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DEAN'S QUARTERLY NEWLETTER, Vol. 11, No. 3, 03/01/2008

HIGHLIGHTS OF WINTER 2008:

Worry arose this winter when my mother’s doctors reported spots growing in her lungs. The news came at a time after she arrived in Arizona, and although they said the doctors believed the spots were not cancerous, my mother had a biopsy soon after her return to Minnesota a month later. The great news was the confirmation that it wasn’t cancer, though the doctors believe some kind of infection has caused inflammation and symptoms including a heavy cough, shortness of breath and decreased energy. Nevertheless, after she received the good news, she immediately started talking about traveling again.

My brief visit to Arizona included the usual walks with my mom, and visits with cousins Glen and Wayne and to see my great uncle Ted and aunt Geri.

In February, my brother Dale came to Maryland for several days of relaxation. Although we mostly hung out locally, including with the quirky folks at my notorious hangout, the College Perk Coffeehouse, we also took in a little of DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, where we stayed overnight at a bed and breakfast in an 18^th century historic house – the Thomas Bond house – near Independence Hall.

Movies:

Atonement – An epic and tragic love story with a WWII backdrop. ***

The Bucket List – A light-hearted comedy aimed at older geezers. **1/2

Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days – (Romanian with subtitles) – A depressing story about abortion in the prohibition era of Romanian dictator Ceaucescu. *1/2

Juno – A gentle comedy featuring a wise-cracking pregnant teenager who gives up her child for adoption. **

The Kite Runner – An epic story about childhood friends in Afghanistan that extends to America and back. **1/2

No Country for Old Men – A brutally violent film, noted mainly for tension-building atmospherics and solid acting performances, that was otherwise virtually pointless. **

The Savages – Sad subject matter with frequent comic relief about moving a parent into a nursing home. **

COMING UP NEXT QUARTER (Spring): Trip to Minnesota

Check in and let me know what’s up with you.
You can contact me by clicking on this E-mail address: mailto:%20mail@deanoman.com.

My address in Maryland: Telephone numbers:

Dean Oman Home: 301-931-1144

10405 46^th Ave., Apt. A204 Work: 301-504-2317

Beltsville, MD 20705

Review previous newsletters:

Autumn 07 – Dean’s News Vol 11, No. 2, 12/01/07 – Western Europe – Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium

Summer 07 – Dean’s News Vol 11, No. 1, 09/01/07 – Minnesota

Spring 07 – Dean’s News Vol 10, No. 4, 06/01/07 – Ireland

Winter 07 – Dean’s News Vol 10, No. 3, 03/01/07 – Colorado, Arizona, New York City

Autumn 06 – Dean’s News Vol 10, No. 2, 12/01/06 – Western Europe

Summer 06 – Dean’s News Vol 10, No. 1, 09/01/06 – Minnesota and San Diego

Spring 06 – Dean’s News Vol 9, No. 4, 06/01/06 – Hanging around Beltsville, MD

Winter 06 – Dean’s News Vol 9, No. 3, 03/01/06 – Minnesota and Arizona

Autumn 05 – Dean’s News Vol 9, No. 2, 12/01/05 – Minnesota, Toronto, Boston

Summer 05 – Dean’s News Vol 9, No. 1, 09/01/05 – Washington, Oregon and Northern California

Spring 05 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 4, 06/01/05 – Joshua and Dean’s Great European Adventure

Winter 05 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 3, 03/01/05 – Minnesota and Bahamas

Autumn 04 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 2, 12/01/04 – Boston, Orlando, plus new digs in Beltsville, Maryland

Summer 04 – Dean’s News Vol 8, No. 1, 09/01/04 – Toronto, Minnesota, San Diego, Chicago

Spring 04 – Dean’s News Vol 7, No. 4, 06/01/04 – Italy, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, New York City

Winter 04 – Dean’s News Vol 7, No. 3, 03/01/04 – Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Arizona

Autumn 03 -- Dean's News Vol 7, No. 2, 12/01/03 -- Minnesota

Summer 03 -- Dean's News Vol 7, No. 1, 09/01/03 -- California and Toronto

Spring 03 -- Dean's News Vol 6, No. 4, 06/01/03 – Minnesota, Boston

Winter 03 -- Dean's News Vol 6, No. 3, 03/01/03 – Arizona, California and Colorado

Best wishes to all,

Deano