No, this post isn’t about the Duchess of Cambridge 😉 It’s on a compleeeeeetely different topic, actually. But the amount of excitement was duchess-level high, I kid you not. I got caught up in it, too. Yesterday, you see, the bird watching huts at the Parco della Piana (where Stefano and I do most of our bird watching) were filled to capacity with paparazzi directing their powerful lenses and expensive camera equipment towards the bird of the day: a beautiful but rather shy and difficult-to-spot kingfisher…

Every time there was the slightest flutter of tiny blue wings on the other side of the lake, the “machine guns” would go off…I found it quite amusing…

You see, as usual, I was the only one there with one of those compact, no-nonsense, no-extra-heavy/bulky-lenses-to-carry-around, no-frills compact cameras. Mind you, it’s a really GOOD camera with a powerful zoom (extending up to 840 mm), but of course my photos don’t have the quality that, e.g., Stefano’s do. 

I don’t care. I take photos mostly to remember the moment…They don’t have to be good enough to be published in the National Geographic. And yesterday one of the heavily-equipped photographers was actually taken aback when he saw my photos. “Davvero buone,” he told me (= very good). 

The elusive kingfisher finally stopped fishing and sought refuge among the reeds. He was quite far from us…so my camera couldn’t do any better than this…Too bad the gorgeous bird didn’t come a bit closer to us…

Perhaps next time.

There’s always hope!!!

Interesting debate going on in one of the Facebook support groups of which I am a member. Actually, there are a lot of interesting debates in this period…This particular one just happens to be my choice of the day…

In a nutshell, some group members wrote that the more they read about myeloma, the more they freaked out, even to the point of having panic attacks.

For me (and for other group members), it was the exact opposite: the less I knew, the more I was worried.

Between 1999 (when I was diagnosed with MGUS) and 2005 (when I was diagnosed with SMM), I didn’t know beans about any of this stuff. Well, that’s not entirely true…I had collected a few scattered “beans.” I simply didn’t know what to do with them. 😉

Now, of course, I know A LOT about myeloma and a bunch of other related stuff, too…Yet I am much calmer and happier and serene than I was years ago. I think the reason is that I feel more in control. And I have also decided to enjoy my life as much as possible. 

And now, every time I read one of those terrible statistics about myeloma, I think of Harvard Prof. Stephen Jay Gould’s essay, “The Median isn’t the Message.” I firmly believe it’s worth re-reading from time to time: http://goo.gl/Bq2XC

Oh dear…As usual, I digress! Let’s get back to the point now, to my question of the day:

Is it better to KNOW or…NOT to know…or to know LESS? 

Just curious. 

P.S. I wanted to add that I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The translation I’ve been sweating over for the past few weeks (seems like decades) has taken up a lot of my time and energy, but today I can safely say that I’m nearly done with the final editing. I hope to hand in the whole shebang by the middle of next week, before my deadline, that is. Then I can get back to my regular life…research…writing…paying more attention to my cats…

Can’t wait!

It’s titled: “Coping with Uncertainty.” Ah yes, I know something about uncertainty…As many of you do, too, eh…

This is the story of Dr. Denise Nagel, diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in January of 2008. It was published in the “Huffington Post” in late July: http://goo.gl/x7lvg How did I miss it??? Well, better late than never, right?

A couple of things reminded of one of my main pet peeves = doctors who shouldn’t have been allowed to become doctors in the first place. Let me illustrate my point with this particular remark, made by one of her doctors, a surgeon: “You know, if I had to deal with this all day, I would kill myself.” 

Doctors need more than just medical training. In fact, before they are even admitted to Medical school, I suggest that they be screened for kindness. Yes, for kindness. If you’re not a kind person, then, oh gee sorry, you have to choose another career.

