Friday, December 23, 2016
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
The State of our Union is Strong ...
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| I took this photo of the White House last month. |
I've loved the political process and the art of governing since I was a young child. Some of my first memories are of my dad railing against then Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and his elation (yes, elation) when Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis died in office in 1959. I learned early on that crushing electoral defeats were eventually followed by a shift in attitudes and "victory". One of these victories -- the first I remember for sure -- was that of Jean Lesage, who led Quebec during a turbulent but exciting time in its history.
Last night, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. He was not my candidate and we turned off the TV as the evening wore on, when stations darkly analyzed the electoral map, pointing out Hillary Clinton's slim chances in battleground states.
The victory was decisive. As of 6:25 a.m. CST: Electoral College: Trump 289; Clinton 218. In Congress, Republicans have control of both the House (235-191) and the Senate (51-47). Minnesota voted for Clinton, as expected, but not really by much (46%-43%). In the State Legislature, Republicans retained control of the House; the Senate is still too close to call, but the the slim DFL majority in the Senate seems to be threatened. I was almost surprised that Democrat Rick Nolan retained his seat in Congressional District 8, against second time challenger Stuart Mills.
Trump was gracious in his speech after Hillary Clinton called him to concede the election. There are a few protests around the country, but for the most part, the nation is calm. Families divided over the election, including mine, can now get back to some kind of normalcy.
Governing is not easy, and President-Elect Trump faces many challenges as a Washington "outsider". He is a dealmaker but he will learn that compromise isn't easy and one can't always succeed by insulting and disparaging one's enemies.
I heard this morning that Canada's immigration website crashed as Trump's victory seemed certain. I am a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, but although I love Canada, I will not be returning to my native country anytime soon. I've lived in the United States for over half my life now, and Minnesota is definitely home.
It's time to put this ugly election in the rear view mirror. Many who seemed to feel disenfranchised only a few days ago now have the responsibilities that come with leading a new administration. While we face challenging but interesting years, our beloved republic will survive and prosper.
Our country has always been great and the state of our union is still strong.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Remembering Istanbul
Facebook pics.
The terrorist attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport two days ago reminded me of my visit to Istanbul in the spring of 2008. I was tagging along with my sister Marilyn. a participant in the annual conference of the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists. The destination sounded somewhat exotic and exciting, yet "western" enough for me to feel comfortable as a woman in a predominantly Muslim country. I've always liked being among people who are different from me so I thought me pre-trip literature and cursory study of my Turkish language book would be sufficient preparation.
Marilyn and I connected easily in Amsterdam and made our way to the departure gate for an uneventful, if crowded, flight to Istanbul. We arrived in that ancient city in the rain, and our first challenge was obtaining a colorful tourist visa at a crowded counter in the airport. We took a cab to the upscale Hilton and enjoyed the ride, charmed by the sight of people fishing off the bridge as we drove by.
The hotel was lovely and our room gave us a magnificent view of the Bosphorus, where military, commercial and private watercraft moved up and down the river day and night. We started every day with a delicious breakfast of fruit, grains and various meats and loved a morning swim at the hotel's unusual pool. On our first evening, we fought fatigue and ventured a few blocks from the hotel for dinner. Marilyn was determined to eat Turkish delicacies like pork brain, while I stuck with more familiar lamb kabobs and rice or orzo. We ate out most evenings, often at little sidewalk restaurants. Bread and pastries were always excellent.
The language proved to be a bigger barrier than I had anticipated. In the past, I had always been able to communicate wherever I travelled, but Romance languages are easy for someone who speaks one or two, as I do. Turkish is totally different, and the only word I learned was "sutlac", delicious rice pudding that I learned to recognize on the menu, whether or not pictures were provided.
I was a little alarmed by the frosty reception we encountered from many younger service staff, and a little scared the few times we were out after dusk, when men seemed to leer at us, two respectable middle-aged women alone in a strange city. One of our tour guides was in his twenties, taciturn and surly. He spoke excellent English but spent much of his time on his cell phone. His conversations sounded ugly and menacing, especially to someone with as much imagination as I have. When one of us commented on Mustafa Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, he sneered and seemed to suggest that the best days of the Republic were ahead. In 2008, Islamist sympathies were beginning to become evident, even to a westerner with only a cursory knowledge of a Turkish timeline.
