Oi vavoi: Being Bebe

You know you're in Texas....

2008-11-12T15:16:00.007-05:00

I'm all spiffed up for a wedding at the old courthouse in Dallas, right by Dealey Plaza and the grassy knoll. Can you read the sign?

My very talented niece Sarah the photographer has a new website, check her out:
www.sadand beautifulworld.com

Election night 2008

2008-11-04T20:28:00.004-05:00

Oh Obama, I'm so excited I could throw up!
I've been very emotional today: anxious, proud, patriotic, weepy, elated, nervous. I'm blown away by the volume of voter turnout.
The world is changing and the future is upon us.
History and hope are happening tonight.
I'm giddy with delight and anticipation.

Uhh...

2008-10-23T19:56:00.004-04:00

The last post was supposed to have assorted photos but I'm having trouble posting multiples.
Blogger is hinky lately. Also, my laptop is hinky since I dropped it.
This is Steve's sister Tina and Bill Clinton at the Global Initiative last month. Tina works where the event took place and copped a photo op. Bill look great, no?

Assorted Pictures

2008-10-22T17:48:00.004-04:00

Sarah, my niece (the photographer!) took this gorgeous shot in my bedroom at a dressing table that belonged to my Aunt Anna.

So yeah, I smell!

2008-08-18T15:46:00.011-04:00

Well it's almost a month after my sinus surgery, I'm still in the Twilight Zone. The bad news is: the effects of the anesthesia are messing my stomach up and I cannot eat anything other than saltines and rice (if you know what I mean) and my pain is so bad I haven'y much appetite anyway.

And I still can't breathe so good yet.

BUT... the good news is: I'm getting my sense of smell and taste back! I really did not dare to hope it would happen.

You remember in the film "The Wizard of Oz", how it starts in black and white then turns to color? That's how I feel now, my life is filled with color that has a scent and every scent is connected to a memory. It's almost overwhelming- the first week I cried every time I tasted something. Coffee and chocolate, OMG!

It will be wonderful without the nausea!

Steve's sister got us tix to see George Thoroughgood, Elvin Bishop and Buddy Guy last Fri but I was too sick to go ( I also missed Dylan in Prospect Park on the 12th, my birthday) so I told Steve to go with his sisters.
Buddy Guy went into the audience and Steve got a photo:

Sat we went to my Bro's in Philly saw nephew and family from Houston who I see only annually and I got to hug and sniff everyone and there were gifts and cake and it was a lovely birthday party indeed.
This is me and my niece's daughter and one of my nephew's.

The picture of Maxie, the doggie from the previous post is someone we became acquainted with from our daily morning porch-sitting. His owners went to St Maartens for 2 weeks and boarded him at the vet where he wouldn't be walked during the whole time. This was horrifying to me but as I had a broken toe and would be recovering from the sinus surgery and Maxie is unaltered, I was uncomfortable about making a 2 week commitment to keep him. But I hobbled over to the vet every day ( it is only 3 blocks away) and picked him up so that he could spend the day with Carmie and me. He was the perfect guest and I learned that 2 dogs are twice as much fun and they were a good distraction for me.
I asked at the vet to keep him overnight but they had to get the owners OK.
Margarita, his owner called and left permission but after a few days Maxie started getting very sick, vomiting, coughing, not eating or drinking. I was terrified so we brought him back to the vet on my birthday. Drama! They said it was kennel cough which is apparently very contagious and made me nervous but Caramel seems OK.
Maxie is back home and doing better and I hope to see him soon.

In other animal news, we have a pet shop/animal shelter two blocks away which rescues all kinds of animals, including a 2-headed turtle. Today on our walk, I saw a "missing" poster- it seems some moron stole the turtle.
And as I am writing this, I turned on the TV and what do you know: Fox News is live in Windsor Terrace, reporting on the story. My nabe is big news!
Uh oh, there's another storm coming: hurricane Fay!

Caramel and Maxie

2008-08-06T16:03:00.001-04:00

Do you trust your doctor?

2008-07-30T13:03:00.006-04:00

This was the title an article in the NY science Times yesterday. In fairness, it's all med personnel, not just the docs. For me it was very timely and as I am just sitting around convalescing and being pissed off I felt compelled to respond/rant.

Two weeks ago I had a GP visit for surgery “clearance”. GP did not get letter from surgeon about my sinus surgery next week. My fault? His office never received my CT scan or xrays either. Odd. He could have just asked his asst.( whose fault it clearly was) to call the surgeon and fax the letter but he clearly wanted me to feel bad. He got what he wanted. He wouldn’t listen to me, he was accusatory, he castigated me, and criticized the surgeon and my rheumatologist (who is treating my other chronic issues) and their respective diagnoses. I have had many diagnoses from many doctors and I am dubious about many of them myself but as I did not go to medical school I must defer to them.Does confusing and accusing me make me feel better?

I got really angry, called the surgeon’s office myself, (he actually asked me to use my cell phone- I did not) got another stupid twit on the phone, then left, tearfully.
I dislike doctors and medical settings and feel vunerable and confused in the
doctor’s office- and this is the doctor who diagnosed me, finally, with fibromyalgia. (although he only told me to go home and look it up on the Internet)

He once went ballistic in the office and started yelling about insurance companies and Democrats wanting to keep all his money- nothing to do with me but I stopped going to him.
After seeing much worse doctors, ( one told me I had breast and lung cancer and I was way too sick for him) I went back to him. Despite his schizophrenic behavior, he could be compassionate and I was starting to trust him. Needless to say, I feel quite betrayed.

So let’s fast forward to my sinus surgery and a different doctor. At
the hospital I was given post-op instructions- unfortunately there were 2
conflicting sets of instructions. As I couldn’t breath I did not think it
unreasonable for me to call the doctor for advice. Now, this begs the
question: why do medical personnel say, “call the office if there is a
question or a problem”?I called 3 times during the day assured that the
nurse would call me, then finally called back to learn that everyone was
gone for the day.The answering service offered to page the doctor who seemed
rather annoyed to be interupted in the OR. I got a quick answer and
the nurse never did call me back. (I Googled post-surgical info, thank you)

I saw the surgeon today, an 8:15 AM appt when the waiting room was blissfully empty and TV-free. There is an average, noisy, crowded 2 hour wait just to see him and I will need to do that every week for a month so I will go at 8:15 and like it.

He cleaned out my nose and explained everything and was comforting and supportive. He's great- his staff is not.

I still can't breathe very well and have head and neck pain but he said that will dissipate and the surgery went well and..... he thinks I may get my some "smeller" back!!!!!- if the olfactory nerve was not too burned out. I"m actually a little nervous about it- it may be too overwhelming.

Also, Steve had a follow-up to his CT scan- it shows a very narrow passage for air to get through making him a good candidate for FESS too. I'm pleased about this because he has a lot of trouble breathing and sleeping too.

The only problem: he has to schedule the surgery with the nurse. The same nurse. She still has her voice-mail message saying she's on vacation till 7/16 and after 2 phone messages she hasn't called back.

And so it goes.

I'm FESSing up

2008-06-25T17:47:00.004-04:00

FESS being Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, that is. I am having it at the end of July. If my head doesn't explode first.

A scope will be shoved up my nose and bone and tissue will be removed creating a conduit through which my profuse nasal fluids hopefully will flow.
It is minimally invasive and there is a 80-90 percent success rate.
I'm psyched. If my head doesn't explode first.

As an added bonus, there is a chance that I may regain a slight sense of smell.

Yes, it may be said that I smell.

I got the CD of my CT scan and looked at it today. I have no idea what I was looking at but it was scary.

Last Sat we went to the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island with Vera and Kelly, my gardening club, an ill-advised excursion for sure. There were way too many people, too much sun and too much ( for me) standing. I was anticipating a hot dog but there were barricades across the street so we couldn't cross to get to the boardwalk, the beach, the rides or my niece Sarah who was herself stuck on the boardwalk.

Seeing Nathan's from afar, I knew how Moses felt coming so close to the Promised Land. Vera, thinking of lost french fries had tears in her eyes. After much travail, walking, dodging of drunken hipsters and more standing, we got to Nathan's. Starving, we waited 1/2 hour on line but finally got a table with an umbrella (shade!) and ate our hot dogs and french fries by the ocean. I don't usually eat that stuff- Oh baby, it was good. Then we all took the train (it was free!) back here, pulled down the blinds, cranked up the a/c and broke out the iced beverages. My migraine had a migraine.

But Sarah fixed my camera problem, as I knew she would.

So the mouse of which I spoke in my previous post left behind many offspring.

We have stepped up to the next level of annihilation- poison.
It is like a grim science fiction story around here.

Of mice and nose

2008-06-16T17:06:00.019-04:00

I'm a perfect candidate for sinus surgery, thinks the ENT, which I knew damn well as I was sailing up the river Denial. I've recently been antibiotic'd, scanned, tested, scoped allergy-injected, and probed to within an inch of my life. I've had chronic sinusitis forever and I've been putting this off for years. Deviated septum, polyps, alien invasion, gawd knows what's going on in there, but I did catch the words " bone and tissue" and "removed". I have constant head aches, post-nasal drip, runny nose, congestion and no sense of smell or taste. My sinuses need a conduit in which to drain. See my swollen poor, pathetic face?

But how cute is Steve?
I'm a really lousy photographer, I don't know how to see through a camera and
can't capture my garden. I never get the colors right outdoors- this poppy is actually redder. My garden is greener with magenta rose campion, bright yellow evening primrose, purple salvia and pink wild geranium. What to do?

The slugs got half the strawberries but I got about a pint, not bad.

There were no reported mouse or more importantly, poopie sightings until yesterday when I saw when one go scurrying under the stove where there is an inaccessible hole for the gas connection.
I blame my brother, we were on the phone at the time.
It's really Caramel's fault, she let her dog food sit around too long enticing mousies from I believe, my neighbors to south, one of whom collects and stores cans and bottles in the basement. Charming.
Carmie now has a cotton ball with peppermint oil near her bowl.
And mousetraps on the perimeter!

Snowy on the porch, mice on the kitchen

2008-05-13T17:50:00.002-04:00

Who are Grumpy, Sneezy, Dopey and Sleepy? All me!
So much bad news too; earthquakes in China and a cyclone in Burma. So many thousands dead. Jeez.
I slept better last night and today was beautiful so we were hanging out on the porch when Snowy, a dog across the street (one of Caramel's best boyfriends) and owner came over for a visit. He is tiny 8 pound Maltese, and usually sweet as sugar. But he's not altered and is ahem, very attracted to Caramel. He peed all over the porch as a love gift to her. Then I made the mistake of getting my hand between his nose and Caramel's rear end and the little bastard bit me. I can't believe it, he's like a son-in-law!

For weeks we have been waging a mouse war (not like in the Nutcracker) The body count is about 6. Caramel has been only slightly helpful, using her pointing skills. One day as I was cooking, a mouse got caught in a trap behing the fridge. I can't deal, they are too cute, so I had to wait for Steve to come home. But was in the middle of making dinner and had to stay in the kitchen so I turned up the radio as to not hear the mousie screams. It was horrible.
We have taken protective measures and also secured an arsenal of death, screens and steel wool.
It pains me to say this but when we had cats we never had mice. And Miss Caramelly will not tolerate a cat. Snakes or lizards either.

But, my garden is amazing: ajuga, lilacs, azaleas, clematis and iris and chives. All pink and purple. Strawberries and blueberries are in flower. I need to wait for those cursed daffodils to wither so I can plant my peppers, eggplant and tomatoes. If the racoons and sqirrels don't get them.
I've got animal problems.

Eliot hoisted by his own petard

2008-03-13T16:09:00.005-04:00

I have bronchitis and have been confined to quarters so I've had plenty of opportunity to read and obsess about Eliot Spitzer, betrayal, abuse of power, the arrogance of the powerful and why such a large majority of men can't keep their dicks in their respective pants.

Spitzer's own suggestion that johns should be made accountable for buying sex should be reason enough to bring criminal charges against him, not to mention using state troopers as pimps, improper money transfers and being a loathsome, hypocritcal, mendacious rat bastard!

I'm really disliking politicians.

I am very dismayed about Obama's people screaming racism at every turn; Ferarro's comments were about as racist as they were sexist- how ridiculous.

Barry, this is sounding pretty negative to me. Can't we all just save the venom for McCain?

See, I got all worked up, had a coughing fit and must now go gargle.
Another politically related incident!

Also, a message to the person (one supposes) who left a comment on my post about the Fibromyalgia article in the Times and told me to just "snap out of it":
idiocy can't be cured either so I guess we are in the same boat.

Spring ahead this weekend

2008-03-07T16:07:00.006-05:00

Ugh, it can't come soon enough. I spend the Winter in Mondo Mucus amid the Fountains of Phlegm. You know really, s'not funny! I have been a grumpy bitch, (more than usual) I even yelled at the dog. She peed on the rug, probably because I had the temerity to go out for the day. Yelling only made her do it again the next 2 nights. She pees in the AM when the heat comes up just before Steve takes her out. Sigh, Carrie Lee has issues and responds best to coddling. (but I am seriously considering crating her overnight) We have a weekend of storms coming- we plan to cozy up, nurse our colds and Netflix ourselves.

My beautiful friend Vera sent me an email to let me know it's Beautiful Women Month. I can honestly say with no bias that all of my female loved ones are beautiful- you know who you are!

This was part of the email:

Five Tips for Women

1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.

2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.

3. It is important to find a man you can count on! and doesn't lie to you.

4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.

5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

It made me spit out my tea!
I am one of the enchanted that has all four men in one (for which I count my lucky stars daily), my darling Stinky.

Here is some stuff stuck in head:

Last month the government of Italy passed a law prohibiting men from touching their genitals in public. This apparently ancient custom started over the superstitious belief that it would ward off evil. Hmmm, right, evil always goes for the balls. Unfortunately, this custom is not restricted to only the Italian male. What's up with that?

This week, a state senator in Arizona, in response to the terrible spate of school shootings nationwide as has proposed a law allowing concealed firearms in all schools, kindergarten to college. Sure, let's arm everyone.Crossfire? Who cares! It's better to have dead students than to outlaw guns? What the fuck?

Today: ( fill in your own comments please)
Srinagar, Kashmir city officials announced that they will after poisoning 500 stray dogs they intend to kill the remaining 100,000. Argggghh.

The Britain has instated a "tap water only" policy and will no longer serve bottled water at gov't meetings due to popular support for the environment. Nice!

In Brazil, an 8 year old boy who passed a law school entrance exam will not be allowed to study there until he completes elementary and high schools. Huh.

This post is in honor of Joel who requested it and who, although sometimes a self-admitted pain in the ass, has occasionally been a surprising source of support. Mwah!!!

Politics clarified

2008-03-06T15:21:00.003-05:00

The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly', meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks', meaning 'blood sucking parasites'.: Larry Hardiman

So apt!

Laissez Bon Ton Roulez! (I hope)

2008-02-05T15:32:00.000-05:00

It's Fat Tuesday. And Giants Championship Parade Tuesday, hooray!
Seriously, how cool is it that the underdog won? They beat the flawless Pats, flawlessly. A very exciting day.
It's Super Tuesday, the giant primary day which will certainly decide the Dem and GOP candidates. The mood at my polling place was electric. I'm proud to reveal that my voting district historically has the highest turnout in Brooklyn.
I know this sounds cheesy but standing in the voting booth gave me chills. I had a tremendous sense of history. I am elated that my choices were a woman and a black man. Damn! I can't say I was not conflicted about my decision. Again cheesy, but I consider my one vote to be important so I weigh the issues carefully. But, I've been thinking about the election of 1968, my first presidential election. Terrible thing were happening in the country: denial of civil rights, suspension of law, government secrets and cover-ups, a recession looming, involvement in a pointless and escalating war and the country polarized by left and right. Sounds familiar, no? I was 19 and it was frightening. And it only got worse but y'all know how that ended.
We have certainly come a long way in 40 years. Have we? It seems to me that somehow we haven't and worse, we have regressed. We need a new change and we need go forward. I think the best person to do that is Barak so that's who I voted for. Bien entendu, let the good times roll.
After voting I went to the shelter and walked a rescue dog, a poodle. Poor bony, skinny thing was all matted so they had to shave him. They only did his body so he looked like a doggie head on a stick!

Big Blue Giant

2008-02-04T16:24:00.000-05:00

So last night we ordered Chinese food (I hadn't had spare ribs in years!) and settled in to watch what was a pretty boring game.Except for the last 2 1/2 unbelievably exciting minutes! My heart stopped twice- when Eli Manning threw that pass and when it was caught. The Giants defense was just too much for Brady and the Pats. We are very excited here in NY!!!!!!

Cheese-head wannabe?

2008-02-01T16:04:00.000-05:00

Although I long to go to Wisconsin, as my dear brother emailed to point out in yesterdays post, the Giants are not playing the Packers who they of course, already beat to get to the Super Bowl. NY will be playing the New England Patriots and as you may not know (or not care about) there is an intense and unnatural, insidious rivalry between NY and MA, probably started with the Babe's curse. Huh, they think they are all that because they won the World Series.

I did not see the Dem debate last night because it was only on CNN and we don't have cable. It was broadcast from Hollywood and there were many celebrities in the audience. The Times reported that scalpers were getting $1000 a ticket to get in. This is a Democratic-populist party? Feh!
I am still torn about my vote come Tuesday's primary. Obama is the young shining knight but I, to quote the Rolling Stones, have seen to much in too few years and I know idealism doesn't last long in politics. Clinton has the years, experience and contacts but I hated that she voted for the war and I'm not sure if I trust her. We've got to get out of Iraq we need a candidate who will redirect some of those war billions home to supplement the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and education.
On the other hand, I am excited and gratified to be thrust on the horns of a dilemma of this nature. As a kid I remember how in 1960 it was so extraordinary that a Catholic JFK was running for President. It only took 48 years for us to get to the point where a woman and a black man are contenders! Slow progress but progress nonetheless. It gives one a little hope for the future.

Tomorrow we are going to a performance and celebration of the 20th anniversary. of Covenant Dance Theater which is run by my former ballet teacher, Marla. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone but it's kind of shocking that so many "kids" are now grown-up professionals. Time, it goes by fast man!

"Q"OD: If the fans don't wanna come out to the ballpark,

2008-01-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

no one can stop 'em ~Yogi Berra.
Sunday is the Super Bowl, amazingly the Giants are playing Green Bay.They haven't won a Championship since 1986. (an amazing year-the Mets won the World Series and I got married) I haven't really cared about football since. Steve isn't a fan and and we only surf the Super Bowl most years but I may actually be moved to watch the damn thing this time. I am, after all a devoted New Yorker (and borderline-chauvinistic Brooklynite) and even though they play in New Jersey I must represent, ya know? But I will also watch in memory and support of all those Sundays without end watching football and all the men I did it with, the two Shellys: Cousin Shelly, who died and Big Shelly, who moved to Florida, various and sundry boyfriends. And also Barbara who if she read this blog, would be mad if I didn't mention her. So yeah: GO BLUE!
It would be so much more interesting if they were playing in Green Bay.
I'm kind of stunned that Edwards has dropped out of the presidential race but I guess he was less inclined to go for the jugular then Obama-Clinton. I hope now that there are only two of them, sniping can end and serious issues can be discussed I want to hear what good about the candidate not what's bad about the opponent. I'm not at all surprised about Guiliani dropping out, ihe was a joke to begin with. Rudy would have created a huge police state here and no end to the wars over there.You know politics really suck, it's all about money and lies, power and greed. It seems that no one is above corruption. Nonetheless, I hope the Dems can get their shit together, stop capitulating to the administration and end this Bushian nightmare.
Oh my, there's one good thing about the writers strike on TV; everything is repeats so we are watching DVDs and avoiding all those campaign ads.
I must always have my silver lining!

Liberated some pix

2008-01-23T16:43:00.000-05:00

Our Pocono vacation, Sarah, Audrey: in reverse order.

I've been busier than I should be and paying the price. Even though I try to schedule activities judiciously,necessity and uh, fun intervene. I met my brother for a quick lunch in NJ yesterday to visit Cousin Lorrie who is recuperating from surgery. I had to leave by 3:00, after which my window of opportunity slammed shut and I would suffer the dread consequences of rush hour traffic , a fate, as my father used to say, worse than death. Yada, yada, 2 more cousins and a dinner later, I made it home after 9:00. With a migraine right down into my shoulder, all from sitting for over 12 hours. I always drink decaf but yesterday I sinned and had a real coffee at lunch. I was up till past 3:00AM, despite the Lunesta and muscle relaxer I take every night.(I've found that full moons can disorder my sleep, too.)I only slept till 8:00 AM, woke up grouchy and befuddled, go take my vitamins and as soon as I swallow them I realize I took my night pills by mistake. ( Even though my vitamins are in a big purple box and the night pills are in a tiny white one) I had no choice but to go back to bed cause I can hardly walk when I take these pills. I slept for a couple of hours but now I feel ucky, stoned and groggy. (Three of the 7 dwarfs?)I did have a wonderful time though! Turns out, a Cousin Sue is a massage therapist. She suggested eliminating dairy from my diet as it triggers pain in nerve endings. At least I think that's what she said, we are a rowdy group. Does anyone know about this? I very unwillingly gave up cheese, what next? Must I eat my gruel with soy milk?

No good deed goes unpunished.
- Clare Booth Luce
This was the quote-of-the-day but I happen to know the citation is wrong. It's wasn't Clare Booth Luce, it is the 235th of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition.

I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it.- Mae West

2008-01-17T13:12:00.000-05:00

I was mad at myself for being so irresistably bummed about that stupid article. Although they did not print my letter or address the bias in their article, there was quite a positive response in the Letters section of the Times today. Maybe this will result in a call for action. Uh, yeah.

Luckily, I had a meeting of my FMS/CFIDS support group. The timing was serendipitous, it was kind of a seminar/therapy session/ big hug, just what the doctor (ha) ordered. I feel supported and empowered. I'm so glad I got over my fear and resentment of technology and modern communication and dived (OK, pulled, kicking and screaming) into cyberspace!
On the subway into the city yesterday a man and boy of about 4 or 5 got on and sat next to me.They were having a deep discussion so I removed my earphones (I'm learning Italian!) to eavesdrop.
Boy: I'd like vegetables for dinner
Dad: Well, we're having spaghetti and meatballs tonight.
Boy: Spaghetti sauce is made from tomatoes, tomatoes are vegetables!

Dad: Well, some people think it's a vegetable, others think it's a fruit.
Boy: They can't make up there minds?
Dad: There's really two schools of thought about it.
Boy, after thinking awhile: you mean like Pluto?
I had to laugh out loud!
My cleaner, Cynthia (Caramel and I both adore Cynthia) just left. I love this moment; everything is so sparkly clean, it makes me giddy.
I am waiting for Barbara (everyone should have one, you know) who has been at her doctor's office since 10:00. It is now 2:00. You'd think this would be uncommon, especially in a city with so many doctors but no! Ah, she just called- she's out. We are lunching at a Chinese restaurant; I figure this is probably our millionth Chinese lunch together.
Steve and I were supposed to go to DC this weekend for Cousin Jack's faux-retirement party ( he's still working) but cannot find a caretaker for Caramel.When and why did caretaker become caregiver anyway? Take care! Words to live by, no? This picture is Jack and I looking at my Mother's old pictures. The blonde goddess is Barbara in my cellphone.

Fibromyalgia: Is disease real?

