17th Annual Crawdaddy Blues Festival

I spent the last month taking pictures of various events around town. One of my favorites is the annual Crawdad Festival, good music, good food and the weather held up pretty well for the weekend event.

Attorney General Raul Torres, US Senator Martin Heinrich, County Commissioner Rudy Garcia

Lori, who owns the Mine Shaft Tavern, where the event is held.

These are just a few of the many performers from the event.

First PSA Test After Treatment

 Friday, the 5th of May I went to the lab for my PSA test. Today, Monday the 8th, I met with the doctor to discuss the results and future treatment. 

My Radiologist, told me he hoped to see me below 10, at our final consultation in February. I was as high as 31.7 pre-treatment. Today I was informed by my Oncologist the my PSA was .02, he stated it is basically undetectable. I am Cancer Free!!!. I then received my hormone shot, number 3 of 8, they will continue every three months until I am done. 

I sit here now as the pain of the shot slowly increases, I will be cursing the, nurse, her family, etc for the next few hours until the pain subsides. I joked about it with her, as the last two people who gave me this shot were cursed in the same way. All of the people who I have had the opportunity to work with have been great.

The community that I live in is small and we take care of each other. during the year we have various events that fund community projects. One of these is a Medical Fund. I was fortunate to have this available, as they, contributed funds to help offset the co-payments that I have been making.

Last weekend was the second annual, Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race, I photographed the first one last year and was contacted to do it again this year. We had double the entries this year, going from 23 to 50 racers. I was a perfect day for the race.

Racing through the Arroyo

This is the start of the race in the Village of Cerrillos

Coming out of the Cerrillos Hills State Park

The Top 3 finishers

My house in the Ortiz Mountains
 March Sunset

My friends flying over my house.

I have planned a trip back to Alaska, I will be traveling up there in the middle of August and returning at the end of September. 

The He/She Bang performance will be performed over two weekends in November. We will have 5 shows, I will post the dates when they are finalized.

The Past Week

 Sorry, I seem to neglect to write on a consistent basis. If you are a frequent visitor you already know this, as sometimes my posts are few and far between.

Last Tuesday I was again in the gallery, it was very slow. I sold 4 of my books, that was it for the day. Good for me, not for the gallery.

After closing up I headed to the monthly, He/She Bang, meeting. We discussed the stage and how it is going to be set up. Then we went through the skits and what they will look like and what props, etc, will be needed. This year the show will run over 5 nights and two weekends in November. Make your plans now, ticket go on sale in October and sell out FAST. All proceeds benefit the Madrid Health Cooperative and the Food Bank for the residents of the town.

I spent some time this week sealing the house from critters that seem to find their way under my house. I have rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice and birds seeking shelter. I have been burying 1/4" wire mesh all around the perimeter of the house. They do not like this at all.

Today, I had planned to photograph a sheep shearing, unfortunately, my GPS decided to make up an address and took me to the wrong place. Hopefully, another one will come up and I will be able to locate it. As I drove through Alcalde I passed a cemetery and went back to get a few pictures. This is La Villita Catholic Cemetery. 

After leaving Alcalde, I stopped at Lowe's in Espanola to get some more mesh.

I then went to the grocery store, this was my fifth attempt to get some frozen lemon juice. I went to the Market Place, as I pulled up I saw the Girl Scouts were there. I had seen they were out selling, though I never was in town on the days they were out. So the first thing I did was purchase two boxes of Thin Mints and two of the Tagalogs. I finally found my frozen lemon juice! I fulfilled my small list and left the store. As I loaded my haul into my trunk a couple walked by and stated that my Thin Mints were gold, they have run out while I was shopping.

A few days ago I had some visitors in my yard.

A Lewis's Woodpecker this afternoon in my yard.

As far as the aftermath of the cancer treatment, except for having to pee constantly and it burns almost every time, I am doing great.

Days are screwed up

 Sunday I went to the Mardi Gras Pajama party, what fun, loads of people, good food and live music.

Vance on Bass

Our Hostess Barb

Sunset

Host and Hostess

Les and Barb

I brought a Chocolate Tart, which got rave reviews and was devoured. Barb made a delicious Gumbo and Red Beans with rice.

That was on Sunday afternoon, which screwed up my days. I am through with my treatments and so I did not have to drive in on Monday. I thought, Monday, was Sunday, confused all day.

Tuesday, I worked in the Gallery, sold a number of items including one of my books, yeah! When I got home I pop the hood on my car in an effort to keep the critters out. It seems a rabbit hopped in while I was at work, as it was sitting in the engine compartment.

Wednesday, the temperature dropped, the wind picked up and the snow fell. I went out to feed the birds and startled a Hawk, the Ravens ignored me and kept wandering about, dozens of other birds flocked around the feeders. I emptied the traps and the Ravens received a few mice. I believe the Hawk left empty handed, as I didn't spot any feathers scattered about.

I will leave you with a shot of the sunset on the Ortiz Mountains on the 20th of February.

Link to Website

Treatment Day 28 of 28

 This is the end, the last day of treatment. No more driving into town five days a week.

I brought the Chocolate Tart to the staff as a thank you.

I brought "J" a vegan/GF chocolate mint, Oreo, brownie from the Revolution Bakery. I gave it to her a I was entering the treatment room, when I came out 10 minutes later, she said it was wonderful, she ate the whole brownie while giving me my treatment. I told her where the bakery was, she didn't know about it.

After my treatment all of the staff presented me with my Diploma, and gave me hugs.

Then off to the Gallery in Madrid for the day. Many people came through, not much buying. I did sell a few items including an expensive bracelet, so that made the day.

Tomorrow, I will make another tart for a Mardi Gras Pajama Party some friends are throwing on Sunday. Since, I sleep naked, the costume will be easy.

Treatment Day 27 of 28

Almost done, one more day to go. YEAH!!

-6 degrees at 6am, it got up to about 24 by the time I left. Beautiful, clear, sunny day, just bitter cold.

Snow on the dirt road as I left, none on the paved roads. Easy fast drive into town. Arrived early and chatted with a few of the others in the waiting room. 

I was called in and "J" took some pictures of me "setup" to receive my treatment. She had talked about it the other day and then we both forgot about it. Here I am ready to get zapped.

I checked on my sister's house on the way home. Everything is ok.

After arriving home I started making the chocolate tart. It is now in the refrigerator setting up. I will take a photo tomorrow.

I made lunch and prepared some food for tomorrow, I will be at the gallery after my, LAST, session. YEAH.

No more driving into town, at least, not every day.
 

Treatment Day 26 of 28 Meet with the Doctor day

 Wednesday, weekly meeting with the doctor day.

But First, It snowed again last night. 

Had to go out and get the snow off of my solar panels and my car.

This is my driveway as I was leaving this morning.

Slow drive into town, at least people weren't driving crazy.

The doctor came and got me as I was waiting, in the, waiting room. He said might as well start with me while waiting for my treatment.

We went into his office and had a nice chat. He did everything was progressing well and Friday would be my last treatment. I thanked him for his care, he thanked me for being a positive and involved patient.

For follow up he wants me to get a PSA test when I get my next hormone injection, May 1st. He believes that I should be below 10 at that point and it will continue to go down to 2 or 1, maybe even 0. I will have to watch it once it levels out, if it ever goes up 2 points beyond the lowest level, then we will have a problem.

I found a treat for "J" on my last day, she being Gluten-Free and Vegan she can't eat the chocolate tart I will be bringing.

I continues to snow throughout the day, bits of sun shining every so often.

Sangre de Cristo Mountains this afternoon