Well, I really did it this time. I was out for my usual early morning bike ride on the wonderful urban trail here in Fort Collins on Sunday August 19th. As I rounded a curve, I came upon some walkers headed my way, and in the process of moving to the right side of the trail to allow us to pass each other, I didn't slow enough fast enough, (I guess, it's all a bit hazy), my tires went off the trial and caught, the bike stayed put, and I went flying, forward and to my left, no time to roll. In the weeks following, while trying to heal, I realize I don't have enough road rash to explain a slide. I ended up with 3 fractures in the upper ball of my left arm humerus. So the only reasonable explanation is I must have pancaked onto the trail. Which explains the location of the break and the lack of major road rash down my left side. Thanks to my helmet, my head is fine.

Talk about your forced rest times, and calls to slow down. As I am left handed, and my job entails major writing and typing of interviews, I am out of work on disability until I can get my arm and left hand back to normal. I sure miss my bike rides, especially with the weather turning now to perfect! I have a much better appreciation for my Dad, who has only use of his right arm due to a stroke 16 year ago, (at least he is right handed) and having worked in geriatrics, it is good to see how hard it is to get dressed with one hand.

I have gotten a year's worth of reading done in 1 month, which is good. My co-workers are working even harder, which is bad. I have been able to plan my parents' 60th wedding anniversary celebration, which is good. I am off work for 6 weeks, which is bad considering I am used to 40+ hours per week. But hey!, I have a legitimate Sports Injury! And any one who really knows me, knows that is a bit of an oxymoron for me. I take what I can get.

So the lesson is, always wear a helmet, slow down and enjoy the ride, look out for others, and try to break the arm you don't write with.

The past 2 months of biking the trail in Fort Collins has reaped new rewards in wildlife sightings. I have seen either a killdeer or a semipalmated plover, I can't decide, the sighting was too brief and I was traveling too fast. I have seen a huge pelican, a blue heron, in addition to the resident mallards and their hens, and a cormorant.

I have also been blessed with the song and sighting of a Western meadowlark, When I was growing up in Cheyenne, WY, we had meadowlarks everywhere, and I became accustomed to seeing and hearing them. Since I have been back in Fort Collins, CO, just 45 miles south of Cheyenne, I have not seen or heard a single meadowlark in the last 6 years. Maybe it was just because I was not biking until last year, but I do not recall seeing or hearing any last year either. I only hope there is more than one as he has been spotted in 2 entirely different locations along the bike trail. I also (hopefully) narrowly missed (?) a small water snake headed to the lake. I also love sighting the occasional deer in someones back yard.

Of course, these are all in addition to the birds that frequent my bird feeder, which also draws the neighborhood grey squirrels and at night the raccoons finish off anything left by the birds. It has been a quiet year for the red foxes that live in the field behind my apartment.

Again, dare I say, I love living in Colorado!!

Here's to natures myriad choices.

As I take my bike rides on the weekends, in addition to peddling just as fast as I can, given my leg strength and levels of energy at that moment in time, I really enjoy the sights and sounds along the way. I tried using my new iPod Nano on my ride, and that lasted just 1 time. I missed the soulds of nature, the birds, frogs, water, and wind. In the last month I have encountered the usual Canada geese (which we have in ever increasing abundance), and ducks, but also white tail deer, pelicans, herons, a young hawk being pestered by small birds, the shadow of a hawk searching for breakfast, red fox, prairie dogs, and of course grey squirrels. All of this on a central city bike/hike trail that cuts through the middle of Fort Collins.

On my rides, I keep pondering a couple of deep and spiritual questions. ;-)

1) When geese (or ducks) take their young hatchlings back into the water after foraging in the grasses, do they go for a swim, glide, float, paddle, ride, cruise, skim, or wade?

2) Who first figured out how to eat an artichoke? And How/Why? I love them, so I was just wondering?

Just wondering. Ha! Ha!

