tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87755858132444538792024-02-22T14:42:44.765-05:00whispers from wendy ...Hi, I'm Wendy, and this is my little piece of reality. It is a world unto itself filled with endless possibilities & a myriad of images in full Technicolor.
<br> <br>Welcome to my alternate space/time continuum. Be forewarned that sometimes people's concept of time gets totally shattered when they associate with me. You might come here out of curiosity to check me out quickly and end up spending much more time than you'd anticipated.
<br> <br> @wendriawendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.comBlogger2094125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-90722424188651720832023-08-12T11:06:00.000-04:002023-08-12T11:06:09.355-04:00getting older isn't for pussies<p>Getting older or wiser? Maybe both?</p><p>It's weird to realize that I'm not as physically strong as I used to be, although maybe I'm mentally stronger. People lament about youth being wasted on the young. But maybe they need that added boost because life is fucking hard sometimes. Imagine starting off life looking and feeling old AND having to learn all of life's tough lessons.</p><p>It's weird to look in the mirror and see someone other than who I expect. Nowadays, I try not to be as concerned about how attractive my body is, but rather how functional it is. I'm grateful that it's still very functional, without too much pain. </p><p>It's harder to get off the ground, but it's easier to have more compassion for people.</p><p>It's harder to see smaller print, but it's easier to lend a solicitous ear.</p><p>It's both harder and easier to make friends. Harder because less opportunity and easier because I am more accepting and don't care as much how other people are judging me.</p><p>Every time I start to think I've reached some stability, Life comes in and says "Nope!" I guess that's one of the lessons I've learned -- the impermanence of everything. I'm feeling stable now and trying to enjoy it without worrying what's going to fuck it up next.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-80911595340331488602023-04-18T10:05:00.004-04:002023-04-18T10:05:20.593-04:00dance party or pity party?<p>Wendy: I should have a dance party soon!</p><p> </p><p>Life: How about a pity party??</p><p> </p><p>It might be edibles time and pity party re-imagined! You know when you're feeling down and think life is shitty, but then something happens that makes it shittier, and you have fond memories of the slightly less shitty yesterday was?</p><p>Yesterday, while I was cleaning up after all the storms that have blown through South Florida, I slipped on a tiny baby mango. They're hard like golf balls, and I rolled my foot down a step. But I didn't fall and hurt the rest of me, so yay? I'm trying to find a silver lining here, </p><p>I know nothing is that serious, but the anxiety of what could be is what's getting to me. I definitely need to re-frame, whether with or without edibles will be the question later. I don't like using them as a crutch, but they work really well in alleviating anxiety. I suppose I don't like crutches in general. I even went for my walk yesterday AFTER the injury. I'm skipping today because everyone has told me to elevate it and quit being a dumbass.<br /></p><p>And I broke a nail making coffee this morning. So sad...<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-54774918072546015482023-03-06T08:44:00.002-05:002023-03-06T08:44:31.556-05:00don't save the good stuff<p>Just when I was getting complacent about having my migraines under control, my brain decided to remind me of that threat, too. Although in hindsight, maybe the anomalous surge of brain chemicals triggered my previous depression of thinking about so very many skin cancers.</p><p>It's a lot to deal with and also, not that much in the scheme of things. I need to keep reminding myself how great my life is.</p><p></p><p>Focus on the good stuff, Wendy! And don't save the good stuff for later.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-20011194467568452182023-03-03T07:15:00.000-05:002023-03-03T07:15:19.162-05:00go on without me<p>Why is everyone encouraging me to get screened for various types of cancer? Yeah, I get it, I'm getting older. But, I'm still living the same healthy lifestyle I've been doing for a couple of decades. Certain cancers seem to be genetic and thankfully not in my genes. Leave me alone about those!<br /></p><p>My emotional energy is almost redlined dealing with skin cancer on a monthly basis. That is a clear and present threat. I don't need to manufacture anything else. Please stop advising me to look for other trouble. If my task list gets any more arduous, I may lie down and give up. Death by a thousand scalpel cuts is soul sucking.</p><p>Haven't we learned anything from the pandemic? Constantly monitoring and looking for physical health problems is NOT conducive to ideal mental health.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-32512120379112818122023-02-15T08:26:00.052-05:002023-03-07T08:37:09.330-05:00my happy place<p>Sometimes I forget to emphasize on here when I enjoy the good stuff. And I need to remind myself that there are very good times in my life. Especially when I start to feel overwhelmed by entropy. </p><p>I had such a lovely relaxing kayak trip through the Everglades yesterday. It was just what I needed to bring me to my happy place. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzWRvPn-44zu3PzTCH_0To1m-YHMl8l0bg223p_X9luIrdnA-pFV0v6LvXe0LIB8o31RFSZPs6UoSh9upV02A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>And of course, it reminded me that life can be dangerous and unpredictable, even in its beauty. Here is an alligator I saw napping in the sun.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzK4kCDWES6KlnE1g4YEIedaAKh0bDGPIG00pIx7SmQDV6cIcrQ7wDoQoT3VoElZ6L_Y1XQtqI4BuaPuhe28Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <p></p><p>There was a spot farther on where we heard an alligator bellowing a deep primal
growl. I didn't have the wits to record it because my lizard brain was
screaming RUNNNNN, or at least paddle faster. The answering bellow
was equally terrifying. I'm not sure if never seeing them made it
better or worse. </p><p>I made it out safely and feeling better than I had in a while.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-53703617195938507082023-01-10T07:38:00.001-05:002023-01-10T07:38:05.551-05:00progress? two steps forward and one back<p>Yesterday I had my semi-annual full body dermatology scan. I started to have anxiety but gave myself a proper pep talk on the drive there. </p><p>"You've got this, Wendy. It's nothing you can't handle. You've managed it many, many times previously. You're strong. Your body is strong. It's gotten you through decades and decades and healed from everything so far. Etc." </p><p>I started getting teary-eyed the moment the doc walked in and asked how I was. Ugh. </p><div>My checkup wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible. However, that's not the point. I wanted to have more equanimity than I did. I truly wanted to change my outlook on how I view these appointments. I
failed. Maybe next time. Because there's always a next time. If I'm
fortunate enough to wake up again tomorrow and the next days. </div><div><br /></div>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-45405354275234139832022-07-15T11:24:00.000-04:002022-07-15T11:24:00.053-04:00edibles. it's what's for breakfast <p>Yesterday was a shitshow in Wendyville. I started with high anxiety most of the night before and woke up to more of the same, even after finally taking a Xanax to sleep. So, I started my day with edibles and no coffee. I wanted to slow down my brain not amp it up.</p><p>I didn't want to be in my life anymore, and I didn't know how to remedy that. I have bottles of rum scattered around the house and took swigs as needed for anxiety. I forced myself to eat a little and then went right back to a higher dose of edibles. And more rum. While under the influence of both, I tried to reset my brain and mindset. </p><p>I am a worthwhile person. </p><p>This morning, I woke up in a slightly better headspace. I showered. I did dishes. I did laundry. And I vacuumed a little. I'm trying for sobriety today and no anxiety. Wish me luck!<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-34237786022992337392022-07-11T17:00:00.000-04:002022-07-15T08:09:38.582-04:00mourning in the morning<p>I have a pair of <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/overview" target="_blank">mourning doves</a> who started nesting in one of my outdoor hanging orchid pots. They did it so much, they killed the orchid. I almost threw it away, but decided to leave it there for them. It seems to be an ideal protected nesting place. I chased them out of my still living orchid hanging nearby, but left them the dead one. </p><p></p><p>When I came back from Scotland, one was guarding the nest full time. This morning I found a dead baby bird underneath, which made me sad. I left it there, assuming some other animal would grab a meal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9gRza6FrwEkMGIsiugVBOSD4x_YPRWg1mxpo9v0DoVaXY38xy967Lwf3AlZ9RQX1rJNA_CFhw56gbumTkkk5ZVFniTqurP1dO7f0SDOpPkG8xlhmQwT95R2i1v4WUn84mEyAL6rpbln8UW-Xb33NaK6623n1MWxn4oPy8goWISBYf1xZRSCcBRPq/s4000/IMG_20220711_075058224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9gRza6FrwEkMGIsiugVBOSD4x_YPRWg1mxpo9v0DoVaXY38xy967Lwf3AlZ9RQX1rJNA_CFhw56gbumTkkk5ZVFniTqurP1dO7f0SDOpPkG8xlhmQwT95R2i1v4WUn84mEyAL6rpbln8UW-Xb33NaK6623n1MWxn4oPy8goWISBYf1xZRSCcBRPq/w400-h300/IMG_20220711_075058224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I checked to see if it was gone later in the day, and much to my surprise it was moving!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwNVEHvDobGNvUMUR9exSRblR6Hqnmzcz7xh9aKeighT9crfFidA40ru79J0EMXclyTYWGBECa99ZhQDXRReQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>I scooped it up with an old envelope and pulled down the dead orchid pot. Mama bird few away, and there was another tiny one in it. I placed the fallen one next to it and hung it back up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LQN3nMC_x-TAOXLQQYmBd7x0WVkl4Qh7IJfZEN5U4tjcBqp3azbkR0TWQH32lqVNKSZ3UurWuzpUQ8TRe8Bb6AbmA2NsJRmnk57243hmTmNA3af3EtLxZm8C8q2sWEY_Hk0ZAxC2XhOC5KWJOv8GvYE2aUVTnhuZR9iaRqQhUogR-HgNDpfdXU_t/s4000/IMG_20220711_163321720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LQN3nMC_x-TAOXLQQYmBd7x0WVkl4Qh7IJfZEN5U4tjcBqp3azbkR0TWQH32lqVNKSZ3UurWuzpUQ8TRe8Bb6AbmA2NsJRmnk57243hmTmNA3af3EtLxZm8C8q2sWEY_Hk0ZAxC2XhOC5KWJOv8GvYE2aUVTnhuZR9iaRqQhUogR-HgNDpfdXU_t/w400-h300/IMG_20220711_163321720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>Mama came back after a few minutes and hasn't kicked the little one out yet. I had a thought after I'd replaced it, that maybe she did it on purpose because it was sickly. And here I went getting all Pro-Life on her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ_aTedsfutckhsh8xTT5pGONQYzlvu17TMjpcLPuf6urHqkECMkO9695ysQuziFY0JrYHEMj-dpj6ZvJQoggWorHSS-SCnaLHGp3EriwP5Lwp_-8nnYhJxZrAK55JToJ02dBWi8sezIqVJSjYqfU3EMuBdHFPZEHY8dvaU6d32geZs8Zz82yEmSf/s4000/original_71aa2245-17e0-4d1e-b863-5f6736457120_IMG_20220711_165355950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ_aTedsfutckhsh8xTT5pGONQYzlvu17TMjpcLPuf6urHqkECMkO9695ysQuziFY0JrYHEMj-dpj6ZvJQoggWorHSS-SCnaLHGp3EriwP5Lwp_-8nnYhJxZrAK55JToJ02dBWi8sezIqVJSjYqfU3EMuBdHFPZEHY8dvaU6d32geZs8Zz82yEmSf/w300-h400/original_71aa2245-17e0-4d1e-b863-5f6736457120_IMG_20220711_165355950.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-56889966729734803762022-07-03T20:00:00.074-04:002022-07-13T08:08:19.928-04:00travel day<p>I made sure to watch what I ate today, so I didn't have a repeat of my previous painful transatlantic flight. Yogurt and fruit for breakfast. </p><p>But then I got hungry on the plane and ate all the crap they served. And I felt fine. I'm totally blaming that Newark airport food.