Fall healing

So it turns out after a few weeks the antibiotics did nothing and the diagnosis was a Hydrocele....somewhat of a common problem for young boys and guys over 40. So, after a sonogram no sight of cancer issues, just water. So I had surgery (Hydrocelectomy) to fix it August 24th and healed for about 2 weeks. Now I'm back walking and soon to swimming. I go for the final checkup on that surgery in 6 weeks, Meantime our checkups at MSKCC are 4 months for Diabetes and 5 months for the Leukemia which is still in Remission now over 5 years. Getting back to our music as well after a hot summer with fewer rehearsals and gigs. Enjoyed a fine half week with the Grandchildren in Woodstock. Now they are back to school and sound busily happy, or is it happily busy??? Enjoy the beautiful Fall. JIM

Hot Summer Reading

July 12, 2012 . 9 am. Just reading an amazing, powerful, series of articles in the NY Times on new cancer therapies; genome sequencing and finding drivers of cancer cells (re)production. Heavy articles but so important to read.
Meantime I'm performing a lot and enjoying the rehearsals as well. Trying to stay out of the incredible heat here. Now that the Beethoven Symphonies are performed we are doing a lot of summer Jazz etc. in the parks, pool, clubs etc. It's all fun. I lowered the bass strings and am turning up the amp. : ) Will get back to MSKCC for checkups in the late summer or early fall. Dealing now with problem which appears to be an infection (taking Cipro) but we'll see in a few days if it works. May need more therapy than that.
Meantime the Grands were here and we got to the beach, the pool, the concerts at MapleWoodstock and the fireworks. Good time. They'll be off to summer camp soon. Carol and I enjoyed a wonderful day up in the lakes country with Army buddies. Fine.

Keep cool. JIM

Grands Visit

June 22nd, 2012. Well the Grandkids went home yesterday and already we are a bit lonely around the house. Missing an energy and vitality they bring. We were very busy with them...the Art Show last Saturday, then the diner and Shosh and Riv went home, the others of us went to the movies. Then Tenement Museum on Monday in NYC and the diner at night for Jazz. Tuesday to the Beach for a long day of Boogie Boards, play in the sand, and rides on the Boardwalk (this has become a tradition now). Wednesday to Yankees Stadium on a hot but beautiful afternoon. Thursday pickup and go home. So we've got a busy schedule of gigs this month but the Pool is open so I'll get over there and start doing laps now. Redone pool apron etc. will make things more comfortable. Enjoy your vacations folks. Keep healthy...eat those veggies. JIM

Joys and Loss

It's been a beautiful spring of Joys and Loss. Today our dear Sophie has gone to rest. Last week my cousin's wife Marty died after a wonderful couple of weeks with her family. During my last post I told you Steve had passed. Then Pat had gone to rest. We enjoyed a beautiful Memorial service for Dick Kniss in Woodstock 2 weeks ago. Yesterday Chrissy's Mom passed. And so we see the fullness of life this Spring, from rebirth in our gardens, and many fine performances of music and dance people have been preparing for months or years, and then to the space to say I Love You and the time to say goodbye, as best we know how. Meantime I am fortunate to sit here at the computer to kvell, celebrate, the joys of living and loving....my Grandchildren, my wife, my brothers and sisters, my friends, my fellow patients, my doctors and nurses, my family and colleagues. I feel great. I enjoy seeing people, partying, hearing the music, playing the music, seeing the paintings, making the paintings etc. We're a fortunate lot here. No wonder it is so difficult to say goodbye. We try so much to enjoy all this it is painful to see some leave us. Yet we all must take our rest and leave this place sometime. Soooo....in the meantime enjoy the beauty, the sunrise, the sunsets, the warm nights and bright days. Play your hearts out. Dance up a sweat. Enjoy that meal man. Thanks for checking in. We're doing ok. The docs keep checking me out and so far so good. We will keep looking forward.Enjoy this time of life, and get ready for the pool, the lakes, the warmth. Peace. JIM

Spring and Steve

Sat. March 24, 2012. Spring is here in Maplewood and yesterday we enjoyed a day trip to Woodstock to dig the blossoms, birds etc. up there. The sky, the mountains, the lakes all looked inviting. Can't wait to go back and spend a weekend or a week up there. Next week I'll be in Tampa to catch up with Brother Kim and family and go to a Yankees game and visit some friends on the West Coast. Carol and I trekked into MSK for her checkup and all is clear. 6 months before her next checkup. Great. Tuesday my friend Steve Phillips the drummer passed on. He had a heart attack while sitting in at a gig and lingered for almost 2 weeks in a coma before passing. Tuesday I'll get to his funeral. I miss him already. We had played 3 times last month, and I have videotapes of all 3 of those sessions as memories. RIP.
Well, I gotta go practice to keep up with the music challenges ahead. Enjoy the beauty of the season. Keep your health. JIM

PRESIDENTS WEEKEND

Fri, Feb 17, 2012. Last night Carol presented a very interesting video to our Neighborhood Assn. featuring one of our neighbors whose family was enslaved in South Carolina. The white family Plantation owner's descendants and the slave's descendants were researching that history. It's an amazing story captured on a PBS video. Great discussion and questions afterwards. Yesterday I did a concert for Tots, little preschoolers featuring our string quintet...solos and ensembles and games for the kids. Evidently this concert series has been going 35 years or so. My bass was new to the mix and it sounds like they want me back next year. Looking forward. Also got a call to perform Beethoven's 9th in June. Great. Playing Schumann's 1st and Saints-Saens Cello Cto. early March. Last month did Elgar Cello Concerto and Vaughn Williams Serenade to Music. I enjoy preparing and performing these pieces. This morning I am listening to Yo Yo Ma and his Brazilian friends...I want to play Brazilian, Spanish, and Argentinian Duos with Joel on Guitar and me on cello or bass. Am seeking tunes now. Brass Quintet continues Saturday, with a sub for Al this week, but we are looking forward to some recitals in the Spring. Also trying to put together a Nawlins styled Brass/Funk band four MapleWoodstock ala Dirty Dozen. The Country Band continues once everyone returns to NJ and the Blues Band is cranking back up for the summer months.
So, an annoying 2 week cold is finally lifting and we're doing good. Off to Mohonk for a little break soon. Before you know it we'll be back to Woodstock. I'm also trying to do a chamber music workshop in Vermont this spring. We'll see how it goes. Meantime we keep drawing, collaging etc. Peace. Stay Healthy. Thanks for catching up with us. JIM