Just before my holiday visit to NC for Christmas with my daughter Sheri's family, I fell off my shoe and broke a bone in my right foot, the little spur on the 5th metatarsal. So I hobbled around in a bootie on the job and through the airport. Slow down, Lillian. No choice as I was unable to walk at my usual break neck speed. Lucky to not have done worse damage. But walk slower I have been. (2X4 method)

Then, my new Mac Mini hard drive (8 months old) TOTALLY crashed. The Apple people in Boulder were unable to retrieve ANY data. So I have lost ALL pictures not saved to an external location or printed out. Those were the most important to me, as data and files can be rebuilt. Emails resent, info relearned. But the memories are only in my head and those not sent to other family members are gone. Luckily I had transferred some pics to an external site for viewing by family and friends. So, Save, Save, Save. Even Macs crash. But on the up side, I have a new hard drive and a back up system now. Back it up, Lillian. (2X4 method, again)

Until that happens you do not realize how dependent we have become on the Internet, computers, and the technology in our lives. Email and cell phone are such common place methods of communication, I often wonder and marvel at the way things were even 15 years ago.

I was on one of the last flights out of Denver on Wed, 12/20. The air crew asked to volunteers to take a later flight and get a voucher. NO takers. Hah! We're from Colorado. We knew if we got off the plane we would be stuck in the airport when the storm hit. So the checked luggage was elected to stay behind. No Problem! I just wanted out of "Dodge" so I could start my holiday with my kids and grand-kids. Clothing can be borrowed, makeup and toiletries can be replaced or borrowed. Christmas gifts late, no problem. Time with family, Priceless! I got my luggage late on Saturday in time for Christmas morning, after the State of Colorado had been shut down for 2-3 days. It was worth the wait and I realized how many more clothes than I needed were packed. Live with less, Lillian. (2X4)

Well, I'm finally back to walking with out the bootie and ace wraps, we have more snow and sub-zero weather but I am able to work, I am slowly rebuilding by picture files, and other data. Lessons learned from life often come at the most inopportune times, until one really steps back and ask why? Why now? Slow down, memories are in the heart and mind, live more with less, family and friends are more important than things. (2X4 method always works).

There is a line from "Bless the Child" by Nightwish I love:
               "Think of me long enough to make a memory"

That is what friends and family are for, life is for living and making those memories. I have memories to last me for ever.

Namaste.

It has been awhile since I have had time to add anything but I love my new job!!! I am super busy and my weeks zip by. I am busy making sure those in a position of national security or in a position of public trust are of good character and worthy of their jobs and responsibilities. Heady for some but important and time critical.

I recently received an email from a fellow zaadzter, and I know she does not have time at the present so I will relay any who are interested, to her art web site. Krisztina Lazar is an up and coming new artist with great talent. I met her through my son, fellow zaadzter, Sean, and she has been so very busy learning and painting.  Check out her recent exhibition at  www.transcendentbird.com/about14.html

If you are wondering, Sting's new album, Songs from the Labyrinth, is amazing. Check it out. All the words and music were written in the late 1500's and early 1600's. Sting's voice is aptly suited to this music and he does it with such warmth. A modern bard singing songs from an Elizabethian bard. Timeless.

In darkness let me dwell (John Dowland, A Musical Banquett, 1610, no. 10)

       In darkness let me dwell,
       The ground shall Sorrow be;
       The roof Depair to bar
       All cheerful light from me,
       The walls of marble black
       That moisten'd still shall weep;
       My music hellish jarring sounds
       To banish friendly sleep.
       Thus wedded to my woes
       And bedded to my tomb,
       O let me living die,
       Till death do come.

I am spending the month of August on detail working in Jacksonville, FL. Nothing against the area for those of you who love to live here and love the constant sun, heat, and humidity, but for me, I love that I live in dry Colorado. Being back here reminds me of why I was so happy to leave Miami after living there for 12-1/2 years. Toooooo humid. All my paperwork and my clothing are continually damp, limp and soggy. And that is in a continually air conditioned hotel room. Nothing ever really dries out.

