It's the last day of the month and we're 2 days closer to Stanford. I'm apprehensive and anxious. It's been quite a week... I was just finishing my blog Sat. nite when the bed shook and I realized it wasn't Riley running in his sleep. It was an earthquake! Albeit a mild one considering... I woke T up to acknowledge it and as he rolled over I went into the bathroom to assess any damage. Instead because of Tracy's cunning our home just rolled with it... I felt so safe because our home was so solid and once again I cherished the man who built it.
I'm listening to Billy Joel... he just sang my favorite "I'm in a New York State of Mind" as T rests next to me and Riley is sprawled across our bed....71 lbs of love.
Anyway, lots of momentous events last week...freak East coast earthquake; Hurricane Irene; arrival of Johnny's Alaskan salmon; Steve Jobs resigned; Bill's wife succumbed to the Big C; Dean passed away after being cold cocked by his future son-in-law - unbelievable!!! and still we go on... at last there is nothing else but to acknowledge, commemmorate and keep on moving forward as we memorialize the past and live the present and hope for the future....
Please keep the healing white light incoming ...
About Me
- AnneMarie
- Concerned Citizen and a Serial Entrepreneur wrapped in a progressive democratic soul longing for us all to get along.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Today is Tuesday, August 30th
A couple days since I've written anything... I've been collecting my thoughts and gathering my senses. I realized as we left Dr. Wu's office late this afternoon, that I had taken a big breath and then, a huge sigh... lots of shallow breathing and fear have been my normal lately and today, finally after meeting with Dr. Wu again, I feel like there is life after all. He's so approachable, answering the questions we haven't even asked. He answers every question thoughtfully and directly. I keep asking why T has to continue with more chemo and why his platelet count is so low? Very simply: T's bone marrow is very slow to recover...it's taken a lot longer for him to bounce back and now he's "off the farm".. he's deviated from the protocol so, all bets are off as to how his treatment will continue. Since so much time has elapsed between the last phase & the next phase there's no telling how T will fare. Dr. Wu says the question that needs to be answered is Quality VS Quantity? Does T take it easy & go with a chemo light or sacrifice quality time for hopefully more years? When Dr. Wu mentioned 9 years vs 10 years; I took a big breath. All of a sudden, we got our lives back. We were talking about years, not months or even days. I can't voice how relieved I feel. I've got a spring in my step and hope in my heart.
We meet with Bruno on Friday. T has no recollection of how low he got or how hard he was hit. I guess that's a good thing. He'll have to make the decision about whether he wants to continue with chemo when his body is ready... who knows when that will be... in the meantime, we'll just coast & love living together here on the central coast... together that's the key.
We meet with Bruno on Friday. T has no recollection of how low he got or how hard he was hit. I guess that's a good thing. He'll have to make the decision about whether he wants to continue with chemo when his body is ready... who knows when that will be... in the meantime, we'll just coast & love living together here on the central coast... together that's the key.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Today is Saturday, August 27th
This month has flown by altho' we still do have a few days left. We made a few calls today using FaceTime on the iPad. What an amazing tool and so easy to use. With the simple addition of an email address to Favorites on an iPad or iPhone; and a touch to that email on FaceTime, the phone starts ringing... and then, you're connected and able to see the party you've called. How cool is that? What vision Steve has!!!
Today my honey awoke tired so, we walked slowly around the neighborhood. He did extend our walk by another block so, we walked all the way to Appleton and back. The rest of the day we took it slow and easy. I did some work and even used my Borders credit by downloading their eReader app, Kobo, and then, choosing several free books and 4 purchased books to reside on my iPad. Now I'll see whether I like to read on the tablet. I do love reading books. There's just something about turning a real page and gauging the progress I've made as I wade through the telling of the story to the end and then, the tangible finality of closing the book after I've consumed it. I've always loved to read. My daddy gave me my love of language and the beauty of a tale as told in a book. I can remember daddy sitting in his overstuffed chair with we 3 surrounding him or me on his lap as he read aloud to us.... I can almost remember the way he smelled and how sturdy he was and so eager to share a tale with his children. Those are some of my fondest memories of the time I spent with my daddy.
Interesting that lately I'm immersed in memories. Today I reflected on some of my early experiences with Tracy and tonight, Simon and Garfunkel guided us through the turbulent 60's- 70's on a KQED fund drive. Nostalgia with a few tears...Life is living the memories and then, looking back and treasuring the interludes of the past...
Jayne & Lou are on their way here after an evening with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Johnny's fabulous Alaskan salmon will find it's way over the hill. Love to all and to all a good night...
