Not what anyone had planned ...

I'm at work right now, preparing our New Year's
Day edition, and feeling both good and guilty
about it. We lost power at home again around 2
a.m. this morning, and except for a few brief
moments this afternoon, it's still off. Here at
work, though, we have power (for now) and I'm warm
while Mom, Dad and Nipper are bearing the cold. If
things don't improve, they may well have to come
into town in the shelter that's been set up.

More than 4,000 people are without power in our
area, and temperatures are going to get darn cold
tonight. If the ice can melt off the power lines
before it gets below freezing again today, maybe
there's a chance the power can be restored, and
stay on. But they're not giving a lot of hope for
that.

**Update since I attempted to post this earlier
tonight. It looks like we're heading for the
emergency shelter for at least the night.**

Happy new year.

Well, that sucked

Not long after I posted earlier today, the power went out, and just came back on about 10 minutes ago.

At least we know the lanterns Mom got for Christmas work.

Happy birthday

Yeah, it's my birthday. Don't make a big deal of it.

It's icy and gray out today, so there's not much going on. Here's a couple pix I took using Mom's digital (since she got me a memory card I can use for Christmas). They're not great, but it gives you an idea what it's like. These are both of my back yard.



Dad's here now, and we're going to have some dinner and open gifts. About all I've done today is lay on the couch watching TV and playing Diner Dash (which I got for Christmas from my brother). Tomorrow I have to work, putting out our New Year's Day edition, but we should be done by 7 p.m. Hopefully there won't be much additional ice or snow, but it hasn't really let up all day. So it should be fun getting there and back.

Happy new year, if I don't post before then.

Merry Christmas, happy holiday ...

Whatever it is you celebrate this time of year, I hope it's a good one for everyone.

It's been quiet around here today. I woke up with a headache around 5 o'clock this morning and it's taken me most of the day to get rid of it. So I've just been laying around, dozing and watching the movie marathon on Sci-Fi Channel. No walk for Nipper today, poor dog, but he stayed with me in bed most of the day. "Dr. Nipper," we call him. He always seems to know when you don't feel well and need a warm puppy next to you.

Tomorrow will probably be quiet as well. Just Mom, Dad and me at my house to open presents and have dinner. Although I'll probably be doing laundry, since that's what I'd planned on doing today. Got all my presents in but one, the one I ordered for Mom. Who knows where it is, since all the tracking info tells me is "carrier has been notified to pick up package." Thanks, Amazon.

Watching "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" right now. It still holds up, no matter how many times I've seen it.

Mission: Organization

So, thanks to Mom rearranging her bedroom and a night of TV reruns, I got into a bit of a cleaning fit in my bedroom tonight.

Well, I all I did was clean out a storage tower I have in my bedroom, which I hadn't really touched for about two years, judging from some of the stuff I found. I started by getting caught up on filing some photos in my photo storage boxes. Then I started on the tower, where I'd had the photo storage boxes, as well as my camera bag and equipment. And then I just started working my way down. I took out a bag of trash from it, and I got most of that stuff organized.

A week or so ago, I cleaned off the top of my desk (which I do about three or four times a year -- I'm not a neat freak by any means), and still had the trash from that, which I also took out tonight. I don't have to worry about cleaning OUT my desk, since the drawers fell apart years ago. It's really time to get rid of the old desk -- it was a Christmas or birthday present when I was 13 or 14 -- since it's really not that functional. I had some idea a few years ago of trying to do something with it -- make the space for drawers into storage shelves, but that was one of those things I've never gotten around to. I really don't need a desk, since I've got the laptop, and I really don't want one in my bedroom anymore anyway. But if I get rid of it now, I'll just end up throwing my stuff on the floor and probably never pick it up.

Maybe with some cold nights and more reruns, I'll get more organized and cleaned up. But tonight's a start, I guess.

Yay!

My surgeon's office called me at work this morning ... the bone scan looked fine. And I won't need an MRI followup!

But then when I got home there was a note reminding me that my one-year checkup on my kidney stone with the urologist is coming up in February.

Getting older sucks.

Tests done ... for now

Had the bone scan today, and that seemed to go well. Should be a day or two before I hear anything on it. My surgeon said to expect they'll recommend an MRI as followup, so I probably have one more round at the hospital coming.

