Sunrise

Sunrise.

I well see you later.

Love, Margie

Grass

Grass and water.

Other news:  if your update information for me comes only from my daily photo, after tomorrow there not be one for quite awhile.  So send a message and we put you on our regular update if you like.

Hi all:
One important thing on Margie's mind she wants you all to know is that there is no physical pain to contend with.  The surgeon, Dr.Parsa, assures us he will remove as much of the tumor as possible without damage to the brain.  Within 2 or 3 weeks, radiation and oral chemotherapy will begin, followed by more oral chemo in a cycle yet to be determined.
She will remain in the UCSF hospital for 3 to 5 days, and radiation and chemo treatments will be continued at Marin General Hospital.
Her pre-op work continued at UCSF today, including anesthesia consultation and lab work, EKG, Brain CT scans, with and without contrast, much review of her medical history, and lots I cannot remember or understand (a strenuous day !)
Of course Dr. Parsa had to warn us of possible undesirable results to speech and memory after surgery, but these should be temporary and respond to rehabilitation.  She has received overwhelming.offerings of prayer and love.  This, and the high reputation of UCSF and its neuro-surgery staff have given us a strong feeling of optimism.
   Yes, we want this healing and recovery process to start, and to continue to a successful return to the lovable Margie we all want to share.
   Since Thursday (surgery day) will be a long and stressful day, I will wait until Friday, when we know more details to share, to write you a status report.  Until then, your prayers, especially on Thursday, are what her family and numerous friends beg of you.  Dick

After the rain

After the rain a few weeks ago.

Safra

Elyse's Safra  - mostly fur!  Sweet! 

Julie

Is Julie wise?  Is she not wise?  Fourteen years and we haven't figured it out yet!

Oasis

Looking from the 8th floor of UCSF we could see many interesting sights.  Here is a green oasis.

Other news: The surgery will be Thursday April 22 at 12:30 pm, and it will be a 4-hour surgery.  We are happy to have it sooner than later!  I will in UCSF hospital 3 to 5 days, probably.

This is the link to Dr. Parsa's UCSF webpage.   All his awards, research papers, fellowships are listed there, plus his education (Yale).

http://neurosurgery.ucsf.edu/index.php/about_us_faculty_parsa.html

Family

This is a little of a departure today. I want to show my wonderful family at our visit at UCSF today. Marc, Celeste, Dick, me and Elyse.

Hi all. We have just returned from our Consultation meeting at UCSF's Neurological Surgery Department, a very impressive organization  Her surgeon will be Dr.Parsa and her surgery date will be either April 21 or April 28.  We will know the date in 24 hours.
     Margie thinks that everything went wonderfully well in this meeting, so do I, and we are very optimistic about all that we learned in this meeting.  Our three children, Celeste, Elyse and Marc were with us and participated very enthusiastically. .  We will share more information with you tomorrow.
     Thanks for your prayers and good wishes.  Dick and Margie too 

Ease

Our cat Julie at ease at the sun - but would you like that pillow?!!

Weeds

There is so much rain this week that we have weeds growing our roof!

Other news: We will meet with a UCSF surgeon Thursday - more news then.

Iris

Here is the glorious first iris from Sandy's garden this spring.

Other news: The next step is to have a consultation with a surgeon at UCSF; it will probable be on Thursday.  We will know for certain tomorrow and let you know.

Out the window

On February 10, I posted a photo a winter tree out our dining window; here it is in its spring greenery.

Other news: The verdict is cancer in the left frontal lobe affecting speech, spelling and my ability to write.  It is a primary site not referred from my previous breast cancer (11 years ago).  It is rather aggressive and we will treat it aggressively.  Our plan is to have surgery at UCSF, followed in 2 or 3 weeks with radiation and chemo to continue to shrink the tumor.  We will know the schedule better next week.  My ball-of-fire Neurologist Dr. Cokgor gets things done fast!

Dick and my family, especially daughter Elyse who came from LA to help, are all optimistic along with me! 

Love, Margie

Sunrise 4-3-10

A serene sunrise a few days ago.

We see my doctor on Wednesday to get my tiny stitches out and maybe we'll find out something then.

Margie

Red squirrel

Red caught me in the act of taking his photo!

My biopsy was done; no word yet.  It will probably be early next week.

Margie

Freesias

Freesias from Jeanne's garden smell so good!

My biopsy will be today at Marin General Hospital at 1 PM. We'll probably know the results Wednesday. We will let you know when we can.

Friend

Susan's garden friend is always ready to lend a smile.

Doorway 2

Here is a doorway in the 1800 block of Union Street of San Francisco.  It's a second story stairway to a house decorator shop, an intriguing entryway!

A personal note about future Daily Photos:
Thursday I was diagnosed with a small mass in my left brain, benign or cancerous unknown.  I will have a biopsy done early next week.  So there be interruptions now and then; I will try let you know when, or there may no warning.  Here's to more interesting photos!  Margie

Doorway

Yesterday I had a little time to kill on Union Street in San Francisco and I noticed how many narrow doorways open up on the sidewalk.  This one leads to several shops in the back.  You may not be able to read the sign that says "Carol Doda's"; I wonder about that one!

Abstract?

Yes, this could be an abstract - or it could be a recently hewn eucalyptus log. Or both.

Tree & clouds

The title says it all. . . .

Black crowned night heron

Herons and egrets spend much of their time fishing, although to the observer it may look mostly like standing around rather than fishing!   Then  - flash - and a tasty morsel goes down the gullet.

Amber drops

Once in a while I search the archives for photos I haven't shown you before.  Here's one from 2007 taken on a trip to Portland, Oregon.

Gone fishin'

The egret looks for its breakfast just as the sun rises.

Fence right-side-up

For those who are at mystery about yesterday's fence - this right-side-up shadow may clear it up for you.

Two of you gave almost identical comments:

Muriel: Poor thing.  It is but a shadow of itself.
Jim:  Poor fence, it's just a shadow of it's self.

You amaze me!

Fence

A nice fence - but wait -- is there something wrong with it?  It doesn't look quite right?

Another tulip

The red tulips at Filoli were so beautiful that I cannot resist showing you another one!