Just checking in.
It’s been a week since I’ve posted to my blog and 25 days since I’ve been anywhere other than one of my local ponds for bird photography, so I figured it’s past time to let my readers know I’m still alive and kicking. I’ve been AWOL as a direct result of seemingly endless morning medical appointments, combined with something like six weeks of almost constant inclement weather and very poor light for photography.
This photo, taken yesterday morning in the parking lot of my dermatologist, summarizes my predicament in a nutshell. That morning I’d had an appointment with my physical therapist at 8:00 AM and an appointment with my dermatologist at 10:00 to have a bunch of actinic keratoses (scaly spots or patches on the top layer of skin) removed from my face, head and neck. I had about 15 of them removed (frozen) so if any of my local readers see me in the next couple of weeks you’ll understand why my new and hopefully temporary moniker is “Scarface”.
As you’ve probably already guessed, my motivation for taking this photo was the decal in the back window of the Honda minivan. In my ignorance I thought it was a falconry-related decal so I took the photo because it was my first opportunity to take a bird-related photo in over a week (I know, I’m desperate). I was also thinking that the car’s owner might be in my dermatologist’s waiting room so I might have an opportunity for a short but interesting conversation with a falconer.
But it turns out that the decal is the title of a rap “song” by Ken Lawrence, “a nerdcore rapper who purports to be the late theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking”. The song’s title has apparently been purloined by Seattle Seahawk fans. So no, I never had that conversation with a falconer in the doctor’s office.
But the photo is also indicative of our recent sketchy weather and my bad timing. As cloudy as it was, this was some of the better light we’ve had in weeks. But of course I was tied up with appointments so once again I couldn’t go out shooting that morning.
More than anything, today’s post is a plea to my readers to not give up on me. I’m very slowly feeling better after my recent back surgery and our weather can’t(?) stay poopy forever. So I have what I hope are realistic expectations to get out in the field and start posting to my blog more often and very soon.
Ron
Thank you for taking the time to check in with us readers. Rest up and rest well. We’ll be waiting here patiently. And if there’s a group of people that knows patience, it has to those with an affinity for birds. đ
Thank you, Amy. Your last sentence makes a very good point.
There is hope. Robins are showing up in Texas now, in a variety of places, and if the Robins come, can spring be far behind? I’ll see if I can send some of our sunny skies your way, for the sake of your mental health!
Thanks, Shoreacres. I’ll be watching for the arrival of your sunny skies.
By the way, some of our robins stick around here year around. I saw two of them feeding on crabapples a couple of days ago.
As a UCLA alum, not exactly thrilled with the Seahawks’ head coach; nor happy that they beat the Rams a few days ago. đ Not knowing of the rap connection, was expecting a completely different sort of — ahem — “image.”
Glad you’re getting out of the house at least, even if it’s only to medical appointments. We have a couple days respite from the rain down here. Hopefully, it will be enough for the moat around the back of the house to disappear — either that, or I want a drawbridge and my own dragon.
“was expecting a completely different sort of â ahem â âimage.â”
That line, “with your hawk out” has lots of possibilities, doesn’t it Marty! đ
“either that, or I want a drawbridge and my own dragon” brought a big smile.
Oooh! If you get a drawbridge and a dragon, I’m coming to visit! Was always a big fan of Sleeping Beauty … đ
I know that you are anxious to get back out there and shoot some pics, but this weather may be a blessing in disguise for you. If it were brighter, warmer and less snow, you would be more apt to push the limits and rush your recovery. Sit tight, heal yourself and wait for better weather and you’ll be better of for it !!
“Sit tight, heal yourself and wait for better weather and youâll be better off for it”
Perhaps, Gary. But one has to consider mental health too….
So I wasnât really worried and certainly had not given up on you, but I am glad to see you here today! Youâre still alive and kickinâ and getting better and thatâs what matters. My good news is I havenât floated away on an atmospheric river, though I guess weâre not done yetâbut it finally feels like real winter here. (And I like that decal for falconry better than for ânerd rapâ or the Seahawks.)
“And I like that decal for falconry better than for ânerd rapâ or the Seahawks”
Me too, Chris. But then I’m not a fan of football or rap.
Great decal! Regardless of references to a “music” genre about which I know nothing.
Take care of yourself. We’ll all be here when you need us.
Good to know, Wally. Thanks.
Okay, I always click on links in your blog; the link to the rapper will be an exception. Perhaps if it was actually music.
I donât follow sports, especially football. I live in Seahawk territory, but no one has been able to tell me what a real seahawk is. Couldnât be just a marketing gimmick (https://www.birdnote.org/explore/field-notes/2014/01/what-seahawk).
Good to hear youâre taking care of yourself. 19 days to see your dermatologist? Try four months to see my primary doctor. Money and greed is taking over medicine just like pro sports.
On a positive note, we had sun yesterdayâŠfor several minutes.
“I always click on links in your blog; the link to the rapper will be an exception”
I don’t blame you, Lyle. I only provided the link as evidence but if it were me I wouldn’t click on it either.
When I told my dermatologist it took me that long to get in to see him, he was surprised. But then he remembered that he’d been on vacation.