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoH46thNep4YVtSJqWAHKx3E0o-kU0PpVgucWguxdfEuF1gDRymPgqdkNffvetWUNwPHD8hH6zpSDwE5TiLsbGl0Fcz65S0XeLZMnr_Xwr4E3eX9e5d6yuF093l005su5-Aqk9dyLvPPnUgZ3KnPCgoG9q66E12o4v4BA_aY78-eVAzVXoyxBvvMh/s4000/IMG_20220703_095509688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoH46thNep4YVtSJqWAHKx3E0o-kU0PpVgucWguxdfEuF1gDRymPgqdkNffvetWUNwPHD8hH6zpSDwE5TiLsbGl0Fcz65S0XeLZMnr_Xwr4E3eX9e5d6yuF093l005su5-Aqk9dyLvPPnUgZ3KnPCgoG9q66E12o4v4BA_aY78-eVAzVXoyxBvvMh/w400-h300/IMG_20220703_095509688.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPb8Lj6dOXgF0sUIka00fI7YYmlPiZJwLt-2hVK0DW7Kop-ukAUX9KxZL5lJA1XrB0BpTnb5g0M0p_z9W_2hyT_gHMpxwdJXXkTT2e3EQWn_FEVh1mC4rI9TW4SevkUMlw0b04861XkoVem7CH1B09Q-cD5vh4y9FCGuu2cu1rG1JCf6cnf5mZOs0/s4000/IMG_20220703_095601194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPb8Lj6dOXgF0sUIka00fI7YYmlPiZJwLt-2hVK0DW7Kop-ukAUX9KxZL5lJA1XrB0BpTnb5g0M0p_z9W_2hyT_gHMpxwdJXXkTT2e3EQWn_FEVh1mC4rI9TW4SevkUMlw0b04861XkoVem7CH1B09Q-cD5vh4y9FCGuu2cu1rG1JCf6cnf5mZOs0/w400-h300/IMG_20220703_095601194.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not as bad as it looks<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZvE_ge2cE6GYZg-hqZVKNfz8x_QDw025bCKaMS6m2nYLntRWCNSzLL-29TrFBbZ7yYanYBidBQsSMYC05wbTmYEGQPVO2WaZdHBXnhQCtEa9vKx0Iy55do_Z3QrCXnIuiFjlaCl0nvyDaPIEOObDtMYfbL8Vr5k47irwyQOy_T9HJpeRKKyn1tBr/s4000/IMG_20220703_101020752_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZvE_ge2cE6GYZg-hqZVKNfz8x_QDw025bCKaMS6m2nYLntRWCNSzLL-29TrFBbZ7yYanYBidBQsSMYC05wbTmYEGQPVO2WaZdHBXnhQCtEa9vKx0Iy55do_Z3QrCXnIuiFjlaCl0nvyDaPIEOObDtMYfbL8Vr5k47irwyQOy_T9HJpeRKKyn1tBr/w300-h400/IMG_20220703_101020752_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIMbNgPhqFM0z-oV9Qs4UlWkmPeS_m-TAzDAKk0_Ew-qcHFnjXM3hO7WqZamJTNqZiTsXMu7y8B2RYGJ9_W_UjGE55EjYe4wz_jABvpm_KXlA-IFFooEX9a72Vpc4Y0-dGRITr-Xbo_4vvCl-r0MJe4q7rgS1jGT_Da6iK5l39P-Ku47_Rl2AziuK/s4000/IMG_20220703_125855569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIMbNgPhqFM0z-oV9Qs4UlWkmPeS_m-TAzDAKk0_Ew-qcHFnjXM3hO7WqZamJTNqZiTsXMu7y8B2RYGJ9_W_UjGE55EjYe4wz_jABvpm_KXlA-IFFooEX9a72Vpc4Y0-dGRITr-Xbo_4vvCl-r0MJe4q7rgS1jGT_Da6iK5l39P-Ku47_Rl2AziuK/w300-h400/IMG_20220703_125855569.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">best tasting water ever<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO1vgfxkEFmZVbOsi5O19mQTjwrcC2_LXk788zACjtw4Bk2Z9HW-jZnWf50J_OmWHi3Rv5MDS70YlQKq4b7rIVhHBsYyjlbWtyu6Qc4g2dP508Pb1zN1dlce38d_IMoLitiESQi2Ts9Mpuy2the4avKFA7nT8Cn_1_hL8N8y32rdmclHYGmo2LP8v/s4000/IMG_20220703_141604676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO1vgfxkEFmZVbOsi5O19mQTjwrcC2_LXk788zACjtw4Bk2Z9HW-jZnWf50J_OmWHi3Rv5MDS70YlQKq4b7rIVhHBsYyjlbWtyu6Qc4g2dP508Pb1zN1dlce38d_IMoLitiESQi2Ts9Mpuy2the4avKFA7nT8Cn_1_hL8N8y32rdmclHYGmo2LP8v/w300-h400/IMG_20220703_141604676.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>And sadly, their messaging WiFi wasn't working, so I had to amuse myself for the whole trip. I had my Kindle and audiobooks, which I interchanged as I got bored.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsKH3zZTFsxUwZloopMCBzEIRahxIIn95rXena25HEeenkGXqkW11PzbBB1NaBlqOjot_D4-HwVzXWoi4kFtgZU2P8lqGlY-AROxZgYXW3X9wF3G7-jk_zkNqHjrOUtLMOPl0BmBvSaE0pye35FQne7JsjdTOzusfZVNnSNcACoRz96XI9CzC9oFX/s2340/Screenshot_20220703-100114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsKH3zZTFsxUwZloopMCBzEIRahxIIn95rXena25HEeenkGXqkW11PzbBB1NaBlqOjot_D4-HwVzXWoi4kFtgZU2P8lqGlY-AROxZgYXW3X9wF3G7-jk_zkNqHjrOUtLMOPl0BmBvSaE0pye35FQne7JsjdTOzusfZVNnSNcACoRz96XI9CzC9oFX/w185-h400/Screenshot_20220703-100114.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><br />I managed to get through customs in Washington DC, and get to my gate as it was boarding. There was a really long line at customs and only four agents on duty for US citizens, so it took close to an hour. I breezed through with my carry-on bag. So many people brought back bottles of whisky. He didn't care about my new coffee mug.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CJ9YnI1ANN4" width="320" youtube-src-id="CJ9YnI1ANN4"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>On my flight back to Florida, I had a surprise when I boarded the plane and saw Mike Tyson aboard. I did a double-take but then quickly looked away, so I wasn't rudely staring. Everyone behind me wasn't as polite. They finally had to make an announcement to stay in your fucking seat and quit going up to first class. People were taking selfies with him and generally bothering him. If he was half as tired as I was from his previous flight, I'm amazed that he didn't snap like last time some douchebag harassed him on a plane.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-74654866394422857522022-07-02T20:00:00.037-04:002022-07-13T07:50:06.156-04:00last full day<p>We started the morning with a full Scottish breakfast again. My last taste of black pudding -- the new superfood. So sad. I also noticed that my nose was red. It probably wasn't the small amount of liquor consumed the night before, so as implausible as it seemed, I had gotten a tinge too much sun in Scotland. Remind me to pack my sunblock next time!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jamcJ3Jgy6ZWeH8HaeTw86DiyWxLIYAFriSqXLppNOVOOwLv8-nSjaL6vYKRK9C0qqptwcWm6lLN9MDlDKECXDi-nEXG7XJWj1T3iaI1lttrZJgI1J0W0yhEnmYXSobjEtMbEyGeE4MiFcKj5ADtqgW1BVg26HRt3TvysmSVj4qxk0rlxs2r1vwK/s4000/IMG_20220702_100550688_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2078" data-original-width="4000" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jamcJ3Jgy6ZWeH8HaeTw86DiyWxLIYAFriSqXLppNOVOOwLv8-nSjaL6vYKRK9C0qqptwcWm6lLN9MDlDKECXDi-nEXG7XJWj1T3iaI1lttrZJgI1J0W0yhEnmYXSobjEtMbEyGeE4MiFcKj5ADtqgW1BVg26HRt3TvysmSVj4qxk0rlxs2r1vwK/w400-h208/IMG_20220702_100550688_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Then we decided to walk to town and hit the shops to find me a cashmere sweater. For lunch I ordered local fish and chips.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv-fUG34Wl7EpERC0qM8V2wZ8ZP08S_2g8by5cq2vyjcaj4CDYII58yph4gCCXpVOOSjFr2fF_pgw2xDASRBEQGqnvBOqlg650k3gYAfpNZLsF7BXc6B5ZCOzaHGgTJXCXFbwP7FaqGyz9Ar6sUutf7hpaT6eCmdzUotzN8YVz-ivS8UVnIk2W5gH/s4000/IMG_20220702_141502736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv-fUG34Wl7EpERC0qM8V2wZ8ZP08S_2g8by5cq2vyjcaj4CDYII58yph4gCCXpVOOSjFr2fF_pgw2xDASRBEQGqnvBOqlg650k3gYAfpNZLsF7BXc6B5ZCOzaHGgTJXCXFbwP7FaqGyz9Ar6sUutf7hpaT6eCmdzUotzN8YVz-ivS8UVnIk2W5gH/w400-h300/IMG_20220702_141502736.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Here are random photos from in town.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqsDrJkYDorl-Z1xbab5eyS5QRfZ65rk8zPx1cXiZVKJF_4rU1-a8HPQc4Esa920AXOP3h-digpdN6AAwphh2JpoOU95kT1wn3kapkT7UJVtmivl5MxAhHjkv7FDCJD4Jb0JvBNqKDRV14w74_S_e1j4ldau3QKqO_whv_Z7CEjPz2e1ke7-agFEs/s4000/IMG_20220702_134211251_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqsDrJkYDorl-Z1xbab5eyS5QRfZ65rk8zPx1cXiZVKJF_4rU1-a8HPQc4Esa920AXOP3h-digpdN6AAwphh2JpoOU95kT1wn3kapkT7UJVtmivl5MxAhHjkv7FDCJD4Jb0JvBNqKDRV14w74_S_e1j4ldau3QKqO_whv_Z7CEjPz2e1ke7-agFEs/w300-h400/IMG_20220702_134211251_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMsPGyJU9EfQgyOvWmY5htLSE5sUNMfaBE-owRbooA7Bs1fO_x6Ew8WuTfeaIfzLeUm5-x6AdesgouX9ogJKO4m66sioXRRfNJvEv0f0NhlrADmbNhv2M6qQFJdVHy9dkDlbrgJyu7yQkckpWXysMKfTyC_dPP5UgldNAiSTa3MxEe_TTq6fb3eby/s4000/IMG_20220702_134031461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMsPGyJU9EfQgyOvWmY5htLSE5sUNMfaBE-owRbooA7Bs1fO_x6Ew8WuTfeaIfzLeUm5-x6AdesgouX9ogJKO4m66sioXRRfNJvEv0f0NhlrADmbNhv2M6qQFJdVHy9dkDlbrgJyu7yQkckpWXysMKfTyC_dPP5UgldNAiSTa3MxEe_TTq6fb3eby/w300-h400/IMG_20220702_134031461.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO81XV3Jkc7NPuiF21tluibsbjYtx_oWkn85r0Ruwb7wAoUxO6WitTTJWwrgc-93lpLmxkLlv-RjQ2QcG0dYHt3I3ToVY9G-PfK6uyXcOOr2UErEUHEfqjmU8oKlWIjcpvle7VvNhWLPKsJz6Qi4_devdRXVHD4zdfWuusMeH-4xVoqqjo0KPz4kRN/s4000/IMG_20220702_132155854_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO81XV3Jkc7NPuiF21tluibsbjYtx_oWkn85r0Ruwb7wAoUxO6WitTTJWwrgc-93lpLmxkLlv-RjQ2QcG0dYHt3I3ToVY9G-PfK6uyXcOOr2UErEUHEfqjmU8oKlWIjcpvle7VvNhWLPKsJz6Qi4_devdRXVHD4zdfWuusMeH-4xVoqqjo0KPz4kRN/w400-h300/IMG_20220702_132155854_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV1blPVCyd2qDS2HcRis8MgpEJKirT3VzK_iL2UEUrrwUbmHq5V5X99pDMkufrTVExV2tkpVMJOg6dCpvZRmUuBes3v0xGPlyDjAte4qj3b18O5KHoYBm_r3QP_RKzkbjmEVMyRD34s-HD1iRIR71OfMAGoFO7L7R9QQNV9RUQAP2wacx3Pny20kt/s4000/IMG_20220625_151916223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV1blPVCyd2qDS2HcRis8MgpEJKirT3VzK_iL2UEUrrwUbmHq5V5X99pDMkufrTVExV2tkpVMJOg6dCpvZRmUuBes3v0xGPlyDjAte4qj3b18O5KHoYBm_r3QP_RKzkbjmEVMyRD34s-HD1iRIR71OfMAGoFO7L7R9QQNV9RUQAP2wacx3Pny20kt/w400-h300/IMG_20220625_151916223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oPqYdKJ1NQq6miDJSM2RCjZ3lpVpJiDgqMN-DZov6hgteR42w_7BPrVGcCnA6wCtOLWWpg7btTOjWEKR-GAwJ11ZTooJ-XNgtw05T_Vb80ZXISrYovxeG94ARkXN1pTACrbEcjo_-FxuAmq3r11rQlbvYn_8dp3Hqww6iKySSoo5D9qaZkXTBT_6/s1024/IMG-20220627-WA0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oPqYdKJ1NQq6miDJSM2RCjZ3lpVpJiDgqMN-DZov6hgteR42w_7BPrVGcCnA6wCtOLWWpg7btTOjWEKR-GAwJ11ZTooJ-XNgtw05T_Vb80ZXISrYovxeG94ARkXN1pTACrbEcjo_-FxuAmq3r11rQlbvYn_8dp3Hqww6iKySSoo5D9qaZkXTBT_6/w400-h240/IMG-20220627-WA0019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Dinner was venison and lamb burgers, provided by a local stalker. It turns out stalker there means hunting guide, not creepy guy hanging around too much. Although, perhaps the animals think of him that way.<br /><p></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-54488545940735540982022-07-01T20:30:00.079-04:002022-07-13T07:31:46.253-04:00another castle<p>We met some of their friends for <a href="https://www.driftalong.co.uk/" target="_blank">coffee</a>, outdoors on a cliff. Sounds cold and blustery, right? It was warm, and I was glad I was wearing a t-shirt. </p><p>They have really nice friends. I think that says a lot about a person -- the quality of their friends. I learned that Scottish goodbyes are the exact opposite of Irish goodbyes. We moved three times, closer to the cars, and spent at least 45 minutes saying goodbye.</p><p>From there, my friend and I split off and went to see another castle, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantallon_Castle" target="_blank">Tantallon</a>, and its grounds. No gardens on this one, and the castle was closed again for "renovations" for an unspecified time with no progress made in two years. It was peaceful to walk the grounds and see the coastline, though.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYInhpbcuCj1lwFZl6fgGmbMaKuM1y5KSFsYYAv5hSW0-hcHId08P0isCX0M2O1sDjPEuZIrwVgPGnfYN-nbt3zeKBwNwCpk2gJcqNYBdkRQrHxajHsUpXrjYZdUtUrxfiIcN9D-Y3UFteWGRy3EJzrBmahcUrbyOLUzM21JbPoZ-lMwN_v_XibR5j/s4000/IMG_20220701_132709917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYInhpbcuCj1lwFZl6fgGmbMaKuM1y5KSFsYYAv5hSW0-hcHId08P0isCX0M2O1sDjPEuZIrwVgPGnfYN-nbt3zeKBwNwCpk2gJcqNYBdkRQrHxajHsUpXrjYZdUtUrxfiIcN9D-Y3UFteWGRy3EJzrBmahcUrbyOLUzM21JbPoZ-lMwN_v_XibR5j/w400-h300/IMG_20220701_132709917.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tantallon Castle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIneYGWN5VlmOHEqTvgc21lNG5XZpaG2Q4Gv6Sais8MZfh9KFdeotrNmgjrXENF9ceJz-waaflfac4iBHqn9cC2tqAgME0_P9012UMtZzSalceVpegmhx8u-mX6aDKHfDFt7oSttp2EsAP8QZq1l04Mxwv8-VjinxUi3hPd0jV_HgL4ccNQ75C0zY/s4000/IMG_20220701_133112940_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIneYGWN5VlmOHEqTvgc21lNG5XZpaG2Q4Gv6Sais8MZfh9KFdeotrNmgjrXENF9ceJz-waaflfac4iBHqn9cC2tqAgME0_P9012UMtZzSalceVpegmhx8u-mX6aDKHfDFt7oSttp2EsAP8QZq1l04Mxwv8-VjinxUi3hPd0jV_HgL4ccNQ75C0zY/w400-h300/IMG_20220701_133112940_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home for Wayward Pigeons<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>We meandered around for a bit and then went home. I may have had a steak and haggis pie somewhere along the way.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoT38ljzsW21rSWxkkut5Aps8I3DhhDIhV0AEWWzpj69T7q765MzF0Jjxp4PIsJtDDHIs6oFH9TQ07rh5FwYt3RbBy8eqP51JenOFzG9K1K5XabfYSajRGloQUNlbcKGfRInnxDMUga2Rsfo2YWMin8xJxksbD-PR41X7mymURdxv0_WkXw-uyIAo/s4000/steakhaggispie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoT38ljzsW21rSWxkkut5Aps8I3DhhDIhV0AEWWzpj69T7q765MzF0Jjxp4PIsJtDDHIs6oFH9TQ07rh5FwYt3RbBy8eqP51JenOFzG9K1K5XabfYSajRGloQUNlbcKGfRInnxDMUga2Rsfo2YWMin8xJxksbD-PR41X7mymURdxv0_WkXw-uyIAo/w300-h400/steakhaggispie.