Book Review: "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson’s family had moved to New Hampshire, his backyard is just a few yards to a signpost of the famous Appalachian Trail. He got interested and fascinated at the idea of hiking the AT. Pretty soon was telling everybody about it. Problem is, once he started reading on all the tales that happened on the AT, the gruesome details of bear maulings and similar accidents, illnesses, the difficulty of the trail on some parts, and the length, all 2,148 miles of trail from Georgia to Maine, he realized it was way, way out of his league.

He nevertheless plunges into his plans and into the woods. This is his account as he and his friend Katz, both neophyte woodsmen, middle aged, and both butt-heavy, tackled on the great Appalachian Trail, the greatest and most celebrated of all American trails. They emerged from this experience with greater respect of the mountains and the woods, and learned hard lessons of life and self-reliance.

From the time he went into the camping section of his local sport goods store, his comical chronicle of their misadventures entertained me a lot. He is witty, elegant, and just fun to read…err, listen to. McLarty reading is clear, precise. I can hear the frustration of walking miles and miles of wood, their shivering when caught in a snowstorm, fear when they thought a bear was near, his voice rising or falling, going along with the emotion of the moment.

I was greatly entertained in my drive to and from work. I found myself taking the long way, and hoping that the light is red on intersections so that I will have a little more time to know what was going to happen next. If you love the outdoors, or plan on hiking the AT sometime later, or just want to read about it and be entertained, this is a great book. I picked up walking again after lying low for some time. The book, and the fact that my girth seem to be getting bigger.

Great for road trips. With some no-good words – from Katz, who is a recovering substance abuser- so parental guidance is needed, if you have small children. Seven cassettes of approximately 1 hr each.

Would you like to walk some parts of the Appalachian Trail with me? Let’s do Shenandoah National Park first….

My Nth Doctor's Visit

“Are you in pain?” The young phlebotomist asked me, in a voice that was a little too loud, with a bit more decibels than necessary.

“No,” I replied.

“Please roll up your sleeves,” she instructed. I did as told. She picked up needle wrappers from one table and trashed it. She got the used torniquet from the table on her left and trashed it. She did this for some time, with me seated there facing her, her audience. Hmm, I thought, “new.”

Over these three years of going back and forth for check-ups, I had to find ways to entertain myself. And one of those is observing my phlebotomists as they draw my precious blood. It takes my mind off the little pain the prick will cause, and it is great entertainment, really. A love-hate relationship maybe: love them because they will tell me what I am wanting to know, and hate them that there will always be pain.

So, I try guessing their ages. See if I can tell if they are having a good/bad day. If they are extroverts or intoverts. New or old hand at drawing blood. Neat freaks or not-so-neat.

She palpated my arm for veins…. No, not there, vein is small and not straight there. She tapped it lightly – I tried to make a fist. Then she got a hot pad and placed it on my arm for a few mintues. I am thinking, “She better get this at first try, or else…”

She applied the torniquet, swabbed the area, brought the tubes (lavender, gold, red) closer to her. She stuck the needle, no backflow – but got it after drawing back the needle by a tiny bit. Okay, she is good. New but good.
That’s my entertainment on this visit.

Plus a nagging thought that will not leave me: Why did I have to spend that long a time deciding what to wear, cleaning and making myself look good, when, as soon as I get to my doctor’s office, I will be instructed to strip down to my underwear and wear the famous patients’ gown? I know, this is not related, but still.

Currently Reading

 

Excerpts from my "Hospital Notes"

While waiting for doctors, phlebotomies, chemo transfusions, meds infusions and X-rays, I have entertained myself by a variety of ways. One of the things I like to do is to scan magazines and newspapers and take notes of what appeals to me at the time - I always have a small writing pad in my purse. Today, I happened to 'discover' one of those writing pads - and would like to share what I wrote during "one of those days."

Around June 17, 2008

From "Woman's Day Magazine:"
"If I Only Knew Then"
1. Be kind instead of right.
2. Wear sunscreen every day. (?) (The question mark was mine.)
3. Don't be in such a rush.
4. Love yourself first.
5. Don't try to make Mr. Right into Mr. Perfect.
6. If it isn't in your wallet, don't spend it.
7. Don't let anyone make you feel unequal.
(There were more, but these were the ones that meant something on that day.)


10 Resolutions Worth Pursuing: (notes taken while having Rituxan infusion)
1. Take dance lessons.
2. Make a book of family recipes. (?) (!! Almost impossible!)
3. Splurge on a happiness treat. (I had ice cream afterwards.)
4. Master 2 techie treats.
5. Reconnect times three. (Phone someone you love but seldom have time to talk with.)
6. Go for a walk with a friend every Saturday or Wednesday lunchtime.
7. Sample ice cream.
8. Act like a kid.
9. Get out.
10. Learn 3 things from your "I really wish I could..." list.