People without empathy should not be allowed anywhere near patients…

And here is another interesting article written by Denise and published a few days later: http://goo.gl/WxaH7 Lots of good advice in it, including this: “Numbers matter, but they’re not everything.” Indeed, that’s what I have been saying for years…

And, of course: “Enjoy life more and don’t wait.” 🙂

Another anniversary.

So many years have passed, yet I still remember the horror and despair I felt when I turned on the TV here in Florence, Italy, and watched the live broadcast. I watched the towers crumble. I saw everything. And, after 11 years, tears are still running down my cheeks, as I write this post…

Well, I read a story just now, about the 9/11 rescue dogs (and their owners). A story I didn’t know about, so I thought I’d post it: http://goo.gl/FXbwf

To find out, you’ll have to click on today’s link: http://goo.gl/qxJmd

An inspiring and moving (and real!) story sent to me by a friend. 

I guess we should all adopt an eagle, now…

Just kidding!!! 🙂

Saw this on Facebook…a joke by Mark Lipinski:

A man is driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back seat. The police stop him and say that he can’t drive around with the penguins in the car and should take them to the zoo. The man agrees and drives off. 

The next day the same man is driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back and again he is stopped by the same police officer who says, “Hey! I though I told you to take those to the zoo.” 

The man replies: “I did. Today I’m taking them to the movies.” 🙂

It reminded me of a 2011 movie I enjoyed (there are some very funny moments in it): “Mr Popper’s Penguins,” with Jim Carey…

I’m right smack in the middle of editing my translation, yes, the famous or infamous translation that I’ve been working on (okay, off and on…) for the past couple of weeks…My deadline is, gulppp!, fast approaching…so I don’t have much time for extra stuff these days. But I do have time to post the link to THE CUTEST VIDEO EVER. I mean, EVER. 

If you want to feel all warm and fuzzyduzzy, click here: http://goo.gl/4x5EE 

Okay, back to work… 🙂

Today I’m publishing three blog reader queries that were posted on my blog’s Facebook page. Ah, for those who don’t know: yes, my blog is on Facebook (when you’re on Facebook, simply look up Margaret’s Corner, smoldering myeloma…I have a link here on the blog, too…look on the right). 

Anyway, I thought perhaps some of you could help out. Here are the salient points (I did some editing/summarizing):

1) Hi Margaret, I have had MGUS since 2008. I didn’t really take much notice of this diagnosis only having to attend yearly appointments until recently. Unfortunately my paraproteins have increased rapidly and I’ve been upgraded to smouldering! I am only 49 and finding it hard to get my head around it all. I am being considered for a trial of Siltuximab (anti – IL 6 monoclonal antibody); have you or any of your followers got any views about being part of a trial? I would be most grateful for your thoughts.

Has anybody here participated in a monoclonal antibody trial? 

2) The second blog reader wanted to “meet” someone who might have some experience with kidney cancer and curcumin. His 40-year-old cousin had one of his kidneys removed five years ago. Unfortunately, the cancer seems to have returned now. This blog reader would therefore like to find out if curcumin might help in this situation. I don’t know much, if anything, about kidney cancer, and that is why I am turning to you guys…Can you help?

3) This blog reader became scared and depressed after reading about myeloma online…all the statistics and so on. I think many of us have BEEN THERE, so we can relate, unfortunately. She wrote that she tries to be optimistic, but at times it’s hard (that part comes after the “it was a big relief for us”). Here are a few excerpts from two of her messages:

My mom was diagnosed with SMM a couple of months ago. […] It was the most difficult moment in my life. We were left then with only two options: it’s either SMM or myeloma. So when we finally got the diagnosis of SMM, it was a big relief for us. […]

I just want someone to hug me and say that everything is going to be ok….

In a second message, she asks a question (which I have already answered, but it would be great for others to help, if possible):

Dear myeloma experts, I need your knowledge! We just got the first set of lab results since the diagnosis. The m-spike hasn’t changed, but the total IgG is up. Is it good or bad? It seems to me that if the m-spike hasn’t changed and the total IgG is up, then the “good” IgGs are up… Am I right? Thanks!

