A perfectly lovely day. The rain is coming down in sheets with big, fat drops making lots of noise. I love it. When I was five years old, the last day of school before Christmas vacation (and yes, that is what it used to be called, my children), after Santa came to school and all the parties there, I remember walking home in a driving rain storm, splashing around in my boots. The sky was dark, though it was the middle of the day. Perfect. That memory is so etched in my mind that a good gully-washer makes Christmas for me. The lights and the cookies and the gifts are nice, but it is the rain that sets me in the mood.
My Christmas preparations were somewhat truncated by the week in the hospital. I got all the cards in the mail in Tuesday, and did what little shopping I had to do on Wednesday. Rebecca came over and helped decorate the tree on Tuesday afternoon. We had tomato soup and mac and cheese (baked, not out of a box), things I know I can eat with no problem. We had a lovely time and I have a beautiful tree. Yesterday, I made four different kinds of cookies. My favorite are sesame cherry cookies. I can't have nuts or seeds yet, so I had to make a few without the sesame seeds for me. I also made my Toll House cookies without walnuts for the first time in my life. I always thought that the dough was what held the nuts together. I don't have time for another week in the hospital, so I'm trying to be very careful about what and how I eat. Not an easy thing for me. I'm still eating jello and Popsicles, but I can have real food too. I'm even going to try a little green salad tonight. How's that for daring!
Christmas wishes to all my friends in the blogosphere. God Bless you.
xxooxx
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Not how I'd planned to spend the week
Things were going along nicely. The Christmas novella was written and saved. I'd even started printing it out. I had the week to get everything done--not a problem. Monday evening, I had my dinner and went off to a 7 PM PNC meeting. During the meeting, my abdomen started started to cramp. Fortunately, is was pretty much just a check-in meeting and it didn't last long. I was really uncomfortable by the time I got home. Great, I thought, things were starting over like last month. Knowing I would have to be back on clear fluids for a few days, I made a big bowl of jello. And hurt more. I got into my nightgown because I just couldn't stand to have anything around my waist. My abdomen and stomach thanked me by popping out and getting really hard. And the pain got worse. Just as I was about to do some research on the Internet, I got that warning feeling and lost most of my dinner. I don't do that. It isn't ladylike. I continued to heave for a bit. Please, just let me sleep this off. I know I'll feel better in the morning. The voice of reason told me to call my insurance company's nurse line. It took a while getting through the automated receptionist (the economy started going to hell in a hand basket when all the telephone receptionists were replaced by "Press one for..." or even yet, voice response systems). Finally, though, I got through to an RN. I told her what was going on and what I'd tried. She asked me what else I had in mind to do and I said "die." She said that wasn't an option and said I should go to the hospital. It was now about 11:30 and Glenn was unwinding from work (overtime on his day off). I knocked on his door and asked him for a ride to emergency. I grabbed my book and enough yarn to keep me busy and we were off.
There was no one in the waiting room when we got there and no ambulances outside--a very good sigh. They registered me right away, giving me an ingenious blue bucket device when I said I was going to be sick. Triage took me right away and we were whisked off to a room. I think it was about 2 when I saw the doctor--really cute and really nice. He asked what he could do for me. I said "Get a turkey baster with a large needle, stick it in my gut, and release the gas." Without blinking an eye, he turned to the nurse and said, "Get me one turkey baster--sterile" He listened to my symptoms, said he suspected a bowel obstruction and ordered a CT scan. At that point, I told Glenn to go home and get some sleep, because I knew it would be a long time. Glenn is such a prince. It took some talking to get him to go home.
I had the usual--an IV line was started and blood was sucked, It was around 3 when they took me in for the scan--no contrast this time, either oral or injected. Back to the room to wait for results. Yea, verily, it was a small bowel obstruction and they were going to admit me. What? Not on my agenda--I had things to do, fudge to make. Around 5, the nurse came it and told me that they had a bed for me upstairs, but I couldn't be transported until shift change at 7 because they didn't have enough nurses. I wasn't going anywhere else, so I knit, read, watched the clock, hurt, and waited..
7 o'clock finally came and I was taken up to a room on the 7th floor and settled in. The staff was wonderful, from doctors and nurses to housekeeping. They are amazingly hardworking and always kind. I met the Hospitalist, a Dr. Liu, who was charming, and explained treatment options to me. The most effective, though not necessarily the most pleasant, was to insert an NG tube to suck out the backed up fluids and gas and decompress my gut. Second option was to keep me on IV fluids and give everything a chance to rest. It was my choice. Not happily, I opted for the NG tube, there being a shortage of sterile turkey basters. It was not fun getting it put in, and once inserted, I felt like I had a baseball bat down my throat, but it did start working right away. I was also given pain meds and connected to a bag of potassium chloride. I was in a two bed room with an older woman who wasn't chatty, but was going home. I knit and read and finally dozed.
Shortly after the afternoon shift change, I was waked by a patient across the hall screaming and yelling and carrying on like his home was up in a tree. I didn't hear the whole shouting match--I must have missed something in the beginning, but I did hear him say something about there being no place for him to smoke in the hospital so he'd had to go outside with his friends and that was his right--in the winter, in a hospital gown and socks. After a bit of this entertainment, my nurse came in and said they were going to move me to a different room. I was only moved next door, so I could still hear much of the yelling--which went on for hours--including "My wife is a lawyer and she's going to sue you" and the calling of security and the cops. I got the window bed of a two bed room. The other bed was occupied by Moaning Myrtle. I never found out exactly what her problem was, but HIPPA be damned, there is no privacy in hospitals, especially not for those of us blessed with good hearing. The whole time I was there, she slept, screamed, moaned, asked for pain meds, or complained about the food. When she did talk, she had no concept of the term "inside voice." Neither did her sisters when they came to visit. I don't think she ever learned a nurse or CNA's name, or even where her call light was. When she wanted the nurse, she would holler out "Nurse! Nurse!"
Meanwhile, back in my window view bed, I continued to get infused and sucked out. By Tuesday afternoon, my IV started to infiltrate. I suggested that they just use my port--a suggestion I'd made in emergency that wasn't acted on. What a good idea, everyone thought. Of course, they had to wait till they got hold of the doctor to get an order for lidecain to make accessing the port more comfortable, but they got the job done, and it was much better.
I'd called Glenn in the morning, with a list of things to bring me--my CPAP, bight splint, phone charger, laptop, and Leroy, the Lavender Pig. Did I say Glenn was a prince? Glenn's a prince. I made a few other calls, people who would have shot me if I hadn't let them know.
