UPDATE and a young woman on her bike

UPDATE: Well, there's no doubt in my mind that the chemo side effect known as fatigue is here, in all is cumulative-ness, as in the impact increases with each round of chemo. No matter how much I sleep and/or rest, I remain tired. I'm still able to get what I need to do done, if I sleep and/or rest. I guess that's because I don't go into the negative, energywise. If I don't sleep and/or rest, I'm wiped out. I know that it could be much worse as far as side effects go, so I shall not give up. I expect this to happen. I am dealing with it the best that I possibly can.



The other day I sat in front of Albertina Kerr and noticed this young woman looking intently at the traffic. I knew why she waited. She wanted to go across the street so that she could get on the far side into the bike lane, more than likely so that she could go west on NE Sandy Blvd. A construction worker from around the corner got in my way, or I would have a photo of her doing that to share with you. Sometimes serendipity doesn't happen. That's OK.

UPDATE and I enjoyed sitting outside for a little while yesterday afternoon

UPDATE: I woke up at 3:15 a.m. today and couldn't go back to sleep, no matter what I tried. I dozed a bit now and then, but when it was time to get ready to go take the group photo, I could tell I wasn't up to it. I had to call and back out which made me very sad. Someone else took a great photo, though--I've seen it on Facebook. I knew someone else would step up! Anyway, I finally fell back into a real sleep, for about two full hours. Therefore, I made it to meet my friend Pat from Seattle with Lamont and Leland at Pine State Biscuits for lunch on SE Division at SE 11th. The hugs, smiles, and talking made me feel wonderful. So did the lunch. She brought an actual photo album and shared with us photos of Canterbury, Brussels, and Alaska--she and her husband, the special man known to me as BobRobert whose house provided the perfect place for my wedding on December 31, 1972--travel every chance they get. Now I'm back home, fooling around with photos and the blog before I go take another nap.



First, while sitting in my folding aluminum lawn chair, I noticed a Red Hat Lady in front of Albertina Kerr. I figured a group had a lunch-get-together planned. The lady on the right must not be of the official RHL age since she's wearing a lavender hat.



Here they are with the lady who had caught their attention in the first photo.



Next I noticed this crow. At first, it was on a line going from a wooden pole over to the building across the parking lot beside where I sat. I couldn't get my camera up quick enough to get a photo of it there because the crow dropped what it held in its mouth. I got this one, by chance, right after it picked up the nut--I guess it's a nut--and before it flew off across the street.



At first I saw this squirrel walking toward me on the low, gray-painted wall that keeps in place the dirt in my building's front yard. Otherwise, it would wash away into the parking lot which is more than three feet lower. Anyway, I slowly reached for my camera and the squirrel--I couldn't believe that it also had a nut in its mouth--took of for the very tall evergreen to my right. Shoot. In a few minutes, I saw the squirrel's shadow on the parking lot as it walked around the pole with the lines going to it--the same lines that the crow had landed on a few minutes earlier. I lifted the camera and watched through it for the squirrel and managed to get this photo before it disappeared into the leaves. It's not a very good photo, but I certainly enjoyed trying to get it.



Three more ladies drove up and made their way into Albertina Kerr. The ones waiting inside greeted them with joy loud enough for me to hear all the way across the street. I remember thinking to myself how good it is to have friends who are happy to be with you.



Last but not least, I got a few photos of Lamont walking toward me from his parked car. He came over with a couple of boxes of sugar cubes (for me to use in my hot tea) and his hair clippers. About a week ago I noticed stray hairs on my head, here and there, growing longer than my stubble and catching the light. I found them disconcerting because I felt like they made me look like a sick ol' lady. He agreed to try to get rid of them for me since, although I am an ol' lady who has cancer, I do not consider myself sick. In treatment, yes. Sick, no. When he finished, my head had shorter stubble and very few stray hairs. Thanks, Lamont.

UPDATE and Friday serendipity in downtown Portland

UPDATE: Friday at work went well--in fact, so did getting there and getting home. I am thankful for every single prayer because I feel the power of each one. Now I have a weekend like a regular employee! Sunday, if all is well, I'll be taking at least the group photo of my workplace Race for the Cure team, before the members of it take part in the variety of races available to them. I hope I'll be able to stay to take photos as each one passes me by on their way to the finish line. One or both of my sons will get me and my folding aluminum lawn chair there and then to Pine State Biscuits not too long after noon. Our beloved friend, Pat Musburger, will be at the end of her trip to Beaverton, so we're meeting for lunch before she drives on back up to Seattle. I'm so excited to get to hug her, talk and laugh with her!



Yesterday morning I rode the 12 bus from home to downtown at SW 5th and SW Madison. Then I walked across the street to the bus shelter at SW 4th and SW Madison, to wait for the 4 or the 14 or the 10. All three take me to the bus stop diagonally across the street from my work building's front doors. Just as I walked up to the empty seat at the bus shelter, I noticed these roses out of the corner of my eye. I got my camera out of my purse--I've discovered that it fits in there, plus I wear its strap across my chest just like I do my purse strap--stood up and zoomed in. Click. Imagine my total shock when I uploaded this photo and discovered how the focus had held for more than the top rose which is where I pointed for focus before I pushed the button. Talk about serendipity! I don't know enough about my camera yet to understand how this happened, that the lowest rose is in focus behind the out of focus leaves. Do you have any answers for me?



