30 Years Ago - The Surgery

30 years ago today I had my aneurysm surgery. The really big one got a titanium clip and the others have continued to be closely monitored and scanned all these years. I spent the rest of that summer on the couch with our baby son while our 4 year old daughter stared at my wounded head. A year later I was a full time grad student embarking on a completely new career path. Life goes on and we make the best of it. A big thank you to family and friends who helped me through this over the years and especially to Becky for her strength. And to my poor mother who lost her husband in 1970 to a ruptured brain aneurysm and then had to experience four of her children undergo aneurysm surgeries. She was the foundation of our family and we miss her.

Remembering that day… the operation went well except for a reaction to the anesthesia triggered by Malignant Hyperthermia that the doctors were prepared for but that caused a rapid increase in body temperature. I woke up shivering in the ICU packed in ice. Not fun. Becky was very relieved when I recognized her right away and was able to answer questions from the doctors. It was nice to get out of the hospital by the holiday weekend.

The initial Yale study that we are participated in was completed around ten years or so ago and a medical journal article was published. We were referred to as "the family from Pennsylvania". A genetic marker for aneurysms was identified. I got copies of the article somewhere and will dig them up.

I Shall Be Released - Decade 2

Decade 2 - I Shall Be Released
8 hours 8 minutes

1. I Shall Be Released - The Band, 1968
2. Behind That Locked Door - George Harrison, 1970
3. Perfect Day - Lou Reed, 1972
4. Surf's Up - The Beach Boys, 1971
5. Pink Moon - Nick Drake, 1972
6. The Circle Game - Tom Rush, 1968
7. Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan, 1969
8. Crazy Love - Van Morrison, 1970
9. Stoned Soul Picnic - Laura Nyro, 1968
10. Who Loves The Sun - The Velvet Underground, 1970
11. The Wind - Cat Stevens, 1971
12. Every Night - Paul McCartney, 1970
13. Reason To Believe - Rod Stewart, 1971
14. Your Song - Elton John, 1970
15. Life On Mars - David Bowie, 1971
16. Brokedown Palace - Grateful Dead, 1970
17. America - Simon & Garfunkel, 1968
18. Helpless - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, 1970
19. I've Gotta Get A Message To You - Bee Gees, 1968
20. Today - Jefferson Airplane, 1967
21. Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen, 1971
22. Thirteen - Big Star, 1972
23. Jesus Was A Cross Maker - Judee Sill, 1971
24. Tiny Island - Leo Kottke, 1972
25. These Days - Jackson Browne, 1973
26. New York City Serenade - Bruce Springsteen, 1973
27. Carefree Highway - Gordon Lightfoot, 1974
28. Ol' 55 - Tom Waits, 1973
29. A Song For You - Leon Russell, 1970
30. Mama Roux - Dr. John, 1968
31. Who'll Stop The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970
32. This Wheel's On Fire - The Byrds, 1969
33. Tales Of Brave Ulysses - The Rotary Connection, 1969
34. Rock Me On The Water - Linda Ronstadt, 1972
35. Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell, 1970
36. Easy Rollin' - The Rascals, 1968
37. Jennifer Juniper - Donovan, 1968
38. House On Pooh Corner - Loggins & Messina, 1971
39. Little Bit Of Rain - Karen Dalton, 1969
40. Dead Flowers - The Rolling Stones, 1971
41. Falling In And Out Of Love - Pure Prairie League, 1972
42. Anticipation - Carly Simon, 1971
43. Wishing You Were Here - Chicago & The Beach Boys, 1974
44. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight - Richard & Linda Thompson, 1974
45. Alison Gross - Steeleye Span, 1973
46. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, Neil Diamond, 1970
47. Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young, 1970
48. I Believe In You - Rita Coolidge, 1971
49. It's Too Late - Carole King, 1971
50. You've Made Me So Very Happy - Blood, Sweat & Tears, 1969
51. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers, 1965
52. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge, 1966
53. Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) - Martha & The Vandallas, 1965
54. Ooo Baby Baby - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1965
55. Together - The Intruders, 1967
56. Ain't No Way -  Aretha Franklin, 1968
57. Goin' Out Of My Head - Little Anthony & The Imperials, 1965
58. Dedicated To The One I Love - The Mamas & The Papas, 1967
