Hi Mark

It seems like a million years ago but I remember being in Lincoln while you were recovering from your first valve replacement. I learned about your recent heart surgery from Carol Agger. actually I am in DC May 9-11 on Biz trip. It would be great to connect please send me an email at johnreynolds@independentmech.com

your old pal
Rey

Wow Mark! I can't wait to see you all buffed out! Who knew you were such a stud? I've loved following your journey from afar in Santa Cruz. You would be so happy here today -- spring blossoms everywhere and incredible fragrances. And we're within shouting distance of Giants turf. Be well my friend,
Miriam Stombler

Hey, Markie, glad to hear things are nice in D.C. and you are going to 4 baseball games !!! I will be in town next week. What are you doing Thursday night?

Hope we get to fit in a little visit at least,
Jane

Wish I could be there for those four games with you!!

xxo
Karen

Boy, I remember when this Giants-Nationals series seemed a looong ways off, and here it is. So happy that you're making this goal! I loved it months ago, and love it even more today. So, go Giants! And go Mark!

xxoo
Jen McN

Sounds like you are doing fabulously both physically and mentally. Keep it up. I know your work is important but so is your health. Take it easy when you get back to work. I know they will continue to take care of you but it is up to you to set the right pace, which you have done exceptionally well when you could concentrate on just your health.

Damn cold and windy here. Down to 34 last night. Kind of hard to think of it as a tomato bonanza year so far. Caterpillar down with dead water pump, welder down, weedwhacker down. All the usual springtime disruptions. Doing the best we can. Weeds are taller than me already. Red Cross keeps trying to send me to a disaster area, but personally too fragile still about my mom to feel like I have that much to give yet.

I liked hearing you are thinking about a visit. We will all welcome you home with open arms and kitchens!! Love from the Molineros. Sheri

So pleased to think of you out at a ball park. VERY COOL! Moving back home and back to the office! Wow, Mark! Major milestones! So pleased for you. Enjoy! Theresa

Hey Mark:

Just sounds super that you will make it out to ball park. Looks like perfect weather for your outing.

Sounds terrific that you willbe back to the office; that is great.

Looking forward to seeing you and hope all continues on track.

Tom

Mark, I've so appreciated getting your posts. Once you were "out of the woods" and the danger had passed I found them so inspiring.. for a lot of different reasons. You're thanking us, but I'm thanking YOU!!
Nancy

You rock..and I hope the Giants will rock for you and with you....we will be in Sacramento this weekend watching Em row. I hope the sun will be shining on both coasts and am sending you love and healing energy again and again. Misch

mighty M,
so glad you are getting stronger and on the mend. I've been out of commission with a bad chest cold for a week and have finally gotten to feeling back to myself. so I'm catching up on a horrendous backlog of e-mails. what the heck?
sorry the Giants didn't sweep the rockies, but hey at least our bats weren't silent! I am glad the weather has been gentle on you, the DC spring can be such a crapshoot. things are cool here and spring wants to arrive, but She hasn't really sprung yet, everyone is saying crops will be a late start like last year, but it's not a bad as last year, I don't think. I have to get back to the salt mines now, but I think of you every day, and you are in my daily healing prayers for the Earth and the rest of us.
I am so glad to read your reports, they make me feel like I'm there, and I wish I could be. hugs from the gang here, Mary Jane in particular.
all my love, Bu
PS Go Giants!

Slip, it is so great to read your dispatches. I feel like I can hear your voice right here in the room. What a wonderful feeling! Keep up that Spring Training!
TP

Thanks for the B'Day wishes, Mark! Fortunately for me it is a gorgeous spring day here...perfect Earth Day. Sounds like you're mending well and thanks for the updates. Descriptions of DC make me want to come for a visit! Have a great day.

Love, Erica

Hi Mark,

I meant to comment earlier that the vista on your avatar is amazing. I see God there. You are a 'winner' and not in the manner Charlie Sheen stated. A winner in the "It's Good To Be" way. Congrats on your recovery.

Mona

great writing. thanks! so good to hear of your progress and views. I was thinking of you yesterday while riding my bike through town, observing small signs of spring. It's finally a bit warmer here - high of 55 predicted today and it's partly sunny. whew! just when I thought I couldn't do a single other grey day in the 40s. Lilacs are greening up, tulips are all kinds of colors on strong stalks in many many yards. The tulip festival in Skagit (20 miles south) backs up traffic coming from Seattle on the Hwy 5 all this month.
I am really looking forward to May!
love you!
Laura

Sounds great Mark.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

See you soon.

