Catching up!

It's time to catch up--and I have the time to do it! I had surgery 10 days ago, and can't go back to work until May. I'm house-bound right now while I convalesce, and I'm bored. So, what better time to catch up with the last year, especially since my Christmas letter didn't attach to emails correctly!

Josh & I dug out the last of the ivy in April, and I planted a garden after adding bags & bags of compost, peat moss and fertilizer. There are goldfish in the stock tank, so off we go! Bring on summer!
Josh got a heart-shaped blister while digging for me. Now, that's LOVE!We went to Crested Butte for the 4th of July, and camped along the way at Cottonwood lake.Josh's longtime buddies: Russ & his kids, Ross, Josh & Bobby G.Me & Josh. Even though it was July, it was chilly!

One of my FO's, Melissa, introduced me to geo-caching, which she does on overnights. We were in Eugene, so we slogged out between rain showers and found a cache near the mall. I found it, and was pretty excited to do so!

My garden by early summer. Loved the baskets!Had I known that this was the last photo of Kalisha while she was healthy, I would have re-taken it until it wasn't blurry--however, getting her to cooperate...still, she was always busy, always wanting to be by me, involved in whatever I was doing. I guess this represents her best after all. I sure miss her.Josh took me to Roller Derby. It was a blast!And we saw something in 3D, but I can't recall what. Guess 3D isn't that impressive.Horizon's party plane in Boise.Apollo laid a double-yolker. It was HUGE compared to Spot's & Drew's eggs. Delicious, though!There's nothing madder than a wet hen! Drew's last photo. She died of unknown causes in June. We miss her a lot. She was friendly, funny, interested in what you were doing--we loved how she'd tap on the window when we were in the basement. She wanted our attention all the time. Spot and Apollo prefer to be left alone. They haven't laid much since Drew died. They were pretty upset by it, sitting by her body, puffed up, trying to keep her warm. They looked for her for days afterwards.They look pretty up high, don't they?
Do you want to know why your flight is delayed? Because this--a microburst--will kill you.This is the result. That line goes all the way to the end, wraps around, and comes back abeam me on the other side. And no, I'm sorry, I can't help you.RJ turned a year in March. Here he is in June or July, getting SO big!He & Sundance are terrific roommates. Sundance is a great babysitter and mentor.Classic cars in Lincoln.Melissa & Greg met me in Burbank for dinner in July. It's so nice that my job affords me the chance to catch up when I can! I was able to see them several times this year.We were shopping at Bass World. They have a huge tank with enormous fish.We started playing with the settings on the camera, and this is what we got. Pretty cool, isn't it?Street fair here in Denver. More fun with the camera settings!

Pie eating contest.

We had a HUGE rainstorm July 7th. The downpour was amazing--you could hardly hear because so much water was pounding down. Everything was flooding!
About an hour later, Josh called me in a panic. His apartment was flooded! There was about 4" of water on the floor.
The roof started collapsing. Everything in his bedroom was ruined. He had to move out immediately, and moved in with me for the summer, until he bought his own house in December.
Um...no. Please no...
I was in Portland in August. Baze picked me up, and we went by my old house in Vancouver. The landscaping has grown up--those Alberta Spruces were only 2' tall when I planted them! I miss that house a lot sometimes, although I'm glad that I live in Denver now. I miss my neighbors, Alice, Aaron & Nick a lot, as well as Theresa. I'm glad that we all stay in touch, albeit not enough!

Baze & I had sushi in Vancouver, and this was my dish. It was excellent, and a unique presentation of the "old way" of serving sushi. They used to pack the fish in rice and vinegar so that it would keep longer, then cut it into bars. That was the way it was served and eaten, long before the sushi presentation that we know today.

We adopted a puppy in July. She's a heeler mix, and we named her Memphis. She's a darling addition to the family! She's really Josh's dog, but she has a piece of my heart, too.
My first walk with Memphis, in the park near my house.

We went to the Museum of Nature & Science to see the Snowmass fossil exhibit. They found lots of mastedons, camels, mammoths and sloths in Snowmass--no one knew they existed in Colorado until they started excavating for a reservior.

I'm always making new friends!

Had to include the vertebra, since I'm having mine fused in a few months!

Me with a piece of a mastedon's shoulder blade.

We always have the views from our office!