You can tell you've been to the hospital a lot when the staff feels comfortable enough keep up their joking and teasing of one another even with you around, I guess. The guys in radiology here are kinda fun. It was Bryan's birthday, so there was some joking about that, and Jerry's kind of a cut up. He's from Texas and has that drawl and calls me things like "hon." But not in a bad way or anything. He's got a house on the creek on the other side of town, so we always compare how much water is at each other's place.

From my doctor's visit Tuesday, the X-ray turned out fine, except they did see a bit of arthritis showing up. I'm guessing it's in my upper back, because I do feel some pain there once in awhile around the shoulder blades, and when the weather turns cold real fast, it feels like it's seeped into my bones there.

All my blood work looked OK, too, although the doc noted one slight abnormality that she said probably indicates my bone marrow is still recovering somewhat from the hit it took during chemo. Amazing, since it's been over a year since my last one that made my white blood cell counts plummet!

Same old story

Overworked and overtired. That's how I feel after a week of being even more shorthanded at work than we normally are. My co-worker's wife is doing OK now though, thankfully (no baby yet, though), and he should be back to the office tomorrow. Since I worked for him Saturday, I should be able to take Monday off. And hopefully get this Saturday off, which I was supposed to work.

I don't necessarily think things will get better once we get through this month, though. Next month, we have a major system upgrade coming. We'll be getting a bunch of new hardware (not page desigers, though; we do get a big memory upgrade), moving up to OSX, InDesign/InCopy, Illustrator, etc. (We're moving up from OS 9 and Quark 3.2, by the way). The bosses are talking like this will be the solution to all our problems. But I see a bunch of headaches while we learn the software, deal with software conflicts, bugs, etc. All while already being shorthanded.

Anyway, on to other things. My back is feeling much, much better. There's still just a slight twinge if I move wrong, but that's about it. It's probably time I get back into some exercise. Walking the dog seems to be OK. We went for long walks Saturday and today, since it was so nice and I'm doing OK. Nipper is too, although I noticed yesterday as we got home he seemed to be limping just a bit.

Mom got a digital camera, and she's been playing with it a bit. Maybe she'll let me have a pic or two to post here. She got a couple nice ones of the Christmas lights on the house the other day.

I haven't even started my Christmas shopping, but I have some good ideas. And for the first time in the four years I've been in this house, we went with an artificial (one Mom's had for awhile) instead of a real tree. I would love to have a real one again this year, but the budget's just a bit tight this year.

Haven't started my Christmas cards, yet, either. Maybe that's a simple task for tonight.

That's about it for now.

More poking and pictures

Well, it's another round of doctor's appointments for me. Yesterday, I saw my surgeon for a regular checkup, and she ordered a bone scan because of the back pain I've been having. Sunday, it was really bad. It was pretty stiff when I got up, so I tried some stretching and a bit of exercise, since movement seems to help it, but I guess I overdid it or something because I spent the rest of the day in bed or on the couch with the heating pad. It got better through the day Monday, and feels pretty good now, but I'm going to take it easy a couple more days at least so I don't reinjure it.

Then today I had my port flushed and a chest x-ray, both routine since I have a followup visit with my oncologist next Tuesday. My bone scan was scheduled for Thursday, so she would have seen the results by then, but I had to reschedule it today because my co-worker's wife started having contractions late this morning, and she's not due until next month. So we're not sure whether he'll be able to come in the rest of the week, and our new managing editor is going back to Iowa on Thursday to bring back a bunch of stuff, I guess so when his wife and kid (+1 on the way) move here there won't be so much stuff. That would have left just one person to put together the paper until awful close to deadline. So I got the scan rescheduled for next Wednesday. We'll still be short handed next week because my co-worker was scheduled to take the week off anyway, but it won't leave just one person on the desk.

It's time like these that prove we really need another copy editor/paginator (full time) on the desk. We've been told since May that the paper was going to hire someone, and it was offered to an intern we had this summer, but since then, about every time I've asked or been told something about that position, the story has changed. A couple months ago, we suddenly couldn't afford the position unless we got money from the parent company for the "youth publication" we have planned. Well, we got the money, but then it was about a month before anything new came about on the copy editor position. And now they're looking for someone who can do copy editing "a couple days a week" and report the rest of the time. Not sure I'm too happy with that arrangement.

And it's going to be hectic the rest of the year, probably, what with everyone who works (or can work) the desk on vacation one week or another -- except for me. I still have a couple days vacation left, but I'll probably just end up losing them. That usually happens every year, although much less so this year. I've never used all my time because I just never could afford to go anywhere or do anything, and just hanging around the house didn't sound like much of a vacation.

