Author Archives: ruthek

Exercise–body and mind

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I just returned from the second half of my exercise program. When I went yesterday I started to get a twinge in that bad muscle as I got halfway through the treadmill portion. I managed 10 minutes on the rowing machine then did my upper body exercises and went home. I didn't want another three days of limping. Today I finished the treadmill, the elliptical and the leg machine exercises. Wednesday I'll go back to the whole routine.

Steve read my paper yesterday and made some really helpful suggestions, so I've spent most of the day making revisions. I just have a little more to do, but this is my low time of day so it may not get done until tomorrow morning.

Here is a picture of the finished folded book, along with a detail. I don't love it, but I love the idea. I'll try again.

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I curled the end papers, capped them with empty silkworm cocoons, fastened them down with bone beads and glued feathers over the scroll shape. Cocoons and feathers were supplied at the workshop. The workshop teacher did some elaborate embellishments, but I guess I'm more into form.


Christmas wrap…. up

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Hope everyone has a great holiday and a wonderful new year. We had our usual Shabat dinner last night, but it was extra special because good friends joined us and Charna was there. She always makes it special.

I lost the limp today and my leg seems to have regained a full range of motion. I still have some twinges so decided not to go to exercise today. Tomorrow, I promise. (I've said that for two days now.)

The paper is finished. I brought a copy for Steve to read and hope Charna will read it also. (Robin, too, if she wants) As soon as I hear from them, I'll post it. I'm happy to have it off my plate.

I've made a tentative reservation to go to Japan in March. I want to make a few changes, then I'll get the ticket.

Next up: back to the folded book.

Never complain about boredom

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Last night, after writing about having nothing on the calendar, and after doing more work on the paper, I stood up from my chair and one of the muscles behind my left knee spasmed; I could barely walk. I'm still in pain and barely walking today. It's given me a lot to think about–mostly about how fast you can go from great to terrible.

I was feeling wonderful yesterday. I walked down to Squirrel Hill (about 2 miles) and still felt wonderful. Of course that my have been the cause; it was a cold walk. So, today will be the first time in months I break my exercise routine. If I can get there tomorrow, it won't be too bad.

I'm writing this in bed with my feet up, hoping some of the swelling will go down. This has never been a comfortable position for me so I'll see how long it lasts. Years ago I read a story about someone  staying in bed and working; telephone and coffeepot on a table next to the bed; small refrigerator nearby; you get the picture. Actually, this was before computers, so I guess it was just pencil and paper. It sounded good to me, but I never got there. Bed was always for sleeping or sex, nothing more.

Nothing on the calendar

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No blood test; no exercise (that was yesterday); no Christmas parties (not my holiday): nothing left but to finish that paper. I don't think I've ever worked so hard to get my ideas focused and into words. Most of it is finished; just the conclusion, pictures and captions, and a thorough rereading and editing. I should be able to get it posted before the end of the year. I guess my master's thesis was more work, but it didn't mean as much to me; I'm not sure my ideas were well focused; it was eight  years ago.

This is the time of year to look back. I started writing this blog five years ago–I'm rereading those early entries. Amazing how little has changed; exercise is still my number one obsession, but I've become more religious about it. Japanese art has been important through all five years–my first class was January 2006. I wrote a paper for that class, also.

Went back to Phipps yesterday, about 4 pm, so there was still some daylight along with the garden lights. Haven't looked at the pictures yet. It's after 10 am. Unusual for me, I'm still not dressed. I'll start rereading the paper, get dressed, write the conclusion, or go for a walk to think and then write the conclusion. That's today's agenda.

Phipps Conservatory

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Phipps is one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh, second only to the tunnel under the convention center. They are open until 10 at night every night this month (Christmas excepted, I think). Last night Robin, Steve, Charna and I went to see what it looked like. We were charmed. I took a few pictures, but I want to return, alone for better picture taking, at dusk. I'd like a little outside light with all the other lights.

Some of the areas were a little spooky. There weren't many other people and it was very quiet. Here is a staghorn fern. (I think it would benefit from a little adjusting in Photoshop. Maybe tomorrow.)

