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One Down; One to Go!

purple flowr

Well, cancer treatments are done, and cryo-ablation is scheduled for next week. Do it is one down; one to go here in Pennsylvania. Last week I got my first Zometa infusion. I do not feel I had any side effects at all. I did have some bruising at the IV site due to my blood thinners. My next infusion is in March. I have a follow up with the Radiation Oncologist tomorrow, then no cancer doctors until December!! It feels like that is all I have seen in the past 6 months since this all began in March.

Next up–Cardiac Cryo-Ablation

I have confirmed with my electrophysiology office that my procedure has been approved for 9/21. I wanted to make sure instead of hearing about a problem at the last minute like last time! After a slew of appointments last week and this week, I will have a relatively quiet time until next Thursday. On that day, I will get to spend most of the day in the hospital. Apparently, I will have to lay flat on my back for 4-5 hours after the procedure.. If you know someone who has had a cardiac catheterization, this is basically the same principle. I just have to lay longer due to the blood thinners. I am more dreading THAT than the actual procedure. My back hurts like HELL when I have to lay flat for any length of time.

Well, it seems that my medical saga is winding down–at least THIS chapter of it! I am thankful and grateful for all of the people who have helped care for me! My family (of course), friends and neighbors, coworkers, even people I barely know–everyone has been so supportive and kind. Most of all, everyone on all of the medical teams that I have come into contact with have been amazing! I’ve dealt with four hospitals, five specialists, plus a SLEW of ancillary staff. There have also been outpatient facilities where I got my ultrasounds and physical therapy. All of these places and people have made this journey a bit smoother.

Beaver Wine Festival

We did take a brief sojourn from medical things this past weekend. We attended the Beaver Wine Festival in Beaver, PA. My daughter’s boyfriend bought us tickets a while ago, and I am glad I went. We got to sample MANY different wines, mostly from places that are small and local. I bought a bottle of white wine, a fifth of homemade vodka, and a wine slushy bag. This is a whole bottle of wine in a bag that you put in the freezer.

Ray bought several bottles of wine and a delicious creamy limoncello that is a perfect after dinner drink. We were very responsible and got an Uber both ways! We had dinner at a newer restaurant right on the river called The Standard. The view was absolutely stunning. The food was passable and the drinks were strong. I got a bulk slushy cocktail, but Kendyl and Ray both got mixed drinks and commented on this. The environment was VERY loud, though, and it was hard to hear each other. It was nice to get out and do something other than go to the store or for a medical appointment.

close up photography of wine glasses
White wine is my FAVORITE!

Up Next!

So, now that the medical saga is settling down, I plan to start posting about past trips! There are many to choose from. I never finished my review of our pre-pandemic trip to Salem. I also went to Dallas for a conference, and NYC to see Seth, both just before everything closed down. In fact, I was in NYC until March 2, 2020, and everything shut down a week later! Since travel ramped back up I have had a few trips. I have been to Florida to see cousins twice, NYC to see Seth and attend Hamilton.

Travel has also included Colorado for a conference, and a river cruise in Portugal! In addition, I had a few road trips. One to the hills of WV to relax. We also went to Cherry Springs, PA to try and stargaze. Sadly, there was never a clear night. Most recently to Cleveland, Ohio with a side trip to see a cousin and my half-sisters who live nearby. So I have a plethora of trips to choose from! I might start with NYC since I have some amazing pictures from both trips. Or write about the amazing time we had in Portugal!

What would you all like to read about?? I’m happy to write about any of the places I’ve been! Maybe I will even pull out my old blog posts and write about some of the places in more detail. I would focus more on the places rather than just what I did with whom! I realize my writing needs a bit more color!

Requests more than welcome!

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A Brief Break

I am in the middle of a brief break from all of the medical craziness. This is not to say I have been idle medically speaking–I have had some appointments (PT, lab work, Medical Oncologist), but nothing intense or daily. I must say, I am enjoying it too much! After being on the go so much, I enjoyed just doing nothing much last week! This week I need to do better since I don’t know how I will feel after the cardiac procedure.

A Gift for Myself!

Over the weekend I got a piano! I have always wanted to learn to play, but we couldn’t afford one growing up. Then I lacked either time or space. Now I have both the time and the space AND one of my neighbors was GIVING one away! I just needed a means to transport it. So, I rented a U-Haul trailer and Ray hooked it up to his truck. Between Ray, two of my sons, and Kendyl’s friend Brandon, we got it to its new home! I have really enjoyed it already! I have an instructional book, and have watched some on-line videos, but I would really like to take real lessons! One of my other neighbors teaches, so I will message her. Now to find someone to tune it, although it doesn’t sound too bad right now!

