Fresh. The fruit… and the hair, of course.
How ya like dem berries?
Ok, here are some initial pix from the ride around lake tahoe.
Thanks to all of you, many of you who came from this weird blog thing,
who donated on behalf of Leanne so that I could ride.
The 5 riders who rode in honor of Leanne raised $35,000.
Sum total for that one day, $8.5 million.
The goal of the LLS is to have 11 new clinical trials available in the next 3 years.
Leanne is on one of those already.
So, you see?
You have helped to save her.
We weren’t just connected by fundraising,
or by our tenacity or by our ability to pedal and pedal.
One of the women on our rocky mtn team lost her husband
a year ago to lymphoma. While he was going through chemo,
he was able to impregnate his wife though.
She rode with us, and at the start of the ride we each let
go a purple balloon – there was a purple balloon floating
in the hospital, alone, on the day he died.
at the starting line | along the way | a view from the first climb
lee and cath/amy | carley/kevin fin! | all the good peeps
the helmet | on the way up to emerald bay
————–
so,
the other day, jenna walker came over.
jenna is a wedding photographer, carley and kevin’s wedding photographer.
it was her idea. to come over, to take pictures.
she wants to do more than weddings.
so, she sat with us and walked with us and talked with us and played with us.
she talked and listened with her eyes, her finger on the shutter,
and told our story in a way that i cannot.
here’s a slideshow of many of the pics:
http://www.jennawalkerphotography.com/slideshows/danleannelydia
and here are some individual pics from our time together.
if you’re in need of someone seeing you in this way.
jenna can do it.
we’re not this good looking.
really.
————–
here’s lee getting her blood and music transfusion (thanks marit!) along with
the view from the 12th floor.
——————————
this is leanne waiting for the petscan last week.
if any of you wonder how it truly feels (to be forced to watch
notting hill while you already are feeling the crush of cancer
and your baby being taken from you)
here it is:
—————————
so many of you we haven’t heard from or seen in so long, leanne wanted me to put some pictures up here so that you know who you’re writing to
.
17 Comments
January 20, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Daniel, Leanne, Lydia,
Even though I barely know one of you (just someone who gave you a ride to Ukiah), I’m deeply moved by your writing, your tragedy, your love, your persistence to life. I hold you in my heart and if there is such a thing as healing energy, it’s streaming your way.
Janey
January 22, 2007 at 1:35 am
What a beautiful family – thank you for posting the images so those of us who have never met you can hold your faces in our hearts. We join Janey and her streaming energy of love – Vinca, Dane, Christopher, Julianna
January 22, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Leanne, Dan and family:
I just accessed this website for the first time and wanted to send some good thoughts your way. I’ve heard you haven’t wanted visitors or phone calls so this is my only voice.
We just returned from Puerta Vallarta, Mexico and traveling with the kids, etc. was an adventure. You both would have loved some of the places we went–zip lining over the jungle (thousands of feet high), whale watching and eating some things I’m not so sure we could identify!
We look forward to seeing you when you’re feeling better. Say hello to Dan for me and we’ll keep you in our prayers and good thoughts.
–Sincerely,
Paden, Debbie, Parker, Baylor and (?)
January 29, 2007 at 4:48 pm
You are so cute, Leanne!
January 30, 2007 at 4:31 am
I truely love all these photos! Expressions that help us walk with you. I have Lovely Thoughts from my neighbors whom you met over the past months as well as Mark’s various family members whom you also have met. They all specifically call to send their best your way. The world is Buzzing with Lovely Thoughts for you all. Chris
February 1, 2007 at 7:38 pm
You look so good! You are amazing — an inspiration to us all! Sending love and prayers your way today and everyday. XOXOX — Jen, Fred, Alexi and Julia
February 2, 2007 at 6:41 pm
DAN-
Hi. It’s been too long-I’ve been out in the cold, selfish and not giving towards my friends of many, many years. You and I have seen each other perhaps once in the past 5 years? That is too long for all the time we spent together when we were young.
Jason just called this morning with this news of you and your wife, which I’m so sorry to hear of. Life is so uncertain; it takes so many twists and turns that no one teaches you about, but which you must meet head on. It is a frightening, overwhelming thing to truly live and be ALIVE, but there can be much beauty even in moments such as this…
What do we cherish? What is meaningful? What do we want our lives to be composed of? What is it to really live?
