The best part of this trip so far has been having the opportunity to interact with some of the local Tanzanians. We have local individauls working on our team who have been so wonderful with trying to help me learn parts of the language. Each day I try to learn a few new words or phrases, so that I can at least great individuals and wish them a good evening. Beyond our team members, the staff at one of our locations was also instrumental in expanding my vocabulary and just generally being really welcoming & fun people to interact with. Today I also was able to get away for a few moments by myself and I had a great time trying on dresses and looking at hand bags to purchase. My colleagues pointed out that I probably was given a foreigner price but I definitely don't mind since it was enjoyable interacting with and "just being a woman with other women." Between their limited English and my limited Swahili we worked out a deal for two dresses (one pre-made and one made from a local fabric I chose) and a bag, but it was fun gesturing, exchanging names, and offering womenly compliments to each other.
Yesterday I finally was also able to try some of the local Tanzanian food which is sort of a corn meal porridge along with various types of stews. The one that I had was a lentil soup variety, while the other locals had chicken and veggie stews. The food here is a mix of influences as so much of Tanzania is influenced from local tribes but there is also a large SE Indian/Arab influence (especially along the coast). Since so much of their nation is dependent on tourism, there tends to be a lot of English & American influences with food as well. This morning I also tried one of their standard breakfast fares which is mtori and chapati. The mtori is a beef and raw banana mix, which sort of has the consistency of really runny oatmeal. Over breakfast, we also discussed local practices ranging from learning English (all of their secondary school subjects are in English actually) to marriage practices. I love learning directly from those who live here and are from the country.
In the last week, we have been in four different locations and once students arrive we will return to those same locations plus one other over the course of three weeks. While I have enjoyed having the opportunity to follow a dream to come here and can see where this position could truly open many professional doors going into the future, I've really been struggling with some of the relationship dynamics with and general practices of one of my potential new colleagues to the extent that I am questioning whether I will actually let myself follow through with joining their team as of this fall. I am really looking forward to the arrival of our boss and the students in the next few days and having the opportunity to engage in teaching and interacting with a larger crew of individuals. If I'm additionally honest, I will be more than ready to head home once the program here is complete and at this juncture I am sort of wishing I would have come to Africa under a different context. All that being said, I definitely am grateful for the opportunity to come, the ability to teach in this context, and the assistance that my colleague has provided in country with things like language, etc.
The various sites we have been in have been beautiful in so many ways and we've had the opportunity to travel by Cessna twice which has allowed for aerial views of the land also. To ensure group safety during travel, I'm not disclosing any of the specific areas we're in nor the projects we'll be visiting until I've returned, but it's amazing to see so many individuals truly working to try to bring sustainable programming options to this country. Like many countries, povery abounds but one thing I have witnessed over time is how much joy is visible in areas where less abounds, even when hardship and suffering equally exists. Here (and in the majority of the world) consistent water & electricity access doesn't exist, sanitation standards are lower, and nutritional variety is lacking. (While some research does argue that standard indigenous diets can be healthier than something like the Western diet, lacking nutrition in Tanzania is known to be responsible for stunted growth among other health outcomes.) This is a country where malaria is still prevalent, access to trained physicians & usable medications is almost non-existent, HIV is much more common that readily accounted for, medical & vital records aren't standard, and there are over 120 varying tribes with a wealth of traditional medical knowledge that is not integrated into the Western model of care. While Tanzania in general is a fairly "safe" country for tourists, it's still not a country one would want to be injured in nor one where a visitor would want to enter without being aware of what is standardly culturally appropriate.
Most of what I discussed in that above paragraph is information that I had prior knowledge on and that also translates across to many other developing nations. I have definitely come across many things that I wasn't aware of before coming here however. :) For one, most developing nations I have traveled to were way cheaper than Tanzania :) The inland parts of the country tend to be a bit less expensive than the coastal regions but hotels on the coast were comparable to hotels back home in Oregon, the taxi ride cost about the same, and most locations have a break down of prices that includes citizens, residents, and non-citizen categories. Non-citizen categories have prices in USD$ and things like a nature preserve park entrance are anywhere from $30-60 for non-citizens PER DAY. In comparison, the price for locals is something like 20.000 TSH (Tanzanian shillings) which is currently about $10. Thus just to drive through one park along a highway to get to one destination cost $30/person, which in a sense is a pretty hefty toll tax :) Things like climbing Kilimanjaro are thousands of dollars depending on the route, number of days, etc and definitely weren't in my personal budget for this trip.
Another big thing that I was aware yet unaware of was just how large that the Indian/Arab/Muslim influence is within the country. It definitely makes sense as the coast here was part of the trading route and there are several areas on the coast that are predominantly Muslim. It's currently Ramandan which was also an interesting experience to observe and there were a few times when we had to shove food items/water bottles into our packs in order to be culturally compliant. In terms of dress this means that culturally appropriate clothes include covering legs down past the knees and the upper body should be covered including shoulders (exposing arms is okay). Luckily I was able to get a few days of thrifting in before heading this way (and my amazing aunt altered a few items) so most of my clothes have worked really wonderfully here. The Arab influence is also noticed in some of the words found within Swahili and with local spices, etc. Just like in Hindi and Russian, the word for tea in Swahili is also chai. In every town we have been in (even in the inland areas) the call to prayer has been announced over the loud speakers in the mornings and evenings. A side note to this additional cultural context is that there is also a sub population of people within the country who have Rastafarian tendencies/lifestyles. Thus between the variety of rural local tribes, major urban center of Dar Es Salaam, Muslim & Arab influences, the Rastafarian vibe, and the cultural elements that we might envision as being "typically" African, it's a pretty incredibly amazing melting pot of diversity.
And with all of that I'll wrap up this initial post from the land of Tanzania, where I still have so much more to observe, soak up, and enjoy. Hope each of you is doing well!
Showing posts with label LiFe SNAPshot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LiFe SNAPshot. Show all posts
Monday, June 29, 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
A Fun Crawfish Friday
Blog catch-up time :)
Two weeks ago, we were headed into a full sunshine and heat weekend. Since it was Thursday I asked one of my massage clients what she was planning on doing for the weekend and she told me all about local crawfishing and how I should go. After spending a few years in Louisiana, I couldn't help but get excited.....and I went and bought a crawfish trap at Bi-Mart right as my shift ended :)
I spent the evening researching the best spots to crawfish and what regulations might exist. (Which there are none if you're doing it for sport.) I had seen a few posting that mentioned that the Wilson River had crawfish which was perfect as that's where the dogs and I do a lot of hiking. I figured that we could hike a few miles and then the dogs could relax on the river bank while I put the trap in and lounged reading.....
....except when I arrived to the trailhead I had in mind, the Forestry gal told me that the Wilson was too fast moving and that the Nehalem would be much better. The Nehalem had been mentioned on the forums also but was 45 minutes away. I decided to get the dogs on trail for a few miles and think on it. My feet were still recovering from my backpacking trip so we only hiked up and in about two miles and then ran back out. There were several guys on trail mountain biking and it's always entertaining to hear grown men hollering like lil boys as they excitedly come around corners ;)
When I came off trail, I decided that it was a nice day for a drive, so I loaded the dogs back in and off we went. We made it to the campground the gal had suggested about two and I was able to get the trap situated and in the water within thirty minutes. I used chicken for bait and as soon as I put the trap in I could see the crawfish coming toward it....