Tuesday night it was very interesting getting the CPAP mask over the NG tube. I know I'd done it before, because I had an NG for days after my surgery in 08. The tube already hurt my poor little already sore nose--the mask only exacerbated things. Thank goodness for pain meds. Even with Moaning Myrtle, I managed to get some sleep.
Wednesday morning, I was passing gas--nothing you discuss in polite society, but a happy topic on conversation in a hospital. Dr. Liu decided to cap off the NG tube and see how I did for four hours. If I did ok, they could start me on clear liquids. It went a little longer, but sometime in the afternoon, after I'd had a lovely visit with Elaine, I got beef broth, lemon tea, cranberry juice, jello, and an orange Popsicle. It stayed down. Just before dinner, I got a real treat--the removal of the NG tube! Dinner was virtually the same as lunch, with a change in flavors--chicken for beef, apple cinnamon tea, orange instead of red jello, and a cherry Popsicle. It didn't matter. I downed every drop.
My oncologist came to see me on Wednesday. She was wearing a mask, coughing, and looked terrible. She asked me how I was doing, and I said better than she was. She said that the bowel obstruction was always a possibility, considering my abdominal surgeries and radiation treatments. At least no one (outside of the ER doctor) was talking about surgeons this round. It is always a possibility for the future. The good thing was that the latest scan didn't show any cancer, so we'll continue to monitor things there.
Thursday, I was walking the halls, bypassed full liquids and went straight to a soft diet, which I also tolerated well. I'd been off blood pressure meds and pumped full of fluid since Monday, so by Thursday afternoon, my legs and feet were swelling to the point that I started to feel like an Oompa Lumpa--relayed that to my nurse, who called Dr. Liu, and got an order to start me back on torsemide. It worked very well indeed.
Friday was go home day. Dr. Liu advised em to follow up with my PCP and advised me on what to eat and how to eat--small meals, slowly. I told him about the menu for Christmas--prime rib--and gave me a look and told me to take it really easy or I'd be back. I called and made the PCP appointment, also called my Cancer Center and postponed my appointment for a port flush after Christmas, on the flimsy grounds that the port had just gotten a good workout. I continued walking the halls and waited for Glenn to get off work and ferry me home. I came to the hospital in my nightgown, robe, and slippers, and that's the way I went home. It was in a driving rainstorm and the slippers were somewhat less than adequate footwear, but we got the job done. I had jello and tomato soup for dinner and then Glenn drove me to church for knitting circle, so my hospital visit was nicely bracketed by church activities.
I'm feeling better--things are moving around. I'm being very careful about what goes in. I'm more conscious of the need to stay hydrated. Most of all, I know the warning signs and what to do if/when this happens again. I usually mail my Christmas cards on the 18th--that's not happening this year. Glenn and I did but a tree today and Elaine and the kids will be over to decorate it tomorrow or Monday. I have to seriously get cracking on the cards. If they arrive after Christmas, well, it is a twelve day feast, after all.
How not to overeat during the holidays. Get a small bower obstruction. Works like magic. I'm feeling better.
xxooxx
There was no one in the waiting room when we got there and no ambulances outside--a very good sigh. They registered me right away, giving me an ingenious blue bucket device when I said I was going to be sick. Triage took me right away and we were whisked off to a room. I think it was about 2 when I saw the doctor--really cute and really nice. He asked what he could do for me. I said "Get a turkey baster with a large needle, stick it in my gut, and release the gas." Without blinking an eye, he turned to the nurse and said, "Get me one turkey baster--sterile" He listened to my symptoms, said he suspected a bowel obstruction and ordered a CT scan. At that point, I told Glenn to go home and get some sleep, because I knew it would be a long time. Glenn is such a prince. It took some talking to get him to go home.
I had the usual--an IV line was started and blood was sucked, It was around 3 when they took me in for the scan--no contrast this time, either oral or injected. Back to the room to wait for results. Yea, verily, it was a small bowel obstruction and they were going to admit me. What? Not on my agenda--I had things to do, fudge to make. Around 5, the nurse came it and told me that they had a bed for me upstairs, but I couldn't be transported until shift change at 7 because they didn't have enough nurses. I wasn't going anywhere else, so I knit, read, watched the clock, hurt, and waited..
7 o'clock finally came and I was taken up to a room on the 7th floor and settled in. The staff was wonderful, from doctors and nurses to housekeeping. They are amazingly hardworking and always kind. I met the Hospitalist, a Dr. Liu, who was charming, and explained treatment options to me. The most effective, though not necessarily the most pleasant, was to insert an NG tube to suck out the backed up fluids and gas and decompress my gut. Second option was to keep me on IV fluids and give everything a chance to rest. It was my choice. Not happily, I opted for the NG tube, there being a shortage of sterile turkey basters. It was not fun getting it put in, and once inserted, I felt like I had a baseball bat down my throat, but it did start working right away. I was also given pain meds and connected to a bag of potassium chloride. I was in a two bed room with an older woman who wasn't chatty, but was going home. I knit and read and finally dozed.
Shortly after the afternoon shift change, I was waked by a patient across the hall screaming and yelling and carrying on like his home was up in a tree. I didn't hear the whole shouting match--I must have missed something in the beginning, but I did hear him say something about there being no place for him to smoke in the hospital so he'd had to go outside with his friends and that was his right--in the winter, in a hospital gown and socks. After a bit of this entertainment, my nurse came in and said they were going to move me to a different room. I was only moved next door, so I could still hear much of the yelling--which went on for hours--including "My wife is a lawyer and she's going to sue you" and the calling of security and the cops. I got the window bed of a two bed room. The other bed was occupied by Moaning Myrtle. I never found out exactly what her problem was, but HIPPA be damned, there is no privacy in hospitals, especially not for those of us blessed with good hearing. The whole time I was there, she slept, screamed, moaned, asked for pain meds, or complained about the food. When she did talk, she had no concept of the term "inside voice." Neither did her sisters when they came to visit. I don't think she ever learned a nurse or CNA's name, or even where her call light was. When she wanted the nurse, she would holler out "Nurse! Nurse!"
Meanwhile, back in my window view bed, I continued to get infused and sucked out. By Tuesday afternoon, my IV started to infiltrate. I suggested that they just use my port--a suggestion I'd made in emergency that wasn't acted on. What a good idea, everyone thought. Of course, they had to wait till they got hold of the doctor to get an order for lidecain to make accessing the port more comfortable, but they got the job done, and it was much better.
I'd called Glenn in the morning, with a list of things to bring me--my CPAP, bight splint, phone charger, laptop, and Leroy, the Lavender Pig. Did I say Glenn was a prince? Glenn's a prince. I made a few other calls, people who would have shot me if I hadn't let them know.
