Double Anniversary in Zion (October 2009)

On October 27, 1997 I had my brain surgery and stroke and on October 27, 2001 Gus and I eloped to Las Vegas (we didn't plan to do it on that day - it just happened to work that way!) Yesterday we celebrated the anniversaries by hiking in Zion N.P. and going out to dinner.

The Pa'rus hike/walk couldn't have been better for us. It's an A.D.A. trail and is paved. It follows the Virgin River and is level/flat so I didn't have problems with my knees. It's the only trail in the park that allows dogs so Dundee got to come along and I walked almost THREE MILES!!!! That's the longest I've walked in 12 years. I hauled ass, too, Gus didn't have to slow down for me.

After an afternoon rest we had a fantastic dinner at the Bit and Spur Restaurant in Springdale. It was the best meal I've had in years - seriously.

We had a beautiful view from our Zion campsite which ALMOST made up for the cold. The weather forecast called for snow overnight in the canyon but we woke to a very and dry clear morning. The sun doesn't rise in the canyon until late so we spend a lot time in net cafes!

Walking...

Okay, here it is. This is not my best or fastest walking because I'm still suffering from stage-fright when the camera's on but YAAAAAAAAY!



I can't express how happy this makes me. My stroke was 12 years ago but I can suddenly walk without my cane and without my limp. Holly B., what can I say, without you this wouldn't have happened. THANK YOU! Tass, without YOU, I wouldn't have Holly :-). Mom, Dad and John, thanks for the encouragement you sent after my last post. Anthony, thanks for expert advice over the years. Cindy, you inspired me to make up a song to sing to Dundee when we walk. Bonnie, maybe we'll have to get snow shoes now - either that or become mall-walkers!

Back to our trip... we just drove through Hanksville, UT, which is where Gus almost got a job earlier this year. About 10 miles after Hanksville we stopped at Mesa Farm Market (http://www.mesafarmmarket.com) for coffee (the BEST coffee of the trip so far) and very yummy cinnamon rolls and ended up with SO much more: hand made fresh chevre from their goats, hand made organic bread and very interesting conversation with Randy, the proprietor, that basically made us very glad that we did not move to Hanksville. Randy said that last person to hold the position for which Gus applied was basically run out of town after his children and wife were threatened all because the man didn't cow-tow (sp?) to the locals who were opposed to conservation parts of the recreation planning which is part of the job. Everything happens for a reason - sometimes it takes a while for that reason to become clear.

We are now in Torrey, Utah, just outside Capitol Reef N.P. where Cindy and I first camped together in the spring of 1989 during a field trip in college. We'll spend a few days in Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon before going to Zion for three balmy days - 60's and 70's. We're really looking forward to spending time in the "old neighborhood" for our 8th anniversary.

Natural Bridges and Walking!!!

We camped in Natural Bridges National Monument for 3 days and we had a great time with Craig. However, it seems that we are the ones who bring the bad weather. This time it hailed quite hard which scared Dundee pretty bad as he was out in the open when it hit.

After N.B.N.M. we headed south again to Monument Valley then Navajo Nation to Betakin Ruins then back to Cortez.

Now for some BIG NEWS. At least it's big for me. It started when we got a treadmill at the beginning of the year. I've been walking on it regularly (when I'm actually at home) and as some of you may know I've been working with a personal trainer named Holly who has me on simple yet effective exercise routine. Anyway, about ten days ago I started walking normally. I mean NORMALLY as in no cane and no limp and at a fairly fast pace. My right knee doesn't lock and my right hip doesn't drop but one of the best things is that I can walk Dundee on a leash at a good pace and the leash doesn't get tangled with my cane. I can't wait to get out and walk every day - it's seriously like walking in someone else's body. It's such a rush, like an amusement park ride. Unfortunately some days, like today, I wake up and my leg doesn't work. It's very frustrating but Gus reminds me that it took 12 years to get to this point I can deal with another day or two. Gus bought me a new camera that also takes video but every time he tries to record me walking I get stage-fright and the limp comes back! We'll try again tomorrow and if we get a good video I'll post it here.