.....but let me tell you....those crawfish are SMART! :) At one point I had 15-20 crawfish ON the trap. As in they knew they could just eat my chicken through the trap without going inside it. I was able to catch three by hand, but really wished that I had a small net to just scoop several more up. Eventually I tied the chicken inside in a way that they couldn't eat it through the sides...and of course they were less interested. At the end of the day I had only two crawfish inside the trap and one of those was smart enough to know how to swim out! Ha.
I came home with four crawfish....but it made for a pretty entertaining day anyway. I also struggled with whether or not to boil them up once I had them home. They just looked so sad in the bag on the counter and in reality you don't get much meat off a crawfish. So I seriously debated letting them go in the local creek by my house (which I found out later is either frowned upon or illegal...can't remember which), but eventually I sucked it up and just dropped them in.
Altogether I learned a lot, still felt proud to catch my own dinner....and now I'm pretty excited to go fishing with an old buddy of mine for free fishing weekend (June 6th and 7th). :)
Two weeks ago, we were headed into a full sunshine and heat weekend. Since it was Thursday I asked one of my massage clients what she was planning on doing for the weekend and she told me all about local crawfishing and how I should go. After spending a few years in Louisiana, I couldn't help but get excited.....and I went and bought a crawfish trap at Bi-Mart right as my shift ended :)
I spent the evening researching the best spots to crawfish and what regulations might exist. (Which there are none if you're doing it for sport.) I had seen a few posting that mentioned that the Wilson River had crawfish which was perfect as that's where the dogs and I do a lot of hiking. I figured that we could hike a few miles and then the dogs could relax on the river bank while I put the trap in and lounged reading.....
....except when I arrived to the trailhead I had in mind, the Forestry gal told me that the Wilson was too fast moving and that the Nehalem would be much better. The Nehalem had been mentioned on the forums also but was 45 minutes away. I decided to get the dogs on trail for a few miles and think on it. My feet were still recovering from my backpacking trip so we only hiked up and in about two miles and then ran back out. There were several guys on trail mountain biking and it's always entertaining to hear grown men hollering like lil boys as they excitedly come around corners ;)
When I came off trail, I decided that it was a nice day for a drive, so I loaded the dogs back in and off we went. We made it to the campground the gal had suggested about two and I was able to get the trap situated and in the water within thirty minutes. I used chicken for bait and as soon as I put the trap in I could see the crawfish coming toward it....
.....but let me tell you....those crawfish are SMART! :) At one point I had 15-20 crawfish ON the trap. As in they knew they could just eat my chicken through the trap without going inside it. I was able to catch three by hand, but really wished that I had a small net to just scoop several more up. Eventually I tied the chicken inside in a way that they couldn't eat it through the sides...and of course they were less interested. At the end of the day I had only two crawfish inside the trap and one of those was smart enough to know how to swim out! Ha.
I came home with four crawfish....but it made for a pretty entertaining day anyway. I also struggled with whether or not to boil them up once I had them home. They just looked so sad in the bag on the counter and in reality you don't get much meat off a crawfish. So I seriously debated letting them go in the local creek by my house (which I found out later is either frowned upon or illegal...can't remember which), but eventually I sucked it up and just dropped them in.
Altogether I learned a lot, still felt proud to catch my own dinner....and now I'm pretty excited to go fishing with an old buddy of mine for free fishing weekend (June 6th and 7th). :)
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Things I'm Loving.....
1) Anna's healing up like a champ! The skin is almost all fused back together and we've all gotten out on evening walks the last two evenings. Will attempt a run and/or hike in the next few days or on the weekend. So happy with how fast it healed and how quickly we'll be back to our regular routine.
2) I've had several more moments of having the house to myself and it's been LOVE-ly. I love just being comfortable in my own home. I'm hoping to make it through the summer continuing to rent out rooms and then will rent at least the furnished room in the fall...unless I end up moving closer toward the city.
3) We've had amazing sunshine the last few days and it even made it to about 80 yesterday. I couldn't help but throw on that bathing suit and soak up the rays on the back patio for a bit. It feels so great to have that sun kiss my skin. :) The dogs love the moments when we just lounge around out back too. (Although we did get some good yard work/weeding/mowing in too...)
4) Housemates are settled. Current short term gal leaves this weekend. Two new short term ones arrive early May. One will be here until end of July and the other until the end of August. Bills should be covered in full while I'm gone...and there will be cat coverage.
5) Tomorrow is my last pre-travel vaccination. I'll buy my ticket this week or next for Tanzania. And I just started researching my Alberta trip for later this summer.
6) I gave an awesome deep tissue/structural massage to a friend of mine this weekend. He'd just finished up a week of intense physical activity so it was so rewarding to truly help ease his muscles toward relaxation. I also emailed in my resignation from my massage job last night. I plan on continuing to work in that gig for a few more weeks but I'm going to need the extra time because.....
7) I was asked to continue on in this new teaching position into the next academic year :) Seriously, I never could have imagined that this opportunity would happen, let alone that it would all come about the way that it did. I will be developing new courses and have the ability to assist with program development. Both of those are areas I've been missing and I couldn't be more excited by the prospect. I will continue teaching at the institution I've been at as well although probably reduce the credits I teach there slightly....and there's the chance that this new option will present more travel opportunities and become full time within a year or two. Dreams are arriving in ways that I never could have imagined.... When I first started thinking about entering into this field I never thought I could blend ALL my passions together nor that it would take six months to find the perfect fit for me rather than the couple of years that I expected. Still.in.awe.every.day..... and so incredibly thankful for so many answered prayers.
8) This new gig also means that life direction just landed in my lap in some other ways, ie that PhD program needs to happen....
9) Do you ever have those moments when you wake up, sunlight streaming through your windows, dogs jumping all over the bed, coffee soon to be enjoyed....and you're just so grateful and sustained? It's like you know you're not really in a tropical location but in that moment life feels pretty tropical and rewarding....like you just want to lounge and soak it all in and up... That's been life the last few weeks.... and it's been a long time since I've had that sensation and never quite at this level of true satisfaction....
10) There have been several times in the last week or two when I've truly caught myself being surprised by where life has landed. I've always loved the outdoors but I don't know that I ever expected to enjoy them quite at the level that I get to do so. I look at this life I'm living and arriving into...and while it's so different than I really would have imagined, it's rewarding, sustaining, soul-feeding, and truly a better fit for me than I could have dreamed. I'm still working on letting go of the life that I "wanted" and dreamed about, but truly I'm SO.in.awe. by the views I routinely see, the outdoor skills I've developed, the social support that surrounds me, the professional opportunities arriving, and the little moments that I notice every.single.day.
11) Casual skirts. Sandals. Bangs pulled back. Long flowing hair. Tanned skin. Sunglasses.
12) Sparkly lights on the patio. Moments curled in the hammock. Lemon water. Books laying next to me intending to be read. Finished grading.
13) Researching new course options. Moments when curriculum ideas arrive in the kitchen or on trail. Cross comparisons of other programs. Synthesizing information. Passion.
14) Small town coffee shops. Sunrises over mountain tops. High mountain lakes. Country music flowing out of car windows down. More upcoming outdoor fun.
