Being Pegasus ?

We got home late yesterday afternoon, a couple of days earlier than expected, one of us a little the worse for wear.

Long story short:
Our plan "A" (I-40/Route66) as far as Flagstaff AZ, with side trips to Grand Canyon and Sedona) was scrapped when we reached Albuquerque NM. I-40 and the city were just so congested and chaotic traffic-wise, I couldn't stand to think of another day and a half of the busy-busy-busy on I-40 with risk-taking drivers more in evidence than in either OK or TX. So, instead of an overnight in Albuquerque we headed further south, stayed a night in Socorro, then on to Alamogordo NM. There was a tentative plan for side-trips to Las Cruces, and White Sands, for a second look with less heat to contend with than last time; and a trip to the National Solar Observatory in the mountains around 30 miles from Alamogordo.

On Monday morning we set off from Alamogordo for the Solar Observatory -
a wonderfully scenic drive through the Lincoln Forest,

with steep very winding mountain roads, mostly all to ourselves. As we got close to the site, blue road signs appeared at varying distances, beginning with "Neptune", "Uranus" , on and on to "Mercury". (I snapped the signs from the car window.) Observatory is at about 9,600 feet from sea level. Reached the site, looked around the museum there and set off to do the round of the three actual observatory buildings, a short distance apart. On the way from the first to the second building - a tall white structure up at which I was gazing, unknown to me there was a slight indent or bump (not sure which) in the walkway. I went flying - not to the Sun like Pegasus but to Mother Earth camera in hand. I tried to stop myself, just didn't make it, but luckily - or not - the camera, while saving my face/jaw/nose/teeth from damage, was in such a position for me to land on a curved side edge of it, throat-first.

First aid at the museum/visitor's centre provided some antiseptic wipes for the multiple grazes and scrapes on both my hands and an arm. The assistant there called for first aiders from another site. They arrived and provided Band Aids, and a cold pack to help stop swelling. My voice had just about disappeared - little more than a croak, and throat very painful where it had hit my camera. They offered to call for an ambulance, but other than the throat thing, and minor scrapes I felt alright, so we opted to go back to Alamogordo right away and visit the Emergency department of the hospital there to have someone look at my throat.

The general doctor in Emergency suspected I'd bruised my trachea and advised to speak as little as possible. I was given a CT scan with IV ("for contrast")- I thought this was all a bit over the top - but whatever! After a long wait a specialist arrived with the results. She said there were a couple of things to be concerned about, possibly unrelated to the accident. She was going to send me to an ENT specialist. Croakingly I reminded her that we were not from the local area, and it would be better for us to get home to see my local doctor. One of the concerning things she had mentioned is something I and my GP are already aware of, has been tested and is nothing to worry about. I didn't go into long explanations to her, my voice was practically non-existent at that time. The other thing she mentioned, a "mass" on the epiglottis sounded more worrying. Anyway, they provided a print out and disc of the CT scan to take to my doctor. We left, and after a while, when coughing in the car, I spat out a glob of blood/mucus - possibly the "mass" they had seen. Throat bled some whenever I coughed, but after a few hours stopped bleeding. Throat remains very sore on left side, voice nowhere near normal yet, but slightly better. It'll take a few days more.

So...that's my tale of woe!

Edge of White Sands in the distance

Exits left....

Last post for a few days. It'll be the birthday of anyjazz on 22nd, in celebration of that we'll be heading out tomorrow morning in a westerly, Route 66-ish direction. We're not certain for how long, maybe just a couple of days, or maybe a week, depending on how enthusiastic we feel once "on the road again".

If you ever plan to motor west, Travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six............
You see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona....

Enthusiasm might even last until that latter point, from which a couple of side trips would be a possibility, north to Grand Canyon, South to Sedona with its great scenery, New Agey touristy attractions, and its four alleged vortices which, in Sedona I think are called vortexes. But I shall not be at all surprised to find that we end up somewhere quite different, in a place we've never heard of, let alone thought of visiting.

Anyway, in other words there'll be a bloggy eclipse here, as well as the solar eclipse, tomorrow.

