Monday, November 21, 2011



Definitely will be a bittersweet Thanksgiving this year; dad's not around, Jordi will have surgery soon after the holiday, but Elisabet is in town and the kids are anxious for the cook-a-thon, which will begin when my mother arrives.  She was supposed to get here today, 11/21/11, but she was transporting chef's knives, in her carry-on, and they wouldn't let her on the plane with them.  When she finally sorted that all out it was the dog carrier that couldn't be put onto the plane, too big, so they had to take the dog off of the plane.  So mom didn't make it today.  Hopefully, tomorrow, will bring her to Miami, so we can start cooking together.  Oh the thought of the smells that will permeate our house.....Yum!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Gardening


So we finally got our act together and started planting.  It's been a couple of weeks of going to the nursery, finding the 'right' plants, ones that get sun, but not too much sun, and are able to withstand the acidity of the soil, in south Florida.  I've planted something called a Firebush, which attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.  It's very exciting.  I do love getting down in the dirt and digging and watching plants
flower.  Hopefully we will get some of those lovely butterflies and hummingbirds.

Savory Sandwich

I just made myself the best sandwich; multi-grain bread, farm fresh tomatoes, wild Salmon (cold), with a hint of mayonnaise and herbs.  There is nothing like the anticipation of a great meal!!!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Laughter

I went to a rehearsal dinner celebration, last night, with a friend.  It's a long story but we were invited by a friend, whose son is getting married, and we weren't invited to the wedding.  There have been a lot of issues with this wedding; apparently the bride, has behaved a bit like Bridezilla, and didn't invite my friend's grandsons, ages 3 and 1, and daughter, of friend was very upset.  She was so upset that she didn't want to go to the wedding.  But she is going with much hesitation and anger.  We sat next to daughter last night, who looked very down in the mouth, and I was not sure I wanted to sit next to her, for fear that her fork might be used as a weapon (against whomever happened to be seated next to her).  But my friend, Wendy, and I sat down.  For a long time the three of us were the only ones at the table (maybe the others knew something we didn't).  But we got to talking and talking and when I tell you that this girl doesn't like to talk I have been with her when it was next to impossible to get one word answers from her. So the fact that she was talking was a real accomplishment.  But then we started talking about all the scuttle but leading up to the wedding and she was giving me the rundown on all the characters: slutty cousin, disgruntled mother-in-law, aunt who wasn't speaking to father, etc... and she was laughing, oh was she laughing, so much so that she was crying.  And I could tell that it was such a relief and release for her (and for me).  Wow laughter is so powerful.  It really should be bottled and used more often to heal.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Simply Spectacular!!!

The weather, in Miami, the last two days, has been simply spectacular! I'm talking temperatures in the 70's, with blue blue skies and no humidity. It's been a long 6 months of soupy, humid, hot hot hot weather. Ahhhhh what a relief.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Moonwalking with Einstein

Book group book was Moonwalking with Einstein, by Joshua Foer, and when I began the book I was thinking, 'I'll never need or REMEMBER to use these tricks for memory', so why finish?! But I did and I found it really interesting. I guess his premise is that we can all benefit from learning memory tricks, if only to take in, and appreciate, all details around/surrounding us, and that nothing can really be "learned" unless we have an inventory, from which to choose. That only by learning details of a specific subject can we begin to comprehend how those details fit into the larger context of a subject. For example, poetry, to first memorize a poem is important and then to analyze it. Because we can only really understand and pluck, if you will, from a big idea, the necessary elements or details to get that big idea. Fascinating. He also says there really are no such beings as savants. He went around to world to interview people who had been labelled 'savants' and discovered that they really are ordinary folks, who do nerdy things, like enter memory championships. There was a technique to memorization and that is "memorization palaces"; these are places, in which, storage of details is essential, and the way to do this is with POA, people, objects and action. So for example you have to remember a things 'to do' list of: pickled garlic, cottage cheese, salmon, wine, socks. What one has to do is choose a place. So I chose the house in which I grew up. Place the first item, at the end of the driveway, the pickled garlic. "Smell the garlic", imagine how it tastes and looks, in a big jar, at the end of the driveway. Now walk up the front steps, there, on the front stoop, is a big vat of cottage cheese, with Alonzo Mourning, walking around in it, naked. Yum. Then when you step inside the house, and turn left are the salmon, all sitting at the window, looking out, at the lake, with Rafael Nadal, batting them around with his tennis racket. As you look up the steps you see 6 wine bottles, dancing on the steps. At the top of the stairs are all different colored socks, hanging on the Al Held painting. One of the items on the list was, Email Sophie, so there she is, sitting, in front of a very large mirror, at the top of the stairs, typing an email, on the computer. Anyway, you get the idea. So this is how Joshua Foer won the US Memory Championship. It was quite extraordinary, this book, and I'm not sure it'll be useful. But hey, I'm game, for any way to improve my memory.