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">steak and haggis pie<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>We had a celebratory dinner with a mouth-watering charcuterie board and some spirits to finish the night. I had a few sips of a few bottles.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUJb4OvJvnFMr21UhDK7K2MaCdwJnEPfL9RSVcdmjvIwjuZ4uf02PkTEdu71ZPY3hc7rwOi_4OsJfDAk3c-RGNhT1fNKbzeNMJRpVrHf4cLWoVhhXiuwl_B2Sk_348zvbngg6Mf09ba-LkmxFQrR6jLtV8P__g3ZDcSJB46V55t3WLy14p1hysab6/s4000/IMG_20220701_194652886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUJb4OvJvnFMr21UhDK7K2MaCdwJnEPfL9RSVcdmjvIwjuZ4uf02PkTEdu71ZPY3hc7rwOi_4OsJfDAk3c-RGNhT1fNKbzeNMJRpVrHf4cLWoVhhXiuwl_B2Sk_348zvbngg6Mf09ba-LkmxFQrR6jLtV8P__g3ZDcSJB46V55t3WLy14p1hysab6/w300-h400/IMG_20220701_194652886.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo0_Dg_TsB8vWhJ7hIHahqzWkpgHnc2D89YnxClZacC0r5gSfygP4wMNosKMnL9XUbJ45PWHfvZCkJ__JNiAJsWjw7i0egbNpVlJmER4_sjhxab7xhjMPRxrh0R2knooF_ukukxs-uZ3oaoCTH8_y0E_Zp27CyOxTqDImsjOjzgstrHZIjcp-Q84a/s4000/IMG_20220701_194824484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo0_Dg_TsB8vWhJ7hIHahqzWkpgHnc2D89YnxClZacC0r5gSfygP4wMNosKMnL9XUbJ45PWHfvZCkJ__JNiAJsWjw7i0egbNpVlJmER4_sjhxab7xhjMPRxrh0R2knooF_ukukxs-uZ3oaoCTH8_y0E_Zp27CyOxTqDImsjOjzgstrHZIjcp-Q84a/w400-h300/IMG_20220701_194824484.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxpvYCYo8nJLoy62_00O1b03L2p0060oKaz4U8wU89qqU0QOK3Y-KYlo4kEtfwNIVdiEqHDJAgR6dKSplxs7WvNp_NlZuq2CDzBGG2BFiJefld9m3no9689_zIww0inL4qZeWgFS1mAp3g27FrFNinLKWW3apBwVHSJvS8NYF5DJVeHuM1ySgj0Y3/s4000/IMG_20220701_213626107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxpvYCYo8nJLoy62_00O1b03L2p0060oKaz4U8wU89qqU0QOK3Y-KYlo4kEtfwNIVdiEqHDJAgR6dKSplxs7WvNp_NlZuq2CDzBGG2BFiJefld9m3no9689_zIww0inL4qZeWgFS1mAp3g27FrFNinLKWW3apBwVHSJvS8NYF5DJVeHuM1ySgj0Y3/w300-h400/IMG_20220701_213626107.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HQNq5kzuYVfHnKCyxmgdzdrWJQZ_Sxaua8l4h9DGBQncEjQ395mZaXQpB6acKm6QTWtALzbZoBjYOV02tW2ZqtnrAQcmsactXr3tgc7PYzdW8fKIydcS3R2yHTdYH2UoUG9Y1869yH9JCAhOoWHFjXlFunRxRUIXIP63RFjEtL7CBJcuaiMUABFJ/s4000/IMG_20220701_213659548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HQNq5kzuYVfHnKCyxmgdzdrWJQZ_Sxaua8l4h9DGBQncEjQ395mZaXQpB6acKm6QTWtALzbZoBjYOV02tW2ZqtnrAQcmsactXr3tgc7PYzdW8fKIydcS3R2yHTdYH2UoUG9Y1869yH9JCAhOoWHFjXlFunRxRUIXIP63RFjEtL7CBJcuaiMUABFJ/w300-h400/IMG_20220701_213659548.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH6BrGC-zGNEnAyiHqowEYplGlYuMzNOwIz_FiTGYE0TdVf3DuWHnaQZlrc3-AEPXxgJ3QSGITnN2L48E7ZnOCN4IZgzi13TBHY4PSxo9ulWaiDlPu855dbnPN5fLLFmsAiqtapobHl4rbk-bUq2f9dVlBG_uEkAMf2kK6xonlGQ8Y4IEzTAAOqWz/s4000/IMG_20220701_222242783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH6BrGC-zGNEnAyiHqowEYplGlYuMzNOwIz_FiTGYE0TdVf3DuWHnaQZlrc3-AEPXxgJ3QSGITnN2L48E7ZnOCN4IZgzi13TBHY4PSxo9ulWaiDlPu855dbnPN5fLLFmsAiqtapobHl4rbk-bUq2f9dVlBG_uEkAMf2kK6xonlGQ8Y4IEzTAAOqWz/w300-h400/IMG_20220701_222242783.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-Jg-PHCFRyNJQ57U42UrVKD4gAtzou4iSmAzSGMmm2dpqLe2gsqVX6EKtiWzLOXy_2mNoci7Hn3zIPkV4DEwuX4FxxYG6yJYglhM3nZa55cV8bxsbpJGdSChKQ8jjtv1dS-q9DEwZQc2IJ7aLkWjBW5M1S9Sji8k5lABjHYWSeXUYBNGEFWvlFYI/s4000/IMG_20220701_225002845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-Jg-PHCFRyNJQ57U42UrVKD4gAtzou4iSmAzSGMmm2dpqLe2gsqVX6EKtiWzLOXy_2mNoci7Hn3zIPkV4DEwuX4FxxYG6yJYglhM3nZa55cV8bxsbpJGdSChKQ8jjtv1dS-q9DEwZQc2IJ7aLkWjBW5M1S9Sji8k5lABjHYWSeXUYBNGEFWvlFYI/w300-h400/IMG_20220701_225002845.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-62050096952580438182022-06-30T20:30:00.186-04:002022-07-12T09:03:06.048-04:00off to the big city!<p>We took the train to Edinburgh today. We had a very frank conversation the night before about my capabilities these days. It was difficult for me to be so honest about my limitations, especially since she is so vibrant and full of energy. She kept saying we needed a minimum of six hours in the city, or it wasn't worth the half hour train ride. I didn't understand that logic and said that six hours in the city was really pushing my limitations. Yes, I can force myself to do it, but I've learned that future Wendy will pay that price. I even explained the <a href="https://www.mymigrainelife.net/what-is-the-spoonie-theory-spoon-theory/" target="_blank">Spoon Theory</a> to both of them, over a few embarrassing tears. I don't know why it should be so painful to explain how my body reacts to too much stimuli, but it was. And I didn't want to hide anymore from one of my closest friends. It appeared she didn't believe me, which hurt, but we both promised to compromise. I would push myself, and she said she would be fine with leaving as soon as I needed to.</p><p>Before I continue, I want to express how utterly grateful I am that she is my friend and how much effort she and her husband put into making my trip easier and making me feel welcome. She's not the bad guy here. It's just another reminder that able-bodied people can't always comprehend what people who live with chronic disorders experience on the daily. How much thought and planning we go through. How much anxiety we have about 'ruining' things, if only for ourselves. How we hate letting people down. Enough whining, let's go explore the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mile">Royal Mile</a>!</p><p>My first sight after climbing out of the train station was this eye-catching building. We didn't go in because I had my most energy for the day and wanted to go walking.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXeoApRj0wsL-nFTz7GR0kqKj9jkJOFandzcFP-nMS15SgW4u3lDd2cu_WBmmL2d4hdWDB7wBOah7sGFBWZIZGCMzpQrL7MhYJjYjwCYI_PLkZXa8nc4U82-SMrtaYMp1uLm4QhbG4E_x8pN0EnLPnZpRfeI2q4Y1ZejuXOSLXhW-uXzK2cWO7EyW/s4000/IMG_20220630_110220303_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXeoApRj0wsL-nFTz7GR0kqKj9jkJOFandzcFP-nMS15SgW4u3lDd2cu_WBmmL2d4hdWDB7wBOah7sGFBWZIZGCMzpQrL7MhYJjYjwCYI_PLkZXa8nc4U82-SMrtaYMp1uLm4QhbG4E_x8pN0EnLPnZpRfeI2q4Y1ZejuXOSLXhW-uXzK2cWO7EyW/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_110220303_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />She had been to Edinburgh numerous times with various visitors, so she knew the places to see, especially all of the Harry Potter attractions. I realized my conversation the night before had put her a little on edge because she was carefully plotting shortcuts and such with her phone map. I told her to put that away, and we would make the best of it. She was also extremely stressed out about the train schedules. Apparently they had been known to cancel later trains without warning and leave people stranded for hours because of ongoing strikes. I cleared her of any responsibility for that and said I'd be fine taking the bus back as long as I could sleep on her shoulder if need be. That appeared to relax her tremendously.<p></p><p>We first noticed that parts of the streets were barricaded off, and St. Giles Cathedral was closed to the public. I saw a friendly-looking police officer standing guard and played up the dumb tourist bit and asked what was going on. He explained the <a href="https://royalwatcherblog.com/2022/06/30/order-of-thistle-service-22/" target="_blank">Order of the Thistle Ceremony</a> and that Prince Charles was inside and due to come out any minute. We missed the beginning and the crowds. Not many people waited around for the exit, so we had front row seats to all the <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a40471369/prince-charles-princess-anne-order-of-the-thistle-service-2022-photos/" target="_blank">pomp and circumstance</a>. A London tourist was nearby and between the both of them, they explained in detail who everyone was and what they were doing. It was nice having a running commentary. </p><p>As an American, I'm not particularly enamored of their royalty, but it was still fun to see the hoopla.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_vLBSWbAUeqtaxch9AiqpDZx8w07lBH7KsZKvInPp4vIS3i0cXgnJYvfrYdIUmFNBzfiGZYUSer2VpTkEEOCNDUBqzgK9R1LgfubTUi3t6X8PQm7c8rhUp7L06oCwR4fv4x1jFL3xz_NlHbS6hYqc--U0DKNUcHpJpfIIlZExV6JymmNjRl55A8C/s1600/IMG-20220630-WA0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_vLBSWbAUeqtaxch9AiqpDZx8w07lBH7KsZKvInPp4vIS3i0cXgnJYvfrYdIUmFNBzfiGZYUSer2VpTkEEOCNDUBqzgK9R1LgfubTUi3t6X8PQm7c8rhUp7L06oCwR4fv4x1jFL3xz_NlHbS6hYqc--U0DKNUcHpJpfIIlZExV6JymmNjRl55A8C/w400-h300/IMG-20220630-WA0006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI3mnpP4NQCfkamh_4rCw1_n7H4OHY_cOkY-zRTX_3j-XtGX3USNiwEBOQVGjWmlb0wA4VcNpS7WSmhrMJKvhORl4aXx_mFoV3m50hgbWM6CUDlv2cgb-7X_u4BaKl1C728O0_knLJAj9GVbk1gLyqlEoKG6p20v3ENzISF0NuNu6feJ0vuPSXIix/s1600/IMG-20220630-WA0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI3mnpP4NQCfkamh_4rCw1_n7H4OHY_cOkY-zRTX_3j-XtGX3USNiwEBOQVGjWmlb0wA4VcNpS7WSmhrMJKvhORl4aXx_mFoV3m50hgbWM6CUDlv2cgb-7X_u4BaKl1C728O0_knLJAj9GVbk1gLyqlEoKG6p20v3ENzISF0NuNu6feJ0vuPSXIix/w400-h300/IMG-20220630-WA0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Charles</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p> Not sure why the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sea_Lord_and_Chief_of_the_Naval_Staff" target="_blank">Sea Lord</a> wears spurs, but there you are.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDOaU-gXh5wIpyYIhxPcQ_Jzrofzbsg0jCbBy5c7IHcvADc9erSjvBriy0pSz_Ewsox6l_vpRAPAcd7tfBWd7fAdfVU03JgZmn9Dy15zGORUmLgDc8T7VfMpV_bHxRmeLKDryArlNsW8lYphWOKRNYsdl1qqfHS4v-bUA1HbaLqrOSGHOX-z57NDJ/s2048/IMG-20220630-WA0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDOaU-gXh5wIpyYIhxPcQ_Jzrofzbsg0jCbBy5c7IHcvADc9erSjvBriy0pSz_Ewsox6l_vpRAPAcd7tfBWd7fAdfVU03JgZmn9Dy15zGORUmLgDc8T7VfMpV_bHxRmeLKDryArlNsW8lYphWOKRNYsdl1qqfHS4v-bUA1HbaLqrOSGHOX-z57NDJ/w300-h400/IMG-20220630-WA0013.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Lord in feathers and spurs<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p> </p><p>We also got to chat a bit with the highest ranking woman officer in Police Scotland, <a href="https://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/who-we-are/executive-team/chief-constable/deputy-chief-constable-people-and-professionalism/" target="_blank">Fiona Taylor</a>, when she came over to chat with our tour guide. Do you see all of her medals??<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUExgaT9zh7EfXzI4aXi-jVcQN-foI0hMvFLTpnSHYGxe4sRouQEHARv349PNhcbNzLA7IAlEB1X7faEM9DEOGt3AQa0Wr1I2qu9CLAUYRWKp87mgxqp95UFvW0gH9v257zeRJjH5PQ2Tpm6phSPMnU1QNh6xL4uTAXiHsQuGHlUo5yz_VOdT_s_6/s2048/IMG-20220630-WA0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUExgaT9zh7EfXzI4aXi-jVcQN-foI0hMvFLTpnSHYGxe4sRouQEHARv349PNhcbNzLA7IAlEB1X7faEM9DEOGt3AQa0Wr1I2qu9CLAUYRWKp87mgxqp95UFvW0gH9v257zeRJjH5PQ2Tpm6phSPMnU1QNh6xL4uTAXiHsQuGHlUo5yz_VOdT_s_6/w400-h300/IMG-20220630-WA0012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /> </p><p>After a bit, we went looking for a public restroom. The easiest way to do that is to buy something at a local pub and use theirs. My friend wanted to eat and walk, but I much preferred to rest and eat the steak pie there.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSR3Nt2omqwRWjT4oKByBVhLu1WtZx1E35JfTMAHLNIIS76MCYn9AifPIO8e-AHP77q-1a1sfbIyhGqEG5fPGb-lp-6xGCtgEdmQayoh6yOpIprtKUHgi39YFA5E2TD6_jXBtRz1iNOfhDUMRsTtgPLgLAQnFPkRIlZGVZ-4zeF_RvqMZGKhHRf7m9/s4000/IMG_20220630_121613961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSR3Nt2omqwRWjT4oKByBVhLu1WtZx1E35JfTMAHLNIIS76MCYn9AifPIO8e-AHP77q-1a1sfbIyhGqEG5fPGb-lp-6xGCtgEdmQayoh6yOpIprtKUHgi39YFA5E2TD6_jXBtRz1iNOfhDUMRsTtgPLgLAQnFPkRIlZGVZ-4zeF_RvqMZGKhHRf7m9/w400-h300/IMG_20220630_121613961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Various interesting photos.