My hair, diffiicult at best with it's own natural curl, is impossible after a day out doing interviews and getting records! By the time I return to the hotel I have more curls than I could ever hope to get if I really tried. AND I am soaking wet from head to foot. Even the heat (the same) in Colorado, never does this to this level. The Humidity is the real culprit.

Enough ranting and raving. But seriously, the dampness never goes away and gives me another reason to confirm my choice of moving to dry, high altitude, Fort Collins, CO. I do have to admit, that I have never been a sun, surf, sand, beach type of person. If you are, more power to you. As for me, give me dry, I can always add moisturizer, but once humid, you can't take it away.

As for my foray to St. Augustine, what a pretty city! Lots of history and lovely architecture. Very friendly people and hot and very humid. Worth the visit.

Here's to Home.

I love living in Colorado, Fort Collins specifically. Today it is snowing cottonwood and the weather will be perfect at about 72. Yesterday it was stormy without rain, and the day before was hot at 93. It is so true, that if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change. I also love the wildlife here. On a typical day you can see, hear or encounter bison (buffalo), white tail deer, raccons, red fox, jack rabbits, cougars, black bear, Canada geese, mallards, humingbirds, storks, red tail hawks, swainson hawks, kestrals, golden eagles, and bald eagles, at the very least. It is truly amazing. And the Rocky Mountains are always close and a balm for the eyes and soul. 

Today is a holiday for most people. My parents are visiting family in Texas, my son is in his new home and life in California, my daughter and family are in North Carolina, one brother here in town is doing family things, and I have the whole day to myself. Some would say I am alone. Nonsense! I am not alone, I am with myself, my world, my thoughts. I enjoy the peace of solitude. I get enough of the world through my job, which I thouroughly enjoy, but when I come home, I am home. I love the ability to do as I please, when I please, without the need to apologize for my actions or inaction to another. That is the freedom I have gained following my second divorce. I have found no need to seek out another soul to share my life. I have ME. I have my children and grandchildren. I have my parents for as long as I'm allowed. I have my cats. I have my thoughts. I have time for me. Time to learn tai chi, time to bike, time to read, time to discover new friends. 

As I am not one for musing on paper (online), and have been a notoriously bad journal keeper, I would like to just pass alone an old quote I found and kept from Readers' Digest many, many years ago that may be as useful to someone as it has been to me over the years:

W.H. Murray:

    The moment one definitely commits oneself, the Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help that would never otherwise have occurred. A stream of events issues from the decision, raising unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.

    I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: "What you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

                                                  --The Scottish Himalayan Expedition (J.M. Dent)

And if not, there is always Plan B.  

 

Well, I have had my new bicycle for about 1 month and I have been very good atbout riding most every day except when the wind or rain makes it miserable. Or when my work day goes into 10 or 11 hours. I really enjoy riding the great trails we have in Fort Collins. I usually go "hell bent for leather" and really work my arthritic knees. It is a wonder I can walk at all when I finish. Sure beats the heck out of the non-used treadmill I have had for ages. That is soooo boring and there are so many reasons I can think of NOT to use it. I find that the bike is fun, enjoyable, easy to do solo, and really burns way more calories than the treadmill could hope to do. Plus not so much stress on my knees. I have to say a great big thanks to son Sean for finally getting me on a bike, wish I had been able to afford to do it earlier so we could have had more bike time together before he moved to Palo Alto, CA.

So other than that, my life if pretty much the same every day. I love my job as an investigator which makes my days and weeks fly by. If I say anymore I will have to kill you. Ha! ;-) But I love it and my age and life experience are a plus for this work. Yea! So enough for my first blog, time for a bike ride.

Ok, I am finally on Zaadz. This is all thanks to my friend, Sean, and his help, coaching, ideas, and enthusiasm for life and learning. I have never been one for journals of any kind, so we shall see how this goes. As this will probably be a weekend only activity, and I have spent the entire day doing this twice (deleted the original entries by mistake), rebuilding the home items will be slow. Namaste!