Life on the road

Why, Yes, That IS a Gluten Free Cake!

I haven’t been cooking much lately, other than the regular meals all hum drum, like meatloaf, baked chicken, catfish (yes, still eating it), and pork chops. I haven’t been experimenting with recipes, or making up my own, just because I have been working so much and just want to get it on the table.

So, today, I had a day off. I was yearning, craving, something sweet and gooey, so I looked in the pantry and found a gluten free cake mix, some frosting, and gluten free raspberry filling (I usually use that to make a sort of cobbler). And then my brain started swirling and spinning, thinking, “A gluten free lemon raspberry cake would be soooo goood!” I also thought to myself, “I better make it and eat it before that doctor down in Flagstaff tells me I shouldn’t eat crap like that anymore, gluten free or not.

I baked the cake according to the directions on the package for high altitude. It came out great, except for being a little lopsided. I fixed that by using a huge knife and cutting off the bump (it made a delicious treat for me!). Because this mix only makes one layer, I cut it in half to make two layers for half a cake. I spread a generous portion of the raspberry filling between the layers, then frosted the whole thing with the lemon frosting.

DSCN4987 — not as pretty as I imagined, but it is gluten free.

The finished product did not turn out as pretty as I had imagined in my head, but it tasted very good. The raspberry filling squished out in places through the frosting. Oh, well…..

DSCN4988 — Raspberry Lemon Gluten Free Cake

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The Long Ride, Part Two

Karen · 17 Comments

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.

DSCN4916 — The sky at sunset outside the Motel 6 in Prescott

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.

DSCN4939 — Breakfast at the Casino dining room

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!

DSCN4943 — It was rainy and chilly in Flagstaff while we were there

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.

DSCN4945 — This guy must play "Left For Dead"

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.

DSCN4951 — This beautiful rainbow was seen across the street from Barnes & Noble in Flagstaff

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.

DSCN4953 — A pretty impressive sunset in Flagstaff

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!!!

DSCN4954 — More of the sunset in Flagstaff

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.

DSCN4967 — Some flowers outside the Marriott Hotel

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

Karen · 5 Comments

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.

DSCN4791 — Heavy clouds in the Kaibab National Forest

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.

DSCN4843 — The San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff--burned in June in the Shultz fire.

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

DSCN4850 — The view out the window on I-17 between Flagstaff and Camp Verde, AZ.

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!

DSCN4912 — This was taken from the parking lot of Best Buy in Prescott, AZ.

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And Of Course I Didn’t Have My Camera With Me….

Karen · 16 Comments

Yesterday started out just like any other work day for me. I got up, showered, read my emails and Facebook stuff. Got dressed in my uniform, packed a lunch. Walked the 1/2 mile or so to my “office” at the campground. Since I was on the morning shift, the first thing I did was walk the campground doing site checks, to see if any of the late arrivals made it in. During the walk, I was approached by several campers who had complaints about a particular late arrival, who was noisy and rude. Check. I made a note to call Law Enforcement (LE) to come have a chat with them.

Got back to the office, and started doing my morning reports. Had a little stabbing pain in my left chest. It sorta kinda felt like someone was stabbing me with a pencil in my left boob. The pain then shot down my left arm. That was not good, I thought to myself, but didn’t think a lot about it. I just continued with my work. A few minutes later, there was that little stab again. I wondered if someone had a voodoo doll of me, but kept working. I called LE and talked to them about the noisy rude camper, and asked them to come have a talk.

So, these little jabs in the left boob continued. LE came after about an hour, we chatted, they left to go talk to the noisy campers. They came back, told me the campers were not home, and for me to let them know if I saw them come back. They left. I continued on with my routine. And so did the little stabbing pain. And my last two fingers on my left arm felt all numb and tingly. So, I did what any of us SHOULD do. I called dispatch, our version of 911 here.

I told them the dispatcher that I am 58, overweight, type II diabetic, that I have been having pains in my chest and left arm for a couple of hours. And LE was there in like 2 MINUTES. They came in the office, shut the blinds, and started working me over–blood pressure, blood sugar test, looked in my eyes, listened to my heart, asked me a blue bajillion questions. And then they called for an ambulance and driver to take me to the hospital. I asked if FabGrandpa could just drive me there, and they said, no. My only other option was to go by helicopter. NO THANKS, get me the ambulance, please.

So, they loaded my fat arse on a trolley and into the ambulance, right there from my duty station, with people all standing around gawking at me. I rode the first 45 miles in the park service ambulance, then at Jacob Lake, they transferred me to a Kane County, Utah ambulance for the next 40 miles. While we were at Jacob Lake, my co-worker, across the street neighbor, and dear friend, KJ, drove up. She just happens to be an EMT. She was on her way home from grocery shopping in Kanab. She immediately gave her groceries to the park service ambulance driver and followed us back to Kanab and the hospital. I was really glad to see her.

On the way in the Kane County ambulance, they gave me four baby aspirins to chew up and swallow, and two nitroglycerin tablets, one at a time, to melt under my tongue. Started an IV in the moving vehicle (The most awful part of the whole ordeal, let me tell you!!) And put an oxygen mask on my face. I was scared halfway to death by this time.