On May 1, I wasn't worried about what I thought would be May Day celebrations. That day I was accompanying Marilyn to the day's meetings, held about a mile from the Hilton. As we walked toward the conference venue, we noticed a rapid gathering of mostly young people walking in our direction. The crowd became very dense, and we walked arm in arm as riot police arrived on the scene, causing anger among protesters. Young men dug bricks out of the street and used them as weapons. The air was filled with the smell and sting of tear gas. The beautiful May morning was full of noise and chaos, and a young student told Marilyn and me to get to safety. "You are not safe", he said. There were many videos published that day; this is one of them.
At the time, I thought that the police were exhibiting and unnecessarily violent response to a peaceful protest. Now, I still think the response was excessive, but I'm less sure of the protesters' innocence. Marilyn and I managed to get to the conference and I hastily emailed our families to let them know we were all right. I learned later that there had been little media coverage of the May Day events. In fact, that very morning, Matt Lauer was broadcasting from a ship on the Bosphorus, and the beauty of the city was quite breathtaking.
That night we looked at the possibility of leaving the city early but we decided to remain and enjoy the rest of our visit. We loved Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace and the Istanbul cisterns. A charming artist and dealer of rugs and antiquities showed us the city from beautiful rooftop patio. Good experiences outnumbered the bad, compensating for the May Day scare and an afternoon when we got hopelessly separated from our tour grop in the Grand Bazaar.
Nevertheless, we were delighted to go home the following week. Our flight to Amsterdam was early so we cabbed to the airport way before dawn. We were at the gate when we learned that our flight had been canceled, and airport personnel made us gather our bags and go back to the terminal, where we had to get ourselves rerouted. The lines were endless and it took forever to get new boarding passes. I regretted having a heavy bag to lug around.
I got a flight to London, then went on to Chicago and eventually MSP. I literally kissed the ground when I finally landed, about 30 hours after the beginning of my journey home. Marilyn spent a sleepless night in Munich before flying home to Toronto the next day.
This week's pictures of the Istanbul airport were shockingly familiar. I remembered the hours we spent there and felt transported back to the awful confusion we experienced, still far from the horror of the terrorist attacks. I was immediately ashamed for complaining about the Istanbul experience all these years.
The terrorist attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport two days ago reminded me of my visit to Istanbul in the spring of 2008. I was tagging along with my sister Marilyn. a participant in the annual conference of the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists. The destination sounded somewhat exotic and exciting, yet "western" enough for me to feel comfortable as a woman in a predominantly Muslim country. I've always liked being among people who are different from me so I thought me pre-trip literature and cursory study of my Turkish language book would be sufficient preparation.
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| Hilton Bosphorus |
Marilyn and I connected easily in Amsterdam and made our way to the departure gate for an uneventful, if crowded, flight to Istanbul. We arrived in that ancient city in the rain, and our first challenge was obtaining a colorful tourist visa at a crowded counter in the airport. We took a cab to the upscale Hilton and enjoyed the ride, charmed by the sight of people fishing off the bridge as we drove by.
 |
| Marilyn at her conference |
The language proved to be a bigger barrier than I had anticipated. In the past, I had always been able to communicate wherever I travelled, but Romance languages are easy for someone who speaks one or two, as I do. Turkish is totally different, and the only word I learned was "sutlac", delicious rice pudding that I learned to recognize on the menu, whether or not pictures were provided.
I was a little alarmed by the frosty reception we encountered from many younger service staff, and a little scared the few times we were out after dusk, when men seemed to leer at us, two respectable middle-aged women alone in a strange city. One of our tour guides was in his twenties, taciturn and surly. He spoke excellent English but spent much of his time on his cell phone. His conversations sounded ugly and menacing, especially to someone with as much imagination as I have. When one of us commented on Mustafa Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, he sneered and seemed to suggest that the best days of the Republic were ahead. In 2008, Islamist sympathies were beginning to become evident, even to a westerner with only a cursory knowledge of a Turkish timeline.
