Got A New Camera. Not The One I Wanted, but a camera. Caution, don’t look if you are squeamish…..

After studying the different cameras available on the market, and talking to several knowledgeable people, I had decided to buy a Nikon D5000.  It is a digital SLR camera with good reviews and a lot of good features. At around $700 for the body and two lenses, and a battery charger and an SD card, it would have been a good camera for me to use while I learned how to use a digital SLR because it would also take pictures in automatic mode. That’s where the camera does all the settings automatically so you don’t have to think about it. But, alas, it was not in the cards for me to get that camera right now.

That is because the night before last, after dinner, I broke my partial plate. For anyone who wears dentures or a dental device like a partial plate, you know how expensive that can be. I got the plate in 2005, when we were still living in south Texas, 8 miles from the Mexican border. I walked across the border, had six teeth extracted, and had the partial plate made, for a total expense of $400. That included an antibiotic and pain meds to take after the extractions. I never thought about the thing breaking. Heck, I didn’t even know it COULD break. And I didn’t know you could only expect a partial plate to last for five to seven  years!

After my initial shock, I did what any other sane person would do–I googled the internet for “repairs to partial plate”. The most important thing I learned from that search is that MY partial can not be repaired, because it broke on the metal part. They can only make repairs if it is the plastic part that broke.

My next search was for what it would cost to get a new partial plate made. In the United States, a partial plate like mine would cost me a whopping $1500 to $2000 at a regular dentist’s office!  I know dental work is expensive, but this is not even a full set of teeth we are talking about here.  At discount denture place I found, I can get a new set of teeth for about $650, but I would still have to drive down to Phoenix, twice. And that would also involve staying in a motel overnight both times, because it is just too far to go there and back in one day. So, we are still trying to decide whether to go to Yuma and walk across to Mexico, go to Phoenix, or wait and go to the outlet they have in Georgia in November.  I CAN eat, just not a steak or a pork chop. And it would be sooo much easier to wait and go in Georgia when we get back east.

At any rate, in anticipation of having to spend at least $650 out of pocket, I decided it wouldn’t be prudent to also spend over $700 for a new camera, even though I really really want it.  So, when we went to Kanab today, I bought an Olympus SP-600UZ. It is NOT an SLR camera, but it is a pretty good digital camera for under $200.  It has lots of good features, including taking pretty good videos. The pictures come out clear and with good color. Which is what I want a camera to do.

It takes pretty decent photos of people:

It does pretty good on close-ups:

Landscapes:

And zoom:

Full sun does not wash out the color of the sky and forest:

And just because I like this photo:

So, even though I didn’t get the camera I wanted, I DID get one, and that is a good thing. Now for those teeth…..

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The Long Ride, Part Two

So, I left you all at the end of the day on which I took the long ride down the Kaibab Plateau in the back of an ambulance. The nice Dr. Nelson suggested that I get checked out by a cardiologist “just to be sure” there was nothing wrong. So, I spent Monday on the phone setting up an appointment for me with Dr. Wani in Flagstaff. He is affiliated with the Flagstaff Medical Center Heart Center.

Going to Flagstaff involves getting a motel room–it is a little over 200 miles away from where I live and work. Flagstaff is a tourist town in summer, so it is difficult to get a room. The Marriott, however, does have a medical rate, which is quite a bit lower than getting a room for touristy stuff. I like that in a motel. I almost seems like they keep a room or two held back for medical customers, or at least I got that feeling from them. They also happen to have very nice rooms and free wi-fi that actually works, so that made our stay in Flagstaff a little better.

We also had to go down to Prescott, Arizona, to the VA Medical Center there for FabGrandpa to get his regular bloodwork done and to follow up  on his cataract surgery he had in March. So, we left the Kaibab Plateau early on Tuesday morning, as the sun was coming up. The drive to Prescott is 302 miles, so we had a room reserved there for Tuesday night. We went to the VA, got all the stuff done, then went to the room and checked in. The wi-fi there at the Motel 6 did not work, and it was not free. The bed was too small, and was pushed up against the wall on one side, so that FabGrandpa said he felt like he was sleeping in a crib.  During the night, the people upstairs from us started fighting–the police finally came and hauled them off to jail around 2:30 in the morning. We won’t be staying a Motel 6 again any time soon.