Tuesday night it was very interesting getting the CPAP mask over the NG tube. I know I'd done it before, because I had an NG for days after my surgery in 08. The tube already hurt my poor little already sore nose--the mask only exacerbated things. Thank goodness for pain meds. Even with Moaning Myrtle, I managed to get some sleep.
Wednesday morning, I was passing gas--nothing you discuss in polite society, but a happy topic on conversation in a hospital. Dr. Liu decided to cap off the NG tube and see how I did for four hours. If I did ok, they could start me on clear liquids. It went a little longer, but sometime in the afternoon, after I'd had a lovely visit with Elaine, I got beef broth, lemon tea, cranberry juice, jello, and an orange Popsicle. It stayed down. Just before dinner, I got a real treat--the removal of the NG tube! Dinner was virtually the same as lunch, with a change in flavors--chicken for beef, apple cinnamon tea, orange instead of red jello, and a cherry Popsicle. It didn't matter. I downed every drop.
My oncologist came to see me on Wednesday. She was wearing a mask, coughing, and looked terrible. She asked me how I was doing, and I said better than she was. She said that the bowel obstruction was always a possibility, considering my abdominal surgeries and radiation treatments. At least no one (outside of the ER doctor) was talking about surgeons this round. It is always a possibility for the future. The good thing was that the latest scan didn't show any cancer, so we'll continue to monitor things there.
Thursday, I was walking the halls, bypassed full liquids and went straight to a soft diet, which I also tolerated well. I'd been off blood pressure meds and pumped full of fluid since Monday, so by Thursday afternoon, my legs and feet were swelling to the point that I started to feel like an Oompa Lumpa--relayed that to my nurse, who called Dr. Liu, and got an order to start me back on torsemide. It worked very well indeed.
Friday was go home day. Dr. Liu advised em to follow up with my PCP and advised me on what to eat and how to eat--small meals, slowly. I told him about the menu for Christmas--prime rib--and gave me a look and told me to take it really easy or I'd be back. I called and made the PCP appointment, also called my Cancer Center and postponed my appointment for a port flush after Christmas, on the flimsy grounds that the port had just gotten a good workout. I continued walking the halls and waited for Glenn to get off work and ferry me home. I came to the hospital in my nightgown, robe, and slippers, and that's the way I went home. It was in a driving rainstorm and the slippers were somewhat less than adequate footwear, but we got the job done. I had jello and tomato soup for dinner and then Glenn drove me to church for knitting circle, so my hospital visit was nicely bracketed by church activities.
I'm feeling better--things are moving around. I'm being very careful about what goes in. I'm more conscious of the need to stay hydrated. Most of all, I know the warning signs and what to do if/when this happens again. I usually mail my Christmas cards on the 18th--that's not happening this year. Glenn and I did but a tree today and Elaine and the kids will be over to decorate it tomorrow or Monday. I have to seriously get cracking on the cards. If they arrive after Christmas, well, it is a twelve day feast, after all.
How not to overeat during the holidays. Get a small bower obstruction. Works like magic. I'm feeling better.
xxooxx
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Status Update
CT scan was clear, so I'm still in remission. I had some minor problems, but after two days of clear liquids and magnesium citrate, I'm feeling better and prepared for a drive by colonoscopy, should one be available. Your teeth get lonely on clear fluids. I'm back to real food and hoping not to have to do THAT again.
Thanksgiving was a perfectly lovely day. The family, plus my friend Dory, were here for dinner. Everything was perfect. It was a peaceful visit, good food, good company. It was the best. I was concerned about CT scan results, but things are good there, too.
It's time to work on the Christmas novella, which shouldn't be as long this year because there was no big trip. I bought Christmas cards and 2011 calendars. I'm ready for new adventures.
Not much else to report. After a few days of autumn, we've moved to sweater weather. Good thing, because I have a lot of them.
xxooxx
Thanksgiving was a perfectly lovely day. The family, plus my friend Dory, were here for dinner. Everything was perfect. It was a peaceful visit, good food, good company. It was the best. I was concerned about CT scan results, but things are good there, too.
It's time to work on the Christmas novella, which shouldn't be as long this year because there was no big trip. I bought Christmas cards and 2011 calendars. I'm ready for new adventures.
Not much else to report. After a few days of autumn, we've moved to sweater weather. Good thing, because I have a lot of them.
xxooxx
Saturday, November 20, 2010
8:15 PM and in my Jammies
Still hurting. I saw my oncologist on Monday. She thinks it could be scar tissue issues, so has been having me watch what I ate--spent most of the week on clear fluids and starving--but my CA-125 is up, for me, so I have a CT scan scheduled for Tuesday. Fantasy Follies have been busy. I don't really think what I eat or don't eat is going to make much difference. I know jumping to conclusions isn't even good exercise, but I'm back on MS contin and still hurting. I didn't let a little pain stand in the way of my obligations, though. Mike, my worthy Patron, and I attended four installations this week. Bless his heart, Mike picked me up for each one--even the one where I wasn't on his way. It was a real treat. I thought about just sleeping in my light blue formal, since i wore it four nights in a row. In the end, I decided it is too scratchy to sleep in. I haven't worn make up every day in years. Now, I'm letting my face take a break. It was sort of fun to paint each evening.
Today was big time cooking day. I got to church at 9, made cranberry sauce, stuffing, prepared six birds and got them into the ovens before coming home to watch Cal lose. I had help. The best part about making the stuffing at church is that the bread, onions, and celery have already been chopped for me. I got back at 4:30 to get the birds out of the ovens, unstuff them, and make gravy. The church was full. We were expecting 150--don't know what the final count was. Thank you, Mother, for teaching me to make the best turkey in the world. I was hurting a lot, so I left after desert. The talent show is usually good, but the band wasn't playing and I really didn't feel up to being charming any longer. So here I am, in my jammies, contemplating going to bed early. We had a wonderful rain storm while I was at church--lightening, thunder, hail. I love weather--more so when I'm inside looking out and don't have to go anywhere.
That's it for now. My but it does feel good to be out of a formal.
xxooxx
Today was big time cooking day. I got to church at 9, made cranberry sauce, stuffing, prepared six birds and got them into the ovens before coming home to watch Cal lose. I had help. The best part about making the stuffing at church is that the bread, onions, and celery have already been chopped for me. I got back at 4:30 to get the birds out of the ovens, unstuff them, and make gravy. The church was full. We were expecting 150--don't know what the final count was. Thank you, Mother, for teaching me to make the best turkey in the world. I was hurting a lot, so I left after desert. The talent show is usually good, but the band wasn't playing and I really didn't feel up to being charming any longer. So here I am, in my jammies, contemplating going to bed early. We had a wonderful rain storm while I was at church--lightening, thunder, hail. I love weather--more so when I'm inside looking out and don't have to go anywhere.
