Venezuela

I was reading an article in the New Yorker about the crazy politics happening in Venezuela. Maria Corina Machado is poised to become President, running on an agenda of democracy. She received the Nobel and handed it to Trump in a gesture meant (I gather) to placate his desire for the prize and get U.S. support against Maduro, and his dangerous government. Venezuela has a LOT of oil. So, Machado has faced exile and other strategies aimed at getting her out of the way. She was raised in Catholic convent schools and very much believes in the voice of the people. She is tenatious. The polls that aren’t rigged, show her with a lead.

On a different subject, I watched “My Daughter’s Father” on Netflix. I started viewing it because it dealt with kidney transplants. The lack of one was Mel’s demise. I was doing my own fact check as the film played. True, the list to get on the receiving end stretches to over 600 people waiting. What didn’t match was that the movie said any healthy person can donate. In Mel’s case, I was told I was too old. Although it was Mel that told me that, not a doctor. Now, I don’t know if it was Mel trying to save me from surgery. That would be ridiculous. I’ve had several surgeries: foot, hip, heart and don’t relish the ordeal, but to save my partner’s life there would be no question.

In “My Daughter’s Father” there were several cross-cuts and the ending, not to be a spoiler, was a bit confusing. I suppose that was meant to ‘trick’ the viewer. Ultimately, she lives. See, there I spoiled it. If you’re interested in that sort of procedure, then I’d recommend it, without jumping up and down. I certainly can relate to the anxiety of being rolled into the E.R. What can I say? They don’t administrate drugs the way they used to.

Speaking changing times, I told my new friend Amanda that I’m glad I did all the traveling I did when I did. A big mistake I made at the U. Of Paris was to do my thesis on Francoise Sagan. She was ‘old hat’ to them. What would have been much better would have been the Mayan ruins in both Oaxaca and Caribbean Guadalupe. I spent much time researching them before I had the opportunity to experience them. But I didn’t bring that material with me. Hindsight. Pre-colonialism and archeology would have been a hit. Oh well…

On the plus side, my paper on the original of toe shoes for ballerinas was a bit hit. Personally, I’ve never done pointe work as a dancer, but I was curious. An Italian shoe maker was the father of Maria Tagliani. And the rest is history.