from the time we left Baton Rouge through LA, MS, AL all the way to Pensacola Florida when the 65th selection was playing.

Quite a variety, the Mississippi state line was surrounded by songs from Jelly Roll Morton and Jerry Lee Lewis and Alabama by Louis Armstong and Mahalia Jackson with very long Tchaikovsky piano C playing as we crossed into Florida.

Only trouble was I had to drive while tempted to settle back and close my eyes to enjoy the ensemble.

We left at 0-dark-30 this morning to avoid any traffic tie ups on the bridge between Jeff's complex and Baton Rouge, just arrived after 620 or so miles and 10 hours plus stops, and give back the Eastern time zone hour we had gained on way in to central time zone.

We had stayed twice before with Cajun Jeff and Mama/Mimosa Pat, but this was our first GFMPH there after having enjoyed past two in Rochester with Mr & Mrs Worried Guy and the one near Orlando at Sonny and Sherry's.

Worried Guy holds the record as the only one to attend all 11 GFMPH so far with Goodlife, Sonny, Cajun Jeff having been to all but one. So Karen and I will never catch them nor Worry Warts, Wampuscats, 142 and so many others but will enjoy trying to every 6 months.

If for no other reason you have to come to GFMPH to hear the spouses talk about how the charter members tried to explain they were going to stay at the house of someone the had met on the Internet, only knew their screen names not their real names etc., plus the scotch tasting and cigar advanced class 142 conducts.

It was a chance for me to meet a bunch of the folks who have attended 3-4 GFMPH's in Baton Rouge but had not been to past 2 in Rochester nor Sonny's, plus several couples attending their very first GFMPH regardless of location. For example first ime I had met in person fellow G9 Kbota who is one of the first to reply to my very first thread in early 2013 at initial diagnosis, and PigeonFlyer who preps some tasty crawfish, James C and so many others.

Special thanks to Grinnel86 whose company donated 50 pounds of mighty superb pork loins that he and Polly cooked so well (actually medium rare) and to Gunner34 who snagged a case of red wine from a vendor he had met at a wine tasting party.

All three host couple are so gracious to open up their house to 50 or so friends, with about 30 or so guys wth various prostate problems invading their bathrooms regularly plus 20 or so caregivers.

Other than an occasional joke related to PCA side effects, the only time we dwell on PCa is at the business meeting held to qualify for tax exempt status but also quite beneficial to learn more about peer symptoms and treatments.

GFMPH is not a pity party nor clique-ish at all. Spouses mix in as readily as the guys, as first ime attendees can attest.

I echo everything Jack started this thread with.

LupronJim and Karen
Posted 4/21/2015 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
What a great time! We had a blast. Thanks to all those who put so much into making the event successful, perhaps most of all our wonderful hosts Jeff and Pat!

First time trying crawfish (thanks, Pigeon Flyer!). Met some new friends, enjoyed seeing folks we hadn't seen since the December 2013 Caribbean cruise, seeing many from the Rochester gathering last fall, it was like a huge family reunion!

Such a sense of fellowship with a lot of fun people. We sure plan to see everyone in September in Rochester!

Jerry
Posted 4/21/2015 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Nick we will just have to have a mini gathering for you to attend. I can get NOLA Vette and a couple of others here in LA to have lunch or dinner at merindorfs restaurant. That would be very nice.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 4/21/2015 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
What a fantastic weekend! You guys are the best hosts!

Great food, great company, great conversations, and precious friendships!
I am always amazed at the number of connections and how intertwined our lives are - without us knowing.

I will be hosting the next gathering in one of the suburbs of Rochester NY. The dates are Thursday 9/24 - Sunday 9/27/20i5.

Jeff and Pat have set the bar high! (But we'll give it a shot. :-) )

Jeff in NY
Posted 4/21/2015 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
If a Moderator can change the name of this thread to "GFMPH Gathering #11, Baton Rouge LA, Apr 16-19 2015, Minutes" we can avoid duplication and consider this one the public minutes.

I propose we approve these minutes. Any seconders?

Jeff
Posted 4/21/2015 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Since I attended this round, I'll second your motion WG!
Posted 4/21/2015 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
And I second Gunner's 2nd!

Life without GFMPH is ... quite frankly, hard to imagine!
To all of our brothers and sisters who attend... Thank You!
Thank You for the friendship's and Thank You for improving the quality of our lives!
You ladies and gentlemen ROCK!
Posted 4/21/2015 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
Where are my manners???

A Huge Thank You to our Hosts and Hostesses! The time and preparation do not go unnoticed! !Thank You, once again.
Posted 4/21/2015 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Jeff,

Sounds like y'all had a GREAT time. I wish I could have made the gathering to meet everyone, but the right now dealing with a busy schedule and a chronically sick geriatric dog with a torn ACL keeps us busy.

