Caught Doing Crack in Public

Dude! It's called a BELT!

Happy Holiday Heart

Countdown to 40

Peace on Earth

I went to see a few movies on Christmas day. This sign hangs in the foyer of the theatre-- what a world we live in!

Of course, I have to say, it's probably a good thing. There are times I would like to pull a gun (a toy of course, but it would look real enough in the dark) and scare the pants off some inconsiderate ASS that can't shut up for 2 hours and has to chat through the movie. Not that I could actually shoot them-- but woudln't it be fun to see the look on their face?!

"Atonement" - WONDERFUL! Highly recommend!

"Kite Runner" - Pretty good adaptation, but read the book instead. It's astonishing! The movie doens't capture the raw emotion of the book.

Snowball Fight from JibJab

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A little Christmas Merriment

My apartment is pretty small, and Scutter is a little too spastic to put up a Christmas Tree, but I decided I wanted to at least bring in the mood. I strung lights all over the ceiling in the small entryway into my apartment. It's not the same, but it definitely casts that colored glow throughout the entire place.

It's the same magical glow that a 10 year old boy sees bleeding out of the family room that houses the Christmas tree at the far end of the house in the wee hours of Christmas morning. He's about to bust from the temptation to walk down to see if Santa has been there yet, but knows it's strictly against the rules to leave the bedroom before morning. Instead, he tosses and turns in anticipation, frequently sneaking a peak, wondering if there is any movement down there at all.

Mom LOVED Christmas... she obsessed over it. Christmas the past 6 years hasn't been joyous, but putting up the lights this year (the first year I've done any sort of decorating at all) brought a glimmer of that magical glow back to the season. That, and I know that I will have the whole family (Dad, Cousi-mom, Grandma, and Matthew, plus Lisa and Kenny, Shari and Naomi, Larry) together in Florida for my birthday at the end of January-- Dad's Christmas present to me this year!

Chat Pack

I found Chat Pack at Barnes and Noble over the weekend, and thought it would be a fun thing to do on my blog. I know that I have some fans out there-- well, actually friends and family mostly, but if you can' t count them as your biggest fans, what else matters-- but most people don't leave comments. My hope is that the Chat Pack questions will make the blog more interactive and give visitors a chance to chime in with their answers. (Please sign at least your first name when you answer so I know who you are. I haven't managed to master the settings that control how to leave your post, so people keep leaving them anonymously.)

Chat Pack question: If you were told that you could watch only one television show a week for the next 12 months, which show would you choose to watch? (Leave your answer in the comments.)

My Answer: I would probably have picked "West Wing" but it's no longer in production, so I would probably shoose "Brothers and Sisters." I LOVE Sally Field.

Hello StreetHeart

I was driving home from work yesterday, and this one was in the street. Luckily there was no traffic behind me, so I was able to pull up and snap the pic with my cell phone and grab it before continuing on...

Merry Christmas, Obi-wan Kenobi

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

I was walking un the Upper East Side on the way to a work meeting yesterday morning, anc stumbled across an actual yellow brick walkway on E. 70th. :)

Another Heart

Another junk-drawer surprise.

First Snow

I took this pic from my front porch yesterday. I love snow. This was more of a dusting than an accumulation, but welcoming the season's first snow was exciting anyway.

Unexpected surprise

Amidst the junk. This is a "toy" locket, cheap, plastic. Found it in a junk drawer at Barnes and Noble. It originally belonged in a "book with locket" combo, but made its way into this drawer for me. (I rarely open this drawer-- there's never a reason-- but I did tonight.)

What a charmer!

Back on October 2nd, I posted my prediction for "Dancing with the Stars". After seeing Sabrina on the first night I was convinced that whe would go all the way. However, when the men completed their first week, I officially changed my pick to Helio!

Tuesday night, my pick took his victory lap! What a charismatic guy. Watching the finale last night, my face actually HURT from smiling so big watching him. Contagious happy energy!

More Marfan Video News

Here's another video link for a Today Show segment from Fall of 2005. The news hook was the release of the movie version of RENT, and features Jonathan Larson's father Al and Karen Murray.


The warning signs of Marfan's Syndrome

I want one!

Another family friend brought her dogs with her for Thanksgiving at Rachel's parents' house. This is the sweetest dog EVER. I'm still a "cat person" but I'm really thiking about trying to work out a way I could manage a dog-- apartment allowances, vet costs, time spent at home, kitty tolerance are all issues to work through first. But just LOOK at this little guy!

Giving Thanks

The practicalities of holiday travel make it hard for me to spend holidays with my family. So, as I have many times, I spent Thanksgiving with Rachel and her family in Mt. Kisco. It's great to have someplace to go and feel like part of the family. This is me with Rachel's grandma.

National Marfan Foundation Public Service Announcement

Happy Thanksgiving

Tourist in My Own Town

I took the day off on Friday to play in NYC with a friend visiting from Tucson. We did the Museum of Modern Art and strolled around Central Park. A PERFECT day in NYC!






The Martin Puryear sculpture "Ladder for Booker T. Washington, 1996." I loved this piece.

Today Show Segment on Marfan Syndrome

Understanding Marfan syndrome (click this link to view the segment at MSNBC Video).

This segment aired this morning on The Today Show. It's a wonderful human interest story that our Director of Publicity worked on with Today Show producers for months. Visit the NMF Website for more information.

Bessie Jones-Martin

Bessie Jones only became Bessie Jones-Martin when she learned to behave herself. She was a sweet dog. We had her from the time I was 10 until I was about 25.

Hearts at Home

Found this in the woods behind my apartment.

Thinking of Grandma

Grandma gave me these photos when I was in Indiana in October. Thought I'd share with the world what a beautiful woman she is...

Animal Kingdom

Somehow I missed this ride the last time I was here. Great fun! Check out the various looks on everyone faces as we were "attacked" by a T-Rex.

The Tree of Life in the center of the park.

Rosie's character from Tarzan--Terk-- with Timon from Lion King.

Hanging out today with Linette from Parent Heart Watch after three grueling days of exhibiting at the American Heart Association conference. We started out at Disney MGM just long enough to do their few thrill rides, then headed over to Disney's Animal Kingdom for the Everest Adventure.

Mine!

2nd night of Bread Pudding at Raglan Road Irish Pub in Orlando. A-MA-ZING!

Whistle While You Work

Just to show that we were actually working for the past three days, and that it was not all princes and fairy tales at Disney-- Here's Jennifer in the booth with our guest from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute speaking to a conferfence attendee about the Clinical Trial.

Best Desert Ever

Oh-My-GOD!
Outrageous bread pudding!

Raglan Road Irish Pub at Downtown Disney in Orlando serves this-- literally the most yummy desert I've ever tasted.

A Heart at American Heart

I found this one at the American Heart Association (AHA) Conference exhibit Hall in Orlando. Hearts everywhere, true, but not on the floor in my path... :)

Menacing Sign at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando

Is there any other way out?????

Adventures at EPCOT

Jennifer was the Dopey one, gettin her finger in the picture. Funny tid-bit: Dopey made me put my beer down before he woudl get in a photo with me. I guess he is trying to shed that hard-core partier image he has been sporting...

On the way out of the park after the spectacular fireworks and light show.

Test Track-- A fun thriller. That's Jennifer in the back. Tourist tip: ALWAYS GET IN THE "SINGLE RIDER" LINE. IT'S ABOUT HALF AS LONG AS STAND-BY!