So where did he go??

This is a little note as to where is Waldo.

I had to take a bit of a pause due to medical reasons.  On July 8 I went in for what was supposed to be a minor surgery.  5 hours on the table later, that did not appear to be the case.

So what happened.  In mid May I went to the hospital.  I think Kim was about to wring my neck after my refusal to have an ambulance show up in front of my house and insisted on driving to the fire station up the road.  I was walking around the house in a it of a daze with no apparent direction.  My chest felt a bit tight. Ki had her mother come over to watch Kaylee as we went over the the fire house.

When I got there I told the paramedic what was happening and they took my blood pressure.  200/110.  I looked at him and said "well, there's a cause and effect"  This is where they start pumping me full of nitro pills and Derrick gets a bus ride to the hospital.  Side note - If you already have a headache, Nitro pills will not make it better.

2 days and a battery of tests all come back clean.  BUT, I get this lovely bit of info on the way out.
"Mr. Dodson, everything came back clean but we did see a mass in your abdomen that we would like you to follow up with your Primary Physician".  OK, I'm HERE, IN THE HOSPITAL!!  You found something and you want me to follow up on it?

I hit up my primary the next day.  Ordered a CT with contrast (another fun one) and I get a CD of the scan on the way out to take home.  Souvenirs.  When I get home, I look at the images.  While I'm not a Radiologist, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express the day before.  That wasn't supposed to be there.  That "mass" that they found was the size of a medium brick.  No kidding.  On to the biopsy round.  This came back cancer free.  The CT however cannot pinpoint the feed point or attachment to/not any other objects.

Surgeon time!  Great guy.  Trust him with my life (literally).  Schedule the date July 8.

Surgery day.  I get there and he decides that he would like an angiogram to find the source of the Nile and plug it as well as get an idea what it is attached to if possible.  It's attatched/feeding from the liver.  At this point all I can think of is the donation scene from The Meaning Of Life.  "May we have your Liver?"  The Surgeon gives me the options and possibilities of what may/could happen.

After the angiogram (not recommended) You can't move your leg.  Why? because the went up through the groin and put a plug there they prefer not to pop out.  So I head up to recovery and within 15 minutes I'm heading to the OR for fun time.  I get in there and inform them that this go round they are going to have to move me to the table.  I'm not exactly what you would call svelte.

I'm on the table and then I'm in my room (MAGIC).  I wake up around 8pm.  I went in around 12pm.

Doc comes in while I'm semi coherent to inform me that all went well, but.  He had to take the tip of my liver, repair a gaping hernia and reroute my plumbing (gastric bypass).  Oops.  Well I guess the svelte thing will be coming whether I want it or not.  Seems the "mass" had attached itself pretty well and this was the best option.  And honestly probably better for my health in the long run.  I have already lost (3 weeks out) 30lbs. My diet though has been basically anything you can mush up.  Healthy choices though right.

Following surgery, I was in the hospital for 4 days.  I was awake MAYBE 1 full hour a day.  This total lack of energy has followed my for the last 2 weeks and I am just now starting to get my strength back to at least get this done.

To those of you I owe some letters to.  Bear with, they are coming.  To a special someone who has sent me some get well letters and cards, you have NO IDEA how much they have meant to me.  I am eternally grateful.

So with that, I am heading back to bed.  The last of the bandages came off yesterday, but I am still weak and sore.  I head back to work next week to half days for a few weeks while I attempt to regain some strength.  Walking, while needed is my enemy right now.  100 yards seems like a marathon at the moment.  This to shall pass.

Writing soon.

Derrick

Field Notes - Night Sky Edition

So this go round with the Colors Subscriptions, the folks at Field Notes and come up with these lovely black top covered notebooks with great coloring on the rear.  Using a "reticle graph" pattern sort of a hybrid of our popular dot-grid and graph papers.

Let's let them tell it.  

