Not exactly a festival, but

Our headbangers theme is fairs or festivals and I am- duh- headslapping- because I decided to wait till today to post and then- senior moment- forgot. I usually post Tuesday evening--early.

We have not made it to the fair, but this last Saturday evening we celebrated life by walking in the

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk. Here is my husband with his white balloon. White was for survivors and patients. As a supporter I carried a red balloon.

And they did light up.

The yellow balloons were in memory of friends and family who died from blood cancers.

Headbangers--in a Flower

Health or Wealth or Happiness - in a Flower

This is what IMac gave us for this week's Headbanger Challenge.

Nothing like making it easy? Eh?

A single perfect golden rose. Does it for me.

See what the others manage. Especially what Mac has up his sleeve with this conundrum of a theme. Their links are in my sidebar.

Warning! Danger! Who would have known?

The other day I replaced batteries in the clocks in the classrooms at church. They had all started behaving erratically because they had all been put up new on the same day--and that's another story.

But anyway, I went around and replaced batteries and had a couple of extras in my pocket, which I then transferred into my purse pocket.

Yes, not much difference between my jeans pocket and my purse pocket. Except my keys were in my purse pocket.

Last evening at dinner out with our friend, I felt like I was sitting on a hot seat. It felt a bit like the heated seat in our new car. I wondered a bit, found my jacket that I was sitting on to be a bit warm and shifted a bit in the booth.

When we got up to leave and pay our bill, I reached into my purse pocket for my keys.

My pocket was hot. My keys were hot. I fumbled around in the pocket a bit and found:

 

A battery was hot!  Really really hot! So hot that I would not toss it into a trashcan at that time for fear I would start a fire. (I know, you should recycle batteries.) The battery had shorted out--probably against the keychain and heated enough to melt and split the label covering and expose the bare metal casing. 

It's not something that would happen every day, because how often do you toss a couple of batteries in your pocket with your keys? But be careful.

Optical Illusion

So I know now that I am not crazy, or as I am wont to say, there isn't current evidence to the fact.

Since I got my new glasses a couple of weeks ago, I have been seeing neon--or what appears as if there were a neon light just beyond the top edge of things. Mostly it's the horizon, and mostly when the light is bright. Like this:

Can you see the difference in these two pictures from the lake? The one on the left is the original. I doctored the one on the right so it would show what I see.

When we came back from the lake, we stopped at the optical department and talked to Leo--the young technician on his own that afternoon. He didn't say I was crazy, but you could see that, having never heard of such a thing, he was a bit skeptical. He didn't know what to do, or even say, but took my number so he could call me when he had a chance to talk to Linda, the manager. I had much confidence in Linda, who had fitted my husband's glasses for several years.

He was maybe a bit more skeptical when I told him that sometimes the "aura" was green--generally if I was looking at a wheat field. I've kind of pinned it down--dark against a bright sky shows up gold. Light agains a bright sky shows lime green. Like this comparison--again, original on the left and doctored on the right:

 So Leo called earlier this week, and after some discussion about the fact that I lived 40 miles away, had a very busy two weeks coming up and two weeks of travel after that, assured me that I could bring them in any time before the middle of October and they would check them and if they needed to be replaced they would be under warantee.

Hubby and I decided today that 99º heat on a Saturday afternoon was a good reason to drive 40 miles in an air conditioned car to the air conditioned mall where I could look into the glasses issue in and air conditioned store, and we could see a movie in an air conditioned theater. That and the fact that there wasn't much playing closer.

Leo wasn't there, nor was Linda, nor was the optometrist. So I had to explain my aura to Eric, another young technician on his own this afternoon. Linda was gone for the day already. Eric was just as puzzled as Leo, but as I assured him that Leo had told me to come any time, Eric called a manager at another store and described my illusion as "halos". I heard him assure the expert that he would use more technical language in describing it.

So he told me that she had seen this happen before, very rare, and it is a defect in the lens, and that I needed to leave the glasses so they could fix them and return them in a week and a half or so.

Since I didn't have my old glasses with me as a sub, and since I did actually want to SEE the movie--not just enjoy the AC, I will have to drop the glasses off sometime later to be redone.

BTW, sometimes it is blue. And today I saw a combination that made purple.

But I am not crazy.

Using my words

Why do I always think that a post must start with a photo? It isn't a photo blog is it? I have one of thosee, too. Well, maybe this one  is a photo and word blog and it is time for some words.

This has been a very unusual summer. While we are usually off camping at least two weekends a month, we've only been out twice. Once to check out the location and then later the same month (JUNE) to camp with the kids. What is that about?

