High Maintenance Mexicans

I continue to ride an enormous wave of healing energy and at a rather rapid pace. It's simply amazing, all of my senses are heightened and my perceptions feel almost psychic. I have found a new paradigm of my surrounding world and beyond. Maybe it's better to say that my paradigm has just shifted and my awareness has evolved. Either way, it's obvious that I am a better man.

This cancer has been quite the roller-coaster ride. The ups and downs of the ride represent my day-to-day battle with my disease and I know that I'm currently on the biggest drop of the ride. Many would agree that this is the best part of any roller-coaster ride, but it's the part I alwaysfeared most. An initial steep fall like this sure makes my tummy queasy, but its only a matter of moments before I regain an understanding of the forces working with me. My body is now a precision-built high maintenance machine. I've been finely tuning my machine towards a cure ever since my diagnosis. My doctor remains understated, yet impressed with my phenomenal progress. This trend is reflective in both my medical charts and MexicanArmstrong.org's business intelligence reports.

But I have no fear now. It didn't take me long to figure out that there is absolutely no room for fear or anger when curing cancer. Neither emotion is conducive to a healing state. I have replaced these counterproductive emotions with as much happiness and charm that I can fit into each and every cell in my body. This fundamental change in attitude has been a key ingredient in my most current success and I continue to hone my new disposition daily. I particularly enjoy practicing introducing myself as Mexican Armstrong. I confidently say with a smile that I have late stage cancer and wait for a reaction. The look on people's faces is always amusing, some reactions are priceless. It's a small victory for me when I can get them to smile or laugh with me about my disease.

My mind now sees a World and Universe with infinite possibilities and a body with a finite amount of cancer cells. My cancer curing campaign has been Superman-esque these last couple of weeks and I know I can't continue at such a grueling pace. There is now a slow-down on the horizon and I welcome its reduced velocity. It's time for me to be Clark Kent now, but with a little more southern gentleman in him. A man who is more graceful, humble and maybe even a bit more dapper (a new suit does sound nice).

Lean on Me Brother - taking care of business as a little Mexican

I think I'll start by taking my sister for a manicure and pedicure. It will be a first for me and I'm really looking forward to the therapy, my hands are very dry from the metals coming through them.

As I walk through the spa, I think to myself, "I hope I don't make any rookie mistakes here." Those are rarely initial confidence boosters. But it didn't take too long before my sister informed me that the "mani-pedi" she just ordered for me doesn't mean "manly pedicure". Oh well, at least I didn't make a fool of myself while sitting next to that really cute blonde.

Joel C. Diaz II

Mexican Armstrong

Thank-you for supporting MexicanArmstrong.org!!!

2 days after completing a successful week of round-2 chemo, getting a manly pedicure with my little sister.


Hippie Mexicans wearing what my mom calls "Burrken-bockers"

Hermano y Hermana - A picture only a mother could love

Mexican of Mass Consumption

Seven days ago I decided to put my healing into overdrive. I kindly asked my family to help me pack on the pounds, and when they saw my determination they gladly obliged.

Soaking up some California Love - City by the Bay. We'll be back soon.

For the past week I have consumed like my life depended on it. My intake of organic nourishment had quadrupled on a daily basis compared to the previous week. I had acquired some secret weapons of nutrition. One of which I found quite effective, Momo's Soup (mi abeula's caldo de pollo).

Some how my body and mind had figured out a away to consistently stay hungry for both food and thought. And I was able to regulate my intake of resources in a whole new way. Fact of the matter is that I am intaking more quality into my life and transforming it into a higher quality product.

My new food diet was working like a charm and the results were reflected on the scale. My second diet was an information diet. I'm very selective about what enters my mind. I now only take in the most important information. This has allowed me to process thought more efficiently and expend my mental energy at the most effective pace possible.

On the way out the door from my doctors appointment last week, his parting words to me were "keep eating." And when I pushed him for details he didn't say much, but he was right-on when he looked at me and said,"What? I'm not giving you a number," referencing a specific weight gain.

See, I have this hunch that he is a gamblin' man. Odds are that if I don't get caught up in the numbers and stay focused, I'll win my bet against cancer. He's offered to meet me in Las Vegas once I'm cured. I've never been, and I didn't think twice about accepting. See you in Vegas Doc!

I want to thank all my family that stood strong this past week and supporting me like only famailia can. Again my healing was dominated by plenty of energy from the women in my life. Starting from my grandmothers, mom, aunts, all the way down to my sister and beyond. I can't express how thankful I am for that.