I heard a bus approaching to my right as I sat waiting for mine to arrive from my left. When I looked that way, I noticed the Benson Bubbler and a few pedestrians. I decided to zoom in on the water fountain. Then I decided to wait for the bus to turn right onto SW Madison--I knew that's where its route would take it--and use the side of the bus as a backdrop for the photo. I tried to focus on the four bubblers, then, lo and behold, I read the sign on the side of the bus and pushed the button without moving the camera. Serendipity, out the wazoo! I watched that man holding the white object walk on across the street, thinking that I had not only gotten the water fountain and the sign about water in the photo, but also a water bottle in his hand. As he walked, I realized he carried a short piece of PVC pipe. I'm not the least bit sad to have missed a hat trick, nope. In fact, I got so excited looking at the photo in the camera that if the person beside me hadn't stood up to get on the bus, I might have missed that chance to go east across the Willamette to my work building.

I am beyond happy to share these two moments of serendipity with y'all!

UPDATE and several photos I took on the way home from work Thursday

UPDATE: I slept fine. As Mama used to say every school day morning as she flipped on the overhead light in my bedroom, "Up and at 'em!" That's me, y'all! I did wake up with an allergy/sinus headache, though, so I took something for it. I doubt it will bother me for long. I plan on getting to the bus early again today, just in case I need to rest a bit before beginning work. Thank goodness TriMet considers NE Sandy Blvd. to be the traffic corridor that it truly is and services my bus stop frequently, with two bus lines. It certainly helps me a whole lot!



After work yesterday, I caught the streetcar north to East Burnside and NE Grand Avenue where I waited for one of the two buses that would get me home, either the 12 or the 19. I decided to take a photo of the construction going on at the Burnside Bridgehead--those two buildings going up that have obliterated the view of downtown as you head west towards the Burnside Bridge. For some reason, I'm fascinated with cement mixer pump trucks--I guess there's a truck somewhere at the end of the orange pumps servicing both buildings, one in plain view, the other behind the tree and the old billboard. Take note of the Peter Corvallis box truck, please. More about it later on.



My camera has an exposure compensation button which I decided to use in this photo to learn about it. I wanted to get a photo that allowed us to see the orange cement pump better. Did I add too much here? I think I did, at least for parts of the photo like the sky. By the way, here's why I believe we can't see the cement mixer pump truck. There are several streets at a lower level than the ones we can see in the photo. I've never driven down there or walked down there, but I've seen them from walking on the sidewalk on the bridge. I'll be glad when I'm well enough to explore, even if it might be limited to walking the sidewalk on the bridge above it all--I imagine it will be some time before pedestrians are allowed down there.



Here's a screen shot that gives you a bit of perspective, I hope. There in the lower left corner, I wrote ME because that's where I stood to take these photos. I hope the labels I've written here will help you get an even better perspective of the area. The multi-lane road at the bottom of the screen shot is the Burnside Bridge. Through the label for the tall building, you can see the streets down below the bridgehead--that's what folks call the part of the bridge as it joins the east side of the Willamette. When I ride a bus west across the Willamette over the Burnside Bride, or in any sort of wheeled vehicle, I go along that curve to the right of the label about the orange pump. Those two little blue dots to the right of the empty lot are where I sometimes change to either the streetcar or a bus, heading south.




After work, as I neared the stop where I get off the bus--see the Subway sign--I took this photo when we were stopped at NE 18th and NE Sandy Blvd. I couldn't resist that sky and Dave's lot--he comes into the Blue Diamond now and then, an interesting man who's been in business there for practically my whole life. Seeing those dark skies, you'd think we soon had a down pour. Nope. By the way, the Blue Diamond is beside those leftmost trees up the sidewalk, just past that traffic signal at NE 20th Avenue. I love my neighborhood!




After I got off the bus, I waited at the traffic signal at NE 20th Avenue and took this photo. I cannot resist taking photos of this building--I adore triangle-shaped buildings and am thrilled that I get to see this one often, plus enjoy time in the Blue Diamond which is behind the Halo Salon. While I wait for the light to change, I usually decide whether to walk on the north side of the building, the left side in the photo, or the south side of the building. Depending upon how tired I am, I take the south side which is probably 200 steps shorter and offers one place to rest, at the backdoor of the Blue Diamond. If I'm wanting to get in more steps, I go up the north side of the building--there are three places to rest, if I need them, a pew in front of the Blue Diamond, a bench in front of the Silver Lining pawn shop, and the low wall at the bioswale at the corner where NE Glisan and NE 22nd Avenue intersect a few feet before NE Glisan intersects with NE Sandy Blvd. Like I said, I love my neighborhood! Oh, about the Peter Corvallis truck--while I waited here, in came toward me on the street to the south of the Halo Salon! I couldn't believe that I saw it again in just the short time that it took for me to get from East Burnside and NE Grand on the 19 bus. Oh, one more neat thing--I had the same driver on the 19 on my way to work and on my way home--she recognized me and my hat!

