Sweet Moment of the Week

Kim and Dave: "Lisa, we're heading to the Galena Forest with a picnic and wine, would love for you to join us....but no pressure." (Read, "We know you're having a rough time, and we'd like to help, if that doesn't push you over the edge!)

A nice easy invitation to a beautiful and peaceful place with good friends - just what I needed to remove the crusty layer from my "it's been one of those weeks" mood.

My friends found a new spot in this park that I consider part of my backyard. A hilltop clearing in the woods with a big spread of lawn and a few picnic tables. All in easy wheelchair access, too, how 'bout that?!

Sorry, no picture, I was too tightly wound to do anything more than get myself and my dog out the door. Too bad, the late afternoon sun filtered through the pine trees lighting and shading the world in my favorite way.

Vote for Burgess!

 

Now, there's a good-looking dog, wouldn't you say? Go ahead, say it by voting for him at my vet's website alpine vet reno, click on the contest, and then give Burgess a big mambo number 5. Be sure to click "Vote" after making your selection. To advance the pictures, you'll have to vote on each dog until you get to this picture.

What's his beauty secret? Steal a yummy sandwich and then lick your lips!

This message was approved by Burgess.

Smoke Came Out of Our Ears

 
This raspberry sorbet made by Gerard with berries from his own garden looks sweet and innocent and oh-so refreshing on a hot summer day, doesn't it? Just wait til the black peppercorns hit your palate! Imagine the sound of the 5 o'clock whistle blowing on the Flintstones, then visualize the smoke coming out of our ears. Who knew what adventures awaited in sorbet?

And I Don't Look Much Better!

 

Isn't this depressing? This is Burgess status post his second suture repair of a deep cut between the toes. Yes, all the stitches from last time were ripped out somehow. We were 4 or 5 days into the two-week period of recuperation (read "confinement") - laying really low and each of us losing our mind from lack of contact with the woods, then BAM! Start all over again. I'd post my picture too, but as an English lady I once knew used to say, "I don't want to frighten the horses!" Lip curl could be permanent this time.

Sunday At Gerard's

 

 

Doesn't get more locally grown than the backyard of our neighbor and good friend, Gerard. Did I mention that Gerard is a retired and accomplished chef? French, of course, i.e., he's from France. We picked these lovely berries and had them in a fabulous mesclun salad (also from his garden), along with fingerling potatoes and steak au poivre. James was mildly aghast at how much I ate. Couldn't help it - steak au poivre is my favorite thing. Besides, I worked up an appetite on the Rubicon Trail yesterday.

The Rubicon Report

Meet George, my wonderful driver and guide for the Cisco Grove/Rubicon Trail Trip co-sponsored by Sierra Treasure Hunters Club and Disabled Sports USA-Far West.

First off, I'm happy to say that none of my fears previously noted (see post 7/4) came true. I had no hypoxia and I was very comfortable in the seat - note regular seat belt, not 5-point restraint. Later, I would really wish for more secure attachment to the seat, but George was confident that all was good. Still, I had some visions about granite meeting skin and bone....

I had the time of my life on Saturday. The Sierra Treasure Hunters Club flung open the door to the summer playground and we all got to go out and play. How I have longed to be in the mountains in summer. My eyes were filled with vistas of creeks,waterfalls and lakes, trees and wildflowers, birds and butterflies, deep canyons and steep terrain, and of course, granite.

All the drivers had such skill in negotiating places your mind says a vehicle just cannot go. How exhilarating to overcome barriers like granite boulders and just keep going to see what else was out there. Lesser obstacles than those bring the life of a disabled person to a halt, and I felt completely set free the whole day.

The only thing that rivals all that freedom and natural beauty is that it was all made possible by the generosity of strangers. The Sierra Treasure Hunters Club went way out of their way to make this possible for us. It is because of their immeasurable kindness that I am no longer in the dark about the back country. I weep when I think my life could have passed me by without knowing their compassion and seeing the beauty of an alpine summer. Such a reward for simply saying "yes" to the offer!

Lip Curl Moments of the Week

1. I got the dirty dog blues x 2 - after visiting the swimming hole for hip rehab, my golden did his best imitation of a pig and rolled in the dirt until he was unrecognizably coated in black grit. This was not surprising, but a real pain when I was down on my charms to cajole him back to the water for a rinse off. Of course this happened while the housekeeper was cleaning - so no taking him into the house. Good neighbors Gerard and Linda came to the emotional rescue when I was at wits end and rinsed him off. Lip uncurled for now....
2. Dermatologist called. "You know that mole we took off your face 3 weeks ago? Yeah, its basal cell carcinoma. Please come back next month so we can dig around near your eye and get the rest out." Lip curl plus growl like a dog, swear and cry, geez this makes me mad.
3. ADA nightmare - 102 deg F, hot town, back of my neck all dirty and gritty, can't get into the salon for my 1pm highlights and haircut, because the office that provides wheelchair access is closed until 1:45pm! One beer and one crappy pizza later, I return, that much hotter, that much more tired, and get my hair done. A pretty new hair-do sure can uncurl your lip until you can call the ADA compliance dude.

Disabled Sports 2008 Fundraiser

STEEPEST GROOMED RUN IN THE COUNTRY 3/07

Bi-ski March 2007

February 2007 - 1st ski of the season

4 Wheel Drive on the Rubicon Trail

Muscular Dystrophy. I've got it, always have, always will. That's why I'm lucky - I get to participate in a program called Disabled Sports USA - Far West. I'll open up the skiing files soon and talk about that in another spot on this blog. For now, it's summer, and next weekend (7/12) I'm going with my boyfriend (spousal equivalent !), and one of my best girls, Kris, on a 4 WD trip on the Rubicon Trail. It's a day trip, and I'm excited and scared.

When I say scared, I mean stomach all knotted up type stuff. The jeep will be crawling all over granite boulders for the better part of the day. Now when I ski, I try to avoid bumpy impacts that cause severe pain. So, this plan does seem one of my nuttier ones. However, I was emboldened by the encouragement of Haakon, the program director (title ?) of DSUSA-FW at the end of last ski season. "It's not that bumpy at all, Lisa. They go really slow, and you're in 5-point restraints, and there's a roll bar, too." Roll bar? Well, now that's comforting.

I'm scared I'll get really uncomfortable all pinned down for safety. Sometimes I get panicky when I can't move, or make some adjustment to my position. And if I get hypoxic - then I might have a full blown hissy fit. Geez, that would be awfully distressing and embarassing at the same time. I really just want to avoid having a failure of that variety. It'll be ok even if it turns out not to be my cup of tea, I just hope I can complete the adventure. I want to put this new notch in my belt of adventures.


What really turned me on was when Haakon spoke of how much these 4WD folks love sharing their sport with newbies. And honestly, that anyone would go to such lengths to accommodate me and my disability, well I just have to take the offer so generously outstretched to me. We really are all in this together. Sweet!

I'm excited cuz I'm trying something new, and rugged and something not many people can say they've done. Now that I'm becoming more nature-girl instead of city chick, I might even think that motorized vehicles are sort of anathema to the outdoor experience. Since these jeeps are providing me access to the wilderness, I'm going to remain open and boldly go.

This Doesn't Suck

Hilltop Galena Forest
Fishpond overlook
Cushiony thick green velvet lawn
Cool shade of the pine trees
Percussion stream running downhill feeds the pond
Blue sky above the smokey haze covering the valley below
Belly full of yummy sandwich made by loving caregiver
Tom Petty sings into my ear that
I belong among the wildflowers
Dog sleeps beside me
After hiking in the forest