Change in plans

Unfortunately, I got sick and had to cancel my trip to see my new nephew and take care of my niece. How disappointing! I don't get sick often and so forget how helpless one is to make it go away.

So yesterday I lounged in bed all day reading the paper and sleeping while trying not to cough. Not much good news to report. 10th anniversary of the LA riots; more killing of Israelis and Palestinians; first part in a series about a respiratory therapist who killed elderly, sick patients at a nearby hospital; retelling of the story of an arson investigator who set a number of fires himself in the 1980s; and this article about the increased use of sugar in prepared foods. Manufacturers have been substituting sugar for fat in so-called healthy, low-fat foods. I've recently switched from vanilla yogurt to plain yogurt to try cut down on sugar.

Now I need to go lie down again.

Posting pause

I won't be posting for a while. But I'll be back!

One more thing to worry about

From an article in today's LA Times:

Wind-borne pollution from China and neighboring countries is spreading to California and other parts of the nation and Canada as a result of surging economic activity and destructive farming practices half a world away, according to new scientific studies.

Study break

Yesterday afternoon, as a reward for a productive morning, I went to the Huntington to see an exhibition, Great British Paintings from American Collections: Holbein to Hockney. The paintings were hung at direct eye level, and because there wasn't an overwhelming number, you could linger in front of each one and still take in the entire collection without feeling rushed.

Susie had reminded me of the Pre-Raphaelites, who were amongst the painters in the exhibition, in two posts earlier this month: a painting of Mariana by John Everett Millais and one of The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse.

When I was in London in 1984, I went to a Pre-Raphaelite exhibition at the Royal Academy knowing nothing about art (which is still the case). I bought a poster of a young girl in a harem holding a falcon. I've since lost the poster, don't know the painter or title of the painting, and haven't yet tracked down the image on the internet. When I find it, I'll post it here.

After viewing the paintings, I strolled through the Rose Garden. Many roses are in bloom, but there are still tons of buds, so I'll have to go back soon. After all, that's what annual memberships are all about—visiting as often as possible.

April 20 or 420

I thought this LA Times article, "The Inside Dope on '420' Buzz", was an interesting glimpse into youth/drug culture and how 420 is being adopted by marketers and advertisers.

Welcome to the world

My nephew has arrived! Mother and baby are doing well. Born at 3:25 PM. 7 lbs 13 oz. 19 1/2 inches long.

Update

There are so many things going on, including the non-stop whirring of my brain.

• My sister-in-law is in labor and I need to figure out when/how I'm going to stay with her and take care of my niece, plus finish knitting the baby's present.
  
• My sister's birthday is very soon, and I've not sent her a card or present yet.
  
• My car is drivable once again, after a brand new rear shock snapped (fortunately in my driveway after I drove almost 100 miles round-trip to work and back and had dropped off my three carpool passengers). The tow truck driver said he'd never seen such a thing and neither had my mechanic in thirty years at his shop.
  
• I have to finish editing a glossary for the commentary a retired professor is writing. He has a Mac and does not use e-mail.
  
• I feel like I'm getting free, private tutoring from the professor while I work on his project. He's very passionate about Hebrew Bible scholarship. I'm learning so much, including how meager my thinking and scholarly efforts are thus far.
  
• I am very late writing a short book note/review for my advisor.
  
• My paper sits waiting for substantial revisions and additions, untouched.
  
• Major changes are brewing/in the wind/in the offing/waiting in the wings—whatever other cliché you can think of—at work.
  
• Change could force me to focus on hurrying up my degree, but then I worry about finding other income to pay rent, etc. Even if I find a cheaper place, I now have two cats and a piano to accommodate.
  
• Taxes are done.
  
• Last Wednesday, our church invited the Quakers who meet next door to join us for dinner at our church, and then we had dessert at their meeting house. One of their members performed a magic show for the children (and adults). It was such a simple way to spend an evening but significant somehow. One of the best parts was watching a little five-year-old from our church, who has cerebral palsy, sitting on the floor with all the other children, laughing in utter delight at the magician's antics.
  
• Then on Saturday I played the piano at the funeral of long-time church member. Again, two churches came together—ours and the AME church, where the man's children attend and where he was well-known also. The remembrances people offered were profound and reflected a life well-lived. Afterwards I helped with the setup of the church hall where a meal was served.