Author Archives: Sans Souci

NYC Photo Journal: The Brooklyn Hot Dog Tour

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    On the way to Brooklyn       The Brooklyn hot dog tour, ” Hot Diggity Dog,” was run jointly by Green-Wood Cemetery, a national landmark, and The Brooklyn Historical Society, housed in another National landmark. But we’re not talking dogs, we are talking DOGS: frankfurters, if you will. We did not go to Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island which is THE home of the hot dog and of its founder, Charles Feltman. More about him later.   We met at the Brooklyn Historical Society, heard an intro and were oriented, then hopped on the Green-Wood trolley to … Continue reading →

Sick Kitty Update 3: A Visit

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I decided that after two weeks Play should have a visit. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work out for either of us. Would he be upset, would I be upset? How would each of us cope. I was reassured that the vets and the staff are doing the best they can. The diabetes has impacted the healing of the wound and the infection. Play was eating when I approached him. He had the appropriate warning on the cage for diabetes. He had an IV drip, a collar as you can see. I took a deep breath: there … Continue reading →

Sick Kitty Update 2

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  I just spoke to the vet. The following things make me feel better: The day after surgery Play was walking on three legs; The oncologist said the surgery is “curative;” He is eating and drinking; He uses the litter box. The problem is the infection. Because of the diabetes the healing is slow. It seems to be draining on its own. It will take more time. Estimated day of discharge: Monday.  

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C is for … oh so corny

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  C is for cat, who is still at the vet … he’s “agent orange,” a mighty fine pet C is for cancer, it took poor Play’s leg  … now an infection keeps him in bed C is for carrots, they go in the juice … with six pounds of other stuff you can really get sluiced   C is for Christmas cactus, it bloomed on November 5th, right on my birthday … I’d say that’s a gift!   C is for carnations, chrysanthemums, too, in a big bouquet … my loved ones said, “these are for you.”   C … Continue reading →

Sick Kitty Update

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It is a week since Play’s surgery. There have been some complications; Play’s diabetes has slowed the healing process. We are taking it day by day.   Read all about it-                                                

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NYC Photo Journal: The Brooklyn Museum: Designs by Jean Paul Gaultier

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Gaultier with Madonna He dressed her for several tours You might say his career began after he dressed his Teddy bear in a cone bra An amazing exhibit of fashion that is more costume and theater than haute couture, in my humble opinion. Gaultier, like so many of us, were influenced by a childhood event. He saw showgirls at the Follies Bregeres and was mesmerized, if not titillated by the costumes and lack of thereof. He was obsessed with the experience and began to doodle designs while in class. He got his knuckles rapped with a ruler for drawing a … Continue reading →

Doubt

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The last week has been difficult. Self-doubt and confusion have tormented me as much as the thought that my poor cat with osteosarcoma in his hind joint, is going into surgery in an hour; he will have a partial amputation. There is no choice. Without this surgery he will soon be cancer riddled. With this surgery he will still be around and will hopefully adapt to having three legs. Will I be able to adapt? I learned to cope with his diabetes. But this, this seems brutal, and yet, when I called the vet on Saturday and told him I … Continue reading →

Soup For You and a Good Play

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It’s all about soup: The Soup Man (aka, the Seinfeld “Soup Nazi”) vs. a branch of Hale & Hearty Soups, across the street. (I am in search of the perfect mulligatawny soup.) I had lunch at Hale & Hearty where there is a vast variety including sandwiches and salads and one can sit. I took home a serving from the Soup Man. Will the addition of the included banana, bread, and a Lindt chocolate justify the $8.00 for their mulligatawny soup?       On the the theater: The Commons of Pensacola With Sarah Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner   … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: Feasting With Friends: Filippino Food Fotos

