2007: A Year of Change

2007 was not just any year. For me, it represented more change than I have ever faced in my life. Change for the good I hope. This is both a new and exciting time for me in my life, the things that use to be "normal" to me in my life are now history. I am living an entirely new life in a new place, new people, and a new adventure.

The year started like any other. LB Productions was thriving and I had a fairly basic social life in Joseph, Oregon. Little did I know, by year's end my life was going to have changed forever. So what prompted all this you ask? Where did it all come from?

People who know me well aren't surprised at the big changes that 2007 brought. For the past two years I had considered these changes. But when did I finally "break?"

In March I went on a long, long road trip across the country with my best friend Christian Ambroson. It was that trip that spawned a great debate in my mind... "what was I doing with my life?" My buddy and I had a great time, though the trip was long and boring in some spots, it gave us both time to think about life. For me, it was almost a soul searching mission.

The trip essentially started in Portland, where I left my car for when I flew back. Christian and I rode home to Joseph with his parents and left the next morning. We traveled across the midwest, eventually making it to Steubenville, Ohio where he goes to school. Days later I got on a Southwest Airlines flight and flew from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania back to Portland. It was the most miserable flight of my life. The flight was hot (due to an air circulation problem). The seats were uncomfortable, and I sat next to the most annoying person. By the time I reached Portland I wanted to kiss the ground. Most of the trip across the country was brown and dead or snow covered, simply because of the time of year. Oddly enough, though, when I returned to Portland everything was green and blossoming. It felt like a great place to be. The feeling was right, and after spending a few days with my friends Dylan and Thane (even making a side trip to the coast), I snapped! It hit me: I couldn't waste anymore of my life doing what I was doing. I wanted to move to the Willamette Valley, and move I did.

My reasoning was quite simple... I was burnt out. The business had eaten me alive. In the ten years I actively ran the business my stress had risen to an uncomfortable level. By 2005, my weight and blood pressure were at a very unhealthy level. In 2007 cancer returned. I was spiraling out of control, all on the account of working too hard, changes had to be made or I was looking at an early death. I recall one of my doctors asking me "Levi, what do you expect to happen if things continue in the same direction?" It was then I realized I was in serious trouble.

With that being said, the spring of 2007 went like any other, I had record computer sales in my business... things for the most part went smoothly. I had one of the greatest summers ever, but the number of Joseph friends was dwindling. Our close group was shrinking, people were moving on with their lives. I felt as if I was in a rut. The pressure was building. I had to get out.

I was part of Relay for Life for the first part of the year. It was very meaningful for me, being a cancer survivor. I helped organize the largest and most successful relay team in Wallowa County history.

The summer kicked off with lots of fun on the lake in my Mastercraft Ski Boat... my only reprieve from the daily grind of my life. As you can imagine it was no challege finding friends to come join me out on the water. I will say though, it was harder than in previous years because so many of my local friends were disappearing for the big city. This included my friend Jay Watts (pictured below) who became a full time Portland resident. Previously, he came home for the summer. This was just another factor in my decision.

In June I started applying for jobs over the internet, by late June I had interviews scheduled in the Portland and Salem areas. The first job that came to the surface was a position at the Forest Grove School District as the lead technology coordinator at the help desk. This position looked promising... however, I was not hired. This ended up being a good thing as I really didn't feel a good fit in that area. A few weeks later I was actually hired at a call center called Stream in Beaverton. I did not take the job as it wasn't paying nearly what I made at my own business. Then, I received a call in mid July from the Oregon Department of Transportation to schedule an interview. Oddly enough, this was one of my top picks for a job. I was not surprised about the interview, but the fact it had been narrowed down to four people. I had a great interview, and a couple months later my references told me they had been called. This is how I knew it was serious... and just a day later the woman who is now my supervisor called me up and told me the great news. Not terribly thrilled about moving to Salem (my priority was in Portland), I still took the job. It was almost late September at this point, and I never expected to be hired as it had been over two months since the interview.

Back track to late August -- things had progressed so much in my job search, I made a decision to downsize my business; to move it out of the nearly 1000 square foot office space (pictured), to the back two bedrooms of my house. Without any word of a new job, the plan was to just keep running it 'business as usual.' That's when ODOT called, and it was all over.

I informed my employees of the good news (for me, but not for them). To my absolute surprise, one of them offered to buy the business prior to my departure. It was all set, and I started my new life on October 29th, working for the Oregon Department of Transportation. LB Productions became Simply Digital October 1st, and the web development portion was split off, and renamed "LBSITES."

In the midst of this all, I discovered a exterior bump on my right foot. Being a long time sufferer of a very rare condition called Lymphomatoid Papulosis, I assumed it was just another outbreak. After a trip to OHSU's emergency room, and a biopsy, I found out for the second time in my life I had cancer. For the first three weeks of my new job, I drove or was driven by friends to radiation treatments. This added an extra challenge to my already changing life.

