The Walking Thread

[WLWildlife]

Oh my.... water logged... glad you had higher ground to walk and breathe and an horizon to see tomorrow prayer tomorrow to give you strength to muscle on

Thank you for the prayers Citruscurtis! They are much appreciated! We all have trials and tribulations, but the last couple of years have been HARD. It seems like we get something handled and something else takes it place. Some days it's a struggle to be positive.

 

[WLWildlife]

Thankfully, NO RAIN TODAY!!! It was supposed to, but the rain clouds dried up and disappeared. We had sunshine and 80 degrees. I was able to get my three miles in. The creeks are still flowing, but the flood plains are draining and the dandelions have exploded! We also have power so a hot shower tonight!

 

[citruscurtis]

Thankfully, NO RAIN TODAY!!! It was supposed to, but the rain clouds dried up and disappeared. We had sunshine and 80 degrees. I was able to get my three miles in. The creeks are still flowing, but the flood plains are draining and the dandelions have exploded! We also have power so a hot shower tonight!

Wow Oregon doesn't have fields of dandelions...lawns yes...an abandoned field is layer upon layer of tall dead grass... Oregon is just bleak when it comes to color....a good Yuma rain can bring flowers... number one wild flower in our yard... dandelions...huh...I let go to seed and appreciate their struggle to be beautiful

 

[WLWildlife]

Wow Oregon doesn't have fields of dandelions...lawns yes...an abandoned field is layer upon layer of tall dead grass... Oregon is just bleak when it comes to color....a good Yuma rain can bring flowers... number one wild flower in our yard... dandelions...huh...I let go to seed and appreciate their struggle to be beautiful

The struggle is real! Bloom where you are planted!

It is supposed be an organic hay field, but fighting the dandelions is a challenge in this area. I have no idea how to weed and feed organically, especially on such a large scale, and apparently he doesn't either, or he doesn't care anymore since he got out of the organic milk business. Too bad it's not a field of sunflowers.

 

[citruscurtis]

Well... since it's just a few of us here.... I will leave the message here.. Tigger thank you for your cancer post... I had no idea. The amazing take away is that I didn't see the poll yesterday and I frequent this site often... I want to believe it was God's grace that hid the subject from me...who knows what ranting I would have ventured... the greatest take away was your struggles with your medical procedures... I am done with my cancer surgeries.. I am not going to do them anymore and my wife asks why... your experience has given me insight into my own choices... which people who have not experienced our situation question my choices

 

[WLWildlife]

Citruscurtis and TiggerTigger, my new found friends, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I can't say that I can completely understand your specific situations, but I have my own scare experiences annually. Last year they amped it up by requiring an MRI that made me feel BLAH for a couple of weeks and was "inclusive" so I was required to get an ultrasound too. They wanted that same process this year I said NO. I have also cared for MinLaw who passed a year ago from cancer that was never found until way too late (we had 5 weeks with her after diagnosis) and my parents. I respect people's choices to live their life on their terms. Thank you for sharing your stories.

 

[WLWildlife]

It rained AGAIN this afternoon and evening. We are so soggy. Water comes into basement as fast as we pump it out. I did get my 3 miles in before the on slot of water. If you look closely, there is a new baby calf in the picture, I think about 24 hours old. They haven't come up to road yet for me to get a good picture. The barn is a major zoom in. It is a white spec in the cloudy field picture.

 

[citruscurtis]

Thank you for the zoom... imagine... dandelions being beautiful...as for the geese they are consider a nuisance in Oregon.. they venture into downtown parks....the baby calf is in how I paid for my 1970s University education.... I see a puffer fish to the right...so thank you for my canvas of creative thought and for your sharing...MRI ... only had one and can no longer tolerate so iodine cat scan are the search engine....the experimental cancer medicine is still working and I reckon the sunniest place on earth

 

[WLWildlife]

Thank you for the zoom... imagine... dandelions being beautiful...as for the geese they are consider a nuisance in Oregon.. they venture into downtown parks....the baby calf is in how I paid for my 1970s University education.... I see a puffer fish to the right...so thank you for my canvas of creative thought and for your sharing...MRI ... only had one and can no longer tolerate so iodine cat scan are the search engine....the experimental cancer medicine is still working and I reckon the sunniest place on earth

The geese are a nuisance here as well. Even in the country. They can be aggressive and ornery if they feel you are encroaching on their territory. Dandelions are about the only color we have here except MUD. Mud is everywhere.
I am glad your treatment is working. I will pray.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Well... since it's just a few of us here.... I will leave the message here.. Tigger thank you for your cancer post... I had no idea. The amazing take away is that I didn't see the poll yesterday and I frequent this site often... I want to believe it was God's grace that hid the subject from me...who knows what ranting I would have ventured... the greatest take away was your struggles with your medical procedures... I am done with my cancer surgeries.. I am not going to do them anymore and my wife asks why... your experience has given me insight into my own choices... which people who have not experienced our situation question my choices

Citruscurtis and TiggerTigger, my new found friends, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I can't say that I can completely understand your specific situations, but I have my own scare experiences annually. Last year they amped it up by requiring an MRI that made me feel BLAH for a couple of weeks and was "inclusive" so I was required to get an ultrasound too. They wanted that same process this year I said NO. I have also cared for MinLaw who passed a year ago from cancer that was never found until way too late (we had 5 weeks with her after diagnosis) and my parents. I respect people's choices to live their life on their terms. Thank you for sharing your stories.

