The beautiful townhouse designed by Antonio Gaudi. Taken in March.
My husband's and my dear cat Travis died last night. We are like many owners who think their cats are the most special cats in the world, but Travis was truly terrific 19-year-old trooper. He had one eye and always managed to have a sweet/silly disposition. We were very lucky to have him our hearts and home.
I love Roger Ebert and his courage. He recently made his first public appearance in a long time (at his Overlooked Film Festival at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana) after many surgeries related to cancer of the salivary gland. This is what he wrote this in the Sun-Times last week:
So let’s talk turkey. What will I look like? To paraphrase a line from “Raging Bull,” I ain’t a pretty boy no more. (Not that I ever was. The original appeal of “Siskel & Ebert” was that we didn’t look like we belonged on TV.)
What happened was, cancer of the salivary gland spread to my right lower jaw. A segment of the mandible was removed. Two operations to replace the missing segment were unsuccessful, both leading to unanticipated bleeding.
A tracheostomy was necessary so, for the time being, I cannot speak. I make do with written notes and a lot of hand waving and eye-rolling. The doctors now plan an approach that does not involve the risk of unplanned bleeding. If all goes well, my speech will be restored
So when I turn up in Urbana, I will be wearing a gauze bandage around my neck, and my mouth will be seen to droop. So it goes.
I was told photos of me in this condition would attract the gossip papers. So what?
I have been very sick, am getting better and this is how it looks. I still have my brain and my typing fingers.
Although months in bed after the bleeding episodes caused a lack of strength and coordination, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago restored my ability to walk on my own, climb stairs, etc.
I no longer use a walker much and the wheelchair is more for occasional speed and comfort than need. Just today we went for a long stroll in Lincoln Park.
We spend too much time hiding illness. There is an assumption that I must always look the same. I hope to look better than I look now. But I’m not going to miss my festival....
P.S. to gossip rags: I have some back pain, and to make it easier for me to sit through screenings, the festival has installed my very own La-Z-Boy chair.
Photos of me in the chair should be captioned “La-Z-Critic.”
I think many people write Ebert off because of the "Thumbs Up/Down" thing has been a marketing tool, but he has always been a critic who passionately loves the movies. I've been reading his reviews since I became acquainted with the interwebs and while I may not agree with him about many films, his criticisms have always challenged me to look at films more carefully.
Links: Roger Ebert's Great Movies page, Chicagoist's
Get Well Roger Ebert photo project
Nothing like some pigs-in-a-blanket while watching the Super Bowl.
Jake took this slightly crazed picture when I had taken them out of the oven. Note to anyone baking frozen pigs-in-a-blanket -- 450 degrees is a little too hot, as the bottoms were burnt. They were still delicious, though.
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My resolution is to post more on this page. Travis's resolution is to continue drinking out of glasses on my nightstand.