Posted: 2 years ago

Carol Anderson

Posted: 2 years ago

Week in One Day: Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Since many in our eClub has written me about about Anne and the news that she had spots on her lung (which had been operated on for cancer in 2005), I give you this three verse report on what we learned today at MD Anderson Cancer Center Hospital.

BACK TO THE HOSPITAL

Getting the latest

News- bad/good.

Got new word

Ad/eno/carcinoma.

Too bad, though,

It was not:

"Add no carcinoma!"

Cancer is cancer.

It is slow.

Who's to know

How it'll grow?

New doctors know!

We don't melt;

Play cards dealt!

Anne is fine.

At least now

We both know.

Time is short!

Was that way

When you're born.

Smile-never scorn!

Joe

Posted: 2 years ago

This is a nice post... Let's also start a group that will commit to leaving a message after every meeting. On the meeting comment.

It pops up after you finish the meeting.

Don't just walk away,  stay for 30 seconds and be visible in our virtual room.

I feel strongly that it should be a requirement. If you are a board member, consider it. If you're not, suggest it.

And, I love to see what people have to say after each meeting.

Jack  Selway, Founder, Rotary Global History, Pueblo, CO, USA

Posted: 2 years ago

I agree, we need to be visible.  Maybe we should also send PM's to those we don't hear from.  Is is our responsibility as Rotarians to make sure we include.  Some times that is holding someones hands.  Let us all try. I will look someone up tomorrow that is not on line and contact them. Several of you did that for me, and still do.

Carol Anderson

Posted: 2 years ago

Wow...I can see a lot has happened. 

Carol, I am so impressed with your work.  I don't know that I could ever do the Chemo Buddy thing.  You are an amazing lady.

Joe, I am really sorry to hear about Anne's health.  I shall think good thoughts.

As for me, I've been busy helping with my Alma Mater, Chapman University.  The school has grown in leaps and bounds, and as an Alumni Board Member the end of the school year is always a busy time for me.  The class of 2008 graduated yesterday.  I am so proud of all the kids.  I'm just glad I am not one of them.  No way, no how would I want to be 20 something in this day and age.

Speaking of 20 something "kids."  I attended a Submariners' Ball in San Diego last month.  A young Officer asked me to dance with him.  I thought to myself this can't be happening...I can't be old enough to be his Mom, or can I?  It is true...age is just a number thing.

No, I did not tell the young Officer that I am 52. 

Posted: 2 years ago

Mamie, I would ask you to dance. Of course, being the same age as Senator Kennedy, my knees would only allow me one dance but it would be worth it.

Week of May 18-24, 2008

This has been a week of remembrances, discovery and connecting old networks. Last night, Anne and I went to hear a lecture on architecture by the Seattle architect, Rick Sundberg. I knew Rick when I was the Director of the art museum in Waco, Texas. We wrote to the top 200 architects in America and the world, determined by the U. of Texas Architectural School, and got back a little over 80 replies. Of those, we picked 20 and interviewed them, cutting that number to three: Rick Sundberg's firm in Seattle, Phillip Johnson of New York and the dean of architecture at the U. of Virginia. We visited each of their home offices, walked through works that they had done- public and private, and finally came down to the "new turk" Sundberg and the "classic" Johnson. We choose, from a committee of eight which I headed, Sundberg because of his ideas about mixing "nature, mankind and form." Also he had an office of 80 where as one looked around youth was everywhere- only Sundberg and Olson were older. With a technique of coming up with ideas, critiquing them almost to death each Thursday night, they came up with the mix of craft and creativity: they had done the interior of the Seattle Art Museum and several small museums (which was important, also, to us.) Johnson, of course, was 93 at that time and had a major work in almost every large city in the world. We choose "new ideas" and "youth." Sundberg, now much youthfully older, lectured on Wabi-sabi (one of Ryofu's principles in the tea ceremony and Japanese art in general- impermanence and imperfection) called "Share Vision: Diverse Voices." As he talked, I thought of our Rotary eClub as another example of that concept.

