The American Red Cross teaches the course.

I'm glad for your friend, though. Sounds like he's going to have a carotid endarterectomy? Are they removing a plaque buildup or a bloodclot?

my husband phoned me with the news...

If he comes through the surgery without complications, then his relative youth will be on his side. Talk to him about e-cigs with non nicotine juices. Nicotine is something he's going to have to avoid completely since it causes arteries to narrow.

If he quits now, then he's got a good chance to make his three score and ten.

I used the book "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking". It has been a miracle for me. I never thought I could do this, but I believe I am now a non-smoker for life.

Get him the book. You won't regret it.

turns out the docs are now saying they don't think it is a clot but they don't know what it was.
They have outfitted him with a heart monitor for a month and then he'll go back.

After almost 20 years of smoking, I stopped and never had another and it's been YEARS. My solution was that I didn't want to be a smoker any longer. I hated my image as a smoker. THAT was what changed me into a nonsmoker!

of the easy way program.

It's working for me and that is all that counts!

Congratulations to you.

You know, I think this calls into question the idea that nicotine is overwhelmingly addictive. If smokers like you and me were able to quit mainly because our self image changed, then how addictive can nicotine be? I am not particularly strong willed and I am a total wimp when it comes to pain. Yet once I viewed smoking as smelly, unattractive and incredibly stupid, it was an easy decision to keep.

I highly recommend his book to anyone who wants to quit.

He makes the case for nicotine not being as addictive as the industry has made it out to be. He feels that the "horrible withdrawal" scare is a tactic used by them to keep smokers smoking.

Until I read this book, I was convinced that I would never be able to stop smoking. But he convinced me that I was a patsy and instilled in me a "stick it to the man" attitude about quitting.

It's still been difficult at times, but I feel like a winner and I don't think I will ever smoke again. Instead of looking at smokers with envy, I am looking at them with pity. All they are doing is postponing their withdrawal symptoms for another 45 minutes or so.

This after over 45 years of at least a pack a day.

Amazing.

once the decision is made crystal clear it dissolves all of our arguments to the contrary. This happened to me in at least two other major decisions of my life: end my failed, unhappy marriage once and for all, and, later, strong professional reason go back to school to finish a degree.

In both instances I had either a kick in the pants (what happened to my friend) or a colleague (not a close friend) who said to me "How long are you going to put up with this?" (regarding my dead-end marriage). In both instances, my close friends wouldn't tell me because they didn't want to upset me. You need a more objective voice.

I also ended a marriage in a very similar way and later made a decision to walk away from a very successful career.

In both instances, I felt as though I had made the decision to jump off a cliff. I knew there was no turning back but I was fully prepared to accept whatever I met at the bottom. I don't think any individual was the impetus, but certain events are what made me pull the trigger.

Basically, what was holding me back was fear of the unknown. In the first instance, fear of being alone and on my own (and for my children). In the second, fear of the unknown and thinking I just wouldn't be able to do it.

Once you realize that you absolutely MUST do it on your own, you find helpers along the way. I was able to find and marry a partner with greater sensibility and to find an amazingly gratifying experience as a returning undergrad and later in grad school. I found a LOT of happiness in the wake of my decisions!

BTW, I am in Italy now and will be going to Florence for a few days this week. Will think of you while I wallow in the city and it's art.

are art majors. Here is a great one: the spanish chapel in santa maria novella church



and the convent of San Marco, where each cell has it's very own fresco done by Fra Angelico

greatly appreciated.

I have been to Florence in the past and seen the usual things, so would like to do something different this time.

San Marco Convent:

This is close to the Accademia. So after seeing the David go here (or go before and buy your ticket to the Accademia at the Convent). Fra Angelico painted his famous Annunciation on its major wall. He also painted Calvary scenes in every monk’s cell, which you can see today. Unlike the Accademia, there are no long lines to get in!

A little jewel here is a fresco of the Last Supper by Ghirlandaio, one of two that he did in Florence (the other one is in the Ognissanti, another art trove of incomparable value). This is the one with the cat (a nice touch).

Brancacci Chapel of Santa Maria del Carmine

This is in the Oltrarno (across the river). I would recommend spending less time in the Pitti Palace (go with a list of must-see's, for heaven's sake) and make sure to go to this Chapel to see the wall frescoes by Masaccio, Masolino and Lippi. It has been called the Sistine Chapel of the Early Renaissance and it is remarkable. Renaissance “gold.”

Basilica of the Santa Maria Novella

This church has a gorgeous facade with green and white marble inlays.

Inside the Basilica: Giotto’s Crucifix, Brunelleschi’s crucifix, the charming and beautiful Ghilrlandaio frescos (giving you an idea of the social history of his era) and Masaccio’s The Holy Trinity, a work that he actually designed a grid for, in order to conform to the newly rediscovered laws of linear perspective. Considered a stunning achievement in the history of western art.

Outside the Basilica: a few steps away in the courtyard, go into the Spanish Chapel, a one room building that is massively frescoed with Bonauti’s instructional cycle of the role of the Dominican Order in teaching about the life of Christ (a kind of late Gothic verson of today's "power point training module" for new recruits into the order after the Black Death decimated its ranks). It contains a medieval pun, which is a delight to behold (I'll explain it to you). Don’t be too surprised if you are the only one in there...not many people know about this marvelous fresco (art historians love it!). It closes one hour before the main Basilica, tho.