2008-01-14T13:04:00.000-05:00

Finally, recognition. Turns out to be bad, though Fibro made the front page of the NY Times but appparently it's a fake disease. I sure wish my symptoms were fake too.
I am furious about this article (see below) and have been writing about it for hours, but because of "nebulous conditions" like cognitive impairment, I lost the post. I will vent nonetheless.
This article is insulting, irresponsible, ill-researched and biased. Fibromites are presented as a group of overweight, stressed, over-anxious middle-aged women, obsessing about illness.
Worse, it is based on an misleading and improbable TV commercial for a drug that targets limited and specific symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome; there are many symptoms and different manifestations of those symptoms in different people. None of that is described in the article. It's very difficult to make generalized statements about Fibromyalgia, yet many are quoted (and unsubstantiated) in the article. Dr Hadler: “These people live under a cloud,” he said. “And the more they seem to be around the medical establishment, the sicker they get.” The doctor implies that avoiding medical professional will render us less sick.
Most people “manage to get through life with some vicissitudes, but we adapt,” said Dr. George Ehrlich, a rheumatologist and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. “People with fibromyalgia do not adapt.” One wonders if the same standards apply to people with cancer or other diseases.
Poor research aside, certainly the NYT could try to be more open-minded. The headline itself biased: "is it real?" Guilty till proven innocent? The caption on the picture is also biased: "Lynne Matallano, who SAYS she has fibromyalgia". The implication is that she diagnosed herself. The "experts" interviewed are biased and /or work for drug companies.
Fibromyalgia is often associated with other auto-immune diseases such as Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
A little more research and a lot more respect please.

January 14, 2008 Drug Approved. Is Disease Real?

By ALEX BERENSON

Fibromyalgia is a real disease. Or so says Pfizer in a new television advertising campaign for Lyrica, the first medicine approved to treat the pain condition, whose very existence is questioned by some doctors.

For patient advocacy groups and doctors who specialize in fibromyalgia, the Lyrica approval is a milestone. They say they hope Lyrica and two other drugs that may be approved this year will legitimize fibromyalgia, just as Prozac brought depression into the mainstream.

But other doctors — including the one who wrote the 1990 paper that defined fibromyalgia but who has since changed his mind — say that the disease does not exist and that Lyrica and the other drugs will be taken by millions of people who do not need them.

As diagnosed, fibromyalgia primarily affects middle-aged women and is characterized by chronic, widespread pain of unknown origin. Many of its sufferers are afflicted by other similarly nebulous conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome.

Because fibromyalgia patients typically do not respond to conventional painkillers like aspirin, drug makers are focusing on medicines like Lyrica that affect the brain and the perception of pain.

Advocacy groups and doctors who treat fibromyalgia estimate that 2 to 4 percent of adult Americans, as many as 10 million people, suffer from the disorder.

Those figures are sharply disputed by those doctors who do not consider fibromyalgia a medically recognizable illness and who say that diagnosing the condition actually worsens suffering by causing patients to obsess over aches that other people simply tolerate. Further, they warn that Lyrica’s side effects, which include severe weight gain, dizziness and edema, are very real, even if fibromyalgia is not.

Despite the controversy, the American College of Rheumatology, the Food and Drug Administration and insurers recognize fibromyalgia as a diagnosable disease. And drug companies are aggressively pursuing fibromyalgia treatments, seeing the potential for a major new market.

Hoping to follow Pfizer’s lead, two other big drug companies, Eli Lilly and Forest Laboratories, have asked the F.D.A. to let them market drugs for fibromyalgia. Approval for both is likely later this year, analysts say.

Worldwide sales of Lyrica, which is also used to treat diabetic nerve pain and seizures and which received F.D.A. approval in June for fibromyalgia, reached $1.8 billion in 2007, up 50 percent from 2006. Analysts predict sales will rise an additional 30 percent this year, helped by consumer advertising.

In November, Pfizer began a television ad campaign for Lyrica that features a middle-aged woman who appears to be reading from her diary. “Today I struggled with my fibromyalgia; I had pain all over,” she says, before turning to the camera and adding, “Fibromyalgia is a real, widespread pain condition.”

Doctors who specialize in treating fibromyalgia say that the disorder is undertreated and that its sufferers have been stigmatized as chronic complainers. The new drugs will encourage doctors to treat fibromyalgia patients, said Dr. Dan Clauw, a professor of medicine at the University of Michigan who has consulted with Pfizer, Lilly and Forest.

“What’s going to happen with fibromyalgia is going to be the exact thing that happened to depression with Prozac,” Dr. Clauw said. “These are legitimate problems that need treatments.”

Dr. Clauw said that brain scans of people who have fibromyalgia reveal differences in the way they process pain, although the doctors acknowledge that they cannot determine who will report having fibromyalgia by looking at a scan.

Lynne Matallana, president of the National Fibromyalgia Association, a patients’ advocacy group that receives some of its financing from drug companies, said the new drugs would help people accept the existence of fibromyalgia. “The day that the F.D.A. approved a drug and we had a public service announcement, my pain became real to people,” Ms. Matallana said.

Ms. Matallana said she had suffered from fibromyalgia since 1993. At one point, the pain kept her bedridden for two years, she said. Today she still has pain, but a mix of drug and nondrug treatments — as well as support from her family and her desire to run the National Fibromyalgia Association — has enabled her to improve her health, she said. She declined to say whether she takes Lyrica.

“I just got to a point where I felt, I have pain but I’m going to have to figure out how to live with it,” she said. “I absolutely still have fibromyalgia.”

But doctors who are skeptical of fibromyalgia say vague complaints of chronic pain do not add up to a disease. No biological tests exist to diagnose fibromyalgia, and the condition cannot be linked to any environmental or biological causes.

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia itself worsens the condition by encouraging people to think of themselves as sick and catalog their pain, said Dr. Nortin Hadler, a rheumatologist and professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina who has written extensively about fibromyalgia.

“These people live under a cloud,” he said. “And the more they seem to be around the medical establishment, the sicker they get.”

Dr. Frederick Wolfe, the director of the National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases and the lead author of the 1990 paper that first defined the diagnostic guidelines for fibromyalgia, says he has become cynical and discouraged about the diagnosis. He now considers the condition a physical response to stress, depression, and economic and social anxiety.

“Some of us in those days thought that we had actually identified a disease, which this clearly is not,” Dr. Wolfe said. “To make people ill, to give them an illness, was the wrong thing.”

In general, fibromyalgia patients complain not just of chronic pain but of many other symptoms, Dr. Wolfe said. A survey of 2,500 fibromyalgia patients published in 2007 by the National Fibromyalgia Association indicated that 63 percent reported suffering from back pain, 40 percent from chronic fatigue syndrome, and 30 percent from ringing in the ears, among other conditions. Many also reported that fibromyalgia interfered with their daily lives, with activities like walking or climbing stairs.

Most people “manage to get through life with some vicissitudes, but we adapt,” said Dr. George Ehrlich, a rheumatologist and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. “People with fibromyalgia do not adapt.”

Both sides agree that people who are identified as having fibromyalgia do not get much relief from traditional pain medicines, whether anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen — sold as Advil, among other brands — or prescription opiates like Vicodin. So drug companies have sought other ways to reduce pain.

Pfizer’s Lyrica, known generically as pregabalin, binds to receptors in the brain and spinal cord and seems to reduce activity in the central nervous system.

Exactly why and how Lyrica reduces pain is unclear. In clinical trials, patients taking the drug reported that their pain — whether from fibromyalgia, shingles or diabetic nerve damage — fell on average about 2 points on a 10-point scale, compared with 1 point for patients taking a placebo. About 30 percent of patients said their pain fell by at least half, compared with 15 percent taking placebos.

The F.D.A. reviewers who initially examined Pfizer’s application for Lyrica in 2004 for diabetic nerve pain found those results unimpressive, especially in comparison to Lyrica’s side effects. The reviewers recommended against approving the drug, citing its side effects.

In many patients, Lyrica causes weight gain and edema, or swelling, as well as dizziness and sleepiness. In 12-week trials, 9 percent of patients saw their weight rise more than 7 percent, and the weight gain appeared to continue over time. The potential for weight gain is a special concern because many fibromyalgia patients are already overweight: the average fibromyalgia patient in the 2007 survey reported weighing 180 pounds and standing 5 feet 4 inches.

But senior F.D.A. officials overruled the initial reviewers, noting that severe pain can be incapacitating. “While pregabalin does present a number of concerns related to its potential for toxicity, the overall risk-to-benefit ratio supports the approval of this product,” Dr. Bob Rappaport, the director of the F.D.A. division reviewing the drug, wrote in June 2004.

Pfizer began selling Lyrica in the United States in 2005. The next year the company asked for F.D.A. approval to market the drug as a fibromyalgia treatment. The F.D.A. granted that request in June 2007.

Pfizer has steadily ramped up consumer advertising of Lyrica. During the first nine months of 2007, it spent $46 million on ads, compared with $33 million in 2006, according to TNS Media Intelligence.

Dr. Steve Romano, a psychiatrist and a Pfizer vice president who oversees Lyrica, says the company expects that Lyrica will be prescribed for fibromyalgia both by specialists like neurologists and by primary care doctors. As doctors see that the drug helps control pain, they will be more willing to use it, he said.

“When you help physicians to recognize the condition and you give them treatments that are well tolerated, you overcome their reluctance,” he said.

Both the Lilly and Forest drugs being proposed for fibromyalgia were originally developed as antidepressants, and both work by increasing levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, brain transmitters that affect mood. The Lilly drug, Cymbalta, is already available in the United States, while the Forest drug, milnacipran, is sold in many countries, though not the United States.

Dr. Amy Chappell, a medical fellow at Lilly, said that even though Cymbalta is an antidepressant, its effects on fibromyalgia pain are independent of its antidepressant effects. In clinical trials, she said, even fibromyalgia patients who are not depressed report relief from their pain on Cymbalta.

The overall efficacy of Cymbalta and milnacipran is similar to that of Lyrica. Analysts and the companies expect that the drugs will probably be used together.

“There’s definitely room for several drugs,” Dr. Chappell said.

But physicians who are opposed to the fibromyalgia diagnosis say the new drugs will probably do little for patients. Over time, fibromyalgia patients tend to cycle among many different painkillers, sleep medicines and antidepressants, using each for a while until its benefit fades, Dr. Wolfe said.

“The fundamental problem is that the improvement that you see, which is not really great in clinical trials, is not maintained,” Dr. Wolfe said.

Still, Dr. Wolfe expects the drugs will be widely used. The companies, he said, are “going to make a fortune.”

Happy 2008!

2008-01-03T20:40:00.000-05:00

Again I hit "save" instead of "publish". Oi!

Hard core blog-readers may know that there is group of English musicians with a band (Klezmer, I think) and a website named Oivavoi. I discovered this because I can't remember my blog address so I google it and sometimes get news of them.This was a comment posted to their site by a fan:

"Oivavoi? Sounds like a Finnish butter type. (voi=butter, oiva=excellent, handy)"

Who knew?

So it was 20 degrees this afternoon during our doggiewalk! Ah, but it was also brilliantly sunny. My new down coat is warming me well but the hood though fat, toasty and windproof is a hair-killer. Two minutes with the hood up and my hair, normally limp and flaccid anyway, plasters itself to my head. I’m trying to let it grow a little but if it continues misbehave, it’s Bebe Scissorhands! Caramel has a new coat too; it’s unfortunately red and puffy but it’s warm, it’s easy to get on and off and it was only 7 bucks at Old Navy. It was too big for her skinny self but I made some alterations and now it fits to cover her naked neck and belly. It keeps her warm but she shivers anyway. She is currently in disgrace as she is apparently going through another doggie transitional phase. She’s been overly protective of me and barking at people. And she peed in the house, yesterday cause Joel was here and today because the housecleaner (who she loves) and the sleep tech (who she doesn't) were here. My poor psycho puppy has issues! She better get over herself or, as Steve tonight bespoke: the next stage she goes through will be leaving town.
We had a quiet and lovely holiday. Pre Xmas with Steve's sisters at Jeanette's, Xmas at Joel and Audrey's and a pre New Years dinner here with Bro and Roz.
Nicely, nicely.
I just got a tin of homemade Xmas cookies from Camille! The box is bashed in and there's a lot of crumbs but they are delicious and there are rugelach! In the early 80's when Camille and Genny lived in my building, whenever there was a snowstorm we would drop everything and get together and bake rugelach; chocolate-walnut-raspberry. I still think of them when it snows- both the shikshas and the cookies.
Caramel tore her dewclaw today, probably during her romp with Nitro, a dog who is her double-sized double. I must go clean the bloodstains off the couch.
Cousin Jack is coming for the weekend and I don't want it to look like Sweeney Todd in here.

Happy Chanukah!

2007-12-10T12:31:00.000-05:00

Poor neglected blog, I've been neglecting you while off having fantastic adventures. If this is truly a diary/journal/remembrance kind of dealio, I'm not doing a very good job of recording. True, most of my life is dull and boring but stuff does occasionally happen. Lately:
we spent a merry Thanksgiving at my brother's, Sarah & family were there but Michael and his didn't come and were missed but Cecily & her fam filled in the gaps. Sid hoodwinked me into making TWO kugels, saying that tiny baby Tori eats lots of it. It was beautiful,in the 70's that day. We stayed over and the next day drove up to the Poconos where that night it was in the teens. There's a lot of weather in the mountains! We stayed in our 1/2 time-share, for the first time, finally- the first vacation where we stayed in one place for an entire week.
It was cozy-lovely with a woodsy view, a fireplace and a two-person hot tub. As it was hunting season the resort, the pools and restaurants and the roads were blissfully empty. We swam, walked, ate, watched cable TV ( caught a 2 Deep Space 9 !!), shopped (we got a down coats for winter dog-walking) and even went to the movies ("Enchanted"-really very good), and ate. A lot. For some reason, there is a lot of good seafood to be had in the far-from-the-sea Poconos.
And ice cream. No pets are allowed so Caramel stayed at doggie camp with Garo, who rescued her as well as many other dogs. Before we left, Caramel tested positive on her heartworm check-up so today, I had to take her to the Vet for another heartworm treatment. She got a shot of Imiticide, in her back and it's pretty painful for a few days, but this time she was able to come home the same day instead of staying at the Vet overnight. It seems like she's in pain, she's moving around a lot trying to get comfortable. I'm off to a meeting of my Bklyn CFIDs/FM group (second one!), I hope she will sleep while I'm gone.

Well today turned into Tues, and I hit "save" instead of ""publish".
We are home from the Vet after Carrie's 2nd shot, the vet gave us some painkillers for her but she seems stiff and is grunting and kvetching. I sure hope this treatment is the last and she will be worm-free.
My meeting was small, just the organizer Maria and her sister Paula- lovely women both- but it was interesting, comfortable and a quiet but intense bitch-fest. Very gratifying. Boston Public is on- I've got to jet!

When I was younger, I could I remember anything...

2007-11-12T18:42:00.000-05:00

...whether it had happened or not.
Mark Twain

After much deliberation, last week I started taking a new drug called Plaquenil. It takes a while to start working, but I got my fingers crossed (which probably inhibits circulation, duh) that it will help both the Sjogren's and the Fibro. It is a quinine derivative, used by Walter Reed to fight malaria at the Panama Canal. Ironically, with all the sweats, chills and fits I get, I'm always wailing about feeling like I have malaria. So there you go.
My sweet Aunt Sarah died, at 97- she's the last of her generation and the only link I had to my Mom. It was very sad to lose her but she was very tired. She told me last week," enough already, it's time for me to go."
This is a photo from 2 years ago- she's pretty smokin' for 95, no?
The funeral yesterday was wonderful- we surviving cousins discussed how now we are officially the older generation.
One of her great grand-sons, the apprentice rabbi, led the prayers. Sarah would have kvelled. Linda, one of her granddaughters gave a eulogy, a beautiful summary of her life from which I believe I will quote, cite and recount.
Sarah and her 2 sisters (the youngest of which was our very own mom) were born in Poland and lived in a shetl not unlike the one in Fiddler in the Roof- oy what a piece of dreck movie. Actually, Sarah was born in the same town as the father of Art Speigelman, the guy who wrote those Maus books. (there is a the map is on the back of the first book) So my grandfather and his brother emigrated to US where the streets were paved with gold hoping to make the money to send for their respective families. Then, WWI broke out. My grandmother had to take care of her 3 daughters and also her dead sister's 2 girls. It was ungood. There were cossacks and cholera but not much food.
They finally came to America in 1920.My grandfather brought bananas to their reunion, but they had never seen fruit before and chewed on the peels.
And so they had a brother, grew up and prospered.They got married but they all lived within walking distance of each other. They were all a huge part of my childhood. As a kid it was special to me that we shared the same Hebrew name, Surah. I'm really gonna miss her.
Linda printed copies of Sarah's mandelbrot recipe for everyone.
It was a beautiful day, the weather was great. She would have loved it.

Link to Post - Back to Top Logged

If not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.

2007-10-26T13:31:00.000-04:00

Blogger cut off theThe following was written 0n 11/2/o7:
I won't discuss Boston's sweep in the World Series but I will say that I'm glad that Joe Torre is going to the Dodgers where he will be appreciated, sweet man. Ech, the Yankees suck!
Halloween was nice and warm and I was prepared with giant bags of candy because we get zillions of kids- from toddlers to adolescents, all of them cute and pretty polite-a few kids gave ME candy!
At 4:30, we at on the porch and they started coming. By 6:20 all the candy was gone and because they delayed the start of Daylight savings time this year, it wasn't dark yet! The best costumes were a kid and his Dad swathed in bubble wrap dressed as Giant Jellyfish
Halloween is also Steve's birthday( my pumpkin!) and Caramel's doggie birthday too ( she's 4). I've been sick in bed this week so we had chinese take-out for dinner and poor Steve had to get his own birthday cake. ( chocolate mousse- it was delicious)
But he loved his presents, .I got him a bunch of stuff, including a book that he already has, a weather station that tells temperature, humidity, dewpoint and even has an alarm and a T-shirt that says: BROOKLYN- only the strong survive!
And a box of chocolates of course, Belgian, not Halloween. (I myself love candy corn and malted milk balls.)
Steve ordered dog food on-line and it was delivered today, a 40lb box which I left on the porch then took Carrie for her walk. When we came back, Chris across the street was waiting for us. He saw a kid take the box off the porch and make his getaway- on a bike. He chased the guy then called the cops and they rode around looking for the guy but did not find him. Luckily, it was only dog food (just try to sell that, rat bastards!) but the bad part is, this is a really quiet block and many people get deliveries left on their porches daily. It's disconcerting to think there are unsavory types patrolling the nabe for packages.
It certainly wouldn't have happened if we were home, Caramel would've sounded the alarm, my bark-less dog. She don't like nobody on her porch!
I am going to make enchiladas tonight as a belated surprise for Steve and also because November 1st and 2nd are the Dias Del Muerto in Mexico, a fun holiday. Now that I've reviewed the recipe I remember why I haven't made them in years, they are way labor-intensive. I already made the sauce ( my homegrown tomatoes!) and now I must shred my chicken, grate my cheese and confront my tortillas. Ai!

I can't take the World Serious

2007-10-25T12:38:00.000-04:00

Ugh, I had this discussion with my brother the other day- he said he couldn't drum up enthusiasm for this year's fall classic. I called him infidel and non-believer, but after last night's game, I'm starting to agree-the Red Sox murderized the Rockies, 13-1, this was not fun, it was revolting. We had to stop watching. We believe the Sox struck a deal with the devil to become the New England version of the Yankees. (boo, hiss) The proof is Rudy Giuliani, GOP moronic candidate extraordinaire, endorsing the Sox. Omigod!
An angry fan was quoted in today's Times:" They should burn his seat that he sat in in Yankee Stadium".Also, while I'm complaining, it's ridiculous that every game has to be a night game. And they don't start playing till almost 9:00- who can stay up that late? And why do the commentators talk so much and so fast. I used to love Tim McCarver, now he gets on my nerves- silence on the air is OK, it need not be filled up with gratuitous verbal garbage.
Ah, it's quite satisfying to bitch about something that I can control by changing the channel. I wish it were that easy to change the current administration which tells us that they need $5 billion more for the war against terror but nothing for heath care for children. Dick and Dubya tell us Iran should be bombed and WWIII is looming on the horizon. And Dubya wants a quick response to the terrible fires in San Diego- apparently there are more voters to be appeased in San Diego than there were in New Orleans. (It's unimaginable that someone deliberately started those fires- sick bastards!) And speaking of drought conditions, the Southeast has also had many months with no rain but the Georgia Gov just imposed restrictions yesterday, banning the washing of state vehicles and ordering prison inmates to shower only once a day instead of twice. Yeah, that should do it.
There was an article in the Times recently about how these are not drought conditions in the SE and the West- they are an indication of
permanent climate change brought about by global warming. Anyone surprised?
Well, I'm going to bundle up (it's finally is autumn today) and take Caramel for a walk after I have some lunch. Darling Steve BBQ'd Sunday and as a surprise he, he grilled me a package of pipicks. (chicken gizzards. Non-Yiddish-speakers note: pipick, also pronounced pupick is also the word for belly-button.) I've been eating a couple everyday ( like candy) and sharing the chewy bits with Carrie. Is she not gorgeous?

Together again for the first time

2007-10-21T17:29:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite movies of all time is Young Frankenstein. My thoughtful and clever husband got tickets to the musical of the movie as soon as it was announced. So it was with much anticipation (and High Anxiety) that we attended the show Saturday. My face stills hurts from laughing. It wasn't quite as perfect as "The Producers" and had a few slow spots (and no Nathan Lane) but the sets were incredible, the dancing and singing were great and there was plenty of goofiness. "Together again for the first time" is a tune from the show and it's stuck in my head. Also, "Putting on the Ritz" which was a truly fabulous number.
It was obvious that everyone in the audience had seen the movie- we laughed in anticipation of the jokes. We got pre-laughs and post-laughs too. It was too much fun. Mel Brooks is a god, still.
But last night the Cleveland Indians got murdered 11-2 and so the Boston Red Sox go to the World Series aginst the Colorado Rockies.
As I previously bitched, the only NLCS games were on TBS and not everyone has cable TV. So I haven't seen a Rockies game and who the hell are they anyway?
And isn't the air too thin in Colorado for baseball? I have no emotional attachment to them. I am conflicted. I only root for an American League team if it's playing against the Yankees. I was raised that way. And years ago, the Mets and the Red Sox used to play an annual game and there was bad blood every time. But this is quite a team these Sox got- so many of them are goateed, what's up with that- so we'll see on Wed night.

