What a Difference a Day Makes

Taken approximately 24 hours apart from the same location

 

Yesterday, I went for a long walk around the development about 3:00pm.  It was 52 degrees.  I captured the picture on the left near our clubhouse overlooking a small crater lake.  Today I went walking about 1:30pm.  It was 30 degrees.  And snow was following.  There was a wind yesterday, but thankfully it was not cold.  Today, just a small breeze and not bothersome at all. 

The winter parka I bought at the Sea Lions Cave in Florence, Oregon, in 2008, was fine for today's snow for the first lap - 45 minutes.  It was just beginning to show some water on its outer shell.  I should have changed when I stopped to get my camera (phone), but decided to see how well it would work for an hour. By the time I finished it was wet enough to drip a little.  Next time I'll switch to the Gore-Tex Boathouse parka I got from Xavier.  Can't be beat for warmth, repellant ability, and light weight.  Only negative is that it only has a roll-up nylon hood that hides in the collar instead of a lined removable hood like the sea lion one has.  Going to look into some warm Under Armour gear.

I am getting back to walking my normal one and half-hour walk each day.  My next goal is to increase the time to 2 hours each day, with a long walk - 3 hours on either Saturday or Sunday.  We'll have to see though with the rest of the week being in the teens for a high. 

A Restart of Sorts - Smokey

I've been wanting to restart the blog for sometime, but one thing or another always seemed to interrupt my best intentions.  In fact, I began with the restart title a few days ago, but still couldn't write.  Today is different.  Not that I will finish it - more like introducing the topic and will come back to it more and more in the days to come when I have some time for more reflection.

This morning we lost Smokey, our 16-year old Russian Blue cat.  He was the last of three rescue cats we adopted in 1999.  He made the trip in 2010 with us from Pennsylvania by himself; Sherman and Max having died within 4 months of each other just before we moved.  He adjusted well, though I know he missed his buddies.  For about the last 18 months, he was deaf.  He adjusted well, but a cancer tumor began to grow behind his right eye, eventaully causing him to lose his eyesight in the eye.  It also affected his right side of his nose and he would constantly have nasally sounds when he breathed.  But through it all, he talked and talked and sat on Wife's lap and laid his head on my arm each night when he crawled up in bed with us, before spending the rest of the night at our feet.

Today, after not coming to bed last night with us for the first time, and not wanting to sit in laps, we knew it was time.  We had a vet come to the house.  She was kind, considerate, and I know Smokey preferred to be at home.  He never liked to go to the vet's.  Can't write anymore today; will write again when things settle.  Smokey - thanks for so many great years, Little Buddy!