Photo of piano keyboard (from Pexels.com)

My Productivity is Lacking at HOME

Normally, I take very good care of my flower and vegetable beds, but I’ve been hampered this year by all of the medical problems AND the heat! I just cannot tolerate the heat and humidity. I have kept my vegetable beds tended (although I downsized from 5 to 3), but my herb garden and flower beds have become overrun with weeds! It breaks my heart! I have been trying to go out each evening (when it isn’t raining and I’m home) to fill up a big trash bag with weeds and debris. If I keep it up, I should have much less to do when fall comes. Next year, I need to get back to regular maintenance so this doesn’t happen!

This week, I need to be more productive with my time! As mentioned, I was very lazy last week. I took having “a brief break” too seriously! I just let things go, relaxed, and watched too much TV! I’m not planning on doing that this week! I will be returning to work mid-September, so my time is running short to work on my house (cleaning and organizing).

I’m reading a book about Swedish death cleaning right now. With everything I’ve been going through, I need to make it a priority to prepare things for when I die, although that hopefully won’t be for a long while. All of the files and accounts the kids will need have to be backed up and stored safely, and I do not want them having to wade through my clutter after I go. They would be liable to chuck everything, but I know there are some things that would be important to one of them, or someone in the family. It is time I tackle this monster! I am by no means a hoarder, but I have a problem letting go of old pictures and files I “might” need someday. I need to digitize what I want to keep and then let everything else go!

Update 27 August 2023

Well, we have a snag, and my brief break might be extended. The electrophysiology office called me on Friday to let me know they have not yet received prior authorization (the bane of a medical person’s existence) for my cryo -ablation on Tuesday. I’m still going to have the TEE tomorrow in hopes that they can get the authorization and proceed as planned. If they don’t, the TEE will be “good” for 30 days if we have to reschedule.

The problem with that is that I have already picked up shifts for the end of September. Why didn’t I just wait until all of this was done?? The procedure has been scheduled since early JUNE, so I had no idea it would not be authorized! I am trying my hardest to relax and just go with the flow since there is nothing I can do to change this. Those of you who know me understand how difficult this can be.

I hope to have an update with better news tomorrow after the test. That’s when I plan to post this. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Hand with fingers crossed
Photo compliments of pexels.com

My Brief Break Will Be Longer

Well, I had my TEE, but I was NOT able to get the cryo-ablation today. The prior authorization still did not come through. So my procedure is rescheduled to 9/21 and I will not be able to return to work as planned. As of now, my return to work date will be 9/30. I am frustrated, but I am trying to “go with the flow.” Maybe there is a reason for this?

silhouette of person sitting beside body of water
Photo by Download a pic Donate a buck! ^ on Pexels.com
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ALMOST TO THE FINISH LINE!

wooden picture frame hanged on pink wall

As I start my fourth and final week of radiation therapy, I am feeling grateful for the team at UPMC-Passavant, as well as the love and support I have received from family and friends! It has been a rocky road, and I still have the cardiac procedure to weather, but I am almost at the finish line, and I can begin to taste the sweetness of victory!

Update on My Team

The pregnant technician finally had her baby on Friday! Her labor stalled so she had to have a C-section, but mom and baby are doing well. I believe the baby was 9 lbs. 7 oz! That is a BIG baby!! My biggest (Seth) was 9 lbs. 1 oz. and that was quite big enough! I will miss seeing her 5 days a week, but am happy for her and her growing family!

Today we started the “targeted” part of my radiation therapy. In this phase of my treatment, the radiation is focused on JUST the area where my tumor was–in this case the upper inner quadrant of my breast. I am not sure if that will cause more skin changes in that area or not. I am hoping not! So far, I have been very lucky as far as side effects go (at least from the radiation). I am looking forward to ringing the bell on Friday to mark the completion of this phase of treatment. That will be the finish line for my acute cancer treatment. I will be on the Arimidex for 10 years, and there is talk of removing my ovaries, but the breast surgeries and radiation will be over!

Next Stop–Cardiac Cryosurgery

After about 2 weeks to recuperate, I have the cardiac procedure that is intended to fix my atrial fibrillation. The day before the procedure I have to have a test called a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE for short). The ultrasound tech puts a probe down my esophagus and view my heart that way. I have never had this test before, but I’m not looking forward to it. Hopefully, the “mild” sedation works very well!

The day after the TEE, my Electrophysiologist will go into my heart with a catheter (through the groin, just like they do for a cardiac catheterization) and will attempt to freeze the area of my heart where the abnormal impulses usually arise. If all goes well, I hope I will be able to stop the Amiodarone and Eliquis. Fingers crossed! The picture below courtesy of Oklahoma Heart and shows how the procedure is done. This is for my medically-inclined friends and readers!

