2013 Ouray Trip - Part IX - Great Sand Dunes

We didn't do much our last day since we had to drive from Southwestern Colorado to Northeastern Colorado and we knew it would take all day.

We did decide to take a little side trip to visit the Great Sand Dunes.  Eventhough we had been there several times in the past, we decided to stop and see them again in case we never make it down there again.

We stopped at Coney Island for dinner.  I forgot to take a picture of the cute exterior (it's shaped like a Hot Dog), but here is the interior...

2013 Ouray Trip - Part VIII - Mesa Verde

On Sunday, we got up quite early and headed to Mesa Verde, which isn't far from Durango.  It had rained the night before and this morning was a little damp and foggy.

Driving to Mesa Verde

We were very excited to go to Mesa Verde National Park.  My husband hadn't been there for about 20 years and I hadn't been there for about 10 years.  (My youngest daughter and I visited Mesa Verde in September 2011 while my husband had business in Durango).  The last time our family had been there, we weren't able to go to Balcony House because the wait was too long.  Now they have a system where visitors buy tickets to tour Balcony House and Cliff Palace, so we stopped and bought tickets on the way in.  Our tour of Balcony House was at noon and our tour of Cliff Palace was at 2 p.m.

 30 foot Ladder to Enter Balcony House

View of Ladder from Balcony House

 Kiva at Balcony House

View of Cliff Palace

We started at the arrow & walked down into Cliff Palace

Another view of Cliff Palace

We also drove around the park and took several self-guided tours, such as Spruce Tree House where you can enter an underground Kiva, Sun Temple, Pit Houses, and others.  We were fortunate that it didn't start raining hard until mid afternoon.  That evening we stayed inside Mesa Verde National Park at the Far View Lodge.

One of the best things about staying at the Far View Lodge was that the charge was only $125 and then we got coupons worth $50 to use at the Restaurants and Gift Shops in the Park.  We each enjoyed out own "Create your own Pizza and Salad" for dinner (a $30 value which we got free).

2013 Ouray Trip - Part VII - Durango

On Saturday morning, we left Ouray and headed to Durango.  We had reservations to stay at the Strater Hotel and in the evening we had reservations to go to the Bar D Chuckwagon for an evening of yummy food and wholesome entertainment.

We had stayed in the Strater Hotel on our Honeymoon 40 years ago, but I wasn't impressed.  This time I was really impressed.  The owners have been collecting Victorian furniture for years, so every room is decorated very nicely and although the rooms are small by today's standards, they are suitable.

 The Strater Hotel

 The Strater Hotel Lobby

Our Room

Another View of our Room

Bar D Wranglers (the entertainment after our wonderful BBQ dinner)

2013 Ouray Trip - Part VI - Owl Creek Pass

On Friday, we decided to take it easy a little bit.  We had been getting up quite early every morning so that we were on the road by 8:00 a.m. most mornings, so we needed a little respite.  So, we didn't get up quite as early and just went up Owl Creek Pass near Ridgeway which wasn't really a jeep trail, but just a nice leisurely drive.  We stopped here in the lovely meadow which my husband is convinced is the place they filmed part of the 1969 John Wayne movie called "True Grit".  I know they did film some of the movie in this area, but I don't know if this was the place.

 Hot Air Balloon on the way to Owl Creek Pass

 Chimney Rock on Owl Creek Pass

Meadow where scene from True Grit may have been filmed

Then we went back to Ouray to have lunch at the Beaumont Grill at the Beaumont Hotel.  My husband's mother offered to pay for the lunch because she thought I would enjoy it.  What I really enjoyed was the tour of the Beaumont Hotel that we took at 2 p.m.  The hotel had been abandoned from 1967 until 1998 & then was purchased and renovated to it's original splendor.

2013 Ouray Trip - Day V - Engineer Pass

On Thursday, we took our very favorite Jeep Trail.  It was the first Jeep trail I was ever on when we rode in a tour Jeep on out Honeymoon 40 years ago.  It is so beautiful, but a little chilly at the summit (since it was over 12,000 feet).