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Papa’s Kitchen was recently reviewed by The New York Times; now you’d better reserve one of the few little tables in this tiny place in Woodside, Queens. If you go for the the exotic, the ethnic, the homey, and don’t mind if you do take the mike and sing along in Tagalog, you’ve found your haven. I might add, you are encouraged to eat with your hands, but don’t worry, no pressure. We have wonderful friends who were our perfect accompaniment: Lorna is from the Philippines, and Carl is a linguist with many languages under his belt, one of them … Continue reading →

To Be or Not To Be

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Ampersand and Play   Play now “Play” 10/24/13   Nine years ago when I was recovering from a mastectomy, a mother cat brought her kittens to my door. I was toying with the idea of getting an orange Pomeranian or a Black and White Shitzu. What came to the door was an orange kitten, a black and white kitten, an orange and white kitten and a young, tiny calico mother. I named the kittens, “Romp” (who was adopted by my neighbor) “And” (the black and white fellow who became known as Ampersand, and Play, the orange fellow, who loved to … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: At The Lake, Yes, This is NYC

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    There’s a lovely lake at the end of my block the iPhone camera is not bad at all and the new iOS7 offers a few new features. I didn’t realize that I had it set to take HDR photos: High Dynamic Range: a burst of three photos at different exposures that are combined to form the best one. That’s a standard on many new cameras. Sometimes I like the “normal” photo better than the HDR which seemed to produce a lighter version of the scene, at times it appeared to be clearer and more detailed. It’s nice to … Continue reading →

To Your Health: Pits, Seeds, Rinds, Pulp, Laughs, and Coconuts

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    I decided it was time I jumped on the juicing bandwagon. I used to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables and just don’t have it in me to chow down a ton anymore. My mother’s aide asked for a juicer so I bought her one.  My mother decided she wasn’t interested in what it could do. When the aide returned to Florida I took the juicer and decided it was time to turn over a new leaf. Or fruit or veg. I had purchased what I later found out was a “young coconut” from the local HMart. … Continue reading →

Part 20. Thoughts on Breast Cancer: A Mere Trip to Italy

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This morning as I was dressing, I chose jewelry that I hadn’t worn in a while. I am partial to dichroic glass, I love its depth and variety of color and “inner” texture and the smoothness of its surface is calming. As I put on the pin and earrings you see above I realized that my mind had been working in its own subconscious right. After fastening the pin, my mind traveled back to the day I bought it. Sunday September 19, 2004. It was brilliantly clear as it is today; the sky was blue, there was a touch of … Continue reading →

Phreaking Out: The Incredible Era of Phone Hacking in the 60’s and 70’s

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When I first heard about “Phone Phreaking” I was in the car. It was about two months ago and I was mesmerized by an NPR program. Phone Phreaking was a 1960’s phenomenon that continued into later years. It was a cult, an in-club for a select group of young folks, mainly, to commune from afar and break the law by hacking the phone. These were teens, outlaws, misfits, techies, the nerds of yesterday gone wild, invading the secrets of mass communication and learning a language that only machines could speak. It was true to the times, it was The Who’s … Continue reading →

Part 70: I Invented Twitter

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      1. Here I am, checking in, yes, I am still here, but I got lazy; I needed a break from life, at least from writing about it but the thoughts and words are sucking me back in. There is no running away. It’s been about two weeks since I last posted about this mother-daughter journey I have been on. When last I wrote it was confusing: who was the mother and who was the daughter? I think I finally hit on the answer. Both my mother and I have been one another’s parent and child since I … Continue reading →

2013 Blogging for Breast Cancer: Index to Series

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It is October 1, 2013. On October 1, 2004 I had a right mastectomy. This is my story. I am a nine year breast cancer survivor. The series was originally posted in 2007, and has been expanded. I run it annually. Please invite all your friends to read my story. Awareness is very important. If I can help one person I will be very happy.   10/1~ 63. Part 1. Spinning at 45 rpm’s: Wake Up Little Susie My journey starts here, as a child, visiting Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, NY 10/2~ 64. Part 2. Spinning at 45 rpm’s: Bye, Bye … Continue reading →