Dunes and Scones

After leaving Denver we headed southwest to Westcliffe, a beautiful little town at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Gus worked in the wilderness above the town in August and when he returned to Custer he told me he would take me there this fall.

I am a scone fanatic and I have to try the scones in every bakery and coffee shop I see. We ended up in a place called the Tea Room because the coffee shop next door was closed. The Tea Room was the most girlie, frilly place - it looked like a doily puked everywhere and I think Gus was the ONLY man to ever set foot in the place. I was a about to grab Gus and scurry out of there when the proprietress said they had scones. So we sat down at a doily covered table in doily covered chairs and waited for our scones. She served them with "real clotted cream and home-made lemon curd". They were so good they now hold the top spot in my book (previously held by a place in Oregon) and are worthy of a trip back to Westcliffe and the Tea Room.

After we left Westcliffe we headed over to the other side of the Sangres to Great Sand Dunes N.P. where we spent two days. It's a pretty surreal place - like a mini-Sahara. The dunes are enormous; there are many people in this photo but they are mere specks. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that Dundee was allowed on the dunes. The sand was very easy to walk on because it was packed and the weather was great - high 60s and in the 30s at night but we're prepared. The first night Dundee got really cold because he didn't stay in his sleeping bag but he learned his lesson and on the second night he stayed in.

I saw the funniest picture in the visitor center of a kid playing in the water by the dunes. He looks like my dad's son if he had one (my dad has almost always had a mustache). I'm sure the artist who painted the boy meant the 'stache to be a shadow but it's a little too dark.

Tomorrow we're headed to Natural Bridges N. P. to meet Gus' brother Craig. Last spring when we went there it snowed on us and we didn't get to see the sights and stars. N.B.N.P. was listed in National Geo Magazine as one of the best places to stargaze because of the lack of light pollution. It's supposed to rain while we're there this time but we're hopeful!

Getting the Hell Out of Dodge

Once again Gus, Dundee and I are heading south for the winter - well, what feels like winter at least. Last night was 4 degrees in Custer. Today the high is 20 degrees and we are supposed to be in Laramie, WY (high of 23 degrees) watching a football game but even Gus who spent five seasons in Antarctica says it's too cold to sit on metal bleachers for three hours. We've had this game planned for months - who knew that hell would freeze over. The last two weeks have been more like January than October. We've had about a foot of snow in Custer and lows in the single digits.

Now we are leaving on Monday instead. Our first stop is Denver to see Gus' brother and sister then south to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve which until a week ago I didn't know existed! Then on to southern Utah where we'll spend most of October meeting up with friends and camping in various locales until we head to The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area outside Vegas where we'll also meet up with friends and camp. Camping in Red Rocks is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Vegas but it's a big hit with the rock climbers and apparently it's nice and warm (average 73 degrees) which will make it a big hit with me.

Dundee knows we are leaving and no matter how many times we tell him that he's going with us he just doesn't get it. Probably because he doesn't he doesn't understand english. We showed him his sleeping bag and "suitcase" but he still follows us around with a pathetic look on his face. I guess that won't change until we load him in the van on Monday morning.

I'll be updating my blog with photos, etc. as we travel - or at least that's the plan! So check back every week or so to see what kind of trouble we've gotten ourselves into :-).

Season's Greetings!

I've been in Park City since November 4th (Yeah Obama!). I wasn't supposed to stay this long but I just was so sick we decided I would spend the rest of the year in Utah getting to the root of my health problems. Gus is in Washington D.C.again for work but will pick and Dundee and I up when he returns early January.

Dundee is doing very well with his Aunt Cindy and Uncle Anthony. Dundee loves Cindy more than me :-( but I couldn't think of better person. I, in turn, have fallen in love with Bosco. Anthony is so great with Bosco and with Dundee and his re-hab from knee surgery. He really has that special quality to work with dogs.