We got up around 4:30 a.m. and left that crap hole of a motel–no reason to stick around any longer than necessary. We made it to Flagstaff around 9:30 in the morning, after stopping for breakfast at the Cliffs Casino in Verde Valley.  The people at the Mariott let us check in right away. My appointment wasn’t until Thursday, so we spent Wednesday shopping for things we needed–all the non-perishable groceries at Wal-Mart, some insoles for our boots, (seems SOMEONE threw away the ones we bought in Alabama when we bought the boots. Don’t know WHO could have done that, but they were no where to be found), some new bras for me. And you know how I hate to shop for bras!

Thursday, I went to see Dr. Wani. He seemed like a very good doctor. He asked me lots of questions about why I was there, what happened the other day, my medical history, etc., etc., etc.  After looking at my records that had been faxed to him from Kane County Hospital from last Saturday, he decided I needed to have a Cardiac CT Angiogram. I thought I was going to have a stress test, but this is something different. Dr. Wani said it would show him a complete picture of my heart and arteries and would show him whether or not I have a blockage or anything else wrong.  Lucklily for me, he was able to schedule this for the next day at 4:oo pm.

On Friday, I went over the the hospital at 7:30 a.m. to get blood drawn so they could check for cholesterol levels and some other stuff. This blood test had to be done while fasting, so I had to get over there early so I could go eat.  For my entire life, people have always had trouble finding my veins. It’s like they are non-existent, or too small, or whatever. This day was no different. The first lady stuck me and started digging around to try to get the vein, so I very politely asked her to get someone else to try it. The next one tied the tourniquet so tight it felt like my arm would fall off, but she did get the vein on the first try. I always hate getting blood drawn because of that.

Later, at 2:00, I went back over to the hospital to check in for the CT Angiogram. They took me in and gave me one of those hospital gowns to put on, then sat me in a chair. They hooked me up to an ECG machine and took my vital signs. My heart rate was 53, blood pressure 123/61, and the ECG was a normal blip line on the screen. About that time I was wondering why I was there. Anyway, the RN who was doing this part of preparation said that I would not need to have the medication they normally use to slow down the heart rate because my heart rate was just fine.

While my preparation for the test was going on, they brought in an emergency trauma case who needed a test using the CT Scanner. So, I waited. And I waited. And I waited some more. While I was waiting, the RN said we needed to start an IV line so they could put the contrast dye into my veins while I was in the machine. I told her that I do not have good veins and how people always have trouble finding my veins, so she called and asked for someone with a portable ultrasound machine to come and find my veins that way!!! I was so happy (even though this added goodness will proably add hundreds to my bill, I was thrilled!). The squirted the gel goo on my arm and glided the little wand around until they knew exactly where to stick me. One stick, they’re in!!!

Finally, around 4:30, it was time to go to the CT room. They had me lay down on a table, put pillows  under my head and legs, and told me to expect the contrast dye to feel warm, and to feel like I had peed on myself. And it really did feel that way. The table moved in and out of the donut shaped machine, stopping every now and then. A machine voice told me to breathe in, then out, then to hold my breath, while hundreds of pictures of my heart were taken. The whole thing was over in 10 minutes, and the only thing that hurt was when they stuck me to insert the IV.

So now we wait for the results of the test, and the bill. Whooo whee, that is gonna be a whopper! (Oh, and sorry I don’t have any photos of the procedure. I couldn’t take them myself, and FabGrandpa was in the waiting room. I hope you like the scenery, though.)

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Just Some Nice Pictures

Tuesday morning we had to go to Prescott, so we got up early and left about 5:30 a.m. The sky outside was filled with storm clouds. Across the canyon, it was raining and lightening.

Out in the meadows 12 miles away, we saw a herd of buffalo standing in the road.They took their time crossing to the other side.

The sky still looked stormy, and the ground was wet, but we never got into the rain.

There was a huge rainbow, so big I had to take two pictures to get all of it. I have never seen a rainbow quite like that one before.

Further down the road,out in the desert, we passed by the Vermillion Cliffs

We passed by the area burned in the Shultz fire in June in the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff. That fire was caused by a careless camper leaving a campfire burning.

Our trip took us down I-17 south of Flagstaff and through the Verde Valley.

We had slow going due to road construction along the way.

We finally made it to Prescott. We spent the night there, then went back up to Flagstaff for a couple of nights. This sunset in Prescott was fabulous!

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Not Much Going On

Another week gone by, and I have nothing much going on. I still have stuff to upload to the Etsy store, but haven’t had time to get it done. No sewing accomplished this week, either. I worked the late shift, so by the time I got home every evening this week, I was just plain pooped. All I wanted to do was eat my dinner and take a shower, then put my feet up.

