New York Again! Day 1

I am pretty content and excited to be sitting in Brooklyn as I write this! It is my second trip, but this time I brought Josh along due to a conveniently timed 4 day weekend, and it is his first trip.

I was not at all ready to travel again yesterday. I was still sore from my overexertion, absolutely wiped out, and had some awful trigger point pain. I was in "I just need to get there and sort it out then" mode yesterday.

So we actually started our trip right where I ended the last one less than 48 hours earlier. In the massage chairs on Concourse A at Denver International Airport. It was still a painful flight, and my seat would not recline at all, but we made it.

I had reserved a car from the airport to our friends house in Brooklyn, which is quicker than public transportation and cheaper than a cab. My driver was waiting for us at an island out amongst a million other black cars, and we were on the phone trying to find each other. I suddenly saw him waving a sign with my name on it as he was trying to weave to the curb. So I can check being picked up at the airport by a driver holding a sign with my name off of my bucket list.

Last night was just running out for some quick groceries and meeting the cats that we are taking care of. We really didn't come to NYC to have a vacation, our primary purpose is to love on Iggy and Circe while their mom is away playing. It is just a lovely lucky location for cat sitting!

Josh was not feeling well last night, and was even worse this morning. However we are in NYC, and there was no sitting in the apt binge watching Star Trek Next Generation all day. So in the early afternoon we headed for the subway. Originally we were heading towards Times Square, but then we decided to just stay on the subway and go to Central Park instead.

I think that my favorite moment of the day was when someone started a boombox and started dancing on the subway. That I have seen before, but the look of total joy and surprise on Josh's face was worth everything already. There were other performers who came later in the ride, but that dancer and Josh's glee will stick with me forever!

Central park! I just walked about 30 minutes of it while eating a hot dog last visit, so I was thrilled to really explore it. Of course...by bike. What was I thinking? It is not hot, but warm, and HUMID. I have fibro, and am out of shape. Those facts did not stop me from fulfilling another dream. (At a later point I will insert the 3 minute video from the handlebars of my bike!) Central Park is huge. I knew that, but let me tell you that the general bike loop is 6 miles, up and down hills. Whoa. We did not bike all of it, probably not even half.

We meandered, but I wanted to see the castle. So it took some searching, and climbing and descending stairs walking our bikes, but we found it!

This is part of the spectacular view our search was rewarded with.

Me made it to the top, look at my flushed cheeks!

I really wanted to see Strawberry Fields (The John Lennon Memorial) on this excursion too, however we got quite turned around in the park, rode quite far in the opposite direction, and then had to bust butt to get the bike backs on time. (I should add that in our turned-around-ness we went to 2 WRONG bike return spots before having to make our way back to the correct one, that had my ID on hold. City Park is HUGE yo!)

The train ride home had no dancers or performers, but we did have a pug in a stroller, whose human mother took a lot of pictures of while it looked bored. That was picture worthy!

We were too pooped to even go out for a full meal, so we are happily eating the soup we picked up "just in case". That was mom planning, wasn't it?

Let there be rest, and a lot of laundry.

Dan and I got home from Seattle last night about 7:30. What a fantastic getaway it was for me. He had the conference and a lot of responsibilities around it, so it was not his getaway.

Meeting his tribe was the best part. He has been attending this conference, and coming home with more and more tales, for years. Having names and faces to the past and future stories was great, and they were so sweet in the way they welcomed me in.

I did get out and walk Seattle each of my remaining days there, including the day I proclaimed a day in bed day. My curiosity makes it easier to get out of that bed and explore for a little while. At home, sometimes the bed keeps me longer.

Today is my down day, as tomorrow my youngest son and I will be flying to NYC to catsit for over a week.

To add a bit of challenge to the "launder and repack day" it appears that NYC is 20 degrees warmer than Seattle. I get to wear my summer clothes again, but worry about the impact of the heat on my fibro, as I hope to explore a lot with Josh!

I can't wait to find out though, to challenge myself with this stretch of traveling 17/18 days.

Seattle 4-a day in bed?

Whoa! I am so very sore!

Yesterday was great fun, and worth every bit of pain today.

I get those days, when I feel strong, when the pain is quieter or I have the strength to ignore it longer. I have days when I have enough energy to keep exploring and see what is just over the hill, and then over the next hill. When I have those days I seize them with every big of glee possible. I feel free, strong, and able bodied.

Today I feel broken. I have my hot pad, pain pills, THC/CBD tincture, and cable tv to help me ride this out. I need to go walk a bit, but not up or down a hill. Today both my calves and my shins are sharp shooting pains from walking up and down hills yesterday. My back hurts and I have a spasm that occurs when I move in certain ways. My head aches and I only have part of the spectacular view of the sound exposed because the light hurts. My entire body aches in a way that healthy people would associate with the flu. I ache like that almost all of the time, to varying degrees. Today it is strong.

