An amazing spring & a major road trip

Spring is almost over from a solar standpoint, but from the weather I think it's been over for a couple weeks. No complaints though as we did enjoy a cool, wet spring which has allowed some late plantings to take quite well at the new place. The veggie gardens are dug, tilled, planted, and bearing (unripened) fruit. The broccoli is unsure it is supposed to flower, but has produced enormous leaves (guessing that is my mix of manure and soil for the bed). I'm trying pumpkins and cucumbers for the first time, and have beans, peppers of various types, and tomatoes as well. Perennial herbs are set in the front of the house (south side). Will has planted raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry bushes, I've set some strawberries, and to our surprise the tree in the back is an apple tree (not crabapple). Hermes is chasing away the bunnies (up to the current fence line). So, we are well on our way, and the whole family has contributed lol. 

 

Garden! The center bed is currently empty.

We've also taken to hiking Caesar's creek on weekends, and one weekday with my sister, Shell, and sister-in-law, Erica. I need the iron woman (Shell) and Boston marathoner (Erica) to push me :-)

Reading between the lines, this also means I'm feeling well and growing stronger after the fall and a dark winter. This has truly been an amazing spring. No changes in treatment thus far, and side effects are pretty mild, for which I am grateful. The Faslodex/fulvestrant shots did a number on me fatigue wise, but that was likely exacerbated by an approximately eight mile, walking, brood x, and beer tour of Cincinnati with a friend from Virginia, Kevin, the day before. Shout out to Northern Row Brewery and Distillery on McMicken-great beer, amazing happy hour, and the food looked amazing (but untried). My tour also included such quasi-historical tidbits, such as "named after Cincinnatus, a soldier who just wanted to farm kind of like that guy from the Gladiator" and also "don't quote me on any of this". PS. Here is the Wikipedia page for our namesake, and it's a bit more complicated. I'm sure you're all surprised to hear this.

Speaking of amazing springs and summers, I'm leaving tomorrow for my epic road trip! Three weeks on the road, heading up through Michigan to spend time with my friend, Emma, near Traverse, then on to Glacier National Park via the UP, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and of course Montana. I'm taking it slow through there, camping a couple nights (Presque Island in Porcupine State Park, MI and near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND), alternating with hotel nights in Fargo and Havre, MT.  I'll spend a few plus days in and around Glacier National Park with Shell and bff, Jen, hiking and exploring the area. Then I'll bop down to West Yellowstone to pick up Will and explore Yellowstone, particularly the geothermal features for their awesome microbial life as well as park megafauna :-) Then we'll head further south to Alpine, WY near the Tetons, where we'll be staying with lots of friends in a couple cabins, this latter part was set in stone in March 2020! Good job planning Mel! Finally, Will and I will head home to Ohio, phew!

I am so excited!

Road Trip! Yes, I highlighted the route and alternates on a paper map.

Originally, I was going to drop south into Utah and New Mexico for another week or two, but the southern route was ixnayed due to scans and treatment coming up in July. That's the next big test to see if this treatment is working. Tumor markers (CA 27-29, specifically) seem to suggest not (they're up a bit from March as of last week), but those in and of themselves cannot tell the whole story.

More awesome spring stuff includes a redo of our intro bio course, approved by the department. Course design by consensus, even at that macro level, is...challenging? But it was worth it. Now on to the nitty gritty. I'm still thinking and writing up some stuff on ungrading, as I've been mostly ignoring work in favor of friends, family, and non-professional pursuits :-)

Well, that's it for now! Hope you all are enjoying the weather and have some free time to do what you love, whatever that is.