Easter season

Monday, March 24, 2008. 8:30 pm. Hope you all had a nice Easter and Purim celebrations. We had a wonderful family celebration on Saturday honoring my sister in law Brenda. Celebrating her beauty and enthusiasm for life. The Queen of Presents my Grandchildren call her. We had a ball toasting her, singing to her, laughing with her. It was such a nice gathering everyone wants to keep enjoying such times together. We had it at a perfect little Italian Restaurant in Montclair, Marzullos. Fun. Joy.
This morning we played trombone for the dedication of the new Police station here in Maplewood on Springfield Ave. Funny, about 50 plus years ago I played trombone for the cornerstone ceremony of the Maplewood Memorial Library as well. Hah!! Also took a shot today. Wed. back to the hospital for a checkup and another Clinical Trial vaccination. Last week I had some energy problems and was getting worried, but now feel better. I must have been fighting something off. Or was getting dragged with the cloudy winter weather. When the sun broke through Sat. and Sunday everything felt better. Looking forward to the MSK patient art show at end of April. I'm having 3 tryptichs framed. 3 related pastels in each. We'll see how they look. Fri. I got the MacBook checked up. Added some Ram and bought a new printer. Sent Ben and Maayan some prints of some of those extraordinary self portraits they took last year. Fun!! Also got a backup system installed. Cool.
Well, enjoy the Spring.Thanks for keeping up with us. JIMBO

March

Mon. March 3, 7:30 pm. Enjoyed playing with Harmonium over the weekend: Vaughn Williams "Dona Nobis Pacem" and Mark Millers newest composition, based on Whitmans poem "Song of the Open Road". Great fun. Fine sound. Lori Sue went to camp with him when they were kids. Missed having Bud in the audience. He's in Fla. But Carol came by Sat. Loved it. Also, Jilana Dellal, a Caldwell Band horn player from the early 70s said hello. She babysat Rebekah all those years ago. She's back in NJ now at ATT. Others who haven't seen me recently were gracious. Lots of hugs, blessings etc. Today at MSK saw Brad. Looking fine. Goes back to work soon. Onward and upward. Saw others we know. All my numbers are good and we are proceeding with the Clinical Trial afrter last weeks brief hiatus due to a swollen leg. All seems ok. Went up to 15th floor and got application/invitation to the art show in April. We'll see. Maybe we'll play a recital or concert there as well. Could be healing for all.
Next weekend Beethovens 7th and Mozart Piano Cto. 21. In 2 weeks Crescent Ave gig. Played Fri at Harlem Hospital with Linsy's JazzBerries big band. Trying to keep up the chops and still studying Guitar styles. Keep the brain challenged. Spoke to cousin Billy yesterday. They've had 11 feet of snow up there in New Hampshire. He needs to use the tractor for snow removal. Had to hire someone to shovel snow off his roof!!! The ski resorts are ecstatic.Hope to get up to see him soon.
We're playing Blues March 15th at Heres 2 the Arts, 7:30-9. Early show.

I feel Spring in the air here. Or is it just a tease?? Looking forward to a beautiful Spring and Summer. See you. Continued thanks. Love and Peace. JIM

February Thaw

2/16/08 9 pm. Been a while since I've written. Been busy trying to enjoy a more normal life style. Fortunately the body/disease is mostly cooperating. Numbers are good, clinical trial is good and we're moving forward. The diabetes continues to be a challenge and we're meeting with doctors, nutritionist etc. to deal. Gotta exercise more, loose weight, eat healthy. Am trying to cleanup my act. Been playing alot of music, which is a joy and a challenge. Great way to keep the brain, lungs, coordination etc. happening. I also love it all very much. I respond to musical sounds in any and all forms/styles/venues. Been to hear Berio's Symphonia, Beethoven's 5th, Santi DiBriano's Bass Threesome, and Winard Harpers Band at Shanghai, as well as playing some jazz and blues and symphony and brass stuff myself. Whew!!! Soon, hopefully, Pink Martini and KD Lang. Last week a storm hit the East Coast, so we headed North to Rhinebeck, NY to get into the snow. Stayed on a 40 acre horse farm BnB, WhistleWood Farm. Delicious. Stayed in the Carriage House, Morningside Room. Met really interesting people (See their website:(usonfoot.com). Enjoyed the movie "The Savages". Restaurants, Bars etc. Here's some pictures from our little vacation. Enjoy the Thaw (whenever it comes and goes!!). Ah yes, and here's Carol at her 65th birthday bash: "Aged to Perfection!!" Love, peace, thanks. JIMBO

