Mrs. Peck Goes to Washington

In first class, no less.

A little slide show of some things I saw. I tried to show you only things that are not typical of a visit to our nation's capital. Furthermore I've added captions if you are interested click on the album.

Arriving in DC a little after 11, Bruce and I parted company, he picked up his rental car, I hopped on the Metro. I've found there are always people willing to help a stranger if you ask nicely. In this case, the attendant punched all the buttons on the machine for me with the end result, a day pass. I took the blue line, getting off at the Smithsonian stop and was on the Mall by 11:35.

Because my time was so limited I went into only one gallery, the Freer. Mostly I lugged my backpack and purse around outside. It was fairly warm and muggy, but not enough to send me inside into air conditioning. Instead I found several wonderful gardens awash in gorgeous flowers.
Gardens

The day before we left a strange symptom occurred. You're not surprised are you? After eating lunch I noticed that the left side of my jaw, extending behind and below my ear, swelled up. I was at a loss, so called the doctor, mostly because I was concerned with flying. Suffice it to say, I got no help there, at least coming away with the impression that it couldn't be too serious.

With that in mind I decided to go anyway. I tried to locate soft foods hoping to minimize the weirdness. It took me till last evening to figure out what is going on--something to do with my parotid gland, the major salivary gland. Again, you're not surprised are you? I always have strange afflictions. What this does tell you is that in many cases the web is of no use; not a thing about salivary glands came up after typing in "swelling jaw while eating." It does, however, help to have worked in the diagnostic end of medicine for 30+ years. What I'm going to do about it is undecided at the moment.

Trying not to lose your interest, I will try to be succinct, really, the pictures tell most of the story anyway.

Next time I'm not sure what camera I will take, but I'll definitely use a different backpack. The fabric on my new fancy Patagonia rubbed my shoulder raw. I was so tired that I slept from 8:30-6:30!!! On Thursday Bruce and I visited the National Cathedral, an amazingly beautiful and peaceful place. Wow is what I have to say. Lots of the buildings are on a grand scale in DC, this one is no exception. It is hard to convey the beauty in photographs. Also, did I mention that everything was taken in the middle of the day with much too much bright light?

Bruce also toured me through the space where the Capital Grille is beginning to take shape. I stand in awe of builders, really we take it so for granted. When I saw all the layers of work being done, trying to imagine how anyone makes sense of it all, I couldn't help but admire the job Bruce does. Naturally I've always felt that way, but it is always a good thing to be reminded of the complexity of it all. No wonder he has to work so much! When the job gets closer to the end I'll go back for a much longer visit. He'll probably be staying for a week or so.

Baxter stayed with Michelle and Dave while we were gone and he isn't done pouting yet.

Off to DC

Here is the article about our Baxter with accompanying picture: Dog Star By the way, I found this via Bing, the Microsoft search engine. I'd read a NYTimes article stating it was superior to Google which at the moment I can't confirm but it sure worked nicely this time.

The markets went so well this weekend I can hardly believe it--count me a happy girl.

I've not been feeling quite as well as I had been, thus no posting for a few days. Hopefully when we take off tomorrow morning at 6AM I'll be ok. We won't be gone for long: Bruce is doing a site visit and I'll be a wanderer, or at least that is my plan.

Dave and Michelle are taking care of Baxter for us. I'm very grateful.

Keep me in your thoughts will you?

Questions, Questions

People do ask me a lot of questions. This week two have stuck in my mind. Last night a sweet little girl from Georgia asked me, "Do you like being an artist?" I may have forgotten to mention I was part of a Baldwin Park "Art Stroll" last evening. I definitely did not have the success I enjoyed at previous Baldwin Park events! Nonetheless I did meet the girl I mentioned along with her sister. They were here visiting their dad whom they had hardly seen for two years. They have family in every direction it seems. Part of a new generation of children with parents, step parents, grandparents, and step grandparents, sometimes on both sides. Talk about extended families! Nonetheless the older sister, Courtney bought "Beach Daisies" for her mom in Georgia who just painted their bathroom yellow. While I was packing up the girls wanted to chat and chat. I, on the other hand, was seriously thinking about going home. I'm often in bed by 9, so it was a stretch for me. Maybe I reminded them of their mother?

I hardly knew how to answer her question. I'm still not entirely comfortable calling myself an "artist", rather I usually blurt out that I'm "really an x-ray tech." Which brings me to this: I was looking for a recipe in the bottom drawer this afternoon and what should I find but a copy of this letter addressed to the hospital administrators. I won't quote the entire thing but here's what she said:
"I just wanted you to know how very impressed I was with her(me). She made me feel most comfortable, in a most uncomfortable situation. Her gift of gab is truly an asset. I am certain that if it was not for her kind manner, and her constant reassurance, I don't think I could have gone through with this most uncomfortable procedure. She is truly a most valuable asset to your facility. Please thank her again for me." Sometimes I miss making people's lives easier.

