New York City trip

I'm eagerly looking forward to my Thanksgiving adventure in New York City. Long a dream of mine to see some Broadway plays, I finally decided that 'all work and no play' was not working for me anymore. So I'm scheduling myself for every minute of my 3.5 days there. Rockefeller Center, ground zero, MOMA, Guggenheim to see the Kandinsky exhibit, two plays, lots of other sites to see. I'll be in the midst of the 'theater district' and near Times Square.

Fall beauty

6am, 11/9/09
Lots of H1N1 at work and other mutant viruses, one of which has nailed me for 4 weeks. I finally made a camp at urgent care and said, "I'm done, give me antibiotics." It worked! I feel much better now.

This morning, I took in my moments of beauty as I walked back from the store with - what else? - cat food and cough syrup. Walking into the slowly dawning eastern sky, Orion the hunter to the west, overhead a moon piece and from the corner of my eye, I glimpse a hint of the Milky Way.

For this time I need nothing else but to revel in this glory. I remember Psalm 121, "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains...from whence my help comes."

All is perfect in my world. I walked until I had to turn for home to get ready for work. Even though the dawn is to my back, I see it pinking up the clouds in the western sky. I am blessed, favored, protected, alive, synapses firing, awakened, prepared for the day.

August 2009

I saw images of Smith Rock State Park years ago, when I was stuck in Kansas. It was geography I love and I wanted to see it, but many trips to Bend Oregon had me whizzing by the turnoff. So, this summer it was time. A family camping trip was organized and Friday afternoon found me happily exploring this beautiful place. It was interesting to discover how soundly I slept in a tent, even though I forgot to make sure my sleeping place was level, so a midnight 90 degree adjustment was required. The next day was dreamily spent on a several mile hike along the Crooked River. I saw a blue heron. Dan and Karin did this hike and several others (they are young) including the long and steep Burma Road hike. I enjoyed watching the rock climbers. This is a serious rock climbing park. At night around our Coleman propane stove (so much better than the small stove I used to take on backpacking trips), we made wonderful meals, with wine and enjoyed scrabble and reading. I returned to Portland determined to camp once a month. Well, I never made it for various reasons but I see I can do this alone and feel safe in some of the car camping destinations.

OK, these pictures of Smith Rock State Park belong in an AUGUST blog, soon as I figure out how to put them there!

The Crooked River runs along this small park.

Pretty good pictures for a disposable camera.

It seems a long time ago now but it was August when I went with family to Smith Rock State Park, a premier rock-climbing park in middle of Oregon, along the Crooked river. It was just gorgeous and I could live there in a heart-beat. Here are some pictures. I enjoyed hiking all the trails. Dan and Karin did all them and more!