The mini get together sounds great!

Nick
Posted 4/22/2015 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Although I was barely there, I approve.

Was happy to get my kitchen rights Sunday morning.

Got home about 5pm today. Uneventful trip, much less than the trip down though the rainstorm.

I came home with 7 cigars out of 35 put on the table, so my estimates are getting better, except for my lighter. Who knew it was interesting?

Stopped at Benoit's this morning to get a few pounds of sausage just to keep the Cajun taste in the house for a while.

A wonderful, but painfully short weekend for me. So many thanks are due for Jeff & Pat that I don't know where to begin.

And yes, we had one less than stellar scotch. It had to happen eventually, but that bottle was doomed in a lineup of good stuff.

And the Willett Family XCF (not scotch, by the way) was far more than advertised. That was truly a unique addition.

I even ignored my phone for a few hours.
Posted 4/22/2015 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
142 It was great to meet you and learn so much about scotch. Wish you had more time, but happy that you made it.

Everyone there was amazing and Paul says two thumbs up!
Posted 4/22/2015 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
As a charter member of the elite GFMPH organization, I add my approval of the minutes, I add my thanks to the secretary for their diligence, and my thanks to the multitude of hands that worked together in unselfish harmony to pull off another great event.

I cannot resist the chance to chide all of the HW persons who have never attended a GFMPH event. I believe that you will find it the most significant meeting of recovering PC men that has ever been held. The camaraderie, the information shared, the knowledge to be gained, and the emotional uplift will never be beat. The caloric intake is also phenomenal.

GFMPH Rochester will commence on September 25th. Mark it on your calendars. Change your schedules. You will never be sorry, that I promise you. It will change your life !

Goodlife
Posted 4/22/2015 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
As host of the GFMPH Cajun Style Cajun Jeff and Momma Pat approve and second.

Thanks for the complements. You are the ones that make this event what it is.

All is well in Brusly. The Pig Roaster is cleaned and being delivered Back to the owner on Friday.


We miss all of you already.
Posted 4/22/2015 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
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Posted 4/23/2015 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Wendi and I wanted to thank you Jeff and Pat (and Sonny & Neil and ...... everyone) for such a relaxing and fun time! We both felt revived after spending time with all of you and meeting so many that were just names before. I really felt a bond between all of you and came away knowing I am not alone in this trial/journey. It is very comforting to know there are so many brothers (and sisters) to reach out to if/when the going gets hard. And I hope to be a help to you all as well. We are planning to be in Rochester in Sept (if you'll have us!). Now if only we could have a GFMPH weight-loss program post GFMPH after ALL that GREAT FOOD!!!!
Posted 4/25/2015 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Very sorry I missed this, having a conference in Las Vegas, just got home last night. I seriously hope to make Rochester. Jets/Eagles that Sunday, 9/27 (30+ year season ticket holder) but barring unforeseen anything, I will be there. Sounds like more fun than a Jets game.
Posted 4/25/2015 2:19 PM (GMT 0)

DonJ said...
Wendi and I wanted to thank you Jeff and Pat (and Sonny & Neil and ...... everyone) for such a relaxing and fun time! We both felt revived after spending time with all of you and meeting so many that were just names before. I really felt a bond between all of you and came away knowing I am not alone in this trial/journey. It is very comforting to know there are so many brothers (and sisters) to reach out to if/when the going gets hard. And I hope to be a help to you all as well. We are planning to be in Rochester in Sept (if you'll have us!). Now if only we could have a GFMPH weight-loss program post GFMPH after ALL that GREAT FOOD!!!!


You are so right, we had a lot of great people and great fun in Baton Rouge. But there are a bunch more who for one reason or another could not make it to Baton Rouge who will be there in Roichester.

It will be fun to put Don and Wendi with an "i" (DonJ) in contact with Don and Wendy with a 'y" (Adjust). He and Ray the Steel Guy have G9 successful treatment plans as compelling as Gunner34's, which is saying a lot.

It was thanks to them and other G-9ers like PeterDisablard and some of the great folks you met at Cajun GFMPF that I completely revamped my G9 treatments from a very successful Lupron monotherapy to giving our G9 disease the attention it deserves with Zytiga, Provenge, and SBRT concurrently with the thought being it gets exponentially harder for the PCa while my PSA is low to combat all of the remedies simultaneously.

For those of us with mundane G9 if there is such a thing, these guys and their spouses are so very inspiratonal that whatever complication we and our spouses may encounter in the future can be combatted with dignity.

See Y'All in Rochester Sept 24-26, 2015.

LupronJim and Karen
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