Our 31st anniversary

Wednesday I felt ok when I went to bed, but then RLS kicked in with the other leg. But after awhile I fell asleep and slept pretty well. In the morning, I got up and took a shower. Then Chris took his shower and I started making my breakfast in case not having it was leading to RLS. I encouraged Chris to go to breakfast at the lodge by himself. I did not have a bowl big enough for the breakfast mix so I used the tin coffee pot. I ate and read e-mail. I washed out the coffee pot. I looked up quick and easy wreaths online because a lady on base wants to attend a wreath class. The best one I saw was weaving burlap ribbon onto a coathanger frame. Cheap and not too time-consuming. Not all that pretty but people can add whatever decorations they want. Also saw wreaths made from cutting up sweaters. We have sweaters at the swap shop. But those use a wire wreath form.

Chris came back from breakfast. He said it was cold outside. He suggested we take the shuttle to the visitor's center. But we would have to wait in line outside. Hmmm. We read e-mail for hours. We walked to the lodge about 3:30. We waited for the shuttle and then rode it (overpowering with the smell of disinfectant) to the visitors center. We walked around looking at native american exhibits and geological displays. We watched the movie, which talked about the geological and human history of the area. They said the night sky is particulary good in Bryce Canyon. I looked at shirts, but my size was sold out. Chris talked to one of the employees about their federal housing.

Then we went across the street, and caught the shuttle back. We walked to the general store. I found a t-shirt in my size and Chris found bananas for me. They had quite a collection of foods and other things campers would need. Then we checked out and went back to the room. I watched videos about the latest news.

Then we got dressed and walked to Ebenezer Barn and Grill for dinner. We reserved seats yesterday and indicated which meal we wanted. They were all the same except for the meat. I got salmon and Chris got the vegetarian, which meant that he had a baked potato instead. Sides included baked beans, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes. I picked up a dessert so Chris could have an extra. We were seated with a nice older couple having their 3 month anniversary. As we ate, the live band played country music. Most of the songs I did not know, nor could I tell what the words were. If we were sitting up front, we would have been blasted by the speakers. There was an electronic screen behind them which was showing old west scenes and advertisements. The last song was Country Roads. It made me cry because I remember playing it with Dad on the stage of Chrysler Hall.

I walked back with Chris, chilly. I made tea, and we watched one episode of Lucifer. Then I drank the tea and took melatonin. I jotted notes for today, and posted for yesterday. (I forgot to mention that William called twice today. His anniversary was yesterday).

A walk in the clouds

Tuesday: I had a hard time getting to sleep last night even after nodding off in front of the TV. RLS kicked in. I used the headphones and ran through the track twice. Finally I turned over and folded my legs under me, which dampened the sensations. I am not sure when I got to sleep, but I woke up several times to use the bathroom and went back to sleep.

My alarm woke us up at 7:30 and Chris asked me to turn it off for the rest of the week. I stayed in bed while he showered, then I washed up and got dressed. It was raining so we drove to the lodge for the breakfast buffet. I got scrambled eggs and oatmeal. We didn't talk much as we ate. Then Chris left to use the restroom. I stayed a little longer, then left and went to the general store to look around. Chris found me there.

We went to the desk to sign up for the virtual tour. The new lady waited to talk to the experienced one who said to just go over there. So we walked over to Soaring Southern Utah building. There were 4 sets of motorized chairs with goggles. We had a choice of two experiences: soaring over canyons, or a rollercoaster ride. It was only $16 each for both so we got the two. We strapped into a set of seats and put on goggles with headphones. Soon we were soaring in a helicopter over canyons and waterways. Unlike watching TV, you could look up, down and around behind. I could see the helicopter blades above me and moving landscape where my lap should have been. It made me laugh.

Then, I was sitting in a wooden chair, staring at a table in a saloon, seeing playing cards. When the program finished initializing, a man was sitting across from me. He told me that a great treasure had been hidden in a cave. Many had gone looking for it, but no one had ever come back. Then I was in a wooden cart on a train track going into the mountain. Strangers were calling out warnings. Rats ran through the tunnels and one popped up into the cart! It soon disappeared. Skulls floated around, skeletons were here and there. Montezuma's head warned us of impending doom (in English even!). The tracks went way up and steeply down and all around. The seats were moving along with it, but the lack of g-forces gave me just enough slack not to be scared. Unlike the helicopter ride, there wasn't a cold wind blowing, but the sound was too loud. Finally we went through a treasure room, and then out of the mountain. The view changed suddenly into the same saloon room as before. There were gold coins sitting in front of me and the man across the table ordered me a drink from the barkeep. I was expecting him to congratulate me on being the first to come out alive, but he didn't.