Indian Summer, with a vengence

2007-10-09T14:56:00.001-04:00

You know, this past summer was one of the most beautiful in years and it never was too hot or humid for too long. But this past week has been swampy and yesterday was 88 degrees and sticky, a record in Central Park and also at Yankee Stadium, where the Cleveland Indians advanced to the ALCS, to which I have no attachment as I was raised National League.
Many in NY are downcast, but I am gleeful. The Yankees loss takes the sting out of the Mets losing too. And the Cubs and the Phillies. Uncharitable and mean-spirited? But yes. And, I was both stunned and steamed that there was absolutely no baseball on TV this weekend, it was only on TBS cable. Rat bastards! I will root for a Rockie or a Diamondback altho' it's strange to me - Arizona is too hot for play baseball and in Colorado the air is too thin. But, at least I can enjoy the post-season without an emotional attachment. Possibly.
Today, the temp has dropped 30 degrees. This weather gives me a headache and fall is generally making Caramel nutsy from too much wildlife activity. Today,when we got back from the park she was crazed from too many thwarted squirrel-catching attempts. We were finishing our book (TC Boyle: Drop City) on the porch and I forgot to put the gate up. Along comes a long-haired female dog, (Caramel does not like females) and she flew off the porch afttrying to bite her fur. The girl walking the dog freaked and started yelling and I had to scream over her to make Carrie stop. Thankfully, she only bites fur not flesh and she always responds to "stop". The doggie was OK but it took an hour for my heart to beat normally and my throat is raw from yelling.
The rain they have been predicting for a week has yet to arrive- I feel like I'm in a state of flux but I will solder, er, soldier on.
I read that the Oxford English Dictionary (the small, 2-volume version) is eliminating 16,000 hyphenated words. Another sign of the apocalypse. I am quite fond of the hyphen and will mourn, as I did for Planet Pluto, it's loss.
But, I will not be party to such-like and will continue to use the hyphen as profusely and incorrectly as I have always done.
Some usage will be retained so we can tell the difference between a slippery-eel salesman and slippery eel salesman. Snake-oil hawker and snake oil hawker.
Which reminds me of the disappointing Democrats who, not wanting to appear "soft on terror" may approve extending wiretap powers to the NSA.
Soft on terror? What an idiotic phrase, what the hell does that even mean? Now I am disgusted with both the administration and them.
But now that the globe is warming and summers are longer, my tomatoes are just now ripening, (and I will have 100 of them- but all at once) we have zillions of mosquitoes, and my plants are really thriving. The top pix are the front porch, these are the backyard.
What do you think?

Cleveland Rocks

2007-10-01T19:04:00.001-04:00

Our 'puter has not been well lately but Steve has worked out the kinks in my laptop so I finally bestirred myself to download ( by popular demand!) some pix of our trip to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, a very cool little city itself.
The building, by I.M.Pei, is right on Lake Erie. It's surrounded by rings of these giant individually painted guitars. There were some great exhibits in the museum, artifacts like suits from The Temptations, the Miracles and James Brown, dresses from the girl groups from the Shirelles to the Supremes, etc. There were wonderful audio-phones to sample music styles from different eras, but not nearly enough phones. I was thrilled to find Symphony Sid, a NYC radio DJ who played Latin music in the 60's. Proper respect was shown to the originators of R&R and the early years but I was stunned by the omissions and a little disappointed in the commercial and political aspects of the place. Almost an entire floor is a gift shop and record store. Do they call them record stores anymore? Do they even have them? Anyway, this one had no Warren Zevon, a particular fave of mine and an important rocker for many years. When I questioned an employee I was told there are many other people missing ( he cited Chicago and the Moody Blues) that warrant inclusion but aren't in because it's a very political process one based on profit more than art. I questioned several employees and got the same answer every time-it was a bummer, man. The Baseball hall of Fame is more inspiring and egalitarian, that's for sure. I can't really speak of baseball at this time, I am presently in mourning for the death of the Mets' post-season. But we had a wonderful time anyway- we took the Rapid which is like a cute tiny subway, to Tower City, a huge restored railroad station that's now a very grand mall.
I'll post more later but right now, Dancing with the Stars is on and I've got to go!

I'm wearing white after Labor Day!!

2007-09-04T19:41:00.000-04:00

Yes and don't try and stop me!
Ugh, I haven't been feeling well and life has just been too boring. Sometimes it's hard to work up the energy to be interesting or interested , you know?
We just lazed around the long weekend, mostly on the porch. The weather has been amazingly gorgeous, in the low high 70's. My plants are doing well and the trellis full of hot-pink Mandevilla is blooming like crazy. A neighbor stopped to compliment me and said: your flowers are beautiful, they look so real! Ha, nature imitating art? If only I could download the pictures to my laptop!
So, Stinky BBQ'd, ( leftover BBQ'd onions, corn and zucchini with pasta for dinner tonight) we watched DVDs: 4 episodes of Deep Space 9, The Merchant of Venice****and Lemony Snicket*** and ate cake. (strawberry short)
We had baseball tickets Sun night but I wasn't up to it.
Why does everyone treat Labor day as the end of summer? There's 2 1/2 weeks left!
I'm trying to maintain a mellow state and not cross the dreaded line into Grumpyville.
Happily, we are planning a short trip elsewhere. For the High Holy Days we are going to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio, where else?
Holy is as holy does. We are driving the scenic route, across mostly Pennsylvania which should be green, lush and rolling. I'll see Lake Erie again. I've never been to Ohio-it's the Midwest! My only prior exposure was Minnesota in winter and that was great. I'm psyched.

More photos, B's 60th

2007-08-22T11:19:00.000-04:00

You can see more photos if you click on the Flickr badge, (on the right)
on top where it says WWW. Flickr.
I can't add to or get rid of this stupid badge!!!!
Or this stupid underlining!

Sirius in August

2007-08-20T15:26:00.000-04:00

My google homepage has quotes of the day. I never thought I'd be quoting Jimmy Buffett, but here you go: "If the phone doesn't ring, it's probably me". It's appropriate for me as I'm not a phone person but I am forever sending out psychic greetings. I know for a fact that some of you out there actually receive the message!
This photo is Barbara, me and Morgana last month in my backyard with my new fence. My tomatoes and cucumbers are waist-high now. Weeding, planting and weeding, that's what it's all about. I've been trying to reach a balance between activity and rest. Caramel's confinement has taught me a lesson. She is doing very well now and rarely coughs anymore, we have been able to lengthen our walks a little ever day and she has resumed running like a loony after sticks- but never bringing them back. It took a while but she's trained me to retrieve.
And so I'm mostly enjoying these doggy days of August.
On the 8th, there was a tornado in Brooklyn, our first ever, with winds of 135 MPH. What next, flying pigs? There was a lot of damage to houses and cars but luckily, no one was seriously hurt although Leif Erikson park lost 40% of it's trees. The tornado came across the Narrows from Staten Island. Figures.
We have been having increasingly torrential rains every year; despite all the work we do the basement is wetter every year. Is there any question that our climate is in crisis? There was about 4" of rain in less than an hour- the subways were flooded and and several lines shut down it, was chaos in NY.
And it happened on Barbara's 60th birthday, around the corner from her house, which was untouched. Coincidence? Who can say?
Barbara, my ex-cousin and oldest friend ( 43 years, from menstruation to menopause) is definitely a big blonde Norwegian force of nature. (She would object to the term goddess cause she's very superstitious- don't ask)
Luckily her party was on the previous Sunday, a wonderful BBQ in Trow's beautiful garden. Later in the evening, we each had a lobster. (Oh baby, that was good!) The bad thing was, the lobsters spent their day in the bath tub and every time I went to the bathroom, I could hear them. As they tried to breathe, their shells clicked. Eewww! Didn't you ever wonder what the first person to ever eat a shrimp or a lobster was thinking? Hmmm, that looks delicious!
My birthday (58th) was groovy and spanned an entire weekend.
I had dinner with my 97 year old aunt, and my Cousin Lorry, went for to the Poconos, visited a nursery, got some new perennials (oy, more work), stayed out late so we could see the Perseid meteor shower ( saw a couple), had a strawberry shortcake, got some great presents (Young Frankenstein, my favorite movie, is coming to Broadway and Steve got preview tickets!) and finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Awesome!)
Fri, Bro and SIL came all the up from Philly for a Cyclones game- torrential rain again. Twice! We bagged it and had a lovely dinner in an uncharacteristically empty restaurant. Park Slope is wonderfully empty in August- everyone and their shrink goes on vacation- and you can find parking!
On Sat we went to neighbor Steve's 50th b-day party 2 houses down. Fun and no traffic. Then we were all hopped up on birthday cake so we stayed up to watch La Strada on TV. Anthony Quinn's voice is dubbed in Italian, but he's actually speaking English if you read his lips. Wierd.

Baseball weekend

2007-07-30T17:52:00.000-04:00

We (she proudly writes) have a minor league team in Brooklyn since 2001, the Brooklyn Cyclones an affiliate of the Mets. The stadium is in Coney Island, right on the ocean. We went to a game Fri night (there are fireworks every Friday night in the summer) with Barbara and her friend Robin. It was muggy but not too hot and there was a full moon. It was a great night but a dull game, scoreless until the 10th when the Vermont Lake Monsters ( I'm not making up that name) scored a run. Then the Cyclones 2nd baseman came up to bat and was hit with a pitch. As he was writhing on the ground in agony, the fireworks commenced and continued till they bandaged him and took him away on a stretcher. Kinda put a damper on the pyrotechnics. The was no mention of him in the paper so I guess he's OK.
As serendipity would have it, we were given 4 tickets for the Met game on Sun afternoon. We asked Jeanette and Lew to come too, then drove to them in Queens and then took the famed #7 subway line a few stops (it's actually elevated, isn't it) to Shea. They are building a new stadium in the parking lot at Shea stadium and there isn't much parking. The entire train was packed with Mets fans. I sat next to a young woman who was loudly discoursing about her fiancee's desire for her to take his name and her vehement refusal to do so.
As I was in her face anyway, I gave her my vote of confidence. She was gratified and yelled across the car to let her other friends know that I kept my name too, goodness, many years ago. She didn't say many years ago but it was implied.
The conversation turned to going back to school. This woman is a student at college in Virginia where the horrible shootings took place, she actually lives in the same dorm as the shooter did but was in class at the time of the tragedy.
It was chilling to hear her talk about people that she didn't know but must have seen around campus.
So we got to Shea just as the rain started. We had seats under the overhang, so it was like sitting on the front porch, it was nice and dry and this game had all the excitement missing from Fri. The Mets scored 5 runs, John Maine gave up 1 hit but in the middle of the 5th inning after 90 minutes of torrential rain, the the mound started to dissolve and they stopped play. So we went back to Jeanette's and had a altogether lovely day.
Steve and I are reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows simultaneously; we lie in bed at night reading and gasping but can't discuss anything till we know that we are at the same point. It's almost too much fun, I swear.
Today Sheila and I went for a pedicure at a nail salon run and staffed by Mandarin-speaking Chinese people. It took me a few minutes to realize that the radio was tuned to a gospel station. Only in Brooklyn!

Cherry season 2007

2007-07-25T12:25:00.001-04:00

Since my last post I've been eating cherries, (Sweet Jesus, I love cherries) doing garden work, chillin' with the dog. It has come to my surprised attention that people actually read this blog. Despite the fact that virtually no one comments here, many have remarked that I have been remiss, if not truant in my posting. Well, this damn laptop is a pain in the ass and has not brought the pleasure and convenience I expected, should I be so inclined or equipped to put thoughts into words. The laptop disconnects from the Web constantly (like right now, for instance) and will not connect while on the front porch which was where I had envisioned using the cursed machine in the first place. Ehhh, I'm grumpy. There are too many things I want to do but the Stamina&Energy bank is overdrawn.
The front porch looks great though, my Mandevilla is blooming like crazy!
We get the late afternoon sun, so the porch is cool and shady in the AM, when I can be found on my glider reading the paper (accompanied by much bitching, moaning, cursing and teeth gnashing) eating grape-nuts (with home-grown blueberries!) and drinking iced coffee while Caramel peruses the dog traffic in an effort to ascertain who is friend or foe, a very arbitrary process which baffles me completely.
I also spend many hours in the garden, of course. It's been all about the weeding. Due to the construction last year, the yard was overrun with striped morning glory, wild asters and oh my god, nut sedge which I swear grows 2" overnight. We finally got our wonderful 6' wood fence enclosing the backyard. Our soil is really bad and in the process of digging holes for the fence posts they dug up tons of clay which we had so strenously covered with good soil. We had to practically start all over again. Poor Steve has already shlepped a ton of new soil. Sadly, many lives, er, plants were lost. I have planted 21 new ones, all young perennials. I also have 1 tomato, 1 cucumber, chives and basil some new strawberries and the aforementioned, source of great pride, blueberry bush which has in it's 9 or so years been ravaged and broken, by telephone company workers countless times. Rat bastards! I found an old picture of one of them STANDING on our old cyclone fence, which over the years broke from such abuse.
I am proud and happy to report that we filed a claim, and filed it again and after 6 years and much persistence Verizon finally reimbursed us for the trampled plants and helped pay for the new fence. Yay.
Another highlight of the season, Morgana, tore herself away from new grandson and came East to visit! We had a fun sleepover with Barbara, Morgana's cousin, my ex-cousin. We did not howl at the moon this time, in fact we had 1/2 drink each and could barely stay awake, but a good time was had by all.These 2 are my very oldest friends. It's shocking to think we met over 40 years ago.
B came over to meet us for lunch one day and brought Andree! Quelle surprise! Andree is a great-grandmother, twice! And her grandson is a professional skydiver!
It was so good to see them, my honeys! I was re-charged with Women Power! We missed you, DJ dear, the other sister of my heart.
I took some really terrible pix, luckily Steve came home for these. If B can ever figure out how to release the pix from her camera, I will post those.
I started Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows yesterday. It's very exciting and scary, don't know if I will survive the suspense.
Caramelly is doing well and we are starting to walk a little further every day.
I really need the exercise- I have a big cherry belly.

I got a laptop!

2007-06-08T13:45:00.000-04:00

Me, the technophobe! It's fabulous to be portable! I'm sitting in my Lala, waiting for my Yaya. (Fats Domino?) Actually, I'm sitting on the porch ( with my constant companion, the magnificent Caramel) waiting for Steve. His company has summer hours and he works a 1/2 day on Friday so we have a standing lunch date. Today we will also go looking at nurseries as I have a longing for some new plants for porch and garden. I want some vines, some drought resistant perennials and a maybe a few annuals. (No, "Yaya" was Lee Dorsey, 1961- great song!)
I am waging my periodic moratorium on reading the news section of the paper, it's too depressing. Immigration, stem cell, Iraq, The Middle East, Don't ask-don't tell. The administration is stupid and corrupt and the New Congress disappointing. Feh!
Here is the Quote of the day: (according to my new homepage)

I got kicked out of ballet class because I pulled a groin muscle. It wasn't mine.
- Rita Rudner

I try a Fibro support group

2007-05-30T12:23:00.000-04:00

I finally (after joining online 2 years ago) went to a meeting of FMS/CFIDS support group here in NYC. It was held in a large public restaurant/coffee shop and there were about 9 people, all women except for one very quiet man who disappeared quickly.
Unfortunately, it was a very hot day and I walked from the train not realizing how far it was, duh. It was hot, crowded and noisy in the place and it was really hard to hear anyone across the table. We kept changing seats in order to talk to everyone.There was sensory overload and it was kind of chaotic but it was quite an eye-opener for me: all of us were unable to work, some were more mobile than others. Some of us had symptoms since childhood, or puberty, some since accident or illness, some since menopause.
Some could take no meds because of side-effects, some were heavily medicated.
If one med worked for one didn't work for another.
We had different kinds of pain: muscle, nerve, skin; dull, sharp, electric-shock.
But all of us had pain and fatigue.
And we all felt like our lives were stolen away.
It was amazing to discuss all this stuff with real-live humans but also rather exhausting. I hope next month's meeting is in a quieter place.

Sgt Pepper is 40 years old? How can that be? I vividly remember hearing it for the first time (a bunch of us gathering at Mary Rock's house, reading along with the lyrics!) and being blown away. It seems like it was just the other day!

Caramel dog is doing OK so far with her heartworm treatment. She needs to avoid exertion but has been pretty lethargic anyway. Me too. The hot weather and pollen and allergens floating around does not agree with either of us- she sneezes, my nose runs.

Steve got me Michael Chabon's new book " The Yiddish Policeman's Union" a noir-ish tale about a Jewish State, not in Israel but Sitka Alaska. I love his writing and this one lives up to expectations. Happy, happy!

Caramel and I get good test results

2007-05-15T11:38:00.000-04:00

Caramel is in the hospital, she had her heart sonogram yesterday and they found fewer heartworms then they expected which very encouraging. She had her first treatment, an chemo-like arsenic-derivative injection. Hopefully, things went well and she will return home tonight. She will need a month of restricted activity then another overnight treatment followed by another quiet month. The poison will kill the heartworms but until they are eliminated from her system they can form lethal clots in her heart and lungs which is why she needs to avoid any exertion. Oi, I'm very nervous! Every time we, or anyone enters the house she gets very excited which leads to coughing which can be dangerous.
I'm wondering how I will keep her calm (she's so enthusiastic!) and stop her from following me around the house and up and down the stairs. For 2 months!
Well, I had my colonoscopy last Wed and apparently, they liked what they saw.(!) It wasn't bad at all although like the last one, I had gas for 5 days afterwards. Quite possibly because of the twistiness of my kishkes. Also, my chest Pet scan looks good. And, I finally got my CPAP machine last Thursday. It will take a while to get used to the nasal-pillow thing but the moist, cool air is already helping my breathing.
I'm glad I'm not a judge on DWTS- I'd have a hard choice between Laila and Joey. Apolo is adorable and talented but, not enough. And poor Ian has to go.
Dr Moorehead, the Vet just called and said that Carrie did well and can come home tonight!

Sick puppy, sealed house

2007-05-03T14:48:00.001-04:00

That's what the Vet called Caramel. He called Wed with the results of her bloods. He wants to do more blood tests because her urine shows high protein which could mean her kidneys are involved. Then we have to do a heart sonogram to see how many worms she has. Then, he suggested a new angioplasty-type procedure to remove the some of the heartworms before they start medicating her which would increase her chances which, he says, are better than 50-50. This procedure is only done in Philadelphia, 2 1/2 hours away.( She doesn't travel well.) She has been OK on the hydrocodone (which, I found out is Vicodin) - no more coughing blood. But the roofers are here today, banging away and using acetylene torches, and are disturbing her. Me too - I can't take a shower either, cause we have a skylights in the bathroom. As long as I'm by her side she's calm. But I am crazed today and when I'm crazed I can't stay still so she keeps following me up and down the stairs. We can't go walking, I'm one-armed and I can't do yoga so the remedy is cleaning. Or cutting my hair, which is already too short. Believe me, I'd rather have a glass of scotch. Or a entire strawberry shortcake, but that would just add insult to injury. At least I cleared out the bottom of 2 closets and some cabinets and drawers- how satisfying! In the process I hurt my bad arm (of course) so I now will collapse. Also, the cleaning lady just came and I need to get out of her way. She is helping me with my Spanish and I her with her English. Desempolvar means, to dust. How encantado is espanol?
Thursday I go for a Pet scan so Caramel will have to be alone. I hope she doesn't bark at the workers, I'm nervous it will make her cough. I'm stressed that she'll be stressed. There are 4 people in, on and around my house, all making lots of noise. I'm watching a guy right outside the 2nd floor window and there's another guy above me. Roofing is a dangerous and filthy job isn't it? It's no Dancing with the stars, for sure. I love Joey and Laila both. She's too gorgeous for words but Joey's got the musicality and that professional look. I'm sooo loving this show, it's a great distraction. We need more dance on TV! And less crap.

Thursday:
Well, when I went to post Wednesday I got an error warning. After much trial and error, ( log-off, check modem, piss and moan) I discovered that the phone was dead too. Remembering the worker outside the window I surmised that he accidentally cut the phone lines. Luckily the mf was here yesterday to let the phone guy in cause I was out. I got home just as phone guy was leaving. "Come through the house", I said graciously not realizing his shoes were full of tar from the roof. He left footprints in the kitchen, dining room hall and the pink area rug in the foyer. What it is with these phone people? I had to go on my hands and knees to remove it with cooking oil (a trick I learned from a lifeguard when I lived at the beach) then rewash the floors to get the oil off. Did I mention the cleaning lady was just here Wed?
I'm tired and a little slap-happy. Current events and the full moon have resulted in little sleep. It's been 3 weeks and still no CPAP machine. I keep calling about it and they give me the run-around. People really suck, most of 'em.
Not the roofer/mason guys tho. Despite torching the telephone lines, they are very sweet, efficient, very neat and most importantly, expeditious. The roofs (this tiny house has 4 of them) and the leader and gutters are done.The steel hatch door to the basement has been replaced. They have dug a mad big hole in the basement for our new dry well which should help keep the rain out. We had the outside wall patches and stucco-ed and it looks clean and creamy and no bricks are showing. They will re-point the stoops and when they are done, we put will in a wood fence and enclose the backyard. The garden is blooming lilacs, tulips, ajuga, azaleas, violets and bleedingheart, all pinks and purples awesome!
Carrie's okay, the workers still make her bark sometimes so we can't sit tin the yard but she's not coughing. Still no word fron the Vet. I really hate waiting for test results. It's so beautiful outside and she wants to go walking but she can't have too much exertion or excitement. I am going to Fairway with Char and the kids ( a 3yr and a 7 month). I don't really want to shop, I just want to play with the girls, they are way cute. I could actually, I cold use some delicacies- Morgana is coming to visit next month! A benefit from Jet Blue for having messed up her Valentine's day flight. Thank Goddess! I could really use some Morgana right now. I can't wait to see you!

April is the cruelest month...

2007-04-30T13:56:00.001-04:00

at least this last week of it has been. Last night Caramel started coughing up blood. We took her right over to the Vet, and they took Xrays and blood. We won't know till her blood tests come back in a for a couple of days but it looks like it's heartworm. When we first got her the rescue org told us that her heartworm would die after a year and monthly maintenance med alone would protect her which turns out, is not true. The fact that she is a Katrina rescue and from the South puts her at risk. The emergency Vet who coincidentally is from LA. too was great and patiently explained everything. He gave her hydocodone pills to supress the coughing, but last night she coughed up blood all over the house today she's OK. The treatment foe heartworm is dangerous and requires hospital stays. There may be clotting and sudden death but it's preferable to a slow, painful death from heartworms. She's young and she's strong so we are optimistic. And also cause we have to be. It's really a drag that all three of us now have illnesses.
Speaking of which, my Thurs visit to the Dr has resulted in more unanswered questions. It seem my latest blood tests are all negative which they tell me is very unlikely and highly frustrating. We had to use a new lab which my Dr. was not happy about. I will have to take new tests at a different lab. This and the uncertainty of not knowing what is going on, does not please me. But the codeine she prescribed has helped my smashed funnybone( call me Righty!) and my headaches. Now my dog and I are both on opiods. Go figure.
Torrential rains left water in the basement 2 weeks ago but apparently not enough for the gods of flooding. As I turned on the washing machine Mon, the water leaked directly out. RIP-we had to get a new one.( an energy-saving front-loader) Wed, I went to shopping for a kitchen table. (The one we have been using for the past year is my parent's folding bridge table, a present they received on their 25th anniversary- 46 years ago. Many, many Mah Jong and card games have been played on it.) I parked by the furniture store and as I was about to get out of the car, someone started banging quite violently on my window, nearly giving me a heart attack. It seems that in backing up in my tiny car, I had bumped him as he was sitting in his BMW with-the-Jersey-plates while he was swilling his designer coffee and he felt that breaking my side window with is fists would be an appropriate way expressing his rage. Words were exchanged, I tried to call a cop on my cell phone- can't really work those things, then finally, I got out of the car at which point the cowardly middle-aged Milquetoast fuck jumps away from me. I delivered him a severe tongue lashing then go into the store where the manger informs me that bully has removed his car from the spot behind me which, in fact, has been concealing the fact that it is a fire hydrant. It is 3:00, I'm in Park Slope, there are no parking spots but plenty of gridlock. It takes me 40 minutes to get home. Bad day.
But still not as bad as yesterday which started with an early morning walk, just me and my Caramelly.We were walking down the block and a man came towards us. Carrie didn't like his looks and crossed over in his direction, but she was still obviously restrained by a short leash. He, a middle-aged tough guy type jumps 10 feet in the air. I apologized cause I live on this block and also I'm nice. He screams at me, in a very aggressive manner," If I had my gun, I would shoot that fucking dog!" What is going on with all these bad-tempered middle aged men? Is it Spring fever? I swear, I'm going to start carrying Mace!