I want to send a special thank you out to Brooke. She was the catalyst to inspire much of what I accomplished this week and one of the strongest women I have the pleasure of being healed by. Thank you Sweetheart.

-Joel C Diaz II

Mexican Armstrong

Me and Esmo shooting some cancer-killing wheatgrass shots!

Brookie's reaction when I insist she eat a piece of bacon.

A smile emerges when she figures out I'm going to eat all of it myself!

Jovan cooking up the cure to cancer - Arroz con Pollo

Dos Hermanos y Dos Equis

What a good day! I got a new haircut, some new hats and my mental game is picking up some serious focus for my 2nd round of ''cocktails'' (chemo). I woke up on Monday morning, looked down at the scale and I knew I was at rock bottom. My high-tech digital scale displayed a scant 151lbs and I felt the weakest I'd been since my diagnosis. I simply could not ignore how emaciated and fragile I was feeling that morning. 

But it didn't take long before I reminded myself who I was and where I was going. Right now I am a force, a mantra, a wave of energy to be recokned with. I am Mexican Armstrong. My single goal - beat this cancer in record time! I've stuck with a strict organic diet and I'm happy to report that I've averaged about a 1 pound gain a day since Monday.  I continue to fortify myself with as much nutirtion as my body can handle. My progress is going well enough that my doctor cleared me for my next chemo treatment a day early. 

This video is just one of my highlights from today. It's hard to describe the satisfaction I achieved from just hanging out with my best friend and drinking a brew. The words of Lupe Fiasco somehow seemed quite phrophetic to me;

 "I think the world, and everything in it is made up of a mix of two things. You got your good and your bad. You got your food, and your liquor" - Lupe Fiasco

So this blog entry goes out to all my familia that would fight a little cancer with a little cerveza. Salud!

-Joel C Diaz II

Mexican Armstrong

Dad Buys a $5 MexicanArmstrong.org Wristband

I don't think Blogger supports HD video yet, so in order for you to see the video properly please double-click on the video. It should take you to YouTube where you can watch it in HD!

Not a skinny Mexican for long

Below is an email written to my family to rally them to help fatten me up!

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Fam,

Brookie was kind of enough to start some research for me about a diet I need to aggressively follow over the next 5 days. Now it's time I turn to family to help me put this plan together and execute. I know that a proper diet is not only necessary but crucial to starting off a successful 2nd round of chemo next week. I have every intention to make sure that this happens.

As you know, I feel that the past 7 days has thus far been the most difficult. I have never before felt so drained of both physical and mental energy. But the good news is that I'm physically feeling a little stronger each day. I take this as a very good sign. But even better, mentally and spiritually I can feel a strengthening happening and I know God's ways are with me.

Please read the below emails and help me make next steps to beat this cancer with a vengeance and a little extra fat. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I always liked being the skinny Mexican in the family, everyone's always a little jealous of you.

Love,
Joel C Diaz II
Mexican Armstrong

Starting My New Job - Cancer Survivor

I can't begin to tell you how excited I was about starting my new job today! Which is great news since I've been without work for some months now. There is no doubt that this is going to be the best job I've ever had. And not only that, but I hired myself. Funny thing is, I didn't even have to interview. It was like I was just chosen. My new title? President and CEO of MexicanArmstrong.org. How cool, huh? The hours are great, I work when I can. For the current moment, I'll put in an productive 4-hour day. Right now I am the only employee. But as I watch the nurse mix up some "cocktails", (chemo drugs) I quickly realize that everyone is my co-worker. She hooks the bags of medicine to the top of my poll. I look up and break the gaze my eyes have on the LCD screen. A peaceful yet happy smile emerges from my face. I now know I am going to be a stellar new hire.

Meanwhile, I  sit in this chair, barely noticing that I have something called a "portal" implanted in my chest. Some of the strongest chemicals known to kill a man,  just enough to eradicate his cancer, but keep him alive are being poured into my chest. But, sitting there I realize that I am blessed with a true entrepreneurial spirit. I am now someone who is willing to take upon himself a brave new venture and a sprawling enterprise, and I fully accept responsibility for the outcome. There is no doubt that my new company is going to be a success.

I've got so much excitement about the future of my new organization. I wake up every morning for work and I thank God for this cancer and my new job. There has never been a doubt in my mind that this is my blessing. I am truly thankful for being the miracle that is Mexican Armstrong.

-Joel C Diaz II

Mexican Armstrong

My third day on the job, hard at work developing the very first steps of MexicanArmstrong.org