Anyway, enough griping. Things are much better this year than last, so I should be thankful. I mean, just for starters, my head stays a lot warmer with a full head of hair!

Quiet week (or so)

Not much has been going on lately. I guess that's a good thing overall.

I've decided I want to try and lose some weight, about 20 pounds. I was never one to gain a lot of weight when I was younger -- in fact, when I was a kid I was downright skinny -- but ever since I hit my mid-20s, it's been the norm to put on a few pounds every year. It didn't bother me at first, but now I'm getting a bit tired of just putting on weight and being OK with that. So I joined a group of online friends in trying to get fit, and have a page set up at Traineo to help track my progress. Getting in exercise is the hardest for me, but I've been doing pretty good at getting up early enough in the morning to get some kind of strength training in. Cardio is another problem, since I don't really have a place for that, other than the exercise bike in the garage, and it seems like it's either too hot or too cold for me to really want to get out and do that.

Plus, I've been dealing with back pain. I don't know how I did it, but a few weeks ago I screwed up my back and have had some pain ever since. It even got to the point where after I'd been sitting at my computer at work for awhile, I could barely get up out of my chair and it took me a bit of walking to move halfway normal. It's a lot better now, though. There's still a little stiffness, but at least I don't fee like I'm 90-something. It sucks how it can take just one little thing -- a twist the wrong way, a wrong step -- to screw up your body, and days or weeks for it to get back to normal. Guess I'm just getting old.

It's turning cold and blustery, and there's a chance for snow over the next couple days. No accumulations being predicted yet, but that doesn't mean it won't be nasty weather. Nipper is dong well, but I worry a bit about taking him for walks when it starts getting cold. He's got arthritis, and for the last few years, he has some problems getting around in the winter. It mostly affects his back or his hips when it gets cold, and there's been times we've been out walking, and we're several blocks from home when he just can't go very far without resting for a while. It hasn't hit him yet this year, but I'll be watching a bit more closely and maybe get him some medicine from the vet before it gets too bad.

Next Tuesday, I have an X-ray scheduled, and the week after that, I meet with my oncologist. At times, I'm confident it'll all be good, and other times I worry. It'll probably be that way for awhile whenever I get close to a checkup. It's never really far from my mind that the cancer could come back, especially when I see people in my support group who are dealing with it again. But we're all survivors, and that's the thing I try to focus on.

Later,
JunO

Hello again

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I last posted. Not much has really been going on.

My brother got here last night to stay most of the week with us for Thanksgiving. It's good to have him around. Mom and Dad enjoy having him around, too. Especially Mom, since it gives her someone new to cook for (admit it, Mom, you love it). And come Thursday, I'll just stay out of her way in the kitchen.

At least the weather will be better. Last year, we had a big blizzard after Thanksgiving and were without power for most of that night. This year, it's supposed to be about 70 degrees Thursday and in the 50s after. Good day to walk off the turkey meal.

A friend and former co-worker who now lives in Indiana stopped by the office yesterday (she's in town to visit her family), so it was good to see her. We might try to get together later in the week for lunch of something.

That's about it. Hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving (or just have a nice and safe day if you're not in the U.S.).

One little, two little, three little ...

There were 10, count them 10, squirrels in my backyard just awhile ago. That's not a record, but I haven't been putting seed out for very long, so it's the most I've seen at once in quite awhile.

There were two on the utility pole at the southeast corner and one on the fence next to the pole; one in the tray feeder, three on the ground around it and one on the wood pile nearby; and four in the small tree just on the other side of the fence. Oops, wait, that's 11 total. They were all being fairly peaceful about eating when one of the ones on the utility pole started chattering, and suddenly ZOOM! There were nine squirrels heading for higher ground! Must have been one of the feral cats wandering into the area.

They still haven't quite made it back to the food yet, and it's been probably 20 minutes since they stopped chattering at the intruder. Funny how they can be so cautious about some things, yet this morning when I went to fill up the tray feeder, the little guy who was there didn't run away until I lifted the scoop full of seed up to the feeder! For a second, I thought I might be able to get him to eat a few seeds right from the scoop.

That's probably my excitement for the day. I'm off since I worked Saturday, and I'm doing laundry and other such exciting things. It's nice out, so a walk with Nipper is on the agenda, too. I'm sure you all wish you had my life.

