Tomorrow is a big day for me.
I haven't had an MRI since June 16th, although I've had two cycles of chemotherapy since then.
I'm hoping my Brain Tumor is stable and I can cut out all this tiring chemotherapy.
But who knows?
I tried to buy a Brompton Folding bicycle today. This is a folding bicycle which would make sense for me. The sales guy refused to sell it to me on the basis that I ought not to be cycling in traffic.
I think my oncologist is of the same opinion.
It turns out that October 27th is a major religious holiday in France and the attending vignerons all object to travelling on that day.
So, the definite, definite dates are October 28 and October 29th.
I've heard that there is talk of banning text messaging while driving and drinking sake2me!
Where will the prohibitionists end!
Its been months of radiation and chemotherapy, but finally my hair is coming back!
That's right!
I got to get moving!
Denyse and I have received many messages and condolences since Buster's death.
We are returning to New York on Sunday and it is insane to imagine that Buster will no longer be with us.
I'm a militant atheist and don't believe in a human after-life, but I am agnostic about the possibilities of a doggie heaven.
Anyhow, we received the following letter from someone I have never met that greatly moved us. With the author's permission, and some slight editing, we would like to share the letter with all my readers. The letter appears directly below Buster's picture:
Hi, Joe. I've been a devoted drinker of your wines for over a decade.
Just writing a note to say how sad I was to hear of the passing of Buster. Although I never met him, I must say that he has been my favorite dog with whom I did not co-habitate. Buster was eponymous with great wine.
I had a least a six-pack of each of the early Busters, including a case of the first Altesse-a wine that I really loved. Unfortunately, the wines were drunk with relish a long time ago.
Plus there were so many great stories about Buster. I lived vicariously through the vineyard travels of the dog-many of which I would like to have visited myself. Also, as a human associated with two pitbulls, I felt a kinship to Buster through my love of this breed.
Over the past couple of years, I lost both parents, a good friend, and my first pit bull. I reacted most viscerally to the loss of the dog, which, of course, does not represent the importance of each to my life.
After my dog died, I wore her collar around the house for a couple of days. It seems weird but it represented to me a connection that I had unexpectedly lost to a member of my immediate tribe (so to speak) that left my bereft.
Anyway, Buster will be missed by many of us that have not directly known him. A better eulogy that I can accord to many with whom I am acquainted.
Best wishes.
Yes, Loir-et-Cher is the theme of our October 27-28th tasting. Many great wines and great winemakers hail from this magic area and it is finally time that they receive the exposure they so richly deserve in New York City.
Of course, the theme song for the event is the brilliant song by Michel Delpech which depicts the struggles and history of the Loir-et-Cher region.
Unfortunately, the song was never sung by an English-native artist. Several readers have sent me e-mails asking us to translate the lyrics.
We contacted Dr. Sheila Doherty, of the University of Middlebury French Department in Vermont, to translate Delpech's work.
Here's the song:
Home, Home on the Loir-et-Cher!
And here is the translation:
My relatives live in the Loir and Cher and those people don't put on airs.
They spend the whole fall plowing rows, turning over acres of earth.
I've never had alot to say to them, but I have always loved them.
Every now and then I go to see them.
I'll spend a Sunday in the Loir & Cher.
Refrain:
They say to me, they say to me:
What kind life is it when you never see horses or owls?
You never come anymore, even to go fishing.
You never think of us anymore.
One could say that it bothers you to walk in the mud,
One would think that it bothers you to have dinner with us,
One would think that it bothers you to walk in the mud
One would think that it bothers you to have dinner with us.
Everytime I stop in the Loir and Cher, they try to make me stay,
I tell them that I have to go back to Paris,
That I can't always do what I want,
That I still have to get gas for my car,
That I don't have time to finish my beer
Someday I will come back one of these Sundays
and spend the night in the Loir & Cher.
A Karaoke Spécial Michel Delpech is being planned for our national tasting.
Delpech, of course, is famous for his song "Loir-et-Cher."
Please click below to hear this famous song, which was the anthem of France's May-June 1968 movement:
Militants at the Barricades!
The theme of this year's Louis/Dressner national tasting is:
Loir-et-Cher
Grands Vignerons!
Grands Terroirs!
Several celebrity vignerons from the Loir-et-Cher will be there:
For more information:
Major Tasting with Over 83 Wines Receiving Over 90 Points!
and
Famous Wine Producers Will be in Attendance!
I want to thank everyone who contacted us about Buster.
It is awfully difficult to realize he is no longer with us and our house in Poil Rouge feels empty.
But he is at rest and his spirit remains.
It is hard to transcend clichés when writing about death and dogs. But who cares!
Buster died on Friday night of old age. No pain, no suffering. He was a fabulous dog who lived a fabled life that touched not only our family but many people in America and France.
I'll write more later, but it is still to hard to accept that he is no longer with us.
It was a great privilege to spend all these years with that dog and I know this sounds ridiculous, but we all feel like we were touched by a noble spirit.
The Young Buster
Buster Two Weeks Ago
Chambers Streets' David Lillie will be celebrating his 50th Birthday on Thursday.
There will be a party at the Lillie Hyannis Port Compound this weekend.
