The Plea of a Bride

When we were planning our wedding- we debated having "table cameras". These are those cute disposable camera's you see on tables at weddings- everyone is supposed to use them to catch the candid moments of the evening. We got a lot of advice about this- and most people said that it was not worth the cost. The number on reason given was- "you get so many picture from friends and family" that it is not necessary.

I regret to say- that we have received few if any picture from our friends and family. (Props of course given to Mel and Minda).

This is a brides plea to send us your picture from our wedding.

If you took pictures that capture your table, family, friends, or moments with us- we would LOVE to see them- either by email or on paper.

We want so much to view our wedding from the eyes of those closest to us.

Signing off from CT, where I am spreading the gospel of Multiple Sclerosis-
The bride, Myla

News from the Neurologist

I thought I should post an update on what I have been doing. Bryan is right- I am currently reading three books. In fact I have been reading two of them for about a month. Mostly one page every other night. Turns out it takes a LONG time to read a book in such a lax fashion. Reading has been the only relaxing thing in my life. My job has been full tilt. Altogether wonderful. Since I have arrived- I have been busy w/the following-

1. Inpatient service- I spent two weeks in September as the inpatient attending. That means that all neurology patients admitted to the hospital for general neurology were under my care. Although this was hard- since I had not done general neurology in 3 years, I thought things were going pretty well. No one had died and everyone on my team was showing up to work each day. On the 10th day of my 14 day stint- I went into a patients room with my diligent team of 4 residents and 4 students in tow. The patient was a very kindly man whom I impressed with my no nonsense approach to explain his difficulties with he and his wife. All was status quo for rounds until he said- Dr. Goldman, I was told you have only been doing this for 2 weeks! Back in the hallway- I had to give a firm talking to my team to explain the importance of "appearance" vs. reality!

2. MS practice- I have been seeing MS patients now one day a week. I am planning to move into 2 days a week. But have not gotten my schedule up and running. The population in VA is different- in that there is more indigent care. They are quit grateful. And because of the general shortage of neurologists in the state- and in particular the surrounding area- there is a lot of sorting the wheat from the chaffe. But that is just as well. It is nice on occasion tell some one they do NOT have MS. The clinic is still "under construction" We are interviewing for a third practitioner, either nurse or physcian assistant(PA). We currently have two very promising PA candidates. I expect we will have the position filled by the new year. I have also been traveling and speaking to spread the word of my move and let people know that I am at UVA. This has taken me away a lot and will continue to take me from home 3 of the 4 upcoming weekends.

3. MS research- I am still working on getting my masters thesis together for submission for publication. I did present a poster of my work at the recent meeting in Chicago. This went well- except for one rogue neurologist-who stated I was not measuring what I thought I was measuring! I ended the very long in duration but low on content discussion by saying- I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. He walked away somewhat less pleased with himself- then I with myself. My next big plan is to apply for a grant to get some additional pilot data for a more formal career development award. I have meet with several people in the department and university to look for additional collaboration opportunities for my long-term research goals. I actually spent much of my first three weeks at the coffee kiosk- meeting the different who's who of UVA research in an attempt to network and build relationships. Imagine if you will- me on three lattes a day. It was not a pretty sight. But sacrifices had to be made.

4. Teaching- I have been named the clinical liaison for the Neuroscience course. Which is a very fancy title. Basically- I am working with the Neuroscience course professors to coordinate the clinical workshops. They have 4 a semester where neurology cases are presented and discussed. So I have been working on updating the cases. I have also put together a neuro-immunology lecture series for the residents. The first of my 12 lectures was well received. The second is this week.

5. Life- I spent much of Sunday finally working in the yard. I planted the bulbs that Mom Craig gave me for my birthday in the front of the house. I really look forward to seeing them in the spring. Talk about an exercise in patience!!! Otherwise- I have begun running. I signed up for the C'ville Marathon in April 07. This is a 1/2 marathon within a full marathon. I have decided to train and see how it goes. I may do a 1/2 marathon first. You know try it on for size and see if I like it- before committing to the whole 26 miles. To this end Bryan and I have just purchased a treadmill! So I will keep everyone posted on my efforts. So we shall see.

Love and all that stuff-
Myla

ps. I am listening to the Professor and the Madman in the car and REALLY like it. So that is my book recommendation for the month.

Book Review

Roar of the Heavens, Stefan Bechtel, Citadel Press (2006)

I heard about this storm when I arrived in Nelson County. When I read in the local paper that a new book on this storm was being published, I had to read it.

