Kate Just inducted into Phi Theta Kappa International Honorary Society for my academic achievements in online web design...Hurrah! March 14 from Twitter - Comment - Like […]
Kate Here trying to master my online Web Design Fundamental homework...the pace has picked up and it's getting deep now in the fourth week... September 17, 2009 from Twitter - Comment - Like […]
What do all of these women in this photo have in common? WE ARE ALL CANCER SURVIVORS! Don’t we all look absolutely fabulous? Get out of our way cause we are marching forward into cancer advocacy as the next step in our recovery! This photo was taken at the “Life Beyond Cancer” 4–day weekend retreat at Miraval Resort in Tucson, Arizona. That’s me on the end at the bottom right. In addition to cancer survivors, also attending this retreat were social workers and oncology doctors and nurses. Our objective was to focus on the many components of advocacy and wellness through and beyond the cancer experience by attending workshops, lectures and by participating in group activities. Armed with this experience and relevant information we were able to return to our communities and begin to support existing services and advocacy programs to reach back and help others forward in their cancer journey.
It’s fall here in southern California and I was dreaming I was on a road trip somewhere in the Republic of Georgia. Riding in a Lada, I had stopped off on the roadside to enjoy the spectacular view and eat some nice hot Khachapuri bread…
I knew it was going to be a long hot summer last winter when I was unemployed and conducting a demoralizing job search. Although there are lots of things to criticize, there are also many things to be aware of and thankful for. For example, although we are experiencing drought conditions and have mandatory water rationing here in San Diego County, using a drip system I am still able to water my rose bushes responsibly and have been rewarded with a 3rd glorious bloom cycle. Although those pesky green caterpillars destroyed my crop this year, I found a fabulous new non-toxic product called “Green Light Worm Killer” with BT – its good stuff. Of course we are all suffering from this crippling economy. Despite it all, I have still been able to get out and have some fun with friends and family. I guess if I had to complain about something, my one regret in 2009 would be that I haven’t been able to kick my addiction to Milk Chocolate. In any case, my health does not seem to be any worse for the wear and BTW, what’s the point of being perfect in an imperfect world anyway?
I was looking on Ravelry.com (http://www.ravelry.com) for a quick scarf pattern and found this one. As an intermediate beginner, I wasn’t sure how complicated the cable stitch would be. However, always the optimist, my co-worker, friend and knitting mentor Julie Alvar came to the rescue and showed me how. In a New York second, I was on my way! Julie also suggested that I purchase a row counter – which I did and turns out that it is the best thing since sliced bread.
I purchased the yarn at Common Threads in Encinitas (http://www.fiberartshop.com). It was my first time there and I was absolutely overwhelmed with the inventory to say-the-least. At any rate, I settled on this berry flavored multi-colored Berroco Pure Merino Heather Color #8616 which looks like tweed, but turns out to be as soft as new newborn baby’s skin. It is such a compliment to the pattern without being too busy for the cable stitch pattern.
I am knitting this scarf for my nephew’s wife Renee. They live in Salt Lake City and so, it should keep her nice and warm this coming winter. Hopefully she will like it!
In November 2002, Kathryn Kern was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her treatment was successful, but in the process, she had to give up her travel business and take a corporate job. The combination of facing a life-threatening illness and changing careers made her value her weekends more than ever. Now she has a Nine Step Program for keeping her weekends free, pleasant and worry-free.
Leaving for Egypt tomorrow, which is Thanksgiving Day. Lots to do in the meantime. Had to expedite the renewal of my passport which cost me some $$. Now I have an empty book as opposed to one that is filled with VISA’s from the off-the-beaten track destinations I used to frequent with my groups. The old passport represents evidence of a life well-traveled. The new passport is a second chance at another beginning. It just occurs to me that the first VISA in my old passport was to Egypt! They say there are no coincidences in life…..
Photo of me at the alabastor Mosque of Mohammed Ali in the Citadel back in 1995.
Yesterday drove out to Kenner Ranch located 4 miles south of Julian with Rhana for a horseback ride with Kathleen and Diane. After loading up the horses into their trailer we headed out into the Cleveland National Forest. It was a great opportunity to get some fresh air and vitamin D. As you can tell by this photo, we are all duded up with our cowboy hats and Ariat riding boots. As Woody Allen said 80 percent of success is showing up. Rhana and I agree, but would like to add that the remaining 20% of success is dressing the part!. Up for a ride and live in San Diego County? Visit (http://www.kennerhorseranch.com) and book a ride up in our local mountains.
I was trying to remember the first time I was aware I was traveling. While going through old photos of me as a child, I found a photo of myself frowning at a campfire. My sister Liz was poking a stick into the fire as my oldest sister Genie and my brother Arthur look on. That picture was probably taken at Paradise Hideaway in the Cleveland National Forest. We had a camper trailer when I was growing up and my father used to drive the family up there for two weeks to beat the 110 degree summer heat in the Imperial Valley where I was born. Although I can not remember that moment in time, I do somehow remember the green squeeze bottle and smell of Prell gel shampoo – which we only used when camping. Another memory I recall vaguely is attending 4-H camp for a week for several summers with my sister Liz. Not long ago, Liz and I happened to be up in the Cleveland National forest, near Julian and we decided to try to find the camp. To our disappointment, the camp is now a Religious retreat center. The only original cabin left standing was the one Liz stayed in. In hindsight, sometimes it is better to remember things as they were and not try to re-create a feeling you had in real time. That is probably also true of relationships with ex-boyfriends.
Since that time, I have trodden roads less traveled. I have raced an Arabian against a nomadic Bedouin in the Sinai Desert of Egypt. I have trodden on an Al-tekke horse along the same road as Alexander the Great to his famous city of Nissa in Uzbekistan. Another time, I rode a horse up into the jungle near Mt. Popa in Myanmar (formally Burma). I have tried every form of transportation available that would make traveling in a third world country more bearable. Helicopters, chartered boats to cruise up the Irrawaddy, Mekong and Nile, bullock carts, trains, planes, hot air balloons and even hiking with my own two feet.
I am compulsive when it comes to travel. It is my passion. People travel for many reasons. Some are interested in scholarly pursuits; some have interest in physical challenges. There are those whose objectives simply are to check off countries on a list. There is commerce, religious and also humanitarian endeavors that drive people into travel situations. For whatever reasons we travel, once we take that first jump – we can never be the same. For me personally, the sense of movement and cross-cultural exchange between others has become a rather eccentric obsessive behavior. So much so eventually I turned this behavior into a full-time business.
But life inevitably has a life of its own. Perhaps it is to show us that we are not invincible nor need to be “in charge” of everything around us. Sure, it is easier for us to wear blinders and ignore the lessons that continually rain down upon us. But, like it or not, in time some of those lessons eventually soak through. Whatever the lesson may be, the message is ultimately always the same: Pay attention to the moments as they are all that really matter.
