Start the year with a laugh ...

Start the year with a laugh ...

10 January 2013, Minneapolis MN

When I was a senior at Northwestern, I took a course that included studying “black humor,” not the jokes of Redd Foxx but rather stories and books about situations that were so absurd, so no-win that you have to laugh or else you’d slit your wrists.  Kind of a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ scenario.  (Been there, done that.)  One of my books was Catch 22 by Joseph Heller:  Yossarian could not get a mental discharge from the Army because if he really was ‘crazy,’ he would not know it. And since he wasn’t crazy, he had to stay.  Not unlike Cpl. Klinger in M*A*S*H.  

Since 2012 was a year of too many downers, let’s start the new year with a laugh and some good news.  First for the laugh:  

My friend Jan and I went to see Argo today, not a funny movie but a very well done one that we both enjoyed.  On the way Jan told me a wonderful must-be-shared story about one of her granddaughters.  You know how kids can get obsessed with something. Well, it seems that this eight-year-old loves owls and wants everything “owl”  - from stuffed owl to PJs with owl motif.  So she cannot understand why her folks won’t take her to “Hooters.” (For my European friends, Hooters is a restaurant known for its extremely well endowed waitresses.)

Took this in DC

Now for the good news.  My friend David had a raft of tests done at Johns Hopkins today to see how he’s progressing with the treatments.  One of his brother’s called just as Jan and I sat down in the theatre.  Preliminary results of the tests were looking good.  Hurray!  I’ll be going to DC on the 20th for 10 days.

Now to back track as I am usually doing with these entries lately.  Have had several dinner parties since the new year.  Sounds a bit more formal that they are; my dinners are never formal.  It’s been fun cooking for friends and family.  I’m into comfort food these days, and making that fit into my new eating habits:  no “whites” (sugar, salt, wheat flour), no dairy, no alcohol.  I refuse to give up coffee.  Since I’ve lost 20 pounds, I am being a bit looser about some of the “no’s” but am pretty good at avoiding the whites and dairy.  When I have too much, my belly itches!

Can’t recall if I’ve shared with you the cookbook my niece Tomery gave me for Christmas, “The Wheat Belly Cookbook.”  I haven’t read all of the info, but essentially wheat is a big cause of the belly fat that we have, especially women.  The cookbook is full of recipes for things we enjoy, but the recipes use non-wheat flours.  So far, I’ve used almond flour, almond meal and garbanzo bean flour.  Who know such flours existed before?  Not I.  The cookbook refers readers to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, noting the latter is more expensive.  Off I drove to the ‘burbs and Trader Joe’s where I found almond meal and other ingredients I’d need.  And I returned to try my first recipe.

Since I don’t eat bread in general often, I thought I’d try something that I might enjoy -- walnut-raisin bread.  Being very unsure of what I’d end up with, I followed the recipe to a T.  The batter seemed looser than I remember of such bread batters but baked up just right (if a bit quicker than written.  I think my oven is hotter than indicated on the dial.).  And I liked the bread.  Perhaps a bit blander but the raisins and walnut made it a palatable alternative for breakfast or a snack.  Especially good with almond butter and sweetened-with-fruit-juice-only apricot jam for breakfast.  

Decided to try again and add some vanilla (I have some real stuff from Acapulco) and a bit of stevia to enhance the flavor.  Much better although the batter was thicker.  Couldn’t figure out why until I made a third loaf ... and realized that I’d used 1.5 cups of almond meal/flour, not 1.33.

16 January

I’ve been watching Wallender, a BBC series starring Kenneth Branagh as a Swedish police detective.  Very interesting stories and characters and lots of scenes of Wallender driving the sunless Swedish plains in his Volvo wagon.  It’s left me with an impression of Sweden as vast expanses of green countryside with a few trees and many large birds (There seem to be large birds in almost every episode.).   

18 January

It was 40F (4.4C) in Minneapolis today!  And as usual, a few people were practicing a time honored Minnesota winter tradition -- walking around in their shirtsleeves like it was summer,    

Have I written about trying to get out and meet more people?  Yes, I recall mentioning the wine group that I go to now and the dancing group that Marilou and I joined.   Well, we ventured into online dating.  I decided I wanted to have dinner with someone other than Marilou.  She jumped in more quickly than I, had email and phone exchanges with several prospective males, even a few coffee dates.  I took it more slowly but finally took the plunge and signed on.  Got a message from someone saying he liked my photo, so I checked his profile, found many common denominators (especially international travel) and wrote back suggesting we explore further.  He replied that he was already in a relationship!  I wanted to ask if she knew he was still looking.  Had coffee yesterday with someone, a nice fellow but not much in common.  He seems interested, but I’m not and I don’t quite know what to say.  Stay tuned.

My nephew Craig and I went to the Art Institute today to see the Terra Cotta Warriors.  It always astounds me what ancient (and not so ancient) rulers can decree will be done and it is by the legions of slaves or serfs.  This collection of sculptures  

The Terracotta Army is a collection of sculptures depicting the armies of the first emperor of China. A form of funerary art, the army was buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE to protect the emperor in his afterlife.

The figures, dating from around the late third century BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers. They vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals.  The collection includes warriors, chariots and horses. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses.  A majority of these are still buried in the pits near the emperor’s mausoleum.  Other terracotta non-military figures were also found in other pits and include officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians.

Ready for another laugh?  This one is courtesy of Peter, the son of my friends Cathy and Dean.  He posted it on his younger son’s caringbridge site, and I’m just copy-pasting here:

Tonight at bedtime, Enzo [older son] insisted that instead of Jodi [his wife] reading a book to both he and Maceo [younger son], Enzo would be the one to read to Maceo.  Instead of picking a book he knew by heart, Enzo picked a relatively new one about shapes. And since Enzo can't yet read, what followed would probably be classified as “reading improv.” 

But unlike all the improv I've ever witnessed, Enzo reading to Maceo was actually funny.  And nothing forced Jodi and I to double over laughing more than hearing Enzo "read" to Maceo that "a circle has no corners, a square has four corners, an erectile has six corners. 

