Thursday 12-20-2012 Blog Update-Christmas Letter

I thought I would start this blog update with a picture of a Christmas cactus that is blooming in my living room.  It was outside all summer and I didn't pay much attention to it but it is sure pretty now!

I mentioned in my update a few days ago that it has been over a year since I added to this blog.  I will try to fill in some of the blanks and let you know what the Gaudi Clan has been doing for the last twelve months.

About this time last year, Terry and I were getting ready to go on an amazing 2 1/2 week visit to Mumbai, India.  We were in Mumbai over Christmas and New Years as guests of our friends from Dubai, Corine and Denzil D'Souza.  Their daughter Bianca and her husband Bill were also there visiting from London and their son Charley and a girlfriend were there from Baton Rouge, LA. where he is a teacher.  Corine and Denzil also have a home in Mumbai and that was where we all stayed.  We had a fabulous time and were very well cared for.  We went somewhere different almost every day travelling by train, car, bus, motor scooter taxi (putt -putt) plus we did a lot of walking.  It seemed like there was a party somewhere every night and we ate fantastic foods and met a lot of wonderful people.

One of the people we met in Mumbai was Father Joe, a Catholic Priest and a really special man.  Catholicism and I had parted company some 55 years ago but with the help of Father Joe, my Catholic faith was restored.  He heard my confession (you can imagine!) and I received Communion.  He also blessed Terry & my  43rd wedding anniversary on December 28 in a special service.  I've been going to church every week since that time and Terry calls my conversion "The Miracle of India."  I will try to write some more about Father Joe and the work he is doing in India in a future blog.

Charley D'Souza came to visit over Easter and we enjoyed having him.  He is a bit of a scholar on Catholicism and Bernie asked him many questions.  His parents also came to visit here in Columbia while Terry was in Mexico.

Terry and I returned to Columbia on January 6 and I promptly got sick with another bout of pneumonia.  This time I ended up in the ER for half a night but thanks to my doctor, I finally got better.

Terry's sister, Linda came down to see us from New York for about 3 weeks in February.  During her visit, we went to Charleston where we were joined by our son, Scott and Martin for a long weekend.  It was a bit cold but we stayed at a very nice hotel, ate some wonderful food and had a great time in general.  Scott is doing very well at Ohio State and will become a full professor this year.  His love is still searching for planets and he has found a bunch of them!

Our daughter, Tana, came to see us from LA for a few days in late February and we had a great visit but it was much too short.  Tana is doing some amazing things outside of her normal 9-5 job in computer graphics (which she hates.)  This year she was team captain of a 12 girl group called "Bandits for Boobies" that raised over $34,000 for her 4th annual 26 mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!  Of the total, she personally raised over $4,100 and walked the entire 26 miles even though she has had problems with her feet that resulted in two operations this year.

Tana founded a women's meeting group last year that now has 170 members.  She is also working toward certification with the International Coaching Federation and has earned certification this year in Reiki, Quantum Touch and Reconnective Healing. I have asked her to post some information on these fields on my blog so you can check them out if you are interested.  Eventually, she would like to work full time in coaching and the energy field.

In March, Terry and I went to Charleston for a my 6 month checkup with my cancer doctors.  All my test came out fine and the doctor told me to come back in 6 months (which I did, and I am still cancer free!)
Also in March, Terry had cataract surgery in one eye and later this year had her other eye fixed.

In late May, Terry spent a week at Fripp Island (near Charleston) at a yoga/macrobiotic retreat.  She had such a good time that in October, she went to Mexico for a "Spirited Women over 45" retreat that also featured yoga and macrobiotic food.  This retreat was literally in the jungle with a very long, difficult hike up a mountain for yoga twice a day!  However, "the yoga was wonderful as was the food and the women were AMAZING as were the teachers."  I took her word for this since I was off on a trip of my own in October which I will mention below.

In June, Terry spent a week in Alaska with Scott who was there for a seminar but managed to take some time off to also see Denali and other places.  Terry took a bunch of pictures and the scenery looked breathtaking.

In June, Terry's sister Linda returned for another visit and I also celebrated my 73rd birthday.  Tana also returned to Columbia for a brief visit just after my birthday.

In July, Terry and I went to Washington, DC to be with Scott when he received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).  He was nominated by the National Science Foundation from which he received a large grant last year.  Though the parents and guests didn't get to meet the President, Scott and the other recipients did.  It was an amazing honor to receive this award and we are very proud of him!

In August, Terry went to New York and Lake Chautauqua for a week with her sisters (her youngest sister has a second home on the Lake), their children and her step-mother, Helen.  I didn't go but did visit with my friend, Jay Coleman, in Beaufort, SC and also spent 5 days in Bland, WV with good friends at the annual Eaton/ABB Bristol Nascar Race Weekend.  We shot sporting clays, watched the race, ate great food and had a delightful time at the home of Diane and Lloyd Breedlove.