But then again, most of the time I don't miss bitchy women! I feel certain my family can all remember my complaining about both patients and doctors! On the other hand I think some of the skills I used taking x-rays have carried over into my new profession. People tell me I'm a pretty good salesperson (I would dispute that claim), mistaking my gift of gab as salesmanship. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The second question was posed by my mother-in-law. Wednesday night I picked her up around 9:30 at the airport and she spent the night here so she wouldn't have to drive all the way home in the dark. While eating breakfast she asked, "What is your weekly schedule aside from weekends Gail?" Hmmmm.....After thinking a minute I replied, "Mostly, I do whatever I want." Pretty lucky wouldn't you say?

A little after 8 this morning Dana called saying she had a little photography job for $75 if I wanted it. Would I get some shots of Church Street Station and the store elevations there? Of course I would. I threw on some clothes and off I went. That's what I mean by doing whatever I want--really whatever happens I respond to it. Yesterday I spent time photographing some crystals--a ridiculously hard task. They are flat out ugly chunks of rock, and despite trying multiple backgrounds, different lighting and angles, they still look like chunks of rock. I'm not a miracle worker.

Today's picture has zero to do with this post but I wanted you to see it nonetheless. I took it while at Lukas Nursery. What sweet creatures. The mother was licking the calf; unfortunately I never got the shot with her tongue showing--but then again, maybe you wouldn't want to see it anyway.

Bruce is finally on his way home. His flight has arrived, however, he's having his hair cut as I type. I checked my email when I arrived home last night and found an airline reservation for next week to Washington, DC. I may have mentioned Bruce has a job nearby so while he's at the job site I'll be in roam mode. I've not been anywhere for a year so obviously I'm excited. I emailed our niece Amanda who did an internship there asking her, "where is the one place I shouldn't miss?" She wrote back and said "The Mall." Tada! He's home--that's it for now folks!

It's About Time

Frankly, I think I've been a bit lazy of late in both mind and body. I don't know if it is the heat, Bruce's tremendous workload and travel schedule, or my business, but it's been something. Anyway today is a new day and I approached it as such, finally using my bike basket to do a little shopping. Needing a sympathy card, I put a twenty dollar bill and debit card in my pocket, and peddaled up to Publix. Of course you knew I brought my baby camera now didn't you? I put it in the little back pouch Bruce got for my lock. Publix, by the way, has no bike rack, however it does have a couple of railings, presumably for the handicapped, which I used to safeguard my bike. Then I rode just across the street to the remodeled Freshfield Farms; for those who know Orlando, this is the former Momm's Meats and Popp's Produce.

Incredibly, Bill used to cashier in the produce part when it was not nearly as nice as it is now. He has definitely held more jobs than anyone else in the family, including, but not limited to: renting cars, print, runway and talent modeling, selling timeshares, pumping gas, valeting cars, selling bagels, and teaching guitar. With my poor memory who knows how many more there have been! These days, after earning his Economics degree, he is a banker of sorts. Not such a good time to be one, but with his track record, I know he'll survive.

For the show the other night I figured I'd bring my fast lens and be able to get something in the low light. I got some shots, just not good ones. Although it looked focused, and the little light came on saying it was in focus, the finished product was not. You may remember it is a manual focus lens that I've rued the day I spent the money for it. Here is one nonetheless:

I mentioned yesterday how I stopped at the library. What I'd meant to discuss was how solitary life has become. Is it just me, or do you think it is weird that although more people have telephones than any time in history, less people are talking. In fact, if you don't hold a job you can go whole days without talking to anyone. This particular branch only has self-service check ins and check outs. It just doesn't feel right to me.

As is my custom I look at the new novel offerings, most of the time picking out something intuitively, which works pretty well for me. Yesterday I chose Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Never in all my years of reading have I come across this on the inside jacket:
"We Don't want to tell you WHAT HAPPENS in this book.

It is a truly SPECIAL STORY and we don't want to spoil it.

NEVERTHELESS, you need to know enough to buy it, so we will just say this:

Which I'm not including on purpose (this will drive some of you crazy, you will immediately head to Amazon, but then that will spoil it...)

Concluding it says:

Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds."

I began reading around 8, forcing myself to stop a few hours later. Indeed I do think you should read it if possible. I turned the page corner down (I know I shouldn't!) so I could share this with you: "You have seen trouble too, Sarah. You are making a mistake if you think it is unusual. I am telling you, trouble is like the ocean. It covers two thirds of the world." Truer words were never written I'm afraid.

