Zion or bust!

Leaving for NCC in about an hour, then home to grab the last few items and hit the road, hopefully before 1pm today!  I leave you with no music, but a photo we took a few years ago of the Virgin River flowing through Zion National Park, close to where we'll be camping in the canyon.  Want to see more of the most beautiful place on earth?  Check out the photo gallery.


We will drive as far as we can today, hopefully well into Nebraska on I-80.  Then we plan to drive through the Rockies tomorrow, arriving in Green River, Utah Monday night.  Tuesday .... ZION!  Betsy arrives the following week to join us for our last few days of camping.  Can't wait to get there!

Almost outta here!

Robin Meyers clergy lunch/lecture on Friday, Saturday workshop -- ✔ 
Wine to keep me from having a melt-down -- ✔ ✔
Laundry -- ✔ 
Packing -- still working on it
More wine -- ✔


Oy.  Why can't we just BE in Zion now?  Ah well, the journey is the thing I suppose.  But getting ready for the journey sucks, especially this weekend.  Just WAY too much going on.  


Loved Robin Meyers by the way -- very down to earth, approachable, friendly.  We bonded driving him around yesterday.  Funny too, and fun.


But now he's winging his way back to Oklahoma, and I still have crap to do.


Oy.


More wine -- ✔

I have not blogged

Besides the fact that I am very busy with Robin Meyers, regular church stuff, and getting ready for vacation, I also have not blogged so as to wean you off of my somewhat regular blogging since I'll be camping for two weeks in Zion, Utah and unable to blog, and I know that will be hard on the two or three of you who read this blog.  So ... you're welcome.


Meyers things are coming together (good thing since he'll be here in two days).  The planning committee insists on doing just about every task "by committee" and the latest glitch is the bulletin I'm working on for the service on Sunday.  I don't mind input but editing and creating a church bulletin with 9 people is ridiculous.  The latest issue is the communion words I chose, which one person feels are too traditional and Catholic, even tho there is no mention of bodies, blood, atonement, the cross, or salvation, AND besides the fact that they came from a new "progressive liturgy" project being done by TCPC.  Maybe I should just put, "Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub, YAY GOD!"


Oy.


Since we have no secretary, I have three bulletins to run off by Thursday -- two for the weeks we will be gone, and one for this Sunday.  Plus a bunch of stuff for the Meyers workshop.  Plus a bunch of other stuff.  Got the newsletter done so that's out of the way.  But still have to do laundry and pack on Saturday, and various other projects.


So let's just say on Sunday around 12:30pm, as we head west, I will be one very happy camper.  Camper!  Get it?  Heh.

Getting poked

I leave for the doctor in half an hour to get poked and prodded.  I think turning 50 will involve more poking and prodding than usual, and eventual scoping, tho not today.  Today will be about blood pressure and feeling my boobs, and scheduling a mammo so they can squish my boobs in November after our vacation.  Tomorrow morning they will suck my hungry blood (fasting blood test) to tell me my cholesterol is too high. My back is feeling better but I will also ask her to poke it and maybe give me a PT scrip.


I wonder if my back feels better because the Interfaith Panel is over -- and was a huge success!  We hoped to get maybe 50-75 people.  We had over 150, and there was a Pantagraph article about it, which was cool, except that they made David H. a Unitarian.  I'll miss David.  He was a great addition to NCC.


And the panel was a great gift to our community.  Great energy in the room, lots of good attention to the panelists, and terrific questions from the audience.  Couldn't have gone better, thank goodness we stuck with it and it all turned out fine.  As you know, dear readers, I began to have my doubts when egos roared but then I stepped back, took a breath, and shushed my own ego.  Voila! A successful interfaith panel!  Perhaps a lesson there somewhere.

Getting pretty

Have had a crazy busy week that just gets crazier every day, without much time to write.  However, I do have time to go get pretty in a few minutes -- if you come to the Interfaith Panel this evening at 7:15pm you'll see just how pretty!  (Hint: Check out my hair.  Getting a trim, blow dry, and style, which makes my hair look fabulous for a day.  Then it gets put back into my incompetent hands where I wash it, comb it out, let it air dry, and then let it all hang out or put it in a ponytail.  But tonight it should be looking good!)


Back is still on the mend -- I think I messed it up Sunday using a stool to preach from. I was trying to save my body from standing all that time, and thought the stool would help, but it put me at an odd angle and sort of set me back a bit.  So back to gravity chairs and taking it easy for a few days.  And as luck would have it, I see my GP tomorrow for my annual physical, so I'll see what she thinks about it as well.  Maybe she'll give me a scrip for PT?  That would be nice, especially if she'll let me go the "home visit" route, hehe.