I'm already picturing some awkward future parent-teacher conferences with Enzo's geometry teacher.

19 January

So early in the year and I’m already feeling like I need to laugh to avoid crying.  Got a long email from my college roommate/pledge mother Karen detailing why I hadn’t gotten her always fun-to-read Christmas letter for 2012.  (My ex used to look forward to them, so you know they are good reading.)  Karen has been dealing with a diagnosis of bile duct cancer, which is about as rare as my son’s ocular melanoma, and with ‘next steps.’  I hesitated for about 15 minutes, trying to decide whether to call, what to say, how to say it etc. etc.  Then just picked up the phone, and the words just came out.  We talked for an hour.  Her best friend from high school, a nurse, thought Karen looked a little jaundiced and insisted she go to the doctor.  Because Karen has a huge support system, I won’t go to Ohio while she’s having chemo.  But I may go there when she has her surgery.

20 January,  Washington, DC

Left a windy 5F in Minneapolis and arrived at 50F here.  What a relief.  Because we had such a strong tail wind, we arrived 30 minutes, and I welcomed sitting outdoors to await Inga’s arrival. David seems to be doing well.  The girls have two days off school for inauguration/Martin Luther King Day and a teachers’ work day.

21 January

Inga got a call from friend Tomek who is remodeling a condo in a row house ... and a fire started on the deck where he was working.  I called 911 and was told a fire truck was already en route.  So we drove over to Northwest Washington to see how we could help.  Luckily the fire truck arrive quickly, and the fire was restricted to the outdoors. Inga stayed to help start the clean up while I drove home to wait for the girls to return from school.

24 January

Martin Luther King Memorial

Weather report.  Of course, the weather turned cold within days of my arrival.  We all watched the inauguration together, and when the MLK memorial was shown, Antonia, 10, commented that she’d never seen it.  So we bundled up on Tuesday and took the long way to that area.  The map on my iPhone had a bad direction, and we went “around the block” (more likely around the mile) twice before I winged it.  Finally found a parking place about as far away as it could possibly be and bucked icy headwinds as we schlepped along the path.  I can’t decide if I like the memorial, but I’m glad it exists.  We also stopped briefly at the gift shop to buy postcards for my “kids mailing list,” then at the nearby Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial.  Antonia is very interested in history and asked good questions at both places ... hope my answers were equally good.  It’s been too many decades since I took American history.  We plan to visit more memorials and museums.  Antonia was six when the family moved to Poland, so she hasn’t seen much of Washington.

David & Antonia enjoyed snowfall

26 January

The girls were released from school early yesterday due to a prediction of a major storm starting at 11:15 am.  Flurries started by time they got home and we probably had a total on an inch of snow.  Today the sun is out and I saw two robins on the deck.

Since this is a “job search trip,” I’ve made arrangements to meet some contacts that I know here.  Tomorrow breakfast with Meghan who was a consultant for me in Macedonia and is now the global gender specialist for Peace Corps and dinner with Judy, who is an IT consultant/specialist at USAID.  

29 January

Took the Metro to meet Peggy and Nancy, two friends from my Poland days, for lunch.  Lovely meal at Founding Fathers and lots of good talk.  Just as I was ready to descend into the Metro to return, Inga called.  She and David had just returned from Baltimore and his treatment when he started to have a seizure.  I told her I’d return in about 15 minutes and to call the EMTs.  They had arrived before I did, and David had already started to stabilize a little and didn’t want to go to the hospital.  We agreed to wait an hour and reassess, but about 45 minutes later, Inga told me she thought he needed to be hospitalized.  Mary, a doctor friend, drove over to take them; I’d stay and take care of the girls.  David was admitted at Georgetown where they’ll do an MRI tonight.  This year is just not starting out very well.

31 January

Inga is calling me “Suzi Express.”  Yesterday and today I drove to Baltimore to deliver Georgetown-produced MRIs and CT scan CDs to David’s medical team at Johns Hopkins.  The neurosurgeon who removed David’s tumor back in July is telling us that he needs additional surgery now.  Unfortunately his primary oncologist is out of the country, and the oncologist who’s taking his patients hasn’t been as responsive as we’d like.  David’s brother Jeff has been designated the point person for her.  Everyone’s stress level is off the charts.  Need to find some laughs ...

2012 comes to a close ...

1 December 2012, Sandomierz, Poland

Ah, jet lag is such fun.  I was awake at 4:30 am yesterday ... and today at 2:30.  I’ll be adjusted to this time zone by the time I leave for the US.  

Ewa, our translator, Steve from TechnoServe and I met for dinner last night as other board members were arriving later.  The professor joined us shortly after we started, but I was too tired to wait for Ryszard M. who took the train. Yes, amazingly the train has returned to Sandomierz after the tracks were flooded out a few years ago.  One train to/from Warsaw each day and it takes five hours!

Today we celebrated the Center’s 20th anniversary with presentations by the managers and kudos from various local entities -- government, non-government, banks. clients -- with whom we’ve worked over the years.  Interestingly the mayor recently told a group including at least one Center staff member that tourism offered nothing to Sandomierz development.  But today he complimented the Center for taking the risk of building Hotel Basztowy which he called a great success.  Ah, politicians, the same everywhere.

After lunch, we had a concert by a trio from the Kielce Philharmonic.  Although they got off to a strange start with “Memories” and “Hello, Dolly,” the rest of the program was actually quite nice.  Later in the day Steve, Ryszard J. and I got into a discussion of American idioms after I described a US politician as “a brick shy of a full load.”  Ryszard J. had never heard that before so we parsed it so he’d understand, then went on to other idioms, including one I hadn’t heard, “dumb as a bag of hammers,” Steve’s offering.  

We also got to talking about forgetfulness.  Since I have had an exceptional memory all my life (due to undiagnosed bad eyesight, I unconsciously started memorizing things as a child).  So when I can’t remember something, it is especially troubling. I’m never quite sure how much forgetfulness is “normal.”  Steve shared a very funny poem “Forgetfulness” by Billy Collins. In order not to violate copyright, I won’t copy/paste but rather will provide you with this link.  http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/forgetfulness/   Remember where you got it.

