TDetroit’s ramblings and nonsense

when we got home from gatlinburg, we unpacked and got the kids settled.  she was brushing her teeth, and I came in and sat down and watched her.  she was real suspicious.

when she came over, she had a pissy attitude.  she new what was coming.  i had her sit on my lap and told her I had something to tell her.  she sat down, and siad, "you did talk to the doctor didn’t you?  and you didn’t want to ruin my vacation."

yeah.  I told her I just wanted her to enjoy her time with the kids and not worry about the cancer and the up coming chemo.  I set her appointment with the oncologist for tuesday morning, and called her mom to come to that appointment.  everything was all set.

there was lot’s of crying.  she thinks this is the end.  she is all worried that I don’t know the kids schedule.  of course they haven’t even started school yet, so she doesn’t know it either, but don’t let that stop her from worrying about me not knowing it.

I set up her computer a long time ago for her to be able to write letters to the kids in an organized fashion for me to distribute them later.  she said she doesn’t know if she can do that.  so I said, start with one that is a long way off.  like our youngest one’s wedding.  she know’s intuitievely there is no way she will be there for that whether the chemo is succesful or not.  so it is an easy one to do.  then work from there.  she agreed.  hopefully this project will be a success.  I don’t want to raise them without her.

Trillium Gap is one of the appalachian trails coming out of Gatlinburg.  It can be accessed from one of 2 trail heads.  the first is Rainbow Falls trailhead.  Just at the beginning of that trail is a left turn that leads to Grotto falls and then to the gap.  the second trail head is the Grotto Falls trailhead.

Obviously, it would be easier to simply start at the Grotto Falls head.  we did not do that.  we got confused on the way there and ended up turning back and parking at the Rainbow Falls head.  It looked suspicious to me, but we did it anyway.  so instead of hiking 3 miles up the mountian, we hiked 5 miles up the mountain.

We were already beat by the time we got to the merge at Grotto Falls head.  it was still 1.7 miles to the falls, and we were going passed that by another 1.5 miles.  as you travel these trails, it’s mostly quad work.  lift legs to the next step and push.  sometimes, you have to step up to a step, mostly it’s just the incline.

At the falls, we took some pictures and had lunch.  Then we went up. 

Trillium Gap is a lesser used trail.  Most people only go as far as the falls because even though it is somewhat steep, it is short.  Even kids and pregnant women make the trip.  But Trillium is different.

The first thing you notice about Trillium Gap is that it is steep.  You seem to be looking straight upward.  Your step are high.  After the walk that we just had - all the way from the Rainbow head - we were beat.  the quads had very little to give.  so at this point, it was all support muscles.  \

The feet were pushing on every step.  to get lift, it was hip pulling the legs straight.  the calves and shins were doing their part and the hammies got some action too.  I got to the point where a high step up was a good thing - because you could use the little juice left in the legs and give the support muscles a 1/2 second break.

It’s a never ending trail too.  every corner meant turning and seeing another long straight upward trail ahead of us. 

It’s at an elevation too.  Gatlinburg is 2500 feet.  the drive to the head is another 700-800 and the walk has to be another 800.  the O2 is thinning (i swear it)  the heart starts racing, and you sweat like a hockey player (Joe Dumars said he respects those guys more than basketball players, it’s humid on the ice).  We were conscious of water use at the lower levels, but up there, we were sucking it down like there was no tomorrow.

The whole way, from the bottom at the Rainbow head to the top and expecially the Grotto Falls, the water levels were elevated because of hurricane Fay.  Every creek crossing our path actually barred our path and we had to find a way across.  By the time we got to the top, our feet were pretty much wet.  Grotto Falls was throwing water heavy, and it was spraying across the grotto.  2 years ago, it was  a trickle, with no spray. 

We didn’t even know where the top was.  We just kept going.  We came to a "falls".  more of a creek running across our path.  but with the elevated water levels, the creeks was over flowed and crossing was difficult.  We took some pics of that.  It was wide.   The white water was everywhere and there were a few splits in the creek.  Just passed that, I saw a person coming toward us. 