On May 1, I wasn't worried about what I thought would be May Day celebrations. That day I was accompanying Marilyn to the day's meetings, held about a mile from the Hilton. As we walked toward the conference venue, we noticed a rapid gathering of mostly young people walking in our direction. The crowd became very dense, and we walked arm in arm as riot police arrived on the scene, causing anger among protesters. Young men dug bricks out of the street and used them as weapons. The air was filled with the smell and sting of tear gas. The beautiful May morning was full of noise and chaos, and a young student told Marilyn and me to get to safety. "You are not safe", he said. There were many videos published that day; this is one of them.
 |
| Bricks were used as weapons |
At the time, I thought that the police were exhibiting and unnecessarily violent response to a peaceful protest. Now, I still think the response was excessive, but I'm less sure of the protesters' innocence. Marilyn and I managed to get to the conference and I hastily emailed our families to let them know we were all right. I learned later that there had been little media coverage of the May Day events. In fact, that very morning, Matt Lauer was broadcasting from a ship on the Bosphorus, and the beauty of the city was quite breathtaking.
 |
| Lots of beautiful items for sale on the street |
Nevertheless, we were delighted to go home the following week. Our flight to Amsterdam was early so we cabbed to the airport way before dawn. We were at the gate when we learned that our flight had been canceled, and airport personnel made us gather our bags and go back to the terminal, where we had to get ourselves rerouted. The lines were endless and it took forever to get new boarding passes. I regretted having a heavy bag to lug around.
I got a flight to London, then went on to Chicago and eventually MSP. I literally kissed the ground when I finally landed, about 30 hours after the beginning of my journey home. Marilyn spent a sleepless night in Munich before flying home to Toronto the next day.
This week's pictures of the Istanbul airport were shockingly familiar. I remembered the hours we spent there and felt transported back to the awful confusion we experienced, still far from the horror of the terrorist attacks. I was immediately ashamed for complaining about the Istanbul experience all these years.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Turning Thirty
Spring photos.
Today my son Chris celebrates his thirtieth birthday. When I turned thirty myself nearly thirty-six years ago, I thought it was the beginning of the end. I had never expected to live so long (!) and here I was with no clear idea of what I wanted from the rest of my life.
I met my husband just over a year later and the rest is, well, history. I became a mother on the warm May Sunday of Memorial weekend in 1986, and didn't really know what to expect from motherhood. The screaming baby I'd anticipated was, in fact, very quiet and easy. He slept all night at two and a half weeks and simply came along with us wherever we went.
Of course, the simple early months ended as soon as my active pre-toddler struggled to climb out of his crib, playpen and stroller. For the next five or six years, my "escaper" had to be watched every waking minute and held tightly whenever we went outside. Fortunately, hockey became a favorite sport. After Chris' first hockey practice, he lay in Bob's recliner, sprawled in the chair from exhaustion, and I realized that I had inadvertently found an activity that would both capture his interest and provide a healthy outlet for his restless spirit.
An active, headstrong child is a challenge to raise, but I'm very proud of the way he turned out. My now thirty-year-old is skilled, competent and successful in business and in life. More important, Chris is a good person with a kind and generous heart, whose boundless energy and creativity are contagious.
I now view the decades as a continuum rather than discrete blocks of time, and thirty is simply a point on the maturity scale, with lots of room for growth. For Chris and all who reach this milestone birthday, I hope thirty is the gateway to a future filled with a happy family and good friends.
Today my son Chris celebrates his thirtieth birthday. When I turned thirty myself nearly thirty-six years ago, I thought it was the beginning of the end. I had never expected to live so long (!) and here I was with no clear idea of what I wanted from the rest of my life.
I met my husband just over a year later and the rest is, well, history. I became a mother on the warm May Sunday of Memorial weekend in 1986, and didn't really know what to expect from motherhood. The screaming baby I'd anticipated was, in fact, very quiet and easy. He slept all night at two and a half weeks and simply came along with us wherever we went.