7 December, Warsaw Chopin Airport

Where to begin?  Well, I was awake at 4 am today because I thought I had a 6:20 flight to Amsterdam, then onward to Minneapolis.  Not.  It seems Amsterdam is experiencing such bad weather that the flight was cancelled.  After an hour of standing in the “Sky Priority” line for rerouting, I was finally put on a Lot (Polish airline) flight to London with a Delta flight from there to Minneapolis.  At least both are non-stop.  More lines to get a boarding pass, then check my bag, through security, then passport control, here I sit at the gate waiting with only three other people.  One finally figured out how we could get into free wifi, so we’re all online.  I got a call through to my friend Janet who was set to pick me up from the AMS-MSP flight at 12:40 pm.  Didn’t realized that I’d awakened her until after I hung up ... I did the time zone change backwards.  It was still yesterday in Minneapolis too, so it took us a bit to get on the same page.  Can you tell that it’s waaaay too early for me to have to think?

Once again, I’ve been busy and not journaled daily.  So a brief recap.  Saturday’s formal board meeting went well.  We completed Hala’s performance evaluation, set the next meeting, agreed that we needed to find a replacement for Piotr Sz. who will resign due to ill health (he didn’t attend this meeting).  Steve and I had dinner at Hala’s farm and gave Michal his birthday presents.  He especially liked the “bullshit” button that Steve found.  When you push, it says various phrases around that word.  

We go waaaay back.  Piotr, Hala, Halinka and Ania are 'old originals.' They were working at the Center when I started in February 1994.

Sunday morning Hala, Steve and I drove to Poznan in western Poland to see Anna, a former board member who resigned last year when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.  Later she was diagnosed with a tumor on her liver and recommended to start chemotherapy.  She even bought wigs to prepare.  Then, thankfully she went for a second opinion and after the second doctor did a battery of scans and tests, nothing was found.  That was a close call.  The drive was long, full of good stories and the occasional “re-calculating” by Birdie the Lark (who looked a lot like Gertie the Garmin).  We had a lovely dinner and visit with Anna and her family that night, then the next day we took an informative and interesting tour with a guide that Anna arranged.  She gave us a history and tour of Poznan.  

Anna, Hala and Steve with guide in Poznan's Old Town.

We visited Poland's oldest cathedral, too tall to get a decent photo.  Inside we saw many crypts with reclining statues atop.  In the early middle ages this was a common way for important people to be buried.

At Anna’s suggestion we also visited the “Cathedral of Commercialism” -- a gigantic shopping mall, hotel, conference center, you name it that was constructed in an old brewery.  A wealthy Pole’s wife fell in love with the building, bought it cheaply and pushed the commercial development.  Unfortunately I couldn't get any photos. 

But I couldn't resist taking this shot of Hala while we were having lunch with Anna and her husband.

On Tuesday Hala insisted she would drive through Warsaw to return home, a longer route but at least she knew the roads from Warsaw to Sandomierz well and snow was predicted ... and arrived.  The car and everything else were blanketed whitely when we woke up.  But the trip on the toll freeway was both smooth and quick.  

I stayed with my friend Dorota, her partner Jacek and their son Franiu for two nights, then moved to the Hotel MDM, an old favorite, because I thought it was more convenient to the airport.  Jacek said a new road south of the city makes their flat just as convenient and quick, something to remember for May.  One of the delights of staying with Dorota is the variety of fascinating discussions we have -- Polish politics, US election, world economics, interpersonal communications, raising children.  We’re never at a loss for topics.  After I told her about Ryszard J. and idioms, Dorota recapped an article she had recently read about how some idioms just cannot be translated to another language due to cultural differences.  Her example was a Russian idiom that literally means two best friends cry together which is often translated as one is sympathizing with the other. But it has significantly stronger emotional meaning than the word “sympathize” implies.  Having lived in Eastern Europe I totally understood what she was saying ... and can’t do a better explanation or translation for you.

Dorota, Franiu and Jacek

When I was in Michigan last month, I promised Ewa, a friend from my Poland days, that while in Poland I’d visit a professor who is writing about her family ... and I did (see photo).  We met at the main building of the Warsaw Polytechnic University, a stunning structure with an awesome central court with leaded class ceiling high above.  We had an informative chat over tea, and I’m excited to read the final book.  Ewa has a very interesting background.  Her father was a lawyer who spoke Polish, English, German, French, Spanish, Russian and Turkish because his father, who owned a big trading company, insisted that languages were important.  During the war, Ewa’s father was conscripted by the Germans because of both his legal and language backgrounds.  After the war, he was among a group of conscripts brought to General Patton.  As Patton asked about languages the men spoke, the group got smaller and smaller until only one spoke all the languages he’d mentioned already plus Russian.  So Ewa’s dad became Patton’s adjutant.

8 December 2012, Minneapolis MN USA -- at last

Well, I made it.  Ran through Heathrow to catch a bus to another terminal (felt like it was in central London), another long line of folks who’d also been re-routed.  The gate agent talked to someone, then sent us to our gate to get boarding passes.  So off I ran.  Since I didn’t have a seat assignment, I wanted the best chance possible of getting an aisle seat -- which I got.  Granted, as the agent said, it was way in the back, but at least it was on the aisle.  My legs cannot stand that narrow leg space, and Economy Comfort was already sold out (no surprise there.  I hope whoever got the seat I paid for on the AMS-MSP flight appreciated my sacrifice!).  I gave the agent a handful of Polish caramels as a ‘thank you’ for the aisle seat.  And he was good on his promise not to seat someone next to me.  Hoohah.  One final travel note, then I’ll stop kvetching.  As we were landing, the pilot came on and said that the air traffic controller said we were “too close” to the preceding aircraft so we were doing a 360 to get into a better (read: safer) position.  TMI as far as I was concerned.  Janet, wonderful friend that she is, was awaiting my arrival in Minneapolis and all was well with the world.  

