Mike Glassow Updates

Mike has always had students who keep in touch with him, and, of course, over the years, they have accumulated. There was a cohesive group of archaeology-bound students who were at UCSB when he started teaching in 1969.  Not so different in age, many of these students have gone on to make contributions in the field and have even retired, yet, like Mike, have continued in the field in a number of ways. One of these colleagues is Shelly Davis King ,  whose work has been in California and has received the lifetime achievement award from the Society for California Archaeology.    Shelly visited Mike on Friday the 30th and they had the most enjoyable and lively visit.  Shelly brought lunch they ate while reminiscing.   While Shelly and Mike met when he was her professor, time has shrunk that hierarchy and their common research in California continues to spark creative discussions. Shelly drove down from her home in the Sierra Foothills, and she was taking a...

 While Mike takes Walks, Checks the Mail ... I, Anabel, am in Belize! Mike walked int eh Botanic Garden (note new jacket!) to the Santa Barbara High School And I am in Belize getting vehicles working, checking on the base, and preparing for El Pilar. The Belmopan shuffle

 A BIG DAY FOR MIKE It began as a regular day.  Up and breakfast by 8:30am.  Maria arrived at 9:30 and as I left for the campus. Tim arrived for physical therapy for Mike. The day was really unusual. Mike is moving forward and learning new ways of strengthening his arms --   and the bands are a big help.  Tim showed him new strategies that will change and develop his muscles. All this is in addition to his daily walks, which are so important to his whole recovery. Just as Tim was completing his work with Mike, Terry Josilin came to visit and share lunch with Mike.  Mike and Terry shared memories, as she was one of his students.  She reminded him about her challenge in getting into the program and how she sought her objective. She is now living on a ranch where she has her own chickens for eggs, her large and wonderful garden with wonderful vegetables. They went out for a walk, something Mike is insistent in making sure he does daily. Set...

 Daily walks in the Morning  & Hyperbaric Therapy in the Afternoon We have settled into a pattern during the week.  Up and breakfast around 8:30. When Maria arrives at 9:30 -- out for a walk. That is when I leave for errands and campus.   Mike is walking farther each day  Mike's walk goes up Alta Vista to Micheltorena and down Salsipuedes to Anapamu and back home.  He says he does feel the workout, yet each day it is easier. Lunch must be finished before 1 pm as he must be ready to go to Goleta Cottage Hospital, where he spends the next 2 hours in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber.   I leave campus at 4pm to fetch Mike after the therapy. We head home in the traffic to arrive before 5pm.   Miek enjoys visitors between 10 am and 1 pm and then after 5 pm. Looking forward to your next visit!

  We welcome visitors Mike completed his responses to the review comments and renumbered the figures for his book manuscript "The Ancient Past of the Santa Barbara Region." This is now in the hands of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, where it will be published.  There is the layout still in process, the index that relies on the page layout, and the cover.   Mike and John Discuss the book project John Johnson came over to see Mike and share cover ideas.  John was thinking of Rick Bury, a professional firefighter from Carpinteria and an expert California Rock Art photographer, whose work is as exceptional as it is remarkable.  His vision gave new life to these amazing artistic renderings. Mike and John reviewed a group of Rick's photos that were shared by Carol Burry from her collection.   His work is so splendid, it was hard to make a decision, however, the choice was clear -- Santa Barbara's Painted Cave, one that anyone can visit! Whe...

 Walks and Walks!! Besides drinking LOADS of water and even more! it is WALKS! Getting out in the sun with his S anta Cruz Island Foundations hat!

 BIG NIGHT OUT We had an unusual day that culminated with a special dinner at Moby Dick on the Warf.  Karl Hutterer, retired director of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, in his role on the board of the Community Environmental Council , has undertaken to promote Moby Dick's support of sustainable fishing. This was an adventure for Mike and me.  At present, we have not been accustomed to going out to dinner, and Mike is definitely on the early-to-bed scene, so this was a new challenge.   Karl pontificating with Mike at my side and Glenn and Lynn across This is a fund-raising setting, and it was enjoyable even if it was really too noisy for Mike...   Monthly Captains Table events are scheduled by Karl, and this evening featured halibut with each course and Margerum wine-- paired with each course. Karl gave an overview and shared the convoluted story that got him to be the voluntary lead of the restaurant and his dedication to the task.  Do...

A Saturday Morning Visit This Saturday, Linda  Kuiper  Ford visited us, sharing concern for Mika nd wanting to connect on like family matters.  Linda's son Tyler, named for my grandfather's father, a name that goes back generations on my grandfather's grandmother's side, was busy preparing for finals and working and could not join us. Ellie, her daughter, too, was not with us. Named Elinore -- after my grandmother, my mother's mother; Ellie is presently studying dramatic arts in Dublin at the  LIR , developing her talents in acting, and is enjoying her experience... Mike and Linda converse as the squirrels make their presence known We enjoyed a warm sunny day on our patio with the restless squirrels, the enchanting butterflies, and the spring birds' sounds.   Linda shared a banana bread and cherry jam directly from Michigan, where she was visiting her mother.  She is about to change law firms, moving to a new firm based in West LA.  She had b...

