Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Good advice re: Smartphone Security
http://inewsletter.csmc.edu/Bridge/2012/March-28/Smartphone-smarts.aspx
This is worth reading and following....the internet is a dirty place and our phones are all on it these days.
This is worth reading and following....the internet is a dirty place and our phones are all on it these days.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Benji Pouting
He turned his back on me and put his head on the pavers.
He got in trouble for chasing dogs as they passed our table at dinner this evening on Sunset. First it was a man with a doberman and a rottweiler. Luckily *they* were well behaved. Next it was a chihuahua that he went after so hard and fast that he pulled the table which I unfortunately had attached him to and knocked my water glass over. Then he got a swat (more show than swat of course) and a talking to. He is now morose and did not chase the pit bull that came by, thank goodness.
We are doing well. I had a great weekend with an actual social life here in LA. Saturday I went to
Huntington Gardens and library/museum with Ellen. Wonderful. Lots of pics to share later. Sunday to LA County Museum of Art with Arlene, Little Ginger the Yorkie's Mom. She is a docent there and there's a really great special exhibit of women surrealist artists there now. More later, and pics.
Best of all, my legs did very well, even though it rained heavy Sunday and got cold again. I am very glad!
No news on where I will be next.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
He got in trouble for chasing dogs as they passed our table at dinner this evening on Sunset. First it was a man with a doberman and a rottweiler. Luckily *they* were well behaved. Next it was a chihuahua that he went after so hard and fast that he pulled the table which I unfortunately had attached him to and knocked my water glass over. Then he got a swat (more show than swat of course) and a talking to. He is now morose and did not chase the pit bull that came by, thank goodness.
We are doing well. I had a great weekend with an actual social life here in LA. Saturday I went to
Huntington Gardens and library/museum with Ellen. Wonderful. Lots of pics to share later. Sunday to LA County Museum of Art with Arlene, Little Ginger the Yorkie's Mom. She is a docent there and there's a really great special exhibit of women surrealist artists there now. More later, and pics.
Best of all, my legs did very well, even though it rained heavy Sunday and got cold again. I am very glad!
No news on where I will be next.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Weekend Recap
Thursday evening, just dog park, dinner, piano, and watched Phantom of the Opera the 25th anniversary version from public TV on my DVR. It was awesome!!
Friday took Benji to the vet. I've been worried. Something inconclusive with his breathing. Snoring, rattling. Reverse sneezing. Trying to clear the airway. Feared Valley Fever. Dehydrated. All tests negative. They gave him subcutaneous fluids and a steroid shot and oral steroids. The fluid makes a leaking hump on their backs, but then their bodies absorb it. By today he was back to his ornery self finally.
Later, worked with my organizer pro for about 4 hours. My office is almost under control. I can actually see the end of the work now, the catchup work anyway. Then there's the estate planning, lockbox etc stuff that I need to do. I have a will but I am not optimally organized for Drew to have to deal with everything if I would pass.
Then, more piano. I have three books out of the West Hollywood library: Sondheim, misc Broadway arrangements by Hal Leonard, and a big book of classical pieces arranged by Hal Leonard. He is my guy. Usually, if I see a book has his arrangements, I will like them. I'm getting into classical right now, rediscovering and discovering lots of Vivaldi, Rubenstein, Mozart, Schubert, and Bach. It just transports me. So much music, so little time!
Oh, and books! My latest Netflix movie was The Other Boleyn Girl with Scarlett Johansen and Natalie Portman. Loved it. Now reading the book by Phillipa Gregory. Also fabulous. I'd recommend reading the book, then watching the movie, though. There's more rich detail and nuance about the political climate and the court gossip and jockeying for position they are all doing, how critical it was, how desperate, and how dire a mis-step was. "Off with her head!"
Saturday massage, chiropractor, and acupuncture, errands and I watched Memphis from my DVR Great Performances recording on public television. It was also really excellent. Very enjoyable, a musical about a white DJ in Memphis in the fifties playing soul, "Negro" music.
