It isn't everyday that you get a compliment from the Director of the National Science Foundation on your work followed closely by a voice mail from your urologist saying that your cancer has spread and your probably going to need surgery or radiation. Odd day.
Current Agenda
Philip Pullman: His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)
Some children's stories are not children's stories. (****)Hilary Mantel: Wolf Hall: A Novel
Tough sledding to get through, but brilliant in spots.Anthony Bourdain: Kitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.)
If Hunter Thompson was a foodie. (*****)Elizabeth Moon: Command Decision (Vatta's War, Book 4)
Good basic space opera (***)Orson Scott Card: Ender in Exile
Boring in spots, but sprinkled with diamonds of writing. (***)Timothy Ferriss: The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Tim's a little crazy, but there's lots to chew on here in the area of questioning your basic assumptions. Good for that if nothing else. (****)James Ishmael Ford: Zen Master Who?: A Guide to the People and Stories of Zen
Middle section reminds me of Genesis (begat, begat, begat) but the best up-to-date (2001) explanation of how all those Zennies got here. (****)Soko Morinaga: Novice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity
Delightful book about a Zen master's progression. (*****)Linda Greenlaw: The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey
Nuts and bolts of swordfishing from the world's only female captain. More fish than polemic. (***)Natalie Goldberg: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
Best book on interior of writing I've read in quite some time. Great advice for we the writing afflicted. (*****)
Self Portraits 10/07
- Seems easier to maul my own image than other people's somehow.
Obama 10/22/07
- Barak Obama at the New Hampshire Statehouse Rally, 10/22/07
Thanks for the thoughts and the prayers, Dee. Cancer runs in the family and I was diagnosed over three years ago, so this isn't a surprise. But you're right, the situation stinks and is likely to stink for quite a long time. There are lots of good things on the horizon with cancer, but it doesn't look like I'm going to be one of the people who can take advantage of them - too little time. But then at 60 this is starting to become an issue in other ways as well. Well, at least it isn't a death sentence anymore. Best to your sister and her husband (and you). MTS
Posted by: Marshall T. Spriggs | October 14, 2010 at 09:36 AM
That really stinks, Tom. I'm so sorry that you have to go through all of this. You don't deserve it. I will add you to my Prayer List. It's getting longer and longer. I wish to hell they'd find a cure NOW! (My sister & her hubby are both fighting cancer right now. I hate it!)
Peace ~
Diana (aka "Dee")
Posted by: Dee Airey Pierce | October 14, 2010 at 05:37 AM