inwood hill park, a winter wonderland

Early this morning, as planned, I visited Inwood Hill Park, which is located adjacent to the Harlem River at the northernmost tip of Manhattan. Its well-manicured cousin, Central Park, which also serves as the de facto baseline for the city, received about 21 inches from Friday's massive Nor'easter. Wandering through snow that was considerably high, I wouldn't be surprised if the snow total at IHP was close to that of Central Park.

It was a snowy winter wonderland in IHP. Of the several times that I've visited it during the winter months over these past two years, I can't recall it ever being so captivating. It was something to see. Walking through the park's forest (the last remaining natural forest on Manhattan island), I couldn't help but be mindful of the fact that - yep - THIS is NYC too. But honestly, who would ever imagine that these images were taken here. There are a couple of people, whom I thought about as I walked through the white forest. I know they would have enjoyed this. A couple of them are relatively new to the city. I think it would have been so cool to have shared this with them.


I saw robins and think I might have spotted a bluebird, but am not sure. It moved so quickly. A few times, I heard the pecking of bark in the distance. I'm not sure if woodpeckers inhabit the park during the winter. It was a great opportunity to capture these colorful, chirping aviators against the backdrop of the white snow, but I don't yet have a telephoto lens for such skillful photography. I carried my 10-24mm super-wide angle lens and the 50mm, but except for only a few moments used the 10-24mm the entire time.

There were people too. Just a few, however, whom I came across in the park at this early hour of the day. Some were walking their dogs; some were jogging; while others were simply exploring enjoying this wintery treat, but few I imagine lingered around the forest like I did. The forest is big enough to get lost in even when one is paying attention. And on a morning like this when few people were out, one could easily get the impression that this beautiful landscape was for him or herself to enjoy alone.

This morning in the uppermost corner of Manhattan, where Father Winter rested in his snow-capped, crystallized home, I was wandering, celebrating with its wild, untamed fauns.

day +920

Yet another snow day. I hope to take care of some work at home today, but try to capture bits of the snowy landscape this weekend.

pogo

For weeks now, this song by Digitalism has been my new favorite. Just fantastic. I can't seem to get enough of it.

day +913

It's always morning.

all is beautiful

Late yesterday afternoon (day +909), I revisited the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway at East 96th Street beside the East River. Many months had passed since I was there, but this time I had my new 10-24mm lens.

Sunday morning was quite pleasant. The temperature was noticeably warmer and the sun was shining unimpeded. However, at about the time I left home for the subway to go downtown, the clouds thickened beginning to blanket the area in front of the expected snowstorm.

At first, I wasn't too excited about the gray, overcast image captured above, but after looking at it more and more, I've become a bit smitten. I have a tendency to try to capture these spectacular, sunny landscapes, but of course this isn't the complete picture. Reality is never so rosy. These scenes of apparent dreariness are equally part of the picture and just as interesting. These scenes possess their own special beauty and also help to balance the narrative.

Nevertheless, there are some aspects of this photograph that I want to improve. As a result, I'll be back. Not today but another afternoon.

bone marrow/stem cell transplant: coping with late effects

The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLink) has just published a new resource for survivors and their family, Resource Guide for Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant: Coping With Late Effects.

Click the image below to learn more.

Although the free downloadable pdf version isn't available yet, you can purchase a copy of this new guide here.

Another helpful nmbtLink resource is their Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant Resource Guide, Friends Helping Friends.

in the news

Here's a fascinating NYT magazine article about the intersection of our nation's social studies curriculums, the textbook industry, political partisanship, and religion in America: How Christian Were the Founders?

China Sees Growth Engine in a Web of Fast Trains is another very good read.

lymphoma: answers from the experts

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is hosting a forum on March 15th from 5:30 - 9:00pm called Lymphoma: Answers from the Experts at New York City's Baruch College (Vertical Campus Conference Center, 55 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor).

At this program, participants can learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions in lymphoma and ask specific questions of their own. The evening will provide a rare opportunity for patients and their families to have an interactive dialogue with six experts in the field.

Break-out sessions will be devoted to: Diffuse Large B-Cell, Hodgkin's, Follicular, Cutaneous T-Cell, Burkitt's, T-Cell and Mantle Cell Lymphomas, and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Pre-registration for this free program is required. To register, contact Maria Feeney at 212-376-4770 or maria.feeney@lls.org

day +904

No school. It's a snow day!

life expectancy for stem cell transplant survivors

Here's a very interesting report on a recent study about the survivorship and life expectancy rates of stem cell transplant survivors: Life Expectancy Favorable for 5-Year Stem-Cell Transplant Survivors.

Based upon a study of 2,574 patients, who had allogeneic or autologous cell transplants between 1970 and 2002 and survived at least 5 years without recurrence, it is believed they are likely to survive for an additional 15 years.

Life expectancy, however, isn't restored completely. They still have a 30% lower life expectancy compared with the general population.

Looking forward with optimism and hope, I suppose I'll take my chances.

team LRF

The Lymphoma Research Foundation's new Team LRF is seeking people to raise awareness about the fight against lymphoma as well as raise funds for its efforts to find a cure.

Through a variety of activities - marathons, half-marathons, hiking adventures, and bike rides - people across the country can help the cause by joining Team LRF.

Registration for a number of events are coming up.

Learn more and/or register.

insurance boot camp for young adult survivors

On Thursday, February 18th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, a public talk titled "Insurance Boot Camp for Young Adults Affected by Cancer" will take place at the NYU Langone Medical Center, 550 First Avenue (at 31st Street), Alumni Hall B.

Matthew Zachery, the founder of i2y, will be one of the guest speakers.

Registration is required. To register, please call 212-263-2266 or e-mail NYUCIcommunityprograms@nyumc.org

retell it in words and in touch, it is lovely

The bud
stands for all things,
even for those things that don't flower,
for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
though sometimes it is necessary
to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on the brow
of the flower,
and retell it in words and in touch,
it is lovely
until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

- Galwey Kinnell

new lens

After much thought and months of saving, I finally made the first big investment since upgrading from a point-and-shoot to a DSLR. Last weekend, I purchased a 10-24mm, which is an ultra wide angle zoom lens. I used it for the first time on this overcast, frigid afternoon.

After meeting two Vassar friends for brunch, I was around Columbus Circle where I snapped this shot of the Time Warner building with my new lens.

The forecast looks much improved tomorrow. I plan go out again to explore more with this lens.

the side trek

Bridges, the Sloan-Kettering patient newsletter, for which I contribute pieces and my blog were plugged a few days ago on The Side Trek, a blog by author and former managing director, Carol Colitti Levine.

Check it out.

in the news

Billions for NASA, With a Push to Find New Ways Into Space

Deficits May Alter U.S. Politics and Global Power