From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2010 #17 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Monday, January 18 2010 Volume 2010 : Number 017 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: On Joni's health [Mark-Leon Thorne ] "I'm very sick, I'm fighting for my life" [dovetusai ] re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." [Lieve Reckers ] Re: Joni very ill [waytoblue@comcast.net] Re: Joni's very ill [Lori Fye ] thought for Joni [Dave Blackburn ] Re: onlyJMDL Digest V2010 #14 [stdoherty@aol.com] Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." [Anne Sandstrom ] Joni Appearance? ["Cassy" ] Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." [fmyfl@aol.com] Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." [Michael Flaherty ] Re: Joni's effect on Miguel [passscribe@aol.com] Re: Joni's Health & the Interview [passscribe@aol.com] Immune disorders, neuropathies and the CDC's interest in Morgellons [Walt] Buying Fred Simon's "dreamhouse" in North America, njc ["Jim L'Hommedieu"] Re: Kate Rusby's "The Goodman", njc ["Mark" ] Joni lyric on front page of paper! ["Lindsay Moon" ] Re: A get well card? ["Marion Leffler" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:56:26 +1100 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: On Joni's health Miguel, I want to thank you for your openness, your insight and your honesty. Your post was the most touching and inspirational post I have read on this list in thirteen years. Just as Joni's song, Judgement of The Moon and Stars inspired you, your story has inspired me. Her words were perfect for your situation and I am moved to use them to inspire me now too. It seems you have overcome enormous adversity with the help of these words but, I feel you must be an extraordinary human being too. You, in turn, have inspired me. I thank you for that. Mark in Sydney NP Strange Little Girl (Mysterio Mix) - Tori Amos ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:58:48 +0100 From: dovetusai Subject: "I'm very sick, I'm fighting for my life" Joni is very strong, she will fight and win. Let's be positive. We all love her and this will help... Fabio ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:14:33 +0000 (GMT) From: Lieve Reckers Subject: re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." I just wanted to follow up a bit more from my original message, after having read all the other responses. First of all, I read the article very fast because I had to go out, I just scanned for the "relevant" parts, and so I confused this Jean Grand-Maitre with the interviewer. So I really should have said, as Les also posted, that it was Grand-Maitre who stopped all discussion of Joni's ilness, in about 3 different places. It would be nice to think he was trying to "protect" Joni, but I don't think so for one moment. I think he just wanted to put the spotlight on the ballet at any expense. And I think this is disrespectful. Joni is a strong enough person to know what she wants to talk about, and I don't think that Grand-Maitre is so close to Joni to decide otherwise. I am not saying that therefore I immediately buy the fact that Joni is close to death. Of course, I hope she is not, and that it was some sort of typical exaggeration from someone who was feeling lousy. (Like: "this tooth ache is killing me".) But Joni deserves to be taken seriously enough, that if she feels it is important enough to discuss, that some ballet guy should not tell her to change the subject. I also agree with Deb's message, or at least the same thoughts crossed my mind, and I think we can only hope that this is the case and that Joni will have many more years as a cantankerous old woman. What she still produces as an artist is entirely her own business. We may be disappointed but that's our problem, she does not owe us anything. My world will not collapse if she dies, so this is not about me but about Joni Mitchell. She is still relatively young and deserves to have still a good chunk of life to look forward to. (But I also know that in real life nobody has a "right" to anything. Life is a gamble and just look at Haiti to see what your lot can be.) Like Kakki wrote, I hope Joni gets the best medical advice and support from friends. And most of all, with regard to this interview, she deserves to be treated with more empathy and respect than she got. Lieve in London From: Lieve Reckers To: jonipeople LIST ; lesirvin@gmail.com Sent: Sat, 16 January, 2010 11:04:23 Subject: re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." Les, that's really bad news! (But thanks for finding it!) What strikes me is that Joni tries to mention it at least 3 times, and that bloody interviewer seems like he wants to ignore it time and time again. Typical stupid "Oh well, let's hope it blows over"-type of reaction. I'm sure that all of us on the JMDL will want to express our sympathy/empathy and send Joni our very best wishes for healing. Lieve ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:13:45 EST From: wirlypearl@aol.com Subject: Audio to Vancouver Sun Interview Here is the actual link to the Vancouver Sun Article about the interview with Joni, along with the transcript of it and a link to the audio portion of the interview. It's 8:38 minutes long but unfortunately they left off the