Today we were off, and FabGrandpa suggested that we go to breakfast at the lodge. He didn’t have to ask me twice. The lodge was built in 1928. It has massive beams in the ceiling, and lots of windows that provide great views of the canyon. We didn’t get there until 9:00 a.m, so it wasn’t very crowded. We got a seat by a window, so I was able to get some good pictures.

My breakfast was two eggs over medium, hashbrowns, and bacon. Lots of coffee, too. I could have ordered a fruit plate, or huevos rancheros, or even gluten free pancakes. What I got looked and tasted pretty good.

After we ate, we went out on the patio to take some pictures. Yes, I already have tons of photos of the canyon, but it looks different every day, in different light.

Fabgrandpa took my picture.  Yes, I was posing.

Then I took his picture, too.

While we were out there, we saw my co-worker out roving. They gave us all pedometers this week–it’s a health and safety “initiative”, designed to get us moving and walking more. So, Richard was out walking the Transept Trail.

We went back home, and did all the grunt work–changed the sheets on the bed, turned the mattress, swept all the floors, shook out all the rugs. Then I cleaned out all the kitchen cabinets and straightened them up, cleaned out the refrigerator, and took out the trash.  Yes, everyday life, only at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

We decided to cook out on the new barbecue grill for dinner. I had a whole chicken that needed cooking, so I cut it in half, put on the seasonings, and threw it on the grill. An hour later, it was delicious. I made some oven roasted potatoes with garlic to go with, and our friend, Terry, brought a three bean salad.

Yum, a great dinner, then a beautiful sunset. We sat out there at the picnic table until the stars came out.

Life is truly grand!

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Let’s Go To Kanab, Utah

I know I have said this before, but it is an 85 mile drive from the North Rim to Kanab, Utah. We go down to Kanab about every two weeks or so to stock up on groceries and stuff. Today we went down there, primarily because I had an appointment for a pedicure. The only pictures I took were of the scenery on the trip, though, so that is what you will see today.

We had several things to do in town besides the pedicure. First stop was the Dollar store. I was looking for some baby t-shirts for a project I have in my head. They didn’t have any. Oh, well.  I can wait for another day for that. Then to Houston’s Trails End Restaurant for breakfast. They have good bacon.

I went to the Ace Hardware store, where they have a quilt shop in part of the store. I wanted to get measured so that I can order my mother of the bride dress that I finally found. While I was in there, I of course I found some more fabric that I could not leave in the store.

Then I went for the most fabulous pedicure I have ever had.  The girl who did the pedi took a lot of time to do it right, and I was very impressed with that. But then, when she was doing the foot massage at the end, she asked me “Do you have trouble with your hip?” and when I said I do, she asked “Is it your right hip?” Yes. She went on to ask me if I had been having trouble with my kidneys recently, and if I had had my gall bladder removed. Yes, and yes. I could not believe she could tell all that from touching my feet. Especially since I had never met her before today. She told me she has the gift of a healing touch. I am a believer because, well, I was there today. I will definitely be going back.

After a run through the grocery store, we met our friends, Marcie and Chris, at Nedra’s Mexican Restaurant for lunch. Mmmm, tacos! But the best thing about meeting them, was that Chris had made me a batch of gluten free oatmeal cookies. Delicious! I always feel so special and loved when someone takes the time  and makes the effort to make things for me that I can eat. Thank you so much, Chris!

So, after a pretty full day, a truck full of goodies, we headed home. One last stop at Jacob Lake Inn for a milkshake rounded out the day. Yes, a long, long trip to get groceries, but what a fun day! And that scenery on the way? Priceless!

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Just Another Day At The North Rim

Yesterday was my project day, and since there was nothing to do in the office, I took a drive up to Point Imperial and Cape Royal.  The drive up was gorgeous, as usual.

When I got there, my objective was to walk around and talk to the visitors there. They always have questions, and if I can answer them, I do. Yesterday, everyone wanted to know about the fire in Flagstaff.  Point Imperial is one of the most visited viewpoints at the North Rim. I can see why:

After about an hour or so, I left, and headed out towards Cape Royal. I wanted to go to the geology talk given by the Interpretive Ranger up there–it started at 2:30.  I had enough time to stop by Greenland Lake. Greenland Lake is the only “lake” here. It is created by melting snow. By August, it will be dried up until next spring.

While I was at Greenland Lake, the battery in my camera died, so I was not able to take any more pictures. But I continued on to Cape Royal, and met up with Ranger Gaelyn. Even though this is my third season working here, I have not ever made it to the geology talk. I usually have other duties and don’t have time to go. She did a fabulous job of explaining how the Grand Canyon was formed.  Next time you got to a national park, make a point of going to the Ranger Programs.

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