Then today, bathed Benji after a morning walk in the rain. Couldn't see the mountains at all, but later in the day we saw snow on all of them. Did laundry, housework, potting a bunch of succulents. I'm getting into them - there are so many kinds and they have such character. There's even one named "baby toes". I don't care for cacti as much. A lot of people have prickly pear mania with them filling their entire yards. Mine has flowering bushes, trees, and lavender and white lantana out front. I have a little prickly pear to the side under a bush and this other spiky thing I don't know the name of, but that's all in the way of cactus. Chris and Jenna planted a perennial bed out back and most of it has survived the heat of last summer. I'd like to get some creepy succulents filling in areas where it's just gravel now. Someday I want a Japanese dry garden out back. I'd like to replace the grassy spot with one of the dry lakes in white pebbles that you rake into pretty patterns. It would be a pain, though because the olive tree and the other one out there drop so much mess.
So today off to the airport. Benji freaked me out with another of his episodes. This time he really seemed to be struggling with phlegm in his airway. It lasted about five minutes on the parking bus, and then he really clung to me. It freaks him out not to be able to breathe! I called an emergency vet and they felt they should see him (of course). Since he calmed so completely, though, and had no more trouble, I decided to go and treat him in LA if needed. We have a vet there because he needed shots for daycare.
Looking forward to the work week and trying to do lots of good in my time left at Cedars. As my new friend Ellen says, "It seems there will never be enough time for all the good I want to do in this world!" She has given me great opportunities to do a lot if good in infection prevention. Some of those bugs are really nasty and preventing them could save a lot of people a lot of pain. I love that!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone ********at 30,000 feet somewhere between Tucson and Los Angeles using Southwest's free wifi**********
Friday took Benji to the vet. I've been worried. Something inconclusive with his breathing. Snoring, rattling. Reverse sneezing. Trying to clear the airway. Feared Valley Fever. Dehydrated. All tests negative. They gave him subcutaneous fluids and a steroid shot and oral steroids. The fluid makes a leaking hump on their backs, but then their bodies absorb it. By today he was back to his ornery self finally.
Later, worked with my organizer pro for about 4 hours. My office is almost under control. I can actually see the end of the work now, the catchup work anyway. Then there's the estate planning, lockbox etc stuff that I need to do. I have a will but I am not optimally organized for Drew to have to deal with everything if I would pass.
Then, more piano. I have three books out of the West Hollywood library: Sondheim, misc Broadway arrangements by Hal Leonard, and a big book of classical pieces arranged by Hal Leonard. He is my guy. Usually, if I see a book has his arrangements, I will like them. I'm getting into classical right now, rediscovering and discovering lots of Vivaldi, Rubenstein, Mozart, Schubert, and Bach. It just transports me. So much music, so little time!
Oh, and books! My latest Netflix movie was The Other Boleyn Girl with Scarlett Johansen and Natalie Portman. Loved it. Now reading the book by Phillipa Gregory. Also fabulous. I'd recommend reading the book, then watching the movie, though. There's more rich detail and nuance about the political climate and the court gossip and jockeying for position they are all doing, how critical it was, how desperate, and how dire a mis-step was. "Off with her head!"
Saturday massage, chiropractor, and acupuncture, errands and I watched Memphis from my DVR Great Performances recording on public television. It was also really excellent. Very enjoyable, a musical about a white DJ in Memphis in the fifties playing soul, "Negro" music.
Then today, bathed Benji after a morning walk in the rain. Couldn't see the mountains at all, but later in the day we saw snow on all of them. Did laundry, housework, potting a bunch of succulents. I'm getting into them - there are so many kinds and they have such character. There's even one named "baby toes". I don't care for cacti as much. A lot of people have prickly pear mania with them filling their entire yards. Mine has flowering bushes, trees, and lavender and white lantana out front. I have a little prickly pear to the side under a bush and this other spiky thing I don't know the name of, but that's all in the way of cactus. Chris and Jenna planted a perennial bed out back and most of it has survived the heat of last summer. I'd like to get some creepy succulents filling in areas where it's just gravel now. Someday I want a Japanese dry garden out back. I'd like to replace the grassy spot with one of the dry lakes in white pebbles that you rake into pretty patterns. It would be a pain, though because the olive tree and the other one out there drop so much mess.
So today off to the airport. Benji freaked me out with another of his episodes. This time he really seemed to be struggling with phlegm in his airway. It lasted about five minutes on the parking bus, and then he really clung to me. It freaks him out not to be able to breathe! I called an emergency vet and they felt they should see him (of course). Since he calmed so completely, though, and had no more trouble, I decided to go and treat him in LA if needed. We have a vet there because he needed shots for daycare.
