Tag: Fredrik Bodin
Please STOP
At the height of the storm, this was all I saw directly across the street. It made me think: “I’d like it if the snow would just STOP.” It snowed in Rockport this morning, and now Juno has moved on. There are no cars on the road.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Juno Buffet
Our feeder was especially popular this morning with the sparrows and cardinals. Four birds crowded the buffet at once. Bon Appetit!
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Winter Storm Iola
We had a beautiful snowfall in the afternoon, then a rainy-icey mess, and finally heavy snow for a short time. The total accumulation was 3 to 4 inches. Needless to say, I did not venture out into my first snowstorm since being released from medical facilities. The upside is that I can’t shovel or drive (yet).
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Making Ready
For safety’s sake, I’m very concerned with navigating snow and ice. A fall could put me back in the hospital or nursing home, places I’d like to avoid. I bought an ice cane attachment at Conley’s Drug Store on Railroad Avenue in Gloucester. It works great! If you hold the two white buttons together, the spikes can be lifted to face up on the cane. I also bought a pair of basic shoe cleats for my boots at Ace Hardware. We’ll see how they work. Another safety option for the snow storm we’re supposed to have is to simply stay home 🙂
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Trenel Cove, circa 1915
Trenel Cove is where a ferry went between Gloucester Island and the mainland. Ferry Street, off of Washington Street, goes there. Today, the Route 128 A. Piatt Andrew Bridge crosses the Annisquam from the hill just behind Trenel Cove. Clammers still pull up their skiffs onto the beach at the head of the cove. This Trenel Cove photo is going to hang in…..Trenel Cove!
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Medical Monday
9.30am: CATA Dial-a-Ride bus picks me up at home to go to Addison Gilbert Hospital.
10:00am: Have an echocardiogram made, to check for heart valve abnormalities.
11:00am: In oncology clinic, get injection for my bones, and have a teaching session about upcoming chemotherapy treatment.
12:30pm: Eat lunch in hospital cafeteria, read, and people watch. The food is good there and inexpensive.
2:15pm: Walk down to the AGH sports medicine and rehab department for specific exercises for gait and balance.
3:00pm: Call Dial-a-Ride for ride home to Rockport.
3:30pm: Hit the couch and watch CNN.
Don’t let anyone tell you that being sick is like a vacation. I’m busier that when I was healthy!
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Oh Paris, So Sad…
My heart goes out to the victims of the terrorist attack and to all Parisians.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Life Itself at 9pm Tonight on CNN
Sometimes, life is hard. I’ve been feeling that way for the last five days. My legs are almost all solid muscle, yet there’s always a painful area in one leg or another. Coordination is off in the walking department, my appetite is lacking, and it’s a relief to sit down at any time. As you know, I’m a CNN news addict. Tonight at 9pm, they’re debuting one of their productions: “Life Itself,” about the late film critic Roger Ebert (1942-2013), who bravely battled and eventually succumbed to cancer. He was the first film critic to receive a Pulitzer Prize. I’ll be either inspired or saddened. In Comcast’s Cape Ann area, CNN is channel 23 or 760 HD. I never liked the movie reviews of Roger and co-critic Gene Sissel (1946-1999), but I have to watch this. I hope you get to see it also.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
New Year’s Eve, and Thankful
I stayed home today (12/31/14) because I didn’t feel that great. I had a cough at night and a muscle pain in my left leg from physical therapy. When Janet came home from work, we ate a simple dinner of chicken and wild rice, washed down with some bubbly. She went off to a girlfriend’s party, and I’ve been sitting in front of the fire. Soon I’ll be watching CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin report on the Times Square festivities. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine seeing 2015, but I clearly will. Less than 11 months ago, I was in Beverly Hospital with tubes running in and out of my body, saving my life. For two months, I couldn’t roll over in bed without assistance. That’s in the past. I’ve had a year of recovery, loss of friends and family, and many challenges. I’m looking forward to Valentine’s Day. Happy New Year all.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
New Year’s Eve for Fred
For the past several years, I celebrated the New Year quietly, usually with dinner at home and early to bed. And that’s what I like now. We’ll be closed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Insider Tip: If you like to buy wine at the Cave, do it now. They have great wine at reasonable prices, and you can score some cheese while you’re there. Their seasonal retail beer and wine license expires on 1/1/2015. Laura’s shop is a great resource on my block, and for all of Main Street. Please remember to support the Cave and all of the unique retailers downtown over the winter. Photo taken in the Cave.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Painter Barb and cousin Vesla in NYC
