week two and i'm still on track!!

 these are from a few walks.  above is U-Lake and todays Monday walk below.  sunshine and ice prevail.  mutterings of snow, one can dream.  :-)

 good day at gym today.  went yesterday as well so i am on track.  minimal 3x/week at gym and 2 swims/week.  feels great to have that muscle soreness that comes from working out. had found a great app that has loads of examples of some of my old favorite weigh training exercises.  wish i could figure out a way on it to pull the best to the top or load them into a self created work out. it may be that this doesn't exist.

 i have lifted weights off and on over the years.  my best years being in CA i suppose.  i rode bike everywhere then and lifted weights 2 hours 3x/week.  don't think i've repeated that level of fitness since, but i have come close on several occasions. weights are always a good way to tone i find.  love rowing and elliptical as well.  so i'll work up to a full routine.

 plan to reward myself after 6 weeks with some new gym wear.  it was funny to me looking around.  men get to wear baggy stuff and the women, no matter size, seem to all wear tight, form fitting apparel.

 still getting my routine back.  i like music and this is way easier now than it was decades ago.  figured i'd use my iphone...with the last upgrade it seems all the music i had loaded from my cd's over the years would no longer play...unless i paid an annual fee of $25 to put all my music in the cloud...now it plays again.  it's quite a bit of music.  i do have little ipods that i could also use for music.  think i'll load my little one in the gym bag.  gotta charge it up first.

 yesterday i had forgotten to take my ear buds...tried the headphones that the Alaska Club had on machines, but my head has always been freakishly small so those never stay on my head.  yesterday i just did rowing and elliptical, today i added weights and 20 laps in pool to todays workout.

 loved the light this day out at U-Lake.  Christmas will last months in the woods in Alaska, which is nice.

 sunset one of these last few days.

 these are from todays Monday walk.  just Blossom, Speedy and I.

 this couple hiked out with their skates...Speedy and i were jealous...we'd talked about how perfect that would be last week.  actually happy to see some folks going for it.

 we chilled there while they laced up and kept the pup, Ivy,  below satisfied by using my chuck it to get her running.  she stole Blossoms ball a few times, but she had her own ball as well.  below is a bit blurry but it showed the dog was happy, which i liked.

 we headed out stumphenge way and thought these big cracks were  cool.

 Blossom on the cracks!

 ice is looking pretty dang thick out there.

 one perk to working in hospitals and especially in AK hospitals is all the stories you have access too.  meeting folks who are over 100 or near 100...they just have some amazing stories to tell if you can find the time to chat with them.  i always feel like any patient who is in that age bracket deserves all of the attention we can give them.

 so great when they are amazingly clear headed and still able to have their independence.  not all are blessed with that.  my friend is going through that with her folks.  my folks both were blessed to have been able to keep their memories intact.  it makes taking care of your elderly folks that much more stressful and difficult i imagine when they are forgetful and confused.

 have had several friends who have had to deal with this with their parents.  i recall one friend talking about how distressing it was to have her mom get agitated and refuse any grooming attempts when she had always been so fussy about this her entire life.  having a parent have times where they have to be reminded that you are their daughter would also be distressing.

 these are at a beach...of course, i can't recall which one.  north of Santa Barbara on the way to Atascadero.

 of course, my mom's brain remained intact but she sat around watching Fox news all the day...haha.

 there was this group of gulls on this beach

 upon closer look i noticed that some of these gulls were pretty cool and unique looking.

 bright bills with a little Groucho Marx hair do

 went a bit crazy taking pictures of them  gulls..but look how cool they are!  i'd never seen any like this before.  there was a lady there on the beach who was also enjoying them and she'd never seen them there either.

 strange news..a guy, who sounds like he has some serious mental health issues drove from North Dakota to DC with a truck loaded with guns.  his plan...to kidnap the Obama's two dogs.  the guy apparently made claims upon being taken into custody of being Jesus Christ and of being the son of JFK and Marilyn Monroe.  no idea what his plan was if he got the dogs. thankfully, the first dogs remain safe.

 the idiot in Philidelphia who shot up that poor cop seems like he was making claims that this was connected to the terrorists group.  mental health people often blend religion into their rants and ravings and take actions related to this.  that police officer was amazingly brave and was even able to fight back.  thankfully, the nutjob gunman was apparently a terrible shot.  there have been a few incidences with police but we must always remember that most of the police in this nation are good guys who totally deserve our support.

 sunshine and cool birds. anyone know what kind of birds these are?

 i mean, i know a type of gulls, but what sort?

 a girl and her mom were murdered the other day...the students at her high school and at a few others in town all dressed in blue the other day to show their support and as a tribute.

 this little beach was one of many nice stops along my drive north in CA.  i have always loved that drive so it was fun to be able to repeat it a bit.

 these days keep getting away from me.  still stuff to do, may have to head to bed soon though.

 big bunches of seaweed, always cool, unless you are in the water and get wrapped up in it....then it's kind of creepy.

 always love to pop those balls.  haha.

 these are big.

 look at that sunshine!!

 we were cloudy here.  i actually can get rather happy for a cloudy day after many days of sunshine.  too much sunshine can be a bit dull to me.  i love a good rainstorm ( in the summer) and a good snow storm in the winter.

 passing the birds on my way back to the car again.

 it was time to hit the road.

 some cute sandpipers as well out there.

