Summer of Fun-Week 3

SAW-HEARD-DID

SAW:   I found myself getting into "travel mode" as I leave tomorrow for a trip with the Tribe...or as Hubby affectionately calls them "The coven". 

  Hair cut, colored and toenails buffed and polished (poor nail gal had her work cut out, let's just say I'm not a regular when it comes to tending to the nails and it was a long rough winter when it comes to the state of my toes).  

  Boarding pass printed, passport in my purse, luggage packed and tagged...Yep, I'd say I'm as ready as I feel I need to be.

HEARD:   Unlike last week, all the things I heard this week  were good sounds (well, maybe the news that was whispered at WW wasn't so great- but hey, it's summer time and that margarita was so worth it, thank.you.very.much!)      

• The silence of the mountains.  
• The laughter of friends-and their daughters (who are growing up to be really neat young ladies)
  
• The silly conversational attempts of Thing 1 (No son, watching Titanic will NOT put me in a "ready to cruise" mindset).  

DID:   Sunday morning I drove back up to the camp to join hubby. 

 We took a little road trip, and found ourselves at a national forest campground.

   I suggested we park and walk around the lake.

 It was a lovely stroll through the woods but as we returned to the car, the camp host was just fixing to issue us an envelop to pay.    Seems what we thought was public parking, was actually parking for those who were planning to tent camp.   We explained our intentions and he waved us on our merry way, noting "no charge".    

  Monday, the wind picked up at the camp, so I decided to go exploring the town of Salida.   Wow, what a difference a week makes.   When I visited last week, it was a sleepy little town.    This week, just like the rising river, the tourists seemed to be out in fuller force.    I did stop by the town's indoor swimming pool-which are actually indoor hot springs...soaked for a bit and used their showers.    

Tuesday I returned home and have spent the rest of the week tending to some random chores and just hanging out.    I read just one book this week (I know, slacking off, eh?) but instead found myself binging on several different shows (Netflix-The Bodyguard-highly recommend, along with the Netflix movie "Like Dad"...hoping to find a couple engaging movies or books to help pass the 4 hr flying time to Miami tomorrow).

All in all, another great week filled with a little bit of this...a little bit of that...

Until next time...

Summer of Fun-Week 2

SAW-HEARD-DID

SAW:  This week I saw myself really getting into the groove of my time off.   There is a meme going around that says something to the effect of teachers (and school nurses) aren't off for the summer-they are in recovery.   I chuckle in that-yes-there is some truth in such a statement.   And week 2, I'm really getting in the groove of enjoying my recovery.  

 HEARD:  The week started out with us being reminded with a loud CLUNK one of the less joyful sides of home ownership- a broken garage spring.   It happened Friday evening (5/31) , and a repair person had us up and running by Saturday afternoon.   This pushed back our plans for camping by a day- but in hindsight, it was a day well spent playing catch up and tending to some other chores around the house.

  In terms of happier sounds- A trip up to the mountains and back takes about 2.5-3 hours each way- a perfect length of time to get into a good audio book.   On the way up, I finished listening to the memoir by Anna Kendrick called "Scrappy Little Nobody".   On the way back, I started listening to a historical fiction book about the Dakota Apartment complex in New York City.   I'm enjoying the book way more than I initially thought.   A good audio book is a great way to pass the time when driving. 

DID:   The highlight of week 2 was indeed our little camping get-away. 

  As we enter our 3rd summer season owning the RV, we are becoming rather proficient on the "boondocking" camping adventures and I have to say- I really prefer it over a traditional campground and especially prefer it over an RV park.   It's not just the frugal side of me that enjoys camping for free on national forest or BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land.   It's the solitude that we enjoy having the place practically to ourselves.   For those unfamiliar with RV lingo- boondocking refers to camping/RV without hook-ups.   So, we use solar panels and a generator for electricity, and rely on the water we bring in to sustain us while we are camping.   It takes a bit of flexibility and creativity-but the rewards are so worth it.  

This week's adventures took us up to the town of Buena Vista- one of my favorite mountain communities.

   Located along the Arkansas River, it's a town that was first settled because of  the plentiful water and favorable conditions for agriculture.   These days, it's popular with those who enjoy outdoor activities- with an impressive river walk area, white water rafting opportunities and even a nearby hot spring (or two).  