Looking forward to the work week and trying to do lots of good in my time left at Cedars. As my new friend Ellen says, "It seems there will never be enough time for all the good I want to do in this world!" She has given me great opportunities to do a lot if good in infection prevention. Some of those bugs are really nasty and preventing them could save a lot of people a lot of pain. I love that!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone ********at 30,000 feet somewhere between Tucson and Los Angeles using Southwest's free wifi**********
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Song of the Day: In My Daughter's Eyes
Chris said this one got to her recently, thinking of Mom, and Jenna, and life.
In my daughter's eyes, I am a hero,Martina McBride
I am strong an' wise,
And I know no fear.
But the truth is plain to see:
She was sent to rescue me,
I see who I wanna be, in my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes, everyone is equal,
Darkness turns to light,
And the world is at peace.
This miracle God gave to me,
Gives me strength when I am weak.
I find reason to believe, in my daughter's eyes.
An' when she wraps her hand around my finger,
Oh, it puts a smile in my heart.
Everything becomes a little clearer.
I realise what life is all about.
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough;
It's givin' more when you feel like givin' up.
I've seen the light: it's in my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes, I can see the future.
A reflection of who I am,
An' what will be.
An' though she'll grow an', some day, leave:
Maybe raise a family,
When I'm gone, I hope you'll see,
How happy she made me,
For I'll be there, in my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes, I am a hero,Martina McBride
I am strong an' wise,
And I know no fear.
But the truth is plain to see:
She was sent to rescue me,
I see who I wanna be, in my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes, everyone is equal,
Darkness turns to light,
And the world is at peace.
This miracle God gave to me,
Gives me strength when I am weak.
I find reason to believe, in my daughter's eyes.
An' when she wraps her hand around my finger,
Oh, it puts a smile in my heart.
Everything becomes a little clearer.
I realise what life is all about.
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough;
It's givin' more when you feel like givin' up.
I've seen the light: it's in my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes, I can see the future.
A reflection of who I am,
An' what will be.
An' though she'll grow an', some day, leave:
Maybe raise a family,
When I'm gone, I hope you'll see,
How happy she made me,
For I'll be there, in my daughter's eyes.
Leaving Cedars Sinai soon
I just learned that Cedars Sinai Hospital notified my company yesterday that my contract will not be renewed here in LA. Last day is 4/27, they think, but they're still verifying that. Symphony is looking to send me to Wisconsin or Sacramento - that's the preliminary news. The good news is that it's for a Clarity team lead position at Sutter, so that's great!
My contact for infection control here, and now my friend, Ellen, just sent me the nicest note!
"It takes a resilient heart and lots of courage to keep starting up in new places. I only knew you for a bit - when immediately I liked you and it just got better. This has been my favorite project and to get to work with you on it has been a once in a career highlight… I am sad."
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Safe in LA
I am leading such a double life that it has become completely divided. When I am in LA it's hard to think about what's going on in Tucson and vice versa. I forget the entire to-do list, because life in LA is so absorbing and takes such complete focus, for me, then have to work really hard to get back in the right groove.
We had a really short weekend this time, arriving in Tucson about 8 PM Friday, then back to the airport at 4:00 this afternoon. All is well at home except we had such high winds that my back storage room door was blown open and is hanging open by its top hinge. My wonderful handyman will have someone on it ASAP. But the door probably needs to be replaced and painted so with labor I'm afraid there goes another $500.
And I lost another $25 leash. I think it fell out of Benji's carrier under the seat of the plane. That's the third one. We are averaging about one every two months. I hate losing money foolishly like that.
I am looking forward to the work week, though. The work with Infection Control is challenging and rewarding. I am feeling a lot better so am looking forward to working out in the pool this week.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We had a really short weekend this time, arriving in Tucson about 8 PM Friday, then back to the airport at 4:00 this afternoon. All is well at home except we had such high winds that my back storage room door was blown open and is hanging open by its top hinge. My wonderful handyman will have someone on it ASAP. But the door probably needs to be replaced and painted so with labor I'm afraid there goes another $500.