Of course, the simple early months ended as soon as my active pre-toddler struggled to climb out of his crib, playpen and stroller. For the next five or six years, my "escaper" had to be watched every waking minute and held tightly whenever we went outside. Fortunately, hockey became a favorite sport. After Chris' first hockey practice, he lay in Bob's recliner, sprawled in the chair from exhaustion, and I realized that I had inadvertently found an activity that would both capture his interest and provide a healthy outlet for his restless spirit.
An active, headstrong child is a challenge to raise, but I'm very proud of the way he turned out. My now thirty-year-old is skilled, competent and successful in business and in life. More important, Chris is a good person with a kind and generous heart, whose boundless energy and creativity are contagious.
I now view the decades as a continuum rather than discrete blocks of time, and thirty is simply a point on the maturity scale, with lots of room for growth. For Chris and all who reach this milestone birthday, I hope thirty is the gateway to a future filled with a happy family and good friends.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Mr. Toad Finds a Home
Spring photos.
I think of him as "my" toad. Anyone who grew up in my hometown of Temiscaming, Québec would recognize my nostalgic memories of a childhood filled with wildlife, including lots of amphibians.
I was more familiar with frogs than toads, since one of my favorite spring activities was collecting frogs' eggs from the pond on the dusty old Ville Marie road. Like many other kids, I stored the eggs in a milk bottle filled with pond water, and watch the black dots in the gelatinous eggs develop into polliwogs and, finally, frogs. We released the frogs into the garden when they started to jump around too much to contain in a makeshift terrarium.
I remember seeing toads in wet, leafy areas, minding their own business and quietly eating insects, worms and whatever else seemed appetizing, but I'm not sure I'd even picked one up until a couple of weeks ago.
My husband Bob grew up in the city and had never had a close encounter with a toad until he found one lounging in his Weber grill a few weeks ago. Bob called me to "deal with it" so I picked him up carefully, rinsed him off in the birdbath and laid him it carefully in the grass. A few days later we grilled again and Mr. Toad was back under the grill cover, resting on the propane tank. Same routine to get him out of harm's way.On Sunday Mr. T. was nowhere to be found and I feared that one of his predators (raccoon, skunk, owl, snake ...) had eaten him. However, this afternoon, he was back on the propane tank and I deposited him on the edge of the birdbath. He soon disappeared into the grass.
The grill is covered and cool now, and I can picture Mr. Toad safely asleep under the cover after enjoying a tasty bug dinner.
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Good News!
Spring photos.
Today I went to the new University of Minnesota Clinics and Surgery Center for my Entyvio (vedolizumab) infusion, my only remaining Crohn's medication. The new center is attractive, though not quite as great as I had thought it would be.
I know that a lot of staff who have been toiling for years in dark quarters were looking forward to windows. Well, there are windows all right but many of them let in light but provide no view of the outside.
The treatment room lacked some organization and processes seem to lack uniformity. I was surprised that the sharps disposal container requires a visual check to determine whether it needs emptying. Surely it would be possible generate an electronic alert or notification when the container is x% full. There's still a lot of work to be done before systems satisfy staff and patient needs, but the new smell is wonderful and everything is so clean.
As always, I had some lab tests and for the first time since I became a frequent flyer at Fairview and U of M clinics, all my blood work was normal. My hemoglobin is now 12.1 and the recently problem white blood count is 4.1, both finally within standard range. Dr. Howard, my gastroenterologist, messaged me that the labs looked "amazing".
Although "amazing" is certainly an overused word, the news really was amazing and I am thrilled.
Today I went to the new University of Minnesota Clinics and Surgery Center for my Entyvio (vedolizumab) infusion, my only remaining Crohn's medication. The new center is attractive, though not quite as great as I had thought it would be.
I know that a lot of staff who have been toiling for years in dark quarters were looking forward to windows. Well, there are windows all right but many of them let in light but provide no view of the outside.