 Mike walks at the Botanic Garden! Friday was an unusual day -- We had to vacate the house to paint the ceiling, where we had a leak from the chimney.  We had the work on the  chimney  last summer and waited for the rain... while it did not really rain, we had to fix the crack.  So, Mike was able enjoy the wonderful sunny day! Mike in front of the meadow...  The Coast Range in the background Maria is able to take him around, walk with him, and make sure he has his water.   On a bench in the garden, resting between stretches of walks.... It was a great idea, and we should do this frequently! After a nice visit at the Garden, they went to Alice Keck Park.   They were able to have lunch before they went on to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Every day, Maria leaves Mike at the Goleta Cottage Hospital, and I fetch him after 4pm.   The weekend is a break!

 A Wonderful Dinner! Sandy and Mack made arrangements to bring a WHOLE dinner and share a new culinary experience.   They had found a great place of Vietnamese takeout, and they brought a huge variety of flavors! They also say the food is great for take-out but not for there, very noisy and cramped! The meal started with asian rolls and included soup, featuring different noodle entrees.  There was lots offood!! The desert was ice cream from a local   Straus  Creamery ! Yummy and topped with Sandy's home made cranberry that she was kind enough to leave it with us!  As well as all the leftover food so we have had a chance to enjoy the meal again!

 Mike's Days! Walking, the mail run, exercise, and the Hyperbaric fill up the daily activities.   Mike got up to Sola, a longer walk! There is always the weekly visit with PT and the health care nurse.  Emily  ho brought him new compression socks and suggested he should wear them at night as well.  GIven his propensity to develop blood clots, this is a good idea. It is special when he has visitors and truely he looks forward to  the change in the daily schedule.   Michael and Phillip brought him lunch to share.  I understand the conversations were lively . Mike gets a chance to catch up with things he has missed. Michael has engaged his friends for what he calls the Barnacles lunch.  Mike has often joined these events, staged at teh breakwater, and I am sure what is happening amongst them was discussed in the discussions. I had hoped that they would be able to eat outside, but the temps have been a bit cold of late, so here they are...

 Dia de Santa Cruz We were planning to join the Santa Cruz Island Foundation Mass for the Holy Cross, but the event was canceled.    We regrouped and spent the day on home activities with Antoinio, who helps with maintenance and handyman jobs like installing a grab bar on the short stairs to the study. And Maria! Maria came and was able to help Mike with his exercises and walks. He can walk up and down our stairs with alacrity. And uses our counters for his physical therapy, guided by Tim, who comes every week to work to build strength.  Mike said he got canned goods from our pantry to work on his biceps!  We will need a pix to confirm that! We also get a weekly visit from a nurse, Emily, who helps us understand the changes and answers questions while she goes over Mike's physical status. Mike is gaining more independence, can negotiate the house and stairs on his own, and does the daily mail run as that driveway is its own exercise!   The first time h...

 Happy Birthday Mike! Mike was born in 1940 on this day 2 May.  One year ago on this same date, he was informed of his bladder cancer and so began our new journey and education about the process and challenges.  We are still here to tell the tale! This year we celebrated this auspicious event with friends who brought music and mirth for our eve.   Assembling in the living room, not the plastic bags of bags NOTE: For all visitors to our home, we announce our interest in recycling plastic.  Those plastic bags at the side of Mike's chair are part of the story.   Ridwell  is an emerging company sourcing places to recycle every type of plastic.  For those not in their pick-up zone, we can purchase the intro box, with collection bags for 2 types of plastic to gather and mail, supporting the USPS, to a near collection zone where they will direct the specific plastic bags to their fully recycled future.  If we can get more Santa Barbara tak...

 Goodbye Scott! Our wonderful and thoughtful friend and colleague, Scott Fedick, came last week to visit and stay with Mike while I went to the Society for American Archaeology  meetings in Denver.   Scott realized that I was very involved in different symposia and committees and felt torn between the obligations at home and to my field. When Scott took North American Indians in the mid-1970s, a class of Mike's and learned about internships with my the Tikal map project.   He had traveled in the Yucatan and was eager to learn more of the Maya field.... This turned into a life long learning for both of us.  He worked with me in Guate (and completed his MA) and in Belize (on his PhD) and was in the field with me last year!   We are now going to develop an article on Maya agriculture for an international journal on swidden systems in the tropics. Here is the Ceramic Sciences participants Generously offering to come out and stay in SB! I kidded S...