Cardio update

Posted on June 10, 2010 by ruthek

Wearing the monitor, last Thursday, nothing happened until early Friday morning. Then I was back in afib for the day, but it was never as bad as Wednesday had been. I went back to rehab and exercised in spite of the flutter. When I woke up Saturday morning, still fluttering, or fibbing as they call it, I took the old dose of my meds. By noon I was feeling good and have been fine ever since, even though I immediately went back to the reduced dose. I tried to ask the doctor about it, but his staff just told me to do what he had said and wait to hear from them. (Remember, he has the personality of a drill sergeant.)

I've been waiting all week; in fact, I'd pretty much given up. Since I was feeling good, I didn't care. Today was the big day–they finally called, not with an answer, but an order to come in again, possibly on June 29. Obviously, this is not an emergency. I made the appointment for July 6. I have a busy three weeks coming up and I won't let them spoil it.

Next week I'm taking that book making workshop at the Society for Contemporary Craft. Then the next day, Saturday, I'm driving to Chicago then on to Door County for another art camp. Back to Chicago the next week to visit with friends and relatives and attend a nephew's wedding. I'll get back here July 5. But I promise I'll post again before that.

St. Pat’s Day

Posted on March 17, 2010 by ruthek

In my reply to Mage's comment about spring I forgot to mention St. Patrick's Day in Chicago. While it's true that Chicago mostly went directly from winter to summer the exception was St. Patrick's Day. It could snow on March 16 and/or March 18, but March 17 was always beautiful. I was certain Mayor Daley (Richard J., not the current one) had an in with the god of weather. The parade always marched under blue skies. Now that they've moved the celebrations to the weekend before, I don't know what happened in Chicago. It was a cold, rainy day here. Today is beautiful.

You can see a great photo of the 'green' Chicago River here.

Phones

Posted on November 19, 2009 by ruthek

We are still looking at phones. I think Robin will get the Verizon Droid. We'd both like the iPhone but the AT&T network is the problem. We have a family plan and we think Eli and Charna would have problems in Chicago. Charna asked her friends who are on AT&T and didn't get favorable answers.

I still haven't decided what to do; get a smart phone or just a telephone phone and maybe another netbook. I gave the other one to Eli; I never loved it. I really appreciate the comments from Kathryn and Karen. They both make the iPhone more tempting. Verizon has a 30 day trial. I suppose I could do that then change to an ordinary phone if I find I have too much trouble reading on the small screen.

Me and Ayn Rand

Posted on November 5, 2009 by ruthek

This is the story I'm writing for my memoir class. I'm having fun with this after all.

I am embarrassed to confess the influence Ayn Rand has had
on my life, so I haven’t told this story often. I prefer to think it was all
because of Gary Cooper as Howard Roark.

Saturday afternoon was always movie time. There were five
theaters in walking distance, but we usually went to the Terminal, a Balaban
& Katz 1920’s picture palace, named after the elevated train terminus just
down the block. It was the best theater with almost first run features. That
day we were seeing The Fountainhead,
taken from Ayn Rand’s book of the same name, about an individualistic Frank
Lloyd Wright type architect who refuses to compromise his work or his ideals,
regardless of the money involved.

Sitting in the dark, totally enchanted by awesome Gary
Cooper and beautiful Patricia Neal, my unhappy, depressed 15 year old self, certain high school was a terrible compromise, totally bought into the idea
of taking action to be true to herself. By the time the movie finished I was so
excited and so convinced I had found a solution to my misery I couldn’t sit
through the second feature. I did not want to think about anything else as I
waited for my friends in the lobby.

Wanting desperately to be an artist, maybe even an
architect, the movie affected me deeply. I was convinced my life until then had
been a terrible compromise; I had to change things. I thought about all my
alternatives and realized there was only one that was acceptable: I could go on
to college after one more year of high school.
My friend Eva, whom I met in classes at the Art Institute,
went to U high, the laboratory school of the University of Chicago. From her I
learned U High was only two years and then students could go on to college at the university. Also, the university would accept students from any high school
after two years. Robert Maynard Hutchins, Chancellor of the university,
believed students didn’t learn anything in the last two years of high school. I felt I was a living
embodiment of his belief.

I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. First, I had to
convince my parents, who thought I was too young to go to college. Then, of
course I had to be accepted at the university. My high school teachers and
principal hated the university; I had trouble getting recommendations; Hutchins
arrows had hit their mark. Adding another layer of angst, Hutchins went before
one of the communist witch-hunting committees and defended his faculty,
assuring the committee that being a communist would not be grounds for the dismissal
of his professors. It was a very difficult year, but I prevailed. Three months
after my sixteenth birthday I went to college. I learned how to read critically and how to think. I did not become a communist. I met my husband there, our
daughter met her husband there and now both of my grandchildren are going
there. You can see that Ayn Rand and Gary Cooper certainly influenced my life.

