Thanks to the bat

I woke up this morning at 4am to the sound of something strange. I opened my eyes and saw a shadow of something moving quickly through the air in the dark. Because of no light I did my best to focus on this strange figure flying through the air. Was it a moth? No, it's too big to be a moth. I started to sit up in the bed and then realized this fast flying creature was a bat! I pulled the covers over my head and woke up my wife to tell her there was a bat flying above our heads. She remained very calm and we then laid under the covers for another 5 minutes and discussed a plan. I said, "The only way out of here is to keep the covers over our heads...slowly roll off the bed and then crawl on our hands and knees out the door and then close the door to trap it behind us."
As we were crawling under the covers on the floor we busted out in laughter because of how funny this would have looked if someone had walked in.
Unfortunately, we still haven't found the bat. But, I would like to thank the bat for taking my mind off of cancer for a few short moments and allowing me to act like Indiana Jones in front of my wife.

Don't forget about the sunset

Besides being a little light headed I finally feel back to normal physically after chemo. Yesterday my wife and I spend the day at a friends lake house and it was very peaceful. The best memory we have of that trip was traveling home. We had just left the lake house and we were on the back roads just off of the main highway. We were riding on our motorcycle and we slowly approached several Amish children who were walking with their horse and buggy and picking up trash on the side of the road. I slowed down the motorcycle and almost stopped completely because the children were waving at us and smiling and it seemed like they wanted to get to know us. It was a change to see kids that didn't recognize me from American Idol. As we continued to stare at them they continued to stare back. We quickly realized they were more surprised to see us on a motorcycle than we were of seeing them walking behind a horse. We immediately felt like we were traveling back in time from a time machine and that these children had never looked at a motorcycle. We came back from the future.
Most importantly, we had a great time relaxing on the side of the lake and watching the sunset. I am thankful that the Lord has slowed my life down. It became too easy for me to forget about the sunset.

Address request. P.O. Box 9 Crawfordsville, IN 47933

I have already had many emails, phone calls and comments on my blog asking where people can send gas gift cards. I didn't expect for anyone to think I was being real but it seems that many of you want to help with my trips to Nashville.
Well....here is where you can send letters of encouragement or even gas gift cards.
Luke and Lara Menard
P.O. Box 9
Crawfordsville, IN 47933

update on my career

After I was eliminated from Idol I temporarily moved to Los Angeles and was working with a manager in the acting industry. Shortly after I began meeting with Agents I began auditiong for soap operas. Shortly after my meetings and auditions I found out the diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma. It immediately changed my perspective on life and also changed what was most important to me. All of a sudden a life and career away from my family in LA didn't sound so appealing. The last thing I wanted was to go through chemo treatment In LA away from my home.
I felt this was a clear sign from God that I should be closer to home and work with my other manager in Nashville, TN in the Christian music industry. To me, it was a clear sign that I needed to share my upcoming trials through Christian music. In times like these it is easiest for me to find inspiration through music. I know this is happening for a reason and I want to do my best to be encouragement for others that face trials.
I am now working full time with my manager named Phil Conner. He owns Red Room Management and Promotions located in Franklin, TN. During my off chemo weeks I have spent much time in Nashville co-writing and recording songs that I hope my fans will be able to enjoy on a future album and even on the Christian radio airwaves. I have been blessed to co-write with 9 of the best song writers in Nashville.
If anyone has any extra gas gift cards feel free to send them to me. From Indiana to Nashville it is about an 11 hour drive roundtrip and with gas prices you can imagine the cost of gas. I am sure you all have gas cards laying around your kitchen table so please send them my way. Ha Ha. Stay tuned to the Christian radio. You may hear my songs playing there in the near future.

2 down

Just finished round 2 of chemo. It went really well with no complications. I feel great right now probably because of the steriods I was pumped with. I asked if I could work out in the gym now and gain some extra muscle, but the doctor said it is not the same kind of steriod that builds muscle. I was a little dissapointed about that. However, the doctor said as long as I feel up to it he encourages me to work out as much as I can. Can't wait for that.

The day before the storm

Today is the day before my second treatment. If it is anything like the first then I can expect to sleep all weekend and then by Monday I will bounce back and be ready to go again. I just completed a workout in the gym and I hope by Monday or Tuesday I will be back in the gym. Like music, working out gives me a chance to escape my every day thoughts of having cancer. Cancer and chemo treatment can make you feel trapped. But with Christ, music and working out I have a way to escape.
I will give an update soon on how my second treatment goes. After tomorrow I will have 2 down and 10 to go.
thanks for reading.
Luke