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.  

Life with a Ten-Year-Old

 Our granddaughter came to visit for two nights and one full day.  It was a joy to have her here.  We had hoped to have a dinner at On the Border with both of our granddaughters--but the older one sadly developed Covid.  This was a great disappointment for Grandpa and Grandma and the younger one.  But it did mean that R was able to eat pasta for lunch and for supper--one of her favorite foods.

We had wondered how we would entertain R.  We had a large container of wine corks for crafts.  I had researched some ideas on Pinterest.  We inquired about getting her a pass to swim in our apartment pool. And we knew R would have ideas of her own.

It rained much of the day so swimming was not an option.  R made three cork families as a gift for her little brother. So who needs Pinterest?  She wanted to make a bunny cake for him too.  Amazingly as soon as he saw us on Sunday, he said "bunny cake" as he remembered a highlight of our Easter visit.  So we put together the two circle pans in preparation for finishing them up with his supervision today when we brought her home.

Two grandchildren and
a friend

A highlight of our time together was our Dollar Tree visit.  We gave R $5 to spend as she wished and that took some serious shopping time and decisions.  Her first choice was a Get Well card for her nanny who had just broken her foot. I thought that was so dear of her.  She had been very concerned about her nanny.  She bought some candy and a pretty creepy looking doll head with hair that could be styled.  As the Dollar Tree's prices are now all $1.25 that almost was enough.  Plus her grandpa and grandma thought maybe a time limit on shopping was advised!  We gave her a bit of change for the tax and that created a topic for conversation on the way home.  What are taxes?  What are they for?  

Another query R had was about our financial status.  If we were no longer working and getting paychecks, how were we paying for things?  So we tried to explain social security, pensions, and savings and assured her we were doing just fine.  We were not broke and had all we wanted and more.

We watch CBS Evening News almost every night but decided we were not wanting to watch it with a ten year old.  We did not want to see the violence of shootings or the war in Ukraine or try to explain "reproductive freedom" to a child.  

It caused great amusement when I called her by her older cousin's name at least four times.  It was just stuck in my head.  Jim said he did it once too.  It was a great visit and we are so grateful for a loving precious granddaughter.  

January 6 Select Committee Hearings I-V

 

Men from the
Attorney General's 
office

There will be no hearing today--and no more in June.  There should be a few more in July after the committee of legislators does its groundwork.  The five hearings have been surprisingly dramatic.  I expected to be bored and I was not.  I feel like  withdrawal is taking place for me today--I am looking for my adrenaline fix of another hearing! 

The hearings have been  conducted in a sober, restrained fashion. However, they were choreographed like a TV documentary with live interviews interspersed with videotaped ones. There were no representatives trying to speak over others or to argue points.  The main reason for this is probably because Kevin McCarthy wanted Republicans to boycott the committee so the only two Republicans on it were Representatives Kinsinger and Cheney, both of whom voted to impeach Donald Trump.  Both of whom have been called RINOs, Republicans in Name Only.  So there is no cross-examination of witnesses.  But that is the choice McCarthy made. 

The focus of the hearings is to show that Donald Trump was told by his aides and others and knew that he had lost the election but went ahead with any means possible to gain a second term anyway. Some are calling it an attempted coup.   Almost every witness (and they all solemnly swore an oath not to commit perjury) was a Republican--from a conservative Judge Luttig to an aide to Vice-President Pence to Attorney Generals and acting Attorney Generals (Engel, Rosen, Donoghue) appointed by Trump himself.  Some witnesses referred to their days starting with prayer or getting a call from the White House when in the driveway after returning from church.  One quoted Ronald Reagan in his testimony.  One said he wanted Trump to win but could not break his oath to the Constitution to make that possible.  These were not so-called liberal Democrats!  There was dramatic footage of the January 6 insurrection with rioters looking for Vice President Mike Pence shouting "Hang Mike Pence." Two black election workers from Georgia emotionally recounted that Trump targeted them by name (Lady Ruby Freeman and her daughter) and caused danger for them.  

The committee does not have the ability or mandate to indict anyone.  They hope to create a report that will prevent such an insurrection from ever happening again and to clarify the electoral college process so that no one is tempted to think that one person, namely the vice-president, can do anything but record the certified electors.  The Department of Justice has asked to see the transcripts of all the interviews and it is their job to bring indictments.  

These hearings are such an important story but they were completely usurped in tonight's newscasts by the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe vs. Wade today.  

Not Just in My Little World

I have been writing about our day to day life, our family events, and my reading--which takes up too much of my time.  But so much is happening in the world beyond our apartment walls and it is disturbing and sad and should be recorded.  

Covid continues to be a factor in life.  Our son related that his office mate tested positive.  Our grandson came home from a high school trip in which a few classmates and a staff member tested positive.  Inflation is at record highs which may have many causes but one is certainly covid supply chain issues.  We continue to wear our masks in public.  

The war in Ukraine has gone on for over 100 days.  It shows no sign of ending soon and the fear is of escalation.  Ukraine is begging for more weapons.  If there are more provided that threaten Russia, how will Russia retaliate?  The sad thing is that the horrors of war are not even the lead stories lately. People in Ukraine are suffering so much loss. 

The lead stories have been the unbelievable gun violence in many places. One of the worst was the supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York which was racially motivated.  And then with even worse carnage, 19 children and 2 teachers were killed in a 4th grade classroom in Uvalde, Texas--a name that will live in infamy like Sandy Hook or Columbine.  There are some signs that Congress will pass minimal gun safety laws--laws that could have saved lives if passed long ago.

And then there are the January 6 hearings televised this week with 20 million viewers for the first one during prime time.  This morning there was another at 10 am and there will be several more.  The Congressional panel called on several members of Donald Trump's staff to show that he was told emphatically that he had lost the election. He however continued to say he won and to encourage the violence of the insurrection we witnessed on January 6. When I despair about the future of our democracy, I try to remember that in the wee hours of January 7, Joseph Biden was confirmed as our next president by Congress and a courageous and bold Mike Pence, the vice-president in charge,  and that he was inaugurated on January 20 without incident.  

 The point of these hearings is to ensure that such an attempted coup will never happen again.  Whether criminal charges for people in government will ensue is uncertain.  Hundreds have been indicted among the rioters and some have pleaded guilty.   Others are being tried in jury or bench trials.  Some nominees for offices are still looking for Trump's endorsement and are continuing to say the election of President Biden was stolen.  Hearing Trump's Attorney General Bill Barr say that he told then President Trump that his saying he won was nonsense--actually he put it more forcefully in graphic, crass language-- has been so honest and revealing.