Category Archives: Travel

Exercise and ears

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I have lost patience with everything. Last night I turned off NCIS in the middle; I didn't care if the whistle-blower got killed. I can't seem to plan a trip to Israel. This is a country I'm familiar with, although I haven't been there for 20 or 25 years. I don't know where to begin. How much worse than planning for Japan could it be? This morning I can't get through my blog list. I don't know if this is winter doldrums or my brain is finally going. I'm going to exercise. Maybe I'll be able to concentrate when I get back.

I got in a good workout, came back for lunch, then went to a hearing aid place. I've been putting this off for some time. They gave me a good hearing test, a sales pitch about new aids, and readjusted the old ones, now six or seven years old. I'll probably get new ones, soon, but I decided to think about it and also to see whether the adjustments helped. I really hate these aids because they block my entire ear canal. I always feel like I'm up in an airplane with stuffed ears. The new aids don't do that, and supposedly offer more options for better adjustment.

One of our dinner guests on Friday night thanked us for helping test his new hearing aids. He said they were great. I never realized he was wearing aids. He actively took part in the conversation and never asked anyone to repeat. I have to find out which aids he bought. They range in price from $6000 down to about $1500 for a pair. The audiologist thinks I should get the top of the line, of course. Considering I can hear most things without the aids, I am loathe to spend the money. There are so many other things I want.

Mage, thanks for your inquiry. I am feeling fine. If this was a cold, it hasn't lasted even the usual seven days.


Travel day

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The train ride in winter has a hypnotic quality–all the black tree trunks and branches against the white snow. The mountains stand out more; I tend to forget that Pennsylvania is so mountainous.The train was half hour late, not unexpected in the aftermath of a snowstorm. But they do seem to be maintaining it a little better. It was filled–every seat was sold for at least some part of the trip. The days of having two seats and lots of space are gone.

I didn't want to wait at the cab stand at Penn Station (it can be a very long wait) so I got on the subway and went to 53rd and 3rd, the only place with escalators to street level. No cabs were stopping there; at times as many as six people were trying to get a cab on that corner. Finally walked to 1st Ave., where I got one immediately.

Streets are relatively clean here, but corners are filled with dirty slush. There are big piles of plastic garbage bags waiting for pickup by trucks being used for street clearing. The joys of living in New York in winter, but I love it anyway.

Flying, or not, and listening

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I have a $250 certificate from United Airlines that will expire next month. This was my booby prize for that terrible trip home from Japan last year. I hate to let it fade away, so I've been trying to figure out some way to use it. Truth is I haven't wanted to get back on a plane. Our recent flight to Chicago was OK, but I think this was unusual luck. I have to complete the round trip before December 19. I'm still thinking about it, but the only way I can use the certificate from Pittsburgh is to make at least one plane change before I get to my destination. They won't let me use it on any non-stop flight. I can go to New York, making a stop in Chicago, or Atlanta. I just can't see doing that in December. It would probably be easier to drive. I'd like to go to New York before Christmas; I'll probably take the train. With any luck I'll never fly United again.

I often listen to podcasts of the Brian Lehrer show from WNYC in New York. Here he is interviewing Bernie Sanders, an Independent Senator from Vermont, who has sponsored a bill to deal with those "too big to fail" financial institutions, and also talks about our healthcare mess, including a unique take on the death panels. He's probably the most rational senator I've ever heard. Too bad there aren't more like him.

http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/mp3player.swf?config=http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/config_share.xml&file=http://www.wnyc.org/stream/xspf/144320

Pittsburgh and points west

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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planting in old purses

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

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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.

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

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Sweet home, Chicago

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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.

Last day in Door County

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We've had a wonderful time. Aside from my great book I haven't gotten much art work done, but have a few ideas for new projects. Yesterday, between showers, we discovered a beautiful garden called The Garden Door. I took some pictures. Then we returned today so the others could take photos. I was the only one with a camera yesterday.

I love watching the lake. It's almost hypnotic. It rained most of the day yesterday, and the lake kept changing colors. Also the wave patterns change and clouds are continually moving. No rain today, but lots of action on the lake. It really looks like the ocean.

Back to Chicago tomorrow to relatives and friends. I'll post pictures and more stories after I return to Pittsburgh.

Wisconsin week

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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.

Travel time again

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Yesterday Eli and I flew to New York. He will go on to Israel today; I will remain in Renee's empty apartment for another 10 days, then visit with Renee for a couple of days after she returns. We flew into JFK and took Airtrain and the subway into the city, which worked well. Unfortunately, I could never do it alone. There are just too many stairs. I would have a terrible time wrestling my bag up and down, even though it's quite small. Unlike Japan, where there is almost always a clearly marked escalator or elevator, the MTA believes all of its passengers need exercise.

I brought my photo transfers with me, particularly to work on during my train ride home, you know, the nine and a half hour Toonerville trolley ride. I thought I had something I liked, but now I'm thinking this will only be practice and I'll start all over again when I get home. It's a good thing the obi is 18 feet long, so I have lots of fabric to practice on.

I made the second transfer on paper using Liquitex Matte Medium. With this technique you let everything dry thoroughly then wet the back of the paper and carefully rub it off. I began the process Thursday night and didn't like it at all. Too much of the ink comes off with the paper, leaving only a faint image. I had trouble spreading the medium and felt that was the problem, so I went to an art supply store to see what else I might use. I was going to buy some kind of gel medium. The sales clerk and another woman in the store advised me that the best way to make the transfer was to get photo transfer paper.

I didn't want white showing in the photo background so I Photoshopped the photo with a gray background almost matching the obi fabric and trimmed the white border before ironing the transfer to adhere it. I seemed to have burned one spot on the background, didn't have a good technique for pulling the paper off, getting some funny marks, and tried to iron it from the back, accidentally removing a couple of bits of transfer. The thing that really bothers me is the burn mark. Also I hate the way it feels. I'll see how the stitching goes; maybe I can figure out some way to disguise the burn mark. There's always more obi fabric.