Words to ponder

2007-04-24T14:04:00.000-04:00

This was from a column in the Times today about Mayor Bloomberg's admirable attempt to "green-up" NYC and also preserve it for the future. He said, " if we don't act now, when? And if we don't act, who will?"
The columnist ( Haberman) writes, " Whether or not he meant to, he borrowed it from Hillel the Elder, a Jewish sage of 2,000 years ago."
" 'If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?' "
So simple, so just. Applicable to all living things and to every occasion. So after 2000 years, what's the hold-up?

Unreasonable justification

2007-04-20T10:43:00.000-04:00

50 ways to not recall? If Alberto Gonzales has such a bad memory, why is he the highest lawyer in the land? His sense of recall is tres Reaganesque! My favorite bit of his testimony:..." while reasonable people might decide things differently, my decision to ask for the resignations of these US attorneys is justified."
Justified unreasonability?
Is that the rationale that NBC used when airing that tape of the Virginia Tech killer.
Or the idea that it was the VT administration, not easy gun access, that was at fault in the tragedy?
Or the "surge campaign" in Iraq which has resulted in unprecedented numbers of deaths.
Or Arthur Kennedy and his right wingers determining what an individuals personal rights should be and a that woman is not capable of knowing her own mind?
Or Gov. Corzine's decision to ignore 2 simple laws of his state to put himself and the state in jeopardy?
Yeah, unreasonable justification sounds about right.

How about gun control as a preventative?

2007-04-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

The US Congress in all it's dubious, questionable wisdom, has legislated today against partial-birth abortion. Why, we wonder is it so pre-occupied with women's reproductive issues which should be a private affair in the first place? And yet today, even after the horrible massacre at Virginia Tech, they reject any talk or measures about gun control.We don't need to protect the living, only the unborn, is that it? There are virtually no gun rules in VA and you can buy anything with no vetting whatsoever at gun shows in most states. Like PA where those 12 little girls were murdered. How many of these bloody incidents will it take? How powerful of a lobby is the NRA, those ratbastards with their bear arms.
In other news, a minke whale was spotted in Brookyn, from Sunset Park in NY harbor. A neighbor told me the whale has gone into the Gowaus canal! So cool!
I needed cheer because Champ, a favorite doggie neighbor has gone missing. He is a Dogue de Bordeaux, like a french mastiff. His older brother Clifford was lost, jumped the fence or kidnapped in Dec, so his owner got another puppy, Champ. Clifford was discovered in upper Manhattan and was returned for a fee. I hope Champ will be returned too. We went to visit Clifford today,( the owners put up a higher fence, I noticed) he was playing with his cat, who's sweet and about a zillion years old. Caramel stuck her face between the bars in an unfriendly way and got scratched across her muzzle. She really has to get over this cat thing, I told her never to mess with them!
So, today I was supposed " prepare" ( drinking a gallon of echy liquid, fasting, and eliminating) for a colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow. Last night, the soppy foot of fate stepped in to postpone it. I roasted a pork loin that has been living in the freezer for way to long for my "last" supper. While it rested, I took a quick shower. When I came out, Carrie was not waiting at the bathroom door, as is her custom. Afraid for our dinner, I stuck my head out the door and so doing, put a wet foot on the slippery marble door sill. Down I went, landing on my funny bone which is a mis-nomer if I ever heard one. It is the oh-my-god-kill-me-I'm-dying from- the-pain bone. Nothing humerus about that, although I was quite giddy about not broken anything or smashed my head a la Kurt Vonnegut. I'm okay but have a sufficiency of pain for the moment thank you and do not need my belly pumped full of air. Also, I cannot lie on my left side, which is required.
Coincidentally, I injured the same arm that was used for a blood test on Monday which already bruised and swollen from the tech going through the vein.
So I'm typing one-handedly and grateful for the pain pills I have from the last Sjogren's flare.And feel like a little mischief.
My faithful reader and very dear friend LeftCoast sent me a link from her High School reunion. Someone posted this photo of her from 1967. She actually trusted me not to print it, can you imagine? How could I not share such gorgeousness!
Go All-Stars!

Oops, quelle faux pas! It is the Supreme Court who today handed down the Partial-Birth Bab decision that draws my ire. Congress passed this piece of shit legislation in 2003.
And guess what? That ass-kisser Guiliani endorses it!

#42, Jackie Robinson

2007-04-16T13:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the 60th anniversary of breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Many MLB baseball teams wore uniforms with the number 42 to commemorate the event. (Except on the Mets where the honor was granted to Mgr.Willie Randolph alone.) It was momenteous and opened many locked doors. As a little Bebe growing up, Jackie was a god in our house. I still remember the way my Father's face would light up when he spoke of him. Since we had four Jackies in our family, I naturally assumed that Jackie Robinson was kind of related. I mean, he was from Brooklyn! When I grew older I couldn't reconcile the fact that he was an officer in WWII, but was confronted by death threats for playing baseball. He was a gifted, accomplished, classy, dignified guy who made history as a person, player and civil rights activist. I was always very proud that it happened in Brooklyn. That was way back in the days when the term "role model" meant something positive and skill, not salary was celebrated. Who do kids idolize these days? Ai stupido, American Idol, I forgot. (Apparently a lot of kids are a not even playing baseball anymore. I read a recent article citing a steady decrease in the number of black players. I've been wondering if it has anything to do with urban centers where pick-up b-ball and football games are easier to find.)
I am truly not understanding the present cult of celebrity or why, 60 years down the road, it's a still funny and even okay to be racist, sexist and homophobic in the media or anywhere else. And mean, why is everyone so fucking mean- on TV and radio, in ads, in blogs? Whattha?
In the case of Imus and his "nappy ho" remark, he said it because really thought it would be okay. It's like, did you ever have a conversation with someone who made a casual racist or sexist remark while assuming that you were a bigot too? It's like that. Personally, I don't care if the jerk stays or goes, I don't do talk radio. Ads it's not about free speech. I just don't think anyone has the right to be a racist, sexist homophobe. And then be paid for it? We need to have a little more respect for Jackie's legacy.

Does Joey Fatone not rock???

2007-04-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

I'm still Dancin' with the Stars even tho they fill up the airways with redundant, gratuitous replays and I find the judges scoring biased and erratic.
Sorry, but Leeza was way better than Clyde, who, while adorable, cannot manage to get across the floor gracefully. I also took offense to his comment that dancing was not hard work. Sure! He was hardly working!
Which reminds me of Imus who deserves not to be working.
I don't follow b-ball, college ball or ladies ball, or any New Jersey team at all. But- a little solidarity for the home-girls, please. Aside from the fact that his comments were incredibly stupid, sexist and racist, how about a little support for the tremendous accomplishment for the hometown (tri-state area!) team!
Why has celebrity-diarrhea-of-the-mouth become so common?
Could it be the example set by our fearless leader, George II who stands by his ridiculous statements, even in the face of the truth?
Like, the death-to-Americans protests in Iraq which he spinned as, "proof of the democratic process working"? While today's news reported the longest battle there to date.
Also, from yesterday's Times, a study by the government finds that in India, over 50% of children are victims of physical and sexual abuse.
WTF, I don't even have a comment for that.
At the endodentist yesterday I had a follow-up for a root canal I had last year.
(remember good old tooth #18?) My twisted roots look good and have healed. Yay!, I'm so proud of myself! As if I did it myself!
The dentist (dontist?) was concerned when I told him about the Sjogren's and we spoke about it. Again, I was surprised and gratified that he knew what it was.
Because it was such a beautiful day, and I felt brave, I walked over to the rheumy's office to move my appt up to this month.
I guess I'm a bit in denial about the Sjogren's dx and I wanted to be sure of the diagnosis before I saw the dentist on Fri.
Or I wanted to hear that she was not sure it was SJS.
She's sure, it is.
I've never met anyone with Sjogren's- I'm quite lost in this. I'm totally bewildered by what's been going on in my body and the conflicting opinions I get from the drs.
A simple example, I am to have a colonoscopy next week. I got a leaflet telling me what to expect. Here, an excerpt:
Sedating medication will be given. For your safety, we cannot perform the examination if you are driving a car.
That is some image- a butt-probe on wheels!

We are not amused

2007-04-09T12:30:00.000-04:00

I am daily enraged by the many injustices I read about in the newspaper but this story leaves me speechless.
In response to complaints from adjoining residents, an amusement park outside Sacramento CA has decreed that screaming, yelling and laughing will no longer be allowed on rides. If anyone makes too much noise the ride will be stopped and the offenders will be ejected.
The obvious questions arise:
Why live near an amusement park in the first place?
How will they determine which ride participant does the screaming?
And most importantly,
Isn't it dangerous? Won't their little heads explode if they don't scream?

My dear (much older) brother thoughtfully
sent this cartoon from The New Yorker
in tribute to my age and my never-ending
quest for clarity and succor from the medical profession, who I fear, loathe and distrust.
So far this year, I've been to an internist, rheumatologist, pulmonologist, sleep doctor, opthamologist, and gastroenterologist.
This is in addition to "regular" check-ups.
Despite all the stress, strain and fatigue involved with doctor's visits (a total of 12 hours this week alone), being poked and prodded and sent for innumerable tests, scans and x-rays, none of these esteemed medical professionals seem to agree about any one aspect of my illness or treatment. They are each very quick and happy to contradict and even ridicule one another's diagnoses. I might have illness X. Or not. This diagnosis is definite. Or inconclusive. Or patently ridiculous. I'm taking too many meds. I need to take more meds.
My GP (who was the one who finally dx'd the fibro) refuses to even consider a DX of Sjogren's without a lip biopsy (uh, no). He told me to get a second rheumy opinion. The first rheumy I went to told me I had lupus (I did not) and the fibro would go away (ha). I tend to trust my current rheumy a little more because she has fibro herself. The GP insists I have migraines and need injectable meds. I think not. Does one get migraines in the teeth and jaw? Presently I have a sinus infection and my face hurts so badly that I asked for Tylenol#3 which I hate to take. I am taking antibiotics and will dutifully see the dentist and endodontist this week. The fun never quits.
During an gasto endoscopy this week, I learned that my esophagus is twisted,
This was interesting as the last colonoscopy I had revealed that I have a twisted colon. The last root canal I had showed that I have twisted tooth root canals.
Admittedly, I've always been slightly twisted, but what the hell? It's like I've been cursed by Chubby Checker!

It was Vladislav not Vladimir

2007-04-05T14:27:00.001-04:00

who was the tech at my sleep study last night. He was much more informative than Vladimir, my first study tech. I found out, among other things, that the nickname for Vladislav is Vlad, but Vladimir is called Dimi.
Go know.
Unlike my first study which I actually slept through, I woke about 3:00AM with god-awful terrible pain in my right eye, teeth and face and neck. There was a huge weather change here, from temps in the 70's to the 30's; added to that, I think I have a sinus infection and I must be having a Sjorgren's flare. My mouth and tongue are swollen and painful.The electro-probes, the tape and the mask on my head didn't help either. Vlad was very concerned and asked about the cause of the pain. I told him about the Fibromyalgia, which he was familiar with and Sjogren's, which he was not. He suggested I take tramadol, a pain pill I had sometimes take. While we waited to see if I'd go back to sleep, he looked it up. He not only researched it, he called 2 colleagues at NYU and Stony Brook.
He knows more about Sjogren's than many of my regular doctors. I was stunned! (I asked how he got into the sleep game and he said he was a clinical psychologist in Russia and got involved with sleep research.)
Well, after much tossing and turning, I went home at 4:30 AM but not before I caught sight of myself in the mirror.With all the wires, straps and connections, I was quite Borg-like.
Vlad said that with the CPAP, I did not stop breathing- a big plus. I did OK breathing through my mouth only. In a week or so, I will get a CPAP machine from the the sleep company. I will try the nasal pillows instead of the face mask and hope for the best.
When I got home, I thought I'd give Steve some extra sleep so I walked the dog who had already peed in the kitchen in apparent protest to my not being home overnight. Grrrr.
So today I've visited with my Russian doctor, our Dominican cleaning lady (Rosie-who calls me Mami) the Anglo tech who came to replace Steve's CPAP and our Pakistani roofer. A multitude of accents! It's been a long and busy day.
The roofer was a lovely, if chatty man but he was terrified of Caramel. I put her in the guestroom with the door closed while he did the estimate and she peed again! She has serious separation anxiety issues.
On the public radio show I listen to, they have been playing Bruce Springsteen all day. It has been comforting and way enjoyable and just now, as Rosie left, they are playing his "Rosalita( jump a little lighter!)". How cosmicall coincidental!

Sleeping around, again

2007-04-04T13:54:00.000-04:00

I am so nervous about seeing the Gastrointerologist this Fri (which will invariably involve the insertion of tubes in and about my person), I forgot that I have my follow-up sleep study tonight- the one with the CPAP machine.
I hope I can manage that mask/head-sling gizmo- anything that touches my face, head and hair ( that's why it's 2 inches long) is bound to be annoying.
Not unbelievably, it is also unattractive and weird looking.
No prob! My usual seductive, sex-pot, bedtime accessories are hand splints, teeth aligner, heating pad, socks (on, then removed) and the occasional elastic knee brace.
I won't have to change my style at all!
La Carmelita will not like this at all. She doesn't like Steve's CPAP.
Actually, she herself snores very loudly,
Maybe we need a CPUP?
(Forgive me if I've made that joke before- I just crack myself up)

Bush Bashing has been too long absent from this space, no?
He may be goon, but he's not forgotten.
He is critical of Congress "undercutting the troops" overseas even though they are untreated and maltreated when they finally come home- after too many tours of duty.
He believes that the American people support this war, despite the growing criticism from both parties.( Republicans starting to realize they cannot support him and retain any degree of credibility).
He thinks that present global warming regulations are sufficient and places blame on China for it.
He actually believes that despite the failure of the program, there is No Child Left Behind.
(Doh! On the radio they just said: chance of snow.)
His aides and advisors lie, and he swears to it.
He is stupid, spoiled, stubborn, seriously deluded and severely in denial.
My, that was satisfying!

In news from Israel:
The Green Leaf Party in conjunction with the Rabbinate, has announced that marijuana, is not kosher for Passover. What, no bitter herb on the seder plate?
Of course, the implication of this is that it is kosher at all other times.
It'll be a rockin' Rosh hashannah!

This recipe ( jewish biscotti) is not kosher for Passover either, but it has been requested. I have edited it slightly, to my taste.

Aunt Sarah's Mondlbrot (Almond bread)

-------- ------------ --------------------------------
3 cups flour
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
dash whiskey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips ( or M&M's, or raisins even)
pinch salt
1 cup nuts, ( any kind you like, or omit entirely)

In mixing bowl, cream together eggs and sugar until totally dissolved.
Add rest of ingredients except chips. Fold , adding chips and nuts.
Refrigerate for an hour for easier handling.
Form into two loaves about 2" wide on greased cookie sheet. Can sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture if desired. Bake 350F for 30 minutes. Slice while warm into 1/2" slices.
Return to cookie sheet, sliced side up and put back in oven for 10 minutes if you like them crisp.
Or, shut heat and place in turned off oven for a few minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Store in airtight container. They freeze really well.

The year of living Caramelly

2007-03-28T16:14:00.000-04:00

Today is the 1st anniversary of the day we got our Carmelita Linda, our doggy dream come true! She's come a long way in a year re: socialization. She likes most people and all kids but she's still a little paranoid about other dogs, esp females for no apparent (human) reason. I am shamed when other dog owners ask, is she friendly? Duh, I'm not sure, say I. For example, she's madly in love with a black lab across the street, but dislikes all other labs. I never know how she will react. Frankly, I'm missing out on a lot of extra-curricular doggy love. And I can never pet any of the neighborhood cats because she would like to eat them. Oh well, to quote Joe E. Lewis in Some like it hot, nobody is perfect.
Speaking of which, I have an appointment with a new gastroenterologist- I can say with all truth and accuracy that I am not a perfect asshole.

So, I'm enjoying Dancing with the Stars and loving Laila Ali. She is so gorgeous and fabulous and I love saying her name.
The other night, the English guy on the show called someone a geezer which amused and puzzled us all as it means old guy to us.
My Bro (on the case- he's a diamond geezer) looked it up and the following entry is what he found. I tried to e-mail it to Steve at work but it came back undelivered because the message contained a banned word. I cannot figure out what is objectionable unless it's the word "cockney". Geez Louise!
Who ever came up with that looks a dodgy geezer.

geezer n. As a contributor accurately suggests, this is very much like a British
equivalent of the American "dude". While Americans use "geezer" too, it implies someone much older and with much less street-cred than the British version.

brown bread, adj.
brown bread = dead. (That old geezer's brown bread now.)

Cockney Rhyming Slang.

commonly used in England

Diamond Geezer (or Diamond)
Someone who has done you a big favour and helped you out.
(Geezer = bloke = man) "You're a diamond geezer"

commonly used in England

Deep Freezer (Noun)
Geezer = Man. Who is that deep freezer on the dog and bone?
(Who is that man on the phone.)

commonly used in England

dodgy geezer, noun
suspicious looking man. (He looks a dodgy geezer.)

commonly used in British Isles

loadsa money
a rich person, that geezers got loadsa money!

commonly used in England

diamond geezer:noun
a realy wonderful man as in my sister found herself a diamond
geezer shes so lucky.

commonly used in England

Blogger has been hinky lately and messing with my font sizes.
Hint: if you hit the "control" key and your mouse wheel at the same time you can magnify the type.

Sleeping booty

2007-03-26T13:53:00.000-04:00

Well after spending the night sleeping with another man (in the sleep center) it has been determined that in a 4 1/2 hour period, I woke 20 times and I have moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
The sleep dr, a pulmonologist told me I will not be cured but a CPAP machine will certainly help me and might even improve my sinusitis and post nasal drip. He was really wonderful and helpful and explained everything not only in medical terms but in language I could understand.
I will have another study with the CPAP in 2 weeks to see what air pressure and what kind of mask works best.
As this solution is not invasive,surgical or pharmecutical I am going to give it a shot.
One drawback is, Caramel dog does not like Steve's CPAP- she will certainly not like two of them!

two posts in one day!!!!

2007-03-22T13:57:00.000-04:00

Okay, this one is boring, but still! My erstwhile cleaning lady Carol did not do such a good job but I was loathe to fire her. So she gave me a reason. She canceled then didn't return either of my calls to re-schedule until 3 weeks later. S
I went to the Internet for help. Me, who used to regard the previous phrase as an oxymoron! I went to the Servicemagic site and they hooked me up with a cleaning service. A dirty house stresses me out, man.
It is my custom to stay out of their way, so I am holed up by the puter sending words out into the ozone. The cleaner, Yamira is done and so dear reader am I. It got really warm out and it's time to walk the Caramel.

Fibrobnoxious

2007-03-22T11:48:00.000-04:00

The following article (slightly shortened) was posted on a fibromyalgia website I belong to, which I will not mention because I bitch about things there that I won't say here. And vice versa.
But, I am trying to become more evolved and less cave-dweller. Also, it has come to my attention that the understanding of others means a lot to me- whether I know the others or not.
I was very gratified recently when Cousin Joel put himself in my shoes to acknowledged the challenges I face. A little empathy goes a long way.
The yiddish word is rachmunes. (The way I throw these words around, you'd think I knew what I was saying)

So, this article is a composite of letters, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the facts, such as they are. But I relate totally to the many people speaking with one fibrobnoxious voice.

Fibromyalgia for non- Fibromites

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME

1. My pain - My pain is not your pain. It is not caused by inflammation. Taking your arthritis medication will not help me. I can not work my pain out or shake it off. It is not even a pain that stays put. Today it is in my shoulder, but tomorrow it may be in my foot or gone. My pain is believed to be caused by improper signals sent to the brain, possibly due to sleep disorders. It is not well understood, but it is real.

2. My fatigue - I am not merely tired. I am often in a severe state of exhaustion. I may want to participate in physical activities, but I can't. Please do not take this personally. If you saw me shopping in the mall yesterday, but I can't help you with yard work today, it isn't because I don't want to. I am, most likely, paying the price for stressing my muscles beyond their capability.

3. My forgetfulness - Those of us who suffer from it call it fibrofog. I may not remember your name, but I do remember you. I may not remember what I promised to do for you, even though you told me just seconds ago. My problem has nothing to do with my age but may be related to sleep deprivation. I do not have a selective memory. On some days, I just don't have any short-term memory at all.

4. My clumsiness - If I step on your toes or run into you five times in a crowd, I am not purposely targeting you. I do not have the muscle control for that. If you are behind me on the stairs, please be patient. These days, I take life and stairwells one step at a time.

5. My sensitivities - I just can't stand it! "It" could be any number of things: bright sunlight, loud or high-pitched noises, odors. FMS has been called the "aggravating everything disorder." So don't make me open the drapes or listen to your child scream. I really can't stand it.

6. My intolerance - I can't stand heat, either. Or humidity. If I am a man, I sweat...profusely. If I am a lady, I perspire. Both are equally embarrassing, so please don't feel compelled to point this shortcoming out to me. I know. And don't be surprised if I shake uncontrollably when it's cold. I don't tolerate cold, either. My internal thermostat is broken, and nobody knows how to fix it.

7. My depression - Yes, there are days when I would rather stay in bed or in the house or die. I have lost count of how many of Dr. Kevorkian's patients suffered from FMS as well as other related illnesses. Severe, unrelenting pain can cause depression. Your sincere concern and understanding can pull me back from the brink. Your snide remarks can tip me over the edge.

8. My stress - My body does not handle stress well. If I have to give up my job, work part time, or handle my responsibilities from home, I'm not lazy. Everyday stresses make my symptoms worse and can incapacitate me completely.

9. My weight - I may be fat or I may be skinny. Either way, it is not by choice. My body is not your body. My appestat is broken, and nobody can tell me how to fix it.

10. My need for therapy - If I get a massage every week, don't envy me. My massage is not your massage. Consider how a massage would feel if that charley horse you had in your leg last week was all over your body. Massaging it out was very painful, but it had to be done. My body is knot-filled. If I can stand the pain, regular massage can help, at least temporarily.

11. My good days - If you see me smiling and functioning normally, don't assume I am well or that I have been cured. I suffer from a chronic pain and fatigue illness with no cure. I can have my good days or weeks or even months. In fact, the good days are what keep me going.

12. My uniqueness - Even those who suffer from FMS are not alike. That means I may not have all of the problems mentioned above. I do have pain above and below the waist and on both sides of my body which has lasted for a very long time. I may have migraines or hip pain or shoulder pain or knee pain, but I do not have exactly the same pain as anyone else.

Author's note: This letter is based on communications with people throughout the world, males and females, who suffer from fibromyalgia. It does not represent any one of the over 10,000,000 people with FMS, but it can help the healthy person understand how devastating this illness can be. Please do not take these people and their pain lightly. You wouldn't want to spend even a day in their shoes...or their bodies.