My sister “Painter Barb” left for NYC after her Christmas Day visit with me. I see she arrived safely. Her photo is of her and my father’s cousin Vesla, on the left. Vesla is the Norwegian nickname for “little one.” She is the youngest from that generation of my family, which has its roots on the island of Tonsberg, off the southern coast of Norway. In the background is the Manhattan Apple store, whose products are used by my sis and myself. God bless them both.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Simple Christmas Blessings
Christmas morning I was waiting for my sister to arrive from the Vineyard. I saw a white sedan pull up and a woman came to the house, carrying a small basket. She gave it to me on the porch, and said it was from the Rockport and Pigeon Cove Christmas Tree Committee, a private organization which has been giving for 116 years. I don’t know how they got my name as a person who may be in need. The basket contains fruit, raisons, candies, chocolates, and a large container of cookies. Totally unexpected, but so are all of my Christmas blessings. The saddest song for me in November was “Dreaming of a White Christmas.” Now it’s a happy song and I’m looking forward to 2015.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
“All You Need is Love…”
I could show you how big the crowds were at my gallery for the Good Morning Gloucester Holiday Party, but that’s not what it’s all about. Instead, here’s me kissing my beloved Janet, and the to die for cute puppy, Ginger. Ginger apparently made another friend, Carolyn KIrk, the Mayor of the City of Gloucester. Especially at this celebratory time of year, and with our world’s current conflicts, “That’s it, and that’s all there is, Love.” Fred
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Time to Put on Your Party Boots!
Put your party boots on and come on down to Bodin Historic Photo at 82 Main Street, Gloucester. Meet the photographers and writers who make Good Morning Gloucester what it is today. This event is open to all. Trust me, it’s the party of the year.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Look Who Santa Brought Us!
During Men’s Night, our friend Matthew Green strolled into the gallery. This was a great surprise, as he’s been away for a few years. We’ll see him tonight at the GMG Holiday party at my gallery. Thank you Santa.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
I Have a Cane, And Am Now Able
After Saturday’s missing of the CATA bus, I jumped into a taxi with my cane. No big deal, I thought. I planned to pick up my rollator/walker on Sunday, but that didn’t work out. I was now committed to a cane at home and at work the next day. Dicey. I boarded the 9:30am bus by cane and walked down the long hallway at the hospital to physical therapy. They were surprised and pleased that I had the confidence to do that. I thank the AGH Rehab and Sports Medicine for getting me here.
Writing Helper
and ability to do that. “You’ve made the crossover,” my PT said. Yep, I thought, another milestone, to better prowl the jungle of life.
Continue reading “I Have a Cane, And Am Now Able”
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Feeling A Lot Like Christmas
On Saturday it started to feel a lot like Christmas. We had large flakes of snow falling, I started playing holiday tunes in the gallery, the Lobster Trap Tree was lit, and a beautiful floral arrangement was delivered to the gallery. It’s a gift from Sharon StClair and husband Chuck King of Florida. It was given to me and the “GMG Gang,” and will be the centerpiece of the gala GMG Holiday Party on December 19th. They love Cape Ann, are Friends of the Gallery, of Good Morning Gloucester, and are my friends. I wish them a very happy Christmas.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Tree Lighting and CATA, Where Art Thou?
I’ve never seen the lobster trap tree lighting, but today I was determined. After the 5pm lighting, I walked to the nearby bus stop, and was ten minutes early. Twenty minutes after the pickup time, still waiting, cold and shivering with my walker, I hobbled back to the gallery. What to do? I called Gloucester Taxi (978-283-0099) for a ride home to Rockport. It cost $11 plus tip ($5). I had a nice and smooth ride with driver Scott. Although CATA is 99% reliable, keep a $20 bill in your wallet, along with the Gloucester Taxi business card.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
My Holiday Lights of Love
My favorite holiday decorations this year were on the Beauport Ambulance at Addison Gilbert Hospital’s “Lights of Love” cancer care fundraiser. Beauport was the major sponsor of the event. In the past ten months, I’ve been transported by ambulance maybe 50 times to medical appointments from hospitals and nursing/rehab homes, because I was incapable of sitting on a bus seat. This doesn’t include emergency rides, two of which were under life threatening circumstances. Ambulances, which I always thought of as an inconvenience while driving, are now my flashing “Lights of Love.” They may be saving someone’s life, and I say a prayer as I pull over to the side of the road to let them pass.
Good Morning Gloucester 