Engineer Pass

When we returned to Ouray, we decided we would like a rather special dinner.  I really felt like spaghetti, so we went to a cute little restaurant in the basement of the St. Elmo Hotel called Bon Ton.  We didn't realize it was a very fancy-schmancy restaurant until we got there.  The cheapest thing on the menu was spaghetti, but that what we went there for so we had a nice little spaghetti dinner.  Of course, the server acted like we were a poor little old couple who couldn't afford a more expensive dinner...

Bon Ton Restaurant

2013 Ouray Trip - Day IV - Ophir Pass

On Wednesday, we took one of my favorite passes called Ophir.  It starts out green and beautiful, but at the top it is extremely rocky.  Almost every time we go over the pass, there is a friendly little marmot at the summit waiting for people to drop snacks for him to eat.  We didn't see him this year.

Most days on the trails, we take along a cooler and have sandwiches for lunch, but today we were in Telluride at lunch time, so we did a little shopping and stopped for lunch at Brown Dog Pizza.

 Brown Dog Pizza (from balcony)

Since we had a very yummy pizza for lunch, we shared a Cobb Salad for dinner at the Gold Belt Restaurant in Ouray for dinner.

2013 Ouray Trip - Day III - Corkscrew Gulch

On Tuesday, we  drove over Corkscrew Gulch, Hurrican Pass, Califoria Pass, stopped at Animas Forks to snap a few pictures and at Animas Forks.

 Corkscrew Gulch

Hurricane Pass

 California Pass

Walsh Mansion at Animas Forks

We ate dinner at the BBQ place where we ate 2 years ago.  It's called "Thee Pits, Again" and has some connection with Guy Fieri - I don't quite understand the name & I didn't take a picture this year, but their BBQ Brisket is delicious and their potato salad and baked are great, too.

2013 Ouray Trip - Day II - Yankee Boy Basin

On Monday morning, we woke up early and headed out for a day of four-wheeling (not four-wheelering).  On the Friday before we left, we bought a new Nissan Xterra.  For forty years we had driven Ford Broncos, Chevy Blazers and even Jeeps, but we really enjoyed hitting the trails in our New Xterra.  The ride was comfortable and it never failed us although we didn't go on any really serious trails.

We started out on our favorite trail - Yankee Boy Basin.  It is an easy trail to some old gold mines, but it it notorious for the flowers the grow in the valleys.  Although there were not many flowers blooming in August it was still filled with breath-taking views.

The we went to the ghost town of Ironton.  We spent some time trying to scout out the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable (and old narrow gauge railroad turntable) but couldn't find it (we thought we had printed this blog post & brought it along, but hadn't).

Then we returned to Ouray and had dinner at Maggie's Kitchen - a place which boasted it had "the best burger in Ouray".  They definitely were the most expensive burgers in Ouray (around $9).  I had a Patty Melt and could only eat half of it.  My husband had a regular burger & we shared French Fries and Cole Slaw.  The burgers were good, but the decor left a lot to be desired.

2013 Ouray Trip - Day I

In August, we took a week long trip to Southwestern Colorado. One of our favorite places in Southern Colorado is a quaint little town name after the Indian Chief Ouray. Both of us had been there as children, and we spent a few day there on our Honeymoon. Through the years, we have enjoyed the beauty of the San Juan Mountains, the Hot Springs Pool, the souvenir shops and restaurants and the many four wheel drive trails & Ghost Town the area has to offer.  Ouray, Colorado is known as "the Switzerland of America". We always take a picture of the sign above the quaint little town.

Ouray

Sign outside Ouray

We stayed at the Ouray Chalet Inn, which was a very nice moderately priced place across from the historic Beaumont Hotel.

Ouray Chalet

View of Beaumont Hotel from our Balcony

We stayed in Ouray for 6 nights.  Each day we took a different four-wheel drive trail and each evening we ate at a different restaurant.

On the way to Ouray, we stopped at Glenwood Springs and ate at a restaurant where my husband had eaten on a business trip.  It was called "Juicy Lucy's".  I was skeptical because I thought the name was rather strange, but I had the most wonderful Classic Reuben sandwich with a delicious side salad and my husband had the Seventh Street Salad with grilled chicken.

 Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse

 Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse interior

RMCRI

Today was my first workout at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute.  Cancer survivors can experience 3 months of physical rehab free at the instutitute which is "presently the only facility of it's kind in the country and is recognized as a frontrunner in cancer rehabilitation".

