Forecast: Wetness

We had decided to go out to dinner in Rapid City which is about a half hour from us. The weather was nice partly cloudy but nice. After doing some running around and grabbing some dinner we decide that it is time to head back.

I get a weather alert on my phone it states thunderstorm watch I’m ok with that. It is funny how quickly a watch can turn it to a warning right before your eyes. My thought was maybe a chance for lightning photos. Oh wait. You should actually be where it is not raining to take the pictures.

We did however get some from the dash cam, along with hail and slush.

the watch

lightning in the distance

the warning

Keystone

The drive that we take home is kinda curvy this is also where we were stopped by the cows. My only thought was not tonight please NO COWS. Check out the weather and the turns.

So the forecast was right it was really wet.

When You are Glad Roy

Doesn’t have a camera close by. Yes it is true I do goofy stuff. So I admit it. This trip has been filled with some of those times here are a few. I want a picture of the full moon rising over Mount Rushmore. Metal rails make good horses. Roy is definitely not a princess. Rocks are animals in hiding. Knowing I don’t have everything but me thinking I do.

Roy is not a Princess now please remember this is my story. I was running out of logical places to put things on this trip, so where do you store something flat under the mattress. This was a good place because I wasn’t going to be making the bed until we got to where we were going anyway. Well Roy has a three legged seat cane he uses sometimes, I know he needs it so under the mattress it went. I forgot about it and he wanted to use it, I then proceeded to basically tear the trailer and car apart looking for it, because I knew it was here. This is where Roy Not being a Princess comes in,,, Only a Princess could feel a pea under so many mattresses, why couldn’t Roy feel the cane. If he only had a camera to see me racking my brain.
Rocks are animals in hiding. The camera that would have been needed here would be for my face the look of I’m sure it was. I am amazed at how many things rocks especially look like animals. This does though mainly happen when I’m almost asleep so my defense is not paying attention.
For some reason I insisted that the full moon could rise over Mount Rushmore, (it can if I make up a picture) I just could not get it into my head the direction relation. Camera was needed here because of the light bulb that went on when I grasped it.
Knowing I don’t have everything and thinking I do. I do not know why but this caught him laughing hysterically. I have to say he did though plant the seed in my brain. It was during one of the night shoots, I was almost done and he asks “Am I going to leave my tripod there?” I say no . So I put everything away get in the car buckle up and say let’s go. He then replies so you really are going to leave the tripod there. I say no and promptly retrieve it. I say it was power of suggestion I was going to leave it so I tried.

The one that is the main reason I am glad no camera is me attempting to ride a metal rail. I was just being me. I do not know what came over me except my inner child. I had just finished shooting some long horn sheep after gracefully get out of the car for this one. (good day for balance) I successfully got some pictures, then I attempt to step over a guard rail not so gravefully. I get one leg over and mind goes blank on what to do next. So I improvise; I start riding it like a pony and getting into it. That was until this women asks if I was stuck. My answer nope just riding my horse. She proceeded to lose it in laughter. At least my being sorta stuck made her day. I did eventually did get the courage and skill to get my leg over. Roy and a stranger got a good laugh out of it. I do so enjoy making Roy smile all the while being able to say ‘It wasn’t me.’ No photographic proof I can deny it then.

Most Memorable Photography Experience

I was given a challenge from my friend Lisa Langell, to post a picture and story of my most memorable photo experience. By far my trip to Alaska with her for my 50th birthday year hoThe whole trip was memorable as you know from reading my blogs. This Orca picture is the one that is the crème for my memories.

I have always been fascinated with killer whales; I had to see one in the wild.

Back story about me and what led up to this picture. I had a small mid-life crisis and in 2007 I joined the Army (what was I thinking). I served until 2009 because in 2008 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Those who know about the disease know it affects balance as one of the symptoms. (Keep this in mind for later).