Happy Hanukkah

Back in the old days when my best friend still lived in Minneapolis, her kids were in high school and I was married, tonight my husband, son and I would have gone “over the river and through the woods to Mark and Jean and Lisa’s.  The car knows the way to carry the boy through the white and drifting snow.”  Peter made up that song on our first drive over to Jean’s.  (Mark and Lisa are her children.)  One of her annual traditions was a dinner party on the Saturday that fell during Hanukkah. Her eclectic group of friends and their families gathered to celebrate and eat, and I was excited to introduce the holiday to Bob and Peter.  While growing up in the ‘50s-’60s, we didn’t celebrate Hanukkah in our Presbyterian household, but I was always aware of Jewish holidays.  My group of Sunday Schoolers and youth from a nearby synagogue had many activities together, including a seder at Passover in our church.  And Mom and later I worked in a Jewish country club which, although closed once the snow fell, was open for holiday celebrations, which one or both of us worked.  So I was pleased to introduce my family to Hanukkah, a holiday I always felt both religions should celebrate.  And that we did at Jean’s each year.  Jean made potato latkes from her mom’s recipe.  Lisa taught Peter how to play dreidl with M&Ms, which he loved.  But my (and Jean’s) favorite memory of those Saturdays is about my ex.  Bob drank “blue wine” by mistake one year.  It was actually plant food that Jean had in a Blue Nun wine bottle way in the back on the counter, and Poison Control said he’d be okay.  But neither Jean nor I could figure out why he drank it after seeing its blue color.  Go figure.  

9 December 

Had a long catch-up email last night from my old friend Kathy who’s now in Atlanta.  Her husband Chuck had surgery this morning for a brain tumor.  Will it never end?  I left her a message before going to the holiday concert of the Gay Men’s Chorus, offering to fly down if she needed help. Talked with her in the afternoon.  Chuck’s surgery went well; now to look at treatment options.  I’m sending her links that we got for David.

Then I got a text message from my nephew Craig that his oldest brother David had had an emergency appendectomy.  I called David’s wife Heidi and learned he was out of surgery and asking for a Subway sandwich.  He’s definitely okay.

10 December

There is a God and she loves me.  Why, you ask.  The long story.  We had eight or so inches of snow fall yesterday.  My sister and niece baled on dinner because the roads were so bad.  But it was beautiful outside, everything blanketed thickly in white. Unfortunately I have to destroy the serenity outside my doors and shovel off the decks.  I did that before meeting Shari from Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN).  We met halfway between our residences, and the driving was slow and slower but worth the trip.  MINN seems like a group that I’d enjoy and be able to contribute something to.  They are making changes in their board and committees this month, so I’ll wait until January to get started.  The snow continued most of the night, making driving this morning treacherous, but since my  appointment at Apple wasn’t until 10, I went out.  

Despite the months of bad weather, Minnesotans just do not know how to drive in snow.   They’re either speeding or inching along, meaning lots of blockages when they skid into a snow bank or cause someone else to.  My 15-minute drive took 45.  Just before I got to Southdale, shopping mall where Apple is located, an idiot light lit up the dashboard: “low tire pressure.”  Figured I was already at the mall, I’d go there first, then deal with the tires.  In a half hour of “One on One”, I learned what I needed to know about the new iTunes, then I made a quick trip to the ladies room, put on my coat and googled on my iPhone to find a tire place.  Aha, Tires Plus was a block away.  And the nice guy checked and filled all four tires gratis.  Since that street was pretty clear, I decided to venture to the supermarket a mile onward.  Did that safely, bought necessities for my Sunday open house for my late son’s friends, and got onto the freeway.  I had taken city streets to the mall, but figured the freeway was worth a try, and it was.  Home sweet home.  Before unloading the trunk, I went to grab my purse and laptop from the back seat ... only the laptop wasn’t there.  I checked the whole car, then realized I sat the laptop on a low table while I put my coat on.  I must have left it there.  In a total panic and constantly reminding myself to stay calm, drive carefully, and praying to any God who might listen, I returned to Southdale.  And there, right on the table where I’d left it, was my laptop in its maroon case.  I drove back thanking all the Gods who had answered my prayers.

14 December

Going to Southdale on Monday was pushing things.  My sinus infection morphed into a head cold of major proportions.  I have skipped water exercise all week and only gone out as needed, dosed myself with antihistamines and flushed my sinuses with salt water using a netia pot daily.  Not fun, but I am feeling much better.

While laying low, I went on line and joined some “meet up” groups.  They’re an in-person social networking medium.  If you have an interest and want to find others with a similar one, you can start a group; others sign on; you meet etc.  I joined three groups -- one interested in wine that’s meeting next Wednesday at my favorite wine bar and two that focus on social dancing.  I may not be so great at dancing, but I have always enjoyed it.  This started with a conversation with my friend Marilou about how I haven’t had a real date in too many years to count.  She’s in the same rut.  So we vowed to do something about it.  She took a trial offer on an Internet dating site.  We’ll see how that goes.  I checked out “meetup.com” at the suggestion of another friend.  I found scores of groups for virtually any interest, age, gender or sexual preference.  Tonight we take the plunge -- the “we” is my friend Marilou and I.  We’re going to our first dance, which starts with a West Coast swing lesson.  Wish us luck!

16 December

Well, there were almost as many men as women at the dance.  We took part in the dance lesson, even danced a few times.  The band was playing songs all over the spectrum, rather than tunes more appropriate to the dance lesson.  So we left after about 30 minutes.  But next weekend the band is the Whitesidewalls, which we haven’t seen in years.  May give it another try.

Jody

Today was near perfect.  I had invited some of my son’s friends and their families to an open house since I haven’t seen them in ages.  Ray and his boys Hunter and Ryder, Heather and her son Samuel, Jody and Gary and their daughters Ada and Lydia, Wade, and Mark (my late friend John’s nephew) all joined my sister Barbara and me this afternoon. 

What a beautiful group of friends Peter had -- inside and out.

Jody's daughters

Everyone sampled the cookies and candies that I’ve been making all week.  Wade brought a scrumptious key lime pie. The kids had fun decorating the gingerbread men and sugar-cookie angels and snowmen.  The grownups interspersed reminiscing with catching up.  It was just the right way to spend a Sunday afternoon during this holiday season.