When we got to the hospital, I was taken in to the emergency room, and two doctors and a nurse IMMEDIATELY started working with me. The nice Dr. Nelson asked me another blue bajillion questions while the other guy started sticking those EKG tabs all over me. And then I had to take off my shirt and bra. Die a million deaths of embarassment!!! I could not get my bra unfastened, so the guy had to do it for me. Then another lady came in and started trying to stick me to get some blood. I do NOT have good veins. People always have trouble getting my veins. Then the really smart and lovable nurse, Mindy, suggested that they use the IV port to get my blood. If I could have gotten up at that point I would have kissed her on the lips.

By this time, FabGrandpa and KJ had arrived. The EKG guy was reading the report, and KJ asked if she could see it. The guy looked at me and I said, “She can see anything you have because she is my advocate.” The EKG was fine, both the EKG guy and KJ said so. Nothing to worry about there. When the blood test results were ready, young Dr. Nelson came in and said everything looked normal, as in NEGATIVE for heart attack enzymes. The only thing that was off in any way was my white cell count. It was on “the high side of normal”. He asked if I had had any infections lately, and I told him I had a kidney infection in June.

Dr. Nelson said he thinks I have Costochrondritis. I had walked a little bit over a mile that morning before settling down to do my paperwork. I AM overweight, and even though I have been here at high altitude since April 25, I still huff and puff A LOT when I walk. He thinks the exertion from the heavy breathing is what caused the pain. They kept me at the hospital for observation until 8 p.m. and did another heart enzyme blood test before releasing me to go home. That one was negative, too.

FabGrandpa and I left the hospital to drive home at just about sunset. There was a magnificent cloud formation over the Vermillion Cliffs, with lightening popping here and there. It was one of the most fabulous sunsets I have EVER seen. And of course, I didn’t have my camera with me…..

I was really really impressed with the speed and efficiency of our LE guys. It made me feel really good to know that if I have a real emergency, they can be to me in two minutes. Or sooner. The whole thing was really more embarrassing than painful, (mostly because I work and live with these people every day) but everyone is telling me I did the right thing. I called 911 when I had chest pains. I went to the hospital in an ambulance. I am making the appointment for the cardiologist. And I feel fine today.

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Not Much Going On

Karen · 3 Comments

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.

DSCN4710 — Inside the restaurant at the lodge.

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.

DSCN4713 — A view out the side window of the lodge.

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.

DSCN4717 — Two eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon.

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.

DSCN4718 — View from the North Rim Lodge patio 7-14-10

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.

DSCN4727 — My co-worker waaaayyyyy over there on the viewpoint.

DSCN4728 — One last shot before we headed home

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.

DSCN4746 — Barbecued chicken, roasted garlic potatoes, and three bean salad.

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

DSCN4747 — Our friend (and FabGrandpa's co-worker) Terry

Life is truly grand!

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I Have A Headache

Karen · 6 Comments

A few months ago, I bought a My Passport by Western Digital. It is an external back up drive that is supposed to automatically back up your data, so that if you have a computer glitch or belch or puke, or whatever you want to call it, you will be able to just retrieve your data and go on about your merry way. Except that, it didn’t happen that way.

Yesterday, my dear husband decided to do some clean up and maintenance on my computer. I know he meant well, and never meant to cause me harm. He is a good man and I love him for that. Except that, it didn’t happen that way. When everything was said and done, the “Disc Clean Up” from system tools trashed most of my personal data. My pictures, including all of my pictures of my grandchildren (GAHHHH!!!). My letters. My “important documents”. ALL of my bookmarks from Firefox. ALL of my user names and passwords from Roboform. I am lost, I tell ya! How can a FabGrandma go on, I ask?????

Then, when I was in deep in dispair over this turn of events, I though to myself “You have all this stuff backed up on your external drive. So, I went to the “Retrieve Data” link on that drive, clicked, retrieved, and waited. When it finished, only about 1/3 of my important documents were retrieved. For some reason, that external hard drive only saved things IT deemed important. Entire folders in my “My Documents” file are missing. I am soooo not happy.

I tried doing a System Restore, but that did nothing. I feel cheated. I feel lost. What have I learned from this fiasco? First, if you have or plan to buy a back up drive, test it. Make sure it works the way you want it to, BEFORE a major disaster happens. Second, keep a written record of your user names and passwords, just in case. (I didn’t think I needed to do this, as I have used Roboform since 2001, and it has NEVER failed me.) Third, use an online addon for Firefox that will save all your bookmarks online. All this I have learned too late to save ME. Maybe it will be in time for YOU.

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Let’s Go To Kanab, Utah

Karen · 7 Comments

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.

DSCN4372 — A snowmelt lake on Hwy 67 in the Kaibab National Forest

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.

DSCN4370 — A meadow on Highway 67. Gorgeous!

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.

DSCN4398 — A bend in the road on Highway 89A north of Jacob Lake in Arizona.

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!

DSCN4409 — That road is 89A, going down into Fredonia, Arizona. And that is the Vermillion Cliffs in the distance.

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

Karen · 2 Comments

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.

DSCN4347 — The fork in the road: turn right to get to Cape Royal, turn left to get to Point Imperial.

DSCN4342 — Still on the way to Point Imperial.

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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