Author Archives: rike52

Sometimes Kathy and I just like hanging out in our loose-fitting robes. Go Blue (Ph.D. ’90)! Go Maroons (M.D. ’79)! Should you wish to sing along The Yellow and the Blue (UofM alma mater) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgpp9FEAhsA University of Chicago Alma Mater  https://youtu.be/YLJSLMXnHCg

Among the items awaiting me in my mailbox upon returning from Phuket was the KingSize catalogue my USPS daily digest warned me about a couple days ago.  I thought it might be a joke but there it was, in all its scarlet and gray glory.  Was KingSize trying to shed the state of Michigan?  I’veContinue reading “a poke in the (Buck) eye”

My dad, Dick Ike, Jr., would have turned 104 tomorrow, August 8th, an age his own father had reached.  But Dad’s colon cancer was higher up and more invasive than Grandpa’s, and he only lived 9 years after diagnosis and resection.  But he died a happy man, as he had lived.  Just as his retirementContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Dad!”

In an old country with a proud history like Ireland’s, you’d expect a lot of that.  This morning’s side trip from Beaufort to Cork brought me to a sterling modern example of this phenomenon.  We set out to hike nearby Tomies Woods, at the edge of Killarney Park.  The trek we’d take took us aContinue reading “respecting tradition”

“A bad doctor makes the same mistakes day after day and calls it experience” – Tommy Palella, 1982.  I’ve swapped patients for posts, and surely had a few duds, but have been at it a while and it’s been quite the experience.  I thought I’d learn from WordPress that this would be my 300th post. Continue reading “300!”

I swore several months go I’d blog no more about Mr. Corona, the “pandemic” behind us and figuring the annoying umpteenth generation variants of SARS-COV-2 as mere cold/flu agents. Hardly worth any attention, let alone a mask, vaxx, lockdown, or quarantine. But info trickles out about how things really turned out that deserves commentary. ReleasedContinue reading “oh no!*”

After our magnificent dinner at Half Door (1), Mom got a hankering to go to a pub and hear some real Irish music.  She’d heard O’Flaherty’s was a good spot (2), so off we went.  It wasn’t far, but the little side streets and Gaelic signage proved a challenge. Fortunately, the proprietors emblazoned their nameContinue reading “innealtóireacht iontach Éireannach*”

One of the joys of this Ireland rip has been to hang out with Jolene, a.k.a. “Ish”, my 6’1” favorite sister, a pharmacist who became that when her plans to become a vet fell through.  The main reason we’re here is to celebrate our mom’s 90th birthday, with a big blowout planned for Killarney nextContinue reading “Ish”

When yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, after close to 24 hours of travel , we finally landed in Shannon prepared to head to Dingle to start our 2 week family Irish adventure*, you can guess the first place I sought out after clearing customs and heading to baggage claim.  SNN is a charming airport – all directionContinue reading “fualán iontach eile”