15) Happy hours and outings with friends. Moments and communication with family and new and old friends. Reconnecting with really old pals. An evening out with Reg D over the weekend--as always pretty entertaining and fun :)
Life makes my heart happy lately....and I can't help but keep thinking about that old adage about how it sometimes takes tasting the bitter to truly appreciate the sweet. The bitter was definitely pretty bitter but I can honestly say that this sweet is so incredibly sweet. Fulfilled in so many big ways and trusting that things will continue to fall into place and/or present as they should.
2) I've had several more moments of having the house to myself and it's been LOVE-ly. I love just being comfortable in my own home. I'm hoping to make it through the summer continuing to rent out rooms and then will rent at least the furnished room in the fall...unless I end up moving closer toward the city.
3) We've had amazing sunshine the last few days and it even made it to about 80 yesterday. I couldn't help but throw on that bathing suit and soak up the rays on the back patio for a bit. It feels so great to have that sun kiss my skin. :) The dogs love the moments when we just lounge around out back too. (Although we did get some good yard work/weeding/mowing in too...)
4) Housemates are settled. Current short term gal leaves this weekend. Two new short term ones arrive early May. One will be here until end of July and the other until the end of August. Bills should be covered in full while I'm gone...and there will be cat coverage.
5) Tomorrow is my last pre-travel vaccination. I'll buy my ticket this week or next for Tanzania. And I just started researching my Alberta trip for later this summer.
6) I gave an awesome deep tissue/structural massage to a friend of mine this weekend. He'd just finished up a week of intense physical activity so it was so rewarding to truly help ease his muscles toward relaxation. I also emailed in my resignation from my massage job last night. I plan on continuing to work in that gig for a few more weeks but I'm going to need the extra time because.....
7) I was asked to continue on in this new teaching position into the next academic year :) Seriously, I never could have imagined that this opportunity would happen, let alone that it would all come about the way that it did. I will be developing new courses and have the ability to assist with program development. Both of those are areas I've been missing and I couldn't be more excited by the prospect. I will continue teaching at the institution I've been at as well although probably reduce the credits I teach there slightly....and there's the chance that this new option will present more travel opportunities and become full time within a year or two. Dreams are arriving in ways that I never could have imagined.... When I first started thinking about entering into this field I never thought I could blend ALL my passions together nor that it would take six months to find the perfect fit for me rather than the couple of years that I expected. Still.in.awe.every.day..... and so incredibly thankful for so many answered prayers.
8) This new gig also means that life direction just landed in my lap in some other ways, ie that PhD program needs to happen....
9) Do you ever have those moments when you wake up, sunlight streaming through your windows, dogs jumping all over the bed, coffee soon to be enjoyed....and you're just so grateful and sustained? It's like you know you're not really in a tropical location but in that moment life feels pretty tropical and rewarding....like you just want to lounge and soak it all in and up... That's been life the last few weeks.... and it's been a long time since I've had that sensation and never quite at this level of true satisfaction....
10) There have been several times in the last week or two when I've truly caught myself being surprised by where life has landed. I've always loved the outdoors but I don't know that I ever expected to enjoy them quite at the level that I get to do so. I look at this life I'm living and arriving into...and while it's so different than I really would have imagined, it's rewarding, sustaining, soul-feeding, and truly a better fit for me than I could have dreamed. I'm still working on letting go of the life that I "wanted" and dreamed about, but truly I'm SO.in.awe. by the views I routinely see, the outdoor skills I've developed, the social support that surrounds me, the professional opportunities arriving, and the little moments that I notice every.single.day.
11) Casual skirts. Sandals. Bangs pulled back. Long flowing hair. Tanned skin. Sunglasses.
12) Sparkly lights on the patio. Moments curled in the hammock. Lemon water. Books laying next to me intending to be read. Finished grading.
13) Researching new course options. Moments when curriculum ideas arrive in the kitchen or on trail. Cross comparisons of other programs. Synthesizing information. Passion.
14) Small town coffee shops. Sunrises over mountain tops. High mountain lakes. Country music flowing out of car windows down. More upcoming outdoor fun.
15) Happy hours and outings with friends. Moments and communication with family and new and old friends. Reconnecting with really old pals. An evening out with Reg D over the weekend--as always pretty entertaining and fun :)
Life makes my heart happy lately....and I can't help but keep thinking about that old adage about how it sometimes takes tasting the bitter to truly appreciate the sweet. The bitter was definitely pretty bitter but I can honestly say that this sweet is so incredibly sweet. Fulfilled in so many big ways and trusting that things will continue to fall into place and/or present as they should.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
An Incredible Sunny Friday
So I've had two really pretty incredible days but today maybe took the cake since it included such an amazingly rewarding variety :)
This morning we had a training from MoxAfrica on how to do moxibustion. Moxibustion is a holistic healing modality that is frequently used in conjunction with acupuncture but can be used solo as well. Today we learned how to make the "cones" of mungwart and then how to apply it to the skin and allow it to burn down into the acupoint. We practiced on little wood boards first and then applied it to our own skin on our forearms (I used the outer gate point near the backside of the wrist) and then on St 36, which is the most frequent point used in their treatment program (and is located sort of near the end of the knee and then "lateral" or out to the side of your leg from there by one or two finger widths). I definitely did feel the "clearing" or reset that can come from acupoint treatments and it's pretty incredible to think of the positive healing effects that something this simple can bring to others who are suffering.
After the training, I drove down to Silverton where I grabbed a coffee and a scone in the town's adorable downtown area...and then drove on to the North Falls Trailhead at Silver Falls State Park. Lauren and I had arranged to meet up today to do a hike and it was so great to finally get to meet her! I'm pretty sure that she's actually the first blogger/IGer that I've met in real life. The day was absolutely beautiful with lots of sunshine and the falls were running with high water volume. Honestly I feel like the almost 9 miles flew by as Lauren and I chatted and got to know each other better. It was so nice to share stories and enjoy the great sunshine.... and I'm hoping it will work out to meet up again! Maybe with Baby Moe in tow :)
Since it was a beautiful day, I decided to drive to the Woodburn Tulip Festival and then take numerous back roads home in order to avoid Friday traffic getting into Portland. At the Tulip Farm, I had a great sausage, sauerkraut, and onion sandwich and then I headed out to snap a few pictures and soak up the sunshine amidst so much natural beauty.
The drive back took me along numerous farm roads I'd never traveled before and it was nice to avoid all of the traffic that would have been found on a Friday afternoon on I-5. One of the roads I went along had this incredible view of the valley below:
Altogether it was a pretty amazing day but I do feel like I should mention that along the drive back from the Falls I came upon an accident that required calling the paramedics, who then called in Life Flight. I haven't been able to find anything online regarding the outcome but if you're the praying type then it wouldn't hurt to offer a little prayer for the woman who had been driving.... Witnessing what I did of that scene made my gratitude for our paramedics and emergency room personnel multiply even more...it takes some pretty strong individuals to handle life altering emergencies on a regular basis...
This morning we had a training from MoxAfrica on how to do moxibustion. Moxibustion is a holistic healing modality that is frequently used in conjunction with acupuncture but can be used solo as well. Today we learned how to make the "cones" of mungwart and then how to apply it to the skin and allow it to burn down into the acupoint. We practiced on little wood boards first and then applied it to our own skin on our forearms (I used the outer gate point near the backside of the wrist) and then on St 36, which is the most frequent point used in their treatment program (and is located sort of near the end of the knee and then "lateral" or out to the side of your leg from there by one or two finger widths). I definitely did feel the "clearing" or reset that can come from acupoint treatments and it's pretty incredible to think of the positive healing effects that something this simple can bring to others who are suffering.