Well, what it has been about is growing older, I guess. Hard to admit it, but we are. I still chase ants with the kidlets but some of the spring has gone out of this chicken. I hope to get it back as things settle down. Will things settle down?

For much of the summer it has been twice weekly visits to North Star Lodge. These dropped to once a week four weeks ago. Despite my encouraging post about North Star here--and it IS a hopeful place--it is still a couple of hours of driving and no knowing from one time to the next if it will be an hour or an all day experience. It makes planning difficult.

Yesterday was a doctor visit at the Lodge and hubby had another bone marrow biopsy. The results of this will guide future treatment after this cycle of chemo is over in a few weeks. We hopefully await the report next week.

We have snuck a few things in--Leavenworth and a Mariners game, a day trip here and there, another quilt retreat, the couple of days at the lake last week, an occasional lunch with friends, our regular dinner on Wednesdays in an endless cycle through the local restaurants. I have even managed to hike a couple of times.

So there it is. Life goes on.

I can't do this without a picture. Just a little one.

Reflecting Hope

I dropped back a bit so that I could get this picture as my husband approaches the entrance.

What, you might wonder, has this image to do with a reflection, as you may have reached this post through James's meme, Weekend Reflections. There is more than one kind of reflection.

This is the entrance to North Star Lodge in Yakima. We're spending quite a bit of time thare lately, and will for the next few weeks.



In April, he spent a week in the hospital, having been sent to the cardiologists because of severe shortness of breath.

A week of pokes and prods, scans and grams, being waken up in the wee hours to be weighed (What's that about?), more doctors and nurses than you can shake a stick at, but all around wonderful care from the team there. Then they sent him home with more appointments. They didn't know what it was, but they wouldn't find out more by keeping him there.


A couple of weeks later, after some more tests, pokes and prods, the diagnosis came down. Myeloma. His is Smoldering Myeloma--meaning that it is slow progressing.

Another wait while his hemotologist/oncologist consulted with other specialists to choose the best plan of treatment to avoid causing problems with other systems.

He's now had four chemo treatments at North Star. Prognosis is positive. North Star Lodge is Yakima's Cancer Care Center.

All about us reflects peace and hope. The staff--the receptionists, the doctors, the lab people, the nurses, the volunteers, and even the cleaners--are welcoming, encouraging, gentle and reassuring. Always listening.

As we sit among those some of whom are obviously undergoing more grueling treatment than his (so far, so good--only some minor nausea), all are peaceful.

Reflections of hope.

Prayers welcome.

Gatekeeper--at work!

So we are at the doctor's office--a very busy regional specialist with several doctors, many nurses, three receptionist stations at the desk and a lot going on. We were a bit early for an appointment with the nurse to go over some information and instructions, and it was still the lunch hour.

A man came to the desk and asked to speak with Dr. J. That's my hubby's doc. I wasn't eavesdropping, really I wasn't, but I couldn't help but hear the exchange. It went something like this.

She is not in her office right now.

I just want to speak with her for a minute.

She has a full schedule of appointments this afternoon.

I just need to speak with her for a moment.

She will be back in her office....

Can I speak with her now just for a moment?

After a few variations of this the receptionist was a bit worn down and asked?

And you are?


And he replied--


HER HUSBAND!

The receptionist then sent him downstairs to the lunchroom.

Sunday's Psalm--Third Sunday of Easter

R. Lord, Let your face shine upon us.

When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
have pity on me, and hear my prayer!

saguaro cactus, Arizona

Lord,let your face shine on us.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.

palms, Riverside, California

Lord, let your face shine on us.
O LORD, Let the light of your countenance shine upon us!

You put gladness into my heart.Lewis and Clark State Park, Washington

Lord, let your face shine on us.

As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,
for you alone, O LORD,
bring security to my dwelling.

Maryhill State Park, Washington

Lord, let your face shine on us.
Psalm 4: 2, 4, 7-8, 9

More on training for the 3-Day

Great comments from the other day's post about training for the 3-Day!!! A couple of things were suggested that I appeared to have forgotten, and I am very glad that they were mentioned.

PERBS asked if I didn't have an energy bar in case I got hungry. I have hiked with PERBS. She has walked the Portland Marathon, so knows what a long day's walk is like.

She is right. During a long walk it would be foolish not to have some sort of snack available. During her marathon there were snack and water stations along the route. The same is the case at the 3-Day. There are four or five pit stops each day. They give everyone a chance to rest, refresh, and use the facilities.

They also have a medical tent where you can tend your blisters, ice your aches, or get additional attention if needed.) Nevertheless, I do always carry a snack bar and a bag of nuts on long walks or hikes.