Author unknown......

Spring, tra la

2007-03-17T13:21:00.000-04:00

Beautiful 1st day of spring today! We saw robins and crocus and all that vernal stuff. Doggie and I walked to the park- the 12' crust of ice over the lake is all melted!
As we crossed the bridle path we came upon some pony-pies which Caramel stopped to smell. That's fair, thought I, it's her job.
She then stuck her face in it and through her whole self over and into it.
It was my job to wash both her and her stinky coat and collar.
It's good luck, right? Or does one need to step in it to garner lucky results?
Oh my. I have not been posting cause, quite frankly, I have been stupid, useless, unimaginative, slightly depressed and have had difficulty cobbling two words together. Winter is a dark and painful time for me and I have the impulse to bitch frequently but I'd rather not.
In an unfortunate scheduling mix-up, I saw my GP last Mon, the rheumy on Tues and the sleep doc on Wed when I had my sleep study (I will report back with results). One positive- all three docs are familiar with FM and are understanding about it which means a lot in terms of confidence and support.
My rheumy (who has Fibro herself), was inconclusive about my blood tests re: Sjogren's or Lupus. We'll see. She prescribed Fiuricet (sp?) for the migraines and it seems to help, so far. At least the one time I took it did. I really resent having to take all these pills.
Steve is doing better and the doc was pleased with the results from the Enbrel he is taking.
In the course of the exam, we talked dogs. Unbelievably, her dog has a collapsed trachea as well as lupus and needs a slew of pills every day. Damn!
In other news, we finally sold my Mom's house, 2 years after her death. What a relief. The new owner is nice and has 2 small boys. My Mom would be pleased- me and Bro certainly are.
And, as my Cousin Shelly used to say, like that.

Thursdays in the Park with Sheila

2007-03-02T11:56:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, the gorgeous and sunny day, Caramel and I walked to the Park unaware of the danger lurking within. It pains me greatly to say, but I must report our first Bad-Dog incident. The lake is still frozen but there was a deep water-filled sinkhole by the path where some water birds were bathing. As we came around the bend Caramel saw 2 swans a-swimming and off she went in pursuit. I was caught totally unaware as she yanked the leash from my hand. She did not stop when I yelled "stop" which she normally does. Into the water and across the bridle path (3 feet deep with mud from the melting snow) she chased the swans until hissing and screaming, they flew away (thankfully!). We were both soaked and covered in mud. My throat hurt from yelling. I had to wash both her and her filthy pink jacket. Bad dog! She was appropriately contrite but I need to be more vigilant with her in the park re: Cats, squirrels and swans. Luckily it was a victim-less incident, unlike the unfortunate accident that transpired yesterday. My dear, innocent friend Sheila and I have a weekly date. We walk the dog, have lunch and generally fotz around.
We were walking on the transverse when a woman came towards us giving Caramel the bad eye. Because I am a considerate dog owner and realize that not everyone loves dogs, I pull her leash in short around questionable persons.(Her leash is an extendable 16" Flexi which rolls up into a hard plastic case that is also the handle.) As I pulled up on the handle to draw the leash in, I clocked poor Sheila on the mouth. She started bleeding and swelled up immediately. Luckily her teeth weren't hurt. She is OK but it scared the hell out of me.
Later she said: I don't know what I said but just don't hit me again!
We are all going out to dinner tonight to celebrate her 62nd birthday.
I will try to show some restraint.

To sleep, perchance to be filmed

2007-02-28T12:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had a visit with the sleep doctor .
He's very aware of Fibromyalgia and he is optimistic about helping me as there have been many studies linking Fibro with sleep disorders.
I will have to go for a sleep study where I will be hooked up to sensors and filmed as I sleep . How creepy is that? And I have to sleep alone! No Steve! No dog!
The study will determine how my sleep is disordered and how it can be fixed.
He gave me an article from Sleep Review magazine, this is the link below.

http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/issues/articles/2007-01_01.asp

The article is very interesting, although a lot of it is over my head. It's also very gratifying to know that fibro is being recognized for what it is.
Going to a doctor and getting validation about one's disease is very comforting.

Today is Carol-my-cleaning-lady-day. I am holed up in the office in order to stay out of her way, hence my writing here today despite my fuzzy state. ( see article for details)

Happily, it is a sunny day in the 40's. I am waiting for Carol to finish so Carrie and I can go to the park. I need sun desperately.

I am taking a little cheer from the fact that Bush's house of cards may be starting to crumble albeit slowly.
His reversal on talks with Syria and Iran is crucial. So is accountability in Iraq and Afghanistan ( where 23 died in an attempt on Cheney). And in the Armed Forces. In his administration the phrase" support our troops" is only one-way, to the battlefields. Again and again. Their reward? Sub-standard medical care, abuse of their benefits and withdrawal of pay.
Oh yeah, and we have no business putting them there in harm's way in the first place.

Mom's birthday

2007-02-26T09:43:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that she's been gone 2 years already, she would have been 94 today. We certainly have longevity in my family.
Yesterday, we went to visit my only surviving aunt, Sarah who just got out of the hospital. She is 96 1/2, has all her wits as well as her teeth and looks incredible.
Altho she gets periods of depression and wants to die already, she still has strength left.
We are each others link to my mother and it was wonderful to be with her- her hugs and kisses are just like my Mom's.
We had a snowstorm on the way home from Janie's. The flakes were the size of potato chips, Today is above freezing so everything turned to slush. Not unlike the condition of my own self.
I got my Aunt's recipe for mandelbrot ( jewish biscotti) and a snowy day is perfect for baking. I might just do it.

Is it spring yet?

2007-02-16T16:13:00.000-05:00

It's come to my attention that I have been inattentive herewith. Believe you me no one wanted to hear from me lately. It's too cold- the weather is too severe. Too many days of high winds and temps in the teens have rendered me weak, dull, boring, uninteresting, grumpy and dyspeptic.
We were all excited cause Morgana was coming for a short visit but the weather gods decided the first storm of the year should be Valentine's day and all flights were canceled and so, her trip. We are way disappointed. We were both looking forward to her California sunshine.
Caramel hates the cold but she really likes the snow. At the playground today, which is covered with hard crust snow, she saw her buddy Nitro ( who looks like her but at twice the size) and met a new puppy named Suki. They had a grand time chasing each other over the ice and stealing each others sticks while us humans waited, freezing our asses off. Praises to the inventor of synthetic fleece!
I can't believe how Congress is dragging it's feet over an Iraq resolution. Politicians suck. And Guiliani is running for president, seriously? That would be several steps closer to a police state.
And why the hell is Anna Nicole Smith so famous and when will we stop hearing about her?
Bah, media!

2007: Excelsior!

2007-01-03T11:45:00.000-05:00

2006 was a crappy year, this year, we hope to do better, I'm studying hard so I'll improve on my medical tests. Ha, ha. ( I hate the term "lol" - use your words, dammit!) Excelsior is a wonderful word meaning "ever upwards". It is the state motto of New York and is also a euphemistic term for sawdust, which was used to stuff furniture during the depression. My Dad, an upholsterer, was hugely amused by that grand description. It is not a bad philosophy tho; ever upwards, move along, get on with it. So let's do.
I lost my post in tribute to the godfather of us all, James Brown; dear JB: so good, so good, I got you. He was a constant player in the soundtrack of my life and in the life of all present day R&B and most modern music. Funk and soul, please, please, please. What a strange trio, JB, Gerald Ford and Saddam Hussein ( The big payback!), dead in the same week. Ford's death recalled the awful mess of the 70's and Vietnam. It's shocking that 30 years later we are enmeshed in a far more dangerous situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. I break out...in a cold sweat.
I myself have risen like a phoenix from the ashes of the old year. Probed and scanned, my nodules and lesions have proven to be non-cancerous. The doctor congratulated me on quitting smoking 19 years ago and said I was smart to do so. I sure wish others would follow my lead. ( No names please, you know who you are) The lung stuff is probably related to my new disease, Sjorgren's Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. A pain in the ass but it won't kill me. I'm really, really tired of being ill all the time and of being tired. I finally got someone to clean the house, I hope it works out and I don't have to clean after her. I am usually loathe to post when I'm so grumpy,uninteresting and loathsome but here it is anyway.To make up for it, here are sweet photos of Shelly and Ruthie and Michael, up from Florida a few weeks ago. We all had a lovely lunch at Lundy's in Sheepshead Bay. Carrie loved Shelly so much, she sat in his lap.

We spent a lovely Xmas day at Joel and Audrey's with their wonderful fake in-laws and pseudo-grandsons. Then Joel got double pneumonia and wound up in the hospital. Oivavoi. I wish us health in the new year, everyone.
The cleaning lady (who is gorgeous, by the way) did a nice job. Happier. A clean house is certainly a mood elevator.
Blogger has made improvements here in blogland, there is now a spell checker. It is shocking to see how many words I misspell. But you, dear reader will not know my lexicologic shame. Damn, I got a red line under lexicologic. Must be another one of those imaginary words I find in my head. I'll change it to lexical. Bien entendu.

Best Wishes for 2007

2007-01-01T09:55:00.000-05:00

Clever holiday wishes from the ACLU

2006-12-12T12:42:00.000-05:00

Equal rights bless us, everyone!

An Overdue Visit
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the nationFriends of Freedom knew it was a special occasion.Lady Liberty stood taller just off the shoreHer torch shining brighter than a few weeks before
But it wasn't the flame turning her cheeks all rosyIt was thoughts of Snowe, Feingold and Nancy PelosiAnd leaders from every side of the aisleWho would soon bring the Bill of Rights back into style.
The Amendments had all hurried out of their beds -Which was no easy task, they were nearly in shreds -And they rushed to the window on papery feetAs a jolly old man flew right over their street.
"Could it be!?" they inquired as the roof shook and trembledAnd they crept toward the mantle, peaceably assembled,Just as someone emerged from the chimney with flairIn a shiny red suit, with a shock of white hair
And a top hat, and pants all in red, white and blue -"Wait a minute," the Amendments exclaimed, "Who are you?""Don't be frightened my children," he said, "it's no scam."You can't have forgotten your old Uncle Sam!"
"Holy crap!" said Free Speech. "Stop right there!" yelled Bear ArmsAnd Privacy cried "Who shut off the alarms?!"The Fifth remained silent, but Uncle Sam said"We've been having some trouble, but Freedom's not dead."
The Amendments were cautious. "It's just been so long"We've seen Liberty lost, we've seen so much go wrong."The President's trying to mangle and warp us,"The Fourth is in tatters, so's Habeas Corpus!"
The old man sat down - he had had quite a ride -But he told them "Don't worry, the Law's on our side,"'Cause the nation's fed up and more people are crying"For Justice and an end to illegal spying,
"And secret abductions by the CIA,"And laws that would take women's choices away,"And Gitmo tribunals and secret detention,"And other intrusions too numerous to mention - "
"Not so fast," said a grinchity voice from aboveAnd Don Rumsfeld pushed past the Fourteenth with a shove.He was covered in soot and he looked kind of scary.It seemed like his Christmas had not been so merry.
The Amendments said they weren't happy to see him:"You tried to throw all of us in the museum!"You've done so much the Constitution forbids!""And I would have gone on, but for you meddling kids!"
Uncle Sam told him "Rummy, your plans just won't do,"So we've got a brand new timetable for you!"And as Rumsfeld retired and crept into the nightThe Amendments cried out "Have a good secret flight!"
From the distance they heard him reply with a snort."Bye-bye, Rummy!" they answered, "we'll see you in court!"Uncle Sam rode the chimney up out of the roomAnd, like Frosty, he said "I'll be back again soon."
But they heard him exclaim "Oh, and just one more thing!"This year, when the holiday bells start to ring,"Try to honor religion. Honest faith can't be wrong."It's America, can't we all just get along?
"So, on Christian," he cried, "Muslim, Hindu, and Jew!"On Quaker! On Shaker! And Atheist too!"On Buddhist! On Taoist! And to show we're not chickens"We'll file a few lawsuits defending the Wiccans!
"Your belief is your right, so get out there and savor it."Uncle Sam's not a preacher, and he doesn't play favorites!"So this holiday season, whatever you do,Warmest wishes for Freedom, from the ACLU.

Josh & Me, circa 1994

2006-12-09T12:42:00.000-05:00

This is the kid, er man ( now 14 ) whose Bar Mitzvah we went to last week. This was my class of "Terrific Twos", I played my guitar at circle time and everyone got a chance to strum. Josh and I fell in love the first time our eyes met and our families became intertwined. Not your usual Bar Mitzvah, his parents, Leonore and Amina are a bi-racial lesbian couple. The service was officiated by a lesbian rabbi and cantor (who sings) and the Jewish congregation itself is housed in a lovely church which shares it's space on Saturdays. It's so cool! One of Josh's Moms, as well as my friend Karen became Bat Mitvahs last year in the same synagogue. It's a very egalitarian bunch. Altho I am a godless heathen , I always enjoy the worship experience, the singing and the festive vibes. I also took the opportunity to say Yiskor, a prayer for the dead, for my Uncle Jack, it would have pleased him. There was a lovely party afterward at the Grand Prospect Hall- featured in several movies- and we danced to a waltz as well as hip hop.There was a photo-montage of Josh's life displayed, including a photo like this. I was very flattered to be included in it, altho I didn't recognize myself till I was told it was me. Oivavoi, 12 years pass so quickly! He's tall and grown-up but he still has that gorgeous Joshie face!

Bad mood and thing in the news.

2006-12-06T12:59:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'm in a bad mood and only mocking will help. Apparently, I have something called Sjorgren's Syndrome, which is bad enough but I went webside to research it and was horrified to find it under "Shogun's" Doesn't anyone care about spelling anymore?
Now that the Iraq study group has released it's findings (the war is a big mistake-what a surprise!) there should be a Congressional study group to discover why virtually ALL our elected officials elected to go to Iraq in the first place for no damn good reason.
The Times ran an article about e-mail "sign-offs" last week. A woman responded in a letter to the editor that she considered the salutation "Peace" insipid and meaningless. I would like to beat the crap out of her.
And from today, Stranger than fiction:
According to the town's Islamic court, residents of Bulo Burto, Somalia who do not pray 5 times a day will be beheaded, starting this Saturday. Pray or die!
An Israeli businessman who made his fortune in Internet gambling sites is offering $1billion to the Palestinian Prime Minister for a peasce accord with Israel. He is offering $100 million just for a sit-down with The Israeli PM. He says, "the killing must be stopped". That's putting his money where is mouth is.
Padua, became the first Italian city to allow homosexuals and unmarried couples to register formally as families, thus pissing off the Vatican. I would wif-ed weathily in Padua!
There was a particularly annoying article about people who spend upwards of $100 apiece to bring their 2 and 3 year olds to the theatre, a great place for toddlers, with the opportunity to sit quietly for 2 hours! What a pleasure for the rest of the audience.
Eech, we rented Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and actually couldn't finish watching that interminable dreck. Why are bad movies so long?
And why did this typeface change for no reason? Grrrr.

New dimensions in cyberphotos!

2006-12-05T13:43:00.000-05:00

It took some doing, but I finally got a Flickr badge here on my blog. I'm so excited! You can click on any photo to enlarge it.
Here are some photos, taken last Saturday by our favorite photographer and Carmelita chronicler, Jasper whose cute little face is included.. We had just returned from a Bar Mitzvah which is why we are so spiffed up. I will return later to tell you all about it, I've been too long at this keyboard.

We are good citizens

2006-12-04T17:09:00.000-05:00

Since my disablement I no longer take dance class or go to the gym to work out, so the high point of my (our) day is our doggy walk. (We both need our exercise) We live near a Parkway (site of the first bicycle path in the country!) which is transversed by ramps leading to a footbridge. The ramps are closed in and Caramel can run them unleashed. One day last week, at the top of the ramp, I found a spilled-out gift bag of stuff that looked like it belonged to a teacher, hand-made greeting cards from students, audio tapes and address labels. I was horrified to think that someone lost her stuff or worse, was mugged, so I went on-line to try to find her. I couldn't find her phone number but I was surprised to find a site that listed the occupants of her building by apartment number. The name was not the same as hers but I called and left a message anyway. The return call was from her ex-husband and this is what he told me; they are divorced but on good terms, she had thrown the stuff away, apparently when she moved out, and someone went through her trash and left the stuff on the ramp. She was injured on the job as a teacher had to retire. He was so surprised and gratified that a stranger went to all that trouble to find her that he called twice to thank me. He said he was an immigrant from Pakistan and in this country for 10 years. He is the owner of a construction company and he offered to paint my house for free! Can you imagine? A good deed appreciated!
In other news, we have a forecast of snow and temps in the 20's tonight. It was 67 degrees last Fri. What the heck! Miss Carrie, southern belle, does not like it. C'est tres froid!

Scanned, probed, rayed, and worse, shopping.

2006-12-01T09:41:00.000-05:00

This week, more medical comedies of errors, more mammos and a cat scan. I never do get to see the cat. I know everyone is waiting on tenterhooks for the news: yes I got a winter coat! I braved a department store, found a fat brown coat that covers my significant butt and with hood for bad weather AND it was 1/2 price. Because I had car custody that day and gifts to buy, I made many, many stops to shop; ugh. In the supermarket I overheard two rather prim young women of a certain religious sect buying a bag of instant-light charcoal briquets. She: "If it doesn't work, we can use it in the summer." Alarmed, I stuck my nose in saying, what are you using them for? "Something, they replied" Said I, I don't mean to be nosy but this has chemicals in it and must be used outdoors. Actually, the bag had a huge warning printed on half the bag with the words carbon monoxide and use outside only. Oh, they replied, thank you for telling us. God certainly saved us today! Thought I, No, it was me and God would have done better to teach you a little practical knowledge like learning how to read labels!

Re: comment modification or Why progress stinks

2006-11-28T14:19:00.000-05:00

I got an email from a faithful reader re: the above. Herewith, the skinny:

Hey. Blog comments only get printed after you approve them? Is that true? Seems like that will take some of the fun out of it. But were you getting some meanspirited or pornographic comments?

Well no, but inspired by our fearless leader George Shrub, I am entering into a new era of secrecy and clandestiny. Is that a word? It should be.
But yeah, the real story is that when I switched to Blogger in Beta (in a misguided effort to simplify blogging) I screwed up and changed the settings. Ineptitude: another inspiration via our clueless Shrub!
I am taking the liberty of posting this so that others may know the truth which is of course that only Californians and nieces comment on this thing anyway and everyone knows how polite that population is. See how the writer refrained from using an exclamation point after the first word, "hey"? Also, the only mean-spirited comments are from me, speaking of which, we had a terrible shooting in NYC; an unarmed man, the night before his wedding was shot by police 50 times. In sharp contrast to the former mayor, Rudy Giuliani who tried very hard to make NYC a police state, Bloomberg offered an apology and demanded an investigation. It turns my stomach when I hear about Giuliani's run for a GOP Presidential bid. His one claim to fame was to unite the country in empathy after 9/11. Don't we have higher elected officials who should have been responsible for that? And oh yeah, he's also well-known for trying to close the Brooklyn Museum because he objected to an art exhibit saying it was anti-Catholic. Such high morals from a man who was living in Gracie Mansion (the official residence) with his wife and his mistress.
Yesterday (after an hour-long wait for my semi-annual bone scan) I went shopping for a suitable-for-dogwalking-in-the-winter coat. I found none of course but I did get a ski jacket for Caramel, in teal to match her eye. At least one of us will be warm this winter.

T-day 2006

2006-11-25T15:16:00.000-05:00

We had cold, rainy terrible weather but the trip-across-3-states was OK and we dodged bad traffic. The turkey was succulent, and so were the grandnieces.The kugel ( I had to make two this year- my brother and niece should look into Kugeleaters Anonymous, really) was raisin-y good, and it was a great Thanksgiving even if we did get home at 1:00 AM. As extra added attractions, Charlie and Cecily came with their angel baby and Sarah took me over to her house so I could have alone time with Pete's dogs who I love severely. We had a right jolly time.
Grandniece#1 is wearing a sweater of mine that I bought 29 years ago, #2 is quiet and sedate,#3 is always in motion. The whole three of them are so scrumptious, I could eat them up! I took that picture of Steve and Bro; not bad huh? I'm resolved to become friends with the camera. If only I could remember to actually have it about my person.
Caramel was left at home and we had to hire a dogwalker cause all the neighbors were out of town. We brought back leftover turkey as compensation.
Yesterday I called my Aunt Sarah who was at her granddaughter's. She could not come to the phone cause she was feeding her new great-greatgrandson. How cool is that?

No smokin' and dancin'

2006-11-17T15:19:00.000-05:00

The Great American Smoke-out was yesterday; it was also my 19th anniversary of not smoking. Hooray for me! I celebrated by having a chest Xray and a Mammogram; November is health (or lack thereof) month! We get all our check-ups before the eating, I mean holiday season begins and the winter weight piles on and my activity level lessens in direct correlation to the thermometer dropping. And speaking of activity, I would like to formally protest the choice of Emmitt Smith as winner of Dancing with the Stars. It was a tough choice, he is gorgeous,delectable and toothsome, owns the music and moves beautifully but Mario Lopez danced choreography that was much more difficult and he looked like a professional. He should have won. Emmitt, of course is a jock. Could it be that he was chosen cause sports fans voted for him? Crossover, I love it! I am thrilled that dancing is on TV at all, much less so popular. Maybe this will start a trend to Classical, modern, and contemporary dance shows! With dogs! Everyone loves dogs, why aren't there any on TV? Why?
You know, some have dementia, I have tangentia. It's a short trip from dancing to dogs, isn't it?
Under the weather, I've been trying to cut down on my news intake but here are 2 bits for my memory book:
The 6000 member Bnei Menashe tribe in northeast India has been recognized as one of the 10 lost tribes of the Bible. Using their right of return, 200 Indians have immigrated to Israel. Our homies! I wonder how long they were lost? And are there 9 tribes left or what?
The reigning Miss Israel, an army private, was given special dispensation so she won't have to carry a semi-automatic weapon. She said it bruised her legs. Can I hear an "Oivavoi"?
The Pope is still insisting on celibacy, a fashion model in Brazil died of anorexia and George2 (sanctioned by the new Senate) is selling nuclear fuel to India (our landsmen!) even though they haven't signed the non-proliferation treaty.
And it so goest. Have a good weekend!!!

Who's the cutest waggie-tail puppy-girl?

Steve's Party in pictures

2006-11-15T15:53:00.000-05:00

I finally got my lazy ass in gear and slaved over a hot computer all day to downloaded some of Steve's pix. I also stole pix from niece Sarah. (Barbara said she took photos of everyone but they will probably spend eternity in her camera.) It's a pain cause I can only do them one at a time although I know there must be an easier way but no, I got to wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm too tired to be Elvis today so I will not label them. But if you are clever enough to come up with the song references in this post or correctly identify (or send) one or more of the pastries below, I will name names, you betcha by golly wow.

Cakeboy at 50

Barbara & me, we shrunk for some reason.

Tina and sons #E2 & #B3.

Me & Caramelly at belly level

My darling Aunt Sarah, watching Carmelita kiss me said, " are you aware that she just licked her behind before she kissed you?"
Omigod, not really!

Grandniece S and nepew#3, in a Gameboy zone.

Roz kissing me in the new kitchen which by the way, rocks. And it works!

Camille & JR( middle and left) came from Florida! Cousin Jane ( in pink) left her brand-new grandson to come!

