Feeling better but not 100%

After my radiation quarantine, it was so great to come back from my parent's house to an endless Valentine's celebration.  I’m still not feeling 100% -- just generally tired -- but I’m hopeful that I will get to claim that designation soon enough.

Interestingly, my heart rate, which was steadily rising has dipped dramatically since the radiation treatment.  The nodule in my neck seems to have decreased in size, too.  Now to figure out how to make my ears stop ringing, which is a symptom that began two days after the radiation treatment.

 

Simon's Breed

The results are in!

Guard

 49% American Staffordshire Terrier
 1% Boxer

Herding
 8% German Shepherd Dog
 8% Australian Shepherd
 5% White Swiss Shepherd

Terrier
 14% Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

Sporting
 9% Kooikerhondje

Asian
 3% Siberian Husky

Middle Eastern and African
 3% Canaan Dog

Tiny Love Story

On this date 16 years ago, Joshua and I were headed to a St. Patrick's Day party at his friend's house.  Before we got out of his car to walk down the street to the party, Joshua asked me if he could introduce me as his girlfriend.  It was a sweet moment from a thoughtful guy.  When we went into the party and Joshua casually introduced me with my new title, his friends all cheered and patted him on the back.  I have such fond memories of falling in love with my husband.

To celebrate this date-aversary, here is my submission to the NYTs Tiny Love Stories, which are vignettes of love limited by 100 words:

"Near the water” was my vague response when he asked where I lived, heeding my mother’s advice not to sound homeless. In truth, I was often at the climbing gym for the free shower, not the climbing routes. He would come to find out the truth – my sailboat liveaboard lifestyle, need for adventures, independent nature – over the coming decade as we moved around the country, eventually coming to settle. We gave our son the middle name of Anchor, honoring my love of sailing, our love of climbing, and his attempt to keep us steady.

Recent Photos

 

While we look forward to Spring Break, we've been enjoying everyday life -- hanging out around the house, Friday night pizzas, bike rides, and local hikes.  

Joshua received the J&J vaccine on Sunday, which was exciting.  It is nice that he is vaccinated and less likely to get very sick if he gets the coronavirus.  However, as everyone keeps saying, "The numbers are getting better!" with such enthusiasm, we are still hesitant to be cavalier.  The numbers are better, yes, but that does not mean they are good.  There is still uncontrolled community spread.  In fact, the numbers are as bad as the worst point as last summer when everything was shut down.  We aren't seeing that as actually good.  Therefore, since the kids and I aren't vaccinated and Joshua's vaccination does not make him immune to infection, we are staying very vigilant and cautious.  There is no point wasting our collective progress of the last year by acting as if the pandemic is behind us.  As Joshua has mentioned to me when I express how we could be a bit laxer (e.g., taking the kids with me on a quick Target run), he has lived through losing a family member and strongly questions any actions that might make that a possibility for our family.  

Here's the NYT's data for our county, which is still categorized as in a "severe outbreak":