Blog Articles by Month: September 2008

Thoughts of History and Hats: My Unlce Poul and Lessons on Nuance

Updated September 5, 2021 For several years, my uncle Poul — my mother’s brother — came to visit once a year. And it’s always fun. He has a seemingly inexhaustible store of really bad jokes…. hang on, here’s my favourite. It’s better told in person, so feel free to spread it around: You ask the innocent victim…

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An Interview with Mea McNeil: Seeing Clearly

Some time ago, I spoke to a very interesting woman. The post with the interview is up at healthCentral: ‘”I had to stop cold in order to wake up.” M.E.A. McNeil, author of The First Year – Rheumatoid Arthritis: an Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed speaks of the RA flare that trapped her in…

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Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight

Before I start with the main post, I’d like to hijack this forum for something important. My dear friend and adopted cousin (perhaps sister, we’re fuzzy on the details) Beth is very sick, fighting her way through a medical establishment that seems determined not to help and bent double under the crippling costs involved when…

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Poul & Tink Weekend

My uncle Poul is here for his annual visit – well, we skipped last year due to mor (my mother) being busy healing broken ankles, so this visit is even more special. I hope that when I’m Poul’s age (85), I’ll be half as active and globetrotting. Come to think of it, being half as…

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Weathered Planks

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Notes from the Swamp

I’m writing this from the bottom of Lake Ontario. The swampy part. Sounds weird? Allow me to explain… This weekend, the remnants of hurricane Ike came up this way, with cloudy skies and rain and when it wasn’t raining, it was building up to the rain. And then building up some more, saturating the air…

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In the Wind

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The Wire

For a while, I’ve been vaguely aware of The Wire and of it being touted as a fantastic show, but it was on HBO and HBO shows are broadcast only on TMN up here and I’m too cheap to get that. Also, I rarely rent series – again motivated by the cheap part of me…

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Verdant

It rained again yesterday. A quiet rain, falling on and off, making the streets glisten under cloudy skies. It looked like fall had come early, sidewalks dotted with umbrellas and those who didn’t have shelter sprinting down the street. It’s been a summer of rain, feels like thunderstorms rolled in almost every day, dumping buckets…

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A Beginner’s Guide to Side Effects

My latest post is up on HealthCentral: “The average person farts about 14 times a day. If you are on a medication for RA, you can probably double that.” Which may explain why I’m so damn longwinded? Anyway! The rest of the post is here.

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*Pop!*

It’s been kind of rough lately around here. A busy year, an even busier summer and on top of all the busy, I’ve done battle with my blasted shoulder since January and I am sick to death of it. Because it seems to be neverending and every time I get a little ahead, something will…

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A Revelation, A Question and A Winner

I had to get to 46 (see? No age-related issues now) before I realized I look good in a tiara. This could be important to know in case I become royalty at some point. Birthday lunch with mor, Michele and her wonderful “boys” – Scott on the left and Jason on the right (I held…

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