Dad has passed away [news]
My father, Jules, 97, a former Senior Editor and Chief of the Book Service at the National Geographic, died December 31, 2012 in his apartment in Frederick Maryland. We have prepared a memorial picture show. Click on the image below.
Dad was a Renaissance man. He was a journalist, photographer, round dance instructor, author, wood worker, needlepoint designer, thespian, stained glass designer, gardener, and stone mason. Amazon still lists 23 of his books and several even appear in foreign translations.
He was born November 14th, 1915 in El Paso Texas. (...)
An update [news]
Well, two things are different since my last posting.
First, seems the shoulder was more severely damaged than the MRI indicated. There was a 65% tear of the Supraspinatus tendon. That meant the surgeon could not repair arthroscopically. So I have a three inch scar as a souvenir. Recovery is coming along. It is amazing how many things take two hands to do!
Second, my father fell just before Christmas and hit his head. Unfortunately that caused a subdural hematoma from which (...)
Ran out of knees [news]
So, I guess I got tired of not being operated on. Both knees have been replaced and are doing quite well. So I started on shoulders.
Just before Thanksgiving I got a ligament fixed in my left shoulder. I had a visit with my father to get past first. He is doing pretty well for his age
The Knees, current status [news]
Just thought I should update everyone on my knees. I am out of therapy and back to a more or less normal life. The left knee is fine (although it bends less than it once-upon-a-time did.)
The right knee started out progressing better than the left, but things are never so easy. It reached plateau, and I went through the straightening splint exercise with it as I did with the right. I spent a bit more time in outpatient therapy than with the left. The knee remains swollen and sore (...)
Fun with the new knee-continued [news]
Surgery went well as has the recovery. There is a lot of swelling, so I am trying to keep the knee elevated as much as possible. That means I did not get around to this update until now.
Next week I should be in outpatient theraphy, so I am a bit ahead of the progress for the left knee.
Fun with a new knee—the sequel [news]
When I had the left knee replaced I was hoping for a year or two before doing the same to the right knee. (Remember, the doctor’s “when” not “if” applied to both knees.) Well that was not to be. I did get back to playing golf again, but not for long. I managed to injure or aggravate the right knee making a shot into the 9th green. (Missed the green as well.) That was in July. The knee did not get better, so I am having it replaced tomorrow.
The left knee did recover well. I did make (...)
Clydesdales [news]
We went again to the Orange County Fair this year. The Clydesdales were there this time. We were sure to be there when they went on display. We got a front row location and watched the team hitched to the wagon. Then caught it again as it turned to go down the Fair's main drag.
After the paint then the roof! [news]
Now I think we are done with major work on the house. This last week the roof was replaced. The previous roof was "guaranteed for life" but I guess we did not realize that "life" referred to the life of the manufacturer. It did last 20 years, though. Better than the average for the shingles.
The new roof is again guaranteed for life. Hopefully this time it is “our” life. At least the guarantee is currently good. When the roofers started on the shingle they discovered that the batch (...)
Sweden Visitors [news]
My boss from when we were in the United Kingdom has now retired. He made a visit to California for some golf, scenery, and wine tasting. We have been keeping in touch, mostly by Christmas card for the last 20 years, so it was nice to get to see him again.
Thomas and Ann brought friends from Sweden with them. We had dinner at Las Brisas, a good venue for people who have not experienced the magnificence of the California coast.
45th Reunion [news]
We went back East at the end of May to visit my family and to attend my 45th College reunion. It was hot and muggy in Maryland for the family visit, but the weather for reunion was wonderful. (And a good thing, too, since the last two reunions were pouring down rain.)