And I lost another $25 leash. I think it fell out of Benji's carrier under the seat of the plane. That's the third one. We are averaging about one every two months. I hate losing money foolishly like that.
I am looking forward to the work week, though. The work with Infection Control is challenging and rewarding. I am feeling a lot better so am looking forward to working out in the pool this week.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wapping a Baby - Controversial?
Why isn't it OK to wap a baby? I have spent an entire flight listening to a baby shriek with pique or glee. And it's about ten rows back. The parent choruses 'Ssshhhhhhhh' after every shriek until it's almost a reinforcement. The kid's thinking, 'When I shriek, Mom goes shhhhhhhh. Fun.'
Why isn't ok to wap the kid? Its amazingly effective. Quick. You only have to do it once. Just a quick firm tap on the mouth. Not a hit even. Just a firm tap. They get the idea. And they shut up. It works. I know it does because I wapped my kid. And he is an excellent man now. What are parents afraid of that they abstain from a good effective wap?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Why isn't ok to wap the kid? Its amazingly effective. Quick. You only have to do it once. Just a quick firm tap on the mouth. Not a hit even. Just a firm tap. They get the idea. And they shut up. It works. I know it does because I wapped my kid. And he is an excellent man now. What are parents afraid of that they abstain from a good effective wap?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Almost Starting to Like It Here
It's amazing what the absence of pain, both physical and emotional, does for a person. I really am starting to look around and see the nice people here, and they are reaching out to us.
I told you about the roses at work. Well, they brought more blessings. People stopped by to chat about them and I learned that two of my closest neighbors in cube-land at work, both Chinese, are recent transplants from the midwest to Los Angeles. Both are dealing with homes that aren't selling and family split in two cities, for now. I had not looked past my own nose to know these nice people, even to know that they are both new in LA. How much richer it is to know them!
I finished a major infection control milestone before leaving work yesterday, and went out with my new friend, Ellen, who is the infection control nurse pioneering the new ambulatory clinic program at Cedars. She is wonderfully friendly, has a brilliant mind, excellent values, and she grew up in rural Califormia, and even had a pig in 4-H! We get along excellently.
She came to the apartment, and went with me and Benji to walk and get dinner at Cravings. She told me lots of stars hang out there at Sunset Plaza but I still haven't seen any. We chatted and watched the crowd go by, enjoyed the warm air and "quiet" night (for LA).
When she left, Benji and I ran into friends from the building we had not seen in a while, Maggie and Billy (a Boston Terrier and a Toto-dog), and Chad. He works from home as a specialty travel agent arranging trips for high-end clients and their retinues, concert crews, stars, and such. His partner, Charlie, is in New York right now, just finishing his runway show for Bebe. He designs clothes for them, Ann Taylor and others. We see him leaving in the mornings in his vintage cream colored Mercedes, wearing his plaid scarf, looking very handsome and stylish.
Anyway, Chad is one of those boisterous people who has never seen a stranger, and he loves Benji. He wants to go out to Cravings with me next week sometime. Charlie doesn't like to dine out, but he does. And he gave me big bear-hugs! We had not seen each other for a while and had missed talking. They came up to the apartment and visited a bit, too.
So it feels like LA is embracing me, whether I wanted it or asked for it, or not. I am making friends.
Here is a photo of Cravings.
And here are some of the shops at Sunset Plaza. Meet the new vintage-style girdle-dress:
and their many-colored friends:
and the instruments of torture meant to be worn on the feet:
There is also a shop there that does nothing but "blow-outs" (hair styling) in various ways. And one that does nothing but apply makeup.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I told you about the roses at work. Well, they brought more blessings. People stopped by to chat about them and I learned that two of my closest neighbors in cube-land at work, both Chinese, are recent transplants from the midwest to Los Angeles. Both are dealing with homes that aren't selling and family split in two cities, for now. I had not looked past my own nose to know these nice people, even to know that they are both new in LA. How much richer it is to know them!
I finished a major infection control milestone before leaving work yesterday, and went out with my new friend, Ellen, who is the infection control nurse pioneering the new ambulatory clinic program at Cedars. She is wonderfully friendly, has a brilliant mind, excellent values, and she grew up in rural Califormia, and even had a pig in 4-H! We get along excellently.
