Brian D. McTear to me

Apr 1, 2009

Hey man,

So supposedly you and I can chalk up another near encounter, as I went to see Marianne this morning! I think they probably have a special wink or nod that says you and I are there at the same time, so “move’em out!”. Dr. H came in to tell me that you and I need to put the fear of God in Devin about not being too huggy (touchy feely, might have been the term he used) and making sure he washes his hands and such between seeing me and you.

I am sorry about this and I  hope this isn’t a hassle for him or you.

I am Sorry to hear about the rough patch with you and _____. Devin did tell me you were looking to move in. I like that place, and you really couldn’t have nicer people around, so I think it will be a good thing! Keep your chin up! Sometimes, change gets you to stand a little straighter and be a little more active, and that’d be a good way to steer things if you have any control over it.

From that house, could you walk to work and stuff? Or is that too far?

After the Goldrush is a great record for hard times, and while I love Bob Dylan, I think Neil Young is more sympathetic/empathetic with his subjects and listeners. Bob Dylan’s more “mildly amused, slightly annoyed”.

Seth Speaks is tough to read fast. When you start hearing about these extra senses, it’s like trying to explain a sphere to a circle in Flatland. I read that book and The Seth Material in 1995 or so, which got it all across to me. A friend of mine went on to read ALL of them. He probably just finished recently!

Were you a St. Christophers kid? Or did you go to CHOP? I was at CHOP.

I’ll try to get the blog together. I liked the names we had, but what is funny is I can’t remember any of them! Ha! Even so, I really want to pull together our emails and then edit them for the Blog. We could just always communicate via email then edit after the fact. Because I like the idea of it revolving around correspondence, you know?

Okay, like I said, Keep your chin up! Try to take this is a time to realign and maybe find bits of enjoyment in the little fresh starts that come about here and there!

B

Robert Wolter to Brian

Apr 2, 2009

i know. so weird. do we really exist? we communicate but have never really had any physical evidence that we truly exist. and we talk through emails and other people. we are kind of like “seths”! what if our website was www.cysticseths.com (!!!)

if you don’t like it that’s cool but i really like it, and if you approve i will go ahead with it.

yeah, there is no worry for me. i think i was born the most even-keeled, cool-headed human on the planet. it takes a lot to rattle me and i’ll come out much better from this. i kind of feel like i’m coming out of a sandstorm and into a nice calm oasis. man, now i am starting to sound like dr. holsclaw. you notice how he uses the weirdest analogies sometimes? i love him. and don’t worry about the living situation. it’s not a hassle at all and devin is totally cool with anything he needs to do.

can’t walk to work…just a little over 2 miles or so which isn’t bad but at this point i can’t swing that.

i went to st. christophers when i was first diagnosed. then my doctor, (dr. clayton) moved to CHOP so i went with him for the last few years. i stayed there until i graduated college which was maybe a little longer than most kids but i was really attached to dr. clayton. he left for the pharmaceutical field right as i graduated. i really wish i could track him down, but i’ve had little success. did you know him?

alright talk to you later.

Brian D. McTear to me

Apr 2, 2009

Cysticseths…. Hmmmmm. Maybe?

I don’t know Dr. Clayton. When I was at CHOP my main Dr. was Dr. Scanlon. I really liked him a lot. My parents somehow followed his wherabouts, I guess because my little sister has CF and she had him too. She might also have known Dr Clayton. I will ask her.

B

Robert Wolter to Brian

Apr 2, 2009

yeah you’re right, i don’t like it either. but i think maybe another option could be www.brianandbobbyspeak.com

that’s easy, right?

my friend chris and i came up with this idea a while ago. it’s opening up a CF treatment facility and hospital. it would function as a care center but totally setup to specifically address CF needs, and approach it with a completely different perspective. for example, lot’s of light, creating as much of a dust-free atmosphere as possible, things to do for patients who have to stay a long time. not just treating the physical, but also the mental aspect since sometimes we have long hospital stays. you’re project has given me inspiration and a sense that it could be possible.

oh, and congrats btw on the WeatherVane announcement. can’t wait to see how it all comes together!

Brian D. McTear to me

Apr 2, 2009

I like BrianandbobbySpeak.com. I like that!

I had a similar (but very scaled back) idea for a CF specific therapy center. I just know that the best thing for my lungs is when Amy beats on my chest. I have a vest, but I don’t think it’s that effective. It made me wonder what a person does if there’s no one to beat on them? I asked Marianne and she said that insurance won’t cover, so it’d have to be a non-profit funded exclusively by donation. A person to make house calls for physical therapy would be a beautiful thing. Plus it’d be a way for people who might be pretty isolated to see a friendly face twice or three times per week. It’d probably take a lot more than I could pull off, but it’d be great.

I like your idea better, though. I wonder how that stuff comes together? It’d probably have to happen via one or several very wealthy donors along with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I am sure it’d go best somewhere like Arizona. You’d also have to have really good germ control, but a place like that could be a good research center when it comes to establishing clean practices.

These types of things can happen with a lot of networking, I’d imagine. Did you know Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s son was diagnosed with CF a few years back? I wonder who else that is well known might have CF in their family, etc?