The treatment room lacked some organization and processes seem to lack uniformity. I was surprised that the sharps disposal container requires a visual check to determine whether it needs emptying. Surely it would be possible generate an electronic alert or notification when the container is x% full. There's still a lot of work to be done before systems satisfy staff and patient needs, but the new smell is wonderful and everything is so clean.
As always, I had some lab tests and for the first time since I became a frequent flyer at Fairview and U of M clinics, all my blood work was normal. My hemoglobin is now 12.1 and the recently problem white blood count is 4.1, both finally within standard range. Dr. Howard, my gastroenterologist, messaged me that the labs looked "amazing".
Although "amazing" is certainly an overused word, the news really was amazing and I am thrilled.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Feeling Great!
Winter photos.
I never appreciated good health until it slipped away, gradually at first, almost imperceptibly. After I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2004, I accepted the effects of Avonex, a medication that made me ill for at least a day a week for over 10 years. During that time, I had no relapses. I thought the weekly headachy fatigue, like a bad hangover sometimes extending for several days, was the price I paid for being able to work and play without restrictions noticeable to anyone but myself.
My neurologist recommended discontinuing Avonex in August 2014, hoping I would remain relapse free. I almost immediately lost the "hung over" feeling and several MRIs and neurological evaluations showed no change in MS status. However, in early 2014 I began to notice symptoms like nausea and diarrhea that worsened over time, especially after January 2015. Thanksgiving last year I was so ill that I didn't have enough energy to make myself a cup of soup or venture outside. In December, I spent 6 days in the hospital, and was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.
I finally had an excellent medical team headed by Dr. Justin Howard at the University of Minnesota. By Christmas I was feeling much better and in January I began to think I would recover. I improved over the winter when I was diligently followed by Dr. Howard and nurse practitioners Jennifer Bottom and Ann Bolkcom, all of whom share credit for my general feeling of wellbeing.
Two months after illness claimed most of my strength, I am enjoying a month in Florida. The prospect of the long road trip filled me with apprehension as recently as ten days ago, before we left home. I knew that my stamina was still lacking and I felt somewhat fearful of my heat tolerance and ability to step up my physical activity.
Last year, dismayed that even one lap in the pool tired me out, I attributed fatigue to my age and the fact that I don't swim very often any more. This year, I've been swimming every day in a mostly empty pool and I feel strong, much like my old self, so I'm giving myself a "pass" so far on the physical activity test. The heat test is still in the future: the temperature has never been higher than 74F.
I'm daring to think that good health is gradually returning. I get a good eight hours of restful sleep most nights, for the first time in many years. I don't worry about "wearing out" or needing to know the location of a nearby restroom. I can go over to the beach and know that I won't be exhausted 15 minutes into my walk. While I still have a long way to go in my recovery, I finally feel like a normal, healthy person, and I'm so grateful.
I never appreciated good health until it slipped away, gradually at first, almost imperceptibly. After I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2004, I accepted the effects of Avonex, a medication that made me ill for at least a day a week for over 10 years. During that time, I had no relapses. I thought the weekly headachy fatigue, like a bad hangover sometimes extending for several days, was the price I paid for being able to work and play without restrictions noticeable to anyone but myself.
My neurologist recommended discontinuing Avonex in August 2014, hoping I would remain relapse free. I almost immediately lost the "hung over" feeling and several MRIs and neurological evaluations showed no change in MS status. However, in early 2014 I began to notice symptoms like nausea and diarrhea that worsened over time, especially after January 2015. Thanksgiving last year I was so ill that I didn't have enough energy to make myself a cup of soup or venture outside. In December, I spent 6 days in the hospital, and was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.
I finally had an excellent medical team headed by Dr. Justin Howard at the University of Minnesota. By Christmas I was feeling much better and in January I began to think I would recover. I improved over the winter when I was diligently followed by Dr. Howard and nurse practitioners Jennifer Bottom and Ann Bolkcom, all of whom share credit for my general feeling of wellbeing.
Two months after illness claimed most of my strength, I am enjoying a month in Florida. The prospect of the long road trip filled me with apprehension as recently as ten days ago, before we left home. I knew that my stamina was still lacking and I felt somewhat fearful of my heat tolerance and ability to step up my physical activity.