 very relaxing...

 time for me to settle in for the night.  more to do tomorrow....you know, the to do list stuff that i didn't get to today. haha.

grateful for: A.  getting healthy and having the opportunity to do so  B.  cute pets to share my life with.  they make me smile  C.  a general positive outlook on life...it's a choice.  we all can make it!!

a little of this, a little of that....

 loved this picture from the second i took it...simple beauty is the best, don't you think?  i love that quote...practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.  there is beauty everywhere if you just take a moment to look around.

 this is the hike i didn't do above and below is the hike i did do. i stayed below in this area rich with rocks and lichen.  such a cool area.

 my girl looks great in lichen.

 feeling like running to the vein surgeon is not necessary today.  i woke up sometime between 6-7 am today with a sudden nausea and need to puke.  i suspect the reason i felt so tired and heavy yesterday was that my body had already begun a battle with a virus.  got my flu shot and despite what they say...i do seem to get sick every time i get the dang thing.  i think it does help prevent those most horrific cold bugs that i have gotten in the past and get less of now.

 i was laid up this morning though.  whenever i attempted to sit up the nausea and vomit just kicked back in.  i puked repeatedly off and on until after about 1pm.  i rested between for a short bit but then was back hugging the toilet or the bowl i brought to my room...the toilet was too far.

 bile and dry heaves...i hate puking!!  at one point i did see a smiley face in my bile as it swirled around the toilet...

 the poor dogs were quite confused.  after i thought i had puked it out i figured i'd better try and feed the pups and let them out.  the dog food smell just sent me right back to the bowl.  in between heaves i grabbed their bowls from the counter and set them down for the dogs.

 sucked because it was a pretty day and i really wanted to get out.

 around 2 i was nauseated and hungry...i slowly attempted a few sips of sprite and then a bit later some crackers. by 3 i mustered myself up to a cup of jello and even got out to the petsmart and grocery for some supplies.

 the puking had ended. felt somewhat queasy and tired all evening but thankfully i was able to chill and watch some of my new big bang shows.

 silt with ice right below the surface

 a few more from the glacier last week.

 Rio was happy to wade into the glacier run off.

 the silt was a bit thick, feared she'd get sucked in.

 this evening i rested and attempted to accomplish a few things between resting.  the sun was setting and it looked pretty. i attempted to get to the trailhead near my home that i tend to go to when i want to catch a sunset.  when i pulled into the parking lot a few moose were happily browsing away.  i couldn't disturb them so no sunset really.  i was too late anyway.

 love that plant life is already coming up through the muck...thank you birds, wind and small critters not doubt.

 i went up basher road to see if i could see any leftover sunset tonight and instead got sucked into more moose activity. first there was a big male right by the road.  he wasn't happy with me trying to pass him and i feared he may try to take out the car.  eventually he booked behind my car.  i looped up for the view and then on my way down i saw that the big bull was pursuing a female moose...Sex and the city for sure!! it's that time of year...the rut!! soon i saw her two young calves. she wanted nothing to do with this male but he wasn't backing off.  i watched for a bit then headed back down the hill to home.

 the bridge out of the glacier area..

 and from the glacier viewpoint.

 so not my best day.  did i say how much i hate puking?  i'm drinking some gatorade trying to re-hydrate.  hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.  of course, it will also probably be raining.  oh well...that is how life goes.  when you are sick, you are sick.

 lay about tonight watching "the help" on tv.  always love that movie.  power to the people!!  always amazed how badly people will treat other people when they feel they have societies ok to be nasty.  thankfully, there are always the good guys, the brave and courageous sorts who are willing to do what is right no matter the risk.

 printing out a bunch of letters to get in the mail.  that was my WARIS task for last night and today.  now clean house, get some bumper stickers ready to mail off and climb back in bed.

 these are just more from local hikes.  always love the red carpet of the forest.

 splendid and royal

 this is in the bog i believe.

 these are the stickers!!  can't believe how small they look...that is 500 stickers!!

 off to the dog park.

 and more leaves...so pretty.  each leave gets a chance to go out in a flame of brilliance all it's own.

 it's an awesome display

 stripes and spots.

 University Lake...

 of course, Blossom seems to be oblivious to the beauty...animals may laugh but do they experience awe?

 these are at Cheney Lake.  the light was amazing so i decided Blossom needed an extra walk that day.

 awesome sauce!!

 that is what i'm talking about...

 and check out the color on that water.  sparkling!

 my day was not filled with enlightenment or powerful messages, but i did get through it anyway.

 these pictures brightened up my day. enjoyed going through them as i hadn't yet checked them out on the computer.

 i feel quite blessed to live in such an amazingly beautiful place and to be able to get out and enjoy the sights and more...to be able to share this beauty with all who want to see.

 these are still at Cheney Lake.

 Blossom enjoyed the slow walk around while i stopped and snapped pictures.  i think i just had the little camera with me this day.  didn't do too badly though.

 one need not have the most expensive camera equipment to capture beauty in Alaska...it is there for the taking.

 more leaves expressing themselves.

 talk about going out with a bang!!

 even the ferns find a way to express themselves.

thankful fors...A.  that the vomiting stopped and that GI bugs tend to be short lived B.  that even if i can't get out of bed, the beauty is right outside my windows to be enjoyed C.  that i can watch the moose action so near my home..