Dell 1924-2009

When Bob gave my number to Dell Warner, a woman who wanted someone with heart willing to take a few photos for her, neither of us knew what I was getting into. What became a "few shots" became daily early morning phone calls, meetings with guys she wanted to hook me up with and a glimpse into someone who just wanted to tell every story she could and was honestly pissed off that she had cancer and her life had was expiring. She passed away today.
Here are some of my memories:
She hated the Russians in her building. "They're mean, they don't smile, they don't know art, why don't they learn English for goodness sake?"
On buttoning up her shirt before i photographed her: "Oh sure, deny me my sexuality"
On family "my sons sold my Peter Max, took my grand piano, through me in this hell-hole and tried to kill my dogs..."
On her emmys: "See those? I love awards, and that way you know you're not talking to a kook!"
Her cane: "i hate it"
Her help: "stupid"

Often you avoid the loudest, seemingly most difficult senior in the room, but Dell would not be ignored, she knew she was going down, and she wasn't going quietly. It was a characteristic i was fond of at times, i little taken aback at others. But still, you always knew where you stood with her, and i'm glad i got to stand by her for a while.
I still have a message from her on my phone (during our time together, June through Dec. she'd left a few like this): "Elizabeth, it's Dell, i'm not able to reach anyone, there's something about being walled off from the world, please, please i'm not crazy, i'm not crazy, , please, PLEASE don't think i'm crazy, PLEASE believe me, any how please in touch somehow, i love you, i've been sick since an infusion of fluids and since then my life has been hell, please, please help me, please God help me..." I pray he has and she has found peace...

Back to the D

Safe and sound! Be prepared to be bombarded with photos & videos....after I get my other affairs in order! Overall I give VN two thumbs up and would recommend it, we were esp. fortunate that we didn't chose Thailand this time! More later...e

last night in vietnam...ish

okay, a flurry of shopping today to get last-min. request and urges...UGH so done with negotiating...perhaps i'll miss it back in the states...but i'd rather walk away from something without someone chasing me down the street and looking like even though i just pulled a safety pin out of their forehead the will agree to my price...

i did find a few great artists while here though, so hoping to score a couple more prints before flying out.

Kristee and i did get away from the hub of commerce and went on a great bicycle ride to the beach, it's not too far, but for a while it was almost quiet on the ride...

We also found a really wonderful patisserie..not so good for trying to keep any sort of shape, but so yummy. Damn the French invasion...

i should not be allowed in a town of tailors

Okay, for those who don't know, Hoi An is filled with tailors...but not like the old men on Broadway in Detroit, but rows and rows of made to fit clothes shops, with adorable samples, tons and tons of made-to-fit shoes and boots too...did i mention rows and rows along almost every street???...it's easier to find a jacket here than a larue bia (local beer)...but i manage.

Today Kristee and i did the Red Bridge all-day cooking school, there were 2 other couples, one from Canada and one from Sunny Cali. all very nice. We went to an organic farm (nationally subsidized), to market to buy our ingredients and to the school to cook four traditional, crazy yummy dishes, then a boat ride back to downtown...Funny story in the market: We bought monk fish, similar to catfish, which apparently doesn't die quickly. So first the fish jumped out of its bowl in the market and onto Kristee's leg...then, after we bought the sucker, none of the guys wanted to hold the bag, so Kristee being nice held onto it...well that same fish made it's way out of the double-knotted bag and almost jumped out of Kristee's shopping bag!!! She shoved it back in..then ate it later..;o)

We actually had sun today for our first time in Hoi An, which was nice. We had our second fittings for some dresses we had made (i got a few, and a suit) It looks like that weather will hold, so tomorrow we bike to it MySon and perhaps take advantage of our pool.

Hello Hoi An

Well we arrived in Hoi An last night after a 5 hour bus tour back to Siagon and a 1 hour plane ride to Danang. Kristee and i were actually chuckling how we have flown so much, also gave me an idea for a new company...you know, in case this photo thing doesn't work out.

First impressions: it's cold!!! miss the 80 degrees by 8am in Mui Ne...but Kristee's sunburn will be able to heal quicker.

In Mui Ne we took a 2 hour motorbike ride to the salt mines, only to find them closed because of rain...2 hours is a long time on the bike...re:mai tia by the pool for healing.

In Hoi An we hope to see MySon, take cooking classes and take advantage of the tailors, we haven't done any shopping so this stop is it...now off for our free breakfast...and hopefully more dragon fruit.

Arrived in Mui Ne...then crashed by the pool

Our bus to Mui Ne broke down three times, but no big deal...cows slowed us down along with some pot holes that would put Michigan to shame...but we made it, its warm its lovely...On's sister got us the hook up at Bamboo Village...spa day tomorrow...ahhh, the life...
Photos top to bottom: )A little hint:if you are going to get your nails done, check out the color options BEFORE committing...
2)Another Sohn! Grabbed us some shells...we didn't want to buy the larger one, but we got the smaller ones for free 3) Kristee and I for a walk on the beach 4) eggs and dragon fruit...there may be some bread crumbs around too...if i didn't lick them off the plate...

Liking Dalat a lot

Can't even count how much we've walked, since at least 2 hours was just getting lost...with no worries, makes for better photos! Which i regret not bringing my card reader, but perhaps when i get home I'll just recreate the trip with photos...which will be okay ;o)

Yesterday we rode on the back of motorbikes to Elephant falls and other sites around the Dalat country side, my driver Dung (pronounced "YUUNG") was great! VERY SAFE MOM!

Our hotel is so lovely, we have a room with a balcony that overlooks our street, and the morning spread is delish! OH! and sauna and hot tub on the roof...last night today then it's off to Mui Ne in the morning!