Picture of me on the Brain Bike

Although I'm struggling with having to go over there 3 times each week, I am looking forward to getting stronger and hopefully through exercise and improved nutrition I will not have a recurrence of cancer.

The End of the Microwave

Since I had cancer I am making some dietary changes in the hope that the cancer does not recur. Some of the changes are limiting white sugar, eating whole grains, avoiding processed foods and eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

On Friday, I gave up my microwave.  Instead of giving you a bunch of links to reasons for not using a microwave, I will let you do your own research and make your own decision.  I don't really use the microwave for cooking, I just use it every morning to heat up my milk for my coffee and during the day I use it to heat water for my green tea (which I drink at least 3 times a day).

Well, I found out that I actually use the microwave more than I thought.  On Saturday evening we were going to have nachos (you know the kind when you sprinkle cheese over tortillas chips & microwave them until the cheese melts) and I had to use the broiler.  On Sunday night we had leftover pizza - we found out that the pizza actually tastes better reheated in the oven instead of the microwave.  And I love the sound of the tea kettle whistling to let me know my water for tea is ready!!

Things To Say (or Not To Say) To A Cancer Patient

1.  Please don't call cancer the "C" word.  If you can't say, imagine how I feel - I'm living with it.

2.  Please don't tell me to "think positive".  Most of the time I am positive, but sometimes when I talk to someone, I let my guard down and I cry.  That doesn't mean I mope around all the time.  AND there is no proof that positive thinking actually helps.  Don't make a cancer patient feel like they are lessening their chance of survival because they aren't positive 100 % of the time!!!

3.  Please don't ask too many questions about my cancer.  I had uterine cancer, but that is a still a hard word to spit out in polite company.  And don't ask me what stage or grade my cancer was, or how big the tumor was - it's really none of your business!

4.  I had none of the risk factors for my cancer - there was no reason I should have gotten it!!  I've always made quite healthy lifestyle choices.  That's just the way cancer is - you never know when, where or why it will strike, so don't ask why!

5.  And yes, I have to have frequent check-ups for the next 5 years.  Please don't act shocked.  Yes!  They got all my cancer!  No!  It didn't spread to the lymph nodes! But there is a chance it will come back!!!  You're shocked?  Imagine how I feel!!!!

6. Oh! And, please don't say stuff like - why did it take you so long to go to the Doctor! I had a sneaking suspicion that I had cancer, but I really didn't want to find out the answer and that's why I waited so long. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't have waited. Duh!

7.  Last of all, (and I know this sounds contradictory) but please don't ignore the whole thing.  I'm a cancer survivor and proud of it, but I still like to hear something uplifting - my youngest daughter often tells me what a strong woman woman I have been - I don't really agree with her, but it is nice to hear.  Tell me you're glad I came through the surgery well, that you're glad I'm well - it's just nice to know someone remembers what I went through!!!

The Big "C" - Part II (My Cancer Story)

Although I had suspected cancer for some time (and kept putting off a visit to the Doctor) I was numb after hearing the news from my Doctor.

Early on the morning of December 14, 2012, I went in for a CT scan.  When I returned home, the news of the Sandy Hook School shootings was just beginning to be televised.  I watched in horror as details of the 20 sweet little lives that were lost and the heroics of the adults who were killed trying to protect them emerged.  Watching this tragedy unfold helped suppress my own feelings of  "why me" - after all, I had lived 60 years and these precious little one's lives were just starting.  In the next few weeks, every time I started to ask "why me", I just remembered the Newtown parents coping with their grief over losing their children and I thanked God for the blessing of a full life.

With Christmas approaching, I decided to wait until after the holidays to tell my 3 daughters about my cancer and my upcoming surgery.  Somehow, I managed to get through the holidays and on December 31, decided to tell my daughters.  Telling them was one of the hardest things I've ever done - it isn't often that we are truly faced with our own mortality.  I was very frightened that I might not make it through the surgery itself and I was also afraid the cancer may have spread to my lymph nodes.

My Radical Hysterectomy took place on Friday, January 4, 2013, and I stayed in the hospital until Monday, January 7th.

Dr. S called me on Thursday, January 10th to let me know that my cancer was Stage II (it had not spread to the lymph nodes) and she recommended Chemotherapy.