Before he spoke, I gave him some brochures about Ryofu's photographs on "My Peace Journey," and we talked about the Waco project. I have spent two years of my life choosing Rick as our architect, and then because of cancer and it was time, I left the project to have surgery (which worked totally) and then went to the Republic of Georgia on a Fulbrigtht Scholar's grant. I asked what happened and he said, "It fell apart because the vision in Waco was lost." We discussed and wondered what the Board did there about the downtown land where I have helped to raise $300,000 for the placement of the new art museum. As far as both of us know, the land is still there, empty.

Today, I went to my old Rotary club in Humble, Texas. It was nice connecting a few networks again (seeing a few friends) but it was also strange. I have come to love the Internet connections that an eClub brings. When some of us who will be there in LA for the RI Convention meet, we can discuss the differences. A luncheon meeting has even less interaction (except superficially on the surface) than our eClub. I listened to all the local problems and remembered Mark Twain's comment: "The man with the hammer thinks that all problems are nails."

What is neat about an eClub is that it is a toolbox (from a world culture), not a hammer (from a narrower local perspective.) Both are important but the global view is where the 21st century is today. True, we need both! Without the local view, I cannot ask for a dance and have it!

Talking about "global," this weekend we will have our Board of Director's May eMeeting over 72-hours to discuss Goals and Objectives and the revised By-Laws. I am and will be President of Rotary Global History Fellowship for 2007-2009. Some of you should join! You already know a few of our 224 global members: me, Jack, Frank and Ryofu. There are times when dance is the answer to a 72-hour eMeeting that crosses cultures and time zones. Of course, when I paint, I dance with the canvas!

Joe 

Posted: 2 years ago

Carol Anderson

Posted: 2 years ago

The Levenson Family

Ben, our son, is in the US Air Force, doing database programming in Montogmery, AL, USA. He recently completed a 40-day leadership intensive training program to become a Staff Sergeant. At the end of the program, he was surprised and thrilled to recieve an award for best in the class! This award takes into account not just academics, but also leadershipship, teamwork, and management. . . all the key things the Air Force, or any forward-looking organization, looks for in young people as they groom tomorrow's leaders. We are very proud of him.

Liz was home for six days at the end of her freshman year at Northern Arizona Univsersity, then took off for three weeks in Turkey and Israel. The only email report that have gotten is that "everything is wonder.ful. It's wonderful. I'd have to write a long email to tell you more, but this is wonderful!"

Beth and I are spending the weekend in LA with my sister and her family. My step-nephew had his Bar Mitzvah yesterday. It was a wondferul event, with lots of singing and perticipation by the congregation. Congratulations, Max! 

We have been moving ahead with our plans to build a house this year, but found out this week that with the continuing credit industry problems,  the "stated income" program we were going to use just got eliminated, we we incurred some architect expenses and are putting this project on long-term hold. This was a real disappointment for us, as we've been pretty excited as the planning process evolved.

Meanwhile, I have been asked to found a nonprofit disaster relief organization that would act as a "funnel" for channeling funds to various first-reponse groups. A friend and I are actively  researching this opportunity. Will keep you posted.

Leaving LA tomorrow for a meeting in PHX about creating a company to produce an energy-efficient panelized wall system for high-rise commercial buildings. Six of us are sitting down to a Memerial Day lunch meeting, with draft business plan in hand, to better understand who's who in this proposed venture, and to get our hands around exactly what our product would look like.

Hey. .. I never said our lives were boring!!  ;)

As Bugs Bunny says, "Thanks all, folks!"

Larry Levenson 

Larry Levenson
President 2009-2010
Prescott, Arizona USA
===================

Posted: 2 years ago

Joe and Anne, Beth and I send our love! Anne, we don't know how you've managed to keep up with this wild guy for all these years. We wish you both happiness and joy!

Larry & Beth 

Larry Levenson
President 2009-2010
Prescott, Arizona USA
===================

Posted: 2 years ago

A Day At The Ballet In May

Our Houston Ballet    Three great premiers    "Falling" (does not)          "Little Dancers" (hot)   "Five Tangos" (wow)    Exception ALL now             To marvel US!

