Doctors, Dentists, and Hair salons

 

After three years in Princeton, we feel we have found the doctors, dentist and hair salon that we like.  And at our age, doctors and dentists and labs are definitely a big part of our lives.   I was hoping that we could say that we had no medical or dental appointments in June.  There were none on the calendar.  But then Jim had a filling fall out of one of his teeth on a Friday.  He called our dentist hoping that this problem would not be as complicated as his last emergency. (which involved oral surgery and several dental appointments) Dr. Brummell was able to see Jim on Monday and happily the filling was easily replaced--not cheaply replaced but in just one easy appointment.

I was dreading an appointment with my primary care provider this week and the follow-up blood work.  I had not lost weight as I had hoped nor had I exercised as much as I intended nor given up sweets and carbs to any great extent.  So how could I hope for and expect good news?  But the A1C number came back just a bit lower and I feel as if I have a reprieve for another four months.  The cholesterol numbers were higher but I assured the doctor when he asked that I was taking my statin every day.   We are going to double it and I hope that will bring those numbers down.  I am relieved to have a plan and to be doing something even if it means more pills.  And I am trying to get at least 5000 steps a day and because some of those are climbing the stairs to get to our apartment maybe there will be improvement.  There is so much that I cannot control but I can try to do better with diet and exercise.

I won't go into too much more detail on this blog but these health issues and appointments are such a big part of our lives that I want to record them for our Blog2Print book for 2022.  

Jim is more disciplined than I am about walking daily.  He does not need to lose weight.  We try to eat whole grains, vegetables and fruit.  We do not eat cured meats or sugary drinks.  I have a longer list of drugs to take; he has fewer pills but a regime of eye drops.  He has a regular rotation of specialists and sees a dermatologist, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist and urologist regularly with an occasional stop at the cardiologist.  I see the ophthalmologist once a year and my gynecologist regularly.  So we are keeping the medical establishments in business here in Princeton.  

It has taken time to find doctors we like and trust and that will take our insurance.  My first appointments with a primary care doctor here were very stressful for me but I have made a change within the practice and am far happier with the one I am seeing now--the first one and I were not a good match.  Dr. Sophocles, the gynecologist at the Women's Health Center, says I am "low maintenance" and I am very grateful for her care. 

And then there was the all important aspect of life in finding the right person to cut our hair.  I went to three places where the hair cuts were good enough but it was cash only and $95 for a cut and blow dry.  One other place was less expensive but the stylist did not speak English.  We now both get our hair cut by Francine who runs her own salon (Addicto Salon) just up the road in Kingston, charges $45 and does just fine.  Plus she takes a credit card!   Maybe that is not as important as a doctor or a dentist but a good hair cut is important for one's psyche and emotional well being. 

So three years after our big move, we have made progress and are thankful for the doctors we see and the pharmacy that provides our drugs.  We have a supply of Covid tests in the closet and have our Covid vaccinations.  We know where to go to get the anti-viral drugs if we need them.  We know how to get to the ER and have made a trial run but hope we won't need to make that trip again.  

Every Good Boy Does Fine

 

EGBDF are the notes on the lines of the treble staff and the reason for the title of Jeremy Denk's memoir about his life as a musician:  Every Good Boy Does Fine.

I am almost finished reading Denk's 350 plus page book which I borrowed from the Princeton Library.  It has a NEW sticker on it so I will return it soon so someone else can borrow it.  But it may be worth buying as an investment in my own Music Appreciation course--one I can enjoy from the couch in our living room--as long as I have my laptop close by.  Actually I would have to move to Jim's study so that I have more reliable internet access. 

Denk lists musical works at the beginning of each chapter and then proceeds to describe them and analyze them.  I have gone to YouTube and listened to several of them including a Schubert Impromptu and a Brahms Concerto for Cello and Piano.  I pulled out my tattered Well Tempered Clavichord and played Bach's Prelude in C Major, the first and the easiest prelude in the book--but with new ears and eyes after reading Denk's description of it.  I should do more of that careful listening but will need to do it over time and at my leisure.

I thought that I would like to listen to Denk himself play.  The first thing I found when I did a search was a great interview in which John Dickerson of CBS news sits near Denk at the piano and asks him questions about his book and his practicing.  Dickerson is smiling and so is Denk.  

Reading about Denk's teachers made me remember my teachers.  Over the years I have had three piano teachers not including my first teacher who was my dad.  I longed to have a "real teacher" but that was not something my parents felt they could afford until I was in middle school.  My teachers were kind to me unlike some of Denk's teachers who could be very demanding and even cruel.  I remember my high school piano teacher telling me to "think on each note."  Every single one?  That was mind boggling to me as I played from beginning to end without a great deal of thought.  My college teacher did not really encourage me to continue lessons with her after one year but suggested instead I read Copland's book  What to Listen for in Music.  She needed to invest her time in the students who were going to be majoring in piano. 