part about her saying she was fighting for her life and talking about the illness. I know I wanted to hear the tone of her voice. How do you think she sounds? Pearl _http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Joni%20Mitchell%20interview%20pea ce%20memories%20dance/2447317/story.html_ (http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Joni%20Mitchell%20interview%20peace%20memories%20dance/2447317/stor y.html) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:22:31 EST From: wirlypearl@aol.com Subject: Photo of Jean Grand-Maitre In the previous link I sent from the Vancouver Sun there is a photo of a smiling Joni talking to Jean. He doesn't look at all like I imagined. Younger and kinda cute. Whenever I see the name I think Grand Maitre D and see an older, stuffy, formal waiter. This is not the case at all. Sending healing thoughts and love to Joni. Love seeing her happy and smiling. Pearl _http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Joni%20Mitchell%20interview%20pea ce%20memories%20dance/2447317/story.html_ (http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Joni%20Mitchell%20interview%20peace%20memories%20dance/2447317/stor y.html) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:37:08 +0000 From: Jamie Zubairi Home Subject: Re: Audio to Vancouver Sun Interview To me she sounds a little shakey and stuttery. But I think she warms up into it. 2010/1/17 > Here is the actual link to the Vancouver Sun Article about the interview > with Joni, > along with the transcript of it and a link to the audio portion of the > interview. > It's 8:38 minutes long but unfortunately they left off the part about her > saying she was > fighting for her life and talking about the illness. I know I wanted to > hear the tone of > her voice. How do you think she sounds? > > Pearl > > _ > http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Joni%20Mitchell%20interview%20pea > ce%20memories%20dance/2447317/story.html_ > ( > http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Joni%20Mitchell%20interview%20peace%20memories%20dance/2447317/stor > y.html > ) > - -- Jamie Zubairi Actor, Voiceover, Painter, Photographer. Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/yapqx3j Jamie Zubairi can be found for voice-overs at http://www.voices.com/people/jamiezooby acting CV and showreel at http://uk.castingcallpro.com/u/81749 http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/965489410181 agent: http://www.pelhamassociates.co.uk 01273 323 010 Website: http://www.jamiezubairi.co.uk Randomly Related Blog: http://jamiezubairi.blogspot.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:36:42 -0500 From: jamiezubairi@gmail.com Subject: jamiezubairi@gmail.com has shared something with you Can anyone else see this video or not? It's Joni with the Vancouver Sun http://www.vancouversun.com/Video+Joni+Mitchell+Vancouver+January+2010/2447247/story.html - --- This message was sent by jamiezubairi@gmail.com via http://addthis.com. Please note that AddThis does not verify email addresses. Make sharing easier with the AddThis Toolbar: http://www.addthis.com/go/toolbar-em ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:08:11 -0500 From: Gerald Notaro Subject: Re: jamiezubairi@gmail.com has shared something with you If you wait long enough it does play. But it is NOT the video of the interview. Very misleading. Just the editor describing what stories are covered, including Joni's. And that only after sitting through a commercial! Jerry On Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 8:36 AM, wrote: > Can anyone else see this video or not? > > It's Joni with the Vancouver Sun > > > http://www.vancouversun.com/Video+Joni+Mitchell+Vancouver+January+2010/2447247/story.html > > --- > This message was sent by jamiezubairi@gmail.com via http://addthis.com. > Please note that AddThis does not verify email addresses. > > Make sharing easier with the AddThis Toolbar: > http://www.addthis.com/go/toolbar-em ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:09:08 +0000 From: Jamie Zubairi Home Subject: Re: jamiezubairi@gmail.com has shared something with you Hmmm yes, that's what I got. How very annoying. 2010/1/17 Gerald Notaro > If you wait long enough it does play. But it is NOT the video of the > interview. Very misleading. Just the editor describing what stories are > covered, including Joni's. And that only after sitting through a commercial! > > Jerry > > > On Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 8:36 AM, wrote: > >> Can anyone else see this video or not? >> >> It's Joni with the Vancouver Sun >> >> >> http://www.vancouversun.com/Video+Joni+Mitchell+Vancouver+January+2010/2447247/story.html >> >> --- >> This message was sent by jamiezubairi@gmail.com via http://addthis.com. >> Please note that AddThis does not verify email addresses. >> >> Make sharing easier with the AddThis Toolbar: >> http://www.addthis.com/go/toolbar-em >> > > - -- Jamie Zubairi Actor, Voiceover, Painter, Photographer. Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/yapqx3j Jamie Zubairi can be found for voice-overs at http://www.voices.com/people/jamiezooby acting CV and showreel at http://uk.castingcallpro.com/u/81749 http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/965489410181 agent: http://www.pelhamassociates.co.uk 01273 323 010 Website: http://www.jamiezubairi.co.uk Randomly Related Blog: http://jamiezubairi.blogspot.