Life has been complicated this last week. Two surgeries in three days. The infected tooth finally calmed down and was removed Tuesday. Thursday I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my cheek. I have another on my nose that will be removed next month.

A word of caution to you sun bathers: don't. The damage is usually done at an early age but don't make matters worse. Basal cell carcinoma is common and doesn't go on to become something worse, but don't take any chances. Keep covered and protected. I will now have a fine 2 inch scar on my cheek. It's rakish for a man (I can now tell stories about my sabre scar) but probably not for a woman. Actually, the scar will be minimal. Just beware of the sun.

There has also been some good. I've been without a motorized vehicle for a year. Ever since my son took my 76 Chevy van to a Phish concert and the water pump exploded. He made it back but the van has been a storage shed since. My plans to rebuild the engine on the van came to an end last weekend when we looked at a little 1989 Toyota Corolla a neighbor was selling. He was only asking $600 for it. It was very clean but had a number of things that needed attention, like shocks (struts), radiator, light, AC. Most I can repair myself (thanks to inexpensive parts on eBay) so I offered him $500 and then Zoe jumped in and made it an early 60th birthday (and Christmas) present. (It's a month away from the 60th.) It's a bottom of the line model with an automatic. A simple car that gets over 30mpg. I love it. Thanks to Zoe!