Maine

The week before Easter we drove up to Bar Harbor, Maine.
It was exactly what we needed.
Over the next few days I’ll be posting photographs and a video.

Shore Path, looking over Frenchman Bay to Sheep Porcupine Island.


Chuck watching the waves crash at Schoodic Point, Acadia National Park

They Did It Up Brown!

There seemed to be two major camps in advance of the Royal Wedding. Either you were eagerly anticipating the event or you were seeking a complete media blackout until the couple was off on their honeymoon. I fell into the first camp. Unlike many here in the States, I did not set the alarm for 4:00 a.m. and have tea and scones at the ready as the festivities began. But the first thing I did upon awakening was find the best television coverage I could. I had hoped nothing untoward would mar the day. I had hoped that Kate’s dress would be stunning and completely unlike Will’s late mother’s gown. I had hoped that from start to finish the entire wedding and reception would have all the pageantry required, without tipping over into insensitive excess. Lastly, I had hoped that the vows would go smoothly, simply without the tangling of the order of names which had always stood out for me as such a troubling omen for Diana and Charles.

I was rewarded on every count. Most importantly, all the sincere romantic bits put me in mind of every other beautiful wedding I have ever attended - including when Chuck and I got married in our tiny living room almost twenty years ago! Will and Kate looked both happy and excited, while also seeming wonderfully settled and at ease with one another. I particularly loved all their quiet little exchanges. The dress was perfectly fabulous. The vows were lovely with nary a misstep. Their two kisses on the balcony at Buckingham Palace were certifiably adorable. The best surprise was Will and Kate driving off in that gorgeous Aston Martin Volante with Will at the wheel. The cherry on top? The fact that the Volante runs on E85 bioethanol, made from "English wine wastage"!

There are many anti-royalists in Great Britain and beyond. As an American, whose revered founding fathers threw off the crown, I have little right to speak. But it’s my blog so I shall! Without the Royal Family, without all of the trappings of the monarchy, Great Britain would be diminished. We give Great Britain all due credit for the seeds of our democracy and our jurisprudence system. But over the last century, Great Britain’s global influence has evolved and its “holdings” have decreased. If the British monarchy were abolished, Great Britain would eventually become just a unique political structure; England just another country. Despite all of the Royal Family’s occasional shenanigans and embarrassments, they continues to convey a valuable cachet outside of the realm. And I have to believe that cachet consistently translates into tourist cash.

That concludes the editorial portion of this post!

I am very happy that we were witness yesterday to such a delightful, charming and beautiful wedding. I wish the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Cambridge every happiness. When the day comes that William becomes King, I hope that they serve sensibly and consciously; with the same grace, good humor - and environmental friendliness they showed yesterday!

Milestone

Our grandniece, Isabella Rose, was born on August 5, 2010 after just 26 weeks gestation, weighing only 1 pound, 6 ounces / .62 kilograms and a wee 12 inches long. Since then she has been loved fiercely and wonderfully by her parents. Al and Carrie have cared for her with tenderness, skill and grace. Nurses and doctors at the NICU brought every possible resource, coupled with decades of collective experience, to bear so that each medical challenge was overcome. Izzy went home from the hospital the day before Thanksgiving. Until just recently she was allowed to venture out only for visits to the pediatrician and other medical specialists. But as cold and flu season waned and her amazing growth and progress continued, Isabella was given the green light to go out in public.

First it was a stroller ride and walk in her parents’ arms down to the water’s edge on a warm and sunny day. Then an excursion to a store or two and a couple of visits to family homes. Yesterday, Easter Sunday, was her coming out party. A lucky thirteen of her “village” gathered at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, Rhode Island for an Easter brunch and celebration of Isabella Rose. The star of the day now weighs 13 pounds / 5.9 kilograms and is 25 inches long! She was good as gold and wide eyed as she took in all the sights and sounds around her - including a rather large Easter Bunny!

The Deficit - In 190 Seconds

Gut Check

We all know we have one of four blood types. (Chuck’s is B positive - natch!) but did you know we have gut bacteria types? As reported in a tantalizing New York Times article, scientists say that our enterotype bacteria sorts us into three distinct types. Who knew? In the brief but fascinating article by Carl Zimmer, we learn that the investigators speculate that “the guts, or intestines, of infants are randomly colonized by different pioneering species of microbes”. Not only is this cool, but it could lead to much more specific treatments for illnesses or precise prescribing of medicines and supplements..

Up Down & Out

When I watched the first episode of the new “Upstairs Downstairs” on PBS, my interest was piqued. It was no “Downton Abbey”, but it was engaging and enjoyable. Sunday night I tuned in for the second of the three episodes and was very disappointed. The first hour was a bit rushed but the second felt like a badly edited Cliff’s Notes. Was this a budget problem? Could they not afford another half hour’s worth of filming and some exposition? By the end of the second hour I felt as if the writers and producers had nearly as many hours worth of stories as the original 68 episodes in the 1970s, but they felt compelled to cram them into three hours. And of the storylines presented, all deserved more attention.