Happy Birthday.
The Clintons had a mandate to change health care.
Obama has a mandate.
Can you imagine....that America is the only advanced industrial country in the world where health care is not considered a right of every citizen.
For Christ's sake!
I'm a guy with health problems. I have a good health plan because our company pays a fortune to have a good health plan. Your purchases of Romorantin go directly to providing this medical coverage.
Not every American can make money by selling Romo. Shouldn't all Americans, no matter what their relationship is to Romorantin, have the right to good health care!
Can't wait!!
Until then....I rode my fifth bike ride today and increased the distance. Didn't fall, didn't get hurt. Didn't break speed records, but I feel on my way.
I'm considering buying a Brompton Folding Bicycle when I return to New York.
Anyhow have any thoughts about them.
Drank a 1997 Minervois Cuvee des Barons from Andre Iche tonight. In Magnum. Redolent of Minervoisian aromatics at 11 years of bottle age.
Melanie Mann is back!
I increased the distance and got on off the bike without falling.
As this rate, I'm heading for a featured spot on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon.
The problem is that I really need a women's bike or a bike without a bar going across the top of the frame. Getting my legs on the bike and off is the most difficult thing about riding.
My right leg also shakes a bit, but I'm able to control that as long as I don't ride too far or overextend myself.
I'm a reasonable guy and overextension is not something I do.
Flawless execution.
It is a little awkward for me to get off the bike, since I don't have full control of my right leg.
But I'm truly thankful that I'm taking small steps and small rides.
I was 13-years-old and travelling with Michael Skurnik.
What a great group.
Do they still live in Detroit?
I'm such an old man.
I went for my second bike ride today.
I did triple the distance I did a few days ago and fell off the bike when I came to a stop and tried to dismount. My right leg was already weak and I didn't really concentrate on braking and stopping. In an instant, I was falling to the ground.
Denyse and our neighbors Monique and JoJo ran out to help me and I was able to get up again.
I'm a bit disappointed but ready to give it another try tomorrow. I have to be very careful how I dismount and be certain not to overdo my riding. I can't just go by instinct, because my right leg no longer moves by instinct, but have to measure everything I do and concentrate. Even the smallest of biking maneuvers.
Someone is harassing my mother.
They call and tell her how my blog is a disgrace (which is a possible interpretation) and selectively read her portions where I mention my Brother Ira, my Cousin Barbara, my Brother's Sister-In-Law Charlotte, my Brother-in-Law Daniel Mantovanni, Daniel's brother Roger and Pierre Breton.
My mother is very upset about these calls which serve no other purpose than to upset her. She received another call yesterday and will not tell me who the person is harassing her.
I have just looked on-line at the records from my mother's phone company and found out who is calling her. I'm not big on legal action, but my best advise to this individual is to stop immediately.
Kudos to Jane Brody for highlighting the problems of Chemo Fog in today's and last Tuesday's Science Times.
I'm suffering from all the problems of Chemo Fog, but my wife, children, colleagues and dog insist I have had the same problems as long as they know me.
If I could only remember their names....
I've been using PDA's since the first Palm Pilot came out. I now have an incredible complex system using an Android Telephone, ICAL Feeds to GCalendar, Toodledo (a web 2.0 task system) and endless e-mails to myself.
It works like a charm bit I still get nothing done!
All I know is that some guy on one of the popular wine board is praying for me.
Bless him.
And God Bless Alaska, the other 49 states and Pierre Breton.
I have not shaved since June 18th and my hair has come back, despite my chemotherapy treatments.
It is bad enough to have Brain Cancer, but being bald has been no fun.
The choices are mind-boggling:
Outdoor recreation for the whole family!
A lot of people think of Surprise, Arizona as just another retirement community for boring white people who can't afford anything better.
Perhaps this was the case, but things are happening in Surprise these days.
Check it out:
Surprise, Arizona is in the Building!
It's pretty simple.
Just look at this enticing video:
Where Your Dreams Can Come True!
That's right, we're going to have a two day event.
We're working on the logistics and the theme but I guarantee you it is going to be great.
You have to be in the trade and you cannot reside in Great Neck, Long Island or Surprise, Arizona to attend.
This year, someone is going to stamp your wrists when you enter the tasting area.
You have to be invited by someone at our company. No invite, no admittance.
Family members of Eddie Wrinkerman will not be admitted.
There will be a table of Linus Kessler's Favorite Wines as a tribute to Mr. Kessler.
We are hoping that Dr. Vino will come and sign copies of his new book.
T. Edwards Wines will be having a tasting across the street. We will be running bike shuttles back and forth to accommodate tasters who want to attend both events.
My brother never wants to talk to me again. My cousin Barbara never wants to see me again. Catherine and Pierre Breton will be happy to see me again but they have appointed Kermit Lynch as their new national importer.
Ira Dressner and Dr. Barbara Hirsch have resisted Kermit Lynch but I've heard unsubstantiated rumors about Robert Chadderdon.
Great Neck is an evil place!
I've now slept to 2 pm on two consecutive days.
It is getting very hot here in Poil Rouge.
while we were watching Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas.
The film was dubbed in French.
Tomorrow's an exciting day.
We are going to the open air market in Lugny!