Image courtesy of https://oklahomaheart.com/

Virginia-Bound

Kendyl and I will take a road trip this weekend as we head down to Lynchburg, Virginia, for my granddaughter’s 6th birthday party! I wasn’t sure I would feel up to going, but I think I should be okay. Kendyl will drive, as I do not feel I’m up to 7 hours of driving. I am looking forward so much to seeing Riley and her family!! We will finally meet Ember and Rex, Haley’s part-wolf pups.

While we are there we will also get to see my ex-husband’s grandfather (so my kids’ great, and Riley’s great-great) who is 99 years young! As soon as I am able to request time off, I want to make arrangements to be there for his 100th birthday next March! We will also see his daughter (my former mother-in-law) who has been having some health challenges of her own recently. One of my most cherished pictures is one I took last August when we visited. In it are Tom’s grandfather, Tom’s mom, all 3 of Tom’s kids, and Riley Mae (and her then step-sister, also a Riley). It is a precious photo. It is quite sad that Tom isn’t alive to see it (and to have been part of the picture)!

I have decided to post to the blog every other Monday. I should have posted regularly before when I was actually posting my travels! Never fear, as I run out of health news I will post more travel-related content. I might even throw in some food-related posts as that was my original intention! As I approach that finish line, I intend to plan my 2024 trips. It feels good to have something to look forward to again!

Post-Radiation and Virginia Update

I got to ring the bell after my last radiation treatment on Friday (11 August 2023)! It felt good! I crossed that finish line with a smile and even a few tears. You get used to seeing these people every day and they feel like friends! I took in an assortment of cookies, many of them symbolically pink. Hopefully, they were enjoyed by all!

Shortly after I returned from radiation, we packed up the car and headed to Virginia! Kendyl’s boyfriend, Ray, ended up coming with us, so she and I were “passenger princesses.” I am usually VERY anxious when someone else drives distances, but sitting in the backseat where I could not see the road ahead was VERY helpful (as was half of a Xanax).

Ray and his two passenger princesses on the road!

Our tradition when we visit Haley is to meet her at a hibachi restaurant called Wasabi. This trip was no different! Neither she nor her fiancé had their kids, so we let loose in our celebration of being together AND radiation being over! I have not been drinking much at all, so I was pretty tipsy–AND hungover the next morning! Since Saturday was another day without kids, we just vegetated all day reading, watching TV and cooking. Haley made my recipe for stuffed salmon, and Kendyl made her vegetarian risotto. I taught her how to make risotto a few years ago and she VERY quickly surpassed me–she is the risotto master! We also got to meet Ember and Rex, the part-wolf pups. They are already bigger than our Buddha, and they aren’t even a year old yet!

Ember and I bonding!

Sunday was a very eventful day. After breakfast Kendyl and I went to visit her grandmother and great-grandad. We came at the right time, because he had fallen and no one there could get him up. Kendyl and I were able to, and he was thankfully not injured. We had a nice visit, and got to see Barbara’s brother, Uncle Jimmy, who stopped by. After that, it was off to the birthday party and we FINALLY got to see precious Riley!! A good time was had by all, and it was great seeing Haley’s family. Some people think it is odd, but I have become friends with the whole family of Tom’s first wife (Haley’s mom). I have remained close to my first husband’s family also. The more people we care about in our lives, the more joy we have!

I didn’t take many pictures over the weekend, but I will include a few. I may update early next time since I have those cardiac procedures on my scheduled posting date! Thanks for reading and sharing my excitement over this finish line!

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Radiation Therapy Reflections

I started my radiation therapy for breast cancer last week. I have 6 of 20 treatments under my belt. So far, so good–the only side effects I have noticed has been slight redness of my skin in the zone receiving radiation. I actually think I have become MORE productive since I have to stick to a set schedule! My only complaint is the 40 minute drive each way, but I have been catching up on my podcasts, so it is time well-spent.

I really like my radiation therapy techs! One of them is very pregnant and will soon be gone; I will miss her. My radiation will be over by the time she would come back from maternity leave. I mostly see the same patients/family members in the waiting room each morning. The staff is very efficient, so we don’t have much time to talk, but we smile and greet each other every day. I do my best to smile and say, “good morning” to as many people as I can each day–it makes ME feel better and hope it helps them, too!

For anyone who has never seen the machine used for radiation therapy, I am including a picture. This shows the machine and the position one needs to be in for the treatment. Fortunately, each treatment only lasts about 3-4 minutes. It takes longer for the techs to line you up properly than it does for the dose of radiation!

Schematic of a radiation therapy treatment for breast cancer.
Radiation therapy machine and position for breast cancer.

I will probably wait to post this until I have more treatments under my belt. It is hard to give an accurate depiction of radiation therapy after only a few sessions. I can say that the radiation therapy department at UPMC-Passavant’s Hillman Cancer Center is very efficient. and all of the staff I have encountered have been extremely pleasant. No complaints here!