I ♥ Fall

It is a freaking GORGEOUS day today.  Cool, sunny, breezy. We've had a great stretch of weather lately and even though I've been inside most of the time, I have been able to enjoy it through our windows upstairs.  I am sitting in the living room now, in my gravity chair, laptop in my, well, lap.  Bob is outside taking pictures of Kayla in the fall leaves, which I will post below when he comes back in.  There aren't many leaves on the grass yet but there are a few, and she's happy out there chasing her ball.


My back is much better and I leave for Utah two weeks from tomorrow -- all is right with the world. Except I have a ton to do between now and Oct. 31 but it will get done and I'll handle it all with my usual finesse.  And then I am soooooooooo outta here! We have not been to Zion since 2005, and not to Utah at all since May 2008, and it's been much too long.  My arthritis was not flaring when I was last there, and I will be interested to see how I feel while we are out there.  The dryness of the high desert often heals my bones, and the red rock canyons will nourish my soul.  We planned on just tent camping, but have decided, at my request, to take Coleman as well in case I have a hard time getting up and out of the tent.  It's cheap to camp there, so we'll set up Coleman when we first arrive, and then, if one of our favorite sites opens up along the river, we'll claim it for our tent and have two sites.  My sister is coming out for the last few days so that'll give us extra space as well.  Plus it may take a few days to get our perfect tent site.  So this plan is a good one.

Speaking of favorite sites, I consider it interesting that in our two favorite campgrounds in America, Zion National Park and Hunting Island State Park (SC), our favorite campsite is #74.  Must be our lucky number.  Maybe that means we'll be married for 74 years?

Planets and Pelvis are now aligned

My PT/Astrologist came by this morning and said my pelvis was pretty well aligned with the planets and approved my cheap purchase of gel inserts for my right shoe (the shorter leg due to bent knee) and agreed I was definitely on the road to recovery.  So I am venturing to the office soon to run off the bulletin and meet someone who is going to do some volunteer cleaning of a storage closet (which I will not assist with due to my condition).  Then I'll come home and continue to go easy on my back.

That said, it is much better, I survived my two meetings yesterday without incident, and even managed to eat dinner at the table last night for the first time in two weeks with the aid of a couple of well placed pillows.  All without pay"back" -- get it?  PayBACK?  Also, do you like my song? 


So I believe I am on the road to recovery and will start swimming again on Monday which will certainly help as well.  And eventually add some core/back strengthening. Thus I am hoping that my blog-whining about my back has come to and end.  From now on I'll have to find other things to whine about!  No worries, I have a long list ... heh.

Heading out into the world

With the exception of church on Sunday and a trip to the grocery store on Monday I have not left the house -- the back is getting better but is not all the way there.  So I have been spending lots of time in my gravity chair, getting up frequently to move and stretch my back, which MUST get better if for no other reason than I have a 1600 mile car trip to Utah coming up at the end of the month (VACATION!) which would be hellish if it does not improve.


But today I am venturing out for two meetings, both involving getting in and out of my car which proved painful and challenging on Monday.  But since my back is better than it was on Monday, perhaps it won't be as bad.  I did call and find out the meeting at noon is in hard, straight back plastic chairs, which concerns me and may involve my early exit from that meeting so that I can go find a more appropriate seating option.  This evening's meeting is at the CRC in the boardroom, with more appropriate chair options.  I am just hoping that I don't make my back worse by venturing out into the world.  And I am allowing myself the option of leaving either meeting if they cause my back to hurt -- and if people don't understand then, well, poop on them.


All I know is that reclining and stretching has helped, and I am not about to go backwards by overdoing it today.  But hopefully it won't be too bad and my road to recovery will continue.  That said, back pain/injury sucks ass.

Bad Blogger

I haven't blogged since Friday because I've been avoiding sitting in a chair to help my back heal.  And blogging on my laptop became tedious as I hate that keyboard.  Plus I figured you all were sick of hearing about my back, maybe even as sick as I am of the whole affair. But I shall make the sacrifice and sit here at my desk and blog for a moment because I'm sure all three of my readers have missed me.


My back is starting to mend, I hope, finally.  Had a bad day yesterday (dummy me went grocery shopping) but told myself last night I would be better today, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  The odd thing is that the pain has moved.  After the last Tuesday spasms all along my lower back, the pain radiated to my lower left side and stayed a while.  Then it moved to my lower right side, where it afflicted me most of the weekend.  And now it's moved up to my left side just where my bra strap rides (when I can get a bra on, that is).  Still a bit stiff in the lower right but not as bad.  So my thought is that it is moving up and outta there for good!  If not by Wednesday then Bob thinks I should go to the doctor to get an appointment with a PT.  Or maybe Kim can come show me some new exercises when she gets back from her lovely R and R.


Anyway, it's a lovely day, I plan to get some work done but also to continue taking it easy. I have office work I can do on my laptop for NCC, and no meetings to attend until Thursday.  So, fingers crossed that I am on the mend!

