Monday, December 22, 2008
2008 Christmas Letter
Holiday greetings. This is my experiment in a Green Christmas--some of you received reused cards, and I'm publishing my Christmas missive on the Internet rather than sending out another piece of paper to toss. (You can click on any picture for a larger view.) We’ll see how it works.
I’m still self-employed as a writer (business continues to be good, I’m glad to report), singing in the San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir and playing baritone sax in the Castro Valley Community Band. This fall I joined a small new vocal ensemble (11 people) that specializes in Renaissance motets. I do a little writing for fun (and garnered a bit of local attention for doing so) and stay physically active.
I rang in the New Year on a beach in Mexico. I visited Las Bocas (don’t look for it on a map--you won’t find it) with my band friends Kathy and Dave for a week; I spent the time helping with projects around their house, beachcombing, reading, and discovering how much of my high school Spanish I could recall. (Quite a bit, it turns out.) It was beautiful but surprisingly cold. I drove to Las Bocas with K&D, but for my return trip I took a bus to Phoenix (much more of an adventure than anticipated, because of a dumb mistake on our part) and a plane to the Bay Area. On the way home I visited in Phoenix with Carol, a choir friend and retired counselor from Hayward High.
New Year's Beach Bonfire with Dave. (Kathy's behind the camera.)
In April I traveled to China with a Hayward Chamber of Commerce junket with my former Sunset colleague Alan. We went to Beijing, Shanghai, and a few smaller cities (as in fewer than a zillion people). We saw some of the Olympic structures before they were completed, took in the legendary smog, ate some shockingly bad food, and were encouraged to shop, shop, shop. Our best experiences came when we managed to slip away from the group and explore on our own.
On The Not-So-Great Wall with Alan.
Also in April, I spent my 47th birthday in Los Angeles visiting with yoga friends Paul W. and Adelaide, lifelong friend Paul R., former Sunset colleague Matt and his wife Becky, my college pal Tom, and online correspondent (and maybe distant cousin) Joanna. I took in a Dodgers game (thanks for the tickets, 'Teo), ate some fine meals, saw some sights, and generally basked in the kind attention of dear people.
We ate how many Dodger Dogs?
Also, note that I wore blue and left my Giants cap at home.
For the better part of the year--literally and figuratively--I’ve dated a charming woman named Angela. She’s a former colleague, a fellow widowed person, and a joy to be with. She and I took an early-Summer trip to the American South--specifically, Nashville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals (AL), and the Natchez Trace. The journey brimmed with spontaneous discoveries, surprising beauty, delicious food, and friendly folks.
On the porch at Graceland with Angela.
Later in the summer we Sandsmarks had our annual houseboat trip on Lake Shasta. In spite of some challenges--low water levels, high gas prices, and Nicole getting sick--the trip was a chance to hang out with the family (all the nieces and nephews came), sleep, and read. (Those are the choices if, like me, you don’t play Guitar Hero.) Paul and Mike helped me make BBQ pizza for dinner one night.
Houseboating is hard work.
I marked the anniversary of Jane’s death with a solo road trip to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. I visited some of our favorite places and attended the Labor Day Yoga Retreat at the White Lotus Foundation. The folks at WLF were instrumental in Jane’s well-being--and mine--during the nine years she was ill, and WLF was the right place to be for this important occasion.
The White Lotus Swimming Hole.
The year wrapped up with Mike, Carol, Nicole and Jenni visiting in early December. (Michelle’s in college in Hawaii, poor dear.) We celebrated Mike’s and Linda’s birthdays with lunch for 16 here at Outlook Court. I took the opportunity to give them both some of their own childhood toys out of the attic. There’s a lot more cleaning to do in this old house, but fortunately there’s no rush to do it.
December Birthdays.
I had one other bit of adventure at the end of the year: Delta (the hound) collapsed on a routine morning walk; a veterinary exam showed she had a large tumor on her spleen that had ruptured. Her spleen was removed (don’t ask how much that cost) and while she was under she had a cyst removed from a hind leg. She’s recovering well, but the spleen tumor proved to be malignant; the prognosis isn’t great, but for now she’s comfortable and happy.
The Spleenless Wonder Dog.
And given all the turmoil in the world—particularly in the economy—comfortable and happy isn’t bad. I wish you all a peaceful, prosperous 2009.
I’m still self-employed as a writer (business continues to be good, I’m glad to report), singing in the San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir and playing baritone sax in the Castro Valley Community Band. This fall I joined a small new vocal ensemble (11 people) that specializes in Renaissance motets. I do a little writing for fun (and garnered a bit of local attention for doing so) and stay physically active.