That's it for now. My but it does feel good to be out of a formal.
xxooxx
Saturday, November 13, 2010
WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Installation is over! It has been a huge mountain in front of me since we got back. The trouble with procrastination is that it always gets you. Somehow, everything got done. I cut a lot of corners with things that didn't really matter. The installation itself was lovely. The Jr. Past Worthy Matron, Margaret Foley, is a truly amazing ritualist and did most of the installing. There aren't words enough to tell how well she did. We didn't have flowers and we didn't have carrying pieces for the officers to worry about when they got home, but we did have a lovely ceremony, and for that, I am very pleased.
I've been in pain, on and off for the last week--mostly on. I've been telling myself it was the stress of the installation. I just haven't had time for anything to go wrong. I still have the obligation of the church Thanksgiving dinner next Saturday--after that, I can fall apart. I see my oncologist the end of the month. If I don't start feeling better, once the pressure is off, I might move up the appointment. Or not. I have several installations to go to this week--but I don't have to do any work. Just show up, look cute, and eat refreshments. I can handle that.
I'm glad it's Autumn. Even on warm days, there's a bight to the air that says "It's Fall!" Our season changes are so subtle that we have to take advantage of what we get.
My Cal Bears have a huge game today. I have bad feelings, but I'll cheer for them, because that is what I do. Go Bears! It will be a moral victory if there are players standing at the end of the game.
xxooxx
I've been in pain, on and off for the last week--mostly on. I've been telling myself it was the stress of the installation. I just haven't had time for anything to go wrong. I still have the obligation of the church Thanksgiving dinner next Saturday--after that, I can fall apart. I see my oncologist the end of the month. If I don't start feeling better, once the pressure is off, I might move up the appointment. Or not. I have several installations to go to this week--but I don't have to do any work. Just show up, look cute, and eat refreshments. I can handle that.
I'm glad it's Autumn. Even on warm days, there's a bight to the air that says "It's Fall!" Our season changes are so subtle that we have to take advantage of what we get.
My Cal Bears have a huge game today. I have bad feelings, but I'll cheer for them, because that is what I do. Go Bears! It will be a moral victory if there are players standing at the end of the game.
xxooxx
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Yosemite October 2010
It was glorious. I was saddened by health problems of two of my favorite staff. They are firmly in my prayers. But it was glorious.
This is a view of the falls from the Ahwahnee Monday morning.
This is a view of the falls from the Ahwahnee Monday morning.
Even the Royal Arches had water trickling down.
The two obligatory pictures of Half Dome
Random shot
The falls on Wednesday
More random shots
Off Tioga Pass Road on Thursday
Really glorious. We didn't do much, but we were there and it was wonderful. Since Tioga Road was open, we went to Reno for our last two play days. We had a blast-especially the morning we left when I played $20 and came away with $80. It's always more fun when you win.
We made great time coming home on Saturday--got home before Glenn left for work, so he did the heavy lifting, God bless him. Saturday was not a good sports day--my Cal Bears lost badly and even my Giants lost. I guess somebody has to.
Sunday was church. The 49ers won(!) in London. I won too--I didn't have to buy Halloween candy because I spent the night with my friend Sue in her new apartment. We watched the Giants win. Monday, I was supposed to go to a meeting, but we all wanted to watch the game, so we postponed it to Tuesday--which gets me back to my previous post--GO GIANTS!
I am now more or less current.
xxooxx
Where to Start?
It's been a month. I guess I should start with GO GIANTS! Who ever would have imagined? Hoped and prayed, yes, but imagined? Which is why I had an appointment to have my hair cut in downtown San Francisco today at eleven in the morning. I don't do crowds. I got on BART in san Bruno, so I had a seat, but it was wall to wall bodies by the time I got off--at Powell, rather than my usual Montgomery, since they weren't even stopping there. Getting to Maiden Lane and back home was challenging, but I got it done. The crowd was joyous and reasonably well behaved. I got confetti in my newly cut hair. I was perfectly happy to watch the festivities on television when I got home. You couldn't have paid me Meg Whitman's campaign budget to be part of the crowd at Civic Center. I'm very happy for the Giants and very proud of them, but as I said, I don't do crowds--even happy reasonably well behaved ones.
So, what have I been doing when I haven't been watching baseball? I'll backtrack a little and show you my room at Sonoma. I don't usually take pictures of hotel rooms, but this was lovely.
Here's the name of my suite:
So, what have I been doing when I haven't been watching baseball? I'll backtrack a little and show you my room at Sonoma. I don't usually take pictures of hotel rooms, but this was lovely.
Here's the name of my suite:
The bar
Part of the living room
The fireplace and the telly
The bed
The comfy chair where I sat and knit
Moving right along, we get to October 20, when Dory and I left for Grand Chapter and suburban Visalia. It was an interesting Grand Chapter. You'll have to ask me for more information. I don't feel like putting it out on the web. Installation was another matter. Kim and Don said they wanted to bring it in at 2 1/2 hours, and they just about made it. They cut lots of time consuming stuff and both spoke well and briefly. I was very proud of them. Of course, we missed the end of the game where the Giants won the pennent, but the news quickly spread through our section, and I imagine the rest of the convention center. Dory and I stopped for desert on the way back to Outer Visalia and vowed to sleep till we woke up. No alarm for Sunday. We got out before check-out time, and that was all that mattered. We didn't have that far to go. North on 99 to Fresno, then northeast on 41. It started to sprinkle in Fresno. By the time we got to Yosemite, it was raining heavily. Not a problem. We just stayed in the hotel. We had a light supper in the bar that was just enough for me--soup and sandwich. Dory took half her sandwich t the room. We had sunshine in the morning and for the rest of our stay. The real prize for all that rain was water in the falls and rivers. I'm used to the falls being completely dry in October. This looked like spring.
All right, the program is being annouying. I'll post this one and start a new one for the Yosemite pictures.
xxooxx
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Taking the Waters--again
September was a rough month for me before the explosion and fire. My sister's anniversary is the 13th, mine is the 30th, Our mother died on the 21st and now the fire was on the 9th. Things didn't get done. It was hard to focus, It took almost two weeks for the coroner to certify that Lavonne, Greg and Will (and the three legged dog named Lucky) were, indeed, incinerated at the point of the blast. There was a lovely memorial service for the three of them, at First Pres Burlingame. There were nearly 1000 people there. Our little church couldn't have held that many people. Our church did the work for the service. All of our living former pastors took part, because they all knew the family. Pretty much anyone who had ever sung in the choir sang for the service. I didn't--I've had a scratchy throat since the fire--but it was a big, beautiful, well trained choir. The Praz group sang, the quartet sang, and Todd (Milam) played a cello piece with piano that he'd written. It was lovely. The service was long--longer still because we got there an hour early to park-and then got one of the last spots. It was during one of our few hot spells, compounded by the heat if all those bodies.