I love this retro paint job! LAX
During a Reno overnight, I had enough time to walk down to the river front. I spotted this kayaker, and wondered what he was going to do with that rapid.
OH, that! Wow!
He came up without a problem. He was actually practicing upsets and spins. It was a lot of fun to watch.

There was a terrific little band playing at lunchtime not far from the rapids. I enjoyed seeing this older couple dance--they sure had the moves!
A Grandpa, dancing with his granddaughter.
Church steeple, near the waterfront.
Inbound on the RAMMS arrival, just as a thunderstorm is dissipating.
Thunderstorm with a cap.
My tomatoes and garden in late summer. I harvested a LOT of tomatoes, as well as carrots, peas, beets, herbs and more. Next year will be even better, now that the soil is improving. Ciscoe Morris recommended those pink wraps; they help the tomatoes retain heat and produce even more--I'm SOLD!

I bought the coolest lantern at IKEA. It looks like a giant dandelion puff. We installed it on the patio. We had to put each "puff" on, and there were about 200 of them!

Memphis loves wrestling and playing at Puppy Play Group! She's a ringleader there!

Sunrise in Pasco. I love the shadow of my airplane, reaching towards the tower.
Sunrise, somewhere...
We went to the Classic Car and Airshow at Front Range Airport. Loved this hood medallion!
I got a roommate in Palm Springs.
Josh got really sick when we camped in Crested Butte, and we decided that we might just be a bit too "mature" for tent camping. I bought a darling 1966 camper, complete with turquoise appliances inside. We took it camping at Red Feathers Lakes in August. We caught a few fish (too small to keep), saw some beautiful scenery, and really enjoyed getting away for a while. I was hoping for a bear, but we were one night too late--it was there the night before.
Sunset at DIA.
It's hard for most to look so regal next to a toilet!
I met Kaye at the Gem & Mineral show. It's my 3rd year going, and Kaye & I always have a good time. She & Jack have collected for years, and have an extensive collection at home. These were some of my favs this year:
I planted beets for the first time and had a pretty good harvest. We ate them in a stew and they were delicious!
We adopted a pair of ferrets in September. They were SO cute, with great personalities! Josh named his Patton, and I named mine MacArthur. Unfortunately, Josh was VERY allergic to them, so they had to go back to PetCo.
I can't hear you! I can't hear you! I can't hear you!
Chillin' in the back yard!
Josh & Memphis sharing a cuddle moment.
I adopted two kittens in October. Jazzpurr is the silver tabby. He's named for my friend Erick, who loved Jazz, and because he purrs so loudly and enthusiastically. Luna is named for her beautiful Harvest Moon eyes, and because it's short for Lunatic Schizophrenia Paraniod Blackwood! I think Kalisha approves!What a pretty, sleepy kitty!

I bought the kittens a gymboree, and Josh put it together for me.

Yes, we are HELPING! Someone has to supervise to be sure you don't screw it up!Are you SURE you read the directions? Let me help!Hmm, a hidey-hole. Let me check it out. Can you move outta my way, already?Yippee!Jazz & Luna approve of their new kitty gymboree! Thanks, Josh!I find it a little creepy when ramp equipment smiles at me... GJT, August.

One of the local robins thought the puddle on my hot tub cover was a perfect spa.

Poor Memphis...it's not even Halloween!

She hates us....

Here's another one of those weird low-pressure circles/hurricane things over the Pacific Ocean. They don't always pop up, but I've been lucky enough to spot them 3 or 4 times now, over the past 6 or 7 years.
I love the huge contrails over the wings of this 747--LAX, August.
Josh & Memphis wrestling in the driveway, July 2011
Memphis has the best 'kerchiefs!
A little girl on one of my flights made this for Captain Karen. I had invited her up to the flight deck, and showed her how easy it is to fly an airplane. She might just become a pilot some day!
Melissa & Dean came out for the Broncos/Lions game at the end of October. It was a perfect way to celebrate our birthdays--Melissa's is a few days before mine. She, Josh & Dean hit it off really well!

Josh was NOT happy to see the Saints/Rams score. The Rams really beat the Saints, and it was a total upset--not to mention totally upsetting to him!