I am tired. I can't imagine that I did all I did yesterday, because walking to the bathroom today feels further than the island yesterday. I am so tired that I am ok in my pj's. in my hotel bed, in Seattle in the middle of the day. That is part of being crazy enough to get out there and push to discover. If I spent my days trying to prevent the flair, then I might not live as big, as boldly.

I am so thankful to have good strong days, so my adventuring spirit can soar!

Yesterday was so invigorating that I can still feel the buzz of the adventure, curled up here in bed. :)

Seattle part 3-Oh The Places I'll Go!

What a fantastic day for adventuring in Seattle! I slept really well last night, so I felt like I was ready to catch a ferry and get out on the water.

Riding a ferry in and of itself was a fun and new experience. I had crossed the Mississippi River on a much smaller ferry as a child, but this was much different. This ferry has 2 levels for up to 200 cars ,and a center area for larger delivery/semi trucks.

There were 3 levels accessible to riders that included inside and outside viewing areas, a cafe and bar.(Probably hopping around 5:30 commute home time) It was not crowded at all, and the staff were all more than happy to answer my many questions about the ferry and landmarks around us.

Mt Rainier is not always visible like this. She popped out to greet me!

I arrived on Bainbridge Island and found a storybook fishing community. They have created a lovely waterfront walking trail that wound its way along the shore, past marina's and through quaint oceanside neighborhoods. I would love to come back and stay on the island to really experience it.

Fun rock sculptures looking over one of the marina's.

Approaching picturesque Bainbridge Island.

I had such a lovely wander, and found myself going just a bit further to see what is over there..and then a bit further yet. Suddenly my body yelled "Um HELLO!" and I realized that I had happily wandered to the end of my oomph, and knowing that I had a ferry ride and a climb up Pike Street before I could collapse I started my "slow, strong, painful steps", just one after another.

The ferry ride gave me a bit of a chance to stretch, sit, and catch my breath, as well as make a friend. I had boarded the Ferry next to  a  young woman on her own, and we chatted. At the end of the ride we separately found our way to the front end of the ferry and were talking about the different landmarks, as she had not yet explored Seattle. Though I was so tired, we decided that we would go ride the giant ferris wheel together because some things are more fun shared.

In my short time with her I realized what I love so much about exploring on my own. If I had Dan with me, I most likely would not have engaged in the same sort of conversation with an absolute stranger. I would not have been spontaneous and seized the opportunity to connect just a little bit more.

This is Benafsha and I up in the giant ferris wheel, which was more spectacular than I expected it to be!

We hugged farewell, thankful for our hour or so together, and I started the intense and painful climb up the hill. I could have found the elevators from the parking garage for Pike Street Market and saved myself 6 flights up burning thighs, but I was determined to climb back up myself. I did!

I crawled into a hot shower, into bed with my hot pad, and spent quite a few hours trying to tame the aches, and to just glow a bit because I had just a wonderful day!

Seattle part 2

I left the hotel late this morning with the intention of going up hill, away from the Pike Market. However 5 blocks up it started to look less interesting and historic, so I drifted back down towards the waterfront. I think that gravity just has a profound effect on me, so down was the way!

My first impression was "Holy SeaHawks!" as it is game day, and it is a sea of jerseys. Tucked here and there were Cosplayers, as there is also a GeekGirlCon happening.

 Climbing up from the waterfront I suddenly found myself in front a a mural that really spoke to me. There is always room for change, wonderful room for change. As I tried to take a selfie I looked up and realized that right in front of me was the entrancing terrace from a different perspective!


Up another level and across a walkway I found a huge art installation that I tried to find out more about but couldn't easily. The brightly colored planks create colorful waves up a block of concrete wall , and it just made me happy.

I always enjoy seeing the ways familiar plants grow differently in other climates. These succulents were blooming spectacularly!

However no amount of green outside can really convey the sea of wonder inside the Pike Place Market. The long stalls with piles of fruits and vegetables reminded me so much of walking through the Mercado in Mexico. Locally grown fruits and veggies, exotic fruits from further away, and the flowers. Oh the flowers! Yesterday I told Dan I wished I could buy a bouquet, and he asked why I couldn't. 4 more nights here, I can enjoy this bouquet of dahlia's of so many sorts I just want to sigh.

I stopped at another vendor and picked up 2 pears, an apple and a peach. Then I realized that they had Ellenos Greek yogurt there. It turns out it was the very first Ellenos store. I discovered this incredible yogurt, more like ice cream really, in Portland.

With my giant flower bouquet and a bag of bounty hangin from my arm, I called the outing complete, and worked my glutes back up the hill. I am glad I went out walking enough to loosen up, but didn't get past the really hurting a bit too much point, so I am going to listen to this loud speaking body of mine and curl up a bit longer! Next to my bouquet of course.

Seattle sneak-away!

I feel pretty lucky to have a husband who needs to travel professionally. This is the second time I have tagged along while he attended a conference. This year the annual SIGUCCS conference is in Seattle, Washington, a place high on our "someday" list.