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrCLZZZjUctXnM7pzOnd4_B3y4OtWyzs_9Heviqf97y1-WYGkIr3gdiVcXjea4mQKUMmwue_4P_a96uORrTGbBVhAiIVhkDUfyAc-8SYBGlwmHLmgzcC4LxF8O98Mi43azIjGO8I1yvo0ntsW_yZVWGXYxCPYNfL7GYmkUTDmVECbpiyVWR6-Cpkn/s4000/IMG_20220630_124501917_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrCLZZZjUctXnM7pzOnd4_B3y4OtWyzs_9Heviqf97y1-WYGkIr3gdiVcXjea4mQKUMmwue_4P_a96uORrTGbBVhAiIVhkDUfyAc-8SYBGlwmHLmgzcC4LxF8O98Mi43azIjGO8I1yvo0ntsW_yZVWGXYxCPYNfL7GYmkUTDmVECbpiyVWR6-Cpkn/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_124501917_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWSJW7xHB9Gjm8eQbWBRzkR2MNZHAM0B8AGgg9KzKjtFIAtbFq-M4oHc8lb_YICeqTgQ3rJSTW0nzmZnF_qaCYEmsXENHGL1BODiJYsWIWbYNkf1jQe_Id50yLoUksdfWY8cBSuLDBi1Cp-LdSoJF31Y6WT7UrGlUV_pP1LkhHRlV_0YuCt_JzPxR/s4000/IMG_20220630_115829951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWSJW7xHB9Gjm8eQbWBRzkR2MNZHAM0B8AGgg9KzKjtFIAtbFq-M4oHc8lb_YICeqTgQ3rJSTW0nzmZnF_qaCYEmsXENHGL1BODiJYsWIWbYNkf1jQe_Id50yLoUksdfWY8cBSuLDBi1Cp-LdSoJF31Y6WT7UrGlUV_pP1LkhHRlV_0YuCt_JzPxR/w400-h300/IMG_20220630_115829951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASRabtXKyf7PkJ07GP8LDQkZEttlp-27Z8jfqE9KGWNSgkv5nOMC8jCeWOb5b7TWrzpRe0Adv9OMBz1a8IxfvKS8ppEoUvtW6hfnbrIfh1KEvBqJblRVFpEqTHtgjzC18qBb_w4mxf4QAXpIHIGoWGSzUvlTOenRVQWVR2bFBQqlGurjWObJlpRzR/s4000/IMG_20220630_120339629_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASRabtXKyf7PkJ07GP8LDQkZEttlp-27Z8jfqE9KGWNSgkv5nOMC8jCeWOb5b7TWrzpRe0Adv9OMBz1a8IxfvKS8ppEoUvtW6hfnbrIfh1KEvBqJblRVFpEqTHtgjzC18qBb_w4mxf4QAXpIHIGoWGSzUvlTOenRVQWVR2bFBQqlGurjWObJlpRzR/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_120339629_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Converted telephone booth into ATM<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLeDV8V6hZqBRXCGYKzu1OVp5ATLbRkxrV2u6Dmt8VZQtuaBbPFOFDg79bROcOL9AYNPLdyIJB4Gozv_2R_mP6YHoml4kQuXdek5ppZFKUgMFJs9y74PhZ-fPYARDyZg4nVPzRSELCjPNaWYk9x5EWGjJ35nD2St2pw866TySl-h9gaWODcG2Uf3_/s4000/IMG_20220630_132724256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLeDV8V6hZqBRXCGYKzu1OVp5ATLbRkxrV2u6Dmt8VZQtuaBbPFOFDg79bROcOL9AYNPLdyIJB4Gozv_2R_mP6YHoml4kQuXdek5ppZFKUgMFJs9y74PhZ-fPYARDyZg4nVPzRSELCjPNaWYk9x5EWGjJ35nD2St2pw866TySl-h9gaWODcG2Uf3_/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_132724256.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edinburgh Castle in the background</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>A few blocks away we stumbled upon the Royal Band preparing to leave after they'd played at the Thistle Ceremony. Of course we stopped to talk to them and take selfies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9Bn8dkpXZ45WPZUy1RtGEo_h9je8qmnfBA7RiQpcB9-vq67jkfH6LcMTSDNmuwLUz6UPIOaoaEErUTao2KPtcU_CFJv1rbKH6D5m1zHK57X2vfLaYXFk6B_ICRsIi6sv093WfNq-ZSxzMy-Ahcoj2Xg9hyJpwJ4Ga42zoMiT6rSea5sdF-0LnPxf/s4000/IMG_20220630_133335562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9Bn8dkpXZ45WPZUy1RtGEo_h9je8qmnfBA7RiQpcB9-vq67jkfH6LcMTSDNmuwLUz6UPIOaoaEErUTao2KPtcU_CFJv1rbKH6D5m1zHK57X2vfLaYXFk6B_ICRsIi6sv093WfNq-ZSxzMy-Ahcoj2Xg9hyJpwJ4Ga42zoMiT6rSea5sdF-0LnPxf/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_133335562.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We went through a few touristy Harry Potter shops, taking pics in witches hats and plague masks, before eventually getting back to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Giles%27_Cathedral" target="_blank">St. Giles Cathedral</a>, which was now open to the public again. It was a beautiful place to rest and people watch.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTapVifZ96a7Qiw5n8-jsnQ3pvabQO-as-Z1_nEjTEDfYj5oFacZW7bPVy7FtcDyZmUWCTXcKEkcwfntY70bkRB2Ks5ddhC-9EtC2vS_6VxxDrOEdXYiawx2oF9gklywUdI_uwzPttyQQLDQLS0m1fZvKEHIulg6vEoUhrtdMLR-s1v89GOw6_U6gD/s4000/IMG_20220630_135013423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTapVifZ96a7Qiw5n8-jsnQ3pvabQO-as-Z1_nEjTEDfYj5oFacZW7bPVy7FtcDyZmUWCTXcKEkcwfntY70bkRB2Ks5ddhC-9EtC2vS_6VxxDrOEdXYiawx2oF9gklywUdI_uwzPttyQQLDQLS0m1fZvKEHIulg6vEoUhrtdMLR-s1v89GOw6_U6gD/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_135013423.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant organ (hehe that's what she said)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzz04VZqWpjRLaGB4JIj0VJwK7zHrz5MXGN1uPxgXvuVGBNXYKhHdgyHa2K4Xun2HRdudY-78-rbxAhrZ-k2A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzm8RHiDmxroQHA2t0uHk8LffH6e04jGHrn3GPXNK_MFrOPorj6TT-MTqFVZicHgywqtITVu2nUHqGUXiiYtQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmI9Y3MR2kucf2Pm1LfHscGNQYAjR3Kv937bJQ0kW1GBVWgJcAvyxU-YYhruIli5-KmPu-ZnOl2Guxaz_Yv1OVod6DSQsaMPw0JV9ziuqDfsGu7iAD_RwiFAgt0OVf6eP9xP8phglAOmUx1XS-j3iFLPqKaKzukutZv0aokTklHHswy1lSUEhrDfD/s4000/IMG_20220630_135119816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmI9Y3MR2kucf2Pm1LfHscGNQYAjR3Kv937bJQ0kW1GBVWgJcAvyxU-YYhruIli5-KmPu-ZnOl2Guxaz_Yv1OVod6DSQsaMPw0JV9ziuqDfsGu7iAD_RwiFAgt0OVf6eP9xP8phglAOmUx1XS-j3iFLPqKaKzukutZv0aokTklHHswy1lSUEhrDfD/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_135119816.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">surprisingly comfortable to chair from which to rest and people watch<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>We walked to the other end of the Royal Mile to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyrood_Palace" target="_blank">Holyrood Palace</a>, where the Queen was in residence, hence all the heightened security. Across the street, in front of Parliament, there were a handful of peaceful pro-life protesters because the US Supreme Court Decision of Roe vs. Wade had just been overturned.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwPPFrBfKU-uY0MS3b7KP5Dqqwl3rjzl55i6AlhWi_gBGcZVYCn3I-4l7ZwYc7Wny1MI-Ni38FonAu8uRGhN8XBka3CcMOtdmM4xdAMvHOdHroXiDPJOC51JrWz-KfjVRnv-9oKKjaScbfeYbDXJFhDVS5BF_yZ_QLdaoPStEecw0gQtI2-NN3w0s/s4000/IMG_20220630_145457019_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwPPFrBfKU-uY0MS3b7KP5Dqqwl3rjzl55i6AlhWi_gBGcZVYCn3I-4l7ZwYc7Wny1MI-Ni38FonAu8uRGhN8XBka3CcMOtdmM4xdAMvHOdHroXiDPJOC51JrWz-KfjVRnv-9oKKjaScbfeYbDXJFhDVS5BF_yZ_QLdaoPStEecw0gQtI2-NN3w0s/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_145457019_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holyrood Palace<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p></p><p>We walked a bit more and came across an old cemetery. I have no idea the significance or whom was buried there, but it was a beautiful sunny day, and it was quiet and lovely to lie back on the grass and rest and chat.</p><p>We slowly made our way back to the train station and had a bite and an adult beverage at a rooftop cafe with a stupendous view. The grilled Scottish salmon was exquisite, and it was a perfect way to end this adventure. We caught the rush hour train back home but still managed to find the last two seats.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhfBjpv7sTsjwcq9lq-zD-GOztFun1DXyuJEAByL8cVWn1AIgVp95dkcAv8oFpahMWjSfsZ9RWDNUMlbxWO7MVZiq4pUnaad3oRDTi50Q3Ii7-poG3eS2Ez72aqzeYl2zpK4vZGnSn4HIgvxcwvfm7Vpy8yc0ZfI35_yIZsDkGs8ZKs_DmGmckyvu/s4000/IMG_20220630_161436671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhfBjpv7sTsjwcq9lq-zD-GOztFun1DXyuJEAByL8cVWn1AIgVp95dkcAv8oFpahMWjSfsZ9RWDNUMlbxWO7MVZiq4pUnaad3oRDTi50Q3Ii7-poG3eS2Ez72aqzeYl2zpK4vZGnSn4HIgvxcwvfm7Vpy8yc0ZfI35_yIZsDkGs8ZKs_DmGmckyvu/w300-h400/IMG_20220630_161436671.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grilled Scottish salmon in miso glaze<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-37100970194902648712022-06-29T18:10:00.133-04:002022-07-11T23:24:38.031-04:00I volunteer as tribute<p>Because I wake up early every morning, I volunteered to walk down to the village and buy them fresh rolls. I asked for specific directions the night before on how to get there and EXACTLY what to buy (the price, where in the shop it was located, etc.) They even gave me some of their funny money in case my credit card didn't work.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlcKFtiPGlelN6kqA1ALshUa9nLc6pg0wcYy2MJNv3Bv-1eRvGhyh-1fLlrSeyWC3dSFHsGrApyN1tK785mgAE9szOVDZEmYOJvceGjcNl9Y9Pf0egO8LIxDneCQ3SQM_JMdelg-lzM7ajP0WN97OnKYl1wZws-x86L8lh0TcvdrDf4ewU8xzCKZb/s4000/IMG_20220629_082640776.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlcKFtiPGlelN6kqA1ALshUa9nLc6pg0wcYy2MJNv3Bv-1eRvGhyh-1fLlrSeyWC3dSFHsGrApyN1tK785mgAE9szOVDZEmYOJvceGjcNl9Y9Pf0egO8LIxDneCQ3SQM_JMdelg-lzM7ajP0WN97OnKYl1wZws-x86L8lh0TcvdrDf4ewU8xzCKZb/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_082640776.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I excitedly left the flat on a gorgeous crisp morning and headed to the little shop. This is what met my gaze at 8:30am.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8huAe4ZuQpZpfia6Le7idnFrY1ODqUgapbPoyC0dj-fAyDC8ECJFdOLrxpbH-MKmiFNn4A0uKlwfcT6IIaruir2umg0_--sZDlCNt_VzC5nzAH6-2XNvWmL6d0UpA3fLDjJyuZg6I1NUQTuHkDMf99JPDOqefxAC5Upkuux_-bl0mwh2mazGDqUMp/s4000/IMG_20220629_082458861.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8huAe4ZuQpZpfia6Le7idnFrY1ODqUgapbPoyC0dj-fAyDC8ECJFdOLrxpbH-MKmiFNn4A0uKlwfcT6IIaruir2umg0_--sZDlCNt_VzC5nzAH6-2XNvWmL6d0UpA3fLDjJyuZg6I1NUQTuHkDMf99JPDOqefxAC5Upkuux_-bl0mwh2mazGDqUMp/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_082458861.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIw2WqfkpLezgvA9_QrBF_jlqi1FTtLCHLc6R7LZXxRvKTncr-GJJBYGi6mc3jyCd75XFua2PaJ2GawO4rBBeBj_fm8LnNPztNVoa3VJdEIFoQodPoVe1KnRWXMmK_JmwT7q405zcaOKz8fgjOcx1AMm-4_UrY3zrhDI0bjOxakC7ir-ggRKNOJra/s4000/IMG_20220629_082500790.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIw2WqfkpLezgvA9_QrBF_jlqi1FTtLCHLc6R7LZXxRvKTncr-GJJBYGi6mc3jyCd75XFua2PaJ2GawO4rBBeBj_fm8LnNPztNVoa3VJdEIFoQodPoVe1KnRWXMmK_JmwT7q405zcaOKz8fgjOcx1AMm-4_UrY3zrhDI0bjOxakC7ir-ggRKNOJra/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_082500790.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>It reminded me of the bare shelves after a hurricane comes through my town. I got up my courage and asked one of the workers there if they had the specific rolls my friends requested. It was a comedy of errors because neither one of us could understand the other. Finally I was pointed to this shelf, right next to the others. I bought what they had just so I didn't come home empty-handed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ie6R-OcT1JOjEoCTCaHvCVk5hUZAploWwgYHo1l7xIH-76_ldKo3LuXr6THuIfU-QRQQMX1u_GV6fK12zlkTXcy5wIDNtYYr9Wm7crzZWONOyZqGYCDeMPNDcSBno7qRuIeAGSe222RBb_wIICZp7cXgFp44erDg0ZVHUkUd7k6d5PdfciP6sOjP/s4000/IMG_20220629_082627775.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ie6R-OcT1JOjEoCTCaHvCVk5hUZAploWwgYHo1l7xIH-76_ldKo3LuXr6THuIfU-QRQQMX1u_GV6fK12zlkTXcy5wIDNtYYr9Wm7crzZWONOyZqGYCDeMPNDcSBno7qRuIeAGSe222RBb_wIICZp7cXgFp44erDg0ZVHUkUd7k6d5PdfciP6sOjP/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_082627775.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>These were NOT the correct rolls, but fortunately I had photographic evidence that I tried.</p><p> </p><p>For breakfast I was treated to my very own goose egg!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJ-haO_j0jTsq1EI23JynWu8gZD5NqIf-wp34hGitUGgPewXmiaRnFQhorWw0hkvc236TDkoViByVmA-ES_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH080bNQ3DKzYQdsmAAuzvvA10KDRJRg-IQ12_uIhyGQdiV00la9H_wJDhI06Yf3QJLB3Z3Xqk3EyeUG-Vgq1V0TJ7kWZkXn2KE60gyKSZuktDtto534ZCbVtmW7FbINIAsgHMx2ffH75QGCWISFg6-PeH51Qh-ZsC754MHwtsQXfsEv9pb7L-StF/s4000/IMG_20220629_093951257.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH080bNQ3DKzYQdsmAAuzvvA10KDRJRg-IQ12_uIhyGQdiV00la9H_wJDhI06Yf3QJLB3Z3Xqk3EyeUG-Vgq1V0TJ7kWZkXn2KE60gyKSZuktDtto534ZCbVtmW7FbINIAsgHMx2ffH75QGCWISFg6-PeH51Qh-ZsC754MHwtsQXfsEv9pb7L-StF/w400-h300/IMG_20220629_093951257.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">goose egg next to chicken eggs<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuCO_Df8_XBeKGeOZ1gzq1bWZpB8RnNuz-sJSXirK8iynakJJdEo1Ie23Asx223KkI57su1lBjPh9Xyr2vvsP9vUjiFj3mMMYy9S5QaP-W4PYdsc8xWIUW6ec6cZ87BThBf5LdOHfJnV2s9Qnx5gCGZLL8l1M0xu4nb0Tcq3tReIzPhA5R9OhDiD/s4000/IMG_20220629_094135375_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuCO_Df8_XBeKGeOZ1gzq1bWZpB8RnNuz-sJSXirK8iynakJJdEo1Ie23Asx223KkI57su1lBjPh9Xyr2vvsP9vUjiFj3mMMYy9S5QaP-W4PYdsc8xWIUW6ec6cZ87BThBf5LdOHfJnV2s9Qnx5gCGZLL8l1M0xu4nb0Tcq3tReIzPhA5R9OhDiD/w400-h300/IMG_20220629_094135375_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><p>I ate my goose egg and my slice of black pudding and was magnificently sated.</p><p>After breakfast, my friend and I walked out into the rain and caught the double-decker bus to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirleton_Castle" target="_blank">Dirleton Castle</a>. It was mostly closed for renovations, although the real story seems to be lots of places are short-staffed after Brexit. They use the renovations line as a convenient excuse. We toured the gardens, walked the grounds, chatted, and caught up on our lives.