A Bill Blog and some other stuff

It's been a while.  It seems my nature is either to keep going steadily at something or risk letting it go all together.  

There's not much about me that's halfway.  All or nothing isn't the best way to go about things, so I'm happy to be back again.

But I called this a Bill Blog.  That's because, even when the pictures appear to be about other stuff, most of them seem to come back to Bill.  He is a huge and positive presence in my life.  Bill knows what it means to be a true friend.  Let me count a few of the ways.

When I moved in my own apartment, Bill took it upon himself to come every day to feed Black Jack her lunch, and take her for a walk.  He took pictures, and sent me e-mails showing their adventures together.  The next five photos are all taken by Bill.

I love elephants.  Bill never forgets when I mention something that makes me happy.  He saw this sculpture on a neighborhood street.  How I've missed it, I can't imagine, but I'm going to make a point of finding it soon.  I love it.

He has posed Black Jack with branch, rock and tree backgrounds. 
His caption for this one is: "I am the master of the universe and this is my rock."
His caption for this one is: "Is that my tail tickling my nose?"
He took this one of me a couple of weeks ago, when we walked in Park and Tilford Gardens, after a latte at JJBean's and a stroll through Bridgman Park with Black Jack.  I am happy to have that photo, as I look a little bit different now, after a surprise surgery a couple of days ago.  But, more about that later. 

The next five photos are rare ones, as Bill hasn't seen them.  He sits patiently, looking at my pictures, admiring the better ones, and never putting down the worst ones.  I rarely post without first asking him which ones he thinks work better.  Anyhow, I took these as I walked along 4th Avenue this morning with Black Jack.  I'm off work for a few days, to heal from the surgery.

I stopped in a flower shop to ask about a hanging basket that will survive on my balcony, in spite of a very low amount of sunlight.  The girl was incredibly kind, and she is going to assemble one for me.  My only request was that it be bright and cheerful.  She took time to check out my favorite colors, and Black Jack checked out this beautiful cat under the table.  The cat was much calmer than Black Jack.
Some of you will remember that I had a subdural hematoma 4 months ago, after a cycling accident caused by bramble bushes.  It's possible to go back and read all about it but I don't recommend that.  I recovered well, except for one area just over my forehead.  For some reason that wound didn't heal, and this past Monday, when I was just thinking I'd have the doctor take a quick look at it, he  decided to admit me right away, and do what's called wound revision surgery.  I arrived with nothing in hand but my helmet and two bike panniers, so here comes another Bill story.  I had left home that morning, wearing my last pair of clean underwear, so he did my laundry before coming to bring me enough clothes for a couple of days in the hospital.  I still can hardly believe it.  Anyhow, a little more hair shaved, a wound clean-up, removal of the titanium plate, some new stitches, and I will hopefully soon be on the way to full recovery.  Not much fun, but I have only the best things to say about the staff at the hospital.  I took this picture of myself, looking in the bathroom mirror this morning.  I put it here partly so my sister can see that while I'm not pretty, I can still smile, and I think I look fairly healthy.  
I do think I look better in my cap, though.  Don't you?
A couple of posts ago, I talked about happiness, and the same day I posted, I saw a book called "The Art of Happiness" written by a psychologist named Howard C. Cutler, after spending several months interviewing the Dalai Lama.  One of my nurses at the hospital is Tibetan, and her first name is Tenzin.  She gave me this blue hospital hat.  I still think I look a bit better in the cap, but this one makes me smile.  Tenzin was so, so kind and gentle.  Any patient would be grateful to have her as their nurse.  She told me that in Tibet, many children are named after Lamas, and she is named after the Dalai Lama.  His name, I hadn't realized, is Tenzin.  She, her sister and her brother all have Tenzin as their first name.  When calling them,and needing to clarify which of them is being addressed, their second names are used.  This I learned because the book was on the window ledge.  I'm not sure why, but I loved that story, and I don't think I will ever forget Tenzin, the sweet, gentle nurse who also enjoys photography.

Now, for some "other stuff" that caught my attention over the past few weeks.  Here is Una.  Una is one of the many canine residents in my apartment building.  Just a totally happy, friendly, enjoy-life sort of dog, even after surgery to remove a tumor.
Una was more than willing to cooperate for a photo-shoot, but had difficulty resisting the urge to get up close and personal.  How's this for just about the most joyful smile one could ever be lucky enough to witness.
Here are, from left to right, Quagmire, Castor (back end only), Paulo, and Vegas.  Paulo and Vegas live next door, and often have visitors.  I love my friendly, lively neighbors!
Bill chose this crow photo, taken at Jericho.  (See, there he is again.)  
This is Andy.  Some of you will remember his sad story of losing his best friend, Miyoko, and a post some time ago about his new treasure, Robin.  They visit me every once in a while at the school where I teach, and it always makes me happy to see them.  
Although I haven't posted for a few weeks, I have taken pictures almost every day.  Believe it or not, I was quite ruthless in ditching most of them for this post.  Only three scenes, this one from the Lions Gate Bridge...
... this one from Jericho Park one beautiful evening...
... and this one also at Jericho, the same evening.
One of the feline residents in my building, staring down Black Jack. 
On our walks, we sometimes see foreign beasts.  Bill chose this giraffe...
... and this sort of stylized cartoon cougar figure.
I took these crows enjoying their bath in a puddle pond at Jericho.
We saw this Laburnum when we walked together one evening.  I didn't know what it was, but Bill sent me a link in a later e-mail so I could read all about it.  Here it is.  
Trick question: How many rabbits are there in this picture?  We watched the rabbits one night after eating supper at the Jericho Sailing club.  The next day, I went back and took this photo.
This heron lives at Jericho.  I found its nest one evening.  I think it is a juvenile, not yet old enough for a family.  It seems to fly between its nest and various spots where it can watch for fish and other food potential in the water.
It always seems that special things happen when I walk with Bill.  Not a good photo, but it was amazing to watch this crow follow, with extraordinary persistence, a bald eagle.  I hope it survived.  It was definitely taking its life in its wings.
Here, for Phyllis (Bill's sister), is a picture taken of Bill the same evening.  We had great fun, and I love this memory.
The same evening, I saw, for the first time ever, pelicans!  What stunningly beautiful birds they are.

I love the mischievous look on Bill's face, as he gets even with me for all those pictures I take of him.
It's not a race but I'm winning!
See?  I won.  That guy in the boat hasn't even left the water!
Come on, everybody.  Let's go for a beer!
Taken the same night.  See?  I told you magic things happen when Black Jack and I walk with Bill.
This one was taken a day or two later, also at Jericho.  Black Jack put on a show for this dog.  I think his name was Ben.
"You think that's good?" said Ben.  "Just watch this!"
We met this dog a few minutes later.  Its name is Mali.  My friend, Mali, at school, will find that very interesting.  Don't you think he's handsome?
Here is another feline resident of my building.  I came into my bedroom one night to find this fellow sitting on the carpet.  Thank Heavens Black Jack was busy with her bully stick in the livingroom.  I was somewhat shocked, and I guess didn't act in a properly friendly manner, so the cat quickly escaped through the narrow (like about two inches!) opening in my window.  How do they do that??? 
And finally, the view from my hospital room on Monday evening.  I love the ivy on that building.
Also taken from the hospital window.  Like Bill, I found myself surprised to see those oh so webby feet.  Of course, webbed feet for a seagull make sense, but sometimes, it takes a particular perspective to bring them to your attention.  I'm not sure what was in its mouth.  Hope it was organic and vegetarian:) 
Here endeth the longest blog post ever, and here again, I give thanks to my good friend, Bill!