The Night Before New York

Tomorrow marks my first airline travel since starting the Copaxone--the last of the travel tests with my injections. I have my travel kit prepared... ice block frozen, meds in their case, doctor's note in the pocket. I'm resigning myself to the fact that--despite my phenomenal packing and organization skills--I might just be that jackhole who takes hours to get through security. Oh well, I suppose it's worth it--I'm going to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and lovely niece in New York. The weekend promises to be fun-filled and busy, as some of our relatives from Norway will be visiting the big apple at the same time, as will a good friend of my brother's and mine from back here in Minneapolis.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to getting away--a break from work, a break from the dogs, and mostly a reminder that I survived a long and dreary October (I think it rained almost every single day). November is going to kick some ass, and I can't think of a better place to officially usher it in.

Check back next week for a delightful photographic recap of the long weekend.

Evidently it CAN be Done…

So last weekend was the big camping trip I mentioned being nervous about in a few posts. It’s not so much the camping that worried me, but rather the camping with perishable meds.

Fortunately, the stars were aligned, and the weather worked in my favor. It was perfect. Warm (but not too warm) during the day, and cool (but not too cool) at night. The cooler stayed cold, the medication stayed cool (without freezing), and I was able to inject myself (albeit not in the most sterile of conditions) without issue.

Had it been a really hot weekend, it may not have been quite so smooth. But under the circumstances it was a piece of cake. Which means I was able to put my mind at ease and enjoy the weekend. Here’s some photographic evidence to support that claim…


We had delicious steak with wine sauce and melted gorgonzola cheese the first night, complete with roasted corn. Holy crap was THAT delicious...


On this trip I was also reminded of the lost art of Jiffy Pop. And Uno. Awesome.














And of course, the true sign of a good vacation is a pair of happy and exhausted dogs.

And on that note, I leave you with a picture of the sunset as seen from our campsite--and a recommendation for Lake Maria State Park in Monticello any time you need a quick getaway.

Post-travel, pre-travel, and other rambling nonsense

This morning I administered my 19th shot in as many days, and all is still going well, for the most part. I'm noticing that the injection-site reactions are taking on a bit of a pattern--a bruise and/or welt (think extra large mosquito bite) that itches for several days, then goes away. I probably won't be searching for clothing that specifically exposes my injection sites any time soon, but then I've never been much of an exhibitionist, so all is good with the world.

Last week I took my first trip with the medication, and it was a piece of cake. Granted, this trip was like taking baby steps into the realm of traveling with meds--it was a 3 hour drive (no airplanes and/or security to deal with), it was my parents house (with ample refrigerator space for storage), and it was with my family, so I didn't have to find a private space in which to administer the injections.

Next week I'll be taking yet another baby step into this realm, driving 6.5 hours to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan for my bestest friend's wedding. It will be a little more complicated--longer drive (have to make sure temperature controls are in place, although it shouldn't be a big deal), and a stay in a rustic cabin (or at least that's how I picture it) on the lake. I'm relatively certain there's a refrigerator in the cabin, which I'm sharing with my bestie's mom (the entire cabin--not just the refrigerator). Since I have known both my bestie and her mom for the better part of 25 years, I think I'll be safe if she catches me mid-injection as well.

My summer travel plans, which are peppered with financial factors (economic smackdown plus new-found medical expenses), are free of airline travel for the foreseeable future. I think these mini-road-trips are a fantastic way to aclimate myself to traveling as a card-carrying injector (literally--I have a card that allows me to travel with my meds).

There has been talk of a camping trip later this summer... now THAT should be interesting. If and when it happens, I will surely have several neurotic posts as I figure out how the heck that will work. Thank jeepers for sites like this one, where someone has already tested a lot of equipment for active peeps dealing with pesky MS.

From a Tex Mex Food Coma in San Antonio

Greetings, dear readers. I must apologize for the lack of postings in the recent days, and in advance for the probable lack of postings until later this week. I'm in San Antonio for work, on the heels of a fun-filled weekend in Iowa. And this evening, I'm sitting in my hotel room attempting to prepare for a conference tomorrow from the depths of a self-inflicted Tex-Mex food coma. Blarbagalakea (that's how seemingly normal words look in my head right now).

I will, however, leave you with a few snapshots from my stint as a tourist this afternoon (while searching for a grocery store, I popped out my camera and took some pictures--interesting side note... downtown San Antonio doesn't have a single grocery store, or so the gentleman at the five and dime told me).

Touristy photo #1--Remember the Alamo (side view) (oh, and it was closed... hence the gates)


Touristy photo #2--Super cute little artist market thingy (totally got turned around and ended up in the middle of it)


Touristy photo #3--The Infamous Riverwalk (the section that bumps up to the back of my hotel)


And finally, Touristy photo #4--Super cool gnarly tree (I saw a few of these--they look like they're straight out of a scary Headless Horseman movie or something!)


**Note--this posting was scheduled to be about traveling a week or so into treatment, but since DSO is a rock star who changed my meds, those postings will have to wait until after treatment begins on July 7**

Photographic Debrief--My Weekend at the Farm

My parents are now (as of Friday!) the official owners of our family farm--a beautiful farm in Iowa that has been passed from my Grandparents (Grandpa was born there) to my Uncle Mark and his family, and finally to my parents. I couldn't think of a better occasion to further "break in" my new camera. Following are a few of my favorite shots of spring on the farm...