Friday, August 19, 2022

Surprise! And a Surprise Shot!

The surprise is on me.
I waited so long for our trip to Canada imagining all the fun things
we would be doing in with our families in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

I had fun speculating what I might be doing on August 3rd,
the Insecure Writer's Support Group Day:
kayaking on the Sissaboo River,
hiking across the sandbar and around Bear Island (if the tides cooperated),
enjoying scrumptious snacks and drinks on one of the family decks.
or watching whales out on the Bay of Fundy.

Watching Whales On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



What I never imagined was sitting at our kitchen counter at home in Aurora.
But that's exactly where I was.

Terry and I had to cut our trip to Nova Scotia short and fly home early,
and we arrived home very, very early on August 3rd, sick and utterly exhausted.

Cloud Deck Out of Philly on the Long Trek Home
August 2-3, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



Terry had a mysterious medical issue flatten him during our brief week in Nova Scotia,
one that caused him severe pain and immobilized him at times,
and I had extreme fatigue from what I thought was long Covid.
We made the difficult decision to go home before the situation deteriorated more. 

Later on the morning of the 3rd, I sat at the kitchen counter
and tried to answer a few comments on my IWSG post.
But I couldn't manage it; my fatigue was crushing.
I'm still experiencing fatigue, but it no longer feels like ten Earths weighing on me.

Over the next ten days, Terry was diagnosed with
and started treatment for an inflammatory attack on his muscle system.
Things are going much better for him now!  
The moment Terry could play pickleball, he was back on the courts.
All the horrible things I thought might be wrong with him are not!

Terry with His Sister Maureen
Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
July 23, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Terry with Chilling with His Side of Our Family
Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
July 23, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



As for me, I don't have long Covid.
I have a worsening response to the steroids treating my double vision.
A high dose of prednisone over a couple of months
turned me into a bloated, exhausted, and raving maniac.
Someone who could threaten to thunk her poor spouse
over the head with boxes of ice cream minibars
yanked out of the freezer section in the grocery store.
She didn't want the Dove minibars he was choosing.
No, she wanted Häagen-Dazs.

Things are looking up.
My doctors have a plan for me moving forward, so I am encouraged.
Just a bump in the road.

The important thing is both Terry and I had some fun times in Canada,
and we got to hug and spend time with family members
we had not seen since the beginning of the pandemic.

Can you believe it?
I was so worried about Terry and I felt so miserable in Canada
that I only took a few photos on our trip.
Me, who can shoot fifty shots of Queen Anne's Lace in five minutes.
I'm going around begging the Fam to send me copies of their photos.

Me, My Cousin John, Donnie with Her Grandson, and My Sister Barb
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 31, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Spending Time with a Very Special Guy
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 31, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved


We spent part of our sudden and unexpected last evening
in the Cove on my sister Donnie's deck.
Everyone came to hug us and give us a good sendoff.
It was heart-shredding, but greatly appreciated.
I was wondering if Terry and I would ever sit together on that deck again.
Silly me ~ Terry is happily planning trips to various places right now.

Chilling on the Deck ~ 
I love my b-i-l Martin's Goofy Smiles and the Yummy Gin Tonics He Mixes.
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 31, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Even Daisy Loves the Sunset
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 31, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved






Watching the Sunset on Donnie and Martin's Deck
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 1, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Watching the Sunset on Donnie and Martin's Deck
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 1, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



And the surprise shot?
I hope you laugh when you see it!

I've been calming my steroid-induced agitation and irritability
by doing repetitive, mindless things in recent days,
like deleting not-so-great photos from my gigantic collection on my computer.
I came across some pictures of a beautiful prairie falcon on my deck in 2017.

It's one of the four kinds of falcons in Colorado,
the other three being merlins, peregrines, and kestrels.
I'm sharing them so I have something for my friend Rain's Thursday Art Date.
Her theme this week is Figure Drawing
and I think this falcon cuts a fine figure!

 
Prairie Falcon
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 29, 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Prairie Falcon
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 29, 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Prairie Falcon
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 29, 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved






A Surprise Shot You Can't Plan For!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 29, 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Thanks a Lot, Buddy!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 29, 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Prairie Falcon
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 29, 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Adios!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 29, 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved


Have a great weekend! 






Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

  My next post will be on 
Friday, August 26, 2022.



On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved




 


33 comments:

  1. Hugs. I am so glad that your fears didn't eventuate and that even cut short you had a fine time.
    And I LOVE all of the shots of the falcon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sue! I am beyond relieved over Terry. There were really scary times when Terry couldn't move his arms or stand up and walk without significant support, and it got worse every day. I hope all is well with you! Take care!

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  2. I'm so sorry to hear you both have been so sick. But very glad the docs have figured it out and you're on the road to better.

    Your family pics are lovely. I have ancestors from Nova Scotia, so I was really interested in the scenery too.

    Fantastic falcon photos! It's like it came by for a personal photo op just with you!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Leigh! How cool that you have Bluenoser ancestors! My roots in Nova Scotia go back centuries, mostly in Smith's Cove, Digby, Digby Neck, and Cape Breton. It's a beautiful province. The prairie falcon photos are likely the best bird photos I've ever taken. I was thrilled to have that personal photo op. Have a great weekend!

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  3. It's like Monty Python - I poop in your general direction! Great shots of the falcon.
    Really sorry you both felt bad and had to come home early. Glad they are working to fix you both. Yes, prednisone can really mess you up. After just a week of it, I'm mean and not sleeping either.