Breathing a sigh of relief

2006-11-08T13:41:00.000-05:00

Well, this is the first election in a long time that has not displeased me. The House and Senate have a Democratic majority, Rumsfeld has resigned, we have a new governor in NY.Saints and gods and whoever be praised. There is the possibility of a solution and end to this mess in Iraq and a hope that priorities in Washington will change. Yay for Americans who voted! Let's all cross our fingers and hope for the best.
I gotta go chastise the hound. She hid my slipper on the mantel who I couldn't see it.

Autumn leaves of red and gold

2006-11-05T08:59:00.000-05:00

Cold weather, full moon, can't sleep. I had a perilous day yesterday. I took Caramel for an early morning walk- apparently it was too early for drivers to obey traffic rules. We were crossing with the green light when a guy (!) just sailed through the red, almost hitting me. I saw his face, he was looking the other way. I screamed at him just as the car behind him followed suit and almost hit Carrie, which totally freaked her out. So, we all decided to have a cozy day at home. Steve didn't feel good and slept most of the dayand we had to decline an offer of Knicks tickets for last night. Being in possesion of a lovely hambone from last week's party, I decided to make black bean soup and used my Mom's old heavy-duty pot.The soup was great but when I was cleaning up, I hoisted a too-heavy tray then tripped and fell, spraying the entire dining room with black bean soup, breaking my favorite bowls, lacerating my left hand on the shards and smashing my knee and right hand. I am nothing if not thorough. The cuts were bad but I'm OK, just really sore and feeling stupid. I was a basket case last night- a little post traumatic shock flashback from my accident 2 years ago, a dose of feeling sorry for myself and a feeling of extreme shame. This is a very unsteady time of year for me! I needed a scotch, 3 hours of Deep Space Nine, Singin' in the Rain and cheesecake to calm me.
So I am blogging now because I started the newspaper and got too disgusted. Stupid humans! Stupid Americans! I really hope people will get off their self-involved, complacent asses and vote this Tuesday. In order to be in the world, one must be a part of it.
It's a beautiful, if dangerous world. I took Carrie to Prospect Park, which is so gorgeous now, it's ridiculous. One of my favorite places since childhood, it is landscaped, but also has a natural forest and a dog beach. There was no one around, so I let her loose and we ran in the meadow, scrunched in the leaves, chased squirrels in the woods and barked at ducks on the lake. It was a perfect day. All this goodness had to lead to bad because the next day, while we were out, she attacked and killed the fur strip in the hood of my ski jacket, and spread the fuzz everywhere. It was my fault- I didn't leave her any shoes. Although she has many toys and balls, she prefers our shoes as companions when we are out. She does not chew them, she just moves them around the house, removing the inserts in the process, and deposits them in separate rooms. For example, if it is a muddy gardening shoe, it goes on the couch. Still, she is our perfect darling poochie. Our lucky can you get?

Post-partyum

2006-10-30T13:17:00.000-05:00

In a great flurry of cleaning, de-dusting, unpacking, arranging, planning, inviting, shopping, buying, cooking, cleaning, re-arranging and decorating, Steve's 50th birthday party was achieved. All systems were go and a wonderful time was had by all the fantastic friends, superlative relatives and marvelous neighbors who attended. The food was beauteous and delicious, most of it from Fairway and Costco, blessings on them. The Most Excellent Miss Caramelita Linda was an extraordinarily well-behaved poochie and turned out to be quite the party animal despite the 40 or so guests, who themselves were delightful. Camille and JR came in from Florida and made themselves kitchen slaves. Audrey made a huge cheesecake, Tina made a huge Halloween cake, Jeanette brought a huge pie and I got a cake for 48, chocolate with chocolate mousse filling and cream cheese frosting and fudge roses. My Aunt Sarah said we had too much cake but the birthday boy said, his face aglow, it was just enough. God, I love that man.
Listen, there's tons of cake in the freezer. Came on over and have a piece!
Chris and Char couldn't attend the party cause the new baby they adopted came on Friday! She is quite the adorable dumpling. Much joy and love to them.
And Jack and Gina and Anne-Marie and Chriss, who were missed. We are both thinking about you, sending our love and hoping for a quick return to normal cells and good health.
Now it looks like life at chez lui has the potential to make the return to something close to normal, what ever that may be. At least the house is in order once again. Now I have time to consider other possibilities, including more fun for me, and well-deserving Stinky, too. I am after all, "retired" ( which is a euphemism I like to use instead of disabled) and have extra time that I would like to see better spent. Let's see how that goes.
In the meantime, we've got mondo cake, and pictures to come!!!

Broken of heart,: the World Series continues

2006-10-23T15:55:00.000-04:00

Game 7, 9th inning, Mets at bat, bases loaded, 2 outs. No hit, no HR, no pennant, no dice, no soap radio. And now I must root for the Cardinals, the very team I despised only days ago. For I am a National League fan, born and bred. A strange phenomenon, that. The Series with Detroit is tied, 1-1. Go Red Birds!
Remember Tom Sellek in Magnum PI? He alway wore a Tigers cap. I used to think he was dreamy but now I hear he may be Charlton Heston's replacement as head of the NRA. Or is that an oxymoron?

Game 7 tonite!

2006-10-19T10:14:00.000-04:00

I have happiness. Mets rookie pitcher John Maine totally disregarded the Cy Young award winner Carpenter last night, winning for the Mets 4-2, altho the star of the game has to be the beauteous Jose Reyes. I had heart palpitations all game long. We lost El Duque but Lo Duca came through.Two Dukes in one team! Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night.
Is there anything as stimulating as post-season baseball? When it goes 7 games? Especially with your own beloved team involved? Priceless!!!!
Since I have apparently lost my meager readership anyway,(y'all give up on me? is there no one with baseball in their blood out there?) I will indulge myself:

MEET THE METS
Words and music by Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz, 1962

MEET THE METS,
MEET THE METS,
Step right up and greet the Mets!
Bring your kiddies,
bring your wife;
Guaranteed to have the time of your life
because the Mets are really sockin the ball; knocking those home runs over the wall!
East side, West side,
everybody's coming down
to meet the M-E-T-S Mets of New York town!

Yeah, baby!
Meanwhile, Tigers are burning bright the jungles of Detroit, licking their chops and waiting to pounce on the victors of tonight's game.

Walk your dog, not Alberto Pujols

2006-10-18T11:57:00.000-04:00

This is was sign held by a fan at Busch stadium last night. Cardinal Power slugger Pujols has been routinely walked to avoid hitting home runs. This strategy failed last night when he got a winning run. After using 67 pitchers,the final was 4-2. It was my fault, I shouldn't have said anything about Glavine, who gave up 3 runs in 4 innings. I put the hoodoo on it. Tonight, the Mets are back home for game 6. Twenty years ago I got married and the Mets won the World Serious. Both these events had wonderful and far-reaching implications. But my marriage is forever, championship titles are not. May the gods of baseball, in their infinite wisdom, smile upon us who are so pathetically loyal and deserving. It's really hard for me to stay up as late as is necessary to watch these games. But like an AL pitcher at bat, I'm willing to make sacrifices.

Rainout / Cosmic Trigger Event today

2006-10-17T13:01:00.000-04:00

There was a monsoon in St Louis so no NLCS game 5. last night. But we are likin' this "Studio 60" show and find it to be quite amusing. If only Aaron Sorkin scripted the real world!
Nelson, our wood guy didn't show. I called, he said he forgot about me. Nice.
The cleaner showed but had a bit of an attitude.I must have imagined all those tissues.(If you know me even a little, you know that tissues are a recurring theme, a leitmtoif as it were, in my life.)
I was going to bitch and complain today but I am actually too blue to work up much outrage. Feh, I'm sad and disgusted and overwhelmed. Hey, that's bitching, as opposed to bitchin' which is another story. I just realized that today is 2 years since I broke my wrist. The date, rain and the 9 screws in my arm reminded me. Long story short: Earlier that day, wake for a friend. That night, bad sidewalk, very dark street, I tripped and I flew. I achieved a 4 point landing on each hand, my left knee and the right side of my head. We sued the rat bastards and they settled just last week, for less, my lawyer said, then we could have gotten. But I don't care. I just want to be done with it. It was horrible. Twilight Zone horrible. Two years ago, so much has happened. Unbelievably, Steve got flak at work because left to pick me up from the hospital. He told them to take the job and shove it which was lucky cause I couldn't walk for several weeks and needed someone to bathe, groom, walk, feed, and take me to hand therapy. HISTORICAL NOTE: It was during this time that Steve, sole practioner and master of the kitchen, honed his technique and went from very good cook to great cook. He intoxicated me with culinary treats and I had to ask myself, why the heck should I do what he does so well? It is only the novelty and enticement of my new kitchen that has lured me back into cooking. That, and I"m the only one who knows where anything is. Location of equipment is subject to change!

So A friend in Israel sent an email about the Cosmic Trigger event. Here, the gist of it:

All we ask is positive thoughts of love, prosperity,healing, wealth, kindness, gratitude be focused on.

This UV beam comes into full affect for 17 hrs on the 17th of October 2006. No matter what time zone you are in the hours are approximately 10:17 am on the 17th of October to 1:17 am on the 18th October. The peak time will be 17:10 (5:10 pm) on the 17th October. You do not need to be in a meditative state through out this time, though would be beneficial. The main key time no matter what time zone you are in will be the peak time of 17:10 (5:10 pm).

It doesn't make time zone sense but you know, what could be bad about everyone thinking good thoughts all day? We all need some good vibrations, no?
If you have any to spare, send them out to my lovely friend and ex-neighbor who would do anything for anybody, Anne-Marie. She was recently and suddenly dx'd with lymphoma. Here she is with my darling Peanut, who used to hang out in my backyard before they moved away.

Be one with the cosmos!
Supress those negative thoughts.
Send out the love, folks.
Think thoughts of peace and joy.

Life is fucking scary.

Vernal equinox 2006- delayed gratification

2006-09-27T11:18:00.000-04:00

Last Friday was the Jewish New Year, 5767. May it bring health and happiness to all. We had a big family dinner here ( what was I thinking?) mainly because the kitchen is finally functional and we wanted to have a party. Oy, it was fun but too much work and unseasonably hot, too.
We were in Cape Cod earlier in the week to see Rosie & family in from Israel, Mel from NC and her parents ( in their 80's) who drove up from Fla.
The leaves are already starting to change in Mass and it was gorgeous. Hmmm, lobster rolls and ice cream. It seems that New Englanders are positively obsessive about ice cream AND the Red Sox. Truth or myth? Wherever you go you find shops selling T-shirts with rude messages about the Yankees, " they stink" and worse. A National league fan, I laughed at them twice as hard cause the The Mets have clinched their division; there is joy in Mudville!The barometer is playing nasty games with my head and body- another sign of autumn. The streets are quiet and empty cause the kids are back in school.It's also time to take in all my houseplants as the nights are getting cool. And so it goes- the beautiful, golden days before winter comes along and going out is a major clothing production.I will need a new coat as I will be dog-walking for the first time this winter. This will be Carmelita's first winter in the north so she will need a coat too.

I wrote this last month and apparently hit save instead of publish. Life is hectic and confusing and I have cut down on current events in favor of domestic insanity, boring to any but those involved. Still, these entries will someday allow me to look back and laugh. Ha.
A lot has happened in a month. Carrie got her coat, a traffic-stopping pink ski jacket but still shivers in the cold. She is very fond of my shoes and placing them on beds and furniture- without ever chewing them or anything else since the 6 months we've had her. But today she managed to get the orthotic of of my shoe and chewed it up. They are expensive and require a podiatrist visit. Grrrrr.
My contractor is seemingly never coming back- he told me not to call him while he's working (?) and hung up on me and will not return my calls. Our shower door is unusable, there are still black marks on my new kitchen tile and the outside work he said he would do isn't going to happen. As I did a lot of the general contracting anyway, we decided to look for contractors on our own and there has been a steady stream of masons, chimney sweeps and wood re-finishers.
Our contractor ruined our maple dining room floor but will will wait to fix it- I can't stand the thought of packing up another room again. We needed the new window stained and sealed, but the guy only did one coat and must come back. We hired someone to clean the inside of the house to get rid of the pounds of reno dust- she avoided tops of furniture, beneath furniture and the blinds which was the only specific I asked for and she came back. I am not experienced in hiring folks to do stuff for me and it makes me very uncomfortable to correct or critcize, but this is something I 'm getting over. Unfortunately, I do not have the strength or energy to maintain the level of cleanliness/organized chaos to which I am accustomed so I must adapt to someone else doing it.
A visit to my new doctor for a sinus infection was very disconcerting as he does not listen to a word I say, but told me I am too sick and am taking too many meds. ( Surprise! I have a chronic pain disorder, what to do?) Also, my cholesteral is high so he put me on a diet to avoid things I never eat anyway like fried food and fast food. Hello in there!
So to recap the events of last week, I learned I am: too sick, too clean, too picky, too need- to- complete- what- we-started, too intolerant, too dependent and altogether too trusting, but I knew that one already.
And in other biting-off-more-than-I can chew news, we are planning Steve's 50th birthday party which will be rather large. (If you can make it, email me!)
Jane L was nice enough to have a 25th anniversary party last week and we got inspiration from her Fairway-catered food. It will be a blast.
And lastly, the Mets are 2-2 with the St Louis Cardinals ( what a game last night! 11-5!) and Glavine is pitching tonight. I am too excited!
And, as usual, too long-winded.

9/13/06 Part 2

2006-09-13T16:38:00.000-04:00

Mercy, It's been so long since I've blogged that I forgot I could post pictures.Better pix to come, I promise.
You who have endured the telling of the story deserve it!
Anywho, as I was saying, Jane L is fellow tree-hugger I used to work with at the environmental center and who I hadn't seen in over 2 years. We had a lovely time and I had chicken with walnuts for lunch.
Several weeks ago we went to New England for the quasi-annual reunion of the folks from Steve's school in Israel, many of whom now live in Mass for some unknown reason. So we all barge in from every corner of the globe. (Now what kind of globe has corners?) and congregate at Dennis and Amy's on Cape Cod. This time around lots of peeps punked out but the indomitable Susan, and Toni and Ilene, and the intrepid Julie who came all the way from Texas showed up and the 8 of us made a holy pilgrimage to Provincetown for lobster rolls, fried clams and obscenely good sundaes. Amy made waffles the next day I made this homage to the lovely queens of P-town. We are actually going back to the Cape to see Rosie and family who are in from Israel. She and her brother Mel lived on the same block as Steve in both NY and Haifa and went to the same schools in both countries. Wierd, huh? I wonder if Amy will make waffles again?
So yesterday was Election day, we voted for the nominee for NY gov - a choice of weasels, re-elected Sen Hilary and some other stuff too. We had gotten mail informing us that we were to have new-fangled voting machines and I for one was psyched, even going so far as to return home to fetch my glasses, just in case the screen was too small. Oivavoi! T'was not to be, sadly.
You know, I never got to the main reason for this entry which was the anniversary of 9/11. It was a bad, sad day altho I read no papers nor watched TV, trying to avoid thoses images again. I took Caramel for her evening walk right after sundown. As I turned the corner to come home, I caught a glimpse of the blue beacons of light coming from Ground Zero. At that moment, a last ray of light illuminated a cloud right above so that the blue beams shot up into burst of white light. It only lasted a minute but it was amazing and awesome and I mean awesome in the old-fashioned way; it gave me the shivers. And somehow I felt slightly calmed too. My neighbor saw it too and shouted out, did you see that?
It's as if we both needed confirmaton for something we saw but didn't quite believe- a process I'm becoming all too familiar with. Peace, brothers and sisters.

9/13/06

2006-09-13T12:40:00.000-04:00

I'm too tired to come up with a clever title today but shall blog on doggedly nonetheless. That is, with dog. I write in gratified response to the my many loyal readers, all 3 of you who requested more; or specifically said, what the hell is up with you? Oh children, it pains me to say that still, after all the dust and travail, the loss of my garden not to mention my privacy and the very theft of our summer, the damn " touch-ups" are not done and Jerry is AWOL, having taken other jobs.
A pox on him and his ilk!
Also, the boxes that were packed 2 years ago before I broke my arm, as well as the boxes with my Mom's stuff, have to be unpacked, sorted, washed and stored. I feel as if I'm curating my own life. So everything we own needs to be washed ( see entry re: dust) including Miss Carmelita. Her beaus down the street, Casey, Hunter and are a big slobbery golden retreivers that drool all over her and make her stinky. C'est la vie, who am I to stand in the way of love?
So I have been working hard, have burnt out my meager supply of energy and not been feeling so good. I am taking a rest today and am having lunch with Jane L. Yay!
More later; I'm cleverer after I've eaten.

A sink accompli!

2006-08-10T10:35:00.000-04:00

It's in! The sink was installed, ironically on the 10th anniversary of our moving into our ( 1st) house. I've never been so happy washing dishes which is good cause every dish we own now needs washing. The floor is being installed on Friday and Jerry returns on Sat for touch-ups which will be a lovely birthday present. I go now to put a bagel in the the new toaster oven I bought yesterday( I discovered that a micro-waved bagel is inedible) then I go to my newly-installed old washer to do laundry for the first time since May so I can procrastinate before I tackle the daunting task of putting everything away in the new cabinets. More decisions! But I found the pots and tonight I believe I will boil some pasta. Oh joy, rapture! At my age, it's truly the little things that bring the most pleasure.
As for falling off the news-reading wagon, I am a repeat offender. I am pleased and astonished by Lieberman's defeat in the Conn senate race and by the fact that a lot of the Dem party supports an anti-war stance. This is a very good sign and could be a the building blocks for a credible and viable Dem threat to the Bushies, or Shrubies as some of my pals like to say.
And since our visit to Israel last year I have become increasingly involved in their politics and now I can't stop. I have come to understand that it's not a matter of right or left, hawk or dove- in Israel it's about survival. No one wants war, but everyone is always prepared for it. Their geography, religion and politics don't jibe with the rest of the region but they have never imposed their values on others, coveted land or declared that others have no right to exist.
They just want to continue to do the improbable task of turning a desert into a viable and successful entity. To think of what might have been accomplished if the Israelis and a Palestian state were able to work together.
Maybe diplomacy is not the answer, maybe they just need a good contractor?

"We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to lkill their children. We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us" Golda Meir

The plumber strikes back

2006-08-08T09:11:00.000-04:00

The plumber complained to Jerry that I hurt his feelings by calling him an asshole on his answering machine. He's lucky it I didn't call him worse.This is the same arrogant coarse man who has not shown one iota of respect for me or his crew and yells and screams at his Stooges - in my house. Even Jerry admits that they are pigs! He argues with me about things we already discussed as feasible.He took upholstered chairs from my dining room and put a filthy, grimy sink on it and his filth, grimy ass as well. He initially refused to put in my 1/2 bath cause he said there was not enough room for it. (or him). So for spite apparently, he installed the toilet 6" from the wall with barely room between it and the sink. The other toilet downstairs is not centered so one's shoulder grazes the wall when seating oneself. It's not like there wasn't enough room to place it properly.And, the sweet tile guy had to tighten every connection that the plumbers made. Jerry called and said they might come today to put in that blasted, bloody sink but I am not to speak to Mike as he is mad at me. Jerry, I responded, that Mofo better not speak to me. Ah, Jerry just called again to say that the floor installer was here on Sat and waited outside fron 8:30 to 9:30 and called repeatedly. This is an interesting lie, cause the carpenter got here at 9 and we were all up before 8 no one else was here. And my caller ID shows no calls. Am I going crazy or is there no honesty involved? All the pleasure and joy I expected from this kitchen has turned to apprehension, disappointment, impatience and constant cleaning, but no cooked food. And the other day, our beloved 12 year old toaster oven died. It's toast! It's been hard to replace and I feel lost without it. I had to toast a bagel in a frying pan yesterday, how gauche!
Last night, our psycho across-the-back-fence neighbor whose evilness has been lately lying dormant (antagonizing others, no doubt) rang my bell yesterday to tell me to stop putting screws on her fence. I explained that we have been under construction ( as she can very well see from any of her windows) and the crew moved all the planters around the backyard and I am unable to use the yard nor I have not been able to reach the fence since May. And why would I put screws in her fence? In response to the time they trespassed on our property and stole our stepping stones, perhaps? I can be much more creative than that! She was uncharacteristically polite, probably cause Carrie came to the door with me. I tell you, this doggie has more uses than I could've guessed! I found out that Psycho's next-door neighbor, J has also had run-ins with her and is keeping a file on them, the Psycho couple. They made J and the other side neighbor, W. both move their common property lines- illegally.They tried to do that with us but we called their bluff. They didn't pursue it. W, who is a lovely woman, caught Psycho pouring grass seed on her mulched property, more than once. J said that the psycho wife beat her Milquetoast husband one night. I believe it, she shrieks at him constantly. They were harassing J until finally she sent her brother over to speak to them. He is a Hell's Angel. They promised no more problems, you can be sure. Oh ho! You can't make this up!
Well, Mike finally arrived and Caramelita growled at him, even tho she knows him, and went for him, nipping his pant leg. He is unhurt, but I had to go upstairs to laugh. She is so sensitive to bad vibes!
Morning which was always my favorite time of day is not these days. I have pain and I read the papers first thing, then get my dose of depression for the day. I am overcome with trepidation, fear, anger and despair. When will this stop? When will those involved in the Middle East and Africa realize that there will never be a political solution when one combatant's sole purpose is to totally destroy the other? Why can't people just live their lives, enjoy their blessings, accept their differences and ignore those views that they can't accept. I am a godless heathen, but I'm praying that perhaps a miracle will occur and the UN or NATO can get there shit together and the killing will stop, in the Middle East, in Africa, and everywhere our troops are dying. I don't get how the deaths of thousands of America troops in Afganistan and Iraq since 9/11, make up for the 2700 killed that day. And this crap about civil war in Iraq being imminent- it is going on right now and we are in the middle. Power, money, oil and fanaticism, they are not worth all this death. These are very dangerous times for sure.
There is nothing as valuable as peace, nothing healthy can survive without it.
Love, health, prosperity and tolerance, live and let live. And drink plenty of fluids, dammit!
Happy Birthday B, you Nordic goddess, and love and kisses!

Suffering contractions:No more Mr. Nice guy

2006-08-07T11:03:00.000-04:00

I believe in letting people do their job. Unless I'm teaching, I avoid hanging over them with constant critisism. Jerry even commented on the fact that I don't like to complain.But Steve had to go pick up the sink base himself on Friday night, cause Jerry is in Vegas till tonight. Luckily Joe came on Sat to install it before he leaves for Palermo. Bless him and his near unintelligible accent.Two of the Three Stooges plumbers were here Friday and said they would be back on Monday after we get the sink. Done Deal right? No. Today they say they can't come till Wed, they have another job-even tho this one started in MAY.Even tho it's only abouit an hours work. I have tried to call them and no one picks up; I left a rude message.The job is only to connect the existing water pipe to the sink faucet! These guys are a joke. D&D Plumbing(their real name)= Dumb and Dumber.They forgot to install an incoming water pipe for the toilet. Not one fixture is centered or in the right place. Every faucet drips, every stopper doesn't stop. And they are really keeping my life on hold cause I can't unpack anything till it's washed as the boxes of dishes and kitchen stuff long ago succumbed to the galaxies of dust whose levels rival that of an archealogical dig. I am seriously and premeditatedly considering plumbercide, with extreme predjudice. Check the newspaper soon for a story of a woman who goes berserk and beats (to a bloody pulpy mass) a plumber with his own wrench, then allows wild animals to rip him limb from limb and vultures to peck at his eyes and flesh and finally, puts on display in her backyard his head on a pike as a warning and deterrent for other plumbers and sub-contractors.
Maybe that's too extreme. Perhaps I shall just beat him about the head and shoulders using his assistants, Curly and Larry as bludgeons. Head butts and finger pokes are too good for these guys.
In other news, we had our (final) farewell dinner with Joe and Marion last night before they leave for their new life in North Carolina. Best of luck and lots of love to you both. Don't change your accents!
I have used the lyrics from "Hot time summer in the city" as titles to recent posts. Well imagine my surprise, cousins, when on the front page of the Sunday Times, there was an article about that very same song by the the Lovin' Spoonfu.l It reached #1 on the charts August 13, 1966, the day after I turned 17. John Sebastian commented in the article that back them, the summer heatwave was only 2 weeks in August that you could count on like clockwork. These days in NY at least, a heatwave or a snow can occur ( and has )anytime from April to November. But for now:
All around people looking half-dead,
walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a matchhead

Stupid, mean or apathetic?