Also over the years I had three different organ teachers.  My first organ teacher was my high school choir director.  He could be a bit harsh.  I remember practicing all week on some piece and he commented, "You're sight-reading, of course?"  To his credit, he gave me a good start because the other teachers I had as an adult did not correct my technique.  I even signed up for harpsichord lessons at Notre Dame and decided it was a great experience that enriched my organ playing but I was never going to buy a harpsichord so ten lessons or so was enough.

Maybe I will meet Jeremy Denk as I see he is an American Academy of Arts and Sciences fellow and Jim will be initiated into the Academy next year.  If I do meet him, I will tell him that his book enriched my life.  

 I am also thinking what a remarkable thing this information age is.  I can sit in my apartment with my ASUS laptop--not a fancy tool at all--and I can listen to music and hear interviews and my world becomes a much bigger place than 508 Barclay Boulevard.  

A Mini-Vacation

We are spending two nights at Overlook Lodge in Bear Mountain State Park.  We checked in a bit early on Wednesday at 3:30 pm after an easy ride from Princeton--about two hours.  (taking 287 and 87) We ate an early dinner in the bar where I tried one of their specialty drinks--Spring Awakening.  That was so good that it made up for a chicken quesadilla that was not so good.  

We wondered why there were signs for a $5 charge for spectators in the parking lot.  We soon found out!  There was a huge car show with lots of wonderful vehicles from the 50s and 60s and some new models.  

It was a decent night of sleep (in spite of kids jumping in the room over us and dogs barking in the hall).  We had Keurig coffee and the cereal we brought along for breakfast.  I enjoyed mine on the deck looking out at the Hudson River. Jim enjoyed his in the room followed by his 30 minutes of Hebrew reading.

After breakfast we drove to the main parking lot and then walked past the Bear Mountain Inn where we had registered the previous day.  We walked along Hessian Lake and on to the path leading to the Hudson River Docks.  It was quite a long walk under the road (9W) and down past a pool and deserted train tracks finally to the river with a great view of Bear Mountain Bridge. 

 But all that walking downhill meant a long walk uphill.  Fortunately there were many benches along the way which were a very welcoming sight for me.  Jim is tougher than I am and I took advantage of his arm much of the time.

We stopped at the Inn to replenish our Keurig coffees for tomorrow morning and are now back in the room cooling off and relaxing.   

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Dan and Alex made the one hour journey from their home near Walkill to meet us for dinner at the 1915 Restaurant where we enjoyed good food and mostly good drinks and definitely good company for the evening.  (and a shared creme brulee for dessert--always a treat!) 

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This morning we tried to take 9W South home--hoping for a scenic ride along the Hudson.  But somehow we got directed to the Palisades Parkway which was nice enough but then to the NJ Turnpike past Newark which was just crowded and stressful. Jim stayed calm and drove defensively and well.  We reminded ourselves to avoid that route next time. 

 It is just a bit past noon and we are home and happy to be home.  It was a great mini-vacation with exercise, beautiful scenery, and time with family.  

Three Years in Princeton, New Jersey

Three years ago today we arrived in Princeton, New Jersey.  We stayed at the Homewood Suites for two weeks until we could move into Barclay Square Apartments.  We had planned to go out to eat anyway tonight but it seemed like an occasion for celebration so we enjoyed margaritas and good food at On the Border.

It is a time for reflection.  We had no idea that these three years would have brought cancer and covid into our lives.  The cancer has been treated and the last two years have shown good results for which we are very thankful.  Covid would have been a factor in Indiana but there has been greater precautions in public places here in New Jersey.   So far we have been spared.  

It has not been easy to find doctors and dentists and even hair stylists but we have settled into good people all around.  It has been a relief to be free of the burden of home ownership.  When it rains hard, we don't worry about a 500 year flood causing water damage.  When something goes wrong in our apartment, we put it on the "portal" and Adriano or Alonso comes in a very short time and cheerfully puts all in good order.  Our apartment is comfortable and spacious and the grounds are lovely. We enjoy walking along the paths.  Today's walk along the canal gave me a glimpse of the lovely heron we often see there.

And best of all, we see family often.  Cookouts, dance performances, choir concerts, holiday celebrations--even a wedding celebration--all within a three -hour drive--and often just a ten minute drive not a two day trip down I 80.  

We miss friends in South Bend and we miss our church family there.  But we do not regret our move and we will never have to purge the belongings we accumulated over the years again.  What will the next three years bring?  We do not know but we will try to be thankful for today in this lovely place with a loving family nearby.