I believe that you have some answers. You have really grown. Your writing is to the point, uncluttered and insightful-poetic. You SEE, which many of us are too frightened to do, or are so overwhelmed by the truth that it paralyzes us…
I think that shoveling snow can be cathartic to a degree-perhaps even transcendental? You and the elements engaged in a little game of tug of war, the subtle howl/whistle/drone of that brisk January air in your ears. I miss that and hold on dearly to my memories of Ohio winters that ended in 1978 for me when I moved out to California to start another life. Perhaps that is why I’m such a nostalgic sort?
But, I met you 7 years later and I am thankful for that. We had our moments of juvenile competition, envy and spite. However, we also enjoyed much camaraderie in other things that I certainly haven’t forgotten. That was meaningful. I cherish that.
Dan, I LOVE YOU. Life can be beautiful. This is a walk through a valley of uncertainty with the potential for much anguish and heartbreak, but it can also be a time that is more alive and passionate than perhaps anything that you’ve ever experienced before.
You have a beautiful family and are a better man than I. You are holding together and being a beautiful and loving rock of a husband and father. You are that island of tranquility for your two girls. They are blessed.
Dan, If you have the time or interest in contacting me, please do. You, Lydia and Leanne are in my thoughts and I send much positive and soothing energy in your direction.
Love,
Wendell
650-575-3266
March 6, 2007 at 9:00 am
That slide show is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. What a wonderful blessing to have that forever. You are a precious family.
March 6, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Love the slide show, I think it shows so much love. So much hope.
Love your hat, Daniel!
March 8, 2007 at 7:03 am
What a cooooooooool slideshow! She captured the real you’s not any fake you’s. What a treasure. And what a way to remember the turning point (the official turning point per Petscan- I bleeve your turning point was awhile before) to official hopedom and almost donedom. You deserve your good life together. Nice job Jenna! Nice being real L, D, and little L. One of my faves is the hands on the pianer.
March 9, 2007 at 9:58 am
It took me a long time before I could go to the BLOG. This whole ordeal has been extremely emotional for me as well as all of us.
I can only do this now because of the wonderful news from last week concerning the excellent PT scan results.
I love you all very much. Leanne, my beautiful daughter, you have been my light, my inspiriation, my hope, my strength. Daniel, my absolutely terrific son-in-law, you have been my source of comfort throughout this because I saw quickly how you grabbed the bull by the horns asking the right questions, doing the appropriate literature search, and most important, were there beside your wife being the caring, loving, and loyal husband you are. My precious Lydia, my number one granddaughter, you have brought sunshine into my life. I know how alert and tuned in you are to all of this. You have shown your love and caring for your mother and have been with her through her ups and downs. We all are better people and in better emotional shape because of you.
What a wonderful family you are! Could any father ask for more? I am so proud and amazed by you. You are all so wise and so mature in how you deal with this. I can only wonder how this has played out in the lives of all whom you three have touched. What a powerful lesson in life and living this is. We all can learn so much from this situation and the way you deal with it.
To say that our lives have been changed is an understatement. To say that our lives have been made better by the three of you is profound!
I will forever be here (and there) for you.
Dad (Ira/Pop “I”)
March 9, 2007 at 11:38 am
Wow. Stunning, stunning images of a powerful family. The photo of you, Lee, watching Notting Hill is deeply tragic & very beautiful. You steal the slide show with your honesty and grace. I am compelled by and forever changed for the better by your story. I think of you many times through-out the day. I am sending you all my good karma points and will send more as I rack ‘em up. And thank you for allowing me to follow your experience. It’s an honor.
Love to you & your family, bren
April 11, 2007 at 1:35 pm
I have to stop reading your blog at work. I get tears in my eyes and someone might think I’m having a problem! I think that you are such a beautiful family and you are so blessed to have each other. I don’t believe in coincidences and for some reason I stumbled on this site. All I know is that yesterday I wrote an email to my parents to let them know how much I love them and what they truly mean to me and my family.
May 2, 2007 at 4:50 am
thank you for these photos. it helps to put a face to a name.
youre a beautiful family
-with or without the photos.
May 20, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Sweet Family, What wonderful news! Have been praying and hoping for you for some time and it is so wonderful to see prayers answered.
Thank you both for your wonderful thoughts, wishes and praises to those who give, pray and cry during your struggle.
I will continue to walk with you. Blessings, sondra
August 23, 2007 at 7:03 am
When I saw adorable Lydia holding the berries, ‘toooooo cute’, I knew I had to send you this list of cancer fighting foods. I’m adding them to my diet. A lot to read, and not anywhere as fun as your writing Dan, but well worth it!
