12/17/2025
Looking at our page, I'm just now realizing my last activity was more than 11 months ago, when I updated the cover photo with an image that said, "Sometimes music is the only medicine the heart and soul need." Music might be the only medicine the heart and soul need, but, at the time I posted that, I was about 2.5 weeks away from undergoing major surgery and about 3 months away from starting radiation treatment for breast cancer.
If we're friends IRL or if we're FB friends through my personal profile, it's likely you've been following , throughout my diagnosis, treatment, and recovery process. If we're only connected via this page, I'm sorry I didn't update you sooner. I had planned on posting regular updates but nothing about this past year has gone how I expected.
First off, the good news is that they got all the cancer and, as of my last mammogram (a month or so ago), I'm still cancer-free. I'm truly grateful for that, but that's about where the good news ends. The challenges? I had to take 5 weeks off work... mostly unpaid. I couldn't lift more than 10 pounds for 2 full months, making it impossible to do any scrap metal recycling, which is one way I've supplemented my income, for several years. I've had to move... twice. My current residence isn't ideal, but it's giving me an opportunity to save some money and I'm grateful for that. I am back to work but I'm still experiencing post-op/post-radiation discomfort in the affected areas, so I'm still having to take a night off, here and there. Fortunately, my doctors aren't concerned about the discomfort. I guess the internal scars are still forming and nerves are regenerating, so that's what I'm feeling. I'm gradually getting back to my "normal", but it's been a rough road.
Initially, when I found out I was going to be off work for 4 weeks (I ended up needing an extra week, as my return date came and went), I tried to be positive about it, thinking I'd be able to get some stuff done around the house (purging my excess stuff and sorting through my CD collection, so I could upload a ton of new music to my station, mainly). Well, that didn't happen. Even though I didn't end up needing to do chemo, I still got really tired, really easily. So, most of my recovery time was spent lying in bed, playing video games and binge watching TV series after TV series. It was the most unproductive I've ever felt in my life, but I got through it.
Between the unexpected expenses (medical bills and moving expenses, twice) and a significant reduction in my ability to work, I had to make the difficult decision to take UVR off the air for a few months, so I could financially regroup. I don't anticipate getting back up and running until the beginning of 2026. Unfortunately, that means I won't be playing any Christmas music this year and that makes me a little sad. That just means I'll have more time to get playlists ready for Valentine's Day and St Patrick's Day, I hope.
I know that was a long update, but I wanted to let everyone know what's been going on with me and why you can't find us streaming, at the moment. I'll let you know when our stream is up and running again. Thanks for understanding.
If anybody would like to help get us streaming sooner than later, you can "tip your DJ" (that's me) at https://www.paypal.biz/UltimateVarietyRadio and I'll apply that toward the monthly fees that run about $80. Thank you for your support.