59. You Baby - The Lovin' Spoonful, 1965
60. Like A Baby - Len Barry, 1965
61. Don't Sleep In The Subway - Petula Clark, 1967
62. Je Taime... Moi Non Plus - Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birken, 1969
63. Can't Take My Eyes Off You - The Four Seasons, 1967
64. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack, 1969
65. It Ain't Me Babe - Joan Baez, 1968
66. What The World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon, 1965
67. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) - Bob Dylan, 1966
68. Here, There And Everywhere - The Beatles, 1966
69. Tears Of Rage - The Band, 1968
70. Darkness Darkness - The Youngbloods, 1970
71. Roads To Moscow - Al Stewart, 1973
72. Help Me Make It Through The Night - Sammi Smith, 1970
73. Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft, 1972
74. Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground,1967
75. Chelsea Girls - Nico, 1967
76. Daydream Believer - The Monkees, 1968
77. See - The Rascals, 1969
78. We Love You - The Rolling Stones, 1967
79. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) - The Seekers, 1967
80. Michael And The Slipper Tree - The Equals, 1968
81. The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks, 1968
82. Jack O' Diamonds - Fairport Convention, 1968
83. When I Was A Child - Pearls Before Swine, 1969
84. Song For A Winter's Night - Gordon Lightfoot, 1967
85. Sing A Song Of Summer - John Martyn, 1968
86. Mr. & Mrs. - Incredible String Band, 1969
87. Place To Be - Nick Drake, 1972
88. If I Were A Carpenter - Tim Hardin, 1967
89. The Dolphins - Fred Neil, 1966
90. Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds, 1965
91. All I Really Want To Do - Bob Dylan, 1964
92. Thorn Tree In The Garden - Derek & The Dominos, 1970
93. Scarborough Fair / Canticle - Simon & Garfunkel, 1966
94. Stoney End - Laura Nyro, 1967
95. Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles, 1969
96. Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, 1970
97. Sea Of Joy - Blind Faith, 1969
98. Everyone's Gone To The Movies - Steely Dan, 1975
99. Don't Cross The River - America, 1975
100. Do You Know What I Mean - Lee Michaels, 1971
101. Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat & Tears, 1969
102. Beginnings - Chicago, 1969
103. Long As I Can See The Light - Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970
104. Candle In The Wind - Elton John, 1973
105. Love Is All Around - The Troogs, 1967
106. You Wear It Well - Rod Stewart, 1972
107. Darling Be Home Soon - Joe Cocker, 1969
108. California - Joni Mitchell, 1971
109. I'll Keep It With Mine - Nico, 1967
110. Phantasmagoria In Two - Tim Buckley, 1967
111. Summer Wine - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazleton, 1968
112. Ruby Tuesday - Melanie, 1970
113. Too Much Of Nothing - Peter, Paul & Mary, 1970
114. This Wheel's On Fire - The Band, 1967
115. Old Blue - The Byrds, 1969
116. I'm Willin' - Seatrain, 1970
117. Just For Me And You - Poco, 1971
118. Kind Woman - Buffalo Springfield, 1968
119. Caroline Goodbye - Colin Blunstone, 1971
120. Song For Juli - Jesse Colin Young, 1973
121. Amie - Pure Prairie League, 1972
122. If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot, 1970
123. Garden Party - Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band, 1972
124. You've Got A Friend - James Taylor, 1971
125. Always See Your Face - Love, 1969
126. Tell Me Why - Neil Young, 1970
127. Tecumseh Valley - Townes Van Zandt, 1968
128. Reason To Believe - Tim Hardin, 1966
129. Caroline, No - The Beach Boys, 1966
130. Massachusetts - Bee Gees, 1967
131. Carrie Anne - The Hollies, 1967
132. I Remember When I Loved Her - The Zombies, 1965
133. You Keep Hanging Up On My Mind - Wendy & Bonnie, 1969
134. Ball Of Fire - Tommy James & The Shondells, 1969

That Teachable Moment

A scan of my clip and a teachable moment episode to share. My new neurologist recently sent me to get an MRI because I had been having some issues but the doctors at the neuro center wanted written proof that my nearly 30 year old metal clip was nonferrous and safe. I knew it was and previously had several MRIs in the 90’s but that is a whole different story concerning the keeping of medical records. Since no one could find the requested info in a timely manner I was sent to another hospital to have a Cat-Scan that was calibrated to determine the density and type of metal clip. 