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This huge tree is amazingly beautiful. My photo doesn't do it justice.

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Most of the rooms had holiday displays; this one is entirely devoted to the holiday.

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With just a little Pittsburgh kitsch. That's a melting snowman in front of the plastic flamingos.

You can take an online tour of Phipps here, and read about their trip to India to prepare for the next tropical forest exhibit. 

I passed, from fifth to sixth to seventh grade

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to eighth grade, then passed into high school, etc. When I die, I will die, I WILL NOT PASS. I don't understand this nonsense about passing. I just heard Joe Klein, who writes for Time, talk about when Richard Holbrooke "passed." Not the first time I've heard this on NPR and not the first time it has annoyed me. Somehow I expect better from them.

Why are we so afraid to say "death," or "died?" Or are we implying that people have passed to another reality? another dimension? Or am I just being obtuse in not understanding we think they passed on to heaven? Or failed, if you went to hell? 

I think language is important. Death is a part of life. Not being able to acknowledge it, distorts our understanding of life. When the time comes I shall die; I shall not pass.

Missed deadline

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I'm still writing the paper; this will probably go on until Christmas, or maybe New Years. The due date, last Thursday, was for the students getting a grade. Since I will get no grade it doesn't really matter. I spoke to my professor and she will read the paper whenever. She's very good to me.

The tooth extraction was relatively trivial. I'm healing well. But it had all kinds of other implications. I've been on an antibiotic for four weeks. That's a killer all by itself. The antibiotic affects the blood thinner I take. I don't remember how many blood tests I've had to endure, or how many more until it all gets straightened out. Nothing is ever simple these days.

I've been wanting to tell about Eli. He and Charna and his gf drove in from Chicago for Thanksgiving. We had a lovely dinner, then, Friday morning, Eli and gf, Adele, drove to her home where her sister would be coming out at a cotillion on Friday night. Eli and Adele had to dress for the party; they looked beautiful. Adele could wear rags and look beautiful. My grandson, of the torn jeans (rags) wore white tie and tails. Amazing how well he cleans up.

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This kind of society stuff is way beyond anything I was ever exposed to. My most interesting foray into high society came when we went to a wedding (or party, I don't remember) at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. We had Aunt Ev (one of my ex's wealthier relatives) with us in our somewhat beat up VW beetle. The doorman wanted to ignore us, but she got out of the car in her sable (really) jacket and told him to take the car from us. He did. It was probably forty years ago, but I still remember it vividly and with pleasure.

Back to the paper. I'm about half finished. It's hard for me to know when to stop doing research. Makes the whole thing longer.

 

One less tooth

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This is the first tooth I've lost since I had to have four pulled for braces when I was a kid. The thought of losing it bothers me much more than the reality, although I'm still numb. I'm writing this in the twenty minutes off of the icepack (a bag of frozen peas). I haven't been bleeding very much yet, but I'll have to see what happens when the numbness wears off and I can try to eat. Didn't eat much breakfast this morning. I'm getting hungry but I can't figure out how to eat. I could probably go for days without eating and it wouldn't do any harm.

I'm still struggling with the paper, but I've made great strides. I kept writing around the point of it, because I wasn't sure what the point was. I think I finally got it. I hope to have it done by Thursday, but the icepack doesn't help.

I am taking time this morning to catch up with everyone else's blog. In my next twenty minutes off the icepack I'll write some comments.

Dear Alice and Mage

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I'm OK. I've been working on the paper, and of course, this is the time life catches up with you. Nothing terrible–Just my first tooth extraction since I was a kid. It will happen next week. In the meantime, I'm on antibiotics and they're not kind to me. Don't ask what happens.

We had Thanksgiving at Robin and Steve's. Charna, Eli and Eli's friend Adele, came from Chicago, Steve's mother, Renee, came from New York, and my two Chinese students (and one's wife) joined us. I have pictures and stories but that will wait until after the paper is finished, I hope before the tooth goes. Thanks for your concern and hugs to you both.