I’ll give Upstairs Downstairs the final hour next Sunday. But if they bring us another incarnation in 2012, I will be hard pressed to return to Eaton Place.

Silence Is Golden

I’ve written previously about our adventures with our new washer and dryer. I continue to adjust and almost, yes, almost like using the darned things. One problem we hadn’t anticipated was “water hammer”. The new high-efficiency, front loader washer calls for water repeatedly during the wash and rinse cycles. The old top loader just filled up the tub once for each cycle; sloshed about and spun down. The repeated sudden start-stop of the water led to a terrible slamming of the pipes which could be felt throughout this very old house. It didn’t happen every time, but often enough that it worried us.

Chuck did some research and headed off to our local hardware store. Coming up empty, he moved on to Home Depot. Sure enough they had what we needed. It’s called a “Mini-Rester Water Hammer Arrester” with a washing machine connection, manufactured by Sioux Chief. Chuck installed one on the cold water side and one on the hot water side. The first load of laundry I ran after Chuck had finished his work, I kept poking my head into the laundry room because I was convinced the washer had stopped running!

Add in the warmer weather we have been having which means I can get back to hanging laundry on the line and I am a significantly happier homemaker!

Three Weeks

It was three weeks ago today that I had Mohs surgery just above my right eyebrow. Chuck and I are astonished at how well the wound has been healing. If you look at it closely or in bright light from a raking angle, you can see the outline of the teardrop shaped incision. The first few days after I stopped wearing a bandage it looked like I might have fallen and scraped the area. But now it is just a little red; not screaming “Surgical Reconstruction Zone”!

While keeping it bandaged, I used Neosporin triple antibiotic ointment on it. Since it has been uncovered, whenever I am out and about in public I use a thin coating of Aquaphor to keep it moist. But when I am at home I apply Herbal AloeForce Skin Gel. The Aquaphor is a completely clear petrolatum product. The Herbal Aloe Force is non-greasy and dark brown in color. Both keep the area moist and protected, but the Herbal AloeForce dries out sufficiently on the surface so that I can sleep with it on and not have it rub off on my pillowcase.

What I went through those first few days was decidedly unattractive and uncomfortable. Back then I assumed I would need to make peace with a fairly prominent scar - not quite like a Heidelberg Dueling Scar, but noticeable natheless! Instead, I am already completely unselfconscious in public. And, unlike when I was wearing a bandage, I have seen nary a soul glance up at the evidence of my recent Mohs adventure.

Sláinte!

Let’s Hear It For The Boys

My sister Gail asked me about some of the great male actors. She listed Cary Grant, Russell Crowe, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. There are terrific actors and there are heartthrobs. Occasionally you get both in one package. Cary Grant is an excellent example of the total package! But some actors draw you in, catch you up in their character; the story and and draw you into the film. Here’s my list of the guys from an earlier era whom I love to watch:

William Powell
Jimmy Stewart
Humphrey Bogart
Gregory Peck
William Holden
and yes,
Cary Grant

Some Great Ladies

To follow up on yesterday’s movie post, I wanted to recommend a few actresses whom I admire. If you are a film buff, these will seem obvious. But if you are just beginning to explore the cinematic archives, this will be a good first draft of a “map of the stars”. While it’s certainly not a guarantee, if you see any of these gals billed as starring in a film, the movie is likely worth a look.

Wendy Hiller
Judy Holliday
Myrna Loy
Ingrid Bergman
Katherine Hepburn
Greer Garson

Movies

My taste in movies tends toward classics, wit, humor, romance, happy endings, World War II, good triumphing over evil and is obviously pretty eclectic. I don’t like silent films. I detest horror films. My favorite range is from the earliest talkies of the pre-code era up until about 1959. That’s not to say I don’t have contemporary favorites. The King’s Speech is a recent example. But I love the tremendous heart evident in older films.

Blogger allows us to list favorite movies in our profile. Whenever I think of it I will add one to the string. When I looked at it the other day I decided to add the year the film was released, in part because many movies share the same title. Here are some films I happily recommend. It is by no means an exhaustive list, but each one is worthy of your time and attention.