Thanks (in advance) for any and all comments!!! 🙂

I’m probably going to upset my Milanese blog readers, but I can’t help it: Stefano and I didn’t care much for Milan. That said, however, we did have a good time, and we also managed to pack in a lot of sightseeing. On Saturday morning, as soon as we got off the train, we purchased a two-day bus, tram and subway ticket. Highly recommended, since the subway system is easy and takes you to most of the attractions.

First stop: Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” Stefano and I had originally planned to go there with a friend. But he’d had a family emergency and wasn’t able to come with us, so we were left with three tickets. No huge deal, since they cost only €8 each (about $10). But when Stefano and I saw people being turned away in the ticket office, we announced that we had an extra ticket and would be happy to give it to someone. Well, we made a Asian guy’s day. He had been hanging around the office, hoping that there would be a no-show…so he was absolutely delighted to get our extra ticket.

Before entering the former refectory where the “Last Supper” is located, we had to pass through a couple of special airlock-type chambers, which were installed to protect the masterpiece from dangerous pollutants and whatnot. Ah, how coincidental!, I just found a 2011 “Science Daily” article on this very topic: http://goo.gl/7EDLN

Well, what can I say? Seeing the “Last Supper” was the highlight of our entire two-day visit. Yes.

I’d read about the damage sustained by the mural painting (which is not a fresco, mind you…Leonardo painted it on a dry wall, not wet plaster, which turned out to be a huge mistake…But you can look all this up online, so I won’t dwell on it, as interesting as I think it is…). And if you look closely, yes, you will see the damage…

One thing that stunned me is that Jesus doesn’t have feet. Apparently, in the middle of the 17th century, a nincompoop monk decided that it would be a good idea to cut a door right through the lower part of the painting, right smack through Jesus’ feet. The door has since been bricked up (you can still see its outline), but Jesus’ feet are gone forever. Well, back then I guess it was more important to have an extra door than a couple of feet. 😉 

So the best thing to do is to stand back and admire it at a slight distance (the last row of benches, more or less). It’s spectacular from there…

Since you have to leave the refectory after 15 minutes, make sure to have a look at the Crucifixion fresco on the opposite side of the refectory. Leonardo painted the Sforza family figures there. 

Oooooh, I just found something that is rather neat: a link that will take you “inside” the refectory and allow you to zoom in and out and move around using the up and down, left and right arrows. It’s interactive, in other words, and will give you an idea of what Stefano and I saw. Check it out: http://goo.gl/SQngQ You will now be able to see that blasted arched doorway…

Anyway, after leaving the refectory, we also visited an exhibition displaying part (20 pages or so, out of more than 1000) of Leonardo’s Atlantic Code, but it was really hard to see the pages properly–too dark inside the exhibit hall. Still, I always love peering at Leonardo’s unusual handwriting and drawings, even his drawings referring to hydraulic energy, something that interests me less than zero…

Second stop: Castello Sforzesco, via Dante and the Duomo. If you want to walk on the ramparts of the 15th century Castello Sforzesco, which is probably a neat thing to do, you have to make a reservation, which we didn’t do, oh well.

A bit disappointed, we walked down Via Dante, which connects the castle to the Duomo. It’s a nice walk in a pedestrian area…beware of the tourist eateries, though!

When we arrived at Piazza Duomo, we headed straight towards the cathedral. We had originally planned to climb to the top (to have a 360° view of the city). What we didn’t know, however, was that Cardinal Martini, the formal Archbishop of Milan, had just died. His body was on display inside the church, and there was an endless queue of people waiting to get inside the church, see photo (which, however, gives NO idea of how many people were in line)…The wait would have taken hours. Too long. We gave up and left…oh well.