She came to the apartment, and went with me and Benji to walk and get dinner at Cravings. She told me lots of stars hang out there at Sunset Plaza but I still haven't seen any. We chatted and watched the crowd go by, enjoyed the warm air and "quiet" night (for LA).
When she left, Benji and I ran into friends from the building we had not seen in a while, Maggie and Billy (a Boston Terrier and a Toto-dog), and Chad. He works from home as a specialty travel agent arranging trips for high-end clients and their retinues, concert crews, stars, and such. His partner, Charlie, is in New York right now, just finishing his runway show for Bebe. He designs clothes for them, Ann Taylor and others. We see him leaving in the mornings in his vintage cream colored Mercedes, wearing his plaid scarf, looking very handsome and stylish.
Anyway, Chad is one of those boisterous people who has never seen a stranger, and he loves Benji. He wants to go out to Cravings with me next week sometime. Charlie doesn't like to dine out, but he does. And he gave me big bear-hugs! We had not seen each other for a while and had missed talking. They came up to the apartment and visited a bit, too.
So it feels like LA is embracing me, whether I wanted it or asked for it, or not. I am making friends.
Here is a photo of Cravings.
And here are some of the shops at Sunset Plaza. Meet the new vintage-style girdle-dress:
and their many-colored friends:
and the instruments of torture meant to be worn on the feet:
There is also a shop there that does nothing but "blow-outs" (hair styling) in various ways. And one that does nothing but apply makeup.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, March 2, 2012
Just a Moment Ago
I was just now commiserating with Chris via text messages about being too empathetic for my own good (in relation to that last story).
As I wrote my message to Chris a woman who was so nice earlier in the week, asking me how I have been, brought me a dozen roses!!
Now I really could cry! What a sweet gesture! I hardly know her! But earlier in the week she was assuring me that I am not alone. I guess now she has shown it.
Wow. Wow. Tears again. I guess it's my day.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
As I wrote my message to Chris a woman who was so nice earlier in the week, asking me how I have been, brought me a dozen roses!!
Now I really could cry! What a sweet gesture! I hardly know her! But earlier in the week she was assuring me that I am not alone. I guess now she has shown it.
Wow. Wow. Tears again. I guess it's my day.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Crying Already This Morning
I had a really bad flare yesterday, for no reason I could pinpoint except that I did not get my usual massage last weekend and the weather here has been wet and gray. I did rest and get a massage and bath and am much better now.
But I cried already today. A very sweet young woman at work was telling me about meeting her parents at the airport yesterday. They were coming to visit from Indonesia and her mom has had cancer and she had not seen them in years. I cried just to think of their joy.
She said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, did I make you sad?"
"No", I said. "Just so happy for you!" And I was. Just to think of their joy on meeting again was overpowering.
I'm back to programming, of course, here at work, but it's really tough. I have this undercurrent of emotional electricity flowing now and it's hard to keep it in check.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
But I cried already today. A very sweet young woman at work was telling me about meeting her parents at the airport yesterday. They were coming to visit from Indonesia and her mom has had cancer and she had not seen them in years. I cried just to think of their joy.
She said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, did I make you sad?"
"No", I said. "Just so happy for you!" And I was. Just to think of their joy on meeting again was overpowering.
I'm back to programming, of course, here at work, but it's really tough. I have this undercurrent of emotional electricity flowing now and it's hard to keep it in check.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:W 5th St,Los Angeles,United States
What does it mean, in Hollywood?
What does it mean, in Hollywood, when you see a black limousine followed by five white Escalades pulling into the Marriott?
Rappers.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Rappers.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Quote of the Day - from Robert Fulghum
I've been trying to get Chris cheered up a bit today. Anyone want to help me?
It made me think of this quote from Robert Fulghum:
“One of life's best coping mechanisms is to know the difference between an inconvenience and a problem. If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you've got a problem. Everything else is an inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy. A lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat and a lump in the breast are not the same kind of lump. One needs to learn the difference.”
It made me think of this quote from Robert Fulghum:
“One of life's best coping mechanisms is to know the difference between an inconvenience and a problem. If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you've got a problem. Everything else is an inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy. A lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat and a lump in the breast are not the same kind of lump. One needs to learn the difference.”
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