Switching from canine to human problems....Wow, this is endless!!! So many doctors, so much info swimming in my head. Speaking of which, I got to look at my brain scans yesterday and wow, what a big hole I have in my head! I'm still amazed every day that I'm able talk and walk with so much brain tissue missing.

After my full physical and my appointment with my neurologist yesterday we now know many new things:

~ The CT and MRI showed that I have no more AVMs!!! Yay!

~ Knock on wood... I haven't had either a migraine or a bad IBS attack since being on the strict diet. 17 days so far without coffee (the hardest part), alcohol, dairy, high fat, refined sugar, etc.. I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY hoping that it's not a fluke :-)

~ My thyroid test was scary weird. It was supposed to be around 3 but it was over 3,000 so I've been referred to an endocrinologist ASAP...

~ Doc Savia is sending me to a Cerebral Palsy specialist. Huh? Well, they are really good with spasicity (I still have it since the stroke 11 years ago!), which is the main reason my body won't straighten out which, in turn, is why my back is still screwed up with the SI Joint pain and the Facet Joint pain. So he will treat me with Botox to lessen the spasicity. We'll see how that goes, maybe I can convince him to do some forehead wrinkles too (J.K.).

~ I (we) decided to do NEITHER the Baclofen pump nor the Radio Frequency Nerve Ablation in my back. Those are "last options" in my opinion and it's my body so I can say "no" if I want. Hah!

~ I was put on oral Baclofen (pills) as a trial to see if it really helps the spasticity and if so, if I can handle the fatiguing side effects.

~ I have two scary moles that have to be removed ASAP and bioposied.

~ I have a bulging disk in my neck which may be contributing to my migraines.

~ (This part is humorous but painful)... After my physical/pelvic exam the doc left the room so I could get dress and I was just getting off the table but slippery socks and linoleum don't mix. BOOM! The doc rushed back in after the fall to find me on the floor with my gown over my head exposing all my nakedness! The door was open and everyone in the hall had a nice view. It was really quite funny except for the pain. It's a good thing I have no modesty left! My whole right side is bruised and and scraped up but that will soon pass :-)


So there you have it. Some great news, some not so much. The pain in the butt is that now I have a whole slew of new doc appointments and blood labs.

For those of you in Utah, I apologize that I haven't been able to spend time with you. I just really need to be "at home" with Mom, John and Damien (who is my personal trainer while while we're both here. He helps me do all my physical therapy as well taking turns with Mom and John being chauffeur). God knows I am lacking in the motivation department.

I've had 10 doc appointments so far in December and have at least 4 more before the end of the year. I'm planning to stay with Layle, Nick and the boys very soon but I have to wait to until my next appointment in PC. I'm really not sure what my plans will be after Christmas.

I apologize to all my friends and family in Utah, South Dakota, California, etc. who have called and emailed and not heard back from me. I'm pretty overwhelmed right now with all that's happening. I'm slow, don't forget, I've been working on this message for almost three hours! My brain gets tired and confused so easily. In fact, it's my nap time now but I will write more as I learn more from the docs.

I hope you are all enjoying the snow and holiday season.

Peace,
Laney

Boo!

We made a quick trip down the 101 to Cali and couldn't back fast enough! I swear, as soon as we crossed the border 2 lanes turned to 4 and we had two 15 minute road constcuction stops. Lot's of hitch-hikers looking all methed-out. Front page of the local Crescent City paper was "...big meth bust". Signs everywhere saying "DON'T LEAVE VALUABLES UNATTENDED!" If you're not doing 10 over the speed limit - watch out - people there are impantient. We made it all the way to HSU (which I attended for a semester) before tucking tail and heading north.