Update After 2 Weeks

I am now 50% done with radiation. Although I have noticed some skin flaking and a small (tiny really) blister in the treatment area, and some tightness when I do my PT exercises, but I consider myself lucky so far!

I have begun exercising again! Dancing has always been my preferred method of fitness, so I found an app that has 10 minute dance workouts (that is my speed for now). Of course, I continue to do my PT daily also.

My step-daughter, Haley, sent me the most thoughtful and appropriate gifts. She sent a coloring book entitled, “Boobies Gone but I Rock On!” I enjoy coloring and find it very relaxing, so this was perfect. Also included was a mug for coffee or tea that says, “Dear Cancer, You Picked the Wrong BITCH.” I love both gifts!!

The end is in sight!

I am finally feeling as if I am in the home stretch of this journey! After 10 more radiation therapy treatments, I then will see the Medical Oncologist on 8/23. I still need to schedule my genetic testing, and have the cardiac procedure done, but I feel that the majority of my fight is almost over! The profound sense of relief I feel is palpable!

I am also starting to look ahead and think about trips for 2024! This year was supposed to involve a lot of travel, but those things got waylaid by my diagnosis. Therefore, I would like to rebook my trip to the UK for next spring, and I’m looking at Airbnb’s for Tina and I to go on our annual girls’ trip. Right now I am looking at Baltimore (Inner Harbor), New Orleans (on both of our wish lists) and Las Vegas. I’m leaning toward Baltimore–we could even invite Sherry (Tina’s childhood best friend) , Nancy (my childhood bestie) and/or Haley to visit us while we are there since they all live in Virginia!

I feel truly blessed at this moment in time!

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My New Journey

wooden picture frame hanged on pink wall

I have been absent from my blog for a very long time. The pandemic, understandably, prevented my travels for a couple of years. When I did start traveling again, I did not get back into writing regularly. I did take a few domestic trips and one international trip (a Douro River cruise in November 2022), but found it difficult to resume blogging.

Then the bottom fell out of my world. In March 2023, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This came as a shock because I have faithfully gotten my mammograms every 1-2 years for the past 22 years. I ended up having a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy in April. My 3 nodes were negative, but they did not get ALL of the cancer–it had invaded the muscle of my chest wall. After discussion with my family and doctors, I elected to have a complete mastectomy instead of just going in and removing more of the breast and muscle.

Nothing could have prepared me for the first time I looked at myself after that second surgery. I never thought about my breasts much, but having a large incision across my chest with no nipple was a shock. I have since gotten used to it, but that first peek was difficult. On top of that, I suffered a second degree burn on my chest from using heat–I am numb in the area and didn’t realize how hot the compress was. This is what I call a “rookie mistake” for someone who works in healthcare and should KNOW better.

Fortunately, my oncotype showed that chemotherapy would not be beneficial, but I do need to get radiation. I am waiting for that to be scheduled as I write this. I have also been undergoing physical therapy since much of my chest muscle was removed on the right side. I was given the option of having a bilateral mastectomy and/or a reconstruction, but I have significant cardiac issues so I elected NOT to do either.

Speaking of cardiac issues, they have worsened. My cardiologist feels it is due to the stress of having two surgeries so close together. I have developed intermittent atrial fibrillation and now have to take a potent antiarrhythmic agent (amiodarone) as well as a blood thinner. After my 4 weeks of radiation is over, I will have to have a procedure on my heart called a cryoablation to try and kill the aberrant conduction in the top part of my heart. This situation has actually scared me much more than the cancer diagnosis. Although I have had heart problems since my 40s, it was relatively stable and inactive for almost 2 decades and never affected my activities. Now I am afraid to do much of anything for fear of triggering the rapid rhythm. It has caused me to cancel two of my trips–one in May to visit cousins in Florida, and one at the end of June to see my British cousins who I haven’t seen since before the pandemic.

So, I have embarked on the most challenging journey of my life so far. I have had to take short-term disability from work for all of this, which adds to the stress. I am somewhat of a workaholic and have never been off more than 4 weeks at a time since I was 16! Even after having babies, I only took 4 weeks off. So I have decided to get back into writing, both here on my blog to document my cancer journey, and possibly a memoir about my health challenges. Even if I don’t get it published, it would be something for my children and grandchildren to have.

I would appreciate any positive energy and prayer that can be sent my way! I would also be very interested in hearing from others who have fought this fight–either cancer or cardiac. I do intend to attend some support groups, but have not done so yet as I am trying to navigate through all the medical appointments and planning. I thank you all for stopping by, and do hope to get back to writing about actual travels in the future!

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Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Walking Tour

Is this an orb? Taken on the Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Walking Tour of Salem, MA.

The evening of our first full day in Salem, we experienced the Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Walking Tour. It was fun and informative! Our guide was Mike, and he kept everyone engaged and interested during the tour.