Bechtel’s book on Hurricane Camille reads like a thriller. This hurricane’s destruction in August 1969 is not widely known like Katrina (2005) or Andrew (1992), but it was one of the most powerful and unique hurricanes to ever hit our mainland. Talking to survivors, Bechtel’s creates a compelling page-turner.

The first part is about Camille, an intense category five storm, hitting land on the Gulf coast near Pass Christian, Mississippi where it wiped out towns and killed 23 people. The second part is when Camille strikes Nelson County. The author’s description of the storm seems science fiction if it wasn’t true. Camille dumped around 27 inches in 8 hours. People said it was like a bucket being poured over their head. Many families never had a warning and massive flooding and mudslides washed away families and structures. A light summer rain turned into a nightmare killing over 100 people here. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I read this section. We actually drove through the hardest hit areas to a hike up Crabtree Falls. When I was moving up the mountainside I looked and even touched the boulders that were probably exposed during this storm. I imaged them coming down into my house. You feel very humble. Those who loved John Berry’s book Rising Tide about the 1927 Mississippi flood should read this book. Well, everyone should read this book to ponder the last chapter where Bechtel talks about Katrina and how we, as human beings, forget the disasters and repeat history as we rebuild on coasts and flood plains.
--Bryan

Montalto & Monticello

Well, here we are again. What is living in Charlottesville without a trip to its biggest attraction (except for the Dave Matthews Band)?! The primary reason I wanted to visit was to take a tour of Montalto (1278 ft), the larger mountain rising 410 feet above Monticello. Myla actually went up there to look at student housing, but the waiting list was very long. I always wanted to go up there just to see the views. It was worth the wait.

As you can see, you get an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. You can see up to 60 miles or so from up here. You forget Virginia is flat when you leave the Piedmont since we live amongst the mountains. It is looking east where Jefferson and his guests said (and Myla observed when she first went up the mountain) they were looking at a sea or some large body of water on the horizon. Also, you witness how close the Rivanna River is to the house and where Jefferson's other farms are in proximity to the main house. It really gives you a great context to what you read about the plantation. Jefferson owned 574 acres of the mountain with grand plans to build a waterfall and observation towers on the side. No go-impractical and highly expensive. The TJF purchased the property in 2004 for $15 million dollars in order to preserve the view shed. They also plan to use some existing buildings for a mini-campus for teachers and students.

--Bryan

Book Review

Robert Kennedy: His Life by Evan Thomas (2000)

Up to this point, the standard biography has been Robert Kennedy and His Times by Arthur Schlesinger which was published in the mid-seventies. Evan Thomas, an editor for Newsweek, has new information from Archives and oral histories that paints a different picture of the man.

Schlesinger's book has a more of a chronological "this is what happened" approach, but Thomas talks more about RFK's motivations and this is why this book is an excellent companion to the earlier work.

Thomas's portrayal of RFK does not come off as romantically as Schlesinger's. RFK had demons all his life. He was always trying to get his father's approval. He was the Kennedy family protector, and reacted with his emotions. He was a visceral politician and would unfairly write people off by first impressions. One of the more interesting aspects is the fact that RFK liked to work with back channels, since he hated bureaucracy, and it got him into trouble with Cuba and the Soviet Union (especially with JFK's first summit with Khrushchev). Thomas argues RFK evolved as a human being, not matured as other writers like to argue. For example, he had felt a connection to the poor long before he ran for Senate in 1964 and he was a reckless adventurer all his life. Maturity did not change many of his life and decision patterns.

Thomas writes well, although he does linger with RFK and Cuba for a little too long. In 2001, the Justice building was renamed for Robert Kennedy. It is fitting since Thomas acknowledges that RFK created an energetic albeit chaotic office in prosecuting organized crime and upholding civil rights. Readers will get a much clearer idea that RFK was a human being with strengths and faults, not an idolized tragic hero. Highly Recommended.

--Bryan

Bird Report

The leaves are beginning to change out here. Here are a few more observations since the last report:

1. I finally saw the Phoebe that I have been hearing just about every day.

2. I saw a Great Blue Heron in the Rockfish Creek while we were driving into work one morning.

3. I discovered a warbler in the trees between our house and Jennie's. It had streaked flanks and a little yellow. I could not see anything more than that.

4. I finally heard and saw the elusive fish crow. He was perched on a building at the downtown mall in Charlottesville.

Until next time...