Skip2Log

Now I’m mobile blogging in a way I couldn’t make happen in NYC from my iPad. This is the complete package.

I had a gritty assignment cleaning the fuzz and dead skin cells off of the circulating fans in the gym along with other lower-form tasks on Thursday. Why do I enjoy it so much?

Craig Webb came to ask Cathy if I could come out and play with the sprinkler system.  We again had fun brainstorming solutions to the drip system, and he showed me how to make tree rings out of Netafim. I’ve got the front yard about halfway done.

The weather is supposed to turn bad tonight bringing three days of rain and snow. We shall see.

The parking space was really tight at Safeway today.

Proof that the sun really was out today.

The boss told me to board her up, but there were none too many boards.

Today I had time to take a walk to Safeway and to deposit some reunion checks at the bank. That must signify that I’m just about caught up and that my camera had a good time, too.

Cath was busy like a crazy chicken today: fasting for her lab early this morning (remember Phase Wellness Exam?), then off to Pilates, a haircut, nails, two meetings (one was kind of a memorial for a lady she worked with at Penrose – quick and unexpected and just before retirement), a quick bite with me and then she was off to Bunco. Dang!

Things are disturbing in the publishing world…Meredith’s two big bosses have been let go. We are just waiting and hoping.

A friend had her big surgery yesterday. Her spinal cord had been pinched to the size of a ball point pen and post surgery is about the size of the surgeon’s thumb. She is up and walking, but will have a long rehab period.

I shopped for flooring in the basement and groceries. I’m sure glad I got in that walk.

Yesterday, Cath got an infusion of some drug for her hand. It was in the form of a huge Band Aid with a built-in battery. Once the time was up [3-4 hours (?)], she peeled it off and threw it away – battery and all! She said she could really tell a difference.

The other hands belong to Meg Rich, wife of Bob Rich pictured below. (She didn’t have her hair done, so I was not allowed a full body photo). I got a distress call from Meg that her iPad was not working: email would not display, etc. I jumped on/in my charcoal stead (I would have taken the MG but it was raining) and motored to rescue this lovely 80-something damsel. A reboot of said machine made me hero-for-a-day, and as a bonus I got to visit with the Rich’s for a few minutes. They have made the brave decision to sell the beautiful house on the hill and go into assisted living. I honor and love them and wish them much happiness in their new digs. Bob has helped me immeasurably over the years with British car issues. Meg has knitted more than 10,000 caps for new babies. Their hands are holy.

Today Becky Elder and Wesley arrived to plant two Korean ??s and three Green??s out front where the juniper bushes used to reign. I planted three Blue Mist Spireas (OK, so I read the tags on these).

I’ve got a couple of new dragons on eBay and have been doing a lot of reading: The Neversink Chronicles and another one on dying – Good to Go: A Guide to Preparing for the End of Life sent by Meredith from the “free” shelf. She sent a disclaimer that it was for our NODA group, but mortality is a topic that rolls around in my cranium at an ever increasing rate. It’s a very cool and quirky book.

I get a daily heads-up from Gizmodo via email and sometimes they are very engaging. I like this one: http://gizmodo.com/5906600/the-cheap-charming-kinda-crazy-lab-of-a-video-visionary?utm_source=Gizmodo+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4f2025a43d-UA-142218-3&utm_medium=email. Even the comments are interesting. Be sure and view the embedded video.

Degas had a hard time getting ballet off of his mind, too.

There have been so many false alarms, but last night a gentle rain began and it hasn’t stopped completely all day. Blessed rain.

From an email exchange today with Ron Lupton:

This was a nice thoughtful piece. http://spiritualwealth.com/ I liked it a lot. It was a ‘thwack upside the head’ like a few other things have been lately.

Meredith sent us an article from the New York Times Magazine about ‘paper’. It was basically about a guy named Barrett who decided paper needed to be studied more closely, enrolled in paper making classes, became a master and ended up teaching the Japanese some of their own early processes, etc. (I’d be happy to share it). There was one quote in the article by Bob Stein, the founder of the Institute for the Future of the Book that rocked me: “The notion of a page is being expanded as we speak. I imagine the book going in two directions – one as an art object, printed on paper in small quantities and so expensive only the rich can afford it, and the other as an electronic form that will incorporate still images, animation, a diverse set of links to the open Web and a significant social component. In terms of the electronic book, we’re in 1464 – the infancy of Gutenberg’s press – and everything is poised to change.”