In late October, while Terry was in Mexico, I went to Staunton, IL to attend my 55th HS Class Reunion.  I also drove up to Champaign, IL for a 50 year reunion with a bunch of my fraternity brothers, many of whom I hadn't seen in 50 years.  We also went to the University of Illinois Homecoming football game.  We lost and it was cold but I still enjoyed the outing.  I was also able to meet several other friends in the Staunton/St. Louis area and had lunch with several friends from the Eaton Sales Office.

Terry and I have stayed close to home the last two months and are looking forward to a quiet Christmas and New Years with some close friends.  Terry baked some cookies which she sent to our kids and gave to some neighbors and I hope she will be able to relax the rest of this month although I'm not holding my breath. As of today, neither one of us are sick but there is a bunch of people in Columbia who have to flu or some other bug.  It would be great to end this year on a healthy note.

We are going out to eat on Christmas Eve and will then go to midnight mass.

I hope you have a happy and healthy holiday and that 2013 is a wonderful year for you and your family.

Here a picture of Terry and me with my oldest friend, Frank Brown, who turned 99 this year and is still going strong!

Sunday - December 16, 2012

It has been over a year since my last entry in this blog (9-11-2011) and a great deal has happened.  Since this is my "beating cancer blog" the first thing I should say is that I am still cancer free!  It has been just over 3 years since I first found out that I had esophageal cancer and it will be 3 years since my cancer surgery in April 2010.  I last saw my doctors in Charleston in September and all my tests came out great!  It has also been 3 years since I last drank alcohol. I have gained a little weight lately and I now weigh about 180 pounds, about 90 pounds less than I weighed in 2010.

I have had pneumonia a few times during the last three years.  I was really sick in January and had to go to the ER.  Acid reflux is a side effect of the surgery I had and if I not very careful, I sometimes breath the junk from my stomach into my lungs while I am sleeping.  It's called aspirated pneumonia. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to get rid of the infection I'm afraid that I am becoming immune to the antibiotics.  However, I have a great doctor and he has been able to keep on top of this problem.  The biggest problem is that I can't go to the gym and exercise when I'm sick and this makes me weak and it takes a while to build back to my normal activity level.  This is also the reason I have gained a few pounds lately since I am just getting over a round of pneumonia/bronchitis.

 

Sunday - September 11, 2011 Con't-

Blue Crabs turn pink after they are cooked!  I'll show you what they look like before steaming.

This is the 'before' picture.  The crabs are still alive and pinching --

All steamed up and ready to eat.  They were really good!!

This is a picture of Marleen & Jay Coleman steaming the crabs and getting them ready to eat. 

This picture of the Coleman's back yard was taken through the bathroom window of 'my' room.  Note the beautiful live oak trees and the Spanish moss.

We are now back in Columbia.  This is a picture of an 'Obedient' plant in my back yard.  The plant isn't obedient at all and it spreads like wild fire if you don't keep it under control.  However, it is one of the few plants that are still in bloom.

I showed a picture of this plant in my July blog and said it looked something like Wisteria.  I just found out that it is a type of wisteria but it doesn't spread like the wild stuff that takes over entire trees if you're not careful with it.  This plant is also fragrant and it has been blooming all summer.  The Botanical Name for it is: Milletia Reticulata Benth if you are interested in such things.

Here is a picture of my 'candlestick plants' that I also showed in a previous blog.  These plants are doing well and I hope they bloom before it gets too cold.  They have large clusters of yellow flowers.  As you can see, not much is blooming in my garden but if you look closely you can see a orange and a white Canna and some purple sage in bloom in the background.

And for my last shot, here is a picture of Chicky sacked out on the Sunday newswpaper.

Don't forget to look at my previous blog that I sent earlier today without any pictures.  All comments are appreciated.

Sunday - September 11, 2011

It's hard to imagine that it is September already. It is even harder to imagine that the 9/11 attack on NYC was 10 years ago and that my daughter, Tana, was born 41 years ago today. Wow, time is flying by!!

I have my flag up today but I haven't been out yet to see if flags are also flying at other homes in the neighborhood. I hope so. This is one day that we don't want to forget.

I have been to my doctors in Charleston since my last blog update and I am happy to report that I got almost a clean bill of health. My esophagus looks great with no sign of cancer and the small growth on my right kidney hasn't grown since my last scan in March. My urologist said that I don't have to come back for another year but the surgeon that operated on my esophagus said that he wants to see me in 6 months for another scan since esophageal cancer is so aggressive.

After we got home from Charleston, the urologist called and said that my scan showed some diverticulitis in my colon. He recommended that I see my family doctor here in Columbia for possible treatment, which I did. Since I had no pain or any signs of infection, my family doctor decided that no treatment was necessary for now.