After the training, I drove down to Silverton where I grabbed a coffee and a scone in the town's adorable downtown area...and then drove on to the North Falls Trailhead at Silver Falls State Park. Lauren and I had arranged to meet up today to do a hike and it was so great to finally get to meet her! I'm pretty sure that she's actually the first blogger/IGer that I've met in real life. The day was absolutely beautiful with lots of sunshine and the falls were running with high water volume. Honestly I feel like the almost 9 miles flew by as Lauren and I chatted and got to know each other better. It was so nice to share stories and enjoy the great sunshine.... and I'm hoping it will work out to meet up again! Maybe with Baby Moe in tow :)
Since it was a beautiful day, I decided to drive to the Woodburn Tulip Festival and then take numerous back roads home in order to avoid Friday traffic getting into Portland. At the Tulip Farm, I had a great sausage, sauerkraut, and onion sandwich and then I headed out to snap a few pictures and soak up the sunshine amidst so much natural beauty.
The drive back took me along numerous farm roads I'd never traveled before and it was nice to avoid all of the traffic that would have been found on a Friday afternoon on I-5. One of the roads I went along had this incredible view of the valley below:
Altogether it was a pretty amazing day but I do feel like I should mention that along the drive back from the Falls I came upon an accident that required calling the paramedics, who then called in Life Flight. I haven't been able to find anything online regarding the outcome but if you're the praying type then it wouldn't hurt to offer a little prayer for the woman who had been driving.... Witnessing what I did of that scene made my gratitude for our paramedics and emergency room personnel multiply even more...it takes some pretty strong individuals to handle life altering emergencies on a regular basis...
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Central Oregon Trip
Sometimes in life you just decide to up and make a somewhat spontaneous road trip a part of your existence. I had been wanting to see the Painted Hills since last summer and had almost taken off to Bend three weekends ago to visit some friends, so when I realized I could create space in my schedule to enable me to do an epic Central Oregon road trip last weekend...well I didn't hesitate much. I got all of my grading done after my Africa meeting on Friday, let my online courses know that I'd be checking in over the weekend but only once a day, and then I spent Friday night printing out trails/maps/whatever I might need.
After a Reflexology class on Saturday morning, the dogs and I headed out over the pass to Central Oregon.
DAY 1:
The minute I was in different terrain my heart seriously soared. I absolutely love where I live in the valley but sometimes I just crave something new and different. This view above filled my heart and made me so in love with the state of Oregon and it's vast differences all over again.
The dogs and I stopped in Prineville to fill up with gas because all the online stuff cautioned about not having gas stations nor cell service within the John Day Fossil Bed area. Ironically that one topped off tank was more than enough for the traveling I did both days...and I also ended up with cell phone service way more than I expected.
Once we arrived to the Painted Hills, I again fell in love. I can understand why they don't allow people to camp there as I could have stayed for a week. There were a lot of people who showed up at the initial overlook but not many who stayed long nor who ventured on the rim trail. The trail itself was so beautiful...as you can see below.
The view looking back on the painted hills from the rim trail.
There were also some other little trails and informational spots that allowed you to get closer and learn more about what actually created the hills. So interesting and well worth it!
We left that area about 6:30pm and headed for a spot on the map that said that it had camping available off a Forest Service road. En route to the camp ground we had about 15 elk run across a meadow about a quarter mile ahead of us and we also had a lot of deer traveling around. It was so neat to see so much amazing wildlife in their natural habitat on this trip. Beyond the deer and elk, there were lots of little ground critters running around, tons of various birds, and we even had a river otter swim by us at one spot! We arrived to the camp site and discovered that a) before Memorial Day camping was going to be free at most places and b) we'd get the camp site to ourselves! I backed my SUV into a secluded spot and rearranged the bags in the car, put the seats down, and rolled out my sleeping mat, bag, and extra blanket & pillow. The beauty of car camping I discovered is that you can have extra luxuries such as pillows and heavy fuzzy blankets (although the dogs soon took over the blanket :)). As I was readying our sleep area, there was gentle snow falling and the entire scene was just really pretty amazing. The campsite had trail access, a basic bathroom, and the dogs were so excited to run around for quite a bit before bedtime. Once we were ready for bed, I crawled in and discovered that I actually had cell phone access here (literally in the absolute middle of no where) and was able to check in with Reg D and my brother.
This was our first solo car camping experience and we loved it.....I forsee many more outings like this in our future!
DAY 2:
The next morning, the dogs woke up as the sun was rising....apparently they couldn't figure out what it was so they were on alert that it could be an intruder :) We were able to get some sleep during the night though and it was fun having the dogs sleeping alongside me. I seriously was so happy yet again about my Sorento and how well it's served me in various capacities over the last several years.
After getting up and changing, I rearranged the car/bags back to how they usually are...and the dogs and I headed off to Blue Basin. I actually wasn't intending to come to this extra part of the John Day Fossil Bed area but Reg D suggested it earlier on Day 1 and since he generally knows my interests, I figured I'd check it out. It was about a 40 minute drive to get there with the sun continuing to rise over the hill sides and just continuing to be in awe with the landscape. Blue Basin was definitely worth the trip and the 3.25 mile hike was so gorgeous. There are so many various colored rocks and it's so crazy to think of the history contained in this fossil region. (Apparently this area used to have its own version of a saber-toothed tiger even!)
The above picture shows the Blue Basin (appears white or green) with additional "painted hills" in the background right side and just the amazing terrain as it continues beyond. SO beautiful!
This area also has Oregon's version of Arizona's Cathedral Rock. I had intended to try to see this and I'm so glad that Blue Basin was so amazing, because Cathedral Rock wasn't as impressive as the real thing :)
It was also on this day as the dogs were getting out of the car at Blue Basin that I noticed that Anna had punctured her upper right leg somehow. It wasn't gushing blood and she wasn't overly phased by it so we went on the hike anyway and I continued to check on it as the day progressed....
We stopped at Smith Rock (above) which is pretty popular these days in Oregon. I was trying to decide if we could hike part of it, but after checking out the upper trail from the parking lot (and the fact that the park itself was more packed than I'd ever seen it) I decided that this was a hike that should be done on a different day and probably sans dogs. It's definitely beautiful to look at though and I was glad that we'd stopped to check it out.......and glad to have driven through the back farm roads to get there :)
One of the other reasons I'd been contemplating a trip to Central Oregon was to see an old college friend of mine who I hadn't seen in several years. En route to Bend, I stopped for coffee and a scone, saline and gauze for Anna's wound, and then since I still had more time I drove up to Pilot Butte (in the above picture) to look at Bend with the mountains in the back ground. I'm like a broken record but.....SO gorgeous! :)
My gal Erin is married to her middle school love and they have four hilarious kiddos. It was so great to eat lunch with all of them on their back patio, catch up with my gal, and have the dogs be loved on and entertained by the three boys. (I also owe it to Erin big time as she let me stop back by on Day 3 to finally shower for the first time in several days :))
From their house I drove to REI to buy myself a camping hammock (yea for dividends and member coupons!) and then I headed to the high mountain lakes region. The spot that I originally intended to camp at still had the road closed several miles in on the road...so I'll have to come back this summer to backpack a longer trail option there.