Countless lines of prose, poetry, and music have been written in hopes of capturing the magic of a summer night, but leave it to FIELD NOTES to take an inexplicably transcendent feeling and distill it down to basic science: it’s the stars. If you live in the city, you may often forget that there are more than a handful of ‘em up there. But if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere without light pollution, seeing the Milky Way stretched across the sky on a moonless summer night never gets old.

Our nineteenth edition of FIELD NOTES COLORS celebrates the wonders that cross the summer sky each night. The “Night Sky” 3-Pack features French Construction “Blacktop” covers, mapping out three sets of constellations that have graced the northern hemisphere summer sky long before “summer” was given a name. Constellations and popular asterisms are highlighted in silver
holographic foil. Inside is our usual beloved Finch Opaque text paper, with a new “Reticle Graph,” sort of a hybrid of our popular dot-grid and graph papers. It’s all bound together with shiny black staples.

THE STARS AND THEIR COURSES (this video is gorgeous)

Choosing the sections of sky to depict involved a lot of research. Illustrating thousands of stars was a lot of work. But even after all that, and a self-taught crash course in astrophotography, we weren’t prepared for two amazing nights at Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada. We’re putting together an epic film that we’ll share with you soon, but in the meantime, here’s a short highlight reel from one of the darkest spots in North America.


There’s only so much information we can cram into a 3.5- x 5.5-inch pocket notebook, but our love of 4-point Futura is well known, so cram we did. The three books are roughly aligned to midnight in the northern hemisphere in early, mid-, and late summer, and replacing our usual “Practical Applications” the inside back covers features corresponding facts and tips to help get your stargazing underway. After a clear night and maybe a cocktail or two, you’ll impress your friends by finding Arcturus, pointing out the Summer Triangle, and locating the “Andromeda Galaxy” M-31, all with your naked eye!

 

I love the look of these and being a fan of them will be ordering a "few sets" and will be holding a contest for a few packs in July.  Just in time for some summer sky viewing.  Take the family out to the hills away from the light pollution and lay down a blanket and stare at the sky.  After watching the video, I might be taking my camera gear up the hill with me.   Hmmmm  there might be an idea for a contest.  Who knows.  

Derrick

A slight pause

Down for Jury Duty this week.  I am liking the "process".

It amazes me the lengths people will go to to avoid jury duty.  So here is a way to look at it.

YOUR family member is arrested for "insert infraction here".  You obtain a lawyer, get set for trial only to find out that the pool of prospective jurors are not the sharpest tools in the shed.  Why, because they were the only ones who had nothing better to do than sow up for jury duty.  The only ones who couldn't come up with a better story, excuse, hardship than the person next to them.

Folks, this process only works when we all participate.  Kind of like voting.  You don't have the right to bitch about the politicians and laws that voters pass/elect if you can't take the time out of your day to find out about the people and issues that are up for the ballot.

Same thing for the judicial system.  It doesn't help the speed of the trial systems when they have to keep going to the well for jurors.

While the case I'm on appears to be a waste of time (as of right now.. I'll fill you in after) the accused has the right to a trial by jury.  Wouldn't you hate to be the person on that side of the table if it involved someone you knew?

Just my .02

D

OH MAMA!!

So now that Kim has headed out into the wilds of Northern California to "camp" with her mother in an RV for the next few days I can finally post this.  She has no internet out there or spotty at best.

I ordered a letterpress certificate from Two Paper Dolls the folks who by a lucky circumstance have my sense of humor. I found this piece on their Etsy Store. When I came upon ONE WORD (see if you can spot it).

 

But what I really needed was someone who could really put the Jazz Hands to this to make it something special.  Enter Sarah Hanna.

Now for those of you who remember last Christmas and the letters Sarah did for me (one and two), HOW could I not ask her to put her touch on something like this?  Hmmm?  Hmmm?  That's right I did it!

So off to the wizard they went.  What I got back was more than I could have hoped for.