After the 'ride', the lady took our headsets off. I mentioned the wind and the volume. Chris said he felt a little nauseous. We went back to the lodge to check out the old timey photo place. They had a rack of clothing and boots to dress up in, but I did not feel like dressing up and Chris wanted to lie down. So we went back to our motel. Chris laid down while I jotted notes for my blog and posted for Sunday. While he slept, I read articles and watched videos. One was of a piece of pork covered with Pepsi. In less than 3 minutes, parasites crawled out. Ewww!

Dr. Zandre Botha (live and dried blood analyst) showed slides of what she found in the blood of vaccinated people with symptoms, and in a vial of vaccine. She and a colleague had similar symptoms after working with vaccinated blood. Dr. David Martin, who is also a patent lawyer, says there is nothing new about the virus or the vaccines or treatments, tech was patented 30 years ago. An order of magnitude more patents for covid than for H1N1 or ebola. $191B was funneled through Fauci's fingers since he became head of NAID and yet allergies and infectious diseases have risen 60X. Moderna was on record for violating the Bayh-Dole Act 141 times when Fauci picked them to be the front runner last year. No medical treatment under trial can be compelled upon the population, and this trial doesn't end until 2023. Social Security runs out of money in 2028. So does the drug industry because SS is paying for the drug dependency of this country. We can find no excess death evidence for 2020 in the life insurance claims filed. In fact, fewer claims were filed in 2020 than in 2019. A bigger morbidity than mortality event. Fauci is pushing for a universal childhood influenza vaccine. There is no clinical evidence that such a vaccine is necessary. Because older people will be sicker, they will deplete SS even faster.

Dr. Ruby says the CDC wants owners to jab their pets (even though chance of transmission is low) but not to mask them because it is bad for them.

We drove to the Visitor's Center. But the parking was limited to an hour and there was a line to get in. I guess lots of people wanted to do that on a rainy day. So instead, we drove out to Rainbow Point. There wasn't much to see because of the fog. We took a few pics and breathed in the clouds. On the way back, we stopped at several lookout points. Again, we could not see much and the weather was in the 40's. I wished I had brought warmer clothes.

When we got back, I read e-mail for a bit, then we ate Chris' leftover chicken and ribs. I contributed cherry tomatoes from our garden. Then we went to the buffet for dessert. Chris got the dessert buffet and a piece of pecan cheesecake for me. It was so good that I considered having a “When Harry Met Sally” moment. But I didn't want to embarrass him. I had about 6 small bites, each savored as long as possible. Chris ate some and we took the rest back to our room. It was raining again.

We played on our computers for awhile, then I made tea. We watched two episodes of Lucifer. RLS set in, so I looked up diet and RLS. Healthline said it had to do with iron levels, and maybe potassium. So I ate two bananas and some almonds. I posted to my blog, then read until time for bed.

Monday The night was long because I couldn't sleep. My ears were ringing loudly, even though the place was quiet. I ran the headphone tracks three times. I watched the clock turn to 3 am. I got up and covered digital displays in the room, but then the light around the window seemed brighter. I stacked up all the pillows so that I was sitting up in bed. It was fine for awhile, but eventually I pushed them away and laid prone.

I was sleeping when my alarm went off at 7:30. I tried to go back to sleep. Chris suggested we could check out and find another hotel. We washed up and got dressed. I took some creatine monohydrate which is supposed to mitigate the effects of not enough sleep.

We walked across the street (longer than it sounds) to the main lodge and got in line for breakfast. There was an Indian lady behind us who was there by herself so we invited her to eat with us. We ate from the buffet and had a nice conversation with her. She was about Michele's age. If she were in India, her mother would be nagging her about getting married. Afterward, Chris went to the bathroom and I looked around the lobby. I got a key card to the pool and went to check it out. Chris found me there. We checked out the virtual canyon tour, but they were too short-staffed to run it at the moment. We walked back, pausing at the rock shop to talk to a couple there. We took pics of them and they took pics of us. Finally we completed our walk to the room at the motel.

After some downtime, we went to the lodge to buy tickets to ride the shuttle bus. But they told Chris he could just use his army ID and we could get on for free. We waited for the shuttle and talked to ladies at the bus stop. We rode the bus into the park, got off at the second stop and walked around the rim. We stopped to take pics and to talk to people. We met people from all over the US and the world. He practiced his French and Korean. I asked them what lockdowns were like in their country.

We rode the bus back from the next stop, but when we got to the park entrance, the driver talked about sanitizing the bus and said we could cross the street and get on that bus. But that entailed another ride through all the stops of the park. Finally we came out to Ruby Inn. We got off so that bus could be sanitized, and we walked back to our room which wasn't all that far away.