 I took several lovely walks along the river, as I've started an exercise challenge aimed at getting this old body up and running a 5k in just 6 short weeks?   

Yeah, probably not, but I'm going to give it the old lady's best effort.   I must say-jogging is way easier when this is your view.   And look, they even had a place for me to crash after I completed my work outs?!   

I did check out one of the 2 area hot springs.   The water was indeed very hot and it felt wonderful on my weary bones. 

 But in general, this particular hot springs still needs some work to make it aesthetically as pleasing as some of the other more popular ones in our state.   

I also took a little road trip to the slightly larger town of Salida.   Sat by the river- and enjoyed a coffee- listening to the roar of the water.

It's amazing the sense of peace and calm that comes over me when I'm in the mountains.   I wonder if that feeling would linger if we ever found ourselves living somewhere like this full time?   Who knows...but I sure do enjoy the less frantic way of life.

On Thursday, we decided to switch to another area that allows free camping, south of the Poncha Pass.   

This area proved even more isolating and brought Hubby closer to some trails he was eager to check out on his motorcycle.  

On Friday, I left Hubby in the mountains to fend for himself, and headed back to town.   I'd been invited to a graduation party for a neighbor boy and I really wanted to make it to my WW meeting since my mind is finally back on track (which in turn means my eating choices are back in alignment).   

Today, I checked out an apartment with Thing 2.   Crazy how expensive things have gotten here in the metro area.   But, I think the place he found will provide him with everything he needs and hopefully set him up for success as he enters his 2nd year of college.

Thing 1 and I bonded over a bit of Netflix and popcorn.

All in all...a very productive week-a nice balance of time spent with family, friends and enjoying the beauty that my state has to offer.

Until next week....

Summer of Fun- Week 1

Last summer was action packed with several grand adventures planned.   While this summer is considerably less structured, I do want to make sure I pause and reflect on how I spend my downtime.   Using the journaling prompts I used last summer seemed to be a good way to keep me focused in the here-and-now, so let's see how I do for the 2nd annual "Summer of Fun" weekly journaling challenge. 

SAW-HEARD-DID

SAW:  This week I saw my rheumatologist.   As I shared with him how I was feeling (not so great), he just smiled and asked "Do you want to go back on your infusions?"   Yes please!   Backing up a bit, I decided to sit out a cycle of my very expensive infusions.   I wasn't sure that I was getting my $$ worth (and really, not my money, but my insurance carrier's money).  I was curious to see how I felt without the infusion- and in a word-miserable.   I can now unequivocally say YES, it helps.   I feel better, I think clearer and I'm ready to take on a host of tasks that I've put to the side until I've felt better.   

HEARD:   Yeah, just like last summer, this one takes a bit more "out of the box" thinking.   I think I'll go back beyond the week and reflect on this past month.   I heard the words of appreciation and gratitude of my co-workers and students as they took time to celebrate Nurse's week.   Sure, the cards, sweet treats and plant was very nice, but what I most enjoyed was seeing myself as the topic of our daily team white board chat.   Each morning, one of the social workers puts up a journaling prompt.   Sometimes we are asked to share an experience or thought, and for special occasions, we are asked to give a shout of to various team members.  

 What a fun way to hear the words of my team mates, and know that my efforts are appreciated.   Finishing up my 2nd year, and yes, I am hearing loud and clear I am right where I need to be.  (even factoring in the struggles that occur at the end of the year-stress is high, patience is thin..we just need to get to that finish line so to speak.  And luckily we did- with most relationships intact.)

DID:   It was a pretty quiet month here. Mother Nature took her own sweet time to show us some warmer weather.   In fact, after a few days in the 80s, she treated us to this on 21 May. 

Talk about a lovely way to meet the new neighbors- "Hello, I'm sorry but my tree appears to have crashed into your house".  Luckily- neighbor was a good sport about it and the damage was minimal.

 Looking through the photos on my phone (never use a camera any more) I see where I got together with friends on a couple different occasions.  We joined in the crazy fun of a couple derby parties-

With my 2nd cousin and his wife...in Elizabeth..

