yes we CAN, sir

in researching the words CAN and SIR for today's entry, i came across a couple of interesting things related to the topic.

the word CAN, which is an acronym for many different things (controller area network, or climate action network) is also the end of obama's tag line 'yes we can'. there is an interesting video circulating on youtube delivering this message musically - some of you may have already seen it, but if you haven't it worth a look [click here to see it]. i saw it initially about six weeks ago, and it is quite nice.

the word SIR has it's origins in other places, although it too has many other uses (studio instrument rentals, southwestern international raceway, or society of interventional radiology). it is derived from the french honorific title sire (messire gives 'mylord'), from the old french sieur (itself a contraction of seigneur meaning 'lord'), from the latin adjective senior (elder), which yields titles of respect in many european languages. the form sir enters english in 1297, as title of honor of a knight, being a variant of sire [which has been used in English since 1205 as a title placed before a name and denoting knighthood, and to address the male sovereign since 1225].

so there you have it, today's play on words. CAN-SIR, as in: yes, sir, we can, sir, beat this cancer.

red state, blue state

what state of mind are you in?

the state of things to come ... we've been waiting for results seemingly daily since november. and here we are again - but this time, no blood is drawn (at least, not jane's). we're on tender hooks nonetheless.

obama? hillary? what's going to happen? how will this affect us as we move forward - as parents, as travelers abroad, in health care, the environment? there's no way to tell - just check the clock ... and the internet ... and the tv.

standing on the edge of a precipice, hoping for the best on all accounts - the election and the end of jane's treatments - and looking towards a bright future (fingers crossed).

h

chemo, chemo, 1, 2, 3

day three of poison,
what a joy!
the fine clear liquid,
oy, yoy, yoy ...

we wake up early,
straighten each room
drink a great big latté,
with a sense of doom!

everybody up and out,
get the kids to school,
arrive on time for chemo,
they tell us that's the rule

through netflix we've furnished,
ourselves with dvd's -
hannah and her sisters,
in computer on my knees ...

all this stuff goes smoothly,
much seltzer we do drink -
we watch some mary tyler moore,
and have no time to think

we cheerily wish nurse au revoir,
and say that we'll have lunch,
a grand luxe salad hits the spot,
a good place for this munch

to home we go, more coffee's brewed,
we do some work at one
and pick up mail and kids at three,
see chemo is such fun!

jane is fine, just feeling great,
and she looks quite well too,
but then when i get back from dropoffs,
she's feeling kind of blue

the steroids - have they done their job?
she's feeling really sore,
which just came on in quite a flash,
there's more of that in store ...

kristals drop by, with some hugs,
and shabbat dinner too -
flowers, wine, and their warm words
their kindness, nothing new!

on politics, we have a chat,
and speak about obama,
he's got my vote for president,
bet he can find osama!

we all convene for friday night,
the dinner is delicious,
and when the kids do help clean up,
i'm feeling quite suspicious

we settle down, put our feet up,
and turn on pbs
to watch britcoms from bbc,
'bout how life is a mess

so now, three down, but one to go
and my, see how time flies -
just one more dose and then jane's done,
we'll say our fond goodbyes!

split personality

banana split
splitsville
split, croatia
split the difference
split decision
stock split
splitter
split screen
split second
california split
split rock
split lip
splitting hairs
lickety split

so that's it. we split. kaput. divide and conquer. we're done. jane and harley are finished as you know them! we've just returned from voting - two (formerly) happily married professionals, registered democrats, free thinkers. a little too free: "who are you voting for mom?", query the kids. "hillary", she replies. "dad, are you REALLY voting for obama?", they ask (with glee!). "yep, i'm doing it!", i say.

oh, they like that. now this is dinner table conversation. we each have our reasons, and we would both be happy, thrilled actually, with either candidate. [although frankly, a chair could do a better job than our current president]. so, although we're each playing for a different team, we're in the same league. the kids relish the possibility of a clinton-obama ticket, or an obama-clinton ticket. anything but gwb!

so, another right of passage, an opportunity for us to express ourselves and our vision for equality, health care, education, foreign policy. we're both confident that there's only one way to go, and that's up. my reasons? click HERE.

jane - elected to be feeling much better today - what a super tuesday!