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:07:34 -0800 (PST) From: Monika Bogdanowicz Subject: re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." I've been reading every message regarding this article very thoroughly. Such a statement as the one that is getting attention on this list SHOULD have been discussed further. I would LOVE to think that Joni is exaggerating her own illness. I would rather take a feeling-lousy-melodramatic-even slightly delusional Joni Mitchell than a for real, "very ill, I'm fighting for my life" Joni Mitchell. That being said, if she was exaggerating, maybe this is something she does often speak of to friends and those around her. Perhaps the Grand-Maitre has heard her saying such things numerous times and blew it off to keep focus on the ballet because this statement just might not be true (I wish). You know, sort of like when a friend tells you to shut up nicely because of something you keep on about that is slightly ridiculous. Now I don't actually believe this theory as much as I'd want to believe it. Also, Morgellon's is stated as the internet disease, right? Well, I don't picture Joni as an internet dweller so I doubt she diagnosed herself by reading up on the net. I'm thinking someone else had to of. However, we really don't know what she was referring to--the Morgellon's or something else entirely. Whatever it is, I hope that it is not as serious as she said. The worst thing about all of this is that we don't know anything because it was just put aside! The good thing is that Joni is still doing interviews. She was well enough to give an interview and to have some to say. Is that saying anything? Once again, we don't know. - -M - --- On Sun, 1/17/10, Lieve Reckers wrote: I just wanted to follow up a bit more from my original message, after having read all the other responses. First of all, I read the article very fast because I had to go out, I just scanned for the "relevant" parts, and so I confused this Jean Grand-Maitre with the interviewer. So I really should have said, as Les also posted, that it was Grand-Maitre who stopped all discussion of Joni's ilness, in about 3 different places. It would be nice to think he was trying to "protect" Joni, but I don't think so for one moment. I think he just wanted to put the spotlight on the ballet at any expense. And I think this is disrespectful. Joni is a strong enough person to know what she wants to talk about, and I don't think that Grand-Maitre is so close to Joni to decide otherwise. I am not saying that therefore I immediately buy the fact that Joni is close to death. Of course, I hope she is not, and that it was some sort of typical exaggeration from someone who was feeling lousy. (Like: "this tooth ache is killing me".) But Joni deserves to be taken seriously enough, that if she feels it is important enough to discuss, that some ballet guy should not tell her to change the subject. I also agree with Deb's message, or at least the same thoughts crossed my mind, and I think we can only hope that this is the case and that Joni will have many more years as a cantankerous old woman. What she still produces as an artist is entirely her own business. We may be disappointed but that's our problem, she does not owe us anything. My world will not collapse if she dies, so this is not about me but about Joni Mitchell. She is still relatively young and deserves to have still a good chunk of life to look forward to. (But I also know that in real life nobody has a "right" to anything. Life is a gamble and just look at Haiti to see what your lot can be.) Like Kakki wrote, I hope Joni gets the best medical advice and support from friends. And most of all, with regard to this interview, she deserves to be treated with more empathy and respect than she got. Lieve in London From: Lieve Reckers To: jonipeople LIST ; lesirvin@gmail.com Sent: Sat, 16 January, 2010 11:04:23 Subject: re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." Les, that's really bad news! (But thanks for finding it!) What strikes me is that Joni tries to mention it at least 3 times, and that bloody interviewer seems like he wants to ignore it time and time again. Typical stupid "Oh well, let's hope it blows over"-type of reaction. I'm sure that all of us on the JMDL will want to express our sympathy/empathy and send Joni our very best wishes for healing. Lieve ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:23:37 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: jamiezubairi@gmail.com has shared something with you I can see/hear it, but it's not Joni. It's just the managing editor of the Sun talking about upcoming stories, including a brief mention of the Joni interview. The Joni mention is at the beginning of the video. I doubt there's any video interview footage of Joni, because the interview they did with her was by phone. ________________________________ From: "jamiezubairi@gmail.com" To: joni@smoe.org Sent: Sun, January 17, 2010 8:36:42 AM Subject: jamiezubairi@gmail.com has shared something with you Can anyone else see this video or not? It's Joni with the Vancouver Sun http://www.vancouversun.com/Video+Joni+Mitchell+Vancouver+January+2010/244724 7/story.html - --- This message was sent by jamiezubairi@gmail.com via http://addthis.com. Please note that AddThis does not verify email addresses. Make sharing easier with the AddThis Toolbar: http://www.addthis.com/go/toolbar-em __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer. 