Arkansas revealed! Etc, etc...

Last things first. I trotted in today to get my third in this second series of chemotherapy treatments. Dr. Muldoon reviewed my lab results which were quite good...given my circumstances. My blood is thick and robust still; swirling about happily with all the necessary hangers-on like red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and not too many untoward interlopers. Dr. Muldoon even said that if my cancer were rapidly galloping along then the smidge of pain med I am on and low dose of diuretic would either not work for me or not for more than a week or so. I think this translates to something like, "you have a better chance than that snowball in hell". Still, it was nice of him to say what he did and it did make me feel good.


I continue to feel just fine except for more tiredness than I would like.

Who can say what it all means. I suppose the rubber will meet the road when I have my scans repeated in April or thereabouts.

The children arrived a few days ago and we set out immediately on a road trip. Paul zipped on down to Louisiana to mend and patch the Swampy Homestead down yonder. Perhaps he played and visited with his friends a bit? We can only guess!

QueenJanita, Jeff and I peeled out in a cloud of gravel travelling westward. Our first stop: the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge near Mena, Arkansas ( http://www.queenwilhelmina.com/ ). Here is a bit of its history. Some rich railroad dudes decided to build a lodge for their new line. One bright bulb of a businessman on staff had a marketing Eureka moment. "if we call it the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge she will come for a visit and our fortunes are made!!". So, they named it after her. QW never came. The QW Lodge went bellyup as did the train line. Then it burned down in the '60's after years of neglect. Later to be resurrected in the lovely style of 1973 construction techniques.

Queen Wilhelmina refuses visit to Arkansas 1898

I have never tried to choke down such wretched food in all my life. The room had an ambiance that practically sucked the life force right out of my eyeballs. We spent one night too long there.

Judy Jones enjoys Queen Wilhelmina Lodge Dinner

Our next stop was quite pleasant. We moseyed on up to Paris and then over to the Subiaco Abbey ( http://www.subi.org/ ). The room we had was quiet and calming. And it was filled with light having a great view to the north. So, so unlike Wilhelmina. The folks who attended us were kind and just delightful. The Abbey is a lovely place as well and the monks very, very friendly.


I overheard Janet talking to Jeff in the Subiaco gift shoppe. Something about my granddaughter's "confirmation name"?? I think Ariel intends to call herself Francis or something like that after St. Francis. What can it all mean? Jeff explained to me that St. Francis threw himself into a thorn bush to control his carnal urges and that I should be pleased that Ariel will be following in this great Saints' footsteps. The other great news is that the original bush of carnal redemption is in the rose garden of the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli if you wish to toss yourself on the thorny Shrub of Salvation as well!! I only hope Ariel is not wearing the lovely diaphanous frock I got for her when she leaps into the daggers o' confirmation. It is much more suited to a pagan ritual.



For more on the Holy Roman Catholic Church:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxwpV80wQII

We ventured up to the Arkansas wine growing region near Altus and had a great time wine tasting and viewing the beautiful Ozarks countryside. Still, I would have to say that as much as I love Arkansas this is not the place to come for fine dining. Or even mediocre. I had to nearly start an IV drip of my Lasix to pee out all the salt I was laden with from all my overcooked, fried food I daintily let touch my lips.

The very best part of our lodge experience was the night we spent at the Lodge on Magazine Mountain. ( http://www.mountmagazinestatepark.com/lodge-cabin-rest/lodge/ ). Absolutely lovely! And we actually had a very good breakfast and reasonable dinner. I would highly recommend them.



I love you all! Wish you were here...
Judy (via jeff)


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