Last year, dismayed that even one lap in the pool tired me out, I attributed fatigue to my age and the fact that I don't swim very often any more. This year, I've been swimming every day in a mostly empty pool and I feel strong, much like my old self, so I'm giving myself a "pass" so far on the physical activity test. The heat test is still in the future: the temperature has never been higher than 74F.
I'm daring to think that good health is gradually returning. I get a good eight hours of restful sleep most nights, for the first time in many years. I don't worry about "wearing out" or needing to know the location of a nearby restroom. I can go over to the beach and know that I won't be exhausted 15 minutes into my walk. While I still have a long way to go in my recovery, I finally feel like a normal, healthy person, and I'm so grateful.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
End of a Recurring Frustration
Winter photos.
Or at least I hope this is the end. I often have trouble with Internet connectivity when I travel and sure enough, I couldn't connect when I arrived at the resort. Now each unit has its own modem (nice an fast) but my old Lenovo laptop gave me only limited connectivity. The PC reached the router but not beyond. Our three Apple devices (iPod, original iPad, mini IPad) and Samsung Galaxy s6 connected perfectly, of course.
I've searched for a solution off and on for about a year, to no avail. One of the proposed fixes was a registry edit to delete all keys referencing any problem router but that didn't work, and other ideas were useless as well. Finally I found this one on a Microsoft forum:
Click on:
Or at least I hope this is the end. I often have trouble with Internet connectivity when I travel and sure enough, I couldn't connect when I arrived at the resort. Now each unit has its own modem (nice an fast) but my old Lenovo laptop gave me only limited connectivity. The PC reached the router but not beyond. Our three Apple devices (iPod, original iPad, mini IPad) and Samsung Galaxy s6 connected perfectly, of course.
I've searched for a solution off and on for about a year, to no avail. One of the proposed fixes was a registry edit to delete all keys referencing any problem router but that didn't work, and other ideas were useless as well. Finally I found this one on a Microsoft forum:
Click on:
- WiFi connection
- View Connection Properties
- Security
- Advanced Settings (opens 802.11 settings)
- Check Enable Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliance for this network
- OK
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Saint Paul Magazine Photography Award
Winter photos.
Last spring I went out to take some pictures the day before a medical procedure. An eagle on Randolph Avenue in Highland Park distracted me from worrying about the next morning.
The summer passed quickly and I almost missed a photography contest sponsored by Saint Paul Magazine, a local publication about a year old. I half heartedly collected a few photographs taken within St. Paul city limits and entered each category. There weren't many entries and all of my photos got some kind of mention in the October 2015 online version of the magazine.
Late in the fall I was notified that my picture of a bald eagle had been selected for publication in the March 2016 print edition. The picture below is similar to the winning photo, also featured online.
Magazine archives are here.
Last spring I went out to take some pictures the day before a medical procedure. An eagle on Randolph Avenue in Highland Park distracted me from worrying about the next morning.
The summer passed quickly and I almost missed a photography contest sponsored by Saint Paul Magazine, a local publication about a year old. I half heartedly collected a few photographs taken within St. Paul city limits and entered each category. There weren't many entries and all of my photos got some kind of mention in the October 2015 online version of the magazine.
Late in the fall I was notified that my picture of a bald eagle had been selected for publication in the March 2016 print edition. The picture below is similar to the winning photo, also featured online.
 |
| Eagle in Highland Park - similar to the photo submitted to Saint Paul Magazine |
Monday, February 8, 2016
Y-M-C-A!
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| Midway YMCA, St. Paul |
I was eligible to join the Y for a reduced rate last August, when I turned 65. One of the benefits of my health insurance, Health Partners Freedom Plan, is membership in a health club -- including the Y and many others within a few miles of our home -- for $25 a year. Unfortunately, I was too sick to take advantage of this great benefit until recently.
After my December stay in the hospital and subsequent slow recovery, I finally felt ready to take on a regular exercise program. A few weeks ago, Bob and I joined the new Midway YMCA on University Avenue about a mile from our home. A few days later, we met with a personal trainer for an introduction to the Y and a tour of the brand new gym. Kerry showed us how to use the machines in the beautiful, bright gym and we soon became regular Y attendees. Our membership is valid at any Twin Cities Y and at any Y across the country that participates in the YMCA reciprocal program.