Thankfully I can usually get in to see my primary doctor the next day. My orthopedic surgeon is another story altogether…
I also live in the great state of Washington and am a HUGE Seahawks fan. A “Sea Hawk” is an Osprey.
Weather has been very gloomy in Dane County, WI, too. Whenever the Sun is kind of out, it lifts my mood immensely. Birding is rather routine with occasional interesting waterbirds showing up in odd places with open water. Appointments always seem to fall when the outside weather is better. How do we do that so well?
“How do we do that so well?”
Pam, with me it never seems to fail – even though I check the long-range forecast before making my appointments.
Give up on you? Wash your mouth out with soap and water. NOT going to be a happening thing. And, in evidence of how much you and your posts mean, I am slowly learning to give up the double space between sentences. Not easy, I am a touch typist and the habit is instilled…
I hope all of your appointments can soon be over.
“I am slowly learning to give up the double space between sentences”
Now that brought a BIG smile, EC!
I’m not there yet, but I’m the one who says please and thank you to Siri.
I so agree!!
Thank you and best wishes!!
Mary
I can’t imagine any of your regular readers giving up on you, Ron! It’s been mostly dreary here in the CO Front Range with lots of cloudy days and snow/ice on the roads that just won’t melt. This time of year is the toughest but knowing that spring is coming helps take the edge off.
Linda, we’re lucky in that the snow in the valleys has largely melted. But we have lots of it in the mountains and this time of year that’s where we need it most.
Continue to heal and check in with us when you can. It is no fun to have only medical personnel as all of your social life. I hope those cloudy skies are producing some much needed precipitation.
We’ve been getting lots of both rain and snow, Melanie. Enough to really help around here. It’s about time.
Not familiar with that song Ron,but knew that was a Seahawk logo. I have been a Philadelphia Eagles fan since 1948, so I am a fan of both the football and the real eagles. Sorry to hear about your dermatology woes mounting up on top of all your other physical concerns. I have had that same procedure at the dermatologist many times. I always tell him that I am very careful and always wear a hat etc, but he always responds, “Yes, but 40 years ago you didn’t.”
I am currently temporarily locked out due to teeth problems, but we are having the same dreary gray weather as well.
Good luck with your dental woes, Everett. That can be miserable.
Bon courage! No worries, take your time and hope you feel much better soon! Thanks so much for all you give!!
Thank you, Mary.
While it looks like another full week of rain, we had a little bit of sun yesterday in the middle of the day so don’t lose hope Ron. Here in Fruit Heights, they have been working on rebuilding Highway 89. In connection with that, they created a new water retention field just south of the city building. An absolutely gorgeous hawk – I believe it is a red tail – has taken up hunting over this new field and it is such a joy to see her nearly daily (she is usually perched on a wire at the center side of the field). We do see hawks regularly up here in Davis County but it is fun to have one so close. There are trees in the area but she doesn’t care if she is sitting on a wire or a tree and that wire gives her a better vantage point. Seeing hawks and other wildlife on gloomy winter days can make things seem not so bad.
I couldn’t agree more with your last sentence, Brad. I hope you get to enjoy that hawk for a long time.
So glad to see “you” in the line-up this morning ! I really feel for your level of frustration about the light as of late. To me, it’s depressing as all get-out, and I’m not a photographer like you who’s being prevented from doing the work
that he loves…At least most those doctors’ appointments will be out of the way
when the the skies clear, and you’ll be free to take advantage of good light !
“At least most those doctorsâ appointments will be out of the way
when the the skies clear”
Kris, I’m thinking (hoping) that tomorrow might be my last PT appointment and they’ve been the most disruptive of them all because there’s been so darn many of them.
Glad to hear you’re taking care of yourself. I get those keratoses, too. Better than the alternative, I suppose. Hope your weather gets better soon! đ
“Better than the alternative, I suppose”
That’s for sure, Cathy. I have a good friend who’s been struggling with a melanoma diagnosis recently. Puts my situation in perspective.
Thanks for checking in. After a time I do begin to wonder, but I would never give up on you Ron.
Never heard of this guy Lawrence, and I too thought it had to be falconry related when I read that decal. Kind of wish it was.
Wishing you the best in your medical journeys. Had a few of my own, so I can relate. Let’s all keep our eyes looking for the better days ahead.
“Kind of wish it was”
Me too, Michael. Me too!
I KNOW you’ll be back when you can, Ron! đ Dr. appts get REAL old and weather doesn’t help – I’ve had to reschecule more than I can count and making them up during this mild stretch. Hang in there!
“Iâve had to reschedule more than I can count”
Judy, it took me 19 days to get in to see my dermatologist so I don’t “reschedule” unless I absolutely have to.
I don’t either but unless it’s “life threatening” I no longer get out in blizzards, roads that are a sheet of ice or sub-zero temps……. Primary is generally a month or 2 and most other things a couple of weeks plus. NOT amusing……
P.S. Glad I’m not flying today with take-off’s nation wide shut down until 9 a.m. eastern anyway! WOW!
I’m glad I’m not flying every day.
Commercial I agree – flying with brother Mike another story…….. đ
I’ve seen some of Mike’s aerial photos so I can see why you like to fly with him.
We will wait. You must heal.
âYou must healâ
I think Iâm finally getting there, Suzanne. It’s been a long haul.