Sisters And Muriel Too
Lona, me, Windy
It’s a Bon Voyage to ME!
Muriel came straight from her Gospel Choir and music was in the air.
’25 March
What’s Happening Here
Rome came over between classes and helped me with a list of chores. Lucky dog me! Here’s emptying some boxes from the garage…
And then, much to Rome’s chagrin, I made a mass extermination of an army of ants living under the front mat and constantly invading the house.
And The Time Is
Jo Ann and Alan and I went out for ‘our’ Happy Hour dinner at Forma which was delicious as always and I got to enjoy two of Jo Ann’s mother’s watches. Jo Ann, she be stylin’❤️
And here’s what the front yard fence is up to. It’s cool when the vines wrap around the fence but soon enough it’ll be another big thick hedge and I’ll have to have it cut down.
Welcome To Hadestown
Darryl, Windy, me, Lilly, Aubrie, Rome, Angela
Windy drove us down to Redondo Beach to see Lilly’s excellent high school theater group perform the teen version of the multi-Tony award winning musical Hadestown, and then we all ate good food! (Pictures below from their instagram.)
Hashimoto Nursery
I had lunch with Sharon and then a very fun outing to Hashimoto Nursery where Sharon was able to find so many house plants that appealed, she had to choose among them. It’s not a discount place for sure, but the quality and quantity of plants was excellent.
Here’s what my front yard is doing now.
As Of March 21, 2025
You know what’s crazy, so far the only thing that brings tears to my eyes is when people are nice to me. Crazy, right?!
I walk around, eat well, and sleep enough although my hips do ache and recently the ache can run into my lower back. The only thing other than that is I have ouchy trouble with chairs and stairs but once the activity of sitting-standing-stepping is over I’m ok again. I’m ok in spirits too. I’ll keep on top of what needs doing and do my best.. me and the Stoics..
No doubt things will change any number of times before it’s over. I’ve already lost track of who I told what and some people have a higher desire for, or tolerance of, detail. I’m going to have a special ‘click’ in the upper left of the computer version of http://www.WhereTheHeckIsMom.com for a collection of updates.
The Oncologyst, Dr Kristedja, said go ahead on your trip, there’s nothing you can do to make it worse, so I’m going, leaving on the 27th, back on April 9. Pictures from Mexico forthcoming!
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Timeline (depending on your desire for detail):
2024
Sep 01-ish…….Started hip-specific TikTok exercises to strengthen myself for the trip to Chicago and went on a flurry of ‘standing on one leg’.
Oct 14 I was a little limpy in Chicago although I averaged 13,000 steps per day.
Nov 21 I decided something needed diagnosing and saw Dr Jacobsen, my Primary Care, got xrays which revealed minor osteoarthritis, she referred me to PT and offered other referrals if I wanted.
Dec 03 Started PT and continued to get worse but kept at it.
Feb 26 Finally giving up on PT, I saw Dr Horacek, Orthopedic specialist, who took xrays and ordered a LT side MRI to determine if it was bursal inflammation or gluteal tendon disease or both, neither particularly urgent. His MRI appointment was for the 19th but after a week of waiting I decided to see if I could get it done sooner, which I could, on the 13th.
Mar 14 Saw PA Adege, who ordered the RT side MRI and was able to schedule for that day since the LT side MRI was worrying.
Mar 19 Saw Dr Gerhardt, another Orthopedic specialist, who, after reviewing both MRIs referred me to Oncology, I walked across the street and made an appointment with Dr Kristedja for the next day.
Mar 20 Saw Dr Kristedja, the Oncologist, who took blood and ordered a PET scan ‘stat’. I walked up to the imaging place to make sure I could get an appointment for the next day.
Mar 21 Had the PET scan but I’m not expecting results until I get back April 9
I got the PET scan, easy-peasy, and when it was over they told me to stay away from children and pregnant women for 24 hours because for that long I would be radioactive. There’s something.
And I might as well mention the Massage Therapist I saw in early March who said my problem was a tight psoas muscle and what I needed was more massage.
Looking For Something Good
(website photo)
The LACMA new build is coming along. There’s controversy around calling it an expansion since the total gallery space will be less the it was before, but here’s hoping it will be wonderful.
The Building LACMA website has many good pictures and information. Starting in June they’re going to have some ‘sneak peek previews’ for members, press, donors, etc. to tour the space before they start hanging art. I’m going to join soon, to get myself in line for that opportunity.
An Update And Thanks
Thanks to Angela, Rome, and Lilly who came out today in the rain to drive me around, to save my collapsing hips. We dropped off and picked up the car from getting its service, went to the doctor’s, and then went to get a second MRI.