Ray & sons

Heather

(Some day I am going to learn how to insert

photos properly!)

18 December

I’m getting a crown for Christmas.  No, not the kind with gold and jewels.  My crown will be of porcelain or whatever the current material is.  

I’ve had crowns made in Poland, Macedonia and Uganda as well as the US.  And more than one has needed replacing over the years ... but never until it’s absolutely necessary.  I am not a fan of dentists, the result of having my six-year molars dug from my jaw when I was five.  I’ve been with my current dentists 20+ years, and they know that unless I’m in pain, they won’t see me more than quarterly for regular cleanings.  This crown first broke two-plus years ago, just as I was getting ready to leave for overseas.  So dentist Gary did a fantastic “temporary” fix, that finally started to come apart about six months ago.  And I ignored it; no pain.  Over the weekend the crown broke further, and although I’m not in pain, the jagged edge didn’t feel good.  So off to the dentists’ office, and Gary gets to do what he recommended originally -- make me a new crown.

Yesterday I took my friend Susan shopping.  Despite a flu shot, she got a bad case of the flu ... and has been at home in bed and alone for more than a week because she was contagious.  Her fever finally broke, and she needed food.  So off we went grocery shopping.  

21 December

Yesterday I had lunch with Deb, a friend from my days at The St. Paul.  We both had been wondering about another friend of ours from that time, Anne.  So I used my iPhone, found a number for her and called.  She’s alive and well at 83, and we’re all having lunch in January.  

When Annie answered the phone, I asked if she was the ‘bag lady of St. Paul.‘  As Annie neared 60, she started to feel old and wonder how she’d exist in retirement, kept saying she’d end up a bag lady.  So for her 60th birthday, I arranged for each of the PR directors in our subsidiaries and colleagues in major cities in the US to get a bag from their most famous and/or expensive department store.  I collected bags from Harrod’s and Liberty of London, Bullocks of Wilshire, Nieman Marcus, Marshall Field’s, Frank Murphy of St. Paul and more, and I gave them to Annie for her birthday with a note that said while she might end up a bag lady, at least she’d still be the classy lady she was that day.  Maybe I’ll go to Saks downtown and buy Annie a small something so I can give her the bag.

23 December

Saturday’s dance was lots of fun.  It was billed as a ‘Christmas ball,’ so we got dressed up. I wore the black linen ‘harem’ pants and hot pink jacket with a white turtleneck beneath.  The Whitesidewalls played our kind of music -- late ‘50s and early ‘60s -- and were as good as we remembered.  We danced although mostly we had to ask men to dance.  As Marilou noted on the way home, the men weren’t very forthcoming but were certainly willing to dance when asked.  We’ll go again in January when The Rockin’ Hollywoods is the band.

25 December, Merry Christmas, Wesołych Świat, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale

N.B. I finally figured out how to get Polish letters.  New skill of the month!

Last night was wonderful with my sister, niece, nephew and his girlfriend here for dinner and holiday cheer.  Christopher built a fire in the fireplace with wood leftover from last year, courtesy of Jen’s dad, who’s their suburban neighborhood’s wood cutter.   

I know how much Barbara loves prime rib ... and Lund’s had a special on standing rib roasts ... so that’s what I made.  I followed the butcher’s directions to a T and had a perfectly cooked medium-rare roast right on time. Barbara requested “Dad’s fried potatoes,” which I agree are the best, so we had those in lieu of baked.  I’d made cookies, shortbread, fudge and we had those with ice cream for dessert.   

Jen, Chris, Tomery & Barbara

Tomery stayed over with me, and I made us breakfast this morning, treating her to breakfast in bed.  Then she, I and Barbara went to see a movie, “This is 40,” a bit too long, occasionally raunchier than I prefer but very funny.  The two daughters in the film, sisters in real life, reminded me so much of Frankie and Tosia in their relationship and arguments.

28 December

It snowed last night, not a lot but enough to cover the black lumps and bumps of the previous snowfall.  Only three of us at water ex this morning, but Andrew’s workout is always worth getting for 7:15.

I’m not going to Northfield as planned.  Lois wasn’t feeling well when I called to confirm last night.  She has a bad cough but thankfully no temperature or signs of pneumonia.  

31 December

Moment of panic as I tried to recall where I had put the tickets that I bought a few days ago to the April concert of Diana Krall.  I had cleaned out my purse the other day and tossed out a ticket envelope, thinking it was from Elf ... and it was.  The concert tickets were in my purse. Phew.  I’m taking Roz, a Polish-American friend from my water exercise class.  All of the handicapped seating was taken, but I was able to get two aisle seats, one behind the other, so we can both be comfortable.  I’m looking forward to finally hearing Diana Krall after having to miss her Warsaw concert.

Made arrangements to fly to DC on 20 January to spend 10 days with David, Inga and the girls.  David has a big battery of tests on 10 January that will give a sense of where he is treatment wise.  On one hand my fingers are crossed, American style, and on the other my thumb is buried in my fist, Polish style -- for good luck.

I’m spending my usual quiet NYE.  Movie with a friend, then a glass of wine and a bit of reading and television ... in between finalizing things for tomorrow.  I’m having eight for my “annual” Hungarian New Year’s Day dinner -- pork and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, peas, homemade applesauce.  Ed and Janet are bringing some bubbly, Marilyn’s making a fresh loaf of bread, and I’ve made my mom’s “curr’n’ cake” (raisin squares to most folks) for dessert.

Memories & More

11 November 2012, Minneapolis MN

So much has happened since the month began:  the end (for a few days at least) of electioneering and all those awful attack ads from both sides.  Now we’re  enduring election analysis overkill and a blame-game exercise.  No wonder I “watch television” on Netflix and HBO To Go on my laptop.  But this isn’t a political blog so that’s all I’ll say on that.

