Vacation Photos

Thought I'd share with you a couple of pictures from our trip to Olympic National Park. We scored a primo spot. Here is our view of the ocean from the windshield of the motor home. (Yes, we were roughing it!)

This is the beach that we were camped on. The far end of the beach contains rocks and tide pools filled with sea life. Around the headland lies two hidden coves, reachable only at low tide.


Here is a view of Cape Flattery... at the very tip of Washington State. Just incredibly beautiful! Pictures can not do it justice!

Last, but certainly not least, a picture of me playing my Ukulele by the camp fire. I can play a mean Stairway To Heaven! :)

Good News

Ok... so here's the big news. You already know it's good... so much for a big finale.

My partner, Urs, had a progression in her cancer 3 months ago and had to change to a different chemo therapy drug. After 2 1/2 years of weekly IV chemo, she Really wanted to try an oral drug so she could get away from the IV stuff for a while. (Also known as 'having a life outside of the doctor's office'.) Her doctor wanted to keep her on IV chemo and try to knock back the cancer with aggressive treatment. (Which equates to baldness and generally feeling like shit day after day.) Her doc relented and we have just completed the first 3 months on the oral chemo.

Results??? No new progression of the disease!!!

We are SO relieved! This time, more than any other, we were very worried that the chemo would not work. It's just been too easy to take a handful of pills every day! Urs has had few side effects from the drugs and her severe shortness of breath has completely cleared up. She has hiked, biked and walked places this summer that have been impossible for her for the last 2 1/2 years. She feels like a normal human being and I feel like I got my partner back!

Since we both know that this will not last forever, we know that we need to take advantage of her good health and the time away from the doctors to do more of our favorite thing... travel! Our dream is to take the motor home and drive the circumference of the country, but having parents in fragile health and a business to run kind of makes the timing bad. Maybe someday. She still needs IV drugs once a month to strengthen her bones and a quick check up with the doc, and that's all for the next 90 days. So, we have to be back here at least once a month, but other than that, we're pretty free until her next CT scan in January.

More good news... my mom who has bounced between the hospital and nursing home for the last 8 months, gets to go home tomorrow! Yea!

So... that's the news! Good news all around! We've been given the time... now we just need to decide how to use it!

Only The French!

I'll save the good news for one more day. I know you all hate that! :) I found this sculpture on the internet and thought it was quite artistic! Thought I'd share.

REVEL, France — There's no doubt that France has the most beautiful truck stops in the world. There are always very clean restrooms, lots of parking, espresso for a Euro-buck a cup and sometimes even cool art. This three-story-high sculpture is a roadside attraction on the Tour route near Pau.

Back At It

I know, I know... I haven't posted in quite a while. I've got a whole bag full of excuses... mainly that I'm embarrassed that not only didn't I run a single day I was gone, but I also managed to pack on 7 pounds. I enjoyed every minute, but I'm regretting it now! The good news is that I got in an 8 miler the day before we left and have been back running for the last several days.

Today was especially fun. Urs went with me on her bike while I ran a morning 5 miler. It was nice to be out there together, and to have someone to run with. She got some perverse pleasure in peddling past me and calling out over her shoulder, "I dropped ya!"

As my runs get longer, I'm finding it difficult to carry enough water with me. I can't rely on the drinking fountains being operational at this time of year and I hate restricting myself to doing several short out and backs. Hopefully, Urs will agree to keep me company on the remainder of my long runs and carry my extra water.

Today I officially signed up for the half marathon which takes place on Oct. 15th. The course is fairly hilly with one massive monster at mile 9, so the odds of me beating my first time of 2:08 are slim... but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try! :) My primary goal is to finish the race and enjoy myself.

I've got good news to post, but I'll keep you all hanging until tomorrow.