An oldeer woman.  yeah, in her 60’s.  sweating as much as us, but overweight.  I said, "a person?"  she laughed and asked where we were going.  I told her we were looking for the gap.  she said this is it, just ahead is a clearing with 4 paths going out.  she and her friend (another 60’s woman) spent the night at Laconte.  there are cabins up there.  she told us, that unless we were going further, there was nothing else to see up that way.  the best news ever, finally we could turn around.

On the way down, no it’s a run.  it’s too steep to walk down.  we stopped at grotto and I took off my socks and shoes to get in and take pics. then we headed down, eating the next meal while walking.

I tought my son several cuss words - these were aimed at him, because I wanted to take the road from Grotto head to Rainbow head, and he made me walk.  Never say "No" to a constructin worker, we know a lot of cuss words.  he laugher it off.

Now I sit here in pain from the hike of death.  legs are like jelly.  If you ever get a chance, do you leg day on a mountain.

we were all rrelazing in the condo unit.  then one or two of them there runts gets a bee under the bonnett going swimming.   well, I had to go to the clubhouse with the laptop anyway (Fantasy draft).  So I said, give me a minute.

I got my stuff ready and wlked out into the living room.  wife says, they left without you.  So I walked over.  they were in the pool already.  I said hi, and went upstairs to set up the laptop.

Oh, did I mention the hurricane.  I belive I did.  It came from Florida up to Tennessee, apparently the ocean needed a vacation and decided to go to the same place as me for a week.

Anyway, so they are swimming for a min.  I go down to talk to the little one to make sure she is ok.  She says she has no towel.  I said why didn’t you bring one.  this goes back and forth until I finally learn that her towel was wet, so she left it behind.  Now, I figured the little would do something that doesn’t make sense, but it get’s better.

Upstairs, check the e-mails, open the draft, etc.  go back down.  Nope, all 3 left their towels behind.  they are sitting int he water waiting for me to come down and get them some towels.  So back up to house keeping to ask if they will restock the towel shelves.

Check the draft.  come back down, they are all standing by the door of the pool room shivering and waiting for me to tell them about the towels.  I said you’ll have to wait for house keeping. 

Now, remember, I have a laptop upstairs unattended.  so I go up for a few minutes.  then my oldest one flags me down from the balcony and says they are going back.  no towel.  wet. cold.  in a hurricane.

someone please tell me.  at what age does the human brain develop into a usable organ?

The trouble with planning a vacation is that you will be away from home, with nothing to do when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

We drove all the way to Gatlinburg.  Now we are here, and so is hurricane Fay.  She is quite a pleasant storm, with lots of water and cold temperatures.  Still, I’d like to tell her to tell it walkin’. 

I see now why they are called the Smokey Mountains.  That part makes sense to me.  The part I don’t get is why there is a hurricane this far from the sea - and at the top of a mountain.  I came to Tennessee specifically because there is no ocean.  Instead, the ocean went on a vacation at the same time as me to the same place as me. 

Now I am not racist toward oceans - ok, yes I am - and I don’t like her kind.  I don’t believe oceans should be allowed to stay at the same resorts as people.  Next thing you know there will be mermaids all over Rocky Top.  Someone should tell this ocean to go stay at an ocean resort, where they don’t smell up the place.  I hear the Carolinas are quite pleasant this time of year.  Why does the ocean have to be here.

I may bite the bullett and tolerate the ocean tomorrow and go hiking up the mountain anyway.  Of course, if the ocean get’s to close to me, I’ll probably not be able to resist saying something ornery, I’ll probably get into trouble, and next thing you know it’ll be raining on me.  But I don’t care.  I can take on all them there oceans at once if I have to.

 See you at the top.

I took my car in because the brake light has been coming on.  Since we are going on vacation tomorrow - in the mountains - I thought this might be a little important.

The front disc and pads need to be replaced.  Under spec, but could have made it on vacation if I hadn’t gone in.  the rear drums and pads are the same.