I was REALLY glad I had mu Sonoma stay coming up. Got there Tuesday, the 28, around 3:30. Plenty of time to check out my suite and get over to the spa for the Bathing Ritual before Watsu number one. When I got to the Spa Concierge station, there was a sign up, saying "Welcome Back, Anne." It made me smile for the rest of the week. It was 105 degrees F. when I got there. For the first time in dozens of Watsus, the Watsu pool actually felt cool. I had Soledad for my first Watsu. I was lucky to get her, at least once, she was taking the rest of the week off to celebrate her husband's birthday. I've talked abut Soledad before. She is warm and nurturing. I was her last appointment of the day--I think I had a two hour Watsu--and my body was at peace for the rest of the week.
Wednesday morning at 9 I had a massage--not sure how I let that slip through--I usually get my massages with a body treatment or a stone massage. But this time, I has just a massage, with Samantha. At 10:15, I had another Watsu with Loni. I don't know Loni as well, though she seems perfectly nice. Her Watsu was more of a stretching experience. I had the first of three spinach salads for lunch (hold the blue cheese), then had a Body Coffee Wrap (smells heavenly). concluding with a Signature Facial, Then it was time for dinner at the Big 3 and rest up for another full day.
On the 30th, my wedding anniversary, I started off the day with the Bathing Ritual, then at 11:30, a Wild Berry Vanilla Scrub and Massage---quite nice and quite fragrant, 12:45 was my Tandem Massage with Diane and David, two of my favorites. The only thing to say about a Tandem Massage is that it's probably illegal in 47 states, it feels that good.
When I was thoroughly relaxed, I met Elaine, who had been having a Watsu, for lunch. Spinach Salad #2. It was really nice to see her on my anniversary. After lunch, I had Reflexology with Reiki. I call that my own personal CAT scan. It's almost scary how intuitive my Reiki Master is. She met Elaine for two minutes and had her sized up--knew what was going on with the grandchildren, too. Diane said it was the clearest she's ever seen my body. But she knew in January that I was in remission before I heard it from my doctor. I finished the day off with a Spirulina Body Wrap. Not at all glamorous, but great for your skin.
And suddenly, it was Friday. Don't know how we got there so fast? I did a mini bathing ritual so that I would be ready for my 10:15 Watsu with Laura. Laura is as gentle as Soledad, but gives great stretches.
This is was followed by a Rejuvenating Kur which felt so good.
After the obligatory spinach salad and a shower to wash the Rejuvenating oils out of my hair, I had a Thai Massage with Bill--great stretches, a nap on the loggia, and Chakra Reading and Balancing. That was intense. Dinner, ball game, Go Giants!, packing and bed completed the day.
Up early Saturday morning so that I could have my bags collected before breakfast. Since it was get away day, I had my fingers and toes done, then a Hair and Scalp Revitalizer while fingers and toes dried. I left around 2--happy for the wonderful time I'd had, but sad to be leaving.
So now I'm home, and doing mundane things like paying the bills and visiting doctors. I haven't really looked out at the war zone since I've been home. That will take a very long time to heal--wish I could take all of them to the Spa for a little r&r.
xxooxx
I was REALLY glad I had mu Sonoma stay coming up. Got there Tuesday, the 28, around 3:30. Plenty of time to check out my suite and get over to the spa for the Bathing Ritual before Watsu number one. When I got to the Spa Concierge station, there was a sign up, saying "Welcome Back, Anne." It made me smile for the rest of the week. It was 105 degrees F. when I got there. For the first time in dozens of Watsus, the Watsu pool actually felt cool. I had Soledad for my first Watsu. I was lucky to get her, at least once, she was taking the rest of the week off to celebrate her husband's birthday. I've talked abut Soledad before. She is warm and nurturing. I was her last appointment of the day--I think I had a two hour Watsu--and my body was at peace for the rest of the week.
Wednesday morning at 9 I had a massage--not sure how I let that slip through--I usually get my massages with a body treatment or a stone massage. But this time, I has just a massage, with Samantha. At 10:15, I had another Watsu with Loni. I don't know Loni as well, though she seems perfectly nice. Her Watsu was more of a stretching experience. I had the first of three spinach salads for lunch (hold the blue cheese), then had a Body Coffee Wrap (smells heavenly). concluding with a Signature Facial, Then it was time for dinner at the Big 3 and rest up for another full day.
On the 30th, my wedding anniversary, I started off the day with the Bathing Ritual, then at 11:30, a Wild Berry Vanilla Scrub and Massage---quite nice and quite fragrant, 12:45 was my Tandem Massage with Diane and David, two of my favorites. The only thing to say about a Tandem Massage is that it's probably illegal in 47 states, it feels that good.
When I was thoroughly relaxed, I met Elaine, who had been having a Watsu, for lunch. Spinach Salad #2. It was really nice to see her on my anniversary. After lunch, I had Reflexology with Reiki. I call that my own personal CAT scan. It's almost scary how intuitive my Reiki Master is. She met Elaine for two minutes and had her sized up--knew what was going on with the grandchildren, too. Diane said it was the clearest she's ever seen my body. But she knew in January that I was in remission before I heard it from my doctor. I finished the day off with a Spirulina Body Wrap. Not at all glamorous, but great for your skin.
And suddenly, it was Friday. Don't know how we got there so fast? I did a mini bathing ritual so that I would be ready for my 10:15 Watsu with Laura. Laura is as gentle as Soledad, but gives great stretches.
This is was followed by a Rejuvenating Kur which felt so good.
After the obligatory spinach salad and a shower to wash the Rejuvenating oils out of my hair, I had a Thai Massage with Bill--great stretches, a nap on the loggia, and Chakra Reading and Balancing. That was intense. Dinner, ball game, Go Giants!, packing and bed completed the day.
Up early Saturday morning so that I could have my bags collected before breakfast. Since it was get away day, I had my fingers and toes done, then a Hair and Scalp Revitalizer while fingers and toes dried. I left around 2--happy for the wonderful time I'd had, but sad to be leaving.
