We celebrated Alex's birthday. He's just the nicest person and always has been. Kind, considerate and a lover of animals and golf. Jeff and Jen adopted a 1 1/2 yr old Shiba Inu who is shy. He seems to prefer men and especially Jeff. When we met him, I had to bribe him with cheese to come near. Paul was able to scratch his head, but Alex became his best friend.
Weather is still chilly altho a few times, we reach 70 and bask in the sun. We've been taking advantage of the warmer late afternoons and drive the golf cart to the nearby 'Lil Wick' golf course (Par 3) to have a glass of wine surrounded by the water and the hills. And we have a good view of the frustrated golfers hitting balls into the lakes. Some never give up and hit 3+ balls, hoping that the next drive will be successful....at $3 apiece, it adds up.
I got to know the Mayo Clinic system up close and personal last month. Long story, very shortened, involved having a nickle-sized cancer removed from my thigh. As it turned out, it is a very rare form of sarcoma, only identified in the last couple of years. (and usually occurs in children). As a nurse, my eyes and ears were always listening and watching and I was impressed. I never waited at the appointments. Everyone was so smart, helpful and informative. The day of surgery was delayed by a couple hours as my surgeon was tied up in an emergency. So her partner came over from the office so I wouldn't have to wait or have it cancelled. There are 24 OR rooms but while I waited, it was never noisy or busy sounding and my nurse stayed close at all times. I had it done under mild sedation and a local per my request. It is a large incision and I am still on restricted activity (no biking, no golf and no lengthy walks.). With the lesion removed, I am 'cured' and there is no follow up needed. I am thankful.
Altho we live in the middle of the desert, there are places of respite. The Hassayampa Preserve is near and is a tranquil oasis to listen to the birds. We saw a few but I am not smart enough to identify them by sight or their calls. This is a big birding area and I would benefit from learning.
I am slowly absorbing a couple of books of essays by Terry Tempest Williams. In 'Erosion' I expect to be awakened and disheartened.
PS. I share these words with you.....
Joaquin Phoenix won best Actor at the Academy Awards on Sunday for his role in Joker. Read his full acceptance speech right here on Rev.com.
Joaquin Phoenix: (00:16)
Hi. ‘Sup? Hi. God, I’m full of so much gratitude right now. I do not feel elevated above any of my fellow nominees or anyone in this room, because we share the same love, the love of film. This form of expression has given me the most extraordinary life. I don’t know what I’d be without it. But I think the greatest gift that it’s given me and many of us in this room is the opportunity to use our voice for the voiceless.
Hi. ‘Sup? Hi. God, I’m full of so much gratitude right now. I do not feel elevated above any of my fellow nominees or anyone in this room, because we share the same love, the love of film. This form of expression has given me the most extraordinary life. I don’t know what I’d be without it. But I think the greatest gift that it’s given me and many of us in this room is the opportunity to use our voice for the voiceless.
Joaquin Phoenix: (01:04)
I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the distressing issues that we are facing collectively, and I think at times we feel or we’re made to feel that we champion different causes. But for me, I see commonality. I think whether we’re talking about gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights, we’re talking about the fight against injustice. We’re talking about the fight against the belief that one nation, one people, one race, one gender, or one species has the right to dominate, control, and use and exploit another with impunity.
I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the distressing issues that we are facing collectively, and I think at times we feel or we’re made to feel that we champion different causes. But for me, I see commonality. I think whether we’re talking about gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights, we’re talking about the fight against injustice. We’re talking about the fight against the belief that one nation, one people, one race, one gender, or one species has the right to dominate, control, and use and exploit another with impunity.
Joaquin Phoenix: (02:00)
I think that we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world and many of us what we’re guilty of is an egocentric worldview, the belief that we’re the center of the universe. We go into the natural world, and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. Then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf, and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.
I think that we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world and many of us what we’re guilty of is an egocentric worldview, the belief that we’re the center of the universe. We go into the natural world, and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. Then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf, and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.
Joaquin Phoenix: (02:35)
I think we fear the idea of personal change, because we think that we have to sacrifice something, to give something up. But human beings at our best are so inventive and creative and ingenious, and I think that when we use love and compassion as our guiding principles, we can create, develop, and implement systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings and to the environment.
I think we fear the idea of personal change, because we think that we have to sacrifice something, to give something up. But human beings at our best are so inventive and creative and ingenious, and I think that when we use love and compassion as our guiding principles, we can create, develop, and implement systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings and to the environment.
Joaquin Phoenix: (03:09)
I’ve been a scoundrel in my life. I have been selfish, I’ve been cruel at times, hard to work with, and I’m grateful that so many of you in this room have given me a second chance. I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we support each other. Not when we cancel each other out for past mistakes, but when we help each other to grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other towards redemption. That is the best of humanity.
I’ve been a scoundrel in my life. I have been selfish, I’ve been cruel at times, hard to work with, and I’m grateful that so many of you in this room have given me a second chance. I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we support each other. Not when we cancel each other out for past mistakes, but when we help each other to grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other towards redemption. That is the best of humanity.
Joaquin Phoenix: (03:37)
When he was 17, my brother wrote this lyric. He said, “Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.” Thank you.
When he was 17, my brother wrote this lyric. He said, “Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.” Thank you.
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