My test in Charleston also showed that my blood pressure was somewhat low and recommended that I stop taking blood pressure medicine. My family doctor concurred and that is one less medicine that I have to take!

Not too much else has happened since my blog update on July 23rd. We had a few small parties at our home, including a social for one of the organizations (the Gills Creek Watershed Association) where I am on the Board of Directors. I also attended a luncheon with my water aerobics group. I continue to exercise three days a week (unless something conflicts with my schedule.) I usually walk two miles in about thirty minutes, work out on the Nautilus machines for about an hour and then do water aerobics for an hour. I try to do this routine each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

I also try to go to AA meetings three times a week and I belong to several organizations including The SC Silver Haired Legislature, the Columbia Orchid Society, the Midlands Camellia Society and the GCWA mentioned above. I spend a lot of time in meetings! I haven't set up my greenhouse again since my cancer operation and I gave most of my orchids to the member or our orchid society that has cared for my plants since before my operation. However, I do spend quite a bit of time on my garden. Not many plants are in bloom at the moment but I will enclose a few pictures.

So, this is how I have been spending my time during the day. In the evenings, I work on my computer (I get way too many emails!!), watch TV and read when I can find time. As I write this, I have been watching some of the 9/11 tributes and thinking that it is good to still be alive. I'm lucky to be able to complain about how busy I am, how hot it has been this summer and a bunch of other things that really don't matter very much in the long run. (However, I do continue to worry about our Country and the economy.)

Terry went to New York again last month to spend more time with her sisters and I spend a few days in Beaufort at the home of my friends, the Coleman's. We had some great meals including a feast on fresh blue crabs that Jay caught during my visit. They were fantastic. I'll enclose a few pictures from my visit.

Well, I just tried to add some pictures and the software wanted to put them on top of the page. I also noted that spaces between paragraphs have been eliminated. There must be some way to edit this thing but I haven't figured it out yet. I'm therefore going to send this as is and send the pictures in another update.

Saturday July 23, 2011

I just uploaded a bunch of pictures and will now try to comment on them. The red flower on the left is a Perennial Hibiscus. Notice the leaves-they look a lot like pot! That's because it is in the Cannabis Family. There is a white Perennial Hibiscus on the right of the red one but for some reason, I did not take a picture of it. Next blog-- Actually, there is a picture of it in my last blog.

The lavender bloom on the left that is growing in front of the brick wall is a Rose of Sharon. I have a white one in another part of my garden. There is a picture of it after the next picture. This plant grows into a bush/tree and it blooms all summer. It is also perennial and it will come back even bigger next year.

The plant in the picture below is a Pineapple Lily. I think it is in the Crinum family and I have a lot of different kinds of Crinums in this part of my garden. I put some pictures of them in an earlier blog. The leaves of this plant are very long and the flower stalks can grow to be over six feet tall. They are also perennial and the bulb gets very large over time. Some of the bulbs in my garden are now over 8 inches in diameter and they will get much bigger plus they will send up side shoots/bulbs that can be separated from the 'mother' plant. Most of my Crinums are 2-3 years old and the original bulbs were quite expensive - in the $30+ range. I have no idea what the bulbs would now sell for.

The potted plants sitting on the wall by my patio are Candle Stick plants. I got the seeds from a friend of mine who got them from his daughter who lives in Texas. Her plants come back every year and I understand that she has to actually pull them up because they get too thick. I got mine to bloom last year but they didn't come back so I had to replant them from seeds. I got them going late so I doubt if they will bloom this year. I plan to bring some of the plants in or put them in my greenhouse in the fall.

The mass of yellow plants with black centers are called Mexican Petunia and they spread like crazy and come back every year. They are actually invasive and I may have to think about pulling some up this year before they take over this bed. To the right of the Mexican Petunias are three Hydrangea. There are some better pictures of them below. These are not the "mop head" variety an they are not nearly as pretty. I may pull up a few of them and put in some giant blue Hydrangea in their place.

This picture below shows a mess of different plants including some Echinacea. (They look like Black Eyed Susan's but are actually a medicinal plant.) There are also some Carnations, Peony's, a small Tung Oil tree (to the right of the sprinkler) and other plants.

I just noticed that I am not able to put spaces between paragraphs so I think I will just describe the rest of the pictures that follow. I sure wish I could figure out how this blog works. It seems to have a mind of its own and just puts things where it wants them.

Anyway the next picture shows some more of the Rose of Sharon blooms with a Crepe Myrtle (pink) in the background.

I'm not sure what the purple plant is by the rocks near my fountain. The leaves look a lot like Wisteria but the flowers are different. Maybe my friend Bobbi can tell me what it is??