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_JYcU8BwcH4iuV08Hm7ylV_NaZBMQfLiFzxYM13aD4BZoolB23EQIfctKYzF9FzNN1LWyZqs7lOzSIXDwzu7FWAA4FOKd9d_fvh3YbRcB1gs54Xsl-blYGR6Mzq_KuPfMOUeoWBFGaQ7HVu5-EJt05A5rIFzufddn9UO-N4D6Le0ggatKc315-AF/s4000/IMG_20220629_131732317_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_JYcU8BwcH4iuV08Hm7ylV_NaZBMQfLiFzxYM13aD4BZoolB23EQIfctKYzF9FzNN1LWyZqs7lOzSIXDwzu7FWAA4FOKd9d_fvh3YbRcB1gs54Xsl-blYGR6Mzq_KuPfMOUeoWBFGaQ7HVu5-EJt05A5rIFzufddn9UO-N4D6Le0ggatKc315-AF/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_131732317_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNFWm0Kn8CfdQevtmUG5Zmg5_wH3bwhx0O5Im6JKuQXG3TxpMMRDifB_duMXrs2dnE1ZlGkqDaBiUIKGwrDCPMpq0hPWaNdKe7zFCjToI6XswhlKKRF0IS_ASx79HLP_xYm-P-l-tMjiBz3oIvsMt12M1d2Am_BdstPxExQU2NUST75DJtV5F6AmC/s4000/IMG_20220629_130524305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNFWm0Kn8CfdQevtmUG5Zmg5_wH3bwhx0O5Im6JKuQXG3TxpMMRDifB_duMXrs2dnE1ZlGkqDaBiUIKGwrDCPMpq0hPWaNdKe7zFCjToI6XswhlKKRF0IS_ASx79HLP_xYm-P-l-tMjiBz3oIvsMt12M1d2Am_BdstPxExQU2NUST75DJtV5F6AmC/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_130524305.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pHbOzZAzRgabptMlk8K_JQG9EHAEid8gvwGvM3EzqLi9IhyB5JBQ49YbfL066WxuCWlLht7xswzGK_W6xl8QcExdYZ_rTbJC8W_o-w7yJOK2BLYP_-U2nSLzOvmJlNMMF1il7lsrKRcM2Bf2jjAB4C9S1RCadqsCZ3TjuBxEmQa3MM1YauWd5aTp/s4000/IMG_20220629_133132179_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pHbOzZAzRgabptMlk8K_JQG9EHAEid8gvwGvM3EzqLi9IhyB5JBQ49YbfL066WxuCWlLht7xswzGK_W6xl8QcExdYZ_rTbJC8W_o-w7yJOK2BLYP_-U2nSLzOvmJlNMMF1il7lsrKRcM2Bf2jjAB4C9S1RCadqsCZ3TjuBxEmQa3MM1YauWd5aTp/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_133132179_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>We went across the street to have lunch at the <a href="https://www.castleinndirleton.com/" target="_blank">Castle Inn</a>. They had really fun wallpaper inside.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOryIr0l21obxkdWJruxgDY0wO6zUQ2n5QsyHlqvtrX6-vtSYHvoVsSdffy15tGxoGPXocxY1oMSc8sdx_jj-EFIWxPTjQmVkJyR2gvAzJosI3DvWq-2EFJmFb8Qd5B0Xt3fm5OxYcjyyFJoBy9tIgPsEX7Bf7di8YzQQfN_egpxdE507U9CXGaQJ/s4000/IMG_20220629_144818862_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOryIr0l21obxkdWJruxgDY0wO6zUQ2n5QsyHlqvtrX6-vtSYHvoVsSdffy15tGxoGPXocxY1oMSc8sdx_jj-EFIWxPTjQmVkJyR2gvAzJosI3DvWq-2EFJmFb8Qd5B0Xt3fm5OxYcjyyFJoBy9tIgPsEX7Bf7di8YzQQfN_egpxdE507U9CXGaQJ/w400-h300/IMG_20220629_144818862_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtubAjfSGf5Zv0oWfIW4EnuXUyIvLTh5T0V_GBu6iDdu0ThNVPRy6FGRv8LMvFPbTpXqax1aI7_Hx7F7cPB4bTCOdfGwk2fIHN-o78EfxvJ7NUyzZc9K3BVCxsonBAs2R4TqS101TgnhxOuid7kVtq4BmqG-z25viDqoBzUQT85pls-XjUERLQFox/s4000/IMG_20220629_140946893.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtubAjfSGf5Zv0oWfIW4EnuXUyIvLTh5T0V_GBu6iDdu0ThNVPRy6FGRv8LMvFPbTpXqax1aI7_Hx7F7cPB4bTCOdfGwk2fIHN-o78EfxvJ7NUyzZc9K3BVCxsonBAs2R4TqS101TgnhxOuid7kVtq4BmqG-z25viDqoBzUQT85pls-XjUERLQFox/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_140946893.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fun wallpaper<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />We ordered lamb's liver and cullen skink -- and shared them both. Much to my surprise, cullen skink is a soup that contains no actual skinks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_WvshNT3QoCcCvK8N9Y3dDeoJcVFy3JPWbpWUeFxgWNJrhSExBpGxGG7hTJRPHZkhCMXrOfrfHchclhNerei_Mdy5dAAK5PDVZn3lXwe4imC7bNzU0Fd6-DPKzwtohrc2BoDqrsMNC8d4oo3GCmd_KktxbEq7cUF9HaXmzXtWCRgx1QSzgmxqSw5/s4000/IMG_20220629_141451236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_WvshNT3QoCcCvK8N9Y3dDeoJcVFy3JPWbpWUeFxgWNJrhSExBpGxGG7hTJRPHZkhCMXrOfrfHchclhNerei_Mdy5dAAK5PDVZn3lXwe4imC7bNzU0Fd6-DPKzwtohrc2BoDqrsMNC8d4oo3GCmd_KktxbEq7cUF9HaXmzXtWCRgx1QSzgmxqSw5/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_141451236.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWSEVF6aPuP9m2F8-7Wh5WXtpkqMkj0k-Cdtq-lnY9AXi6KWkO_Y18zNRYMQ3qZK4WxkWFDDo6bzEHsE22Y1Amu_bGOLHxGKFhHdvsbBmc3UIeTFsNX754xvaCHUsH62RW945-lz7GzvTZeAKYkNofzNo1kA-QSsBFxc-QPrlMLKCP0iuIL9E_YU9/s4000/IMG_20220629_141440087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWSEVF6aPuP9m2F8-7Wh5WXtpkqMkj0k-Cdtq-lnY9AXi6KWkO_Y18zNRYMQ3qZK4WxkWFDDo6bzEHsE22Y1Amu_bGOLHxGKFhHdvsbBmc3UIeTFsNX754xvaCHUsH62RW945-lz7GzvTZeAKYkNofzNo1kA-QSsBFxc-QPrlMLKCP0iuIL9E_YU9/w300-h400/IMG_20220629_141440087.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />After lunch, we leisurely walked back along the John Muir Trail.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwm0CPZxg26VzcacVLqORe_1Co3l38ZJ8OqYsUdqMPJ7lXcmE3YBVmSy0YHSdQuE4cVlZqAuf2Va7ZysInQxXekWpveNpK-2IOPGa8Hotji2hQoYrHqJQRx8DMtG_skEetVSMAoGh_kZIjVnGYv7UtFCb1XP_i9UmltxTbrXeHJSeTJV7_g9ZdWFHl/s4000/IMG_20220629_153541987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwm0CPZxg26VzcacVLqORe_1Co3l38ZJ8OqYsUdqMPJ7lXcmE3YBVmSy0YHSdQuE4cVlZqAuf2Va7ZysInQxXekWpveNpK-2IOPGa8Hotji2hQoYrHqJQRx8DMtG_skEetVSMAoGh_kZIjVnGYv7UtFCb1XP_i9UmltxTbrXeHJSeTJV7_g9ZdWFHl/w400-h300/IMG_20220629_153541987.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><br />wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-18772516082937938652022-06-28T17:57:00.045-04:002022-07-11T23:21:36.459-04:00Stirling Castle<p>We did the tourist thing and toured <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Castle" target="_blank">Stirling Castle</a>. This is the Queen's room, where she didn't actually sleep. Waste of a decorous bed in my opinion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAXScFTiH6uw4PFlyh8fOMknK0mcsdN0Ph9vxBt_76yC4_9FPSSMCyS6e8ZVQ-lbKLxq88BbZe5mcelfe24PRui0bwpI-AK4RacYwh7sg7plX9jeekdo16VFWWKV0dU9GtgO6UaG5gSj9BqpnOnp7FOheR6KqZMTwjrcMIeBWxOB2K3IVIrZXRdBF/s4000/IMG_20220628_115304466.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAXScFTiH6uw4PFlyh8fOMknK0mcsdN0Ph9vxBt_76yC4_9FPSSMCyS6e8ZVQ-lbKLxq88BbZe5mcelfe24PRui0bwpI-AK4RacYwh7sg7plX9jeekdo16VFWWKV0dU9GtgO6UaG5gSj9BqpnOnp7FOheR6KqZMTwjrcMIeBWxOB2K3IVIrZXRdBF/w300-h400/IMG_20220628_115304466.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I didn't take a lot of photos <a href="https://www.stirlingcastle.scot/" target="_blank">here</a> except some fun ones with my friend. I finally got the <a href="https://www.bootroutes.com/blog/dreich-scottish-word-meaning-miserable-cold-gloomy-weather" target="_blank">dreich</a> weather I was expecting in Scotland. It was kind of fun to stand in a cool mist outside instead of the sweltering swamp of Florida summer.<br /><p></p><p></p><p>For dinner, I had homemade chicken stuffed with black pudding, wrapped in bacon, in a black pudding sauce, with a side of homegrown leeks. So delicious!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgxJekzg96TDRaToRchNz7blxvU4ovT02IGbSp1pKo7g87o2gFzOtealnoO22vViySUck8DJSSUGjpVE7Tmqwuq375SXvw3Ez-KMulI00goolfJngUNusXemV4CIvhOi2hUPiKCpkyVbcs4Rzn3Bry85C59iYfsyQ1psEJy2FUOcdOV9u5lLOlwMq/s4000/IMG_20220628_201434500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgxJekzg96TDRaToRchNz7blxvU4ovT02IGbSp1pKo7g87o2gFzOtealnoO22vViySUck8DJSSUGjpVE7Tmqwuq375SXvw3Ez-KMulI00goolfJngUNusXemV4CIvhOi2hUPiKCpkyVbcs4Rzn3Bry85C59iYfsyQ1psEJy2FUOcdOV9u5lLOlwMq/w400-h300/IMG_20220628_201434500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-85494538917827562542022-06-27T18:30:00.063-04:002022-07-11T23:20:15.120-04:00All About That Bass <p>or Bass (rhymes with ass) as the case may be.</p><p>We went on a lovely <a href="https://www.seabird.org/boats/seabird-catamaran-cruise" target="_blank">boat tour</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Rock" target="_blank">Bass Rock</a> and Craigleith. It was another glorious (mostly) sunny day in Scotland and perfect boating conditions. Something something largest nesting grounds of lots of birds. Yeah, I really soaked in all that knowledge! I was more interested in enjoying the experience and spending time with my dear friends. I did retain the fact they're being hit by some version of avian flu, so their bird populations have decreased dramatically. There were a few dead ones floating around us. And dog owners were warned all up and down the beach not to let their dogs interact with the dead birds, as it was unknown if it would propagate across species.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMErAOPwZRVWKgacxBrHNTcKyO_W73wcMk9MSlQrOP3PKL5q1LaX0bzaH1LtNtVneV_P4xZ5MmD5Arg_0tNPiTwqeaPAUgYjbyA4AD6eNRFRkk76Hg1x2f709L3Hfk_woa9w44xwy-OiKYQ2dzuIB7CSeut6aXqnNGUJLmusxefslCOGlvNJOeAyd/s1024/IMG-20220627-WA0015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLKGS42xNLKQf_daKVsDUBxF0Eu6ex2QHHB4ol9HDAy1FHC3KxrpWw-9c3UKyvwj2aOiaDOI8h2IS6IlOQaJFsklxzZ2ew79v22Vpe3aDmFs879zA3goBhar54tk-LA4ti-x6czV-aEbAazE-doNAW4eGoObvL8EDX6GbWUIWzSU_vnaD1zoR3oTn/s1024/bass.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLKGS42xNLKQf_daKVsDUBxF0Eu6ex2QHHB4ol9HDAy1FHC3KxrpWw-9c3UKyvwj2aOiaDOI8h2IS6IlOQaJFsklxzZ2ew79v22Vpe3aDmFs879zA3goBhar54tk-LA4ti-x6czV-aEbAazE-doNAW4eGoObvL8EDX6GbWUIWzSU_vnaD1zoR3oTn/w400-h300/bass.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bass Rock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD9FMTZnt8jE9hyltAoTwMgYfY6JbjyM_mfsB60Evwk3KmsxqUKb7pjrFuXxRVgYhaZ3tuf3eBqYEB8rP3kqZhZnaWvs75gZYZBewpQgwV23axSuIogpX12s2ofemHvZGNSTOgi1_UUU4ExaQyts9PyWel4sStuonhiKaq0SnZsppfD0-sk442L70/s1024/IMG-20220627-WA0014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD9FMTZnt8jE9hyltAoTwMgYfY6JbjyM_mfsB60Evwk3KmsxqUKb7pjrFuXxRVgYhaZ3tuf3eBqYEB8rP3kqZhZnaWvs75gZYZBewpQgwV23axSuIogpX12s2ofemHvZGNSTOgi1_UUU4ExaQyts9PyWel4sStuonhiKaq0SnZsppfD0-sk442L70/w400-h300/IMG-20220627-WA0014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMErAOPwZRVWKgacxBrHNTcKyO_W73wcMk9MSlQrOP3PKL5q1LaX0bzaH1LtNtVneV_P4xZ5MmD5Arg_0tNPiTwqeaPAUgYjbyA4AD6eNRFRkk76Hg1x2f709L3Hfk_woa9w44xwy-OiKYQ2dzuIB7CSeut6aXqnNGUJLmusxefslCOGlvNJOeAyd/w400-h300/IMG-20220627-WA0015.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U0xDsPPj9vluX8_R8lSnBUeK1nTKtj9zooVDI7hK3IuVq4vkuSKN5vSTiqIETvGB6UZR7EhQsBBFcYs_Zcg07PxydUEoGIOduIzo8UMX95zYK93GELD5snqVJej1cZBlbRYg3hEYeXF0q-CKYmvizO3Iy8dunkeIGbOem74BQ5Mzchnr63j_hHeG/s1024/IMG-20220627-WA0009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U0xDsPPj9vluX8_R8lSnBUeK1nTKtj9zooVDI7hK3IuVq4vkuSKN5vSTiqIETvGB6UZR7EhQsBBFcYs_Zcg07PxydUEoGIOduIzo8UMX95zYK93GELD5snqVJej1cZBlbRYg3hEYeXF0q-CKYmvizO3Iy8dunkeIGbOem74BQ5Mzchnr63j_hHeG/w300-h400/IMG-20220627-WA0009.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPSE3qYtaYyc7KYLp1JKtu-YSTBi6ORZJ260GYPL8fgdBF0D96KQ8Q1Y6yVHSEtnCSzML9zIz2z4N6ZjBZ7I6sZnyz5l26XOYV2kkvjcU0Q1sLOpleAFtLCr-YKzj2KNrD0fZndwPH28al8HxlPF7yPLufAbQ1s6XeG21Ko6gcMU8cK5cj0IAMb8Q/s1024/IMG-20220627-WA0018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPSE3qYtaYyc7KYLp1JKtu-YSTBi6ORZJ260GYPL8fgdBF0D96KQ8Q1Y6yVHSEtnCSzML9zIz2z4N6ZjBZ7I6sZnyz5l26XOYV2kkvjcU0Q1sLOpleAFtLCr-YKzj2KNrD0fZndwPH28al8HxlPF7yPLufAbQ1s6XeG21Ko6gcMU8cK5cj0IAMb8Q/w400-h300/IMG-20220627-WA0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><br />wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-25812055867113089802022-06-26T07:15:00.083-04:002022-07-11T09:19:57.775-04:00Seacliff and whisky<p>Today was a recovery day. Apparently I wasn't the only one with a hangover, although mine was a migraine hangover. They ended the night before having Baby Guinness shots, which looked delicious, but I obviously declined. I didn't want to send the migraine towards the projectile vomiting stage. They were Kahlua shots with Bailey's floaters. One day, I'll have to try replicating that. Our designated driver declined also, don't worry.</p><p>We drove to <a href="https://thecaptainsguides.com/seacliff-north-berwick/" target="_blank">Seacliff Beach</a> and had an easy hike to the shore. I say hike because some of those rocks were treacherous when wet (which they were), plus some strong winds again. There was the cutest itty-bitty harbor which also seemed treacherous to get to by boat, but somehow captains manage to do it on the regular.