The Guard, movie

Went to see an Irish comedy/drama, yesterday, called The Guard. Totally irreverant and hysterica. We had a good time. The first 10 minutes was difficult to understand the heavy Irish accent but once I got used to it it was fine.

son's marching band

Daniel, my son, is in an high school marching band, and they went to a competition in Palm Beach, yesterday and came away with the biggest, first place, trophy I have ever seen. After the competition they all (20-25) came back to our house and had a raucous good time. They swam, ate, and danced. I really loved listening to them laughing and having a blast.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Alonzo Mourning

Met the Queen

Pendulum Waves

Downtime

I'm finding it harder and harder to find time to do nothing. If I'm not at work, I'm at home, and am unable to sit down and just do nothing. I know that downtime is a good thing; time to sit, do nothing but think, or read a book, listen to music or even watch a movie, but there's a guilt-thing involved. So why do We, Americans, think that this time isn't valued time. I'm going to have to re-evaluate my priorities and schedule in downtime.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Puppies


Watson, the Boston Terrier!

This puppy makes me smile and laugh every day.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Of Gods and Men movie


The New 'Normal'

Jordi spent the last week in South Miami Hospital because he was diagnosed with two infections. Docs wanted to get to the bottom of why these infections keep coming back. This was number 4 hospital stay for blood infections. So after five days of testing they found NOTHING! That was an huuuuuuuuuuuge relief on the one hand; no cancer, and a huge frustration on the other, no source to date that is causing these infections.

We did come home with some 'goodies'; a couple of weeks worth of antibiotics; a pic line and several dozen syringes filled with saline and other fluid, that WE get to inject three times a day, every eight hours, until September 5th. Okay this would constitute as a definitive 'Daily Drag'. The good news is he can actually walk around this this bulbous contraption, just puts it in his pocket whilst it's dripping into his arm. Ah the wonders of modern medicine!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Incendies movie

I love a movie that I can think about long after I've stepped out of the theater. And that's what I got when I went to the French movie, Incendies, last night. It was one of the heaviest movies I've ever seen but really interesting story. I read a review that described it as "Shakespearesque" and I have to agree. The tale, complex and circular, is reflective of what is going on in some middle east countries. Very scary but thought provoking. And I won't ruin it for those who haven't seen it. But when you do go please email me with your comments. I'm curious.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Cooking with my daughter

Yesterday Sophie and I watched The Barefoot Contessa, on the Food Channel, it made us hungry! So we went grocery shopping, bought all the ingredients and came home and cooked together. Not only did we create a tasty treat we had a great time in the kitchen. It's just fun to cook with others, something about the basic biological need-driven activity and the melding of mouth water ingredients, just one of my favorite daily delights.

Tomorrow morning we are planning on making sticky buns (another recipe from the BC).

Friday, August 5, 2011

Dance Dance Dance

I started a dance class, last Saturday, and I have to say it was more fun than I have had in ages. I can't wait until tomorrow to do it again. I think I'd be happy doing it 3-4 times a week!