At that point I decided to head to the little lake about an hour away where we spread my Poppa's ashes in 2003. I've only been back once or twice so it was probably time for a visit anyway. My grandfather was one of the biggest influences in my life and I'd already spent a lot of time on this trip thinking about him, so it was very fitting to take the dogs to go hang out in this special place. We arrived right at dusk, again granting just enough time to let the dogs run around, get the car set up for the night, and hang out in the hammock with a beer for a bit. Once we crawled in for bed, I spent some time reading this night, but then we all 3 slept amazingly well.
DAY 3:
We again woke up with the sun and the dogs were excited to run around the campsite. (Two thumbs up that we had this campsite to ourselves as well!) This was the first day that I actually used my backpacking stove to make oatmeal for breakfast and some coffee. (I'm getting pretty excited about what this car camping means in terms of more luxuries...like real breakfasts, extra food stuffs, etc :)) I honestly really didn't want to leave this spot, so we spent about an hour and a half just enjoying being there, soaking up the views, enjoying the wildlife, and just generally appreciating the amazing weekend that we'd been having.
About 8 we drove to a nearby trailhead to explore a suggestion made by my gal Erin. Ironically the lake she had suggested for me to head toward ended up being about a mile from Poppa's spot, and it made for a great morning hike up to it...and will probably make a great backpacking option. I wasn't really sure if the trail we were on was the right one, but eventually we did discover that it indeed led to the lake she had mentioned...and that the lake was as clear and spectacular as she had made it out to be. After snapping lots of pictures, we continued on for another mile just enjoying being on trail and finally finding some patches of snow :)
After coming back off trail, I stopped by Erin's for that shower and then we headed back toward Salem in order to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday :) I did stop in Sisters for coffee, lunch, and an attempt at what used to be the most amazing huckleberry milkshake stand (unfortunately it appears to be closed now).
The views on the drive back continued to be incredible......all the way til I made it back over the pass and returned to the rain of the valley :) The drive itself was really enjoyable though as I stumbled upon some old mixed CDs from old friends and loves, and it was highly entertaining to travel back down various memory lanes.
Altogether an amazing trip...and a hard one to adjust to being back actually. Usually I'm not one to bemoan the end of vacation, but the first two mornings back in my own bed seemed dismal compared to the fun of waking up and staring straight out into a day of amazing views, trails, and new sights ahead. Already planning our return trip however...... :)
Sunday, March 29, 2015
A Life Less Tired--Spring Break 2015.
Ha, three days to fit in three posts still this month and I've been horrible about keeping up on everyone's blogs again....
But in reflecting upon the last post I wrote...I'm glad to report that I'm finally less tired. Going into spring break I was so incredibly ready for a vacation and a break. The last month I'd definitely been a bit more irritable than some and just generally feeling exhausted. When I couldn't find dog sitters and when it dawned on me that both my outdoor buddy and I were equally stressed and wiped out, we shelved our kayak camping trip for spring break and instead headed to my family's beach cabin on the coast....and honestly in a lot of ways it was just what we both needed. We'd brought our backpacking gear with us but then once the weather was so rainy unpredictable we decided to just hang out at the coast until I had to come back for work.
I ended up experiencing the town way differently than I have before...aka we spent a little too much time at the local bars the first night so most of Sunday was just spent lounging around the cabin. But we had so many great conversations curled up on our separate couches and every day we just re-evaluated the weather and how we were feeling in general to determine how the rest of that day/the week would go...it literally was the perfect, restoring, needed vacation.
We hit up the local dinners for breakfast on three days, ordered pizza at the local spot, and fixed steaks and sweet potatoes for dinner at the cabin another night. We spent one day driving down the coast a bit. The first stop was in Lincoln City where we visited a cute little used bookstore. We both walked out with a couple titles (like I needed more public health books! :)) and had had a great conversation with the quirky book store employee (who was so sweet to offer me chamomile tea for my cough). From there we drove down to Depot Bay which is "the smallest bay in the world" and a spot where my parents used to take us as kids for salt water taffy, wave watching, and kettle corn. Apparently Depot Bay is also a spot where Reg D spent time as a kid. We got caught in some rainshowers and ended up being hungry again, so we grabbed these amazing burgers with saukeraut at this Irish spot in town. From there I wanted to check out something scenic so we kept driving down Hwy 101 to Devil's Churn, where after some funny ill-placed investigation, I finally realized the site was right off the parking lot ;) But rainy days make for some great coastal waves.
The next day after a late breakfast, we headed down to the cape, where Reg D sat on the patio of the local establishment with a book, his camera, and a beer, while the dogs and I climbed up the large sand dune/cape and jogged down the beach some. We'd been wanting to try to do some local kayaking but the shop in town was never open, so we eventually drove down to Devil's Lake near Lincoln City to rent some kayaks for an hour. I had a good time being out on the water but the quality of kayak and the lack of scenery wasn't really up to Reg D's desires. (The entire lake shore here is packed with houses.) This is the night we made steaks and sweet potatoes and sat at the table til 830pm engrossed in conversation. Then since I was still recovering from a cold (and swearing off alcohol for a few days...) I curled up on the couch with a book and Reg D headed down to the locals bar...where he met someone who offered to take us out Dory fishing in the ocean next time we go back.
On Wednesday we spent some time lounging around before I deep cleaned the house for the next family members to enjoy it. I was able to get a good run in this day and also cleaned my own house was I got back to it.
I spent Thursday working in my massage job, giving six massages spread out throughout the day. (I have mixed feelings about this job but it's great experience for a variety of reasons, the extra income is helpful, and the one day a week factor makes it a better fit.) My new term was prepped before I left for vacation, but I allowed myself an hour or so of work on Thursday evening to smooth out details that always appear prior to the start of the term.
Friday, I scooped Reg D up from downtown and we had an incredible afternoon exploring some of my favorite kayaking waterways. Saturday I spent at an amazing continuing education Food as Medicine Symposium. (I hope to write about both of these later :)) I spent the last two nights on the phone talking with my mom and she remarked how great it is to hear me sounding so energized, passionate, and yet relaxed again.
This morning, I'm lounging in bed. Cup of coffee by my side, dogs curled up next to me, sunshine outside, the door open with bird tweets and spring time smells wafting in....trying to decide what the best day hike option might be :) I'd contemplated going to church this morning but am feeling more called to go commune with God in nature instead...it's where we do some of our best bonding.
Even with a cough still holding on, a few other changes in the air, and a bit of uncertainty in other areas, life feels pretty incredible at the moment....and I'm finally no longer totally exhausted. :) So grateful for a restoring and much needed spring vacation!
But in reflecting upon the last post I wrote...I'm glad to report that I'm finally less tired. Going into spring break I was so incredibly ready for a vacation and a break. The last month I'd definitely been a bit more irritable than some and just generally feeling exhausted. When I couldn't find dog sitters and when it dawned on me that both my outdoor buddy and I were equally stressed and wiped out, we shelved our kayak camping trip for spring break and instead headed to my family's beach cabin on the coast....and honestly in a lot of ways it was just what we both needed. We'd brought our backpacking gear with us but then once the weather was so rainy unpredictable we decided to just hang out at the coast until I had to come back for work.