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74-2NR5ohiUfiIcILmwbd2q_YlaozxfNTrW4bkcVeoT4VX045g9VFhf-PTiQ2dRdTdt-VvlQq6Ch-0xcIjn-FhhDTfrZgfFYGYPBQI_YCKvVJB-_pZklzKE_PzQFE6OvZIq4xjmqD2fMAa35-kLiyvyUFR8f0Ii_DNfLKCywmd0imPeA7rEnp1Saa/s4000/harbor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74-2NR5ohiUfiIcILmwbd2q_YlaozxfNTrW4bkcVeoT4VX045g9VFhf-PTiQ2dRdTdt-VvlQq6Ch-0xcIjn-FhhDTfrZgfFYGYPBQI_YCKvVJB-_pZklzKE_PzQFE6OvZIq4xjmqD2fMAa35-kLiyvyUFR8f0Ii_DNfLKCywmd0imPeA7rEnp1Saa/w400-h300/harbor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The opening is incredibly narrow.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjACmC5ximYSSoPdtW95rk9rHliKRx2oEV40MglwaYZ-8oZVd9DGsr1-x8-0UWhUgsa4c3b-iTdffzkYBWvJXFi5o_H622b_81JG3__BQuYFYvoMi_oUJAZy3FlRBljaJAURiuLWfAG1ffKsyUzvyTl1TI_cbrv9kDxRQF6xnrwTkfnf4u-qHQxy8o/s4000/IMG_20220626_164342110_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjACmC5ximYSSoPdtW95rk9rHliKRx2oEV40MglwaYZ-8oZVd9DGsr1-x8-0UWhUgsa4c3b-iTdffzkYBWvJXFi5o_H622b_81JG3__BQuYFYvoMi_oUJAZy3FlRBljaJAURiuLWfAG1ffKsyUzvyTl1TI_cbrv9kDxRQF6xnrwTkfnf4u-qHQxy8o/w400-h300/IMG_20220626_164342110_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The views were majestic as always. I asked if they ever got tired of them, and they vehemently denied that it's possible as they're constantly shifting due to weather.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeawX7bstHOca4jsQsE0GO4oB71Q6DyVZNx8UYdvEEl7ZB67FW5NOpJPC96lZ-dgoAd_vz7_XDlhbJ8CtHslC-UV50xsr40d2TF3tEfs0vEyghw5SBCFpLlE-7AohQGWxri4djUV2Ls6UCsKq_wms5vdsyWiwwUxOPBLV4j6BJAqiyGp2rS98H1Zc0/s4000/IMG_20220626_165105921_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeawX7bstHOca4jsQsE0GO4oB71Q6DyVZNx8UYdvEEl7ZB67FW5NOpJPC96lZ-dgoAd_vz7_XDlhbJ8CtHslC-UV50xsr40d2TF3tEfs0vEyghw5SBCFpLlE-7AohQGWxri4djUV2Ls6UCsKq_wms5vdsyWiwwUxOPBLV4j6BJAqiyGp2rS98H1Zc0/w400-h300/IMG_20220626_165105921_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Then it was on to Tesco to procure groceries. And more cheese. Their regular cheese guy was running late with the delivery. Mmmhmm, they have a regular cheese guy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX0HASJa84BXfPPMF6BhSc5dZMyuX9cWIfSlsXLLsvqVSrEEtV-HBPZbJsK-P6uavQJON73A64KQ4sROp7fIF4xIEPDQGjOpZZibtGJQz3QiZGy6ZpwEqB8qr3ddA8ytK6rkkghVsJJ4kVbsHHEOTZqynH8E7pivdhdtMBcXvWE0bgxA9q6VWtP44/s4000/cheese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX0HASJa84BXfPPMF6BhSc5dZMyuX9cWIfSlsXLLsvqVSrEEtV-HBPZbJsK-P6uavQJON73A64KQ4sROp7fIF4xIEPDQGjOpZZibtGJQz3QiZGy6ZpwEqB8qr3ddA8ytK6rkkghVsJJ4kVbsHHEOTZqynH8E7pivdhdtMBcXvWE0bgxA9q6VWtP44/w300-h400/cheese.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gpIB-0tBdkeVmOqQw75d7EO2En5behmcbx4XKwCPL5KgCPpJAuQeZmTF2oP-M4guK5JqYwajUPFnGJapLVXDkKe9Ujit9fJpmG0Qfsbkm_03WRjUyDrYiUlfe2-WS4TbwebevFbiVc7CtE62GaiZvj8jQy-IFhgjPp47ziRDW3L3t96NNxnRotMr/s4000/cheese2(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gpIB-0tBdkeVmOqQw75d7EO2En5behmcbx4XKwCPL5KgCPpJAuQeZmTF2oP-M4guK5JqYwajUPFnGJapLVXDkKe9Ujit9fJpmG0Qfsbkm_03WRjUyDrYiUlfe2-WS4TbwebevFbiVc7CtE62GaiZvj8jQy-IFhgjPp47ziRDW3L3t96NNxnRotMr/w300-h400/cheese2(1).jpg" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WkBgcPfSHiYkS-Bgmpi2eZYUBppkdvIuBgTdH7gtC7OJidhZ6NCn6R6riEgjfYFt6dntEzJ8vQD2vrl7zrbXwazrl0Zgt3LGcwm6pEWdy-gl0pmBsz3dX_GqE7u8sVUBgpesGvS0tDofP5xH1yce7dCV-2eRsJYjnvgr8moJ8fbMBkNZlTV62m-8/s4000/IMG_20220626_174041424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WkBgcPfSHiYkS-Bgmpi2eZYUBppkdvIuBgTdH7gtC7OJidhZ6NCn6R6riEgjfYFt6dntEzJ8vQD2vrl7zrbXwazrl0Zgt3LGcwm6pEWdy-gl0pmBsz3dX_GqE7u8sVUBgpesGvS0tDofP5xH1yce7dCV-2eRsJYjnvgr8moJ8fbMBkNZlTV62m-8/w300-h400/IMG_20220626_174041424.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChOkTUDvZPFJvas7b0U8RBCh4wC52jvsmOreUXILktkP8VaNJUl2lltjWfxovsGzVX2S4QN4C5P_hVMXPLe5R9VJ-IhfLyosb5HcoFiC-Dj_jIjmj5O3iups617bc644Kts70R3aAukilka-dG5yhT1KDq85Ej57K0Rx26_BumCvsYDNTivEVOBBh/s4000/IMG_20220626_174055610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChOkTUDvZPFJvas7b0U8RBCh4wC52jvsmOreUXILktkP8VaNJUl2lltjWfxovsGzVX2S4QN4C5P_hVMXPLe5R9VJ-IhfLyosb5HcoFiC-Dj_jIjmj5O3iups617bc644Kts70R3aAukilka-dG5yhT1KDq85Ej57K0Rx26_BumCvsYDNTivEVOBBh/w300-h400/IMG_20220626_174055610.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK481lCO6fBUK8Y6ogWKP3PqzCGjOMftdwdaZoov2WMny3IsLYXEK7LzJGutaln6xCUHZ95DLEKRqeqNJaqFz0HOZCYHxl3GN0mzT9mBTHN7d7YmJi4k0YNrgxlfO1lrHol-2fNj16NSxpv3YmZMJ_9jONz-ANi8rCPv7fRSa4a0_L4BHVmIfU-_ni/s4000/IMG_20220626_174106826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK481lCO6fBUK8Y6ogWKP3PqzCGjOMftdwdaZoov2WMny3IsLYXEK7LzJGutaln6xCUHZ95DLEKRqeqNJaqFz0HOZCYHxl3GN0mzT9mBTHN7d7YmJi4k0YNrgxlfO1lrHol-2fNj16NSxpv3YmZMJ_9jONz-ANi8rCPv7fRSa4a0_L4BHVmIfU-_ni/w400-h300/IMG_20220626_174106826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH0-mcDkaIHbhhz-u-G4oebUfDPcik1A63j4r913oWxEEE4-YXN6vNg9JnWqDaUcVV8IgNbY8lqDl2FCUUJDyP-9VK_Gy5xCABIC30bVg3UwMWfoJGHpEEw9qTPilri0mDxeSEK7Y-p7fApPq8_e6v5Rupf0nH6_Mf_tDJaYPUabnT03TijJ73n_F/s4000/IMG_20220626_174115805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH0-mcDkaIHbhhz-u-G4oebUfDPcik1A63j4r913oWxEEE4-YXN6vNg9JnWqDaUcVV8IgNbY8lqDl2FCUUJDyP-9VK_Gy5xCABIC30bVg3UwMWfoJGHpEEw9qTPilri0mDxeSEK7Y-p7fApPq8_e6v5Rupf0nH6_Mf_tDJaYPUabnT03TijJ73n_F/w400-h300/IMG_20220626_174115805.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> </p><p>It was kind of fun to see such a large whisky selection in a grocery store.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5kgEAG70K5qOR2pahgc_VIKMKT3lkKLQ2N5S4rOWMkSs5iAhDtooQjOxeo0REuSA03eiDimSaCLJRY_8Na8-mvS3zOP3sNR8I0K1Kk4xfY0iFWGAfRUliTUEWyBDaZoanNUSUMmJNhPBal4pYRgSdwpD5iepKcjvL-h1AgA2hv93yDDqx1pp3Elu/s4000/IMG_20220626_174207130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5kgEAG70K5qOR2pahgc_VIKMKT3lkKLQ2N5S4rOWMkSs5iAhDtooQjOxeo0REuSA03eiDimSaCLJRY_8Na8-mvS3zOP3sNR8I0K1Kk4xfY0iFWGAfRUliTUEWyBDaZoanNUSUMmJNhPBal4pYRgSdwpD5iepKcjvL-h1AgA2hv93yDDqx1pp3Elu/w300-h400/IMG_20220626_174207130.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqawEopefcxTnKThbNQuGOYJttl6pclFd3qKhId4UbAQYwfWWHSx0YoOWo7jptrwLk7fto6qvLpMBva8UxIdY_oCIqrFF0vMKZRAZyJ7yfJPJEsIpzM8QhvVmNhVxe9z54xhYSM3TzAQRbSmVQh5Ft09A5KQEn1OTnTcqlJK80vWKpPaHUTCXXoNLw/s4000/IMG_20220626_174310219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqawEopefcxTnKThbNQuGOYJttl6pclFd3qKhId4UbAQYwfWWHSx0YoOWo7jptrwLk7fto6qvLpMBva8UxIdY_oCIqrFF0vMKZRAZyJ7yfJPJEsIpzM8QhvVmNhVxe9z54xhYSM3TzAQRbSmVQh5Ft09A5KQEn1OTnTcqlJK80vWKpPaHUTCXXoNLw/w300-h400/IMG_20220626_174310219.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx__u01oPioJVQso7eKSZcFIaQRokeDd3cUfY1Jwg7RQfr1R0Ad4ZiqUbT3WiM37VNvLK4tzmDfkPCdy-q4mqnkH67aV9hH-iR8rXzGWOiUijWISfTXiSADds2eC-fVxAAPHnn3LAhcdstT3iC7RfFoj2zHQ1VVNfdq0RwMYko-VV5m5clpEtAckF1/s4000/IMG_20220626_174315453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx__u01oPioJVQso7eKSZcFIaQRokeDd3cUfY1Jwg7RQfr1R0Ad4ZiqUbT3WiM37VNvLK4tzmDfkPCdy-q4mqnkH67aV9hH-iR8rXzGWOiUijWISfTXiSADds2eC-fVxAAPHnn3LAhcdstT3iC7RfFoj2zHQ1VVNfdq0RwMYko-VV5m5clpEtAckF1/w400-h300/IMG_20220626_174315453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-81200960028934039482022-06-25T17:31:00.135-04:002022-07-10T07:15:37.200-04:00new pants, new shoes, new dice?<p>I totally butchered that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAgb6HcmMMQ" target="_blank">movie quote</a>. Get over it.</p><p>My friend decided I needed a proper vacation and scheduled a million things for me. Okay, not a million, but for someone who has learned that it's best to do only one thing a day and chillax the rest of the day, it felt fun but overwhelming.</p><p>We had a lovely breakfast again, more black pudding. Yum!</p><p>We left in the morning and hiked to the top of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Berwick_Law" target="_blank">hill</a> (which any Floridian would call a mountain, just saying). I was attired in my brand new hiking pants and hiking shoes bought specifically for this trip. Both of which were great purchases in hindsight. My previous ones were last millennium's technology. The new pants were stretchier, and the new shoes had just as much gription but way lighter. I have since donated my previous two pair of hiking pants but haven't been able to get rid of my older two pair of boots yet. Baby steps.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4hZqJeGTK_o4XeR9yOQnA7n0TUELEguK64KvnnXfL3JKOM3S_hnQ1Ba3qPMIdcr5hWdTsmDPjwJLw2WmnY0TnPE4I1wn2IradJjEwYmBvPo_QazVVbbXW24ee_rie0MpIjAu5FLtIYF8vvCXAA2fuSDlKLzKnnMGNrtNnTTEvquHpVsCH17WtFOg/s4000/pants.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4hZqJeGTK_o4XeR9yOQnA7n0TUELEguK64KvnnXfL3JKOM3S_hnQ1Ba3qPMIdcr5hWdTsmDPjwJLw2WmnY0TnPE4I1wn2IradJjEwYmBvPo_QazVVbbXW24ee_rie0MpIjAu5FLtIYF8vvCXAA2fuSDlKLzKnnMGNrtNnTTEvquHpVsCH17WtFOg/w300-h400/pants.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe9TYE5a9Yy2pMWHyNJ-8R9gWZdBwMNFqZfYqHitqDY7_wAZ6bAhlpvyp_ABCgqwRCIOl_YnjjMnS7JqVWlJ0PZo6X6UlGlWw6-VVSI-mlOt8N5Yo4k3M_tnnJGxfvqmjWySRCWronpX_edgefbOXd5EzAPcnWh8l9Gn-FeBuP0jwZNzh3uKSc1xa/s4000/shoes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe9TYE5a9Yy2pMWHyNJ-8R9gWZdBwMNFqZfYqHitqDY7_wAZ6bAhlpvyp_ABCgqwRCIOl_YnjjMnS7JqVWlJ0PZo6X6UlGlWw6-VVSI-mlOt8N5Yo4k3M_tnnJGxfvqmjWySRCWronpX_edgefbOXd5EzAPcnWh8l9Gn-FeBuP0jwZNzh3uKSc1xa/w400-h300/shoes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>At the very top, there was a fun marker which I photographed at great personal risk in uncharacteristic gale force winds. Apologies for not getting the whole thing in frame. I was slightly scared I'd blow off the side of the mountain (hill).<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY426nCEg9NnWrjTDH9pSqROFJqkL8riXOp_M-x7yoTMXDsWgyqlKn5u7T72WscZ18LvaUjf01YYTL8yAb2OX9Sv2j0n_bz7YIFyKk1qq99uIVV9FeGBuJ8WEqDVjawK9rq2q1kk9ac5bAQO26S0OszBFlE7FzbjlAiW1f5foRY-GBSayiPz0QdzJ/s4000/law.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY426nCEg9NnWrjTDH9pSqROFJqkL8riXOp_M-x7yoTMXDsWgyqlKn5u7T72WscZ18LvaUjf01YYTL8yAb2OX9Sv2j0n_bz7YIFyKk1qq99uIVV9FeGBuJ8WEqDVjawK9rq2q1kk9ac5bAQO26S0OszBFlE7FzbjlAiW1f5foRY-GBSayiPz0QdzJ/w400-h300/law.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The views from the top were spectacular.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaPogrXJ75M5CnGHAh22peS85QnxuuCezhZx8NgBMN_XJO_ShDSQ7EYDUuV6H39KeDQuCLRTXA3gqdkZbMwLs0vFU_xn_lJyu46wIAxwiZ1zUcMJwLFtH9wdFN9ROnllaHBqqVG5wuhkUtCUcaAztbJaM71zoSIO6Tj4v1s94iCCrHCHYJfGfR92n/s4000/view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaPogrXJ75M5CnGHAh22peS85QnxuuCezhZx8NgBMN_XJO_ShDSQ7EYDUuV6H39KeDQuCLRTXA3gqdkZbMwLs0vFU_xn_lJyu46wIAxwiZ1zUcMJwLFtH9wdFN9ROnllaHBqqVG5wuhkUtCUcaAztbJaM71zoSIO6Tj4v1s94iCCrHCHYJfGfR92n/w400-h300/view.jpg" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaPogrXJ75M5CnGHAh22peS85QnxuuCezhZx8NgBMN_XJO_ShDSQ7EYDUuV6H39KeDQuCLRTXA3gqdkZbMwLs0vFU_xn_lJyu46wIAxwiZ1zUcMJwLFtH9wdFN9ROnllaHBqqVG5wuhkUtCUcaAztbJaM71zoSIO6Tj4v1s94iCCrHCHYJfGfR92n/s4000/view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxrG68cDYIJ4QRZl7V1dj28r-mV8Deml7yjPdt5Mzqp76FHIYlKcdn8q4oZzI8tRkLksIaVBLrS8OeIy-Bu2hvI0uNkvMfRfF2oyE4Ib8-H3_svYZR0F0IqSWCLMnCNYKn5X0vgAdSUlIeJ4pu6-_tyf8wcVPa6x_E3Ham2JlTrNtoeORlrRzfmRQ/s4000/otherview.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxrG68cDYIJ4QRZl7V1dj28r-mV8Deml7yjPdt5Mzqp76FHIYlKcdn8q4oZzI8tRkLksIaVBLrS8OeIy-Bu2hvI0uNkvMfRfF2oyE4Ib8-H3_svYZR0F0IqSWCLMnCNYKn5X0vgAdSUlIeJ4pu6-_tyf8wcVPa6x_E3Ham2JlTrNtoeORlrRzfmRQ/w400-h300/otherview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><p>When we got to the bottom, the view back up didn't look as impressive as the hike actually was because it's hard to get perspective. There's a large whalebone sculpture at the top that maybe you can see if you zoom in.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXnTyk73YX91oGUwLoOm09mjhP_HwurJhzyo1hywjzYYmznavFVebaWj51Kxme6RdytMd0Hwnjwd3NKsjG9YdZCnvvMh6yIHotiAKHrcIEajX59l1FLpArIFknc5LEBsiu50H5anzqJQg4L5cOQwU9VtVqojqQgKez0ruWw3rtxvyy8H6FdTlyaVY/s4000/lawafar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXnTyk73YX91oGUwLoOm09mjhP_HwurJhzyo1hywjzYYmznavFVebaWj51Kxme6RdytMd0Hwnjwd3NKsjG9YdZCnvvMh6yIHotiAKHrcIEajX59l1FLpArIFknc5LEBsiu50H5anzqJQg4L5cOQwU9VtVqojqQgKez0ruWw3rtxvyy8H6FdTlyaVY/w400-h300/lawafar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We meandered back through town and made our way home for sustenance. Then back out again to a different cliff overlooking a different beach. It was all gorgeous. Then back home again to change for a dinner party at their friends' house. The food was exquisite (no photos because they were all my age and older and don't photograph their food like those young heathens do). We had homemade salmon <span>pâté</span>, lamb shanks from Marks and Spencer (who knew they sold food?) cooked to perfection, homemade tiramisu with Malibu rum, followed by the ubiquitous cheese dish of so many cheeses who knew what they were anymore. The drinks were plentiful, although I barely partook. The conversation was interesting, at least that which I understood (that fucking accent). However, after such a long day and strenuous physical activities (for me), it triggered a hefty migraine.