The doctor’s appointment with a PA worked out even though I still don’t know what exactly is wrong with me. She was able to get the second MRI that very day, and finally an appointment for Wednesday with The Guy, the hip specialist at Cedars-Sinai who seems to have few and random office hours. I prefer St John’s but my GP recommended this Orthopedic practice. My hand is getting frozen from all this finger crossing!
(From the 15th: I’ve spent the day propped up in bed with a pillow under my knees and a pillow on my lap holding up my computer, in complete comfort! I don’t know if it’s a healing maneuver (getting up for various reasons is still a struggle) but I’m thinking being comfortable can’t be bad.)
These two pictures below are from Lilly. What a sweetie, she kept me company all day. Rome, Lilly, and I had brunch (mighty Yum except for the too thick French toast that no one liked) while Angela and Oliver did a chore.
Lilly made a picture in the mirror.
Christa And Zack For HBD Lona
Christa, Windy, Zack, Me, Lona
Happy Birthday dear sister, Happy Birthday to YOUUUU. (Although we did have our Sister Birthday Celebration earlier in the month at the Disney Concert Hall and Palace Chinese Restaurant.)
I’ve cancelled everything for the last several days trying to get my hip situation under control with r.e.s.t. I’ve had all the xrays and the left hip MRI. The right hip MRI is happening now (the 14th). More later when at Some point I’ll know what’s wrong with me!
Rome Aubrie Jo Ann Alan Mavis
Rome and Aubrie brought me these flowers and how welcome they were, Rome and Aubrie And the flowers and some food to share. On Friday I’ll go back to the doctors and will write a status report on my aches and pains. Let’s just say on the better/worse/the same scale, sadly, I’m worse.
Jo Ann and Alan had me and Mavis for a most tasty homemade dinner and a fine visit. In her mid-90s, Mavis is a living inspiration, physically and mentally so full of life.
Women’s March 2025
Marsha and I took the train downtown to join this year’s Women’s March mostly just to do Something even though it was, by 2017 standards, a pretty modest affair. Here we go!
Princess Leia “We Are The Resistance” if only…
Can’t miss which one is Marsha!
The saga of my hips continues and oh how happy I was when Marsha spotted a seat in the shade.
US Courthouse
City Hall
Pershing Square
The back entrance to Union Station.
Phewww, quite a day – I drove out to Sylmar with the dawn, then Marsha and I took the train into Union Station, enjoyed a breakfast there in the comfy seats that are now patrolled for ticketed passengers only. From Union Station it was one subway ride to Pershing Square where the crowds were gathering. The march/stroll took the group to City Hall. We took another subway returning to Union Station, a late lunch at Traxx, then back to Marsha’s where we watched a charming Japanese move, Shoplifters, and then Tom made us tacos. Phewww is Right!
There was a mural along the way, the height of a tunnel.
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Here are some pictures from Marsha.
Lunch! And For The Record
Lunch! Windy was supposed to be here too but she had a sprinklers emergency so anyway it was me, Lona, and Rome who all got to enjoy the lovely lunch at 26 Beach in Venice and the most delightful pleasure of our company.
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Now you can pass this by, it’s just for me, for the record, as I’ve been at this for nearly a year.
Watch Two Of The Three Hatch
Here’s the YouTube address so you can follow along too: https://www.youtube.com/@FOBBVCAM A little while ago they were getting fed! The birds can’t see the night lighting btw, everyone is always concerned and the operators always assure “The eagle nest cameras use infrared light for night photography, which is invisible to both humans and eagles, allowing for clear nighttime views without disturbing the birds.”
And For 90 Minutes
And for 90 minutes I was happy.
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the LA Philharmonic in Mahler’s 7th. Photo and text from their website: “Gustavo Dudamel describes Mahler’s Seventh as “a symphony of everything: from chaos to glory, sarcasm to tenderness, from a funeral march to a seductive tango. It is a cosmic symphony of perfect construction and galactic emotional scope.” At the core of this monumental and expansive opus are two movements built on the tradition of Nachtmusik or “Night Music” whose moodiness and introspection have earned the symphony the nickname “Song of the Night.”
I was writing with Nancy about the Academy Award winning short The Only Girl in the Orchestra: I did enjoy that short very much and Saturday when I saw Dudamel and the LA Phil doing Mahler’s 7th, and all those women in the orchestra, I thought of her. The concert was one of those unforgettables, every instrument was present, every section was full including the back row entirely chock-o-block with percussion, Dudamel exuded infectious joy, and for 90 minutes I was entirely happy, without another thought.
We were celebrating Lona’s birthday at the Disney Concert Hall as we have for the previous two years, always stopping off for an early dinner at The Palace.