I ended up experiencing the town way differently than I have before...aka we spent a little too much time at the local bars the first night so most of Sunday was just spent lounging around the cabin. But we had so many great conversations curled up on our separate couches and every day we just re-evaluated the weather and how we were feeling in general to determine how the rest of that day/the week would go...it literally was the perfect, restoring, needed vacation.
The next day after a late breakfast, we headed down to the cape, where Reg D sat on the patio of the local establishment with a book, his camera, and a beer, while the dogs and I climbed up the large sand dune/cape and jogged down the beach some. We'd been wanting to try to do some local kayaking but the shop in town was never open, so we eventually drove down to Devil's Lake near Lincoln City to rent some kayaks for an hour. I had a good time being out on the water but the quality of kayak and the lack of scenery wasn't really up to Reg D's desires. (The entire lake shore here is packed with houses.) This is the night we made steaks and sweet potatoes and sat at the table til 830pm engrossed in conversation. Then since I was still recovering from a cold (and swearing off alcohol for a few days...) I curled up on the couch with a book and Reg D headed down to the locals bar...where he met someone who offered to take us out Dory fishing in the ocean next time we go back.
On Wednesday we spent some time lounging around before I deep cleaned the house for the next family members to enjoy it. I was able to get a good run in this day and also cleaned my own house was I got back to it.
I spent Thursday working in my massage job, giving six massages spread out throughout the day. (I have mixed feelings about this job but it's great experience for a variety of reasons, the extra income is helpful, and the one day a week factor makes it a better fit.) My new term was prepped before I left for vacation, but I allowed myself an hour or so of work on Thursday evening to smooth out details that always appear prior to the start of the term.
Friday, I scooped Reg D up from downtown and we had an incredible afternoon exploring some of my favorite kayaking waterways. Saturday I spent at an amazing continuing education Food as Medicine Symposium. (I hope to write about both of these later :)) I spent the last two nights on the phone talking with my mom and she remarked how great it is to hear me sounding so energized, passionate, and yet relaxed again.
This morning, I'm lounging in bed. Cup of coffee by my side, dogs curled up next to me, sunshine outside, the door open with bird tweets and spring time smells wafting in....trying to decide what the best day hike option might be :) I'd contemplated going to church this morning but am feeling more called to go commune with God in nature instead...it's where we do some of our best bonding.
Even with a cough still holding on, a few other changes in the air, and a bit of uncertainty in other areas, life feels pretty incredible at the moment....and I'm finally no longer totally exhausted. :) So grateful for a restoring and much needed spring vacation!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
An Epic 24 Hours
Seriously, somebody pinch me....because life is just...well, pretty darn incredible.
I'm truly starting to believe that what you ask from your heart for the universe to provide...well, sometimes it really does show up...and even more incredibly than you could have imagined.
Case in point: I've been wanting to go to a Blazer game and a Winterhawks game. Winterhawks game is in progress of being scheduled....but Monday afternoon I randomly got a spontaneous text from a friend asking if I wanted to go to Monday night's Blazer game...in club level seats...for free. Uh..yes, yes I do! :) Seats were better than any I've ever had nor could have imagined...and the game was a blast! I had so much fun and the Blazers even won :)
Case in point: Tuesday morning I had another meeting regarding Africa and international health career contacts/options...and I'm STILL expecting to be told that I heard that whole conversation/informational interview wrong because what I heard sounded a lot like an offer of how to go to Africa this summer AND that the whole trip/opportunity could potentially lead into an actual job option...in my dream field...at one of my ideal institutions...and that it would also potentially make all my varied career paths come full circle and connect.... Yup, pinch me......because even if it doesn't pan out..I am so incredibly fortunate and grateful for the offer and this.very.moment that life is presenting...
Case in point: After the Tuesday meeting, I had the dogs in tow so we could go explore the rain break/fresh powder that had arrived briefly on the mountain. We checked out some new trails....and for the first time in a long time, I didn't rush us or care about miles. Instead we just wandered down various new trail options, walked a bit on an old historic Oregon wagon road, and then went 2.5 miles on the PCT trail which included so much beautiful hazy fresh powder...that again, I just kept thinking about how this life...this is what I want to be living....this is what makes me feel alive...this.IS.it. I'm currently living that motto that hangs on my wall: "Living the Life I Love" and "Loving the Life I Live." On these trails, I look around at the beauty that surrounds me, I feel the peace in my soul, I hang out with God (and talk or don't talk)...and I just feel good..happy...settled...arrived. This.is.it.
Barlow Pass Highway
Barlow Pass Wagon Road
We discovered a little something special left on the PCT.
Epic, epic 24 hours :)
Monday, December 1, 2014
Ending November with Miles & Major Smiles!
Seriously, the end of this weekend has been A-Ma-Zing!
Saturday's Training Run:
9 miler from Sellwood Park along the east side of the river, across Hawthorne Bridge, along the west side and through the waterfront development area, down Macadam, and across the Sellwood Bridge where these pictures were taken. It was hailing when I left lunch at my cousin's, but Amy and I had a chilly yet beautiful afternoon jog! Hoping to make a full 11-mile loop next weekend, but I felt good enough that I could have run the full half during this training run.
I spent the rest of yesterday evening getting the chickens settled for the cold weather, taking care of things around the house, reading through a few magazines for fun, and then finished my online grading.
This morning's Ugly Sweater 5k along the waterfront:
Seriously was a lot of fun albeit icy in spots and chilly. Brady and I kept the pace relaxed and the four of us pretty much jogged together for the whole thing. It was so good to see the other two in our group, catch up on their lives, and talk about other race options coming up. The volunteers they had cheering at the event were so fun, we all got new beanies, cocoa post-race, and beers/cider. For a $35 entrance, I really have to give it up to this event--so much fun and definitely got us ready for some holiday cheer! :)
Post-race I was supposed to meet up with one of my favorite gals for happy hour but her family and her weren't feeling well......and I'd heard there was good snow on the mountain yesterday....and the sun was shining.....so even though the weather report said C-O-L-D, I gobbled up some Thanksgiving leftovers, quickly showered from the run, and loaded the dogs and I up in our winter gear to head to one of our favorite mountain trails......
G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! Absolutely amazing. The snow wasn't thick enough yet to need the snowshoes so eventually I just shoved them into my pack but the powder was so incredibly beautiful, the dogs and I were all smiles, and there were so many moments when I thought to myself "wow, this is my every day existence....it's pretty incredible all things considering....."
The beauty of arriving at the trailhead at 2pm on a Sunday? Afternoon sun peeking through...and not another soul on trail....just the way we like it :)
Look at the snow stuck to her muzzle! My new coat and pants were absolutely perfect...it was so cold that I even had multiple layers under both, two pairs of warm socks, my thickest winter gloves, and a beanie!
Roxi's attempt at her snow angel...she loves to roll around on her back in the snow :)
Pano of Lower Twin Lake. The sun was just about to set so we turned back here.
SO cold that my still damp hair froze also!
The sun set behind the trees on our way down trail.... the views were amazing and even the photos could never truly capture the beauty of it all...
Once we loaded back in, I drove over to another one of my favorite snowshoe spots to check out the depth there and to catch a few last moments of light on the mountain.