Third stop: The Navigli, Milan’s system of navigation and interconnected canals, part of which dates to the 12th century. Our hotel was located right on the Navigli. After checking in and resting our aching backs for a bit (Stefano had been carrying all his heavy photo equipment; I, a knapsack with a change of clothing and other random stuff, which got heavier by the hour, no idea why… 😉 ), we headed back to the Duomo to take a few more photos and see if by any chance the crowds had diminished. They hadn’t. We hopped on a tram for the Navigli and went out for dinner…

Yesterday: Since it had rained all night, and the weather was still iffy in the morning, we decided to visit a couple of museums. The first was the National Museum of Science and Technology, which we had been told was lots of fun and interesting. Yes, true, parts of it were indeed quite interesting…

I was struck, however, by the fact that there was an ENTIRE section on recycling and on rubbish disposal, BUT after we’d finished drinking a bottle of water (bought from a machine INSIDE the museum!), we couldn’t find a plastic recycling bin…or any other sort of recycling bin, for that matter. Hello???!!!

Another negative point: there were very few hands-on displays. Too bad for all the families with kids…

So, mainly for those reasons, in our opinion it didn’t compare to the equivalent museums we’d visited in Boston, Toronto and Munich. (Sorry.)

I know, I know, so far I must be sounding sooo amazingly negative. But wait, here’s a positive note! Yesterday morning/early afternoon we also visited the Pinacoteca di Brera, which contains one of the most important collections of paintings in all of Italy. For example: “The Kiss,” by Francesco Hayez (very famous!), Giovanni Bellini’s “Pietà” and “Madonna and Child,” Rubens’ “Last Supper,” and Caravaggio’s “Supper at Emaus.” The list goes on and on. Uhm, of course, here in Florence we have the Uffizi Gallery… 😉 (Oh sorry, couldn’t help myself!)

We then went back to the Duomo for the third time in two days, but there were so many people waiting in line to pay homage to Cardinal Martini that a second, seemingly endless line had formed. We’re talking, hundreds of thousands, here. The Duomo, we’d heard on the news, had been kept open all night. Amazing. Perhaps it is about time for the Vatican to wake up and smell the coffee??? Check out this interesting article by “The Independent”: http://goo.gl/1n9f5

We changed our tickets and took an earlier train back to Florence. Well, it was fun to be out and about for a couple of days.

And the “Last Supper” was definitely worth the trip…yes, definitely! 

Tomorrow Stefano and I are going to Milan mainly to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” (L’Ultima Cena). Stefano made reservations months ago…I mean, you can’t simply show up at the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan and buy a ticket. You won’t get in. You have to go online (or call), see which dates are available and book. We booked in June. 

Stefano has never been to Milan, and I’ve been there only a couple of times…All I remember about the city is that the Duomo (i.e. the cathedral) is quite spectacular…and the Navigli area is interesting…oh, and the Castello Sforzesco is nice. That’s about it. I mean, even the biggest Milan fanatic in the world wouldn’t be able to declare that Milan is more beautiful or interesting than, say, Florence (that was totally a random pick, eh! 😉 )…But it should be fun. 

Stefano and I are going to stay overnight in a FOUR-star hotel (!). No kidding. Four stars. You see, I found a great rate (online), and then, just to make sure everything was okay, I called the hotel and chatted with the manager. Within minutes, he had upgraded our room to a superior one for the same price. 🙂 That happens to me quite frequently. I guess I have the magic touch (or some such thing)….whatever. 

In case you’re worried about the cats: we’re leaving them in very good hands. Their favorite person in the world (besides me, Stefano and my parents) is moving in with them for two days. They’ll be thrilled!

That’s about it. Oh, except it’s cool in Florence. Yes, COOL. Bliss! This morning we had a terrific thunderstorm that sent the kitties scampering for cover, as flat as pancakes. But I must say, it’s great to hear the sound of raindrops again. We really need the rain…Of course, this weekend in Milan is supposed to be a very wet one. Stefano and I don’t care…We have our Skomer Island gear. Sooooo, let it rain! 🙂