Adam's Rib (1949)
An Affair To Remember (1957)
Auntie Mame (1958)
Battleground (1949)
Born Yesterday (1950)
Casablanca (1942)
Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
Evelyn Prentice (1934)
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967)
I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
Libeled Lady (1936)
Love Actually (2003)
Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)
Moonstruck (1987)
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Notorious (1946)
Notting Hill (1999)
Pinky (1949)
Pride of the Marines (1945)
Random Harvest (1942)
Rear Window (1954)
Remember the Titans (2000)
Sahara (1943)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Sleepless In Seattle (1993)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The Bishop's Wife (1947)
The Blind Side (2009)
The Gilded Lily (1935)
The King's Speech (2010)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Search (1948)
The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956)
The Thin Man (1934)
What Every Woman Knows (1934)

You can learn more about each film over at IMDB, The Internet Movie DataBase and at TCM, Turner Classic Movies.

OK!

It’s been a very busy week, but I wanted to let you know that all is well.

My stitches were removed on Tuesday and the doctor was very pleased with how well the reconstruction is healing. It was exciting to see the area without the ring of dark blue stitches marching all around the perimeter - no more fuzzy blue caterpillar! Also, the swelling has completely subsided and the bruising has fully faded. Only a few areas of irritation remain from where the pressure bandage was applied right after the surgery. With the stitches removed, it was quite a treat to be able to shower without a special bandage in place. And I am happy to report that the wound area has been almost entirely pain free. I need to keep it moist and covered through next Tuesday, but after that I will be back to normal - a new normal with a very artfully created and well earned scar.

Comfort Food With A Twist

I was channel surfing today and saw Rachael Ray making this “Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese” casserole over on the Food Network. It looked yummy. I haven’t tried it yet, but I decided to link to it anyway. Let me know if you whip it up and I’ll do the same!

It’s True

This evening finds me feeling nearly back to normal. My right eye is fully open even though it is still puffy. My face remains swollen, forehead to collarbone, but nothing like it was yesterday or Thursday. The various colors of bruising emerged last night, but 24 hours later they remain blessedly muted. Because I now have only minor discomfort, I am no longer taking acetaminophen for pain. By the way, I never needed anything stronger than that plus ice packs for the swelling. Best of all, the wound reconstruction remains in excellent condition. The stitches will come out next week.

My surgery was Tuesday morning.
Today is Saturday.
This is being quite a swift and remarkable journey.

I thought hard before deciding to share the photo in the previous post. My only fear was that I might discourage someone from pursuing treatment. But I trusted my Mohs surgeon and all my research which told me that any postoperative consequences would be brief. I’ll have a bandage for a couple of weeks and a scar which will eventually quiet and fade. The basal cell carcinoma is gone and I will be screened regularly. Should another bcc appear I will schedule treatment immediately and know for sure that any discomfort really is temporary.

Sláinte!

Sláinte

Happy Birthday Chuck!

”Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Chuck
Happy Birthday to you -
and many more!
Wheeeeeee!!!”

Thank you for riding the roller coaster with me for nearly a quarter of a century and most especially over this past year.
May I someday be as good a wife to you, as you are a wonderful husband to me!
L’Chaim!

Bye Bye BCC!

About a month ago I was diagnosed with a small basal cell carcinoma, just above my right eyebrow. It looked as if someone had dipped the top of a #2 pencil eraser in pink ink and daubed it on.

Today I underwent Mohs Micrographic Surgery to remove it. As of this moment I am very happily free of the bcc!

I first noticed the pink spot sometime in the autumn. (But, thanks to the arrival of Isabella, I have been able to look back in photos and see a very tiny spot at the end of August.) It looked to me like a similar reddish spot I’ve had unchanged on my face for years, so I thought nothing of it. Sometimes this new spot was dry; sometimes raw. I kept Noxzema on it (For me Noxzema is the equivalent of what Windex was to the father in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”!) and it seemed to calm down.

But in January, not even the Noxzema was soothing it so I headed to WebMD and viewed a skin problem slide show. After viewing the slides I was convinced it was an actinic keratosis. Being fair haired, fair skinned, blue eyed with a history of sunburns in childhood I knew that put me at risk. Because many doctors consider all actinic keratoses to be pre-cancerous, I called my primary care physician the very next day and saw him later in the week. He also thought it was an actinic keratosis but referred me to a dermatologist.

My dermatologist turned out to be great. He is smart, relaxed, kind and has a sense of humor. As soon as he took a close look at the spot he said he didn’t think it was an actinic keratosis, but a basal cell carcinoma. I said: “Well that’s not good.” to which he replied “Well, it’s not bad!”. A biopsy confirmed his eagle eyed diagnosis and I was scheduled for the Mohs surgery.

The Mohs doc who treated me today is exceptional. (Lately I have been on a roll in finding very good doctors!) Mohs surgery, named for Frederic E. Mohs, MD, was first performed back in the 1930s. A Mohs surgeon, usually a dermatologist, has an additional year of training before becoming a Mohs Fellow. If you think of the cancer as an iceberg, the specially trained doctor removes a thin slice of tissue off the top. It is marked precisely, frozen and examined under the microscope. Let’s say the left edge of the sample has a margin of healthy tissue. When the second slice is removed, more is taken from the right side. It too is marked and examined. These steps continue until all of the cancer is removed. Because of the thin layers and the level of precision, no roots of the cancer are left behind and the least possible amount of healthy tissue is taken.