Because I lost so much strength during my illness, I started off slowly with an easy "Senior Sneakers/Silver and Fit" aerobics class three mornings a week. Most of the participants are "older" but I'm fairly sure I'm not the youngest in the class. Some are very fit but others seem seriously physically challenged. This is my first exercise class ever and I had a little trouble with my coordination for the first couple of sessions.
Two weeks later, my balance and strength are improved, but there's a lot of room for improvement so I'm not quite ready to "move up" to a more challenging level. Tomorrow I'll go with Bob to work on the machines: not being mechanically inclined, I need to be taught more than once how to adjust resistance, handlebars and seat height. I'm a little embarrassed that color coding makes these tasks easy for "normal" users, but I'm way below average in that department.
The best outcomes aren't measurable. The beautiful Y building, competent and helpful staff, and upbeat music lift my mood and energy level for the entire day.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
A new Desktop: Dell Inspiron I3847-3538BK and Windows 10
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| Dell Inspiron I3487-3538BK |
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| Dell Monitor E2414HM |
Winter photos.
Last fall, I spent many hours in Chicago O'Hare lugging my everyday Lenovo laptop, which got heavier by the minute. I decided to seriously consider replacing that device with a MacBook Air when the time came -- before my next plane trip for sure. However, in the meantime, my office "workhorse" computer was getting old and slow.
I didn't really give serious consideration to anything but a Windows operating system: I still occasionally use the command line and feel most comfortable with the file structure that I know so well. My hard drive is simply organized (most personal documents, photos, music etc. under the "users" subfolder, others under my own "c:\data" folder. All well labeled, logical and easy to remember.
When I made my last office computer replacement, I selected an HP laptop marketed as a desktop replacement, to be used as a laptop (e.g., do "office" work in the living room instead of being physically in the office), if necessary. The machine was actually fairly heavy and its use as a laptop was not very practical. I used networking (including old fashioned "sneaker net" more often than I actually moved the laptop from its permanent location on my desk. I considered the overall purchase a somewhat expensive mistake.
Once I decided on my specs (enough memory, 2 TB hard drive big enough for my photographs), the purchase was easy: $549.99 from Best Buy. with free delivery the next day. The initial set-up was as easy as I've ever encountered. Unpacked, plugged in and Internet connected in less than an hour. My one-year subscription to Office 360 ($50 for one desktop and another table installation) was quick to install and is a pleasure to use.
I was pleasantly surprised by Windows 10, after hating both Windows 7 and 10. The familiar XP Start Menu is back, with a different look that's practical and easy for novices to use. I got rid of the out-of-the-box icon clutter and gave prominent real estate to the icons my husband uses the most.
I did encounter a few minor hurdles. The plan to migrate my own data was too daunting without data migration tools so I brought the box back to Best Buy and paid $99 for Geek Squad to copy it for me. Bonus: the migration of my iTunes music library was painless and perfect. No support call to iTunes required. I also messed around with user settings to make it easy for Bob to use the device: I long ago abandoned the idea of giving him his own login, since it is easier for me to manage only one user. I've wasted some time on small issues like desktop appearance.
I'm especially happy with speed and display. Overall, the transition has been easy and so worth the effort.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Pioneer Press - Sainted & Tainted 01.02.2016
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_29330643/huge-egg-mess-back-seat-what-would-he
Sainted
I was recently hospitalized at the University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC) for the observation, evaluation and treatment of a condition that had been unmanageable for many months. After the implementation of a short-term strategy, I was feeling better within a day and was soon presented with a viable treatment plan for the longer term.
My nurse practitioner at Fairview Highland in St. Paul initiated the actions that led to my hospitalization, and excellent coordination between Fairview and the University ensured a seamless experience for me, the patient. Everyone -- doctors, residents, students, nurses, nursing assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy and administrative personnel, housekeeping and food-service staff, transporters, volunteers -- was so kind, compassionate and competent. My world was changed for the better in a few days by the University of Minnesota Physicians GI Clinic, the UMMC Maroon Team, and the well-trained staff of UMMC Units 6D and 5A.