Maybe I Didn't Know Much...

...but apparently she A Thing or Two does. I'm not certain if her lifestyle would work for everyone, however, I think you'll enjoy reading about it.

When I was working, occasionally I had patients who were well into their nineties. Naturally I was always asking them for their secret to a long life, learning for the most part that it was genetic. Several stick out in my mind; one I'm thinking about was the cutest thing, for one thing, she looked not a day over 70, secondly, she was so stylish! One thing I DO know is that if a woman is stylish when she's young, she doesn't change much as she ages. Those frumpy women I had were undoubtedly frumpy when they were young! Note to self--wear more makeup (not more per se, just wear it) and don't go out looking like a dog. I worked with a young cancer survivor who had a great attitude. She told me that while undergoing chemotherapy they encouraged everyone to try to look their best: "Look Good, Feel Good" was the motto. I think there is something to be said about that.

Now let's catch up a bit, shall we?

Friday we went with Dave and Michelle to hear Bill's band play downtown at the Social. I'd not heard the latest incarnation of the band; I was impressed. Mostly I couldn't get over how cool and calm Bill performed. When I mentioned that to him, he responded by saying he was never one to get too nervous, and even less so now that he is 30! Hard to believe he's been playing guitar for 16 years.

Fourth of July was quiet around here although I did go over to Dave's pool and visit with the gang. Can you guess what Bruce was doing? I knew you could. He worked his way through nearly 300 emails, finally quitting around 10pm. I was already in bed reading and listening to the fireworks of which there was a copious amount. In fact, they went on for hours around here. We fell asleep to the booming sounds.

It was nothing like July 4, 1976, that is for sure. I was heading to the hospital to have our dear Matthew about 10 that night; his arrival time was July 5, 1976, 1:36 AM. Nor was it like July 4, 2005, the day the doctor told Bruce I was in dire shape. Shows you what he knew!

Sunday I skipped the market to give Mr. Bruce a much needed day off. We started the day with a nice breakfast, drove to Winter Park to take the boat tour (very pretty and informative), had lunch at Season's 52, stopped by The North Face at the outlet mall, and saw "Public Enemies" at our new theater of choice. Now that was a fun day.

Today I took a little trip out to Salvia, a small community NE of town. There is a wonderful plant nursery there along with what they call a "Butterfly Encounter." My previous visit there were few butterflies, so few that they gave me a free pass to come back. That was last year some time so I decided today was the day. I sell very few butterfly pictures but as you know I love to practice and you just NEVER know if today is the day you will get something SO spectacular people will clamor for it. That was my attitude before I left the house, the reality did not match those expectations. I was, however, enthralled with this beautiful green butterfly:

I only saw one of these and he hung out on the yellow pentas during my entire visit. Sadly, I just couldn't get anything all that great.

Leaving the place, dripping with sweat I might add, I decided to wander just a bit. I'm fairly unfamiliar with that part of Central Florida, evidently so, because I got lost several times. I did pull into a spot labeled, Big Little Econ Canoe Launch. The storm clouds were rolling in so I took the Panasonic and walked the path to the river. Much to my surprise this is what I saw:

I hope the picture conveys how MANY shells were piled along the shoreline. I still can't imagine where they came from. According to my Historical Geology professor (you do remember I took that class, don't you?), Florida was under water for thousands of years, thus seashells are in river beds. Although he told us that I'd not seen the evidence for myself and I'm still not sure I have--it does make one wonder now doesn't it? Yes, I can't forget that class mostly because I chose my flickr name, bioclastic, from my textbook. I knew for certain that I wouldn't have to fight anyone for that user name!

I've had word on Ed, Mr. Roger's son. His surgery to remove the cancer in his sinus cavity took 13 hours with a team of three surgeons working. Today I learned that they are certain the cancer has spread to his eye. Not good news for a 26 year old man, not good news for anyone for that matter. He'll go back in about three weeks to see where they go from here. :(

What Did I Know?

The truth is...not much. I've always been what some might call naive, missing clues all around me. Maybe that's why I've never been one to read mysteries, I miss the subtleties.

Such was the case with our dear son Matthew, who seems to be showing up a lot this week in my narrative. In hindsight, I still don't think I would have got it. I noticed that Matt was unlike most of the boys in his class, however, I chalked that up to his genius. I was wrong, it was more a combination of genius and homosexuality. Why you wonder am I writing about this today?

Clever readers know.

Yes, I watched Milk last night and was overwhelmed with feelings. First off, I'm so grateful for Harvey Milk and his vast army of supporters without whom things today might be a whole lot different. Imagine this happening forty years ago: India. I can't, but then again I was really unaware, for the most part, of gay people for a long time. Being fairly young when Stonewall occurred, I'm sure I was completely ignorant that there were people in this country fighting for the same rights as I so blithely took for granted. As a matter of fact, they still are, fortunately, not to the same degree as then. The fight for equal rights continues....