B

Robert Wolter to Brian

Apr 3, 2009

i have always used a vest, primarily because everyone i know hates doing manual chest PT. i feel like every time i ask people to do it for me they hear “would you like me to pull your teeth?”. does amy pound on you every day? that is true love, my friend. but the vest works for me. that combined with “huffing” and the acapella i am able to bring up mucous no prob.

i was thinking if i got a proposal and some plans together i could start networking. maybe i’m dreaming too big, but it’s a dream nonetheless.

oh man i have the worst allergies and cold right now. blech. hope you are staying healthy…talk to you soon.

b.

Brian D. McTear to me

Apr 3, 2009

Amy isn’t pounding on me right now. She was, though for the most of last year. 2008 was crappy for me. Had a new infection that dragged me way down. I really hated it, and so my sister gave me her vest. It was cool, but then I asked Amy to do PT and MAN, that worked great! By December or so it was hurting her wrists, so I didn’t push it. I was doing a lot better so I figured I’d let it go til I really needed it again. But that’s what got me wondering, “is there anyone out there who just gets paid to do this?” It’d be amazing if someone could get paid to make house visits twice or three times a week. There’d have to be major protocol for cleanliness…you wouldn’t want them stopping at house A and bringing all one persons bugs to house B!

The thing about these ideas is if you find the people who are passionate about the need, then basically you just keep making the rounds discussing it with them…brainstorming, constant “what if?!” And you work your way in the direction of the big targets. This is all what I am doing with WV.

During the whole process, though, you keep writing and revising a business plan. It can be every great idea you have around the program…. Just keep making it all fit together in a written format.

I would guess that before too long, you’d want to be working with CF Foundation. Also, there’s these things called “Business Incubators” that basically help you get the idea from the planning phase to reality. A medical facility is a huge effort, I imagine, but it does happen. St. Judes Children’s Hospital was started by actor (and I think comedian) Danny Thomas, and his daughter Marla Thomas heads it to this day. For some reason I could see someone like George Clooney or someone having a medical facility.

It’s a huge idea, much huger than Weathervane, but I am sure it can be done. It’s just a matter of brainstorming, planning, writing and revising and networking. I hope you do it!

B

Robert Wolter to Brian

Apr 13, 2009

Hey,

I had to come into Presby for some IV meds, rest and stuff. So that’s where I am. It might be a blessing in disguise because I will be able to move when I get out of here, plus it’s a springboard to catapult me into summer health and goodness.

My dad lent me his wireless card while I’m in here so I can get online and do all kinds on internet things. I wanted to work on BrianandBobbySpeak.com while I’m in here, do you still want to do it? Lemme know, my friend Chris is going to help us put it together.

Oh, I checked out Sunset and really like them! I’m excited to see and hear the WeatherVane project unfold. Are you into any other new music nowadays, specifically in Philly? I’m trying to discover new Philly music.

Anywho, hope you’re well. Talk to you soon,

B.

Brian D. McTear to me

Apr 13, 2009

Hey man!

Crap. Well, I am glad you can see the bright side. I am psyched that you’ll be pulling together BrianandBobbySpeak.com.

Check out tumblr.com. That’s what I used to do the WV blog and it’s SUPER SUPER easy, and can look good. Your friend can do the HTML theme, etc.

Let me know if you need anything else while you are in there. I’ll be coming in for a visit to Marianne and Giovanna on Tuesday the 21st.

I wouldn’t know where to start with Philadelphia music:

There’s another WV band that we’ll announce in a few weeks called Danielson (earlier they were Danielson Famile). Incredibly unique and always on the boarder of bizarre. They have great videos, as well. Daniel and I work together a lot. I mixed a couple records for other artists Daniel produced last year: Woven Hand, Dan Zimmerman, Soul Junk. Last week we finished mixing an album he produced for a band call Ortolan. Last Summer Daniel and I produced a band called MeWithoutYou. They are probably the biggest band I’ve ever worked with. They are typically thought of as an Emo band, and weirder yet, a “Christian Emo” band… (Most of Daniel’s projects tend to be spiritually charasmatic), but the new record, I think at least, is a big departure. I’d recommend all the above.

Check out also: Audible, Espers, Capitol Years, ….

Do you have the Bitter bitter weeks albums? Or the Novenas album? (These are my and Amy’s bands) I could definitely deliver a couple CDs.

Hope you feel good in a couple days! Do you know how long you’ll be in? Let me know how blog stuff is going! I am super into it!

B

Robert Wolter to Brian

Apr 15, 2009

yo!

I am totally into this band Blood Feathers. I found them through listening to all the bands you mentioned. I really like Danielson, very cool stuff. You totally have to hook me up with Bitter Biiter Weeks and the Novenas! I don’t have any of your records aside from the music on Myspace. It’s funny my friend Liz was visiting me the other night and she told me she was at a wedding  years ago that you sang at! I forget who the mutual friend was…Philly is the ultimate “6 degrees of separation” town.

I’ll let you know about the progress with the blog.

A’ight talk to you later…

b.