By the end of November, the cancer was history -- the effects of the radiation were not. I spent ten days off from work recuperating from "collateral damage" caused by the radiation. My entire body swelled up and my foot was still a mess. It is still unknown at this time if I received too much radiation.

At the beginning of December things began to bounce back, my body was healing. By the second week my spirits were lifting. The third week my sister married her sweetheart in a small ceremony in Las Vegas. The final week of the month, I made a quick trip back to Joseph for Christmas. I received numerous comments on my weight loss and how good I was looking. For the first time in my life, I have become virtually stress-free. Who knew in one year I could reach my goal? Who knew I could recover from the worst so quickly? Though I miss my family and friends in Joseph... I have goosebumps thinking about my new life here in the valley. My new friends and my former skinny self returning are enough to make 2007 'my year.'

-LB

Back in Salem

No post holiday blues here, in fact quite the contrary. Usually I get the blues during the holidays. This year was no exception. I really can't explain it, but I just do. The drive home to Joseph wasn't all that bad until I hit Meacham on Saturday night, that is when the I-84 turned into a parking lot. It's like people forgot how to drive or something. So after spending an extra hour of my trip in the snow, I landed in La Grande where I took a breather at the Taco Bell and proceeded into the county. I had a good holiday with my family and did something quite unusual... stayed at my parents -- which isn't something I've done since well... last month during Thanksgiving. The great news is that I rented out my house in Joseph, so that left me with no place to stay but at my folks. It wasn't bad at all, and it was nice having my mom cook all the meals and to not have to worry about much of anything. I spent the majority of my time with my best friend Sterling Sunday (hoping to see my other best friend Christian later this week). We had a ceremonial "burning" of my Joseph stuff. It was kind of sad... but really more fun than anything. Later that night, he, Alyse, and I got together and had a mini Christmas after eating at El Bajio -- which I have missed immensely by the way! Seems as if no place down here in Salem can 'get it right.' So Sterling and Alyse got me the coolest present ever - a digital photo frame... which turned out to be one of the hottest gifts of this holiday season.

Went home and had a pretty mellow Christmas Eve. My sister and her new husband Colby came back for the holiday. Christmas day arrived and it was all but time for me to leave. I did pretty well, got some clothes and most notably an Outback gift card which I can use for one of my many dinners I have at my next-door neighbor here in Salem. Then, yes of course, I had to leave...

The trip home wasn't bad, until I hit the Gorge. Then it got quite bad, and several times I thought I was going to can it up with all the stupid drivers around me. It was snowing hard and continuously and just wouldn't stop. It was piling up on the sides of the road and blowing hard. It got to the point where it was slushing up on the road surface and people started sliding around. Finally I arrived in Troutdale and life was once again good with just plain rain (hey, that rhymes). This morning I woke up bright-eyed and bushy tailed and went back to work. Thankfully my good pal Jonathan was there too so it wasn't all bad. It was just kind of crummy having to go back to work right after Christmas. Nonetheless, it's life, right?

-LB

P.S. TOP TEN PEOPLE OF 2007 COMING SOON!

Top Ten for Week of December 15, 2007

1. Thane Shetler & Dylan Lewis
2. Debbie Bobbitt
3. Carl Bobbitt
4. Jonathan Stephens
5. Antoun Kehdi
6. Robin Ness
7. Alyse Fischer
8. Amy Kyle-Percy
9. Sterling Shetler
10. Michele Sawin
    

Thane & Dylan Rock

Good friends are hard to find. Great friends are even harder to find. I am blessed, I know that I am, with truly great friends.

After arriving back from Vegas, Thane and Dylan picked me up at the Portland airport. It was at this point I sprung on them I needed to get to OHSU right away for a doctor's appointment for some swelling I still have as a result of the radiation treatment (don't worry I'm going to be fine). Nonetheless, I had to get there quickly, and they said "sure no problem." Little did they know I would be shuffled all over the hospital and not get out of there until hours later. After patiently waiting for my doctor for over an hour, I finally got in, and then that took another 45 minutes at least. After coming back out into the waiting room I told Dylan and Thane "you guys are like the best friends a guy could have..." and they immediately knew I was up to no good. That's when I laid the news on them that I would have to go in for a CT. That's when we went into the main part of the OHSU hospital and waited for another hour before I got scanned.

Finally, five hours later we got out of there. They didn't complain once to me. Though I never expected to be there that long, I still appreciate their patience and am sorry they had to be so long. For this, I am making them my honorary #1's on the top ten this week.

Thanks Dyan and Thane for hanging in there for me, even when you didn't have to.