Today is Veterans’ Day in the US, originally called Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I at 11 am on 11/11 and now honoring all war veterans.  It’s Independence Day in Poland because the end of “the war to end all wars” reunited the country after it’s last partition into three zones (German, Russian and Austro-Hungarian).  I remember going to a Dzien Niepodleglosci celebration in Warsaw a few days after our Peace Corps group had arrived in the country in 1991.  Somewhere in my photo piles I have one of the prime minister’s feet, the best I could do by raising my camera above my head from the back of a very large crowd. It was our group’s first trip into the city from our suburban training center, buying biletow (tickets) at the Ruch (a kiosk selling a wide assortment of small necessities, including newspapers and tickets), riding the koljeka (small train) into Warszawa Centralna (central train station) and wending our way to the plac (plaza) where everyone from war veterans to Girl Scouts marched in celetration.  At the end, Palac Kultury i Nauka (Palace of Culture & Education) with its highly visible DEC sign on top was our guide back to the train station.  PKiN was Stalin’s gift to Poland (a similar gift was bestowed on other satellite countries -- I saw another in Riga, Latvia).  The sprawling, ugly structure was not a favorite among Poles, the joke being that the prettiest view of Warsaw is from its top tower because it’s the only view that doesn’t include the PKiN.  Here it is last June.

So, what have I been doing so far this month?  At the end of October I used a Sun Country Airline voucher to fly to Lansing, Michigan, and visit my 93-year-old aunt, the only surviving relative from my parents generation, in Jackson 30 minutes away.  Her husband, my dad’s youngest brother, died in late March.  I usually visited Uncle Frank and Aunt Betty a couple of times a year but more immediate priorities (my South Sudan assignments and my friend David’s brain tumor) pushed those aside.  In her condition Aunt Betty wouldn’t know whether I visited or not.  Her mental and physical health has been declining for some time.  She’d been in hospice care at the assisted living facility for two years, and although she was told of Uncle Frank’s death, it was unclear whether she actually understood.  For a number of reasons, her nephew John, who has looked after their affairs for several years, decided to move her to a hospice facility.  That took place the day I arrived in Michigan.  She made the move far better than anticipated.  Usually any change caused strong agitation on her part, even with anti-anxiety meds.  She made this transition uneventfully.

For a week I drove between Lansing and Jackson to spend a big part of each day with her.  John and his wife Nancy were also often around the hospice when I was there, giving us a chance to discuss what’s been happening.  We agreed that donating bed linens, bath towels and such to a shelter was a good way to dispose of those.  Aunt Betty had enough supplies for far more than the two bedrooms their last apartment had.   I’m glad they all be put to good use.  We had dinner one night at a “new” place, Knight’s Steak House, where Nancy and I both had the most perfectly cooked pieces of salmon.  Easy to stick to the detox plan.

Aunt Betty recognized me once, mostly she slept or ignored me and stared at whatever was on the Lifetime channel on television. Because she’s hard of hearing and always refused to use her hearing aids, she’s always been hard to talk with.  This was even worse.  When she did talk, it was about her mother, who died decades ago, and wanting to go home.  One day she mentioned my uncle for the one and only time in months.  She pointed to his photo on a nearby shelf and started to cry gently.  She said she loved “that man” but wasn’t able to take care of him.  I reassured her that he also loved her and that she’d taken great care of him.  Another day she was pretty aggressive about “going home,” forcefully pushing aside her blankets and trying to edge to the side of the bed.  When I left that evening, the staff had a volunteer sit with her to ensure she didn’t try again.  In general, I was thoroughly impressed with the staff and facility.  Hardly an hour went by when someone didn’t stop to check on Aunt Betty, not just to dispense her meds, and talk to her.  Her room is large and includes a sofa bed as well as comfortable chairs and a TV set up high.  Since the room is on the end, it has large windows on two sides.  She can look out the side window and see the same flock of wild turkeys that used to walk by the assisted living suite’s window.  She and Uncle Frank loved to watch those birds.  Meals are whenever she wants as are snacks and beverages.  The nutritionist checked with us to see what she likes and doesn’t.  Despite everything, Aunt Betty still has a huge appetite.  I went to Red Lobster one night and brought back her favorite shrimp dinner, which she polished off over a dinner and a lunch.

A trip to Michigan always includes catching up with friends who live there.  Had lunch with Ewa, a Polish-American friend that I met when she was helping to establish the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw in the mid ‘90s.  At 80, she is as vital as ever although she is avoiding a recommended knee surgery.  Ewa’s mother went into a Krakow hospital for surgery and never returned home; she was taken to a concentration camp.  So Ewa has a deep-seated fear of hospitals.  She’s doing well with her cane, still drives her yellow Beetle and recently hosted a Polish author who’s writing about Ewa’s family.  I hope she can go on without the surgery if that’s what she wants.

While I didn’t catch up with Eve, another American that I met in Warsaw in the ‘90s, I did have lunch with Mary and Stan, two friends from way back -- we lived in the same apartment building in Crystal MN when our sons were born three months apart.  We stayed in touch even after we bought houses in different suburbs and after they moved to Santa Rosa CA, but somewhere along the line the contact broke.  I found Mary on FaceBook, expecting to visit her when I was in San Francisco ... learning that they are now living near Detroit.  It was fun to reconnect after so many years.  We met for lunch at a fantastic deli in an historic part of Ann Arbor, a city I haven’t really visited before. 

And a Michigan visit always includes dinner with school friend Bruce and Donna in Lansing.  The pork roast dinner was well worth deviating from my detox regimen!  And the company and conversation are always enjoyable.  Donna was surprised at how many of our teachers we remember.  I was disappointed that their Ethiopian friends couldn’t join us but understood the need to return there for a family funeral.  

Tonight I prepare for the last of my medical exams.  You may recall that I started my annual medical and dental visits in late September, continued into October and tomorrow my once-every-five-years colonoscopy will occur.  I have the jug already filled with water and cooling in the refrigerator.  In a couple of hours I start the preparation process.  ‘Nuff said.

12 November

It’s over ... and my colon is all clear; no polyps.  Check that exam off for another five years.  Hurray!

I’m waiting for a pizza and a salad to be delivered for dinner.  Tomorrow I return to my detox regimen.  I’ve lost somewhere between 12 and 15 pounds depending on the scale and time of day.  I feel great.  I will continue to deviate when I need to, but I’m committed.  I had a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for lunch on the way back from the hospital.  The plate also included a pile of potato chips ... and I didn’t eat one.  That’s how determined I am.