YouTube laughs

Christopher Walken makes me laugh. I especially love his voice. And his relaxed, almost sleep-walking acting style. He hosted SNL last year, or maybe it was the year before, and he did this skit with Kristin Wiig playing a character named Sue, who got a tad over-excited about the prospect of a surprise party for CW's niece. The skit was amusing, but I quickly forgot about it.

Then I found this youtube video this morning. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but recognized Walken's voice and thought cool, this guy is talking to CW. Then I heard the applause and realized that this guy was perfectly lip syncing the Kristin Wiig part of the skit. And acting it out. It made me laugh. Which kind of made my back hurt again but it was worth it. So here I am, sitting on ice, getting ready to watch it again. Enjoy!

Here is a link to the original skit if you are interested.
http://video.aol.ca/video-detail/saturday-night-live-skit-surprise-party/72057658936783856/?icid=VIDURVMOV03

Meet my pelvis

KT the PT came by last night after work to check out my pelvis.  It's something she's been wanting to do for a very long time, starting last spring at the Women's Retreat when she tried to touch my pubic bone.  So last night her persistence finally paid off when she got to touch me in numerous places (after we had both consumed wine) supposedly to help figure out what's going on with my back.  She discovered that I am out of balance -- which I am sure comes as no surprise to anyone.  Or maybe she said I'm out of alignment. And one leg is longer than the other (due to a permanently bent knee) and she thinks I have a curve in my spine.  Good lord I'm a mess! Anyway she had me lay down on the bed and then told me to spread my legs and after inappropriate laughter we pushed and pulled and when we were done my back felt a little better.  So she taught Bob how to do it to me and he's going to repeat the exercises this afternoon and "do it to me" when he gets home from work.


Note that the above was written while only under the influence of Tylenol and Sweet Tea. I have not been able to yet score any muscle relaxers (or any herbal remedies).  Just imagine what I would have written had I been on either or both of them!


I slept alright last night but when I woke up this morning, after being flat all night, I was stiff and sore again and made old man noises getting up to go to the bathroom.  I am now back in my gravity chair with ice and my laptop, imagining that I am some better than yesterday and hopefully not as good as I will be tomorrow.  To secure that, I am staying home again today and missing a meeting tonight. I was going to go to my meeting but Bob reminded me how when he does this to his back I chain him to the bed and don't let him do anything at all.  I was properly chagrined and moved to obedience.


Now all I need is a little bell so summon P-Dub to fill my every want and need ...


Speaking of Sweet Pea-Dub, she arrived yesterday and is very happy to be here. The weather is perfect and the leaves are just starting to change.  We are remembering Dad, who left us eight years ago today and knew a thing or two about back pain.  Tonight we'll toast him and I suspect tears will flow from old girl a time or two.


If he were alive, he would have appreciated the humor of the first paragraph -- we had much in common, including the sense of humor of 12 year old boys.

Oh my aching back

So far, being 50 sucks ass.


Yesterday morning I got up, dressed, and headed out to the vet with Kayla for one of her never-ending urine tests (getting old for dogs sucks ass too, she has recurrent bladder infections).  She jumped in the back of the car (she LOVES going to the vet -- well to be honest, she loves going anywhere) and off we went.  I parked the SUV, I turned it off, I opened the car door, stepped out, and WHAM! Huge spasms in my lower back.  


I figured it was some fluke temporary thing and hobbled to the back of the car, got Kayla out and took her into the office.  Sat down on a bench and WHAM! Another spasm of pain which doubled me over in my seat.  Nice receptionist asks if I am okay, I say yes, just having a back spasm.  I should insert that in spite of 36 years of RA, I have fortunately had little to no back problems, and never had a back spasm that I can recall.  So I thought this was just some temporary thing that would work itself out soon.  WRONG!


Got home with some difficulty -- sitting and then trying to stand are my biggest challenges right now -- and decided to skip the gym and go sit in the hot tub.  Figured that would take care of it like it does my arthritis stiffness.  Um, no.  Had a hell of a time getting in and out of the tub, and felt worse afterwards (found out much later that ice was what I should have been doing -- am sitting/leaning on some now as a matter of fact -- me likey). Bob got off early for a 1pm appointment we had with our accountant, which he insisted we cancel so I could go lie down, flat (instead of sitting at the computer, which I had been doing since getting out of the hot tub). This happens to Bob about once a year and he is a pro when it comes to incapacitating lower back pain. Dumb ole me insisted we go to the meeting.  We did.  The car ride to and from south Bloomington almost killed me.


So I went home to bed after the meeting, right?  Um, no. I had Bob drop me off at the office to get ready for a board meeting I had at 4pm.  Sat at that computer for two hours, then the board meeting, then home.  I called "uncle" finally -- tho much later than I should have.  I was dying, and wisely decided to stay home from my 6:30pm meeting.  I reclined in my gravity chair with wine and ice and watched GLEE.


