So it's Fall. And Poly-Ticks season.

Almost a month since last posting. Lots of work drama going on, but that's not for here. 

I've been in and out of a good mindset since I started my vacation at the beginning of the month. Finally seeing the light from that and looking forward to seeing more light in the morning come the DST change next weekend. Soooo much easier than the spring version of the jet-lag the nation goes through (well...most of us).

I guess that it is officially fall since the low temperatures are only in the 30s now. I even had to wear a jacket! Gasp! All the pumpkin spice stuff being off limits makes my splurge food a lot easier. I do miss those supermarket pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, though. I do have to admit that I have a pumpkin pie (keto) recipe that I have my eyes on. And creme brulee too. But I haven't really cooked since starting this thing, knowing full well that I have a hard time ignoring sweets and baked goods in the best of times. Not baking is the same thing as not buying 'keto' bread since I know I will devour whatever it is. So I am reluctant to try out the new goodies. May try that bread to see if I can control myself with it and see if I trust myself for even more tantalizing treats. But what I'm doing is working, so I don't want to screw it up.

Backstory: in July I had a shot to the foot for plantar fasciitis that I had been nursing unsuccessfully since the beginning of the year. Well, it came back. I tried to tough it out for a month and it rapidly deteriorated. Once I finally convinced myself that it wasn't going away I got back into the doc. Another shot later and I am well on my way again! With orders to come back as soon as it starts up again, if it does. Plantar faciitis: 100% do not recommend. But if I can get back to my walking I will be much healthier than just losing weight as I am. I miss walking and hiking on a regular basis. Just have to get my rear off the couch now! (And keep yelling at Pro-Form since their damn software is bricking my treadmill. Again.)

I've been watching a lot of YouTube lately. Mostly educational titles, with a few random things added in there for good measure. I've been noticing that 90% of the ads for the programs are political. At least 90%. I already voted! There should be a button that says that I'm no longer their prime target and to spend their money elsewhere. But that wouldn't work, I suppose. I'm so tired of hearing people bash each other with half-truths or whole-lies at every possible turn. But it's going to be over shortly. Not soon enough for my liking! Unfortunately, once again, I sometimes had to choose between the lesser of two (we)evils. But I guess that unless I step up to the political plate, which I will NOT do, I can't expect any candidate to fit my wishes completely. (By the by, the other 10% is mostly comprised of religious propaganda due to the atheist topic of one of my shows. Everyone wants something from me.)

Uphill Both Ways

I decided that today was going to be an adventure day in the hopes that by Tuesday I can repeat without feeling dead and able to go farther on the trail.

Since it has been raining I decided to go on the well-maintained trail just ten miles down from the cabin. Dog and I geared up (only a leash on his end of the packing) with my Camelbak and goodies in there. Then we headed out. Finding the trail was pretty easy courtesy of a pre-loaded map on with the help of Google. Nobody there and it didn't look too used, but the trail was clear with a rocky base. I was really glad to be in real hiking boots for this trail, but that is what I usually wear, so I was already set to deal with uneven terrain.

The View from the Top (one top at least)

Up we went. And more up. By the time I reached the top (or one of the tops) of my hike I was fairly tired, but I wanted to go further. about a quarter mile down the trail I noticed Link starting to act stiff and sore, which was just no good. That was about where it was a good time for me to turn around as well, as my knees were starting to be vocal and we still had to get back to the car. So back we went. It was quicker back down the other side of the hill, but I hate downhill walking since it is harder on knees than going up. We didn't make it to the mile-and-a-half mark. Not even close. I want to hit that next time when it shout be cooler, though there is no guarantee about that.

An hour after starting we were both back down and headed back to the cabin. In which I had to backtrack THREE TIMES to get to the turnoff for the cabin. Normally I just can reorient myself to have no troubles finding my way back home. Apparently I was tired enough today that I just couldn't do it.

Now it is thundering and sometimes spitting rain, which was nice to sit on the front porch for a while. I am glad that my hikes are all in the morning since I don't want to deal with getting rained on. And boy has the temperature dropped with the rain! Time to turn on the furnace and warm up the room a bit as I indulge in a little bit of Switch Zelda..

Of Thunder and Woods

 As of today I am on vacation. Away from work (for the most part) and cell coverage--though I do have text and internet. One must be aware of necessary comforts, especially when on call for work to a certain degree.

The cabin is wonderful, and smaller than I expected from looking at the images on the advert. Small makes me happy, though the stairs are going to kill me whether through their angle or the 2" risers on the landings. It's cozy.

I am going to have to keep an eye on the weather while I am out here. Rain and storms are supposed to be out every day in the afternoon, much to the dislike of the pooch. Tonight's storm included a strike that shook the house and cut the power. I, of course, have my handy dandy portable surge protector so my laptop does not get fried. I have had a frizzled hard drive once before when a transformer went poof. Only once.

My plans, should it not be too muddy, is to go out to the "Walk in the Past Trailhead" just ten miles from the cabin. I am hoping that it is nice, since my other two options are going to be off limits due to the monsoon rains. We shall see what it's like tomorrow. But now it is time to make sure the gear is all set and ready to go. And to watch some YouTube. It's too bad it's too wet for a fire in the handy pit out front. But that's okay. It's a change of place...er...pace.

Link, of course, had to christen all the trees