Health Health Health

It's been a long time since my last post. I guess I'm posting because I spent the AM in the South Miami hospital, with Jordi, because he spiked a fever this AM. And for the last 10 days he's had "pain". He was doing pretty great and I just wasn't as grateful as I shudda been. I realize that when someone you love health is compromised all else goes to shit. Don't know about the rest of the world but I have no appetite and when I eat I taste nothing. So man, even my taste buds are compromised, and that sucks because I do love to eat. Hopefully it's something like the flu or the flu and he doesn't have any gd infection or worse. Until next time.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Bill of Health

Jordi came home, yesterday, after seeing his GI, who said, "you are good and I won't be seeing you for awhile". Music to my ears. He's done with doctors, for now, and won't need to go in for another few months. Happier times.

Dinner with family and friends

This is probably a repeat but having all my kids home and having a meal together is pure joy. Last Sunday, Memorial Day weekend, they each had friends over and we were many and varied, and we all sat at the table and laughed and ate together.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

FCB is the European soccer champion

Watching the finals of the European cup, yesterday, with friends and family, on the TV, was a lot of fun! What an exciting game. But Barcelona prevailed over Manchester United and won the game 3-1. Our friends, the Lopezes are leaving, in June, to move back to Barcelona and it will be very sad. We've had many weekends with them, barbequing, tennis and movies and we will miss them a lot!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Daily Drag-Referred Pain

Jordi has been having a lot of pain, in his abdomen, since he started radiation treatment. He doesn't sleep well and so what happens is I don't sleep well and I 'feel' his pain and get depressed. This might be another form of referred pain!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Friday, March 4, 2011

Dailure-One of Herb's favorite poems, Osso Bucco

Osso Buco

I love the sound of the bone against the plate
and the fortress-like look of it
lying before me in a moat of risotto,
the meat soft as the leg of an angel
who has lived a purely airborne existence.
And best of all, the secret marrow,
the invaded privacy of the animal
prized out with a knife and swallowed down
with cold, exhilarating wine.

I am swaying now in the hour after dinner,
a citizen tilted back on his chair,
a creature with a full stomach--
something you don't hear much about in poetry,
that sanctuary of hunger and deprivation.
you know: the driving rain, the boots by the door,
small birds searching for berries in winter.

But tonight, the lion of contentment
has placed a warm heavy paw on my chest,
and I can only close my eyes and listen
to the drums of woe throbbing in the distance
and the sound of my wife's laughter
on the telephone in the next room,
the woman who cooked the savory osso buco,
who pointed to show the butcher the ones she wanted.
She who talks to her faraway friend
while I linger here at the table
with a hot, companionable cup of tea,
feeling like one of the friendly natives,
a reliable guide, maybe even the chief's favorite son.

Somewhere, a man is crawling up a rocky hillside
on bleeding knees and palms, an Irish penitent
carrying the stone of the world in his stomach;
and elsewhere people of all nations stare
at one another across a long, empty table.

But here, the candles give off their warm glow,
the same light that Shakespeare and Izaac Walton wrote by,
the light that lit and shadowed the faces of history.
Only now it plays on the blue plates,
the crumpled napkins, the crossed knife and fork.

In a while, one of us will go up to bed
and the other will follow.
Then we will slip below the surface of the night
into miles of water, drifting down and down
to the dark, soundless bottom
until the weight of dreams pulls us lower still,
below the shale and layered rock,
beneath the strata of hunger and pleasure,
into the broken bones of the earth itself,
into the marrow of the only place we know.