We met just across the street from the Peabody Essex Museum, where we had visited earlier in the day. We had a fairly large group, and I even met another couple also from Pittsburgh. They sell Pagan-related wares, so I told them all about Grove of Gaia Fest at Beltane. I enjoyed being with other like-minded individuals!

Gory Sites, Historical Places

We visited many reportedly haunted sites around Salem. The place where Giles Corey was crushed to death because he wouldn’t confess gave me the chills. We saw the building they used as a prison for the accused witches. We visited a bar located on land once belonging to the first woman accused of witchcraft. Many people see apparitions there. Our last stop was at the Old Burying Point Cemetery near the memorial site. The accused were forbidden burial on sacred ground, so the spirits haunting the cemetery are of other old souls. The house belonging to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s in-laws bordered the cemetery, a bit of literary connection!

Full Moon, Friday the 13th

On the night we took this tour, the moon was nearly full. This made it both beautiful and eerie. One of my photos supposedly captured an orb (a type of haunting). Fun to consider, but it could be (and more likely is) a reflection from the moon.

Is this an orb? Taken on the Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Walking Tour of Salem, MA.
Possible orbs captured on camera during the Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Walking tour.

We definitely enjoyed our time on the walking tour with Mike and the other tourists. It was a great time to visit Salem, because the following day was going to be Friday the 13th AND a full moon! There were many tourists who came specifically for that heavenly alignment, but we just lucked into that particular anomaly!

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Our Trip to York, UK

I had the pleasure to take a trip to York, UK during my recent trip to visit family in England. I got to meet new cousins, who live in Yorkshire, on the way! Linda and David were gracious enough to accomodate my love of Viking and British history, and took me up there for a couple of days!

New Cousins!

On the way to York, we stopped in Yorkshire to visit Marian and her family. She had a lovely lunchtime spread for us and it was delightful getting to know everyone. I especially liked her grandson, Seth–he was a remarkable young man!

Myself with 6 of my British cousins while in Yorkshire, UK.
This is me (front left) with a few of my British cousins on our visit to Yorkshire, UK.

Same cousins in Yorkshire, but with young Seth in the picture and no Linda (she was the photographer).
The Yorkshire cousins including young Seth (Marian’s grandson). Linda was taking the picture.

Introduction to York

We drove from Marian’s to the city of York. The ancient city walls greeted us, along with bright flowerbeds planted along the route into the city. The sight is breathtaking! Imagine a structure that has been standing for over a thousand years! The US has only been a nation for a fraction of that time, so it is humbling.

A view of the ancient city wall surrounding York, UK.
A portion of the ancient wall that surrounds the city of York in the UK.
Bright yellow and white flowers just outside the entrance through the wall surrounding York, UK.
The cheerful flowers that greeted us to York.

A Brief History of York

Humans have lived at the site of York since the Neolithic Period (4000-2000 BC). It first became a major center when occupied by the Romans in 71 BC. The Roman name for York was Eburacum. The Romans turned Eburacum into a center of world importance for the next three centuries! During the 7th century the first Minster was built in York for the baptism of King Edwin or Deira. Subsequently, York became a center of enlightenment, wealth and power,

York was one of the first places in Britain conquered by the Vikings, and they occupied the area for about a hundred years. Although many think of the Vikings as plundering, seafaring warriors, their culture at the time was very robust. It is largely due to the archealogical discoveries made in York that we know more about their lives in this time period. They called the city Jorvik, and there were many craftsmen, farmers, traders, engineers and ship builders. Many Vikings actually became Christians during this occupation. Today, you can see what it was like in the city by visiting Jorvik–The Viking Experience. A visit to this attraction is a must during any trip to York, and it was a highlight for me!

A view of daily life at Jorvik, The Viking Experience, in York.
A view of daily life at Jorvik–The Viking Experience.

The Lovely Hazelwood

Linda and I had searched for accomodations, and we were delighted with The Hazelwood. We chose it because it was close to the attractions we wanted to visit, and because it had free parking. The establishment is comprised of 4 or 5 separate old stately townhomes that are adjoined. The rooms were quaint and comfortable, and the staff very friendly. We enjoyed breakfast both days!

My lovely room at The Hazelwood, our accomodation in York.
My quaint room at the Hazelwood.

Lamb & Lion Inn for Dinner

We strolled around York our first night there. It was cold and wet and rainy, so we were anxious to find somewhere tOno eat, warm up, and dry off. Between the cathedral and the Hazelwood, we found a lovely little eatery called Lamb & Lion Inn. It consisted of multiple smaller rooms with 3 or 4 tables each, so it was rather intimate. The food was delicious and presented beautifully, and the drinks were strong enough to warm us from the inside out!

My beautiful and delicious dinner at the Lamb & Lion Inn in York. Beef with rich gravy, greens and mash.
TheMy beautiful and delicious dinner at the Lamb & Lion Inn in York.

