rajafacesbothways

The Other Big C--Chicago

Arrived safely at friend, Kathryn's house in Evanston, after swinging by Trader Joe's for my meds--dark chocolate and cheap wine. If I'm going to be a care provider next week, I need to be pleasant.

Tomorrow will be spent at the hospital with a band of  her supporters while the physicians do their magic, and I'll be staying with daughter Karen until Kathryn gets released to come home. I'm about the least medically savvy person around so medical updates may be a bit ragged.

The Big C

Yesterday friend Juilee and I were invited by Steve Hockensmith to the CofC after-work meeting at his studio. Although we are not members, we won two of the three door prizes. Having won at the track last week, I'm hoping to bring that luck with me when I drive to Chicago tomorrow to be with a daughter-like friend who is undergoing surgery.

She is having an M&M--my term for a double mastectomy. Nothing like having to go all out for Breast Cancer Awareness Week. Surgery is scheduled for Friday morning. I'll stay with her until returning here on Mothers Day.

We always have fun and lots of laughs whenever we are together. Okay. This will be a real test, but I know we will rise to the occasion. She's making a truce with her body before a war can take place. Obviously I am about the least medical savvy person around but if any can turn this experience into a relatively good time, we will do it.

I'll be able to keep you updated, so don't abandoned us now!

A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines--A Review

A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines by Janna Levin (2006) is a strange and compelling story of two prominent 20th C. scientists. Alan Turing, British, the brilliant breaker of the Nazis code that helped cut short WW2, is often considered the creator of the computer. And Kurt Godel (Austria) the greatest logician of many centuries; a mathematical genius who worked with Einstein  at Princeton.

Both men were geniuses with a passion for the unseen. Their scientific discoveries changed the world but each was lost in their own private worlds--brilliant but troubled by social ineptness. Godel's psychotic delusions and phobias lead him to die of starvation. Turing's punishment by society for his homosexuality caused him to commit suicide.

The biographical novel is a testament to ideas, to truth, to logic and free will. Levin's background, a PHD in physics from MIT, a Fellow at Cambridge University in applied math and Theoretical Physics, qualifies her for a deep understanding of her subjects.

I devoured this excellent, insightful book. It is so rich in ideas that I will reread it again soon.

Looking For Direction

The opening exhibition on Friday went very well. Guests seemed sincerely interested in the IR technique--now that it's history--at least on film.

So--I'm looking for new direction. Starting on my rooftop.

Looking south---

 

Looking east---

 

Looking west----

And looking north---

Infrared's Last Stand?

Working the Rolex

Volunteering at the three-day Rolex competition (dressage, cross-country, stadium jumping) is a fun opportunity to see some of the most athletic and beautiful horses and meet visitors from all over the world.  I'm always amazed how many are obsessed with horses.

Moving people from parking to stadiums is like speed dating events where participants spend five minutes together and move on. Only this takes place in golf carts. I met people from Connecticut to Australia. Had a brief chat with a writer and a photographer from Southern Living magazine, here to do a story on the upcoming World Games and a couple from New Zealand who brought along three horses to compete.

I can't imagine speed dating being that interesting, unless you're focused on horsing around.

Never Bet on a Dead Horse

Went to Keenland Track and made a little money by betting across the board on a couple of races. A beautiful day at the track--unfortunately the last horse I bet on dropped dead near the finish line, a sad ending to a beautiful thoroughbred. I know this happens occasionally--but this is the first time I have ever bet on a dead horse.

They're at the post----

And they're off!!

The Women--A (Brief) Review

T.C. Boyle, one of my favorite writers of modern fiction, relates the story of Frank Lloyd Wright's scandal-ridden love life through the point of view of the four most important women in his life. The Women--the narrative written in revere chronological order--reveals much about the man through his relationships with them instead of examining his genius in architecture. And it is also a fascinating history of Taliesin, his dream house and studio near Spring Green, WI.

Extremely well written, I recommend this to anyone curious about Wright and his time. To sum his genius up I refer to a quote I've seen elsewhere about other artists:

The creative process has a lot to do with faith and nothing to do with virtue.

Saudi Arabia Comes to Kentucky

The Kentucky Horse Park is preparing for an exhibition May 29-Oct 19, 2010 of Gift From the Desert, The Art, History and Culture of the Arabian Horse. They had two previous exhibits in the past 10 years on the Horse in China and the Horse in England--both outstanding events. I was a docent for those and recently had the first training  docent session for the upcoming show.

It's going to be a spectacular event, reaching beyond 3500 BCE with over 400 artifacts and paintings from museums in Europe and the Middle East. The British Museum is the largest contributor (the Brits were good at stealing). The Arabian horse is the first horse breed and all thoroughbreds are traced to 3 descendants from that area. 

Amazing to think that something like that exists only a few miles away from where I live. Although this is horse country and the International Museum of the Horse is the largest of its kind in the world.

Bridge to Nowhere

Here is one more peak at the garden while I come up with something fascinating, overwhelming, awesome or shocking to write....or not.