Billy Collins,

Dailure-Hope Torrents

Herbert S. Heavenrich may have "stepped off" (his expression) but he hasn’t stepped out of my life. He was a strong influence; my mentor, voice of reason and moral compass. Honesty was always his policy, never could get away with anything if it wasn’t the right thing to do. I should never have opened those Hanukah presents early when I was 12!
His example of being curious, asking questions and self-educating has been inscribed. His quest for knowledge was unending. From physics to the physical (he never played football but understood the plays).. He reinvented himself, professionally and was proud of all of his accomplishments. Last year, while in Miami, dad and I went to lunch every few weeks. I felt like a little girl again, I would dress up and I always got to choose the restaurant. Sometimes we'd each order a glass of wine. I think I learned then about every job he had ever had. He spoke with excitement and pride. I don’t think I ever took the time to ask or really listen before.
Another characteristic that made dad truly great, was his curiosity about people. He took genuine interest in them. It didn’t matter if they were four or ninety-four. In the last few years my interest in medicine became his interest. He’d send articles, which had special significance and email me with questions and ideas. He even managed to attend a conference that I had worked on and afterwards sent a long email on how medicine and art could be merged and what I needed to do to make that happen. He was prophetic, way ahead of his time, a visionary.


One of the most important things my father said to me before I went off to college was, “college isn’t about getting a job. It’s about opening of doors, taking classes in which you have an interest. Learning new things”.

When dad had his stroke and the neurologist came into his room to tell him what had happened, “that part of his brain had been damaged.” Dad’s response was, “well it’s my understanding that neurological branches can grow and there is the possibility that these branches can grow around the damaged area and self-repair” You could have blown that doctor over with a feather!
We proceeded to have a discussion after that and I told him that I’d heard a report that neurological branches, in the brain, can continue to grow, not because one does crossword puzzles or plays Scrabble or Sodoko but because taking new classes or learning a new subject challenges the brain’s growth.
The day before he died he said, “Hope I think you’re right about taking classes, learning something new, I think I’ll start taking Spanish lessons”. So dad!

Dailure-Daniel Torrents

Dear grandpa
How can I explain my deep care and love for you. Since I was a little kid you have explained and educated me on things I never knew. You guided me through my liffe and have taught me lessons that will always be valuable to me. You'rethe most caring, intelligent, lovable, curious man a grandson could have. You have tayght me many life lessons, like focus on what you like to do and always with a smile on your face. You're the most emotional but caring person anyone could know. You will always be remembered in my heart. Your grandson.
-Daniel

Dailure-Elisabet Torrents

This was the hardest thing i have ever had to write. i dont know who i am suppose to send it to.
love you

Grandpa,

My last words to you were I love you and I would not have changed them for anything else. You have taught me so much about life especially about love. You were the most caring, generous and loving man I will ever come to know and I admire you so much. You taught me how to enjoy the little things in life like good food and good wine. You also taught me how wonderful it is to learn new things and that we never stop learning. Without you in my life I would not be the same person I am today. You wore your emotions on your sleeve and taught me that its ok to express how you feel especially to those you love. I know that you will never really be out of my life because you have left me with so many wonderful memories and life lessons. I could not have asked for a better grandfather.

I will love you forever,

Elisabet

Dailure-Sophie

Excuse my indulgence but I wanted to post the notes, from my children, to their grandfather, who died on February 23, 2011. This one is from Sophie Torrents:

To Grandpa,
I wish you were here so I could tell you how much I love you, but I think you already know that. To me you are the only grandfather I have known and I have some of the most loving memories with you. I will never forget when I danced in a pink dress on your feet all night and how you always believed in me and told me I could be anything I wanted to be in life because you made me feel special and this is because you are special, I look up to you in every way; for your generosity, kindness, knowledge, honesty and most of all love. I will miss you.
Love, Sophie

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Herbert S. Heavenrich-Obituary, March 2, 2011