-LB

The Vegas Wedding

My sister's wedding in Las Vegas has now come and gone, but the memories are still all to fresh. I was impressed with all the lights, buildings, and construction of the city. Vegas is truly a world in itself, and I now know why it's called 'sin city.'

Hannah and Colby wed in the outdoor chapel adjacent to the Howard Johnson in what many called 'old Vegas.' It was a bit more modest setting from the places we stayed. My parents and I stayed at Bally's right next to the Paris hotel, which I thought was quite impressive. The wedding party stayed at Treasure Island, and my sister and Colby stayed at the Venician, probably the most impressive resort of them all.

I found that Vegas was a both pretty and trashy city all in one. It's definitely more beautiful at night than it is during the day. At night the lights and casinos rule the landscape. However, in the day you can see trash, construction, and pollution. Nonetheless, I thought it was a very interesting place to visit, but not one where I would want to live.

Originally, I was going to depart on Sunday with my folks and drive down to Vegas with them. But complications made a sudden last minute change in plans, and I ended up flying down Monday night. It allowed me to get in some more hours at work, and cut the travel time down to hardly anything by flying out of PDX. When I arrived in Vegas I felt miserable. I had swollen up from the flight and my medication had fallen behind. I was exhausted and in pain. I was even doubting if I should have gone. Thankfully, by morning I was rested up and ready to go. My parents were nice enough to push me around via wheelchair most of the time I was down there. Believe me, it saved my foot!

I played some slots and did terrible. If I would$160, but that soon faded away. Meh, go figure... I kind of get the impression the casinos don't make their money by giving it away -- I dunno, just a thought?

Wednesday was wedding day. I awoke to my parents who had ordered room service for breakfast. That was pretty cool!

We then arrived at the Venician to meet up with my sister and the bridesmaids shortly before the wedding. Naturally we had a photo-op beforehand. They insisted I get a picture with my sister and mom (pictured). I remember standing in pain long enough so I wouldn't have to be in a wheelchair in the wedding pictures.

The girls were pretty fired up (if you know what I mean), by the time we arrived. Liza, Jill, and Shonda (my sister's bridesmaids) were already having a pretty good time.

At about 5:30 that night we traveled over to the wedding chapel. It was a very small wedding, the smallest I have ever attended. But I think it is the way I would want my wedding to be. Just close friends and family kept this wedding comfortable and fun.




Shortly after the wedding we headed to Caesar's Palace where we ate at the Cheesecake Factory and everyone had a good time.

As the night wrapped up I fell like a tree in the woods and quickly went to sleep. That night I had a horrible nightmare.

I woke up as I was on a plane and it was crashing. The memory was so vivid and scared me to death! And guess what... I was flying back to Portland that morning! Thankfully, my parents calmed me down a bit and I got on the plane anyway. But what an awful nightmare to have! Originally I was going to leave on Friday with my folks, but since plans changed, I left Thursday even earlier than normal so I could make a doctor's appointment at OHSU in Portland. Unfortunatly, I still have some swelling in an unpleasant place and I'm trying to get it resolved.

The plane ride back to Portland was no fun even though I made it once peice. Somehow I got one of like five seats on the plane that had a permanent arm rest on both sides. As a bigger guy, you can imagine my difficulty. I couldn't feel my butt by the time we got to Portland, let me tell you! Additionally, this was the first plane I had ever been on that didn't have vents above you so you could stay cool. Oh no, of course not, it was hot, turbulent, and miserable. I must say my flight down to Vegas was fairly pleasant. So this is how I would rate it: US Airways is in between Southwest and Frontier Airlines -- the two other airlines I've flown. Southwest being the worst of the bunch with their hot uncomfortable "u-pick" seating, to Frontier's high-back, plush, first-class like seating with air vents above, and DirecTV on the back of everyone's seat. Plus they served Mountain Dew! I would have flown Frontier, but it would have meant a layover in their hub of Denver. So, I would say US Airways was right in the middle of the two airlines.

It was an exciting week, and I am glad I went for the experience. Oh yeah, my sister got married too...

-LB

(enjoy the pictures below)

Introducing: Jonathan Stephens - My First Salem Friend

Meet Jonathan Stephens. If you've been seeing my recent top ten lists, you've probably seen his name frequenting my weekly list. That's because we're quickly becoming good friends. Though, I know other people in and around Salem, he's the first friend I've met since moving to Salem about seven weeks ago now.

He will probably kill me for posting this picture of him (but shhhh! don't tell him, okay?)... I caught him on my computer and then I told him to put his thumbs up all dorky like just in time for me to snap the picture.

Truth is though, he's actually a pretty cool kid. He cracks me up. He also reminds me a lot of my best friend Christian Ambroson. So, not only is a funny and a kick in the pants to hang out with, but he's also a caring and very nice person. I've also met another friend through him named Antoun. All three of us meet up as a trio of the ODOT 20-somethings and can be found visiting the Safeway each day during our mandated break each morning.