Sorry for the delayed reply but I was just sort of immersed in the weekend. Friday's drama was also more than my mind was ready to handle.

I have been thinking a lot about the cancer decisions of late. I don't currently regret stepping away from all of the screenings tied to my melanoma but I've lost a lot of faith in the industry, even at the highest level. It has been weighing on me though...not because of any perceived skin threats, but I have to go back in for secondary imaging this Thursday as a result of my mammogram last month. The radiologist's results say "abnormal" but my doctor said it was inconclusive, clarifying that they just didn't get a good image in round 1. As a result, I'm having another one as well as an ultrasound. I've had poor image results before and never had to go the ultrasound route before, but my baseline has also changed considerably due to all of the weight loss. Either way, it's had me thinking about what I want to do if they find anything. The estimate for this second round of images is what got me really thinking about the skin cancer decision. Everything is just so ridiculously expensive when routine stuff does not go as planned.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Sorry I have been MIA. The weekend got off to a rough start and then I just wanted to be immersed in it and enjoy once I got everything under control.

Saturday, I did run-walk-run method. I set off walking and walked most of my first mile but I was on the University of Oklahoma campus, it was spring family weekend, there was a ton of stuff going on, in addition to a bunch of festivities for their spring football game. There were a ton of people in so many areas that running became the most efficient way to dart in and out of the crowds. I wanted to go 8 miles, but I also wanted time with DD19. So, the running helped speed up the process, but I cut it to 6.23 so she and I could grab lunch, do some shopping and hit the gym before DH and DD17 got into town. DD17 had a game Friday night, so I was solo going up on Friday. I'll share the drama at the end.

Sunday, I was feeling super yucky. I know it's because I overindulged Saturday night. It was such a nice dinner though that I don't regret it. The best I had in me was a couple of attempts on the hotel treadmill, which added up to 3.36 miles. I know that's still good but I wasn't feeling good. I also had the long drive home ahead of me. This was also 100% walking.

I'm still in recovery mode, but got out there for 6.23 this morning. It was 100% walking- again! See...I really am still a walker! It was upper 50s, so really pleasant out there too.



So, I hit the road on Friday right at noon in hopes of making it to my hotel in OKC by dinnertime. We weren't sure about attending this parent weekend, but DD insisted while she was home back in December. The best room I could find for both quality and price was on the southern side of OKC, about 25 minutes north of her apartment in Norman. It was one of those huge 2-bedroom suites at a Residence Inn. The price was great and I was pumped because DH snores and it meant that I'd have plenty of space away from the noise. After being on the road a little over 4 hours and right after crossing into OK from TX, my phone starting blowing up. I do not normally answer unfamiliar calls, but by the third call, I could see it was Expedia. When I answered, I was told that my hotel reservation was canceled, the hotel had no other rooms, and while they looked for suitable alternatives, the Expedia guy was unable to find anything. No kidding!!! It's family weekend and everything that isn't insanely expensive has been booked for ages. Those which weren't were still $$$$$. There is no way I am spending $600-800 a night for a LaQuinta! This guy got to hear just how creative I can get with profanity. It was cathartic but unproductive. I got DD19 on the phone and she called the actual hotel for me. Turns out they had a pipe burst, which flooded four rooms, including ours. They said they would cover the difference if I could find another hotel for the weekend. I'm still trying to hash this part out, but the objective now was to get to DD's so we could grab dinner and find me a room. I did find something in an area I know. It was twice the price of the other room, but still a fraction of the price of everything else. So, at least I had a place to stay. DD hung out with me at the room for a while...met a lovely bullmastiff in the elevator...and were spared by the ugly weather that came through the OKC metro.

The following day, in addition to my walking, DD and I did a barre/pilates class together, went shopping, were pleasantly surprised that DH's birthday cake was ready early, had a nice lunch, hit the gym for a bit, and then got ready for dinner. DD19 put together such a nice dinner for DH. It was at this old converted flower shop in a more historic part of OKC. I completely forgot but she got us a private dining room and invited a friend and said friend's family for the meal. In any event, I know my tummy is super angry because of it, but it was such a nice meal and get-together. I reminded myself of that the next morning on the treadmill. After treadmill time, we all met up for breakfast/brunch (DD17 spent the night with DD19) and then it was time for the long drive home.

So, today is my attempt to get back on track. It's going to be tough because DD17 starts school softball playoffs this week, my parents are flying into town on Wednesday, but I also have a half marathon this Sunday. So, I need to keep it together!