UPDATE and a photo that I took while out and about Wednesday evening

UPDATE: I rode the bus to work, then streetcar and one bus home from work. Hooray! I was pretty tired when I got there, but I was early enough that I had time to rest a bit before signing in and getting busy. I also noticed right away that I'd left my nibbles at home! No green grapes, Cacio de Roma sheep cheese or Ritz crackers! I had time to go to the coffee stand in the building lobby where I bought a bagel with deli turkey and ham, plus cream cheese. I only ate half of the bagel and the turkey and ham--no cream cheese. I made it just fine, too. Tomorrow I will remember the lunch bag because after I put the food and the ice pack in it, I'm hanging it on the door knob!



Yesterday evening I went out for one more short walk, to the corner where I sat down on the low wall around the bioswale. When I saw the cement mixer pump truck, I decided to take a photo to share. There used to be two houses in the space where a multi-story building is going up--five stories, if I remember right, with apartments on the upper floors and retail on the ground floor. The street we're looking at is NE Glisan. You can see the multi-windowed north end of the Albertina Kerr building at the right edge of the photo, behind their carefully maintained hedge.

UPDATE and I went outside while a load of clothes was in the washing machine

UPDATE: I slept well again, woke up at 5:45 a.m. At 10 a.m., I decided to wash a load of clothes and go outside for the 30 minutes they'd be in the washer. I'm doing OK, thank goodness.



While outside, I thought I'd take a photo of where I sit in my chair. This is from across the street on the sidewalk in front of Albertina Kerr. To get to my sitting and observing spot, I come through that barely visible wooden gate in the shade, open the chair, then put it beside the low, gray-painted wall and the sidewalk that comes from the gate--it is blocked from view by the green car parked at the curb.



This is the evergreen that I photographed and posted yesterday, well, one bit of it anyway. I'm not certain if it's a tree or a shrub, and I have no idea if it will grow any taller. The part that I photographed points towards the low, gray-painted wall where I rest my feet when sitting in my folding aluminum law chair, there in the shade.



Since I didn't bring my chair outside today, I rested for a few minutes leaning on the low, gray-painted wall. I twisted around and decided to take this photo, just to get an idea of how the camera would do. If you're at my blog often, you'll recognize the banana plants at the entrance sidewalk.

UPDATE and today, out and about! Plus one photo from yesterday that Leland saw and wondered why it wasn't in the blog post

UPDATE: I managed to sleep from about midnight through 6:15 a.m. Hooray! I felt like getting out and about, too. I hope this trend continues.



First, here's the photo that Leland wanted me to be sure post. I took it while sitting in my aluminum folding lawn chair. There's an small tree, some sort of evergreen, between the sidewalk and the low wall alongside the pawn shop's parking lot. I really like how it turned out. What do you think? A-OK? Leland, thanks for reminding me to post it!



Around 11 a.m. today I walked down to the Blue Diamond and sat down at the little picnic table they have at their backdoor where employees take a break. I rested, then continued to the corner, turned east toward home and detoured through the bar's front door. I sat at the bar on a high stool and enjoyed a side salad with ranch dressing. I drank two glasses of water.



Then, I succumbed to a craving I've had for over a week, for a brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. They warm the brownie a bit, put the ice cream on it and drizzle the whole thing with chocolate syrup. I feel like a new woman, ha, ha! Plus, I don't have any leftover brownie or ice cream in the apartment, which, believe me, is a good thing!



After I sat outside on the pew in front of the Blue Diamond for a little while, I continued east on Sandy. I stopped to take this photo so that you can see the rose bushes beside the Silver Lining Pawn. The smell so good!



I sat down to rest on the bench in front of the pawn shop and took this photo. I love these balloon facsimilies! I rested there, then continued walking east until I came to the low wall around the bioswale on the corner. I sat there for a couple of minutes before walking over to the Albertina Kerr thrift shop in back of the big building.



Once I crossed the street and before I continued to the thrift shop, I noticed these beautiful flowers and decided to try getting a photo of them that I liked. I've cropped this one and really like how it turned out. I'm very excited about my new camera, which, by the way, is no heavier than my not-quite-full purse.



One more, cropped to let you see it better. I'm thrilled with this photo, y'all. Thrilled!

UPDATE and a few photos that I took with the new camera

UPDATE: Woke up at 3:15 a.m. Been awake ever since. Less achy knees and peripheral neuropathy in legs and feet, a bit more in hands. Not much of an appetite today either.



I put on several light layers and went outside with my aluminum folding lawn chair to sit and watch traffic. It had been raining lightly, so I figured I wouldn't be out there long. So, I walked across to the Albertina Kerr front yard to enjoy the roses for a little while. I took this photo and decided to share it with you. I believe that I have a lot to learn with this new camera, but it certainly was comfortable hanging across my chest, more like having a purse there instead of my heavy camera. I am glad of that!



I sat on the bench and used the zoom to take this one. I wanted you to enjoy that yellow with me. It's amazing.



Here's a wide shot of the southern side of the rose garden that I took after I walked back across the street.