I'm a hypochondriac

Well, I don't think I really am a hypochondriac, though my sisters think I am.

Now my co-workers think so, too.

I could hardly move yesterday because I had a pain right below my left shoulder blade.

Today, I came down with some flu-like symptoms.

I got very cold and got the shivers. Now, I'm going through the "change," and I'm never cold enough. So I knew I was sick.

Besides, I knew I had a fever. My normal temperature is between 96-97 degrees, so if it gets up to 98.6 like most people, I have a fever.

My body ached, though not that spot under my shoulder blade. It was everywhere else.

Now that I've taken some Naproxen, I feel better. I'm sweating, so I guess that means my fever has broken.

Either that or I'm having yet another hot flash.

Oh, it's not fun getting old!

If I don't feel any better when I get up in the morning, I'm going to see my doctor.

Maybe I just need to sleep the whole weekend. That sounds like a wonderful idea.

Max Roberts

Max Roberts was one of the nicest guys in the world.

I was very upset to hear that he had died in a one-car accident.

If you read Richard Hyatt's column yesterday, you know that he was shocked as well.

Max had had health problems for a long, long time.

I first met him on my first day at the Columbus Ledger. Back in 1975, when I started working, the Ledger was the afternoon paper and the Enquirer the morning paper.

Because I was the Green Sheet editor, I kind of worked for both. But technically, I was a Ledger employee.

Max was managing editor, along with Wade Saye. Wait, now I can't remember which man was ME for which paper.

I guess it's just old age on my part.

I went to Max's funeral today, and sat with two newly-retired folks, Jerry Gibson and Harry Franklin.

When the funeral reached the 90-minute mark, I had to leave. I had to do an interview at 4 p.m., so I didn't get to speak to his widow, Beverly.

Beverly is a fine mosaic artist. I had met her first, not knowing she was married to Max.

It was at a reception at the Columbus Museum that I saw Max after not seeing him since he left Columbus in 1976. And he was with Beverly.

It was another of my usual Duh! moments. I just never made the connection. I mean, Roberts is not an unusual last name, is it?

I didn't get to see Max as often as I'd like, but I made sure that he came to Harry's retirement party. He said it had been the first time he'd been in the building since he left. I took him around and introduced him to people. And he got to say hello to other people he remembered.

I really don't know why he remembered me after all those years, but he did.

The world is poorer with Max in it.

My condolences go to Beverly and the rest of Max's family.

-30-

Project Runway

This week's challenge had Brooke Shields asking for an outfit that her character could wear on "The Lipstick Jungle."

The designers were paired up.

Keith won the challenge because he was the team leader. 

The outfit was amazing with a high-waisted skirt with layers of petals and a floral top. Beautiful.

Kelli was eliminated. She admitted it was "too hoochie mama."

I still get the biggest kick out of watching this show!

The Beijing Olympics

Are you as amazed with the U.S. swimmers as I am?

My sister Dorothy called me last night and the first thing out of her mouth was: "Did they put crack in the pool?"

It seems that every gold medal comes with a world record.

And that Michael Phelps is amazing. He eats like I'd love to eat. But I don't dare.

What about the men's synchronized diving? Is that the dumbest thing?

If they allow that, why not men's synchronized swimming?

There's a Japanese movie called "Water Boys" about a high school boys' synchronized swimming team. It's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. There's a sequel, but it's not as good as the first one.

Again, I'll be up late, watching the Olympics.

Pianos, pianos, pianos

Maxine R. Schiffman (seated), who donated a $2 million gift to buy 68 Steinway & Sons pianos for the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music, attended a New York Philharmonic concert in Central Park. Chinese pianist Lang Lang, who took part in the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics last Friday, performed on the red Steinway piano. Also in the group were Rick Grant, president of Jordan Kitts Music; Rex Whiddon, director of major gifts, CSU; Lang Lang, Ken Saliba, vice president of institutional sales, Jordan Kitts Music; Mary Beth Schiffman; pianist Betty Anne Diaz; Byron Brown, institutional sales director, Steinway Piano Gallery, Atlanta; and Fred Cohen, director of the Schwob School of Music.

Yesterday, Fred Cohen, director of the Schwob School of Music, walked me onto the stage of the Bill Heard Theatre.

I know my mouth dropped open.

On the stage were the 67 Steinway & Sons pianos. Actually, there were 66. The new concert grand is still being built in Hamburg, Germany, and will be shipped sometime next month.

There are 43 upright pianos and 24 grands.

I learned something new. The grand pianos are marked by their lengths. There are the D grands or the concert grand pianos that are 9-feet long. The B is 7-feet long; the A is 6-feet-2-inches long; the O is 5-feet-10 inches long and the M is 5-feet-7-inches long.

While of these instruments sound wonderful, the longer the strings, the richer the sound.

These are not only wonderful instruments to play, they are great investments for the school.

Byron Brown, institutional sales director, in Atlanta's Steinway Piano Gallery, says if a piano is taken care of very well, it can go up in value. Some years ago, an upright sold for $1,200 is now worth $5,000-$6,000.

Imagine how much 43 uprights will be worth in 15 years!

This gift is due to the Maxine R. and Jack S. Schiffman Family Foundation. Mrs. Schiffman was in the Heard Theatre today and she was smiling the whole time.

Betty Anne Díaz, who retired as the professor of piano earlier this year, is just happy to see all the pianos. She'll be performing at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in Legacy Hall during "An Evening with the Schumanns." Betty Anne will be accompanying professor of voice Michelle DeBruyn. The concert is free. 706-649-1986.

Anthony Bourdain

I just finished watching "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. It's the show hosted by Anthony Bourdain.

This week, he went to Tokyo. It's the third time in Japan for him. He went to Tokyo a few years ago and last season, he went to Osaka.

This time, Bourdain was in Tokyo and Kyoto.

And the places he went to were not anyplace we went. Well, we went to Tokyo Station. So did he. He rode the Shinkansen or the bullet train. So did we.

But the place he ate were definitely not the places where we ate! We can't afford the places he went!

And he was accompanied by "Iron Chef" Masahiro Morimoto. I didn't know he had opened a restaurant in Roppongi. Morimoto cooked just for Bourdain. Lucky dog!

I'm glad that Bourdain shows Japan to Americans without being obnoxious. And you know he can be.

Next Monday, he'll be in Spain. The show comes on at 10 p.m.

I love "No Reservations." I hope the Travel Channel keeps it.

2008 Beijing Olympics

I always love to watch the opening ceremonies and this one did not disappoint.

Did Bob Costas really say there were 15,000 participants in the opening segments? 

The first 2,000 drummers were truly amazing. And it was more and more amazing.

But my mother was right. It was a bit too long.

By the time the athletes began marching in, I was pooped.

Some countries' Olympic outfits were better than others. As always. Ralph Lauren designed the Americans' outfits and it was as you'd expect. Clean, neat sportswear.

My sister, Dorothy, who lives in Charleston, called and we decided that the Peruvian flag bearer was the best. She was the happiest one in the whole stadium.

The little boy who survived the earthquake was the cutest thing. And he looked so tiny compared to Yao Ming, with whom he walked in the stadium. And I don't believe he is 9. He looked like he was 4-years-old. I told Dorothy I'd get him. She reminded me that he survived the earthquake. He was not orphaned. OK, OK.

I always thought the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the Barcelona Games' opening c ceremony was the best. Remember that one? Where an archer lit it?

Well, this one beat it. Li Ning, the gymnast "flew" like Peter Pan around the stadium and then lit the cauldron, which magically appeared.

I was amazed by the whole thing. I can't wait to see the closing ceremony.

Oh, and I guess some of the competitions!