I tried to take a nap, but each time I was about to nod off, Chris' phone would beep or tweet or ding. Finally I got up, put my shoes on, and ate the last bite of pork left from yesterday. I jotted notes for my blog and then we walked over to the lodge for supper. Chris got the ribs and I got the soup and salad bar. The salmon soup was salty and the tomato basil was fine, but thin. We skipped dessert. The bill was almost $50. Then we checked out the pictures in the hallway of the canyon. They were just gorgeous. So were the pieces of polished petrified wood. But you could buy a car for what they charged. I went into the native Indian store. I looked all around and bought a dream catcher with feathers. Then we walked back to the motel.

We got dressed for bed even though it was too early. We watched three episodes of Lucifer and I nodded off. So Chris turned off his computer and shut off the lights and we went to bed (before nine).

Travel to Bryce Canyon

Sunday: I got up before Chris did so I could pack. Thankfully I have a cheat sheet for the suitcase part. So the supplement part is the hardest. I packed the pre-breakfast box, the breakfast box and a snack box. I parsed out supplements for the week. I looked at my blog for last year to see what I did then. Apparently I just packed oatmeal. I took a shower and got ready for church. I thought of a few more things to pack, and mixes to make more of. I went to the garden to uncover the plants. Finally we went to church. Because it was the first Sunday of the month, we picked up communion cups on the way in. Then the commander sat behind us. It was his first time on a Sunday. After the opening prayer, we sang songs, then heard the sermon. We had communion and one more song and it was over. Then we had some fellowship time. Rusty told me he had stuff for the swap shop so I agreed to meet him there in 20 minutes. Eileen explained she got the shot to make her mother feel better and he symptoms were mostly gone. Then we walked out and went to our respective cars. When we got home, I changed clothes and took the washed coats to the swap shop. Rusty was not there, so I left the door unlocked and headed home. But we passed on the way, so I gave him the key. Chris suggested we could just leave the shop unlocked so people can go in to leave stuff or pick stuff up whenever they want. I had reservations about that. I made and ate breakfast while skimming e-mail. Then we packed up and got in the car. Chris set the GPS and we were off. We played the book on CD. I nearly fell asleep. Traffic was light. But the GPS kept hanging up so Chris was not thrilled. After 4 hours, we pulled in to a Bryce Canyon hotel spot. We unpacked and scouted for restaurants, then went across the street to the Cowboy Buffet. We had to wait to be seated and were given a paper menu to look over. I had my mind mostly made up before we were shown to a table. Chris got the half chicken and I got the charbroiled pork chop. I was hoping it would be like my mom used to make, but it was way too thick for that. Chris had to help me cut it. We checked out the buffet for another time. Then we got a to-go box and went back to the motel. I heated water for tea and read e-mail. Chris read e-mail, then hooked his laptop to the TV so we could watch Netflix. We watched two episodes of Lucifer. Then we cuddled for a while and he went to sleep. I went out to his car to get my headphones to listen while I wrote my blog post.

Fun Run and sewing class

Saturday I got up at 7:30. I washed up and obsessed over what to wear since it was 40F and I expected lots of wind, but it would warm up. So I wore jeans and a t-shirt, and a long-sleeved shirt and a scarf. I put a bottle of coconut water in my fanny pack. Jenny showed up a few minutes early, so I ran out, grabbing a coat.

But it wasn't cold or windy I did wish I had brought sun glasses.. We got there in time to sign in and use the restroom. We had to pin a number to our clothing. Jenny decided to do the 2K walk, so I walked the 5K with Diane. It took a little over an hour. We started at the back of the line but runners kept passing us. I don't know if they started earlier and did a longer route, or what. The trail started off flat, then got rugged over the mountain. But we did fine, even the steep parts which were scary. When we got back to 'civilization', we slowed down and talked about going home, but then I realized that we hadn't crossed the official Finish line. So we ran to it and our numbers were recorded. Chris met me there and introduced me to some guys from Australia. I expressed my sympathy for their extended lockdown. We passed a table with fruit and water. I got a banana.

Then I went with Diane and she drove me home. She wanted to see the house, so I gave her a tour. She said maybe someday they will want a bigger house like we have. I mixed up a batch of seed crackers and popped them in the oven. Then I made up more seed batch mixtures for next time. I jotted walking notes for my blog so I'll know for next year. I made and ate breakfast. Chris came home long enough to take a shower and put sewing machines in my trunk. Then he went back to the event.

At 1:40 I went to the garden to uncover the plants - something I had intended to do earlier in the day but forgot. Then I went to the chapel to set up the machines. Diane came and made a pumpkin out of 6 football shapes. Jenni came and made one by covering a roll of toilet paper. Then a lady came with three pair of pants that she wanted hemmed and narrowed. Jenni encouraged her to make a toilet paper pumpkin and she did, then left with her husband. I started working on the pants while Jenni worked on an apron. Then we packed up and she helped me carry stuff to my car.