Because of the superior care I received, I was discharged in time for the holidays. The doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, administrative and non-medical staff work long hours under sometimes challenging conditions. Without exception, I was treated with extreme care, proficiency and good humor. The professionalism, expertise, and outstanding patient care at both Fairview and the University of Minnesota make me proud of the staff and volunteers committed to providing exceptional health care not only to Minnesotans, but to regional, national and international communities as well. They are among the best in the world.
Catherine Hennessey, St. Paul
Sainted
I was recently hospitalized at the University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC) for the observation, evaluation and treatment of a condition that had been unmanageable for many months. After the implementation of a short-term strategy, I was feeling better within a day and was soon presented with a viable treatment plan for the longer term.
My nurse practitioner at Fairview Highland in St. Paul initiated the actions that led to my hospitalization, and excellent coordination between Fairview and the University ensured a seamless experience for me, the patient. Everyone -- doctors, residents, students, nurses, nursing assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy and administrative personnel, housekeeping and food-service staff, transporters, volunteers -- was so kind, compassionate and competent. My world was changed for the better in a few days by the University of Minnesota Physicians GI Clinic, the UMMC Maroon Team, and the well-trained staff of UMMC Units 6D and 5A.
Because of the superior care I received, I was discharged in time for the holidays. The doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, administrative and non-medical staff work long hours under sometimes challenging conditions. Without exception, I was treated with extreme care, proficiency and good humor. The professionalism, expertise, and outstanding patient care at both Fairview and the University of Minnesota make me proud of the staff and volunteers committed to providing exceptional health care not only to Minnesotans, but to regional, national and international communities as well. They are among the best in the world.
Catherine Hennessey, St. Paul
Happy New Year!
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| Happy New Year! |
I always enjoy the brand new slate of New Year's Day, but this year was different because I finally felt more like "myself" after being sick for so long.
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| New Year's Day fun at Hidden Falls Regional Park |
As 2015 came to a close, I thought about the health challenges of the year and how solutions became clear in December. I was so grateful for the medical professionals, family and friends who took care of me, especially in December. My sister Marilyn visited and took on the management of my health; because of her skill and expertise (well beyond her child psychiatry specialty!), as well as her insider MD understanding of almost daily blood tests, I made it through days of coughing and general illness and eventually got appropriate treatment for underlying Crohn's Disease.
My friend Dennis checked in on me every couple of days throughout the fall and came to see me in the hospital during the busy week preceding Christmas. Bob's daughter Sonia called or texted every day and brought entertaining reading material to my hospital room, cheering me with her kindness, humor and optimistic outlook on life. Son Chris texted, called, sent me a beautiful poinsettia, and visited me in the middle of busy workdays as he rushed to get through year-end business. My husband Bob sat quietly with me when I was too tired to talk or do much of anything but sense the peace of his presence. When I got home from the hospital, he prepared meals and generally made me feel comfortable and cherished, still driving me everywhere until I'm strong enough to finally go out of the house by myself. Many other family members and friends called, emailed, messaged and prayed for me.
I have only one resolution this year: to fully appreciate each new day and the people who fill my life with interesting ideas, joy and fun. On January 1, I woke up early and almost jumped out of bed, well before 5:00 a.m. I washed a load of dishes an hour later and had brand new linens on the beds before I took my shower. Feeling full of energy, I washed three loads of laundry in the morning, so happy with Bob's New Year's Eve repairs on my old washing machine. We spent part of the day enjoying the outdoors: it's always fun to watch crazy Minnesotans waterski at Hidden Falls and visit some of our favorite all season destinations like Fort Snelling State Park.
I'm not sure how to beat that great January 1 start, so I started looking for a quote to help frame my resolution. Google came to the rescue with these quotes about optimism. Figured I can't do better than this one:
“What day is it?"
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.”
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.”
― A. A. Milne
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