I rang in the New Year on a beach in Mexico. I visited Las Bocas (don’t look for it on a map--you won’t find it) with my band friends Kathy and Dave for a week; I spent the time helping with projects around their house, beachcombing, reading, and discovering how much of my high school Spanish I could recall. (Quite a bit, it turns out.) It was beautiful but surprisingly cold. I drove to Las Bocas with K&D, but for my return trip I took a bus to Phoenix (much more of an adventure than anticipated, because of a dumb mistake on our part) and a plane to the Bay Area. On the way home I visited in Phoenix with Carol, a choir friend and retired counselor from Hayward High.
In April I traveled to China with a Hayward Chamber of Commerce junket with my former Sunset colleague Alan. We went to Beijing, Shanghai, and a few smaller cities (as in fewer than a zillion people). We saw some of the Olympic structures before they were completed, took in the legendary smog, ate some shockingly bad food, and were encouraged to shop, shop, shop. Our best experiences came when we managed to slip away from the group and explore on our own.
Also in April, I spent my 47th birthday in Los Angeles visiting with yoga friends Paul W. and Adelaide, lifelong friend Paul R., former Sunset colleague Matt and his wife Becky, my college pal Tom, and online correspondent (and maybe distant cousin) Joanna. I took in a Dodgers game (thanks for the tickets, 'Teo), ate some fine meals, saw some sights, and generally basked in the kind attention of dear people.
Also, note that I wore blue and left my Giants cap at home.
For the better part of the year--literally and figuratively--I’ve dated a charming woman named Angela. She’s a former colleague, a fellow widowed person, and a joy to be with. She and I took an early-Summer trip to the American South--specifically, Nashville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals (AL), and the Natchez Trace. The journey brimmed with spontaneous discoveries, surprising beauty, delicious food, and friendly folks.
Later in the summer we Sandsmarks had our annual houseboat trip on Lake Shasta. In spite of some challenges--low water levels, high gas prices, and Nicole getting sick--the trip was a chance to hang out with the family (all the nieces and nephews came), sleep, and read. (Those are the choices if, like me, you don’t play Guitar Hero.) Paul and Mike helped me make BBQ pizza for dinner one night.
I marked the anniversary of Jane’s death with a solo road trip to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. I visited some of our favorite places and attended the Labor Day Yoga Retreat at the White Lotus Foundation. The folks at WLF were instrumental in Jane’s well-being--and mine--during the nine years she was ill, and WLF was the right place to be for this important occasion.
The White Lotus Swimming Hole.
The year wrapped up with Mike, Carol, Nicole and Jenni visiting in early December. (Michelle’s in college in Hawaii, poor dear.) We celebrated Mike’s and Linda’s birthdays with lunch for 16 here at Outlook Court. I took the opportunity to give them both some of their own childhood toys out of the attic. There’s a lot more cleaning to do in this old house, but fortunately there’s no rush to do it.
I had one other bit of adventure at the end of the year: Delta (the hound) collapsed on a routine morning walk; a veterinary exam showed she had a large tumor on her spleen that had ruptured. Her spleen was removed (don’t ask how much that cost) and while she was under she had a cyst removed from a hind leg. She’s recovering well, but the spleen tumor proved to be malignant; the prognosis isn’t great, but for now she’s comfortable and happy.
And given all the turmoil in the world—particularly in the economy—comfortable and happy isn’t bad. I wish you all a peaceful, prosperous 2009.
Labels: friends, Jane, personal history
Friday, December 19, 2008
I don't know why I find this funny
Monday, December 01, 2008
Patient-led Drug Trials
An article by Marcus Wohlsen appeared on the AP over the weekend, regarding ALS patients who are conducting their own clinical trial using lithium. A snippet:
I can certainly relate to the desire to speed up treatment plans. It's part of the need that patients with life-threatening illnesses have to take some control of their situation amid circumstances that feel hopeless. Others might look to nutrition, natural remedies, spirituality, etc. Personally (and quite unscientifically), I think it all helps, because I believe that hopelessness is poisonous.
Wohlsen's article also reminded me of the Virtual Trial being conducted by the Musella Foundation. The foundation deserves a plug here; I hope you'll follow the link to read about the Virtual Trial and the other good work the Musella Foundation does.
P.S. The AP link above will expire on January 1, 2009.
Dozens of ALS patients are testing treatments on their own without waiting on the slow pace of medical research. They are part of an emerging group of patients willing to share intimate health details on the Web in hopes of making their own medical discoveries.
I can certainly relate to the desire to speed up treatment plans. It's part of the need that patients with life-threatening illnesses have to take some control of their situation amid circumstances that feel hopeless. Others might look to nutrition, natural remedies, spirituality, etc. Personally (and quite unscientifically), I think it all helps, because I believe that hopelessness is poisonous.
Wohlsen's article also reminded me of the Virtual Trial being conducted by the Musella Foundation. The foundation deserves a plug here; I hope you'll follow the link to read about the Virtual Trial and the other good work the Musella Foundation does.
P.S. The AP link above will expire on January 1, 2009.
Labels: brain tumor, faith, health, Internet, Jane, medicine, psychology, science, technology