SUCH an incredibly beautiful end to the long weekend...and truly made me realize how much these parts of my life bring such joy & happiness to who I am. THIS is the life I want and love to live.
And I even still got my homework done...and a homecooked meal in! :)
Saturday, June 7, 2014
What a Great Day
Seriously, today was amazing. There was a whole lot of awesome. A whole lot of low key. A whole lot of lazy too. And a whole lot of moments when I just thought to myself "This is REAL life. This is MY life" and "I'm so in love with THIS life THIS moment." Life...in it's every day moments...man this is it, this is Pinterest worthy. :)
Things aren't perfect. But they never will be and I'm okay with that. But there are so many moments when I lay on my back patio and look around my yard, really see my amazing furry companions, appreciate the fluffy chickens sunning next to me or watch them peck around the yard, and take in the raised beds, the fruit trees, the coop coming together, all the simple, easy details of my existence....and I exhale and so deeply feel the fortune that I already have in this life. There is something about being just another element hanging out in my yard...that lets me feel the whole picture is already in completion.
Or maybe it was the moment this morning as I stood on my rental paddleboard and tooled around Ross Island, watching baby ducks & geese swim along their parents or wobble run along the shores, listening to the birds chattering excitedly among the trees, being happily greeted by all the fellow paddlers I crossed paths with, noticing the ebb & flow of conversation among the immigrant men fishing from the shore, the overcast morning being a perfect juxtaposition for the sunshine of the afternoon, and looking up to the hillsides surrounding that area of Portland just full of vibrant greens and SO.MUCH.LIFE.
Or maybe it was the time with family today via a Facetime conversation with my father & Granny this afternoon with Granny looking happy and chattering on about things on their end or the spontaneous dinner invite to my aunt's with my cousin after they came upon me during their evening walk while I was in the front yard weeding and pruning, and the great conversation that ensued with my aunt post dinner.
Or maybe it was the moments I allowed myself to indulge in just plain day dreaming about life, dreaming of what could be evolving, appreciating the awesomeness that already exists.
Regardless of the many other small things that also brightened, today felt like such an incredible day. The days aren't all sunshine & roses around here, but there are plenty of pretty amazing ones...and lots of reasons why they all have something to be grateful for.
Seriously, great day....
Things aren't perfect. But they never will be and I'm okay with that. But there are so many moments when I lay on my back patio and look around my yard, really see my amazing furry companions, appreciate the fluffy chickens sunning next to me or watch them peck around the yard, and take in the raised beds, the fruit trees, the coop coming together, all the simple, easy details of my existence....and I exhale and so deeply feel the fortune that I already have in this life. There is something about being just another element hanging out in my yard...that lets me feel the whole picture is already in completion.
Or maybe it was the moment this morning as I stood on my rental paddleboard and tooled around Ross Island, watching baby ducks & geese swim along their parents or wobble run along the shores, listening to the birds chattering excitedly among the trees, being happily greeted by all the fellow paddlers I crossed paths with, noticing the ebb & flow of conversation among the immigrant men fishing from the shore, the overcast morning being a perfect juxtaposition for the sunshine of the afternoon, and looking up to the hillsides surrounding that area of Portland just full of vibrant greens and SO.MUCH.LIFE.
Or maybe it was the time with family today via a Facetime conversation with my father & Granny this afternoon with Granny looking happy and chattering on about things on their end or the spontaneous dinner invite to my aunt's with my cousin after they came upon me during their evening walk while I was in the front yard weeding and pruning, and the great conversation that ensued with my aunt post dinner.
Or maybe it was the moments I allowed myself to indulge in just plain day dreaming about life, dreaming of what could be evolving, appreciating the awesomeness that already exists.
Regardless of the many other small things that also brightened, today felt like such an incredible day. The days aren't all sunshine & roses around here, but there are plenty of pretty amazing ones...and lots of reasons why they all have something to be grateful for.
Seriously, great day....
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Not As Expected
Well...life has a funny way of always letting me know that I spoke/speak too soon.
Today I'm in bed hoping that I can get in to see my naturopath before the day is over. I have a swollen lip, fatigued shaky muscles, and just pure exhaustion. I've agreed to get coverage for my class tonight and I'm thinking about skipping out on day two of my massage courses tomorrow, because the only reason I made it through yesterday's full day was by sheer determination.
Yesterday morning I woke up after a solid five hours of good sleep (which was pretty remarkable for these days) and I was feeling organized and like things were going pretty great. I ate a solid breakfast (two eggs, an english muffin w/ ghee & jam, greek yogurt w coconut, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, & half a banana) and had my coffee to go so I could drink it on the MAX. When I got on the train there weren't any seats available so I stood and took out my book. About five pages in I started to not feel so great so I put the book away, made sure to unlock my knees, and chocked it up to a bit of motion sickness. I'd taken off some layers as I was overheating and then for the first time ever in my life, I fainted. I must have realized I was going down so I had started trying to drop to my knees, next thing I knew I kept trying to pick my head up off the floor only to have it smack down harder. I heard people ask if I was okay and saw the semi-circle ring of their feet around me as they'd jumped out of the way. About this time the train had opened at the stop in the tunnel under the zoo, so I grabbed my stuff and stumbled out to where I could sit down and take in the wind blowing through the tunnel. The next train that came through I could see had seats, so I was able to make my way on and find a place to land for a bit. I could feel waves of dizziness coming over me again and at one point thought I might need to get back off the train, but somehow I made it through and got to class okay. The rest of the day is sort of a blur at this point. Three classes, eating regularly, drinking lots of water, a massive headache, sitting down a lot, trying to seem like things were okay even though my head was spacey at times, being really tired, and lots of checking in with the few friends and relatives I'd told about the situation. My aunt & uncle came and picked me up at the end of the day and when I finally was shut inside the car I couldn't help but cry about the whole situation. They drove my car from the Max station, fed me, and then I took a shower and crawled into bed for the evening.
Needless to say, I'm not sure what happened but it definitely wasn't the start to the term that I was expecting by any means. I checked in with my eldest brother (who is a nurse), who advised me to get in to see a doctor (mainly because this coupled with the occasional tanking on hikes could be pointing to a bigger problem) but also said that I'm probably just exhausted, needing more nutrition, and much more relaxation.....which definitely sound pretty valid to me. So we'll see if I can get in to the naturopath today. At this point I'm glad to be confined to bed today--mainly just laying here and doing absolutely nothing....and dependent on how I feel this afternoon, I might just try to have the next four days be exactly the same. What I really wish I had right now was a cabana boy however :) The sun is shining outside and it'd be great to have a buff attractive male to bring me meals, entertain my dogs, and generally wait on me for a few days....
....which leads me to....compassion. This whole experience of the last 24 hours just makes me think of how fortunate I am to have people that care about me, ranging from various family members to my friends to my classmates in the program. What if I had to take the Max back home last night? What if something had severely gone wrong and I had no one to turn to? What if this is/was a bigger problem and I had absolutely no health insurance to cover it? (although I did partly refuse to go to urgent care yesterday cause I don't have the money to pay the difference) I'm incredibly fortunate though to have people who could come and get me, people who are wishing well and encouraging me, and an understanding boss and instructors to grant me time to take care of myself. If anything right now, I'm reminded that I need to be more compassionate to my own students again--granting them grace about the unforeseen things that come up in life. And I also again am reminded of how easily sometimes a health issue can completely change the trajectory of one's life. Definitely puts things into a better, clearer perspective.