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:38:29 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." I hadn't read the whole article either until this morning. I get the impression that Grand-Maitre was just trying to keep the discussion focussed on the ballet. If there's only a certain amount of time allotted for the interview, which I understand lasted 45 minutes and that's a LONG interview, and it's supposed to be about the ballet, then I think he just wanted it staying there. There could have been a little bit of protectionism going on as well, but Joni generally comes across as someone who likes to direct the conversation herself. Maybe the interviewer, or another one, will pick up on the illness story. In fact, I'd be very surprised if nothing further came of this and I hope it's not the tabloids who go with it because, the next thing you know, they'll have Joni communing with aliens or some such thing. Here are some more URLs for info on Morgellens for anyone who has the time or the inclination. I can't read these things without feeling itchy all over. 1. The Morgellons Research Foundation - This looks like a pretty comprehensive website with lots of info and links, including a page dealing with the CDC/Kaiser Permanente investigation: http://www.morgellons.org/index.html 2. The Morgellons Society of Canada - Lots of spelling and grammar errors spotted here, which puts me off right away. The website is very subjective and I suspect it's a one-person operation. There are some links that might be useful: http://morgellons.ca/home%20page.htm 3. An item in the New Scientist. I don't know anything about the New Scientist, but the article is brief. Be sure to read the comments at the end, because they cover the spectrum! http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327246.400-13-more-things-morgellons-disease.html ________________________________ From: Lieve Reckers To: jonipeople LIST Sent: Sun, January 17, 2010 6:14:33 AM Subject: re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." I just wanted to follow up a bit more from my original message, after having read all the other responses. First of all, I read the article very fast because I had to go out, I just scanned for the "relevant" parts, and so I confused this Jean Grand-Maitre with the interviewer. So I really should have said, as Les also posted, that it was Grand-Maitre who stopped all discussion of Joni's ilness, in about 3 different places. It would be nice to think he was trying to "protect" Joni, but I don't think so for one moment. I think he just wanted to put the spotlight on the ballet at any expense. And I think this is disrespectful. Joni is a strong enough person to know what she wants to talk about, and I don't think that Grand-Maitre is so close to Joni to decide otherwise. __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:06:32 +0000 From: Anita G Subject: Re: Joni's very ill Lori wrote: "Wow, things on this list have gotten ugly pretty fast. Sad." Now for a cheap bit of analysis. I felt so shocked when I read that Joni might be fighting for her life. In fact, I sent a rather frightened and (if you could see it) tear stained email trying to come to terms with my life in a world that no longer had Joni Mitchell in it. It's quite ludicrous on an intellectual level, but, at that time, I can only describe myself as trying to work out the possible death of someone whose music has meant such a great deal to me for many,many years. I can see reading through yesterday's JMDL's emails, I'm not alone in feeling shocked. Shock does funny things to people. I remember being in a car crash and getting out of the car to and starting to pick up shattered glass from the road until someone stopped me. It was such a weird thing to do at the time. I think it was shock. I imagine the 'ugly' bits you refer to maybe part of the shock. Some people cry (like me) some people get smart and intellectualise, some people get angry, some people come up with an explanation, some people deny it might happening, some people disappear. There lots of other ways of managing bad news and some can seem crassly insensitive. Lori, I just wondered if that might be what happened on List yesterday. Lots of love Anita (Completed my internal filing run, popped the bad news away in a box in my head and now carrying on as if nothing potentially bad has happened) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:48:53 +0000 (UTC) From: waytoblue@comcast.net Subject: Re: Joni very ill ///Wow, things on this list have gotten ugly pretty fast. Sad./// All I see is people discussing the Sun interview and Morgellons disease but certainly being cordial and respectful to each other. After all, this is a "discussion list" so what's wrong with discussing something that is a pretty major thing. And it is true, everyone deals with things differently. Victor NP: Bob Marley "One Love/People Get Ready" I could be completely wrong, but after my numbness wore off I texted and emailed 3 friends who aren't on this list but who would