Sid Bacon

All good visits must come to an end … Andy is headed back to Denver tonight after a great visit.  There probably was a little trepidation as we approached this visit … Andy worried about how his uncle would be, and Cathy and I worried about how to entertain our 31-year-old nephew.  Well, I think we all were pleasantly surprised.  I felt good throughout the visit and Cathy can entertain anyone!  The three of us went on a nice walk in the desert on Saturday; Cathy and Andy went on a run every day; we ate some great Mexican take-out; Andy helped us with some pre-wedding shopping; we watched the Academy Awards, with ballots in hand (Cathy won); and we had some great conversations.  He made me feel better, and for that I am grateful.
 

I was able to go on a nice 40-minute walk this morning while Andy and Cathy ran.  These last few days I have started weight lifting again … definitely lighter weights than before and fewer reps, but it feels good to start using those muscles again.  I’m taking things slowly, listening to my body, and doing all I can to progress.  I am grateful for every day that I feel well enough to do that. 
 

I continue to work professionally a bit every day.  It makes me feel good to be able to do that.  Not only does it provide normalcy to my day, but it means I am feeling better.  For that I am grateful.
 

It has been a windy day in the desert today.  There is a weather front moving over from San Diego.  The temperatures will drop from near 80 to low 60s; still nice temperatures, but an abrupt change nevertheless.  I think this is yet another way for Dan to stay in touch with me (from San Diego, not Niagara Falls).  Although I’m not a fan of wind, I have all sorts of experiences with it, having grown up in Kansas.  So, knowing that this front is a way for Dan to stay in touch … I’ll be grateful for it.
 

And of course Dan and Laura both stay in touch with me daily via phone if not in person.  Those calls are so meaningful … it is nice to have that daily connection to their lives, but also it shows me how much they care and how wonderful they are.  And for that … I am tremendously grateful.
 

And what would I do without Cathy? We will leave that as a rhetorical question.  Cathy continues to take excellent care of me day and night; she entertains and prepares for our visitors; and she balances all this with her own work at the university.  She does all this with such grace and ease … I am so grateful for that and for her.
 

I am so fortunate to have all of you in my life.  I remain grateful for your guestbook posts, emails (I am sorry I can’t always reply to them), cards, and well wishes sent in any number of ways. They brighten my day and give me the strength to carry on.  I am so grateful!

It has been another good day!  Although I was a little bit nauseas to begin the day, I have managed to eat several snacks/meals, go on a 35-min walk, clean the pool and patio (a bit messy after the strong winds yesterday and last night) … oh, and did I mention the nap?!  I’ve also been able to tackle some of my editing duties, something I plan to get back to after I write this journal entry.  
 

Cathy has been great at finding new snacks and meals that taste good (nothing really sounds good, except the occasional fast-food items, but fortunately many of them taste pretty good once I start eating them).  She is really helping me with my calorie and protein goals.

The cool front has left the air feeling crisp and clean.  It is absolutely beautiful. If we had gotten a little rain, we also could have enjoyed the smell of the desert (complements of the fragrant creosote bush, which gives the desert its fresh smell after a rain). 

I mentioned awhile back that we have a hummingbird nest just outside one of our back windows.  The two eggs have hatched, and we’ve seen the baby birds, but so far we don’t think they’ve left the nest.  They aren’t the cutest birds quite yet (I’m sure the parents would take exception to that), so perhaps they wait a bit before embarking out into the world.

A couple weeks ago, we had two ducks in our pool.  We aren’t sure if they are the same couple we see almost every year, though we’d like to think so. Yesterday they returned with another couple.  There was quite a lot of “playing” in the pool, and ultimately we were down to just one couple.  I thought the pool was big enough to share, but apparently not.  I’m pretty sure this isn’t what Dan had in mind when he said, “We fight together!”

I was blown away today when I received a series of pictures of my friends/colleagues from the States and abroad creating and then posing with a Team Bacon sign.  These gestures mean the world to me, and to Cathy! Thank you, my fellow auditory scientists … you made my day and gave me the strength to navigate the day with a smile in my heart and on my face. Everyone should be so lucky.  Every day should be so good.
 

I did, indeed, have a good day today.  I was able to continue with some physical exercise, complete some professional work, rest as needed (for now, that is something I need every day), and munch throughout the day. Hard to beat that!
 

We are gearing up for more visitors: Cathy’s sister and brother-in-law (Mary and Kevin) will be here tomorrow morning through Saturday morning.  They live in San Luis Obispo, CA.  We always look forward to getting together with them, and this visit is no exception.

Until my next post … Thank you for your love and support.  You are giving me several good days in a row, which is an incredible blessing.