Herbert S. Heavenrich | Visit Guest Book

Heavenrich, Herbert S. Heavenrich, Herbert S. Of Milwaukee and Key Biscayne, FL, died after a short illness Wednesday, February 23, 2011. He was 88. Herb is survived by Jill, his wife of 57 years, and their five children: Hope (Jordi) Torrents, Amy (Josh) Ticho, Hollis (Mike), Heavenrich-Jones, Avery (Lizzie), Heavenrich and Adam (Polly) Heavenrich. He was a proud grandfather to Max, Elisabet, Laura, Sophie, Abigail, Sam, Daniel, Becca, Graham, Lilly, Ava and Spencer. Herbert Heavenrich moved to Milwaukee from Omaha, Nebraska, with his family when he was 5 years old. He spent the next 83 years loving our city, and working to make it a better place to live. He met and married Milwakeean Jill Sherry. Their first date was planned for the Wisconsin State Fair, but they ended up going to a summer stock production in Oconomowoc instead, foreshadowing their lifelong love for theater. Once settled in their house on Milwaukee's east side, Herb, a jogger before it was popular, and a roller blader until the age of 80, ran and skated through Lake Park for hours on end. He flew kites with his five kids along the lakefront, and planned picnics on its beaches. In 1968, Herb became Milwaukee's Chief Economist under the late Mayor Henry Maier and later became Director of Urban Planning for the Department of City Development. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Milwaukee a contract to devise a new strategy for comprehensive planning. HUD asked Milwaukee to implement the new design, and Herb carried it out, resulting in a new approach to city planning for the City of Milwaukee. In 1976 Herb joined Anderson Roethle to head up their mergers and acquisitions consulting practice and worked there for 20 years. He graduated second in his class from Shorewood High School, and rarely settled for that distinction again. He was first in his engineering class at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and the same with his MBA from the University of Chicago. As an intellectual and a seeker, Herb had a passion for writing. He wrote a volume on prefabricated housing which was funded by a grant from MIT based on research he did in Great Britain. He also wrote a book about his friend and mentor Eva Fleischner entitled "In Search of the Sacred." He met Eva when she taught at Marquette University and was fascinated by her unique story of fleeing the Nazis as a Catholic during World War II. Herb committed himself to providing assistance for those with mental illness. He was instrumental in the development of Our Space, a Milwaukee facility for clients in need of a destination for community, companionship, computer networking and employment services. Herb and Jill together were passionate supporters of the arts, and worked to nurture young and developing theater companies in Milwaukee. Herb embodied the quote: "The greatest gift a man can give his children is to love their mother." There will be a memorial service on Saturday, March 12th, at 2:00 pm at the UWM Helene Zelazo Center, 2419 E. Kenwood Ave., Milwaukee, 53211. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Space, 1527 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53207.
Published in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 1, 2011

RIP-Herbert S. Heavenrich, 2-23-11

Dear Heavenrich Family --

I can't tell you how sad my whole family is at the loss of Herb. Brian, me, my daughters (and their husbands) and my step-daughter. We know he was old, we know he had a good life, we know you can't expect everything... but damn! We wanted Herb to live on and on. There may have come a time when the walker, the aches and pains, the doctors' visits, the inconveniences he was experiencing in getting around, would come to be not worth it to him... but he seemed never to have reached it! I think he would have continued his ride as long as was possible, if he had a say in it. What a tenacious and life-loving soul. A model for me and for all who knew him.

Brian and I were so happy to have been able to see your mother and father so very recently in early Feb. in Miami. We went to two movies, went out to three dinners, and still never had enough! I will keep those memories in my heart and mind as long as I last. As will Brian. Herb's spirit was undaunted, his wit, his generosity... He made me a lovely speech on my 60th birthday - which is why (or at least a big part of why) we went down there. I needed to talk to the "pros" about how to age gracefully. And it was worth it.

Then Herbie sent me an email after we got home, sort of explicating the text of his speech... referring me to the full Shakespeare sonnet he was quoting from and to various interpretations of it... So Herb. He was such a scholar -- really kind of rabbinical in his way. And so generous with his knowledge and wisdom -- but always unprepossessing about it.

I'll show you the sonnet when i next see you all.

Also... he gave me some "comic valentines" that he'd found on the web and printed up which reminded him of his youth. Comic valentines (not at all sentimental!) One always learning something from the man!!!

Anyway... I could go on and on... as I KNOW you all can. I look forward to sharing some with you and various members of your family when we can.

Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you all -- my whole family is feeling the pain -- and sending love and sympathy. And also acknowledgment that you had one of the seemingly greatest dads I've met. Lucky you.

xo Marie (Kohler) and Brian (Mani)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dailure-60 degrees and steady

For the last month or two the temp in the am has stayed at about 60 degrees. For South Florida this is considered "chilly". But for a true Wisconsinite that ain't nothin. It's invigorating. I wish it would stay. But summer is approaching and we will go back to hot and sticky. So I'm gonna seize the moment. My neighbor and I have been walking, every morning, at five. I love having to actually don sweater and sweat pants.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

What's cooking

(Editor's note: meant to post this to my other blog, but then I thought, what the hell, maybe these other people would like a recipe or two...)

Made a couple good dinners that I thought I'd share. Last night's was throw whatever vegetables I had on hand into a stir fry, and put it over brown rice. I used asparagus, red onion, snap peas and cauliflower. First I sauteed garlic in sesame oil, then I added the onion, then the cauliflower and then the peas and asparagus. I tossed in some Thai peanut sauce I had, some hot spicy red sauce like Tabasco or that Chinese one I can never remember how to spell, and then added chopped cashews and sesame seeds. I think if I'd added tofu it would have kept my belly full all night. As it was, I felt great after eating it but hungry in the middle of the night!

Tonight was more filling: fried 1/4 lb. of pancetta (can also use bacon). Drained it on towel and then added 2 cloves of garlic to the hot pancetta oil. After a minute or two, I added 2 cans Canelloni (white kidney) beans. I let it sit while I made the dressing, then added 1/3 finely chopped red onion to the beans. I mixed the beans/onion with a bag of Arugula. Here's the dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan and 1 clove of garlic (all of which I put in the blender). To the dressing, I added 2 TBSP freshly chopped basil. Toss the dressing with the beans/onion/arugula. On top of that, put the crisp pancetta and a bunch of grilled asparagus. (I par boiled the asparagus first for about 2 minutes til tender, then plunged them in ice water, then dried them and added olive oil and salt and grilled them for about 3 minutes til they blackened.) We had this with a bottle of 2004 Argentine Merlot.

I am adding to my garden every day. I have a bunch of seedlings, but am so anxious to get planting my herbs and vegetables that I can't stop myself from buying a few more every day. They're doing pretty well, although looking a little yellow so I added organic fertilizer to my organic mulch and soil. Fingers crossed. I thought my tomato seedlings were ready to plant (3"), so I did...and now they're very sad looking. I think it's still too cold for them (40 degrees). They were all flopped over today, so I tried resurrecting them with a covering of plastic wrap! We'll see how they look tomorrow. I might have done them in for good. Good thing I didn't plant them all!

Enjoyed half of a Toblerone bar while I wrote this post. Seems I can't eat so healthy after all. Still need that fat and sugar!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Dailrag

I do it, pretty much, everyday and it's one of those necessary pain-in-the-neck tasks, flossing. I really hate to floss. I do it because I go to the dentist, every six months, for a cleaning and it hurts, like hell if I don't floss. I'm still not sure if the waxed or non-waxed floss works the best.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Dailure-Jasmine



Started walking again, with my neighbor, and the Jasmine is in full bloom. It's ubiquity fills the air with the sweetest smell. It makes walking a pleasure, even at 5:00 AM.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Dailure-flowers


fresh flowers arranged by moi gives me a boost. Sometimes I like putting just one, in a bud vase, on the kitchen counter, so I can look at it while I cook. I love corals and purples together or white tulips in my funky red vase; simple, inexpensive and lovely.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Dailure-The Daily Show

I must admit I don't watch everyday, but I do catch up, on the weekends with Jon Stewart and the Daily Show. I think he really is one of the most intelligent journalists (and I mean to use that word, journalist, in it's true sense). I feel as if I get more informative news from him than any other outlet. Jon Stewart is smart, funny and tells it like it is. Always good for a laugh and god knows we need more of that these days.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Dailure

Met with the head of the physical therapy program, at UM, today. She is very interested in getting an inter-disciplinary program going at the Lowe, which will bring students in to help hone their diagnostic skills. She's even taken the initiative to reach out to the graduate nursing school prof. Good stuff.