Birds: If you come in the later afternoon, you will see the incredible massing of storni (european starlings) gather and then circle up and away. I was not prepared for this graceful bird ballet and was amazed by it. The storni (starlings) are attracted there because of its warmth. I did not know that this bird acrobatic display is considered a wonder of Florence!

Farmacia: Not too far away is a fabulous Santa Maria Novella farmacia dating back from the 15th century where you can get beautiful cosmetics, soaps, etc..quite an elegant (and famous) place...smells wonderful...not cheap and it sure ain’t Walgreens...

Basilica of Santa Croce

Another gorgeous facade!

This basilica is incredible in the sheer mass of important early Renaissance art. Tombs of the greats, altars, pulpits, stained glass, sculpture, frescoes. The heartbreaking remnant of Cimabue’s Crucifix, damaged so severely in the 1966 flood, is here. This is the church in which the French writer, Stendahl, was so overcome by the art overload he became dizzy and nearly collapsed. It is now known as “stendahlismo” syndrome by Florence physicians, who see about a dozen cases a year!

Church of Orsanmichele

Be sure to duck in here when you are visiting the Duomo, as it is close by. You’ll recognize it by the statues in niches on the outside of the church. There is an elaborately carved tabernacle by late Gothic artist Orcagna here and not too many tourists know about it. DO check the closing time of this church, tho! Brownie points will be awarded to you for knowing this one!

The Duomo Museum has the wonderful cantorie by della Robbia and Donatello, as well as Donatello’s tormented Magdalen.


The Bargello

Also close to the Duomo. This is the famous sculpture museum of Florence. I hope you have time for it. Donatello’s David is here and also Bernini’s bust of Costanza, his model and lover (sad story...poor Costanza!). When I was there the bust had been locked in a closet due to a shortage that day of guards. I wheedled the guard on duty to get the keys and open the closet so I could see it (“Sono venuto da molto lontono...!”) just for a few minutes and she did! Probably didn’t want to hear my bad Italian any more...or maybe she felt sorry for me...anyway, it got the attention of a few other people who wanted to know what the fuss was about and came along for the viewing...

A note on the Uffizi

The Uffizi is not user friendly, IMO. It was not designed to be a museum. It was the building of offices (uffizi in Italian) of the Medici who gave it to the city. When you have limited time to spend, you need a strategy. My recommendation is to get info on what’s there that you want to see and concentrate on that. Sala 10-14 have those two famous Botticelli works, La Primavera and Birth of Venus) and be sure to ask about his Annunciation for San Martino, the more beautiful of his other, more famous, Annunciation. Sala 8 has one of my favorites by Fra Filippo Lippi (there you will see his Madonna paintings, the model a young novitiate at the convent he was overseeing and whom he rather notoriously seduced and impregnated...a great story!).

If you are near Santa Trinita bridge try to duck into Santa Trinita church and go into the Sassetti Chapel. The fabulous altarpiece of the Adoration of the Shepherds by Ghirlandaio is here with a famous self portrait of the artist pointing to himself ("and I am here!&quot . It is at the center of his overall fresco cycle on the Stories of St. Francis.

Wine Doors

There are still several wine doors in palazzi in Florence, little arched windows for dispensing wine. You’ll see them as you amble around the Duomo district. They’re a leftover from the day when the rich Florentine families sold wine that they made in their country estates from their palazzi in the city! A little picture here http://www.anamericaninitaly.com/2011/05/23/wine-doors-in-florence/

Stuff in little bites you can watch on YouTube

The story of Costanza can be seen in the Bernini portion of The Power of Art by Simon Schama, a PBS special from awhile back. He has a segment on Bernini. Watch it for not only Costanza’s sad story but also for his Rome work, which you’ll see a lot of when you are there. Segments aren’t too long. There is also one on Caravaggio, also primarily a Rome painter.

so I will hopefully be able to print this.

I also found a walking tour of fabulous small places to pick up some food. This is one of my favorite things to do, so I am going to try and coordinate the two.

Thank you so much! Wish you were going to be there as my personal guide.

The great thing about Florence is that it is walkable. I set out each morning from my hotel in santa maria novella and wound my way toward santa croce. I did take a bus to the Oltrarno, tho.

So sad that the Germans blew up Santa Trinita Bridge, a masterpiece designed by Michelangelo. They blew up all the bridges except for the Ponte Vecchio. All have been replaced.

BTW, if you go to the Oltrarno you will see the Pitti Palace. Leave some time for the Brancacci Chapel, tho. I found the Pitti Palace a bit overrated but the Boboli Gardens were nice. Not saying don't see it, just leave enough time to get to that Chapel!

The marvelous pun in the spanish chapel fresco has to do with the brown hounds pictured as being bested by the Dalmations. You will note that it was the Dominican Order that commissioned this fresco...and their habits are black and white (the Franciscans, however, wear brown robes, so...) LOL...

oh I hope I get there someday.. thanks