We had our first snowfall that stayed on the ground.  While I waited for friend Linda to pick me up, I saw a bicyclist take a bad skid and fall in front of my building.  The street was very icy.  Luckily he wasn’t hurt from the slide and no cars came from behind him, so he hopped back on and rode away.  He was one of three bikers I saw in a short few minutes.  I don’t know how/why they bike on such an icy day.

15 November

I’ve commented to friends several times recently that I haven’t gotten a bill from my clinic although I started having all those annual checkups in September.  Have gotten notices from Humana, my insurer, but since I don’t pay from those, I hadn’t bothered to open them.  Yesterday I decided to see what their accounting said my costs would be.  I didn’t want to get a $1000 bill from the clinic.  Other than my already paid co-pay amount, every item said I didn’t owe anything.  No wonder I hadn’t gotten a bill.  Way to go Medicare and Humana!

This afternoon my sister Barbara and I leave for Pittsburgh, meeting our brother for a belated celebration of his 65th birthday.  I’m all packed and ready to go.  Of course, this time of year packing is problematic:  How cold will it be?  Will it rain, snow? Plus we’re going to the Steelers-Ravens game Sunday evening.  Weather in the ‘burgh can change as quickly as it does in Minneapolis.  I have many layers in the suitcase, along with all the photo albums of our late Uncle Frank; my brother requested them.  

In prep for the trip, I’ve been watching reruns of “The Guardian,” an old television series that takes place in Pittsburgh.  The main character is a young corporate lawyer who gets busted for drugs, then sentenced to community service, working in a free legal clinic.  It’s so much fun seeing panoramas of the city’s hills and bridges and rivers, charming and not-so-charming city locales, hearing references to August Wilson’s old neighborhood, the Hill District, to Kennywood Park, Shadyside and towns like Donora, Monessen, Homestead, knowing Rt. 51, listening to the problems of the Mon Valley played out in the script.

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights baking so I can deliver some goodies to my brother and not have to mail them.  Previously I had decided I was going to limit my holiday baking to two of my favorites that Mom used to make -- black walnut fudge and Scottish shortbread.  I remember going to the mountains in fall and getting black walnuts.  Back home, Daddy would run the car over the paper bag of nuts to crack the extremely hard outer shell, then we’d have to pick out the nut meats for Mom. It was time consuming but well worth the finished product.

19 November

What an awesome weekend we had in Pittsburgh -- perfect autumn days with sunny skies, a chance to see out old haunts, to enjoy each other’s company which we don’t get to do so often these days.  

Dan & I on Mount Washington

Dan & Barbara on a sculpture

My brother Dan got in a day early which he spent with childhood friends Paul and Lynne, then came to the airport to meet Barbara and me.  Our rooms at the Westin downtown were in just the right spot -- Friday we walked to the Strip District about six blocks away and enjoyed the wide spectrum of what Pittsburgh is.  We  browsed dozens of stores and sidewalk stands selling Steeler gear and bought a few tee shirts and souvenirs.  Since it appears there won’t be a hockey season, Penguin items were hardly visible much to Barbara’s disappointment.  We waited in line for a late breakfast at DeLuca’s, a local cafe that’s been featured on Diners, Dives and Drive-ins on the Food Network and gotten all kinds of awards.  Looked for Vegeta Natura in a Polish store and deli, bought freshly made biscotti at an Italian bakery.

The Golden Triangle from Mount Washington.  The aluminum-glad Wyndham Hotel was a Hilton when the City of Pittsburgh insisted that it be 'golden' aluminum, which ALCOA developed

That afternoon Paul and Lynne took us to the Frick House where Paul, a retired teacher, gives tours.  He’s a knowledgeable guide and wonderful story teller, giving a much more rounded view of Henry Clay Frick.  Frick is well known for bringing in the Pinkerton’s when the steel mill went on strike, for his lawsuit against his former partner Andrew Carnegie and other negatives.  But we learned and saw evidence of another side of him.  He was enchanted with the technology of the time, an early adopter whose home had electric lights, a telephone, vacuum cleaners, a “player” organ.  And a father more interested in his children than most Victorians.  During an era when the children of the wealthy were basically presented to their parents for a few minutes before their bedtime, the Frick children ate all of their meals with the parents.  Small leather chairs were made for them to comfortably participate in Sunday games and reading.  Unfortunately the museum has a ‘no photos’ policy, so no photos.

Courting customs of the day included a form of “texting.”  A young woman used placement of her fan to indicate her level of interest in a young man.  He wrote her formal notes, sent through the mail which was delivered five times a day! 

That night we had a unique dining experience.  Paul and Lynne introduced us to Jozsa Corner Hungarian Restaurant, a place you definitely would not find unless you were looking; it’s the only building left on its block in Hazelwood.  The owner is the maitre d’, chef, server and cleaner upper (hence disposable plates, utensils).  He prepares food for how ever many have made appointments.  Since we were stuck in traffic, we called to tell him we were en route.  Thankfully we did as we were the only guests.  From appetizers through dessert, the meal was outstanding.  If you’re ever in Pittsburgh, give it a try.

Back downtown, we wandered over to Market Square, then to the bank of the Allegheny River to watch fireworks.  It was “Light up the City” night, and the fireworks were the best I’ve ever seen.  They lasted about 30 minutes.  The waterfall from one of the ‘Three Sisters’ bridges was spectacular. And there were some interesting corkscrew upward spirals that I’ve never seen before.  We wondered if the manufacturer, which is nearby in Zelienople, provided this extraordinary spectacle as a marketing promo.  Certainly would’ve sold me.  Just wish my photos had been better.

FYI, the Three Sisters cross the Allegheny River from downtown to the now-named North Shore (it was just the north side in the old days).  They are historically relevant because they are the only trio of nearly identical bridges and the first suspension bridges to be self anchored. They were each given names for important city residents -- Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson.  Clemente was a slugger for the Pirates baseball team who died in an aviation accident; Warhol is most identified with the pop art movement; and Carson was the author of “The Silent Spring.”.  I remember when Clemente played for the Pirates and when he died, and I knew Warhol was from the area but not that Carson was; Carson Street downtown was also named for her.  Never too late to learn something new.