On the topic of travel, yesterday I found this lovely set of great photographs and comment - well worth a look: 50 Reasons to #Love the World

Also - one of my American heroes, Dr Cornel West appeared on Letterman's Late Show the other night - Dr West is always, always worth hearing:

Trouble....trouble, trouble, trouble...since the day we set out...

Second trip this year we've had to cut short, turn around and return home due to health-related problems. On our last attempted trip, at end of April we returned because I'd hurt my ankle, as well as experiencing a severe bout of rhinitis/hayfever. A proposed trip to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming had to be cancelled due to the horrendously hot summer here in Oklahoma, and fear of wildfires close to our house. We decided to wait for substantial rainfall before we dared leave to maybe look around a part of Colorado we've so far missed. The rains came, we left. But within 24 hours husband's blood pressure became a problem.

Astrological news ~ If there is an astrological connection for these "disappointments" I'd pin it on transiting Uranus in early Aries. Uranus is the planet of unexpected change. Husband's natal Sun is at 1.48 Aries - transiting Uranus is now in retrograde motion and at at 2 Aries, conjoining his Sun. Back in late April/early May it was in exactly the same place! That is weird! I have natal Saturn at 12 Aries.

The good news: We set off earlyish on Wednesday, made good time on our 11 hour drive, decided to make an overnight stop around half-way, in Dalhart Texas.

The bad news: all the decent mid-price motels (Best Western etc) had strangely been built right next to the town's busy freight rail line. Why on earth would experienced hotel chains do such a thing? We drove around until we found a motel far away from the train noise (which was fierce!) Motel was a cheapo type, no internet, drab, crappy TV, but okay for one night's stay.

The indifferent news: not a good eatin' town. We ate at Pizza Hut after exploring and retired to the motel to watch the very first US X-Factor show. That ought properly to be bad news! Ye gods! It was tacky to the nth degree.

The bad news: My husband had recently been prescribed an increased dose of blood pressure medication, following some extreme fluctuations. We'd taken a BP monitor with us, first time ever - both having experienced BP problems over the summer. Husband checked his BP around 9pm it was VERY high - even for him. Waited and re-checked - getting higher - both systolic and diastolic. Relaxed and tried again - still rising. We began to feel alarmed.

Checked phone book for nearest hospital emergency room. None listed in Dalhart. Odd, we thought. There's one in Dumas, a half hour's drive away. Unfortunately, in that cheapo motel, we didn't have access to the internet to check via our laptop. BP still rising - now well above 200 systolic. Decided we'd need to drive to Dumas, but would first check at the Dalhart police station or fire station to establish that there really was no hospital in town.

Nobody home at police station, it was all closed down. Same at fire station. I suggested asking at a convenience store. We did so, and were told "Oh yes - we have a hospital, straight down that road". We found it, and after trying various locked doors discovered an emergency entrance.

The good news: Night staff were very kind and helpful. They had the husband flat on his back, hooked up to heart monitor equipment for more than 3 hours, gave him some strong medication after questioning him about meds, history, his pacemaker, etc.

BP went down some, though not as quickly, nor as far as they would have liked or expected. At times the monitor by the bed was reading 212 over 105! They advised us to not continue on our trip to Colorado, but to return home next day, see our own doctor about the meds he recommended about a week earlier. They also gave advice about how best, and when, to take the medication, the dosage of which they found puzzling.

We returned to the motel around 3.30am. Didn't get more than a couple of hours sleep. Set off Thursday morning for the 6 hour drive home. Husband's BP had "bottomed out" first thing, probably due to the strong stuff taken at the hospital. It had climbed after breakfast, but to a reasonable high, rather than an alarmingly high, level. Biggest problem driving home was ensuring that he didn't fall asleep at the wheel on the rather boring, sleep-inducing drive through rural Texas and western Oklahoma. I had him reciting limericks, and trying to compose new ones, to keep him alert! We've a doozy about Rick Perry but it's not for a family audience.