</p><p>And back to my usual dilemma -- suck it up and pretend it's all fine or ruin their night and ask to cut it short. Of course I did the former. I used all of my techniques to not focus on the pain. We got home around midnight, which might have been the only time I saw darkness. They have long spans of daylight in the summer.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-18645195855018139892022-06-25T07:00:00.011-04:002022-07-10T07:10:19.013-04:00the full Scottish<p>When they brought me back to their flat (don't I sound foreign already??), they offered me the full Scottish breakfast, a hot shower, and a nap -- not necessarily in that order. My tummy still wasn't happy yet, and I wasn't sleepy, so I opted for a leisurely stroll along the shore with my friend. It was so nice to catch up with her. We speak on the phone regularly but hadn't seen each other in person in a few years. This is the happiest I've seen her in a long time, and it warmed my heart!<br /></p><p>Also, I packed for cold, rainy weather, and it was warm and sunny. Fortunately, she had a t-shirt I could borrow.</p><p>The rest of the day was a blur. There was a nap and a shower in there somewhere, and then a lovely homemade Scottish meal. Afterwards, we had a cheese and liquor finale.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoAczfZn_xC68OixUNlonHc9HBLOcJ-CMnATRf_B5sXpsQSmP9We5C3vPG2_KJBG_U3eF-MO8EaIVetzyaupbJkARkJVehjNMW10iFy49K7O4DCaEvhYJ8oXnfY1dLxmL3Y8TK8nTDzxb8mF-VMZvRB8v_cG3hEPZJZBoUenYsbp2Pbu-Vqejl3RW/s4000/cheese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoAczfZn_xC68OixUNlonHc9HBLOcJ-CMnATRf_B5sXpsQSmP9We5C3vPG2_KJBG_U3eF-MO8EaIVetzyaupbJkARkJVehjNMW10iFy49K7O4DCaEvhYJ8oXnfY1dLxmL3Y8TK8nTDzxb8mF-VMZvRB8v_cG3hEPZJZBoUenYsbp2Pbu-Vqejl3RW/w300-h400/cheese.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PhVgAlLq1FIqfv24Q4YaKXMXbsv6sdVNsbg2F06dUzbuQHvUt--a6HA3pxun3WGYSkWUSApiHcfwp20VggWc-vEd7VjBCyIhGQgAc-0yNYWl9NszQo5qIHPqIz3lDDg0vbrQOKrODG5N-L11SSjT4c1xSZxhyzeE0pCP8EQ_n4z9wM7-Ikg-CJex/s4000/rum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PhVgAlLq1FIqfv24Q4YaKXMXbsv6sdVNsbg2F06dUzbuQHvUt--a6HA3pxun3WGYSkWUSApiHcfwp20VggWc-vEd7VjBCyIhGQgAc-0yNYWl9NszQo5qIHPqIz3lDDg0vbrQOKrODG5N-L11SSjT4c1xSZxhyzeE0pCP8EQ_n4z9wM7-Ikg-CJex/w300-h400/rum.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-2771710134974704172022-06-24T07:25:00.014-04:002022-07-09T08:27:26.165-04:00och, haud yer wheesht<p>I was having a rough time adapting to Kitten's absence. Plus, my wanderlust was back big time, except I had nowhere to go.</p><p></p><p>That is until my best friend said "Come to Scotland!" I thought she was just being polite, but I looked at tickets and wow had they gone up! So that was my graceful way of declining. Until she sent me flights she found for half of that. That's when I knew she really wanted me to visit. Her husband even sent texts telling me to come. It felt so good to know I was truly wanted as a guest and not just a perfunctory offer that lots of people make.<br /></p><p>Next hurdle was facing my anxiety about traveling internationally alone. It had been years since I've done that, decades maybe. What if I had a bad migraine and didn't have someone with me to assist? </p><p>My word this year is <b>Bold</b>, so I tried to embrace that feeling and bought the tickets. I did all kinds of research on what the COVID requirements were. Fortunately, they'd all been relaxed by the time I traveled. The airlines app made it pretty easy to figure out what else I needed to do -- essentially just my passport.</p><p>My friend made it stupid easy for me, too. She and her husband were picking me up at the airport and graciously allowing me to stay with them. She's about my size and said I could borrow clothes if I needed to. All of that took a LOT of my anxiety away. </p><p>My other best friend (I am truly blessed with friends) offered to drive me to and from the airport here, because parking was my next anxiety. The summer travels had made parking very limited. She picked me up and got me in a happy mood before my LONG day of flying. She reassured me that everything would be fine, played out worst case scenarios with me, gave me a hug, and sent me on my way with my carry-on bag, my purple travel pillow, and my new leather tote.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvkxnTdEY1YtrmIiFa81Yl-O1cJeAYeykYp1PevmdW0jGKd9k53gPFhsDB76srgPpZyTPKV0WDuCfoLT6LhpdaO60lk2PkZlSGPza3zbHdtLurhKvgHn5wLtzgfIMnyBhhPkEtHW2g69mHJ4eUPkVzMHcTk3O2YgJ_RTGtjJnEVVsm2JLHbldKR3b/s4000/tote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvkxnTdEY1YtrmIiFa81Yl-O1cJeAYeykYp1PevmdW0jGKd9k53gPFhsDB76srgPpZyTPKV0WDuCfoLT6LhpdaO60lk2PkZlSGPza3zbHdtLurhKvgHn5wLtzgfIMnyBhhPkEtHW2g69mHJ4eUPkVzMHcTk3O2YgJ_RTGtjJnEVVsm2JLHbldKR3b/w300-h400/tote.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new leather tote bag<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I changed planes in Newark airport, with a really long connection time. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx_wWKpnpf9LzbhkgYv6zba-FSzfXKLeA2va8WaBFA3935A91C1V6V5EKb_ZZTZDDducB85plyJUVIOglAet856qQYcGgbV5UUXpoQZysSds2qaf1J8zoE31HKfN2wjrSjdMkDpCcrrxCs1smmc3An3MpeWCvkEAzQGwj_oGPLhQ1sRmD45KHgH-J/s4000/Newark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx_wWKpnpf9LzbhkgYv6zba-FSzfXKLeA2va8WaBFA3935A91C1V6V5EKb_ZZTZDDducB85plyJUVIOglAet856qQYcGgbV5UUXpoQZysSds2qaf1J8zoE31HKfN2wjrSjdMkDpCcrrxCs1smmc3An3MpeWCvkEAzQGwj_oGPLhQ1sRmD45KHgH-J/w400-h300/Newark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I went exploring and looking for food, because they had so many interesting options. BIG MISTAKE! </p><p>First of all, fuck this airport for every restaurant (even the fancy ones) using individual order-and-pay-at-your-seat tablets. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRjOx1oi8E3zzuIbSKduFqORYpwGNH49BZcO_GfFuya5LzYHEKxzo2UidtTbYAOw9NpU2SoiYhU_5WE027CGwpxseN5CNzJFDhD4LXLajavKUqx6krKhwDoQPxEYq2vvK9Sf6HPYKI9_wvfegynCuEntmC21jkgu-1lIBNfdcM2TGAsm5eyvwkiXX/s4000/IMG_20220623_162442271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRjOx1oi8E3zzuIbSKduFqORYpwGNH49BZcO_GfFuya5LzYHEKxzo2UidtTbYAOw9NpU2SoiYhU_5WE027CGwpxseN5CNzJFDhD4LXLajavKUqx6krKhwDoQPxEYq2vvK9Sf6HPYKI9_wvfegynCuEntmC21jkgu-1lIBNfdcM2TGAsm5eyvwkiXX/s320/IMG_20220623_162442271.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>What if you didn't have a smartphone? I watched a few older people look
in and walk away. What if your phone broke? What if you wanted to pay
in *gasp* cash? Or like me and several others I saw, what if you ran
into technical snafus?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWs4y2uoS-gl9HS2VPA5f66xq17sTB6ckCoDOKq2X1pHtiYmFLH0cqluZd7bKrFW8BFsypQ_UqX-Dk1szV8C_TnYMGH_zZ61bX8Vla9wV93ZS5jKpz5ZzkuJScPwIIgsy9SZ9IQgMFQOJm3fClVNt5mKo5r_FtxM6Jt9fqoK_2BdSYhe2U4yqICy4/s2340/Screenshot_20220623-162641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWs4y2uoS-gl9HS2VPA5f66xq17sTB6ckCoDOKq2X1pHtiYmFLH0cqluZd7bKrFW8BFsypQ_UqX-Dk1szV8C_TnYMGH_zZ61bX8Vla9wV93ZS5jKpz5ZzkuJScPwIIgsy9SZ9IQgMFQOJm3fClVNt5mKo5r_FtxM6Jt9fqoK_2BdSYhe2U4yqICy4/s320/Screenshot_20220623-162641.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><br /><p>It just spun and wouldn't load for a solid ten minutes. I asked multiple staff members for assistance in case I was missing something obvious. Nope, that's just how it is. The waitress advised me to connect off her hotspot, which finally did the trick. I ordered the sampler.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGcv_nkbiQwiaJs_pNDrWwnudgGX9jjNRg0z6yHbW_JdDS7AnqspPMCWBDdabIprWCOJTzkN7YYAQxXbe4nAp1H5WQav1K1PsTMhYvWfPjp9fzEVWXKWb1rlnNfyw3dw-FhbFoq4SPjpnMJw6ogds3Nn_yjxVNJ-6KOYL4j8GvG_as5jlRCvSiL9u/s4000/sampler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGcv_nkbiQwiaJs_pNDrWwnudgGX9jjNRg0z6yHbW_JdDS7AnqspPMCWBDdabIprWCOJTzkN7YYAQxXbe4nAp1H5WQav1K1PsTMhYvWfPjp9fzEVWXKWb1rlnNfyw3dw-FhbFoq4SPjpnMJw6ogds3Nn_yjxVNJ-6KOYL4j8GvG_as5jlRCvSiL9u/w400-h300/sampler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sampler</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, my tummy was not happy with me. I don't know what they put in their food, but my stomach did not like it. So much pain! I spent the next three hours whining and being miserable. Fortunately, I had WiFi for messaging, so I was able to chat with friends for a distraction. I had my little travel pillow, but couldn't get comfortable. I slept maybe twenty minutes total. I listened to audiobooks I had pre-downloaded. Nothing was lulling me to sleep.</p><p>Eventually we arrived in Scotland!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSc9h96jHs-5x5Vixyzd5vkN3wMHxf9y5axvWgaqaSuOVIXihlEj4CkJSSqpqbSJED8HNu1qXIMu_DxMFRn9dEnG1gk0YLq3eTU2zDz3ch5qoukHDl4O58ovKpBv3MdadVlqPJKXKIxVtC5Y8vQF7gAqXQxZ6PTrJ-6sXVPNeWuNwiY89-h5t047E/s4000/scotland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSc9h96jHs-5x5Vixyzd5vkN3wMHxf9y5axvWgaqaSuOVIXihlEj4CkJSSqpqbSJED8HNu1qXIMu_DxMFRn9dEnG1gk0YLq3eTU2zDz3ch5qoukHDl4O58ovKpBv3MdadVlqPJKXKIxVtC5Y8vQF7gAqXQxZ6PTrJ-6sXVPNeWuNwiY89-h5t047E/w300-h400/scotland.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>It was glorious! I got off the plane and breezed through customs and immigration. Except when the agent started asking my sleep-deprived brain hard questions like "Why did you come?" "Who is your friend?" Did he know her?? She has big hair like me and is quite stunning, so maybe? But probably unlikely. Why was he asking? I was prepared to give the address where I was staying, but somehow that's all I was prepared for. </p><p>She and her husband met me where I exited and they both gave me huge hugs! It was the first time meeting him, and I couldn't be happier for her!</p><p>More later...<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-54064650686438920372022-05-31T07:50:00.000-04:002022-05-31T07:50:38.330-04:00Schrodinger's cat conversation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkVk6Olj0ksGDWR673loNBgUuDDb-ZR0uJStHFT_4uDGIgY1S5zlnUx5GpTQ6NIH-MM6XSMYdLdwcvchvMoF6TILTwFi8WdKvQIU3wKiRLcglZVAwloo6wcsB_FTCMnh6FSjFZuD_XKI/w300-h400/1653949836965596-0.png" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkVk6Olj0ksGDWR673loNBgUuDDb-ZR0uJStHFT_4uDGIgY1S5zlnUx5GpTQ6NIH-MM6XSMYdLdwcvchvMoF6TILTwFi8WdKvQIU3wKiRLcglZVAwloo6wcsB_FTCMnh6FSjFZuD_XKI/s1600/1653949836965596-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a lengthy conversation with Kitten on whether she's ready to pull the plug or not. She answered quite vociferously, but I'm not sure if she was saying "yes, bitch, this sucks!" or "WTF, why are you killing me?! It's just a flesh wound!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perhaps both. Life is complicated. Love is complicated, Death is complicated. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everyone I've asked said I'll know when it's the right time to euthanize her. But she's deteriorating in small amounts, and it's not linear. Today is maybe worse than yesterday or maybe better, but it's definitely worse than a few months ago. Is there a point to stretching it out to get one more week with her? It's keeping me in a state of constant low-level anxiety and stress. How do I know what she's feeling??