Friday

Another CT scan down. Nothing unusual except that while I got down the Mocha barium cocktail more or less easily, later in the morning I felt kind of queasy. No results until Tuesday afternoon, when I see Dr. R. I'm thinking of talking to her about talking to someone - does the hospital/cancer center offer some sort of counseling - about the fact that the further away from end of treatment I get, the more nervous I get about check-ups. Logically it would seem it should be the opposite.

It's raining. Again. I'm reading "The Big Thirst" about water. Amazing.

Feeling for the Occupy protesters in downtown Hartford in their tents in the rain. Feeling for the people in Haiti - years after the earthquake, in less than tents in every kind of weather.

Peace.

Thursday morning

The city of Hartford is permitting the Occupy Hartford protesters to re-pitch their tents, and the tents are back. It is raining - last night and today. Power to the damp protesters.

Herman Cain leads the field of Republican nominees.

I started yoga. Two classes so far. I'm liking it. Like trying to turn a rusty hinge to get certain joints to move, but so far so good.

CT scan tomorrow.

I'm keeping Christopher Hitchens and Steve Jobs in mind.

Peace, peace, far and near.

Tuesday night

Heard that the police made the Occupy Hartford people take down their tents. After work, I saw from the bus on my way home that the tents were down. Now what? I'm sure something is simmering.

Meanwhile, this: when Ralph Waldo Emerson visited Henry David Thoreau in jail, who was imprisoned for not paying a poll tax. Emerson asked his friend why he was there. “Why are you not here?” Thoreau replied.

Indeed.

Peace.

Monday night

In the news this past week, the death of Steve Jobs at 56 apparently from pancreatic cancer. His public persona at least was inspirational on the subject of facing up to one's mortality and from that, living, really living. May Steve Jobs rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing for his family and for his friends and for his employees and for his customers - that probably covers quite a few million people, myself among them.

Also read a book review of new book of essays by Christopher Hitchens, another person facing his own mortality with courage and even flair. Esophageal cancer.

I have a CT scan - regular 6 month - on Friday. I find I am nervous about it. No particular reason, except as time goes by between the regular scans, I find that in the last 3-4 weeks before the next one, my anxiety level increases. For whatever reason, the further in time I get from the end of treatment, the more nervous I feel about each scan. As if I have more to lose. A friend at work pointed out that the further in time I get from the end of treatment, the more statistics are in my favor. I guess it's true but I never really got into the statistics of my own "case".

A nice longish talk with my daughter while she was in the Miami airport, on her way back to Haiti after 10 days in the U.S. Another way to remember what's what.

This past Saturday was Yom Kippur. 26 hours of fasting. Synagogue services. The old melodies. Community confessions. One thing Yom Kippur does for me every year is physically remind me how spoiled we living in fat capitalist western societies are. One day. A mere 26 hours without food or water. Yet we think it is difficult. For how many people is a "fast" day not a once a year experience but a "normal" routine?

Occupy Hartford has pitched tents kitty-corner from the railroad station in a little patch of ground cut off by I-84. There appeared to be 15 or 20 tents. The news reported that several hundred people marched and fewer pitched tents and prepared to stay. But they are staying.

I am sick of the media and political pundits criticizing the Occupy Wall Street-99% movement for not making concrete demands. Put all of those responsible for the "great recession" in jail. How about that for concrete? Tax the rich. How about that for concrete? Rent don't foreclose. How about that for concrete? Impeach every national politician. How's that for concrete. Wait, wait... I've got it. How about this: Get rid of capitalism and start constructing a society based on justice, equality and peace. Concrete enough for you?

Peace, peace, far and near. OWS. 99%

Sunday - proud to be part of the 99%

What inspires you? What inspires me today is my friend J, who joined the 99%, got arrested and wrote about it. Read it here!

http://my.firedoglake.com/bluewombat/2011/10/07/in-which-bluewombat-gets-arrested-on-purpose/

You rock, J! My turn soon.

Peace, peace, far and near.

Friday evening

I am Troy Davis.

Who are you?

One month later

A month since I last wrote. As I recall, we were getting ready to go to Maine on vacation. It was a good vacation. David made a pair of beautiful oars for me; they have a little more final finishing work to go, but they are essentially done. I sailed and rowed 6 or 7 or maybe 8 different boats. It was mostly good just not to go to work for a whole week and to get "away". I will post a few photos here.





Since then, busy at work. Right before we left, Ella was diagnosed with what the vet thinks is a food allergy (of course, it was diagnosed the week AFTER I bought a 25 pound bag of her old food for $50). We've been feeding her a special canned food for diabetic dogs, followed by gradually introducing a mixture of a dry food brand that is a "limited ingredient diet". Over time, more of the dry and less of the canned food. Hopefully this works.

My grandsons continue to thrive. The older started 4-year old kindergarten, going to school 5 days a week. Cello just grows. I'll post a new photo if I can.



Since my previous post, an earthquake in Virginia, felt through New England (even i Canada I heard). The person sitting in the office next to my cube came running out of his office, "What was that? What was that? Did you feel it?" No. I didn't. Apparently I was deep into whatever work was on my computer. Also I had just come back from Maine where I spent the week on sail boats. Perhaps I thought the swaying was still in my head and heart.

Then came Irene. Luckily we were not personally affected - did not lose power or have flooding - as were so many others.

Then Tropical Storm Lee dumped 8-10 inches more water across the region.

This week another Republican "debate". New front runner Rick Perry says Social Security is a ponzi scheme. Romney tries to be witty and quick on his feet. Sort of like seeing some of those football players try to do the quickstep on Dancing with the (Ex) Stars. Michelle Bachman keeps talking like a wind-up Barbie Really Wants to go to the White House doll. Huntsman says a few interesting things - like suggesting science has a point. Same week, Obama's "jobs" speech. At least I didn't have to hear him say "win the future" again. The best news is that Congress has a 14% approval rating. The most recent poll showed that the vast majority of American people think EVERYONE in Congress should be kicked out. If only sentiments expressed in a poll could carry people through to elections and beyond.

Meanwhile, the heron is back at the pond - larger than ever, grey-green and beautiful. This morning standing in the shallows of the larger side of the pond, seeming to look down her long beak with some arrogance at the little brown ducks stirring the waters around her. Perhaps they stir up the fish, bringing breakfast her way.

I'm ready for fall.

But I'd rather have peace, kindness, justice and equality.