To my amazement, all of my bcc was removed with the first slice! The challenge then for the doctor was how to close the wound. If he had simply pulled all the edges of the thumbnail size wound together I would have been left with a large pucker, plus it would have pulled my eyebrow up into a permanent state of skepticism and Dorothy Parker snarkiness. Happily I did not require a graft. Instead he decided on a teardrop shaped reconstructive flap which was “slid” into place and echoed the shape of my brow - quite brilliant actually.

Chuck was able to be with me for every step of the procedure, which was an enormous gift. And my doc was perfectly comfortable with Chuck snapping a couple of pics with his cell phone to document the occasion! When we were scheduling the Mohs surgery, the first proposed date was tomorrow, March 16th, but that’s Chuck’s birthday. So we chose the day before. I told Chuck that still didn’t seem fair, but he said that having a cancer free wife was an excellent birthday gift! I tell ya, the man’s a keeper!

I will return next week to have the stitches removed. Because once you have a skin cancer your odds increase for another developing, I will also be seeing my dermatologist on a regular basis for ongoing screenings.

Compared to the far more complicated and troubling skin cancers I could have been diagnosed with, I feel incredibly fortunate. I also am counting my lucky stars that fine doctors and excellent treatment are both affordable and readily available to me.

Rose32

This isn’t a review.
It’s more of a whispered recommendation.

If you find yourself in Hardwick, Masschusetts, in the village of Gilbertville, right on the main drag you will find “Rose32 Bread”. We’ve only been once, but we intend to go back. Lovely things are happening in the converted gas station. We’ve tried two kinds of cookies and one loaf of bread. As we used to say when I was growing up: “Mmmm, tastes like more!”

In addition to the baked goods, Rose32 also does breakfast, soup, quiche, salads and sandwiches. The place smells good, looks spotless and the staff is chipper and cheerful.

And let’s all remember that Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream started out in a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont back in 1978. I know this because I ate there many times!

The End of 30 Year Mortgages?

Here in the United States, 30 year fixed rate mortgages have been the only realistic means to home ownership for the middle class. They first began in the 1930s when the government stepped in to help stabilize the housing market during The Great Depression. B-flat, garden variety, 30 year fixed rate mortgages, taken out by responsible home buyers and written by honorable lenders, were not the cause of the contemporary mortgage crisis. Those responsible homeowners were, however, part of the collateral damage in as much as the values of their homes declined sharply. Now it seems as if all the responsible home buyers who wish to sell and buy a new home or get into the market for the first time, are about to get screwed out of the option of a 30 year fixed rate mortgage.

In a housing utopia we could all save for a few years and buy a home for cash - I said utopia! In an ideal world we could all afford a 15 year fixed rate mortgage. But with income stagnant and the buying power of the dollar diminished, the significantly lower monthly payment of the 30 year fixed rate mortgage is key to the equation. (For a $250,000 house, with 10% down, at a 5% interest rate, the monthly payment for a 30 year fixed is $1,208; for a 15 year fixed it’s $1,779 - a $571 difference.) But with the impending demise of the elder Fannie Mae and the younger Freddie Mac, 30 year mortgages could disappear and so too the dreams of home ownership for the middle class.

Paul McMorrow explains the problem in the Boston Globe and Binyamin Appelbaum explores it further in the New York Times.

Without a 30 year fixed from the Bailey Building and Loan Association, Mr. Martini and his family would not have been moving into their own home in Bailey Park. And George and Mary Bailey wouldn’t have been toasting them with “Bread: that this house may never know hunger; Salt: that life may always have flavor; Wine: that joy and prosperity may reign forever”. That was all from “It’s A Wonderful Life ”, but isn’t that exactly what we all want?

Jam Jar Still Wins

Back in August, I posted about the wine from South Africa called Jam Jar. A few weeks ago we went back to Wine Nation to stock back up, only to find they were sold out. After Chuck revived me from where I had collapsed on the floor in despair, one of the managers took us on a tour of other sweet reds. We bought a few and drove home, still pining for Jam Jar.

Tonight we opened a “Sweet Walter Red” from Bully Hill. The nose, as they say, was profoundly Concord Grape. It was super, super sweet (the label had been abundantly clear on that point) but it didn’t taste much like wine. It reminded us both of the classic Manischewitz Concord Grape Wine. Now, Manischewitz has its place of pride, but not as an accompaniment to this evening’s whole wheat penne pasta with red sauce and meatballs!

So Jam Jar remains at the top of our delicious, versatile, complex, yet sweet red wines list.