Numbers OK

Sun. Jan 20. 7:30 pm. Between plays while watching the Giants in Green Bay. Last Wed. had a rough day in H with biopsy and blood tests. Had to quit conducting concert band Wed. night. Wokeup feeling much better Thurs. My nephew David and I went to tryout trumpets at Dillons. Fun. Am playing more trombone and tuba. Fun. Today String Bass in an orchestra and tuba this afternoon in a brass 5. More Fun. Friday in the hospital we saw a number of my fellow patients and their wives. We have a very warm comraderie. Its a family of sorts, all caring and asking about each other. Sharing stories of numbers, chemos etc. Also worrying about each other. Nice people. My 1st round of the Clinical Trial is finished and it looks good for continuing on in another 2 weeks for another 3 months. Go Giants. Thanks for checking in here friends. I have to be sure to write every week or so. If I don't I have friends who get very worried. So, thanks for hanging in there. I'm doing good and am very happy for your support and your prayers. Next week is Carols and Rebekahs birthdays. Acquarians all here!! Peace. JIM

Thursday. 9 am. Well, I finally found the photo somewhere mixed into the folder. So this is on the porch. Today, for our last full day we'll take the bikes to town and enjoy the library, a chapel, some shops, lunch etc. Just heard from Elaine, so we'll stop to see her on the way up the coast. See y'all back home.

Sun and Fun

Tues. Jan 8, 2008. 1:30 pm. Captiva, Florida. Arrived Sun. eve. Snack at the bar. The Christmas lights were still on the palm trees and our cabin. They are removing them all now. Charming. But somehow it doesn't fit my thinking. I'm used to lights etc. in the snow and cold. Hah!! So, it turned warm when we arrived. It was about 75-80 on the golf course with Kim Sat. afternoon. Same here on the beach today. We rented 2 old style wooden arm chairs and an umbrella. Carols walking the beach, bird watching, shell picking, waves kicking. I sit and listen to Sibelius 2nd Sym. and read Oliver Sachs thank you. Yesterday, Monday, we rented bikes and went into town. Shops, restaurants, homes, mucho birds, fauna and flora. It's really beautiful here. So we visited an Antiques shop Rudy would love. We had been there 2 years ago. The couple who own it spend 6 months on Captiva and 6 months in Maine. They have beautiful stuff beautifully displayed. Carol saw a glistening diamond ring from the 1920s. Set in platinum. Very hip. We got it. She's never had a real fine wedding band, so this is another celebration of our 43 years of marriage. After the year I just put this woman through she deserves this vacation and that ring. We're very happy. So, then lunch on our front porch. We are in the Ding Darling cottage, #106 on the "Tween Waters map. If you checkout the web cam you may see us walking, bending to pickup shells etc. After lunch yesterday we went to the pool, hot tubs, and bar. Sipping pina coladas and margaritas while reading and listening, and them hot tubbing and swimming. I love to do laps and try all my strokes. Today we may skip the pool to stay on the beach since we have chairs there. A lotta sun today. At 5 pm yesterday we got on the beach to sit and dig the incredible sunset. Mind you , sitting on this beach is just like the Corona beer commercials!! Today at 4 pm instead of digging the sunset from the beach we will take a guided Kayak tour in the bay, to an island, etc. during the sunset. Very cool. That will be some exercise. Tonight the band is playing in the bar. We met Michael and the Modulators 2 years ago here. They are from Cincinatti and they do this gig each year. They come for 2 weeks, live like guests at the hotel/beach/pool, and play New Years Eve and a few other nights. Tonight I am their mystery guest!! Hah!! Tomorrow morning we're driving over to the Ding Darling Nature Preserve and will hike some trails etc. More about that next post. I'll try to send a picture of us on our porch here. If it doesn't showup today, look for it on the next post. Sometimes the systems are a little funny, and I don't have access to the latest photo untoil I reboot or something. In any case, Happy New Year. Keep cool. Don't get too sunburned or too sweaty up there!! JIMBO

Florida

Sat. Jan 5, 4:00 pm. We're at Kim and Jane's house in Tampa, FL (on Harbour Island). Flew Jet Blue out of Newark yesterday. Justin flew in at the same time from a Ski trip in Colorado. He's off to UF in Gainesville now. Our little Justin is a man. Looks fine. Carol is reading and napping and walking with Janie today. Kim and I played a round of golf. Great fun. Just finished watching Rutgers at Toronto for the International Bowl, now to watch Redskins in the playoffs. Tomorrow morning we leave for Captiva/ 'Tween Waters to relax and really celebrate our 43 years of marriage (our Anniversary was 12/26, the day we took our Grands to the Nutcracker Ballet). We'll have lunch with Sue Bogart, Carols colleaque from East Orange days.The weather was cool yesterday, warmer today, It'll be fine Sunday on the island. Hope it stays nice. I need to get swimmimg for exercise. The golfing was good for me today. Need to get a stronger physical routine happening. Have brought Musicophilia and Water for Elephants to read. Can't wait for those seashells, sunsets, showers, and 2 hot tubs on Captiva man. I'm ready. Have to still protect myself from the sun. The Chemo causes some extra sensitivity. Meantime it is great to spend time with Kim and Jane. Again, Happy and Healthy New Year. Thanks to our family for helping out with Mommy again.