Jonathan - who I currently refer to as 'J-dawg' for lack of a better nickname, has also reintroduced me into console gaming, which I have had a 7 year hiatus from since running my business LB Productions. Yes, that's right it was over 7 years ago when my friends and I use to hang out and play Tony Hawk on Playstation at my place (aka the quadrilateral). Those days soon disappeared as my business soon consumed my life. But not anymore, as I keep telling Jonathan, he's bringing the "fun" Levi back, and even though I'm still pretty crappy at Grand Theft Auto... I'll get better as I come back to life.

On another note, I just arrived in Las Vegas last night. Tomorrow is my sister's wedding. I will give you a full report in the next day or two of my adventures here in Vegas. I'll be returning to Salem Thursday night after all the excitement.

-LB

Top Ten for Week of December 8, 2007

1. Jonathan Stephens
2. Antoun Kehdy
3. Robin Ness
4. Sherry McCarthy
5. Debbie Bobbitt
6. Carl Bobbitt
7. Sterling Shetler
8. Michele Sawin
9. Alyse Fischer
10.Jay Watts

Top Ten for Week of December 1, 2007

1. Debbie Bobbitt
2. Carl Bobbitt
3. Sterling Shetler
4. Christian Ambroson
5. Alyse Fischer
6. Elizabeth DeBoie
7. Michele Sawin
8. Amy Kyle-Percy
9. Jonathan Stephens
10. Chris Gamboa

Making Significant Improvements

**WARNING GRAPHIC PICTURES BELOW**

It's approaching two weeks now since my last radiation treatment, and I must say I have made significant strides. I was just telling a friend this evening that I'm finally starting to feel like my old self again. Let me tell you, it's been a while...

Friday was my first day back to work, I was happy to be back and many of my coworkers were happy to see me back as well. I fell behind, but thankfully it wasn't too awful and by Friday afternoon I had an idea on where I was at. Now, let's rewind -

Last Monday we finally headed down to Salem where my mom kept me in good health. I was glad she did. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent resting and doing some miscellaneous shopping to get things for my foot and cooking. Thursday I went to the doctors at OHSU. My first appointment was with my dermatologist Dr. Simpson. He put together a pretty good plan to get my foot healed, and offered some good news about the blistered areas, saying they would heal rather quickly. I did inform him on my disappointment with the radiation treatments, how they caused me a whole slew of problems. After the appointment there, my mom and I rode the tram to the top of the Marquam Hill to the main OHSU campus and met with my radiation oncologist. The odd thing is this was only the third time I had ever seen her during the entire ordeal. I actually saw two other doctors far more frequently, and the appointment was supposed to be with one of them. She was the one who ordered all the radiation, which lead to a lot of my disgust on how my body was taking the numerous treatments she decided to add on to my original treatment plan. Originally I was supposed to have 13 treatments, then it was expanded to 17, then to 20 (my body started swelling at 19), at the 20th treatment, she ordered three more treatments. By the 21st treatment, my body was swollen and blisters were appearing and that is when I refused to have anymore treatments, and the other doctors also agreed. I shared some of the disgusting blister photos with you last week. This week I'll spare you those and show you the aftermath of what happens with blisters of that size, pop. So, here's your second warning. GRAPHIC PICTURES BELOW!

It is now Saturday night, and I am feeling pretty good -- relatively speaking. I think by the end of the weekend I should be ready to have my first full week back at work.

Okay, so the pictures are below... this is your third and final warning... and I promise this will be the final post containing such pictures. These are just to give you an idea on what radiation can do to one's body. Here they are:

LAST CHANCE





I'M SERIOUS






IF YOU'VE SCROLLED THIS FAR YOU HAVE NO MERCY!






LAST CHANCE!








OKAY, HERE THEY ARE -


This is the top blister (the largest) which burst. It oozed out a yellow looking clam chowder discharge. It stunk for almost a week after popping.

This offers you a glimpse at the blister close to my heal. Broken in much tougher skin as you normally have much heavier skin under your heal. It is an especially painful spot because that is where my leg bends when I walk.

On to a different subject now... I am hoping to get next week off (which is a huge push being that I've taken almost two weeks off work for being ill.) My sister's wedding is quickly approaching on December 12, and I will find out this week if I have a chance to get some or all the time off I need. Had I not been sick, it would have been totally different. So we shall see what happens...

I want to give a special thanks to Chris Gamboa and her daughter Marisa for cleaning up my Joseph house. It was quite a job as I can imagine. They prepared it for future renters and possible buyers. It looks like I might have my Joseph property rented in a week or two.

It is good to write you this week on a much more positive note. I am finally on the mend, and thank all of you who've been there for me through thick and thin... even when things were tough.

-LB