I went home, forgetting to go by the post office. Chris was not home. I listened to a very long interview with RFK jr:

Some other vaccines also decrease symtoms that the person does not know they are infected so they spread it inadvertantly. Autism has gone up 6 ot 700% since 2004. Institute of Medicine says 15 studies CDC has never done the studies it needs to do. Independent scientists have done the studies showing the link between autism and vaccines. Provax people say autism was always here, just diagnosed differently, but then where are the 60yr old autism patients? 70% of polio cases are vaccine strains (couresy of B Gates). Kids in Congo were given so many injections that it came out in their stool and spread to others. African govt threw out Bill Gates after he tested HPV vaccine on their girls with devastating effects to 2600.

I dealt with three gopher mounds. I called Johnnie to come over for me to show her how to water my plants while we are gone. She stayed for a chat. After she left, I ate two pickled eggs for supper. I finished the interview, then went to the garden to cover the plants. Hopefully they won't need covering again for a week. I stopped at the post office on the way home, but there wasn't much to pick up.

Back at home, I read e-mail. I repacked some things in the food box. Then I made tea and we watched two episodes of Person of Interest. I watched some short videos, and worked on my blog. Then I read a new book and went to bed.

Cheese with hot peppers

Friday: Chris got up and went to work. I got up about 8:30. I made myself get stuff ready for the pumpkin project. I noticed two new gopher mounds. Then I read e-mail until 10:40. I went to the garden to uncover the plants, then to Saronna's house to play trombone. I waited until she fed the baby, then we played stuff from Pirates of the Carribean. Other kids came over to play with her kids and one of them offered to go home and get his trombone and play with us. But we were kinda done by then. Her husband came home around noon and offered me some 'skillet' which was a breakfast mix he had made. He also offered me some hot sauce he had made. He left and I put some on a plate. I tasted it before adding sauce, which was good because afterward I couldn't taste anything but the sauce. It was hot!

I went home to make and eat breakfast. I dealt with the gopher mounds in the back yard, then went back to reading e-mail and following links. Chris came back from work. We chatted, then I walked to the post office to get the mail. There were two packages for me, which I put in my hand bag. When I got home, I put the bag down and promptly forgot about it.

I read e-mail. Chris cut up the hot peppers we grew while I beat 3 eggs. He threw in the pieces and I added three kinds of cheese. I flattened the mixture on a baking sheet and baked it at 350. Then broiled it to singe the cheese.

I went to the garden at 6:15 to water the plants and cover them. Diane showed up so we walked. When we got back to the garden, Diane found a strange bug. We both went home, then she sent me a text with a link to an article about it. A common name for it is Jerusalem cricket. It looks like a cross between a bee, a cricket and a cherry tomato. I ate a can of olives, then made tea. Jenni texted me about going to the event tomorrow. We watched TV, then I read and went to bed.

* A little too much broiling *

The pumpkin project

Thursday: I heard my alarm ring at 7:30. I did some tapping because I did not want to get up and face stuff that has to be done today. I got up at 8. I went outside to check the plants after a 29 degree night. They seemed to be ok. I brushed and swished and made lemon water. I took the green-wrapped toilet paper pumpkin from the bathroom and re-wrapped it in orange. Then I looked for the sample sewn pumpkin and its pattern pieces. All I found was the pumpkin so I had to go online to find and print the pattern.

At 10:30 I went to the garden to uncover the tomato and squash plants (the peppers are frosted). Then I went to the ACS building to ask Rusty for some polyfill which they have on hand for some reason. He let me have as much as I wanted, then invited me to have a slice of a cantaloupe that he grew. It was delicious and I asked if he had any seed left. We talked for awhile, and then I went to the library to get some books to read on the trip.

I went home and made breakfast. Chris never showed up for lunch. I listened to The HighWire. Dr. Geert VandenBosch said we need all the unvaccinated people we can get in order to reach true herd immunity. Some kids going for flu shots were accidentally given covid shots.

I dug up some gopher mounds and filled them with dog dukey. I also watered the outdoor plants. I walked to the post office at 4 and all I got was a package of two small screwdrivers. I took a pic of the fabric pumpkins and posted it for the class on Saturday.

I ate a hurried supper, then tied a scarf around my waist to hold up my pants. I drove to the garden and covered the plants. Diane did not show, but I saw Jenni walking so I joined her. Half way around, we met Rusty and Kristen. They walked around the block with us. Jenni turned back when we reached the garden turnoff. I walked them home, then came back for my car. I went home and listened to interviews while piecing puzzles on Jigsawplanet.com. One interview was with a man who wrote a book proposing LBJ as the man behind JFK's assasination. Joe Kennedy made deals with the mafia to get JFK elected over Nixon in 1960, but John would not honor the deals.

Chris came home from supper with the colonel and other dignitaries. It was too late to watch TV. I finished the interview and posted to my blog. I was parched from not having tea, but it was too late to drink much. I finished my book and went to bed.