Yorkminster Cathedral

We spent the following day discovering the city in all of its historical glory! We started out by visiting Yorkminster Cathedral, a huge magnificent place that has been in existence since Norman times! I need to look up the statistics, but it seems even bigger than Notre Dame to me! The achitecture is awe-inspiring, as are the stained glass windows.

A view of the Yorkminster Cathedral from the outside.
The outside of the Yorkminster Cathedral, an architectural wonder!

The first minster was built in York in the 7th century, as mentioned previously. The Norman invasion in 1066 brought many changes to the area, and was initially trouble for the area, but subseqently ended up being very prosperous for York. Later, during the Middle Ages, stonemasons and stained glass artisans worked together to build one of the greatest cathedrals in the world, Yorkminster!

Since the 7th Century, the Minster in York has been the centre of Christianity in the north of England. Every aspect of the cathedral, from the stained glass to the exquisite handcrafted stone, tells the story of Jesus Christ. It is a masterpiece!

The seat of the bishop in Yorkminster Cathedral.
This is where the bishop sits in Yorkminster Cathedral.
One of the stained glass masterpieces in Yorkminster Cathedral.
One of the magnificent stained glass masterpieces at Yorkminster.

Other Views Around York

It was wonderful to walk around York and take in its beauty and history. We discovered small shops, old churches, and quaint bistros. I completely enjoyed ambling around the old narrow streets and finding new delights around every corner!

One of the old narrow streets in York.
One of the delightful old streets in York.
A church tower in the background, and quaint shops along a street of York.
One of the quaint streets in York, with a lovely church tower in the background.

Yorkshire Museum

Toward the end of the day, we visited the Yorkshire Museum and its grounds, the site of an old monastery in York. It demonstrated the history of the area from the paleolithic era up until modern times. For a history buff like myself, it was fascinating!

A mosaic at the Yorkshire Museum.
A mosaic at the Yorkshire Museum.
A lovely cottage on the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum.
A lovely cottage on the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum.

The Exhibition–A Place I Would Hang Out!

After our visit to the museum, we walked back to The Hazelwood. It was rather cold and breezy that day, and we wanted to find someplace to warm our bones. We fortunately wandered into The Exhibition–a welcoming pub with a warm fireplace and wonderful service! The food and the drinks were rejuvinating, and we enjoyed our time there. It is definitely a place I could hang out on the regular!

The fireplace at the welcoming Exhibition Pub.
The inviting fireplace at the Exhibition Pub in York.

My time in York was so incredibly enjoyable, and I am eternally grateful to my cousins, Linda and David, for indulging me in our little side trip! I definitely recommend York as a destination during any trip to England!

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New York City

This will by an introduction to several posts about my two trips to New York City in the past few years. The first trip was right before the pandemic hit. The second trip was in November 2021, just as things were reopening but still requiring proof of vaccination for inside seating. During the first visit, highlights included Belvedere Castle in Central Park, the show Drunk Shakespeare, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. During the 2021 trip, I got to see Hamilton!! I had tried to get tickets prior to the pandemic, but never could. AS SOON AS tickets went back on sale in August, I went on-line to find tickets! I also got to hear one of my MOST favorite entertainers ever, Marc Broussard, live at the City Winery!

Quick Health Update

My cryoablation went well, according to the electrophysiologist. I am in a lot of pain, but it is getting a bit better every day. We spent about 11 hours at the hospital and I had some bleeding complications. In fact, as recently as last night (2 days after) the wound in my groin was still bleeding some. I have been sleeping with an 8 pound kettlebell on my right groin. But it is over, and I am glad. I just hope it does what it is supposed to do.

NYC 2020

My pre-pandemic trip was in February/March 2020. Little did we know at the time what would happen just days later! On March 1, we were visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; a week later everything was closed. Shortly after that, a hospital ship was in the very harbor where we had just been sightseeing! We also visited Belvedere Castle in Central Park during this trip. A few short weeks later there were hospital tents in Central Park! Needless to say, this was very surreal for me!

I had been to New York City and Central Park many times before, but I had never been to (or even known about) Belvedere Castle! It is a beautiful little castle in an idyllic setting on a pond. I enjoyed it immensely!

My oldest son, Seth, and I. Taken at the Statue of Liberty with the skyline of NYC in the background.
Seth and I; March 1, 2020. Taken at the Statue of Liberty with the Manhattan skyline in the background.

NYC 2021

As soon as I heard that Broadway was going to reopen in mid-September, I was on my computer trying to buy tickets for Hamilton. Seeing Hamilton live had been a dream of mine for years, and I immensely enjoyed it when it was released on Disney+. I was able to find tickets for early November, so I booked them right away! I made everything else work around that. As fate would have it, my favorite musician was also going to by in New York City that same week! Marc Broussard has been one of my very favorite singer/songwriters since I first saw him as a young man opening for Los Lonely Boys (about 2001 I think). Since then, he has matured as both an artist and a person, now being a father and husband. His soulful southern blues vibe is amazing, and never gets old!