give a shit: "Word is that Joni is not well. Send good stuff her way." It's not that hard. Just do it. Lori Santa Rosa, CA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:49:45 -0800 From: Lori Fye Subject: Re: Joni's very ill > Lori, I just wondered if that might be what happened on List yesterday. Perhaps, Anita. I was reacting to the personal (list member to list member) snarkiness. I don't think it's ever wise to waste energy on that type of thing, and it's in particularly poor taste now. I wasn't thrilled when I read Chris' take on the situation. I don't care if Joni never records or releases another thing. She's given me enough. I was annoyed enough, in fact, to consider quietly un*s*ubscribing. I may yet do that, depending on how things roll. However, as I sit here drinking my first coffee of the day in my 2002 Jonifest cup, with its design by Helen in NZ so much like the design I drew and nearly submitted that year ... I think about the other stuff that Joni has "given" me, beyond the music and lyrics and paintings and wisdom: friendships with some of the finest people I have had the pleasure to know. Let's remember some of that and try to be kind, and -- again -- send good stuff Joni's way. Lori Santa Rosa, CA ~ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:46:58 -0800 From: Dave Blackburn Subject: thought for Joni I send up my prayer, wondering where it has to go. Dave ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:56:50 EST From: stdoherty@aol.com Subject: Re: onlyJMDL Digest V2010 #14 Please stop the bickering ... it's ugly and this list is not. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:52:13 +0000 (GMT) From: Anne Sandstrom Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." The article was interesting, strange, and sad, I thought. Although I don't know anything about Joni's medical condition, I can sense that she's suffering. And that's enough. Does the suffering have to have a name to make it real? I don't think so. (I remember before I was diagnosed w/endometriosis, then later ovarian cancer, that until the reason for my pain had a name, nobody believed me. I suspect that's the hardest part for Joni, as it would be for anyone.) My thoughts go out to her. Oh, and I suspect that if this is Morgellons (whatever that is), even if she's not fighting for her actual survival, she may be fighting to be able to 'live' rather than merely exist. And that can be pretty horrific too... lots of love, Anne ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:33:02 -0800 From: "Mark" Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." - -------------------------------------------------- From: "Catherine McKay" Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 6:38 AM To: "Lieve Reckers" ; "jonipeople LIST" Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." > I hadn't read the whole article either until this morning. I get the > impression that Grand-Maitre was just trying to keep the discussion > focussed on the ballet. If there's only a certain amount of time allotted > for the interview, which I understand lasted 45 minutes and that's a LONG > interview, and it's supposed to be about the ballet, then I think he just > wanted it staying there. There could have been a little bit of > protectionism going on as well, but Joni generally comes across as someone > who likes to direct the conversation herself. When I looked at the link that Pearl posted, I found this bit interesting and perhaps relevant to the discussion that has been going on: 'Joni Mitchell talks to the press about as often as Halley's Comet streaks across the sky. When she did agree to chat about a new ballet set to her music, The Fiddle and the Drum, it came with a list of topics you aren't supposed to ask about.' That was the first sentence. This looks like an abbreviated version of the interview that Les posted from JoniMitchell.com. I don't see the statement about fighting for her life. So maybe this was a topic that the interviewer was not supposed to touch on. Here is the exchange from the interview that Les posted: Mitchell: I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life. Grand-Maitre: We're talking about a new ballet maybe, eh, Joni? Mitchell: Yeah. We intend to do another one. But I've been very ill, so mainly I'm just trying to survive. Sun: Oh really? I didn't know that, sorry. How are you doing? Mitchell: Well, nobody knows. Grand-Maitre: Let's stick to the ballet, John, ah? Sun: Sorry about that. So what's the new ballet? At first Grand-Maitre directs his remark to Joni. The second remark Jean makes to steer the conversation away from the subject is directed to the interviewer. The interviewer apologizes and moves on. I think it might be just possible that this was one of the 'list of topics you aren't supposed to ask about.' The dramatic remark about 'fighting for my life' has been removed and Joni's illness is mentioned but somewhat downplayed toward the end. Kakki's post got me curious about the Amchitka nuclear bomb test that was the impetus that launched Greenpeace. So I looked at the liner notes for the concert cd. Barbara Stowe says that Amchitka is 'one of the most seismically volatile regions on the planet'. I have the feeling that Joni was doing her usual free-association rattling on and just pulled 'San