Much to my relief I slept pretty well, but oy, getting out of bed this morning was loud and profane.  Felt just as bad as the day before, so back to ice, gravity chair, bed, and a visit from my friendly PT later this evening.  Followed by more wine.  And hopefully no trip to the doctor ... tho I would love to try muscle relaxers. Me on muscle relaxers could be a hoot!


Thank goodness Philly gets here this afternoon -- she can take care of me.  Bob is picking her up at the Amtrak station in Princeton this afternoon since I can't sit in a car for that long.  Hope she is well rested! 

Melancholy Monday

I always feel blue during the first week of October.  It was the last week we had with my dad before he died, and in particular, the weekend of World Communion Sunday (first weekend of October) is always a poignant one because he died the next day, on a Monday.

Eight years ago right now I was out in SoCal where I had the unique privilege of getting to spend his final weeks with my dad, and was able to say goodbye to him.  He was dying of terminal cancer at the much too young age of 75. I had been there since Sept. 12, and had not gone to church during my stay but that first weekend of October I decided to go to church on World Communion Sunday -- to a little liberal UCC church my mom had attended many times, and where I had gone a few times.  They were a lot like NCC, including having a jazz pianist play secular music, responses to the sermon, and being open and gay friendly.  They were a bit smaller than NCC but in most every other way, the west coast twin of our congregation.  And on that weekend, as my dad was slipping away more quickly, I felt the need to be in a spiritual setting with progressive Christians.

I remember arriving and being greeted warmly by the pastor and a few members who recognized me -- they all asked about were loving and kind and supportive, and I was glad I was with them.  We sat down, and as soon as the pianist started playing prelude music, reminding me so much of Lloyd at NCC, I lost it and started crying.  And I cried and cried and cried (quietly for the most part, no gasping sobs) and they found me a box of kleenex and let me just sit there and cry, with an occasional hand resting on my back or shoulder.  They didn't try to fix me or stop my tears -- they just let me cry.  And as I recall I cried through most of the service, with my head down, lost in my grief but knowing I was surrounded by the love of these strangers, and at the end of the service, when I had finally stopped crying, we stood in a circle for the closing blessing and instead of their usual dismissal, several of them took the time to say words of comfort. I went back home and the next day, Monday, October 7 at 3:15pm, he was gone.

October 7 is a Thursday this year, the official anniversary of his death, but for me each year, it's the Monday after World Communion Sunday when I grieve the most.  Hard to believe how much I still miss him after eight years, and what a hole he's left in our hearts. But he also left a lot of laughter, and love, and tonight Bob and I will have dinner and toast him, and tell some of the stories about him we remember most fondly.  And then Mom will be here Wednesday and we'll remember him again the next day, with her.

I don't believe in heaven in the conventional sense that most Christians do -- in fact there are times I'm pretty sure that this temporal plane is all there is.  But in spite of that, I feel him all around, all the time.  He's gone but not gone, here but not here, and I am content to dwell in the mystery.  At his memorial service, which was filled with music, at the very end the whole family went up and gathered around the piano, which my brother David was playing, and sang "I'll Fly Away," for him, for us.

Perhaps summer is finally over

With the dawn of October, it appears we may have put away the hot humid weather for another year. Thank goddess!  What a sucky summer of 2010.  We lucked out in 2009, with mild temps for the most part, but then it more than made up for it this year.  Just bleh, it was awful.  So I am very happy to see it go and welcome Fall back.  Today will be in the mid-70's and then we'll cool down appropriately over the weekend.  I may even have to put shoes on for the first time in forever (I'm a sandal kind of gal).  We'll see tho, don't want to go crazy or anything.


Bob is preaching this week so I've gotten a lot of office things done, as reported earlier. And tomorrow I may just have run out of excuses to clean the house -- it really is quite a mess and since P-Dub arrives next week, it should probably look more presentable than it currently does.  I went into her room today to put her Meyers book on her bed, and forgot that I had moved all of my birthday party balloons in there.  She got the extra special strong helium in them and those darn things were floating for over a week.  Then a few strays kept floating around and we were having company so I moved them into her bedroom and forgot about them.  Will need to get them out of there -- or maybe not?  Mom, would you like some pretty half-filled balloons on your bedroom floor when you get here? It's kind of festive in a "the party's really over" kind of way.


After today Bob only has two weeks of work left and he is very happy about that.  He normally works at the golf course through December, but I encouraged him to quit earlier than usual so he could work on his business (and get us ready for our Utah camping vacation).  We are getting excited about the dog biz, and a friend who does advertising and marketing for a living has sent us some draft logos that we are thrilled with!  Once we've settled on the one we want, and had some tweaks dones, I'll unveil it here.


In the meantime, Happy October -- and to all of my gaybees -- Happy LGBT History Month!