So now I'm home, and doing mundane things like paying the bills and visiting doctors. I haven't really looked out at the war zone since I've been home. That will take a very long time to heal--wish I could take all of them to the Spa for a little r&r.
xxooxx
Monday, September 13, 2010
Left Heel ad nauseaum
This afternoon I took my heel to see my dermatologist. She looked at it very carefully, said it ISN'T a fungus infection--so now I've got tons of creams with no where to use them. There is definately something going on with the skin. That's what I've been saying--each conversation with a medical person has ended "and it looks funny..." The Physical therapist is the only one who's picked up on that. So I got another shot in my heel today then went off to enjoy PT. I'm a pretty good character spotter--I think my Physical Therapist is a kindred spirit and I really like her. I may have been sent there to help her in some way.
After PT I rushed up to church for a meeting of the Ruthies. The Ruth Circle (I think it was called a circle for the first few minutes of its life--then it became the Ruthies) used to be the young women of the church. I'm about 10 years older than the oldest, but they let me in. We are now the incipient Wise Women. Tonight was our regular meeting night, but tonight we met to pray for the Bullis family, those who left us so suddenly and the ones who remain. I've known Sue since she was about 13 and we played violin and flute duets. I watched her grow up into an amazingly caring woman. She was my Deacon when Lee was sick and she took that job seriously. She mother henned us, made sure we had food when it was needed and companionship when it wasn't. When I got the infection in my incision and had to have it cut open again to heel from the inside, Sue came up the house when the Visiting Nurses couldn't come and changed my dressings, packing the wound carefully, and acting as though I was doing her a favor. Susie is part of the unique sounds in Anne and the Bethany Brawlers--we call her the Brawlette, in defference to her gender.
Thank you, God, for giving Sue an amazingly strong circle of women to help her through this dreadful time. And the helping, for us, is a blessing, a Mitzvah.
Still sad.
xxooxx
After PT I rushed up to church for a meeting of the Ruthies. The Ruth Circle (I think it was called a circle for the first few minutes of its life--then it became the Ruthies) used to be the young women of the church. I'm about 10 years older than the oldest, but they let me in. We are now the incipient Wise Women. Tonight was our regular meeting night, but tonight we met to pray for the Bullis family, those who left us so suddenly and the ones who remain. I've known Sue since she was about 13 and we played violin and flute duets. I watched her grow up into an amazingly caring woman. She was my Deacon when Lee was sick and she took that job seriously. She mother henned us, made sure we had food when it was needed and companionship when it wasn't. When I got the infection in my incision and had to have it cut open again to heel from the inside, Sue came up the house when the Visiting Nurses couldn't come and changed my dressings, packing the wound carefully, and acting as though I was doing her a favor. Susie is part of the unique sounds in Anne and the Bethany Brawlers--we call her the Brawlette, in defference to her gender.
Thank you, God, for giving Sue an amazingly strong circle of women to help her through this dreadful time. And the helping, for us, is a blessing, a Mitzvah.
Still sad.
xxooxx
Friday, September 10, 2010
Fire in San Bruno
I've skipped great chunks of time, basically because things have been boring. My left heel is still giving me problems. I got sent to a podiatrist, who thinks it is tendonitis and sent me to physical therapy. The physical therapist noticed what I noticed--there's still something wrong with the skin. She's working on me, but I'm also set to see a dermatologist on Monday. And so that goes.
Then there's the BIG NEWS. First and foremost, Glenn and I and our home are fine. Things could have gotten dicey if the wind had been blowing in a different direction and if we hadn't had such a cold, damp summer, but we are fine. About 6:15 last night, Glenn was doing the dishes and I was about to step into the shower to get ready to go to Eastern Star. Initiation, big night. I heard a strange rumbling, then what sounded like a jet dragging its wheels over our roof, then a bang that shook everything with a sharp jolt, followed by a strange, steady sound. I thought Glenn had loaded the dishwasher strangely--he thought it was me in the shower. Then I heard him give a shout. He said the power station across the street was on fire. I quickly finished what I'd been doing rather liesurely in the bathroom. We opened the front door, and this is what we saw:
We could see houses burning pretty much from the start. I'll refer you to the news and the internet for the grim details. Our street became a parking lot with people coming and looking. I had to shoo several people away from our driveway. We were never evacuated, but if we had been, it would have been a madhouse. There are only two ways in and out of our tract. It took them a few hours to get the gas shut off and the main fireball fineally went out. By then, most of the houses in the neighborhood were fully engaged. Late into the night, it looked like "The watchfires of a hundred circling camps" of the Battle Hymn of the Republic fame, as houses were allowed to burn out. It was just too hot to send the firemen in safely. The first truck on the scene was from a fire station down the street a bit from the explosion. It was so hot, that the windshield on the fire truck cracked.
When I went to bed--very, very late--I could still see smoke coming up from hot spots, but I felt we were safe. This morning, it just looked like a war sceen. I had to go out a couple of times, and I had to take really alternate routes to get where I was going. I've lived here a long time and know my way around pretty well. As of this writing, there are three members of our church, from a family of five, who have not been located and are presumed dead--three generations. I won't be at church on Sunday--I'll be in the East Bay attending my 45th high school reunion. Glenn said he will go. He doesn't want to, but he will be there. Glenn is such a fine man. When we realized that it wasn't the power plant, but a neighborhood across Skyline Drive, Glenn said that was where our friends lived and was worried about them from the start. We're all praying for a miracle--isn't denial the first phase?
I have a happy weekend coming up--two weddings wrapped around the reunion. The first wedding and the reunion are in the East Bay, so I'm spending tomorrow night at the Claremont Hotel. I was there for my high school grad night, been to a wedding reception there, and done brunch a few times, but I've never stayed there. I was actually going to spend two nights there, but I have to be at the rehearsal for wedding number two in the early afternoon tomorrow, since I'm fiddling for the wedding. I wasn't planning on taking the violin with me, but I'm not really sure I'll have time to come home and get it, so i guess it's going for a trip too. I expect I shall be one tired old lady on Monday.