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    Replies
    1. I love Monty Python, Alex! I wasn't even thinking about the effects of the prednisone which I had taken with no problems in the past. I had enough other candidates to explain my situation ~ lol! Just understanding what's going on is a relief. I hope all is well with you! Enjoy your weekend!

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  4. So sorry you had to cut your trip short! How disappointing for you and all your family too, I'm sure. Glad Terry is already well enough to play pickleball again though. And prednisone -- it is well known for inducing roid rage. A friend has to take it periodically and when she does, she always stays home from work in case she murders a co-worker while under the influence, lol! I hope you feel better soon too. That pooping falcon is the mascot for your vacation, alas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Debra! I didn't know the term "roid" rage until you used it. I've been looking at some funny, relatable memes since reading your comment (Still falling down rabbit holes ~ lol). My Graves ophthalmologist explained the anger to me yesterday, and understanding it all makes it so much easier. Have a great weekend with your Rare One!

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  5. Replies
    1. For sure, Tom! That's the fun of candid shots. You never know what you'll capture!

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  6. Even though there were some scary health issues going on, you managed to make this a wonderful post. Please join me in Friday Face Off. Wishing you the best of health.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nicole! I have been thinking about joining your FFO. It would be photos I share for now. I draw faces like a preschooler ~ lol! Enjoy your weekend!

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  7. Glad that all is well, but these are not the kind of scares any of us wish to have. When you were in Woodstock you were about forty-five minutes from my home. We sometime visit the Pittock Lake Conservation Area there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Woodstock area is lovely, so lush and green and full of big trees. It's very different from the High Plains of Colorado. I'm looking forward to returning in the future. I didn't realize we were so close to your home. You live in a beautiful part of the world. Have a good one!

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  8. So sorry you guys were not well on your visit to Canada. The falcon does cut a fine figure.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Christine! I'm looking forward to future visits, onward and upward. Enjoy your weekend!

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  9. I hope the health issues reverse for the better

    It is something we all do when we start feeling unwell

    Could it be Covid-19?

    I thought once and I tested negative

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Adam. I'm glad you didn't get Covid. Terry and I did have Covid earlier, which is why I thought I might have long Covid. I had some other things happening as well that could have be responsible for what I was experiencing. I never suspected the prednisone. I hope you and your family are doing well. I bet you can't believe how quickly your baby boy is growing and changing. Take care!

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  10. So many great photos. My fav: you and Donnie's grandson. 😊

    The whale, though...WOW!

    Sorry to hear about the fatigue and everything. Hope you are feeling better soon.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Sandi! It's great to see you! Thanks for your kind words. Have a good one!

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  11. Hi Louse, good to hear from you again. Sorry you both got so ill, and glad you are both feeling better. I know how steroids can make you aggressive. Sometimes I was treated with very high doses of steroids because of my auto immune disease, sarcoidosis, and I could hardly control my aggressions. In the meaning I have a small dose daily, and this semms to work without turning me into a monster! Hope you are both really better. Love the shots of you with your family! Hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Valerie! It's good to hear from you again too! One of my sisters has sarcoidosis. I'm glad that you are doing better now. Just knowing why I was having outbursts of anger helps me to head some of them off. This, too, will pass, I know. Hugs back at you!

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  12. That stinks that you never got to stay as long as you planned, but at least you got to spend some time and your issues were figured out. Gotta love meds. Can fix you and screw you up at the same time. Hopefully you both are staying on the mend.

    lmao guess that is what the falcon thought of having his picture taken.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol ~ I can't believe I captured that poop picture, let alone published it. Serendipity! At this point in my life, it's all good. I hope you are having an enjoyable week, Pat! Take care!

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  13. MY GOSH, those falcon shots! Those are wonderful, Louise. What a great sighting. These birds are simply magnificent. I'm glad that all turned out okay. Wishing you and Terry good health! And despite it all, you put together a wonderful post. Have a terrific week ahead!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Martha! We have amazing raptors in our area. Terry just returned from two hours of pickleball. He's doing so much better. And I improve more very day. I hope you're having a great week!

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  14. That must have been very scary when you thought Terry had some serious illness and you were suspecting long COVID for yourself. What a relief that none of this was the case and things look much better now. I hope it stays like this and you will be able to visit your family in Canada again soon. It is hard when family lives so far away. My daughter lives in Germany, and it was wonderful when we finally saw her again after almost two years.
    The photos of the Prairie Falcon are amazing. Oh boy, I had to laugh out loud when I saw the image of the sh*t in motion! What a surprising and hilarious capture!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your kind and understanding words, Carole! It's so difficult to be apart from family. I'm sure hugging your daughter was the best feeling after not seeing her for so long. I hugged and hugged my family members. I'm glad that you found my sh*t photo hilarious. Sometimes you just get lucky! Have a good one!

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  15. sorry to hear Terry got ill so you had to go back home. But glad it if good now. The Prairie Falcon is a very beautiful bird. And your photos are stunning. Sharing the best of the bird :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Monica! Your comments lifted my spirit and put a big smile on my face. Have a great day!

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  16. So sorry you had to cut it short. At least you got a few days in.

    The falcon is pretty. We get redtailed hawks sitting on our railing sometimes.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Diane! We have red-tailed hawks here too. I was able to see all the people I love and have been missing. I'm starting to read Doughnuts, and I have finished the first story. It was wonderful: sweet love story, great voice, all the parts so beautiful integrated. I learned a lot by reading it. I love donuts, jigsaw puzzles, and impressionist art. I'm looking forward to the rest of the stories. Have a good one!

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  17. I am so sorry that your time in Canada was cut short, but what incredible photos of that falcon, especially the one it left its calling card! I hope you are all doing much better.

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate them very much.