The Writer's Life 4/23 - Medical Marvels & More

The following news items were gleaned from today's NY Post, edited heavily by yours truly, often in my own words: According to an editorial critical of the pipeline bans in the Northeast, the areas residents pay 29% more for natural gas and 44% more for electricity than the national average... Zachary Zortman of York, Pa. is a child therapist who moonlights as a lead singer in a two-man alternative pop band. While driving last September, he suddenly lost the ability to speak. Because it had happened before, his girlfriend insisted they go straight to the closest emergency room. Doctors detected a brain tumor and rushed him to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His operation began with him asleep. Dr. Zarina Ali, a mom of three, drilled into his skull to open a large flap and sliced through membranes covering the brain. Then Zortman was awakened. Since his scalp was anesthetized, he felt no discomfort. The surgical team had him name objects shown on a laptop, while Ali used electrical stimulation to mark spots on the brain that did not hinder his speech. He was then asked to sing in order to guide the doctor's probing. He did so - loud and clear. Unfortunately, bad news followed the operation. Zortman was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that might kill him in two to five years. Some patients live more than 20 years. He plans to marry in November... An article by Larry Getlen cites a new book by a former Monkee, Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff by Michael Nesmith, who has made millions as an entrepreneur. Getlen was harsh about the band's musical abilities. I have no idea how much they participated in the recording of their albums, and don't care. I still enjoy the songs when they come up on an itunes stream. They were loved, and the vocals were darn good... If this isn't inspiring, nothing is: Ten-year-old Isabella Nicola Cabrera was fitted with a prosthetic at the engineering department of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber):

Congrats to C.D. Madsen, 99, who had his first hole-in-one yesterday. He used a six-iron to cover the 106 yards. The rascal shot 85!

I displayed the most wares ever today at the floating book shop. Curiously, no one bit on any of the Nora Roberts or Danielle Steel. My thanks to Monsey, who purchased Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander III M.D., to the young Asian woman who showed me the HBO logo on the cover of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, which confirms it was inspired by the Pretty Little Liars TV series, which I hadn't realized (Duh!); to the elderly woman who bought a David Baldacci thriller whose title eludes me: to the two women who each bought a puzzle book; and to the woman who bought two paperbacks in Russian. Special thanks to Bad News Billy, who cleared out my DVD inventory. I also had a visit from B. S. Bob, who has dropped 30 pounds since I last saw him. He had great news. His partner has set up a meeting with one of the producers of Rocket Man (1997) to discuss their screenplay, Christmas 1945. If that turns out well I'll have to remove the initials from Bob's moniker. Good luck, sirs.

Vic's Sixth novel: http://tinyurl.com/zpuhucj 

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story Collection:http:// tinyurl.com/lh2tepa 
Vic's 2nd Novel Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts

Read Vic's Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza