A Bit of Weekend Fun

I hope today finds everyone well rested and that you had a pleasant weekend. Instead of blogging about writing today, I thought I'd share my weekend.

I've danced around this over the last few months, but I'm just going to come out with it. Last November my dad was diagnosed with ALS, better known as Lou Gherig's. I indicated this had happened to a loved one, but didn't say who. This is the reason I attended a CNA program, as I'll be caring for him with my mom when the time comes. He's been given about five years, though there are no guarantees. Last January, they said only a year of that would be "quality of life." My dad is handling it heroically. The rest of us, not so much.

This past Saturday we attended a walk to raise funds for ALS research and care of those suffering from the disease. All but one of my siblings and my sister-in-law were able to make it, so we had almost the entire family. It was a gorgeous day, albeit chilly, though the delicious Colorado sun warmed us enough to not need coats. My mom has recently had two knee replacement surgeries and isn't completely healed yet, and my dad is waiting on his wheelchair to be ready, so had only a walker with a seat on it (so he could sit and rest as needed).

Everyone was happy, friendly. There was a tribute to those lost to the disease this year, the numbers staggering. There were three different bands performing along the walk, and a singer on the main stage.

We dressed up like superheroes, the theme of the walk being heroes. We stretched it a bit for the kiddos, who were Harry Potter and Hermione, in robes hubby had spent the previous couple days making. Hubby wore his Batman costume, and my sister, her friend, and I wore themed t-shirts. My middle brother, a police officer, hadn't realized we were dressing up, or he could have come in uniform.

Here's my family (missing two brothers, one sister-in-law, and two toddlers), with my dad in the front:

Thanks to hubby's Batman costume (you can't tell how intricate it is from this picture, but we were stopped repeatedly so people could get their pictures taken with him, or have their kids say hello and give him high-fives.) We won best team costumes, even. Woo-hoo!

Here we are at the starting line:

And my dad:

As my dad will be in a wheelchair soon (likely within the next month for part of the time), we've decided that next year we'll all be X-Men, and he will be...guess...Professor Xavier. Except I know he'll never let us shave his head and beard, so he'll be a modified version. I've claimed Phoenix/Jean Gray (since my mom claimed Storm).

Sunday we drove up to the mountains to see the aspens changing color. We tried out a new trail in the Jeep and found some great rocks to climb around on for awhile. We even got a nice family picture with the golden aspens behind us, though a bit of dust on the lens created a white circle over my face that I didn't see until we got home. Ah well. The rest of the family looks good!

This coming Saturday I take the state boards to complete my CNA. This week is cram week, starting today. I'll still be posting Wednesday as usual, and taking part that day in Bullying Awareness. However, I may not reply to comments until after state boards.

A quick note, we're now doing monthly online writing workshops that are absolutely free through Pikes Peak Writers. They are typically the third Tuesday of each month, but this month, as our usual in-person workshop will not be able to be recorded, we're having a bonus one a week beforehand. If you'd like to know more about NaNoWriMo, you can attend this Tuesday, 6:30 PM MT. You can find more information here. There's live chat, and both audio and video of the speaker. I'll be online during it and would love to say hello! You do have to email rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com for me to send you the link to the online venue, though.

So, how was your weekend? Have you been seeing fall foliage? Is it finished, flourishing, or just beginning? 

May you find your Muse.

One Down, One to Go!

Thanks for the well wishes last week! I passed the final and finished the class with a high enough score to get a personal letter of reference (my goal when I set out). You had to get a 97% or better in the class, overall, and I did. Shew. Still got it!

People have asked what class it was. I'm studying to be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). Now that I've passed the program and the final (which consisted of two parts: written and skills demonstration), I just need to pass the state boards to be certified. At this time I'm considered a GNA, or General Nursing Assistant.

The reason I'm working for this is to care for a loved one with ALS, better known as Lou Gherig's.

Now that classes are behind me, I'll be going on a one-week road trip with a few family members, leaving late Tuesday night and returning the following Tuesday or Wednesday. I've decided to take a break, rather than scheduling advance posts when I can't respond to comments and visit back. As I have no idea how much online time I'll get, it's best just to be on break. I'll return to posting either next Wednesday or the Monday after.

Before I go, I want to make a quick announcement concerning a friend's serial. Andrew Leon, of Strange Pegs, has been putting out pieces of a series in serial form. He is now releasing these as sets, with parts 1-5 coming out in one set today. The price is $1.99 for five parts of the story. If you have previously read parts within 1-5, he's asking that you purchase this collection and leave a review: Shadow Spinner, Collection 1.

Back to my vacation, I'll hopefully be visiting Crater Lake and the Vortex, both in southern Oregon. Look for pictures coming after I get back home!

Did you take a vacation this summer? Where'd you go? Ever been to Crater Lake or the Vortex? 

May you find your Muse.

I'm Back!

Hi! ~waves~

I had a great visit this past week, getting to see some family members I hadn't seen in over a decade. It was a short visit, but we got to show them some of the local sights, and we had time to chat and touch on memories.

Now it's time for me to get back to "work," because I missed you all!

Spring decided to finish early 'round these parts, and we skipped the lovely mild 70's, going directly into the upper 80's. The sounds of whiny kids and cranky parents are already floating on the breeze (joined by our own personal chorus, of course). The media is feeding off the quiet panic of those who weathered the Waldo Canyon Fire last year, reporting on all the weather emergencies we had in the month of June (several feet of hail that had to be removed with snow plows, tornadoes, flooding, and the fire), and warning us that this year could be equally crazy. Wouldn't want to have a reason to relax as we ease into summer, now would we?

Bunnies have taken up residence under our porch, itty-bitty babies hopping about and hiding under the sandbox. The magpies are out in full force, shrieking at the red-breasted robins as everyone vies for the desirable nesting real estate in the area. A random fox trots through the neighborhood, eyeballing porches for food left behind by sticky children. Rattlesnakes sun themselves on naked pink rocks. Deer munch on the sweet high-desert grasses, strip bark off trees, and meander across the street, daring motorists not to see them. A hummingbird whistles up to the feeder on the back porch, calmly sipping as its wings flutter into a blur.

The scents of barbecuing meat drift in through the windows, watermelon seeds and cherry pits fly through the air. It's Memorial Day, but how many consider what this really means, why we have this "holiday weekend," as I've seen it referred to. Have we forgotten why some of us get this little break?

I won't be barbecuing today, though I don't begrudge those who do (not in the least, so please don't think I'm making a statement on how anyone celebrates Memorial Day, because we all observe it in our own way, and I respect that). I've lost too many loved ones, either physically or emotionally, watch still as silent killers left over from military service take them down. Agent Orange, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gherig's Disease, which veterans are twice as likely to get as civilians), all of these and more stalk our veterans. Today, I fly the flag and think of those who have served, and who serve still. I think of the loved one who was recently diagnosed with ALS, because it is thought related to his time in service to this country, and not only is today Memorial Day, but this month is ALS Awareness Month.

Today, I honor others. Today, I grieve, what has been, and what will be.

I hope many get to spend the day with their families, celebrating however they choose, enjoying that time together. But I also hope a thought is spared for those who can't see their families today, because they fight for their country. Or because they fought for their country.

What are your plans for the day? Barbecuing? Seeing family? Water balloon fights (we did that yesterday)? A day at the pool? Hiking? Camping (if you're camping, you probably won't see this until later, eh)?

May you find your Muse.

Flag courtesy of OCAL, clker.com
Barbecue grill courtesy of OCAL, clker.com.
Heart courtesy of OCAL, clker.com.