A little Harsh, maybe, but condersider that we've been in Ogegon for two weeks and aclimated quite nicely. We love the pace, the ocean, Mo, the lack of McMansions, the scones and the LACK OF PEOPLE!

We were so happy to be in the land of mellow. I know every place has it's problems but I feel prefer Orgeon. We've had the best weather and the people are really friendly.

Gotta run for now! here's some pics.

Greetings from Bandon by the Sea, OR

Sunny, warm, no people... we couldn't ask for a better time! There were a couple people at Sunset Beach last night but other than then, we've pretty much had the coast to ourselves.

We spent the last two nights in a yurt at Sunset Beach campground. The yurts are awesome! Very cozy and warm at night and a great star show through the sky-light.

That's it for now - the cafe is closing!

A New Beginning

I know it sounds cheesey but it's true. This is a new beginning for me. Today Doc Teuber gave me a clean bill of help. Very successful surgery and I'm allowed to do anything but lift. I can garden, belly dance, clean the litter box, cook, clean, go on a 1.2 mile walk (actually I did that yesterday with Bonnie and Dundee - FANTISTIC time, beautiful limestone cliffs, butterflies by the thousands swirling madly about, nothing but GREEN and wildflowers everywhere, and of course, great company.

I digress...for the first time in more years than I care to remember, besides the migraines, I have no health issues holding me back (still have some mental ones!). I'm really looking forward to physical therapy, seriously. I want be Bionic-Bisected Woman - my muscles are stronger than ever and as soon I hear the starting gun, I will be off and "running" with my Physical Therapist and my favorite P.T.A., B.B.

Okay here comes the scary part of the post. I have and will still have some pain for up to 4 - 6 months. And just one week of pain pills left... that was one of the main objective of the surgery, to no longer need the meds. Yes, they helped immensely over the years. Hell, they helped do create these gardens by myself and grow the food and even draw:
I wouldn't have been able to do any of those things without taking pain meds - my back just couldn't handle it. But now that surgery corrected the problem, next spring I will able to garden (and belly dance) with little pain and WITHOUT pain meds. I will always be grateful that I had meds when I needed them but that time has passed. Don't worry, I've been tapering for five weeks.

Blue skies are folowing me, nothing but blue skies are all I see... (W.N.)

!@#$%^&* Hail!

Damn you stupid Black Hills Weather! Garden ruined, husband slightly damaged, me just plain pissed off.

As Gus's sister, Dianne, Emma and I drove to Rapid City the other day we had a clear view of the Black Elk Wilderness and Harney Peak. Gus had told me that morning that he was going to Harney that day and when Dianne and I saw the HUGE thunderstorm above Harney, we knew Gus was definitely going to get wet. I stayed the night in Rapid and didn't talk to Gus until the next evening. When I finally saw him (he was 1/2 hour late for our date in Lead, I could tell something very bad had occurred (Gus is NEVER late). Yes, he was on Harney when the three hour hail storm hit hard. He and his helpers huddled under a tree until the worst had passed they were well prepared but not much helps in a storm like that. But so many other people had gone into the wilderness like they were going into a gas station: flip flops, tank tops, no jacket, no water. They all asked Gus to send search and rescue to get them. Okay, so it's POSTED at every trail head to enter the wilderness only if you are prepared which these idiots were not. There was nothing Gus could do to help them.

Anyway, the same thing happened the next day. Same hail, same ignorant people in tank tops. (By the way, the weather forecast is also posted at the trailhead). But that day two men had heart attacks and one died in the wilderness. I don't if it had anything to do with weather...

When I got home I discovered the wreck that been my garden. The hail hit hard at home, too. Everything was pretty much tattered unlikely to recover (EXCEPT, thanks to Cindy, for my tomatoes and squash which were all cozy in their wall o' water teepees). Oh Amberly, I sympathize with you and your lost-to-frost garden. I guess I'm just not meant to have a garden this year. Here's hoping for an Indian summer so my tomatoes and squash can mature.