The phone rang pretty constantly with people from far and near checking up on us. I finally posted on Facebook that we were not burned to a crisp, and still people have been checking on us. That is comforting. So if I haven't told you lately, and lest I miss the opportunity, I love you, dear readers. Be well.
xxooxx
Then there's the BIG NEWS. First and foremost, Glenn and I and our home are fine. Things could have gotten dicey if the wind had been blowing in a different direction and if we hadn't had such a cold, damp summer, but we are fine. About 6:15 last night, Glenn was doing the dishes and I was about to step into the shower to get ready to go to Eastern Star. Initiation, big night. I heard a strange rumbling, then what sounded like a jet dragging its wheels over our roof, then a bang that shook everything with a sharp jolt, followed by a strange, steady sound. I thought Glenn had loaded the dishwasher strangely--he thought it was me in the shower. Then I heard him give a shout. He said the power station across the street was on fire. I quickly finished what I'd been doing rather liesurely in the bathroom. We opened the front door, and this is what we saw:
Actually, what we saw was worse, because I didn't think to take pictures for about an hour. So imagine the fire ball twice that high. We quickly realized that it wasn't the power station at all (good thing--not that it hasn't had its share of fires in the 32 years we've lived here). So what was it? The speculation was on. Our across the street neighbor came out and said she heard that the gas station at the top of San Bruno Avenue had exploded. We all thought about that and decided that wasn't where the fireball was coming from. Next theory--a plane went down. That would explaine the noise we all heard--but a plane would burn itself out, and this was not going out. Besides, the FAA had not gotten any reports of missing planes. Last and right guess--a ruptured gas main. Here are more pictures--as close as I ever want to be to something like that:
When I went to bed--very, very late--I could still see smoke coming up from hot spots, but I felt we were safe. This morning, it just looked like a war sceen. I had to go out a couple of times, and I had to take really alternate routes to get where I was going. I've lived here a long time and know my way around pretty well. As of this writing, there are three members of our church, from a family of five, who have not been located and are presumed dead--three generations. I won't be at church on Sunday--I'll be in the East Bay attending my 45th high school reunion. Glenn said he will go. He doesn't want to, but he will be there. Glenn is such a fine man. When we realized that it wasn't the power plant, but a neighborhood across Skyline Drive, Glenn said that was where our friends lived and was worried about them from the start. We're all praying for a miracle--isn't denial the first phase?
I have a happy weekend coming up--two weddings wrapped around the reunion. The first wedding and the reunion are in the East Bay, so I'm spending tomorrow night at the Claremont Hotel. I was there for my high school grad night, been to a wedding reception there, and done brunch a few times, but I've never stayed there. I was actually going to spend two nights there, but I have to be at the rehearsal for wedding number two in the early afternoon tomorrow, since I'm fiddling for the wedding. I wasn't planning on taking the violin with me, but I'm not really sure I'll have time to come home and get it, so i guess it's going for a trip too. I expect I shall be one tired old lady on Monday.
The phone rang pretty constantly with people from far and near checking up on us. I finally posted on Facebook that we were not burned to a crisp, and still people have been checking on us. That is comforting. So if I haven't told you lately, and lest I miss the opportunity, I love you, dear readers. Be well.
xxooxx
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Left heel, disease two
So my gouty left heel isn't gouty after all--at least this time. Saw the Physician's Assistant today and she diagnosed a fungus infection, for which I now have a cream--twice a day for 2 weeks. It already feels better. It doesn't look much better, but it feels better--doesn't hurt to touch any more. How did I get that? Who knows--just lucky like everything else. I saw my doctor in passing and rejoiced with her that she's now wearing real shoes on both feet. What a long, hard battle that was for her. Answered prayer. Sometimes it just takes a little longer. Just in case I failed to mention it in January, she's been fighting a foot infection since December. There was a possibility that she could have lost the foot, so real shoes on both feet is a wonderful thing.
I shall now retire with Mailie Dobbs, book four.
xxooxx
I shall now retire with Mailie Dobbs, book four.
xxooxx
Monday, August 16, 2010
I know, I know
It has been a long time, but life has been, basically, boring with nothing to report. Not that I've done nothing or lived in a vacuum. I had a birthday (enjoyable day--lots of Facebook greetings, phone calls, dinner with my son), had a visit from my sister where we went to see "The Birth of Impressionism" exhibit at the deYoung, and went to a workshop, so I had a weekend out of town. Around and about all of this is the knitting--matching sweaters for my hairdresser's children, an afghan for Glenda Hope's Network Ministries. Then there were the occassional committee meetings, some workouts at Curves. I'm trying not to be a hermit. Oh, then there are the books! I'm working my way through Alexander McCall Smith this year. I LOVED the Number One Ladies Detective Agency series. The Sunday Afternoon Philosophy Club was well written but not as page turning. Portugese Irribular Verbs and its companion stories were a hoot and inhaled quickly. I'm taking a break before 44 Scotland Street because I have recently been introduced to Maisie Dobbs (NOT AMC). There are seven books in that series, and I am on number three. Well writen, engrossing, page turning. I have quickly become very fond of Maisie.
Health--I'm feeling adequate. Not great but not bad. I saw Dr. Chee (oncologist) today. Not bad, not good. My CA125, a not very accurate number for me as I believe I've blogged, is slightly elevated--enough for a scan soon (like I'm waiting to hear what they have set up for me even as I type).
The left heel has something going on--have an appointment for that on Thursday. This is one of those weeks where my social life is composed of appointments.
I'll try to be more timely--and more interesting. I'll post after we get the scan results and know better what's going on now. Till then
xxooxx
Health--I'm feeling adequate. Not great but not bad. I saw Dr. Chee (oncologist) today. Not bad, not good. My CA125, a not very accurate number for me as I believe I've blogged, is slightly elevated--enough for a scan soon (like I'm waiting to hear what they have set up for me even as I type).
The left heel has something going on--have an appointment for that on Thursday. This is one of those weeks where my social life is composed of appointments.
I'll try to be more timely--and more interesting. I'll post after we get the scan results and know better what's going on now. Till then
xxooxx
Monday, July 12, 2010
Happy
Yikes! It has been forever since I've blogged. I've thought about it--I have pictures i want to post but am too lazy to download. Maybe lazy isn't the word, because I've been knitting like a fiend. My way of cleaning is to use up some of my yarn, and what better way to do that than to knit? I've had specific projects, but mostly it has been resupplying the stash. Somehow I have no girly things, so I've been working on that.
What I've been thinking about and wanting to write about for a while is that I'm happy. No particular reason, just happy and content. I don't know quite when it turned around--sometime before I went to Yosemite. It was a long, dark tunnel for several months--maybe even years. for the last few months, though, I've been just plain happy. It isn't that there aren't things I would happily change, but on the whole I'm happy. God's in His heaven and all's right with my world. Well, not everything--the neighbors' 12 dogs are constantly barking and people still park in front of my driveway on Sumday mornings, but I don't give way to tears at the drop of a hat.