The young technician there was asking me questions about the metal in my head and had assumed it was from some sort of industrial accident. I started explaining my multiple aneurysms, my clipping surgery and the various scans and procedures I’ve had over the years and of course my family history. Then the tech’s supervisor appeared after having overheard some of the conversation and asked me to start again and explain my background to her. She stopped me after a bit and left the room. She quickly returned with a group of about 7 or 8 technician trainees and asked me to tell my story from the beginning for the group. This went on for quite a while as I described my family history of aneurysms over several generations, the deaths, the numerous surgeries, the family participation in genetic testing studies, my having one of the first non-ferrous clips, my more than 20 scans over the years including angiograms, cat-scans, MRIs, MRAs, CTAs… while the interested students listened in rapt attention. The supervisor thanked me for the information and insights.

A very teachable moment but not the first time something like this has happened over the years. Also, BTW, just got back from dinner with my wife at our favorite sushi restaurant celebrating our wedding anniversary today... 39 years.

Canadian Invasion 1994

25 years ago on June 25, 1994 we drove down to East Otto NY to the Griffis Sculpture Park for an all day concert that was billed as The Canadian Invasion. I had never been there before and it was interesting being on the grounds and seeing the sculptures.

It was a good concert despite a break for some rain. We really enjoyed Blue Rodeo as usual and 54-40 and Lowest of the Low. I would see those other two bands a couple of more times in Buffalo at the Thursday in the Square shows. I also liked the Wild Strawberries.

It was exciting to see The Band again although they were without Robbie Robertson they did sound great and tried really hard without him. They had just released a comeback album Jericho which was their first new album since 1977 and it was a good album. I especially liked their version of Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City. 

It was nice seeing 10,000 Maniacs again too.

Band lineup...

• The Band
• Blue Rodeo
• 54-40
• Lowest of the Low
• Spirit of the West
• The Wild Strawberries
• The Watchman
• Rose Chronicles
• 10,000 Maniacs

Better Wire

I started working at Better Wire Products on Niagara Street in June 1979 about a month after moving to Buffalo. That would be 40 years ago now.

I was hired as a shipping & receiving clerk. It was a small metal fabricating operation that was family owned and employed about 20 to 30 people depending on current jobs. The company hired a lot of temporary employees through a third party for times when they had a lot of work orders that wouldn't last.

There always seemed to be people coming and going but there was a core of regular employees that I saw every day and they was often two shifts. I really don't remember anyone's names anymore. I do remember lots of faces.

I was usually busy in shipping and receiving. I drove around the plant in a fork truck picking up product and taking it to the shipping dock for loading on to trucks. After about a year the company expanded my duties and I became a de facto assistant plant manager involved with quality control. I still did the shipping work but would monitor the work of other employees.

The plant was a small building on Niagara Street near Lafayette Ave in an industrial neighborhood. There were little bars and restaurants nearby where I would sometimes go for lunch. I would mostly walk to work from our apartment on Putnam Street. During the winter I wore long johns to work for not only the walk but because I often had the garage door opened for shipping. I had a desk and work area near that opened door.

There were a lot of characters working at that place and even working through the neighborhood to work everyday was an interesting experience. I got a good idea of what it was like to be a working class Buffalonian. 

In 1980 there was an attempt to recruit the employees of Better Wire Products into the Machinists Union over the course of a few months. There were meetings after work at a bar down the street with union organizers that bought lots of rounds of beer. After a few months there was an election and the union won representation much to the chagrin of the company. I voted for the union but shortly after the election was when I was moved to management.

Becky and I got married in June of 1980 and when to Toronto for a few days after the wedding. It was later in the early summer of 1981 that we took a more serious honeymoon like vacation out West for three weeks. The company let me take that long vacation and one of the other guys took care of the shipping and receiving while I was gone.

This was also the time of the Reagan recession and the company was not doing well which was partly why I was able to take three weeks off. Business was way off and there were a lot of layoffs at the plant which was somewhat harder to do because they were now  a union shop. Well, I guess they realized they really didn't need me and a couple of weeks after I got back they laid me off which was easy to do because I was management and also was paid more than some of the other guys.

So I go laid off and spent the rest of the summer collecting unemployment checks and also working off the books for a friend who had landscaping business. 

I spend two years at Better Wire Products. Approximately June 1979 to June 1981. 

The company moved to the East Side in the 1990's and the old building was empty for many years. Recently a developer has begun making renovations with big plans as part of the renewal of Niagara Street. 

