Point Made

 It appears there is a tradition in the radiology department at Ascension Hospital that patients, upon completing their course of treatment, ring a bell. ( We know not for whom this bell tolls.) Ring the Bell with My Sweetheart Jeanne. Jeanne drove me to all but two of the appointments. Pam Frautchi took me to the other two. Today, after being zapped thirty-two times, I rang the bell. This begins a roughly one-month recovery period where the effects of the radiation abate and, I'm assured, a return to normalcy occurs. In my case, I anticipate more energy and greater awareness. Books, Books, & More Books I am simultaneously celebrating the end of the third year of volunteering for the All Saints Hunger Book Sale. Next week, we will wrap up the preparation for the sale and open our doors on August 3 for the public. I ran into this humourous but quite accurate cartoon on a T-Shirt that shows most of the volunteer's sentiments at this point. If you think the printed and bound p...

 My radiation treatments will be finished by July 28th. Aside from the anticipated fatigue and numerous bathroom visits, the side effects have been minimal. I will have a break for a month. When we resume treatment in September, it will be immunization therapy. By then, we will have a progress report from Radiation Therapy, as I will be getting an MRI today. On The Easel Bird On A Flower Pastel 9x 12 Question : One of the most asked questions this week in Milwaukee is why are the Blue Angels flying around the lakeshore. Answer : Like most Eastside residents and visitors, they are looking for a parking spot. Movie Choice : I said I wouldn't, but now I'm going to anyway. We are not going to double feature watch Barbinheimer. We will watch them on separate days. But watch them we will. However, my no-Tom Cruise vow is intact. Tony Bennet I 'm very sad that Tony Bennet has passed away. As a singer and artist, he was an outstanding performer. My good friend Anne Wilde gave me a ...

  On The Easel: Lady On A Train Pastel 12 & 16 Ref: E. Hopper Buck Moon Pastel 9 x 12 Ref: Photo by M. Desisti Update On My Health: As the radiation treatment continues, my ability to stay focused and endurance fade. My energy level is significantly lower than before the treatments. While I seem to paint and sketch, I am losing some inspiration to write. It's scary, but I've been assured it's only temporary. The caution here is no one wants to commit to how long it will be before I recover. I'm seeing my Primary to find out why this vicious cough and chest pain persists. It is a gift, I believe, from our friends to the north when they supplied the smoke and debris from their wildfires.  Lake Park Concert: Jeanne and I ventured out last Monday evening to the opening of the Lake Park Concert series. The Steely Dan Tribute band, Black Cow, performed. It was a beautiful evening and an appreciative crowd.  I remarked that thought their guitarist was exceptional, only to ...

Report from The One Hundred and Twenty Days of Possible Good Weather In Wisconsin  Gradually but consistently, the dew point temperatures are getting higher. That means that the percentage of humidity is increasing into the uncomfortable environs of what is referred to as the muggys. When the dew point is n the sixties, we feel sticky, and the damp air seems to suck the energy out of us, to say nothing of the perspiration. On the Easel I did This self-selected arrangement of leaves and a flower for practice. I'm happy working with pastels, but I have much to learn. Mountain View Pastel 9 x 12 Here, I practiced different application, blending, and color selection techniques. The first sign of stress with my new love. Jeanne and her family are diehard, dedicated Milwaukee Brewer fans. I, for many years, hoped for the Chicago Cubs. ( Note: I said I hoped.) I picked up the habit many years ago while traveling the state of Wisconsin; I followed the lovable losers on WGN radio.  I ...