2006-08-03T11:25:00.000-04:00

I'm angry and I'm hot. MY birthday is coming and I am old. We have no floor tiles, no sink cabinet. I'm crossing my fingers for Friday cause the carpenter is leaving for Italy on the 10th. I'd be incredulous but at this point I believe anything. It seems like many members of our culture are reaching for new levels of mediocrity, few have pride in a job, any job well done, or any act for that matter. The contractor makes mistakes but at least he cares about correcting them. Do many care about much?
I have a dinner date tonight with 2 friends, one who lives 5 minutes from me. Since she is off for the summer, I asked her to come over an hour earlier. She just left a message saying that she doesn't have any plans today but she's bored and looking for something to do so she'll probably just come at 7, as planned. She knows very well that I am slightly disabled, have no car and have been chained to the house all summer due to of contractor-sitting. We have ties going back 30 years, but I am questioning why I feel the need to stay tied to someone so self-involved.
I also ask myself why I read the papers when it upsets me so:
Newly disclosed tapes reveal mass confusion in the military on 9/11 undermining Pentagon claims of readiness. I don't even want to think about that. Or the situation in Israel and Lebanon which is getting worse everyday. Hezbollah seems more than willing to sacrifice all of Lebanon ( which will benefit Syria) while the UN grows more distant and ineffectual.
Today a German newspaper reported that one of the Bin Laden sons has been released from house arrest in Iran for the purpose of recruiting jihadists from Syria in support of Hezbollah.
D. Rumsfeld told the Senate that he had no time for public testimony. Maybe he should have avoided the lying and corruption that brought the investigaton.
Which will be interminable, you can bet.
The Senate approved a $453.5 billion Pentagon bill which includes $1.8 billion for a border fence. Most immigrants pay some taxes and all pay sales tax, yet the rich have hedge funds, trusts and deductions. Screw Al Queda and their ilk-we gotta protect ourselves from those dangerous Mexicans!
A bill in Cogress to raise the national minium wage to a livable level can only be accomplished if the very richest Americans don't have to pay estate taxes.
In addition to military spending in defense of a foreign civil war, billions are being wasted in gov't service contracts in Iraq every month.Crony, Bribe and Graft Inc, USA. And now, the Pentagon has ordered 11,00 troops to Afganistan, the 82nd Airborne. When I was a kid, I had a friend in the 82nd. He was sent to Vietnam then somehow ended up in Cambodia- where we did not officially have any troops. I've experienced many, many years of being lied to by the gov't but never as badly as now.
Bush's new plan for terror-tribunals allows hearsay and coerced testimony while denying classified evidence to defendants.
Can you hear the screams of the Constitution as it's being ripped apart?
Somalia, Congo, Sri Lanka; why are Africans less important?
Katherine Harris, unbelievably running for the Senate in Fla, had all her aides quit on her when she didn't tell them she got a subpoena in a defense-lobbying investigation.
The CDC says a 2005 measles outbreak in Indiana was due to home-schooled kids whose parents were wary of the vaccination.Really, you can't make this stuff up.
The Kansas Board of Ed ousted conservatives and decided that evolution theory and sex ed may be possibly more credible and relevant than intelligent design. How 21st century!
And of course, Fidel Castro, dead or not dead?
But here is my very favorite story, A Hong Kong banker two years ago agreed to pay $15.4 million for 8 years of private ballroom dance instruction ( that's about $5000 a day). She paid 1/2 than reneged on the deal suing for her payment of $7.4 mil. The instructors say breach of contract and are counter-suing for the balance. Gotta Dance!
The weatherpeople say that today is the last day of the 100 degree heat wave.
Three NY TV stations said that a "cold front" is arriving on Friday. Temperatures will be around 87 for the weekend. Brrrrr.

Everything but the kitchen sink

2006-08-01T13:57:00.000-04:00

August.We started construction in May, I really thought we would be done by the Fourth of July. Ha. Jerry put down a 1/4" sub-floor instead of 1/2". The tiles we waited 2 weeks for were installed over this, by a sub-contractor. The result was a wavy floor. The tiles are named "Caribbean" but really, waves are superfluous at this point. When Jerry arrived to view the damage, I'm afraid I burst into tears, a delayed reaction to too much dust and take-out food. Alarmed, he promised to fix it and put 1/2" plywood over it and reodered new tiles- but at the cost of another 2 weeks. Ironically, this works out because the order for the cabinet that holds the damn sink was lost and will take... another 2 weeks. These have passed in a hot and sticky way but everything is set for delivery tomorrow, a day that promises to break all heat records as well as my patience. At least the electricians are finally done, those stupid-heads. We waited a month for "special" bulbs for the bathroom lights (" they were in the box, did you throw them out?") 3 times they came and none of them worked. You know how some people (men) never read the instructions or test the equipment first? Well, it wasn't the bulbs but the improperly wired light fixtures that didn't work. Mon Dieu. Now that we have lights, I can see that the paint job has to be re-done.
The debris in the backyard has been removed but the garden is covered with volunteer morning glories, strangling all the perenniels. So it shall remain, it's too hot too garden. Caramel thinks so too. We met a another basenji today, Jasmine, and she was too hot to be bothered to bark at her! One needs to stay indoors between 10AM and 8PM when the sun and air are really toxic. I am presently sitting 8" from the fan but will quit this position for a bath and some AC presently.
Poor Steve works in Queens where the electricity demand is huge and they are cutting power, so the AC in his office is set high. He's luckier than his sister who lives in Queens and was without power for a week! What, they didn't know it was going to be hot this summer? They really put the con in Con Edison.
On 7/15 we celebrated my Aunt Sarah's 96th birthday at a party at my cousin Janie's. It was great to see everyone and it was so wonderful to be with my Aunt, who looks incredible. She reminds me so much of my Mom, who was her little sister. Both of us still have the urge to call her, so we call each other instead. It's a good plan.
We saw an Israeli movie, "Ushpitzin" It was OK, sort of an updated Sholem Aleichem story.The best thing was, a character used the phrase Oivavoi. It was the first time I heard it spoken, having read it in a book. Turns out, the accent is on the first syllable. I've been saying it wrong! Dios Mio!

The deity of the day is Iris, goddess of rainbows!

Back a my neck getting dirt and gritty

2006-07-13T13:13:00.001-04:00

Isn't global warming bad enough? Has everyone gone crazy? Dubya rolls back Clinton's environmental initiatives. He's like president in the Bizarro world. Murder of the upper classes in India. No one knows if it's crime or terror. Geez. Hamas and Hezbollah running amok in the Middle East, supported by Iran and Syria. Crisis in Gaza, Palestinians used as pawns.Tornadoes in suburban NYC. What the fuck? It really pisses me off that I was forced to read the news. I was doing so well without it, obsessing solely on "contractual" and doggie matters, I have no need to be disgusted additionally. I had the temerity to leave the house yesterday for lunch and a pedicure with Sheila. (I'm lovin' the pedicure, it makes my feet so happy and sexy!) Not one worker showed up yesterday but we discovered that Caramel can jump at least 5', which is the height of the plywood blocking the door to the kitchen, where she left 2 deposits. I strongly recommend Nature's Miracle for such occasions, they tell me it removes odors. Today, both the temp and the humidity are in the 90's; not conducive to paint-drying, or breathing either. Joe, the carpenter ( from Italy) is installing the counter tops today, they're beautiful but I long for plumbing, which is dependent on the handsome Nigel the tiler who showed up too early yesterday, when I was out and didn't come back. I'm tired of washing fruit in the bathroom sink. It's really interesting that all our workers were born outside of the US, except for the plumbers. It's a typical NY thing but it illustrates the importance of the immigrant worker, most of whom are legal, pay lots of taxes and work their asses off. Just like my own father did. This is the land of oppurtunity, no?
So happily, tonight is "So you think you can dance?" Nothing makes me feel better watching others slaving away at an improbable task, especially in glitzy, outrageous outfits. Dance is not just talent, it's hard, sweaty, painful work.This show is so much fun, I can almost forget that I live in Dustopolis with dustitude, dustitis and dustarrhea and that my home is decorated with large cardboard boxes full of sinks and faucets, that there is a stove in my front parlor and I probably forgot how to cook anyway (I lost that recipe for boiling water!) and that I am rarely alone and rarely without men in my house, un-neat men at that. Jerry says that electricians and plumbers are sloppy pigs.True dat, but he and his guys are the one's responsible for all the DUST, aren't they? Poor Jerry has to put his truck in the shop for 2 weeks and this is his busiest season but his son is out of the hospital today. He said he's going to give up running his own business, it's too stressful. After my job is done, Jerry. Otherwise, I will have to murder him, as I threaten to do on a daily basis. Oops, I must fetch them some cherries.
You charm more workers with cherries than vinegar!

Too darn hot

2006-07-11T12:55:00.000-04:00

Twas Cole Porter (in Kiss me Kate) who wrote wittily:

According to the Kinsey report
Every average guy you know
Much prefers to play his favorite sport
When the temperature is low
But when the thermometer goes way up
And the weather is sizzling hot
Mr. Pants, for romance, is not.

I love that this was written for a woman (Bianca) to sing. Happily for us this was before A/C, “back in the day” which back in the day was referred to as the “old days” but that got old. It’s too darn hot tho, for me typing in this hot tiny room and for all my sweet construction mens. We now have Andy the heating (!) engineer working on the ducts. He is from England just in case you were keeping score.I worry about them dehydrating and am constantly nagging them to drink water. This makes me hot and dehydrated. Because of my international crew, I have been keeping abreast of World Cup matters. While we celebrate Italy’s win, we do not approve of the manner in which it was achieved, nor do we sanction Italy and France’s general demeanor on the field. Sorry, but it needed to be said.
Our car has been returned to us, looking younger than ever. We’ve been through a lot together, been a lot of places too, in the past 11 years. I’m glad not to have lost my little green machine. And they fixed the A/C! Well, that’s all the cleverness I can muster, I am being summoned either for consultation, speculation or general bitchin’ and moanin’. It’s a curious feeling spending your days with so many men around. The men need so much praise and comfort. Dios mio, I think I’ll bring them some cherries. Cerisas! I do so love me cherries. They are only good from July to August and I binge on them daily. I love my workers but I fervently hope they are gone with the cherry season.

Hot time summer in the city

2006-07-05T13:45:00.000-04:00

What a weekend! It's been hot and humid, stormy and rainy for 2 days, there were fireworks aplenty last night and poor Caramel is freaked out. Today, she's afraid to even go downstairs! Me too. Everytime I go down there, I discover something bad.
This is the time of year when we have thunderstorm warnings on a daily basis, which can be fun sometimes, but today's storm was a pip. We have water in both sides of the basement, all around our new bathroom, upstairs under our newly installed kitchen door, a small pond in the backyard and the front porch seems to be leaking too. When it rains it pours, haha.
Susann's funeral was Saturday, in Green-Wood Cemetery, only a few blocks from our house. It is a very beautiful place, the grave is on a hill under a tree, the sun was out, the ceremony was very lovely. There was a Celtic flautist and a jazz saxophonist. They provided a calming, soothing element, along with the breezes and Susann's spirit. Her spirit remains in my soul but her loss leaves a big hole in my heart. This is a memorial card chosen by her husband, Craig:

In loving memory of Susann A. Minton
August 21, 1949
June 27, 2006

Here is the solitutude from which you are absent.
It is raining. The sea wind is hunting stray gulls.

The water walks barefoot in the wet streets.
From that tree the leaves complain as though they were sick.

White bee, even when you are gone you buzz in my soul.
You live again in time, slender and silent.
Ah, you who are silent!

-Pablo Neruda

So we didn't get to see "Spamalot" either on Sat. because as we were leaving the cemetery, we had an accident with a BMW which sheared off our front end. Neither Steve or I were hurt. As luck would have it (in the Twilight Zone) the guy we hit owns a body shop so we had it towed there. What the fuck, huh? They said it can be repaired which makes me glad cause it's a good old car and I'm not tready to lose it. After the tow truck arrived, we still had time to get to the wake, only 2 subway stops away. We were glad to be able to meet Sue's out-of-town family and offer support to our dear Craig.

Jerry, the contractor said that the tile guy, very tall Nigel, is starting to tile tonight! Martin did not come today because he had chest pains yesterday and went to the ER. They told him to come back today! Can you believe it? Coney Island Hospital, where they don't care at all. I mentioned to Jerry that I needed to call the place that's doing my Mom's memorial stone when he dropped what he was doing to tell me this story ( funnier with Italian accent):
There was a man whose life-long desire was to have a lavish, expensive funeral when he died. On his death bed, he made his wife swear that she would spend every penny of their savings on it, all $50,000. So, he dies and after the funeral, all the relatives come around, asking for their share of the estate. There’s nothing left, the wife says. What! say the relatives, where did it all go? Well, the wife replies, the funeral was $10,000, the church was $1000, the minister was $500. and the flowers were $500. The relatives are enraged:that’s only $12,000, what happened to the other $38,000? Oh, she says, I had to buy the memorial stone. Incredulously they cry, What kind of stone costs $38,000? Well, says she, a six carat stone.

Goodbye, my good friend Susann

2006-06-28T09:54:00.000-04:00

My former neighbor and friend, her birthday and mine were nine days apart. Opposites in some ways, we had many things in common. Her husband called today today to say she had gotten very ill and passed away. The funeral is Sat. I saw her for the last time 3 months ago when we got Carmelita; she was one on the first to visit, bearing doggie gifts. A ovarian cancer survivor, she said she had been ill but didn't go into details and said she was out of danger. Craig said she died of lung cancer and the end came very fast-
She was one of the nicest, sweetest, big-hearted women I knew, a modern southern belle with concern for all, with all her priorities in the right place.
She was also a wonderful artist. She did large, fanciful paintings in a color-wash style, full of wonderful, interesting images; telling an entire story on a canvas.
We met over 20 years ago, when I moved into Steve's place in the Slope.Susann worked at home a lot and we would meet in the hallway or on the street and chat, only the "chats" went on for hours. Over the years we developed more formal meetings, not often, but consistently ( always for our birthdays) and we always re-affirmed our friendship when we did.
I'm so sad that I didn't get in touch with her in these last months when I thought of her often but did not call, I'm so sorry that she never told me. I don't know what I could have done, but at least I could have offered moral support, I could have said goodbye. But that was Susann, she would not have wanted to bother anyone, especially with her own illness or sadness, even though she herself was the first one to offer her own help and support to all.
I cannot get my mind around the fact that she is gone and why. And Craig and her beloved kitties, George and Gracie, all alone. She was too young, too vital, too talented to die. I mourn the loss of a wonderful, beautiful women and a good friend who Steve and I both loved.

The end is near

2006-06-25T09:48:00.000-04:00

We are not going to any homestores today! I hope they won't worry about us.
The decisions are done. The paint colors and tiles (8 kinds) have at last been selected. Lighting and plumbing fixtures have been acquired. The walls are jointed and smoothed, ready to tile. The sinks and toilet bowls, bless them, are waiting to be joined to their fittings. It is an acrobatic challenge to move or breathe in this house with all this stuff. But the cabinets come tomorrow. The impossible-to-acquire laminate countertop ( they sent 100 samples, but you can't actually buy the stuff) of our dreams has been replaced by a formica alternative. Done deal. Our fantasy of once again enjoying running water may soon become a reality. I know I will have to deal with a lot more dust before the completion, but I can see light at the end of the tunnel! Well actually, it's the light coming through the whole in the dropsheet the Caramelly ate, but still. No Lowe's today!!!

Weltschmerz and the longest day of the year

2006-06-21T12:37:00.000-04:00

Some weeks ago, the National Scripps spelling bee was broadcast on national TV. Not So you think you can dance?, but my kind of reality programming anyway. Yes, geeky. The penultimate word given was Weltshmerz, a condition from which I have been suffering from my earliest memory without knowing that such a word existed. Ah, the Germans have great words for things.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Weltschmertz \Welt"schmertz`\, n. [G., fr. welt world + schmertz
pain. See World; Smart, v. i.]
Sorrow or sadness over the present or future evils or woes of
the world in general; sentimental pessimism.

So a rep from the Wall Street Journal called yesterday asking me to re-up my subscription. I pleaded Weltschmerz and told him all his news was bad. He didn't even bother with a sales pitch, he just thanked me and hung up. Huh! Well, I learned long ago that acting nutso, or at my age "eccentric", can eliminate a lot of unnecessary personal and public interaction.
Of course when one desires such congress, it it not to be had. It is curious and bizarre that one is constantly barraged with sales pitches everywhere in our society, indeed we are not safe in our own homes anymore, yet when trying to actually purchase an item, competent assistance is nowhere to be found. In the course of our reno, we need to chose many, many, items. We are simple folk, with plain tastes. (Shucks) Logistics and logic send us to Home Depot and Lowe's on a daily basis. We have taken to relying on other bewildered customers for advice and assistance and are ready to share ours. Like the ton of research on toilets, for instance. Many decisions have been reached with kind strangers.
Last night after a particularly long tile search,(floors, walls, backsplashes!) we returned home to find that Caramel ate a hole in the plastic sheeting sealing off the kitchen from the rest of the house, for the dual purposes of poop & pee. It was pretty considerate of her when you think of it, there's no floor to ruin in there. The plastic is a joke, it keeps falling off cause it's too dusty to stick. I feel like I'm living in the Negev ( halevi!) except it's as humid and hot as a jungle. NY in summer! I can mark the workers progress by the color of the dust I wipe up perpetually. The red brick dust is making way for the white dust from sanding the joint compound. I am writing this on the second-floor office. This keyboard is covered in dust. I can see the roof of the kitchen below, covered in red. Outside, the air is thick with pollen and pollutants. Oi vavoi! I am overcome by Schmutzschmerz, a sorrow or sadness over the present or future dust and dirt of my world!
Happily, we are having dinner at a friends house tonight, dustfree!
A joyous solstice to all and to all a late night.

A visit from Morgana

2006-06-16T11:42:00.000-04:00

Today is Bloomsday. As in the maddenly (for me) unreadable novel Ulysses, where Leopold Bloom wanders the streets of Dublin on June 16th, I too wander the streets of Brooklyn...daily. I need to get away from the noise and dust.Today marks the end of week 4 of our reno and my anxiety builds. I've been avoiding Jerry who is leaving for Italy after his son's wedding in TWO WEEKS. It's starting to get very hot and I'm concerned about the workers and bring them coolers of beverages. Today Martin told me I worry too much about them, but what else can I do? I am helpless and have no control and really I worry about ever completing this project. I want running water again!
In the midst of all this chaos we had a houseguest. One of my very dearest and oldest friends, Morgana, came to visit from No. California for the first time in almost 8 years. It was so wonderful! We had a mini-slumber party last Sat with Barbara, our mutual cousin, hers by blood, mine by marriage, both by love. It was a magical (and majikal) night. I broke out the Johnnie Walker Black, the years melted away, we got bombed. ( a rare occurance for me, she said primly.) We walked in the light of the full moon and held each other. I recalled a conversation from over 30 years ago when we spoke of the special bond between us and how one day we would be old and maybe alone but we would always have each other. As it happens in this dissapointingly unromantic world, all three of us have unusually wonderful husbies. Our special bond endures nonetheless. From left, here we are, Me, Caramel, Barbara and Morgana. BFF! We have a very powerful energy when we are together which is sadly not often. My sisters! I have been rejuvenated by the extraordinary holy power of womanlove! Lordy, I hope it will give me the strength to deal with de mens.

One love, one heart

2006-06-01T08:50:00.000-04:00

Today is our 20th wedding anniversary! We honeymooned in Jamaica, where reggae plays constantly and "One Love" became our leitmotif and theme. ( Our alternate "our" song is Ray's "Georgia", because we heard it constantly during our courtship) We will celebrate just as we did for our 10th anniversary when we bought the house: a romantic dinner and then trips to Lowes and Home Depot to look at doors, light fixtures and tile. And of course, plants. The really big celebration will be going to see Xmen3 tomorrow, before the kids get out of school. Yes bloggies, we are livin' LARGE! We may even stop for ice cream!
My dog-bite hand is quite healed if not a bit mangled. I don't care. After breaking my wrist last year and spending the entire night in the ER, I could not bring myself to go there again. Besides, even tho I'm diseased, I heal very well and pretty quickly.
Our reno is moving along expeditiously but every conversation with Jerry gives me butterflies; he is quite the the voice of doomfor such a happy guy. We trust him tho and he shows up every day!
A neighbor is thinking of doing some brickwork so I recommended our mason Vito, an old-world Italian. I went over to introduce them and actually had to translate English through Vito's heavy accent. It was so funny! After, Vito asked if my family was from here or Italy. I explained that my parents were from Eastern Europe and I was Jewish. He replied, Jews, Italians, they the same!
In NYC, this is true - it's all about food, family and guilt. Jews and Catholics always lived together, probably cause they were all marginalized. I didn't understand about Protestants, and their majority in this country until JFK was nominated as the "first Catholic president" in 1960 and a huge uproar followed.
Have we come a long way, baby?
I still don't like the plumber (he yells at the crew) but a waste pipe was installed in the place where the new 1/2 bath will be on the 1st floor and I am beside myself with joy. I amuse the workers daily.
Sheila and I went for a pedicure, only my second one. I'm not fond of having things done to me, hair and such; it feels like a medical procedure, but pedicures are wonderful! I had a better massage there than I did at physical therapy. And I wind up with lovely piggies, well, lovely for me. My father's side of the family all had nasty, bent hammer toes which identifies us as a family much as the Hapsburg lip did. Also, we have a touch a madness, which may not be such a bad thing in this day and age.
Oh jeez, Jerry & Co are taking down another wall, I've got to get out of here.
Love and romance to you all!!!

My brother says:
A short period of constuction leads to a long and happy use of Kitchen.

Amen!

