Member News

[Merry]

Lindariel has been right: we should have a place to share important news! Here is the place to check on each other and wish each other well.

[Lindariel]

As we prepare for the wrath of Hurricane Irene, I hope that all MeJ members in the path of the storm will comply with any evacuation orders, make all necessary storm preparations, and take good care of themselves and their loved ones. The Lindariel family is heading to the mountains tomorrow for a previously scheduled vacation time-share. Our neighbor will keep an eye on our house and let us know about any problems.

Good heavens! First an earthquake . . . now a hurricane. I hope these things don't come in threes!

[Merry]

Sounds like you're making the best of things, Lindariel. I hope all goes well and that you have a great book to bring with you!

[Lindariel]

HAH! I have a KINDLE! I have an entire LIBRARY of great books to take with me!

[Merry]

Mountains and a Kindle--sounds wonderful! Here's hoping all is well when you return home.

I'm starting school again tomorrow. I'm actually looking forward to returning to the classroom! The rest of it, though, not so much.

[Lindariel]

Just heard from our neighbor. The house is fine. We have lost one of the trees in our front yard, but otherwise no damage to house or property. That's a relief! Looks like we'll be hauling away a tree and grinding out a stump when we return from vacation. Sigh . . . just in time for school to start too! Hope every one in the storm's path is OK!

[MICHKA]

J'ai été déconnectée ces derniers jours et n'avais aucune nouvelle. Je suis bien contente de voir que tout s'est relativement bien passé pour vous et que les newyorkais ont été disciplinés dans l'ensemble pour éviter le désastre. En espérant que Mère Nature s'arrête là!!

[Lindariel]

Hmmm . . . I DID mention bad things coming in threes, didn't I? Well, the Lindariel family has had a rather eventful mountain vacation and Labor Day weekend. Mr. L began having bad abdominal pains late last Thursday night, so the next day, instead of spending our last day enjoying the resort's marvelous water park one more time, we packed up the car, checked out, and drove the 2 hours back home. After unpacking and settling our daughters with an older friend, I took Mr. L to the ER at the brand new Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, which just opened on August 31.

Turns out the poor man had appendicitis! He went into surgery at 5:00 AM Saturday morning. Everything went very well, no perforations or complications, and his intubation has not damaged his vocal cords -- an extremely big concern for a professional singer, especially one with a world-class operatic Verdi baritone voice! Mr. L spent an uneventful day and night in the hospital, which really is an AMAZING facility. All of the LARGE rooms are private, and they are set up to accommodate LOTS of visiting family (including a small fold-out bed!), which must be particularly important for returning injured soldiers. The girls and I brought him home this afternoon, and he is resting comfortably.

WHEW! I'm a strong, capable, resourceful woman, but this has been a really strenuous year for me. Thank goodness I got all of the back-to-school shopping out of the way earlier this summer. I'm definitely ready for life to give me a break for a while!

[Merry]

Well, the L family sure has its adventures, don't they? I'm so glad everything worked out well. I never thought of the vocal cords being as issue.

I'd say it's time for a nice, uneventful fall for you all! No more adventures.

I have had a house guest for a few days, but now I'm hoping for a nice, uneventful couple of days before school starts in earnest. After a storm front yesterday, we now have lovely, cool weather. I have gotten out the blankets and made a great pot of my famous black bean soup! Undoubtedly, we'll have a few more stinkin' hot days, but ya' gotta love fall!

[marbretherese]

Lindariel, so glad to hear that Mr L is on the mend and that his voice is OK. Like Merry, I hadn't realised that the voice could be affected by appendicitis. Let's hope the rest of the year is a gentle one for you all!

[Lindariel]

Thanks so much for your good wishes, ladies. Mr. L has spent another quiet day at home and continues to improve.

Surgery of any kind is a HUGE concern for a singer because general anesthesia requires the patient to be intubated, i.e., they have to put a breathing tube in that must pass between the vocal cords in order to ensure an open airway throughout the procedure. The process of both intubating and extubating (removing the tube) can damage the vocal cords, potentially irrevocably. Obviously, we're very relieved that Mr. L's vocal cords came through the procedure just fine!

[MICHKA]

Thanks so much for your good wishes, ladies. Mr. L has spent another quiet day at home and continues to improve.

Surgery of any kind is a HUGE concern for a singer because general anesthesia requires the patient to be intubated, i.e., they have to put a breathing tube in that must pass between the vocal cords in order to ensure an open airway throughout the procedure. The process of both intubating and extubating (removing the tube) can damage the vocal cords, potentially irrevocably. Obviously, we're very relieved that Mr. L's vocal cords came through the procedure just fine!

je suis bien contente pour vous et espère la fin des incendies au Texas, vraiment pas de chance cette année avec les éléments et les évènements; et toutes nos pensées pour le 11 septembre -anniversaire douloureux.Je pars encore quelques jours et ne serais de retour vraiment pour jouer ou travailler sur le forum que début octobre, bonne continuation et amitiés à tous

[Merry]

Thanks for your good wishes, Michka. So far, my experience of the 9-11 anniversary has been solemn and full of calls for forgiveness. But the day is not over yet.

Happy trails to you!

[Lindariel]

Here's some good news!

Happy Birthday to our youngest MeJ member Meliel (my daughter), who turns 15 today (October 2)!

[marbretherese]

Happy Birthday, Meliel!