Tom

lovely encouraging post, Mark! Thank you!

Paul Krugman has a good healthcare column today: Patients Aren't Consumers. I'm glad that you're getting such good care and human care in our crazy system.

Hey, Emmylou Harris is, it turns out, a huge baseball fan. I got a kick out of that. The Atlanta Braves are her team.

Onward to France in the spring for me! I will take pictures and check in. Keep on healing every day. All my love. Lainie

Seriously Dude!
Watching the Giants is not the best heart medication because it is a stress test in itself! Although we certainly know what an addiction it can be. Maybe watching the Nationals would be a little easier on the jalopy!

Love ya,
Zea

Lost my message mid writing. Glad to hear you are progressing so well. Our tulips, while here, are drowning in a never ending downpour. The ark is almost finished. Loving to see the World Champion Giants actually broadcast so we can see them more often. Not sure how to manage all the additional screen time. Rob ordered a special antenna so we can listen. Turned the cover crop into the beds last weekend, starting our planting guide, but resisting the impulse to plant too soon. The periodic hail storms aren't so good for the little starts. Sending you so much love. xoxoxo Janet and Rob.

You are amazing! And inspiring! And sounds like you are doing really well, pacing yourself and steady. So glad that there is a crew of friends and family helping you. And so glad I finally figured out how to receive your journals by email! I admit to still being a bit "out of it"- I too am slowly pacing myself back into the fullness of my life- at least trying too. Sending you much love and hugs and prayers. XO Katie

Now listening to the Avett Brothers' "Kick Drum Heart," thanks to your heartening post. Honestly, that is just the best word for it -- not trying to elicit a groan from the gallery. :)

~Juli Chamberlin

great to see you up and about yesterday. I know it took lots of energy to join us for the retreat. If you're only operating at 50%, its amazing. as always, your insights are worth a million. love ya. Kathleen

Dude, you should definitely write a book. Extend your leave through the summer (it's too hot and humid in DC during the summer to schlep to work, right? Just the thought of wearing a suit in that weather makes me sweat). Document this amazing journey of yours. I'm so moved by your writing--and just so, so, so happy to hear of your swift progress. I confess, though, that I was taken aback by the reference to work. It does seem that you deserve a nice tropical vacation before you dive back into the grind!
xxoo
Jennifer McN.

Hi Mark, I am very much convinced now of your status as a mystic, with each growing reference to the" inarticulate language of the heart" in your posts. I will have to look up some mystical poetry to answer back in kind, if that would be welcomed. Your healing journey of the heart strikes me as profound, whimsical, serious, and light-hearted, all at the same time. I sometimes share your postings with RN Shelly at JHH, and she accuses us both of being very "Californian." :) happy spring, Cecilia

a beautiful post... maybe it's time for you to write a book?

The new Paul Simon record is getting great reviews; I'll buy + share w/you.
♥♥♥ Lainie

So cool. I love reading your stuff. Can you please catalog it somewhere else and make sure it's saved? I am inspired just as a human, even if I weren't a subscriber to Mark's Heart Valve Journal.

Enjoy the flowers and warmth...
Love
Nina

It is truly great to be able to turn on the computer in the morning and be greeted with good news from afar, my dear friend Mark singing to himself and healing. Oh yeah! I am inspired. Misch

Beautiful to feel connected to and inspired by what you are reading. Also...thanks for the data..."up to about 50% of previously normal" is graspable as a gauge. So, as your backseat nurse from afar, I'd say, don't start thinking about work too early...keep up with that enlightening reading and rest!

Erica

I can't believe it is a month already. So glad to hear you are doing well. I am a bit squeamish, so I had to skim when i hit the part about metal holding the breast bone together. It is so amazing that we have reach a point where we can repair people like repairing equipment. Really amazing. Yesterday I was sailing with a man with an artificial hip and shoulder. You would never guess by seeing him in action.

I haven't been in to check on your apt, but I did get the rent check. I assume all is well there. Will try and check it soon. When will you be back there? It's not a bad place to watch the spring arrive looking out over the yard, and with parks so close by.

cheers - the landlady

Hi Slip,
I'm enjoying your Capitol Hill blog. Keep it coming. Sharing your sensible thoughts (and rants) is a sorely-needed stress reduction program I'm game for. Super Healing Love to You! Rebecca

we're gonna have to put you on political restriction! you're supposed to be taking it easy, my friend. our trip home was long but was good to get back to the open spaces. we had a great time in DC and was glad to be able to see your progress from day to day. keep up the good hard work. how's the wound healing coming? xo sheri.