85% cocoa and Caramel

2006-05-24T11:12:00.000-04:00

There was a tiny bit of chocolate in a baggie in the freezer. It probably fell out when they had to remove the doors to move the fridge. It's so bitter that few humans like it, but Carmelita loved it. It is her custom to take her treats and rawhides and eat them on the couch, she did likewise with the chocolate, which she lay on and therefore had a chest full of melted choco and not a bit of a guilty face.We were worried about a possible toxic reaction but apparently she has the constitution of a goat. Yesterday she stole my lunch, spicy hummus on crackers; this AM she stole my cheeseandbread twice! And we were worried that she was too skinny. Poor baby is used to living out of garbage cans and stealing food.
Today is another gorgeous day and taking Coral's advice, I'm running away but only as far as the dentist.(Hooray, I get the car!) I'm lucky in that despite the inherent horror, the office is a warm nurturing family affair and I really love the people there.
Jerry the contractor brought me some yellow Asiatic lillies and some day lillies too, from his garden for me to plant in mine, which I can't get to easily anymore, but it was sweet of him. Jerry is Italian, Martin is Guatemalan, Roberto is Colombian, the new electrician is Romanian, the old one is Haitian and they all speak their native tongues. I have a great op to use my crappy language skills. Evidently, going to Israel and trying to learn Hebrew drove all the Spanish out of my head. Que lastima! I gotta get some fun out of all this. This is all making us crazy, I lay in bed at night with dimensions running in a loop in my head (and a color chart in the background). I'm glad for the stuff I've read and all the "this old houses" I watched. At least I know what they are talking about, otherwise my head would explode. We certainly do have a lot of house problems, ours is old and decrepit and my Mom's can't be sold. Seems someone would want a house by the beach. C'est dommage.
I'm too nutso to read the paper (!!!!) but I do scan the headlines. (ugh) Today's semed like deja vu until I realized they delivered yesterday's paper again. The universe is really doin' a number on me. I feel like Ingrid Bergman in "Gaslight".
Everything is in the wrong place Steve( the Charles Boyer character) and the crew keep moving stuff and Caramel moves my stuff all the time, esp shoes. I can never find my slippers. Believe me when I tell you that I don't need help in the befuddlement department. Hey! That's a good name for a blog.

Jerry, Roberto, Martin and Robert

2006-05-23T14:19:00.000-04:00

They my boys, my crew! My construction crew, that is. Jerry, the boss is a little obsessive (to our grateful benefit I might add) and quite the character. Mike, the plumber comes on Wed and I'm a little nervous; he disapproves of our plan for a 1/2 bath, thinks we won't fit in it. He scares me. Another scary scenario:last week at the dentist ( I seem to go every week) as I was about to get the needle, he asked me, as most dentists do, to open wide. I was stoned on gas and kibbutzing with the assistant so I widened my eyes instead. This cracked us both up till Dr D said, perfectly deadpan: there is no comedy in dentistry. Ah, good times.
So today is a perfectly gorgeous Spring day! Caramelita and I had a carefully planned (we thought) playdate this AM at the dog run where she promptly attacked the other dog. I was so freaked out I couldn't react correctly; when I finally got it together to shout "stop" she did. Immediately, to my surprise and relief. The other dog, poor, sweet Phoebe wasn't hurt, Caramel had bit her fur with only her front teeth, the ones she uses to delicately pick stuff up with. I on the other hand totally lost it, shaking and crying, which is unusual cause I'm pretty good in a crisis. It's in the aftermath of a crisis that I collapse.There have been many mini-crisises (crises?) lately and I guess I've reached my capacity for disaster management. Or, now that my hand is healing more, I have post traumatic shock from when I got bit. Or, maybe I'm stressed by demolition and decisions, too many decisions. And now that the kitchen is demolished, they are doing the basement and the news is very ungood. Suffice to say: water damage,mold and mildew, crumbling cement, rotted wood. More decisions. And we haven't even picked out a floor or doors or fixtures yet. I'm up here on the puter cause every time I take a peek, Jerry shows me something else bad. Poor old house! If I were 96, I'd need a lot of work too. (Oh, that reminds me to call my Aunt S who will actually be 96 next month) Also, I'm afraid to see what they have done to the garden, where all the debris was put. What kind of sentence was that? Grammar out the window, rawhides in the bed, eating on paper plates, dust and mold ( the Terrible Two) everywhere. I'm going to Hell in a handbasket! Why do terrific and terrible have the same root? Why the hell is that?
One very late night this week, as I couldn't sleep, I heard a man's voice from the street calling. Charlie, where are you, over and over for about 40 minutes. It was so distressing. I sure hope it was not a kid he was calling for.
Carrie and I have been going up and down the whole creation and I've walked places in this neighborhood I didn't know existed, including a mini-High school. We walked past the riding stable and she was freaked by a pony on the sidewalk. My what a large dog! Our adventuresare good for her and it's great for me too; we both need a lot of exercise or we chew things.
Weird, my Aunt just called me. Very witchy, the womens in my family.

Kudos: Companion Animal Network Television

2006-05-16T14:10:00.000-04:00

This is the org that rescued Carmelita and their latest newsletter. You can click on their link and if you scroll down you can see her in a video demonstrating how to humanely trap a dog. She was a star from the beginning!
She was rescued in the October trip to New Orleans. Garo and all these people are volunteers and really wonderful. They go down monthly to bring back animals, then house and socialize them before they are adopted. I don't have cable TV so I've never seen the show, but it's on Animal Planet (duh). Tune in!
Companion Animal Network Television

Having completed our successful transport of 34 dogs and 9 cats in March from the New Orleans outer region animal control agencies in March (50% of which have already been adopted out and all the TV and print news reports are now on our home page at www.CompanionAnimalNetworkTV.org-) we returned two weeks later to look into the possibility of monthly transports.

Between April 4-11 we met with the Directors of the animal control agencies which surround New Orleans. We met with the directors of animal control of St. John’s Parish, Ascension Parish, Terrebone Parish, St. Charles Parish, Plaquamines Parish, as well as several no-kill private organizations in these parishes. We also had telephone conferences with the Directors of animal control of Lafayette Parish and Jefferson Parish. Our partnering local organization, the Humane Society of Louisiana was immensely helpful as usual, as none of this could have been accomplished without their collaboration.

We found every single one of these government run agencies to be operated by the most wonderful, compassionate, and competent people we had ever met. Sadly, almost all of them are forced to euthanize some of their animals (as many as 75% in some instances), especially now as a result of the 25-50% per capita increase in intakes as a result of the coattail affect of Katrina. Yet, they all make every single effort imaginable to save every single life they can. They use every resource to provide veterinary care, hold as long as possible, reunite, and adopt out every animal which comes into their facility. They accomplish miracles on limited governmental resources.

The purpose of our latest trip was two-fold: 1) arrange monthly out of state transports to save those animals’ lives and 2) to get the New Orleans and surrounding area animal control agencies, who have for decades had one of the highest per capita euthanasia rates in the country, to begin operating under Maddie’s Fund guidelines. The long term plan for the New Orleans and surrounding region, as we see it, would be to make a formal Maddie’s Fund grant application after two years. If successful, in two years time, Maddie’s Fund would then bring in millions of dollars of funding for the following 7-10 years to assist the region to go low or no kill at their animal control agencies. For the more immediate future we are hopeful, after meetings and conversations with major national organizations who have stepped up to the plate in the past, that they will financially support the region with such regularly scheduled transports.

We urge you and your organization, shelter, and humane society to join in this effort to help transition the New Orleans area to low or no-kill. We recognize that your area is probably not a no kill area either, however, the goal of reaching no kill in a region of the country can only be reached if one region at a time is transitioned in a collective effort. Due to the horrific catastrophe of Katrina New Orleans is in the position of either re-creating what existed before….one of the highest, if not the highest, per capita kill areas in the nation or, the region can take the bold and exciting step, with the collaborative effort of the rest of the country, to create a low or no-kill community.

One by one all communities in the nation must assist one another to reach our goal of ending the killing of pet animals nationwide. If you help the New Orleans area now by arranging the transport of their animals for adoption to your region (even if you only do one or two transports a year or one or two animals a month) your community will likewise receive national help when your area is ready to make your own Maddie’s Fund grant application to bring no-kill animal control to your community.

The colonial settlers of our country worked collectively, with the entire village working on building each family’s house, and then the next family’s and the next. We can learn a lesson from our forefathers on how to create something out of nothing….by working collectively on each one of our homes at a time.

The next step is ours. We can either do what we know works or stay stagnant and complain that government kills our beloved pet animals.

We at the Companion Animal Network will always choose the former and we hope you will too.

Garo Alexanian

Executive Director

Adding apples and insult to injury

2006-05-12T11:07:00.000-04:00

I'm tired and stressed. I needed emergency root canal Wed.This time it was tooth#19, a live tooth and therefore much more painful. I can't chew, even today. It certainly is an effective way to take my mind off the pain of the dog bite which is inhibiting my ability to move shit out of the way for the contractor. Also this week, there are some ugly and duplicitous realtors we are dealing with in selling Mom's house, but we are sending them packing after much distress like losing the keys to the house. Three times! And then they asked us for money in order to be released from the contract! As if. Trous des balles!
Our darling Carmelita does not do well in stormy weather. Yesterday, we went to look for windows for the new kitchen, we were gone less than an hour. There was a bowl with 4 apples on the dining room table. We came home to find two uneaten apples, upstairs on the bed and one one the couch. And a poop on the rug which is very unusual. And she doesn't even like apples! I think it was a security thing.
The buddleia and the pyracantha we transplanted into containers are dying, I don't know why. I'm late in planting my seeds and now it's supposed to rain for 40 days and 40 nights. But, all this low pressure means my sinuses are open and I can smell, even though things smell distorted, it's thrilling. Coffee, olives, laundry and ice cream! It helps to dispel my acute and pervasive grouchiness. I've been having to take my pain pills this week, which make me very tired and spacey, but thankfully I've been able to muster enough energy to be able to bitch about here cause why should I suffer in silence?
Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers! It's a dirty job but someone has to do it.

of demolition and dog bites

2006-05-09T16:36:00.000-04:00

There are new men in my life! We got a contractor! In the space and time I occupy, it is bewilderingly necessary to have a personal referral in order for a building contractor to call you and even then you need to be lucky. Our last prospective contractor kept us waiting a total of six hours each time he came over. Too much stress. Three strikes, he's out. I have a fear and dislike of contractors, medical personnel and mechanics. We are at their mercy and their timetable, rendered clueless and submissive, impatient and in a state of high anxiety. And overly dramatic. Nonetheless, we have engaged such a personage to re-do our kitchen; a big and messy job sure to take at least a month. We are putting all our faith (and lots of money) in Jerry, who is prompt, and very professional, and has trustworthy eyes. We also have many decisions to make. What kind of floors, what tiles, what fixtures, what lights, what color, doors, windows, cabinets. We cannot order cabinets till demolition begins and we can see how many inches of space we have. We are planning a 1/2 bath which the plumber says is too small, but he's a really big guy.We are hoping to avoid more wall-cutting. All will be revealed soon, along with the guts of our 96 year old kitchen. Oi!
In Carmelita news, we were on our way to pick up Chinese food Sat when she got into a contretemps with another dog and I stupidly got into it too, sticking my hand where it shouldn't have been resulting in her biting me pretty badly. My hand is OK, it was terribly quick, but shocking and painful. She had no idea what happened, she was on her leash going for a leashed dog. I put out my hand to stop her as she reared up and she caught the fat part between thumb and forefinger. Caramel is very unpredictable with other dogs esp on the block or in front of the house. She is very protective of her territory and has recently started marking (peeing) around the boundaries of our block, which means she's settling in but also getting territorial. There is no rhyme or reason for her dislike of certain dogs and her love for certain others. I know that when she was rescued, she ran with a pack and had to fight for her food. I'm hoping that with time she will feel secure enough to love all her furry friends. Needless to say, we have since switched over to her choke collar for walks and postponed our plans for a cat. I was rather freaked out but am recovering, After all, she is a really wonderful dog and I am just a dumb impetuous human. Years of teaching made me react protectively. She's not a kid, she's a dog. She's Caramelly Smellybelly.

La Tierra Del Libre

2006-05-02T12:25:00.000-04:00

You know how people forward dopey emails up the wazoo but never write a personal word? This was my relationship with a Florida friend for many years. She sent me 1 or 2 boderline emails in the past which I ignored but a recent email, calling for nullification of the "Mexican boycott" on May 1st, really pissed me off and I needed to respond. I told her I was insulted and it was hardly just about Mexicans, May 1st was about action for all immigrants. To call it The Mexican boycott is deliberately insulting. I am stunned at her defensive response and her need to justify her racism which included bile against several more ethnic groups as she defended her bigotry. I can accept that there are many who have different beliefs than I, but shouldn't one know one's audience before one starts proselytizing? Did she think I went bigot too? She knows we live in Brooklyn and and that we made a conscious decision to live in a culturally diverse neighborhood. Did she assume that I'd agree with her just by virtue of the fact that we are both white? A lot of people make that mistake, whether I know them or not, and drop racist remarks like one-liners. Not funny, not right. Why is this is still an issue: racist remarks are not OK, deameaning remarks are not OK. It used to embarrass me in my youth and I'd change the subject uncomfortably, but I'm old enough so I don't have to listen to or take that kind of crap anymore.

I'm loving this whole national anthem in Spanish business, it sure will endear Jorge to the Hispanic vote. There were some great letters in the Times for and against. Many felt that it should be translated into many languages, as it should, so all might understand the words. Some felt that everyone should learn English in order to live here; one said, " who can imagine La Marseillaise being sung in English?" Well Ma'am, I sure have heard it in English along with Hatikvah and other National Anthems.
The best letter, I will show in it's entirey:
"Regardless of what language the American national anthem is sung in, it is nearly impossible for anyone to dance to the tune." A sage comment.
You know, when I was just a little b, in school we sang the national anthem weekly. I had no idea what most of those words meant, and they were never explained. It's incredibly difficult to sing- even a mediocre performance will elicit waves of applause - it doesn't even make a good poem and the imagery sucks. We should just get rid of The Star-spangled Banner altogether and replace it with America, the Beautiful, which says it all and then some: "and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea." Which due to global warming will soon be the Midwest. We will be in close quarters. We better learn to get along.

Nick knack, paddywhack, one upside the head

2006-04-27T08:50:00.000-04:00

Yes, it was he, Nick the contractor with an estimate twice as much as the "ballpark" figure he gave two weeks ago. The work will take " a good month", not the 2 weeks he mentioned previously.We said we'd sleep on it, but I was up all night. It's not just the money, I feel a trust issue has been breached and I'm paralyzed with fear that this demo and reno ( technical terms!) will be a slow, torturous,unending nightmare, wrecking my garden and forcing us to eat take-out every night. Wahhh! We need a second opinion, like really.
Last words about TequilaCon: The posted photos are great but do not do anyone justice; these are very attractive peeps. I tried to steal them from Sarah's site, but I couldn't; go to Sad and Beautiful World to see them. Kudos to the J's (Jen and Jess) for arranging from it halfway across the continent. AND, I was not only the oldest, I was older than some attendee's parents. I rejoice in my cronity.There are too many boring old people. Age may not bring wisdom or grace but it has brought me the awarness of my right to not give a good flying fudge bar and not act my age, which is pretty boring for the most part. Tha's why I enjoy the youngin's, folks. Lest you think I discriminate, I aver that I have nothing against the old - in fact, some of my best friends are old folks.

In other news, I have amended my blog name, it is now Oivavoi: Beingbebe. In my travels through cyberspace, I have often come upon interesting sounding blogs but once I get there I am annoyed to find that the title is in English but the blog is not. Shame replaced my indignation when I realized I was doing the same thing; Oivavoi is Hebrew not English and evidently no one other than Herman Wouk knows what it means. Additionally, Oi is "hey" in Britain and Oivavoi looks like French to some and has been pronounced as wha va vwah. Lest I forget that the internet is planet-wide, I have Americanized myself bloggily both to prove my patriotism and attract more readers of the English of which I am an ardent student with hopes to someday to master the language. But more better than that sentence was.

Garden notes to myself:
Moved from center bed to left bed: Salvia, siberian bellflower, ajuga, coreopsis, lichnis. New; pink malva mallow
From center to back bed: potted pink rambler rose, double pink/lav clematis, ajuga border
New: peach astilbe in left corner, back bed.
Caramelita is comfortable only in the backyard when she does her business despite hours spent outdoors. I am not, but I moved the mountain anyway. This year, the dying daffodils will not yield not posies in their place,but pee weeds. Wanna see my teenie weenie paradise? I took and uploaded these, ALL BY MYSELF!

TequilaCon06: the recapitulation

2006-04-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

It was a dark and stormy night, and colder than Rumsfeld's heart. We fought our through the crowds watching the breakdancers in the subway. We got to the place; it was an Irish sports bar 1/2 block from Madison Square Garden, already crowded at 7:00PM. A live band was due to start at 10: The Gaelic Adrenaline Peddlers. My worst nightmare, realized. Under the weather, I knew I couldn't even have a drink. Kill me now Sarah, I thought, and save yourself!
But no, out of the gloom appeared beautiful sprites who showed us the way to a quiet (relatively) and private (semi) downstairs bar, right near the bathroom!
Everyone was delightful and interesting and most got drunk very politely and quitely. Sure there was groping, shot-shooting, worm-licking, tatooing, one incident of deliberate squeezing of lime in the eye and many candid photos but it was all done with class. I was in a unique position at TequilaCon in that I hadn't read any but Sarah's blog and only knew Mihow and TJ , so my impressions of these people were of the firstly kind. I found out later that many are Big Stars of the blogging world, of which I am only a neophyte. I am intimidated, retroactively. I'm looking forward to reading them all, they are way cool. (I hope to learn how to post links so all can share.) It was really fun and we stayed till midnight! Wild girl's night out with Sarah, my sweetie! Oi! The last pix of Carmelita were by Sarah. I did not give her credit for her fab Carmie shots and will so now.
This is a pic I took myself for the Self-portrait day site. It is quite difficult with a wriggly puppy. My life these days is about the dog, the garden and the contractor. There's a sitcom title there I think. But hark! Can it be he who ringeth my bell. Attends,Nick! J'arrive!

Spring tra la and TequilaCon news

2006-04-19T10:46:00.000-04:00

Spring makes me very hyper, it's all that burgeoning life goin' on. I have very little inclination to stay inside, much less sit at the computer while there is much lovely air to breathe and so much weeding and planting to do. I am, it seems, a fair weather friend, or rather, a foul weather friend. And, we live near Prospect Park which in the midst of the urban jungle is chock-full of many kinds of wildlife, 16 waterfalls, natural forest and meadows. It has always been a sacred and holy place for me since I was a child. My parents would tell of dates they had in the 20's, walking to the park and rowing on the lake. It was the first place I was allowed to go on the subway with friends and no adults. I had dates of my own there, as well as going to the wonderful concerts every summer which range from The NY Phiharmonic to all kinds of ethnic music to au courant Big Stars. For FREE, Bring your own blanket. When I was 24 and newly emancipated, I lived across the street from the park. One late night in a heavy snowstorm, I entered the park alone (very reckless) and hid behind a tree and pelted the few carst that were out with snowballs. Totally one of my scariest and most fun experiences.
I worked in the park (another dream) for 5 years for a non-profit, teaching about the urban environment. In all these years, only one thing was missing from the park experience and that was a dog of my own.
I am living a dream come true! We are both exeedingly blissed out at the park; there are smells galore, meadows to roll in, squirrels to harry, birds to chase, a sandy dog beach by the lake and new doggie friends to make. And Carmelita loves it too! Like a pedophile who hangs out at playgrounds, so I would haunt dog runs all over Brooklyn, always living in fear of being busted as dogless. Others may have bibles or pornor hootch at their bedside, for me it was always dog books. With the coming of Carmie, she of canine perfection, I have acheived doggy nirvana. On our first visit, she chased geese, rolled in mud and barked at four horses on the bridle path. Silly puppy.
She is much friendlier with other dogs in the park than she is on our block, where she protects her territory. Also, she no longer growls at the cat who lives nextdoor, a step closer to cat acquistion! Here are pix of Niecette and Carmie at the park. She is not wearing a muzzle - it is a Haltie, which keeps her from pulling; think horse. I get questioned about it endlessly.
Primavera; first green! It is Spring with a vengence here in NY. The weather is heavenly, the air is like blue and gold gaseous silk, the grass is lush and green satin. Breathing deeply gives me rushes. Our garden is blooming: daffs, tulips, dicentra, euonymous, ajuga. My tiny sticks of pyracantha and forsythia survived, lilacs, clematis, iris, roses and azaleas are on their way and despite being mutilated by Verizon workers, I still have 1/2 a blueberry bush, in bud. I have worked for 10 years on our backyard to create this tiny garden and Carmelita has trashed ( urine-ized) 1/2 of it in 3 weeks. (She is still doesn't get it about going anywhere but the yard, despite being in the dog run, park or walking for hours. Any suggestions?)
We are starting kitchen renovation soon (by the grace of the constructon gods) and I will lose backyard access for a while anyway. Che sera, sera. My garden has always in a state of change anyhow. Survival of the fittest, what?
My niece Sarah, the prolific and intrepid blogger and my mentor in all things bloggy, has invited me to accompany her to TequilaCon, a blogger meeting which to my understanding is a wild, bacchanalian affair comprised of bloggers from around the globe. Although Sarah is sober and just a taste of liquor gets me stoned, and I will know only 2 other people (Mihow and TJ!) and I will no doubt be the oldest person there and I dislike crowds of noisy drunks, it should be fun and quite interesting. It will be a good place to exploit the " Eccentric but colorful Crone" persona I am cultivating, as well as hang with my beloved babygirl. And Steve, Carmie & niecette will have an op to hang at home together.

Come one, come all, be you bloggers, readers, lurkers or friends.
The festivities start at 7:00 PM, Saturday, April 22, 2006 and are conveniently located at:

Stout NYC

133 W. 33rd St., New York, NY
Between Sixth and Seventh Aves.
212-629-6191

http://stoutnyc.com

Be there or Bsquare!

Open up: From the Stone to the Space Age

2006-04-12T11:32:00.000-04:00

Recently in Pakistan, a discovery of ancient remains revealed that the Neolithiths practiced dentistry, or dontistry as it were. Evidence of 9000 year-old teeth showed signs of drilling, done with stone tools. Just writing these words make my molars ache.
Flash ahead to the 21st century! Yesterday, I had my gums scraped and cut yet I had no needles! Believe it or not! They have this new gizmo where the anaesthesia is spritzed between the spaces, then under the gums. No pain, no needle prick that goes right up into your brain, no numbness that lasts for hours. Hooray! The nitrous gas played a role as well. We are all hoping that the tooth in question is happy too and goes back to not beng noticed.
While I was so engaged, Sarah and niecette came up and took the Carmelita to the park where love was shared. Sarah had a date with 2 lovely blogger friends so we decided to invite ourselves along and suggested a restaurant nearby, previously referred to in this space as the one-you-can't-get-to-from here. We were enjoying our salads when the owner came over to apologize: for some reason the sprinkler system went on, ruining our meals and shutting off the gas.
I'm thinking of a career in writing restaurant recommendations.
Caramelita is quite popular in the nabe, and has a posse of kids literally draped all over her and the front stoop every time we are out. Dogs and kids: priceless.
Thinking BostonLegal would be on TV, we watched the horrible end of that Moses movie. I saw the Ten commandments in 1956 at the age of 7 and it scared the hell out of me; death of the first-born, angel of death, you know. But this one was unbelievably violent and ugly and it made me wonder if Hallmark was doing a "Passion of the Christ" style version of Exodus. And to quote Sarah, that dude was no Charlton Heston.
Someone made a reference to the TV show American Idol and the irony of Moses' struggle with the people to give up their idol worship, and lo these many years, all America is into Idol worship.

FYI: the diety if the day is the Spiderwoman!