Problem, the drivers rear axle seal went bad, the oil leaked onto the pads.  that was the cause of the brake light.  We would not have made it to the hills of TN.  Especially Gatlinburg pass.   it’s up and down 15 mph.  there are always cars who travel 10 - even downhill, come on people, leet it roll - you have to ride the brake the whole way.  I am thinking it is 15 miles.

So, I walked 2  miles to the Carribou and here I sit, typing nonsense into a blog.  2 hours to go.  Yay!!!!

Long day, went to a client appointment this morning, then to Jackson (yuk) MI to do something, and then I am supposed to have a meeting in downtown Detroit tonight.  but I am … oh… 4 hours early. 

so I get to the parking lot and the south end of Eastern Market.  corner of Russel and Fisher.  I see the restaruant we are meeting at, but across the street I see Supino’s Pizza.   hmmmm.  I have 4 hours.  let’s give it a whirl.

so I am eating, and I think, "hey, I have a friend who moved here from New York City."  I once asked him, what he misses most about New York.  He said, the pizza.  so I called him.  This pizza is close to New York style.  he was impressed already, if it’s worth an emergency phone call, it’s worth checking it out.

I had 2 pepperoni slices.  then they came by and gave me a free slice of the newest creation.  Potato and Rosemary with mozzarella, and feta.  potatoes… eh.  I rated it as good, but the potatoes, if they are too big, can be overwhelming.  I suggested sutting them small so you can taste the rest and not just the potato when you bite one.

This is some damn good pizza.  the kid who works there goes to colleege in New York at Merrimont.  he agreed, this is close to New York, but still Detroit style.

Now I have just 3 hours to wait for the meeting to start.  watching the olypics at the bar

Before I did it, I asked a guy at the gym for any advice he could give me.  He gave me 2 points:  1.  it doesn’t matter what kind of razor you use, so use the cheap ones.  2.  you only have to shave avery third day.

Well, I am shaving every day.

So this morning I was touching the back of my head up high, and I realized, there isn’t even stubble.  I said to the wife, "Why didn’t you tell me I was bald?"

Dang, imagine keeping a secret like that.  It’s like having toilet paper stuck to your shoe, or walking around with you fly open.

I am getting it browned up nicely, though my face has browned up more, so I still have a differential.

i still have aches and pains just about everywhere.  i hate being sick.  (can’t imagine what the wife is going through) - and my damned mouth tastes like crap with aluminum dust topping.  if the doc ever prescribes clariythromycin, ask for something else, it makes your mouth …. blek!

my knees feel like I was making a bridge and people were walking on them and bending them backward.  ouch.

anyway, maybe friday night I can get in.  great, then wake up and drive 12 hours on saturday.  sounds like boat loads of fun

damn bronchitis is actually getting worse.  now I can’t even sleep in.  maybe i’ll go run sprints - problem is I don’t think I can stand for a long time let alone run 100yards.  it’s just sitting for me.  I feel like I might grow hemorhoids if I stay sick too long.

I hate being sick like this.  I am used to keeping active.  just keep moving.  keep doing something all the time.  now that I am not doing anything, I am thinking about stuff.  I hate that.  I don’t want to think, I just want to do!  I never realized how depressed I really am.  I need to get better so I can refill my life with my distractions.

Sunday is the day I do squats.  sometimes I push it off until monday.  but the bronchitis has me out of the gym for a few days.  so I’ll be late to the gym for squats.  with the dead line for the charity coming up, I only have this workout left to train for my new max.  I already know I blew away my goal, but it would be nice to get that last session in and really hit it hard.

instead, i am at home with my head feeling like it is going to explode.  the antibiotics are leaving a taste in my mouth like I’ve been licking a copper pipe coated in amonia.  my whole body hurts and I don’t think I have teh balance to do squats and won’t have it for a few days.

but I did spend a lot of time organizing the pics on my computer.  with the wife having cancer, I have taken a lot of pics (just for me type - to remember her)  and I made a movie of her on movie maker.   it won’t be the same thing, but i confess, as much trouble as she is, I will miss her like few people can understand.