My walk the other night was only about an hour and right after dinner, though, so food was not a priority.

That brings another thing to think about, though, when you are exercising. Have you ever heard of hyponatremia? It's not likely to happen on an hour's walk, but it is something to be aware of any time you are exercising and sweating, and rehydrating. It happens when you drink lots and lots of water and don't replenish the sodium that is lost through sweat and urination. It is the reason for all those sports drinks that are available. Their benefit over plain water is that they replace those minerals.

I hate them! There you go. I've said it. I will not drink Gatorade. The alternative is to eat some salty snacks. There is where my bag of mixed nuts comes in. I sometimes have issues with sodium, but even with that, on a long day's walk I take the salty nuts. (And it is a good excuse to eat potato chips.)

SquirrelQueen reminded me not to forget the sunscreen. Good point! I did not need it for one hour at sunset the other night, but believe me--don't go out for a long day without it. And remember, it doesn't have to be bright sunshine to get a sunburn. Watch out for those cloudy days--they can be fierce.

In Training for the 3-Day

So have I started training yet? Well, yes and no. I haven't gotten into a regular regime of training. My walk is still more than six months away. But I have been at least thinking about it. And this evening I took to the pathway.

~

Let me tell you some things I have learned about training in my two years experience in the 3-Day.

JUST DO IT!

Okay, so the better prepared you are for the walk the more likely you will be able to finish and to finish happily and healthily. Training is crucial. The 3-Day has a suggested 20-week and 16-week training schedule which includes building up to longer and longer walks. Training does not have to only be walking. In fact, cross-training (doing something else) is encouraged. But it needs to include lots and lots of walking.

~

Training gets your body ready to be an endurance athlete. Ha! I have become an endurance athlete after the age of 60. It also helps you get used to your equipment. These are the essential things I remembered when I went walking this evening. Of course, I wore my walking shoes and some good absorbent socks. I had a bottle of water and that new pedometer.

Since I was walking alone, my cell phone was something very important to carry. CARRY--not walk along chatting. Don't we spend way too much time on our cell phones chatting anyway? But really, just as driving while on the cell phone is not only not a good idea, but is illegal in many states now, talking on the phone while walking can be a safety issue. So take the cell phone for emergency purposes and don't let it be a distraction.
~
Well, right in the middle of that display of things to remember is my camera. The camera is not an essential for walking--it is just an essential for ME.

~

Now about those socks. Those socks reminded me tonight of one of the big reasons for training. It is really important to break in your equipment . You need to know how the equipment suits you. Shoes have to be broken in in the traditional sense. Other things--you need to know how you are going to react with them.

~

There is something about that particular pair of socks that is just not right. They are a little too big, and they slip. Three miles tonight, and believe me, I would have never made anything like twenty in those socks. I came near to blisters in just three miles. Two hours later and I can still feel the "hot spots" on my feet. Friction is the enemy.

~
Which brings me to some things I didn't remember this evening. Actually, the moleskin and blister bandages are something I almost needed tonight. But the Body Glide could have prevented the problems. It is a skin protection product that you use in places that could rub or chafe. Like YOUR WHOLE FOOT!!!! It really works to prevent blisters. Try it. If you don't find it in your local drugstore (I didn't) try a shoe store like Foot Locker or a sports or outdoor store like REI or Big 5.

A Bouquet for Michele

Today is Epilepsy Awareness Day,

and the color for Epilepsy Awareness is purple.

Bog Gentian

This bouquet of purple flowers is especially dedicated to Michele, Rocky Mountain Girl, who does so much to try to educate us about epilepsy through her own experiences with the disease.

Elegant Jacob's Ladder

These particular flowers all remind me in some way of Michele. First of all, some of the names--the gentian reminds me of how gentle a spirit she shows us, and I also see a special kind of elegance in her--not a snotty la-di-da elegance--but a true specialness.

Alpine Lupine

Now in this case, it is not the name but the plant. The Alpine Lupine finds its own way to sustain itself in adverse conditions.

Harebells
...and look at the tenacity with which these Harebells cling to the cliff--that reminds me of Michele's determination.

Cascade Aster
Okay, so I've run out of analogies, though I know Michele would love hiking and fishing in our Cascades as she does in her Rockies. So here is where I am going to start adding some links you can follow to find out more about epilepsy.

The Epilepsy Foundation

Epilepsy Advocate

Cusick's Veronica
Epilepsy.com
Neuroscience for Kids

Subalpine Lupine and Magenta Paintbrush

We love you, Michele. I hope you've enjoyed your bouquet of purple flowers.