 We departed on different airlines within 20 minutes of each other, and reunited in Seattle. (That is the trickiness of him purchasing airfare through work and me looking for the cheapest flight.)

I want to tell you that I flew Delta airlines, and it was such a wonderful experience. The seats were far more comfortable than those on Frontier. The head rest was adjustable, so I could make it work for my shortness instead of struggling the entire flight. Frontier no longer allows all seats to recline. Delta does. Being able to adjust the seat a few inches, make the head rest correct, and then using my Yoga Wrap meant that I was able to manage my comfort, and minimize pain during the flight.

Once we were reunited in Seattle (Dan was romantically waiting at my gate) we took the light rail from the airport to downtown. It is easy, cheap, and really was a spectacular way to be welcomed. The ride was lovely, and 30 minutes later we were finding our way through the streets of Seattle to Hotel Motif. We are on the 14th floor, facing the water. (I am writing this sitting in bed, leaning on my hotpad, watching the boats and ferries move across the water.)

At night, this is my view. Magical really!

Once we settled and I rested for a while, we walked down Pike Street hoping to find food. We found the Market of course, but were surprised that almost all of the restaurants were closed already! (6ish) We did find the Sound View Cafe, and wow the view!

We could watch the boats moving, the ferry loading and unloading, and see the tugboats moving the large barges stacked with multi-colored containers. However my eyes kept returning to this amazing rooftop garden across from us. I so wanted to see the inside of the apartment and know more about that magical place.

We returned to the Pike Street Market for breakfast, and to stroll a bit with the vendors all there. It was super crowded, and I look forward to returning on my own during the week. We chose a different restaurant that overlooked my magical balcony, and watched the water traffic even more. Trying to imagine it ever feeling ordinary to take a ferry as part of a daily commute lead to more dreaming of moving to the Pacific Northwest in the future. (However I have to document that Dan did mention moving to Spain in the same conversation. Moving internationally has long been a dream for me!)

After more wandering and then a rest back in our room, we met up with some of Dan's SIGUCCS friends for lunch at the waterfront. It was fun to put faces to some of the names in his life. We then split off and wandered near Pioneer Square, and found Dan a perfect cup of coffee at Slate Coffee. I had nitrous brewed Chai tea, and it was spectacular!

We could not resist the lure of taking an underground tour. It was really fascinating to see and hear the history of how Seattle was built, and walk through the crazy places left when they raised the level of the streets. (What was the first floor of a business then became the basement!)The above picture is one of the glass square skylights that remains in the sidewalks, allowing light to filter down to the  underground corridors along buildings. I felt like taking a later tour, with paranormal investigation equipment and guides, lights out, and slower, would have been the ideal way to explore, but 9pm start time didn't feel like a realistic option for me at the end of a busy day.

Dan went out to dinner with some of his tribe, and I thankfully retreated to our room, to recline and rest.

Today is the start of Dan's obligations with meetings, and the conference beginning tonight, so it is also the first day of my solo-while-not-entirely-solo adventures. I really feel like I could spend the day right here, reading, napping, watching the water...but I can't go all day eating bagels and peanut butter. So I am heading out in a few minutes, and will let you know what I discover!

The Journey to Totality

We had a fantastic time camping with a group of people that started as strangers and ended as friends.

We traveled to Glenrock, Wyoming, to experience the magic of seeing a total eclipse. I just want to say that it was absolutely worth it! The experience of being under totality is not something I can quite put into words, but I can share in video!

Camping, with my fibromyalgia, is a scary experience. When you don't know how you will feel from day to day, hour to hour, small comforts and logistics like being able to rest in the heat of the day  become far bigger issues than you could anticipate.

The things that I learned this trip were:

• The air mattress topped with egg crate cushion and a wool blanket really was good for sleeping! I took sheets to put on it, and topped it with a quilt. I knew I would sleep far better with sheets than with the sensation of the sleeping bag on my skin. However I was glad I stuck in a sleeping bag as a "just in case it is really chilly" topper, because we did end up putting it on top of us a couple nights.
• I need to remember a HAT for sleeping though, because my head was freezing.
• I must find a way to pee in the tent or nearby at night, because the temperature change from the warm covers to the cold night, followed by a lengthy walk to the outhouse was really miserable and painful. One night I put it off far too long, and realized I needed to squat by a bush near the tent. I lost my balance and rolled down a small hill with my pants down. I didn't hurt myself at all, but the struggle to control my hysterical giggles at 2am, in a campground with tents 10 feet from mine, was nearly impossible!
• There is no way to rest in a tent in the middle of the day. Unless you have shade, it will become a hot stuffy dome. 
• Packing a free standing hammock frame, and a lightweight hammock, was a lifesaver. I could move it to the shade and lay down in the heat of the day. It felt like a luxury to pack, but it is an essential from now on.
• Splurging on the most comfortable camp chair you can find is worth every single penny.

We had hoped to fit in one more camping trip this summer, but life got busy. However the camping gear is all set and ready to load up in the spring, and we look forward to camping frequently next summer!