Might be a bit hard to see on the kraft paper but the ink is gold.

Now here is the most unexpected surprise with my return package.  

GIFT TAGS!!

So, what cha think?  Will she like em'?  I'm bringing one of them up to her on Saturday to drop of our SPAWN (Kaylee) for the remainder of the weekend to "camp" with the family.  Kaylee couldn't go early because she had (a.) a school field trip we didn't and her to miss (b.) she still has another day of school, (c.) she has t-ball practice on Friday and finally (d.) she has a t-ball game on Saturday and we have taught our child that you follow though with commitments like team sports.

Now for those of you who have never thought of getting a NICE piece paper and having it dolled up for someone special.  Try it.  I can almost promise they will never forget the effort you put into finding the right piece and then the additional effort of having someone with the talent (like Sarah Hanna or any other calligrapher for that matter) to put that special touch on something. 

I went out with Kaylee tonight and bought some frames for the two "awards", one for work and one for home.  One will be put on the wall.  Eventually when we can really afford a quality frame job, I will have the tags put in with it for a proper mount.  

I was joking with Kim last night as we spent another 7 hour stint at the ER.  

Me - "I can make you feel instantly better"

Kim - "How?"

Me - " I have your Mothers Day gift in my bag"

Kim - "Really?"

Me - "I won't tell you what it is, but here is your hint.  It's white and gold and you can use it at work and home at the same time."

Now the look on her face with that little riddle was worth it for me.  Not so much for her but it was then 2am and I really needed a boost.  

Anyway, that's my little post for this evening.  Remember yo mama.  The reason you're still breathing is   something in her was strong enough to not strangle you but punish you later with grandchildren that are JUST LIKE YOU!

Derrick

Broken Doll.. Should have packed..

With the find of the "Singing Mailmen of Miami" I have started recording and cleaning the audio tracks.  The recording was done in 1961.  This is pre zip code days.  They are talking about properly "zoning" your mail.

Enjoy the following 30 second spot.

It's beginning to look alot like...

Well, we had a visit from Fire Marshall Bill today.  He walked into one of our storage rooms and said "WELL LET ME SHOW YA SOMETHIN!"  Those boxes are to close to the ceiling.  What's in them? We all looked at each other and said "I dunno."  Let's find out shall we.

What it turned out to be was a HUGE stash of old vinyl records from one of our classic/album rock stations. Within all of those boxes. I found a few boxes of Christmas music.  Andy Williams was apparently very popular.

But the biggest fond for me was this.

That's right.  The Signing Mailmen of Miami.  Reminding us to Mail early and have a Merry Christmas.

From the USPS Postal Museum website.

The Singing Mailmen of Miami
In the 1950s and 60s, a group of postal workers from the Miami Branch area joined together as the Singing Mailmen of Miami and were later adopted as a voice of the Post Office Department. Twenty-five letter carriers and clerks organized in 1954 as a non-profit nondenominational glee club.(1) A letter to a local Miami newspaper stated “We are not a fanatic group, but this we do believe: where others have failed, music has opened the  heaviest doors and left peace, good will, and understanding”.(2) This letter emphasizes the Singing Mailmen of Miami’s main intent: good will, a desire for which brought together the group of diverse postal workers (thirteen letter carriers, five clerks, two supers). Each performance was completed by a performance by the “JCP Trio,” composed of a Jew, a Catholic, and a Protestant who would remind the audience of the importance of brotherhood.

At their beginning the group was purely for the enjoyment of each other’s company and the chance to sing. But as time passed, they began to sing at post office events, local events, and nursing homes. By 1960 they had garnered national interest and the Post Office Department adopted them as their official spokes-group. Their fame continued to grow as they released an album entitled “Neither Snow Nor Rain,” the money from which came their funds for the ZIP Code tour.

