LIFE-LONG DEMOCRAT

Judi described herself as a life-long Democrat

On Friday, Mario was released from Chemo Number 7 prison and will be on probation for hopefully only a week or so, as the post chemo symptoms subside.  So far Chemo Number 7 has been kind.  The only two noteworthy events have been an in-hospital blood transfusion and a very low blood pressure (hypotension) reading.  Here is a link on to help understand your blood pressure.  http://www.medicinenet.com/low_blood_pressure/article.htm 

The blood transfusion had been anticipated by Mr. FOG, thinking we were due for one.  Perhaps having received a transfusion in the hospital will avoid getting one before Chemo Number 8.  The hypotension tension was less anticipated.  His Lordship usually has a lower blood pressure and a faster heart rate.  In contrast , Mr. FOG has a higher blood pressure, around the pre-hypertension level, but a lower pulse/heart rate.   Each of us is a bit different and the body compensates between blood pressure and pulse/heart rate to mainatain a balance.  It may be a good idea for you to know what is normal for you.  In any event Mario was being watched.  A danger of hypotension is a fainting spell and the possible resulting fall.  In hindsight, perhaps the Prickly Pear Margarita blamed for an the earlier fainting spell, was not the true culprit and was instead due to hypotension caused by an unknown underlying cause.  We will address this when we meet with Dr. Tran this week.

Epworth Methodist Church

Mr. FOG decided that he wanted to attend the church service remembering his friend’s Judith’s life, and arrived at Vinings Mountain Castle on Saturday, a day early.  Lord and Nurse also decided that they too wanted to attend the service, and Lord, Nurse and Butler went together, with Nurse Sherry serving as the chauffer.  Judith’s bon voyage service was at a small Methodist neighborhood church very near to her home.  .  When her husband Tom retired, Judith needed some away time and worked as the church secretary.  She found a warm home in this loving Christian community in a neighborhood filled with Arts and Cranfts bungalows. 

Aware of what may come and wishing to help loved ones to whom this task would fall on; Judith, a life-long Democrat, or so she described herself; organized much of her memorial service.   The church was decorated with much of her work.  Mr. FOG has always liked her needle work cartoons, but she also worked in oil and other media .  Her needlework “cartoons” were displayed in the window niches of the church.  With FOG’s Catholic upbringing, they looked a little like the Stations of the Cross.  Strangely, it all seemed very appropriate. 

 Her cartoon needlework art is similar to a New Yorker cartoon, but done with needle and thread on linen instead of pen and ink on paper.  Her humor, was to capture an aspect of an individual’s character, usually a flaw or quirky attribute, and make a self revealing comment about the person, a situation in life, or whatever caught her eye..  . 

The needlework art , which is hard to read in the picture, is of a woman, who decided that she could not afford or go through the pain of cosmetic surgery.  Instead it was far easier and cheaper for her to assume the persona of drum majorette.  Perhaps this was a private fantasy, since to FOG the majorette looks a little like Judith.

Being a bit of a Francophile, Mr. FOG’s favorite Judi needle cartoon was an image of a woman wearing a  beret, lounging in the bed of cheap motel smoking a cigarrette .  Unable to afford a trip to Paris, periodically she goes to motel across town and imagines that she is in Paris.  A small Eiffel Tower replica on top of the television, with perhaps Edith Piaf  singing in the background completes the fantasy. 

Judy was known to use herself and friends in her art, both as models and for ideas.  Mr. FOG always looked to see which of his character flaws  she might have captured in her art.  So far FOG has not found any of his flaws depicted   but she is clever enough to hide them well and sometimes we really can't see ourselves.

Judith had a very nice send off.  Of course Mr. FOG shed discreet tears for a friend taken away. Friends and family were invited to tell stories about Judi and remembrances of her life was well represented by Phillip speaking for her many Alabama cousins: Bab’s, Tom’s sister; neighbors, golf instructors; Tommy the lawyer, one her traveling companions; church members, and friends from Coca Cola.  She left us much too soon, but this is something we can’t control in life.  Tired after a long drive and Mario just getting out of Chemo; Lord, Nurse and Butler slipped away at the end of the service and passed up the Honey Baked Ham buffet set up in the fellowship hall.  A long line of well-wishers were paying their respects to Tom he husband.  He seemed to be holding up well. 

Taking Our Blood Pressure

Concerned about the hypotension,  on the way home the trio stopped at CVS for a free blood pressure test. Nurse Sherry and Mr. FOG were on the high side (hypertesion) and the Lordship was on the low side (hypotension) 

The normal is 120/80 and the pulse rate can range from about 60 to 100.  However what is "normal" can vary greatly by individual..   Our results were:   Lord's BP 107/68 pulse 122; Sherry's BP 131/86 pulse 77; FOG's BP 151/84 pulse 58.We will monitor the situation.

Mario takes his BP while Nurse Sheery Looks On

Nurse Sherry Takes her BP while his Lordship Looks On

FOG takes his BP, Photgraphy by Sherry