Particularly chilling is the Anita Bryant part, and the fight to dis-allow homosexuals to teach in public schools. Ironic that all the school sex scandals I read about involve heterosexuals isn't it?

Harvey Milk urged his fellow gay people to come out of the closet, something quite daring for the times. He wanted people to know that they probably already knew and loved a homosexual person, that they were not to be the object of fear and loathing.

I can never fully understand how hard that is for some folks; it's said, and I believe it is true, that until you experience something for yourself, it remains difficult to empathize completely. That said, I've never asked Matt how hard it was for him to tell us. Now, I'm wondering about that.

Those who know Bruce, know that he is an amazing man, so amazing in fact, that Matt told him first. I will never forget that Sunday when he called from London while living there on his student visa. He was 20 years old, living in a hostel, and working a temp job. Every Sunday he called from the payphone, and we'd chat for a while. This particular day he wanted to talk to Bruce. I remember Bruce in the garage, looking quite serious during the conversation. As I recall, he handed me the phone and said Matt wants to tell you something. Matthew gently said, "I'm seeing someone, and it is not a girl." My response was, "Oh Matty, I'm so afraid." You see, by that time I knew just a bit more about homosexuals.

The year was 1988, and I was working in a hospital with a sizable amount of AIDS patients. Very few infectious disease physicians would treat AIDS patients exclusively, but Dr. Roberts was one who did, admitting them all to our hospital. At the time I was taking all types of x-rays; more often than I liked, I was called to a dying patient's bedside to x-ray their chest. It wasn't that I didn't want to be around them, it was that their stories were so heartbreaking. Even writing about it now brings tears to my eyes. I'll never forget one young man whose x-ray I took on a Saturday. When I came downstairs to develop it I didn't know what to do when I saw the film. His one lung had shrunk to the size of a kidney. Knowing as I did that his doc would probably come in later to see it, by which time he might be dead, I called the radiologist at home, describing what I saw. Ultimately it didn't save him, but it did that day. Sadly, they all died. Gut wrenching stuff for a softie like me.

So, that is what I was afraid of. Allaying my fears, he said he'd done nothing to be afraid of. I believed him, but I won't lie to you, I was still very, very sad.

I cried for several days, thinking that people would hate my son because he was gay when I knew that he is an amazing person (still is, for that matter). Truth be told, I'm crying right now, never having expressed myself before on the subject. At the time there was a fairly young pastor at the church we attended. He paid me a visit and got through to me in short order, reminding me that Matt was an educated man and would most likely spend his life around people to whom it wasn't a big deal. I then educated myself, the best I could, on the subject, finding out that many of the most famous and influential people have been gay.

Bruce, God bless him, was a rock.

Sadly, there are still young people who fear telling their parents, in fact, Matt dated one for quite a while. I feel so sorry for them, having to keep that part of their lives secret. I feel blessed that Matt felt he could tell us, even more so, that he told his dad first. That says an awful lot, doesn't it?

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Listening to: New Order - True Faith '94
via FoxyTunes

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Listening to: New Order - True Faith '94
via FoxyTunes

Contest Mania

You know how some people compulsively enter sweepstakes? Well, that's how I am about submitting photographs. I see a possibility, I go for it.

Today while shopping at Target for some troop supplies, I saw Jones Soda and thought--ah ha, there's something I can try. I submitted a few (including the above), converting them to black and white, because that is what they use most often, and we shall see. Wouldn't it be nice if I forgot all about it and a few months down the road you'll read that they chose one? Maybe.....

This time Darden is collecting goodies to ship overseas. I bought several bottles of eye drops, gum, ground coffee (Dunkin Doughnuts), large bag of individual chips, same goes for oreos, and I can't remember what else. Oh yeah, right next to the drops were ear plugs, although not on the approved list, I thought they might come in handy for someone.

The weather is still iffy which kept me in Orlando. As such, I forced myself to clean out some kitchen drawers which once I get started on, I don't mind so much. Let me tell you, I probably have more recipes than I have meals left to prepare! And I still get Bon Appetit magazine! Maybe I should adopt a new policy; if I don't make it in the first year I probably never will and I should trash it. It's a thought anyway.

I also found a lengthy letter from Matt dated September 13, 1993. He was so chatty--I loved re-reading all about his second year at FSU. The opening line goes like this: "my first letter, maybe you should frame it!" I didn't frame it Matt, but I kept it. I REALLY miss snail mail.

I got Milk from the library today which I intend to watch after fixing a perfect hamburger. They are all the rage you know.