Andreas fault' out of her head in association with 'seismically volatile regions'. Just guessing here, but I suspect that Amchitka may be, like the Puget Sound region, vulnerable to subduction earthquakes, caused by one tectonic plate moving underneath another. Talking off the cuff, Joni associated earthquake with San Andreas fault and that is what came out. Kakki's and some other posts about the interview, made me start to speculate if Joni's mind was beginning to wander off a bit. But, listening to her, I don't get that impression. Her comments about changing slack-key guitar and the way ballet dancers perform seem to be the usual Joni ego coming through. Maybe there is some truth to what she is saying. I always like to give her the benefit of the doubt. But then there is the Morgellens and 'I'm fighting for my life'. Listening to her voice, she does sound like she is not quite feeling up to snuff. She sounds like someone with a cold or getting over the flu. And there seems to be a bit more of the usual 'you knows' and searching for words. Not that she isn't coherent. She just sounds like somebody who is not feeling particularly well. Not at death's door, but not well. And I don't think she is talking as fast as the editorial comments imply. I agree that Joni has a flair for the dramatic and, as she says in 'Talk to Me', she sometimes 'talks too loose'. If she's been feeling crappy for a long period of time, it may feel like she's 'fighting for my (her) life'. But I admit the possibility that that may be an exaggeration. I sincerely hope it is. She means as much to me as anyone on this list and I was very moved by Miguel's post. And it was good to see Mark D. come out of lurkdom! Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:41:09 -0800 From: "Mark" Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." - -------------------------------------------------- From: "Anne Sandstrom" > Oh, and I suspect that if this is Morgellons (whatever that is), even if > she's not fighting for her actual survival, she may be fighting to be > able to 'live' rather than merely exist. And that can be pretty horrific > too... This sounds a bit like the concept behind the title of 'The Beginning of Survival.' Not a pleasant thought. You make a very good point here, Anne. I hate to think that Joni is 'surviving' but not getting any joy out of life because of constant discomfort. It's hard to decipher what is the actual truth about anybody that we 'know' vicariously through what is presented in the media. In this case, for most of us, it is distressing. Even though I don't know Joni personally, she means a lot to me in so many ways. Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:50:15 -0800 (PST) From: Mags Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." agreed, perhaps she's not fighting for survival, however, she is in a lot of pain which has been going on for a while and that wears you thin. the presence of constant pain distorts everything. when someone is in pain, whatever the source, whatever the reason, a body can so easily jump to the dark side and feel that they are fighting for their life, the life before the pain. one then wants to scream enough already and want to totally give up. it's about quality of life, living with pain is hard work. and just because it may not be life threatening, it can still screw everything up. living with constant pain is horrible. Understatement. Mags - --- On Sun, 1/17/10, Mark wrote: From: Mark Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." To: "Anne Sandstrom" , michael@thepazgroup.com Cc: lesirvin@gmail.com, joni@smoe.org Received: Sunday, January 17, 2010, 1:41 PM - -------------------------------------------------- From: "Anne Sandstrom" > Oh, and I suspect that if this is Morgellons (whatever that is), even if > she's not fighting for her actual survival, she may be fighting to be > able to 'live' rather than merely exist. And that can be pretty horrific > too... This sounds a bit like the concept behind the title of 'The Beginning of Survival.' Not a pleasant thought. You make a very good point here, Anne. I hate to think that Joni is 'surviving' but not getting any joy out of life because of constant discomfort. It's hard to decipher what is the actual truth about anybody that we 'know' vicariously through what is presented in the media. In this case, for most of us, it is distressing. Even though I don't know Joni personally, she means a lot to me in so many ways. Mark in Seattle __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer. 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo..com/ca/internetexplorer/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:53:19 -0500 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Re: Morgellons Joni, I hope you're feeling better soon. Hang in there; spring is coming. Jim L'Hommedieu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:10:01 -0800 From: "Cassy" Subject: Joni Appearance? It is advertised that Joni will be doing a Q & A after TFATD's U.S. ballet premier in Seattle in February. I wonder, in light of her illness, whether she will actually attend and participate. I will be interested to read Mark Scott's report of the evening. Warmly, Cassy Actions speak for themselves - echoing into eternity ~ me ~ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:55:39 EST From: fmyfl@aol.com Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." Anne wrote: > Although I don't know anything about Joni's medical condition, I can > sense that she's suffering. And that's enough. Does the suffering have to > have a name to make it real? I don't think so. > After reading the article and everyone's post, I think Anne hit it on the nail. Yes, Joni is dramatic and seeks attention, but she must be going through some suffering whether it's mental or physical. I hope she can overcome whatever it is, as we all do. I'm sending out my good vibes to her and hope she can feel better. Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:23:18 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Flaherty Subject: Re: "I'm very ill, I'm fighting for my life." >I do get the impression that Joni wanted to talk about the illness but Jean Grand-Maitre tried to steer it in the other direction. Having re-read that part of the interview, I now see that this is likely the case. Michael F. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:51:07 -0800 (PST) From: Willie Yanock Subject: A get well card? I just thought might be a good idea to start a get well card and we can all send our regards and send it to her. Maybe she will feel better? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:55:52 EST From: passscribe@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni's effect on Miguel What a great story from Miguel on how Joni's music helped to save him. But his best line: > "She has a clearly advantage, she's already inmortal." > Kenny B > From: "Miguel Arrondo" > Subject: On Joni's health > > Hello, everyone on the list. > I've came back from holidays just to read the bad news. Then, I read most > of > the comments about the sad situation that Les had disclose. > I don't know how serious her condition can be, but I surely wish to send > her > (and all of you who are so sad about this, like me) my hope and best > wishes, > because I know that "all the incurables have a cure, five minutes before > death". A free translation from a local poem. > > Joni overcame polio as a child. She got up and walk (and did a lot of > other > things, fortunately for us). > > When I was myself postrated, 23 years old, and doctors told me that I > would > never be able to even move my hands (I broke my neck on a jeep accident), > I > had for months, like a mantra on my head, the lines from "Judgement of the > moon and stars": > > "... You've got to shake your fists at lightning now > You've got to roar like forest fire > You've got to spread your light like blazes > All across the sky > They're going to aim the hoses on you > Show 'em you won't expire > Not till you burn up every passion > Not even when you die..." > > That words helped me a lot, maybe they were not meant to the purpose I > gave > them, but they surely helped me. I faced the hoses of the medical > diagnostics, I kept roaring, and I didn't even bother about death itself, > I > was sure I'd never expire. And I did not, stood on my walking feet again, > and lived a wonderful life so far, with her music always sounding around. > A > strange thing is that I had no idea, on these days, that my favourite > singer/songwriter had passed through polio, this information wasn't > available here in Argentina when internet didn't exist yet. > > So, now, I hope Joni keep on fighting, roaring and burning. I wish I could > help her, like she helped me. She has a clearly advantage, she's already > inmortal. > > Best wishes to you all, > > Miguel ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:05:44 EST From: passscribe@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni's Health & the Interview Mark wrote: > And slightly aside from the point, but how can an interviewer go on for > freaking paragraphs about the ballet and only spend a few sentences on her > health? > > - -Mark > Mark, the interviewer ASKED about her health but was clearly told to focus his attention on the ballet, not Joni's health, so I wouldn't fault him. Also, whizzboom@comcast.net (sorry, I don't know who this is) posted: "But she comes off badly in this intv" and I have to agree. To tell an interviewer flat out that they're asking a stupid question is crude; I think it could have been handled better, no matter how stupid you think the question is. Kenny B ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:12:08 -0700 From: Walt Breen Subject: Immune disorders, neuropathies and the CDC's interest in Morgellons Hi guys, Neuropathy from AIDS first hit me in '91 a couple of months after I started taking ddI (the second-released AIDS drug after azt). I woke up one morning and couldn't help but notice that I had no feeling in my hands or feet. This kind of thing has been going on for me and zillions of other PWAs for years. Other symptoms are creepy-crawley feelings, visibly jumping nerves in the legs, and anywhere from slight to moderate pain (which combination of symptoms is now often referred to as Restless Leg Syndrome. It sounds like a joke, but it's not, it can be maddening even if it's not particularly painful. There are treatments for RLS that work to one degree or another, but if one's problem is numbness at the extremities, it's mostly a waiting game: Nerves can and do repair themselves, but