With the usual gang back home-minus a few who had previous commitments

 There was a surprise retirement party for my dear friend S.  I offered to host something grander than our book club gathering at Panera's but she insisted she didn't want a fuss.   We still managed to get her to cry- when we all presented her with a brand new kindle, and laughed at the idea that "Yes, I have a retirement plan, I plan to read a lot of books!"

 
As a neighborhood, we gathered for 2 occasions to recognize the efforts of our volunteers.   First was at a swanky restaurant (not my style at all, but I did manage to snap a really great picture of two of my favorite people in the neighborhood).

  Later in the month, we went low budget-low stress and hosted a "first annual" volunteer pool party.  Mother Nature was still off her meds, so we were grateful for the loaner of a portable fire pit. 

 The evening ended when we made an emergency call to my Mr. to help jump start a dead battery (luckily, not my car this time).

In terms of week 1 of vacation- I did several "get it done tasks" in terms of running errands, renewing my CPR credentials and getting ready for summer travel that will occur in the weeks to come. 

Shopping for warm weather clothes is tough when it's still chilly here- but I managed to find a couple things but most importantly, I found my mojo to get back with my WW efforts.   Trying on clothes is way more fun when you weight a little less than I do right now.

  All in all, week 1 has been a  great way to slowly ease into the summer of fun...2019 edition. 

Until next week....

Right Now-April

Right Now- April recap

I"m Listening to the thoughts racing through my mind.   They are thoughts filled with worry and concern as we wake up, yet again, to the news that there was another school shooting.   This one occurred at a charter school just west of where my own family lives. 

I'm loving that while April was filled with lots of worry with regards to the health of Thing 2, we ended the month on a  note of hope and recovery.   

 While we started with a long list of "need to rule out" health concerns, in the end, he landed with a really serious case of mono that caused his liver to shut down.    Of all the organs to have shut down, liver is one of the more "I got this" organs in terms of healing itself without a lot of interventions.   Monitoring of labs, hydration and rest were the orders for this young Thing.   Luckily he has some supportive friends to cheer him along. 

I'm feeling the need to keep things simple in this month's recap.   Sure, the kid's health was such that he had to cancel summer school plans (he was slated to study in Italy) and drop his course load for this summer.   A bummer for sure.    But in the grand scheme of things, it's going to be ok.    That's the feeling I need to keep first and foremost in my head right now.

Until next time...take care..of yourself and those you love!

Right Now-March Recap

I'm listening:   to the building custodian vacuuming.   A not so gentle reminder that it's back to work after a week off for Spring Break.      This year, we opted to stay close to home, with hubby taking off for a few days camping and I opted to stay  home and bond with my kindle. 

 3 books later, I'd say it was a good break!

I'm loving:   that we are into the homestretch of the school year.   It's a bit odd in that I don't have anything special on the horizon like previous years.   No graduations, no epic summer adventures, no weekends in Vegas.   Just quiet.   One small ladies adventure in June and that's about it.    And yet, that's ok.   Sometimes the less structured the plan, the more open we are to new possibilities.

As I look back at the pictures taken (or rather not taken), I realize it was a pretty low key month.  We survived what the weather people termed "a bomb cyclone".   Apparently, it's essentially a winter hurricane and involves rapid drops in barometric pressure.

  I don't really care what they called it, we scored 2 unscheduled days off so I was a happy camper.   We tried to clean through the stash of legos and toys but alas, all that did was end up in a trip down memory lane for the older Thing. 

The month ended on a high note with my ladies group celebrating a birthday at a local restaurant known for it's Drag Queen Brunch with bottomless mimosas.   No further words are needed, a good time was had by all.

I'm feeling relaxed now that younger son has recovered from his own "perfect storm" of an illness.   Stress, dorm life, possible viral illness and a very unexpected medication reaction left us all a bit weary as we waited for him to get back to usual.   Happy to say, he's back to  dorm life and his more cheerful state.

I'm needing to get my act together and get moving.   It seems like I finished my 5k challenge and said "Ok, I think I'll rest" and haven't really gotten up and going since that last chilly stroll along the damn road.   The weather is getting nicer, the evenings are a little lighter, and I've run out of excuses.   Time to get up and get moving...

Until next time...