Better Wire Moment:

March 30, 1981 (I looked it up) the owner of the company gathered a group of employees from the plant floor and tearfully announced that President Reagan had been shot. Some of the workers cheered and clapped their hands. The stunned owner walked away.

New Sidewalk

Our tax dollars at work. The city put in a new sidewalk and we also got a new driveway entrance. The sidewalk had lots of cracks especially near where that very large elm tree grew for so many years.

First they dug up the old sidewalk with a digger and then a cement mixer came along and poured the concrete. The workers then smoothed it all out. It took a few days to dry

but now it looks fantastic. The smooth surface will also make it easier to shovel snow come winter.

Readings 2010

I had 28 books read for 2010 which was about average for that time period of my life. Cloud Atlas has turned out to be one of my all time favorite novels and an interesting movie too. I've gone on to read everything I can by David Mitchell. The Berlin Noir Trilogy was three crime novels featuring the Berlin detective Bernie Gunther that were published together. I loved them and I've read every Philip Kerr novel that has come out since then.

There were a few other novels out by favorite authors in this list including Paul Auster, Margaret Atwood, James Ellroy. Also read a couple of books by Dan Chaon and Dean Koontz. 

1. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell, 2004
2. Berlin Noir: March Violets/The Pale Criminal/A German Requiem - Philip Kerr, 1993
3. Sunset Park - Paul Auster, 2010
4. Matterhorn - Karl Marlantes, 2009
5. Among the Missing - Dan Chaon, 2002
6. Blood's A Rover - James Ellroy, 2009
7. The Year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood, 2009
8. Await Your Reply - Dan Chaon, 2009
9. Daemon - Daniel Suarez, 2009
10. Prodigal Son - Dean Koontz, 2009
11. World Without End - Ken Follett, 2007
12. Boneshaker - Cherie Priest, 2009
13. You Remind Me of Me - Dan Chaon, 2004
14. City of Night - Dean Koontz, 2009
15. Ender in Exile - Orson Scott Card, 2008
16. Dead and Alive - Dean Koontz, 2009

My nonfiction books of 2010 included the usual assortment of politics, history and music but no biographies or memoirs this year. That's unusual. Plus two books about food from Michael Pollan. I really liked the first book on the list which was a collection of investigative journalism articles.

1. Tell Me No Lies: Investigative Journalism That Changed the World - John Pilger, 2004
2. The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things - Barry Glassner, 1999
3. Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1957-1973 - Clinton Heylin, 2009
4. The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan: A History of the End of the Cold War - James Mann, 2009
5. The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land - Thomas Asbridge, 2010
6. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon - David Grann, 2009
7. Stripping Bare the Body: Politics, Violence, War - Mark Danner, 2009
8. Rome: A Living Portrait of an Ancient City - Stephen Dyson, 2010
9. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals - Michael Pollan, 2006
10. The Good Soldiers - David Finkel, 2009
11. In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto - Michael Pollan, 2008
12. The Complete History of Parkside Buffalo, NY - Steve Cichon, 2009

The Uninhabitable Earth

 

The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells, 2919

Read in June 2019.

The other day I was reading this book and getting upset about climate change while my granddaughter was sleeping in my lap. I was thinking about how this would affect her life in the decades ahead. Then I had an image of an older Clara around the turn of the next century explaining the climate disaster to her grandchildren and how things were different when she was a child. Suddenly I looked down at her and she was smiling up at me with that twinkle in her eyes. I felt better. She will be an activist.

This was a very scary book and everything I've heard or read about global climate change did not prepare me for the catastrophe to come. It is also dependent on this generation to make something happen and to literally save the world. It was also well written and researched. He very carefully explained how different parts of the world will be impacted differently and focused on the political ramifications of climate change. Very challenging. 

Roky Erickson - You're Gonna Miss Me

Sorry to see that Roky Erickson passed away yesterday. He was a pioneer of psychedelic rock who released a truly great album in 1966 The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. The two follow up albums by that band were also great. Easter Everywhere in 1967 and Bull of the Woods in 1969. Of course I have all three of them. I also have four of his solo albums and a box set compilation of his works.

I recently saw the 2007 documentary of his life which was amazing... and sad too. The mental illness issues were particularly disturbing along with the involuntary electro shock therapy he was forced to undergo. He had a tragic life but came back to have a second music career.

The documentary trailer.