Today my honey awoke tired so, we walked slowly around the neighborhood. He did extend our walk by another block so, we walked all the way to Appleton and back. The rest of the day we took it slow and easy. I did some work and even used my Borders credit by downloading their eReader app, Kobo, and then, choosing several free books and 4 purchased books to reside on my iPad. Now I'll see whether I like to read on the tablet. I do love reading books. There's just something about turning a real page and gauging the progress I've made as I wade through the telling of the story to the end and then, the tangible finality of closing the book after I've consumed it. I've always loved to read. My daddy gave me my love of language and the beauty of a tale as told in a book. I can remember daddy sitting in his overstuffed chair with we 3 surrounding him or me on his lap as he read aloud to us.... I can almost remember the way he smelled and how sturdy he was and so eager to share a tale with his children. Those are some of my fondest memories of the time I spent with my daddy.
Interesting that lately I'm immersed in memories. Today I reflected on some of my early experiences with Tracy and tonight, Simon and Garfunkel guided us through the turbulent 60's- 70's on a KQED fund drive. Nostalgia with a few tears...Life is living the memories and then, looking back and treasuring the interludes of the past...
Jayne & Lou are on their way here after an evening with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Johnny's fabulous Alaskan salmon will find it's way over the hill. Love to all and to all a good night...
Today is Friday, August 26th
Life is good and kinda crazy and the good news is we're still here... we're still walking around the neighborhood first thing. It's a great way to start the day and it satisfies Riley for a couple hours. Added benefit: We stay up on what's happening and we stay regular...who could ask for anything more?
Thursday was a blur...ending with a spur of the moment viewing of "The Help" with Linda & Jim and then dinner for 4 at Bittersweet. What fun! The Help was a fabulous book and the movie followed the book pretty closely. I was very glad to have seen it. Usually if I've read the book, I'm disappointed. The acting was great and I keep reflecting on the message. Good movie to remind us of the struggles of our youth. The MLK sculpture ( why wasn't an American sculptor commissioned to produce the statue?) was supposed to be dedicated this weekend and the ceremony has been postponed because of Irene's impending arrival. What a crazy week for the East Coast!!! Earlier this week, they experienced an earthquake centered in Virginia that damaged the Washington Memorial and was felt all the way up and down the coast caused by an unknown fault! Talk about a crazy week!!!
Today upon our return home from our morning walk around, the doorbell rang. FedEx delivered Johnny's treat: One of the Alaskan Salmon he'd caught fresh out of the water yesterday. Amazing!!!
After lunch with Gini; I showed property & I've been catching up the rest of the evening.
Tracy's neutraphil count rose from 1.5 to 1.9!!! Altho' he still needed platelets...
All is well.
Thursday was a blur...ending with a spur of the moment viewing of "The Help" with Linda & Jim and then dinner for 4 at Bittersweet. What fun! The Help was a fabulous book and the movie followed the book pretty closely. I was very glad to have seen it. Usually if I've read the book, I'm disappointed. The acting was great and I keep reflecting on the message. Good movie to remind us of the struggles of our youth. The MLK sculpture ( why wasn't an American sculptor commissioned to produce the statue?) was supposed to be dedicated this weekend and the ceremony has been postponed because of Irene's impending arrival. What a crazy week for the East Coast!!! Earlier this week, they experienced an earthquake centered in Virginia that damaged the Washington Memorial and was felt all the way up and down the coast caused by an unknown fault! Talk about a crazy week!!!
Today upon our return home from our morning walk around, the doorbell rang. FedEx delivered Johnny's treat: One of the Alaskan Salmon he'd caught fresh out of the water yesterday. Amazing!!!
After lunch with Gini; I showed property & I've been catching up the rest of the evening.
Tracy's neutraphil count rose from 1.5 to 1.9!!! Altho' he still needed platelets...
All is well.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Today is Wednesday, August 24th
Saddened by the news today that Steve Jobs has resigned from Apple. The news caught me by surprise and brought tears to my eyes.... wonder what it means for Steve? Apple will survive... will Steve? I wish him well and hope that he has found peace...
I did 3 tours @Apple over a period of 15 years starting in '88 and leaving for the last time in '03. At one point I'd been approached about running search reporting directly to Steve. I declined to even interview cause I'd just met T and I knew I wanted a life with him more than a career at Apple. Instead much later, I was meeting the twins in the cafe prior to interviewing for a contract recruiting gig... extremely hung over cause I'd spent the prior evening in a restaurant in Palo Alto with a bunch of head hunters eating dinner & drinking Grand Marnier as we watched the befuddling Bush-Gore presidential election results. We drank out of frustration and fear. Hence, I was blind the next day as I stood in front of the Miso soup trying to decide what would help clear my head, I was jostled out of the way... Steve was trying to access the soup... as he helped himself, Mary Ann introduced me & told him I was looking at coming back to Apple. When he asked me why I wouldn't; I replied that I didn't think they could pay me what I wanted. Steve said it was a good time to get stock options and I said I guessed he'd know that better than anyone. He finally left as I took a big breath... and took a leap... back at Apple yet again, the perennial retread. Di reminded me and recounted one of her memories... lots of folks recalling Steve memories..