Next are three bunches of Calla Lilies that are no longer in bloom. I will have to separate them in the fall because they are getting too thick. However, they did bloom this spring and were very pretty.

Next are some more Candle Stick plants in pots.

The brite orange bloom is a Day Lily.

Next is a picture taken at a dinner party at our house. On my left is Melinda and on my right is Anne Marie and Gregg. Terry took the picture and cooked the meal--giant shrimp scampi, corn on the cob, salad, rice and salad. Melinda brought a variety of fantastic desserts including Tiramasu, Cannoli and fresh fruit pies. (See the pictures below.) There are also pictures of the large shrimp scampi that I got at the local market, a picture of some of the peppers from my garden.

And, of course, no blog would be complete without a picture of Charlotte and Chicky!

That's about it for now. I'm sorry for all the detail but I'm writing this blog as a journal so I will have some record of what is growing where, etc. so some of the information is for my purpose but I would still appreciate any and all comments.

I'll try to figure out how this blog works before I write the next update.

By-the-way, it is now raining and it also rained hard last night. It dropped the temperature from 103 down to 75 last night but it is now back up in the 90+ range. However, we really need the rain!!

Saturday July 23, 2011

Time sure goes by quickly when you're having fun - or at least feeling good! It has been almost a month since I updated this blog and it's time to send some new pictures and a brief outline of what has been happening to us here in Columbia, SC.

First off, I have been feeling very good and have gained some more weight. I'm now up to around 175 pounds but I have hit 180 a few times. I hope most of the weight gain is muscle but it is time to scale back on my eating a bit. I don't want to weigh more than 180! I have been able to eat just about anything I want and also have been able to increase my portion size. I guess my stomach 'bulge' is redeveloping - I didn't think that would happen. I haven't had any problem swallowing. In fact, I stretched my throat this morning for the first time in about 10 days and it really didn't need stretching. Maybe all the food I am eating is keeping it open.

It has really been hot here, but what else is new around the USA! I think we had some 45 days when the temperature reached at least 90 degrees during June and July and now we are reaching as high as 105 with heat factors ranging up into the 115+ degrees with little relief in sight. I just went out and turned the hose on my plants and trees. I have to water the container plants twice a day and now I am watering my fig tree since the branches are drooping. The figs are now ripening and they are delicious! We have to fight the birds to get to them first. I am still picking peppers, tomatoes and some squash - The red, yellow and green peppers have been wonderful.

Okay, let's see if I can add some pictures without screwing everything up. I think I will save the above first since I'm never sure what will happen next with this blog--.

Well, that didn't work very well. I uploaded a bunch of pictures but they didn't appear here as planned. I will send this as is and then send a new blog with the pictures and more comments.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer---

Sunday - July 3, 2011 Gaudi's Garden

The above plants are called "4:00 o'clock." They open in the afternoon and close at night and during most of the day. Little black seeds form at the base of the flowers and they are spreading to other parts of my garden. I'm not sure if the birds scatter them of is they just self-seed.

These are Asian Lilies. I have various colors and they make good cut flowers. They come back every year and are multiplying.

I only have 2 tomato plants but you can see that they have really spread out. I think the variety is "Big Boy" but I'm not sure. We have been eating our tomatoes for a few weeks and there are a lot more on the plants. The trick is to pick them when they are ripe and before the birds get to them. So far, the tomatoes have been on the small size but they are very tasty.

This is mostly "catnip" and some flat leaf parsley. I bring a bunch of the catnip in the house and the cats get stoned on it. I plan to dry some when I get around to it.

I have 3 pepper plants, red, yellow and green. I have been picking peppers for a while now and the plants are still loaded. It takes a while before they change from green to red/yellow.

This picture shows a variety of flowers including Canna, Asian Lily's, Gladiolas, Papyrus, etc.

The bush in back of the fountain is a false Indigo plant. You can also see a few pots full of elephant ears plus various herbs along the wall including basil, sage, lavender and mint.

A close-up of the above with a small fig tree and peonies on the other side of the wall.

Annual hibiscus in the front (friends from Staunton, Il sent me this plant about 18 months ago and I have since divided it into 3 different pots. I bring them inside when it gets cold.) The two black pots to the left contain squash. The yellow flowers are day Lilies and the plants with the long thin leaves are Crinum lilies.

Close up of a Crinum lily bloom. I have several different kinds of Crinums in my garden and the flower stalk can get to 6 feet tall. The vine on the brick wall is Jasmine. It was covered with small white flowers this spring. The white flowers below are perennial hibiscus and to the right of this plant is a rose bush with a single red bloom.

It looks like I can't add any more pictures so I better wrap this up and try to send it. It has been very hot here during the entire month of June with 90 degree temperatures every day. I have to water the containers at least once a day and the other stuff gets watered at least every other day. The July forecast is for more of the same but there is some chance of rain next week.