Nostalgia time, again

Posted on October 26, 2009 by ruthek

Sometimes when I fly somewhere I feel like I've entered an altered reality. That's how I spent my weekend. Friday morning, too early, Steve, Robin and I flew to Chicago where we met Renee, who flew in from NYC, and went out to the university for parent's weekend. I spent most of the weekend thinking "it used to be this way" or "I was here when." I really don't like thinking this way, but the university was one of the good places from my past. It's easy for me to go there even though I had to keep telling myself to forget it.

We flew into Midway Airport, Chicago's first airport, unused for many years, now busy, bustling and unrecognizable for me. The first time I flew, in 1953, was from Midway. Those were the days when for entertainment you would park on 55th Street and watch the planes land. I flew to Los Angeles and spent 21 days with Aunt Flo and many other relatives, among them two of my mother's brothers. But that's another story.

Renee and I stayed downtown. There is almost no decent accommodation near the university. We got on a bus to go to the south side; again there was that sense of altered reality. I remember much of the south side of the city as a barren wasteland, destroyed by the urban renewal craze and further devastated by the riots after Martin Luther King's assassination. There are still some blighted areas, but much has been rebuilt. Not for the first time I was awed by new, good-looking buildings.

The bus ride added to my sense of altered reality. Chicago is still a segregated city. We had the only white faces on the bus, and the only white faces we saw until we arrived at the university. Although the bus was not crowded that anonymous, recorded voice kept telling the nonexistent people to move to the back of the bus. I don't want to give the impression Chicago is completely segregated. I think it's possible for African Americans to live where they want and where they can afford. At least I hope so. It seems like it's us, white people (Chicagoans) who don't want to live with them. Pittsburgh is supposed to be equally segregated, but I live in an integrated neighborhood and I enjoy it.

We went to a reception in Charna's dorm at the resident master's apartment. Both the dorm and the apartment were much better than any place either Robin or I lived. My only perk was maid service; Robin had no perks that I could see. We all went out for dinner at a Mexican vegetarian restaurant in another Chicago ghetto neighborhood. Saturday, more disorienting bus riding, then Humanities Day with a full schedule of classes we could attend (keep us out of the kids' hair). Saturday night dinner at Cedars, a Mediterranean place in a shopping center that replaced the building (and many others) R and I lived in when we were first married. I told this to Charna, then realized how silly I was. She couldn't possibly care about something that probably hasn't existed for forty years.

Sunday, Renee and I went to dim sum in Chinatown with Betty, another nostalgia trip; Betty and I, and our spouses did this often. We went back to the university and hung out until it was time to go to the airport. Now it's like it never happened.

Pittsburgh and points west

Posted on August 31, 2009 by ruthek

I went downtown to the scene of my terrible accident and found it all changed. I had this terrible dislocated feeling: was I dreaming; did I dream my fall; how did they manage to totally change the area in slightly over a month? I know I didn't dream it. I have the bills to prove it: $50 copay for the ER, $25 copay for the plastic surgeon, badly scratched glasses for probably another $225, finally a notice that I will have a $100 copay for the ambulance. That's what motivated my trip downtown. I want to threaten to sue the city for their bumpy sidewalk. I wanted evidence of the bump. Alas, the sidewalk is completely torn up and now sits behind Jersey barriers and a wire fence. Here's a Google satellite photo showing the area where I fell. It's not an ordinary corner; I could not have mistaken it for another place. The red arrow marks the spot. I tripped on the red brick paving. I was heading toward the busway. You can't get there today. It's completely blocked off and a small sign directs you to another corner to get the bus.

On to better things–I'm still cleaning up the details from the Chicago trip. Finally looked at my photos; I'm not too happy. On my first weekend I stayed on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. That weekend was the air and water show. We could see it from the apartment. Sunday the weather wasn't very good, but Saturday was beautiful. There were lots of boats, many sailboats, anchored out in the lake around the harbor. The beach at North Avenue was so full I don't think another person could fit there. We didn't stay for the show but went down to the Art Institute. The first thing we saw was a 21st century lemonade stand: bottled water and cookies. I think the kids were doing a great business. We saw a wonderful show of gilded Japanese folding screens, then looked at the newly opened modern wing and walked on the connecting bridge to Millennium Park. Here is a marvelous fountain where children play. It reminds me of the Art Institute's famous Seurat: A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. This is Saturday on Michigan Avenue.

On Sunday we came back down to the Cultural Center where we attended an opening for several of my artists friends and saw a show of contemporary Chinese art.

Monday through Saturday we were up in Door County in a wonderful house on Lake Michigan. Our hostess, Anita, made us very much at home and always had wonderful things for us to look at while we ate all her great food. Here's one of her great table settings. Raja has more, and some wonderful pictures of our trip, including the Garden Door and the lake.