Dailure

The bar for what is considered good news is pretty low when I think it's great that Jordi's blood tests were "good". That made it okay for him to have round 2 of his chemo treatment. He was doing alright until he decided to take a three mile hike. Whatever was the man thinking!? And so he crashed at 7 pm. I just can't and don't want to try and imagine what it feels like to have that poison drip into my system. Certainly explains his somewhat out of sorts behavior.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Dailrag

This chemotherapy is a bit of a nightmare. But the alternative, well don't want to go there, but Jordi has been running a low grade fever. It hasn't gotten to the point where he needs to go to the, dare I say it, hospital, yet again. He has been feeling a bit rotten and has been sleeping a lot. I did speak to the doctor who took blood and his "platelets were normal, again". The information is so up and down.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Dailure-A clean scan

Jordi started chemotherapy and was unable to go for round 2 because his "platelet count was low". He's also been having stomach issues so the doc didn't want to risk it. Onc wanted a cat scan and he had one, yesterday, which proved to be "clean". Agh, nothing like that relief, to make my day a better one. Now if we can just get his platelet count up. Not sure how one does that but I will investigate.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

dailure

Spending the day with Elisabet doing a little window shopping and having some lunch,just talking, without any time constraint. I loved it.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Dailure-Global Business Forum 2011

I suppose this counts as a dailure, although it may just be a 1/2 year delight, as we've now completed the first panel discussion for the Global Business Forum, 2011. As the coordinator and co-moderator I can say it was a success, with a minor bump, because one of the panelists, the only PAID panelists, who we flew in from Boston, and put up in a very fancy hotel, was pretty awful. But the rest of the panel was great! I was expecting, maybe 10-20 people, max, to show up (my family being half that group) and there were 300. Imagine my surprise! And I even led the group in a rousing VTS discussion. It was pretty funny because the image, I chose, for the discussion, was Judith and Holfernes. Judith, in the image at the Lowe, is one which shows Judith's breast exposed, so when I posited the first question, 'What's going on here?" someone from the audience said, "she's about to have a mammogram". Seeing as how it was a conference on health it was pretty funny. I felt that the panel was made up of enough diverse backgrounds to make it really interesting: a dean of the medical school, co-founder of VTS, medical student, museum educator and chair/prof. of the physical therapy school, at UM. And I was correct. The mix of minds and different perspectives on education made it interesting. Not everyone was in agreement but that was good. I just wish that our guest panelist had had her act together. I learned a lot. I learned how important it is, whatever one is doing, to practice, a lot. And if you are trying to pull a group of people together it's important, no essential, for all of them to meet and converse BEFORE an event.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Dailure-cooking

I'm sort of back into a cooking phase and I find it so relaxing. Lately it's been a combination of different kinds of quiches. Today I made a spinach, Emmanthal, onion, mushroom quiche and a spinach, mushroom, onion and salmon (with dill) quiche and they came out so nice and poofy. That's because I used cream, instead of milk (not a calorie in a car-load) but oh so good!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Dailyear

Family gathering is what made this holiday special. Maybe it's because 2010 was such a horrific year that made our family feel more family-like and that's what was especially poignant about this holiday's get-together. I'm not sure it was the merriest of holidays but we were together; mother, father, grandmother, grandfather and all the 'little' ones, ate together, watched movies together, fought together and really had a nice time, for the most part. I'm not sure we really understood how meaningful it was, the fact that my children were able to spend that much time with their grandparents and parents, probably wasn't "so great" for the teenagers, at the time, but will inevitably, have greater significance as time marches on.

My hope, wish, dream for 2011 is that we get through the next six months, without too much trauma, and we continue to understand and APPRECIATE how important health is. For without it we are rendered invalids, from head to toe.

Happy 2011 to all and may this year bring you continued good health.

Hope

The Arena Culture