deannews0907

DEAN'S QUARTERLY NEWLETTER, Vol. 11, No. 1, 09/01/2007

HIGHLIGHTS OF SUMMER 2007:

Trip to Minnesota: Late in the summer, I spent two weeks catching up with family and friends in Minnesota. I wish I could say all were well, but serious health issues with some tempered the normal joy of being with my family. Three relatives were in the process of treatment for recently discovered cancers – my stepmother Sue and my cousin Barb with breast cancer and my cousin Mitch with melanoma. Mitch’s melanoma, which had extended into his lymph nodes, was removed with a 5-by-5 inch, 1-inch deep cut into his back, and his prognosis is excellent, though it had given us all serious pause. Cousin Barb is recovering from a double mastectomy and enduring the full course of associated chemo and radiation treatments. My stepmother Sue, who had a mastectomy over 20 years ago, will undergo another one in November, after having completed chemo treatments to be followed by radiation. She seems to be facing her condition with courage and grace, not something I think I would have.

On the positive side, most others in my family seem to be doing relatively well. My stepfather Ben still beats me in cribbage at least 2 out of 3 times. My mother and I worked a lot on putting together a family tree, and we spent a morning as volunteers selling mini-donuts at the Minnesota State Fair to raise money for Democrats. On other days, I went to the fair with my cousin Laurie and with my nephews Joshua and Joel and Joel’s girlfriend Amber. Joel and Amber are expecting a child in March. I visited my niece Sarah and her boyfriend Brian in their new home, and got together with my niece Rachel and my charming 9-month-old great nephew Roman. I also made frequent visits to see my brother Dale and sister-in-law Lynn.

While assisting Sue with her needs during her chemo treatments, my father is trying out a new sales job, selling advertising for bulk mailings. My aunt Pat is struggling to keep her sanity among a host of financial and health concerns in her family, including Mitch’s melanoma. My uncle Doug, still regularly crisscrossing the country by truck, paused to host us, along with his wife Cathy, at a large gathering of family and friends at their home near Grantsburg, Wisconsin. We played and sang into the wee hours.

Other notes from the summertime: Aside from Minnesota, I also had an enjoyable visit in July with friends in New York City, the Yelenskys, immigrants originally from Russia. I always love their wonderful Russian food and the conversations that arise from vodka consumption. We also caught a Broadway show called Frost/Nixon, which was quite good indeed!

Movies:

Sicko ***, Satirical documentary. Depending on one’s viewpoint, Michael Moore’s reputation either enlarges or diminishes by each successive work he produces. Those critical of Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 911 should at least find this latest film more easily sufferable, even if you don’t agree with him. For all others who get their healthcare in the U.S., it should be required viewing!

Crazy Love **, Documentary. This is a very weird true story of a woman who marries a man after he disfigures her.

COMING UP NEXT QUARTER (Autumn): Trip to Europe, weekend in Philadelphia

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:

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

Return to home page

DEAN'S QUARTERLY NEWLETTER, Vol. 11, No. 1, 09/01/2007

HIGHLIGHTS OF SUMMER 2007:

Movies:

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:

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.