I'll just accept that the stars are aligned and things are going well. Whatever the cause, I'm in "Thank you, God" mode. I know that the other cancer shoe will drop eventually and that when it does, we will deal with it. Until that time, I'll just enjoy and knit--I've even picked up a few things (don't get hasty there--just a few things and I eventually get lost on a tangent while I'm doing it). Back to knitting. I love watching little projects grow. And I'm happy.
xxooxx
What I've been thinking about and wanting to write about for a while is that I'm happy. No particular reason, just happy and content. I don't know quite when it turned around--sometime before I went to Yosemite. It was a long, dark tunnel for several months--maybe even years. for the last few months, though, I've been just plain happy. It isn't that there aren't things I would happily change, but on the whole I'm happy. God's in His heaven and all's right with my world. Well, not everything--the neighbors' 12 dogs are constantly barking and people still park in front of my driveway on Sumday mornings, but I don't give way to tears at the drop of a hat.
I'll just accept that the stars are aligned and things are going well. Whatever the cause, I'm in "Thank you, God" mode. I know that the other cancer shoe will drop eventually and that when it does, we will deal with it. Until that time, I'll just enjoy and knit--I've even picked up a few things (don't get hasty there--just a few things and I eventually get lost on a tangent while I'm doing it). Back to knitting. I love watching little projects grow. And I'm happy.
xxooxx
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Monica's Graduation and Other Stuff
How is it possible that I am the grandmother of a high school graduate? And how is it possible that I waited almost a week to write about it? I'm not quite sure how I did it, but I downloaded the pictures, so I guess it is time to do something about it.
Here we are, waiting for the festivities to begin. The graduation was on the football field. I'm hoping that no one was hoping that their little darling would have a dignified experience, because most of the spectators thought that they were at a football game. There was constant milling about, talking, cell phoning, squeeling, and the blasting of air horns. I thought I was going to lose my hearing for life. The vast ruck of humanity that attended did not know how to be an audience.
So here are the graduates in place.
After way to many speakers, it was finally time to do what we were all there to see. I think this is Monica in line, waiting for her name to be called.
And I think this is Monica, receiving the folder that would eventually hold her diploma. Glenn and I were ready to go home then. What did we care about the rest of the alphabet? The benches were uncomfortable--and there was all that squeeling and the airhorns. But we are polite and well behaved and we waited till everything was over.
Finally, we got near the graduate!
Elaine said it was the only time in her entire school career that she wore her hair down. She does look quite grown up--even if 18 isn't even close. There were two graduates in the family--Ryan will be in Middle School in the fall.
Monica was off to the grad night party--Glenn and I were off to home--by way of dinner at Nations Giant Hamburgers in El Cerrito. We'd planned to stop for a bite to eat BEFORE the graduation, but traffic being what it was, there was no time. So we were hungry, along with tired and deaf. Still, I wouldn't have missed it. Hope I'm around to see Rebecca's and Ryan's too.
Now, for the rest of the week's news. I saw my oncologist on Monday. CA125 is up slightly. It isn't even close to the amount that usually causes concern, but my baseline is so low that Dr. Chee just watches fluctuations. Normal cause for concern is anything over 35--at surgery, before they took out the cancer, mine was 19. I think it was 5 in March and is around 6 now. To scan or not to scan--we'll wait two more months, repeat the blood work, and see where things are.
My heels were still hurting, so Dr. Chee made me go to see my primary care--who I actually saw yesterday for the first time since January. She's had a very hard six months fighting an infection in her foot. She's still fighting it but may be able to save her foot. I felt like a whiner complaining about my heels. She changed my gout meds and gave me a shot in the left heel--the worse offender. It was pretty painful yesterday, but today my heels are pain free. Yeah! The new meds make me tired, a little dizzy and drowsy. I'll get used to them. I don't hurt! Life is good.
That's it--you are now current.
xxooxx
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Yosemite May 2010 plus a bit of catching up
First, the catching up. I have a fancy computer, two digital cameras, and two card readers. Could I get any of them to work for the old reliable digital? No, of course not. Not a problem, however. I buzzed down to CVS and had a disc made of the pictures I couldn't download. We'll start with me on the beach in Santa Barbara at Thanksgiving time.
It was a little windy.
Moving along several months, we arrive at Kris's visit the beginning of the month. Day two was sightseeing and the Disney Family Museum on the Presidio.
Kris and a famous icon
The Marin headlands
Roz and Kris
Kris and me
We had a grand time that day--it took us two days each to recover.
Onward a few days. I took the camera with me on my walk one day.
This is the view from the bench where I stop and read on the way out and on the way back.
Now, we get to Yosemite. First the view from our room on Monday when it rained all day.
Not at all a bad view. And not a bad place to be stuck on a rainy day. We stuck our noses outside for a minute or so after breakfast, got wet, and spent the day in the hotel. We took out laptops down to the sun room in the morning, took afternoon naps, and had a late dinner at the hotel.
Tuesday morning, late, we took a turn on the back lawn and walked down to the river. I did not throw my cell phone in this time.
And here we are
It isn't much, but was our home away from home:
Here's a shot of the falls from pretty much the same spot on the back lawn. 
Dory and I went to the Village for some major shopping. I sent her back to the hotel (with our purchases) to rest while I went to pay my respects to Yosemite Falls. I don't need another picture of Half Dome, but what the heck...
I love the walk from the shuttle stop to the falls. You start out walking through the woods. You hear the falls, but you don't see them. The Dogwood was wonderful.
And no, nature lovers, I didn't pick it.
You cross a bridge, then you get to the falls
I walked from the falls back to the village, then woosed out and took the shuttle back to the hotel. I shouldn't have left Dory alone. She managed to fall in the room, between the beds. I know she was hurting for the rest of the trip, but she was game for just about anything. I felt really guilty, because I felt so good.
On Wednesday, I took the shuttle to the Mirror Lake stop. I walked the mile or so up to the lake, then a mile or so around it, then back to the hotel. Steve, my favorite bellman, said it was between five and six miles. Go me!
Must be the angle, because Half Dome isn't stretched out like that.
It was a glorious four days and over all too soon. The first part of the ride home was pretty--Yosemite to Mariposa. The wild flowers were glorious. After Mariposa, it is pretty much of a grind. We had a good time together, so it was less tedious than it could have been.
Yesterday was yet another doctor appointment about my heels. I haven't blogged about them because they really aren't interesting. Painful, but boring. We had pretty much determined that it was gout before I left. I had a blood test on the 11th to confirm the diagnosis. I just didn't get the results till yesterday. My uric acid count is quite high, so gout it is. The Physician's Assistant gave me another perscription--which ended up being three pills--take two then take the other one an hour later. I'm thinking it feels better. Obviously, I didn't let it stop me.
I think we're now up to date. I'm feeling better than I have in quite some time. God's in His heaven (that would be Yosemite) and all is right with the world indeed.
xxooxx
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