This is not 'sanctioned' so I hope he doesn't get pissed at me.

Capt Russ is not a whiner or complainer so he's not going to say anything, but he's spent a few days in the hospital with several health problems, one very dangerous. For privacy reasons, I won't go into details but how about sending him some love while he's down and out.

chas

Russ and I talk regularly, and from our recent conversation, he was fortunate to make it out of the hospital before those stupid SOBs killed him.

I have an appointment with the doc at the VA Hospital in Perryville, Maryland tomorrow morning at 11:15, but we just got dumped on with 2 inches of wet snow. Hopefully, I'll be able to get out of the driveway at 10 tomorrow morning, but it's gonna be just 33 degrees tomorrow, which translates into ice covered roads and driveway. Just might have to cancel the appointment. The new doc there is a good friend and excellent pulmonary physiologist. Glad he went with the VA and hope he can come up with something that will be beneficial.

Chas, Russ considers you a good friend, and I'm confident that he would not be pissed at you for posting this information. We talk frequently, and I too am happy to call him a good friend and with luck hope to see him before my untimely demise.

All the best,

Gary

Hi Russ,
hope you get better soon.

Get well soon Russ

DONE !
Thanks for the heads up chas ...

Chas - no hijack intended, but a few of your old Philly friends have passed recently. Bennie Cintioli just died, and a few short weeks ago, his wife Margott preceded him. This guy was a Philly LEGEND.
https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/benny-cintioli-owner-of-cintioli-music-has-died

R. I. P.... Benny was a great guy and a legend..

Hang in there Russ. Wishing you a speedy recovery

OMG. I'm shocked....and very sad. Like a lot of you guys in the Philly area (Fran), Bennie was ....gosh, I don't know if LEGEND is the right word; suffice it to say, if you didn't know Benny (and Margott) on a first name basis, you weren't a Philly-area musician. This is indeed very sad news.

chas

Back to Russ...

Russ and I have had quite a bit of personal correspondence a while ago. I'm absolutely amazed with the hectic schedule he leads, the projects he takes on at one time, his appreciation for what he does and his appreciation for his ability to TAKE it all on...and...still have time to play his instruments.

So....I'm hoping that it's just maybe "exhaustion" and nothing seriously medically wrong. I'm also hoping the old saying: "you can't keep a good musician down" chimes in here.

Me too saying "get well soon, Russ....your projects are waiting for you!"

Your good friend.....Mark