Another summer has come to an end…..   Keith and I kicked off our summer with a 3 day trip to Washington DC and 2 days in Atlanta.   Washington DC is amazing!  Neither of us had been there and if you haven’t you really need to make plans to go there.   Keith was a bit disappointed we could not tour the White House; and actually couldn’t even get close to take a decent picture without a zoom lens.  The first evening we walked to the monuments (WA Monument, WWII Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial) and viewing them all lit up was cool.  We later returned during day light hours to see the Vietnam Memorial and Korean Memorial (better seen in daylight).   During the day we spent inside the museums (it was hot out) and thankfully they are air conditioned.  Our favorite museum was the Air and Space Museum; although we enjoyed the Presidential portrait museum too.   The National Museum aka “America’s Attic” was awesome, but we were limited to about an hour as they were closing early for an event – had we known, we would have gone there first.   The quirkiest museum was the SPY Museum….you assume a false identity and then throughout the museum you have to pass certain tests (as if you were being questioned at a check point) – and graded to see if you blew your cover or not.  Of course, I was a female Astronomer smuggling scientific papers; and Keith was a 12 year old boy on vacation….too funny.

We made a trip to Ohio and visited Keith’s family first week in August.  Went by our Cleveland house (anyone want to buy it?) and it’s still standing.   I can’t say I want to ever live there again — -it’s no longer our “home”.   Good time visiting family, but of course, I managed to fall down my Mother-in-law’s steps and twisted my ankle.  Keith had to play EMT and go buy a wrap and ice bag.  I limped around, but nothing major…I’ve had worse sprains during basketball in High School (25 years ago!!)

 My summer ended with an operation to remove my ovaries on Aug 24^th.  Of course this was outpatient, laparoscopic surgery, but it wasn’t a walk in the park.  My doctor/surgeon is an OB/GYN and she had delivered two babies before my operation…..so I told her she was delivering my twins (ovaries).  I figured this would be the closest to any delivery I’d have.  She took pictures of my “insides” (I’m not kidding) and showed them to us; and kind of weird to see pictures of your own “insides”.   Not as gory as you would think…   

 Just when I was almost recovered from the surgery, my arm decided to go “whack-o” and I developed cellulitus again (the Friday before Labor Day weekend).   Cellulitus is a bacterial infection in the layer just under your skin.  This is the 3^rd time in 3 years I’ve had cellulites in my left arm.  It hurts!!! I run a temp and can’t move my arm.  7 days of antibiotics and I’m on the road to recovery.  The other downside is that the antibiotic is Levaquin which is prone to weakening your Achilles tendon.  I already have plantar fasciitis so this just adds to the hobbling effect in my right foot.   Does this ever end?

 As for my cancer – well, as far as I’m concerned it’s in check.   I can’t say I’m “cancer free”, but it hasn’t shown up anywhere else and the rib (under my shoulder) shows the radiation has worked!!!   So, with the daily oral meds, and removing the ovaries, I pray all these preventative measures work.   DAMN IT, it better!!

 Keith, Gypsy and I have started a new hobby.  We are now geo-caching.   For those of you scratching your head saying “what?” – here’s the Wiki definition: “Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which the participants use (GPS) to hide and seek containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”) anywhere in the world.”  We are rather enjoying our high tech hide and seek.

 We are planning a vacation road trip in October (2-12).  We’re driving from New York to Denver to visit my Brother, his family and my Mom.  We’ve decided to take I-70 and make some stops to geo-cache; and see some local sites.  Of course, we are planning 3 days to drive 1800 miles, so not sure how much time we’ll have to stop.  We plan to do some geo-caching while in Colorado – there are over 850,000 geo-cache’s in USA.   Gypsy is going with us on the road-trip, so that ought to be an adventure with her in the car for 3 days…..

 To summarize summer, went to America’s capital and Ohio,  left my ovaries at the hospital, blew up my arm with cellulitus, hobbling on one foot, started a new hobby, and kicked out cancer.  All and all, not too bad!

 Hope you all enjoyed your summer – and happy Fall !

 Becky!