"Falling" was elegrant    Lady and gent     Coupled in space                Rhythm and grace,     So we enjoy         Without losing face              Dancing in lace.

"Little Dancer" is        Taken from Degas.     Ballet's my passion         Which I exercise       In my fashion        In virtual space                Dancing in place.

"Five Tangos" is     Erotic with moves       Dips and grooves             Improve and build      Climax on climax    South American grace            Face to face.

Our day's done      All was fun         With pleasant thought                    While dancers spot    No one falls      But bowing "Yes."                        Ten curtain calls.

Note: "Falling" was premiered in 2005 and "Five Tangos" in 1977 in other places but this was their Houston premier; "Little Dancer," a world premier, is taken as an idea from a sculpture by the 19th century French artist, Edgar Degas, when he was doing his ballet series of paintings and sculptures. It is one girl from the corp getting ready to dance. The last act of this piece is done passionately on the floor until Degas helps the little dancer to stand on her toes and then she stands elegantly upright, alone. It was something to marvel US ALL! Ten curtain calls!

Posted: 2 years ago

Found a place in "these here" mountains where I can get and send e-mail.  Joe, know that you and Anne are in our thoughts and prayers.

We have had very strong winds the last week and just now are getting the kind of weather that  it is nice to be outside.  Today a hike in the woods, and some work on the landscape.  It is so different not being on the run every minute, and it takes some getting use to the laid back life.

Carol Anderson

Posted: 2 years ago

Joe - I would dance with you any time, especially to Big Band music.  Just make sure you wear steel toe shoes.  My husband hates to dance, but my business partner, who is 81, soon to be 82 can really heat up that dance floor. 

Memorial Day was spent at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery.  My former boss for many years recently lost his son in Iraq.  Mark was a Navy SEAL for 8 years.  After his enlistment, he went to work for the US Government as a Contractor training the Iraqi Special Forces.  On the morning of 04/11/08, Mark, along with 7 Iraqi Special Forces were killed when their lead armored vehicle ran over a pressurized IED on the roads of Baghdad.   The 8th Iraqi Soldier was not expected to survive. 

It was difficult to visit Mark's grave, but the family is finding comfort in knowing that Mark did exactly what he wanted to do.  This past week, I had the honor to meet a WWII Navy Ace Pilot and a WWII veteran, who climbed the "wall" on Omaha Beach.  To say the experience was emotional would be an understatement.

Posted: 2 years ago

We are excited to have both of our Marine Grandsons home in New Mexico.  Luke and his bride moved back to Albuquerque after Luke finished his 5 years with the Marines.  He's going back to college. 

Mathew has just finished jump school and assigned with a Marine Reserve unit that has been deployed to Iraq 4 times.  Hopefully they will stay put for a few months.  Mathew is awaiting dive school next.  We are glad to have them home, even if for just a little while.

Carol Anderson

Posted: 2 years ago

Busy preparing for the LA convention. Rotary Global History Fellowship (RGHF) www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org  has made a slight change to RGHF (Rotary Global History Fellowship) www.rghf.org

That was about 15 hours of programing but made a lot of sense. Also rounding up the folks who will attend our two events.

And, today, I'm a carpenter, installing shelves in a couple of rooms. And, two days in a row, a late lunch down town with my wife. Two vacation days!

Jack  Selway, Founder, Rotary Global History, Pueblo, CO, USA

Posted: 2 years ago

Two Weeks in June (June 1-14, 2008) 

This is a time where the ordinary is contrasted with the extraordinary. Simple things like babysitting with the grandchildren happened over separate days. We again played hide and seek. Of course, as the grandfather who teaches them to expand the rules, I “cheated” and hid outside the house in an armchair (an old man’s choice of a hiding place.) When the four-year old, Matthew, found me, he said: “This is cheating, Grandpa, you are supposed to hide in the house.” “Who made that rule?” I asked. “Everyone knows that hide and seek is in our house,” he continued with his hands on his hips like Henry the Eighth. “No one told me,” I said quietly, with innocence written across my face. It did not work with this rule master: “You are supposed to know that. Mom told us!”