Saturday we toured our old haunts -- from the neighborhood where our dad grew up to the one where we did, the schools we attended, the corner store where we bought hand dipped, triple-decker ice cream cones at five cents a scoop and penny candy for a penny.  We visited Colleen and John who still live across the street from our old house.  When they bought their house, they were the “kids” in the neighborhood; now they’re the “old folks;” all the original owners, like my parents, are gone.  But the neighborhood remains a great place to raise kids, friendly neighbors, within walking distance of the elementary school and the grocery/deli again offers hand-dipped ice cream cones though the cost of both that and the penny candy has risen markedly.  

"714," the house where we grew up

Main entrance to Elizabeth-Forward High School, from which all three Kanyr kids were graduated

Sunday I had brunch with friend Alexis and her beau Marcus who both recently got their master’s degrees in library science from Pitt.  Alexis landed a job at the Pittsburgh Seminary so they stayed in town.  After brunch, they went off to Marcus’ family in Ohio, and Dan, Barbara and I vegged at the hotel.  They watched an afternoon football game while I mostly read. If I’d been thinking about this empty time, I might’ve called a few high school friends, but alas ...  

View from my seat

Off to the Steelers-Ravens game at Heinz Field on foot.  A long walk but welcome after so much sitting.  The new stadium is awesome, and although our seats weren’t together, we could all see well.  Because the weather had been so mild all day, I thought I might’ve put on too many layers.  Not.  It was chilly in those stands ... and I was toasty warm most of the time.  Should’ve known the Steelers would lose when the substitute quarterback ran for a touchdown less than a minute into the game.  The starting QB was badly injured in the previous game.

22 November, Happy Thanksgiving

Have been sending Thanksgiving messages and making phone calls in between general clean up around the condo and watching the Macy’s Parade in fits and starts.  Shortly it’ll be time to get dressed for dinner.  I’m joining my sister and her kids, Christopher and Tomery, at a nearby restaurant, something they’ve been doing for the last few years.  I’m looking forward to the traditional and non-traditional buffet and while I hope not to ‘break the bank’ calorie-wise, I’ll eat what I want today.  FYI -- I signed up for the “maintain, don’t gain” holiday pledge at my YMCA.  The idea is to work at maintaining one’s weight during the food-centric holiday season through New Year’s.  I think I can do that!

Later ... dinner was fantastic.  Good food, good company and no clean up.  My kind of meal.  Afterwards we went to a movie, “Silver Linings Playbook.”  It started slowly but was really a good film with an upbeat message.  

24 November

Spent some time yesterday having breakfast and lunch with friends, then the afternoon and evening cooking and baking for the holidays.  I’m doing that early since I leave on Tuesday for Poland and wanted to send a few packages of goodies.

I had expected to drive with my niece Michelle to see the Brainerd Hagens today, but my sister-in-law Elyse broke her arm earlier in the week and isn’t up to company.  We’ll go in December some time. 

Reading this morning’s paper, I learned that Larry Hagman died.  I’ve been a fan on his since his “I Dream of Jeanie” days, and I loved “Dallas,” though not as much as my friend Doug who could probably do tours of South Fork.  Hagman was a great actor who relished his role as the villainous JR.  I saw one episode of the reprised “Dallas” and had thought I might watch in reruns since I’m gone so much.  Wonder if they’ll do another “Who killed JR?” to explain his death?

Speaking of deaths, I’ve discovered that another old boyfriend died - cancer almost two years ago.  I’m beginning to feel like a jinx.

28 November, Warsaw, Poland

Uneventful international travel -- hurray.  Flights were on time out of both Minneapolis and Amsterdam.  Barbara, a friend from my Serbia days who’s now working in Tajikistan, met me at the airport.  She’s in Warsaw for a few days of meetings at the OSCE offices here.  It was wonderful to see her and hear what she’s been doing.  And Hala’s daughter Marta arrived as planned too, bringing my lined raincoat and picking up a few things.  I had Reeses candy bars that she ordered and three Kindle Fires for her boyfriend.  (I also have an unlocked iPhone for the son of one of the managers at the Center.)  Marta gave me an autographed copy of the newest Diana Krall CD.  Last summer I bought two tickets to her Warsaw concert hoping to return in time to take Marta as my ‘thank you’ for all the times I’ve stayed in her/”my” apartment.  Since my return date was unsure, I left the tickets with her and later suggested she take Lukasz as I would not return that early in November.  She said it was a great concert and got me the CD.

Now I’m waiting for the driver and for Steve, the other US board member who’s arriving on a flight from Paris.  It’s 3 pm and already getting dark ... I am definitely in Poland.

30 November, Sandomierz, Poland

Our drive from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Sandomierz on Wednesday afternoon took four hours!  Traffic at 4 pm, when it was already pitch dark, was a nightmare -- we inched along the road in a rush hour that would rival Chicago or Manhattan.  Steve and I used the time to catch up, then each dozed off.  

Yesterday I went to the salon for a manicure, pedicure and waxing of my eyebrows and mustache. The cosmetician was supported by the Center with a small grant, which is why I went to her the first time a few years ago.  Now I go each time I’m here because she’s very good ... and very, very cheap by US standards.  I got all of those treatments for the price of a manicure back home.

I’m doing a pretty decent job of not over-eating, which is a real challenge.  The chef at the hotel does a great job and always prepares multi-course meals.  I’ve sworn off “the whites” during meals while here too but let myself have a slice or two of the chewy, dense darkish break that I love for breakfast.  And I only eat half of most meals, including desserts.  A little wasteful but I also am not hungry for more. 

At the board meeting today we marked the 20th anniversary of the Center with lots of photo slide shows, reminiscences by staff, kudos from clients and officials.  Hala, president of the Center, and Ryszard, chair of the board, gave lovely plaques to three 20-year employees (Halinka, Piotr and Ania), and Ryszard gave Hala 20 red roses since she is also a 20-year employee.  All in all, a lovely day.