I hope you and your gardens are okay!

I should be in Utah in a week if my doc gives me the thumbs up on Tuesday.

Ups and Downs and All My Children

The ups: not cleaning, not cooking, all the TV I can watch. The downs: not cleaning, not cooking, all the TV I can watch and of course, not gardening. I truly have a serious addiction to TV. I really hate it when I miss my soap. Yes, you read right - my soap opera (All my Children). I swear it's the only one. At least it's the politically correct soap. They deal with some real issues like women and heart disease, rehabilitation that really works in the prison system, they had the first lesbian kiss, adoption, rape, etc. Please don't judge me for watching a soap, but feel free to judge me for being addicted to all TV!

I screwed up and over-did things a few days ago and my back got extremely swollen and I could hardly move for a few days. BUT overall, I can't believe how well I'm coming along. I think the drive to Utah will be no problem - maybe a little stiff and sore. It's kind of weird to think that after my back rehab, I will all better. That is, except for the migraines which, by the way, have gone down way down since Sigmund was removed. The migraines are actually not a big issue because the Imitrex almost always takes care of them within a few hours. If the only medical problem I am left with is migraines, I will be happier that a pig in sh*t!

Bonnie took the photos of our beautiful tree (I think it's a flowering crab-apple). This is year the blooms are out of control! Better than any other year since we've been here. Bonnie is picking Dundee and I up in a little while for a walk - part of my therapy. I'm so grateful for Bonnie she is such a light in my life, always has a smile for me and is so good to Smokey when Gus and I travel. We have a lot in common including some major medical issues went through years ago. She's had some great advice for me.

Well, I must get ready for our walk!

Until next time...

I'm Bored

It's so hard to just lie on the couch while there are weeds to be pulled, things to be dusted, a dog to be brushed... I would be happy to at least start my physical therapy (P.T.) but that won't happen for another few weeks. I'll doing my P.T. in Utah and if all goes as planned, I'll be in Utah for five weeks - mostly July with a few days of June and August.

My 20th High School reunion is August 1! This photo is from 1984 or 85 (I'm the one in black with the goth makeup). By the time I graduated in 88 I had my hair back under control! My friends in the photo are from the left: Holly Elkins, me, Wendy Griffin and Valeri Elkins. I'm looking SO forward to seeing them at the reunion!

This is one of my favorite pictures of my friend, Holly Robinson, and I in Mazatlan on our Senior Trip. What a blur... thank God that before the whole Girls Gone Wild phenomena! That may be TMI.

The Garden Fairy Came to Custer

I'm doing well but I'm over-doing it, too. Gotta slow down. Still have a lot of pain unless I'm just reclining on the couch but I've cut way down on the pain meds. It's hard just sitting there. But, when the weather is nice I sit under my flowering crab-apple tree which has more blooms than any other year since we've lived here and I look at my garden and it's I have to sit on my hands or else I will find myself in a weeding frenzy. Oh! How I would love to weed - it's my favorite garden chore and not being to is driving me CRAZY!!!

Cindy just left today. She's been here since Sunday, drove all the way in her Passat (20 mpg) at $3.93 a gallon. She came to give Gus a break and plant my tomatoes and squash which she started from seed for me. She also put them all in Walls 'o' Water since we're still getting frost....IN JUNE! Rapid City broke the all-time record for wettest month EVER in May. Anyway, I am so blessed to have a friend like her. This fall is our 20th anniversary. We met the first day of art school and found that we had ALL of our classes together, not to mention that 20 years ago, we looked like identical twins! We became fast friends... and happily ever after :-) Cindy is the BEST the best domestic goddess, chef, nurse and gardener a friend could have. She cooked wonderful meals for Gus and kept me company. Thank you Cin!

I see my surgeon on the 24th then I'll be going to Utah for PT. How long we're not sure - probably 5 weeks, culminating in my 20th HS reunion on August 1st.