One more sticks out about the power of Steve. On my last tour, Steve called a communication meeting and we witnessed his genius once again. As Steve explained that profit sharing was going to be eliminated, you could have heard a pin drop except for the engineers calculating what that translated to in real dollars... and then, Steve introduced the original iPod... available immediately to all employees at a DISCOUNT to thundering applause!!! I was standing in the audience waiting for a backlash (I was acting HR Director for Software) and instead the assembly erupted in laughter and applause!!! Only Steve Jobs could have pulled that one off and I shook my head in wonder....
Lots of business starting to roll back in at a nice steady pace. I'm getting to spend some quality time with my honey as we walk around our wonderful neighborhood... Protein shakes, fresh organic veggie juices keep us going...
Life goes on and I'm reminded constantly that there's nothing so constant as change...
Good luck Steve and thanks for the memories!!!
I did 3 tours @Apple over a period of 15 years starting in '88 and leaving for the last time in '03. At one point I'd been approached about running search reporting directly to Steve. I declined to even interview cause I'd just met T and I knew I wanted a life with him more than a career at Apple. Instead much later, I was meeting the twins in the cafe prior to interviewing for a contract recruiting gig... extremely hung over cause I'd spent the prior evening in a restaurant in Palo Alto with a bunch of head hunters eating dinner & drinking Grand Marnier as we watched the befuddling Bush-Gore presidential election results. We drank out of frustration and fear. Hence, I was blind the next day as I stood in front of the Miso soup trying to decide what would help clear my head, I was jostled out of the way... Steve was trying to access the soup... as he helped himself, Mary Ann introduced me & told him I was looking at coming back to Apple. When he asked me why I wouldn't; I replied that I didn't think they could pay me what I wanted. Steve said it was a good time to get stock options and I said I guessed he'd know that better than anyone. He finally left as I took a big breath... and took a leap... back at Apple yet again, the perennial retread. Di reminded me and recounted one of her memories... lots of folks recalling Steve memories..
One more sticks out about the power of Steve. On my last tour, Steve called a communication meeting and we witnessed his genius once again. As Steve explained that profit sharing was going to be eliminated, you could have heard a pin drop except for the engineers calculating what that translated to in real dollars... and then, Steve introduced the original iPod... available immediately to all employees at a DISCOUNT to thundering applause!!! I was standing in the audience waiting for a backlash (I was acting HR Director for Software) and instead the assembly erupted in laughter and applause!!! Only Steve Jobs could have pulled that one off and I shook my head in wonder....
Lots of business starting to roll back in at a nice steady pace. I'm getting to spend some quality time with my honey as we walk around our wonderful neighborhood... Protein shakes, fresh organic veggie juices keep us going...
Life goes on and I'm reminded constantly that there's nothing so constant as change...
Good luck Steve and thanks for the memories!!!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Today is Tuesday, August 23rd
In the wee small hours of the morning... mortality smacks me in the face. A dear friend's wife lost her fight against the Big C last evening. I feel his loss in a way that I've never experienced before. I will call him this morning and offer help and my deepest felt sympathy and then, I resolve to shake this gloom that's taken over me. I want to be with T and share the time that we have... not escape. We need to walk together and share the beauty of what is.
Life is pretty strange sometimes and NOT what we expect but I guess it's those weird unexplained and yes, at times unwanted episodes that shape who we are and what we shall become.
I don't know what's in store for us and I guess, that's the wonder of it all... I've always loved surprises...
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Today is Saturday, August 20th
I know, I know... So, I'm a little errant... The last couple days have been work-filled and I've been preoccupied. Thank you Di for that beautiful poem! Hope to see you soon!
Tracy's neutraphil count went up to 1.5 yesterday from 1.3 the week before BUT he needed platelets for the first time in weeks... now just what does that mean? T chooses not to talk about it and I brood.
So, today was the first time all week, I was able to sleep in. Finished a book in bed and just zoned most of the day. Been watching Mad Men and playing Moonlight Mahjong until the Niners - Raider game... GO NINERS!!!! Niners just intercepted and we're ahead 3-0 at the end of the first half. YAHOO!!!
Tracy's neutraphil count went up to 1.5 yesterday from 1.3 the week before BUT he needed platelets for the first time in weeks... now just what does that mean? T chooses not to talk about it and I brood.
So, today was the first time all week, I was able to sleep in. Finished a book in bed and just zoned most of the day. Been watching Mad Men and playing Moonlight Mahjong until the Niners - Raider game... GO NINERS!!!! Niners just intercepted and we're ahead 3-0 at the end of the first half. YAHOO!!!
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