I took it in stride that I might need Chemo.  I bought several hats on clearance and ordered an inexpensive wig.  I spent quite a bit of time reading about Chemotherapy on the Internet and was afraid the harsh chemicals might have severe reactions in a person as sensitive as I am, so I was very thrilled when I visited my Oncologist and he told me that he only recommended Radiation Therapy.  He told me that I would probably have treatments five days per week for five weeks of External Radiation and then several Internal Radiation treatments called Brachytherapy.

A few weeks later when I visited the Radiation Oncologist, he recommended 6 treatments of Brachytherapy three days per week over a two-week period.  The treatments ended on March 8 and I have had virtually no side effects, although quite serious side effects from Radiation Treatments can appear even several years after treatment.

No person can go through cancer and remain unchanged.  I never asked God to spare my life, but I am very grateful that God gave me a new life spiritually 40 years ago and gave me a new chance at life after cancer!  I now start each day with gratitude to my Creator and strive to make a difference for Him!

The Big "C" - Part I (My Cancer Story)

On December 11, 2012, I received the long awaited phone call from my Doctor.

A week before I had a trans-vaginal ultrasound in which a mass was visible in my uterus. That day as I waited for the Doctor to come into the Examination Room I could hear him talking to a colleague outside the door..."cancer...blah, blah, blah...cancer...or it could be a polyp..."  As they were talking, all I could think was "how unprofessional" - shouldn't they be having this conversation somewhere else?  Some place where I didn't have to overhear it.  I was quite certain that I had cancer, but at this point I wasn't ready to accept the harsh reality and certainly didn't want to hear the Doctor discussing it so impartially.

The message on the answering machine said, "This is Dr. B.  I have the results of your biopsy.  Call me at 000-000-0000."  I hadn't recognized the phone number on the digital display, so I hadn't answered the call.  With shaking fingers, I returned Dr. B's call.  He wasn't available, so I left a message with his nurse.  About a half hour later, she returned my call.  "Dr. B wants you to come in to the Office."

I almost dropped the phone.  I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.  I knew the reason he wanted me to come in to the Office was to tell me in person that I had cancer.

I drove to Dr. B's Office and rode the elevator to the third floor.  I had to wait about fifteen minutes for him to come in to the Examination Room where the nurse had told me to wait.

"The Pathologist bungled your biopsy," Dr. B. said.  "Does that mean I need another biopsy?"  I thought to myself.  "They redid it and that's what took so long," he continued; "Squamous cells are present. You need a Radical Hysterectomy.  Nobody in Northern Colorado does that kind of surgery.  You'll have to go to Denver.  Here's the phone number for Dr. D." (he chuckled because the Doctor to whom he was referring  had the same last name as me).  Dr. B also said he would order a CT Scan because I needed one before the appointment with Dr. D.  I'm sure I asked him some pertinent questions, but I can't remember what I said.  I do remember him saying he would do my follow-up after the surgery.

I drove home and thought, "That's it?  I have cancer and that's all the Doctor says...  Shouldn't I be referred to some kind of Cancer Support Group?  Shouldn't the Doctor kind of... ummm...care?"

Cape Lookout National Seashore and Lighthouse

My youngest daughter and her husband moved to North Carolina in 2010.  We helped them move out there and the four of us visited the outer banks briefly one day.  The brief visit was good because it left us wanting to return.  In April 2011, my daughter and I took a two-day trip and visited Manteo, the Currituck Lighthouse, Whalehead Club, Bodie Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras Light on the Outer Banks.  In September 2011, my husband, daughter and son-in-law visited the Oak Island Lighthouse.

In August 2012, I was visiting my daughter and son-in-law and we took a two-day trip to the Cape Lookout National Seashore and Lighthouse.

My daughter had to work in the morning, so we didn't get a very early start and had to drive several hours to get to Harker's Island where we spent the night.

The bridge to Harker's Island.  (I feel like a kid sitting in the back seat).

 Unfortunately, the lighthouse is open for tours on a limited basis, so we were unable to climb to the top of the lighthouse.  We could drive to Harker's Island, but we had to ride a ferry to the Cape Lookout National Seashore.  It was a small ferry which went very fast.

The ferry Captian stopped so we could see the wild horses on the Shackleford Banks.

 View of the Lighthouse from the dock.

 Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters.

Beautiful beach where we spent the morning and had a picnic lunch.