I read a LOT on my iPad. Often subjects also contain animations, film, photos and lots of links to other material including instant pronunciations, definitions, etc. With a couple of taps, I can share what I’ve learned with you or dozens of friends (and I didn’t even have to use Facebook, which I am very down on, but which ‘could’ serve the same useful purpose).

That made me think about the history of the printed book which was initially only the Bible and only available to the rich. Gradually, with cheaper paper and more academic sources the book gained a wider circulation until mass printing and pulp paper made the dime novels and how-to pamphlets available to everyone. All of this cycle is not unlike what Stein envisions in our future.

The other ‘thwak’ this article delivered was the book Cultural Literacy – What Every American Needs to Know (paperback) http://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Literacy-Every-American-Needs/dp/0394758439.  Like it says on Amazon this was published in 1988 when you and I were at the top of our game. We were then shocked about what our students didn’t know. Harris, the author of C.L. attempted to list the essentials. That ‘thwak’ made me recall a book I read in Vietnam by Sheilah Graham, College of One, http://fitzgerald.narod.ru/bio/graham-collegeof1.html documenting a course of study laid out for her by F. Scott Fitzgerald who was in her pants and her mind at the same time. She was clueless and he attempted to educate her by outlining what was important for her to know.

It sort of makes you think that once we have some knowledge, the natural next step is to share it.

Anyhow, thanks for the article.
Skip

Somehow, I can't get ballet off of my mind.

Pure hell and defiance of the rules of physics describes my visit with Keith and his Epson printer. This was my second attempt at helping to get the air bubbles out of his delivery lines. I was totally ready to be the hero and walk away victorious. However, we ended up buying another CISS unit for forty bucks and going to Cy’s for a hamburger! At least the  morning ended on a positive note.

Wednesday night we had a good meal at the Villa with Cindy and Tom Allen in Palmer Lake. They are soon returning to Nelson, BC. I wish we could find a reasonable excuse to go visit them again.

Thursday at the hospital I learned that Kris will be resigning in September to spend more time with her kids and decide what is next for her. She sure has been a good leader for the wellness program, and I’ve learned a lot from her. We wiped down all the equipment prior to maintenance shampooing the carpets. I built a new org chart, because the last one was too fancy for her supervisor. At the SMMUG meeting, Mark Pimentel demonstrated  three ways to make a slide show. Quite a few things I didn’t know. He’s a great instructor.

Friday brought a full day of chores starting with Craig Webb and the sprinkling system. He charges $60/hr, but is well worth it. He is helping to redesign the system with newer technologies, teaching me what to do so that he can maybe turn it over next week. Again, I’ve learned a lot, and Cathy is pleased that her plants will be getting more water and our utility bill will be less. Ah…..efficiency!

Theaterworks presented Mary Stuart, a play about Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart. Now, that’s the way I want to learn about history! Excellent production and featured our friend Jane Fromme in the lead role as Elizabeth. Gerry and all really liked it.

We took a load to Goodwill on Saturday, went to Good Feet, Langs shoes, Harding Nursery, Cheers, Tucanos, and many more. It’s all a blur.

Sunday, I got caught up on the Wasson reservations while Cath went to a lecture on Jane Austen at the University. Later we worked together on the WLC hand-off. Cathy is getting the whole archive of the Woman’s Literary Club dating back to 1872 ready to turn over to Colorado College. Big job.

We went to Denver this afternoon, primarily to look for deck furniture at IKEA. However, all we bought was bargain wine glasses and plates. We didn’t leave that part of town unscathed, because we did buy a set of rattan furniture for large $$ at Crate and Barrel. After all the looking for over a year, we both jumped on this set. It will be delivered at the end of the month which might give me time to refinish the deck and get the sails back up.

Naturally, we dropped by for a visit with the Gilmour’s.

Kaya's 'hiking boots' - ballet style.

Just TRY and keep these athletes off of the rocks!

They love to pose...

...and pose some more.

On Saturday, we cooked a big breakfast for Summer and Kaya. It was cold and windy, but since they were in rehearsal all day and dancing the show at night, it didn’t make any difference. Naturally, they did a great dance performance at Armstrong, with a reception after at Cornerstone amid the Carl Reed sculptures and community luminaries.