Marc Broussard at the City Winery in NYC November 2021
One of my most favorite recording artists live–Marc Broussard.

To Be Continued!

I plan to do at least two more posts about New York–one about each trip mentioned above. Also expect reviews of some of the places I visited during each trip. Things have been slow going over the past two weeks with the cardiac procedure and aftermath of that, but I hope to be back in full swing next week! In the meantime, let me know if there is anything else you would want me to cover!

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Sightseeing in Salem

Our first day of sightseeing in Salem, Massachusetts was fun, informative and busy! After spending our first full day in the state driving up the coast to Rockport (read about it here), we spent Thursday getting to know Salem and its history.

Salem Witch Trial Memorial

We had breakfast at our Airbnb, then walked to the Salem Witch Trial Memorial. This is a solemn and moving place memorializing the 20 people who lost their lives during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Since the accused could not be buried in hallowed ground, there are instead benches with the names and dates of each of the victims. It is so sad that such hysteria was put to use for political and personal gain!

The benches commemorating the victims of the Salem witch trial hysteria.

Peabody Essex Museum

After the memorial, we toured the Peabody Essex Museum. I found the various exhibits fascinating. One of my travel partners was not quite as enthralled as I was, so we spent a bit less time there than I would have liked. Still, I really enjoyed the art and history, and especially some of the furniture! The holdings of this museum are vast, and only a fraction are on display! Enjoy some of my favorite pictures from the museum below!

This is a very large multi-colored (but mostly red) decorative piece of blown glass at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA.
A huge piece of beautiful blown glass!
This is a large, intricate, decorative Japanese vase at the Peabody Essex Museum.
An intricate decorative Japanese vase.
I was drawn to this painting of a boy in yellow shorts riding his pinto/piebald pony. It is found in the American section of the Peabody Essex Museum.
I was drawn to this simple picture of a boy on his pony. It was in the American section of the museum.

Salem Witch Village

A brief walk from the museum, and very close to the memorial, is the Salem Witch Village. This was not at all what I was expecting, but it was very interesting, cool and informative all the same. It basically gave a history of pagan religions, so it was right up my alley! It was very dark in there, and we were asked not to use flash photography, so the only picture I took that really came out is of the dragon at the end. Rubbing his belly is supposed to bring good luck!

This is the dragon that is at the end of the tour of the Salem Witch Village. Rubbing his belly is supposed to bring good luck!
This is the dragon at the end of the Salem Witch Village tour. It is supposed to be good luck to rub his belly!

Crow Haven Corner

A short walk from the Witch Village and the museum was an incredible pagan shop called Crow Haven Corner. The shop was very small but the staff there was very knowledgeable and helpful. There were new discoveries in every nook and cranny, and we enjoyed finding them! Tina and I both bought a few things in the store, and both agree we need to visit again!

Voodoo Walking Tour

In my next post I will tell you about the Voodoo Walking Tour that we took on this night! It was a lot of fun and pretty informative over all! Until then!

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A Scenic Drive

We took a lovely scenic drive along the coast north of Salem on our first full day in Massachusetts. It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed the fresh sea air and beautiful vistas! I absolutely love boats, especially sailboats, and I took way too many pictures of them! If there IS such a thing as too many pictures.

Lots of boats on beautiful blue water in East Gloucester, Massachusetts.
BOATS!! In East Gloucester, Massachusetts.
I spotted a seagull preening himself on the rocks in East Gloucester, Massachusetts.
I’ve always loved birds of all types. This seagull was preening himself on the rocks in East Gloucester.

Gloucester and East Gloucester

The first stop on our scenic drive was in Gloucester, at Stage Fort Park. Gloucester, Massachusetts was first incorporated in 1642, taking its name because of the number of settlers who had originated in Gloucester, England. Over the years, it saw many famous historical names grace its shores, including John Smith, Roger Conant, Miles Standish and John Phillips. Shipping, trade, ship building and fishing were the major trades of the area.

A lovely cove/beach at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
This lovely little cove with a beach is at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Private Community and a Cool Lighthouse

When we were at Stage Fort Park, we stopped in the information center and spoke to a very knowledgeable woman working there. She told us how to get to the East Point Lighthouse by driving through a beautiful private community. We saw some HUGE and amazing homes along the drive. The East Point Lighthouse was cool to see, though a darn cell tower was between us and the lighthouse! The vistas were breathtaking! There was a view of the yacht club from the place we stopped to see the lighthouse was lovely also!

East Point Lighthouse. Gloucester Harbor.
The yacht club at East Point on Gloucester harbor.