We had great seats with a fantastic Rocky Mountain mountain view.Tim Tebow became the Broncos' QB midway through the season. Tim prays on the field by going down on one knee, and it's become a phenomena called "Tebowing." Everyone does it. Even Darth Vader!Even the skydivers "Tebowed" when they hit the ground! It was awesome!
Tim Tebow, #15, running out of the tunnel.Presentation of the colours.

Me, in Lions' gear. I got a Tebow #15 jersey for Christmas, but didn't have it here, of course. Dean is a rabid Lions' fan, and the Lions are the Saints' "Sister Team" this year, so we were rooting for the Lions.

My birthday was...interesting this year. But, Josh saved the day with the beautiful bouquet!

Crater Lake--you just can't take a bad photo!These stacked lenticular clouds were awesome. This is over the Front Range, inbound on the Thompson arrival.Isn't this sort of thing against the law? Jazz & Memphis sure love each other!Sunrise in Cody. Beautiful!

Canada Geese stop pretty close to DIA on their migration route. They filled the sky; my camera only captured a slice of what was really out there. Thousands, tens-of-thousands? Hundreds-of-thousands? There were a LOT of geese out there! This was in November.

Closer view of the overnighting Canada Geese.
DVD player? Check. DVDs? Check. Kitten? Check. I'm ready for convalescence!

My crew & I went to the Farmer's Market in PSP in December. Everything was festively decorated for Christmas.

Our van driver told me that people in PSP push their dogs around in baby carriages so that they don't burn their paws. I thought he was pulling my chain!There was even a PIG! But not in a pram, unfortunately!

I had a lot of fun on my last trip before surgery. I wanted lots of photos & memories, because there was a chance that something could go wrong during surgery, and it would be my last trip, ever.

Tucson decorated their jetway for Christmas--it was the best display I've seen anywhere, in years!

We flew over Yosemite. You can see Capitan and Half-Dome pretty well.

San Francisco always makes for a beautiful shot. The Golden Gate is the orange bridge to the left, Alcatraz is the island on the right, just above downtown and the Bay Bridge.

The World's Most Interesting Captain with the World's Most Interesting Man...he doesn't always fly, but when he does, he flies SkyWest!

Captain Ms. Claus and the Christmas Express, Dec 22nd!I had a C 3-4 fusion on Dec 28th, 2011. I've had neck & back problems for a long time, and have been in severe pain since I got hurt at work by slipping on the jetway a couple of years ago. My neck was yanked pretty badly, and I had tingling in my fingers for months, then started having a lot of severe neck pain. I've had 5 or 6 epidural injections, and an RF, which is cutting the fascette nerves to eliminate pain. Nothing worked for very long. So, the last option was the fusion. My doctor took out a lot of scar tissue that was really impinging the nerve, and opened the nerve duct. He installed a cadaver bone, and I convinced him to use a big one--I'm now 1-2 mms taller!

Here I am after surgery. Don't I look terrific? Check out that HUGE collar! How big do they think I am? I had to wear that for about 10 days, but it was swapped out for a SMALL during my first post-op appt.Breakfast was awesome! Spinach, cheese and tomato scrambled eggs, a blueberry muffin (homemade-no lard!), delicious oatmeal and a latte...I wanted to stay an extra couple of days, just for the food. Rose Hospital took FANTASTIC care of me. Great doctors, nurses, physical therapists and support staff. I was SO impressed with the care I received!

10 days later, the stitches came out. It's going to be a tiny, almost invisible scar. Great job, Renee (she sewed me up after Dr. Ghiselli finished surgery).

Here's my stylin' new collar--much better fit, don't you think?

Jazz & Luna...what am I, a footstool? They sure keep me entertained while I'm sitting on the couch!My orchids are happy and blooming in the sunroom--and are scented! What a great way to start the New Year! Welcome 2012!

The best part of this new year is that I've now been sitting at the computer, working on this blog, for 3 1/2 hours. My back is a little sore, but my neck doesn't hurt at all--and that's going from not being able to type for more than 10-15 minutes without excruciating pain! I'm looking forward to healing and becoming active again! Now that I can sit & type, maybe I can finish a book while I'm not working! I certainly have the time.

Thank you to the donor, and the donor's family, for helping to improve the quality of my life. It was getting pretty dismal, because everything I loved to do caused pain. I've always been an organ donor, and now I am a donor recipient. Kind of weird to think about, but again, I'm grateful that someone unknown to me gave me such a gift.

Happy New Year to YOU!