In 2016 Roy and I decided we wanted to go to Alaska and drive there. We purchased an A-frame trailer to do this in. On one of the shake down cruises to prepare for the trip we attended a rally with other a-framers, this is where Lisa Langell enters the picture. Camped next to her we get talking and I find out she is a photograph, she loves Alaska and she does workshops in Alaska. (Add to bucket list).

Fast forward 2 years to 2018, I’m now 50 and have been dealing with MS for 10 years. I made it and wasn’t in a wheel chair which is another thing that can happen if you have MS. I was celebrating because a doctor once mentioned that if you are not in a chair by 50 its likely MS will not put you there. I am starting to show some signs that I’m not all ok when it comes to balance issues, I look like I’ve had one too many some times. So the perfect storm came together I had a husband who loved me, a friend who did workshops in Alaska, not in a wheelchair and turning 50.

The picture of the orca is just the fin, I have a few others from that day but seeing them in living color was the best part the photo was a plus. We were on a boat outside of Seward Alaska on Resurrection Bay not a calm body of water. I mentioned that my balance was off because of MS I came to a realization because of this, I think when I am on dry land I feel a little like I’m on a boat. So my brain tried to over compensate for the motion of the ocean (this did not bode well). The end of the day the brain lost that battle and seasickness won.

Picture the fact that my bucket list involves seeing orcas, the mind and body was saying it’s today or never again because boats and me are not a good match. I keep pestering Lisa asking are we going to see one, I need to see, she made no promises.

Well what to my watering eyes I think I see an orca pod. The boat slowed and I gingerly made it up to the bow of the boat. Once there the other people in our small group made room for me, to squeeze in even though I was turning green. This was an amazing site and the orcas were so close we had a baby breach right next to the boat. (I don’t think anyone got a picture.) We are bobbing in the water which is not going to work for me. I am getting ready to head back to the stern when, the fin appeared right in front of me. I snapped the photo and immediately headed back to the stern to embrace a pail and begin the dry heaves.

The whole trip was memorable and I’ve taken other pictures that are also memorable. This picture taught me a few things

Never give up
Take time to enjoy the scene and not worry about the pictures
Stay off boats.

I Understand

I had my foot appointment today (surgery 3/7/20) those who know me know I used to be an Operating Room Technician 68D in the Army so I understand. It’s a look a person gets when they have not touched a scalpel in weeks I had that look after I got out of the Army. I knew what was coming next as she looked at the one part of my scar that still had a scab (it was coming off on it’s own) but she needed to use the scalpel for her own mental health as a surgeon.

Picture this she tells me she is just going trim up the edges. I’m like cool, then she picks up the scalpel and has that look. It was fun remembering those days in the OR. I gave in and let her gently use the scalpel because it is a need a surgeon has. I understand. I am wondering how her Easter dinner will look and what way she will be slicing the ham.

Other things I understood today is how much I do not like wearing a mask outside the OR, she does not like it either. I think it was drilled into me as a student ‘you DO NOT leave the OR with your mask on’. On a side note we talked about music in surgery and I guess at the VA the OR Techs get the main say in what music is played. In the Army we pleased the surgeons, could be they out ranked us.

On the progress side; foot is doing good. I just need to be more active in moving the big toe and rolling up on the ball of the foot. So I return in a month and hopefully she will be over her surgery withdrawals or back to working in the OR.

So, I also understand happy surgeon happy patient!

Words Have Power

This is why I have decided to no longer be social distancing. I will now be doing the same thing but looking at it as physical distancing.

In fact I do not think I am alone during this break from ‘normal’ life, in reconnecting with friends. I for one am going to come through this closer to some people and am going to try and get out more with friends face to face.

When you tell someone to social distance it a least for me was the feeling I must back up and back away. When you switch to the term physical distance it hits the nail on the head “don’t stand so close”. It is almost like looking at a glass half full or half empty, your attitude and viewpoints will help or hurt your mood.

I know I haven’t blogged recently I usually save the blog for our summer trips. Roy and I are still planning to hit up the NWT Canada when they open the border so there will be photos this summer.

So I want to know who is with me with calling it what it is physical distancing.