Cath finished her part of the reading of the North End scholarship applications. She is the chair of that committee again this year. I laid out the ‘nudge’ postcard to be sent to 200+ of my classmates who have not sent in reservations.

Sunday was spent with Ballet West II. The excellent Colorado weather returned. Horst Richardson, Bob Carlson and Charlie Paterson lead a hike on the Palmer trail around the Garden of the Gods. What a perfect outing for these enthusiastic young dancers. Many of them climb the wonders of the Utah sandstone, and so REALLY related to our formations. We had  lunch outside at the trading post and to our surprise, they had a great time panning for gold and trading their treasures!

We delivered them to the airport by 3 p.m., then went home to reconcile the checkbook. Later we finished watching Fiddler on the Roof.

The dusty miller moths have really invaded this year due to the mild winter – a nuisance, but not harmful.

Kaya Anan, born in Decatur, AL and now a professional dancer.

Summer Wilson, tour director and attorney for Ballet West.

We had a short Bottini Art session this morning. Judy Judy hosted and Brenda Bottini had a massive migraine, so did little drawing. Keith was out of town and Ron still has bad vertigo. Judy has been taking a botanical drawing class in Denver and so suggested we use colored pencil to render some grapes. It took me back to the 8 a.m. Nature and Museum Saturday classes I had in art school. Rigorous, but fun.

We talked a lot about the St. John Bible exhibit in Santa Fe (Judy has been down twice to see it!). http://media.museumofnewmexico.org/events.php?action=detail&eventID=439

I left early to get to a luncheon honoring Barbara Kline who was a huge shaker and mover in the dance world when she lived in Colorado Springs. Her daughter Alisha and Meredith were good friends in high school. Rabbi Kline and Barbara were so generous and invited Meredith to several Seder meals. Now, Barbara has a more international reputation and returned to the Springs with a checkbook which we suspect is responsible for bringing Ballet West II to our fair city from Salt Lake City.

After lunch, several of us ‘host parents’ went to the airport to pick up the dancers. Josh was very airsick due to the turbulence and later had to be taken to the ER at Penrose. His peptic ulcer was diagnosed as the problem. He was given medicine and cleared to dance.

The troupe practiced all afternoon and until 9:30 p.m. when we went to pick up Kaya and Summer who are staying with us. They are both really nice young ladies and will have no trouble falling asleep tonight.

We made an emergency trip to Denver early this morning.  Bowen has been spiking a fever and his parents both had critical days at work. We made hasty plans (happy to do it) and rolled to Denver shortly after sunrise. Sick as he was, he was very cooperative for us, did a little sleeping and eating for these two out-of-practice elders pinch hitting for the parents he loves.

Upon returning to the Springs, I was nearly out of gas, but the fates scheduled me for an encounter at Western Convenience gas station. When I pulled in there was a giant truck taking on diesel and I didn’t notice that he had my pump nozzle also emptying into his rig. I thought this might be a delay so I asked him if he had twin 50 gal. tanks. “Nope, he says, these are twin 120 gallon tanks and all my other credit cards are maxed out.” At the rate the pump was working, by the time he emptied $800 worth of gas into those tanks and argued on how he’d pay for it, I’d have grown a full beard.

So, I pulled forward only to be blocked by a vacant car whose owner later arrived with a broomstick and a dandelion digger. He’d locked his keys in the car. I couldn’t back up – blocked there, too. Had to wait for his drama to unfold with the assistance of two other folks who abandoned their pumps to supervise the break in. When finally he was in and the broom returned, I pulled up and was nearly hit by a G.I. whizzing in to cut me off. I waited while he gassed up his SUV for $60+. Finally, I got my $20 worth of regular and crawled home even happier than usual to be driving a Prius. The next one might be ALL electric!

Tools laid out in a deep display at the South Street Seaport Museum.

I did more Wasson work and met Jan Reiss at Ent to get her name put on the Wasson account as she has foolishly agreed to be our treasurer. We encountered a new bank officer and ended up agreeing to remodel the whole account, cook the minutes, apply for an EIN# from the IRS and more.

This afternoon Vic Appugliese planted a replacement red oak tree in our backyard to replace the one that died last year. What a nice guy.

Earlier I cobbled together 3 parts from the Dubois dump to persuade the 6′ green metal stakes out of the ground. I repaired the drip system to get the spring plantings started.