At our house, in our neighborhood, late in the afternoon as we returned home, I was inducted into the Snake Gang, a brotherhood for five to eight year old kids in the surrounding homes (only because I know one magic trick and can pull stones out of five-year old heads after a slight-of-hand-making-the-stone-disappear.) Also Anne bought sugar-free pop sickles for all the area kids, when they come to the door asking for a drink (we have to limit them to four a day.) Do you think that had anything to do with my induction into the Snake Gang? (In greeting, we fold our arms across our chests and hiss at each other.)

With all this simple “had-to-do-list” stuff, I was asked to get ready three images for the Marquis Who’s Who in American Art website new “artgallery”. It took me several days to get the right quality of images but it was worth the struggle. I have been in Who’s Who in American Art since the early 1980’s but this is the first time that they have expanded into a virtual gallery of the artists on that site. Someone at my college asked me the other day, “What do you do with all the Who’s Who honors?” I told him, “It is part of the fuel to get Fulbright grants to travel the world. Luck comes to those who are prepared.”

Also this week, oversaw the finishing of four new signs for Rotary Global History Fellowship and sent them away to Los Angeles to allow others to assemble our booth at the RI Convention. Several weeks ago I sent Mel our eClub photographs by Ryofu on our island visit last November and his Peace Journey (which the college processed and mounted for free over the last two months as part of our eClub booth presentation.) See you all there!

June 6: Went to Houston early to MD Anderson Cancer Center for Anne’s first appointment with her new doctor, a lovely young woman named Dr. Johnson. Her assistant is from India (but MD is like going to the United Nations). The news is again bad and good: bad: the cancer is classified as Stage 4 (on a scale of 1 to 4, 4 both lungs); good, it is growing so slowly and so minuscule that they will monitor it again in six months. As you grow older, things happen. It is never what cards you are dealt but how you play them.  

What goes around comes around, they say. The mail came today and the forty letters that I wrote my daughter (and asked a friend to keep until I passed away, then send her one on her birthday and at Christmas each year for 20 years) came back. On reflection, I changed my mind and now will give them to her so that she can share them with her children as they grow up and ask me questions while I am still around.  

June 8: Attended the last Houston Ballet presentation of the 2007-2008 season: La Sylphide/A Doll’s House. It will be again marvelous and magical! Our tickets for 2008-2009 will arrive in August.

June 10: My turn to go into the hospital for an internal checkup, a colonoscopy.  Had colon cancer in 2000 (which got cut out, freeing me of that since then) so I get an examination every two or three years. We know now that: “Nothing is really routine at our age.”

June 14: The two of us will fly out from Bush Intercontinental Airport for Los Angeles early Saturday morning for the Rotary International Convention. Early evening, I will be inducted into the “1905 Society” at a reception and then, at our breakfast on Sunday, a second induction for my second term as RGHF President/Chairman. Our Fellowship has been growing and evolving (with over 230 members worldwide and one million visitors each year to the website.) It will be interesting to meet some of the people that I virtually communicate with each month at our 72-hour Board of Director’s eMeeting (which covers over six continents, in different time zones and embraces many cultures.) Looking forward to getting my Paul Harris Fellow pin. Certainly, I will look into our eClub booth and help there also.

Who said that retirement would bring unfilled time? Not me. Got two major exhibitions of new work to get ready for when I return in July (mixed with other genre things, like fixing the fence and automatic garage door, taking out the garbage, the joy of babysitting, watering the summer grass and preparing new ideas for my “eager” students for the fall semester.) Also will have an eRetreat for RGHF’s new/old board members in (hopefully) July and will finish off the plans for the Long Star College-Kingwood forum website for arts and humanities faculty before September classes start. All I can say is: “That’ all, Folks!”

Joe