My encounter with a tamarin

Okay, I know these shots aren't great because I had to have my flash off to take pictures through the plexiglass. The monkey was swatting at my "red-eye reduction" light from my camera, so I just kept taking pictures. It was fun!

Other primates

Sloth

My brother the spectator.

Tamarin

Hi, I will post the rest of the tamarin pictures Sunday, but here's a preview. I saw one like it on the Planet Earth show and got all excited. Once again, these are from the Lake Como Zoo in
St. Paul.

For BSG fans only

I'm not necessarily a Battle-Star Galactia fan (it comes on too late, I'm reading in bed by then), but wanted to make sure my MIL saw this. She's a lurker.

Go ahead; click on the white rectangle button with the black triangle in the middle of the screen to make it play.

Sister's grandkids

Here are the long-awaited pictures of my great-nephew whom I was able to see on my trip. I bet my sister has been looking everyday, wondering when I was going to post these.

Thought you'd like me to post these before the monkey pictures even though I was going to do it chronologically. So guess what I'm going to post tomorrow? Monkey/tamarin pictures!!!

In this first picture, my sister is in the background digging for worms for her grandson's first worm experience. (Mom: If you double-click on the pictures, they will get bigger.)







This last one's my sister's granddogger.

Administrative Professionals' Day

Just got an email saying today was Administrative Professionals' Day, reminding me to buy something for the administrative professional in my department (this was from the hospital's gift shop)...I don't know who that is. Is that what used to be called my director which used to be called my leader? I always liked calling her my "leader" and wanted to say "take me to your leader".

Is there still going to be Boss' Day?

EDIT: Oh, I guess it's the former Secretary's Day.

Observation

Isn't it interesting that your head feels so much bigger when you have a headache? It feels HUGE!

Tiarella and iris

The Tiarella or foam flower is blooming as well as the some iris.


"Our struggle is not about being forgiven, it's about feeling forgiven. Because we are so accustomed to a performance-based approach to forgiveness, it is difficult to feel forgiven for the damaging mistakes of the past."

This is from James Bryan Smith in the book "Embracing the Love of God", and I can relate.

In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8

Laughs

Here's my brother trying to imitate the statue at the McNeely Conservatory. My mom is one in purple, and my sister, Marcia, is the one in red.





The week in Minneapolis seemed like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. On Monday, my mom was elated they scheduled the surgery. On Wednesday after fasting half the day, the doctor called my mom to say the surgery would be postponed or possibly cancelled. On Thursday after having a CT angiogram, they did cancel the surgery. Mom was disappointed, but didn't let that ruin the day. These pictures were from that Thursday after we left the cancer center.

Thanks for all your prayers!

Many thanks!

Vern and my mom
Sue and Laura




My mom and I were so thankful that my sister's brother-in-law and his family let us stay at their house while we were in Minneapolis. Sue is actually a stay-at-home accountant, and it was her busiest week.

U of M

On Easter Monday, Mom had her CT scan after drinking her two bottles of barium. Then we ate and walked around the U of M while awaiting the results. We visited the McNamara Alumni Center. Bob Dylan went there. Then we walked down Scholars' Walk.

My mom was feeling pretty strong. I did feel guilty at first since my sisters took care of her while she was weak and sick from the chemo and I felt my job was easy just driving her here. She lost at least 20 pounds since the last time I saw her. I kept thinking, "Now my mom really is a 'little old lady'!" She's 72, so she doesn't mind being called old.

Clark's recipes

Check out my brother's recipes for his favorite ice cream. The AmeriCone Dream is 280 calories for 1/2 cup...hate to think of how many calories the cheesecake would be.

Back home

I'm back.

Quote

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
--Edmund Burke

Friday

My mom isn't having surgery because they discovered that an artery is involved, so we are going back to North Dakota today. She will start chemotherapy again on Monday. This will be a less aggressive regimen, and her hair should grow back. She will have a CT scan every two months to make sure the chemotherapy is still working.

Yesterday afternoon we (my mom, a brother, and a sister and I) did get to go to the McNeeley Conservatory and Zoo for a couple of hours after leaving the cancer center. There was a flower show with spring bulbs, and we got to see the primates! Will post pics when I get home.

Mom having surgery

Hello,

I'm in Minneapolis. My mom is elated that she is ready for surgery! She is scheduled to have a Whipple procedure on Thursday morning at 7:45 a.m. You're prayers would be much appreciated! At least one of my sisters is planning to come tomorrow from N.D., and the weather forecast isn't very good. My brother from Illinois is coming today.

I'll try to post when I can...Thanks.

New word for me

Verisimilitude: Probability. There is a high verisimilitude that these flowers will be wilted in a few days.

Immolate: To kill as a sacrificial victim.

These words were in the book A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael.

First lidded piece

This is the bottom (notice the crack in it at the top back part), but it was my first time creating a gallery. That's what the lid sits on.

The glaze is called Shimmering Red. Then I used some iron oxide on the edge of the lid. For some reason it's flaking. The piece is 6 inches tall.

Final Friday

Friday night, I thought I was going to experience two "firsts". The first time I would make it to the Final Friday gallery crawl and the first time I would ride a Wichita Trolley. Well, we got "dissed" by the trolley even though it was raining and Cody was glowing (see below pic) and their were at least 10 people waiting. It drove right past us.














There were ballerinas/ballerinos posing in case you wanted to create your own art (see below).









Notice Chanda's wet pant legs in this pic below.





A fun, wet time was had by all.

Thanks for organizing it, Ben and Mel!