Itachi Run

Went for a nice afternoon run with Dale this afternoon. First time to go running this year in 2014. And, almost the first time to go running in about one year. I'm hoping I hope I can get back into the groove of things soon!

We went running along the river nearby in the neighborhood. Came across this colorful mallard duck.

There was also a beautiful white heron, which is also called a snowy egret.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Nike Fuel

I earned 3233 NikeFuel today with Nike+ Move. Get the free app: https://itunes.apple.com/app/nike+-move/id712498492

Sleepy Tennis Player

Dale on classroom chair. Jan. 20, 2014.

Dale playing tug-of-war with a tennis ball in the kitchen. Jan. 31, 2014.

Sleepy girl. Dale in kitchen. Feb. 1, 2014

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Work B**ch

Now Playing:

Work B**ch / Britney Spears

Summertime Sadness

Now Playing:

Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix) / Lana Del Rey

I Love It

Now Playing:

I Love It (feat. Charli XCX) / Icona Pop

Found Moments by Hammer And Funabashi Feat. Angie Hedman with Shazam, have a listen…

Found this with Shazam, have a listen… Moments Hammer And Funabashi Feat. Angie Hedman Discover, explore and share more music, TV shows and brands you love Get Shazam now

Sent from my iPhone

Dog Walk Fuji

Caught a glimpse of Mt. Fuji during the evening dog walk with Dale and Mary tonight. Wish I had left a little earlier so that I could have got a clearer shot. My iPhone camera is pretty good for low-light conditions where a flash can be used -- not so good for late-evening landscapes.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Winter Evening Foliage

Flowers in the neighborhood on cool winter evening.
Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/125 sec., f/5.3, ISO 500

Flowers in the neighborhood on cool winter evening.
Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/125 sec., f/5.3, ISO 500

Neatly trimmed tree in neighbors yard.

Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/125 sec., f/5.6, ISO 180

Flowers in the neighborhood on cool winter evening.

Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400

Flowers in the neighborhood on cool winter evening.

Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400

Flowers in the neighborhood on cool winter evening.

Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400

Neatly trimmed tree with sunset.

Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/125 sec., f/7.1, ISO 100

Flowers in the neighborhood on cool winter evening.

Nikon D3100, AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-300 mm, 1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Pinkish

It was a nice, warm evening tonight. One of my classes was canceled just before sunset. It was a good chance to take Dale for a walk and bring my camera along for the ride. 

I brought only my telephoto lens in hopes that I might get a clear shot of Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was hidden behind clouds, so I took some shots of flowers in bloom in the neighborhood. It was kind of hard to get a sharp focus because I had to step back so far away from the subject. Next time, I need to remember to bring the smaller lens with me.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Nike Fuel

I earned 1703 NikeFuel today with Nike+ Move. Get the free app: https://itunes.apple.com/app/nike+-move/id712498492

Pink and Blue

This is a shot of my daily meds minus the morning dosage. Starting today, will start a new regimen at the insistence of my doctor.

The big blue pill will remain the same, but have switched from a once-a-day med to the coral pink one, which requires I take it twice a day. 

The new pink ones are about 30 dollars each! However, they have much fewer side effects like night sweats, diarrhea, and should reduce the number of explicitly vivid dreams I have that cause me to lose sleep or wake up in tears of emotional distraught. 

The doctor said that these new meds should also help me deal better with depression. Am nervous as ever about changing meds. But, all I can do is trust that my doc knows best and follow his advice. 

Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that with time, I can return to a more stable place emotionally and mentally. With that achievement, I hope to be able to start running again, work more efficiently and professionally again, and get my life back in order and more stable again.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Nike Fuel

I earned 888 NikeFuel today with Nike+ Move.

Burn

Listening to: Burn by Ellie Goulding on Burn (Remix EP)

Taking Dale on her nighttime walk. It's is bloody cold out tonight even though I'm boggled up with four pairs of jogging outfits. At least I have some nice tunes to listen to help my mind to keep off the cold!

Second Snow

Dale enjoying her first snow at the park of this winter. Love how she to tries to catch the snowflakes! This will be her second time since birth to enjoy some snow. Last year's first snow was the best ever!

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness

This is one of my favorite songs these days. The remixed dance version is very cool and rocking. I had to go to YouTube to find the original version and was touched. The video reminded me of my summer last year -- depressing, melancholy, excited, but mostly dark -- much like the overall tone of this video and song.

Hopefully, summer this year will be much better. Keeping fingers crossed!

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

New Shop

A new shop in the neighborhood has opened today. Came across their grand-opening made obvious by the stands of flowers from friends, suppliers, other local businesses, advertisers, etc., offering congratulatory remarks on the cards with each bouquet.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Tapes

This has got to be one of my favorite podcasts! I could relate to it on so many levels. I especially understood and related very well to the disparity between the mother and the father in the first act.

I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast today during my morning commute on the train to work and enjoyed listening to the rest of it during the commute back home.

http://feeds.thisamericanlife.org/talpodcast

Anderson

I am sure that it is just my meds playing games with my mind -- or simply pure coincidence -- but the nagging question lingers as to why I have had another dream of an old teacher from my schoolboy days. 

Last week was a dream of my drama class teacher from junior high. That dream had me waking in tears of sorrow and regret, which was somewhat related to an incident that actually happened in class so many years ago.

Last night's dream was infused with Mrs. Anderson, who was the other 6th grade teacher. She was not even my teacher, but she played a prominent role in the dream. 

At least I didn't awake in tears this time, much to my relief!  I do wish there were a way to analyze dreams for some insight into one's state of mind or for some insight as to what the future holds. That could both be exciting or burdensome. 

And we'll leave it there. Time to get ready for work...

Young and Beautiful

Listening to: Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey on The Great Gatsby (Music From Baz Luhrmann's Film)

Intravenous

Was feeling under the weather as usual. In the middle of a conversation at home in the kitchen, I became lightheaded and sick to my stomach. 

Upon regaining consciousness, found myself flat on the floor. Could hear and understand my name being called, but felt confused as to why I was being called. 

An ambulance was already on it's way, and soon thereafter, we reached the hospital where I have spent the whole day being poked, probed, and jabbed. 

I just want to go home and take the dogs for a walk. This had been a completely wasted day. Missed work this morning and had to cancel my classes.

Will come back next week to find out what's wrong. The doctor wanted to admit me to the hospital, but I refused. Still need to work and pay the bills. It was embarrassing enough to have to ride in the ambulance. It's not like this is the first time I have ever passed out it happens once every four or five years lately. 

Hospital

Have been suffering from a severe case of diarrhea and hemroids. This is not the sort of thing I would normally want to share with other persons, but am somewhat worried if I have cancer or not.

Yes, am being somewhat of a hypochondriac, but my lifestyle, and refusal to go in for annual check-ups over the years has put me at a higher risk of lifestyle related illnesses, specifically related to tobacco, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and often avoiding food for 24-hour or 48-hour spans of time.

Today I went to the hospital to visit my psychiatrist to renew my prescription. If I have enough time, plan to visit another hospital closer to home to have my bottom checked. It's so painful, and am running a high fever. 

 

This is a shot of the lobby of the hospital where I go every month to get my meds.

Here I am able to take care of my chronic illness and mental illness for free since it is a public hospital.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Stick

Dale found a stick in the park on the way home today. It was just big enough for her to hold onto and soft enough for her to rip apart!

Unfortunately, she wouldn't let go of the stick and chewed on it in the kitchen making a big mess!

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.