The bad news: Arrived home around 4pm Thursday, picked up med bottle to take to our pharmacy, to ensure he'd been given the right stuff in the right dosage, as prescribed. Then to doctor's office. Office closed. Notice on door declaring that the doctor will be away until Monday, "in emergency go to hospital". Nice eh? Brits can say what they like about the failings of the NHS, but I've never known a doctor to be absent without a locum (substitute doctor) being available in his/her place.

The good news: Husband taking the dosage recommended at Dalhart hospital, at the times advised, and BP seems to be settling down. It'll be monitored closely until Monday.

The hopeful expectation: That BP will settle at an acceptable level, doctor will check him over, endorse the recommendation of Dalhart hospital, maybe recommend strict monitoring for a week or so more, before we can decide to take off once again.

If all is well, we'll set off - but in a different, hopefully luckier, direction - once we're confident that all is well BP-wise.

Astrologically ~ We shall simply have to hope that Uranus has now had his fun with us, and will leave us alone. Much as I love astrology, I refuse to be restricted by it!

TRAVELS

I'm half-way through John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley. In Search of America". Charley was his French poodle by the way. John Steinbeck is a blend of Pisces/Aquarius/Capricorn with Moon in Scorpio, Leo rising. His love of travel, I'd say, connects to Jupiter (the travelers' planet) very close to the descendant angle. His chart is at an archived post of mine : Angry Writers.

My love of travel, I think, connects to my natal Venus in Sagittarius (the travelers' sign). The husband has Mars in Sagittarius and North node conjunct my natal Venus in Sag.....consequence is... we've decided to wander off again for a few days (late celebration of our wedding anniversary on 30 April.)

Plan as little as possible should be my motto (it's already the motto of Himself!) First thoughts were directed to a trip to Iowa to see the covered bridges in Madison County (and play at being Mr. Eastwood and Ms. Streep). The weather forecast in those parts doesn't look encouraging though - rainy. Sights moved towards Pueblo, Colorado and the surrounding mountains, Garden of the Gods etc. Forecast looked okay one day, then it all changed to some rain and storms. Third choice lucky? I've always wanted to go back to Alamogordo, New Mexico. We stayed there for a night in 2006. There was something about the "feel" of Alamogordo that attracted me, I felt strangely at home there. I've never forgotten that feeling - very odd! Weather forecast there and en route looks good. We'll investigate Alamogordo, then two little towns in the mountains close-by, and the Lincoln National Forest. Before heading back we'll probably tootle down to Las Cruces, not far from the Mexican border. That should keep us out of mischief for a few days.


A couple of quotes from Steinbeck's book, which I highly recommend to lovers of travel - and good writing:

When the virus of restlessness begins to take possession of a wayward man, and the road away from Here seems broad and straight and sweet, the victim must first find himself a good and sufficient reason for going.

A journey is a person itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.

BACK IN A FEW....

An au revoir and a goodbye.....

This may not be the ideal time to set off on a road trip, Mercury turning retrograde an' all. Never mind! We're going anyway. Part of our route northward will re-trace one taken some years ago, maybe that'll be sufficient to qualify for a sporting "bye" from Mercury Retro this time around. So, after today I'll be absent from blogland for a while, trying to discover if, as Anatole France once wrote: “Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe"

But just before taking my leave:

I read yesterday that one of my favourite British newspaper columnists, who was also novelist and playwright, died on 4 September, aged 80. Keith Waterhouse, a fellow Yorkie and fellow Sun Aquarian was one of my must-read journalists for many years when I lived in the UK. I mentioned him on this blog in the past when I quoted his column about good writing - see "Good Astrology Bloggery".

I note from the Wikipedia entry on Keith that

"He fought long crusades to highlight what he perceived to be a decline in the standards of modern English; for example, he founded the Association for the Abolition of the Aberrant Apostrophe, whose members attempt to stem the tide of such solecisms as "pound's of apple's and orange's" in greengrocers' shops."

My husband would have enjoyed his columns, I think, and especially would have cheered him on for the above effort.

RIP Keith Waterhouse, and thanks for many, many chuckles.