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been giving her palliative care the last few months, feeding her whatever she wants to eat whenever she wants it, including chicken, chicken hearts, liver, tilapia, peanut butter, brie cheese, cat treats, <a href="https://exoprotein.com/collections/high-protein-bars" target="_blank">cricket bars</a>, sardines, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchego" target="_blank">manchego cheese</a>, <a href="https://paleovalley.com/store/superfood-bars" target="_blank">superfood bars</a>, and whatever I'm eating that day. Sometimes she eats a bite, sometimes a whole meal, and sometimes nothing at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She can still navigate the stairs, the couch (reluctantly), my bed (with a step-stool), and her litter box, albeit much more slowly than before. And despite her extensive diet, she's lost quite a bit of weight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've never had to euthanize a loved one before, although I've had pets die on their own. Today I will somehow find the strength to call a mobile euthanasia service (who knew that's a thing?) and figure out logistics. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-30398837638097439202022-04-30T09:21:00.000-04:002022-04-30T09:21:10.865-04:00Frozen -- but not the empowering woman one<p>After several months of denial and ignoring my pain, I went to see an orthopedist about my fucked up shoulder. He took two x-rays, did some strength tests, and quickly diagnosed me with <a href="https://www.sports-health.com/blog/5-things-you-need-know-if-you-have-frozen-shoulder" target="_blank">frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)</a>. </p><p>He immediately gave me a cortisone injection, which I briefly tried to decline, because have you met me?? And they'll follow up with my insurance and schedule me for weeks of physical therapy.<br /></p><p>In my defense, I haven't been completely ignoring it. My physical therapist friend has been routinely looking at it and doing something or other that hurts immensely and then helps. And my massage therapist has also been working on it. Besides that, I did all kinds of research and saw that it can eventually resolve on its own. But it kept changing where it hurt (I guess during the beginning freezing stage), and I got a little concerned that it might be something other than what I self-diagnosed with no medical training. So I finally capitulated and went to the doc. He confirmed everything I had read. Unknown cause. Possibly hormonal. Possibly autoimmune.</p><p>Interestingly, he said that more people than usual have been getting diagnosed with frozen shoulder since the pandemic.</p><p>Side note: that fucking cortisone injection has helped immensely. My shoulder is still limited by range of motion, but it doesn't incapacitate me with nerve pain each time I try to push it.</p><p>Fun fact: My friend from China says they call it "50s shoulder." </p><p>I currently know three people who have similar situations. Neither of the men have seen a doc.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-22441808071282453182022-03-11T09:02:00.000-05:002022-03-11T09:02:05.016-05:00most expensive popcorn I ever made<p>Recently, I had a craving for microwave popcorn. So, I bought a bunch of the <a href="https://quinnsnacks.com/collections/popcorn" target="_blank">fancy stuff</a> when it was on sale. </p><p>Until one day, my microwave oven decided to die a slow death. It would start fine but stop halfway through. I was able to partially reheat my leftover Thai <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massaman_curry" target="_blank">massaman</a> curry crispy duck. I eat most leftover foods cold, but there's something about that sauce that tastes better warm. I restarted the microwave five times to get it lukewarm. </p><p>I don't even use the microwave that often, so it felt like an extravagance to spend hundreds of dollars to replace it. I didn't need all the fancy bells and whistles just to reheat some leftovers, maybe defrost something I forgot to, and make my popcorn.</p><p>Good luck with that. Nowadays, they are WiFi enabled so black-hat hackers can get in and create a botnet to attack places with. Because why would you care about security protocols on your microwave? For that matter, why do you need WiFi on your microwave, but I digress. To purchase a simpler model without all that nonsense, means I also had to forego LED lighting. In the end it was worth the sacrifice. They're already ridiculously expensive, so I was fine saving a couple hundred dollars to get one without WiFi and LED.<br /></p><p>My old one is an over-the-range type, which means I needed help with installation. It turns out some stores offer that. For an additional fee, of course. I gladly paid it and waited excitedly for delivery/installation day to arrive.<br /></p><p>On the morning of, I turned the microwave under-lights on to make sure my range-top was clean, and I didn't look like I live in filth. They worked great for half of that cleaning and then they died, too. That old one was completely dead. I turned off the circuit breaker to make sure it wouldn't be a fire hazard.<br /></p><p>The two installation men arrived in a large truck and a dolly carrying my giant, heavy microwave inside. The first man took one look at my current configuration and said "UNSAFE!" That oven has been there just fine for close to ten years. They refused to install it though. I started getting teary-eyed because it's so frustrating and intimidating at every step. Why do we make life so complicated and hard for ourselves?</p><p>I kept asking him what am I supposed to do? He finally took pity on me and gave me the number of his friend who would do it off the books. Maybe it was a scam, but I kinda didn't care at that point. I could see the finish line and my fucking, goddamned popcorn.</p><p>The friend called me about five minutes after they left, and spoke less English than they did, which is saying something. But we settled on a price which included him reinforcing my current situation to bring it up to safety standards. </p><p>This mofo showed up a couple hours later and had the reinforcements in within ten minutes. Totally worth the extra money, assuming I don't hear a big crash one night. He had to pull out the stove to do all of this, and there were not only nasty dust-bunnies, (because who pulls out their stove to clean??) but also a dead lizard. So much for not looking like I lived in filth. He very kindly swept that up and threw it away. And I vacuumed the dust-bunnies when he went out to his truck.<br /></p><p>Voila! Here is my $450 popcorn. It tasted glorious.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOyfsp7iBrn1cowHY-wE8p-KMTrwIWigKw12wkQDN0F4PV6zYDcRtWyBYSAcYTI6cHf2269XPWiDk3q5CH7u7wmzvU8ZycF2ybfQnKbqhwmWtwOIrJVHzHNeeKIQRbPUH0GqseurGuDXpJOXf_HDYbW58eDMBrFywSa8cLpC2gEcDHC37uKxZncerU=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOyfsp7iBrn1cowHY-wE8p-KMTrwIWigKw12wkQDN0F4PV6zYDcRtWyBYSAcYTI6cHf2269XPWiDk3q5CH7u7wmzvU8ZycF2ybfQnKbqhwmWtwOIrJVHzHNeeKIQRbPUH0GqseurGuDXpJOXf_HDYbW58eDMBrFywSa8cLpC2gEcDHC37uKxZncerU=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-90031030913555853212022-02-22T10:48:00.005-05:002022-02-22T10:48:50.042-05:00Happy 2s Day!<p>It's 2/22/22 or 22/2/22 depending on where you live. And it's Tuesday. How much fun is that?? I'm going out tonight to celebrate, because I can.<br /></p><p></p><p>Here's a gratuitous orchid pic for everyone sick of winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIjAbZXtkqngVSpuqefNqiQoACwCB7R7QQxf68AA7F5K3hojtGJDwfM09lIy9Gqk_eXGyQwj1fCmA8fEdWZzoCc1ezpjWrMs_OA9H12qMkZsXz1jvCeXRUuxqKbFXlagYEYKH_jLgANzAZCXMUZzRl4yeMDrtjNcF_kh9tQt2Ed1YAZNbTQTiXiHTN=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIjAbZXtkqngVSpuqefNqiQoACwCB7R7QQxf68AA7F5K3hojtGJDwfM09lIy9Gqk_eXGyQwj1fCmA8fEdWZzoCc1ezpjWrMs_OA9H12qMkZsXz1jvCeXRUuxqKbFXlagYEYKH_jLgANzAZCXMUZzRl4yeMDrtjNcF_kh9tQt2Ed1YAZNbTQTiXiHTN=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-53947579349282030762022-02-15T07:53:00.000-05:002022-02-15T07:53:16.507-05:00maybe progress?<p>I took Kitten for her follow-up vet visit. She was feistier this time, so I took that as a good sign. She heard me getting the cat carrier out and hid under the bed. I had to coax her out with <a href="https://exoprotein.com/collections/all-products" target="_blank">banana bread cricket bars</a>, which they sadly no longer make. I don't know why, but she loves these bars more than I do. She wakes from a sound sleep when she smells one in the house. <br /></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxMnzyl99ghIs3aDSmTKO0RtnIiwx8lQ-UJR92q1YHhD1l3n0gIa07wDDebA9jT6UNw0Ci2WMAx02AW9RkFtg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <p></p><p>Her leg is still swollen, but at least it's no longer bleeding. The prognosis is it's likely a tumor. However, she's rapidly approaching 16 years old, and I'm unwilling to subject her to a bunch of medical nonsense to increase her life. I feel the same way about me. Death with dignity for all. <br /></p><p>For now, I'm managing her wound and not doing a bunch of biopsies and surgeries. She's eating well and limping gracefully around, tending to her feline duties.<br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775585813244453879.post-51643225601915903582022-02-11T10:02:00.001-05:002022-02-11T10:02:58.164-05:00two limping steps forward and one backward<p>Maybe she's getting better? She started bleeding again, and I panicked and put the cone back on when I went to the gym. And again, she wouldn't let herself relax while wearing it. As soon as I took it off when I got home (I skipped celebratory lunch after working out), she walked a couple steps and collapsed into a nap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAJaixBr9moLOcL1ie6uNyHZ9HiRrtorfv8roh3QMw8vMuj0ufUuBLAXvfIEK8L0w14mLg5sAG4egv4vTfISLrWHP0YYimQwC23htHpbB817WPA_JkpV2yyEVICOP5MXR6VKSlROe13yLLbP4hDBHYq9I-DBJWPNRwveq22G73sd1hqsRddElXfJH3=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAJaixBr9moLOcL1ie6uNyHZ9HiRrtorfv8roh3QMw8vMuj0ufUuBLAXvfIEK8L0w14mLg5sAG4egv4vTfISLrWHP0YYimQwC23htHpbB817WPA_JkpV2yyEVICOP5MXR6VKSlROe13yLLbP4hDBHYq9I-DBJWPNRwveq22G73sd1hqsRddElXfJH3=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>My workout partner/friend noticed something was obviously wrong with me, especially when I said I was skipping burgers afterwards. And I told him about Kitten. When he was talking about various things to try, I suddenly remembered this stinky stuff that my brother recommended to me for my wounds. It was made for animals but worked great on me, too. So I rushed home to try it on her.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb2FoLba8drYvZM6G7bFJiGMvdP6_EPUmBDG9exhD_o6g5MH4vrApV8VAlrD50YhqvMNewoJC0bEDcTu45JiJ1XKzeS3RtX--gt9PCe_b5pHb9TRwb6mYzbdJcbel0FJ1OllludWWfmFwBA4sDSJV_-w_mHqv9gHR1quXSOlHiQo0UVYN9JRiA8GH0=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb2FoLba8drYvZM6G7bFJiGMvdP6_EPUmBDG9exhD_o6g5MH4vrApV8VAlrD50YhqvMNewoJC0bEDcTu45JiJ1XKzeS3RtX--gt9PCe_b5pHb9TRwb6mYzbdJcbel0FJ1OllludWWfmFwBA4sDSJV_-w_mHqv9gHR1quXSOlHiQo0UVYN9JRiA8GH0=w240-h320" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg34Z3LIC-xCOw3nEL3TEPkjeVA1x4xSdE6VkHm2hStrLSay8FNCVf2j9vkyvjuc9O9suVXXKw9XTzqC2i9aTgPQvOswNNhNs10VXSRzaC_3ZxAZX405UANf_HOjma0FGaT9zed-JPl8kCM0hBoxgm370YtBARb1yO4lsHpioVeyffITSoZnOaexWnL=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg34Z3LIC-xCOw3nEL3TEPkjeVA1x4xSdE6VkHm2hStrLSay8FNCVf2j9vkyvjuc9O9suVXXKw9XTzqC2i9aTgPQvOswNNhNs10VXSRzaC_3ZxAZX405UANf_HOjma0FGaT9zed-JPl8kCM0hBoxgm370YtBARb1yO4lsHpioVeyffITSoZnOaexWnL=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <br /></div><p>It stinks, just like I remembered, but it temporarily stopped the bleeding again. In the meantime, the vet called me back, and I explained that I was having a hard time with the powder application. He told me that it was a squeezie bottle and to shoot it out. So now my house looks like an 80s coke party. Perhaps some even landed on her injured leg. I had previously been trying to shake it out like salt on a fine meal.<br /></p><p>The vet also explained better why he thought it might be cancer, because the inflammation didn't respond to the initial cortisone shot. She turns 16 soon, so at this point, I just want her to be comfortable in her final time in this simulation.<br /></p><p><br /></p>wendriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589470587614736842noreply@blogger.com0