Fact file The 10 best foods you aren’t eating
Want to do your body a world of good? It’s as easy as expanding your grocery list
Although some people aren’t opposed to smoking some weed, most wouldn’t think of eating one. It’s a shame, really, since a succulent weed named purslane is not only delicious but also among the world’s healthiest foods.
Of course, there are many superfoods that never see the inside of a shopping cart. Some you’ve never heard of, and others you’ve simply forgotten about. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best of the bunch. Make a place for them on your table and you’ll instantly upgrade your health–without a prescription.
Beets
These grungy-looking roots are naturally sweeter than any other vegetable, which means they pack tons of flavor underneath their rugged exterior.
Why they’re healthy: Think of beets as red spinach. Just like Popeye’s powerfood, this crimson vegetable is one of the best sources of both folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower your blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. Plus, the natural pigments–called betacyanins–that give beets their color have been proved to be potent cancer fighters in laboratory mice.
How to eat them: Fresh and raw, not from a jar. Heating beets actually decreases their antioxidant power. For a simple single-serving salad, wash and peel one beet, and then grate it on the widest blade of a box grater. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon.
You can eat the leaves and stems, which are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Simply cut off the stems just below the point where the leaves start, and wash thoroughly. They’re now ready to be used in a salad. Or, for a side dish, sauté the leaves, along with a minced clove of garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil, in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook until the leaves are wilted and the stems are tender. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese.
Cabbage
Absent from most American kitchens, this cruciferous vegetable is a major player in European and Asian diets.
Why it’s healthy: One cup of chopped cabbage has just 22 calories, and it’s loaded with valuable nutrients. At the top of the list is sulforaphane, a chemical that increases your body’s production of enzymes that disarm cell-damaging free radicals and reduce your risk of cancer. In fact, Stanford University scientists determined that sulforaphane boosts your levels of these cancer-fighting enzymes higher than any other plant chemical.
How to eat it: Put cabbage on your burgers to add a satisfying crunch. Or, for an even better sandwich topping or side salad, try an Asian-style slaw. Here’s what you’ll need.
4 Tbsp peanut or canola oil
Juice of two limes
1 Tbsp sriracha, an Asian chili sauce you can find in the international section of your grocery store
1 head napa cabbage, finely chopped or shredded
1/4 cup toasted peanuts
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Whisk together the oil, lime juice, and sriracha. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss with the dressing to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes before serving. The slaw will keep in your fridge for 2 days.
Guava
Guava is an obscure tropical fruit that’s subtly acidic, with sweetness that intensifies as you eat your way to the center.
Why it’s healthy: Guava has a higher concentration of lycopene–an antioxidant that fights prostate cancer–than any other plant food, including tomatoes and watermelon. In addition, 1 cup of the stuff provides 688 milligrams (mg) of potassium, which is 63 percent more than you’ll find in a medium banana. And guava may be the ultimate high-fiber food: There’s almost 9 grams (g) of fiber in every cup.
How to eat it: Down the entire fruit, from the rind to the seeds. It’s all edible–and nutritious. The rind alone has more vitamin C than you’d find in the flesh of an orange. You can score guava in the produce section of higher-end supermarkets or in Latin grocery stores.
David Gubernick / Corbis stock
Swiss chard
Hidden in the leafy-greens cooler of your market, you’ll find this slightly bitter, salty vegetable, which is actually native to the Mediterranean.
Why it’s healthy: A half cup of cooked Swiss chard provides a huge amount of both lutein and zeaxanthin, supplying 10 mg each. These plant chemicals, known as carotenoids, protect your retinas from the damage of aging, according to Harvard researchers. That’s because both nutrients, which are actually pigments, appear to accumulate in your retinas, where they absorb the type of shortwave light rays that can damage your eyes. So the more lutein and zeaxanthin you eat, the better your internal eye protection will be.
How to eat it: Chard goes great with grilled steaks and chicken, and it also works well as a bed for pan-seared fish. Wash and dry a bunch of Swiss chard, and then chop the leaves and stems into 1-inch pieces. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan or wok, and add two garlic cloves that you’ve peeled and lightly crushed. When the oil smokes lightly, add the chard. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until the leaves wilt and the stems are tender. Remove the garlic cloves and season the chard with salt and pepper.
