Oh Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches.

Sam went with me to the garden center to get the plants for our winter garden and to pick out a Christmas tree.

I'd wanted to buy a live tree, that we could plant, after Christmas. Earlier that day, while our laundry was washing and drying, Cam and I had looked at several small live tree options but didn't settle on one.

When Sam and I went to close the deal, I learned that it wasn't good for a live tree to be kept indoors for more than 7 days. Buying and killing a live tree didn't seem like a good plan and this small cut tree was less expensive too. So, that's what we brought home.

I'm a real tree novice. Sam was a huge help and provided moral support through-
out the entire process.

We placed the tree on our dining room table. When Sam stood on the table, he enjoyed seeing that the tree was about the same height.

Cam had offered to put the laundry away while we bought the tree. After he finished, he helped us decorate the tree.

It is adorned with decorations from the tree Sam and I had in the first home we shared alone.

We also hung it with ornaments we've been given by both of our mothers.

The ones Els made are especially treasured.

P.S. Cam wrote about our tree decorating day here.

Cold weather plants

Tiburon Garden Experi-
ments I, II, and III were successful. They taught me that I may have flowers on our back patio year-round, here in Northern California but that I should not expect the same plants to last the whole year.

Since the cyclamen and pansys did so well last year during the wet, cool, dark late fall and winter months, and because I love them, I decided to get them again this year.

I wasn't crazy about the cyclamen color selection but was captivated by this orange pansy. I decided to go with the maroon cyclamen accompaniment and try to pass the combination off as a tribute to LSU.

The white cyclamen were pretty alone and I thought the butterfly blue pansies comp-
lemented them nicely.

The gardenias my mom bought last summer are still hanging in there too.

Thank you, Dr. Al-Mefty

Dear Dr. Al-Mefty, I can't thank you enough.

Before my dad's surgery, I didn't feel like raving about the man who was going to operate on him. I had heard he was a world-renowned expert and had been involved in developing the procedure.

All that sounded pretty good but what if something went wrong?

It didn't.

He successfully performed a procedure beyond my comprehension and my dad is getting better every day.

I feel like singing his praises now.

Dr. Al-Mefty, I don't yet have words to adequately express my appreciation. So, for now, I will just say thank you.

Only within the past few years have patients with extensive lesions and tumors of the brain and cranial base had the opportunity of having these growths surgically removed. In this decade, many of these skull base lesions and tumors were still considered completely inoperable.

With advances in diagnostic imaging tools, breakthroughs in anesthesiology, and refined surgical techniques, today these patients and their families have hope where once there was only the dark prospect of lingering illness and death.

In 1993, a new program was established within the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, the Center for Skull Base Surgery was formed. Under the direction of world-renowned neurosurgeon Ossama Al-Mefty, M.D., the Center for Skull Base Surgery is a resource for the people of Arkansas and has drawn patients regionally, nationally and internationally.

The UAMS Center for Skull Base Surgery uses a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate, treat and care for patients who have skull base lesions. The goal of the Center is to combine contemporary medical and surgical techniques with compassionate care for patients.

Amazing.

Stop the elephants.

Ecospot grand prize winner: Sky is Falling

Please sign Al Gore's treaty. I did.

If you can do it today or tomorrow, before he speaks at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, he says it will really help.

Stop the elephants.

Back Home

Yesterday, the neuro-
surgeon showed my dad his post-
opp MRI w/o a pituitary tumor (it was benign) and sent him home.

Look out. He's on the loose and causing trouble again.

Facebooking it

This weekend, we've been having fun playing around on Facebook. I think you can see my profile if you click here.

If you haven't created a profile yet, consider making one. If you have, please consider adding me as your friend.

It's been a fun way to reconnect and to interact with family and friends whether they are on the other side of the living room or across the world.

Thanks to everyone who has already added me as a friend.

I'm honored.

Getting Better

I've spoken with my dad a few times since his surgery. He was released from the hospital the day after it but has been staying at a hotel near the hospital to be able to keep his follow-up appointments.

He's hoping to see the doctor tomorrow and be told he can go home and to check back in a few months.

Already, even thought he is still recovering, his headaches have improved.

Thanks again to everyone who has shown care, concern, offered support and encouragement. Thanks to the people in my family who were there, keeping my mom company and making my dad laugh and smile.

It means a lot to all of us.

In Recovery

Yesterday morning, my Uncle Jerry called to let me know that my dad was out of surgery and in recovery. He'd spoken with the chief surgeon who said things went well.

When I thanked him again for being there, he said he was honored to be able to be there with my dad. Jerry's such a classy guy.

I know my dad's pre-op day had been pretty rough. When I spoke with my mom at 9:30 pm the night before the surgery, while my dad was still having tests run, she said she was beyond frustrated with the way things had gone that day.

Hopefully, they got all of the problems out of the way that day and the rest will be smooth sailing.

Sam spoke with my mom last night while I was driving home from the grocery store. I think I heard her say that my dad was awake, that he wasn't feeling good but that he'd feel better in 3 or 4 days. I hope to talk with them myself soon.

Today is my mom's birthday. Having my dad recovering and feeling better are wonderful gifts.

Be Safe, Mom & Dad

My folks were just here for two weeks.

Two weeks is a long time to try to coordinate with anyone on a daily basis, especially when ideas about how to spend time and what types of things are good to eat are so varied.

I want to thank them for getting a hotel room so that we weren't completely on top of each other and were able to give each other breathing room from time to time. I also want to thank them for coming. We had some wonderful times.

They ended up with these tickets because they could use their frequent flier miles for these dates. They hadn't planned to be in the Bay Area the entire time. My dad was going to do some consulting work in Santa Barbara during the first week. They talked about exploring other parts of California too.

Then, one day in October, my dad's head started hurting. It hurt so much that my mom took him to the hospital. Eventually, we found out that he has a pituitary tumor. Pituitary tumors are usually benign so it probably isn't cancerous but it is still a really big deal.

Something I read said your pituitary gland is located between your ears and behind your nose.

Next week, a neuro-
surgeon is going to operate on that spot in my dad's head and try to get rid of the tumor without disrupting anything else.

The guy is supposed to be world-renowned and apparently was one of the people who developed the procedure. So, he should know what he is doing and it should be fine. Still it is pretty scary.

I know my brother is worried and really wishes he could be there. While I'd like to be there too, it doesn't seem feasible and there isn't much I can do anyway.

It sounds like my dad's big brother, my Uncle Jerry is going to be there. His wife, my Aunt Carolyn, may come too.

Two of my mom's sisters my Aunt Sandy and my other Aunt Carolyn are planning to come along with their husbands Fred and Barry.

My dad said that if they all make it, my parents will be surrounded and supported by the same people who stood up with them at their wedding.

My Aunt Alice and Uncle Suvid may come too.

I am grateful to all the members of my family who are willing and able to be there as well as everyone who has offered comfort.



Know I am thinking of you, Dad and hoping for the best.

With much love,
Mary

Happy Thanksgiving, from my family to yours.

She did it. My Aunt Maria was invited to present at a conference in San Francisco the Monday before Thanksgiving. She saw this as an opportunity for a mini Powell family reunion and invited other members of my family to join her in the Bay Are to celebrate the holiday together.

They headed south this morning to spend time with the Norton clan. We enjoyed having them here and wish we were able to be with them more often. I'm also happy my Uncle Mike, my brother John, his wife Johanna and my folks were here too.

More to come on this family time together. Cam's already written about our trip to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge and has posted lots of pictures on his Flickr account. I just posted a bunch of my favorites on my Flickr.

I hope you enjoyed your holiday and would love to hear how you spent it.