They even became popular enough to be featured on the prime-time television program “Sing Along with Mitch” where they sang their theme song, “Men with the US Mail.”  They were also the only organization at the time to be granted special permission by the Postmaster General to perform in their uniforms, which they declared as “a great honor”.(3) Other notable performances were at the White House, the U.S. Congress, and for Florida Governor Ferris Bryant.

In 1961, they made a trip to various radio stations around the United States to promote the “Shop and Mail Early” campaign during the Christmas season. Their itinerary was vast; they visited Menasha, WI; Galveston, TX; Hagerstown, MD; Santa Fe, NM; Terre Haute, IN; and Jamesville, WI. The next year they recorded a song for the same purpose:

(set to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Christmas stamps, Christmas stamps, making our debut.
We’ll brighten up your Christmas cards and speed them on to you.
Don’t delay; mail today. It’s later than you think.
We’ll put them through for all of you, quicker than a wink.(4)

Later in 1963 they made a similar goodwill tour up and down the East Coast to promote the use of the ZIP Code. They traveled in a large bus loaded with a piano, their luggage—and hundreds of coconuts to pass out at each performance to represent Mr. ZIP. They played for twenty-one audiences in twelve different cities, again armed with a song:

(set to the theme of ZIppity Do Da)

Welcome to the ZIP Code
Use it today
Send your mail out
The five-digit way
For speedier handling
To lighten the load
Your return address
Should have the ZIP Code(5)

The Singing Mailmen were never paid for their local Florida appearances or for their trips for the Post Office Department. Instead, they raised money for charities or used the funds to make their goodwill tours and share their music with others. They even each used annual leave for their trips. One member put it well: “There was a lot of camaraderie—we all stuck together and looked after one another’s well-being. We also brought joy to a lot of people. It was a great pleasure to see the smiles on their faces”.(6)

Most of the members retired by 1970 and the chorus disbanded, though nine did reunite again in 1985 for a local television reunion concert in Miami. In 1989, a writer for the Miami Herald found Sidney Barshak, then seventy-one years old, and previous member of the Singing Mailmen of Miami and the J in the JCP Trio.(7) He did not know if any other members were still alive, as had contact slowly faded over the years. But he still remembered those times very fondly saying “I don’t like to toot my own horn, but when the lights came down, the spotlight came on, the curtain opened, there we were. We had some great times”.(8)

Now here is the fun part.  I work in a place where we actually have record players and some nice equipment to record things.  I will be digitizing the album for delivery to my readers for the Christmas/Holiday season.  So when the time comes.  I will be doing something fun with this.

So is anyone interested.  An inquiring mind wants to know.

DD

It's coming.. Sometime soon..

I am in the process of getting a store ready. 

I need YOUR input. YES..  YOU.  I know what I like and what I would like to see in a single point of purchase kind of place. 

Please note.  This is going to be interesting and it's going to take some time. 

As of right now I have opened accounts with some great suppliers.

Field Notes Brand
Exaclair (Rhodia, Clairfontaine, G.Lalo, J. Herbin and Quo Vadis)  Not sure about Rhodia as they are available everywhere, but would like to hear from you folks.
Orange Art (Original Crown Mill, Le Typographe, Arpa)
Cats Life Press (Rubber Stamps)
BlueQ (some really cool bags)

Now here are some of the ones I'm working on

Sweet Bella (MT masking tape, Ontwerpduo Writing paper, Life Co (writing paper/notebooks) and antica cartotecnica
Doane Paper (notebooks and pads)
1canoe2 (Beautiful letterpress products)

Do you have some favorite products you like to use? Do you prefer nice stationery (original crown mill, G. Lalo)  I will be carrying note cards, letter sets as well as pads and envelopes separately.

I am not sure about pens as there are so many wonderful places to acquire these already.  Jet pens and Goulet Pens just to name a few.

So with this in mind, I am shooting for a mid year launch.  If all things go well and inventory can be had in time. 

Look for changes coming and thanks for hanging around

DD