My photos of the Garden Door were mostly details: water drops on a spider web;

the lotus pond;

planting in old purses

I forgot what this is, but I like the look of it against the sky.

Sitting at that dining room table I spent lots of time looking at reflections. The water is behind me but there it is in the glass. On a day the waves were high it looked like the water was flowing around the trees.

On our last morning the lake was gray and dull; sad we were leav
ing.

Shopping, again

Posted on August 25, 2009 by ruthek

Everything changes, but still it remains the same. I'm staying with a cousin, about a half mile from the Old Orchard Shopping Center. For seventeen years, while Robin was growing up, we lived about a mile from Old Orchard. It's a much different place today, more shops, less class, but well within my comfort zone. I went there this morning and bought three more pairs of pants, size 16. Whoopee!

I always feel like I should know people when I walk around here. After all, I lived in and around Chicago for 61 years. I search the faces of all the old women knowing full well recognition is unlikely, but always hoping for the magic of a familiar face. It was not to be.

My cousin's wife is related to a man who briefly worked for Richard thirty plus years ago. He happened to be in Chicago and came here tonight. So that was today's nostalgia.

Sweet home, Chicago

Posted on August 24, 2009 by ruthek

I said I was always a bit nostalgic here. It's bad this time. The weather is fine, the city is beautiful, everything seems great. I know it's no better than Pittsburgh and I would be very lonely without Robin and Steve. Actually, I've already seen all of my cousins except for one who is scheduled for tomorrow night. I'm not sure what I'll do on Wednesday, which is supposed to be my last day. There is certainly more to see and do, just nothing that seems pressing.

I got quite a few comments on my healthcare post. I'm pleased so many people came to read it. I'll try to answer some of the comments as soon as I return home. While I'm traveling I've been working on a variety of computers, mostly very slow. Sometimes keeping the blog is agony, like right now.

As I drove to Chicago I was listening to a book on CDs written by a guy who sold fake Salvador Dalis. Of course, the whole thing was about money. Finally, somewhere near the far end of Ohio all that money talk penetrated my consciousness and I realized I had forgotten money. I took $400 from the ATM machine Tuesday before I left and put it away at home. So there I was, no ATM card, no pin number for my charge card and $60 in cash, $10 of which would be promptly paid to the Ohio toll road people. I started thinking about which of my relatives I would hit up for cash, but it wasn't necessary. I charged gas and restaurants on the Door County part of the trip and my companions paid me in cash. I shouldn't have any trouble getting back to Pittsburgh.

On one of my first driving trips to from Chicago to New York we were stopped by a state trooper on our return trip. I don't remember whether it was in Indiana or Ohio, but it was a scam. We looked very young and he had us. Hauled us off the road to a justice of the peace who wanted $50–a huge sum in 1955. With four of us in the car we had only $35 all together, and he took it. We had to stop for gas and something to eat and forced the gas station to take a check. By the time we got back to Chicago we were down to 88 cents, less than a quarter of a tank of gas and one tire that needed repairs. I haven't thought about that in many years.

Wisconsin week

Posted on August 17, 2009 by ruthek

Arrived in Door County about four this afternoon. Overcast with slight rain all the way, making for an easier trip than bright sunshine. Anita welcomed us with wine and cheese, a wonderful dinner, then a short studio session for show and tell with a little brain storming. Brains not working too well after all the driving and wine; tomorrow is another day.

I owe at least two posts, which you may, or may not get: nostalgia for Chicago and what I forgot then remembered as I approached Indiana; visiting with Betty and a trip to the Art Institute. I'll try to get it all in, but it's hard to be sociable and still think about the computer.

I'm going to try my best to get a post ready for Thursday to add to Ronni Bennett's Elders for Healthcare Reform Day. If you don't know about it, read her post here.

Busy, busy

Posted on August 12, 2009 by ruthek

I'm driving to Chicago on Friday. I was hoping to have the Japan book to take with me, but it's not to be. I started to print it out and, as with the China book, was dissatisfied with the photos. Finally decided I would get a new printer, probably an Epson. I couldn't find it for sale here in Pittsburgh so I'll wait until I return from Chicago to get it and print out. In the meantime I've been working on the cover. At least I should be able to bring that with me. The French knots are all finished; it looks good. Now I have to make it into book cloth.

Lessons I've learned so far: probably not a good idea to put a photo transfer on silk. Some of it didn't adhere properly. Making it into book cloth, adhering tissue paper with some kind of stiffener like Heat Bond or Wonder Under should probably be done first. I haven't done it yet and I'm afraid I'll remove part of the photo. I tried it on another piece of the silk without the photo and it worked wonderfully. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I'll be in Chicago for two weeks. Actually one week in Chicago and one week in Door County, Wisconsin for another "art camp" with four artist friends. I should have some computer access part of the time. I'll try to keep in touch.

100 Books Before I Die

Ruthe Karlin

Category Archives: Chicago