Rockport

The next stop on our scenic drive was Rockport. This quaint little town had many art galleries and shops, and beautiful flowers everywhere! By this time, we were getting hungry, so we ate at Roy Moore’s Fish Shack Restaurant. The food was very good, but we waited forever for service. I had to actually go and ask someone to take our order–apparently the hostess seating us did not let the waitstaff know about us. We did get a wonderful table by the windows overlooking the water. I enjoyed the grilled swordfish steak with green beans and mashed squash. It was quite lovely!

Rockport, Massachusetts is a picturesque town on the coast.
Picturesque Rockport, Massachusetts.
Grilled swordfish with green beans and mashed squash. Roy Moore's Fish Shack Restaurant. Rockport, Massachusetts.
This was my scrumptious meal at Roy Moore’s Fish Shack Restaurant.

After filling our bellies, we walked around the town and stopped in several shops. We discovered a wonderful silversmith shop where we all bought rings (we later visited a larger version of the same shop in Salem and got more). We also found a cool T-shirt shop where we bought souvenirs for ourselves and our families.

Newburyport

Next on the agenda was Newburyport. We just stopped by and enjoyed the park and the boats. We fantasized about being able to have two homes and travel between them by boat! Like one on the east coast and one down in Mexico or the Caribbean!

Boast at Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Boats moored at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Other Stops

Along the scenic drive, we also made a brief stop in Manchester-by-the-Sea. It was another beautiful coastal town with views of nature and moored boats. Unfortunately, we did not stay very long, and I neglected to take any pictures.

Our first full day in Massachusetts was an unseasonably warm one, and we enjoyed our commune with nature and the sea during our scenic drive up the coastline! My next post will be about our first full day in Salem itself!

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Introduction to Boston and Salem

Our introduction to Boston and Salem was an interesting one! Our plan was to pick up our rental car and drive to Salem where we had booked an Airbnb for our girls’ trip. Things didn’t go exactly as planned, but it wouldn’t be us if it had!

Navigation Issues

After some aggravating snafus with Hertz, we ended up with a SWEET ride! It was a Dodge Charger (or Challenger–I’m not a car person) and Elaine LOVED driving it! It was a great way to explore Boston and Salem. The roads around Boston were WORSE than Pittsburgh!! Bumps and potholes everywhere!! <It was a Challenger I can now confirm.>

Our white Dodge Challenger, quite a sweet ride for a rental!
Our ride for our trip!!

Once on the road, we had trouble getting the car’s GPS to work, so Tina used her phone GPS. Unfortunately, they chose the wrong Cedar Street–one in Boston instead of Salem! I kept saying, “I don’t think this is right guys,” because I had the right address in my phone and it was telling me we were getting further away!! After driving in circles we finally got on the road to Salem! It is a good thing Elaine was driving–I get extremely anxious driving in strange places and HATE getting lost. Elaine was cool about it, and it actually turned out to be fun!

Amazing AirBnB

I have never used AirBnB before, but I will definitely do so again! We had the whole first floor of a house within easy walking distance of all of the sights, and it was beautiful. We got 3 bedrooms (each getting our own), 2 bathrooms, a large full kitchen, and a combination dining room/living room area. It allowed us to save a lot of money by being able to cook our breakfast there, and only at out for one meal a day–so we could splurge on wonderful seafood. All of this for significantly less than a single hotel room without a kitchen would have cost!

The big, full kitchen at our AirBnB in Salem, Massachusetts.
Our full kitchen
The view from the living room area of our AirBnB into the dining area and kitchen.
A view from the living room into the dining room and kitchen.
Elaine and Tina at the dining room table at our AirBnB.
Elaine and Tina
A view of the lovely living room at our AirBnB in Salem.
The living room of our apartment.

The Lobster Shanty

Once we settled into our apartment, we decided to have dinner at The Lobster Shanty. I had a lobster bake, a delicious concoction of fresh lobster in a cream sauce topped with some bread crumbs. It was quite delightful! We sampled some of their signature cocktails also. On our way home, we ran into a woman on the street who seemed friendly, though I am concerned she might have been mentally ill (she went on and on about all the shootings and needing to “close our borders”). Afterwards, we stopped at a little private grocery, but they did not have everything we needed.

Since we still needed groceries (and booze), we jumped in the Challenger and drove off to Walmart (I’m not a fan of Walmart, but it is the one place you can get whatever you need) and then to a HUGE liquor store. We stocked up on everything we needed, and then some!

Sleeping Well Away from Home!

I often do not sleep well away from home, but having my own bed and bedroom helped considerably. I slept well, and was more than ready to attack the following day! After a dicey introduction to Boston and Salem, we settled in quite comfortably! We had originally planned to take a ferry to Boston and do the Freedom Trail, along with the Aquarium, but we opted to take the Challenger up the coast for some scenic sightseeing. Read all about it here!