Love hearing what you really think, Mark! Keep on venting! Hugs, Jane

LOVE IT
"Don't shut down, shut up!" That needs to ba a bumper sticker! At least posted and shared on facebook.
Thrilled things are going so well for you, it's a small step at a time to heal from such a huge impact on your body,you are reMARKable, truly.
lots of love
Michelle L.

Maybe we need a Facebook page for the ShutUP movement. The week of posturing had me pretty cynical by the big nick-of-time agreement.

LOVE YOU Mark - it's good to hear you being your radical + revolutionary + heartful self. xoxo Lainie

Glad to hear things are progressing so well my friend. Nice post this morning. A showdown worth a shut up indeed!

Off to work, then attend the memorial of a friend and see the Sears for dinner since we will be in Marin. Life is precious.

Love ya madly.
xxoodd

Mark, making tremendous progress- so great to hear and thank you for keeping us all informed!!!

Hey Mark!
Bonnie Poux here in DC, all the way from Montana and missing you in our presence. We sure have come a long way and all the work you and colleagues have done over the years in the political side is paying off-I'm in awe of the respect our industry is getting here on the Hill - very inspirational!!! would love to see you - but if not I will take a raincheck - and/or, as always you have a place in my home any time! Love you, Bonnie Lou

I think the government is shutting down BECAUSE it can't function without Mark. It's cause and effect.

DD

Hi Jalop,
It sounds like it's all proceeding appropriately. What a mighty undertaking! Maybe you could have taken a nice healing break without shutting down the whole government, though. love, Beth

Your OTA crowd was asking all about you. You are very much missed buddy.
Kathleen

Hi Mark,
Glad to hear all seems to be going well for you. Keep up the great work. You're very lucky to be in a place where you're having some warm weather. Spring still has not arrived in Maine.
Ruth Howell

one month and all is well! I am happy for you.
Happy healing, one day, one thing, one moment at a time.
xo!
Laura Leigh

Hey Mark,
So glad to hear more good news about your recovery! I like the tic-tac-toe imagery... Bri thinks a shutdown would be blamed squarely on the Tea Party folks. I'm not so sure. Just take care of our prez, would you? I'm worried about him.

Glad spring has sprung back there. It feels like it happened overnight here. Rained last night but today looks like it'll clear up and be nice. A good day to be a sprout--or a redwood!

xxoo
Jennifer McN

Congratulations on phase two. We knew you'd be a star patient! Tonight is our big fund raising event, which will be very fun, and good to be on the other side of tomorrow. Much love from Janet and Rob.

I know this sounds trite but the body is such a miracle. Valves and cylinders and electricity, oh my. Thanks for reminding us all of this, Mark.
Went by your house yesterday, aired it out for the springtime. Plants seem happy and not impatient at all. No mail. Isn't this weather lovely?
Take care, we're all so proud and impressed with your progress.
Love
Nina

Hey, champion. Sounds like you are doing really well...in fact, I want to come along on the farmers market outing! Can't decide if it's Winter (yay! fresh powder on the slopes) or Fire Season here, with wildfires burning way too early. We are just back from a spring break trip to NYC with Maddie- saw the sights, 2 broadway shows, etc.- very fun and action-filled.

Hope you are healing and gaining strength, not to mention your fiesty vibe. Just know you are loooooved,
ayu

Hey, Mark, how are you? We're fortunate to have Erica in town this week. She and I had a great dinner with Poppy last night at Avanti! Enchiladas for breakfast this morning. The office is quiet with Maureen and Udi in D.C. for Hill Days. We continue to have sunny weather in Santa Cruz though it's getting cool again. This only scratches the surface of all the fascinating events occurring here and around the world. Hope that you are doing well and keeping engaged. Love and hugs, Jane

hey Mark, good luck with the Baltimore trip tomorrow. Tell Dr. Duke thanks for fixing you up and taking good care of you! xo Lainie

A right branch bundle block sounds agricultural to me. Take your time with that body building program, you have plenty of time to buff up later this year. Though, I'm sure the USDA is missing your strong arm muscle right about now. Enjoy the spring renewal while you have time to see it. And embody it.

DD

Mark, got your birthday message. Thanks. It was an amazing day. I am renewing my commitment to finding balance in my life....between work, kids and partner and myself. It is challenging. Slowly but surely you will regain your muscles and weight....be patient.
Misch