Hot water again

Well, that was fast. When Dad's hot water heater went kaput, it took a few days to get a new one in. The plumbers came out today and had it in by this afternoon. Maybe it's just a matter of what they had in inventory. Anyway, we've got hot water again. I haven't even asked what it cost. I want to pay for it myself -- I mean, it's my house, I'm an adult -- but right now it's just hard. I'm still paying off the hospital and my vacation upped my credit card balance a bit, so I hadn't been planning on spending any extra money except for Christmas shopping. So thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping out. I'll repay you somehow, someday.

At least there should be something good this weekend. A friend who moved away a couple years ago will be in town and we're getting together this weekend. It'll be good to see her again and get caught up. Other than that, I hope for a quiet weekend!

Good freakin' morning to you too

I had a great vacation, so now the rain must fall, right? It doesn't need to be so damn literal, though.

We woke up this morning to discover the water heater leaking all over (and through) the utility room floor.

I'm off to my dad's for a shower now.

A flying turtle!

mass19.jpg, originally uploaded by junogle.

One of my pics from mass ascension. This flickr stuff is cool!

See the entry below for links to more pics.

More pix

More vacation photos!
Here are shots from the mass ascension, and here are shots from the balloon glow that evening.

First photos

I forgot I did get one roll of film developed while on my trip. These are photos from Saturday, when we visited the Trinity Site and the Very Large Array.

The first set is from the Trinity Site national historic landmark, which is open to the public only twice a year.

See my Trinity album here

We also visited the Very Large Array that day.

The VLA album is here.

More to come soon.

I'm back!

Got back home between 2 and 2:30 this morning. Then had to get up to get to the Day of Caring brunch at 10 a.m. We got home from that in the noon hour, so I thought I'd take a short nap. I got up just awhile ago!

It was nice and sunny this morning, but now is cloudy. My brother said today was pretty gloomy looking in Albuquerque today, and they had to cancel some of the activities at the balloon fiesta. It sounds like we lucked out with the good weather the day I was there.

And it was a great trip. The train ride was amazing. I'm the type that likes to study the countryside, so this was a perfect way for me to travel. It was fun to be able to sit and watch the geography change as the train moved on, from the plains into the foothills of the Rockies and up into the mountains. I saw several pronghorn antelope as we crossed the plateau in northern New Mexico that look very similar to Kansas. I would definitely travel that way again, but I think it would also be fun to drive and take some time to explore some of the towns we passed through, like Trinidad, Colo., or Raton, or Las Vegas, N.M. The parts of town I could see from the train station had a real Old West kind of look to them, although those areas of the towns probably aren't as lively as they were back then.

I'll have pictures posted Tuesday or Wednesday. I shot a total of seven rolls of film, most of it at the mass ascension at the balloon fiesta. It was just that great! I'll probably have more comments then, or maybe tomorrow. The rest of today is unpacking and taking it easy.

Later.

Greetings from New Mexico!

My brother and I are taking it kind of easy today. He's got those person-not-on-vacation things to do like laundry, so it's a quiet day.

Got in to the train station in Albuquerque Friday afternoon, and we had dinner at my mom's favorite Mexican restaraunt. Definately better than anything we can get in Kansas. Then we kind of killed some time until rush hour traffic was over and headed for his home. We both weren't feeling that great (me a headached, him still some pain from some dentist work the day before) so we took it easy that night.

Saturday we both felt a lot better, so we headed out to the White Sands Missile Base, where the Trinity Site is located. It was kind of humbling to be standing on the spot where the first atomic bomb was exploded, and think of the power it held and the way it's changed the world.

After lunch we went to the open house at the Very Large Array. If you've seen the movie "Contact" with Jodi Foster, that's the place. It was pretty cool to see those huge antennas up close and watch them moving in unison.

Hope I got some good pictures. I've still got a few shots on my first roll left. I'm saving plenty of film for the balloon fiesta, though! We're probably going to wait until Thursday to go to it, since it looks like cloudy weather until then. But we'll probably be in Alburquerque at least one other day, so I'm sure I'll see some balloons floating around before then.

Getting ready

I haven't been up at this hour in a looooong time. For any reason.

Getting ready to leave for my trip to see my brother. I slept OK, but not great. Maybe I can get a couple hours on the train before it gets busy and too noisy. I'm sure I'll sleep good tonight.

I'll sure miss Nipper though. He'll be fine, I'm sure. Probably get lots of extra ear rubs and loving from Mom and Dad while I'm gone.

Well, got to go double-check (again) that I've packed everything I need while Mom's in the shower.

I'll be back in about a week for sure. Maybe I'll get in a post or two in the meantime.