Right Now-February recap

Right now..the February recap

I'm listening:  to the coughing and sneezing of co-workers, with my fingers crossed that this sore throat I woke up with is just a sore throat.   It's been a really rough winter in terms of illness, but so far the House of Chang has escaped pretty much unscathed.

 Of course, if I do end up sick, my hubby would say it's my own d@mn fault...as Sunday I joined my lady friends for the last of our 5k runs...with the starting temperature a mere 1 degree.   But hey, we did it, and we had some good laughs along the way so if I caught a little cold in the process, then so be it...

I'm loving that:   well for starters, I honored the commitment to the 5k challenge.

  Back in November, a couple friends from work suggested it and I thought it would be a good way for me to remember that fitness is a year round endeavor.

 5 runs (or walks in our cases) spread out over about 13 weeks...in the Colorado winter.   We enjoyed good weather for all but this last race, not necessarily great weather but hello, it is Colorado after all.

And when one of us had to miss a race, we found creative fillers...with Mr. B standing in for JW on the Valentine race...with of course a celebratory brunch after the race...

Hubby (not pictured) even joined us at the finish line on one of the races..

 and while waiting, he snapped some good pictures...(nobody said we were fast in these 5ks)

I'm feeling the love.  

 Yeah, I know, pretty cliche of me to associate February with love but seriously, this month offered me a couple gentle and not so gentle reminders of just how loved I am.  

As for work, every day,  sweet Maya serves as our much loved therapy dog at work.    She makes her morning rounds, knowing that I have usually packed an extra orange to share with her.   What a sweet heart she is and I love that we get to enjoy her therapeutic benefits of unconditional love while at work.  

As for home life, Hubby and I started out the month paying our respects to a former neighbor and friend. 

  Joe D. had fought years of chronic illness and pain while successfully running his own business.   Such a testament to what a good guy he was to have a funeral home with standing room only, and several military tributes at Ft. Logan.  

And as I looked around, I recognized so many familiar faces from our neighborhood.  Despite it's flaws at times, I love this place that we call home.  .  

On a more personal level, for Valentine's Day,  Hubby and I got "hitched". 

 Yep, took my car over to U-haul where they added a trailer hitch.  Funny, eh?   We aren't the sappy love bird types, but this seemed to be the perfect gift to each other.   A tow hitch will give us one more option for transporting our toys. 

Speaking of toys, this little gem joined the collection.   She's a Yamaha TW200.   I'm not the gear head so I can't speak to her benefits but as a curious spouse, she seems to be about the right size for me to finally consider learning how to ride later this summer.   For for now, this little gem offers flexibility for going off road and provides a bit more reliability than the URAL sidecars have had of late.    I love that Hubby and I see eye-to-eye on the value that such toys add to our life as a couple. 

In between a funeral and a new toy, I spent an evening in the company of Sir Elton John. 

 A couple years ago, we'd bought tickets to see him in Vegas, when just weeks before the show, he had to cancel his performance for health issues.   He's no young man, and my mind went into panic mode-will I ever get to see this music icon perform live?  

 While I'm not a huge concert fan, there are a few performers out there that I want to see perform.   He is on the top of the list.   And now, with great love in my heart, I can wish him a long and healthy retirement, knowing I've seen him perform on his farewell tour.  

I'm needing to wrap this recap up and get back to work.  Seriously, I think I end each month's post with something along those lines.  

 But I will pause to add that I need this blog to help me remember that while the days may seem long (yesterday at work was one of those days-with a couple students expressing their needs through physical aggression), the years...or in this case, even just the months, seem to fly by. 

  It's good to pause and reflect on what all happened over the course of the month, and give praise that I had the health, prosperity and mental clarity to soak it all in to its' fullest!  

PS:   what about the Things?   Oh they are doing fine- Thing 1 is enjoying his classes at the Tech school and building circuits.   He talks about stuff I have no idea what he's talking about-ok so that's been the case for year now.   Thing 2 is adjusting ok to life in the dorms, discovering that college will challenge him but so far he's rising up to the challenge.   And nope, not a single picture was taken of either one this month.   How can that be.  I swear we had at least one family dinner in there...but maybe not.   Oh well, hopefully next month....or not...part of the parenting process is indeed watching the Little Things grow up and do their own thing...while mom and dad also grow old and start to do their own things again as well...It's all good!