Gregor Schuster / Corbis stock
Cinnamon
This old-world spice usually reaches most people’s stomachs only when it’s mixed with sugar and stuck to a roll.
Why it’s healthy: Cinnamon helps control your blood sugar, which influences your risk of heart disease. In fact, USDA researchers found that people with type-2 diabetes who consumed 1 g of cinnamon a day for 6 weeks (about 1/4 teaspoon each day) significantly reduced not only their blood sugar but also their triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Credit the spice’s active ingredients, methylhydroxychalcone polymers, which increase your cells’ ability to metabolize sugar by up to 20 times.
How to eat it: You don’t need the fancy oils and extracts sold at vitamin stores; just sprinkle the stuff that’s in your spice rack (or in the shaker at Starbucks) into your coffee or on your oatmeal.
Purslane
Although the FDA classifies purslane as a broad-leaved weed, it’s a popular vegetable and herb in many other countries, including China, Mexico, and Greece.
Why it’s healthy: Purslane has the highest amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fats of any edible plant, according to researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The scientists also report that this herb has 10 to 20 times more melatonin–an antioxidant that may inhibit cancer growth–than any other fruit or vegetable tested.
How to eat it: In a salad. Think of purslane as a great alternative or addition to lettuce: The leaves and stems are crisp, chewy, and succulent, and they have a mild lemony taste. Look for it at your local farmer’s market, or Chinese or Mexican market. It’s also available at some Whole Foods stores, as an individual leafy green or in premade salad mixes.
Business Wire
Pomegranate juice
A popular drink for decades in the Middle East, pomegranate juice has become widely available only recently in the United States.
Why it’s healthy: Israeli scientists discovered that men who downed just 2 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for a year decreased their systolic (top number) blood pressure by 21 percent and significantly improved bloodflow to their hearts. What’s more, 4 ounces provides 50 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.
How to drink it: Try 100 percent pomegranate juice from Pom Wonderful. It contains no added sugars, and because it’s so powerful, a small glassful is all you need. (For a list of retailers, go to http://www.pomwonderful.com.)
Goji berries
These raisin-size fruits are chewy and taste like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry. More important, these potent berries have been used as a medicinal food in Tibet for over 1,700 years.
Why they’re healthy: Goji berries have one of the highest ORAC ratings–a method of gauging antioxidant power–of any fruit, according to Tufts University researchers. And although modern scientists began to study this ancient berry only recently, they’ve found that the sugars that make goji berries sweet reduce insulin resistance–a risk factor of diabetes–in rats.
How to eat them: Mix dried or fresh goji berries with a cup of plain yogurt, sprinkle them on your oatmeal or cold cereal, or enjoy a handful by themselves. You can find them at specialty supermarkets or at gojiberries.us.
Steve Yeater / AP
Dried plums
You may know these better by the moniker “prunes,” which are indelibly linked with nursing homes and bathroom habits. And that explains why, in an effort to revive this delicious fruit’s image, producers now market them under another name.
Why they’re healthy: Prunes contain high amounts of neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, antioxidants that are particularly effective at combating the “superoxide anion radical.” This nasty free radical causes structural damage to your cells, and such damage is thought to be one of the primary causes of cancer.
How to eat them: As an appetizer. Wrap a paper-thin slice of prosciutto around each dried plum and secure with a toothpick. Bake in a 400?F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the plums are soft and the prosciutto is crispy. Most of the fat will cook off, and you’ll be left with a decadent-tasting treat that’s sweet, savory, and healthy.
Howard Ande / Corbis stock
Pumpkin seeds
These jack-o’-lantern waste products are the most nutritious part of the pumpkin.
Why they’re healthy: Downing pumpkin seeds is the easiest way to consume more magnesium. That’s important because French researchers recently determined that men with the highest levels of magnesium in their blood have a 40 percent lower risk of early death than those with the lowest levels. And on average, men consume 353 mg of the mineral daily, well under the 420 mg minimum recommended by the USDA.
How to eat them: Whole, shells and all. (The shells provide extra fiber.) Roasted pumpkin seeds contain 150 mg of magnesium per ounce; add them to your regular diet and you’ll easily hit your daily target of 420 mg. Look for them in the snack or health-food section of your grocery store, next to the peanuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
Source: Johnny Bowden, Ph.D., Men’s Health
September 20, 2007 at 8:35 pm
I like the strawberry photos. I wish it were still berry season here. We have moved onto corn. And corn is hardwork. I’m gonna sit this one out.