So here's hoping that I can figure out what went wrong....and if it's just exhaustion, that my body will be able to heal itself over the course of the next term. Yesterday I couldn't help but try to figure out if I could just work and take a leave of absence from the massage program, but I don't know that that helps me with any of my needs long term and just delays my ability to be self-sustaining. Trying to be open minded but we'll see what happens in the next week to come...
Today I'm in bed hoping that I can get in to see my naturopath before the day is over. I have a swollen lip, fatigued shaky muscles, and just pure exhaustion. I've agreed to get coverage for my class tonight and I'm thinking about skipping out on day two of my massage courses tomorrow, because the only reason I made it through yesterday's full day was by sheer determination.
Yesterday morning I woke up after a solid five hours of good sleep (which was pretty remarkable for these days) and I was feeling organized and like things were going pretty great. I ate a solid breakfast (two eggs, an english muffin w/ ghee & jam, greek yogurt w coconut, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, & half a banana) and had my coffee to go so I could drink it on the MAX. When I got on the train there weren't any seats available so I stood and took out my book. About five pages in I started to not feel so great so I put the book away, made sure to unlock my knees, and chocked it up to a bit of motion sickness. I'd taken off some layers as I was overheating and then for the first time ever in my life, I fainted. I must have realized I was going down so I had started trying to drop to my knees, next thing I knew I kept trying to pick my head up off the floor only to have it smack down harder. I heard people ask if I was okay and saw the semi-circle ring of their feet around me as they'd jumped out of the way. About this time the train had opened at the stop in the tunnel under the zoo, so I grabbed my stuff and stumbled out to where I could sit down and take in the wind blowing through the tunnel. The next train that came through I could see had seats, so I was able to make my way on and find a place to land for a bit. I could feel waves of dizziness coming over me again and at one point thought I might need to get back off the train, but somehow I made it through and got to class okay. The rest of the day is sort of a blur at this point. Three classes, eating regularly, drinking lots of water, a massive headache, sitting down a lot, trying to seem like things were okay even though my head was spacey at times, being really tired, and lots of checking in with the few friends and relatives I'd told about the situation. My aunt & uncle came and picked me up at the end of the day and when I finally was shut inside the car I couldn't help but cry about the whole situation. They drove my car from the Max station, fed me, and then I took a shower and crawled into bed for the evening.
Needless to say, I'm not sure what happened but it definitely wasn't the start to the term that I was expecting by any means. I checked in with my eldest brother (who is a nurse), who advised me to get in to see a doctor (mainly because this coupled with the occasional tanking on hikes could be pointing to a bigger problem) but also said that I'm probably just exhausted, needing more nutrition, and much more relaxation.....which definitely sound pretty valid to me. So we'll see if I can get in to the naturopath today. At this point I'm glad to be confined to bed today--mainly just laying here and doing absolutely nothing....and dependent on how I feel this afternoon, I might just try to have the next four days be exactly the same. What I really wish I had right now was a cabana boy however :) The sun is shining outside and it'd be great to have a buff attractive male to bring me meals, entertain my dogs, and generally wait on me for a few days....
....which leads me to....compassion. This whole experience of the last 24 hours just makes me think of how fortunate I am to have people that care about me, ranging from various family members to my friends to my classmates in the program. What if I had to take the Max back home last night? What if something had severely gone wrong and I had no one to turn to? What if this is/was a bigger problem and I had absolutely no health insurance to cover it? (although I did partly refuse to go to urgent care yesterday cause I don't have the money to pay the difference) I'm incredibly fortunate though to have people who could come and get me, people who are wishing well and encouraging me, and an understanding boss and instructors to grant me time to take care of myself. If anything right now, I'm reminded that I need to be more compassionate to my own students again--granting them grace about the unforeseen things that come up in life. And I also again am reminded of how easily sometimes a health issue can completely change the trajectory of one's life. Definitely puts things into a better, clearer perspective.
So here's hoping that I can figure out what went wrong....and if it's just exhaustion, that my body will be able to heal itself over the course of the next term. Yesterday I couldn't help but try to figure out if I could just work and take a leave of absence from the massage program, but I don't know that that helps me with any of my needs long term and just delays my ability to be self-sustaining. Trying to be open minded but we'll see what happens in the next week to come...
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Feb's Oregon Outdoor Beauty Weekend
This particular weekend is one of those perfect Oregon outdoor advertisements. The opportunity to easily access so many outdoor options within hours of each other is one of Oregon's greatest marketing features.
16 mile Storey Burn & University Falls Loops:
Dogs exploring a random waterfall/creek run-off crossing the trail
Sunbeams through the woods on a beautiful section of trail
An open view of the forest & hills in the distance
Crossing under the highway overpass
A change in the terrain and creek run-off
Crossing the Tillamook River
The dogs & I at University Falls
Pictures of the maps to help guide me
The Storey Burn Loop was a trail outing I had been wanting to cover for a month or two and finally was able to arrange time to conquer toward the end of February. I felt good toward the end of the loop, so I decided to cover more mileage and tack on the University Falls Loop I had done before. I hadn't been able to sleep much the last few days prior to this so I felt like pushing myself to exertion would encourage my body to sleep (plus I also wanted to see if I would feasibly be able to make the 30 mile hike the next weekend). The Storey Burn Trail was absolutely gorgeous this time of year and University Falls was even more swollen than usual. Although not as picturesque as the Gorge, the Storey Burn trail would be a great one to take out of town visitors on.
After the hike, I decided to change clothes and since we were 35 minutes from the beach and my heart had been craving my home environment for weeks, I decided to drive the dogs and I over for sunset and a bit of a beach stroll. Sometimes I just crave an extra dose of spontaneity and its nice to indulge it as well. Luckily I was able to raise my body core back up (which tends to be a problem post work-out and leaves my extremities white and numb thanks to Raynaud's! :)), I looked up the closest beach access, found a tiny market deli where I could purchase some calories (chicken salad sandwich and a PBR!), and navigated the dogs and I onto the sand. My legs were still in tact to manage a bit of a stroll down the beach, so I scarfed down the sandwich and let the dogs roam as we strolled, before settling in on a log to take it the amazing views before me:
Seriously an amazingly fulfilling day!
Twin Lakes Snowshoe Loop
Not to be outdone by the day before, I decided to head up to the mountain on Sunday to get some snowshoe mileage in. I still hadn't slept well but after stretching out my calves, my legs felt good enough to get in another outing. We'd finally been having some good snow and the day was to be sunny as well. This trail is one I have done many times before but the other trail heads I tried were incredibly full and always make me nervous as to how many dogs I'm going to have to navigate Roxi by :)
The day was seriously beautiful, the dogs couldn't believe their good fortune at trail, sand, and snow all in one weekend, and the snow was set enough that I actually only put my snowshoes on once I hit the powder on the backside of upper Twin Lake (about 3-4 miles in).
Lower Twin Lake
Upper Twin Lake w Mt Hood peaking
Drenched from the snow melt crashing from the trees above trail and knee deep in snow in stretches of the back side :)
Seriously an amazing weekend full of Oregon outdoor beauty and adventure, happy outdoor smiles, and finally sleeping like a baby on Sunday!
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