Quotations:
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see the shadow." Helen Keller

"The man who radiates good cheer, who makes life happier wherever he meets it, is always a man of vision and faith." Ella Wheeler Wilcox

"The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up." Mark Twain

"A happy woman is one who has no cares a t all; a cheerful woman is one who has cares but doesn't let them get her down." Beverly Sills


And, ta-da!
Grilled Portabello Burgers
2 pckgs (6 oz ea) portabello mushrooms
3 tbsp bottled vinaigrette
1/3 c light mayonnaise
1/4 c drained jarred roasted red peppers
4 whole wheat hamburger buns
1 large tomato, sliced
lettuce
carrots

Blend mayonnaise and red pepper, pulse it.
Grill mushrooms...
and then nothing!
I haven't tried this yet, but the photo looked appetizing.

"Rather any sickness than sickness of the bowels; rather any pain than pain of the heart; rather any disorder than a disorder in the head; rather any evil than a bad wife." From the Mishnah

I find this quote intriguing....and all true!

I will keep my thoughts short. Have a wonderful weekend!

My latest trip kind of cured my wanderlust for now. I returned home last April beat, tired and just want to rest and stay put for.... who knows? But definitely no travels until later this year, at least.

For now, the structure and the routine of home and chores and a part time job seem sweet. I think it was because we rushed down to Tennessee to attend my son's graduation before we have recovered from jetlag. Add to that the sleepless nights there, and the long drive back. I really, really like road trips, but this time I surrender - I give up! We were coughing, and feeling miserable for the longest time, it seemed.

Only when we are feverish, and unable to breath, or suffering from an ailment that we realize how precious good health is! Appetite, to be aware of the tastes and texture of food, to be satisfied, to breath fresh air without a headache, to be tired and be able to rest....we take these things for granted...until we get sick. And then we promise ourselves to take better care of our bodies. And promptly forget this promise once we are well. Tsk, tsk, tsk. At least, I do.

This reminds me after my surgery in 2006. I had IM nailing of my right femur, and was recovering. The first couple of nights were terrible - painful, and it seemed like my whole body was angry - inflamed. I discovered then that in the hospital, reasons for rejoicing need not be big. My caregivers exclaimed, "Great job!" or "Wonderful!" or "You made it!" for accomplishments like taking a step, taking deep breaths, going to the bathroom, sitting up for 20 minutes. Yes, I will never take these simple acts for granted again.

Lord, please help me remember.

Banton, Romblon - my adventure

April is the best month to visit this little island where my husband was born and raised. The seas are calm, the college students are home, and many relatives are home for vacation. Never mind the fact that the heat is almost unbearable, we were sweating like crazy and the electricity comes on for only 5 hours at night and a couple of hours early in the morning. Never mind the 4 hours pumpboat (outrigger canoe with diesel engine) ride from Pinamalayan, Mindoro Oriental, completing the 12-hour 'biya" (up & down) trip from Manila.

My right leg is still not strong, am still using a cane, so everyone was concerned of how could I get on and off the pumpboat. Well, I am back home so obviously I survived. Where there is a will there is a way, as they say. I like the Tagalog version better: "Pag gusto, may paraan; pag ayaw, may dahilan." I didn't think I am adventurous, it is just if there is a need, or desire for that matter, human nature has a way of finding a solution.

So, this is a summary of my dramatic entrances (and exits) to get on and off a pumpboat:

I rode a small dhingy held steady from the waves by 6 bronze-skinned men (fee: 10 pesos).I heaved myself up the boat side and gingerly found a little corner for me to sit. This is one of the three spaces where you can actually sit: the third one was for the captain. All the rest of the passengers have to find a space to sit, among the baggage or on the floor on the "second level."

Next, in order to get off the boat to the pier, I had to make my way through an 8-meter long, 10 inches wide piece of plank which was inclined 35 - 40 degrees. There were pieces of wood nailed to the plank for steps. The rail was a piece of long bamboo being held by two strong (I hoped!) men. I did not relish the idea of slipping off that wood and swimming in the blue water below. And it was dark at 8:00 PM!

It was about the same for the return trip, only this time it is early in the morning, the grade was only 5-10 degrees, but there are more wellwishers and sightseers on the pier watching the "event of the day," a pumpboat loaded with people leaving for Manila. And the fact that if I slip and fall, I will be wet for the next 12 hours.

The final exit was getting off on the same piece of wood, but since the tide is low and the boat was anchored far into the water, the piece of wood fell a couple of meters short of dry land. Guess how the creative crew did it? One burly fisherman offered his left shoulder for me to sit, he took two or three steps and voila! I was on dry land. (fee: 10 pesos)

I know, I know. It would've been more dramatic if I actually fell on the water - but I was not after drama - I was after making it home in one piece, dry!

The trade-off? Blue green clear waters, snorkeling, fishes, corals, relatives, games, late-night talks, quiet evenings, stars that seem to be easy to reach, gorgeous sunrise, cool, clean sea breeze all the time. Beautiful beaches, picnic in the beach with relatives.

It was a great trip!