it takes years, and in the process, one often gets pain or the above-described RLS. If the numbness goes on long enough, one can develop proprioceptive problems, i.e., you're not getting enough feedback from your hands or feet, and things like writing, typing and even walking become a problem. And I have been all of these places. Joni, having had polio as a kid, is a prime candidate for *some* form of neuropathy, and post-polio syndrome is one of these that have been mentioned w/r/t her in the past. One of the things I admire about Joni is her resilience, something I like to think I share with her. Two years ago, I couldn't play piano or type at all, and my walking was stiff and uneven. For whatever reason, in the fall of '07, I started pulling out of my anxiety disorder and also started getting some feeling back in my extremities. I sort of had to relearn to walk properly, and I plowed ahead, walking miles every day with my faithful little dog Mari. I still can't type well, ditto the piano, which is annoying, but getting *any* of these things back is a blessing. If the CDC is talking Morgellons seriously now, and I read that they've got quite a team working on it, then it's a safe bet they'll come up with something causal, and hopefully eventually a treatment. Joni's been through a lot, and I'm hoping the Morgellons doesn't daunt her too much. My bet is that she'll rebound from this, as usual. Now if she'd only quit smoking... Cheers, Walt _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsofts powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:15:58 -0500 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Buying Fred Simon's "dreamhouse" in North America, njc Fred Simon is one of our own but 'Dreamhouse' was released in the UK and wasn't imported. This makes it expensive to buy in North America and it's not available at CD Baby. I found an mp3 version of Dreamhouse (and several others) on Amazon for substantially less money. Even the unemployed can afford it. Check it out. Jim L'Hommedieu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:14:34 -0800 From: "Mark" Subject: Re: Kate Rusby's "The Goodman", njc From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" > Here are the words... > http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/k/kate_rusby/goodman_crd.htm > Those lyrics remind of the lyrics for the song 'Four Nights Drunk' that Steeleye Span recorded on their album 'Ten Man Mop.' Four Nights Drunk (I believe this is a traditional song) Now as I come home so drunk I couldn't see, oh There I saw a horse, no horse should be there I says unto me wife, tell this to me, oh How come the horse there, no horse should be there You old fool, you silly fool, can't you plainly see, oh Nothing but a milk cow me mother sent to me, oh Miles I have travelled a thousand miles and more, oh Saddle on a milk cow I've never seen before And as I come home so drunk I couldn't see, oh There I saw boots, no boots should be there I says unto me wife, tell this to me, oh How come the boots there, no boots should be there You old fool, you silly fool, can't you plainly see, oh Nothing but a flower pot me mother sent to me, oh Miles I have travelled a thousand miles and more, oh Laces on a flower pot I've never seen before And as I come home so drunk I couldn't see, oh There I saw a hat, no hat should be there I says unto me wife, tell this to me, oh How come the hat there, no hat should be there You old fool, you silly fool, can't you plainly see, oh Nothing but a chamber pot me mother sent to me, oh Miles I have travelled a thousand miles and more, oh Sweat-band on a chamber pot I've never seen before And as I come home so drunk I couldn't see, oh There I saw a man, no man should be there I says unto me wife, tell this to me, oh How come the man there, no man should be there You old fool, you silly fool, can't you plainly see, oh Nothing but a baby me mother sent to me, oh Miles I have travelled a thousand miles and more, oh Whiskers on a baby I've never seen before Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:43:24 -0800 From: "Lindsay Moon" Subject: Joni lyric on front page of paper! Our local newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune had the following front page story on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010: "Mayor wants cars out of landmark Balboa Park plaza by Steve Schmidt, Staff Writer: Decades ago, San Diego paved a bit of paradise and put in a parking lot." Haha. My husband found it. Nice I've trained him well! Lindsay ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:20:47 +0100 From: "Marion Leffler" Subject: Re: A get well card? I'm with you on this one, Willie! I have read all the posts and really have nothing more to add than this: let us all wish her well. Maybe knowing that she is in so many thoughts would make her feel at least a little better. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Willie Yanock" To: Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 12:51 AM Subject: A get well card? >I just thought might be a good idea to start a get well card and we can all >send our regards and send it to her. Maybe she will feel better? ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2010 #17 **************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------